TL: Gah! I'm so disgusted with myself! I'm forcing myself to write!!! Oh well, I want to get it done soon anyway.
SR: *reads from book* It is not good to force yourself to come up with ideas and put them into a story because then it will not be your true writing.
TL: Oh just do me a favor and shut up, won't you? Thank you!
SR: *turns back towards TL* Hmph! No appreciation towards friends whatsoever.
TL: *sigh* You seem a little testy today. Anyway, don't forget to review this when you're done, and I would hope for some constructive criticism, not just flames!
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The Way Fate Meant It To Be
Chapter 2-Fear's Creations
The next morning, everyone got up and dressed as usual. No sun rose, because there was no more sun. The sun was destroyed when Emeraude died, and when the people's hearts grew fearsome.
Hikaru longed for the warmth of the sun, and just for the light, but it could happen only after the other countries were defeated and the people felt safe at heart again. She remember the first time they were in Cephiro. There were actually trees and grassland...and life, and of course, a sun. But now, it was only rocky cliffs, sand, and rain.
She had quite forgotten about the incident that had occurred last night until she overheard Lantis discussing it with Clef. Then, it all came back to her. The whole thing. Clef waking her up, summoning the Rayearth, fighting Eagle, sitting down to make Eagle comfortable, the little talk, just everything with the details. She hurried over to Umi and asked for the condition of Eagle. Because Umi and Fuu both had been up long before Hikaru, they knew for fact from Lantis that Eagle was extremely sick, and he will die soon.
Hikaru was shocked. Eagle, commander of Autozam's starship, was dying? It didn't make sense! He should be as strong as Lantis! But then, she remember that she was supposed to be faithful to Lantis, and that she should not be worrying about how sick her own enemy is.
Later that day, Hikaru was treading through the halls toward the Living Quarters of the castle, when she passed Eagle's room without knowing it. The thing that drew her into the room was...Mokona! He was trying to tell her something, obviously, but when she didn't understand it for the fifth, Mokona just dashed in.
Eagle was very startled to see a furry creature hop into the room, but then remembered that it must be Mokona, a creation of Princess Emeraude. Lantis had told him when he was still in Autozam.
Hikaru peeked into the room and saw that it was where Eagle was kept! She stepped into the room cautiously and called for Mokona. "Mokona! Mokona! Where have you gotten to?"
Eagle was just as surprised for the second time that the Magic Knight was here as well. "Are you looking for that thing?"
Mokona was indignant at being called a "that thing" and let a string of "pu puu"'s for Hikaru to hear. "All right, all right. He doesn't like to be called a thing or a furry animal. His name's Mokona. I'm sorry if he caused you any trouble, er, Eagle of Autozam. We will be on our way now."
"No it's all right. He's rather cute, don't you think? And just call me Eagle."
Hikaru blushed and said, "My name is Hikaru. I must have told you last night, right before you passed out. I hope you're feeling all right. It was a good thing Fuu-chan put that shield around you when you were falling. You would have been killed if she hadn't."
"Thanks for saving me, then, Hikaru."
"No, when you have the time, you should go find Fuu, the blonde haired one, and thank her." She smiled at the dashing young man and beckoned Mokona to go.
"Wait!" Eagle called suddenly, although he had nothing in mind to say.
"Hmm?" Hikaru turned around. "Did you say something?"
"I-I needed to mention something, but, never mind. You go on."
"All right!" She smiled and waved. Then left with Mokona.
Eagle dearly wished that he could have kept her longer in this room. It was lonely, having no one to talk to. Lantis wouldn't come until late afternoon to check on him. It's going to prove to be a long wait.
Hikaru wondered why Eagle had called out to her before she left, then said nothing and told her to go on. What was he going to say to her? And Mokona didn't seem to be too happy either. He refused to let Hikaru hold him and walked alongside her. He seemed rather miffed about something.
* * *
"Damnit Eagle of Autozam! Damn you!" Geo said pounding his fist into his hand. He thought that his commander only wanted to sleep longer and so left him alone when he saw that "he" was still in bed, but it turned out to be a fake! Only two pillows put together! "Zazu, get the GTO ready. I'm going in after him. I know what he's trying to do, and he'll get himself killed trying."
Zazu nodded and ran off to the control room.
"Eagle, why didn't you listen to me, huh? I know what's good for you, but you don't seem to want my advice! Eagle, what have you done to yourself? Do you WANT to get yourself killed?" Geo asked the air. He loved Eagle as a younger brother and cared about him as a parent, but Eagle never listened, and because Eagle was the commander, and Geo the second-in-command, he could do nothing but obey. "Why, Eagle, why?"
A few minutes later Zazu came back, with a frown on his face. "Bad news, Geo. I couldn't unlock the GTO. Eagle must have changed the password before he left. There's no way you can go out there anymore unless we use the ship, but there's everyone else on board it," he said gravely. Although Zazu looked like a little kid with an aviator's helmet, he was actually the chief mechanic of Autozam. He loved gadgets and gizmos, and nearly died when he saw the Rune-Gods for the first time. He had been trying to see how they were made instead doing what Eagle had asked him to do, look up their profiles.
"Eagle of Autozam! Damn you!" Geo said half screaming. How could he save his commander if he couldn't go in his GTO? Eagle had thought of everything, hadn't he? Well, they'll get him anyway. "Zazu, full power the ship. Put it on ready. We're going to get our commander out of the castle whether we have the GTO or not. I am going to get our naughty Eagle back and teach him a lesson. Full power the ship!"
Zazu didn't dare contradict his elder. Geo was in a mad state, and it was best not to bother him when he was like that. Although just about everyone knew that using the ship to fight and invade a place instead of their mechas is a pretty stupid idea. "Right away, Geo!"
* * *
Lantis wondered around the castle, trying to find Hikaru. Where was she anyway? She couldn't be with Eagle, his heart turned to steel when he thought of that. But she couldn't be in her room either, because she usually only went into her room to sleep, rest, or go in with the other two Magic Knights. Perhaps she decided to visit the children. She certainly happened to love that little girl who asked me to give her the crown of flowers...
As he was hurrying to the Living Quarters, he heard loud coughing in one of the rooms. He followed the sound until he had stopped in front of a dimly lit room. He remembered that it was the room where he had placed Eagle, his former comrade, in. "Eagle? Is that you?"
Eagle quickly covered the blood stained spot where he had stooped over and stood up as erect as he could get. He wouldn't tell Lantis about his sickness, it would just give the enemy an advantage. "Yes? It's Eagle, commander of Autozam's warship. Lantis, is that you?"
Lantis changed his mind about going to the Living Quarters to find Hikaru. He decided to stay with Eagle...they had many things to talk over. "Eagle, I thought I heard someone cough."
"Oh, it's nothing. It was rather chilly on my warship. Lantis, won't you come in? It's not as if I'm going to bite, plus, I can't hurt you. All my weapons were confiscated, and the there's a wall transparent wall around me," he said drily.
"Well, then I don't think I'll mind staying a bit. I was looking for Hikaru Shidou, the one who helped you yesterday, but I don't know where she is. Besides, I promised to come see you this afternoon, didn't I? Did you have lunch yet?"
"No, but I'm not hungry, so don't go around troubling yourself. Lantis, I'll be straightforward with you. I've had this question in mind for a long time now, and I can't get it out of my mind. Why did you leave Autozam?"
Lantis knew the question would have come up one time or another during his little time there that day, so he was more prepared than surprised. "Eagle, I knew what Emeraude was going to do. I knew that she would do something as drastic as summoning the Magic Knights because I knew that she was in love with my brother, Lord Zagato."
"Then why did you come here in the first place if you knew she was going to summon the Magic Knights, and what did that have to do with you?"
"I don't know why I left, Eagle. I was foolish, I was curious...I couldn't stay in Cephiro because I didn't want to see what would become of my brother and my beloved Princess. You understand, don't you, Eagle?"
"But if you went back, you would have beared the pain anyway."
"Yes, I know, and knew it then, but I felt guilty as well. Eagle, I am not some mashin that has no feelings. I felt guilty to just abandon Zagato and pretend to not care that Emeraude is dead and so is he. I couldn't. You would have gone back too, Eagle."
"And so we meet again, but this time, as enemies instead of comrades."
"Yes, and I will defend the Crown of the Pillar for as long as I need to, because I will not let you become the new Pillar. Eagle, I know you mean only kindness and good towards Autozam, but being the Pillar of Cephiro is too harsh a job. You cannot love..." Lantis trailed off there because he was thinking of Hikaru and how if he had to become the Pillar he would have rather killed himself. Then he continued. "You cannot care about yourself, you can only think about Cephiro and pray for its future and people. Don't you see? It's too painful and against all laws of human nature."
"I understand, but I will not give up. I, Eagle of Autozam, do not give up easily because someone told me that my journey would be difficult. Even if I die, I will fight to the end. Lantis, I'm sorry, but I must remain your enemy."
"We had good times back then, didn't we, Eagle? When we first met each other we were contestants in a competition, but then we became friends. We were like brothers, and it's funny how fate turned us into enemies."
"But friendly enemies, Lantis, friendly enemies. If we weren't friend enemies, then we would be glaring at each other right now, trying to kill one another." Eagle laughed. It felt good to talk with Lantis again and laugh. He loved Geo, yes, as a brother, but Geo was not the same as Lantis. Geo cared more about his companion's wellfare and was like a parent, but Lantis was like a true brother.
"Yes, we're friendly enemies..."
* * *
Hikaru was sitting with a group of girls braiding flowers, and Umi and Fuu were playing tag with the other children when something rocked the whole place. A sweet little girl, Kimmy, lost balance and nearly fell from the "earthquake", but Hikaru grabbed her arm. The younger children were frightened out of their wits, but some of the older ones like Mara stayed calm.
"What was that, Umi-chan, Fuu-chan? Did the ground just shake?" Hikaru asked worried.
"I don't know but-"
And then BOOM! It came again and with it, ten large monsters crashing through the walls. They snarled and directed their attention on the children.
The smallest ones began to cry in earnest. They were too frightened to do anything but cry. Even the bravest of the boys began to tremble in fear.
"Children, hang on! Umi-chan, Fuu-chan, and I'll take care of these bad monsters! Don't be afraid! Fuu, cast a shield over them!" Hikaru shouted.
Fuu huddled the children together and cast her spell around them. They would be safe from harm for a while. "C'mon! We've got to defeat these monsters!"
Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu drew out their swords from their special gloves and prepared to fight. The most important thing was to protect the kids. It didn't matter if they got hurt, the children were more important.
On of the monsters attacked with it's teeth. It snapped its jaws at Fuu, but she brought her sword down swiftly and cracked its skull.
"Nice hit, Fuu-chan! Now if only we can take care of the rest of them just as cleanly!" Hikaru yelled out as a monster came charging toward her. Stay calm, don't grip the sword too hard. Just concentrate, and STRIKE! Another one was dead. As soon as their bodies crashed to the ground, they disappeared.
Soon, all of them were gone. The grass was dented in many places where they fell and the place reeked with their smell. "Is everyone all right?"
The children were numb with fear. They were watching in awe at the way the older "sisters" were killing them, but it still did not calm their fear.
"No one's hurt, Hikaru. Maybe it's for the best if we get them inside to their parents," Umi said. She walked to a girl that was crying silently and held her in her own arms to comfort her. "It's all right, Ani. Everything's all right. We're going to take you home."
Nobody fell like playing anymore, what with the smell, the dented grass, and the fear. Fear was everywhere. It would be a feat to try to calm everyone down. Even the Magic Knights' hearts were beating rapidly.
All three "babysitters" took a group of kids and took them "home". Some were too young to remember where they lived, they had to ask the older children to take them "home". Long after everyone was gone, Umi, Fuu, and Hikaru inspected the place. Only the walls the monsters had teared through and the grass were ruined, but it would still be costly to replace them. Costly in the form of mental energy, that is.
"I think someone needs to inform Clef, Caldina, La Farga, and everyone else about the whole incident. The whole castle should be on the alert now," Fuu said. She picked up a dropped hanky from one of the children and put it gently in her pocket to give back to the owner.
"I will inform Clef and Lantis. I think I know where they are," Hikaru said automatically. She left them with Mokona at her heels.
"Then I'll take Ascot and Caldina," Umi said thinking about Ascot.
"Well, that leaves me to La Farga, Ferio, and Presea I guess. Let's go!"
* * *
Lantis and Eagle were laughing over past memories when the room shook slightly. They both stopped at once and froze.
"Don't move, Eagle. I believe it's just another part of Cephiro crumbling, but it usually does not have such a big effect on the castle."
CRASH!
Monsters jumped through the ceiling windows and landed on feet outside the room in the hall.
"I think your guess is wrong, Lantis. Monsters are attacking," Eagle said gravely.
"Then stay, don't move! I'm going to fight them if there's not other way!" Lantis ran from the room and stopped in front of what must have been ten or twenty monsters.
Just then, Hikaru appeared in the hallway. "Lantis! More monsters? Oh no!"
Lantis turned at the sound of Hikaru's voice and asked, "What do you mean, more monsters, Hikaru? Do you mean they were where you just came from?"
"Yes, and the kids were frightened out of their wits. I was going to inform you and Clef about it, but bumped into this instead."
Just then a monster snorted and charged. It was big and bulky one with a tiny head. Lantis defeated it easily with one swipe and killed off two more. "Get help quickly, Hikaru!"
"I can't! It's too much for you alone to defeat, Lantis! Flame Arrow!" She blasted her flames at a row of monsters, and half of them were scorched and died.
Lantis wanted to shout at Hikaru and tell her it's for her own good if she left and went for help, but stopped in mid sentence when another attacked from the side. Swish, and it was in half. Another swish, and two more were writhing in pain.
Eagle couldn't help but hear what was going and used his last hidden weapon to blast the wall. If they were defeated now, then he would never become the Pillar of Cephiro. He had to help them. He raced out into the corridor to see more monsters around through the broken windows. He definitely needed their help.
"Eagle! What are you doing out of your room? I told you to stay where you were!" Lantis ordered while fighting off three monsters at the same time while Hikaru was blasting the newcomers with fire.
"I thought you needed my help from what I was hearing!" At that, he blasted two with his hidden weapon. They were dead before he could blink.
* * *
Umi suddenly felt a tremor go through her body. Something was wrong, and it felt like it was coming from the other side of the castle...where Hikaru was heading. Hikaru must be in trouble then! There were probably more monsters! She had to go find Ascot and Caldina quickly.
Fuu felt the same thing go through her. She also instinctively knew that someone, most likely Hikaru, was in trouble and started to run to Presea's room. "Presea! Presea! Hikaru's in trouble!"
Presea came out of her just as Fuu was about to pound on it. "Hikaru's in trouble? Tell me where! Quickly!"
"She's somewhere near the corridor leading to the throne. Monsters were just attacking the Living Quarters, and she was going to inform Lantis and Clef of it, but I don't think she quite reached Clef."
"Thank you! Come with me, Fuu, she'll need your help too!"
"I can't! I have to find La Farga and Ferio! Do you know where they are?"
"La Farga's in his room as usual, and Ferio's with La Farga I believe, although I don't know why."
"Arigatou, Presea!" Fuu sped down the hall, and Presea raced back the way Fuu had come.
* * *
It was a losing battle for Hikaru, Lantis and Eagle. They tired quickly, but the monsters wouldn't stop coming. For every monster they killed, three more replaced them.
Hikaru's arm was failing her. Her sword was too heavy, but she had to go on. She couldn't let this happen to her, she had to fight to keep these creatures at bay. But the monsters must have sensed that she was tired because they next attacked her with a group of four. She was helpless.
"Lantis! Eagle!" she cried before they muffled her sounds. Eagle saw this, and he shot all four of them with one hit. He was just in time to see Hikaru waver before he found himself racing to her side and catching her before she collapsed. "Lantis! Hikaru needs help here!"
He looked at the girl in his arms. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was shallow, but she was alive, thank the lord.
"Eagle! You take care of Hikaru! Take her into your room! I can't leave them alone or else they'll start wondering all over the place!"
Hikaru's eyes flitted open and she stared at the person holding her. "Lantis?"
"No, it's Eagle, but you don't have to know me right now. We'll get you help, Magic Knight." Eagle said smiling. He noticed her crimson eyes. They weren't evil looking, in fact, they had depths in them. They were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. And the girl herself was beautiful as well.
Hikaru smiled and muttered something about Lantis before falling completely into darkness. Eagle picked her up as if she was nothing but a piece of paper and walked quickly into his room and closed the door. He gently placed her on his bed and removed her sword. She would be out for a good while.
Eagle didn't want others to get wrong impressions with the closed door and all, so he hurried back into battle. Lantis was quickly failing as well, but miracles of miracles, help arrived just then.
"Hang on everyone!" Presea ordered as she performed her own magic. Ascot summoned his beasts and set them to attack the monsters. La Farga chopped every monster that came his way in half. Ferio did much the same, and Clef destroyed many with his energy.
Umi and Fuu used their magic as well and wiped out many of the enemies' numbers. At least, the smell and broken glass remained. The hall was deathly quiet.
Suddenly, all noticed that Hikaru wasn't with them. Eagle knew what they were thinking and pointed to the room. "She's in there. She collapsed during the battle. She'll be out for a while."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TL: Personally, I liked this chapter much better since it had more action and it was longer, and Eagle saved Hikaru!!! Yay!
SR: Not bad, I mean it, not bad.
TL: To hear a compliment from SR? Wow! *gasp*
SR: Don't push it, dear.
TL: Okay, I don't want to ruin this perfect chapter with our blabbering, so we'll be going. Let's scram. --drags SR away--
SR: *reads from book* It is not good to force yourself to come up with ideas and put them into a story because then it will not be your true writing.
TL: Oh just do me a favor and shut up, won't you? Thank you!
SR: *turns back towards TL* Hmph! No appreciation towards friends whatsoever.
TL: *sigh* You seem a little testy today. Anyway, don't forget to review this when you're done, and I would hope for some constructive criticism, not just flames!
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The Way Fate Meant It To Be
Chapter 2-Fear's Creations
The next morning, everyone got up and dressed as usual. No sun rose, because there was no more sun. The sun was destroyed when Emeraude died, and when the people's hearts grew fearsome.
Hikaru longed for the warmth of the sun, and just for the light, but it could happen only after the other countries were defeated and the people felt safe at heart again. She remember the first time they were in Cephiro. There were actually trees and grassland...and life, and of course, a sun. But now, it was only rocky cliffs, sand, and rain.
She had quite forgotten about the incident that had occurred last night until she overheard Lantis discussing it with Clef. Then, it all came back to her. The whole thing. Clef waking her up, summoning the Rayearth, fighting Eagle, sitting down to make Eagle comfortable, the little talk, just everything with the details. She hurried over to Umi and asked for the condition of Eagle. Because Umi and Fuu both had been up long before Hikaru, they knew for fact from Lantis that Eagle was extremely sick, and he will die soon.
Hikaru was shocked. Eagle, commander of Autozam's starship, was dying? It didn't make sense! He should be as strong as Lantis! But then, she remember that she was supposed to be faithful to Lantis, and that she should not be worrying about how sick her own enemy is.
Later that day, Hikaru was treading through the halls toward the Living Quarters of the castle, when she passed Eagle's room without knowing it. The thing that drew her into the room was...Mokona! He was trying to tell her something, obviously, but when she didn't understand it for the fifth, Mokona just dashed in.
Eagle was very startled to see a furry creature hop into the room, but then remembered that it must be Mokona, a creation of Princess Emeraude. Lantis had told him when he was still in Autozam.
Hikaru peeked into the room and saw that it was where Eagle was kept! She stepped into the room cautiously and called for Mokona. "Mokona! Mokona! Where have you gotten to?"
Eagle was just as surprised for the second time that the Magic Knight was here as well. "Are you looking for that thing?"
Mokona was indignant at being called a "that thing" and let a string of "pu puu"'s for Hikaru to hear. "All right, all right. He doesn't like to be called a thing or a furry animal. His name's Mokona. I'm sorry if he caused you any trouble, er, Eagle of Autozam. We will be on our way now."
"No it's all right. He's rather cute, don't you think? And just call me Eagle."
Hikaru blushed and said, "My name is Hikaru. I must have told you last night, right before you passed out. I hope you're feeling all right. It was a good thing Fuu-chan put that shield around you when you were falling. You would have been killed if she hadn't."
"Thanks for saving me, then, Hikaru."
"No, when you have the time, you should go find Fuu, the blonde haired one, and thank her." She smiled at the dashing young man and beckoned Mokona to go.
"Wait!" Eagle called suddenly, although he had nothing in mind to say.
"Hmm?" Hikaru turned around. "Did you say something?"
"I-I needed to mention something, but, never mind. You go on."
"All right!" She smiled and waved. Then left with Mokona.
Eagle dearly wished that he could have kept her longer in this room. It was lonely, having no one to talk to. Lantis wouldn't come until late afternoon to check on him. It's going to prove to be a long wait.
Hikaru wondered why Eagle had called out to her before she left, then said nothing and told her to go on. What was he going to say to her? And Mokona didn't seem to be too happy either. He refused to let Hikaru hold him and walked alongside her. He seemed rather miffed about something.
* * *
"Damnit Eagle of Autozam! Damn you!" Geo said pounding his fist into his hand. He thought that his commander only wanted to sleep longer and so left him alone when he saw that "he" was still in bed, but it turned out to be a fake! Only two pillows put together! "Zazu, get the GTO ready. I'm going in after him. I know what he's trying to do, and he'll get himself killed trying."
Zazu nodded and ran off to the control room.
"Eagle, why didn't you listen to me, huh? I know what's good for you, but you don't seem to want my advice! Eagle, what have you done to yourself? Do you WANT to get yourself killed?" Geo asked the air. He loved Eagle as a younger brother and cared about him as a parent, but Eagle never listened, and because Eagle was the commander, and Geo the second-in-command, he could do nothing but obey. "Why, Eagle, why?"
A few minutes later Zazu came back, with a frown on his face. "Bad news, Geo. I couldn't unlock the GTO. Eagle must have changed the password before he left. There's no way you can go out there anymore unless we use the ship, but there's everyone else on board it," he said gravely. Although Zazu looked like a little kid with an aviator's helmet, he was actually the chief mechanic of Autozam. He loved gadgets and gizmos, and nearly died when he saw the Rune-Gods for the first time. He had been trying to see how they were made instead doing what Eagle had asked him to do, look up their profiles.
"Eagle of Autozam! Damn you!" Geo said half screaming. How could he save his commander if he couldn't go in his GTO? Eagle had thought of everything, hadn't he? Well, they'll get him anyway. "Zazu, full power the ship. Put it on ready. We're going to get our commander out of the castle whether we have the GTO or not. I am going to get our naughty Eagle back and teach him a lesson. Full power the ship!"
Zazu didn't dare contradict his elder. Geo was in a mad state, and it was best not to bother him when he was like that. Although just about everyone knew that using the ship to fight and invade a place instead of their mechas is a pretty stupid idea. "Right away, Geo!"
* * *
Lantis wondered around the castle, trying to find Hikaru. Where was she anyway? She couldn't be with Eagle, his heart turned to steel when he thought of that. But she couldn't be in her room either, because she usually only went into her room to sleep, rest, or go in with the other two Magic Knights. Perhaps she decided to visit the children. She certainly happened to love that little girl who asked me to give her the crown of flowers...
As he was hurrying to the Living Quarters, he heard loud coughing in one of the rooms. He followed the sound until he had stopped in front of a dimly lit room. He remembered that it was the room where he had placed Eagle, his former comrade, in. "Eagle? Is that you?"
Eagle quickly covered the blood stained spot where he had stooped over and stood up as erect as he could get. He wouldn't tell Lantis about his sickness, it would just give the enemy an advantage. "Yes? It's Eagle, commander of Autozam's warship. Lantis, is that you?"
Lantis changed his mind about going to the Living Quarters to find Hikaru. He decided to stay with Eagle...they had many things to talk over. "Eagle, I thought I heard someone cough."
"Oh, it's nothing. It was rather chilly on my warship. Lantis, won't you come in? It's not as if I'm going to bite, plus, I can't hurt you. All my weapons were confiscated, and the there's a wall transparent wall around me," he said drily.
"Well, then I don't think I'll mind staying a bit. I was looking for Hikaru Shidou, the one who helped you yesterday, but I don't know where she is. Besides, I promised to come see you this afternoon, didn't I? Did you have lunch yet?"
"No, but I'm not hungry, so don't go around troubling yourself. Lantis, I'll be straightforward with you. I've had this question in mind for a long time now, and I can't get it out of my mind. Why did you leave Autozam?"
Lantis knew the question would have come up one time or another during his little time there that day, so he was more prepared than surprised. "Eagle, I knew what Emeraude was going to do. I knew that she would do something as drastic as summoning the Magic Knights because I knew that she was in love with my brother, Lord Zagato."
"Then why did you come here in the first place if you knew she was going to summon the Magic Knights, and what did that have to do with you?"
"I don't know why I left, Eagle. I was foolish, I was curious...I couldn't stay in Cephiro because I didn't want to see what would become of my brother and my beloved Princess. You understand, don't you, Eagle?"
"But if you went back, you would have beared the pain anyway."
"Yes, I know, and knew it then, but I felt guilty as well. Eagle, I am not some mashin that has no feelings. I felt guilty to just abandon Zagato and pretend to not care that Emeraude is dead and so is he. I couldn't. You would have gone back too, Eagle."
"And so we meet again, but this time, as enemies instead of comrades."
"Yes, and I will defend the Crown of the Pillar for as long as I need to, because I will not let you become the new Pillar. Eagle, I know you mean only kindness and good towards Autozam, but being the Pillar of Cephiro is too harsh a job. You cannot love..." Lantis trailed off there because he was thinking of Hikaru and how if he had to become the Pillar he would have rather killed himself. Then he continued. "You cannot care about yourself, you can only think about Cephiro and pray for its future and people. Don't you see? It's too painful and against all laws of human nature."
"I understand, but I will not give up. I, Eagle of Autozam, do not give up easily because someone told me that my journey would be difficult. Even if I die, I will fight to the end. Lantis, I'm sorry, but I must remain your enemy."
"We had good times back then, didn't we, Eagle? When we first met each other we were contestants in a competition, but then we became friends. We were like brothers, and it's funny how fate turned us into enemies."
"But friendly enemies, Lantis, friendly enemies. If we weren't friend enemies, then we would be glaring at each other right now, trying to kill one another." Eagle laughed. It felt good to talk with Lantis again and laugh. He loved Geo, yes, as a brother, but Geo was not the same as Lantis. Geo cared more about his companion's wellfare and was like a parent, but Lantis was like a true brother.
"Yes, we're friendly enemies..."
* * *
Hikaru was sitting with a group of girls braiding flowers, and Umi and Fuu were playing tag with the other children when something rocked the whole place. A sweet little girl, Kimmy, lost balance and nearly fell from the "earthquake", but Hikaru grabbed her arm. The younger children were frightened out of their wits, but some of the older ones like Mara stayed calm.
"What was that, Umi-chan, Fuu-chan? Did the ground just shake?" Hikaru asked worried.
"I don't know but-"
And then BOOM! It came again and with it, ten large monsters crashing through the walls. They snarled and directed their attention on the children.
The smallest ones began to cry in earnest. They were too frightened to do anything but cry. Even the bravest of the boys began to tremble in fear.
"Children, hang on! Umi-chan, Fuu-chan, and I'll take care of these bad monsters! Don't be afraid! Fuu, cast a shield over them!" Hikaru shouted.
Fuu huddled the children together and cast her spell around them. They would be safe from harm for a while. "C'mon! We've got to defeat these monsters!"
Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu drew out their swords from their special gloves and prepared to fight. The most important thing was to protect the kids. It didn't matter if they got hurt, the children were more important.
On of the monsters attacked with it's teeth. It snapped its jaws at Fuu, but she brought her sword down swiftly and cracked its skull.
"Nice hit, Fuu-chan! Now if only we can take care of the rest of them just as cleanly!" Hikaru yelled out as a monster came charging toward her. Stay calm, don't grip the sword too hard. Just concentrate, and STRIKE! Another one was dead. As soon as their bodies crashed to the ground, they disappeared.
Soon, all of them were gone. The grass was dented in many places where they fell and the place reeked with their smell. "Is everyone all right?"
The children were numb with fear. They were watching in awe at the way the older "sisters" were killing them, but it still did not calm their fear.
"No one's hurt, Hikaru. Maybe it's for the best if we get them inside to their parents," Umi said. She walked to a girl that was crying silently and held her in her own arms to comfort her. "It's all right, Ani. Everything's all right. We're going to take you home."
Nobody fell like playing anymore, what with the smell, the dented grass, and the fear. Fear was everywhere. It would be a feat to try to calm everyone down. Even the Magic Knights' hearts were beating rapidly.
All three "babysitters" took a group of kids and took them "home". Some were too young to remember where they lived, they had to ask the older children to take them "home". Long after everyone was gone, Umi, Fuu, and Hikaru inspected the place. Only the walls the monsters had teared through and the grass were ruined, but it would still be costly to replace them. Costly in the form of mental energy, that is.
"I think someone needs to inform Clef, Caldina, La Farga, and everyone else about the whole incident. The whole castle should be on the alert now," Fuu said. She picked up a dropped hanky from one of the children and put it gently in her pocket to give back to the owner.
"I will inform Clef and Lantis. I think I know where they are," Hikaru said automatically. She left them with Mokona at her heels.
"Then I'll take Ascot and Caldina," Umi said thinking about Ascot.
"Well, that leaves me to La Farga, Ferio, and Presea I guess. Let's go!"
* * *
Lantis and Eagle were laughing over past memories when the room shook slightly. They both stopped at once and froze.
"Don't move, Eagle. I believe it's just another part of Cephiro crumbling, but it usually does not have such a big effect on the castle."
CRASH!
Monsters jumped through the ceiling windows and landed on feet outside the room in the hall.
"I think your guess is wrong, Lantis. Monsters are attacking," Eagle said gravely.
"Then stay, don't move! I'm going to fight them if there's not other way!" Lantis ran from the room and stopped in front of what must have been ten or twenty monsters.
Just then, Hikaru appeared in the hallway. "Lantis! More monsters? Oh no!"
Lantis turned at the sound of Hikaru's voice and asked, "What do you mean, more monsters, Hikaru? Do you mean they were where you just came from?"
"Yes, and the kids were frightened out of their wits. I was going to inform you and Clef about it, but bumped into this instead."
Just then a monster snorted and charged. It was big and bulky one with a tiny head. Lantis defeated it easily with one swipe and killed off two more. "Get help quickly, Hikaru!"
"I can't! It's too much for you alone to defeat, Lantis! Flame Arrow!" She blasted her flames at a row of monsters, and half of them were scorched and died.
Lantis wanted to shout at Hikaru and tell her it's for her own good if she left and went for help, but stopped in mid sentence when another attacked from the side. Swish, and it was in half. Another swish, and two more were writhing in pain.
Eagle couldn't help but hear what was going and used his last hidden weapon to blast the wall. If they were defeated now, then he would never become the Pillar of Cephiro. He had to help them. He raced out into the corridor to see more monsters around through the broken windows. He definitely needed their help.
"Eagle! What are you doing out of your room? I told you to stay where you were!" Lantis ordered while fighting off three monsters at the same time while Hikaru was blasting the newcomers with fire.
"I thought you needed my help from what I was hearing!" At that, he blasted two with his hidden weapon. They were dead before he could blink.
* * *
Umi suddenly felt a tremor go through her body. Something was wrong, and it felt like it was coming from the other side of the castle...where Hikaru was heading. Hikaru must be in trouble then! There were probably more monsters! She had to go find Ascot and Caldina quickly.
Fuu felt the same thing go through her. She also instinctively knew that someone, most likely Hikaru, was in trouble and started to run to Presea's room. "Presea! Presea! Hikaru's in trouble!"
Presea came out of her just as Fuu was about to pound on it. "Hikaru's in trouble? Tell me where! Quickly!"
"She's somewhere near the corridor leading to the throne. Monsters were just attacking the Living Quarters, and she was going to inform Lantis and Clef of it, but I don't think she quite reached Clef."
"Thank you! Come with me, Fuu, she'll need your help too!"
"I can't! I have to find La Farga and Ferio! Do you know where they are?"
"La Farga's in his room as usual, and Ferio's with La Farga I believe, although I don't know why."
"Arigatou, Presea!" Fuu sped down the hall, and Presea raced back the way Fuu had come.
* * *
It was a losing battle for Hikaru, Lantis and Eagle. They tired quickly, but the monsters wouldn't stop coming. For every monster they killed, three more replaced them.
Hikaru's arm was failing her. Her sword was too heavy, but she had to go on. She couldn't let this happen to her, she had to fight to keep these creatures at bay. But the monsters must have sensed that she was tired because they next attacked her with a group of four. She was helpless.
"Lantis! Eagle!" she cried before they muffled her sounds. Eagle saw this, and he shot all four of them with one hit. He was just in time to see Hikaru waver before he found himself racing to her side and catching her before she collapsed. "Lantis! Hikaru needs help here!"
He looked at the girl in his arms. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was shallow, but she was alive, thank the lord.
"Eagle! You take care of Hikaru! Take her into your room! I can't leave them alone or else they'll start wondering all over the place!"
Hikaru's eyes flitted open and she stared at the person holding her. "Lantis?"
"No, it's Eagle, but you don't have to know me right now. We'll get you help, Magic Knight." Eagle said smiling. He noticed her crimson eyes. They weren't evil looking, in fact, they had depths in them. They were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. And the girl herself was beautiful as well.
Hikaru smiled and muttered something about Lantis before falling completely into darkness. Eagle picked her up as if she was nothing but a piece of paper and walked quickly into his room and closed the door. He gently placed her on his bed and removed her sword. She would be out for a good while.
Eagle didn't want others to get wrong impressions with the closed door and all, so he hurried back into battle. Lantis was quickly failing as well, but miracles of miracles, help arrived just then.
"Hang on everyone!" Presea ordered as she performed her own magic. Ascot summoned his beasts and set them to attack the monsters. La Farga chopped every monster that came his way in half. Ferio did much the same, and Clef destroyed many with his energy.
Umi and Fuu used their magic as well and wiped out many of the enemies' numbers. At least, the smell and broken glass remained. The hall was deathly quiet.
Suddenly, all noticed that Hikaru wasn't with them. Eagle knew what they were thinking and pointed to the room. "She's in there. She collapsed during the battle. She'll be out for a while."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TL: Personally, I liked this chapter much better since it had more action and it was longer, and Eagle saved Hikaru!!! Yay!
SR: Not bad, I mean it, not bad.
TL: To hear a compliment from SR? Wow! *gasp*
SR: Don't push it, dear.
TL: Okay, I don't want to ruin this perfect chapter with our blabbering, so we'll be going. Let's scram. --drags SR away--