TL: I'm planning on making this chapter a lot longer than the last, but you never know, so, it isn't definite. For those of you who actually like this (not that that's many of you), it's not going to be a happy ending! This isn't the last chapter (I don't think), but be prepared for a sad ending!
SR: Is this your first angst?
TL: Well, sort of. "We'll Meet Again in Heaven" was some what angst, but it wasn't entirely angst, because Taichi did end up happy in heaven, didn't he? But this one...I suppose it could be called totally angst, because no one ends up happy. They only end up satisfied that nobody became the new Pillar.
SR: Ah...okay, got it. Let's go. --grabs TL and hauls her off--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Way Fate Meant It To Be
Chapter 5-Caught in the Middle
Hikaru's eyes widened in surprise. What in the world was Eagle DOING?
Eagle was starting to realize his action now and how embarrassing it must be. He had impulsively KISSED someone. Someone he shouldn't be kissing. Someone he couldn't love. Someone who was supposedly his enemy. He wanted to pull back, but something kept him from doing it.
They were just standing in a darkened hallway, Hikaru in her nightgown, and Eagle in his suit. It would have been a romantic scene, if Hikaru hadn't had second thoughts. She realized that she loved Eagle, a lot, but as much as Lantis? She couldn't say. She loved them in different ways. But has Lantis ever mustered up the courage to actually kiss her? No, of course not. He hadn't even hugged her in any way before, just give her a small peck on the cheek, or a pat. Did Lantis truly love her?
Eagle knew this was wrong. Lantis, his best friend, his "big" brother, loved this girl, and now, he was kissing her, but...just this once, he wanted to laugh in Lantis's face and say, "Look, I've got what you haven't got. You're not the big brother anymore." He finally pulled back though, due to lack of air. "I-I'm so sorry Hikaru! I didn't know what I was doing!"
Hikaru blushed. The kiss had been...nice, but now the situation was getting awkward. "Eagle? Why did you do that?"
"I-I really don't know, Magic Knight. I guess this is just my first time experiencing 'love'. I'm sorry, I know you love Lantis, and I shouldn't be doing this, but..."
"It's all right. I-I love you to. I love Lantis as well, but, I don't know, I love both of you very much."
"Really?" So he hadn't made a complete fool of himself. "You do love me, do you now? But won't Lantis be angry?"
"Lantis won't know," Hikaru said. She was not being herself. Sure, she's seen other, more popular people kiss in front of the whole school before, but she's never experienced one herself. Was she now, an official slut?
A sigh escaped Eagle lips. Good, or else Lantis would have his skin for sure. "So, you were going to walk me to my room, Hikaru?"
Hikaru fidgeted a little. "No, I think I can trust you, if I love you. I suppose you can find your way back..."
Eagle was rather disappointed. He wanted to, for just this one night, do something that he couldn't have done as a commander. For just tonight, he wanted to be the regular young man that he was supposed to be, not some person trying to take over a country. For just one night, he wanted to experience what other people enjoyed so much, "love". "All right, then I'm supposing I'll be seeing you some time tomorrow. Have a good night."
"Good night." She turned away abruptly and brushed past Eagle to get into her room. If she saw his face again tonight, she would start crying for sure.
Eagle knew that this was his chance now. His chance to get out. He couldn't stay anymore. He was finally left to his own devices. He finally had the whole castle before him, because everyone else was most likely asleep. But no, he wasn't going to try to find the Proof of the Pillar. No, that was his past mission.
He had committed a crime far more daring and dangerous than anyone could have thought it to be. He was the commander of Autozam's warcraft, but he had found love. He had dared to love, and that was a sin. If he continued to love Hikaru, then he could not be the Pillar, for the Pillar could never think for themselves, therefore, cannot love. He couldn't become the Pillar. He had to go back.
The once determined, confident, and daring young man was now broken. He was no longer determined or confident. He was lost. He wanted to follow his mind, which screamed, "What are you doing? You're giving up a country's future just to be with some girl who's supposed to be your enemy???", and yet, the choice his heart offered sounded so good to him. He wanted to be with Hikaru, because he loved her...he wanted to kick Lantis out of her life, and yet, he also wanted Lantis to still be his brother. He wanted everyone he had ever loved or cared about in his life to be happy and stay with him forever. He wanted to end this war and misery. He wanted to follow his heart, but he couldn't decide.
The sound of his footsteps bounced and echoed off the walls of the hallway that he was treading in. The waning moonlight just barely illuminated his way. He didn't know where he was going, just following his footsteps because they seemed to have a mind of their own. He knew he wasn't going back the way he came. He knew he wasn't going back to his room, but Eagle knew that his feet were taking him somewhere, and he let them have it their way.
Hikaru, Hikaru, Hikaru. That was all Eagle could think about on his midnight voyage. Hikaru was always on his mind. Even when he was pondering about what Geo and Zazu and the rest of the people he lead were doing, his mind wondered back to Hikaru. She was cute and beautiful. A rare combination, and even then, nobody could be like Hikaru. Her big caring heart, even for those who are her enemies. Her large, crimson eyes that seem to take you in, that seem to know what you long for. And that hair. Of course, it's not as neat, or beautiful as the other two Magic Knights', but it was wild. It was red and wild, but it was cute.
A blast of cold air hit him. It just came out of the blue, and he didn't know where he was. He could have been in a dragon's lair for all he knew. It was pitch dark, and cold air was rushing past him, as if hurrying to get into the castle...into! He was going OUT of the castle! His feet had taken him right to the front entrance, for to the left of the hall from where he came from was the golden door that marked the throne room. His heart was leading him to the entrance or exit of the castle...which meant that his mission was no longer to obtain the Proof of the Pillar. He knew that he had to leave, even though he hadn't even uttered a good-bye to Hikaru or Lantis.
Not pausing to see where he was going, he started to walk. He didn't care if he was going in the wrong direction, he was going to find his FTO and leave this place from which he had suffered and learned more than he could have ever suffered and learned in life. He was going to leave this castle of misery and do something unbelievable.
It was only an inkling of the plan. It was his only hope as well...because he had failed his father's wish, and he needed to redeem himself.
Eagle used his last weapon which he had hidden so well until now to search the area for his FTO. It was not hidden very well. Fairly easy to find. Eagle knew that he could have found it without using his radar.
Cephiro's castle looked like a large crystal with three spikes growing out of it. A masterpiece of architecture, if it could be put that way. There was the front entrance and many more side exits and entrances...for the citizens to use when Emeraude...was still around. There was a large "storage" room/area where the FTO was kept, and it had an unlocked entrance into it.
The FTO was untouched with the exception of the flame arrows Hikaru had set on him during the battle. Otherwise, it looked new. Someone must have been there to polish it, because old scratches were gone, and if there was sunlight, it would have sparkled. Although Eagle has never been separated from his robot for this long (although a few days is not a long time), he still knew his way around. He climbed nimblely into the cockpit and started the mecha up. The noise was loud beyond comprehension, and Eagle was sure that sooner or later, probably sooner, someone would come running and find him trying to steal the FTO back. So he hurried. It could not fly, although that was what the FTO did best, because the ceiling was not high enough, and when it tried to move, it couldn't.
"Damnit!" Eagle had forgotten about the ropes. Knowing that if he didn't cut them quickly, he would surely be found, so he climbed down in a rush and blasted the ropes apart. They did not snap easily even then. They must have been made stronger with the guru's magic, but by shooting at them several times in a row, Eagle was able to break their grip. Already, he heard voices outside.
"Someone or thing's trying to use the mecha, Master Mage!" it seemed to be Lantis's voice, although it didn't seem low enough. "We must hurry and discover the culprit!"
Eagle knew he had to try. If he didn't, then he would never get away. He climbed back into the FTO and restarted the engine. This time, he found that its legs could move. Now time to move out. Eagle knew that it wouldn't matter if he blasted the door, because the FTO could always be refuelled and reloaded, but having the heart that he was born with, he would not risk killing innocent bystanders, so he charged, and he also prayed that they would hear him in time to move away from the door.
And sure enough, Clef heard. "La Farga! Ascot, Lantis! Everyone, move away from the door! It's going to blast its way OUT!" Clef flung himself out of the doorway, knocking down Presea with him.
And just down, the metal doorway fell apart. The FTO was running, and then, it took off, all within fifteen seconds. Eagle wanted to whoop for joy. He was in the air again, in his FTO, and he would no longer be a prisoner in that hated castle...and love would not hinder him for long anymore. He would carry his plan out soon.
Clef lifted his head just the tiniest bit and saw the FTO rising and rising and rising, until it became a speck. He was starting to pick himself when someone beside him gasped from pain. He had accidentally fell on Presea's arm, and it was at an odd angle. "Presea!"
Although Presea never showed her feelings, it did not mean that she didn't have feelings at all, but when Clef had called her name, she relished in the way he said it, though her face was still bland. This was the first time he had called her her name in a long time...actually, her sister's name, but everyone knew her as "Presea", so she was as much "Presea" as her sister had been. "Clef?"
"Are you all right? I think I fell on your arm! He stooped down (although not very low, because he was already so short ^_^) to examine her arm. He lifted it delicately as if it would crumble in his hands if it was handled without care. His fingers were calloused and bruised, but his touch was gentle. "I'm sorry Presea, but I think your arm's broken."
Presea nodded. "I think I'll be all right. I can heal myself. What about the others?" she had just noticed that everyone else was staring at them.
"Huh? Oh right!" Clef carelessly dropped Presea's arm, and whipped around. Everyone was staring at the two of them as if they were doing something they shouldn't be doing. "Is everyone else all right?"
Some cleared their throats, some shuffled their feet, and some coughed, but they all replied yes in a mysterious way. What surprised him the most that Umi was smiling as if she knew something that everyone else wanted to know desparately. "Yes, we're all right. What about you...and Presea? How is her...arm?"
It seemed like Fuu had asked the question, but her voice seemed to have a trace of unusual amusement in them.
Presea glanced up and blushed. She knew what they were thinking. And the mage seemed to have realized as well. "All right then! So the commander is gone, and we're left quite alone again. Shall we go back inside?"
Glad that Clef had suggested going inside instead of going back to examining Presea's arm, they strolled back in. Presea would have hung back with Clef and thanked him, except too much suspicion was aroused already, and there would be rumors flying around everywhere by the next morning if she was seen walking with him.
Eagle, meanwhile, had already reached his ship. He safely docked his FTO and strided onto a waiting platform where Geo and Zazu were waiting. They seemed to be torn between worry and relief. "Eagle! What the hell do you think you were doing? Going off to enemy territory like that in the middle of the night and locking my GTO so that I couldn't follow you, huh? You could have gotten yourself killed!" Geo reprimanded, although he was giving him a fierce bear hug at that exact moment.
Zazu, because he was so short, could not reach Eagle and hug him, so I he could do was shake Eagle's hand continuously and bounce up and down yelling, "Our commander is back! Our commander is back!"
Eagle, knowing that Zazu was extremely happy, did not want to break the news to him. He could tell them another time, when he was prepared for what he was going to do. "Let's go inside, shall we?"
Geo slung his arm around Eagle's shoulders, and Zazu was jumping ahead, waiting to get inside the ship. "C'mon, Geo! Make our commander go faster! I want to hear what happened!" And of course, the "what happened" part indicated what the Magic Knights were.
Eagle laughed and began his story, even though the weren't inside yet, as he had wanted. He wanted them to understand the story and accept it, instead of look disgusted. The story was simple to tell, but its meaning was far harder and more profound than it sounded. They would have to be able to understand the story to accept what he would be doing.
"So...Zazu, Geo, I fell in love."
Zazu stopped skipping, and Geo dropped his arm and crossed them. They were both giving him goggling looks as if he was some sort of alien. "You what?!"
"I fell in love, Geo. I fell in love with the red Magic Knight of Fire. She is cute and beautiful, and I fell in love with her. I know it's hard for both of you to accept, but you're going to have to understand."
"B-but, how'd your mission go? You were supposed to find the Proof of the Pillar, weren't you?" Zazu asked disappointed.
"Y-yes, Zazu, but I failed my mission because I fell in love. I only returned because I knew I would fail to find the Path because I fell in love. Hikaru, the red Magic Knight has informed me that it is impossible to think and care for yourself as a Pillar, and to love someone if you are the Pillar is a great sin. That is why Princess Emeraude summoned the Magic Knights and asked them to kill her."
"But you can't, Eagle! What about Autozam? What about your country? What about the promise you made to your father?"
"I have found out recently, as I was brooding over things in my cell, that I am a coward. I am a coward because I let something very dangerous called 'love' get in my way, and I toyed with it. If I was truly determined to become the Pillar of Cephiro, then I wouldn't have let it get in the way, and I would have succeeded already. I don't think my heart is truly set on becoming the Pillar anymore, Zazu, Geo, therefore, I cannot lead this campaigne anymore, and I do not deserve to be commander."
Perhaps it was a little too early to tell them, but he couldn't tell them a day later and say, "Oh, I forgot to mention that I resign." He had to tell them now, because he was going to make the announcement tomorrow, and they had to be prepared for tomorrow and what surprises it might bring. "You're going to have to accept my choice, Geo, although you don't like it, because I have not resigned officially yet, and you are still under my command. Please respect my wishes and now, please leave."
They were still goggling at him, but this time, Geo was angry. Very angry in fact. "Now look here, Eagle, you can't just resign any old time! Maybe you failed to find the Proof of the Pillar, but you still have to try! You can't just give up now because you fell in love with some enemy!"
"I am glad you are loyal to me and my wishes, Geo, but I wish to resign for my own, personal reasons, and in case you haven't figured it out yet, I would not last long as a Pillar, because I have loved, and will continue to love. To become the Pillar, I must not let those things tempt me, but I did, and I fell for it. And even if I did go back now and became the new Pillar, sooner or later I would die, and that would be no good to both worlds because then they're back to square one with barren land, polluted air, etc."
"But Eagle! That's what you setted out to do! You setted out to become the new Pillar of Cephiro and make Autozam a safe place once again!" Zazu exclaimed outraged. His beloved commander was resigning??? That was just not possible! Eagle could NOT be like this!
"In case you haven't notice, Zazu, Geo, but I have a weak and soft side too. I fell in love with Hikaru, because I let myself, that was my weak spot, and my weak spot has ruined it all. I used to think that I would have made a fine Pillar and commander, but now, I don't. Please leave, I need my rest after my journey. It was tiring, and the bed there wasn't comfortable at all."
Geo and Zazu closed their dangling jaws and filed out of the room. Eagle did need his rest, now that his sickness was getting worse. Plus, they could argue with him later, when the whole army was on their side.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TL: Was this chapter as enjoyable as the others, people who are still reading this fic? I hope it was! The ending is coming soon, and it is not happy! Like I mentioned, this will be my first angst, and it will not end happily. None of the characters will end up happy, and the readers might be outraged.
SR: About time you made an angst!
TL: *snorts* What do you care? Anyway, I'm wasting space, and I'm not supposed to fill the whole entire page with A/N's, so I'm going! Ja!
SR: Is this your first angst?
TL: Well, sort of. "We'll Meet Again in Heaven" was some what angst, but it wasn't entirely angst, because Taichi did end up happy in heaven, didn't he? But this one...I suppose it could be called totally angst, because no one ends up happy. They only end up satisfied that nobody became the new Pillar.
SR: Ah...okay, got it. Let's go. --grabs TL and hauls her off--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Way Fate Meant It To Be
Chapter 5-Caught in the Middle
Hikaru's eyes widened in surprise. What in the world was Eagle DOING?
Eagle was starting to realize his action now and how embarrassing it must be. He had impulsively KISSED someone. Someone he shouldn't be kissing. Someone he couldn't love. Someone who was supposedly his enemy. He wanted to pull back, but something kept him from doing it.
They were just standing in a darkened hallway, Hikaru in her nightgown, and Eagle in his suit. It would have been a romantic scene, if Hikaru hadn't had second thoughts. She realized that she loved Eagle, a lot, but as much as Lantis? She couldn't say. She loved them in different ways. But has Lantis ever mustered up the courage to actually kiss her? No, of course not. He hadn't even hugged her in any way before, just give her a small peck on the cheek, or a pat. Did Lantis truly love her?
Eagle knew this was wrong. Lantis, his best friend, his "big" brother, loved this girl, and now, he was kissing her, but...just this once, he wanted to laugh in Lantis's face and say, "Look, I've got what you haven't got. You're not the big brother anymore." He finally pulled back though, due to lack of air. "I-I'm so sorry Hikaru! I didn't know what I was doing!"
Hikaru blushed. The kiss had been...nice, but now the situation was getting awkward. "Eagle? Why did you do that?"
"I-I really don't know, Magic Knight. I guess this is just my first time experiencing 'love'. I'm sorry, I know you love Lantis, and I shouldn't be doing this, but..."
"It's all right. I-I love you to. I love Lantis as well, but, I don't know, I love both of you very much."
"Really?" So he hadn't made a complete fool of himself. "You do love me, do you now? But won't Lantis be angry?"
"Lantis won't know," Hikaru said. She was not being herself. Sure, she's seen other, more popular people kiss in front of the whole school before, but she's never experienced one herself. Was she now, an official slut?
A sigh escaped Eagle lips. Good, or else Lantis would have his skin for sure. "So, you were going to walk me to my room, Hikaru?"
Hikaru fidgeted a little. "No, I think I can trust you, if I love you. I suppose you can find your way back..."
Eagle was rather disappointed. He wanted to, for just this one night, do something that he couldn't have done as a commander. For just tonight, he wanted to be the regular young man that he was supposed to be, not some person trying to take over a country. For just one night, he wanted to experience what other people enjoyed so much, "love". "All right, then I'm supposing I'll be seeing you some time tomorrow. Have a good night."
"Good night." She turned away abruptly and brushed past Eagle to get into her room. If she saw his face again tonight, she would start crying for sure.
Eagle knew that this was his chance now. His chance to get out. He couldn't stay anymore. He was finally left to his own devices. He finally had the whole castle before him, because everyone else was most likely asleep. But no, he wasn't going to try to find the Proof of the Pillar. No, that was his past mission.
He had committed a crime far more daring and dangerous than anyone could have thought it to be. He was the commander of Autozam's warcraft, but he had found love. He had dared to love, and that was a sin. If he continued to love Hikaru, then he could not be the Pillar, for the Pillar could never think for themselves, therefore, cannot love. He couldn't become the Pillar. He had to go back.
The once determined, confident, and daring young man was now broken. He was no longer determined or confident. He was lost. He wanted to follow his mind, which screamed, "What are you doing? You're giving up a country's future just to be with some girl who's supposed to be your enemy???", and yet, the choice his heart offered sounded so good to him. He wanted to be with Hikaru, because he loved her...he wanted to kick Lantis out of her life, and yet, he also wanted Lantis to still be his brother. He wanted everyone he had ever loved or cared about in his life to be happy and stay with him forever. He wanted to end this war and misery. He wanted to follow his heart, but he couldn't decide.
The sound of his footsteps bounced and echoed off the walls of the hallway that he was treading in. The waning moonlight just barely illuminated his way. He didn't know where he was going, just following his footsteps because they seemed to have a mind of their own. He knew he wasn't going back the way he came. He knew he wasn't going back to his room, but Eagle knew that his feet were taking him somewhere, and he let them have it their way.
Hikaru, Hikaru, Hikaru. That was all Eagle could think about on his midnight voyage. Hikaru was always on his mind. Even when he was pondering about what Geo and Zazu and the rest of the people he lead were doing, his mind wondered back to Hikaru. She was cute and beautiful. A rare combination, and even then, nobody could be like Hikaru. Her big caring heart, even for those who are her enemies. Her large, crimson eyes that seem to take you in, that seem to know what you long for. And that hair. Of course, it's not as neat, or beautiful as the other two Magic Knights', but it was wild. It was red and wild, but it was cute.
A blast of cold air hit him. It just came out of the blue, and he didn't know where he was. He could have been in a dragon's lair for all he knew. It was pitch dark, and cold air was rushing past him, as if hurrying to get into the castle...into! He was going OUT of the castle! His feet had taken him right to the front entrance, for to the left of the hall from where he came from was the golden door that marked the throne room. His heart was leading him to the entrance or exit of the castle...which meant that his mission was no longer to obtain the Proof of the Pillar. He knew that he had to leave, even though he hadn't even uttered a good-bye to Hikaru or Lantis.
Not pausing to see where he was going, he started to walk. He didn't care if he was going in the wrong direction, he was going to find his FTO and leave this place from which he had suffered and learned more than he could have ever suffered and learned in life. He was going to leave this castle of misery and do something unbelievable.
It was only an inkling of the plan. It was his only hope as well...because he had failed his father's wish, and he needed to redeem himself.
Eagle used his last weapon which he had hidden so well until now to search the area for his FTO. It was not hidden very well. Fairly easy to find. Eagle knew that he could have found it without using his radar.
Cephiro's castle looked like a large crystal with three spikes growing out of it. A masterpiece of architecture, if it could be put that way. There was the front entrance and many more side exits and entrances...for the citizens to use when Emeraude...was still around. There was a large "storage" room/area where the FTO was kept, and it had an unlocked entrance into it.
The FTO was untouched with the exception of the flame arrows Hikaru had set on him during the battle. Otherwise, it looked new. Someone must have been there to polish it, because old scratches were gone, and if there was sunlight, it would have sparkled. Although Eagle has never been separated from his robot for this long (although a few days is not a long time), he still knew his way around. He climbed nimblely into the cockpit and started the mecha up. The noise was loud beyond comprehension, and Eagle was sure that sooner or later, probably sooner, someone would come running and find him trying to steal the FTO back. So he hurried. It could not fly, although that was what the FTO did best, because the ceiling was not high enough, and when it tried to move, it couldn't.
"Damnit!" Eagle had forgotten about the ropes. Knowing that if he didn't cut them quickly, he would surely be found, so he climbed down in a rush and blasted the ropes apart. They did not snap easily even then. They must have been made stronger with the guru's magic, but by shooting at them several times in a row, Eagle was able to break their grip. Already, he heard voices outside.
"Someone or thing's trying to use the mecha, Master Mage!" it seemed to be Lantis's voice, although it didn't seem low enough. "We must hurry and discover the culprit!"
Eagle knew he had to try. If he didn't, then he would never get away. He climbed back into the FTO and restarted the engine. This time, he found that its legs could move. Now time to move out. Eagle knew that it wouldn't matter if he blasted the door, because the FTO could always be refuelled and reloaded, but having the heart that he was born with, he would not risk killing innocent bystanders, so he charged, and he also prayed that they would hear him in time to move away from the door.
And sure enough, Clef heard. "La Farga! Ascot, Lantis! Everyone, move away from the door! It's going to blast its way OUT!" Clef flung himself out of the doorway, knocking down Presea with him.
And just down, the metal doorway fell apart. The FTO was running, and then, it took off, all within fifteen seconds. Eagle wanted to whoop for joy. He was in the air again, in his FTO, and he would no longer be a prisoner in that hated castle...and love would not hinder him for long anymore. He would carry his plan out soon.
Clef lifted his head just the tiniest bit and saw the FTO rising and rising and rising, until it became a speck. He was starting to pick himself when someone beside him gasped from pain. He had accidentally fell on Presea's arm, and it was at an odd angle. "Presea!"
Although Presea never showed her feelings, it did not mean that she didn't have feelings at all, but when Clef had called her name, she relished in the way he said it, though her face was still bland. This was the first time he had called her her name in a long time...actually, her sister's name, but everyone knew her as "Presea", so she was as much "Presea" as her sister had been. "Clef?"
"Are you all right? I think I fell on your arm! He stooped down (although not very low, because he was already so short ^_^) to examine her arm. He lifted it delicately as if it would crumble in his hands if it was handled without care. His fingers were calloused and bruised, but his touch was gentle. "I'm sorry Presea, but I think your arm's broken."
Presea nodded. "I think I'll be all right. I can heal myself. What about the others?" she had just noticed that everyone else was staring at them.
"Huh? Oh right!" Clef carelessly dropped Presea's arm, and whipped around. Everyone was staring at the two of them as if they were doing something they shouldn't be doing. "Is everyone else all right?"
Some cleared their throats, some shuffled their feet, and some coughed, but they all replied yes in a mysterious way. What surprised him the most that Umi was smiling as if she knew something that everyone else wanted to know desparately. "Yes, we're all right. What about you...and Presea? How is her...arm?"
It seemed like Fuu had asked the question, but her voice seemed to have a trace of unusual amusement in them.
Presea glanced up and blushed. She knew what they were thinking. And the mage seemed to have realized as well. "All right then! So the commander is gone, and we're left quite alone again. Shall we go back inside?"
Glad that Clef had suggested going inside instead of going back to examining Presea's arm, they strolled back in. Presea would have hung back with Clef and thanked him, except too much suspicion was aroused already, and there would be rumors flying around everywhere by the next morning if she was seen walking with him.
Eagle, meanwhile, had already reached his ship. He safely docked his FTO and strided onto a waiting platform where Geo and Zazu were waiting. They seemed to be torn between worry and relief. "Eagle! What the hell do you think you were doing? Going off to enemy territory like that in the middle of the night and locking my GTO so that I couldn't follow you, huh? You could have gotten yourself killed!" Geo reprimanded, although he was giving him a fierce bear hug at that exact moment.
Zazu, because he was so short, could not reach Eagle and hug him, so I he could do was shake Eagle's hand continuously and bounce up and down yelling, "Our commander is back! Our commander is back!"
Eagle, knowing that Zazu was extremely happy, did not want to break the news to him. He could tell them another time, when he was prepared for what he was going to do. "Let's go inside, shall we?"
Geo slung his arm around Eagle's shoulders, and Zazu was jumping ahead, waiting to get inside the ship. "C'mon, Geo! Make our commander go faster! I want to hear what happened!" And of course, the "what happened" part indicated what the Magic Knights were.
Eagle laughed and began his story, even though the weren't inside yet, as he had wanted. He wanted them to understand the story and accept it, instead of look disgusted. The story was simple to tell, but its meaning was far harder and more profound than it sounded. They would have to be able to understand the story to accept what he would be doing.
"So...Zazu, Geo, I fell in love."
Zazu stopped skipping, and Geo dropped his arm and crossed them. They were both giving him goggling looks as if he was some sort of alien. "You what?!"
"I fell in love, Geo. I fell in love with the red Magic Knight of Fire. She is cute and beautiful, and I fell in love with her. I know it's hard for both of you to accept, but you're going to have to understand."
"B-but, how'd your mission go? You were supposed to find the Proof of the Pillar, weren't you?" Zazu asked disappointed.
"Y-yes, Zazu, but I failed my mission because I fell in love. I only returned because I knew I would fail to find the Path because I fell in love. Hikaru, the red Magic Knight has informed me that it is impossible to think and care for yourself as a Pillar, and to love someone if you are the Pillar is a great sin. That is why Princess Emeraude summoned the Magic Knights and asked them to kill her."
"But you can't, Eagle! What about Autozam? What about your country? What about the promise you made to your father?"
"I have found out recently, as I was brooding over things in my cell, that I am a coward. I am a coward because I let something very dangerous called 'love' get in my way, and I toyed with it. If I was truly determined to become the Pillar of Cephiro, then I wouldn't have let it get in the way, and I would have succeeded already. I don't think my heart is truly set on becoming the Pillar anymore, Zazu, Geo, therefore, I cannot lead this campaigne anymore, and I do not deserve to be commander."
Perhaps it was a little too early to tell them, but he couldn't tell them a day later and say, "Oh, I forgot to mention that I resign." He had to tell them now, because he was going to make the announcement tomorrow, and they had to be prepared for tomorrow and what surprises it might bring. "You're going to have to accept my choice, Geo, although you don't like it, because I have not resigned officially yet, and you are still under my command. Please respect my wishes and now, please leave."
They were still goggling at him, but this time, Geo was angry. Very angry in fact. "Now look here, Eagle, you can't just resign any old time! Maybe you failed to find the Proof of the Pillar, but you still have to try! You can't just give up now because you fell in love with some enemy!"
"I am glad you are loyal to me and my wishes, Geo, but I wish to resign for my own, personal reasons, and in case you haven't figured it out yet, I would not last long as a Pillar, because I have loved, and will continue to love. To become the Pillar, I must not let those things tempt me, but I did, and I fell for it. And even if I did go back now and became the new Pillar, sooner or later I would die, and that would be no good to both worlds because then they're back to square one with barren land, polluted air, etc."
"But Eagle! That's what you setted out to do! You setted out to become the new Pillar of Cephiro and make Autozam a safe place once again!" Zazu exclaimed outraged. His beloved commander was resigning??? That was just not possible! Eagle could NOT be like this!
"In case you haven't notice, Zazu, Geo, but I have a weak and soft side too. I fell in love with Hikaru, because I let myself, that was my weak spot, and my weak spot has ruined it all. I used to think that I would have made a fine Pillar and commander, but now, I don't. Please leave, I need my rest after my journey. It was tiring, and the bed there wasn't comfortable at all."
Geo and Zazu closed their dangling jaws and filed out of the room. Eagle did need his rest, now that his sickness was getting worse. Plus, they could argue with him later, when the whole army was on their side.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TL: Was this chapter as enjoyable as the others, people who are still reading this fic? I hope it was! The ending is coming soon, and it is not happy! Like I mentioned, this will be my first angst, and it will not end happily. None of the characters will end up happy, and the readers might be outraged.
SR: About time you made an angst!
TL: *snorts* What do you care? Anyway, I'm wasting space, and I'm not supposed to fill the whole entire page with A/N's, so I'm going! Ja!