*I was thinking this morning why does March 3 seem like a familiar date? And then when I was surfing the net this morning I figured out why. I was looking at an MKR site and it said that March 3 was Umi's b-day so I thought for this special occasion and because I already had this chapter finished that I would post this morning instead of waiting. Sooo here it is!*
Chapter 6 The Sea
It took them all day to get to the ocean. When they reached it they were met with a new obstacle.
"We have a problem," Umi announced the minute they landed.
"What?" Hikaru asked.
"That's the ocean," Umi pointed to the water that crashed onto the sand.
"You're beginning to sound like Fuu-chan," Hikaru mumbled, and Fuu laughed.
"But we're on the beach that's the ocean," Umi snapped as she pointed again, and they understood.
"How are we supposed to find a stone in the ocean?" Kio muttered, "I don't know if you've realized this but it's gigantic."
"No really?" Hikaru asked dryly.
"I'll go, it's my duty, my element. Ascot could you summon me something that swims?" Umi turned to him, and he nodded.
"But I'm not letting you go alone," he informed her.
"I'll be fine, I love the water, and I trust it. I'm sure I'll be led right to the stone," Umi smiled at him grateful to have such good friends.
"Exactly my thoughts," Kio broke her smile which made Ascot hate him more.
Umi groaned, "You're not entitled to an opinion."
"Sure I am since I'm the one that's going to be going with you. No, no arguments, it's the most logical arrangement. You obviously are not changing your mind about going, and these three are needed alive. If something happens to you I'll be there to stop it, and you can continue," he said simply.
"And I'm to trust you with my life?!" Umi demanded, and he nodded.
"Of course."
She rolled her eyes.
"Umi-san it does make sense," Fuu told her softly, and Umi pointed at her harshly as she spoke.
"You stay out of this, you're just trying to push me together with him because you think I'm lonely!"
Fuu blushed and backed off when Kio grinned, and Umi was still glaring.
"Aw Umi-chan be nice for once!" Hikaru urged, and Umi groaned again.
"Not you too!?" she whined, but it seemed she had lost two to one, "Fine," she muttered.
Ascot was thinking about refusing to summon a creature for Kio when he felt his hands being lifted, and two animals called out, "What?" he whispered.
"Things are weird in Cephiro," Kio winked, and Ascot got suddenly jittery. Something was wrong with the way that just happened, but no one noticed except for him and…Kio… He was going to say something, to question, but they had already mounted and left when the realization hit him.
"No! Umi!" he shouted after her, and Fuu and Hikaru looked at him curiously.
"She'll be fine," Hikaru assured him.
"I don't know," Ascot's face was pale, and they got worried.
"What do you mean you don't know? She'll be okay right? Right?!" Hikaru was getting frantic.
"Why wouldn't she be okay?" Fuu asked looking utterly confused.
"Because he was able to control my magic. He was able to overcome my Summoning," Ascot looked out to the ocean.
"What?" Fuu whispered.
"I wasn't going to summon an animal for him, I didn't trust him, but somehow he forced me to. Now he's out there with Umi…power like that…"
"We have to go after her!" Hikaru shouted.
"But those were the only two animals that I'm friends with that can swim," Ascot protested seeming defeated and depressed.
"Then we'll go by air. You'll help us won't you?" Fuu pet the Pegasus gently, and it threw its head up and whinnied glad to help get its rider back, "Good come on," Fuu pulled Hikaru shakily onto the Pegasus, and Ascot got back on the eagle, "Hikaru-san hold on to me because you've never ridden before," Fuu instructed as the Pegasus took off at full speed, the eagle just behind it.
§§§~~~
"Ugh!" Umi moaned after they made it far out to sea with no sign of the stone, "I'm in pain!" not only was she hurt from the battle, but she hadn't ridden in quite awhile and though her skills had come back her resistance had not, and she was saddle sore.
He laughed, but it was malicious, and she got suddenly nervous.
"Uh…"
"He was calling for you," he said bluntly, and Umi looked at him curiously.
"Who?" she asked turning her head to one side.
"The Summoner, back there, and the Master Mage, before, when you left the castle," he told her softly, and her eyes widened.
"But how did you…?" she choked on her words.
"Oh I know a lot about you," his eyes were full of malice, "I've been watching you for quite some time because you see, speaking to animals isn't my only gift."
"Oh gods…"
"It's a shame though, you really are beautiful," he forced the animal closer to her, and he ran his hands through her silky blue hair.
She froze in fear, "What…" she had to regain herself by taking a choked breath, "What are you going to do with me?"
"Nothing," he kissed her softly, "Unless of course you refuse to come with us," he finished, breaking the kiss that showed only hate and greed.
"Us?" Umi squeaked.
"With my master and I. I believe you've met her."
Umi screamed then, not sure what to do, "FUU! HIKARU! SOMEBODY HELP!"
§§§~~~
They heard her in the distance and knew that she was in terrible danger. Umi's voice was never that panicked. She was in a constant state of calm, like the ocean that ran through her veins, something was seriously wrong. They pushed the animals to their limits trying with gentle words to get them to go faster toward the girl, begging them with body and mind and words to move if only to reach their friend in time.
§§§~~~
"They won't be able to get to you in time. Umi, please come with me. We could be perfect together; no one would hurt you I promise," he pleaded with her, eyes seemingly gentle and almost sincere.
"Never!" Umi spat, and he grew hostile.
"Now listen, I don't want to have to kill you, so please be smart and come with me. The other two won't be given this chance, but you…you can save yourself."
"I won't go anywhere without them, and I won't abandon Cephiro!"
"Then I have no other choice," he bowed his head and snapped his fingers as the woman appeared, "Master," he bowed to her and disappeared as she hovered over Umi on the flying wolf.
"So Water Knight," she cackled, "We meet again. I must commend you, you survived my attacks. You won't be so lucky this time."
Umi summoned her sword to her hands and prepared herself for the hit planting her feet firmly on the creature's back. Luckily Ascot had summoned her a large creature, but not too large. She had barely enough room to stand.
The woman held out her hands, and Umi blocked the blow with her sword. The dark energy faded in the light of the sword, and she glared at Umi as she hit her again, harder. Umi again blocked it.
"You've gotten better," she commented but threw open both hands. The magic spiraled behind Umi and around to her back. She spun and opened her hands sending spirals of Water out to meet the dark magic and destroy it. She fell to her knees as the woman hit her in the back and screamed in torment coughing up blood.
"Umi!" Ascot shouted as they flew near the scene.
"Stay back!" the woman opened one hand and hit the two flying creatures as they shrieked and tried to stay out of the water. If they fell into it that would be it, their wings would be wet, and they would have no way to get out.
"No!" Umi screamed and stood, jumping up and throwing her sword hard against the woman. It hit her open hands and blood gushed out. She screamed and looked at shaking hands as Umi smiled grimly.
"My name is Umi Ryuuzaki, the Magic Knight of Water and Donner of Celes, I will not let you endanger this land that I love or hurt my best friends. Koori no Yaiba!" The spirals of ice flew at the woman in front of her as she shrieked and was ripped apart retaliating with more of her dark magic. It hit Umi's sword, but she was weak from the attack and fell into the deep ocean. She looked up once more the salt stinging her eyes before she closed them and passed out…
*I meant to say this last chapter but completely forgot. My friend has this totally awesome fanart site. (Sailormoon, Magic Knight Rayearth, Dragonball, and some stuff of her own is included) It's not that normal kid stuff you see this is high quality professional work. She does mostly pencil drawings but she's been working with paints lately. If you like fanart or just really pretty things you should definitely check it out. She just updated yesterday too. It's at http://venuscandychild.tripod.com she likes feedback almost as much as I do so could you sign her guestbook if you do go? Arigato and ja ne! ^.^*