Chapter Two: The Face of the Enemy
"Autozam?!" Hikaru and Yukito yelped, as the machine floated there before them. Then the mecha attacked, heading for Hikaru first. It was stopped in its tracks by Yukito.
"This must be the single male Knight that the legend speaks of. He's an impressive fighter, no doubt about that!" Eagle thought, as he parried a blow from Yukito's sword.
"I must say that I am quite impressed with you, Magic Knights! Now, I must be off, but we must do this again! Bye now!" Eagle said, before retreating back to the battleship.
"Ooooooooh! That guy had nerve!" Umi said, angrily.
"Are you all right, Yukito-san?" Fuu asked, as she placed a hand on Yukito's shoulder.
"I'm fine, Fuu-san, but I get the distinct feeling that he was just toying with us." Yukito said, as he simmered down.
"You might be right, Yukito. But all of this feels so much like a dream." Umi murmured.
"But it's all too real. We could die here this time." Yukito said, softly.
"I don't know what will happen to us in Tokyo if we die in Cephiro, but we wouldn't go back unharmed." Fuu said, grimly.
"Yet…..I will fight." Hikaru said, with quiet determination.
"We are Magic Knights. I'm not sure of our powers, but, I will also fight.
"I too, will fight. I want to prevent any more sorrows befalling us or this land." Yukito said, in agreement.
"I will also fight, so I won't regret it when I return to Tokyo." Fuu said, with a smile.
"Fuu-chan, Umi-chan, Yukito-chan, together, we fight!" Hikaru said, with finality.
"Yes!" Yukito, Umi and Fuu said in unison. As they all flew back to the castle, Yukito wondered what else was going to happen to them this time around.
"This time it is different than our first adventures here. There is nothing more to gather, nor are we to become anything more than we have already become. There's more to this crumbling away than what Cephiro itself is letting on." Yukito thought, as they all touched down in the castle keep. Once their feet touched the ground and the Mashin had gone back to their dimension, their final armors gave way to the ones Clef had given them earlier.
"So this is what Clef had meant when he'd said that our armor will react to our hearts!" Hikaru said, when she'd noticed that her armor had reverted.
"Hey! Are ya'll all right?" a familiar voice asked, from the shadows.
"That voice! I've heard it from somewhere!" Hikaru thought, as the owner of the voice emerged.
"It's Ferio!" Umi shouted, as they all rushed forward to greet him.
"Hey, Ferio-kun! Long time, no see, ne?" Yukito asked, as he shook Ferio's hand.
"Yeah." Ferio replied, with a smile.
"Hey, Ferio, what's with the wardrobe?" Umi asked, when she'd noticed that Ferio's clothes were different.
"What? Do they look weird?" Ferio asked, suddenly self-conscious. Umi shook her head.
"No, it's not that." Umi said.
"You look just like a prince from a fairy tale, Ferio!" Hikaru said, then saw Ferio's expression change. Ferio's eyes took on a sad look.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Ferio. I didn't mean…….." Hikaru trailed off when Ferio shook his head. Then, to their surprise he kneeled before them.
"Magic Knights, summoned from another world to save Cephiro, I thank you, for granting the wish of my elder sister." Ferio murmured. The four Magic Knights stood frozen in numb shock; was Ferio saying what they thought he was saying?!
"Are you saying that your sister was………she was………"Yukito stammered.
"Your sister…………I…………." Fuu sobbed as tears trickled down her cheeks.
"Just before the Pillar disappeared, I heard my sister's voice. She was very happy to be able to pray for the man she loved as a lover instead of as Pillar. If only in her last moment." Ferio said, gently, as he held Fuu in his arms.
"Ferio-kun, why didn't you tell us that Princess Emeraude was your sister?" Yukito asked. Ferio sighed.
"I didn't even know, until the end." Ferio said, softly.
"What do you mean?" Umi asked.
"A long time ago, shortly after Emeraude became the Pillar, I asked her to seal my memories away. I didn't want to get in her way, so I figured that it would be best if I didn't remember her and lived my life alone. Towards the end, Emeraude's powers weakened, and the seal on my memories fell away. I remembered." Ferio said, with pain in his voice.
"I understand………." Yukito murmured, as Ferio turned and looked at all of them.
"Come on, there's still some people that want to see you." Ferio said, as he led the four down one of the hallways. When they got to a door, Ferio stood aside, and allowed the door to swing open. There was a flash of pink and Hikaru was swept up into a hug.
"Long time, no see, little missy!" Caldina shouted, cheerfully.
"Caldina-san!" Fuu said, happy to see the dancer again. Then a tall, blond haired man stepped from the room.
"Lafarga!" Hikaru cried, happy to see the guard captain.
"Hey! Don't forget about me!" a boy's voice shouted, as its owner dashed into the room.
"Syaoran-chan! And Meiling too!" Hikaru said, overjoyed to see their faces. Yukito smiled as he watched the reunion from a safe distance. Then Caldina turned and looked at the corner nearest the doorway.
"Don't hide. Come on over." Caldina called, to two male figures that stood in the shadows. Both of them ducked back behind a pillar.
"You……Why are you hiding? Come here!" Caldina shouted, as she flipped over to the corner and started dragging the two men out of the shadows.
"B-but………" one stuttered.
"What if you're wrong, Caldina?" another voice asked, sounding agitated by this. Against their will, the two men were dragged from their hiding place and into full view. One was recognized almost immediately.
"It's Innouva!" Fuu yelped, as she leaped back and got her sword out.
"I told you this was a bad idea, Caldina." Innouva muttered, then proceeded to head in the opposite direction.
"Hold on, Fuu. Innouva's on our side now." Ferio said, gently, getting Fuu to lower her sword.
"He is?" Fuu asked, as Innouva was prevented from going any farther by Caldina.
"Yeah. Don't worry." Ferio said, as Innouva was brought back to the circle.
"You're Innouva, right?" Hikaru asked.
"Yes." Innouva replied, tensely.
"Then I am Hikaru Shidou!" Hikaru said, with a smile. Innouva nearly fell over himself. Then it was the other man's turn to get acquainted.
"Looks like the type of clothes Ascot would wear………Are you a Palu too?" Umi asked, as she looked up at the tall young man. The young man stuttered a response, while Caldina burst into fits of laughter.
"Are you joking? This kid is Ascot!" Caldina sputtered.
"WHAT?! No way! The last time I saw you, you were THIS tall!" Umi yelped, motioning with one hand how tall Ascot was when they had last met. Yukito chuckled as Ascot tried to save whatever dignity he had left and failed miserably.
"The days ahead should be interesting." Yukito murmured, so only Ferio could hear him.
"Yeah. But that isn't even half of what you're about to see." Ferio replied, as a door swung open and a tall man strode in, carrying an unconscious girl in his arms. The entire group fell silent as the man gently laid the girl down.
"What happened?!" Hikaru asked, as she looked at the young woman.
"She didn't evacuate in time." The man replied, his voice quiet.
"That voice is familiar. Where have I heard it before?" Yukito wondered, as he took in the man's features. The man was tall, with short, jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes. he was dressed in black armor that was trimmed with silver and had aquamarine sets. Despite the fact that he seemed familiar, Yukito took in other aspects of the stranger; he was pale and had a haunted look in his eyes. There was also some pain mixed into his expression as well.
"Hey. Where is that blood coming from?" Umi asked, when she'd noticed that blood was dripping down the man's arm.
"This is the blood of monsters that still roam Cephiro." The man replied, then looked straight at Yukito. Yukito shuddered slightly at the look the other man gave him; it was an icy look that chilled him right to his bones. But he did not back down; he would never back down to anyone while his fellow Magic Knights' lives were at stake. Then Hikaru noticed that some blood was dripping from the man's hand as well.
"You are hurt, after all!" Hikaru said, as she gently grasped the man's hand and took a closer look. The man seemed surprised by Hikaru's concern.
"Hey, Fuu, use your magic!" Hikaru said, as she held the stranger's hand still. Fuu nodded.
"Healing Wind!" Fuu shouted, as the green wind swirled in and took care of the man's arm. The stranger then silently stood up and faced the three girls and single boy, regarding them with a look Yukito could not read.
"So, you are the Legendary Magic Knights………" the man said, evenly. Before they could reply, Lafarga entered the conversation.
"Lantis! What are you doing here?!" Lafarga asked, angrily, as he looked at the other man with narrowed eyes.
"I see that I am not welcome here, at all." Lantis muttered, leaving the group, as quickly as he'd entered.
"That voice……..I've heard it before………." Hikaru murmured.
"It should be familiar, since Lantis is the younger brother of Sol Zagato." Lafarga said, dropping yet another bombshell onto the Magic Knights. Then Yukito lowered his head and closed his eyes, shaking his head sadly.
"There's yet another victim of the legend." Yukito said, pityingly.
"Zagato's brother………." Hikaru muttered, as she watched Lantis disappear down the hall.
"I was surprised at first, too. His voice sounds so much like Zagato's." Caldina said. As the conversation wore on, Yukito found himself thinking of something else.
"What'cha thinkin' about, Yukito?" Ferio asked, noticing the thoughtful expression on Yukito's face.
"I was just thinking…………about how much Lantis-kun reminds me of a friend back home." Yukito said, getting the others' attention.
"You have a friend back in Tokyo like Lantis?" Hikaru asked.
"Yeah. My friend, Kinomoto Touya, was exactly like Lantis before we became friends." Yukito said.
"Yukito, you're one in a million." Umi said, with some exasperation in her voice.
"Now you have me confused, Umi-san." Yukito said, as he shook his head.
"Well, with a personality like hers' no wonder." Innouva muttered, getting an outburst from Umi, while the rest of them laughed. Later that night, Clef stood alone in his observatory, concern marring his handsome features. Then he sensed that someone was standing at the door and made a commanding gesture with his staff, silently ordering the doors to open. He was surprised to see Umi standing there.
"What's wrong, Umi? Couldn't you sleep?" Clef asked.
"No…….." Umi murmured, sadly, then asked, "Can I join you?"
Clef looked startled, then smiled gently.
"Of course." Clef said, summoning a chair to appear, so Umi could sit.
"Thank you." Umi said, as she sat down.
"How are Hikaru, Fuu, and Yukito doing?" Clef asked, trying to make conversation.
"I think they are still sleeping." Umi said, quietly.
"Umi, if you can't sleep, I can give you a potion." Clef said, but paused when Umi called out to him.
"Clef……….I've wanted to apologize to you for a long time……" Umi said.
"Apologize?" Clef asked, confused.
"When I first came to Cephiro, I didn't realize how important this country was to you. I wouldn't listen to you seriously……I was really bitchy……At first, I just kept thinking why me….! I didn't realize what a painful battle it was. I'm sorry." Umi sobbed.
"Umi, you are making a mistake." Clef said, gently.
"Huh?" Umi asked, as she looked up into Clef's eyes.
"Anyone would act like that if they were called from a different world and got caught up in a battle they had no part in. There is no reason for you to apologize. In fact, I am the one who must apologize. Not only did I keep the truth behind the Legend of the Magic Knights from you, but I did nothing to help." Clef replied, guiltily.
"That's not true! If we didn't have your help, our hearts would never have been able to grow and mature! And you gave us Mokona, who did so much for us!" Umi shouted, as she leaped up from her chair and hugged Clef, burying her face in his robes. At first, Clef was shocked, then his expression softened and he gently smoothed down Umi's long flowing hair.
"Young lady from another world…….Legendary Magic Knight, who saved our Cephiro. I am glad that I could see you again. To thank you for what you've done. This time, you must think first to protect yourselves. The magic that I gave you, and the weapons that Presea made for you, you must use for yourselves." Clef said, as he tilted Umi's chin up so that she was looking at him. For a moment, time stopped; as two people suddenly realized that something was happening in their hearts, something special.
"Clef……..I………." Umi began, but was prevented from saying anything more by Clef.
"I know." Clef said, gently. Umi smiled, her eyes sparkling like the ocean that had long since disappeared from Cephiro. With a slow, gentle movement, Clef lowered his head and kissed the Magic Knight of Water. When the two parted and looked at one another, Umi knew, from that moment on, that her heart would always belong to Clef. Clef also knew, that his heart would forever belong to Umi.
"Do you think you'll be able to sleep now?" Clef asked.
"Yes. Thank you, Clef." Umi replied, breathlessly, her smile as radiant as sunshine on ocean waves. Clef smiled and took her by the arm.
"I will escort you back to your room, if you don't mind, of course." Clef said, still smiling.
"No complaints from me, Clef." Umi said, as they both left the observatory.
Fuu sighed as she gazed out at the turbulent skies that surrounded the castle. This certainly was not the sky she remembered.
"Fuu? What's up? Is something wrong?" Ferio asked. Fuu silently shook her head.
"Did you have a bad dream?" Ferio asked.
"I just couldn't sleep." Fuu murmured, sadly.
"Same here." Ferio said, as he and Fuu watched lightning dance across the sky. Then Ferio turned and looked at Fuu.
"It seems to me that you've lost a little weight." Ferio said, with concern in his golden eyes. Fuu didn't respond.
"In the legendary battle, the ones who were hurt the most were you, the Magic Knights." Ferio said, then pulled out two orbs from his tunic.
"Those are………….!" Fuu started, trailing off and staring in disbelief at them.
"One of them is the orb I gave you." Ferio said, quietly.
"I knew that I put it in my pocket, but when we got back to Tokyo, I couldn't find it anywhere." Fuu said, looking a little frantic at that point.
"You tried to find it then?" Ferio asked. Fuu blushed furiously.
"For some reason, it returned to me." Ferio said, as he gazed at the two orbs. Then he did something that Fuu wasn't expecting, he gave one back to her.
"I'd like for you to take this once more." Ferio said, gently.
"I can't accept anything so precious from you!" Fuu said, instinctively knowing where they had come from.
"My sister knew all along that she would never be together with her beloved while in Cephiro. That's why she gave me these thinking that at least I could." Ferio said, as Fuu's tears started anew.
"Don't cry. I don't want to hurt your feelings. I can never remember my sister smiling wholeheartedly. She would smile gently, but her eyes were always sad. So, could you smile for me? When I remember you, I want it to always be with a smile on your face." Ferio said, as he gazed into Fuu's emerald green eyes.
"Prince Ferio………." Fuu murmured.
"You can call me Ferio." Ferio replied.
"Ferio………." Fuu again murmured, as she held on to Ferio, taking comfort from the fact that he was there for her.
Yukito sighed as he watched the lightning dance across the sky. He would always wonder why he was so fascinated with lightning.
"Well, I appears that I am not the only one who can't sleep." Innouva muttered, as he joined Yukito at the window.
"My memories are keeping me awake. It seems that the darkness we saw beyond the barrier has spread to engulf all of Cephiro. The thing is, I can't figure out why." Yukito said, as he looked away from the window and at Innouva.
"Hmm………that's a puzzle that still confounds me, as well, Magic Knight." Innouva murmured.
"Innouva-kun, how is it that you survived? We didn't see you at the castle before it crumbled." Yukito said, as Innouva shifted his weight nervously.
"Well, you see, Alcione and I were the only ones of Zagato's minions left to have not turned to the Magic Knights' side. While we were evacuating the castle, she and I got separated. I never knew what became of her." Innouva said, softly.
"I see. On another note, do you know anything about Lantis?" Yukito asked.
"Other than the fact that he was Zagato-sama's brother? Not much. But he is basically the only reason why I came here when Cephiro continued to deteriorate. I wanted to keep my loyalties to Zagato's family, so I allied myself to Lantis." Innouva said, honestly.
"I understand. Thank you for talking to me, Innouva-kun." Yukito said, as he went back to watching the turbulent night sky. With a silent nod, Innouva left, leaving Yukito to his own thoughts.
"I hope we find out whatever is causing this soon. I don't know how long this castle will last." Yukito thought, with a sigh.
Hikaru gasped as she bolted upright. Once again she'd had the same nightmare, only this time, it was clearer. With a sigh, Hikaru decided to give up on sleeping and walked out into the silent hallway. As she turned and walked down the hall, she could hear a child crying.
"Crying?" Hikaru wondered, as she followed the sound to its source. She was stunned to discover Lantis trying to comfort a little girl.
"It was bad………..the monster was gonna eat me!……….I don't want to get eaten!" the little girl sobbed.
"Don't worry, nothing is going to eat you. It was all a bad dream, nothing to be afraid of." Lantis said, gently.
"Are you sure?" the little girl asked. Lantis nodded.
"Quite sure." Lantis replied. Hikaru was amazed by how gentle Lantis was being with the child.
Okay……..hey! Who's that?" the little girl asked, as she pointed at Hikaru. Lantis abruptly turned and looked, for a few seconds looking startled, then his expression faded into nothing.
"Um…………………." Hikaru stuttered, as she gazed at the cold eyes of Zagato's brother.
"T-they told me that you are Zagato's younger brother." Hikaru started, nervously. Lantis gazed at her, then sighed, his eyes taking on a sad look.
"That's right." Lantis replied, somberly.
"I……….your brother……..I was the one who………" Hikaru trailed off, as Lantis gently ushered the girl out of the room and turned again to face Hikaru.
"You can hit me if you want!………No, I know that just hitting me won't be enough! Just…….please…….don't hurt Umi-chan, Yukito-chan, and Fuu-chan! I know it's selfish of me! I know. My friends weren't themselves after we returned to Tokyo! I was feeling depressed, so they tried to cheer me up, but………..I know they cried when they were alone……….even Yukito-chan, who tried to be brave for us all………….So, if you have to hit someone, just hit me!" Hikaru cried, desperately. Lantis sighed and shook his head.
"I don't want to hit you." Lantis said, getting a surprised 'Huh?!' from Hikaru for a response.
"You, Magic Knight, were summoned from another world. I have no reason to blame you." Lantis said, calmly.
"But!……………I……………" Hikaru stammered, stopping when she saw the sudden gentleness in Lantis' eyes.
"You, too cried when you were alone, didn't you?" Lantis asked. Hikaru could feel the tears coming and could do nothing as they spilled down her cheeks. Without even realizing it, she hugged him and cried. Lantis could see that the deaths of Princess Emeraude and his brother were tearing her apart.
"I can only imagine what it did to those other three Knights." Lantis thought, as he tried to comfort the sobbing girl.
"There is no reason for you to blame yourself. The only one I blame, is Cephiro." Lantis said, gently.
"Cephiro?" Hikaru asked, when her sobs had subsided.
"Yes. Cephiro." Lantis said, as his eyes took on a bitter look.
"Does he mean the Pillar System?" Hikaru wondered, as she began to relax. Lantis watched as Hikaru drifted into exhausted slumber. He felt sorry for this young girl and her friends; they'd been through so much. They had learned hard lessons the hard way, and the road before them was long.
"They've come so far, but they still have so much farther to go. How much more pain can she take?" Lantis wondered, as he carried Hikaru back to her room. He spotted Yukito standing in front of one of the windows, mahogany eyes distant and far removed from his surroundings.
"He reminds me of Eagle, in some ways. I guess this time will determine how strong these Magic Knights really are." Lantis thought, as he took Hikaru into her room, laid her on th bed, tucked her in, then departed. Yukito never even noticed that Lantis had come and gone.