Mizuuma took in the scene with a complete sense of numbness. She didn't even completely register what she saw though she knew what was going on.
Everyone was standing back except Umi, Clef and Hebi. Umi had tears streaming down her cheeks, and Mizuuma had never seen her father look so terrified. She slowly turned to what they were staring at. She gasped and ran into Takeru who caught her gently. She didn't know what to do, and she realized her mother was feeling the same.
"Umi," Yukito said softly which only made her cry harder. How could he be standing there?
Somehow Mizuuma was numb to all of it, strangely unattached, "We have seen Earth; there is nothing left."
Now Yukito turned to Hebi who also had tears in her eyes, though they were tears of anger and betrayal. He came toward her and reached out to her. She offered her hand, but he shook his head and reached to the other hand, "Give me this," he tried to grab for the Dark Blade, but she pulled away.
"How could you look at her like that?!" Hebi demanded in obvious anguish, "As if-as if you-you…"
"As if I love her?" Yukito's eyes were dark, his voice hostile," It's because I do Hebi; I always have, always will."
For a long time she was silent.
With Yukito's words Clef's hands clenched his staff, and he struggled with all his might not to raise it.
"But she killed you!" Hebi finally managed.
"For the last time! She did not," Hikaru couldn't stay quiet any longer.
Yukito, as if just noticing them, bowed to Hikaru and Fuu, "You have gotten much stronger."
"Arigato," they both muttered, and he turned back to Hebi.
"Umi did nothing but defend me, that Blade that you're holding killed me. Now let me have it so I can destroy it, and everything can be put right again."
She disregarded his words, "Tell me you love me," she pleaded, voice trembling.
He shook his head.
"Tell me!" she screamed, and everyone else was silent.
"No Hebi, I won't lie to you like that. I can tell you though," he came close and ran a strand of her hair through his fingers, "I never wanted to hurt you. I can't tell you what you want to hear though because I would be lying. There is only one person I've ever loved," here his eyes met Umi's.
Umi came forward and gently touched his face and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace, "I missed you," she whispered only for him.
"I thought I'd never feel you in my arms again. I've wanted to hold you for so long," he told her gently, and she laughed slightly. He pulled her away a bit and pulled a strand of hair from her eyes that shone brightly, "You're still as gorgeous as I remember."
All the while anger and tension grew in the room.
Fuu was the one who saw Hebi lunge, "Umi!" she shouted and threw her friend out of the way.
Clef and Yukito both offered a hand up, and she looked from pools of blue to meadows of green and stood on her own.
"Now it's complicated," she whispered and looked at Mizuuma, her daughter. No, she scolded herself, our daughter, ours, mine and Clef's. She remembered the first time they met, so gentle, so understanding. And then silent when Yukito claimed her love; silent because he wanted her happy, but still he loved her and watched out for her. The way she felt when they touched, kissed…was this something she was willing to give up?
But Yukito had died for her, if he hadn't she was willing to give her whole life to him. She knew he loved her, and she loved him. The first time they kissed they broke away trembling. He was fiery, and he knew her. He would go to the ends of Cephiro for her, and she knew it. He was willing to take Selece and a Master Mage on for her. She was so confused.
She saw her mother's conflict but didn't want to see the result. She turned and ran from the castle; she didn't know where she was going or why. She was just getting out.
"Mizuuma," Takeru whispered and turned and went after her.
"Mizuuma!" Umi called, and was about to leave, but Fuu caught her arm and shook her head.
"I don't think you're the person she wants to speak to right now. Let Takeru cool her down, and she'll be fine."
"I'll go," Clef said quietly and turned, walking from the castle.
"Clef," Umi reached out and closed her eyes.
"Umi…I…" Yukito took her hands, "I didn't want to cause this for you. I never wanted to…I never thought I would…I mean…"
"You weren't supposed to want her!" Hebi screamed, and her tears were unstoppable, "It was all for nothing…" she raised the Dark Blade, and Hikaru met her sword from bringing it down on Umi.
"Hebi enough," Yukito's voice was as strong and as angry as Umi remembered it, and he turned and relieved Hikaru of the fight, drawing the Blade of Cephiro. With every swing the Blades turned darker and brighter.
'It's been a long time Yukito,' the Dark Blade hissed, and Umi's eyes widened, 'Must I kill you again?'
"No," she whispered and drew her own sword.
"Umi-chan," Hikaru tried to stop her, but she shook her head.
"I will not see him lost to that Blade again," she turned and called to Hebi, "Your quarrel is not with him, and you know it, raise that Blade against me."
"Umi, no I won't let you," Yukito looked deep into her eyes, and she shook her head. She couldn't speak; she had never done this before, she was inexperienced. He laughed slightly, "You never tell me no."
"Get used to it," she informed him and raised her sword, "But I won't lose you again, I couldn't take that."
Hebi attacked and threw her sword hard onto Umi, who blocked it, and winced from the force of the blow, the force from her anger.
"Umi-san you won't be able to stand up to that Blade; it's only counterpart is the Blade of Cephiro," Fuu sounded terrified.
"Umi-chan you have to let Yukito fight; you'll be killed!" Hikaru begged.
"Please Umi," but she didn't even hear Yukito, all she heard was the ringing of the two swords.
Hebi's anger was unstoppable, and the Dark Blade was loving it. It began to grow deeper and darker shades of black until it was unintelligible. Umi screamed as Hebi brought it down on her one more time.
§§§~~~
Takeru found her quickly, as he always did and watched in silence as she cried near the water, letting her tears flow down the creek. She closed her eyes and tried to push away her tears, but couldn't and eventually gave the struggle up altogether. She whispered into the water all her injustices, and the way she was tired.
"I have barely begun to live my life," she told the water, "Just barely, and I'm already hurt. Everyone I've ever loved has never loved me back; everyone that I wanted has always turned the other way. My parents are on the brink of separation because of someone from her past, and I don't know what I'll do if anything happens to them. I thought that their love was pure; it was something I looked forward to, but now I don't know. I've lost faith in love."
He watched in awe, not sure how to come near her without startling her but wanting with all his heart to come near.
"And I'm truly not worthy," she added quietly, and his eyes widened, "I truly don't deserve the Rune-God of Storm because I am weak," she bowed her head and curled into a ball, crying into the creek, "I don't want it this way. I loved Earth, I loved it, because…because…" she never said why because Clef came from the Forest and glared at Takeru fiercely, but went near his daughter.
"Mizuuma."
She turned and smiled weakly at him, "Hi…"
"I know what you're thinking, and well…" he couldn't say that she didn't have to worry because he thought she probably did, "No matter what happens," here was a better approach, "Your mother and I will always love you. None of this was your fault."
"But dad," she shook her head and wiped away her tears, "It all was. I wasn't worthy enough for my Rune-God, and that was the hope that we needed. I wasn't worthy enough to Don him, and they were the key to destroying Hebi and the Dark Blade. If I had been worthy I could have stopped this all."
"Mizuuma don't think that," he scolded, "You were worthy, you are, they are just stubborn. You see, the Guardians, they…" he didn't know how to explain this exactly, "They are very full of themselves," he said and glared toward where he knew Takeru was, "They think that no one is worthy of the Rune-Gods they raised. There is nothing you could have done to make them believe that you were. You did all you could, if this is anyone's fault it's mine. I shouldn't have given in so easily. I could have fought Hebi, but I was scared. I was scared for me, but mostly I was scared for you and your mother. I didn't want to lose you, but in thinking that I might have already lost her…" he closed his eyes, and a tear fell down his cheek. All her visions were coming true…except.
"Oh my God," she whispered and stood, drawing her sword and running toward the palace once more.
Clef ran after her, and found that Takeru was right beside him, "This is your fault you know."
He stayed silent.
"I take that as you know that you've destroyed her. I swear my life on it, after this is over I'm going to kill you."
He stayed silent and drew his sword as they neared the palace.
They ran around the corner and found what they had feared. Umi was lying on the ground, unconscious, and Hebi was struggling with Yukito for her last bit of blood.
"Umi!" Clef wasn't even thinking when he threw himself down to her and touched her face gently, cupping her chin in his hands.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked around her. She tried to sit but there was a deep wound in her side. She winced and turned, "I love you," she told him quietly, "I always have."
"I know that, sh…be quiet…you'll hurt yourself," he touched the wound and saw it was the same that had killed Yukito.
"Don't touch," she pulled his hand away.
"Umi-san…" Fuu raised her hands.
"No Fuu, don't try, you know that this kind of wound isn't healable," Umi shook her head, and tears fell down her cheeks, "You know… Mizuuma," she called to her daughter who came by her side, "I love you too. Always remember that."
"I will…" Mizuuma cried and closed her eyes tight, "Mom, please don't die."
"That's not true!" Fuuchou burst out, and everyone looked at her, "It's not, because Misao had a wound worse than that, and I healed it." She drew her sword and put it near Umi's wound. Slowly vines wrapped around the sword and spread onto Umi, healing her.
"What?" Yukito turned and looked at the Knight of Earth with a new respect. In his vulnerability Hebi lashed out and hit him with her sword. He fell to the ground, not wounded, just surprised, and she looked even more surprised. She stared at the sword and smiled as she neared Umi, who was just gaining life.
"Stay away from her," Mizuuma's voice was icy as she met the Dark Blade.
"Mizuuma!" Kojishi rushed forward, but Shinji met her sword before she could get there.
Fuuchou looked around with terrified eyes. She knew she was vulnerable to attack because she had no way to defend herself when she was using her sword to heal Umi.
Misao smiled at her and stood near her, hovering, with his sword drawn.
"Kojishi don't!" Hiroji shouted, but she didn't listen. She listened to her heart as she always did, and she felt the way that the sword moved and met the master swordsman swing for swing.
"How is she doing this?" he whispered, but shook his head and added a burst of magic. She closed her eyes and whispered a few words and a onrush of heat threw itself at her attacker. He shouted and jumped out of the way of the magic. She smiled a cruel smile and brought her sword on his vulnerable side. The blood fell onto the floor.
He glared and threw his sword into his other hand; he was worse with it, but the next burst of magic was stronger, and she was thrown to the ground.
Hiroji stood in front of her, but she struggled to stand. She tried to stand, but fell back, and then stood once more, wobbly and slowly raised her sword, "Kojishi you're in no condition to fight," Hiroji called behind him, all the while watching his brother nervously.
"Kojishi what are you doing?!" Hikaru screamed, and Lantis tried to stop her as well.
"I'm doing what needs to be done, for the good of Cephiro," she responded, and Hiroji's eyes widened.
"Then you are worthy," he whispered and closed his eyes, raising his arms over his head, "Flamespirit!"
"What?" Takeru and Misao turned and looked at him with a look of disbelief.
A Chinese Dragon with deep red scales and black leathery wings flew from the sky, and landed next to Kojishi. She stared, with a shocked expression and was thrown into a burst of heat. She looked down and saw that her armor and her sword had evolved. She turned her sword around in her hands and saw that it had gotten a tad longer, and the hilt had grown more elegant. Now entangled in the beam of Sun was a Dragon that looked like the one in front of her.
She walked up to it and ran her hands along his back, "Wow…"
Hiroji looked down and closed his eyes, "I am relieved," he whispered, but they all saw that he didn't want to be. He didn't want to have to leave her.
"What do you mean?" Kojishi asked him and turned to look at him from the Dragon.
"I mean that you no longer need a protector; you no longer need a Guardian. I am free of my duties to you," he said softly, more gently for himself than for Kojishi.
"But I thought we were friends, I didn't think that you were just my Guardian," she protested.
Shinji just stared at the Dragon that snarled at him with terrified eyes.
His eyes widened at her words, "I-I…"
"Friends always look out for each other, Guardian or no," she told him, and he slowly smiled.
"You're right," he responded, and some of the tension was released.
Takeru turned his head as Misao smiled at Fuuchou who smiled back.
Mizuuma screamed as she hit the ground. Her sword flew from her hands, and she looked terrified as Hebi approached.
"I can't kill your mother; it would be impossible because I signed my word in magic, I would be killed as well. I'll watch her suffer slowly, kill herself because she let her daughter die."
"No," Umi tried to sit, but she was still injured, and Fuuchou held her back, with Clef's help.
"Hebi," Yukito struggled to stand, but she paid him no mind as she came nearer and nearer Mizuuma.
Fuuchou was in no place to help her, so she thought fast, "Mizuuma your sword, remember?!"
Mizuuma smiled and remembered; she stretched a few fingers, "Come!"
The sword flew into her hands, and she jumped up and began another battle with Hebi and the Dark Blade.
"How is she taking that?" Lantis whispered, and Ferio shook his head.
"She's strong, like her mother," Yukito said softly.
"Why are we not fighting?" Clef growled and tried to keep from fighting Yukito.
"She doesn't need help, this is their battle," Fuu said softly, "It always has been."
"We're to sacrifice our children because it's their battle?" Clef demanded.
"No," Hikaru shook her head, "We're to trust our children because we've taught them well," and so, as destiny had planned it the new Magic Knights were left with the battle of the Dark Blade as the old Magic Knights had been, and the Magic Knights before them.
"Kojishi, Hiroji, get on," the Dragon called Flamespirit urged, and they did as he said. He took off and stretched out mighty claws at Shinji who rolled out of the way. He opened his mouth, and flames spouted from them. Shinji dodged them, and Kojishi screamed.
"Enough!" she jumped from the Dragon and raised her sword. She closed her eyes and in her mind wrapped Sun Magic around her sword. She charged, her eyes still closed and felt the heat from his body. She ran toward him and threw her sword upon him. He didn't realize the power of her blade, the power of that magic, and in an instant he vanished, completely gone.
Just at that moment Hebi turned and saw, and her anger was fierce. She threw dark magic at Mizuuma head on, and Mizuuma screamed and hit the ground.
"Mizuuma!" Umi struggled up and tried to draw her sword, but she was still too weak. Fuuchou tried her best to keep her down, but it was to no avail.
Hebi laughed and wrapped a Dark stream of magic around Umi and smiled as they tried to help her, "I want to fight the last two Knights," she told them, "I want to fight them and only them. One movement from any of you I will see she dies a slow, torturous death right in front of your very eyes."
Umi struggled, but there was no moving for her.
"Hebi let her go," Yukito demanded, and she shook her head.
"You were supposed to love me! I gave you your life back!" she screamed.
"I never asked for my life back!" he shouted, and they all looked at him. He closed his eyes and turned to Umi, looking for answers in her eyes, "I never wanted to cause conflict like this for you. To torture you more was never my intent."
She tried to reach out to him, but Hebi hit her across her face.
He drew his sword and snarled.
"No," Hebi told him and shook her head, "See, I'll kill her if you do."
"Then fight me," Mizuuma stood, still shaking and tired but ready to fight all the same.
"No," Fuuchou whispered and pushed Mizuuma aside, "You're not able to fight; you'll be killed, let me."
"Fuuchou," Mizuuma looked at her friend with a deep love and respect, "I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that. I'm sorry to say this but you're inexperienced. She's strong," she said for Fuuchou's ears alone, not wanting Hebi to hear her weakness.
"I don't care! I won't see you killed!" instead of waiting for an answer she stepped in front of Hebi and challenged her.
"No! Fuuchou!" Mizuuma screamed and ran after her.
"She's made her choice," Takeru held her back, and she hit him. He stared at her, shocked.
"You just want to see me in pain, no more," she shook her head, "No more…"
Fuuchou raised her sword, and the fight began before Mizuuma could prevent it.
Hebi lashed out at Fuuchou with magic and pulled back the Dark Blade. Fuuchou closed her eyes and shielded herself with a line of vines. She retaliated with a thick rose vine, full of thorns. It whipped out and scratched Hebi across the face. She screamed in aggravation as blood trickled down her cheeks.
Mizuuma's eyes widened when Hebi hit Fuuchou hard across her stomach with her magic, and she fell back onto her knees. She used her sword as support and stood. Mizuuma walked to her friend and offered a hand, but Fuuchou shook her head, rejecting it and stood on her own, "Mizuuma, I won't let you get hurt."
Misao nodded to Hiroji when they exchanged glances and raised his hands. He closed his eyes, "Pureheart!"
A dazzling pure white Unicorn with a fiery silvery mane and a pure white ivory horn on his head ran through the wall and materialized in front of her. She gasped and looked at Misao, "You…"
He shook his head and looked down, "For you…you have shown your worth."
Small vines sprouted from her hands and wrapped around her body. They bloomed into tiny flowers, and when they fell she had the same armor as Kojishi now had, and her sword was a little longer and wider. She looked down at the hilt and among the daisies was a Unicorn.
She smiled, tears in her eyes and looked at the Unicorn again, "Hi," she whispered, but before she could completely get to know the Unicorn Hebi was attacking again.
"Fuuchou!" Mizuuma shouted and ran forward, cutting Hebi across her back. She turned and met blazing blue eyes, "Don't touch her," she warned, and Hebi laughed cruelly though she was bleeding from several places.
"You don't stand a chance."
"But I do," Fuuchou mounted the Unicorn, and it charged at Hebi who jumped out of the way just in time only to be met by Mizuuma's blade. She screamed and turned, but found she was in front of a Dragon. She was surrounded on all sides by a Magic Knight and found she had nowhere to run. She turned and looked at Mizuuma, if she could defeat the Knight of Storm she would be free. She nodded, approving her plan and came forward. She bowed to Mizuuma, as if it would be a ceremonial fight, but Mizuuma, remembering her mother's words, didn't bow back, instead she made a swing.
Hebi jumped back, and for awhile they paced each other.
Finally Hebi made a swing, and Mizuuma parried easily; she was losing hold because of the loss of blood. She made another, determined stroke and caught Mizuuma with magic and sword. Mizuuma stayed strong, and Hebi snapped her fingers. Umi appeared next to her. She took her sword and slid it down the face of the Water Knight. Umi would never let her hear her pain, but they all saw it in the tears that trickled down her cheeks.
Yukito's grip on the Blade of Cephiro tightened, and Clef did everything he could not to raise his staff. Fuu and Hikaru both came forward, but Hebi shook her head.
Mizuuma closed her eyes and apologized with only her eyes to her mother, who shook her head.
"Mizuuma my weakness is my own fault, there was nothing you could do," Umi told her quietly.
"No!" Mizuuma screamed, "You're not weak! You're not!" she bit into her own flesh and caused blood to come trickling out of her palms, "I'm the one who's weak! I can't even defend my own mother or my friends! I'm not able to express my feelings, and I'm not worthy enough to Don my own Rune-God. I'm the one that's weak."
Takeru shook his head; he couldn't see her in pain any longer. He raised his hands, "Oceanswings," he whispered, and a Pegasus soared into the room. It reared in front of Mizuuma, and she looked at the pure white horse with a white mane and huge wings lined in silver and blue. She stared in awe.
"Your Rune-God Mizuuma," Takeru told her and left the room, "You've always been worthy," he said over his shoulder, and she looked at him, confused.
She didn't have time to worry about him or think because she was wrapped into stream of Water, and thunder crashed in the sky as a bolt of lightning hit her. When she emerged she was wearing the same armor as the other two, and her sword had become stronger. She looked down and along the hilt was a rearing Pegasus, soaring the sky.
She mounted the beautiful creature and looked at Hebi, who had terrified eyes, "You are beyond healing," she said softly and raised her sword.
Kojishi raised her sword, and Fuuchou did the same.
"Storm!" Mizuuma shouted, and purple and black flew from her sword.
"Earth!" Fuuchou added her own stream of deep green and yellow into the mix.
"Sun!" Pink and gold spiraled from Kojishi's sword and when the three beams met there was a huge explosion, and all that was left were the good guys.
Tori:
"Sleeping beauty trips me with a frown
I hear a voice
'You must learn to stand up for yourself
Cause I can't always be around'
He says
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna CHANGE so fast
All the white horses are still in bed
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change my dear"
~Tori Amos, Winter, Little Earthquakes (referring to her father)