Legend of Cephiro, Fate of Earth
An Original fanfiction by Prince Nebula (Tuxedo Starr).
Hello again, minna-chan! Back for more torture, eh? My fics aren't _that_ bad, right?
Again, this is based off the Rayearth OAV, a continuation of the series with the Sailor Senshi mixed in. But, if you don't know this already, why the hell are you here?!?!? Read the first chapter, for Serenity's sake!
On to chapter two!
Legend Two: Turmoil and Trepidation.
The present.
*~*
Background:
Magic Knights; 18 years old, Twelfth grade
Inner Sailor Senshi; 21 years old, attending college in various parts of Japan with the exception of Ami.
Haruka, Michiru and Mamoru: 23 years old, final year of college. Mamoru is back from Harvard to plan the wedding.
Setsuna: same as Legend One.
Hotaru: 17 years old, Twelfth grade
Inhabitants of Cephiro and Other Countries: Who knows? They're ageless.
*~*
"Seems like I was watching a long dream . . ."
"What kind of dream?"
"I forgot . . ."
***
The crystal cell.
"It's been so long . . . so long . . ."
Hair as yellow and shining as brightly spun gold floated through the water in a cloud. The girl gazed ahead of her blankly, seeing and at the same time not seeing the endless stretch of azure water in front of her. Bubbles rose soundlessly to the surface, far, far away.
"Why won't . . . they let me out? I've done nothing . . ."
A voice suddenly echoed through the still silence of the water prison. "Princess . . ."
The woman turned, surprised. "Who are you? Why are you here?" Her eyes darkened, grim with power and determination.
"We're friends," the masculine voice murmured from behind the barrier. Three people stood silhouetted behind the crystal. Two identical young women with long hair flanked a taller man with a cape and short hair. They all radiated menace.
"We're here to help."
***
Cephiro. A fantasy land of green trees, floating mountains. Fluffy white clouds against sapphire skies. Happy people and bright smiles. A world protected and stabilized by the wills of the populace.
And a crystal palace, floating above the sparkling ocean. A wonderful building with high arched hallways and grandly decorated rooms.
A short man with a childlike face, clothed in heavily embroidered robes of white and carrying a wooden staff with a carved beast head atop it, sighed as he looked out over this land. A place of true peace and sincere, gentle beauty ever since one young girl had broken the Pillar system with her strong heart. A heart made powerful by the love for her friends and Cephiro, and by the power of fire . . .
Guru Clef sighed sadly as a slight wind blew past his face, ruffling his white hair and whipping the ribbons that adorned his staff about. It had been so long, he remembered. So many years since he had last seen the faces of three girls now long grown up . . . and one face in particular stayed in his mind clearer than the rest.
_Umi . . ._
Another sigh. A single tear slid its way down his left cheek, only to be dried instantly by the wind. A love that was never meant to be . . .
"Guru?"
The most powerful wizard in Cephiro turned to look at the woman who had walked up behind him. "Presea."
The master weapon smith walked up to her respected guide and friend, kneeling and resting a hand on his shoulder. "Guru, what's the matter?" she asked, a glimmer of worry in her eyes.
Blue eyes gazed into red ones. "You miss them, too."
A nod. "Which is no surprise to you."
Clef turned to look back over the sea. "I just want to see her one more time . . . to tell her how I feel . . ."
The wizard's eyes held a distant look in them as his bangs blew in his face, as though he were looking at something further than the horizon.
Presea smiled slightly, sadly. "Umi."
Clef turned, startled. "How do you . . ."
The smith had risen, and now gazed down at the mage with kind, warm eyes. "The way you guarded her when she was here. The way she looked at you." Her eyes glinted mischievously. "The fact that she was the only one not taken . . ."
The wizard raised an eyebrow.
"And you referred to the Knights just now as 'her'. Singular."
The wizard started. "I said that?!"
Presea nodded. "You were somewhat dazed."
"I must not have been aware." His eyes slid to look at the ground by his feet. "I have missed them so lately. Not just her, but all three . . ."
Another nod from Presea. "Ferio feels the same way. Perhaps you can talk to him."
Clef looked up again, a small smile on his face. "Thank you, Presea. But I'm sure that we will see them again . . . be it in need or not . . ."
Suddenly, a small rounded red jewel right above his left hand, which held the pole of his staff, began to blink yellow. Clef and Presea looked at it in shock, their heartbreak momentarily forgotten. The wizard's hand clenched on the smooth wood in surprise.
"Guru! What is it?" the smith asked, noticing the worry line forming in the wizard's forehead.
Clef looked at the blinking jewel in puzzlement. "This is the signal for when someone from Cephiro other than myself or the Pillar breaches the gates between dimensions."
"You mean . . . someone is building another Road?"
"Exactly." The little wizard bowed his head, frown deepening. "But . . . why would someone have need of a Road now?"
"Perhaps someone else is summoning the Magic Knights," the smith said, anxious to relieve the guru's worry.
"Yes . . . but . . . if we needed the Knights, surely I would know of it," the white-haired man replied. His eyes widened suddenly. "Unless . . . no, it couldn't be her . . . she has no reason! And she can't get out, anyway . . . she musn't get out, not yet . . ."
"Guru Clef?" Presea cried, worried about the distant, remembering look that suddenly appeared in his horror-stricken eyes. "Who can't get out? Of where?!?"
The master mage snapped out of his trance and stared at Presea. "No time to explain. I must get Mokona."
With that, he barged past the white and red clad woman into the entrance to the palace. Presea followed close on his heels.
***
"I can't . . . do it. It's so hard . . ."
"Yes you can. You have the power. All you need to do is revive it once more."
"But . . . I can't . . . it's been so long. I've lost it . . ."
"Call it to yourself. Pray. Isn't Cephiro a land of the will?"
"I . . ." Emerald green eyes suddenly widened with realization. "I can feel it again! I thought it had gone . . ."
"Good. Very good. Now, direct that power at the Road."
"Yes . . ."
A pause. "It won't go any further!"
"Nonsense. A Road can be constructed in mere seconds, if done properly."
"But it's so far away . . ."
"True enough. Perhaps we need help."
"From whom? They all loved them . . ."
"They killed her, didn't they?"
A gleam in the same green eyes. The disturbing gleam of a seriously deranged and unbalanced mind. "Yes . . ."
And singing echoed through the palace.
*** "Mamo-chan . . . Can you say it again?"
"I said it 50 times last night."
"Just once more."
"Last time . . .
"Let's get married, Usagi."
***
Earth.
"All right, Hikaru! One more time, and we'll call it quits!"
"Hai!" a very sweaty and tired Hikaru Shidou cried, positioning herself at the head of the mats.
The gymnastics instructor, a tall, thin young woman with brown hair in a ponytail, peered approvingly at her star student behind her glasses. A small smile lit her face.
"Ready?" A nod from the redhead. "Five, six seven, eight!"
A grunt from the redhead as she ran four steps, braced, and vaulted into the air, flipping once and spinning several times before she landed on her feet. She raised her arms triumphantly, a wide smile lighting her face in spite of the sweat trailing down her skin.
"Good! Very good!"
"Arigato nasai, Sensei," the star student panted as she hunched over from exhaustion. She accepted the water bottle in the teacher's outstretched hand and took a long drink of the cool, refreshing water.
"Hurry. You don't want to be late."
The redhead rolled her eyes. "Oh no, I almost forgot about kenjo (?) practice! Shimatta!"
With that, she turned and fled to the girls' locker room, anxious to change out of her white leotard. The red velvet sleeves, now sticky from sweat, were itching her like crazy the full length of her arm.
I hope I'll be done in time for the meeting with Umi and Fuu . . . she thought, glancing down at her watch.
***
"Wow, Umi, you were excellent today in fencing class!"
"Sugoi!"
"The best!"
The blue haired girl smiled at the compliments of her fencing skills. "Arigato, minna. It was nothing, really."
"Nothing! You're the best to come to this school since it was built."
Umi Ryuuzaki smiled at the girls crowding around her as she walked down the high arched hallway. The skirt of the navy blue dress that was her school uniform brushed against the back of her knees. "I'm flattered!"
She adjusted the large light blue bow at her neck, then glanced down at her watch. "Uh-oh. I'm gonna be late to get Fuu if I don't get going.
"Ja ne, minna!" the tall girl cried as she hurried away down the corridor. She made a brief pause at her locker to pick up her things, then hurried out the double doors into the bright sunshine of the late spring day. She sped past the large sign at the front entrance that exclaimed in big black letters: TE Girls High.
***
The sound of the piano drifted past Umi's ears as she approached Sakura Senior High School's choir room. She recognized the melody as one of her favorites, and smiled slightly as she entered through the doors, singing along softly.
Wooden folding chairs lined the floor in front of a large platform that served as a stage. Late afternoon sunlight streamed through the large windows behind the stage, illuminating the girl who sat at the grand piano in the center of the stage. Her fingers flew over the ivory keys, playing the piece perfectly. She rocked slightly to the beat of the piece. So absorbed was she in the music that she didn't notice the blue-haired girl until she had walked next to the stage.
"All you need is love . . . hey, Fuu! Hurry up, we don't got all day! We have to be at the sakura tree in fifteen minutes!"
Fuu Hououji, dressed in a school uniform similar to Umi's except in shades of green, looked up from the piano keys. She continued to play as her emerald eyes met her friend's sapphire ones. "I'll be done in a minute, Umi-chan."
Umi shook her head. "I never thought you'd address me with '-chan'."
A smile from the blonde girl. "I wasn't sure you'd mature at all."
"Hey! You're blonde, you're supposed to be the ditz!" The champion fencer stuck out her tongue and crossed her eyes. Her companion laughed.
"Gomen nasai, Umi-chan." A gentle melody on the piano finished the song she was playing. A glance at her watch. "We are tight on time, aren't we?"
"Hai! Come on, come ON! We're gonna be late! I haven't seen Hikaru-chan in ages!" the taller girl cried. She grabbed the genius's right forearm in her left hand as she stepped down from the stage and half-dragged her out of the room.
***
"Hurry up, Mamo-chan! We have to meet up with Rei and Minako in five minutes!"
Mamoru Chiba laughed as his blonde fiancee pulled him down the sidewalk. "Slow down, Usa. The Parlor is right around the corner!"
"But I haven't seen them in AGES! Mako-chan isn't getting back for another week, and Ami, Michiru and Haruka are flying back in a month for Hotaru's graduation! It'll be awesome to have the gang together again!"
Usagi Tsukino pulled harder on her soulmate's arm, and the dark-haired man gave in laughingly. They sprinted around the corner . . .
. . . only to collide with a tall blue-haired girl dragging a shorter blonde in much the same fashion.
Both parties fell with a flop.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going!" Usagi and the blue- haired girl stammered in unison. They paused and stared at one another with identical blue eyes.
"Please forgive us. We were slightly enthusiastic," the blonde in green said from her seat on the concrete.
Mamoru nodded. "Can't say that we weren't. I'm Mamoru Chiba," he said as he stood and helped the girl to her feet.
"I am pleased to meet you, Chiba-san. My name is Fuu Hououji. This is my friend Umi Ryuuzaki."
"Usagi Tsukino," the pigtailed blonde bubbled as she pulled the blue-haired girl to her feet.
"Pleased to meet you," Umi replied, rubbing her bruised bottom. "Fuu," she sad, turning her attention to her companion, "we're never going to make it on time now."
"Please excuse us, Tsukino-san, Chiba-san," the blonde said, bowing. "We really must be going."
"Of course. We're late as well. It was nice to meet you," Usagi said, smiling.
"Sayonara!" the schoolgirls cried before turning and bolting in the direction the engaged couple had just come from.
"Such nice girls," Usagi said as she linked arms with the man and headed for the Parlor at a steady trot. "Something about them, though . . ."
"Nani? What do you mean?" Mamoru asked, glancing down at her.
"Well . . . when I looked at them, I felt a spark of some kind . . . an aura of power . . ."
"More Sailor Senshi, do you think?"
"I hope not. I've had enough fighting."
With that, the pair entered the glass sliding doors to the Parlor. A call echoed from the back of the café. "Usagi! Mamoru!"
"Minna!" the blonde cried, racing to meet the three people sitting in a booth at the back. "Minako, Rei . . . Motoki?!?"
"Hey, Usagi-chan!" the blonde-haired boy said, giving the blonde a wink.
"What are you doing here? I haven't seen you in forever!" Usagi cried, throwing her arms around her old crush.
"Well . . . er . . ." The former arcade worker shared a sly glance with the blonde young woman on his right. Minako Aino winked.
"She asked me to come."
"We're going out," Minako stated at the same time.
"Really? Since when?"
"A while."
"Three months, two weeks and five days."
Rei Hino, sitting on Minako's right, laughed at the look on Motoki's face. "Never underestimate a woman's records, Motoki. How are you, Usagi?" she asked, giving her friend a hug.
"Great! You guys are still on for the wedding, right?"
"Do you think I'd give up the chance to be bridesmaid for the famous champion of love and justice?" the priestess said, a twinkle in her eye. "I wouldn't miss it!"
***
"There it is. I'm . . . almost there," Hikaru panted as she raced towards the large tree in the center of the park. The branches of the handsome tree were already laden with bright pink blossoms, the petals of which floated to the ground in the breeze. The black skirt of her school uniform billowed behind her as she approached the tree. "I hope I'm not too late . . ."
She reached the tree and sped around it, only to crash into someone. She fell to the ground, as did the two people she had run into.
"This is SO not my day . . . two people twice in fifteen minutes! Are you all right . . . oh, it's you, Hikaru!" Umi cried, sitting up from the ground where she had been lying a minute before.
Fuu stood, helping the others to their feet. "Hello, Hikaru-chan."
"Hi, Fuu! Hi Umi! Sorry I'm late . . ." the redhead said, hugging her two best friends.
"It's all right. We just got here ourselves," the blonde said as she pushed her glasses up on her nose.
"So, what are we doing, Hikaru?" the tallest of the trio asked, tucking her blue hair behind her ear as she stared up at the sky, now orange with the setting sun. "You're the one who wanted to meet us here."
"Well . . . it may sound stupid, but I wanted to make a promise."
"Nani? What kind of promise?" the fencer asked, turning to stare at her friend with wide eyes. Fuu listened, an interested look on her face.
Fuu looked down, her eyes troubled. She clenched her fist. "Graduation is coming soon . . . and after that, I don't know if I'll ever see you guys again." The other two started at the serious tone in her voice. The redhead looked up again, her words and eyes now filled with emotion. "We've been through too much for our friendship to end when we separate for college!" she cried. "I wanted to make a pact here and now, that no matter what, we wouldn't allow anything to separate us or come between us." Her eyes seemed ready to fill with tears.
"I wanted to make the promise on this spot. It's so beautiful," she murmured, looking up at the shower of cherry blossom petals that suddenly fell around them. "And the cherry blossoms bloom every year . . . just like our friendship should."
Her friends looked at her face, beautiful with the strength of her belief. Umi was near tears.
"Hikaru . . . that was beautiful," she stammered.
Fuu nodded, her face a picture of sincere tranquility. "And true. Our friendship will never die. Ever."
Hikaru gazed at her friends. "Friends forever," she said, holding out her right hand, palm up.
Umi grasped it in her right hand. "Friends."
"Forever," the blonde finished, as she placed her right hand over the other two. The friends looked at each other, their eyes full of love.
As if to seal the promise, a storm of pink petals swirled around them, the breeze ruffling their hair.
"Friends forever."
*~*
Cephiro.
The green-haired man looked up from the scroll he was studying in the royal library as the sweet notes echoed through the halls. "What is that?" he murmured to himself, his golden eyes glinting in curiosity. The melody was beautiful, ringing in the air like a crystal bell. It felt as though it were pulling him . . . enticing him to go to its source.
Ferio stood up from the desk and made his way out of the library.
***
Clef's eyes widened in horror as the voice echoed through the palace. "No. Oh, no!" he cried. The little wizard dropped his staff to his side and plugged his ears.
Presea looked at him in bemusement. "Guru, what is it?"
"Presea!" he cried, looking up at the smith in horror. "Plug your ears!"
"But that song . . ." the woman murmured, looking away down the corridor. Her eyes suddenly seemed slightly glazed. "It's just so beautiful . . ."
"Presea! Don't listen to it!"
"Beautiful . . ."
The smith started down the hallway, first slow, then quicker as the song increased in volume. Within seconds, she had vanished down the hallway.
"Presea! NO!" the little wizard shouted, near tears. With a cry of outrage, he grabbed up his staff and transferred himself to the throne room before the song could reach his brain. He kneeled in front of the throne. Sunlight streamed through the high crystal roof, enveloping him in its golden light.
"MOKONA!" he shouted. "MOKONA! PLEASE! COME TO MY AID!"
The shout succeeded in blocking out the singing. The shout became an endless roar as the wizard prayed with all his might to summon the little rabbit-like creature.
"MOKONA! PLEASE! ANSWER ME!
"WE MUST SUMMON THE MASHIN GODS ONCE MORE!"
_She's awakened . . ._
And elsewhere in the castle, cries of shock echoed with the singing as two women and four men burst through the door of a long-forgotten room . . .
"Emeraude!"
*~*
_End Legend Two_
All right, Minna! I'm doin' GREAT with this story (in my humble opinion!). In case you haven't noticed, the MKR sources are now blending toward the OAV. I don't know much about the relationship between Umi and Clef, but I have caught little snippets here and there about those two, so I figured just include it . . . why not!
One little point: I haven't seen or read the second arc for MKR. If I make mistakes, forgive me . . . I know that Eagle dies in the anime and goes comatose in the manga, but I need him later on, so I'll go with the manga until the part about Mokona being the creator of our world. No. Uh-uhn. Our galaxy was born from the Galaxy Cauldron, goshcrapit! It wasn't created by a cute fluffy bunny . . . er, nevermind.
Reviews, comments and constructive criticism welcome! No flames. I don't need people bashing my creativity just for the heck of feeling above others.
And yes, this chappie is for Makura Koneko, my imuoto-chan, who so kindly *cough* encouraged me to post this next chapter, even though I SHOULD be preparing for school . . . *crosses arms and glares at Makura-chan* Next chapter isn't written as of yet (don't you HATE dry spells? ) but I will post it ASAP! Promise!
Till next time! Ja!
Tux Starr
"If there is hope left in the universe, it can be found here." --Sailormoon, about the Galaxy Cauldron.
STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY (that means I don't own Sailormoon! Duh!)
Completed July 2002.
An Original fanfiction by Prince Nebula (Tuxedo Starr).
Hello again, minna-chan! Back for more torture, eh? My fics aren't _that_ bad, right?
Again, this is based off the Rayearth OAV, a continuation of the series with the Sailor Senshi mixed in. But, if you don't know this already, why the hell are you here?!?!? Read the first chapter, for Serenity's sake!
On to chapter two!
Legend Two: Turmoil and Trepidation.
The present.
*~*
Background:
Magic Knights; 18 years old, Twelfth grade
Inner Sailor Senshi; 21 years old, attending college in various parts of Japan with the exception of Ami.
Haruka, Michiru and Mamoru: 23 years old, final year of college. Mamoru is back from Harvard to plan the wedding.
Setsuna: same as Legend One.
Hotaru: 17 years old, Twelfth grade
Inhabitants of Cephiro and Other Countries: Who knows? They're ageless.
*~*
"Seems like I was watching a long dream . . ."
"What kind of dream?"
"I forgot . . ."
***
The crystal cell.
"It's been so long . . . so long . . ."
Hair as yellow and shining as brightly spun gold floated through the water in a cloud. The girl gazed ahead of her blankly, seeing and at the same time not seeing the endless stretch of azure water in front of her. Bubbles rose soundlessly to the surface, far, far away.
"Why won't . . . they let me out? I've done nothing . . ."
A voice suddenly echoed through the still silence of the water prison. "Princess . . ."
The woman turned, surprised. "Who are you? Why are you here?" Her eyes darkened, grim with power and determination.
"We're friends," the masculine voice murmured from behind the barrier. Three people stood silhouetted behind the crystal. Two identical young women with long hair flanked a taller man with a cape and short hair. They all radiated menace.
"We're here to help."
***
Cephiro. A fantasy land of green trees, floating mountains. Fluffy white clouds against sapphire skies. Happy people and bright smiles. A world protected and stabilized by the wills of the populace.
And a crystal palace, floating above the sparkling ocean. A wonderful building with high arched hallways and grandly decorated rooms.
A short man with a childlike face, clothed in heavily embroidered robes of white and carrying a wooden staff with a carved beast head atop it, sighed as he looked out over this land. A place of true peace and sincere, gentle beauty ever since one young girl had broken the Pillar system with her strong heart. A heart made powerful by the love for her friends and Cephiro, and by the power of fire . . .
Guru Clef sighed sadly as a slight wind blew past his face, ruffling his white hair and whipping the ribbons that adorned his staff about. It had been so long, he remembered. So many years since he had last seen the faces of three girls now long grown up . . . and one face in particular stayed in his mind clearer than the rest.
_Umi . . ._
Another sigh. A single tear slid its way down his left cheek, only to be dried instantly by the wind. A love that was never meant to be . . .
"Guru?"
The most powerful wizard in Cephiro turned to look at the woman who had walked up behind him. "Presea."
The master weapon smith walked up to her respected guide and friend, kneeling and resting a hand on his shoulder. "Guru, what's the matter?" she asked, a glimmer of worry in her eyes.
Blue eyes gazed into red ones. "You miss them, too."
A nod. "Which is no surprise to you."
Clef turned to look back over the sea. "I just want to see her one more time . . . to tell her how I feel . . ."
The wizard's eyes held a distant look in them as his bangs blew in his face, as though he were looking at something further than the horizon.
Presea smiled slightly, sadly. "Umi."
Clef turned, startled. "How do you . . ."
The smith had risen, and now gazed down at the mage with kind, warm eyes. "The way you guarded her when she was here. The way she looked at you." Her eyes glinted mischievously. "The fact that she was the only one not taken . . ."
The wizard raised an eyebrow.
"And you referred to the Knights just now as 'her'. Singular."
The wizard started. "I said that?!"
Presea nodded. "You were somewhat dazed."
"I must not have been aware." His eyes slid to look at the ground by his feet. "I have missed them so lately. Not just her, but all three . . ."
Another nod from Presea. "Ferio feels the same way. Perhaps you can talk to him."
Clef looked up again, a small smile on his face. "Thank you, Presea. But I'm sure that we will see them again . . . be it in need or not . . ."
Suddenly, a small rounded red jewel right above his left hand, which held the pole of his staff, began to blink yellow. Clef and Presea looked at it in shock, their heartbreak momentarily forgotten. The wizard's hand clenched on the smooth wood in surprise.
"Guru! What is it?" the smith asked, noticing the worry line forming in the wizard's forehead.
Clef looked at the blinking jewel in puzzlement. "This is the signal for when someone from Cephiro other than myself or the Pillar breaches the gates between dimensions."
"You mean . . . someone is building another Road?"
"Exactly." The little wizard bowed his head, frown deepening. "But . . . why would someone have need of a Road now?"
"Perhaps someone else is summoning the Magic Knights," the smith said, anxious to relieve the guru's worry.
"Yes . . . but . . . if we needed the Knights, surely I would know of it," the white-haired man replied. His eyes widened suddenly. "Unless . . . no, it couldn't be her . . . she has no reason! And she can't get out, anyway . . . she musn't get out, not yet . . ."
"Guru Clef?" Presea cried, worried about the distant, remembering look that suddenly appeared in his horror-stricken eyes. "Who can't get out? Of where?!?"
The master mage snapped out of his trance and stared at Presea. "No time to explain. I must get Mokona."
With that, he barged past the white and red clad woman into the entrance to the palace. Presea followed close on his heels.
***
"I can't . . . do it. It's so hard . . ."
"Yes you can. You have the power. All you need to do is revive it once more."
"But . . . I can't . . . it's been so long. I've lost it . . ."
"Call it to yourself. Pray. Isn't Cephiro a land of the will?"
"I . . ." Emerald green eyes suddenly widened with realization. "I can feel it again! I thought it had gone . . ."
"Good. Very good. Now, direct that power at the Road."
"Yes . . ."
A pause. "It won't go any further!"
"Nonsense. A Road can be constructed in mere seconds, if done properly."
"But it's so far away . . ."
"True enough. Perhaps we need help."
"From whom? They all loved them . . ."
"They killed her, didn't they?"
A gleam in the same green eyes. The disturbing gleam of a seriously deranged and unbalanced mind. "Yes . . ."
And singing echoed through the palace.
*** "Mamo-chan . . . Can you say it again?"
"I said it 50 times last night."
"Just once more."
"Last time . . .
"Let's get married, Usagi."
***
Earth.
"All right, Hikaru! One more time, and we'll call it quits!"
"Hai!" a very sweaty and tired Hikaru Shidou cried, positioning herself at the head of the mats.
The gymnastics instructor, a tall, thin young woman with brown hair in a ponytail, peered approvingly at her star student behind her glasses. A small smile lit her face.
"Ready?" A nod from the redhead. "Five, six seven, eight!"
A grunt from the redhead as she ran four steps, braced, and vaulted into the air, flipping once and spinning several times before she landed on her feet. She raised her arms triumphantly, a wide smile lighting her face in spite of the sweat trailing down her skin.
"Good! Very good!"
"Arigato nasai, Sensei," the star student panted as she hunched over from exhaustion. She accepted the water bottle in the teacher's outstretched hand and took a long drink of the cool, refreshing water.
"Hurry. You don't want to be late."
The redhead rolled her eyes. "Oh no, I almost forgot about kenjo (?) practice! Shimatta!"
With that, she turned and fled to the girls' locker room, anxious to change out of her white leotard. The red velvet sleeves, now sticky from sweat, were itching her like crazy the full length of her arm.
I hope I'll be done in time for the meeting with Umi and Fuu . . . she thought, glancing down at her watch.
***
"Wow, Umi, you were excellent today in fencing class!"
"Sugoi!"
"The best!"
The blue haired girl smiled at the compliments of her fencing skills. "Arigato, minna. It was nothing, really."
"Nothing! You're the best to come to this school since it was built."
Umi Ryuuzaki smiled at the girls crowding around her as she walked down the high arched hallway. The skirt of the navy blue dress that was her school uniform brushed against the back of her knees. "I'm flattered!"
She adjusted the large light blue bow at her neck, then glanced down at her watch. "Uh-oh. I'm gonna be late to get Fuu if I don't get going.
"Ja ne, minna!" the tall girl cried as she hurried away down the corridor. She made a brief pause at her locker to pick up her things, then hurried out the double doors into the bright sunshine of the late spring day. She sped past the large sign at the front entrance that exclaimed in big black letters: TE Girls High.
***
The sound of the piano drifted past Umi's ears as she approached Sakura Senior High School's choir room. She recognized the melody as one of her favorites, and smiled slightly as she entered through the doors, singing along softly.
Wooden folding chairs lined the floor in front of a large platform that served as a stage. Late afternoon sunlight streamed through the large windows behind the stage, illuminating the girl who sat at the grand piano in the center of the stage. Her fingers flew over the ivory keys, playing the piece perfectly. She rocked slightly to the beat of the piece. So absorbed was she in the music that she didn't notice the blue-haired girl until she had walked next to the stage.
"All you need is love . . . hey, Fuu! Hurry up, we don't got all day! We have to be at the sakura tree in fifteen minutes!"
Fuu Hououji, dressed in a school uniform similar to Umi's except in shades of green, looked up from the piano keys. She continued to play as her emerald eyes met her friend's sapphire ones. "I'll be done in a minute, Umi-chan."
Umi shook her head. "I never thought you'd address me with '-chan'."
A smile from the blonde girl. "I wasn't sure you'd mature at all."
"Hey! You're blonde, you're supposed to be the ditz!" The champion fencer stuck out her tongue and crossed her eyes. Her companion laughed.
"Gomen nasai, Umi-chan." A gentle melody on the piano finished the song she was playing. A glance at her watch. "We are tight on time, aren't we?"
"Hai! Come on, come ON! We're gonna be late! I haven't seen Hikaru-chan in ages!" the taller girl cried. She grabbed the genius's right forearm in her left hand as she stepped down from the stage and half-dragged her out of the room.
***
"Hurry up, Mamo-chan! We have to meet up with Rei and Minako in five minutes!"
Mamoru Chiba laughed as his blonde fiancee pulled him down the sidewalk. "Slow down, Usa. The Parlor is right around the corner!"
"But I haven't seen them in AGES! Mako-chan isn't getting back for another week, and Ami, Michiru and Haruka are flying back in a month for Hotaru's graduation! It'll be awesome to have the gang together again!"
Usagi Tsukino pulled harder on her soulmate's arm, and the dark-haired man gave in laughingly. They sprinted around the corner . . .
. . . only to collide with a tall blue-haired girl dragging a shorter blonde in much the same fashion.
Both parties fell with a flop.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going!" Usagi and the blue- haired girl stammered in unison. They paused and stared at one another with identical blue eyes.
"Please forgive us. We were slightly enthusiastic," the blonde in green said from her seat on the concrete.
Mamoru nodded. "Can't say that we weren't. I'm Mamoru Chiba," he said as he stood and helped the girl to her feet.
"I am pleased to meet you, Chiba-san. My name is Fuu Hououji. This is my friend Umi Ryuuzaki."
"Usagi Tsukino," the pigtailed blonde bubbled as she pulled the blue-haired girl to her feet.
"Pleased to meet you," Umi replied, rubbing her bruised bottom. "Fuu," she sad, turning her attention to her companion, "we're never going to make it on time now."
"Please excuse us, Tsukino-san, Chiba-san," the blonde said, bowing. "We really must be going."
"Of course. We're late as well. It was nice to meet you," Usagi said, smiling.
"Sayonara!" the schoolgirls cried before turning and bolting in the direction the engaged couple had just come from.
"Such nice girls," Usagi said as she linked arms with the man and headed for the Parlor at a steady trot. "Something about them, though . . ."
"Nani? What do you mean?" Mamoru asked, glancing down at her.
"Well . . . when I looked at them, I felt a spark of some kind . . . an aura of power . . ."
"More Sailor Senshi, do you think?"
"I hope not. I've had enough fighting."
With that, the pair entered the glass sliding doors to the Parlor. A call echoed from the back of the café. "Usagi! Mamoru!"
"Minna!" the blonde cried, racing to meet the three people sitting in a booth at the back. "Minako, Rei . . . Motoki?!?"
"Hey, Usagi-chan!" the blonde-haired boy said, giving the blonde a wink.
"What are you doing here? I haven't seen you in forever!" Usagi cried, throwing her arms around her old crush.
"Well . . . er . . ." The former arcade worker shared a sly glance with the blonde young woman on his right. Minako Aino winked.
"She asked me to come."
"We're going out," Minako stated at the same time.
"Really? Since when?"
"A while."
"Three months, two weeks and five days."
Rei Hino, sitting on Minako's right, laughed at the look on Motoki's face. "Never underestimate a woman's records, Motoki. How are you, Usagi?" she asked, giving her friend a hug.
"Great! You guys are still on for the wedding, right?"
"Do you think I'd give up the chance to be bridesmaid for the famous champion of love and justice?" the priestess said, a twinkle in her eye. "I wouldn't miss it!"
***
"There it is. I'm . . . almost there," Hikaru panted as she raced towards the large tree in the center of the park. The branches of the handsome tree were already laden with bright pink blossoms, the petals of which floated to the ground in the breeze. The black skirt of her school uniform billowed behind her as she approached the tree. "I hope I'm not too late . . ."
She reached the tree and sped around it, only to crash into someone. She fell to the ground, as did the two people she had run into.
"This is SO not my day . . . two people twice in fifteen minutes! Are you all right . . . oh, it's you, Hikaru!" Umi cried, sitting up from the ground where she had been lying a minute before.
Fuu stood, helping the others to their feet. "Hello, Hikaru-chan."
"Hi, Fuu! Hi Umi! Sorry I'm late . . ." the redhead said, hugging her two best friends.
"It's all right. We just got here ourselves," the blonde said as she pushed her glasses up on her nose.
"So, what are we doing, Hikaru?" the tallest of the trio asked, tucking her blue hair behind her ear as she stared up at the sky, now orange with the setting sun. "You're the one who wanted to meet us here."
"Well . . . it may sound stupid, but I wanted to make a promise."
"Nani? What kind of promise?" the fencer asked, turning to stare at her friend with wide eyes. Fuu listened, an interested look on her face.
Fuu looked down, her eyes troubled. She clenched her fist. "Graduation is coming soon . . . and after that, I don't know if I'll ever see you guys again." The other two started at the serious tone in her voice. The redhead looked up again, her words and eyes now filled with emotion. "We've been through too much for our friendship to end when we separate for college!" she cried. "I wanted to make a pact here and now, that no matter what, we wouldn't allow anything to separate us or come between us." Her eyes seemed ready to fill with tears.
"I wanted to make the promise on this spot. It's so beautiful," she murmured, looking up at the shower of cherry blossom petals that suddenly fell around them. "And the cherry blossoms bloom every year . . . just like our friendship should."
Her friends looked at her face, beautiful with the strength of her belief. Umi was near tears.
"Hikaru . . . that was beautiful," she stammered.
Fuu nodded, her face a picture of sincere tranquility. "And true. Our friendship will never die. Ever."
Hikaru gazed at her friends. "Friends forever," she said, holding out her right hand, palm up.
Umi grasped it in her right hand. "Friends."
"Forever," the blonde finished, as she placed her right hand over the other two. The friends looked at each other, their eyes full of love.
As if to seal the promise, a storm of pink petals swirled around them, the breeze ruffling their hair.
"Friends forever."
*~*
Cephiro.
The green-haired man looked up from the scroll he was studying in the royal library as the sweet notes echoed through the halls. "What is that?" he murmured to himself, his golden eyes glinting in curiosity. The melody was beautiful, ringing in the air like a crystal bell. It felt as though it were pulling him . . . enticing him to go to its source.
Ferio stood up from the desk and made his way out of the library.
***
Clef's eyes widened in horror as the voice echoed through the palace. "No. Oh, no!" he cried. The little wizard dropped his staff to his side and plugged his ears.
Presea looked at him in bemusement. "Guru, what is it?"
"Presea!" he cried, looking up at the smith in horror. "Plug your ears!"
"But that song . . ." the woman murmured, looking away down the corridor. Her eyes suddenly seemed slightly glazed. "It's just so beautiful . . ."
"Presea! Don't listen to it!"
"Beautiful . . ."
The smith started down the hallway, first slow, then quicker as the song increased in volume. Within seconds, she had vanished down the hallway.
"Presea! NO!" the little wizard shouted, near tears. With a cry of outrage, he grabbed up his staff and transferred himself to the throne room before the song could reach his brain. He kneeled in front of the throne. Sunlight streamed through the high crystal roof, enveloping him in its golden light.
"MOKONA!" he shouted. "MOKONA! PLEASE! COME TO MY AID!"
The shout succeeded in blocking out the singing. The shout became an endless roar as the wizard prayed with all his might to summon the little rabbit-like creature.
"MOKONA! PLEASE! ANSWER ME!
"WE MUST SUMMON THE MASHIN GODS ONCE MORE!"
_She's awakened . . ._
And elsewhere in the castle, cries of shock echoed with the singing as two women and four men burst through the door of a long-forgotten room . . .
"Emeraude!"
*~*
_End Legend Two_
All right, Minna! I'm doin' GREAT with this story (in my humble opinion!). In case you haven't noticed, the MKR sources are now blending toward the OAV. I don't know much about the relationship between Umi and Clef, but I have caught little snippets here and there about those two, so I figured just include it . . . why not!
One little point: I haven't seen or read the second arc for MKR. If I make mistakes, forgive me . . . I know that Eagle dies in the anime and goes comatose in the manga, but I need him later on, so I'll go with the manga until the part about Mokona being the creator of our world. No. Uh-uhn. Our galaxy was born from the Galaxy Cauldron, goshcrapit! It wasn't created by a cute fluffy bunny . . . er, nevermind.
Reviews, comments and constructive criticism welcome! No flames. I don't need people bashing my creativity just for the heck of feeling above others.
And yes, this chappie is for Makura Koneko, my imuoto-chan, who so kindly *cough* encouraged me to post this next chapter, even though I SHOULD be preparing for school . . . *crosses arms and glares at Makura-chan* Next chapter isn't written as of yet (don't you HATE dry spells? ) but I will post it ASAP! Promise!
Till next time! Ja!
Tux Starr
"If there is hope left in the universe, it can be found here." --Sailormoon, about the Galaxy Cauldron.
STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY (that means I don't own Sailormoon! Duh!)
Completed July 2002.