Sorry! I had a writer's block! (-_-) Well, I just HAD to update 'cause I
knew I had to put up SOMETHING soon…er…if you have any ideas, please E-mail
them to me….once again, about half this chapter are direct copies off the
OAV, but these sections are slightly critical to my own story, and they all
connect to the big twist in the next chapter (wonders what comes after next
chapter) Enjoy! (^_^)
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1 CHAPTER 7: MEMORIES
Mikoto let out a startled gasp, and, too late she realized her mistake and clamped her mouth shut. Luckily, Lantis was still focused on the redheaded Magic Knight, so she let out a soft, inaudible sigh of relief. Once he and Presea left the room, she would leave, too, and hopefully never come back. She would go back to the country where she had stayed so long, and stay there until this chapter in the Legend of the Magic Knights was finished. Then, maybe, just maybe, she would be freed of these torturing visions that tore into her heart. A tear slid from a traitorous eye as she fought for control over the emotions that swelled up.
Suddenly, her thoughts were cut short when she felt a hand resting on her shoulder. Reflexively, she leapt away from the touch and whirled around to try and see her opponent, but she ran into yet another person. She backed away carefully and examined her surroundings.
'Wow…that must've taken longer than I imagined…' she thought. Around her, there were a handful of Castle guards, Clef, two of the three Magic Knights that did not include Hikaru among their number, and…Lantis! 'How dare he come in here!' she thought with rage. Anger, surprise, and confusion wrapped themselves in a dense, tight cloud around her, weakening her defenses and concentration beyond measure. Having had no time to think over the past events, she was disconcerted and vulnerable, as she always was after viewing an extremely strong vision, and the one she just saw between Hikaru and Lantis was right in front of her eyes, unmistakable, plain, yet so complex her head hurt.
Fuu examined Mikoto's reaction as the guards, herself, Umi, Clef, and Lantis surrounded the girl. With more than a little surprise, she noticed that the girl hadn't noticed the circle that had formed around her until the last minute. Before that, she thought she had caught the glimpse of a single glistening tear at the corner of her adversary's eye. 'Magic Knight? How could this girl be another Magic Knight? Weren't there three Magic Knights and three only? After all, there were only three Rune- Gods…and three Escudo…right? So…that girl couldn't be one!' Fuu reasoned. But even so, she could tell something was truly bothering the captured Mikoto, because from what she had seen before of the fighting skills the girl possessed, this time, she didn't even come close to half of what she had accomplished before.
"Let go of me!" Mikoto struggled with her captors' strong grip on her arms.
Clef stepped forward, muttered a short incantation, and the girl fell limp in the guards' hold. "She is just asleep," Clef informed the wide- eyed looks of Fuu and Umi. Lantis, as always, looked indifferent to the recent events.
-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/- /-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
(*This is just a little update on the events that have passed. Each time there is a "*", that means you are reading what Mikoto sees, or something like a newsflash; something that really happened in the DVD/Anime version of Magic Knight Rayearth, and is linked to my story.)
"*" Mikoto was sleeping a forced slumber again, and watched everything that happened while she was still under the spell of the Master Mage. The NSX (Autozam) launched a full-scale attack on the Castle of Cephiro, but the Magic Knights were able to partially defend the castle: Eagle made is way through a weak point in the barrier. Mikoto's anxiousness increased as she watched the effect on Clef, who had already overexerted himself while pursuing her, and the casting of the barrier and the break caused considerable pain. As if Autozam's attack was not enough, Debonair and Nova invaded from the inside of the castle through the captive Alcyone, and Mikoto tried desperately to break free of her bonds to the sleeping world as she watched this attack. However, unable to help, her horror grew as Debonair reached for the Proof of the Pillar. If Debonair was able to get it…then…the fate of Cephiro was sealed…! Luckily, in the nick of time, Mikoto heard the voice she all too well remembered: Princess Emeraude's defiant, commanding voice expelled all the monsters inside the castle and Debonair herself out of it. The invading Eagle, and Hikaru, who tried to prevent him from going any further, were knocked unconscious as pure, white, bright light flowed throughout the Castle, and Mikoto herself felt the beam closing around her, covering the black, blurry edges of the visions in a serene, powerful whiteness. "*"
***By the way, EVERYTHING after this little interruption by me (^_^) is almost a direct copy of the OAV…this took me a lot of time because I had to watch, pause, rewind, copy what they said, watch, pause, rewind and do it again and again until I had all of this…but this is a very nice link to the next part. If you know this part already and you don't want to read it, go ahead and stop, but please read the next chapter (VERY big twists : p) ***
As Emeraude's voice echoed throughout the castle from the Pillar room, "Cephiro is…Cephiro is…." Eagle and Hikaru both fell down from where they stood and sank into the soft recess of unconsciousness as the entire castle glowed with a pulsing, bright light.
Hikaru glided, suspended a few inches above the ground, though the peaceful greenery of a place that felt vaguely familiar. Sunlight flooded the serene lane created by groves of trees.
"This is…" Hikaru wondered aloud.
A colorful bird spiraled down from a flight through the air and Hikaru extended her hand for it to land on. Her eyes widened as it attempted to settle onto her finger but instead flew right through, and watched in amazement as it flew up to land on Lantis's hand. He was up in a large tree, sitting comfortably on one of its thick branches, half-awake and looking calmer than ever.
"Lantis!" a voice called from behind Hikaru. She turned to look at its speaker.
"Zagato!" she breathed.
"You're here again, Lantis?" Zagato's question was more like a statement, and he did not seem to notice or hear Hikaru.
"This is the warmest place in this castle…" Lantis responded uninterestedly, paying more attention to the birds and scenery than to his brother.
"This is…." Hikaru muttered again, comprehension dawning on her, "This is from the past of Cephiro."
Hikaru's eyes widened considerably and an audible gasp escaped her lips as she caught sight of a figure watching Lantis and Zagato a short distance away form behind a marble column.
"Princess Emeraude!" Hikaru exclaimed, quickly floating over to the former Pillar.
"Lantis…" Zagato began, not becoming aware of Princess Emeraude's presence, his eyes closed and hidden beneath his dark hair as he bowed his head, asking Lantis a question, "What do you think about the Pillar?"
Lantis blinked, startled at the suddenness of the inquiry.
"What do you think about this system that puts all responsibility solely on the Pillar?" Zagato continued, raising his head and fixing his eyes on his brother.
Emeraude gasped. It caught Zagato's attention and he turned to gaze at her in quiet, suppressed astonishment. Lantis followed his brother's eyes and saw Princess Emeraude too, and his face betrayed his surprise. Hikaru only hovered and observed from behind Emeraude, still unidentifiable and slightly transparent, like a ghost's.
"Zagato…" the Princess whispered, averting her eyes. As tears flowed freely down her face, she closed her eyes, turned, and fled down the path created by numerous white marble posts.
Hikaru watched with sad eyes as Emeraude's back drew farther and farther away. When she could no longer see the Princess, she tuned back to Zagato and Lantis.
Lantis had climbed down from his seat and was now walking towards the turned back of his brother.
His eyes holding restrained anger and sorrow, Zagato murmured, "I have committed the greatest sin here in Cephiro…"
Lantis silently walked past, contemplating Zagato's statement and thinking of a reply. He did not speak until he reached a small patch of beautiful, white-petalled flowers. Kneeling down besides them, he held a single flower cupped in one hand, carefully not uprooting it.
"Zagato…" Lantis said.
"Lantis…" Zagato replied, closing his eyes and speaking as he waited for an answer, "Every person has a wish that they cannot ever change. A wish that cannot be relinquished…not through temptation, or even if it is branded as evil."
Lantis remained silent with this declaration from Zagato.
"I cannot stop my heart from loving the Princess," Zagato announced, his eyes opening and revealing deep emotion and determination. "Even if it means losing my own life…or ruining this world…."
"This world is beautiful…But I think…" Lantis said softly, gazing at the blossom in his hand, "a world that is truly beautiful would be one where flowers bloom even without a Pillar."
Zagato started and turned towards his brother, surprise shining in his dark eyes.
"Zagato I…" Lantis began. Hikaru wanted to listen further, but a strong wind blew through the scene, growing stronger and stronger with each passing second, covering Lantis's words. Hikaru closed her eyes against the fierceness of the wind and braced herself against its fury, but was unable to keep from being blown away.
"Lantis!" she yelled as the 'dream' faded into a white mass.
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Ok, well, if you like this series so far, please tell me so in a review! I would love to know how hard I should work on this, and…if you DO like this so far, please don't miss the next chapter: we find out a bit more about Mikoto (can't believe how long I took to think about that one character)…Until next time, then!
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1 CHAPTER 7: MEMORIES
Mikoto let out a startled gasp, and, too late she realized her mistake and clamped her mouth shut. Luckily, Lantis was still focused on the redheaded Magic Knight, so she let out a soft, inaudible sigh of relief. Once he and Presea left the room, she would leave, too, and hopefully never come back. She would go back to the country where she had stayed so long, and stay there until this chapter in the Legend of the Magic Knights was finished. Then, maybe, just maybe, she would be freed of these torturing visions that tore into her heart. A tear slid from a traitorous eye as she fought for control over the emotions that swelled up.
Suddenly, her thoughts were cut short when she felt a hand resting on her shoulder. Reflexively, she leapt away from the touch and whirled around to try and see her opponent, but she ran into yet another person. She backed away carefully and examined her surroundings.
'Wow…that must've taken longer than I imagined…' she thought. Around her, there were a handful of Castle guards, Clef, two of the three Magic Knights that did not include Hikaru among their number, and…Lantis! 'How dare he come in here!' she thought with rage. Anger, surprise, and confusion wrapped themselves in a dense, tight cloud around her, weakening her defenses and concentration beyond measure. Having had no time to think over the past events, she was disconcerted and vulnerable, as she always was after viewing an extremely strong vision, and the one she just saw between Hikaru and Lantis was right in front of her eyes, unmistakable, plain, yet so complex her head hurt.
Fuu examined Mikoto's reaction as the guards, herself, Umi, Clef, and Lantis surrounded the girl. With more than a little surprise, she noticed that the girl hadn't noticed the circle that had formed around her until the last minute. Before that, she thought she had caught the glimpse of a single glistening tear at the corner of her adversary's eye. 'Magic Knight? How could this girl be another Magic Knight? Weren't there three Magic Knights and three only? After all, there were only three Rune- Gods…and three Escudo…right? So…that girl couldn't be one!' Fuu reasoned. But even so, she could tell something was truly bothering the captured Mikoto, because from what she had seen before of the fighting skills the girl possessed, this time, she didn't even come close to half of what she had accomplished before.
"Let go of me!" Mikoto struggled with her captors' strong grip on her arms.
Clef stepped forward, muttered a short incantation, and the girl fell limp in the guards' hold. "She is just asleep," Clef informed the wide- eyed looks of Fuu and Umi. Lantis, as always, looked indifferent to the recent events.
-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/- /-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
(*This is just a little update on the events that have passed. Each time there is a "*", that means you are reading what Mikoto sees, or something like a newsflash; something that really happened in the DVD/Anime version of Magic Knight Rayearth, and is linked to my story.)
"*" Mikoto was sleeping a forced slumber again, and watched everything that happened while she was still under the spell of the Master Mage. The NSX (Autozam) launched a full-scale attack on the Castle of Cephiro, but the Magic Knights were able to partially defend the castle: Eagle made is way through a weak point in the barrier. Mikoto's anxiousness increased as she watched the effect on Clef, who had already overexerted himself while pursuing her, and the casting of the barrier and the break caused considerable pain. As if Autozam's attack was not enough, Debonair and Nova invaded from the inside of the castle through the captive Alcyone, and Mikoto tried desperately to break free of her bonds to the sleeping world as she watched this attack. However, unable to help, her horror grew as Debonair reached for the Proof of the Pillar. If Debonair was able to get it…then…the fate of Cephiro was sealed…! Luckily, in the nick of time, Mikoto heard the voice she all too well remembered: Princess Emeraude's defiant, commanding voice expelled all the monsters inside the castle and Debonair herself out of it. The invading Eagle, and Hikaru, who tried to prevent him from going any further, were knocked unconscious as pure, white, bright light flowed throughout the Castle, and Mikoto herself felt the beam closing around her, covering the black, blurry edges of the visions in a serene, powerful whiteness. "*"
***By the way, EVERYTHING after this little interruption by me (^_^) is almost a direct copy of the OAV…this took me a lot of time because I had to watch, pause, rewind, copy what they said, watch, pause, rewind and do it again and again until I had all of this…but this is a very nice link to the next part. If you know this part already and you don't want to read it, go ahead and stop, but please read the next chapter (VERY big twists : p) ***
As Emeraude's voice echoed throughout the castle from the Pillar room, "Cephiro is…Cephiro is…." Eagle and Hikaru both fell down from where they stood and sank into the soft recess of unconsciousness as the entire castle glowed with a pulsing, bright light.
Hikaru glided, suspended a few inches above the ground, though the peaceful greenery of a place that felt vaguely familiar. Sunlight flooded the serene lane created by groves of trees.
"This is…" Hikaru wondered aloud.
A colorful bird spiraled down from a flight through the air and Hikaru extended her hand for it to land on. Her eyes widened as it attempted to settle onto her finger but instead flew right through, and watched in amazement as it flew up to land on Lantis's hand. He was up in a large tree, sitting comfortably on one of its thick branches, half-awake and looking calmer than ever.
"Lantis!" a voice called from behind Hikaru. She turned to look at its speaker.
"Zagato!" she breathed.
"You're here again, Lantis?" Zagato's question was more like a statement, and he did not seem to notice or hear Hikaru.
"This is the warmest place in this castle…" Lantis responded uninterestedly, paying more attention to the birds and scenery than to his brother.
"This is…." Hikaru muttered again, comprehension dawning on her, "This is from the past of Cephiro."
Hikaru's eyes widened considerably and an audible gasp escaped her lips as she caught sight of a figure watching Lantis and Zagato a short distance away form behind a marble column.
"Princess Emeraude!" Hikaru exclaimed, quickly floating over to the former Pillar.
"Lantis…" Zagato began, not becoming aware of Princess Emeraude's presence, his eyes closed and hidden beneath his dark hair as he bowed his head, asking Lantis a question, "What do you think about the Pillar?"
Lantis blinked, startled at the suddenness of the inquiry.
"What do you think about this system that puts all responsibility solely on the Pillar?" Zagato continued, raising his head and fixing his eyes on his brother.
Emeraude gasped. It caught Zagato's attention and he turned to gaze at her in quiet, suppressed astonishment. Lantis followed his brother's eyes and saw Princess Emeraude too, and his face betrayed his surprise. Hikaru only hovered and observed from behind Emeraude, still unidentifiable and slightly transparent, like a ghost's.
"Zagato…" the Princess whispered, averting her eyes. As tears flowed freely down her face, she closed her eyes, turned, and fled down the path created by numerous white marble posts.
Hikaru watched with sad eyes as Emeraude's back drew farther and farther away. When she could no longer see the Princess, she tuned back to Zagato and Lantis.
Lantis had climbed down from his seat and was now walking towards the turned back of his brother.
His eyes holding restrained anger and sorrow, Zagato murmured, "I have committed the greatest sin here in Cephiro…"
Lantis silently walked past, contemplating Zagato's statement and thinking of a reply. He did not speak until he reached a small patch of beautiful, white-petalled flowers. Kneeling down besides them, he held a single flower cupped in one hand, carefully not uprooting it.
"Zagato…" Lantis said.
"Lantis…" Zagato replied, closing his eyes and speaking as he waited for an answer, "Every person has a wish that they cannot ever change. A wish that cannot be relinquished…not through temptation, or even if it is branded as evil."
Lantis remained silent with this declaration from Zagato.
"I cannot stop my heart from loving the Princess," Zagato announced, his eyes opening and revealing deep emotion and determination. "Even if it means losing my own life…or ruining this world…."
"This world is beautiful…But I think…" Lantis said softly, gazing at the blossom in his hand, "a world that is truly beautiful would be one where flowers bloom even without a Pillar."
Zagato started and turned towards his brother, surprise shining in his dark eyes.
"Zagato I…" Lantis began. Hikaru wanted to listen further, but a strong wind blew through the scene, growing stronger and stronger with each passing second, covering Lantis's words. Hikaru closed her eyes against the fierceness of the wind and braced herself against its fury, but was unable to keep from being blown away.
"Lantis!" she yelled as the 'dream' faded into a white mass.
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Ok, well, if you like this series so far, please tell me so in a review! I would love to know how hard I should work on this, and…if you DO like this so far, please don't miss the next chapter: we find out a bit more about Mikoto (can't believe how long I took to think about that one character)…Until next time, then!