Chapter Six: The Sun Mashin
Presea sighed as she finished Sakura's sword. It was a work that only matched the other Magic Knights' swords in beauty.
"Wow…………………." Sakura murmured, as the sword floated over to her and landed lightly in her outstretched hands.
"Now you have the key to your Mashin. That is a sword only you can use, Sakura." Presea said, as Sakura tested the sword's weight and tried a few swings.
"Arigato, Presea!" Sakura chirped, thrilled with her new sword.
"You're very welcome." Presea said, pleasurably. Then, suddenly, a mighty blast sounded, and shook the castle to its foundations. Before either one of them could move, a huge piece of the Creation Room's ceiling broke away and fell towards the two frightened women.
"Move!" a man's voice, this one Sakura recognized as being Eagle's, shouted, as he grabbed both of them and moved them out of the way. When the dust had settled, they all sat up from where they had ended up.
"Eagle-chan!" Sakura yelped, when she saw blood trickling down his face from a cut on his brow.
"Sakura, you must hurry and get to the meeting hall. Yukito and the others are in danger." Eagle said, ignoring the pain in his head as he spoke.
"But where is it? This castle's so huge!" Sakura replied, helplessly.
"Mokona will show you the way. Madoushi Clef is already on his way. I'll remain in the halls and see if any more people need help. Go now, before things go for the worse for your friends." Eagle said, as he helped both Sakura and Presea stand. With a silent nod, Sakura ran off, with a just arrived Mokona in the lead.
"Why didn't you go with her? The Magic Knights might need your help." Presea said, questioning Eagle's sanity at sending the inexperienced Magic Knight to help the accomplished ones.
"This is her fight. At the moment, I am not allowed to interfere. A silent witness is watching over her, and it wants to see if she is worthy." Eagle replied, with grim certainty.
"A silent witness?" Presea asked, confused.
"You'll soon see what I mean. But for now, are you the one who forged the Magic Knights' swords?" Eagle asked.
"Yes I am. In fact, I have just finished making the sword for the Sun Knight." Presea replied, still confused as to where this was going.
"I see. Then Sakura is about to grow up very fast. This is her test." Eagle said, then sighed at how enigmatic he now sounded.
"You mean the Sun Mashin is somewhere in this castle? And we didn't even know?" Presea queried, stunned at this sudden revelation.
"Exactly." Eagle replied, glad that he didn't have to be mysterious any more.
Yukito yelped as crystal shards found their way into his side and gagged as one buried itself in his stomach. Things were not going well for the four Magic Knights. All of them were badly hurt, and the floor was treacherous from all the blood that had been spilled.
"I don't know………………………how long we can continue……………….like this." Yukito gasped, as he willed his barrier into existence around them.
"We must not give up! We didn't come through all those battles just to die here! Our loved ones are counting on us!" Hikaru stubbornly said, holding her left arm to stem the bleeding in it.
"Still, how will we be able to fight them? Their powers are overwhelming! Every time we use an attack spell, they turn it back on us." Umi said, with hopelessness in her already pain-filled eyes.
"That is true, Umi-san, but Hikaru-san is right. We can't give up here, not when we have our loved ones here and on earth to think about." Fuu said, vaguely aware of the spells that were being hurled at the shadows' barrier, proving that Clef, Lantis and the others were trying to get them out.
"That's right." Yukito agreed, softly, wincing against the intense pain he was experiencing.
"Minna!" Sakura's voice suddenly cried, from beyond the barrier.
"Sakura-chan……………………." Yukito murmured, as he sat up, holding his stomach wound closed with his right hand as he did so.
"Sakura-chan! Be careful!" Hikaru shouted, before another onslaught forced the four within the barrier to shield themselves.
"Legendary Magic Knight." A voice said, from all around them. Sakura was immediately captivated by the voice.
"Who are you?" Sakura asked, as golden sunlight coalesced into a form that floated above them.
"I am known as Kohaku, Mashin of the Sun. I have been waiting countless ages for you." The vision, that of which was in the shape of a golden, cheetah-like cat, said.
"Mashin of the Sun? You've been waiting for me?" Sakura asked, confused.
"Magic Knight, show unto me the strength of thine heart. Prove unto me that you are worthy of donning me and becoming a true Magic Knight." Kohaku said, before disappearing from sight.
"Sakura! Look out!" Lantis shouted, as a whole onslaught of black crystal daggers flew her way.
"Hoee!" Sakura yelped, before somersaulting into the air and landing just in front of the other Magic Knights.
"Sakura-san! Move! If you don't, they'll kill you!" Fuu shouted, suddenly realizing why Sakura had leaped away from her previous spot.
"I can't just leave you! I have barely even gotten to know you and Umi-chan! I want to see why Yukito-san trusts you so much and learn to trust you too!" Sakura replied, stubbornly.
"So, another Magic Knight to kill, eh? Well, let's see how long she remains standing." Kokuyo sneered, as he and the other three shadows unleashed a fresh attack. But, before the attack could even strike, Sakura unleashed an attack of her own.
"Solar Rage!" Sakura shouted, destroying the crystal attack with little effort at all on her part.
"I think we're in trouble………………" Nova muttered, as anger entered Sakura's eyes and she swiped at them with her sword, unleashing a massive wave of golden energy.
"I'm outta here!" Kokuyo screamed, before teleporting away.
"Wait for us, you coward!" Nova shouted after him, as she too disappeared. Kaioh and Tenou weren't as fortunate. With twin screams of pain, both shadows were obliterated by the light.
"Way to go, Sakura-chan! You did it!" Hikaru shouted, enthusiastically. Sakura smiled in response, as the shadows' barrier at last fell, allowing worried friends to approach them.
"Legendary Magic Knight, I have now seen the strength of thine heart and have found you worthy of donning me. You are ready." Kohaku said, as Sakura and her fellow Knights were engulfed in golden light. Yukito sighed as he felt the gentle warmth flow through him, healing his wounds and those of Hikaru, Fuu, and Umi. When the light had faded, Sakura stood in not her third, but in her final armor!
"She's become a Magic Knight even faster than we did." Umi muttered, as Sakura looked over her new armor in astonishment. Even her sword had changed, becoming more beautiful than it had been only moments before.
"Unbelievable. She's gone from novice to accomplished in one day." Clef muttered, mostly to himself.
"And now the real trials begin; actually finding Ferio, preventing yet another war with Autozam, and seeing what's driven Eriol off his rocker." Kerberos said, as he watched the now five Magic Knights regroup.
"Yes, but where do we even begin to search for Ferio? The location of the Earth Shrine has been lost for generations." Clef said, as he watched the five approach him.
"I think I might know where to look." Eagle said, as he entered the room.
"Then here's an idea; Eagle and Fuu will go and search for the Earth Shrine. Yukito and Sakura will patrol the skies for the Autozamian ship, and Hikaru and Umi will remain here in case Eriol decides to attack the castle." Innouva suggested, quietly.
"Eriol is after Sakura, and he will continue trying to get her, if he isn't stopped. I suggest that Hikaru and Umi patrol the skies, while Yukito and Sakura remain close to the castle." Clow Reed said, breaking his silence for the first time that day. Eagle then turned to Fuu.
"Well, Fuu? When do you want to leave?" Eagle asked, gently.
"Now, if possible." Fuu replied, anxious for the safety of her loved one. Eagle nodded.
"Fuu-chan, be careful." Hikaru said, with some worry on her face.
"Yeah, don't get hurt out there." Umi added, as they hugged their friend.
"Don't worry, Fuu-san, you'll find him." Yukito said, with confidence in his voice.
"And we'll hold the fort here till you return!" Sakura chirped, managing to get a small smile from Fuu.
"Thank you, everyone!" Fuu said, as she and Eagle departed.
"And we still haven't even had time to catch up! Oh well, maybe later." Caldina muttered, as she watched the other Magic Knights leave as well.
Author's Note!
Urgh……………….I hate the way this chapter came out, but I'm too lazy to go back and change it! If anyone has any ideas on how this should continue, please e-mail me! I would really appreciate it! Thanks!
Gemini
