A Clef and Umi Story By: Vanilla Fox
Disclaimer: MKR, all characters and related indicia are © CLAMP.
Author's Note: *sigh of relief* Oh, my, gosh!! I'm so happy that you guys aren't angry... -_-" I was actually anticipating zilch reviews and mucho flames... I'm so glad you guys are so understanding... T~T (Tears of Joy) Mucho gratias!!
Chapter 6 [Beginning]
"Thank you for everything. Saving me, giving me hope, helping me come back... Thank you." She buried her face in his chest again, and Clef suspected that she was hiding her tears. But he smiled and hugged her tightly, before holding her face up with both his hands. he stared into her eyes, smiling widely. "Don't mention it. You'd do anything to protect the one you love, right?" She smiled, tears flowing freely now, smiling widely as well. "Un." She nodded, and wiped the tears away roughly.
"The Pillars have always produced something to protect Cefiro, if they thought that it was in danger. In one case, the fourth Pillar, Issarfa, summoned a whole flood, which destroyed all those who did not know about it. Only the Cefirans were left, since they all gathered on top of the mountains. In this case, Emeraude must have seen a danger coming."
"Kane?"
Clef looked at Ferio, nodding. "Most likely. And... she has her full trust on the Magic Knights. With that reason, I think she has created a thing of legends to help us." Fuu looked at him curiously from beside Ferio. "What do you mean, Clef?" He stood up. "I think it would be better to show you, before we lose more time. I will explain later, if we have time." He stood up, and everyone followed him, as they walked up staricases and hallways. The small procession gathered stares, but they were too apprehensive to be concerned. Fuu massaged her throat, a newfound habit, as they got nearer to the palace's peak.
Hikaru was nervous and quiet as they made their way to the centre of the palace. As she and Lantis had gone out of her room, they had awlked into the small group, and on the way to the Crown (Tiara?) Room, Clef had explained everything to them. But she wasn't really listening. Lantis had noticed this from the corner of his eye, and truth be told, he was worried. Hikaru semed to be having a conversation with someone in her dreams, and he had only caught bits and pieces of it. But it was enough for him to understand that there was some kind of...
"Test?" Lantis looked at Hikaru's sleeping form. She was frowning, as if not understanding, with a pout of curiosity on her face. "The Fire?" Lantis bent in closer, as if doing so would enable him to hear the conversation. But there was noting happening. "I can.." He shook his head, not understanding. "Lantis..." Why was his name being mentioned? "Bye!" Her genki goodbye signalled the end of the conversation, and bending over her, he was the first thing those ruby eyes saw when they opened.
"Are you ready?" The three Magic Knights seperated themselves from the group, all three with determined expressions on their face. "Yes. We are." Clef nodded, face serious, as he took off his ring solemnly, and put it in the slot. Umi's thoughts were racing. Emeraude would never let us die.. But The Water could... And Clef hasn't even kissed me yet!! Umi's thoughts were conflicting, and she was metally skaing her head adn running away, but her mask almost seemed to have a mind of its own as it nodded. Oh well... I have to go through with this. If I ant to help Cefiro.. And protect everyone in it. She looked at her friends, and at the small group behind them. And most important of all... She looked at the tall lavender-haired man in front of her. Their eyes met, and Umi gave the tiniest nod of confirmation, a private one, to show that yes, she was ready and willing to risk it.
She wasn't sure, but she thought she saw another tiny nod of a reply come from Clef, as the doors opened and bright light flooded the small hall. Everyone shielded their eyes or squinted, but they only saw three shadows- the Magic Knights, walk in, before the door closed, and all light was gone, except for the one chandelier overhead. Ferio sat on the floor with a thump. "Well, then... that's it. e have to wait." Cauldina nodded, and sat across him, while Clef stood on one side, adn Lantis paced, his boots rythmically (sp?) tapping against the marble floor.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Umi, Fuu and Hikaru stood around tne tiara, which was glowing brightly, pulsating with the light of Emeraude's soul. In each corner, their was a large egg-shaped orb, blue, green and red, all swirled with white. The three girls looked at each other for assurance, and looked at the orbs. At the same time, they took in deep breaths, and following the instructions given to them by the mysterious men, they looked at the orbs, and placed both hands on either side, before taking a step forward.
Instead of bumping into the orbs, or pushing it forward, it entered them, and a bright light, red for Hikaru, green for Fuu, and blue for Umi. Each of them gave a shriek of pain as their flesh parted woundlessly, and the orbs entered them. Outside, everyone looked up, startled. Ferio made to stand up, but LaFarga held him down, shaking his head. Ferio slumped to the ground in defeat, and clenched his fists tightly. Fuu... Clef looked at the closed door, as if doing so would gain him the ability to look inside. But there was nothing, and he looked at his staff worriedly, clutching it tightly. I trust you, Umi. Come back out here as soon as you can.
Fuu was almost screaming with the pain, she gasped heavily as she felt herself float up, become a spiral of wind herself. When she opened her eyes, she was floating. In nothingness. In total nothingness, it was as if... there was only white... and she was nothing. That was when she heard a voice around her. She heard the voice in her head... after all, everything here was nothing, but wind. All the wind of Cefiro- the air, the oxygen... Magic Knight of Wind, Fuu Hojouji. You have gained an audience with me, as nobody else has done since three thousand years ago. What do you request of me?
Hikaru was gritting her teeth with the pain, that she thought she felt something crack. The pain was unbearable for a moment, until it slowly subsided into a small heat in the pit of her stomach. Bright light flared though her eyelids, and heat pressed against her body, until she felt as if she was on fire... or fire itself. Everywhere around her was fire- red, orange, yellow. Suddenly, there was a large booming voice, which spoke in her head. The voice of Cefiro's fire, Cefiro's sun, volcanoes, flames... Hikaru Shidou... You are the Magic Knight of Fire, holding the honour of having an audience with me. You are one of the two who have done so. Elmyra failed, and she had died during her test. Are you sure that you want to continue to ask me for what you need?
Umi was tensed up, her mouth open in a silent scream, before she felt herself choke- something was flooding her mouth! She felt the pain dissolve, before, to her amazement, her hand dissolved into liquid right in front of her, where she felt herself spilt... and be all over... around, everywhere. She was nothing, and nothing... was... there. She couldn't see anything but water, nor hear or smell or taste anything. She was wondering whether she was still alive when she heard the loud voice of Cefiro's water, the rivers, the lakes, the rain, the creeks, even the dew... in her head. Umi Ryuuzaki, the Magick Knight of Water... You are risking your life to have your wish granted. What is your wish?
Suddenly, all of them knew what to say. And at the same time, they said the same thing, with one heart. "We wish for the power to aid Cefiro." There was a pause after they all spoke, and they smiled, hearing the others say the same thing.
Fuu was shocked as she began to swirl and spin, and she found herself in a large canyon, and beside her, stood the same mysterious man from before. He smiled at her, and she smiled back, though with a bit of hesitation. There was a loud booming voice that swept her off her feet before she found herself in her full armour and her sword in her hand. The man, however, was still smilng beside her. You are to face your first test- to fight against your own power. Me. Windam here is allowed to help you, but he cannot tell you what to do. Shall we begin?
Hikaru blinked as the fire around her seemed to melt, and she found herself in a large field, facing a pillar of fire. Beside her, the same warrior from before nodded at her reassuringly before he looked at the pillar of fire, which spoke. Hikaur squared herself and took a deep breath, time to get serious. All of a sudden, to her surprise, she found herself in her full armour and with her sword in her hand. Hikaru, the tests are about to begin. You must first defeat me, the Fire of Cefiro, your power. Rayearth is permitted to help you, but he cannot tell you what to do. Are you ready?
Umi looked around in surprise as she began to split into several droplets, and finally, into herself again, in her full armour plus her sword. She turned around as she saw a flash of blue, when she came face to face with the same man from before. "You..." He smiled at her, and nodded in front of them. She turned to see a pillar of water, spinning as if... It were alive. Magic Knight of Water, the first of your three tests are about to begin. For the first one, you are to defeat me, your own strength. Selece is permitted to help you, but you cannot ask him what you are to do. Can we start?
A/N: This is super short, isn't it? Or is it just the same length? I don't know, i finished typing this up really fast- I was enjoying it too much. But the I decided that the tests part had better get a seperate chapter. First one up will be Hikaru's test. I know I'm kinda deviating form the original storyline, but it'll be pure Clemi soon. *bows* gomenasai!!
And I'm currently typing up a little Christmas Clemi fic... I hope you'll check it out!! Thanks to everyone, for reviewing me, I'm really grateful. ^.^
hito wa hitori da to wakariaitai no ni nante muzukashii
When they're alone, people want to share their feelings, but it can be so hard.
kotoba wa muryoku de toki ni wa gin no NAIFU ni naru
Words are powerless to express one's feelings, and sometimes they become a silver knife.
~Suka-retto/ Scarlet