Disclaimer:

You know, a disclaimer is actually just something that simply doesn't talk about something else…so technically, I could just not say anything about not being the sole owner of MKR and I'd be fulfilling my duties….hmm…

Prologue:

Ano….I messed up. As I was reminded, Tatra is the older sister…I confused the two.

GAH!!! I AM ASHAMED! I SHALL NEVER FORGIVE MYSELF! MY CAREER AS A FANFICTIONER IS RUINED! RUINED!!

Hemhem…anyway. That was a bit of an overreaction. But I am sorry about the confusion. I wasn't sure when I was writing it and I failed to check before posting…I'll see if I can fix it. They don't show up again much more after this chapter, so it shouldn't ruin things too much…

Perhaps I'll edit that chapter, if I ever get around to it.

Gah! Why must they make these names so similar???

Anyways. More story! More Eagle-y goodness! MORE MKR!!!!!

MWAHAHAHA!

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"Hurry…."

Umi leaned over the railing, gripping it so tightly that her hands were whitened from lack of blood. The palace loomed ever closer, seeming almost within reach of the speeding Chizeta ship. But it seemed to Umi as though they would never quite get there.

"How much longer?" Tarta asked her sister under her breath, staring at the fixated blue-haired girl.

"Not much." Unusually, Tarta's oblivious sister was also lowering her voice, as worried about Umi as Tatra was.

They were sitting a little behind Umi, reclined in piles of comfortable pillows. Once during the hours-long flight they had offered Umi a seat. She had responded with a curt shake of her head. That was the last time she had acknowledged them. Since then, the two sisters had carried on a few curt conversations about this Fire Knight that Umi seemed so worried about. From the curt description Umi had given before ignoring them altogether, Hikaru was something of an angel. Smart, funny, innocent, perfect…the words Umi had used were almost unbelievable. However, neither sister, after seeing Umi's distress, had wanted to contradict the girl. Whatever else Hikaru was, it was obvious she was dear to their new friend.

And that was why they had not denied her the transportation back to her home, even though there was a chance that eager Cephiran residents could take it upon themselves to attack their ship. Tatra had denied that the citizens would do any such thing….but there was always a chance.

They were nearing the palace at breakneck speed, and only Tarta's complete confidence in her sister's ability to control their transport kept her from panicking. She was, however, holding rather to tightly onto said sister's arm.

"How much longer?" she said, through gritted teeth.

"Fifteen seconds less from the last time you asked." Tatra responded cheerfully, easily removing her bloodless limb from Tarta's deathgrip.

Hurry. Faster.

Umi ground her teeth in irritation. So close…so close. The palace…she could almost touch it…why weren't they there yet? They had to hurry…Hikaru was hurt.

Umi leaned even farther over the railing, looking as though she might simply jump the remaining distance to reach the elusive castle. She had calmed down considerably since she had first heard Hikaru's cry within her heart. At first, she had almost run off the platform and leapt into space to dash to the palace through the air. Only the smallest margin of her mind that still retained it's senses told her to ask Tatra and Tarta to take her.

Hikaru! Her mind swirled and leaped to outrageous conclusions in her panic. Perhaps Hikaru had been attacked in her sleep. Maybe she had gone to fight Debonair on her own. What if she had been transported back to Earth? Too many possibilities, each one worse than the last. Umi had only the barest hint of what had happened, only the slightest idea of her foster sister's condition. All she knew was that Hikaru was hurt. Badly.

And Umi hadn't been there to prevent it.

All her life after meeting Hikaru had changed. First, their battle against the mud-monster. It had been Hikaru who had first taken the initiative, had first attacked, had first realized the creature's weakness.

Then becoming Magic Knights. Umi had feared to believe that it was her destiny, preferring to live in dreams of going home. But Hikaru had accepted her fate wholeheartedly, taking the people of Cephiro into her heart in such a complete and selfless way that it made Umi ashamed. Hikaru had always been the most courageous, the most caring of all of them. She had always been the first into the fight, preferring to take the fight away from the other two, and protect them, rather than allow herself to stand back and let someone else fight instead.

And from there, Umi had realized the importance of Hikaru. The selfless nature, the caring heart, the bold spirit, the accepting mind. It had not taken her long to realize that without Hikaru, neither Umi nor Fuu would have ever completed their quest. They would have died with Alcyone, too scared to move.

The importance of Hikaru. It had caused Umi to change so much. From the spoiled, selfish princess she had been, Umi had become a caring individual, cautious but courageous in a fight. Willing to devote herself to other people. Without Hikaru, Umi would never have been able to love as she thought she might now. Even as the thought came to her, the image of a white-haired sorcerer appeared in her mind.

Not now! She thought furiously.

So Hikaru had become the most important thing in her life. Fuu had realized it too. They both had decided early on to devote their lives to Hikaru, because through Hikaru's unknowing teaching, they would both live. Umi felt a little hypocritical, since the ideal of protecting someone else for your own ends was a very selfish one, and Umi thought she had outgrown the selfish part of herself.

But Hikaru was worth being selfish about. When Umi had seen Hikaru just before their transportation back to Cephiro, and had seen the terrible pain on Hikaru's face, it had been almost more than she could bear. Through giving their lives to Hikaru, Umi and Fuu could finally live. And when Hikaru was hurt and saddened, it was like part of their lives was being damped.

And now Hikaru was hurt.

Probably badly.

Umi tightened her loosening grip on the rails. They had to hurry. If Hikaru died…

CRASH!

She felt the jolt through her, feeling and knowing that they had finally docked with the castle. Long before the echoes had subsided she was waiting impatiently at the exit, needing to get out, needing to get to Hikaru. She watched as the two djinn's swirled together to become the ramp leading to the entrance.

"Thank you, Tarta, Tatra!" She called, not looking back as she sprinted down the pathway. As she ran, she noted a shimmering sphere that was descending quickly towards her destination, a strange symbol on it's front.

Fuu, returning from Fahren. Good.

Until now, it had not occurred to the blue-haired knight that perhaps Fuu would not be there. It had not even occurred to her that Fuu existed. From the look on the Wind Knight's nearing face, Fuu had not considered Umi either. As they both reached the platform, however, they realized that they were unaccountably happy for the other's presence. They reached the landing at the same time, the bubble around Fuu popping as she disembarked.

"Umi-san."

"Fuu." They looked at each other for a moment.

"You heard her?" Fuu's question was hardly needed. Umi nodded. Fuu straightened her shoulders and look towards the entrance. Umi did too, suddenly realizing that however much she had wanted to get here, now that she had finally reached the palace she was afraid to go in. Afraid of what she might find.

"Fuu…" She said tentatively.

"Yes, Umi-san?" Fuu's pretty brown head turned towards the Water Knight, inquisitive and very serious.

"I'm scared." Umi's words echoed hollowly across the opening. Fuu nodded, understanding.

"It will be fine, Umi."

But somehow, the Wind Knight's words rang dull, and Umi found no comfort in them. She turned back to the door, still not wanting to go inside. But before her, the doors exploded outward, and the green-haired figure of the Prince of Cephiro came dashing out, his eyes on Fuu. Umi turned away, unable to watch the reunion. The softness in Ferio's eyes as he gathered Fuu into his arms was something Umi desperately needed, and had no one to give it to her.

"Umi…?" A soft question sounded from behind her, the quiet voice searching. She turned, and saw Ascot standing in the shadows of the entrance.

"Ascot…" She said, all of her pain and fear rising up in her, choking her, and her eyes pleaded for some form of reassurance.

By some blessed means, Ascot felt this, and somehow forced himself to step forward, past his bashfulness.

"Umi…" He touched her shoulder lightly, speaking with all the comfort he had within him.

"She's alive."

Umi sobbed out in relief, collapsing onto Ascot's chest, all the worry and fears of the last hours rising up in her, slowly being dispelled by the comfort in those words.

Ascot slowly put his arms around her, unsure if she would like his comfort. But Umi simply burrowed farther into his hesitant embrace, feeling the tenseness dissolving out of her.

As her tears finally slowed, she looked up into Ascot's brown eyes.

"Thank you, Ascot." Her words seemed to spark something within the Summoner, and suddenly his eyes were filled with something that Umi could not quite define. The intense emotion suddenly within Ascot's eyes made her afraid, scared of what it might mean. And then she stepped back out of his arms, and the look faded, and she made herself forget.

"Ascot, can you take me to where Hikaru is?"

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Fuu stood outside the doorway leading into the palace, as unwilling as Umi to enter, as unwilling to see what might await them.

But then the doors exploded, and she saw the familiar flash of green hair, and then she was surrounded by strong, comforting arms, and she felt the tears she had tried to hold back finally rise into her eyes.

"Fuu…" Ferio clasped her tighter, never wanting to let go, never wanting to stop feeling Fuu's slight figure within his embrace. But after far too short a time, his princess pulled back.

"Ferio…Hikaru-san…is she…"

Ferio pulled her to him, stroking her soft brown hair lovingly.

"She's alive."

"Oh, Ferio!" Fuu threw her arms around the prince, her relief evident. Ferio grinned and held her closer, loving the feel of Fuu's light brown hair beneath his hand. For a moment, they stood there, locked together, and Fuu let her fear drain out of her. Then she suddenly realized what she was doing, and yanked out of Ferio's arms so quickly she almost fell. Ferio caught her, steadied her, then grinned down at her prettily blushing face.

"Now I know how I can get you into my arms."

Fuu blushed brighter at this comment, then recovered.

"Prince Ferio-…"

"Ah, ah, ah!" He said playfully, holding a finger up to her lips. "It's Ferio."

Fuu blushed again.

"Ferio…we need to see Hikaru. Do you know where she is?"

Ferio nodded, his grin fading.

"She's in Clef's rooms. Come on, I'll take you to her."

Fuu nodded, then suddenly recalled Umi.

"Umi-san…" She looked around for a moment, then saw Umi walking towards her, Ascot trailing.

"Oh! Summoner Ascot…I didn't see you." For some reason, Fuu's comment caused Ascot to blush and glance at Umi. But Fuu put it out of her mind.

"Umi-san, we need to go to Hikaru." Umi nodded firmly, and turned towards the palace. Ferio took the lead, capturing Fuu's hand in his, and together they went to see Hikaru.

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It's a lovely story, really. I like the way the romance develops…

But apparently there are only a few of you out there who agree. Or are there….?

If you think this is a good story, please review. Even those of you who haven't written lots know that it is a wonderful feeling to know that someone likes your story enough to write on it….

But I also greatly appreciate my reviewers. Those of you who have left notes for me are greatly appreciated! Especially the encouragement and questions! (and a particular kudo to the one who informed me of my confusion with the Chizeta sisters' names. Arigatou!)

More chappies to come! Read! Review! Enjoy!

Happy Christmas!