Anime: Magic Knight Rayearth by CLAMP
Author: mizamiko
Rating of Chapter: PG
Whenever I call you Friend: Chapter 2 Interlude: Nightmares
*****Eagle*****
++++++++++++
Everything was a bit fuzzy at first. All I knew was that I was running at breakneck speed, in a forest that seemed to close in around me. Gasping for air, it was as if I had been running for hours. I could feel my heart beating so fast, faster than it would when I exerted myself like this. It was not merely from the exertion put upon my body; it came from something deeper. It stemmed from the fact that I was scared. But I did not know of what.
It had to be a dream. I knew I had lain down in my room
that night. Dead-tired from working on the rebuilding of one of the towns near
the Forest of Silence.
The job was not something that could just be willed into
existence. Unlike some of the other towns where the Yils could do most of the
work without the help of machines, this town had to be done purely by hand. It
was well and good that I was assigned here to lend the Autozamian expertise
needed. With the help of a few good engineers, the work was nearly at par with
the Yils.
So, this had to be a nightmare. A bad dream, nothing more,
but one that I could not seem to escape from.
As I ran, I felt something behind me. It was nipping at my
heels and caused me to shiver, as if cold. It was not what I feared. It was
where it was herding me that I seemed to fear.
Suddenly I was out of the suffocating forest. I had never
known myself to be claustrophobic, but a surge of relief shot through me. Maybe
this would not be what I feared it to be. Maybe it was not one of those kinds of
nightmares that have become my
burden. Maybe.
*But then again maybe not,* I thought as I skidded to a stop.
Where once an open plain stood, a cliff end appeared.
I was rooted to the spot. All around me, mountains, like
jagged fangs, loomed. Everything was shadowed and seemed dead. The howling winds
added to the feeling of coldness. Like a dark omen, I knew this was another one
of those types of nightmares. I hated waking up to one of those...
Suddenly, like a cold needle racing up my spine, I felt it.
Something was moving in the stratosphere. I knew that it was there even before I
saw it. Like before, ingrained training took over.
Calm. Focus. Act.
I looked up and saw the threads of energy floating
everywhere. Everything was fine. Well... except for that dark spot against the
sky, slowly growing bigger with each second.
*Humm... Must be the cause of all the commotion.* I thought
as I vaguely noticed a lot of activity at the valley below.
A strong gust of wind passed me and everything seemed to go
on fast forward. Everything was abruptly covered by the cloud and screams could
be heard from below. I tensed, as I knew to whom the voices belonged.
I reached out for them using threads of energy, but found
no one. I opened myself to the darkness, hoping in someway to understand it.
Maybe I would find those that I seek in there.
It was a grave mistake. I slowly paid for it as I lost myself
to the darkness.
++++++++++++
I opened my eyes to a now familiar view of the ceiling. My
room, I was in my room, I kept repeating to myself. I sat up in a jerk and felt
the sweat trickle past my brow. My hands were icy and I felt cold as I
remembered flashes of my nightmare.
A nightmare that came like those that I had a couple of times
before. The ones that showed me my fight with Hikaru. Another premonition, but
this time I was not in it. In the nightmares about the fight, I saw myself
clearly, like watching a through a vid screen. Now I was nowhere to be seen.
Did this not concern me? What was that cloud of darkness?
Where was I? Could I be dead? Was there anything I could do?
I stopped my questions as a thought came. Could I have
disturbed the others sleep? That was not an improbability.
I took a deep breath and visualized the castle interior and
the wards that I had up. I checked on the wards that I knew guarded those that
are most sensitive to me. I examined those on Guru Clef first, as he was the
most sensitive, not only to myself but to most everything. I was not surprised
to sense the threads of energy floating about him. It was woven into a familiar
pattern. The Master Yil sensed it too, but in his own way.
I next checked upon Zazu. Though unable to manipulate the
threads of energy beyond normal, Zazu was still a cousin and the sensitivity to
such things was there. Unsurprisingly the threads were knotting themselves there
as well. I smiled, as I knew that the dream would not be remembered. Slow-wave
sleep did that to you. I mentally nudged a thread to wrap around my cousins'
head and pulled him out of his dream. Using a few more threads I placed him a
more restful REM type of sleep.
The next ones on the list were the Magical Knights.
Surprisingly, not one seemed to have sensed the nightmare or had one of their
own related to it. That was good.
The last person was the one I knew I had to thread lightly
with. Maybe not as powerful as Guru Clef, not yet that is, but one more familiar
with me. Lantis. As I visualized his room I saw a complex pattern woven
throughout the chamber.
It was funny how different Cephirans and Autozamians wove the
threads. True, most Autozamians did not know how to cast spells. But all knew
how to weave the treads like it were extensions of their bodies. Mental energy,
energy seen only by the mind and manipulated only through ones thoughts.
Everyone in Autozam knew about it, used it, and "saw" it, at different levels
that is. Cephirans cannot see these threads. They are ignorant of its existence.
They called its use as "will" or the "casting of spells". It did not matter; it
was the same energy. The difference only came in how it was perceived. A spell,
a simple incantation used in creating a pattern. Something to focus on when
weaving the threads. Blind weaving. But what interesting patterns they make.
Lantis' room was "warded" in a way. It would not prevent
things from disturbing him but it would be detected. The threads were knotted in
his signature knot. To get to him, without detection, would entail knotting the
threads in the exact same way he had. Not an easy feat to do. Everyone may be
able to unknot the threads but re-knotting it was the trick. I had little
trouble with the re-knotting, but it takes time. The longer I stayed the greater
chance that he'll sense me on his own. Nudging at a particularly long thread I
guided it through one of the spaces in the pattern. A slight twist and...
*Nightmare?* A voice asked suddenly.
*Uhh... Yeah. Did I wake you?*
*No. I was checking up on everyone.*
*Whatever for?*
I felt "eyes" watching me quietly in my room. I almost smiled
when Lantis unknowingly tripped the ward I had up. As clumsy as a blind man. His
people really could not see them. He had no idea what I was doing. This was only
telepathy to him. It was funny how Cephirans look down on Autozamian Mental
energy. It did not matter, they may believe whatever they will. Every Autozamian
knew the truth. That was all that mattered.
*Excuse me but could we get a little bit of sleep around
here.* Another voice sounded
I tensed then giggled in relief. It was just Zazu, sleep
talking.
*He's right, you need to get some sleep.*
*I know.*
*Is the nightmare bothering you? I could ward you.*
At that I nearly giggled out loud. A ward around me would be
the last thing that would help me sleep.
*Thank you, but I think I'll be fine.*
*Very well. Pleasant dreams then.*
*Same.*
Letting the visualization fade, I laid back and smiled.
Nothing, no one felt it. I closed my eyes and let myself sink into a good,
restful sleep. I'll worry about the dream in the morning. As consciousness
slowly faded, I could have sworn that Lantis had his "eyes" back in my room.
Hump. Just goes to show how much I'm imagining things.
*****End of Interlude*****
Published - February 16, 1999
Disclaimers: All characters belonged to their original creator, CLAMP, I just
commandeered some of the characters for a night out into my own demented world.
Note: Interludes are portions of the fic that occur roughly right after the part
that they follow. Parts may or may not have an interval of a few hours to days
to months between them. Thanks to the UAWC or WW for going through this.