STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY (To sum everything up: I do not own Rayearth)
Chapter 16: Illusion of Beauty
Ferio slowly opened his eyes, his head foggy, unable to think clearly. He tried to lift his arms, but he could not.
Someone chained him down.
The first thing he noticed that he was in somewhere dark, but there was a warm fire, with Shuichiro sitting beside it.
Wait… Shuichiro??
"Long time no see Ferio. It took you long enough to wake up, I thought you were stronger than that, or did that blonde girl make you weak?" Shuichiro said, but there was strange edge to the way Shuichiro said 'blonde girl.'
"Charming as ever, Shuichiro…" Ferio muttered.
"Wait…. How do you know about Fuu? And Fuu would only make me stronger! No… wait… why are you here? We all thought you were dead! And just why am I chained down?" Ferio's mind racing with so many questions.
Shuichiro just chuckled. "I always saw you like my brother Ferio and really hoped that one day you actually would become my brother, but for now I have to keep you chained. I will not have my plan messed up now…"
"Dammit, just answer the questions!" Ferio growled.
"So Lafarga finally settled down. I'm glad at least he could be happy with love." Shuichiro bitterly smiled, ignoring Ferio.
Ferio frowned, Shuichiro still looked the same: black silky long hair in a high ponytail, bangs framing his face as well as overlapping his sharp sea green eyes, pale perfect complexion. Many women fell for both his looks and his strong personality. Shuichiro was a charming man, loyal to his comrades, and his skills unmatchable. Only Lafarga, Clef, and Zagato could beat him, though both Lantis and Ferio himself were close to his skill. And of course, his beloved sword that Emeraude gave to him beside him. He carried that sword everywhere.
However, Ferio could tell something was different about Shuichiro, but Shuichiro was never the same after Emeraude imprisoned herself.
He was never the same when he found out that Emeraude summoned the Magic Knights.
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"HIKARUUUUUUUUUU!" Umi screamed, frantically looking everywhere.
"Where's Fuu?" Gardina questioned.
Realization hit Umi, as she felt herself starting to cry. "No… NO! Hikaru and Fuu… they can't!" Umi collapsed, tears unable to stop. They all hated the pillar with a passion, and now Hikaru and Fuu are fighting to become the pillar…
"WHY!" Umi shrieked.
"Look… up in the air…" Eagle pointed.
"So this time… in this world…" Clef whispered.
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"Fuu?" Hikaru asked, she… was fighting Fuu?
"Look down, we are still in Cephiro…" Fuu stated.
Hikaru floated up to Fuu and hugged her. "Fuu… I'm so sorry… but I must become the next pillar! Ferio… you lost Ferio… I have to protect you… I have to protect the ones I love, this world I love!"
A warm beautiful aura started to radiated from Hikaru.
"No! You still have Lantis… not when you just found your love! Ferio… like you said, I lost my Ferio! I have nothing to lose while you have everything to lose! I will not let you sacrifice more then you already have! You deserve happiness too… I will become the next pillar to protect the ones I love… including you! I WILL! " Fuu cried.
A sparkling light radiated now from Fuu, overpowering Hikaru's aura. The light from Fuu seems to explode, covering all of Cephiro, causing Fuu's glasses to shatter.
When Hikaru reopened her eyes, she saw Cephiro transformed…beautiful clear sky, pure sparkling rivers and oceans, fresh green grass… breath-taking beautiful.
But to Hikaru, it only looked ugly.
Hikaru and Fuu floated down to the ground, which Umi ran over to them, crying. Fuu and Hikaru held out their arms to their beloved friend, who both were crying as well.
"I hate you two… Hikaru… Fuu… how could you?" Umi whimpered.
And the former Magic Knights just hugged each other and cried… but now one was the Pillar of Cephiro.
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"We… have a new pillar?" Ferio whispered, shocked.
Shuichiro frowned, "Well, that was supposed to happen…"
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Lantis looked up at the dazzling starlit sky, but it only caused him to frown. This world has the appearance of heaven, but it is only filled with horrible cruelness… it truly is revolting.
Lantis sighed. Why is this happening… again? Hikaru… I almost lost Hikaru… but now Fuu has became the pillar. I promised myself that I would stop the legend of the Magic Knights but I did nothing!
"Brother… this world truly is evil…"
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"Princess Fuu, if you will allow me, I'll will protect and serve you at all cost. I'm at your service" Clef bowed.
"Please get up Clef. It probably should be me bowing towards you…Nothing has changed… So no Princess name calling and no bowing!" Fuu smiled.
But everything has changed Fuu. Everything. Clef chuckled, "Of course, but I have to at least once."
Fuu rolled her eyes, giggling. However, there was always a slight sense of sadness surrounding Fuu.
Fuu was always good at covering up her emotions.
"I'm at your service as well." Lafarga bowed.
"As well as I." Lantis added.
"As well as I." Presea continued.
Eagle, Tarta, Tatra, Aska, Sang Yung, Ascot, Gardina all followed suit. Hikaru and Umi ran up to Fuu to hug her, whispering, "We will be your two personal Sols."
"Hey, no touching the Princess!" Clef teased.
"CLEF! What did I say about the Princess calling!" Fuu scorned.
Laughter echoed throughout the room. Anyone else would have believed that it was a room filled with joyful people, but that was far from the truth…
"What about your family back on Earth?" Hikaru asked, cocking her head.
"They… believe I'm dead. I went to the beach… drowned… they never found my body." Fuu stoically replied.
Hikaru's eyes widen with surprise, "But-"
"It was my choice when I became Pillar… there is no excuses, I have made my decision, and it is final." Fuu told Hikaru with authority, giving her no room for argument.
"Umi, Hikaru, both you have a choice as well. You two can either make Cephiro your permanent home, like I have, or like before, only visit Cephiro, or never return to Cephiro again. It is your choice. Remember, however, that if you make Cephiro your home, you will be dead in Earth and never be able to return. You do not need to make your choice now, but it is a choice you do need to make."
Umi and Hikaru just nodded. It was going to be a tough decision to make.
"Now, please, may I be left alone?" Fuu gently asked of everyone.
Clef nodded, shooing everyone else out, giving Fuu a supportive smile before he exited himself.
When Fuu was certain everyone was gone, she broke down crying.
She cried for Hikaru, for Umi, for Ferio, for Cephiro, for her family back on Earth, for everyone that she loved… for herself.
This is the decision I made… stay strong!
Just then, Fuu felt someone on her lap and looked down to see Mokona.
"Mokona?" Her surprise stopping her tears.
"Puu?"
"I'm sorry…" Fuu cuddling Mokona to her.
"No…I'm the one who feels sorry" Mokona said in its powerful voice. It still felt weird to Fuu to hear Mokona not say "puu" and have such a gigantic voice from a marshmallow looking… bunny?
Mokona gave Fuu one last 'Puu' before disappearing, and part of Fuu felt relieved.
"Thank you Mokona…"
Fuu took a deep breath before starting her praying. She closed her eyes, her mind viewing Cephiro, her eyes skimming over Cephiro. Just as she was about finished, she felt something odd.
However, before she could determine what it was, her concentration broke.
A/N: Okay, so maybe it is being a little bit rushed… sorry? Okay, so I know that a lot of attention is being focused on Fuu but it NOT because she is my favorite character but because she was given the least attention in the manga, which annoyed me, and maybe it is because she is my favorite character hehe. Though it is ironical, my favorite character is the one given the most pain.
Sorry for any mistakes in grammar or spelling.
But leave the review, it is not that hard and I love to hear your opinions and suggestions
Thank you!
