Syv: WOW! It's been almost a year since I updated! -looks guiltily at readers- Umm… sorry 'bout that…

Umi: SYV-CHAN!!!

Syv: Uh-oh! Uh… I think I'll start the story now…

Umi: There you are!

Syv: Drat! Uh, konnichiwa Umi-chan! Long time no see!

Umi: -says in sickly sweet voice- Hello to you too Syv-chan… -grins sadistically-

Syv: -gulps-

Umi: As I'm sure you're readers feel the same way…. I know I asked for a part in the story but what the hell was the last chap for?!?!?!?! We want to hear about Hikaru!!!

Syv: I'm really, REALLY sorry 'bout that! I was just suffering from extreme writer's block so I just wanted to put anything!!! –bows head in shame-

Umi: -sighs- Fine, we'll forgive you… this time. You don't have to delete the last chap but all you readers out there, just think of it as a one-shot or some useless thing…. Our dear writer here apologizes for it and says she shall continue the story from the 2nd chapter and just pretend that last chapter never happened… well Syv-chan??

Syv: Arigatou Umi-chan, and as she said, I'm sorry. Just don't think of the last chap as part of the story. Well, here it is…

DISCLAIMER: I do not own MKR or any of the characters….

(Translation) for uncommon words only

'Thoughts'

"Talking"

Author note

In the last (counted) chapter: Shocked and surprised, she cautiously pushed the door open as curiosity once again took hold of her. What she saw made her eyes widen considerably. Before her was something she would never have imagined, not in her wildest dreams. The sight before her caused a smile to break out unto her face, a smile that lit all her features, a smile that hasn't been seen in a long while – her lost smile.

Hikaru stepped into a beautiful lush garden. It was almost like the small garden in the center of the castle but this one was definitely bigger and it was filled with all sorts of birds of all shapes and sizes. It was like a natural aviary! Hikaru couldn't believe her eyes! She knew Lantis liked birds but she never thought he'd have something like this! It took her breath away!

Hikaru took another step into the garden, her eyes roaming the entirety of her surroundings. The grass reached until her ankles and wildflowers grew all around her. There was only one tree in the center of the whole garden. Its trunk was as big as three of the posts that held up the castle and it reached the sky… or at least what seemed like the sky. Apparently, this garden opened up on top and you could see the morning sun rising above the leaves of the tree. Around the tree, birds of all colors fluttered about. They seemed to Hikaru as if they were executing a colorful dance. She was in such awe of the winged creatures above her that she didn't notice a black shadow moving towards her behind the trunk of the great tree. She continued to stare up at the sky when she felt something snort to her right. She turned around in surprise and saw a majestic midnight black horse standing just beneath the boughs of the tree.

Hikaru hesitantly took a step towards the creature, afraid that she might scare it away. Seeing as the horse didn't move, she took that as a good sign and slowly made her way towards it. When she was a few feet away from the creature, she lifted her hand and the horse suddenly reared up on its hind legs and began to neigh wildly. Startled, Hikaru immediately took a step back and lifted her hands in front of her face as if to protect herself. Just as the horse was about to land its legs on Hikaru, it froze. Hikaru looked up just as the horse brought down its legs to the ground.

"Umm…"

'Are you Hikaru?' the horse asked.

Hikaru was startled to say the least.

'A horse that talks?'

'My name is Lightning. Are you Hikaru?' it repeated.

"Ummm… yes…"

'Pleased to meet you. I'm sorry for scaring you earlier, Hikaru-san.'

"Uh, you said your name was Lightning, am I correct? Uh, why is it that I seem to hear you in my head?" Hikaru asked the majestic creature.

'Yes, I am Lightning. And as for hearing me in your head, it is a skill I have obtained over time. I am not like most horses as you see.'

"Y-yeah, I see… so… um… why is it that you are here Lightning-san?"

'Please, call me Lightning. And I live here. You, on the other hand Hikaru-san, why are you here?'

"Oh, ok, you may as well call me Hikaru too. I, well, I just kind of found this place by accident. I," Hikaru stopped, ashamed of what she was going to say next, "I ended up looking around in Lantis' room when I found this door that led here."

'Feel not ashamed Hikaru, Lantis won't get mad at you for being in here and entering his room nonetheless. You should know that you're the first person to enter Lantis' room, and here too for that matter, besides Lantis himself.'

"Why? Why does he seem to distance himself from everyone?"

Lightning sighed, 'Come here Hikaru, and let us rest by the tree. Let me tell you mine and Lantis' story before I answer your question.'

Hikaru nodded as she followed Lightning to the tree and sat down beside Lightning who had lain down in the shade of the tree. She stared at Lightning as his eyes seemed to focus on something faraway. Just as she was about to ask Lightning a question, she heard his voice in her head.

'First off, I would like to say I am Lantis' horse. Together, we have gone on plenty of journeys and travelled to faraway lands. He found me in a hole under a tree much like this one. I was but a colt then. Poachers killed my mom and I was lucky enough to escape. I hid in that hole and I was shivering both from fear and from the rain. Lantis was, well, a child then. He was way younger than you are now, probably 7 years old.

He tried to coax me to come out of my hiding place but I didn't budge. For one, I was afraid to see another human right after that horrible incident of humans killing my mother. After a while of unsuccessfully trying to coax me, someone called him away. He gave me one last look before going away. For the meantime, I was safe. I slept in the hole for the night.

The next day, Lantis was there again when I opened my eyes. This time, he had a carrot with him. He tried to coax me out of the hole the rest of the day and still I wouldn't come out. He left again at sunset when someone called him away. The day after that, he came again. This time, he wasn't just carrying a carrot. He also brought with him a blanket and a book. He set the carrot and the blanket down in front of the hole and he took the book and sat beside the tree I was in and began to read. He told me to feel free to take the blanket and carrot should I want it. I was hungry, yes, I hadn't eaten for 3 days already. But I was not going to let him see my weakness. So I stayed in the hole until he was called away. When he left, he didn't take the carrot or the blanket with him. Rather, he left them there so I decided to eat the carrot. I took a peek outside of the hole to see if there was anyone there. Seeing no one, I cautiously left my hole and began to nibble at the carrot. I was so hungry that soon, I devoured the whole carrot. I took the blanket too and brought it with me into my hole and I feel asleep less hungry and a bit comfortable. The next day, Lantis was there again. He looked glad that I had eaten the carrot and he held out an apple to me this time. Still, I didn't take it from him. I waited until he left later on in the day before eating the apple which he left behind.

For the following days, he continued to bring me food. He didn't seem to mind that I waited until he left before I ate them. He always just sat by the tree, reading his book while I watched him and the food he left behind. After a few days, I was starting to become too big for the hole. It was getting tight and it didn't help any that after having eaten the food Lantis brought, I was getting too fat to get back in the hole. One day, after Lantis had left, I knew that I was already too big for the hole. I had to get out before I got stuck in it and I really couldn't get out anymore. So, I looked around before I stepped out of the hole. For that night, I would sleep outside of my hole for once. Just as I finished eating and I had lain down on the ground outside of my hole, I heard footsteps. I got up hesitantly and suddenly, someone stepped out of the bushes just beside me. I backed away from this person. He was wearing brown pants and a matching brown jacket over a black shirt. His face was covered in scratches, and so were his arms. His black boots were covered in mud and his dark brown hair was all messed up. When I saw his flashing dark eyes, I realized just who he was. He was one of those people who killed my mom! I backed away, frightened. He brought out a shiny knife and was just about to strike me with it when he looked up in surprise. I turned around and found out why.

Apparently, Lantis checks on me sometime in the night when I'm asleep. That's the same reason why he was standing there by the bushes that night. He never expected to find this guy just about to kill me. What really impressed me was that, as young as he was, he didn't seem at all afraid of this thug. As soon as Lantis saw the knife in that guy's hand, his dark violet eyes flashed in anger. And man, that boy was quick! Even then, he was by the poacher's side in a second and the poacher's knife was on the ground, around 3 feet away from me. I was amazed! I didn't hear what Lantis said but suddenly the poacher was running away as quickly as he'd come.

Only after I couldn't hear nor see him anymore, Lantis turned to me with his usual cool face, the same face he used whenever he'd try to coax me out of my hole. It was then that I knew that he was one human who wouldn't harm me. He didn't even ask me to thank him or anything. He didn't seem to mind the fact that I never minded him whenever he tried to get me to come out of my hole. He just saved me and he just stood there, as if letting me decide whether I wanted him to come to me or not. I decided all right. I decided that I would protect this boy with all my life, I decided that we'd be best buddies from now on, I decided that starting from that very moment, we'd be inseparable. And it happened.

I went up to Lantis and I could see he was happy with what I did. His eyes lit up and he hesitantly put his hand just above my head. I didn't wait for it to come down. I rubbed my head on his hand and I could feel his happiness at my finally opening up to him. After that night, Lantis brought me to this castle with him. Apparently, all those times he spent with me, he was supposed to be training. After I came home with him though, we trained together. We learned sword-fighting together, we learned hand-to-hand combat together, we even learned magic together. In fact, his favourite move, the Blue Thunder, was a move which we both executed together and it always created such a wonderful effect. The Master Mage Clef always said so. That's why Lantis named me as he did.

We didn't have to be taught reading and writing and those kinds of things though 'coz apparently, Lantis was a whiz at those that all his professors never felt the need to teach them to him so I never got to learn how to read and write. But Lantis taught me to speak like this. That's why I'm talking to you now. And like I said earlier, we were inseparable. In fact, that's the very reason Lantis built this whole garden. Not only to get away from things, he built it as a room for me. He never told anyone about it though. He couldn't stand to let me stay in the stables so he created this place for me secretly. He planted everything and created the walls with his bare hands. As for the birds, he brought them in a bit at a time. They're free to come and go as they please as I am but, like me, they seem to have a fondness for Lantis. But, this tree, this was one thing that Lantis didn't plant. Let's just say it was a gift to him… from his mother.

I never actually got to meet his parents, only his older brother Zagato, when he first brought me to the castle. His parents died some time before he met me. So how could his mother have given him this tree, you ask? Well, one day, Lantis was playing with me here when a bright light exploded above us. We both looked up and saw a ray of light shining on the spot where this tree now stands. We moved a little closer and we both saw the silhouette of a woman. I was about to move closer when Lantis gasped beside me. I looked at him curiously before looking back at the silhouette. The silhouette materialized and I saw the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. She had beautiful pale brown hair that shone with a luster all its own. She wore an immaculately white gown that reached her bare feet. And her eyes, they were violet just like Lantis' eyes though hers were of a lighter shade than Lantis'. She smiled a beautiful smile before she called Lantis' name in a musical voice. I swear, I have never seen Lantis so happy. He ran to the woman with me right behind him. He hugged her and she hugged him back. I felt a bit left out seeing as Lantis was too busy with this woman to mind me. I wanted to get mad at the woman for hugging Lantis like that but I couldn't bring myself to do it, I don't know why. When they broke away from the hug, the woman started talking to Lantis and it was then that I found out just who that woman was… she was Lantis' mom.

I was so shocked! Gosh, Lantis' mom sure was beautiful! I didn't feel so jealous anymore after that. In fact, Lantis' mom even spoke to me. She told me to take care of Lantis. Before she left, she smiled at Lantis before planting a seed into the ground, saying it was her gift to him. She told him she loves him and that she's always watching over him then she vanished, just like that. After that, the place where she planted the seed just kept rising and that tree just sprouted from the ground. It's been here ever since. When Lantis isn't reading in the garden in the middle of the castle, he reads here instead, up in one of the branches of this tree. His favourite branch is the third from the bottom. He always stays there.

Then, one day, when Lantis was 15, we went to Autozam. I never understood why, but I went because Lantis wanted to. We stayed there and met Eagle. The two became best friends before I knew it. I was a bit neglected but no matter what, I wasn't going to leave Lantis' side. We went back here to Cephiro during your battle with the High Priest Zagato, Lantis' older brother. Sometimes, Lantis would help you out in your battles against his brother, fighting those monsters that roam the villages in Cephiro. I never understood why he did that considering Zagato was his brother, but I stuck by him anyway. Even when that annoying pixie, Primera, was there, I didn't leave him. One day, those monsters destroyed most of Cephiro and they broke into the castle walls. As you know, it was during one of these days that Lantis… faded away.'

The whole time Lightning was telling his and Lantis' story, Hikaru never said anything. At this part however, she bowed her head, guilt flooding her body as tears escaped her eyes.

'And I've been here ever since,' Lightning finished.

He saw the tears spilling from Hikaru's eyes and knew how she felt.

'Don't cry Hikaru. Lantis would kill me if he knows I made you cry. It was not your fault though you may feel that way,' Lightning said softly.

Throwing herself at Lightning and hugging him, Hikaru continued to cry her heart out. Startled, Lightning almost jumped up and tossed Hikaru off, but feeling the distressed magic knight on him seemed not to mind him so he simply let her cry while making soft comforting sounds.

"But it was my fault! If only I had been more careful, Lantis would still be here! If only I had paid more attention to my surroundings, Lantis wouldn't have died! If only I moved out of the way instead of just standing there, Lantis wouldn't have had to take my place and died! It's all my fault!!! Now, not only is Lantis gone, but I killed your partner too!! I'm sorry Lightning! I'm so, so sorry!!!" Hikaru cried into Lightning's back.

Lightning neighed softly before saying, 'None of t was your fault dear Hikaru, and I hold no grudges against you, nor does Lantis I'm sure. Calm down Hikaru and smile. Lantis has always told me that you were the most beautiful woman he's ever met did you know that? He even claimed you were more beautiful than his mother and that's saying something. He also told me that you are most beautiful when you smile so please, show me your smile that I may see just how beautiful you are and if you are truly as Lantis says.'

Hikaru blushed at hearing what Lightning said Lantis thought of her. She wiped away her tears before smiling brightly at the horse.

'There, he is right. You are more beautiful when you smile,' Lightning said softly, 'Now, about your question, why Lantis distances himself… that was your question, was it not?'

Hikaru nodded, while she softly caressed Lightning's mane.

Lightning stared at her for a while before saying, 'Did you know that you're the only person other than Lantis to not only hear me speak but to touch me too?'

Surprised, Hikaru removed her hand from his mane.

'No, no, it's all right. For some reason unknown to me, I don't mind your touch or your presence.'

Hikaru tentatively replaced her hand on his back and began to caress him.

'Now, to answer your question, Lantis doesn't distance himself from others. He is just naturally that way. He feels no need to talk for he believes that actions express more than he could ever say. He doesn't like too talkative people because they can be quite annoying as I feel so too. So, in reality, he has never actually tried to distance himself, he merely enjoys the quiet. In fact, I was quite surprised when he told me of you since you seemed to me as one of the "loud" people, but now I see otherwise.'

Hikaru blushed again.

'Ah, dear Hikaru, I believe it is getting late and your friends may start to wake and wonder where you are. Please tell none of me or of what you have seen here. That necklace Lantis gave you was from his mother before she died. Take care of it, Lantis prized that possession so much that I'm amazed he gave it to you. I never thought he'd ever let it go. Apparently, you are more precious to him than I thought. Feel free to come again. Simply stand in front of the wall where you first saw the door and touch the necklace Lantis gave you. It contains a bit of Lantis' powers in it thus you are able to access this garden. After all, it was sealed with Lantis' powers. Farewell Hikaru.'

Hikaru stood up at the same time as Lightning did. She hugged him around the neck and kissed him on his nose.

"Farewell Lightning, I promise I'll come back. And thank you… for telling me about Lantis."

She smiled once more before going back to the door where she entered from. She stepped out of the door and it immediately closed behind her. When she turned around, all she saw was a wall. She smiled to herself and, taking one last look at Lantis' room, she left and closed the door behind her.

As she left the dark corridor behind, she said to herself, 'Follow my heart… I want to know more about Lantis!'

And as she said that to herself, the other occupants of the castle were just waking up to a new day in Cephiro.

Syv: There! I'm done with one chap, all in one sitting too! Yay! I'm so proud of myself!

Umi: Thank you! –exasperated sigh- She finally finished!

Syv: You're welcome Umi-chan! –smiles- Well, hope you guys forgive me and I hope you liked it! Happy New Year, by the way, and belated Merry Christmas!