Love Across Time: Hidden Royalty

Chapter 5: A Promise to Meet Again

Disclaimer: I don't own Rayearth.

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Lantis, Ferio and Eagle were all sitting silently in the garden, when a small ball of blue light appeared in front of Eagle. He looked up in surprise to the others, and saw similar lights of green and red in front of them. Eagle reached out to the light and cupped it in his hands. The others did the same and were surprised when the lights flashed suddenly and an object fell into each of their hands.

Eagle's eyes softened as he looked down into his hands. There lay the hair clip he had given Umi when they had first started dating. It was in the shape of a fern, each leaf an oval shaped blue diamond; she had constantly worn it.

The mirror medallion lay in Lantis' hand. He smiled when remembered Hikaru's face when he had given her, his mothers necklace.

The matching ring Ferio had given Fuu so long ago, rested in his open hands. It was the visible reminder of his love for her. He quickly closed a fist around it, shutting his eyes in fear of what this could mean.

"These are things they could not take with them." The young men's heads snapped up at the sound of Rayearth's voice. With him, were the two other Rune gods.

"What do you mean?" asked Ferio standing up.

"The girls have returned to their world. And the portals from there to here have been sealed," said Rayearth.

The only response the men could give was confused stares. Windom explained, "Debonair, due to some complicated circumstances, was able to survive. It was she, who tried to kill the Knights, by confusing their hearts. When the girls figured it out, they fought back. Their elements saved them, and brought them to us and together Debonair was destroyed once and for all."

Ferio frowned in confusion, "But that still does not explain why we received these items, or that the girls didn't come back to say good-bye to us."

"Talk to the master mage. Ask about the rule he found," said Selece, as the Rune gods disappeared.

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"Here it is," said Clef, as he brought an ancient book to a round table in the library. Everyone crowded around him as he opened the book to a marked page. "See," he said pointing to the marked section. Everyone looked confused at each other. The words said the same thing Clef had told them before. Why would Selece tell them to look at the rule again?

"Look!" cried Caldina. Everyone watched as the words disappeared and were replaced by others.

"They were not forbidden to love," said Eagle sinking into a chair, once reading the words, tears began to shine in his eyes.

"But where are the little missies?" asked Caldina.

"I thought you might not understand." Everyone turned to see a tall warrior enter the room. His armor was green and trimmed in gold and a large emerald was set in the middle of his chest. His helmet hid his face completely and was in the shape of an eagle's head.

Ferio was the first to speak, "Windom?"

Windom bowed his head to the prince. "I have the answer you are looking for. The girls have been sent back to their world, since they did not follow the proper rules. As punishment they are forbidden to ever return to Cephiro as Magic Knights." Presea, Clef and Ascot slowly sat down in chairs. Caldina turned into Lafarga's arms, as Lantis and Ferio rested their hands on the table's edge.

"Never allowed to return?" asked Lantis in a deceptively calm voice, as he straightened up. "Again, because of love Cephiro demands a high price. Why are people with titles and duties unable to have the simple right to love, like a commoner, or servant?" he shouted. With a frustrated yell, Lantis stormed out of the room.

'Because of our love, and a forgotten rule, Umi and I may never see each other again. I didn't even get to ask her if…' Eagle couldn't help the sad smile that crossed his face, as he quietly left the room. 'What irony! I had thought it to soon to ask her… I have to get out of here,' he thought as he left the palace.

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Windom walked over to Ferio, "Prince, please come with me." Ferio nodded and when he looked up he saw that he was in the shrine of the wind. Ferio walked around, remembering how Innova had tried to use him against Fuu. As he continued to walk, something caught his eye. A waist high pedestal stood in an alcove, with Fuu's glove lying on it. Directly behind it was a long table with her armor, and her sword hung on the wall. Silently Ferio took out Fuu's ring and laid it next to her glove. "I will find a way back to you. This ring is still yours, just like my heart," he promised softly.

"I have something for you." Ferio turned to see Windom in his bird form beside him. "I didn't give it to you right away because, I wanted to see if you were still were dedicated and love for her."

"Of course I love her," said Ferio, slightly irritated that Windom would think other wise.

Windom simply nodded and the gem on his forehead glowed brightly. Ferio shut his eyes against the brightness a moment, and then opened them to see an object floating in front of him. It was a phoenix pendent made of a large emerald. It's four wings were spread out, it's head tilted up with its' mouth open. On his body was carved the symbol of the wind.

"Keep it close. It will help you find her again," said Windom cryptically. The room then disappeared and Ferio found himself standing out side. He slipped the pendant around his neck and turned to head back to the palace. As he did he re-stated his vow to Fuu. He would find her again and remain faithful to her always.

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Lantis stood silently in front of the fire shrine. "Rayearth," he shouted out, "I must speak with you."

The large door slowly crept open, and Rayearth's voice boomed out. "Enter Lantis. I have a matter to discuss with you as well."

The shrine did not look like Lantis had imagined it. Hikaru had told him it was like being inside a raging fire. But, as he looked around the shrine looked more like a dormant volcano. The only thing glowing were the pillars in the shrine that looked like glowing hot embers. Rayearth appeared and motioning with his head led Lantis to the middle of the shrine where a large circular table of red wood stood. Arranged on the table were Hikaru's glove and her armor. Her sword lay in the middle of the table. Taking the mirror medallion, Lantis kissed it before placing it on the blade of the sword.

"We will be together again love. I promise you that," he vowed.

"Perhaps," said Rayearth not sounding like he believed him. Lantis glared at the Rune god. "I guess there is no harm in whishing, hmm?" Rayearth chuckled as Lantis reached for his sword. "Peace master swordsman. It was only a test. You passed of course." A gold chain with a ruby pendant on the end appeared on Rayearth's horn.

"Take it. It is for you."

Lantis removed the necklace and noticed that it was carved in the side view of a wolf, looking over its shoulder. On the side of his body was carved the fire symbol, which was on the door of the shrine.

"This will help you find her again," said Rayearth. When Lantis looked up he found himself back outside the shrine doors. He bowed his head to show his thanks to the Rune god, and put on the necklace hiding it underneath his armor and shirt. "I will find you again." Lantis whispered as he headed back to the palace.

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"Selece!" shouted Eagle, "I know you can hear me." He had traveled to Cephiro's seashore, where Umi had told him where the Water Shrine was. He wanted to talk with Selece and enter the Water Shrine. The water began to bubble and turn in front of him, and slowly the sea dragons' head rose.

"What do you want?" asked Selece in an annoyed voice.

"It's good to see you to sunshine. I swear, your going deaf. Didn't you hear me?"

Selece snorted and muttered just under his breathe, "Mortal, I heard you. I was just ignoring you."

"I'm sorry what was that?" asked Eagle with an innocent smile. Thought they acted like they couldn't stand each other, they actually considered the other a close friend.

"Nothing," said Selece with another snort, as he raised his upper body out of the ocean. "Come, get on my back," he said looking at some point on the horizon.

"What?"

"Well if you want to swim all the way to the shrine, fine. I was just offering."

"No, no. I'll ride thanks," said Eagle quickly.

"You wouldn't have made it on your own any way…mortal," said Selece with a smirk, and dove into the waves: Before Eagle could get in a last word.

Before he knew it, Eagle was standing in the water shrine.

"This way," directed Selece heading deep into the shrine. Eagle found himself entering a room with a large triple level waterfall, with a pool at it's base. On the first level was Umi's glove, and on the remaining levels was the rest of her armor.

"Where is her sword?" he asked reaching out to touch her headpiece.

"Over here."

Eagle walked to a clef in the wall, where her sword lay on a length of blue silk. Lying beside the blade was a blue diamond pendant in the shape of a dragon. On the dragon's neck was engraved the water symbol.

"Take the pendant she left it behind for you."

Eagle picked up the pendant and placed it around his neck. He was just about to place her hair clip in its place, when Selece stopped him.

"The love you have for one another is very strong. The pendant will help you find her again, but you must also keep the clip with you. It is a vital key for when you see her." Eagle looked at him quizzically. "Don't give me that look mortal. I cannot tell you how. Even I don't know that."

Eagle nodded and slipped the clip back into his pocket, and went over to the waterfall. "I need to ask you a question Selece," said Eagle after watching the water a few minutes.

"Yes?"

Eagle cleared his throat nervously. "I would like to ask your permission, to ask for your Knights hand in marriage." He then pulled out two rings from his pocket. One was a solid silver band with an Autozamian pattern engraved on it. The other was a smaller silver band with a blue diamond set in the middle, flanked by two small, clear diamonds. Selece lowered his head to look straight into Eagle's eyes. He said nothing for a few minutes.

"If she will have you, I willingly and gladly give it. Your love for each other is as I have said, strong. Even Debonair knew she could not use your love against her."

"Thank you," said Eagle with a respectful bow and then turned back to the waterfall. He placed his silver ring on Umi's glove. "Hold this for me till we meet again. If you accept my offer, we will exchange these rings," whispered Eagle slipping Umi's engagement ring onto a silver chain, which he also put around his neck. "Till then my love," said Eagle. The shrine faded away and Eagle found himself back on the seashore.