21Aftermath Part I: Spirit of Cephiro
Summary: The battle's been won. Hikaru has become the Pillar, and transferred the bond of the world to the people. But releasing the power doesn't mean she's released the post, or the responsibility. And there are pieces to pick up, wounded to be healed. Like Clef, suffering from overdrain and shock. And Eagle, with his tremulous hold on life. There's a lot to sort out, and not a great amount of time, and no one even knows where to begin. Well...no one, perhaps, except Cephiro herself.
Chapter One: The Fallen
Hikaru felt the magic gathering around her. The magic that would take them home.
They'd saved Cephiro. Accomplished their task. She had become the Pillar, and given the power to the people, breaking the long cycle of loneliness. But...
She was falling toward Lantis's outstretched hand. She wanted to grasp it. To tell him she loved him, and mourn with him for Eagle's passing, for the death of a man who had been dear friend and confidante to both of them.
The world around her was still bare rock, torn and broken from the upheaval that had shattered it. She wanted to set it right, watch it heal to become the beautiful glowing land she remembered, and more. She wanted to see the Cephiro that Zagato and Emeraude had loved enough to die for, that all her friends cherished.
The power was building around her. She bit her lip, then reached out with her mind. 'Umi. Fuu.' She felt the answering call from both of them. 'I'm sorry, but I...I don't want to leave yet.'
'It does kinda feel like we've left things unfinished, doesn't it? Leaving Cephiro like this.' Under Umi's thoughts, she caught a pulse of worry for Clef.
'I would most certainly not be adverse to staying a while longer. I am certain there is much we can do to help, even if our duties as Magic Knights have been fulfilled for the moment.' Fuu's tone was matter of fact, but under it Hikaru caught a desire to fall into Ferio's warm embrace. A desire like her own desire to reach Lantis.
Hikaru nodded, then reached out to the magic of Cephiro. "I don't want to go! I want to stay and help everyone put things to rights!"
Power surged, then coiled and disappeared. Her armor vanished, leaving her in her plain clothes and her jeweled glove. She fell, Umi and Fuu beside her...
Lantis caught her out of the air, taking a half a step back to brace himself, hands gentle on her waist as she grabbed his shoulders to steady herself. Ferio caught Fuu in a similar embrace, Ascot and Caldina caught Umi and steadied her.
"Lantis..." Hikaru breathed out his name, leaning against the broad chest as he set her on her feet. Lantis wrapped his arms around her, and she felt his warm breath on her hair. Tears stung her eyes. "Lantis, I'm sorry..."
"There's nothing you need to apologize to me for." Lantis's voice was a deep, soothing rumble.
"But Nova...she was a part of me...something I created..."
Lantis cupped her face with one hand. "Every heart has the power to create monsters, Hikaru. That doesn't make you evil. And you rescued me as well. That proves that, no matter what happened with Nova, your heart is strong. Not many people can face the evil they create and conquer it as you did."
Hikaru swallowed. "But...I had help. And because he helped me...Eagle..." her breath hitched on a sob., and she buried her face in his shirt as tears welled in her eyes. "Lantis...I'm so sorry. Because he had to help me...Eagle...Eagle was...he...he was killed. And he was your friend...you two cared for each other so much...I'm sorry..." Tears broke free, soaking the black fabric and her cheeks.
"Hikaru." Lantis stepped back, and she tilted her head up to look him in the eyes. "Eagle isn't dead."
Hikaru blinked. "But...the FTO...Nova...I thought..."
Lantis nodded. "Just as the FTO exploded, Eagle appeared in my arms. I can't explain it, but some force moved him to safety just before the FTO burned. He's badly hurt, but Caldina put him to sleep and laid a healing spell on him."
"So Eagle is...alive?" She stared at him.
"He is. I'll take you to see him later." Lantis smiled. "It must have been that our combined wish for him to be safe was enough to bring him through the battle."
Hikaru matched his smile. "Yeah. I'm glad." she looked into the dark eyes. "Lantis...I...I've wanted to tell you for such a long time...I love you." She reached up to touch his face. It was a bit of stretch, he was so much taller than she was, but she managed.
Lantis caught her hand with his own. "I know. I feel the same. I wanted to tell you when I gave you my mother's pendant, but..."
Hikaru blushed. She'd only remembered while fighting for him that she'd said she loved him right after repairing her sword. "Yeah." she looked at the pendant. "Back there, fighting Debonair, this saved me."
"That's what it was meant for." Lantis smiled, a deep warm smile that went through her like Rayearth's fire.
"Hikaru! Lantis!" A shout broke the moment. Both of them turned to see Presea at the doorway to the castle, panting.
"Presea..." Hikaru started forward, Lantis beside her. The rest of the group (Ferio with an arm around Fuu, Umi flanked by a protective looking Ascot) came as well.
Fuu blinked. "Miss Presea, are you well?" the Smith was pale, sweating, and looked almost ill.
"I'm fine but...Hikaru, we must get to the Tower! Clef..." Her voice broke.
"What happened?" Umi had paled when the Master Mage's name was spoken. "Where is Clef?"
"He's in the tower, in the Pillar room." Presea's face was white, her hands trembling. "When you went to fight, he went up there. He cast a shield spell, to protect the castle. But this...it isn't like his other spells."
"I did notice that it looked and felt a little different." Fuu frowned.
Presea looked like she was going to cry. "The spell Clef cast...he didn't have any magic left, so he cast it with his own life force and linked it to the Crown, and the Castle."
Hikaru felt her chest clench. "He used..."
"His life force?" Umi's voice was barely a whisper. "But...what does that mean?"
"If his life force is drained too far, he'll die." Presea was wringing her hands. "I felt it...he was already in danger when he cast that spell, and the casting...the shield has disappeared, but Clef...he hasn't come down from that room. And if the spell didn't kill him, the after effects of such powerful magic...the shock to his system...if he isn't taken care of, that may kill him as well."
"No...Clef..." Hikaru swallowed, saw Umi and Fuu both pale, while the rest of them flinched. "Clef..." She turned to the Knight at her side. "Lantis...we have to get up there, as fast as we can."
Lantis was already holding out his sword., gesturing for the others to come closer. The gem in the hilt began to glow. Then a brilliant flash of light surrounded them, and they were gone, racing up to the top of the Castle.
***SoC***
Clef leaned against the doorway to the Pillar Room.
He had never been so tired. He'd thought himself exhausted, near the end of fighting Zagato's stone spell. But that was nothing compared to this. He felt like his entire body had been turned to lead and buried under the foundations of the Castle. But still, a weary smile touched his lips.
The Castle had crumbled no further once his spell had activated. The citizens had been safe, protected by himself and the Knights and their allies. And...
He glanced into the room, to the empty space at it's center. The Pillar had been chosen. He had felt it take it's shape, choose the young Knight of Fire as it's master. The same time he had felt Eagle's life force splutter and flicker, though it did not quite go out. He had felt the Pillar choose, then felt the pulse of magic as Hikaru made her own choice.
Warmth filled him, like a blanket draped around him. Hikaru had done it. She had broken the cycle of grief and loneliness. Had chosen a path where all could uphold the land they loved, and the Pillar, if it was truly even a post any more, could have happiness, and freedom.
He had dreaded telling a Pillar candidate what the cost of that power would be. The fear of it, the torment of knowing what saving his land would most likely cost some innocent soul, had been a so heavy a burden to his spirit that he hadn't even been able to acknowledge it until it had been stripped away at last.
Clef smiled, then stepped out of the door. At least, he tried to. Hr managed one staggering wobble before his knees gave out and he toppled to the floor in a graceless heap of robes and limbs. His staff clattered to the floor, still touching his fingers, but he didn't even have the strength to wrap his fingers around the handle. He felt himself trembling, and he couldn't find the strength to move a muscle. It was all he could do to keep his eyes half-open. His eyelids felt weighted down, Even breathing felt like a huge effort.
I can't die. I promised Presea and the Magic Knights that I would not die. He had sworn it, but weary as he was, he wanted only to sleep. For centuries, if possible.
His eyes fell closed. He felt...disconnected, as though he was floating. He recognized the symptoms of magic shock. He'd had it before, to a lesser extent. He could feel his own heartbeat slowing, his breathing getting shallower.
He forced his eyes open, tried to get at least one finger on his staff to summon a creature or take himself to the lower floors. It was impossible. He sighed. At least Cephiro will be all right now. Hikaru...thank you. Umi...please be well.
The last thing he saw, as his eyes slid shut and he surrendered to the darkness, was a brilliant flare of light.
Author's Note: Based mostly on the Anime, with the exception of Eagle surviving. Because I think he would be intelligent enough to at least FALL out of the FTO...and if Hikaru's will was strong enough to create Nova and save Lantis, then rescuing Eagle should be within her ability.
As for Clef...he passed out two or three times before the final battle, that shield was different, and I doubt Presea was worried over nothing. Besides, he could barely walk before he cast that last spell. Even if he regained some magic when Hikaru released the Pillar system, there are consequences for pushing that hard.
