Chapter Twenty Four

The Reveal

"I am not ready to wear the crown." Hikaru stated. It wasn't something she can decide to accept right away. She won't take it. Not unless she's ready to take on the test and not with a heart that's still fragile and fears for the coming unknown.

"I do not know what will happen after I wear the crown. It's not just a simple vesting of position, Clef. There are lots of things involved."

Master Clef looked at her with sympathy. "Are you worried about Lantis? You are afraid that Emeraude's tale will be repeated."

"Yes." She nodded. As if in pain, she clutched both of her hands above her heart. "I was thinking aboutthe banished system. What if it comes back after I accept the crown? What if I fail as a Pillar?" Hikaru asked worriedly.

"When you received the power of the Pillar at the last battle, made that wish, you have shared your power with the people. Have you forgotten your declaration? You have given the people the power to decide the fate of Cephiro." Clef said. "That will never be revoked until the next Pillar, Hikaru."

Her face relaxed a bit. "I understand. However -"

"If you understand it, make a decision soon…" the mage goaded.

"There's still one thing, Clef." Weariness was revealed through her eyes. "Do you know about the true test of the Pillar?" she asked.

Something iron-gripped Clef's heart. "Where did you hear that?"

"From Mokona." Hikaru answered. "I wondered where my fluffy friend had gone. None of hou knew about Mokona's whereabouts but Mokona visited me and told me about the test. It will decide Cephiro's future and that other nation as well."

"What other nation?"

"I don't know! I have a feeling it refers to Gastonia." Hikaru answered. "There must be a link between Cephiro and Gastonia, Clef!"

"Yes. Gastonia and Cephiro are almost similar. They have the same government system. The source of power comes from the strength of the heart and monsters appear because of fear and hatred. Those were not mere coincidences. No one, not even the last mage before could explain it. However, after I've read the "Secret Chronicle of Cephiro" and after Umi and Ascot handed to me a book that they took from Gastonia, those remarkable similarities started to feel strange to me. All of it points to only one direction, that is, Cephiro and Gastonia is connected in many ways." Clef said with an astute expression.

"There were symbols that were used by Cephiro before. The Twin Crown. Even the Magic Knight's Symbol. The symbol of Celes, Windam and Rayearth." Clef looked up when he heard the magic knight-soon-to-be-pillar of Cephiro gasped.

"God!"

"Hikaru, I believe that test is something inevitable. It will happen whether you want it or not."

Tears started to appear at the rim of her eyes. "How did it come to this? The separation of the twin princesses happened in the past! Cephiro was on its own for a very long time. Why is it in this kind of threatening situation again?"

Master Clef looked away. His hands tightened on his scepter. "Because something has been broken."

"What- what is it, Master Clef?"

"The final judgment lies to the heart of the last Pillar. Judgment lies on thine heart's pureness. Those who decided to left must never come back again. Otherwise, destruction of the land will arise." Master Clef recited. "Those were the exact words written by Master Racius."

Full realization finally dawned to Hikaru. Just as she was about to open her mouth to speak, the massive door to Clef's study opened. It revealed a blindingly beautiful woman possessing the deepest yet saddest eyes Hikaru had ever seen, Princess Aura.

"May I talk to you, Clef?" Her melodic voice that rivaled those of Princess Emeraude's echoed around the room.

oOo

"I'm glad she's finally starting to regain her color." Umi sighed and sat cozily on a chair suspended in midair by magic. She placed the piece of white cloth she used in wiping Fuu's incessan perspiration in a basin placed on a nearby table. She heard the door to Fuu's room opened. She didn't bother turning around, she knew instinctively that it was Hikaru. It was a thing that until now she had hard time of believing. It started when they came back from their last journey to Cephiro. Her intuition became stronger. She can feel other people's energy when they're nearby. She wasn't sure if it happened with Hikaru and Fuu. She just assumed that the same happened to them.

"How is she?"

"At least she isn't as pale looking as before. But I still can't say she's getting better. What did you talk about with Clef anyway?" Umi said looking up.

Hikaru did not answer and instead, she sat beside Fuu on the bed and held the wind knight's right hand. Hikaru frowned. Fuu's hand was cold. Hikaru hoped that there was something she could do for her friend. That was when she felt an unfamiliar sensation suddenly surged through her body. There was a stream of heat travelling inside her body. It moved through her every vein, her blood rushed and…

Umi and Hikaru looked at each other. There was confusion on the fire knight's small face. Umi's curious eyes shoot towards the intertwined hands of Hikaru and Fuu.

"What are you…doing, Hikaru?"

Hikaru looked where Umi's eyes were fixated.

"Oh!"

Red lights were coming off Hikaru's hands and it was being absorbed by Fuu's hand. "What's this?"

Before Umi could utter another word, she saw Fuu's eyelashes fluttered. Umi literally bounced off the chair and was beside Hikaru in no time. Together, they waited for Fuu to open her eyes. Silently, they realized how it seemed ages ago since they were together like this. They missed hanging out every weekend together and talk about their experiences in school. Shopping. Eating out. They often walked down Tokyo's streets together while they're teasing each other. Hikaru missed Umi's long lectures. Umi missed Fuu's intellectual insights. And surely, Fuu missed watching both Hikaru and Umi debate about certain things, even the most trivial of those. Fuu would simply laugh at them when Umi frustratingly gives up at the end and Hikaru laughing with triumph. Or when Umi's eyes shines with victory while Hikaru pouting because her arguments were proven wrong.

Umi and Hikaru almost jumped with joy when Fuu finally opened her eyes. A weak groan came from her. As her vision finally cleared, it sparked with recognition. "Hikaru… you're safe…"

"Of course! Everyone helped each other in rescuing me! Lantis went inside the ship to help me escape… Umi and Lafarga and Ascot were outside, they fought with the Gastonian soldiers. Oh, there was Kruz too." Hikaru said nonstop. She was so excited that she wasn't sure if she's stating real facts anymore.

"Leodor was defeated. Princess Aura's here, too. So please, Fuu, you have to get better. We cannot celebrate with you lying there!" Umi added. There were tears falling from her eyes.

Fuu smiled.

Hikaru finally let go of her hand and wiped her own tears. Umi too were wiping her face. "I can't believe I'm crying again like this!" She said. Hikaru laughed and hugged Umi. Umi returned her embrace. They were both crying again. Something heavy was lifted off their chest. They're relieved. It seemed that Hikaru's strange energy give-off will now help Fuu recover.

What they didn't know was that it was too soon to rejoice. They did not see it because they are locked in an embrace with each other. Energy, a very weak one, almost came off their friend's body. Her eyes became glassy again. She was in limbo again. The small energy that Hikaru unconsciously gave her was used up. Something wanted to come out of Fuu's body. She could feel it. It is suffocating her. It was a sensation very familiar to her- when she drowned while at sea on one of their family vacation which led to her taking a swimming lesson a few weeks after. She could feel the urgency to gasp for air but she couldn't because she was underwater. She wanted it all to end. She wanted control of her body again. She hoped whatever is inside her will leave her. Soon. So she could rejoice together with her friends.

oOo

Aura was silent ever since Hikaru left Clef's study. The truth was she wasn't sure what she came to talk about. Oh, there is. It was about the disturbing images she had seen in her dream right after that magic knight, Umi, had left. It was the only thing that made her leave her own country, risking its safety and leaving it into Master Clew's and the people's hands in order to silence the turmoil that it created in her heart and mind.

"What are your plans now that Leodor is defeated? Are you going back to Gastonia with your brother?"

Princess Aura turned her back on Clef and held back a sob. She couldn't bear to look at this… very distant Clef. There was no trace of the man she loved. Everything just wasn't the same anymore.

"I have no other choice. I have to go back to Gastonia soon." She said. "But Clef…"

Silence.

Only the loud thumping in their hearts were the sounds that filled their ears.

"Clef! This is not over yet."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I don't think that… Leodor is the enemy. He was not repentant for all that he has done. He was not even angry when he lost. There was something behind all that happened…" Aura said, her shoulder slumped, her voice weary.

"I'm worried, Clef… for you. This world will be in grave danger. I never thought of coming here. But that dream came back to me again and again. Darkness. End. Cephiro and Gastonia-"

Master Clef interrupted. Aura looked at him and saw him in deep thought. "So you knew about the test, too."

"What- what test?" Princess Aura turned around, looking clueless, sad, and confused at the same time.

"The final test of the pillar. Hikaru told me about it. All the evidence points to Gastonia as the other part of Cephiro…"

"What are you talking about, Clef?"

"Aura, do you know about this Master Racius?"

"Yes. She was the Master Mage at the reign of Gastonia's first pillar, Zipporah. Why are you asking me this?"

Time suddenly stopped around Clef after hearing her answer. There was no other movement, no sound. He could only hear his own thoughts.

The final Judgment. Pillar. No. Pillars. Hikaru. Aura.

Those who left – Gastonia! - must never come back again. Otherwise, destruction of the land will arise – Cephiro!

All the scrambled pieces were back in its place.

"There is no escape anymore. Aura's already here. That means… Aura and Hikaru will…" He thought as he secretly looked at the woman standing not far away from him.

"Clef!" Aura's worried voice stirred him out of his reverie. "What are you thinking? Tell me! I was right, right? Leodor's defeat was not yet the end of this… chaos! Tell me what you think, Clef!"

"Aura… the final judgment of the Pillar. You and Hikaru will be taking it."

"I don't understand you at all Clef…"

Master Clef tried his best to explain to her everything that he has learned. The Twin Princesses – Zipporah and Ziarah, the other part of Cephiro that the Holy Deity granted Zipporah, Master Racius and the book of the old chronicles of Cephiro – the words that only Master Racius heard…

The final judgment of the Pillar.

Princess Aura was unbelieving of it all. But is there any point in doubting Clef's words?

"Then Clef… does it mean, my coming here was the trigger that made the warning to come true? I should have stayed in Gastonia. I shouldn't have come here. This all my fault! My fault! Oh, Holy Deity, what should I do now? " All of her strength suddenly escaped her. She fell on her knees. Crying. Regretting. Blaming herself.

"Aura…" Clef looked away. He never wanted to see her crying face again. But now here she was in front of him, crying. Her heart was in pain. And once again, there was nothing he could do about it.

oOo

"Aahhh!"

Hikaru screamed as she felt the hard wall touched her back. She heard Umi screamed too, but she was too busy balancing herself, ignoring the pain on her back due to the impact of the blow that came from Fuu. While she and Umi were busy gushing about Fuu's recovery and what they'll do with everyone, a powerful force separated them and threw them away from their sleeping friend and into the opposite walls of the room. She saw Umi on the other corner of the room; there were blood on her shoulders.

Fuu's eyes were still closed but her body was suspended in the air. She was surrounded by a thick blanket of black vortex. Hikaru willed her sword to show up, assumed an offense position and moved forward the swirling vortex.

"Stop, Hikaru! It's dangerous!" Umi's also holding her sword in her hands but she wasn't planning on assaulting an unknown adversary yet. "If you get closer, that vortex will engulf you! Believe me; I've seen that once… it was just like before… before Alcione died! Shit! Could it be?" Umi suddenly looked at Fuu who was still inside the vortex, unconscious. "Hikaru, I think -" She wasn't able to continue because a powerful wind seemed to be moving violently around the room and hit both of them that they have to cover their face.

"Urrgghh… Umi, are you alright?"

Hikaru asked. The vortex carrying Fuu moved toward her. She ran to Umi's side and looked back to clash with the vortex. But it just went straight to another wall, destroying it without strain, making a big hole on it and left the two of them alone in the room.

The vortex was moving very fast but Umi and Hikaru managed to follow it. They realize that the vortex was heading towards the palace entry, probably planning to escape. They have to stop it. They need to save their friend.

"Fuu!" Umi called out.

"Wake up, Fuu!" Hikaru seconded.

The vortex stopped outside the palace. Umi and Hikaru watched, trying to anticipate its next move. But both of them were at loss of any ideas. They cannot go near the vortex and fight it or use their magic spells without endangering Fuu's life.

"We can't attack that vortex while it is holding Fuu!" Hikaru said.

"I know!" Umi said, frustrated.

The vortex moved again. They saw the other magic knight opened her eyes. "Help…" Her mouth could only form the words.

Fuu woke up as she felt that the thing that was inside her was ready to come out now. She knew it will hurt her. Her whole body felt like it's inside an oven, with all her insides on the verge of blowing up. Her heart is burning. Her head is pounding. She couldn't breathe.

It moved. It was coming out. She suddenly remembered the smoke that lingered above her before she became sick. That black smoke was the "it" that entered her. It made her weak. She remembered a man's voice asking why she was chosen and not him before she lost her consciousness. Then another voice answering, "She will be perfect for it. It is my greatest pleasure to play with the magic knights. Don't you think it is fun? Unknowingly, I'll be gathering every piece of myself inside her. I'll use her energy. I'll use her weakness. I can do that once I'm inside her…"

Fuu remembered how her body slowly weakened. Every night she had nightmares. The most terrifying of it all was the one wherein she's left inside a dark cave, alone. Nobody heard her when she called out for help. Ferio wasn't there. Umi and Hikaru left her alone…

She heard her friend's voice calling her name.

"Fuu, wake up! Don't let that thing get you!"

Umi!

"Fuu, please, wake up! Wake up! Wake up! You've got to or else we won't be able to help you!"

Hikaru!

All right. She'll try. But how can she use her magic when she is so weak?

"Don't try, magic knight. You'll just kill yourself."

"Who are you?" Fuu asked.

"Ah, forgotten me already, huh? You hurt me, little magic knight. Don't you remember me anymore?"

"I do not know you! Why are you doing this? Why are you inside me?"

"I needed a body, strong enough to protect me while I recuperate. Your body was perfect for it. Aren't you glad I've chosen you?" the voice said mockingly.

"Leave my body! Now!"

"I will. And after that, everyone, including you, will die in my hands. I've been waiting for this day to come back. I'll kill you all!"

"You will not!" Fuu said angrily. She closed her eyes and tried to call her magic. There was still hope. She's a magic knight. And she's in Cephiro, she can do it!

"What are you doing?"

"Just watch!"

"Ah! Stop it!"

Fuu ignored the voice and continued to call her magic. She closed her eyes. Remember how you learned to use your magic. Remember it all, from the past. Let it flow in you. Open your heart and mind. Look for it. Feel it. Wish what you want to do with it. Nothing is impossible.

"Aahhhh! Stooppppp!"

Fuu smiled triumphantly. She's regaining her strength back. She felt a soothing heat surging inside her – but not touching that thing inside her. It enveloped her entirely, isolating the owner of the voice that's inside her body.

She felt the thing panicked. It was trying to escape. She felt the familiar burning inside her. It started from her chest then it crawled upwards, to her esophagus… to her mouth. And then it was gone. Yes, she was still weak. But the pain was gone.

She tried to open her eyes. She couldn't see clearly but she knew that the vague figures running towards her were her friends. Fuu smiled, relieved. She closed her eyes again.

-to be continue-

Thanks for reading. This is my very first fanfic. I hope you keep reading until its ending…

Lots of smile,

Ziniya