http://clampfix.fanworks.net/kenichi/magi4-e.txt </head><body><pre> Epilogue Sun danced in his eyes as a swarm of young children ran to his side. "Uncle Zazu! Uncle Zazu!!" He smiled. It had been awhile since the children stopped by. Every few months, the villages nearby would allow them to romp around near the palace of souls, to give them a feel of their history. Zazu, as always, became their unofficial guide. "Well, and what do you little rascals plan to do in the palace today, disturb old man Rafaga, or pester the poor Guru...?" They were a handful at times, but welcome. After all, didn't Eagle and Zazu see him like that once before? Well, he was luckier; Presea and Clef were barely able to pry him out of the FTO's cockpit after Dis blasted him nearly ten years ago. But the darkness then was gone from the Cephiro of today. Cephiro now... He wondered why he'd stayed, after all, the last time he was here, he couldn't wait to get back to his native planet. It was as obvious as the children surrounding him today. He fell in love with the natural beauty of Cephiro. Though he will always be, in blood and law, a citizen of Autozam... In his heart he was born Cephirian. "The hallways!" cheered one. "No, I wanna go see the top! I heard you can see to the ends of the world up there!" Zazu planted his hands on his hips in mock seriousness. "All right, All right. Do what you will, kids, but don't pester old Rafaga; his back has been giving him problems lately!!" He couldn't help but grin maliciously; his admonition would only further the children's interest in bothering the master Dal during his nap. But then again, the Dal loved the kids even more than he did. Almost to take the place of the child he and Caldina never had. Zazu turned to look at one little boy. "Still too shy to join the others, Ebis?" The little boy grinned bashfully. "Uncle Zazu...?" "Yup?" "Could you join me in the room today...?" The room. Zazu grinned. Of course. Young Ebis was the intellectual type, always interested in history. "Sure. Come on!" "And you know who that one is...?" Zazu pointed to ahuge winged statue, red in color. Ebis wrinkled his nose. "That's easy...Rayearth, wolf of fire...?" The little voice came out a whisper. "Almost correct. That..." Zazu's hands played around the figure like a conductor to his orchestra. "...Is the fusion of all three Mashin, the Great Knight Rayearth." "Wrong!" Zazu turned. "Whaddya mean wrong...?" Ebis grinned lightly. "Not ALL of them!" Zazu's body rocked as he guffawed. "Oh, right! I keep forgetting! Silly me, I'm getting too old..." Zazu looked at the little boy's enthusiastic eyes. "Wanna go see that room?" Ebis didn't even nod approval as he streaked across to the end of the hallway. Zazu just couldn't stop smiling. I have got to get married soon. The thought lingered in his mind as he strode towards the last room. Fond memories... The room was filled with many things of the period. Shards of a lance, still pulsing their mysterious aura. A complete black Escude, the only one of its kind in the world. Zazu turned to see Ebis ogling the pieces of the fourth Knight's original armor and glove. Damn, the kid loves this. After all, Ebis always idolized the fourth Knight. "Ebis, tell me the name of the fourth of the Knights, willya?" The little boy cheerfully recited it from memory. "Kenichi Kaeda, Fourth Magic Knight. Wielder of the Black Escude, Master of Kore the Unicorn, Soul of the Earth, and..." Ebis tensed with anticipation as he recited the last honorific. "...Shaper of new Destiny." Zazu clapped. "Brilliant! For that, I'll show you a surprise, Ebis." Ebis' eyes popped wide open. "What kind of surprise, uncle...?" The Autozamian smirked knowingly. "Follow me and find out." The two were like father and son, stalking down the silent corridors of the Palace of Souls. Zazu stopped at a door and muttered a few words. Damn, I should learn more about this magic stuff. The doors slid open. Ebis had an expression of unsurmountable glee on his face. "Th..they finally decided to make his statue! Neat!" Zazu smiled. The kid would really have loved meeting you in person, Ken. Ebis walked slowly, out of reverence, into the room. At the center was a statue of a Mashin, lance held high in triumph. </pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>