http://clampfix.fanworks.net/kenichi/rayfic03.txt </head><body><pre> "We are all answers to questions posed by our ancestors." -Carl Jung Chapter Two: Legend My eyes popped open of their own accord. Daylight greeted me, with its laughing white clouds. Wait... Wasn't it about dusk just a minute ago...? I felt the ground beneath me. Funny...I don't recall there being grass at the base of Tokyo Tower, either... I should be dead... Or dying, at least. Yet I could feel every breath I took. Every twittering of the birds. The washing sound of the surf crashing on the waves... Waves...? Waitasec...!!! This isn't right... Tokyo Tower was too far from the bay for me to be able to hear waves! I sat bolt upright. The vast sea, with its sapphire-blue curls lapped at the shore only meters from where I lay. Only then did I notice my wet clothes. How did I fall into the sea? Where did the Tokyo Tower go? For that matter... Where did the city go...? I turned around, searching for a city that should be there. .....But wasn't. As If the city of Tokyo, and its near thirty thousand-something inhabitants, never existed... =================================== Standing up was a challenge. My wet clothes felt like lead, and the annoying squishing sound that my sneakers made signalled succeding spurts of water that nurtured the grass I was walking on with each step I took. Where the hell am I...? I looked to the sea. There in the sand lay a pair of tracks leading to my position. I didn't recall crawling out of the sea... Interestingly, my clothes were wet, but there wasn't a trace of sand on them. My sneaker's heels were caked in them, however. My only supposition was that someone carried me out of the sea. My eyes were striving to take in the entire sight. Ahead of me was a forest of temperate-class pine trees. I always thought that trees near the shore would be palms or some other kind of tropical plant. What else is weird here, I wonder? The sky darkened slightly as I threw my head back to curse... ...And choke on my own expletives. A huge object that looked like a mountain came into view. Only it was upside-down. It was also floating. "This can't be happening to me..." I babbled. But it was. It was staring me in the face as surely as the floating object above me. The land of floating islands. Of the Sapphire-blue sea. Even without seeing the great volcano I knew there was no other place I could be. Only one land looked like this; A land I knew only from my dreams... Cephiro!!! =================================== No matter how I rubbed my eyes, how hard I pinched myself... It absolutely refused to go away. To no one in particular, I began to complain. "Great. Now what do I do?" I dragged my jacket off and squeezed hard. A continous stream of water flowed from the wrinkled cloth and dove into the grass. The dark shadow cast by the island subsided, like the end of a solar eclipse. My hands flew instinctively to my face as the sun struck a blow across my face. As my pupils got accustomed to the light, I noticed a small robed man standing ahead of me. The two most notable things about him were an odd-looking staff---Like a helmet on a stick. The other was the odd light-purple hair color. Some memory... Zagato's perhaps?... told me his name. "Guru Clef." The sureness of my own voice surprised me. If the Guru was surprised, he did his best not to show it. The only thing that registered in his strangely ancient blue eyes was curiosity. All things considered, I felt he was going to ask questions I had no definite answers to. "Greetings." Clef delivered a formal tone that seemed to emanate a kind of animosity toward me. "I do not know who you are. But the way your clothes are designed, I would say you hail from Earth." It was almost too tempting to be snide. However, I was in a world I had absolutely no knowledge of. If there was anyone who could help me out, it had to be Clef. "My name is Kaeda Kenichi." What do I say next? Ah. "Thank you for fishing me out of the water, Clef-San." His mouth softened, but his eyes maintained that questioning stare. "I'm sorry. I am not the one you should thank for rescuing you." The Guru turned around and started to walk away. Maybe I was being too direct? He had taken quite a few steps when he stopped. "Well, what are you waiting for?" Feeling like an idiot, I slung my jacket over my shoulder with a wet splat. I took a few steps forward and joined him in his stroll. "We really should get you some warm clothing, Ken." "As if it wasn't obvious enough..." Guru Clef didn't seem to have much of a sense of humor. "...Guru Clef, if you weren't the one who saved me..." "Mira went ahead to fetch me." Clef let his lips form a lopsided grin. "She is at the palace of souls now." Palace of Souls? That was something I hadn't heard of. Clef went on. "I know of your dreams, Kaeda Kenichi..." So my arrival wasn't a surprise at all. Clef was expecting me. I winced slightly as I pinched my arm. Dosen't feel like a dream. Hikaru. Be careful what you wish for. I followed Clef into the mists of my coming destiny. =================================== Minutes later we came to a halt in front of a large blue circle. I didn't recognize any of the writing; It was definitely not Kanji. Clef stepped into the circle and motioned for me to do the same. I worried for a second about my wet clothing, but curiosity got the better of me. I stepped inside. At the same instant, I found myself looking at walls of a sort. Marble? No, it didn't look like any material I knew of. Clef was already yards ahead of me, walking down a hallway I only now knew existed. How could someone so small, and in those robes, move so fast? I broke into a trot behind him, squishing sneakers all the way. The Guru stopped at a large door. A wave of his staff, and the mighty doors swung silently open, as if by magic. It IS magic, I reminded myself. Everything in Cephiro is based on magic of one type or other. Zagato's voice whispered in my mind once again. "You must understand, as well, that the physics of your world do not apply to mine." How silly it all seemed in my dream. It was no laughing matter now. I read the seriousness in Clef's eyes. I followed him slowly into the hall that lay sprawled within the doors. My throat felt something sharp touch it. Blade. A large sword in the hands of a master swordsman. Eyes turned to see a tall man in armor. His blonde hair was streaked with white, and wrinkles creased his face, but I knew this man. Stern eyes set in a firm face. Knew him well enough not to kid around with him. Dal Rafaga. Captain of the Guards, Master Swordsman of Cephiro. His voice was tinged with an unexpected cold hatred that chilled me to the bone. "Zagato..." =================================== Sweat rivuleted down my head and throat. The steel was so cold, so... Dal Rafaga. Master of the Blade. Holding a sword to my throat. <He thinks I'm his enemy...> I didn't even dare swallow. I was too frightened to even breathe. <Is this what I came here for? To die?> "Rafaga, sheathe your sword. The boy is with me." The blade left my throat but the fear stayed. Rafaga sheathed his sword, but not his misgivings. I turned to Clef and nodded my thanks. He waved for me to join him. Rafaga sauntered silently behind. "Dal Rafaga does not trust you." Clef admonished. "I think he made that point very clear, Guru." I was still shaken, and could not help but look over my shoulder from time to time to make sure that Rafaga wasn't about to seperate my head from the rest of my body --- Something that may have appealed to the Guru's morbid sense of humor, because I could swear I heard him chuckle every time I looked back. "Why dosen't he trust me?" Clef bit his lower lip. "You will have to ask him." =================================== Clef led me to a small room, wherein I shucked my wet clothes for some simple but dry pants and shirt. Rafaga seemed more at ease when I came out wearing these, but the distrust in his eyes remained. He and Clef then led me back into the great hall. I was instructed to sit in an egg-shaped seat that seemed to float just above the floor. Obeying, I noticed Rafaga stand behind Clef as the Guru took to a similar seat facing me. I was begining to feel a bit more relaxed as the Guru's face grew soft in his seat. "Guru Clef-Sama,..." I paused, expecting interjection from Rafaga, but thankfully, none came. "...It seems like you knew of my coming; How is that?" Clef's hands folded in front of him, gently closing around his staff. "You... could say that it came to me in... shall we say,... a dream?" I grimaced. He knew from a dream too. Better change the subject. "Who saved me?" Clef's and Rafaga's eyes widened in surprise, as did mine when I noticed them. "Did I say something wrong?" Clef laughed heartily. "Apparently, Mira has, uh... left quite a lasting impression on you, hasn't she?" "She?" Rafaga's eyes turned upward, and he muttered something quite unintelligible. Clef was still smiling. "You will meet her later. Right now, I think that your brains are still badly addled from your arrival. Best if you were to rest for the day. We will ask you your questions tomorrow." At first, I felt like protesting, but common sense, and Dal Rafaga's stern look, told me it was better to leave it at that. Besides, I still had to adjust to the surroundings. Nodding, I accepted Clef's suggestion. Rafaga saw me to a room. We stopped at the door. Rafaga was as stern as ever. Better try to make peace with the man. Can't exactly have someone like him angry at me. "Rafaga, I don't know what it is that you don't like about me... But I'd like you to know that I'm sorry about whatever happened. I'm new to this place and may have offended you in a way unknown to me. I'm sorry." "I understand." Rafaga's voice did not deviate from the cold humor that greeted me in the hall. He then stepped back, bowed, and left. The man truly puzzled me; he did not at all act like the stern but kind warrior that I saw in the dreams... I opened the door to a room with a bed but nothing much else. No windows. Like a prisoner, I thought. What was it that made him angry? He called me Zagato. I didn't understand why he did that. Perhaps he equated me to Zagato? For that matter, Whay did he bow to me? Too tired. I flopped on the bed and let fatigue carry me into oblivion. =================================== Door. Sligtly ajar. My curiosity was piqued. I opened it as I would any normal door. Suddenly I was in the black mists again. Black mists... Red sky? This was the same, yet different, from the dreams before. I made out a cloaked figure just ahead. A previously unknown anger tore from my throat... "Sol Zagato!!!" The figure lifted his head to face me. The young yet ancient face was still as if made of stone. As if he were but a statue. My fury cast a single question to the dark one. "Why?!?" He did not stir from his pose. "---Why?!?" Still unmoved. I raced to his figure... And landed my fist on his cheek, still screaming. "---WHY?!?!?" My fist exploded in a melody of pain the moment it landed on Zagato's face. I tried to stifle my pain but only succeeded in making guttural squawks. The figure still stood still and proud. At least say something, you damned... "A strong heart is good, but sometimes it is not enough." Zagato's voice. Bitter and pained as ever. The figure turned around and began to stride away. "Zagato! Tell me!" He stopped. "You ask yourself that question." =================================== Apparently, falling out of bed is one of my lesser-known skills; I landed on my back with a jolt, and saying a silent thanks for whoever carpeted the room. I winced as I pulled up my right hand. Blood and shards. A large vase which was right beside my bed had somehow gained a new spout which just happened to be the size of my fist. Biting back my pain, I yanked the shards out, one by agonizing one. In my mind stayed the words of Sol Zagato. What did he mean 'Ask myself that question'? Be careful what you wish for... Heh. Another morbid joke was on me. Must be Zagato's way of saying 'you asked for it'. =================================== Someone left my clothes on a small counter-like table in the room. It was a bit unsettling for me to think that Rafaga could have easily crept in and slaughtered me in my sleep. No, that is not the way of a warrior. Dal Rafaga may not like me, but he was definitely not going to assasinate me in my sleep. Such would be dishonorable. I disrobed and changed back into my familiar pants, shirt and jacket. Whoever washed these sure took a lot of care, as there wasn't a dirty spot at all on my clothing. Dry as a bone, too. Magic. Gotta be. A knock on the door. I reached the handle, then hesitated. "Who is it?" Rafaga's voice carried through the hardwood of the door. "Guru Clef wishes to see you now." I opened the door to see Rafaga's imposing physique take up my full view. Obviously he would not take 'no' for an answer... =================================== I followed close on Rafaga's heels. Surely had I decided to venture out on my own, I would have been lost a long time ago, as the twist and turns and corridors of this place all seemed endlessly alike. Doesn't this place have elevators or escalators? It didn't even have stairs. Yet the sight outside the window seemed to suggest that we were high above the ground. I could see the vast forests stretching out to forever, beckoning a closer inspection. Yet the urgency of Rafaga's stride kept my mind from wandering too far. We stopped in front of the doors of the great hall. As they did before, the large monolithic doors slid open like the silent shifting of a veil. The Guru was seated in a large throne- like chair at the end. Funny, I didn't notice that throne there before... Another Egg-seat materialized behind me. "Please sit." I did, without hesitation. The Guru reached into his voluminous robes and pulled out black sphere. Instinctively, I felt my pockets. Sure enough, the black orb I had was gone. "This is yours, I believe..." The jet-black sphere floated toward me. I was still shocked as the orb came to rest in my palm. "So that is how you came to Cephiro..." I blinked. This thing brought me here? "Guru Clef... I don't understand any of this." The Guru's frame seemed to float easily off his throne as he stood. His staff was raised to the ceiling, as he mumured some arcane incantations, gesturing upwards. I turned my head upwards to look. Images. The same ones I had seen after waking from my dream of Cephiro. Rayearth. Seles. Windam. The Legendary Mashin of Cephiro. Saviours. Executioners. The entire story played out for me again...Wait... There was more. A part of the story which Zagato did not show me. The second coming of the Magic Knights. Fuu had told me little of this earlier, but merely as a passing reference. She said it was also their last trip to Cephiro. Chizeta. Fahren. Autozam. Sister planets to Cephiro. Long lost relations to my very own Earth. The ending of the Pillar and the new hope which dawned. Hope... "If this is a new hope for a new Cephiro, why do you need me?" The images stopped. I looked to the Guru and the shocked expression on his mien. Rafaga looked at me sternly. "Let the Guru continue." I nodded. I should never interrupt something like this. I gazed up once again. So this is how it ends? No. It is but a beginning. But of what? I see Cephiro, and how it is now. My breath caught in my throat as I saw what happened. An area of the planet is covered in roiling black fog. The mists... A cold sweat ran down my spine. Zagato? "The three Magic Knights can not return to Cephiro. Their Mashin lie dreaming in the heart of our planet." The Guru shook his head sadly. "We have no wish to involve them in this last battle." I turned to the Guru in consternation. "What last battle? The Pillar system is gone! Cephiro..." Thoughts of Hikaru flowed into my mind once more. She who came not to hurt, but to protect. To heal. To love. To save Cephiro from tragedy. "Cephiro is free from oppression, isn't it? The people now control it by their strong hearts..." Rafaga looked to his side. "Strong hearts are not enough...not for this monster." "...Monster..?" I was paralyzed. A strong heart... Just as Zagato said in my dreams. Zagato... Are you trying to save Cephiro or destroy it? =================================== "Guru Clef." My voice was not my own. It was pained and bitter. "What must I do to help...?" The Guru looked to me. He seemed doubtful about my abilities. "I will tell you tonight. Right now, I need rest." No sense in pushing the matter. "Ken. I will let Rafaga introduce you to your savior." =================================== Once again, I was following Rafaga like a dog its master. I hated the analogy, but there was nothing I could do of it. What made Rafaga this way? Hah. You talk as if you knew him like a friend. The thoughts I had were odd. Monster? What did he mean by that? What monster could not be vanquished even by the masses of pure hearts? I slammed into Rafaga's back nosefirst. Rafaga looked at me coldly, then laughed. Not the cold icy laugh I expected, but the laugh of an old friend. "You really seem to be entranced by her, boy?" "I don't even know what she looks like! How..." Stay your temper. This is the first time Rafaga's warmed up. I shouldn't get on his nerves once again. The Dal regained his icy composure. I turned to see a chapel of sorts. The doors slid open, as all the greater doors of this place did. Inside was a dimly lighted room. "Dal Rafaga, Swordmaster of Cephiro... What brings you thus?" The voice was softly melodic in it's own way. Like the children in a choir. "The stranger wishes to see his savior." "Very well. Him and he alone may enter." Rafaga nudged me forward. I made my way forward cautiously. A trap? The door slid closed behind me and left me in the dim glow of the room. I fought every urge to panic, but I was also too frozen to move. A figure... No, two figures. One in a cloak. The cloaked one gestured I come closer. What am I, a dog that everyone calls upon their whim? "You wish to know?" The voice that greeted Rafaga. The figure drew it's hood back, revealing a fairly old, yet still striking woman. Her light brown hair seemed to emanate a glow all its own. "I am Pharle Presea." I swallowed hard. Presea, weaponsmith of Cephiro. Or her twin, at least. "Rafaga said I would meet somebody named Mira..." Presea smiled. If Rafaga was cold, Presea was warmth. Her presence made me feel more at ease. I thought of Mother. "Mira is here. She is fairly shy, I'm afraid..." "I want to thank her for saving me the other day..." Presea tugged the smaller figure next to her. "Mira, you don't have to worry... He's not Mokona, for..." The little figure came forward. She must have been but twelve or thirteen. Her hair was the same color as Presea's, but hers was cut short, like a pageboy. Light blue-green eyes that seeped deep into one's soul. This was a child, yet quite on the verge of being a young woman. "...I am pleased to have helped you, sir..." Her cheeks blushed a rose crimson. Mine followed suit. "I just wanted... to thank you for saving me..." Incredible that such a little lady could save me. Something about her... reminded me of Hikaru... What? She was only a couple of inches shorter than I, but that was to be expected. I looked into her eyes. The fire in her eyes was there. A strong heart. Just like Hikaru. Presea took me to one side. "What is your name, boy? That is, unless you wish to be called boy forever..." "K...Kaeda, Kenichi..." Presea's face fell grim. She tapped Mira's shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Mira's little face took on a mature, serious look, with which she turned and walked away. "Is there something wrong?" Presea put a hand on my right shoulder. "No." Despite her assurance, I felt something edgy about her voice. "It's just that I never thought I would forge another one of THOSE again..." Those? Those what? Presea put her other hand on my left shoulder. "Ken-Ichi... The name means 'First Sword' in your language, does it not?" "Yeah... Why?" Presea kneeled down to my level. "Promise me something." Huh? I don't get it... "Promise me that you will not lose."</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>