Magic Knight Rayearth Fan Fiction ❯ MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH: A Different Person ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Disclaimer: Before we get onto the fic any further, I'd just like to state that I own no part of Magic Knight Rayearth; all of Rayearth, Cephiro, Autozam, and all those countries, characters, and others belong to CLAMP and the others who made it possible.

A/N: Well, to tell the truth, this is my first Rayearth fiction, so please forgive me if I get anything wrong; now, the plot is simple, so hopefully you'll like it. On with the show!

Summary: What if Zagato didn't love Emeraude? What if Zagato didn't love Alcione? What if he loved…a different person?

Rating: PG/PG13

Warnings: There shall be spoilers for the second half of the first series, and then the second series itself; there shall also be YAOI/SHOUNEN-AI relationships, so please don't read it if you don't like Yaoi/Shounen-Ai.

Pairings: Zagato/Innouva, Lantis/Eagle

Note on names—Alcione's name isn't actually "AHL-see-on" but "AHL-see-oh-ne;" Hikaru's isn't HE-ka-roo, but actually he-KAH-roo. Those are just a few that I've managed to catch. Also, Hikaru's last name, Shidou, it's a short sound on the end of the name.

Note you need to read—After now, first and second season will be mixed together; Lantis arrives in Cephiro in this chapter, so please! Don't blame me if I get these things wrong; I've watched the whole Anime series—which this is based on—and I've got all information I've needed.

MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH:

A Different Person

By TranquilityGoddess

Chapter Two

When the return of Sol Zagato and the Seijyu, Innouva was announced in the castle by none other than the mind-controlled Lafarga, Caldina and Alcione went to meet the Sol; with doing so, they found the Seijyu badly injured, and Zagato quickly told them, "Heal him, fast."

Caldina danced with a twinkling sound of bells as the now-reverted-to-his-true-form Innouva's coat was suddenly cleaned of all the blood that had stained his coat. He purred, and snuggled to Zagato, who—once again—was not expecting any of this kind of reaction from Innouva.

Zagato was kneeling in front of Princess Emeraude with a creature beside her.

"My Lady, what is that creature?" he asked cautiously.

"This is Innouva," Emeraude replied; "he is a Seijyu, and he is a wonderful one as well."

Innouva purred. "You seem quite nice, Sol Zagato," Innouva commented telepathically, and Zagato stepped back.

"I should've expected more from the personal pet of Princess Emeraude," Zagato answered, his eyes covered by his dark black bangs. "Hey there, Innouva," he said, kneeling before the dog-wolf-like creature; he petted the Seijyu's—wonderfully soft—coat, and the Seijyu replied with a purr and a slick to the hand.

"Innouva…" Zagato whispered silently as he recalled the day Princess Emeraude had given him to her.

Alcione caught the whisper. "You care for him, don't you, Lord Zagato, more than anything?"

Zagato snorted. "Is it that obvious, Alcione?"

"Y—yes, My Lord," Alcione replied slowly.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you for knowing that I love Innouva; I just want you to tell nobody of this, Alcione."

"Yes, My Lord!"

-: - : - : - :-

"Cephiro is crumbling," a man's voice declared sadly. "Princess Emeraude's love for Cephiro is wavering for her love Sol Zagato." And then he added in a small voice so the other wouldn't be able to hear, "Even though Zagato does not love her back…"

"So…you'll want to go back, I take it?" another asked, just as sadly as the other.

"Well, yes, I suppose, but I'll not go today," the other replied. "I have…to work just a few more things out."

"Like what, Lantis?"

"Like how in the name of Cephiro am I supposed to—"

"Eagle, Eagle!" a newer voice shouted through the intercom. "The atmosphere of Autozam, it's thickening even more; the people of Autozam are infected by the sickness, Eagle! We can't do anything about it!"

"Sure, Geo," Eagle said; "I'm coming. I'm sorry, Lantis. …What did you want to say to me?"

"…Can't tell you yet."

"All right—tell me when you're ready, okay?" Eagle smiled softly, tilted his head, and then laughed gently.

Lantis smiled a tiny smile, and then reverted to his face that was clouded with sadness and grief. Zagato… "Sure, Eagle."

-: - : - : - :-

When Zagato went to check the Seijyu in his room, the dog-wolf was 'napping' on his 'bed' while a barrier—placed by Zagato himself—kept up. Do I really love him? Sol Zagato asked himself. Or is it just trickery that I play myself within? Why is it so hard for me to feel and see when he's hurt? Why?!

"Maybe you do love him, Zagato," Princess Emeraude replied, suddenly appearing. Zagato stared hard at her; his questioning look pierced right through the holographic projection that came to his vision. "Maybe…my love and Alcione's wasn't enough for you; maybe now I can pray for the peace and prosperity of Cephiro; I have managed to get part of you out of my mind, Zagato."

"How would you know?" Zagato queried.

"I have my own source of knowledge, Zagato."

-: - : - : - :-

Hikaru sighed a full sigh when they finally reached the entrance to the Flame Shrine. Third Mashin, here I come, the Knight of Fire thought to herself. Fuu and Umi flanked her from behind as she entered the volcanic chamber. Flame erupted around her, and the other two gasped, "Hikaru!" and "Miss Hikaru!" Then suddenly, both remembered that the same event had happened to them, and that the flame had arrived to take Hikaru to where the third and final Mashin slept, and therefore decided to drop the subject.

"Well, Magic Knights," a deep voice rumbled—but this time, it was not Innouva, but another. "This Fire Shrine shall be your grave."

"Who are you?!" Umi shouted.

"I am the one you have been after, Sol Zagato!"

"Sol Zagato!" Fuu gasped.

"And now," Innouva's voice growled, "you will die! Thunderstorm, Come Forth!"

A huge cloud appeared before Umi and Fuu, and suddenly droplets of rain and ropes of thunder wrapped themselves around both of the Magic Knights as they kept themselves down. Even Fuu's Winds of Protection could not stand up to Innouva's Thunderstorm, Come Forth spell, which was another version of the Lightning Ball, Come Forth that Zagato, Lantis (who was Zagato's younger brother—the information was never shared with anyone else), and Clef knew; Clef himself had never taken notice of the Thunderstorm, Come Forth spell, which surprised Zagato that day when he asked, and Clef said he didn't know of such spell, and asked if there was such spell.

Umi and Fuu screamed; the thunder immensely grew its own power out of Innouva's strong will to protect Lord Zagato and fulfill his wish. This is for you, My Liege-Lord, Innouva thought.

"Innouva!" Zagato growled. No…he can't be…no, Innouva!

"FLESH OF THE WOLF—THUNDERSTORM ATTACK!" Innouva screamed. Innouva's form suddenly changed from his regular wolf form, but was now—somehow, someway—back in his human form. Zagato—who wasn't believing his eyes—looked upon Innouva with sad eyes, tears upon the purple spheres.

"LIGHTNING ASSAULT!" Zagato added. Innouva's crystalline eyes turned upon his master.

"My Lord," he whispered. "My Lord…Zagato…Zagato…I'm sorry…"

Zagato took Innouva upon his arms, Umi and Fuu watching the unbelievable scene. "No, Innouva," Zagato said silently in Innouva's ear. "Don't be sorry."

"But, My Lord…you will…"

"Love you forever, Innouva; don't think of it one bit. I shall grieve, yes, but I will know you're there. I love you, Innouva, more than Cephiro, more than Emeraude, more…than Lantis."

Innouva's eyes widened. "Lantis, sir?" He was getting weaker every second.

"Lantis, my brother; I love you, Innouva, I love you."

I love you, Innouva, I love you… The words reeled themselves in Innouva's head as his life force weakened. "I—l…love—" He closed his eyes. "—you too, my lord," he finished, and the Flesh of the Wolf Thunderstorm Attack—combined with Zagato's Lightning Assault took its ultimate toll on Innouva. Zagato's tears flew down his cheeks as Innouva's force was annihilated. "I-N-N-O-U-V-A!!" Zagato, anguished, shrieked. "INNOUVA!!"

-: - : - : - :-

"Magic Knight, show unto me the strength of thy heart; show unto me the strength of thy heart that proves you to become a Legendary Magic Knight enough to worthy me as your Mashin," Rayearth said.

"…The strength…of my heart…?" Hikaru questioned.

Rayearth suddenly turned into a burst of flame and knocked Hikaru out of his resting place, saying "Show unto me the strength of thy heart!"

-: - : - : - :-

"INNOUVA!" Emeraude, who was in incredible pain, cried more than usual; Caldina, Alcione, and Lafarga watched her quietly, Caldina's own eyes with watery tears. Chizetans do not cry! Caldina reprimanded. But…Innouva…

Alcione bowed. "I deeply grieve for thee, Innouva; you were the best Seijyu of your kind."

Lafarga's once deep, cold, uncaring eyes turned into the bright sapphire spheres. "Innouva."

Caldina, Alcione, and Emeraude had tears in their eyes as they wept for Innouva.

We never had the chance to tell how much we cared for Innouva, Emeraude thought. Oh Innouva…

-: - : - : - :-

Lantis' eyes suddenly shot open. Zagato…, he thought. Innouva, no! INNOUVA!

Eagle suddenly entered his room; the Commander of the Autozam ship, NSX, and the son of the ruler of Autozam turned and smiled the same sad smile he always had upon his mouth. "I could hear your screams, Lantis; maybe it's best if…you go back now, so you can go and save your brother from further trouble. I'd hate to see you being hurt through your brother. You can always come back another day, or I can go to Cephiro; but know this, Lantis—whenever the Pillar of Cephiro is gone, my father will ask me to invade Cephiro and try to take its System of the Pillar; I cannot disobey my father. Please watch out for that day, Lantis. I wish to see you soon. Here, take my Hovercar. It'll be faster than any Spirit-Beast you can summon," he added as an afterthought.

"I just…need to tell you one more thing, Eagle Vision of Autozam," Lantis replied. "I…" and he continued in a whisper only known to Eagle's ways. Eagle's golden eyes suddenly widened in shock as Lantis suddenly pulled away. Eagle hugged him tightly. "Make sure you come back alive, Cail Lantis of Cephiro. Please."

Lantis took the key to Eagle's Hovercar, and then smiled lightly at Eagle. "See you soon."

-: - : - : - :-

The tears ran freely down the ivory mountain of Zagato's cheek from his crystallized, shadowed purple eyes to Innouva's lifeless eyes. Why did you do it—Innouva? Why?

The third Magic Knight—Hikaru Shidou—was finally out of the Fire Chamber. She's after me. She's after me, not Innouva. NOT INNOUVA!

The rage, sadness, frustration, hatred, and love dwelled all the same in Zagato's heart. "Magic Knights," he snarled, "you caused the death of Innouva; I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"

Black wings surrounded Zagato as he gently set down Innouva's lifeless body. Black, and then changed to silver. Then back to black again. A spark of blue. Then black. Then silver. Then blue. Then, the colors repeated until it finally settled on the black. "YOU WILL PAY, MAGIC KNIGHTS! LIGHTNING ASSAULT!"

The attack hit all three of Umi, Fuu, and Hikaru as they tried to stand up. The girls from another world brought out their sword, and charged at Zagato. An invisible barrier deflected them, detaining them from 'granting' Princess Emeraude's wish to 'save Cephiro;' Zagato countered with Lightning Ball, Come Forth in such a tremendous power, that the door to Rayearth's chamber cracked open.

"No, we didn't do it!" Hikaru pleaded. "We didn't kill Innouva!"

"You lie! Thunderstorm, Come Forth!" The same light, thundercloud, and thunder that had previously attacked Umi and Fuu attacked both of the girls again and then attacking Hikaru with double the power.

"I loved Innouva!" Zagato shouted. "I loved him! And now you killed him! YOU MAGIC KNIGHTS KILLED HIM!"

Then, a newer voice called out, "LIGHTNING BALL, COME FORTH!"

Zagato gasped and turned around, murmuring suddenly with calmness, "Lantis…"

Ending A/N: Told you Lantis would be arriving; now, for the overreacting and OOC-ed Zagato, I apologize; I just wanted to show that he cared so much for Innouva, that the destruction of his beloved would bring so much pain and grief. Two of the soon-to-be invading countries have now been introduced—Autozam with the rule of Eagle Vision's father, and Chizeta—the place where Caldina came from. R&R please!