Magic Knight Rayearth Fan Fiction ❯ Magic Knight Rayearth: Medieval Mystery Series ❯ Locked Up ( Chapter 10 )

Magic Knight Rayearth, Medieval Mystery Series...Part 10.

Gypsies still exist to this day in western European countries, and they are still feared and viewed as nothing more than common thieves. Granted, the rate of break-ins leaps dramatically whenever there is a large group of them camping near a village. However, like every other human group, some are dishonest, and some are not. The stereo-type that gypsies are thieves cannot be true 100% of the time.

Note 2: Ok, change in writing style. Hopefully it'll be just as short to write, but will add more description/emotion to the story.

C-chan.

(Actions)

Name: Thoughts.

Name: Speech.

*~*~*~*~*~

(Clef was hard at work in the library as usual. Over the past week, it had become more like his private study than a library. Books, mostly ancient fat ones with thin illegible writing, were piled in every corner and beside his small desk. He was concentrating deeply on one when Presea entered the room.)

Presea: Hard at work as usual? Why don't you take a break, I brought you some lunch.

Clef: Oh, thank you, just put it down over there...

(Presea set down the tray with a little sigh. He'd been working so hard and she could see it was taking a toll on him. )

Presea: What are you reading?

Clef: Nothing really, no matter how hard I look, I only find the same information over and over again. It's getting quite frustrating.

(He sighed and looked up from his book at her and smiled, Presea smiled back.)

Presea: Maybe you're just seeing double from reading so much. Have you covered all these books?

Clef (reaching for his lunch): Most of them. I picked up a few good tips, but most of them are extremely vague. They say very little about the magic knights, the well of Eterna, the escudo, everything. It's almost as if it were trying to hide something, like someone didn't want us to know...

Presea: That's odd. What could it be that they would want to hide?

Clef: I don't know, but it makes me all the more worried. This is good, did you make it yourself?

(Presea blushed a bit at this. She'd secretly had a crush on Clef for months now, but he always seemed so busy that she could never find the right time to tell him about it.)

Presea: Y-yes I did. Do you like it?

Clef: It's delicious, thank you.

(There was a moments pause as Presea wrung her hands, debating weather she should ask him or not. Finally she found the courage...)

Presea: Clef, I have some errands to run in town tonight. I thought, perhaps, you might like to come?

(Clef sighed and smiled at her.)

Clef: I'd love to...and I would, if I wasn't so busy. Perhaps another time.

Presea: Yeah, perhaps...

(Suddenly a page rushed into the room.)

Page: Master Clef! Ascot's carriage has been spotted heading towards the castle.

*~*~*~*

*Fizzle snap.*

Ferio: Dammit, that one wasn't any good either.

(He looked back at his calculations, trying to figure out where he'd gone wrong. He'd stupidly managed to lose his last set of papers for the tree-splitting magic powder, and was now back where he'd started. He sighed and, deciding to take a rest, leaned back against an old tree and looked up at the clear blue sky. The wind rustled in the leaves and Ferio found himself once again thinking about that day less than a week ago when he had met Fuu, and what had happened upon his return to the castle.)

(It had been late when they had finally gotten back to the castle. Ferio had brought Fuu to his room, and laid her down on his bed. She had fallen asleep in his arms on his way back, and even now, remembering the peaceful look on her face always made him feel warm inside. After that, he had gone to report to Lafarga why he had been late, and was rather surprised when Presea opened the door. It appeared that she, Clef and Lafarga were in a meeting. Ferio explained to her why he had been late, and about Fuu. Presea had understood, and said that Fuu could stay in the castle and work as a maid, if Ferio promised to stay an extra week in return. Grudgingly Ferio agreed, and was just about to walk away when something strange happened...)

Presea: Ferio, um...

(She reached inside the door and pulled out a wrapped heavy metal object. Ferio looked at her sceptically as she handed him his old curved sword, which had been taken from him when he had begun working in the castle.)

Presea: I've been instructed to see that every able man has a sword he can use. Since this one is yours anyway, you may as well take it back.

Ferio: ...Th...Thank you... but why do I need a sword...

Presea: Oh, it's not important, just take it with you ok?

(And that had been that. Ferio, however, wasn't satisfied. The castle was buzzing with news about some surprise attack from an unknown enemy, and Presea's actions had just confirmed it. Ferio wasn't sure not he should be worried or not though. After all, he would be leaving the castle, and this rotten wood lot, in just a matter of days. Fuu however... )

Fuu: Ferio!

(Ferio sat up in surprise as she walked out of the forest and into the clearing. At first he thought it might have been a ghost, but soon realised it wasn't. It was Fuu, and Ferio was glad to see that she looked a bit healthier. Even the shine in her eyes seemed brighter, though Ferio thought he might just be imagining that. He got up to greet her.)

Ferio: Fuu? What are you going here?

Fuu: I finished all my work for the morning early, so the kitchen director said I could help bring lunch out to the wood-lot. When I didn't see you out front, I figured you must be here.

(Ferio looked at the basket she held gratefully. Normally, the guys up front just forgot about him and split his lunch among themselves. He'd told them to stop, but of course they didn't listen, and he usually ended up going through the day without anything. He thanked her twice and then they both sat down to eat. Fuu had brought her own lunch too, so they could have a picnic. Fuu herself was grateful for the chance to be outdoors again, not really being accustomed to busy castle life. She smiled as she looked around the peaceful little clearing, until she noticed something leaning up against a tree.)

Fuu: Ferio, what's that?

(She pointed at his sword, which was practically as tall as she was. Ferio swallowed before answering.)

Ferio: Oh that? It's just a sword.

Fuu: Where did you get it?

Ferio: ...I dunno, I've had it for as long as I can remember. I just didn't have it last time because they confiscated it when I started working at the castle.

Fuu: Really, and how long ago was that?

(Ferio paused for a moment, he could see where this conversation was going, and he wasn't sure he liked it.)

Ferio: ...Six months ago...

Fuu: Oh.

(She didn't ask any more, and Ferio realised that she knew he didn't want to go on. However, he did want to go on, if only so that she wouldn't hear the story from anyone else. Then, for sure, she would change her mind about him being a kind person. For some reason, Ferio found that bugging him.)

Ferio: ...Before I came to the castle, I was a travelling entertainer. What most people call gypsies, I guess...

(He watched her for a reaction, but surprisingly, there was none. She just continued to listen with a polite, quiet look. It gave him confidence.)

Ferio: Anyway, we came to the capital to perform, and my curiosity got the better of me. I broke into the castle to take a look, and was caught with these.

(He held up his little pink communication device.)

Ferio: They accused me of trying to steal it, even though I swear I wasn't. When I came to court, I was tried and convicted as a thief. The sentence was death.

(He heard Fuu's quick intake of breath at this, but he didn't look up at her. That was one of the darker parts of his past he'd rather forget.)

Ferio: I was lucky though. The princess came in, and told everyone that she had given me the gems. I don't think I'll ever understand why she did it, but I have my life because of her. Instead of a death sentence, they reduced my penalty to simply working to pay back the damage that was caused in the castle while I was trying to escape...

Ferio: If there's any truly kind person in this world, it's Princess Emerald, not some green hared gypsy.

(He had intended that last bit to be a sort of a joke, but his laughter sounded hollow, and Fuu didn't find it funny. She stared solemnly at the ground, and for a moment, Ferio thought that maybe she wanted to leave. He was wrong.)

Fuu: ...That's not true.

Ferio: ?!

Fuu: My father believed that everyone has kindness somewhere within them, no matter how dark they seem. Besides, you said yourself that you didn't intend to steal anything, so that's all that matters.

(She smiled at him, and Ferio thought he might be imagining things. She believed him? Or was she just fooling him? He felt his cheeks growing hot, felt oddly vulnerable as she regarded him with a soft, calm gaze. Why?)

Ferio: Of course, I could just be fooling you. I am, after all, a very sneaky person.

(He smirked and narrowed his eyes so that he looked "dangerous." Fuu chuckled, accustomed to his act by now, and took a bite of her sandwich. Then she began laughing as Ferio stuffed his face.)

*~*~*~*~*

(Clef and Presea and Lafarga stood in the courtyard, waiting impatiently for Ascott's carriage to arrive. Clef paced nervously, and Presea ordered guards around to blow off stress. Suddenly Lafarga looked up expectantly towards the gate as the whinny of a horse was heard. Within second's, Ascott's carriage came to a stop in front of them. The door opened and Ascott stepped out, still bushy tailed and wide eyed from sleeping in the carriage.)

Ascott: Ohhh boy! What a long ride, my neck is so stiff. What about yours Hikari?

Hikari: Pree!!

Presea: Ascott, glad to have you back.

Ascott: Oh, hi Presea, it's good to be back, that's for sure. You wouldn't believe the trouble I had!

Clef: Did you find the Magic Knight?

Ascott: Huh? Oh sure I found the Magic Knight, but...

Lafarga: Where is he?!

Ascott: Sheesh, where's your maners? I just got home from a long journey, give me a ...

SD Clef: Ascott, where?!!

Ascott: ...Alright, but I'm warning you, she's really mean!

Presea: She?

Ascott: Yeah, she beat me and slapped me and called me names. It was terrible...

Cleff:...

(They followed Ascott around to the back of the carriage where he pointed at a large black chest used to store clothing.)

Ascott: There...

SD Clef: ASCOTT!

Presea: Wha...what do you mean Ascott? Are you telling us you put her in there???

Ascott: I had no choice, she was really violent...

(In an instant Clef had rushed towards the chest and opened it using his magic. Slowly, cautiously, he lifted the heavy lid as gasps of astonishment were heard from the spectators. There was Umi, her hands and legs bound, her mouth gagged. Presea, and Lafarga stood still, utterly stunned.)

SD Umi: Mmmmfh, mmmm, mmm, mmmfffff!!

Presea: She's the Magic Knight? She's just a girl!

Lafarga: There must be a mistake.

Ascott: Nuh-uh, that gem on her hand is the Escudo. It won't come off! See Clef...Clef?

(Clef ignored them, trying instead to calm the enraged Umi enough to take the gagg off.)

Clef: Hang on, we'll have this off you in a moment. I'm terrible sorry...

(Slowly he reached down and gently undid the knot of the gag behind her head. For a moment she was still, then...)

*Chomp*

(...she bit down hard on Clef's hand.)

SD Clef: Ouch!!

Presea: Clef!!

Ascott: See, I told you!

SD Umi: You! How dare you! Kidnapping me and taking me here! You'll pay for this dearly! My father will see to it that you're locked away and never see the light of day again! Now GET ME OUTTA HERE!! huh?

(She froze with fear as Lafarga drew his sword. He simply used it to cut her bonds, however it was enough to scare Umi into silence. A thousand miles from home, and thinking she had been kidnapped, Umi suddenly realised she could be in big trouble. At length, Clef spoke.)

Clef: Magic Knight, please excuse our rudeness. I assure you it shall not be repeated.

(Then, much to Umi's shock, he bowed to her, and not too long after, so did the rest of the people in the courtyard. Including Ascott, after some prodding.)

Umi: ... Magic ... Knight? ...

Clef: !?

Clef: Did Ascott not explain to you why he brought you here?

Umi: ...n...no. I thought he just kidnapped me because I'm rich... And where IS "here" any ways?

(Clef stood up and shot an angry look at Ascott before continuing.)

Clef: You have been chosen by the Escudo gem to be a warrior for our Kingdom. A Magic Knight of Legend. That is why we have brought you here, to the capital of Cefiro.

Umi: The...capital of Cefiro...? You mean this is...

(She takes a good look at her surroundings.)

Umi: ...the Royal Castle.

Clef: Yes. I am the servant of the princess Emerald, my name is Clef. These are my colleagues, Presea, Lafarga, and Ascott, who will be punished severly for his treatment of you.

SD Presea: That's right, now how should we do it? should we wash him in hot water to see how much his clothes shrink??

SD Clef: That's enough Presea...

(Umi leapt out of the chest and landed gently on the ground. Completely ignoring Clef, she climbed to the drivers seat of the carriage.)

SD Clef: ...Huh?...Wait! What are you doing?!

Umi: Humf. I'm going home!

Clef: ??!

Umi: Francis has no clue where I am, and Nanna must be beside herself with worry, not to mention my father.

SD Clef: ...Will you listen!....

Umi: I'm not some type of knight, so you can just forget it! I'm a gentle lady, and I'm going back home...YAH!

(With that she snapped the reins and gave the horses the order to move. Nothing happened.)

SD Umi: Wh...what? What's with these stupid beasts, I said go. Now go!!

(Behind her, Presea, Clef and Ascott have all sweat dropped.)

SD Umi: Of all the moronic, uncuth, nonsensical...

Clef: Pet ... RETREAT!!

(There was a blinding flash from the gem on clef's staff. Within seconds the horses and even the carriage had disappeared from sight. Umi hovered in the air for a moment before falling to the ground with a "SPLAT!" )

All: OOOOH! (impressed at Clef's Magic.)

SD Umi: Oww! What the...!

(She stopped, wiped speechless at the demonstration of Clef's power. Clef regarded her with a solemn, firm, almost sad gaze.)

Clef: You cannot go home.

Umi: huh?

Clef: You may send word to your family as to your whereabouts, however the fate of the kingdom depends on the magic knights, of which you are one. You may not go home.

(Without looking at her, he turned and walked out of the courtyard. A pained expression on his face.)

Clef: ...Sorry...

(Umi lay on the ground, motionless and unbelieving. At last, Presea moved forward and gently leaned down to take Umi's hand.)

Presea: Come on, let's go find you a room.

(Umi, confused, tired and completely drained of all expression, allowed herself to be lead away.)

*~*~*~*~*