Chapter 10: Preparations

   The Magic Knights found themselves bouncing slightly on the back 
of a familiar flying fish. "Fyula!" Hikaru beamed. 
   Mokona cried out, "Puu! Puu puu, puuuuu!" Its jewel flashed yellow 
again. A snow-white falcon swooped out of nowhere, just big enough 
for Mokona to perch on. Once it settled in place on the falcon's back,
 it cried out, "Puuuuuuu! Puu puu, puuuuuu!"
   Two creatures which could only be described as giant flying 
squirrels glided into view. One caught Shampoo, Mousse, and Cologne; 
the other caught Ukyou, Ryouga, and Akane.
   Fuu blinked. "Is it just me, or does it seem that Mokona summoned 
those spirit creatures?"
   Hikaru nodded. "Yeah," she said softly. "Never knew it could do 
that."
   With Mokona's falcon in the lead, the group flew across Cephiro. 
Everyone marveled at the beauty of the land, and the palace, grand 
and magnificent, loomed before them.
   However, off to their right, it was obvious to the entire group 
that something was amiss in this world.
   "What's *that*?" Umi asked.
   Hikaru looked, and gasped. "An area of darkness..."
   Fuu frowned. "It doesn't seem to be natural. Something is 
definitely not right in that area."
   "Hmmm...maybe that's why we were called back here," Umi mused.

   Soon, the entire group was deposited at the foot of a grand marble 
walkway which lead to the gates of a majestic palace.
   "Seijyu raikai!" bellowed a short figure from the entrance to the 
palace. Fyula became slightly transparent, and stretched into an 
indistinct grey blur, which vanished into the staff the short figure 
held. 
   Mokona issued several of its trademark sounds, and the falcon and 
flying squirrels vanished into the jewel on its forehead.
   The people unfamiliar with this world stared at the small person 
standing in the gates. He appeared to be a very young child, wearing 
voluminous white and grey robes which swallowed his body. Lavender 
hair framed his youthful face, and a large blue stone adorned his 
forehead. Various rings adorned his small fingers, all appearing much 
too extravagant for someone his size. In one hand, he held a staff 
twice his height, the top of which contained various gemstones and 
appeared to be covered with an animal hide.
   As the small man approached the party, he started. He blinked 
rapidly several times.
   Hikaru rushed forward. "Guru Clef!" she yelled.
   Guru Clef stepped backward in shock, almost dropping his staff. 
"Hi--Hikaru? How?"
   Hikaru stopped a few feet away. "I wasn't killed! Zagato's spell 
just sent me away. I'll explain everything, later. Right now I think 
we have something more important to worry about."
   Clef blinked, then nodded. "Of course." Then he looked at the 
assembled group. "And these are--?"
   "Puu, puu puu puu!" Mokona offered.
   "They're new friends of ours, from our world," Hikaru said. 
"They're all highly skilled warriors." She bowed her head. "There's a 
particular reason they're here, I'll admit. It's because of me." 
Brightening, she continued, "But they'll be able to help out! They're 
very strong."
   "Puu! Puu!" Mokona agreed, bouncing up and down excitedly.
   "Hmm. Well, all of you, welcome to Cephiro. I am Guru Clef. Please,
 follow me inside." As he gestured towards the gates with one hand, 
his expression turned grim. "There is much to discuss, and much you 
should know." Brightening slightly, he turned to Fuu and said, "And 
there is someone who will be very excited to see you again."
   Fuu blushed. Umi and Hikaru giggled.
   
   As the group entered the palace, a small troupe of its occupants 
headed their way. As they drew near enough to distinguish, Fuu let 
out a small gasp.
   Leading the party approaching them was a young man, with green 
hair and a rather battered face, dressed in a gleaming white armor, 
trimmed in green. A large emerald scabbard hung at his side, with an 
ornate sword hilt visible. A flowing white cape, with green trim, 
draped from his shoulders. 
   "What's the commotion here?" he demanded, in a tone that brooked 
no foolishness. Then he caught sight of Fuu, and inhaled sharply, 
before running to her.
   "Ferio?" Fuu asked, staring openly at him. 
   Ferio grinned and took Fuu's hand, kissing it. "Fuu," he said. 
"I've missed you so much."
   Fuu blushed. 
   "Hi Ferio," Hikaru said. "Nice armor."
   Ferio looked up...and did a double-take. "Hikaru? You're alive?"
   Hikaru smiled. "It's a long story. I'll tell it to everyone later.
"
   Ferio nodded, and greeted Umi as well. He then noticed the 
remaining six people, and asked, "And these are?"
   "Friends from our world," Fuu said. "They've come to help."
   Ferio smiled, and gestured expansively. "Welcome, then, friends 
from the other world, to Cephiro. It is good of you to come here. Our 
world is in grave peril." Bowing, he continued, "Allow me to 
introduce myself. I am Prince Ferio, brother of Princess Emeraude, 
who is the Pillar of this land."
   Fuu, Umi, and Hikaru gaped at each other. "PRINCE Ferio?" they 
chorused.
   Clef interjected, with a chuckle, "It's true. Ferio here is 
Emeraude's brother. He chose not to reveal the fact during your last 
encounter because he was concerned for the fate of his sister."
   "So," Fuu said to Ferio, "You're really royalty."
   Ferio nodded, and grinned. Then, he said, "I'm very glad to see 
you again, Fuu."
   Fuu blushed, but smiled. "It is good to see you as well, your 
highness."
   Ferio faked a hurt look. "Come on now, none of that! I never liked 
titles."
   Everyone laughed.

   A pretty woman with dark blond hair in a topknot stepped forward. 
She smiled, and said, "Welcome back, Magic Knights." Looking at 
Hikaru, she smirked. "You could warn us next time you plan to rise 
from the grave, young lady." Then, turning on Mokona, she continued, 
"And YOU, you should warn us next time you plan to go world-hopping 
like that." Putting her hands on her chin, she mused, "How shall I 
punish the both of you? Shall I pull your nose to see if it comes off?
 Maybe I should take a pair of tweezers and pluck you bald one hair 
at a time." She laughed somewhat insanely, causing everyone to stare 
at her nervously, sweatdrops forming on their heads. 
   "Puu," Mokona told her derisively.
   "Same old Presea," Hikaru said, shaking her head and smiling.
   "Anyway," she continued, ignoring the creature, "Welcome back to 
Cephiro. I wish I could say things were peaceful here."
   "We'll help out any way we can, Presea-san," Hikaru vowed.
   Introductions were made between the Cephiro natives and the new 
group of warriors from Earth. Finally, Umi got down to business. "So, 
what's going on now?" she asked Clef bluntly.
   Clef sighed. "Please follow me," he said, gesturing down one 
particularly foreboding hallway. 
   They arrived at a large doorway, which Clef opened ominously. The 
group stepped inside, being careful not to make much noise. 
   Inside, Emeraude lay on a bed, by all appearances sleeping 
peacefully. Zagato hovered nearby. He looked up in surprise.
   "Zagato," Clef intoned, "The Magic Knights have returned, and 
brought warriors from the other world with them."
   Zagato nodded. He blinked when he saw Hikaru. "So, you survived?" 
he asked her.
   She nodded, frowning. "If you can call it that," she said tersely. 
Clef shot her a glance. He'd never heard Hikaru use that tone of 
voice before. Judging from the reactions of the others, neither had 
they.
   Zagato bowed his head. "I cannot hope to atone for my actions. But 
I trust you understand why I have done these things."
   Hikaru nodded once, and said nothing more.
   The entire group moved over to Emeraude's bed. Despite themselves, 
they gasped when they saw her.
   While she appeared to only be asleep, her entire left arm was 
covered with an ugly, dark purple *splotch*, for lack of a better 
word to describe it. The mass fairly radiated a menacing aura.
   "What's wrong with her?" Hikaru asked.
   Clef sighed. "We are uncertain as to what's causing it. All we 
know is that this...Blemish, is affecting both the Princess and the 
land itself."
   "That area of darkness," Fuu said. Clef nodded. "The darkness is 
spreading at the same alarming rate as this Blemish. If we do not 
find a way to stop it, to cure it...the Princess will die, and so 
will Cephiro." 
   "Okay, let's be clear about something. We're really here to save 
her this time, right?" Umi asked.
   Clef nodded emphatically. "That is the intention this time. There 
will be no repeat of the folly which occured on your last visit to 
this world."
   "Good," Umi said. Everyone else nodded agreement with her.
   "Well," Clef said, "I suggest for now we all gather in the banquet 
hall. We can discuss matters of importance over a fine meal."
   This agreed with the rest of the group, so they all headed for the 
dining hall. Only Zagato remained behind. Clef explained that Zagato 
was forcing all of his Will into slowing the spread of the Blemish. 
This explanation confused the bunch from Nerima, but they decided to 
find out what that meant during the meal.

   In the banquet hall, Hikaru told her story, which shocked the ones 
who had not yet heard it. It even stunned Mokona, who already knew 
the tale from having looked into Hikaru's mind. 
   "That is truly horrible," Clef said. "I cannot apologize enough 
for what has happened to you."
   "It's not your fault, Guru Clef," Hikaru said. "None of you could 
have known that this would happen."
   Ferio shook his head. "All things considered, it's a miracle you 
agreed to come back at all."
   Hikaru looked hurt. "I don't hold grudges," she said. "Despite 
what happened to me, I have made many friends here. I would hate to 
see harm come to any of you."
   Umi and Fuu shared the sentiment. 
   "So," Clef said, at length, "You are occupying the body of a boy 
from your world, who fell into the same spring you drowned in." 
Hikaru nodded. Clef rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If it isn't too 
much to ask, might we be allowed to meet him as well now? I have to 
admit curiosity."
   Ferio shared that sentiment, as did Presea.
   Hikaru nodded, and closed her eyes. A moment later, a pair of 
bright blue eyes blinked at the assembled crowd. "Ummm, hi," Ranma 
said, slightly nervous.
   Clef smiled. "You are Ranma, then?"
   Ranma nodded. "You must be Clef," she said. Clef nodded. Ranma 
looked around. "Hmmm...Presea...Ferio...I already know Mokona..."
   "Puu!"
   Clef chuckled. "So Ranma, you have no objection to being here in 
Cephiro?"
   Ranma shook her head. "Nope. So long as it ain't bogus this time.
"
   "We've already assured Hikaru and the others that the danger is 
very real this time," Clef commented.
   Ranma nodded. "Okay then." 
   The meal progressed, and small talk was made. Clef spoke of 
Lafarga, Ascot, and the others who remained in Cephiro. It seemed 
they had all gone to defend the weakened people in the towns covered 
by the Blemish. They'd been given special protection against the 
Blemish, and their own strong Will was enough to ensure their ability 
to fight the monsters which had begun to appear in the darkened lands.
 
   After the meal, Ferio urged the Knights and the warriors to rest. 
Presea promised to upgrade and return the Knights' armors, including 
Hikaru's armor, and to create armor and weapons for the others. 
   "Tomorrow," Clef observed, "While the new warriors from the other 
world remain here to receive special training to prepare them for 
Cephiro, the Knights must journey to the Shrine of Fire...after all, 
you have one more Mashin to awaken."
   The Knights (including a reawakened Hikaru) looked at each other 
meaningfully.  
   The day's discussions were wrapped up, and everyone went off to 
rest and prepare for what would definitely be a very busy day.


____
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Ryodachi Kouma
"The Eternal Lost Lurker"
squn29a@prodigy.com
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