This is just short, but it contains spoilers for the first season of MKR
(ie up to and including episode 20). Please don't tell me about the
second season, 'cause I haven't seen any of it yet! (Next week, I hope!
^_^)

Rhionae
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Island/3226/

Magic Knight Rayearth belongs to Clamp and other people who aren't me,
and I'm sure you all know the drill by now... ^_^



I Vow




It�s over.  

At long last, it�s over; but what little relief I feel is washed away in
a sea of sorrow.  My tears slide down my cheeks, without any attempt on
my part to stop them.  I pull Fuu and Umi more tightly toward me in our
three-way embrace.  It is cold comfort for us all.

How can something so right at the same time be so wrong?

She only wanted to love, and be loved!  That�s something that everyone
wants, everyone *needs* - and yet it was the one thing that she of all
people was forbidden.  In this one matter alone, beautiful Cephiro
displayed a truly cruel aspect.

It seems that all joy must be paid for in pain, and the idyllic nature
of life on Cephiro has cost us, as well as it, dear.  Cephiro has lost
both its Princess and High Priest, with almost the entire planet torn
apart in the struggle.

It pains me to think of how I misunderstood Zagato, how wrong I was in
judging him.  He was only trying to protect the one he loved from harm,
even the harm she would do to herself.  I can understand that,
understand it very well indeed.  After all, I have fought for my own
friends in much the same way - and if I were in his place I know I would
have acted in the same manner!

But I realized this too late.  Only when Emeraude-hime confronted us for
destroying her beloved did I see what should have been plain.  By then
it was far too late to attempt anything else.  We had broken her heart
by slaying her love, and the only way to make amends was to allow her to
join him.

To set her free.

Free from the chains that Cephiro had bound her with; free to choose
where she should direct her love.  It�s a simple freedom, one that all
people should have, yet the Pillar of Cephiro was denied this.  The most
important person on the planet was denied what could be the greatest joy
in life.

Was it worth it?  I want to know, I need to know - were the years of
happiness that the people of Cephiro gained truly worth such suffering? 
Emeraude-hime must have thought so at first, but could not sustain
herself through the years that followed.  I *know* that she is happy,
now, as happy as her people ever were under her rule.

What will become of those left behind, I wonder?  It takes some effort
to even care about them at first - but then I remember Master Clef, and
Ferrio, and the other friends we met along the way�  What will they do
now?  

I feel my spine stiffen in dread.  They wouldn�t choose a new pillar,
would they?  They couldn�t impose such a burden on yet another poor
soul, could they?

Emeraude was strong, so very strong to be able to keep the needs of
Cephiro so constantly above her own; and yet even she failed in the
course of time.  Where could they possibly find another who is stronger
than she was?  One who would be willing to take up so heavy a task?

I shudder, and feel my friends arms tighten around me.  I�m sure we�re
drawing stares, three girls from different schools hugging at the top of
Tokyo Tower;  I�m sure they�re all wondering what�s going on�  Cephiro
seems so far away, but I have only to look at my companions to see it�s
effects.  I have only to look within myself�

Emeraude is gone, but perhaps Cephiro lives on�

I can only hope so, hope that it was worth it.

Someday, I vow, I will return to Cephiro - and I will make sure that
it�s worth it!

***********