Title: Changing Elements
Fandom: Magic Knight Rayearth
Rating: G
Length: 655
Content notes: None
Author notes: This is the first scene I've written of a fic that has been kicking around in my head for a while. It basically takes Innouva and drops him into the manga universe.
Summary: After Emeraude enters the water dungeon, Innouva has a request for Zagato.

Zagato had just returned from his third battle of the day and was considering taking a rest when he heard the clicking of claws on the stone floor coming towards him from behind. He turned around to see Innouva approaching him. He had not seen the lightning spirit since he had moved the castle the day before and wondered why Innouva was coming to him now.

:My lord,: Innouva said, :I have a request to make of you.:

“What is the request?” Zagato asked.

:I wish for you to give me a human form, so that I may aid you in your struggle and bear some of the burden of facing those who come to challenge you.:

“Why do you wish to aid me?” Zagato had assumed that Innouva’s absence from his side had been because he disapproved of what Zagato was doing. “Do you not know that I am going against Emeraude’s wish?”

:I do know that,: Innouva replied, :but my loyalty is to you, not to Emeraude or Cephiro. I also know why you are going against her wishes and just as you wish only for Emeraude’s happiness, I wish only for yours:

Innouva had been his faithful companion for more than three and a half years, but Zagato was still surprised to hear him say that he wished only for Zagato’s own happiness. “You would not be able to use your full powers if you took on a human form,” he said.

:It would not be the first time I have assumed a human form,: Innouva said. :I will retain enough of them to be useful and failing all else, I have enough knowledge of the blade to wield one competently.:

“You do?” Zagato had not imagined that any spirit, even one who bore a human form, would care to learn the use of any sort of weapon.

:You are not the first person I have been a companion to over the centuries of my existence,: Innouva said, :and not all of those I have accompanied have been mages. Some of them found great pleasure in teaching and I would provide them with a willing student to give them that pleasure.:

Zagato could not deny that having someone who was wholeheartedly on his side would be useful in the battles he knew were coming and it was that fact that decided him. “If you truly wish me to do this for you, then I will,” he said.

:I do so wish it:

Zagato gathered his power and felt inside of himself for the word that would release it in the shape that he wanted. The word came to him quickly and he stretched a hand out towards Innouva and cried, “Exige!”

Innouva was enveloped in a ball of light and when the light faded, there was a man standing where the wolf-like spirit had been. The man was tall and thin, with a delicate and slightly feminine appearance. He had golden eyes and silver hair and his skin was quite pale. His ears were the long and pointed ones all spirits with a human form had and there was an amethyst colored jewel in the center of his forehead.

His white clothing and gray boots were trimmed with gold braid and decorated with a few amethysts. There was a brooch featuring two amethyst clasped at the neck of his shirt and his right shoulder bore a gold and silver pauldron that held in place an ash gray cloak that wrapped around him. The tendrils of hair hanging down in front of his face were strongly reminiscent of the lower tendrils of Innouva’s mane and Zagato could see the same sparks in the man’s eyes that Innouva had in his.

The man—Innouva—dropped to one knee and inclined his head. “Thank you, my lord,” he said. “Go get some rest. I will deal with the next person who comes to challenge you.”