Chapter 6


Hikaru, Umi and Fuu were on their way back to Presea's house. They had passed Eterna's trials and evaded Alcyone's wicked wiles, thanks to Princess Emeraude's help. Not only that, but they acquired the legendary ore, Escudo. The girls were very ecstatic!

"Now all we have to do is get those weapons made, revive those Rune-Gods Presea told us about and we can save this world and Princess Emeraude," said Hikaru.

"And then we can go back to Tokyo!" chimed Umi. She was so proud of the progress she and the other girls made so far. She was oblivious to the rustling sounds in the grass. It was none other than Mokona. He had come to give them a message from Mage Clef. Although Clef had been turned into stone by Zagato, he would still be able to communicate with the magic knights through their hearts.

Mokona hopped out and knocked Umi over. Umi was startled and annoyed by this. Whoever was guilty of displaying such bad manners as well as scaring her half to death would have hell to pay at her hands. She turned around to see who it was. Her hackles raised a bit when she saw that it was Mokona. She always found him irritating at times, but she felt he had really gone too far. She really let Mokona have it. He hopped into Hikaru's arms.

"Hikaru, you really need to discipline that thing!" said Umi, disgruntled. She wasn't sure how much of him she could take. One reason why she was glad that she didn't have any younger siblings.

"But Umi..." Hikaru started to protest. She thought Umi needed to loosen up a bit. Mokona was only being his playful, lovable self.

Mokona hopped out of Hikaru's arms and shot a beam from the center of his forehead. He projected an image of Mage Clef.

"Clef, it's you," said Umi.

"I am glad to see that you girls are well," said Mage Clef. He reminded the girls to save Cephiro as soon as they could, lest they wouldn't be able to return to their own world. Umi didn't like the sound of that at all.

"You mean to tell me that you want me to stay in a place that has no ice cream shops, no record stores and no inconvenient stores forever? Sorry, but it's not in my contract," said Umi.

"Who would have thought that she can think of inconvenient stores at a time like this," Fuu whispered. She really thought that Umi should learn to be a bit more deferential.

"Children from another world...save this world Cephiro," said Mage Clef. With that, he disappeared.

"Clef, wait! I wanted to ask you how you are," said Hikaru.

"We should get going," said Fuu.


Presea was waiting for the girls to return. She wondered how they were doing. She was certain that there would be more monsters roaming in Cephiro other than the one that had attacked during her first encounter with the girls...and it would be foolish to expect that the children were able to acquire the ore without falling into any traps.

'I hope nothing has happened to them. In the past, people have not come to pick up their weapons,'thought Presea. She recalled the time Mage Clef told her about how she would make weapons for 3 girls who would appear from another world very soon. She was truly honored to have such a task. She was so deep in thought that she did not notice that one of Zagato's minions were lurking in the forest. Ascot summoned a caterpillar-like creature.

"We will defeat those magic knights together," he told the creature. He tossed a crimson coloured energy ball toward Presea's house, and ordered his monster to get it. The energy sphere went inside Presea's body. She shrugged it off.

The mastersmith remembered that she still had the candy that Hikaru had given her a couple of days ago. She couldn't let such a unique item go to waste. She took it out of her pocket, unwrapped it and proceeded to suck on it.

'Mmm, delicious!'was her reaction. The girls sure had good food in their alternate world. Her favorite candy was similar to this foreign one and was as good. She couldn't wait for Hikaru to arrive so she could tell her how she liked it and thank her.


Meanwhile, Zagato was checking up on Dinah. He was pleased to see that she looked a bit healthier than she had when she was first admitted.

"Lord Zagato," said Dinah in greeting. She was glad to see her master. She was going stir-crazy being in the infirmary. She was glad that she didn't have to be there for much longer.

"You're looking well," commented Zagato.

"I'm feeling somewhat better," said Dinah. She mentally scolded herself for being a bit taciturn in Zagato's presence. But then again, it was only natural. Zagato's exterior was imposing. Still, she didn't think it justified the means. She vowed to be a bit more outspoken, though not so much that she forgot her place. She asked him what was going on with the magic knights.

"They have managed to acquire the legendary ore, Escudo," answered Zagato. "And as we speak, Ascot is making them beg for mercy. He has been chosen to replace Alcyone."

The fire sorceress realized that Alcyone must have failed miserably. Secretly, she was not surprised at all. That's what she expected from legendary magic knights. Alcyone insisted on underestimating their strengths. She sensed innocence in the little boy. She hoped that the magic knights would be able to help him see the light.

"It seems that those girls from another world are growing into true warriors," said Dinah.

"Well, it will all end very soon," said Zagato. He hoped that Ascot would succeed in defeating the magic knights. The last thing he wanted was for them to fulfill the legend.

Dinah didn't know what to say to that, since she didn't feel it would be wise to question his decisions. All she could do is hope that he would eventually fail. Of course she knew that it would not be enough and she had to find a subtle way to help the magic knights...time was running out.