After a year they managed to get back to Cephiro. Love, hurt and betrayal. They realized that their loves had other girls. It's an all out fight to win them back or have them only as their memories. F/F U/A/C H/L Disclaimer: i noe i forgot 'bout this anywaes mkr belongs 2 clamp not me, ok?

Amber (that's me!): Thanks for the reviews!! This chappie is mostly about the minor characters, what on earth is going on and something to do with the lady in red? Lantis, Caldina and Larfaga are not mentioned coz there is a lot of stuff to write for next chappie. (this should answer your question Liadel, n i don't like my characters to be random, seems to only complicate the story.)

Zazu wandered alone in the woods, everyone seemed so busy and tense. The tension in the castle was horrible. When the water knight went missing the Master Mage was about to explode. Eagle and Geo were to busy with Hikaru and Fuu. He didn't ever want to fall in love. It seemed too painful and a lot of sacrifices he wasn't ready to make. He heard a mournful sigh in the woods. Wasn't he alone? Curious, he headed in that direction.

He wasn't quite ready for what he saw. He thought she was an angel at first. He had never seen such a beautiful creature, her silky dark blue tresses reached her elbows, her lavender orbs bore through him. He stepped forward , letting out a breathe he didn't know he was holding. Her petite frame and her dainty feet was accented in the way she seemed to walk or move. She was playing with ...Mokona?

She noticed him at last and gave him a shy grin. He felt his cheeks heat up. "Hi there! I'm Unmei Daijouji." she introduced herself... ~
"Sanyun! Is the Lotus root done?" asked Lady Aska as she wiped her brow while she stirred the cauldron.

"Almost, Lady Aska." he replied nearly cutting off his finger by mistake.

They had been working on the antidote for Fuu's poison for the last few days and it was almost done. They were so busy that they have not slept for more that 3 hours for the last few days and they slept in shifts as the antidote needed constant stirring. But it was worth it. Sanyun poured the last ingredient in, sliced Lotus root. That was a huge "Poof!" sound and smoke enveloped the whole of the Fahren ship, then everything cleared. The antidote changed from a murky brown to a light green potion. Both of them were still coughing until they noticed the change in colour, they hi-fived and Sanyun was so happy that he hugged Lady Aska on impulse.

They both blushed. Lady Aska glanced shyly at him, she had always liked him yet she knew he had a huge crush on Fuu-chan. Maybe one day... ~
Ferio held Fuu's hand in his, it was going to be okay. Lady Aska already had the antidote, he had never felt this relieved before. She still looked so peaceful, content and serene. He had remarkably thinner in a matter of days, more haggard and there was this streak of white hair.

"Are you sure you want to continue Fuu?" asked Galelyn looking worried.

"Bring it on!" panted the Knight of the Wind gritting her teeth and tightening her grip on her sword as another batch of evil beings appeared.

~
Presea and Sierra glanced at Clef, who was so pale that they thought he looked like a ghost. They were so worried about him, he was always so responsible and would never let others carry his burdens for him. He was like a candle which was going to burn out still unwilling others to burn in his place. His solemn face hid all that he felt, or what he knew. Both their brown eyes locked. They would both willingly do anything for him. Their frowns grew too as they realized, they just couldn't replace Umi's place in his heart. Never...

Clef knew that the twins were behind him and they were very concerned but Umi was missing! What else did they expect him do? He had known of Umi's crush about him and in return, he fell in love with her. When she had left, he felt something words could not describe. Day by day, hour by hour, it grew more agonizing. Finally he convinced himself that she was not coming back. He turned to the twins who gave him their love unconditionally. He began to have a second dilemma...which twin? Presea the weapon smith or Sierra her sister? He began to suspect "she" was behind all the weird things going on...

~
"Hi Eagle-san!" greeted Princess Tatra (i m going to assume she's the sweet and more cheerful one)

"Good Day!" replied the Autozam commander.

"Why look so gloomy?" she asked in an natural yet naive tone.

"It's nothing." he confessed.

"I don't think I'll look so serious if its nothing!", she teased her voice light and free.

He sighed. There really was a lot of stuff troubling him. Geo for one seems to still be infatuated with Fuu, Lantis the 'mule' refuses to do anything about Hikaru, Clef gone nuts and Zazu was nowhere to be found. He was right. It was nothing! So why was he feeling gloomy?

"Hey! Stop daydreaming!" she commanded, mock serious. He smiled, she was so similar to Hikaru in some ways yet very different in others as he recalled how Hikaru was always protected by her brothers while she was the one who protected her rash sister.

She was really pretty too, her hair was a kind of copper, her eyes a sandy brown. He wondered if she had any boyfriends in Chizeta. So being straight forward he asked, she gave a wistful sigh.

"I was never allowed to speak to guys because of my status. But I met this guy before I had to leave to attack Cephiro, later he was killed by Debonair."

Eagle blinked in surprise, she seemed to be even more alluring now, then when he first met her...

~
"Watch where you are going mister!" yelled Tarta. (assuming she is the fiercer one)

"Shut up missy!" replied a drunk Geo.

"What's your problem?!" she shouted back.

"You! And the fact that Fuu's dying! And she still loves that jerk!" he growled.

They exchanged death glares and scowls as both of them returned to their individual rooms. ~
Hikaru just could not find Lantis. She however caught the words "poison" and "Fuu". She stopped abruptly, listening to the secret meeting of the three hussies.

Gina's mousy brown bob moved up and down as she nodded enthusiastically at some particularly gruesome suggestion. Patricia's shoulder length blonde hair just moved in tiny wave-like movements. Luria's purple almost waist-length hair swished a she tilted her head. (i just realized i didn't give you guys any info about them at all, sorry!)

Hikaru gasped, no wonder Fuu got poisoned! She thought that Fuu was injured by Lialei and was poisoned already. Tipping toes, she move closer to the door and managed to hear their conversation.

"I poisoned that goody two shoes and Ferio shall be mine and mine alone!"

"But he doesn't seem to be very interested in you right now, is he?"

"He will later, I'm sure!"

"How about you Gina?"

"This place is too warm for my skin! And there are so many pests-"

"You mean Primera?"

"THAT pathetic fairy? Yep, she is a pest too. But I was referring to the red-head. She's so short and FLAT, ugh! How could anyone in their right mind compare her to me?" Hikaru winced at that sentence she knew she wasn't exactly curvy but Gina didn't have to rub it in.

"Luria, where's Ascot nowadays?"

"No idea, probably in his skimpy little hut in that grimy woods."

"EW! You are wise in not going there!"

"So how to get the water knight and fire knight out of the picture?"

Hikaru heard loads of murmuring and Uh-huhs. She also managed to hear fragments like, "stab her," , "put snakes in her room" , "get pity." Her worries grew as the list of gory items and plans increased.

"Have you heard from the Mistress?"

"No, have you?"

"Me neither. Hey lets' stop this, I need my beauty sleep."

Then as the sound of their footsteps move closer to the door, Hikaru began to wonder about the Mistress. Who was she? Was she a new threat to Cephiro? What does she have to do with all this? ~
She smiled. This world was so absolutely perfect. This was all her deepest desires fulfilled. She lived in such a wonderful place it was like she was dreaming. A dream she never wanted to wake up from. She felt her cheeks, they were wet, but she wasn't the one crying. Why would anyone be sad in such a perfect place. Everyone was so content and happy. THAT person embraced her from the back, as she continue smiling her thoughts were only on that person now. She loved him. Only him. One more good thing about this world... she knew who she really loved. There was no pain at all. It was simply perfect...too perfect...

"UMI!!!!" two voices called in unison as both were desperate for her. One looked on helpless, she was losing her will to fight, to survive or she actually wanted to die...The other was going crazy with worry and anxiety. He knew she wouldn't disappear for nothing.

"I love you." both whispers again spoken at the same moment. Umi blinked in surprise, who was calling her? Why did she suddenly feel the need to escape from this perfect place. Hold on, where was she? What was going on?!

Ascot felt his heart sink as she grew paler again. Wasn't there anything else he could do? She grew more restless as if her dream was turning into a nightmare. "Hush dear Umi." whispered Ascot as he placed her head on his shoulder and propped her against him. Putting his arm across her, "I love you, even if you don't love me back. Right now I just want you to fight! Fight for your future, your happiness, your life!"

She broke free of the embrace and ran, not stopping, not knowing where she was going. Not caring either. ~
Her scarlet finger nails curled as she admired them. Her revenge was almost ready. Clef would never know what hit him. Never! The three knights too! They shall die!

Princess Emaraude, how she loved her. Then her sister had to fall for Zagato. She gave an evil smirk, she deserved to die, that Alcyone. For killing the one she loved. Clef too, he owed her more than he could ever repay. For one... his daughter, nope their daughter was in her hands...