Chapter 3: Parting Ways

The three girls marched on through the woods in silence. None had spoken since Fuu's outburst at Presea. They had not gotten their weapons back with their armor and gloves, which was puzzling since all of Cephiro's previous knights' weapons were stored in that dank basement. They weren't worried though. The trio was banking on the use of their magic to swiftly defeat as many monsters as they could.

They marched on, together but isolated.

Suddenly from her peripheries, Umi spotted a small yellow dragon.

"Watch it girls, he's coming from the right." Umi managed as she jumped out of the way of a fireball.

"I'll take care of this one," Hikaru said confidently. "FLAME ARROW!" she screamed the phrase that had saved them so many times, but this time something was wrong. Everything was wrong because nothing had happened.

The monster got back up from its flinching position. It was filled with new confidence. "Scraaaaaw!" it bellowed as it emitted fire from its yellow beak.

"Aaaaah," Umi shrieked in pain as she was hit dead on wit the blast.

"Stop it!" Fuu screamed impulsively as a small tear flew from her eye. "WINDS OF PROTECTION" she yelled knowing that she could not help her friend.

The gem on Hikaru's glove glowed red, and a sword appeared from within, jumping into Hikaru's palm.

"Scraaaw," creamed the beast.

Hikaru lunged at the monster with what Fuu realized was a kendo sword. Hikaru must have had it with her wen they left for Cephiro. Hikaru hit the dragon's head against the blunt wood. The monster screeched in pain. It looked as if it would pass out from the blow.

"Scraaaaaw!" the thing was about to release its final attack, when suddenly a sound was heard from over head.

"Puuuuuuuuuuu!" A beam of yellow light engulfed the baddy, and a white puff of cloud descended on it from the sky.

When the cloud of dust had cleared, the girls could make out broken chunks of stone and feathers lying on the ground and on top of the heap.…

"MOKONA!" the three momentarily forgot their anger towards each other and embraced their old friend.

That night they slept in the egg shelter Mokona had produced for them on their first journey through Cephiro. The girls had then affectionately named it the "Mokona Motel."

There had been no discussion between the girls since Mokona's arrival. A fact that seemed to annoy the ever perky rabbit-looking ball of fluff. Umi especially wanted to share her thoughts about where their swords might be and why they couldn't use their magic. Hikaru seemed especially disturbed that she couldn't use any spells. She was afraid that she would not be able to help this place that she loved so much.

Fuu could not sleep that night. She kept reliving her trip to the library and her outburst at Presea. She thought of it over and over again in her mind. She knew something wasn't right about that woman. It was a feeling she had had in her second trip to this place, but then she had had other more pressing matters to deal with. Fuu noticed a light on the other side of the room. She got to investigate it being careful to wake her friends.

Beyond the sink Mokona was sitting on the floor. The bead on his forehead was glowing green, and something was materializing on the floor beside him. It took the form of a book.

"Ahhh," Fuu breathed.

The next morning Umi awoke to Hikaru scampering around the room nervously. "What's going on Hikki?" Umi asked rubbing her eyes.

"Fuu is gone. I can't find her. She's not outside and I can't even find a note in here," Hikaru said anxiously.

"That's not like her. She always leaves word of her actions." Umi said.

"Yah, but she hasn't been herself lately." Hikaru said flatly.

"You know Hikaru, I think Fuu could be right about Presea keeping things from us. I mean don't you think its weird that Presea was "brought back to life by Emeraude," but in the residential quarters of the great castle there weren't half as many people around in our second visit as the number we saw in the villages the first time," Umi said weary of the look she got from Hikaru's flaming eyes.

"Why would she lie to us, Umi? I can't believe you are taking Fuu's side on this. Fuu was out of line with her comments to Presea…." Hikaru was cut off.

"I'm going to search the surrounding woods. If Fuu is out there, I'll find her." Umi said angrily as she exited the shelter. Umi however had no intention of returning to her red haired "friend."