*I got in some of my reviews guesses that the enemy was Aranami. That's a great idea but that's not who it is. I never considered that, but it's a good idea, the only thing is I'm kind of a sap and I couldn't stand to see Ascot unhappy ^.^ so here is the mystery chapter… if you can call this a mystery*

Chapter 7 An Enemy Revealed

"How can we ever apologize enough?" Ferio was asking Umi for the hundredth time.

"You can help me get the other two back," she responded. They were all sitting at a table as they explained to everyone else they had awoken.

Clef was in deep thought.

"So what do you think Guru?" Presea asked and all eyes turned to him.

He looked up and sighed, "I can't believe anyone would… never mind," he muttered, and they all looked at his down expression and seemed worried.

"Is there something else on your mind Guru?" Ascot persisted, and Clef shook his head.

"No, I'm just surprised that's all. It's a shock, I thought she was dead; we all did."

Umi clenched her fists, "But then I am weak so…" she stopped when everyone seemed to be listening, "What are we going to do?" she said instead, and they disregarded it.

"We can't obviously attack Fuu and Hikaru if she's using their bodies," Lantis said and Ferio nodded in agreement.

"Well what if we were to attack the mirror again?" Umi chimed in, and Clef nodded.

"That might work, but I was thinking maybe something even more drastic."

"Meaning?" Aranami drew the word out.

"Meaning what if we were to let her inhabit Umi's body, but not really. Umi if you could fight it, and let her think she has control she would surface again and then she would break the mirror and destroy herself with it," he explained his ideas, and they thought them over.

"But what if I couldn't resist?" Umi whispered.

"I believe in you Umi, we all do," Ascot chimed in, and Umi smiled warmly at him.

"Thanks Ascot," she whispered and looked back to Clef determination in her eyes, "I'll do it…"

She looked out over the ocean not far from the palace and sighed. The moon was still high in the sky. She knew she should sleep but couldn't. She was too worried about the others, too worried about herself. It was hard to rely on herself, it was hard to have everyone relying on you, especially when you thought you were weak, she told herself then walked back into the room.

She sat down at her dresser and looked in the mirror; she knew who would be watching her from that mirror and scowled. She picked up a brush and turned the mirror the other way as she slowly brushed her long blue hair.

Her mind began to wonder back to her home, Earth. What was her family doing? Was time frozen? Were they worried? Then she thought something that had been crossing her mind a lot lately, they were too wrapped up in themselves to care about her. She knew they loved her, but they loved each other so much more it was obvious, she went unnoticed much of her childhood. That's why she was so selfish, and why now she was so lonely.

There had never been anyone for her, not even out of Cephiro. She was too untouchable it seemed. She knew that all the guys saw in her was her looks and when they tried to approach they didn't like her for her so there had never been anyone. She sighed heavily.

"Why can't I just find the perfect guy who will love me for all eternity?" she muttered and put her head in her hands, "And not care that I'm sometimes loud and obnoxious, someone who I love back and someone who will always take care of me," she smiled at her fantasy. Then she felt guilty as her eyes went back to Fuu and Hikaru, nothing else should be on her mind now. Tears slipped down her face for everyone, for herself, but mostly for her friends and now for Cephiro. Everything rested upon her shoulders.

"Don't cry Umi," she spun and found Clef in the doorway. How long had he been standing there?

She blushed and wiped away her tears laughing hesitantly, "Don't sneak up on me like that."

"I saw your door was open and you were up. I thought I'd bring you this," he handed her a tonic, and she smiled taking it as their hands brushed, and a chill went up her spine.

"Arigato," she took it and sipped it; it was bitter.

"You know Umi you don't have to do this if you don't want to," Clef assured her, and she glared at him.

"Why wouldn't I want to do this? They're my best friends, I want them back more than anything!"

"I didn't mean it like that," he looked down, "I just meant we could find another way."

"There is no other way, other than fighting, and we couldn't be sure we'd win. She's been trapped so long all that power and magic being stored. It has to be done this way," she said determined.

"How often don't you sleep?" he asked changing the subject drastically.

"Not that often," she looked down as her hair covered her ocean colored eyes.

"You can't lie to me," he informed her.

"Well I've never slept good. When I was little I'd have nightmares and wake up screaming. Then as I got older the nightmares got worse, and I decided to avoid sleep altogether," she explained, "But I get enough."

"That's not healthy," he looked at her sternly, and she blushed.

"I know, it'll get better I'm sure. As soon as this is over," but he knew she wasn't talking about the war in Cephiro.

"Until what gets better Umi?" he insisted, and she shook her head.

"That's not my worry now," she finished the last of the tonic grimacing, and he knew that was his clue to leave.

"I'll see you in the morning," he turned and left as Umi curled up and rolled onto her side. She didn't even notice him watch her before shutting the door silently behind him.

She changed as she awoke and then looked at the backwards mirror and walked out in search of the others. The minute she found them they looked tired, none of them had slept.

"The other two?" she asked softly, and they looked up and met her eyes. They were still ashamed for not believing her.

"They never awoke," Lantis said in a whisper looking back down, "They're fading; she's almost reached her goal."

"Not if I can help it," Umi clenched her fists but refused to meet Clef's eyes though she looked around the table.

"So this is how we're going to do this," she didn't turn to look at him though everyone else did, "Umi you're going to go and look into the mirror. You know what to do from there. We'll be on the wings in case anything goes wrong, though I doubt anything will," he added quickly trying to give her confidence.

"In other words get ready to fight," she said dryly, then smiled weakly, "If something does go wrong I want you to promise me that you'll sacrifice me to save the other two."

They gasped, and she persisted sounding more urgent.

"Please listen to me, they have people who love, people who can't afford to loose them. I do too I know, but it's more important that they stay here promise me," she ordered almost in tears.

"Nothing will go wrong," Ascot said firmly.

"Who are you trying to assure? Me or you?" Umi asked him and looked into his eyes as his bangs covered them from her view, "Promise me," she repeated again sounding stronger now.

"We promise Umi," Ferio said softly.

"On our graves," Lantis added.

"Good now that that's settled," she turned and walked out headed for her room as the others followed still numb.

"She's brave," Aranami managed to whisper.

"She's one of the Magic Knights she has to be," Presea responded, and Umi winced; that was right, she had to be. She had to be strong for everyone, but she was tired of being strong. Just one more thing, her mind told her, and then you'll be free.

"Celes?" she whispered, and everyone looked at her curious as the dragon spirit's voice appeared in her mind.

'Yes Umi?'

"You're going to be with me right?" she asked, and she heard a small laugh in her mind.

'Of course Umi,' and as he said that her armor appeared, and everyone stared.

"Here goes nothing," she whispered and entered the room once more as she slowly turned the mirror around. She looked into it and whispered something so low they could barely hear it, "I'm tired of being alone, bring me back to my friends…Alcyone…"