Clef walked down the hall to Umi's chamber. He stopped at the door and hesitated for several moments before softly knocking on the door. When he didn't hear Umi respond he knocked again, but there was still no answer. Clef grabbed the knob and tried to open the door but found that it was locked.

"Umi?" he yelled pushing and pulling on the door. "Umi are you in there?"

Suddenly Clef heard Umi scream. He pounded on the door and tried again to force the door open. When he heard her scream again he jumped back from the door and called for his staff which materialized in his right hand.

"UNLOCK!" he commanded pointing his staff towards the door.

A small ray of white light shot out of the staff and towards the door handle. Once the light had vanished Clef ran to the door and pushed the door open. He ran inside and looked around, unable to see much due to the dim lighting. But what he could see tore his heart into pieces. Umi was lying on the floor–her nightgown torn and stained with blood. Her usual perfectly straight hair was matted and a small trail of tears fell down her cheek.

"Umi!" he gasped running to her. "Umi, wake up! Come on Umi!" he cried shaking her.

"ClClef?" she whispered slowly opening her eyes.

"What happened? Who did this to you?" he asked helping Umi to sit up.

"It wasLOOK OUT!" Umi shrieked seeing Noon's blade cut through the blackness.

Clef turned around and jumped out of the way, but he was not quick enough. The blade caught his arm and sent Clef tumbling to the ground clutching his left arm.

"Clef!" Umi screamed as she tried to stand.

"Stay where you are!" Noon demanded casting a spell on Umi which prohibited her from moving. "As for you," he continued pointing at Clef. "I have some new business to attend to with you."

"Why are you doing this?" Clef asked clenching his staff.

"I do the inner workings of your heart," Noon laughed in response.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Clef spat.

"I am your past, present, and future self Clef. Master mage of Cephiro."

"Don't be ridiculous, you are not me! There is no way that I would ever do something like this to Umi! I should have known not to trust someone like you to protect the Legendary Magic Knights! I order you to leave the palace at once!"

"Don't tell me what to do!" Noon cackled pointing his sword at Clef. "I am far more powerful that you could ever imagine. Your hate gives me power!"

Noon charged at Clef and brought his sword down towards Clef. Clef quickly raised his staff up and stopped Noon's blade from slicing straight through him. Umi tried to move or even to cast a spell but Noon's powers continued to old her at bay.

"Noon, stop this madness!" Clef ordered as he threw Noon off him.

"You still do not understand do you?" Noon laughed. "Perhaps this will help you understand, MONSTER SUMMONS!"

A bright light appeared before Clef and took the shape of a griffin.

"But that is my griffinand my magic," Clef whispered looking at his staff. "How did you do that?"

"Because I am you," Noon yelled. "Just as Nova is Hikaru. I am you!"

"But that would mean"

"Yes, Clef, I am the shadow in your heart."

*****

Fuu sat in one of the chair in the library reading one of the countless numbers of books that lined the walls. She adjusted her glasses and put the book down on a nearby table. She leaned back in the chair and rested her eyes for a few moments when she heard the door softly creek open. She peeked around the chair and saw Ferio walk through the door.

"Ferio," she smiled rising from her seat. "Can I help you with something?'

"Not really," he smiled back. "I just wanted to stop by and see you. I figured that you would be in here reading."

"You know me," Fuu replied picking up her book again. "I cannot not read a good book."

"What are you reading anyway?" he asked taking a seat next to her.

"I'm actually doing a little bit of research on Cephiro," she stated flipping through several pages. "I found this book in the library that I though could answer some of my questions."

"What book is it?" Ferio inquired trying to read over Fuu's shoulder.

"It's called The Maane. It is Cephiro's equivalent to the Bible in our world."

"I didn't take you for the sort to read religious books," Ferio laughed.

"Well, that's not why I am reading it, I am trying to figure out exactly how this world was created. Why Cephiro came into existence."

"But does any world know why is was created?" Ferio replied looking at the white leather cover of the book. "Isn't that like asking what is the meaning of life?"

"I suppose," Fuu replied book-marking a page. "But I have a feeling that Cephiro was created for a specific purpose and by one specific person–or being."

"Well, what about your world? How was it created?"

"No one really knows for sure," Fuu said adjusting her glasses. "There are many theories. According to the Bible, God created the world in seven days. There are some that say is just popped into existence, sort of like a big bang. While others say that it was pieces of rock floating around space that came together under the gravitational pull of the sun. It is one of life's great mysteries."

"Couldn't the same thing have happened with Cephiro?"

"Doubtful, you don't have an outer space like Earth does. Beyond this world is just nothing, with the exception of the other three worlds. There is nothing except for you four. In my world, there is so much more beyond our small planet. We are almost insignificant in comparison to everything else."

"I would like to see your world someday," Ferio replied looking Fuu in the eyes. "I truly would."

"Perhaps you will," she smiled closing the book. "Nothing is impossible."

*****

Hikaru walked down one of the many hallways, braiding her hair as she went. She had changed back into her kendo uniform since it was the only clothing that she had with her. She approached the gardens when she saw Hawk walking down the hallway in her direction.

"Hawk!" she waved running up to him. "I didn't expect to see you in this section of the palace at this time of night."

"Likewise to you Hikaru," he smiled back. "I would have expected you to be asleep or to be with Lantis."

"Umi and Fuu are out and about doing whatever and I couldn't sleep so I thought that I would just take a walk around the palace. Lantis went looking for Clef to ask him something."

"Really, I was actually looking for Clef myself. There is something that I must speak with him at once." Hawk explained.

"What is it?" Hikaru questioned noticing Hawk's urgency.

"Zazu reported that he saw three figures flying towards the castle earlier this evening. When he tried using the NSX's scanners, nothing came up," he explained.

"Three figures"Hikaru whispered remembering her dream. "Could he make out anything about them? Could he see their faces?"

"He was unsure, but he thought that they might have been three girls."

"Oh no!" Hikaru gasped. "Umi and Fuu are in danger!"

"Wait! Hikaru where are you going?" Hawk called as Hikaru ran off.

"I have to find Umi and Fuu, something is seriously wrong!" she yelled back.

"Wait! I'm coming with you!" Hawk replied chasing after her.

Hikaru sprinted down the hallway and crashed into Ferio and Fuu as they came out of the library.

"Miss Hikaru," Fuu exclaimed helping her friend to her feet. "Where are you off to in such a rush?"

"Yeah, where's the fire?" Ferio joked.

"Are you alright?" Hikaru asked ignoring their questions.

"Everything is alright Miss Hikaru," Fuu replied eyeing her friend and the Hawk. "Why are you asking?"

"I don't know, but I know something bad is about to or has happened. Where is Umi?"

"The last time I saw Miss Umi she was returning to her quarters. She said that Clef was going to meet her in her room later."

"Thanks Fuu," Hikaru bowed and then ran off.

"What's going on?" Ferio asked Hawk as he started off after Hikaru.

"We think that there might be intruders in the palace."

Ferio and Fuu looked at one another and then ran off after Hawk and Hikaru.

*****

Clef leaned against his staff as he attempted to stand. He looked over at Umi who lay motionless on the floor and then back over at Noon. Noon crouched down beside Umi and brushed a few strands of her hair from her face.

"Funny how easily our bodies are cut," he laughed. "It is also funny how you people will risks your lives for others."

"What are you getting at Noon," Clef gasped holding his arm. "There is a power at work here that will defeat you."

"Oh really," Noon continued to laugh. "Let's see how your so called power deals with this."

Noon held his sword over his head above Umi's limp body. He looked over at Clef and an evil glimmer spread across his eyes. He began to bring the sword down when the door burst open.

"UMI!" Hikaru screamed running into the room with Fuu, Ferio, and Hawk at her heals.

"HikaruFuu," Clef managed to smile before he fell to the ground.

"Master Mage Clef!" Hawk exclaimed catching the boy before he fell.

"Oh no, Miss Umi!" shrieked Fuu.

Noon looked over at the girls and smiled.

"Oh good, I can get rid of all three of you at once!" he cackled.

"Don't bet on it!" Hikaru shouted taking a ready position. "I am not going to let you hurt Umi anymore! FIREARROW!"

Noon laughed as the attack approached him. He held up his hand and formed a barrier around himself, but he did not count on Hikaru's attack to be so strong. The flames shattered the magical force field and sent Noon flying across the room. Hikaru and Fuu ran beside Umi.

"Miss Umi please wake up!" Fuu cried gently shaking her friend.

"Fuu, you stay with Umi," Hikaru ordered. "I am going to finish this guy off."

Ferio and Hawk watched Hikaru slowly stand and walk towards where Noon lay on the ground. Slowly Noon stood up and faced Hikaru, rage in his eyes.

"You will pay for that little Magic Knight," he scowled.

"You are not going to hurt anyone ever again," Hikaru threatened once again taking her ready position. "I am going to kill you for what you have done to Umi and Clef."

"Ha ha ha ha," he laughed. "You can't kill me. If you do, you will also kill Clef."

"Yeah right," Hikaru said as she began to cast a spell. "RED LIGHTENING!"

The spell hit Noon head on and sent him crashing into the wall. At the same time, Clef began to cringe and wriggled in pain. Hikaru turned around and saw Hawk and Ferio trying to calm the sorcerer down. She turned back to Noon and saw him slowly rise to his feet laughing all the way.

"Go ahead, finish me off Magic Knight!" he taunted knowing that Hikaru would not attack him at the risk of harming Clef further.

"What do you want!?" Hikaru glared at Noon.

"I want to end the legend of the Magic Knights," he laughed. "I want to see the total destruction of Cephiro!"

With that, Noon vanished while his laughter lingered in the tense air. Hikaru quickly turned around and ran over to Fuu who was holding Umi's motionless body.

"I can't feel Miss Umi's heart beat!" Fuu cried. "My magic will not work if she is dead."

"No, there is no way that Umi can be dead!" Hikaru screamed. "Come on Fuu, you have to try! Use your magic!"

"Alright," Fuu replied rising to her feet. "HEALING WINDS!"

A pale green light surrounded Umi and her clothing began to mend itself. Slowly, Umi began to open her eyes and saw Hikaru's tear stained face over hers. A huge smile spread across everyone's face.

"Oh thank goodness!" Fuu sighed.

"Umi, what happened?" Hikaru asked helping her friend to her feet.

"I don't really know," Umi replied holding her head. "I was waiting for Clef when Noon showed up. He"

"It's all right Umi," Clef smiled taking her into his arms. "It's over now. It's nothing but a memory."

*****

Mokona bounced down the hallway alone. He approached a window and jumped onto the windowsill. He looked out the window at Cephiro, whose lands continued to be in constant change with Tokyo. He then looked over to the Dark Lands which had grown tremendously over the past few days. The jewel on his forehead changed from red to gold as he hopped down from the windowsill and continued to bounce down the hallway. Clef walked out of the hospital wing and noticed Mokona jumping down the hallway. Tightening the bandage on his arm, he followed Mokona and watched him as the fluffy animal approached the wall that held the seals of the three manshin. The jewel glowed brightly and then Mokona vanished without a trace. Clef ran down the hallway to where Mokona had once stood and touched the wall.

"Where did he go?" he whispered.

*****

Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu stood in the throne room with Ferio and Lantis all with very concerned looks on their faces.

"Things are getting more and more complicated," Lantis sighed sitting down on one of the stairs. "I knew that Noon was a bad character but it was Clef who said that we could trust him."

"But it does make sense that Clef was the one who trusted him since Noon was he shadow in Clef's heart," Fuu pointed out.

"I don't care!" Umi shouted. "That Noon guy has got to go!"

"Miss Umi, please calm down! Your blood pressure will skyrocket if you keep this up," Fuu giggled.

"You Magic Knights will have to be very careful," Ferio replied.

"Magic Knights"Fuu whispered. "Come to think of it, why are we called Magic Knight'?'

"What do you mean?" Ferio asked.

"Clef is a Guru, or Master Mage, Presea is a Farl, and Ascot is a Palu. Those are all Cephiro's words are they not?"

"What are you getting at Fuu?" Umi sighed. "I don't see what the big deal is"

"Why is our name, Magic Knights,' in English?"

"English?" asked Ferio scratching his head.

"It's a language used in a country in our world," Umi explained.

"Did someone who was summoned by the Pillar before call themselves that?" Fuu continued.

"Nope, I've never heard of that," Ferio replied.

"I suppose that means that someone in Cephiro must have named us Magic Knights'" Fuu finished.

"Who do you mean by someone?" Umi wondered.