~Okay, it's been a long time since I've posted the last chapters, so if you've been waiting this long to get to this chapter, here are the summaries for the first 3 chapters: Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu has dreams about Cephiro, when they are finally transported to it. After getting there, they find their old friends, but they also find that monsters still lurk around. They also found out that Clef is devastatingly sick. In order for them to save him, they must travel to the three distant countries: Chizeta, Fahren, and Autozam.

Chapter 4

"I'm happy you're finally awake," Ferio said gently, "It was getting too silent for me. I had nobody to talk to."

Fuu smiled. "Are we any nearer to Fahren?"

The prince nodded and pointed to a small sphere. It was indeed Fahren, Aska's planet. It was mostly red in color, with swirls of clouds around half of the planet. Fuu sighed in relief as she saw that Ferio's bird was slowing down, and the planet grew nearer. Then a thought struck her. "Ferio, if we were able to travel through planets, then why is it that we are able to breathe? And how about the gravity and such? This doesn't feel like space."

"You forget this is not your world you are talking about. Cephiro and the universe around it are made differently and so they work differently. If magic is possible here, then anything is possible. What I'm worried about right now is the landing. Foreign countries…you never know what kind of formality they have."

Now that they were very close to the ground, people were talking excitedly and pointing at the flying bird. A soldier gaped and ran to the palace. It turned out that as Ferio, Fuu, and the bird landed, an old man came out hurriedly. "Fuu-sama! Ferio-sama! Aska is surprised and delighted to see the two of you! Come, come! She is waiting for you inside!"

Fuu and Ferio were ushered into the castle, with Ferio giving some soldiers orders to care for his pet. The throne room was filled with serving women, who looked curiously at the newcomers, and one by one each bowed and walked out of the room, leaving four people inside. Two were the remaining serving women and one was Sang Yung, who, to Fuu and Ferio's utter surprise, was a few feet taller than he had been when they last saw him. "Sang Yung?"

"Yes, Fuu-sama," Sang Yung said, turning red.

"SANG YUNG!" the young lady yelled behind him, "I WANTED TO SPEAK TO HER FIRST!"

This time, now she recognized Aska of Fahren. This was no longer the cute, spoiled girl, but in her place was a beautiful, well-shaped, dark haired princess. The princess bowed and ran to Fuu filled with happiness. "Fuu-san! You've finally kept your promise to having tea with me! Shien! Leia! Prepare a banquet for my guests! Hurry!"

The two serving women bowed and also left. Aska clapped her hands and two elegant chairs appeared in front of her. "Please do sit down. It isn't polite to stand. Now, what brings you here other than the fact that you wanted to have tea?"

Ferio raised his eyebrows. Aska noticed this. "What's wrong?"

"Well…the last time I saw you," Ferio scratched his head, "You were um…young and…less mannered?"

Fuu stifled a laugh. The princess blushed, and cleared her throat. "In order for the first princess to rule Fahren, she must be fully grown and ready to accept her responsibilities. My…parents passed away a few months ago, and I had to accept the throne. Cephiro isn't the only place with will power."

"And Sang Yung?" Ferio asked, still confused.

Aska shrugged. "Sang Yung decided to grow himself, for who knows what reason. He hasn't told me yet, haven't you, Sang Yung?"

Sang Yung turned even redder than the last time and he hung his head. Fuu smiled, understanding why he had grown as much as Aska. The two looked handsome together, and although they might not know it now, they will in a matter of weeks. Aska's serving women came back to announce that their banquet was ready, and Sang Yung ushered them into the dining room. Fuu looked around in wonder. "What a Chinese atmosphere! It's as if I've traveled to China without having to purchase a ticket."

"What's a ticket?" Aska asked, curious.

Chang Ang, the elder, bowed his head in shame. "Aska-sama. You may be grown and beautiful, but you still don't have the amount of knowledge that I needed to teach you."

"Sang Yung's here to inform me, Elder," the princess said, losing her temper. "Now please sit down and help yourselves! Both of you must be hungry, traveling all this way from Cephiro. How is Cephiro, by the way?"

Ferio glanced at Fuu, who nodded. The girl sighed. "It's not doing as well as we hoped. Aska-sama, there was a second reason why we came here. It appears that we are in need of a certain power source in your country. Without it, Master Mage Clef will…"

The princess shook her head. "I've heard of his condition. And I will help as much as I can. But…"

"But?" Ferio asked.

Sang Yung said uncertainly, "After Aska-sama inherited the throne, her sisters and cousins got angry, since they were much older and more educated than she was of Fahren's ways. They questioned their parents' authorities about who is to become successor, and after hearing that Aska was to be queen, they wouldn't accept it."

Aska nodded, sadly, "So they are holding many areas and important people to their power. I may be ruler of Fahren, but even my will can't stand against the rest of my family."

"Aska-sama, I didn't know…" Fuu said sadly, "If I knew, I wouldn't have come here and disturbed you with our petty troubles…"

The princess interrupted her with a glare. "Don't think that you will leave now that you've heard my story. You're going to stay until I have helped you out. Now, you speak of the need for a power source? There's only one place in Fahren that you could find such kind of power. But I'm afraid that it's out of bounds to me, for two of my sisters and their husbands possess that area, and they are the most powerful of my family. I won't be able to pass to their territory without help."

Sang Yung watched his princess with concern. "Aska-sama, you mustn't keep yourself worrying like that. Just because Riruka-san and Kairi-san are older doesn't mean they are more powerful. Your will and artful magic is a strong match against the two of them."

Chang Ang nodded with agreement. "Yes, Aska-sama. Although less book learned, you are indeed powerful."

Ferio stood up, thoughtfully. "Did they know of your mission to Cephiro, Aska?"

"Yes, and I've told them all about you and the people there," was the reply. "They scoff at me, but they like the people in Cephiro better. Perhaps you can talk sense into my sisters."

The Magic Knight's eyes sparkled and she smiled. "Perhaps we can, Ferio."

"Eh? We? Who said we?" Ferio asked, surprised. "I'm not much of a persuader…"

"Oh, come on, Ferio. You were pretty persuasive before, if you remembered the Forests of Silence…"

"But that was because I was scooping up a pretty woman…"

"Don't tell me you were also trying to scoop up Umi!"

"Well…Umi's an exception!"

Aska looked on at the arguing couple and laughed, her voice still in the same tone, though less high pitched and more melodic. Sang Yung looked confused. "Aska-sama, what's funny?"

Serving women wearing dark blue kimonos came in. They surrounded three figures that were also shrouded in blue. The tallest one approached them, with gray eyes angry. "Aska. This is the third time we came here to hear your denouncement of the throne. Give Fahren the relief by giving yourself up as ruler."

Sang Yung frowned at them. "As long as Aska-sama does not denounce her title, you are not allowed to enter this castle. Who let you in?"

The princess placed a small hand on Sang Yung's shoulder. "It's okay, I gave them the freedom to come and go as they please. Solon-kun, you are my cousin, but I love Fahren, and I won't give it up."

The woman next to Solon said in a soothing voice. "Aska, you won't be banished. We only want to have a more responsible heir to the throne, that's all. I'll make sure you're taken well care of, and so will everyone else."

Ferio and Fuu looked at each other, and they quietly stood by Aska's side, examining her relations. The two women behind Solon were elegant. One had her dark curly hair loosely tied at the back. She was the gentle one who spoke about Aska's well being. Her blue eyes showed signs of concern and it looked as if she was reluctant to go against her own cousin. The other woman has her hair tied in a bun, and her eyes were that of Solon's: angry and gray. She also looked upon Aska with scorn. "Really, Aska, don't be so selfish. You're the youngest, and Riruka or Kairi should rule instead."

"May I have a say to this?" Fuu asked out of the blue. "It seems that this conflict may need help of an outsider."

The nobles looked startled to hear an outsider speak. Solon scoffed. "And what have you to say to this, green-eyed girl?"

Fuu held Ferio's shoulder, so that he wouldn't move forward to defend his love. She smiled her usual smile, "I have heard of Fahren. It is well known for its magical artistry and will. Cephiro, the land from which Prince Ferio came from, is also filled with magic, and it is also a land of will. You see, our previous ruler may not have been the most powerful, but her power was great, and only because her will was strong. This was the Pillar, Emeraude-hime. Now, as the Pillar passed away, a princess from Fahren traveled far and wide to gain this Pillar system, with as much will power as she had. Even then, her power was great, to get her so far. If she hadn't given up at the last minute, she would have been a candidate. This girl is now a grown lady who can control more of that will. I am sure that if she were as powerful in the past, then she will be even more so now. Aska-sama is a deserving princess."

One of her cousins stirred, and in the corners of Fuu's eyes, she could see that Aska's cousin was smiling. Solon and her other cousin stood there, astonished. Ferio smiled in spite of himself. The Magic Knight he had taken here will make a good diplomat someday. Finally, Solon acted. "And what of it? You do not know Fahren to tell us how to rule it. And if Riruka and Kairi want to rule, they shall. We will be back, Aska, you can count on that. In the meantime, we are going to have to keep you in the castle until you consent."

"You cannot do that!" Aska cried out, angered. "You might have power over many of the important places in this planet, but you will not confine me to one place! I will not allow it!"

A sudden gush of wind, and the doors opened, pushing her cousins out of the door and slamming it in their faces. Aska dropped on the floor, sobbing. Sang Yung took her in his arms and hushed her. "It's okay, Aska-sama. They won't hurt you."

Chang Ang sighed. "You mustn't break down like that, Aska-sama. It will only drain your power, and we need all of it intact."

Sang Yung clapped his hands and the two serving women came. "Shien, Leia, please take Aska-sama to her room. She is not feeling well and needs some rest."

Aska was brought to her room, with Chang Ang following them. Sang Yung looked on and turned to Fuu and Ferio. He shook his head tiredly, "I apologize for the chaos that's going on around in Fahren. Aska-sama is not herself, and she is getting very low-spirited because of this."

"There must be a way to help," Fuu said desperately, "It pains me to see her like this. And I know it pains you, Sang Yung."

The young man nodded, and he headed towards the tables. "You haven't eaten yet. Please help yourselves. The food was made especially for you."

Fuu and Ferio sat down at the table and helped themselves to the food. Sang Yung left them to check on Lady Aska. Ferio swallowed his food and nodded at Fuu. "You propose that I should go out and check the surroundings to see if we could do anything?"

"Will you?" Fuu said, grateful. "I will be doing my own research myself."

The two nodded and ate the rest of their meal in silence, each to their own thoughts. Meanwhile, in Aska's room, Sang Yung tucked her in gently. "Sleep well, Aska-sama. Please don't be too hard on yourself."

The princess slept soundly, and Sang Yung left quietly.