I am totally ready to write right now…jeez, say that 5 times fast write right. Anyways, I don't own MKR.

Previously

Lantis walked over to the girl. "Hikaru…" he whispered again, louder this time.

The girl turned around & smiled a sad smile. "I inhabit her body only. I am not Hikaru, but the legendary stone Ka."

The girl smiled, eyes lighting up. "I am a friend here to help you. Please take my hand."

Nova reached up when she cried out in pain again. The girl turned & saw a dark figure

laughing. "Nova, you will return!"

Nova, weak, nodded. "I am sorry, my master." She disappearing, leaving the girl & Lantis alone.

Ka becomes serious. "Please protect her, Lantis. She is vulnerable right now. The dreams are taking its toll on her. She needs someone."

Lantis bowed. "I will protect her with my life."

Ka smiled weakly again. "That is all I ask." She shut her eyes & a bright light surrounded her.

Chapter 8

Umi was pacing back & forth, mumbling about going to help. Fuu was trying to calm her down, but Umi wouldn't listen.

Finally giving up, Fuu sat down next to Ferio, who drew her into a hug. She leaned her head on his shoulder & watched the blue-haired girl.

"Why are we just sitting here?" Umi asked, turning to the others. "We should be in there helping! Who's with me?" she asks, looking at them all.

"That won't be necessary, Umi-chan." a familiar voice says.

Startled, they turn to see Hikaru & Lantis walking back, Hikaru smiling. "Hikaru!" Umi shouted, rushing at her red headed friend. Fuu wasn't far behind her.

Hikaru braced herself, but was still tackled by her two friends. They rolled around a while until they slowed to a stop.

Hikaru was laughing. "Jeez guys, maybe I should leave more often." she joked.

"Don't you dare to that to us again!" Fuu shouted, out of character again. Umi agreed as they stared at the red head.

"I'm sorry. I won't." Getting up, the three girls walk back to the group. "You guys might want to sit down." she started.

The girls nodded & sat down, ready to listen. Hikaru felt Lantis' hand squeeze hers & she shot him a thankful smile. Letting out a sigh, she began.

"You guys are probably wondering what's been wrong with me." She paused as the group nodded, still staring at her. "Well, I've been having these dreams. More like nightmares actually."

Pausing again, she took a deep breath. "In the first dream, I dreamed that I was in an open field with angel wings." She laughed as she saw their faces. "I know, I know. Weird, but let me go on." They nod. "Okay, well, in this dream, Nova came back." Everyone had an intact of breath.

Hikaru nodded. "That's exactly how I felt. She wanted to play with me, but when I said no, she began to attack. Then I fell into eternal darkness with no way out." She began to shiver at that thought, but Lantis hugged her to his chest. She nodded & pushed herself off.

"I had that dream that night before we left which is why I was outside. The second dream I had while we were here. In that dream, I was in a desert. On the horizon, a gryphon flew next to me with a beautiful woman on it. She had long golden hair & deep blue eyes that held so much sadness. She said her name was Cephiro…" But she was interrupted when Umi spoke up.

"Wait, as in the land Cephiro?" she asked, shocked.

Hikaru nodded. "Yes, exactly." She looked at everyone's shocked faces, then up at Lantis'. He was trying to hide it, but she could tell he was shocked.

Looking back over the group, she went on. "She said what we thought is true. Cephiro is dying." Hikaru paused as Umi & Fuu burst into tears. She watched as Ferio & Ascot brought them into hugs, a sad smile on her face.

Closing her eyes, she continued. "She said there is a horrible darkness deep within her. It is rising everyday & it won't be long until the darkness comes." Taking a deep breath & opening her eyes, she cleared her throat. "Unfortunately, Nova isn't the only one who's back. Dark sides of Umi & Fuu are here too."

This surprised the girls, but they said nothing. "Umi's is Stellar & Fuu's is Ally's. They look like you did when we first came her, but Stellar has longer hair in a high ponytail & Ally has long hair in pigtails. Both their eyes hold so much evil that I have no doubt that they are as powerful as Nova, if not more."

"Is that all…?" Fuu quietly said & felt her heart drop when Hikaru shook her head. But she was smiling this time.

"No it's not, but Cephiro told me about three legendary stones that can help us defeat them."

This time the guys were shocked. "Legendary stones?" Ascot started.

"I thought they were just rumors…" Ferio muttered.

Lantis said nothing, but his eyes held surprise. The girls looked confused. "What are these legendary stones?" Umi asked, looking at Hikaru.

"I don't know much, she had to leave before I learned much. But the first one is red with the word 'Ka' written on it in orange. The second one is blue with the word 'Sui' written on it in silver & the last one is green with the word 'Kaze' written on it in brown. We need to find these stones to defeat our darker halves & whatever darkness is under Cephiro."

The girls nodded, still in shock. "So we have to find these stones, Miss Hikaru?" Fuu repeated, green eyes holding a hidden emotion that Hikaru couldn't place.

Hikaru nodded, eyes fluttering shut. "Yes…" was what she said before she fainted into Lantis' arms.

"Hikaru!" the girls exclaimed as they ran over to their friend as Lantis placed her on the ground. They bent down & caressed her hair. "Hikaru, you're so little. Why did you hold this inside so long?" Umi asked the sleeping girl. Fuu didn't say anything. She just watched the red head sleep, praying for her health.

Dream Mode

Hikaru opened her eyes to see a very bright light. Shielding her eyes, she stood up, smoothing down the dress. She already knew why she was here.

"Nova! Where are you?" Hikaru called out, standing firm as the young girl appeared.

"Hikaru-chan! You've come to play." Nova giggled as she floated down to the girl.

"No, Nova. I'm here to tell you to leave me alone. I'm happy & you can't take that away from me." she said seriously, staring at the girl.

Nova giggled again. "You can't get rid of me. I'm a part of you, now & forever."

"I realize that, but you have no right coming into my dreams & making me think I'm at fault. I have friends who love me for who I am & you are not going to take that away!" Hikaru shouted as a bright light flew from her, flying at Nova.

Nova, shocked at this power, barely dodged the blast. Floating in the air, she stared down at the girl. She knew something had awakened in the girl & Nova didn't want to mess with it.

"We'll play later. Gotta go!" she disappeared as Hikaru glared up at the spot where Nova was.

"We will, Nova. We will." Hikaru said as the light died down. "Now it's time to go home." She closed her eyes & fell into a deep sleep.

End Dream Mode

Hikaru woke up to see darkness. Blinking a couple times, she sat up. Looking around, she noticed that Ferio, Fuu, Ascot & Umi were all sleeping. She realized they must have stopped to make camp.

Standing up, she looked around for Lantis & found him sitting high in a tree, watching her. "Hey." she called out, waving.

Lantis smiled down at her & jumped down in front of her. "Good sleep?" he asked.

Hikaru nodded as they sat down together. "Surprising yes. Nova was in it, but she didn't hurt me this time."

Lantis smiled. "That's good. Well, we better get some sleep." He got up to go, but Hikaru wouldn't let him.

"Come on, it's comfy right here. Plus, they're doing it." Hikaru motioned to the girls sleeping on the guys' laps.

Lantis sighed, but nodded. "I give in." He took off his cape & wrapped it around both of them.

"Night, Lantis." Hikaru said as she settled in to sleep a hopefully dreamless sleep.

"Good night, Hikaru." he said softly, holding her to him, kissing the top of her head. He closed his eyes & fell asleep.

Unknown to them, a giggle once again came through, but this time it was followed by two others.

Okay, so no action, but a lot of explaining crap. Sorry. More action next time.