Man! How long has it been?! Like, ten months! Jeez, I hope you guys still remember this story! I'm so sorry about the updating problem, but this has been a busy year for me. Every break I was away and every day I wasn't away or at school I was working. It's just now that I actually had some time to stumble across this story and realize that it was actually decent and deserved to be continued. So, I'm really really really sorry about the update, and I hope to be a lot more consistent at least till the end of the summer. I definitely owe you guys. I hope you didn't forget me!!!

Chapter 4: Loosening Seals

"Umi! Father! Stop! This is madness!" a voice in the darkness screamed.

"Shut up!" another voice hissed. "She will join us in our darkness, isn't that what you want? To be with her again?"

"Not like this!" the first voice shouted. "Never like this!"

"Too bad," the second voice whispered mercilessly.

"I won't let you," the first voice sounded suddenly determined, and Umi smiled slightly in the darkness she was drowning in.

"No! Don't!" there was a combination male and female screech, and then she felt hands lifting her up, pulling her free of her magic. She opened her eyes and looked around. The black faded to gray, faded to white, a blinding white light. She slammed her eyes shut again, then coughed loudly. Loudly, meaning, she could hear.

Her eyes snapped open, only to meet the bright morning sun, "Ugh," she groaned angrily, and Fuu and Hikaru rushed to her side.

"Umi-chan!"

"Umi-san!"

"Fuu, Hikaru," she mumbled unhappily. "Water?"

Fuu quickly ran to a nearby dresser and poured a glass of water from a pitcher that was lying there. She held it to Umi's lips, and the Water Knight drank thirstily.

"Arigato," she grumbled when the cup was empty.

"More?" Fuu inquired, but Umi shook her head slightly, then groaned in pain.

"What happened?" she asked, and Hikaru shook her head.

"I don't know, you were warding our dreams, and then, suddenly, you were unconscious. It's been three days Umi."

"Three days?!" Umi sputtered, throwing herself up, only to be met by a searing headache which forced her back into the pillows. She must have spent longer in that dark than she thought.

"We've slept soundly thanks to you though," Hikaru smiled, and Fuu nodded in agreement. "No dreams, no tests."

"That's good," Umi whispered, reliving her strange dream once more. Had it been a dream though? Those voices, that pain, seemed so…real, and so…familiar.

"What happened?" Fuu frowned at Umi's blank eyes.

"I'm not entirely sure myself," so Umi recounted the darkness to them, and the strange voices, and they listened attentively, but quietly, for which Umi was extremely grateful.

"So someone is defending us in the dark," Fuu thought out loud, and Umi nodded.

"Looks that way."

"Odd," Fuu shook her head. "It doesn't make any sense, but I guess we don't know enough, not yet."

"Have you found out anything more about how we can attack Mala?" Umi didn't need an answer from the angry look on Hikaru's face.

"No," her small hands clenched into fists, and fire began to leap around them. "There's nothing Umi! There's no trace of her! She doesn't even live in Cephiro, how are we supposed to get at her? And yet, she haunts us! We're totally helpless to her torment!"

"Not helpless," Ascot approached Umi's bed from his position in the door. "Not totally."

"Ascot," Umi smiled, and he took a seat by her bed and smiled in return.

"Umi, good to see you're okay, and awake."

"Good to be awake," she answered, and he laughed weakly and nodded his understanding.

"What do you have to tell us Ascot?" Fuu inquired, and he turned to the Wind Knight, realizing his real reason for being there, or the mission he was sent on at least.

"Well…" he sighed heavily. "There's a story you don't know."

"Of course," Umi rolled her eyes. "You know why? Because there's always a story we don't know. I swear, one day we should just sit down with the history of Cephiro and read it. That way, we'll always be prepared."

He chuckled softly and shook his head at her, "You would say that."

"I would," she replied curtly. "Because it's the honest truth."

He shook his head at her again but his eyes quickly sobered, "I…don't know how to begin, but…there was a time when our pillar was different from our ruler. It was a long time ago; so long that Clef doesn't even remember it. Our pillar was simply a pawn to the ruler's Will. He told her what needed to happen, and she made it that way. It wasn't…right…there was nothing about the pillar system that was right, but this was not right in any sense of the word. It made no sense, but it was what we knew, and so it stayed in place, until someone could destroy it.

"There was one pillar in particular, and one king. The pillar loved the king, secretly, but he did not return her love, and she was forced to suffer in silence, while her heart became bitter. The king cared more for himself than he cared for his people, but the pillar loved him and would do anything he asked her. He knew it, and his reign was filled with corruptness. So it went on like this until the king's son came to an age to understand the corruptness of his father and the growing bitterness of the pillar.

"The prince had fallen in love with the Magic Knight of Water, and he confided it all to her. She, in turn, told the other Knights, and the three planned to take action on the King. They knew if they could only get the prince into power Cephiro would be right again. What they didn't plan for was the pillar to go berserk on the King. You see; the prince wasn't the only one who had fallen in love with the Magic Knight of Water, the King had as well. When the pillar found out about his love for the Knight she vowed to destroy them all, and the man who had betrayed her love.

"She turned her powers as pillar against the King and the Magic Knights. She fought back their Rune Gods, sending them into isolation until the Magic Knights would be reborn, and left the Magic Knights a shattered mess. Then, she took up their swords and with the last remaining strength of the Magic Knights, she created the evil replacements. When she tried to destroy the good swords, the magic in them shielded them, so she caged the Rune Gods and the swords in the same dark prison, hoping they would never escape.

"In his desperation and grief, the prince took the last of his magic and used it against his father and the pillar, sealing them away forever. Unfortunately, the spell he used required a sacrifice-himself, and he was sealed away with them, lost for all eternity, or so we thought."

The three stared with shocked eyes, unable to speak, until Fuu managed.

"Let me guess, Mala was the pillar?"

Ascot nodded, "I don't know why Clef didn't tell you. I think he was too weak to tell the story, and then Umi fell into darkness as well, so…"

Umi's heart had stopped. She was sure she was going to faint again. So the men in the darkness must have been the King and the prince. The prince must have been the one to save her then, with some sort of magic. Which could only mean one thing, "The seals are loosening."

§§§

"You know that the time is coming," Mala whispered, and Clef turned around in the fog.

"Why do you want them Mala?" he demanded fiercely.

"You know why Master Mage, the time is coming," she repeated.

He held his staff out in front of him, daring her to come near, but her hollow laugh was all that pursued his challenge.

"I know as well as you do that you're too weak to face me, especially here, in my dream world. But it is almost that time, for past to meet present. We will see where her loyalty lies."

"You know where it lies Mala! They all belong to Cephiro! They will take their last breath fighting for this world if they have to! Never will they fight against it!"

"The fight was never over Cephiro!" she screamed suddenly, anger and sadness gripping her voice. "The fight was always over love! The fight is not with Cephiro; I could care less about this land! I did what I had to to please him, and he fell in love with his son's prize! My fight is with him, and with her, unfortunately, she's so tightly tied to the other two that they need to die as well. Now they will all suffer- all of them. The seals are loosening, and soon the time will come. You will see Clef, all your students will parish before your very eyes, and you'll be like a newborn kitten, unable to stop any of it."

He shot up and angrily pushed away the sweat that was brimming on his brow. There had to be a way to stop; there just had to. He forced himself up and stumbled to his bookshelf. These were books too dangerous to keep anywhere but in his own room, safely guarded. If any hand but his went to reach for those books they would disappear, untouched. His hands ran over the spines until he found the one he was searching for. He plucked it from its spot on the shelf and brought it back to his bed. Candle in hand, he began to study the writing.

§§§

"Umi darlin' you're okay!" Caldina shouted before throwing herself at Umi, who smiled and hugged her back.

"As usual!" she replied, taking a fighting stance, which made the others laugh.

"I've found it," Clef announced, leaning heavily on his staff as he walked into the room, and everyone turned to stare anxiously at him. Presea rushed to his side and helped him to chair. He grudgingly leaned on her arm, and when he was settled, turned to look at the others.

"Found what Clef?" Hikaru inquired anxiously, and he sighed and tried to regain his composure.

"I found the way to meet Mala."

"What is it?" Umi demanded immediately. "Whatever it is, I'll do it."

He held a hand out to her, and she eased back, calming the raging storm inside her, "It is a difficult spell; one I've never attempted. It will take an incredible amount of magic, an amount I'm afraid I simply don't have. But, it will allow you to fall into her dream world. The thing is, once you're there, nearly everything runs her way, so she must not detect your presence until you are upon her. Once you're there, you'll need to stay low and endure whatever beatings you come upon. Do not use magic, and do not summon your swords, because if you do, she'll detect it right away.

"Now, all you need to do is walk straight and keep a picture of her in your mind. Eventually, you will come across her lair, and you'll be able to face her, off-guard hopefully. Because it's on her ground, you won't have the help of your Rune Gods; all you'll have is your wits, your courage, and your strength.

"There's no telling what she may throw at you. No telling what tests she'll put in front of you, but no matter what, you must come out victorious. She may try to put the third task in front of you, but you must keep your eye on her. As long as you're attacking her and only her, you cannot be taking her tests. Do you understand?" he met each of their gazes long and hard, and each nodded soberly. "Good, now-"

"How are we to do this if you don't have enough magic Guru?" Umi interrupted, and he glared at her, but answered despite.

"I'm going to need everyone's help," he responded, and everyone quickly agreed. "Now, every second I grow weaker and weaker. In a few days I might not even be able to stand. We need to do this as soon as possible."

"May we have a single hour Guru?" Fuu inquired softly, and he nodded.

"We will all meet back here in an hours time, understood?"

Everyone nodded and parted their separate ways, leaving Umi, Fuu and Hikaru alone.

"Well…" Umi sighed and ran a hand through her long blue hair. "I guess this is the big time guys. Whatever happens in there we've gotta keep together, right?"

"As long as I'm with you guys I know I'll be able to do it," Hikaru beamed at them, giving them her wonderful warmth.

"I agree with Hikaru-san," Fuu smiled slightly, and Umi laughed and threw her hand out.

"What would I do without you guys?"

"Probably get a lot more sleep," Hikaru grinned mischievously as she put her hand on top of Umi's.

"Who needs sleep?" Fuu teased, putting her hand on top of Hikaru's.

The three held the position for long moments, making sure to meet eyes, then wrapped their arms around each other before breaking away.

"See you in an hour," Umi whispered hoarsely, and the other two nodded with tears in their eyes before parting.

§§§

"Promise me you'll come out all right," Ferio stroked Fuu's ivory hands softly, and she tore her eyes from his.

"You know I can't do that Ferio."

"I know, but…" he gulped and pulled her close. "Aishiteru."

"Aishiteru," she managed to get in before he had her in a tight embrace, showering her with tender, heat-filled kisses.

In the back of her mind, she held Mala's image, and a deep anger filled her chest. That anyone would dare to take this from her infuriated her. She would never let it happen-never.

§§§

"You take care of yourself in there," Primera instructed, and Hikaru nodded, assuring her she would be fine. She still found it strange, looking up to a girl that had once been the size of her hand. To think, that you could simply change your size for love in Cephiro, what a wonderful idea. To think, that someone would endanger that, Hikaru thought to herself and tried to hold back the anger that was thick in her throat.

"Remember what Guru Clef has told you, it's very important," Lantis lectured, and Hikaru laughed and shook her head, punching him playfully in the shoulder.

"You're worried!"

"I-" he hesitated, then nodded. "Don't do anything too courageous."

She grinned and shook her head at him, "Arigato Lantis, Primera, I will be fine, I'm sure of it."

"Hikaru!" she turned to find that Eagle was rushing toward her. "Jeez, I thought I'd never find you," he looked around the gardens and smiled. "Figures you'd be here."

Primera nudged Lantis softly, and he cleared his throat and interrupted, "I think we're going to head in. I want to speak with Guru Clef."

Hikaru looked at them confusedly, but didn't protest, "Okay, see you in a few minutes."

Primera grinned and winked before they faded away. Hikaru watched them, perplexed, then shrugged and turned back to Eagle.

"Listen, I just wanted to tell you to be careful," he told her, holding her eyes, which made her cheeks flare.

"I will, you know I will."

"No I don't," he muttered, and she blushed even harder. That was true. She did have an uncanny ability to drag herself into dangerous situations. "If you don't come out of there I don't know what I'll do. I think I'll probably just go crazy. You saved me once, and I still owe you. You don't know how badly I want to go with you, yet I know I can't. This is the Magic Knights' road, and I'm not allowed to tread down it. Dammit!" he clenched his fists and turned his eyes downward, "When will there be a road I can walk with you?"

Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at him. He was being tortured right in front of her, and she could think of nothing to do, "Eagle, I-" she didn't know what to say. She had no idea what the feeling swimming in her stomach was. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time, hot and cold, joyful and saddening. She reached up and stroked his hair gently, "I'll come back Eagle. I will."

He pulled his head up, and she pulled her hand away, but he grabbed it and pulled it back. Her fingers reached out and ran over his cheeks, and his eyes closed as he leaned into her embrace. Before she knew what was happening, she had reached up and was meeting his eager lips. A gasp escaped her when he pulled her close, but that was all she could manage before he had her again.

§§§

Umi sighed heavily and looked around her, taking in Cephiro one last time.

"Hey, need some company?" Ascot inquired, and she turned and smiled at him, beckoning him to join her.

He walked up to her and took a spot next to her position leaning over the balcony rail. He watched her stare out to the sea and blushed slightly when she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Isn't it beautiful?" she whispered, and he nodded against her silky blue hair. "I don't want to see it lost."

"I know what you mean," but he wasn't talking about Cephiro.

"I wanted to thank you for all your help Ascot," she mumbled, which caused him to blush harder. "You were once my enemy; it seems so long ago now, but…even then you helped us. You helped us gain strength. You were there for me when no one else was; you always managed to make me laugh, when I needed it most. And you put me in my place when no one else would. So…I just wanted to thank you."

"Umi, that thank you sounds too much like a goodbye," he choked on his words, and she pulled away to meet his green eyes. She swooped his bangs from his eyes and smiled.

"You never know," she whispered, and he shook his head in terror.

"No."

"I'm not saying anything's going to happen!" she protested, smiling. "I just…I don't want anything to happen with me having regrets. I've wanted to thank you for a long time, and was always too embarrassed to. Now you've heard my thank you and I feel much more satisfied."

He nodded numbly, "Thank you too."

She laughed lightly, much lighter than she should have been able to, and took his arm, leading him back inside, "Ascot, you are too cute."

He laughed slightly; the mood brightened, and followed her inside, "Thanks, I think."