Chapter 9

Silence filled the air once more as the blonde haired girl sat awkwardly away from the prince. She had no idea what had come over her when she had thrown her arms around Ferio. No idea. Despite this she couldn't lie that when he had wrapped his arms around her that she didn't like it. It was and had been very comforting. Her cheeks burned at the thought.

Right now she needed to clear her head of all thoughts concerning the golden eyed prince. Standing she noticed Ferio stand as well from the corner of her eye. The shades casting an eerie shadow over his face, Fuu smiled sheepishly.

"I'm going to go for a walk if that is ok with you?" She asked her voice coming out softly.

Ferio just stood there, his thoughts on what had happened as well. "Alright. Would you like me to wait for you?"

"If you wish," She replied. Ferio nodded, she noted that both of them were in their own little world for the moment. "Then I will wait." He said finally. Nodding, Fuu made her way through the wild brush of nature and soon found herself on a path worn out from carts being pulled along it for too long.

Once she was out of Ferio's sight she stopped, bringing her hands to her cheeks. Hitting them softly, as if that would awake her from this dream, she sat down on a moss covered boulder.

'Why did I do that?' She knew it would bother her for many long nights to come.

She wasn't really one to throw herself at a man's feet, yet why did she feel different around Ferio? Her head was clouded by questions all concerning the man who awaited her return.

Fuu sighed and looked up at the sky, her thoughts turning to her sisters. She found it surprising that she hadn't thought of either Umi or Hikaru till today. She had thought on the day they had left that it would be the only thing on her mind. Her mind now focused on them she couldn't help but wonder how they were.

Were they in the same situation as she? Were they confused about their actions toward their own separate prince? Had Hikaru even spoken to the Prince Lantis yet? Or was Umi still friends with the mage? All this ran through her head and yet she still couldn't get the events that had just passed out of her mind. There they were lingering nearby always.

She frowned forcing them away for one second when she saw something in the distance. It looked like a mountain. A peculiar mountain unlike any other she had ever seen. At the sight of it her mind remembered her own dreams, of that sword.

Standing as if she were in a trance Fuu walked towards it. The wind seemingly pulled, wanting her to find out why it felt so different.

Eyes taking in her surroundings as she walked she noticed a slight difference in the earth as they neared the mountain. All the flowers had stopped growing in this area. It was bare except for the grass that seemed greener almost. All around her was the melodious cry of wild birds.

Amongst them came one very familiar trill. Fuu's eyes looked skyward and indeed their in the sky was Winni. Her four-winged friend landed softly on her shoulder, nipping at her ear affectionately, as was her usual welcome.

"Hello to you too," She greeted with a light chuckle, before looking back at the grand mountain before her. "I need to find out more about this place. I don't know why," She smiled a bit smugly. "Maybe it's because I like to know things and this I don't know."

The young woman didn't at all feel foolish for talking to the bird on her shoulder. For all the time they'd spent together Fuu always had felt that Winni knew and understood her.

Circling the perimeter of the base for some sort of entrance or cave, Fuu found what it was she searched for near the rear of where she had come from. Looking in the first thing she noticed was it was dark, very dark.

Breathing in she took a step forward, using her arms to feel her way around. It felt that as soon as she had started she had ended because she felt before her a large door of some sort. Using her hands she ran them along the stone looking for some sort of handle to open it by.

After a while her hands closed around something and with all her strength she had she pulled on the mighty door. A gust of wind blew back her hair as the door slowly creaked open.

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The fiery dog named Terran walked along side his friend and master as she rode along side the prince, the moon beginning to make it's presence known. As it were only she, Lantis, Terran, and a soldier were on this little quest. The quest itself excited Hikaru, the silence that followed it not so much.

The girl longed for some sort of conversation to happen but the prince, no Lantis, was still an enigma to her, the only thing she knew about him was his close bond with his brother and how proud he was of his kingdom, and both of these she only knew because it was obvious not because he had told her.

Staring up at their destination she wondered why the man before her had deemed it necessary to mount it just because of a dream she had had. When she had mentioned it before that one night he had merely shrugged it off.

"We should be their in a days ride Hikaru." She jumped as he spoke, her name still slightly foreign to her ears when said by him.

"Thank you for telling me," She trailed off. Here was the perfect way to start some sort of talk. He had after all given her reason to. In her mind not saying anything more then 'thank you' would be rude. But what to talk about was the question.

A light pout came across her features as she was stumped. Hikaru continued pondering this, her mind trailing away.

"Lantis?" Said a voice near her, Hikaru blinked when she realized it was her voice that had spoken. Lantis as much surprised as she was turned on his horse to look at her. Like the last time they had ridden together Hikaru had preferred a manlier look to that of a lady's. The same brown breeches and the same russet red tunic adorned her petite frame, the only feminine thing was the pendant that hung around her neck. It caused a weird swirl of emotions in him that he could remember what she'd worn so long ago.

"Yes Hikaru," She smiled shyly. For some reason her name just seemed to roll off his tongue. Different when compared to the way Eagle said her name but she didn't know how.

The next thing she said shocked Hikaru because she knew it wasn't her place to ask.

"How are you? I mean since you found out about the priestess," She didn't want to go into further detail because of the soldier taking up the rear.

The question had shocked Lantis too but he did have an answer for her. Stopping his horse he got off and sent the soldier to go picket the horses while he set up camp. Getting off her own horse so she could help him, she listened quietly as he answered her question.

"I believe I knew something was different with Emeraude from the first time I met her. There was something always there, something you could feel just by being with her. It was that, I believe that caused the initial attraction between my brother and her." Tying the rope down she wondered if he were finished.

When he didn't continue and the camp was set, she took a seat on a nearby log and gazed upwards at the stars.

"Do you think she's okay? Wherever she is?" She asked next. The distant sound of sticks being thrown into a bunch caught her attention and she looked down. Now the prince was making a fire. She felt stupid for taking a break.

Getting up to help him he shook his head. "I can do it," Hikaru's spirits sunk a little but she then saw the small tug at the corner of his lips she let herself smile. Once he had gathered the wood and gathered it into one area he went to the pack on his horse to get some flint though when he returned a fire had already started.

Hikaru stared wide eyed at the fire she had created. It was the first time she had used her magic. Sitting Lantis finally answered her question.

"Yes to your question. I don't think her captor would endanger her," Snapped out of reverie Hikaru tilted her head. "Why?"

"Because if she were dead, he would have no bargaining tool now would he?" She flinched at the coldness underlining that comment. Though he did make a point she didn't want to believe it. As if reading her thoughts Lantis said. "I don't mean to sound cruel but it is the brutal truth." She understood or at least tried to.

The soldier had returned and was setting up his own camp; any conversation about the priestess between them was over.

"What do you think is in there?" Hikaru asked. Following her gaze Lantis saw that she was staring up at the volcano. Of course he had an idea but he wasn't sure whether or not to tell her. Besides it was only a legend Clef had told him once. But he believed it to be true despite that. Shrugging to Hikaru he replied. "I don't know."

Soon after Lantis announced that he was going to go hunt for some dinner. Not wanting to be alone, though she wouldn't be, Hikaru protested that she would like to help. At first the prince turned down the idea but his young companion would not take no for an answer. Eventually he submitted to her request and told the soldier to watch over camp.

Splitting ways Hikaru took a path towards a stream, Terran dutifully following her. Grabbing a stick as she passed and using the thread she had taken from her pack, Hikaru made a make-shift fishing rod and dipped it in the water. Beside her Terran laid his head in her lap. The burning sensation that followed him dulled to a small ember.

Alone with her thoughts they turned to the Eagle. The sandy blonde haired man's words came floating into her mind.

"I meant what I said Hikaru," He paused to see her expression. It was blank. "Please think about that."

"I like you Hikaru."

She shook her head of the thoughts. What could she say to that? She was always the adorable little sister to the men she had met, never a possible lover. That was always Umi's position having been the most beautiful.

But what did she think of Eagle? All the times they had their playful banters and even the time they had met had been in fun! She couldn't think about this because she feared her answer would hurt both her and him.

A tug on the stick brought her back to reality. Pulling the fish out of the water she watched as it flapped helplessly on the ground. She knew she should of stopped it from getting dirty but she was entranced by the way it reacted to being out of water. The innocent girl picked the fish up as it came to a slow halt. Scratching Terran's head to wake him up she stood and headed back to camp.

How she longed for someone to hold her, to comfort her right now. To tell her everything would be alright despite this obstacle. She smiled weakly down at Terran.

"I wish my sisters were here right now."

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Umi made sure no one was around before sneaking out of her room. Now that she knew she defiantly was the Magic Knight she knew she needed to practice her skills once more. Therefore she had come up with a plan to sneak out of her room at night and find an empty training room where she could be alone.

Tonight was the first night of her practice and so far she had only told Clef about it. She smiled as she remembered how Clef thought it was a smart plan. The compliment had gone straight to her head.

Making sure no guards were nearby she ran the length of the hall. Having passed the training halls a good amount of times she knew her way to them. She knew she had to take a left when she reached the library and another left at the next corner. Go down the stairs she'd come upon eventually and then she'd be there.

Mokona not with her, as she had made sure he was asleep, there was no way she could get seen or heard. Though really it wouldn't be a problem to Ascot if she'd just ask him to let her practice but the fact that she was a magic knight, that she and Clef had gone to the underwater temple was something she wanted to keep to herself.

Opening the door when she finally arrived she was surprised to see that half the lighting in the room was lit. Looking around she saw a shadow of something. Something that should she ever be faced against she wouldn't think she could win.

"What is it?" She asked awed. At the sound of her voice the insect-like monster turned it's beady eyes on her. A voice familiar to her could be heard further in the room.

"Atalante who is it?" Umi froze as Ascot came around the corner a content smile on his face, at seeing her though the pleasant smile disappeared replaced with a worried frown. "Umi?" She stared up at the creature her mind going over a conversation she had had with Ascot before.

She didn't remember everything but she remembered him telling her he had befriended some of the monsters of the forest. Was this one of them? She voiced her question so quietly that Ascot wasn't sure if she was even talking to him.

"Yes he is. Umi this is Atalante, I come down here to let my friends roam because others are disturbed by them." Umi, who had gotten over her initial shock, was at Atalante's side her hand on the side of his face.

"I don't see why, he's really sweet!" She laughed as Atalante rubbed his head against hers. Ascot watched in silence as the sea maiden befriended his one of the few friends he had, glad to see they got along.

"So," he finally said. "What brings you here?" Umi stopped petting the giant creature's face. She had never thought of an excuse should she be found.

"I… I couldn't sleep!" She watched Ascot's reaction closely but was please to see him accept the lie. Being here with just him made her think that they hadn't had much time alone since they had met. It made her think that most of her time hadn't been spent with the prince. When she finally looked at him again he was by Atalante's side. She frowned.

He looked, what was the word, alone perhaps? Having to come to a forgotten part of the castle just to spend time with the creatures he called friends. She shook her head causing him to look at her. Pity was not what he wanted she assumed. "Are you alright?" He asked.

Ascot was surprised to see her here. Ever since he had read that letter his mind had been elsewhere. He found his only solace was in being with his friends. He watched as the young woman before him began to fiddle with a pendant she had around her neck, as if it could reassure her of all her problems.

Umi's mind was jumbled. She didn't know what to say at the moment. "You're my friend Ascot," She covered her mouth after the words escaped her, blushing. Ascot felt something drop inside him but smiled nonetheless.

"I see you as a friend too Umi…I think." He said whispering the last part. Umi smiled removing her hands from her mouth. Yes Ascot was her friend. She was comfortable around him, around his other friends. But the smile he gave her made her rethink her decision. It was so blank and without feeling.

"What was your home life like Umi?" She stared up at him.

"Warm. My mother was a loving person; my father was serious but gentle. I always found it a bit odd that Fuu and I looked nothing like the rest of the family though." She hadn't thought about them in a while, having felt betrayed after all.

"They sound wonderful." Ascot looked down at his feet. He envied her slightly. "They were…" Came her distant reply. Standing up she made for the door. "Thank you for bringing that up Ascot," He nodded though he didn't know why. Umi left the room words forming in her mind as she walked back to her room.

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Authors Notes: This was kind of a reflection chapter. I realized that in the beginning I made it seem like they would be so lonesome without the other two but after that none of them –Umi, Fuu, or Hikaru- ever thought of the each other. So now all of a sudden they're thinking of one another again.

Please R&R?