The Magic Knights felt power rise inside them and felt themselves moving. After a moment they were falling and then suddenly landed. They were on the floor of a breathtakingly beautiful forest.
Hikaru was the first to spring up. "Wow! It's so gorgeous."
"You can say that again." Said Umi, still sitting on the forest floor.
"Indeed, it is." Added Fuu, also on the ground.
The two Magic Knights watched Hikaru for a moment, taking in her joy at returning to Cephiro. They both remembered how much energy she had always had on their first journey through Cephiro. Her face had the same childish expression of happiness as back then but her features were matured.
"Hikaru, you look really pretty. I bet a certain guy will notice." Said Umi slyly, getting up. Fuu lifted herself off the ground at the same time.
"What guy?" said Hikaru, too innocently. Umi and Fuu almost burst out laughing. Hikaru usually had no problem looking innocent.
"Oh, I don't know, tall, dark hair, big armor. Fuu do you remember who I'm talking about?"
"I do indeed, Miss Umi. I believe his name is Sir Lantis."
Hikaru dipped her head down and blushed deeply, "Do you think so, I mean, do you think I'm pretty enough for him?"
"Of course!! You look a lot more womanly than you did last time. I mean, not that you weren't pretty before, just…" Umi tried to fix her statement.
"Just everyone thought I was in elementary school." Said Hikaru smiling, "I know. It's nice to hear you guys think he'd like me."
"Geez Hikaru, do you still really like him? I mean, we never really talked about it?" Umi had thought to kid Hikaru about her crush on Lantis, but she had not thought that it was still serious. For the first time Umi realized that this trip might end with something other than Hikaru coming to terms with leaving Cephiro. She tried to push the feeling aside.
"Well, I mean, I still like him. I don't know how he feels about me…."
"If he doesn't like you back he will have a magic fencing master to deal with!" said Umi with too much cheer in her voice.
"What about you two?"
"Oh? Me?" said Umi finally succeeding in changing her mood, "Well, I never liked Ascot like that. And I did have a crush on someone else, but I've gotten over that too. It is good to be back in Cephiro. I'm just looking forward to seeing everyone really."
"Fuu?"
"Oh, uh," Fuu blushed, "I don't know."
Umi's stomach fell more. "Well, let's get on with it then! We have people to find! Monsters to slay! The Magic Knights are back in Cephiro!"
Oddly enough, there was only one path heading out of the clearing they were in. The three Magic Knights headed off down it.