The next morning, the group departs the inn for Moondancer Forest. While most of the trip is uneventful barring a few minor struggles in the swamp, Rumore is waiting by the forest's edge as the group approaches. She sneers and fires some lightning into the sky as a warning.

"Like or not, we have to go into the forest, Rumore!" Glacier yells.

"If you want to go in there so badly, you'll have to get past me first!" With that, Rumore fires more lightning at the group, prompting them to dive down into a gully.

"That was close." Aiden sighs with relief as the group emerges from the gully some seconds later.

Rumore is not impressed by the group hiding. "And you call yourselves Heroes of Light--you can't even defend yourselves against magic!"

"To be fair--" Hikari starts, but Homura covers her mouth before she can say more. "Don't give away possible weak points!"

Glacier, meanwhile, jumps into a tree in hopes of ambushing Rumore. But when she jumps off a branch and tries to deliver an ice tinged kick to her back, the attack is dispelled by a red shield. "What in the..."

"Lightning is not my only magic, PreCure--I can counter anything you throw at me!" Rumore boasts as she calls back the red shield.

"Oh yeah?" Ember charges a flame tinged punch, but it is dispeled by a cold light blue shield.

Just then, Utane spots a clear path into the forest. "This way-tane!"

"Star Beam!" Rumore is not expecting Eika's attack, and falls backwards onto the ground. With Rumore lying on the ground in pain, the group escapes into the woods.

"Did we lose her?" Aiden stammers.

"I think so-hino." Hinote reports as he checks back behind the group for any sign of Rumore.

Suddenly, Glacier hears hoofbeats in the distance. "Look!" She points out a white unicorn approaching a nearby pond in the clearing.

"Wow..." Hikari gasps as the white unicorn approaches.

"Welcome, PreCure...I am Aisani, guardian of Moondancer Forest." the unicorn begins. "The queen has informed me of why you come, so there is no need to explain that."

"It was a dangerous journey just to get here!" Aiden explains.

"It was?" Aisani is interested.

"Rumore tried to keep us from entering your abode-kori." Kouri explains.

"Fortunately, PreCure scared her away-tane." Utane adds.

"So you have encountered the dark one...as you gather the Eight Melodies to power the Miracle Light, she will try again and again to stop you." Aisani cautions. "But I know you will not fail--you have successfully defeated other dark ones that wanted them, so why is this opponent any different?"

"Well, she has powers we have not seen before..." Ember notes.

"Most of the time, what foes we have fought were born of possessed objects." Glacier adds. "So we are unprepared against magic like this."

"You can fight back against such power, PreCure." Aisani assures Glacier. "I have a friend who is a mage that lives in the mountains north of here. She likely holds one of the song pieces you seek."

"So we just ask for magic powers in return for her telling the tale she holds to us?" Ember asks.

"Oh, it won't be quite that easy--she may send you on a quest herself before she gives you powers to combat the dark one or tell her tale." Aisani replies.

There's always a catch.... Ember silently grumbles.

"Can you tell us what you can of your tale?" Hikari asks.

"Of course, little one." With that, Aisani begins "Once a boy was wandering through a forest one night, on his way home from a hunt. It was late that night, and there was no moon to light his way. Suddenly, he heard a scream way off in the distance, and a mage dashed through some nearby bushes, pursued by a pack of wolves."

Just then, Aiden hears Simple as can be... echo through the trees when Aisani mentions the word "home." "There it is!"

"We've got it!" Ember assures Aiden as she and Yuki absorb the orange energy inside their wands. The orange note, meanwhile, shows the group a lone cabin sitting in the mountains.

"That is where my friend lives." Aisani explains. "I wish you luck on your journey."

"Bye, Aisani! And thank you!" Hikari calls as she waves goodbye and follows Ember out of the forest.

TO BE CONTINUED...