“Right!” Umi replied. She closed her eyes and took a breath. She started out with a running jump that turned into a flip. She flipped four times and then jumped into the air and did an aerial spiral flip and then landed on her feet.

“Wow, very good Umi!” Caldina said, praised Umi then turned to everyone, “All you little missies are doing so well. I don’t know if there is much more that you all can learn from me.” “What do you mean by that, Caldina?” asked Fuu.

“Well, you little missies have learned so much in the past year since the ‘Battle of the Four Countries.’ There isn’t much more that I can teach you when it comes to acrobatics. Actually I think that you all are almost ready for the your Rune-Gods last test for you all!” exclaimed Caldina.

“Final test?” the three girls asked at the same time. “Didn’t ya know? There is one more test that you have with your Rune-Gods. I don’t know what’s involved but, I don’t think it will be easy for you little missies though!”

“I can’t remember Selece ever mentioning anything about another test.” Replied Umi.

“Neither has Windom,” seconded Fuu.

“Or Rayearth,” replied Hikaru.

“Maybe you all should go and talk to your Rune-Gods about this test. Today’s lesson is over anyway,” said Caldina.

“Thanks Caldina, for telling us about this test. If you will excuse me, I will ask Selece about this test you’re talking about.”

Hikaru and Fuu nodded their heads in agreement.

“I’ll talk to you guys later. I’m gonna go over to the lake to speak with Selece by the Waters of Enchantment,” Umi told Hikaru and Fuu.

“Okay, I guess I will go over to the Valley of Fire to talk to Rayearth!” Hikaru said as she ran off down the hill.

“I think I will stay here to contact Windom,” Fuu replied.

“Okay, see you later!” Umi said as she went up the hill to the Waters of Enchantment and sat down. She closed her eyes and concentrated on Selece’s presence.

Selece answered her unspoken question, “So, you have found out about my final test to allow you to become a complete Magic Knight.”

“Yes, I think I have. Can you tell me what this ‘final test’ is? Please, I would really like to know!” Umi asked urgently.

“You have mastered all the spells that Master Mage Clef has taught you thus far. Not only did you master spells in your own element of water but also other useful spells in other elements. You have progressed faster in magic then the others have. With telling you this I believe that you are now ready to take the Final Test that I have in store for you and instead of telling you what this test is, I will show you!” Selece changed quickly from his mecha form into a giant dragon. “Place your hand upon my head.” He said as he as he lowered his head. Selece’s eyes and jewel on his head began to glow when Umi placed her hand on his head. A golden blue light surrounded Umi and she screamed out in pain.

In another world separate from Cephiro, a young man walked through a city towards an antique shop in the center of town. Everyone in the town kept a little bit of distance between themselves and him because they knew by the look on his face that he was ready to explode.

“Hello Val, how’s your day today?” Xelloss said as he appeared in front of Valgaav.

“Who gave you the right to call me that?! Stay away from me you crazy priest,” Then Valgaav said a little more darkly, “There is absolutely nothing that I want to say to you,” and then he walked away from Xelloss.

“For your information, Filia was the one that gave me a right to call you that when I started dating her seven months ago,” Xelloss said causally to Valgaav’s back.

How can you stand that guy mother? Valgaav thought to himself as he walked into his mother’s store.

“Hello Val,” Filia said cheerfully as she put a bouquet of flowers into a vase. “Look at what Xelloss brought me. Aren’t they lovely?”

“Ya, sure, they’re nice mom, I thought I would tell you that I’m going to be gone for the rest of the day.”

“What’s wrong Val?” asked Filia.

“Nothing mother,” Val said in reply, a little to sharply.

Filia gave him a sympathetic look and said, “Be back for dinner, because we are going to have a guest tonight.”

“Yes mother,” Val said as he headed off to the forest. He turned into a dragon as soon as he reached the forest and flew off towards the mountains.

Umi lay unconscious on the ground. A man in long mages’ robes and long blue hair kneeled down beside her and he placed a hand on her forehead and she began to wake up.

“What happened?” Umi said as she sat up and rubbed her eyes. Then she finally looked at who was next to her and asked, “Who are you?”

“I think it will be hard for you to believe, but I am Selece.”

“Know way! How are you Selece?! I only knew that you had a dragon and a mecha form. How could you…turn…human?”

Selece smiled and said, “You have completed the final test that will in time make you a full Magic Knight. To do that, I gave you some of my power and in because of that, I gained a human form in return.”

“Oh, what did I get then?”

“You can now turn into a dragon.”

“What?!” exclaimed Umi.

“Yes, you can turn into a dragon. Let’s try it out.”

“How?!”

“It will be slow for the first few changes but once you get better at changing into your other form it will take less than a second. Now concentrate on turning into a dragon.”

Okay…” Umi said as she tried to turn.

“Keep thinking of a dragon! Think of how I looked!”

She concentrated even harder and the jewels on her armor began to glow. A few seconds later she grew a pair of wings and then she stopped and she started breathing really hard.

“See, I told you that you could change! Look at your back. See the wings? Well, you are only partially changed.”

Umi looked behind her and saw the wings. She stretched them out, “Wow, I really can change into a dragon!”

“Well, you haven’t turned fully yet but, I didn’t think it would be this hard for you to do the first time.”

“Well, for me it is hard to do since I have never changed my form before.”

“Continue with trying to change. It should be easier than it was before.”

Umi nodded and closed her eyes. Her jewels began to glow again but this time since she believed that she could change, she changed the rest of the way very quickly. She opened her eyes and she loomed over Selece who was still in human form. She looked down into the pool of water and could hardly believe what she saw. In her dragon form she was slender for a dragon and her long face sat nicely on her long graceful neck. Her blue scales gleaned in the sunlight.

She looked back at Selece and spoke into his head, :Now what?:

Selece quickly changed into a dragon also and said, :Now we fly!:

Val walked into the house and saw their guest sitting at the table. It was someone that he had never met before, but he had a feeling that he was a dragon.

“Come sit down, Val,” replied Filia.

“Yes mother.”

“Selece this is my son, Val. Val, this is Selece. He has flown a long distance to talk to me about a student of his that he would like me to teach her some holy spells.”

“Understandable, but where is this student anyway. Is she close by?”

“In a sense you could say that, but it won’t take her long to get here. If Filia takes her on as her student though she would be living here.”

Val nodded his head and thought, great that’s just what I need…more females in the house!

“What kind of magical training has she had?” questioned Filia.

“She has completely mastered water spells of a like that you probably have not seen before. She also can cast fire, air and earth type spells and that includes offensive and defensive spells.”

“So she’s that good at magic?” asked Filia.

Selece nodded.

“Does she have anything else besides magical talents?” Filia continued.

“Yes, she is excellent with the rapier and is a very good cook.”

“Finally I will have help in cooking when Lina comes over. By myself I don’t think I could make enough food for her and Gourry.”

Val smiled and said, “You never do. They are still wanting more food after a full course meal!”

“To true!” said Xelloss as he appeared into the room.

Val’s smile faded when he saw the priest to the monster race standing in the room. at, after I get in a good mood he has to show up!! Stay civil, mother is around!! “Well, if you will excuse me, I have to contact Umi so that she knows to come tomorrow.”

“Sure,” Filia said as she gave Xelloss a look that made Val a little queasy.

Filia and Xelloss excused themselves from the table soon after Selece went into the spare room.

Just when I thought it was going to be a good night, he shows up! I wonder if I will get any sleep… Val thought to himself.

Umi was asleep in the castle when Selece woke her up from a deep sleep.

“Umi, I have some news for you.”

“What news?” Umi said as she sat up in bed.

“That Filia will take you on as a student.”

“She will?! When do I go?”

“At daybreak and do you remember how to get through the portal?”

“Yes, I remember.”

“Good see you tomorrow.”

Umi yawned and replied, “Good night, Selece.”

“Sleep well Umi,” and then Selece disappeared.

Umi woke up at the break of dawn and got dressed quickly. She made sure that her armor was fitting all right and walked over to her balcony. She jumped off and changed into a dragon. She snapped her wings open at the last moment and soared into the sky towards the water portal. It’s so beautiful up here, she thought as she flew over the rolling hills of Cephiro.

She quickly reached the water portal and landed on the ground. She turned human and put her hand on the shimmering surface of the portal and recited the words Selece had told her to say, “Water one of the four pure elements, obey your master and create a portal to the outer world!” the portal began to glow and shimmer as Umi said the words. The portal flashed and she saw a forest. She could hear birds singing on the other side. She took a deep breath and walked through. It felt like she was flung forward by a sling shot and she barely landed on her feet on the other side. Hmm, Selece said to head straight out of the cave and to keep going forward. Oh well, let’s see if we get lost! She thought to herself.

Val was surprised when he saw his mother’s student come through the forest. She was tall, coming up to his chin. She had long blue hair and her eyes where a bluish gold.

“You better put your tongue back in your mouth or you might start drooling!” Xelloss whispered into Val’s ear.

“My mouth wasn’t open!” Val snapped.

“Yes it was!” Xelloss said back.

“Behave yourself you two!” Filia said, getting a little agitated.

Once Umi reached the group Selece, introduced her to everyone. “Umi this is Filia.”

“Nice to meet you,” replied Umi.

“Would you want to be called Val or Valgaav?” asked Selece.

“Val is fine,” Val said quickly.

“This is Val, Filia’s son.”

“Hello, Val.”

“Drooling again,” Xelloss said loud enough for Val to hear.

Val just gave him a nasty look and then turned back to Umi and said, “It’s nice having someone around my age here.”

“And this is Xelloss.”

Umi nods in Xelloss’ direction.

“Are you hungry? I made breakfast,” Filia asked. “Yes, actually I am hungry I didn’t have a chance to eat before I left.”

“Come on, Let’s get back to the house and eat then.”

Filia walked next to Umi and said, “So, I hear you like to cook.”

Yes, I do actually.”

“Would you care to help prepare meals then?”

No I don’t mind, any way that I can help, I will try my best!”

“That’s good to hear.”

As Umi was walking she kept glancing behind her at Val. Maybe this wont be so bad after all.

Tomorrow I will be on my own. Selece left tonight so I don’t think I will see him in a while. I have one more free day before my magic lessons begin, well tomorrow a new day. Umi thought as she drifted off to sleep.

Umi woke up the next morning and stretched out on the bed. She heard someone moving around out in the kitchen and decided that she should come out and greet them. She went and found a robe among her belongings and put it on. She walked out into the kitchen and breakfast was just about ready to be served.

“You’re just in time, Umi, I almost have breakfast ready, ” Filia said as she saw Umi come around the corner.

“Smells good,” Umi replied.

“Thank you!” replied Filia, “could you help me put these plates on the table?”

“Sure!”

Umi put the plates on the table while Filia went and got Xelloss and Val out of bed to eat. Umi then sat down in her seat and waited for everyone else to arrive at the table before she started eating.

Everyone filed in for food and sat down.

“How can you be in such a good mood at this hour Xelloss?” Val said slightly annoyed.

“Well now, that’s a secret!” Xelloss said and then started laughing.

“I get it, I really don’t want to know,” Val said as he started eating.

Filia pointedly ignoring Xelloss and Val and looked across the table at Umi and asked, “What are you going to do today, Umi?”

“Well, I thought that I would walk around town and look around.” Replied Umi.

“That sounds nice. Val would you show her around?” Filia said watching her son.

“Sure, I don’t mind,” Val said slightly startled.

“Good. Then it’s settled, do you mind Umi?” asked Filia.

“No, it would be nice to talk to someone for awhile,” replied Umi. eel so weird the way Filia keeps giving me that look. I wonder what she’s thinking. It’s hard to say… As everyone finished their food, Umi went over to Filia and asked, “Where is your bath at?”

“Oh, it’s in the back. Just follow the hallway and you will run into it.” Filia replied.

“Thanks,” Umi said and went back to her room and found a clean light blue dress to wear for the day and then she headed for the bath. She looked in the mirror when she reached the bath. I'm still surprised every time I see my eyes anymore. They used to be a deep blue and now…they are a shade between blue and gold. I don’t know how it happened either. Just after Selece gave me some of his power…they just turned this color. Not that I mind actually, I kinda like it. She thought to herself as she drew herself some bath water. I wonder if Hikaru and Fuu had a similar experience. It was painful but I like being able to change into a dragon. I love the freedom of the skies. I guess everyone in this household except Xelloss can change into a dragon. It could be fun flying around with them. Hmm, I better hurry up! She thought to herself as her bath water finished running. “Almost ready?” asked Val as Umi came out of the bathroom.

“Yes, I just have to put my shoes on,” Umi replied.

Val nodded as Umi walked past him to her room to grab her shoes and put them on. “Okay, ready to go,” Umi said as she came out of her room.

Umi and Val walked out of the house and headed down the street.

“What’s going on up there?” Umi asked pointing toward the crowd.

“I think…there’s a sword skill contest. They have been advertising it for awhile now.” Replied Val.

“Hmm, now that sounds like fun.” Umi replied with a glimmer in her eyes.

“Are you any good with a sword?”

“Yes, I have trained with the sword since I was 4. Then later I was trained under Sword master Lafarga.”

“Do you want to go and watch?”

“Sure,” Umi replied.

“Let’s go then,” Val said smiling at her.

God, that smile just makes me want to melt , Umi thought to herself. Umi followed Val through the crowd to the stands.

Val was surprised to see how excited she was over a sword match. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she was calculating all the possible moves that the fighters could do in each situation.

“Today we have an unexpected participant in our competition.” The announcer said as a tall blonde haired man came out into the arena.

“No, it can’t be…” Val said, not believing what he saw or the voice he heard behind him.

“Go get him Gourry!” a red headed women said.

“Our Contestant Gourry Gabriev has challenged our champion.”

“What’s wrong, Val?” Umi asked.

“See that blonde guy down there?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that guy down there and that red head a few rows behind us are friends of my mothers. It’s been awhile since they where here last-” Val was cut short as the red head noticed him.

“Val! It’s so nice to see you again! Where’s Filia at?”

“Lina, mom’s at her antique shop working.” Val replied.

“Oh,” Lina said then she noticed Umi, “So, who are you?”

“I’m Umi, Filia’s student.”

“So you’re a dragon?”

“I guess you could say that.”

The crowd erupted in cheering as the fight started off.

“Kick that guy’s butt, Gourry!” Lina yelled down into the arena. The fight ended quicker than it began. Gourry over took the other guy and disarmed him. “200 gold coins are ours!!” Lina said jumping up and down.

“Now’s our chance to get out of here!” Val whispered into Umi ear and grabbed her hand. They both quickly got up and tried to leave.

“Where do you think you two are going?” Lina said coming up behind them.

“Home,” Val said.

“Why don’t you wait a minute and all four of us can go at the same time,” Lina replied as Gourry came up behind her. “Let’s head over to Filia’s now. We’re famished. We haven’t eaten all day,” Gourry nodded his head in agreement.

“I guess we should go then. But we aren’t going to have lunch for another couple of hours,” Val told them.

“No food for a few hours? I guess we will meet you there later then. Cause I need food now!” Lina whined.

“I agree Lina, let’s find some food and then go over to Filia’s,” Gourry said to Lina.

“Okay Gourry, we’ll do that. Tell Filia that we will be over after we eat, Val,” replied Lina.

“See you later then!” Val replied as they went their separate ways.

“Now tell me, why were you trying to get away from them.” Umi asked.

“Well, you see I have had a few bad experiences with Lina that I would rather forget …” Val stopped in the middle of his sentence as Filia came around the corner.

“Was that Lina that I just saw?” asked Filia coming up to them.

“Yes mom, they came to town this morning and she said that her and Gourry would be coming over once they had eaten lunch.” Val replied.

“Well, at least they're eating before they come,” Filia said staring at the sky then she continued, “Umi, could you help me with dinner today?”

“Sure.” Umi said.

“Thank you Umi, try to be back by five o’clock!” Filia said as she continued down the street to her shop.

“I guess I just got recruited,” Umi said as they continued down the street.

“Ya, mom needs all the help she can get to feed just Lina and Gourry alone,” Val replied.

“They eat that much?” Umi said surprised.

“Yes, you would be surprised at how much they can put away.” Val said.

“Are there anymore women that would like to compete in today’s tournament?” the announcer said over the crowd.

“Hmm, I could use a little exercise,” Umi said as she walked up to the announcer.

“You’re going to compete?” Val said surprised.

“Why not? We don’t have anything else to do for 5 hours.” Umi said as she pulled a glove with a blue jewel on it out of her pocket.

“What’s that for?” Val asked.

You’ll see,” she said as she slipped it onto her left hand. She walked up to the counter and they asked her a quick question, “Do you have a sword with you?”

“Yes,” Umi said quickly.

“Will you be ready for the second fight?”

“Yes, I just need to change really quick.”

“Go ahead, there is some changing rooms around back.”

“Thank you,” Umi said and then turned to Val, “I’ll be right back!” she then turned around and headed for the dressing room. She closed the door to the dressing room and thought to herself, I hope this works!

She closed her eyes and the glove jewel began to glow. A moment passes and the jewel emits a beam of energy so bright that if someone saw it they would have to look away. As fast as the light came it disappeared and then Umi stood in front of the mirror fully changed. Her armor fit her as snuggly as ever. I haven’t worn this in a while…hmm, I guess I should go and get ready for the fight, she said as she headed out the door. Everyone noticed her as she came out, even Val seemed a little surprised.

“Where’d you get the clothes that you’re wearing? I don’t remember you bringing anything with you.”

Umi raised her left hand and said, “See this blue jewel? Everything’s in here including my sword,” she said as she withdrew her sword from the jewel on her hand. It seemed as if her sword was made of water a it slowly took the form of a sword with a dragon on the hilt.

“It’s hard to believe my eyes! You just pulled that sword out of that jewel.”

She smiled and was about to reply, but the announcer called her name. “I guess it’s my turn!” she said and winked at Val. She then headed over to the announcer.

“Go through that gate please,” the announcer said to Umi. She nodded her head and walked through the gate and into the arena.

Val sat down in the stands and saw Umi walk through the entrance of the arena. What an outfit, he thought to himself as she got ready to face her opponent.

“So Umi decided to compete also today.” Lina said as she and Gourry sat down next to Val.

Val just nodded his head, not taking his eyes off of Umi as she made her first swing at her opponent.

“Do you like that girl down there, Val?” Lina asked teasingly.

Oh no not her too. I thought it was bad enough for Xelloss to be bothering me about it…now it gets worse… Val thought to himself. Then he replied without emotion, “what makes you think that?”

“I was right! Hey, do you still remember that time that Xelloss paid me to help him teach you-”

“Yes, and I try to block it out of my mind.”

“What did you teach him, Lina?” Gourry asked confused.

“I wish it was as easy for me to forget that event.” Val shuttered at the thought.

The crowd roared as Umi disarmed her opponent and caught the other sword in her hand.

“Hey, she’s pretty good with a sword.” Gourry commented as he noticed the skill Umi had with the sword.

She excited the area.

Umi quickly changed after her last fight, she had lost but still she came in second out of the entire 30 contestants. Second it’s bad but it’s been awhile since I have really fought somebody new. Besides I wasn’t too worried about winning like that other girl was. It seemed like she needed the money more than I did, she thought to herself. She walked over to Val who was already standing at the gate. He smiled as he saw her coming toward him.

“You look tired,” Val said when he got a good look at Umi.

“I am. Fighting 10 rounds can really make you tired,” she replied back.

As they walked home Val put his arm around Umi’s waist. She smiled to herself and didn’t say anything because she knew that she was going to need that help to walk the rest of the way home.

Umi helped Filia set the table for everyone. Everyone soon came in and sat down.

“I saw you with your arm around Umi’s waist today, Val,” Xelloss whispered into Val’s ear.

“Val just looked over in Xelloss direction and didn’t say anything.

After they finished their dinner Filia(blushing) came out with some cherries and a can of Xelloss’s special whipped cream.

Xelloss said happily, “Are these for me?”

Filia nodded and said, “If you will excuse us.”

“Filia, Xelloss, I don’t know what you are going to do with the cherries and that whipped cream but for some reason…I don’t think I want to know,” Lina said.

“You don’t” Val said quickly and left the room.

Xelloss shrugged and grabbed Filia’s hand and they went off to their room. Xelloss put a ‘please don’t disturb’ sign on the door as they went in and quickly locked the door.

Umi looked at Gourry and Lina who were still eating and said “please excuse me.” And headed after Val. She found him up on the roof of the house staring at the stars. “Can I join you?” she asked.

“Sure,” he said.

She quickly cast a levitation spell on herself and floated up there. Once on the roof she walked over to Val and sat down.

“Did you know that Filia isn’t my real mother?” Val said suddenly.

“No,” Umi said simply.

“Mother adopted me after I was reborn.”

“You were reborn? How can that be?”

“It’s because that…I was full of vengeance and hatred from the massacre of my people, the Ancient Dragons. I was reborn after I summoned Dark Star, an evil dark lord, and he also became a part of me. If mother, Xelloss, and Lina didn’t combine their powers and destroyed me then, I don’t know what would have happed. Maybe even the destruction of the world, it’s hard for me to say. I still have these memories but they are very vague and distant.” Val then turned to Umi and said, “I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but I feel like I could tell you anything.”

Umi was startled at what he said and didn’t know what to say. I don’t think that I should tell him quite yet about where I’m from…even though for some reason I feel like I could tell him anything also.

Val suddenly stood up and gave Umi his hand to help her stand up. Umi took his hand and then suddenly they where in the house in the kitchen.

“How did we get here?” Umi said looking around in surprise.

“I teleported us into the house, I figured it was easier,” Val said smugly.

“I guess it is easier,” she commented and started walking over to her room, “I really had a nice day,” she said before she walked into her room.

“Good night, Umi.”

“Good night,” she said and shut the door. That night she fell asleep with many misgivings.

As weeks passed Umi learned many knew spells from Filia and became closer to Val. Today Umi was taking a break and was going swimming in a pool in the forest. She stood on a rock high up on a raging waterfall and took a deep breath. Before she jumped she noticed a moving shape out of the corner of her eye and it kept getting closer. I’ll deal with it later she thought to herself and dived off of the rock. She felt the wind pick up as she free fell quickly down into the warm waters below. She hardly made a splash.

She swam underwater to where the person she saw had been. When she reached the spot she was surprised to see who it was, “Val, what are you doing here?”

“I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“What is it? Hey, I know, why don’t you get in?”

“”No thanks,” Val said then noticed the sneaky look in her eyes, “I wouldn’t if I were you,” he said as he saw the water move on its own towards him. The water quickly surrounded him and pulled him into the water with a big splash. Umi was already on the other side when he came up to the surface. “I’m gonna get you for this!”

Umi laughed as she swam farther away and said, “You have to catch me first!”

He swam towards her. He soon caught up with her and dunked her. She came up laughing. She suddenly stopped though, when she saw the look in his eyes. She quickly realized that this was the closest she’d ever been to him as he put his arms around her and pulled her closer. He slowly bent down and kissed her.

“Way to go Val! You finally made your move!” Xelloss said clapping, then he continued, “How long has it been since she’s been here? A month? Month and a half?”

“Leave us alone!” Val and Umi said angrily at the same time to Xelloss.

“Geez, you two are just alike. You can’t take a joke,” Xelloss said and he disappeared.

“Come on, let’s get out of this water.” Val said to Umi.

“Oh, fine,” she said smiling. They both walked out of the water. Suddenly Umi bent over in pain. She held her head and closed her eyes.

“Umi! What’s wrong?” Val said kneeling down next to Umi.

“I…I don’t know. I just all of a sudden felt this incredible pain in my head.” And I thought I heard Selece saying something to me but,…I couldn’t make it out. I have to go back to Cephiro and find out what’s going on. Umi slowly stood up still holding her head. “I have to make a trip, right now.” Umi said as she slowly walked in the direction of the water portal.

“Umi, I don’t think you can go anywhere right now.”

“I must. I have to go... I know that something bad is going to happen, in Cephiro. I have this dark premonition,” Umi said as she walked faster in the direction of the portal.

“I don’t know where you’re going to but, I’m going with you”

Umi looked back at Val in surprise.

“I knew for quite awhile that you are not from this world.”

“Yes...I am from another world, I came from a place called Cephiro and I don’t know what I can tell you, but that I am one of the protectors and I’m still in training. Selece is my guardian spirit. We have a link between us that is to hard for me to explain right now. But the pain that I keep feeling is coming from him. So I know that I must go back now. You can come if you like, I don’t mind.”

“Where are we heading then?”

“Through that cave right there.”

Val came over to Umi and picked her up.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked Val.

“I’m carrying you over to the portal.”

“Have it your way” she said. They entered the cave and walked back to the portal. Umi and Val were surprised at who they saw when they reached the portal in the back of the cave.

“Filia, Xelloss? What are you doing here?” Umi asked as Val put her down.

“We’re coming with you as well, and no is not an answer,” Filia said as she tapped her mace in her hand.

“All of you can come if you like but, I have a feeling that Cephiro is going to be at war soon.” Umi said as her glove jewel began to glow. Everyone was surprised when they saw Umi after the light faded.

“Umi, your clothes, you look like a princess.” Filia replied.

“That statement is probably more true than you realize,” Umi said as she walked up to the portal and placed her hand on it. All the jewels on her clothing began to glow as she recited the spell, “Water one of the four pure elements, obey your master and create a portal to the land known as Cephiro!” The portal began to shimmer and in a flash of light the rolling hills of Cephiro where on the other side of the portal. Umi turned towards the other three, not removing her hand from the portal and said, “Go quickly through the portal, because it uses my energy to stabilize it.”

They followed her orders and went through. As Val cleared the portal and was on the other side, Umi went through as well.

“What way do we go?” Filia asked.

“Well, the palace is an hour flight.” Umi replied.

“Well than, let’s go!!” Filia said and turned into a dragon. She then turned to Xelloss and said :Get on my back now or no more whip cream and cherries for you!!:

“Well if you say it that way, I guess I have no choice,” Xelloss said as he quickly vanished and reappeared on Filia’s back.

Umi shuck her head in amusement and quickly changed as well.

“I don’t want to know, I really don’t,” Val mumbled to himself as he changed into his dragon form.

All of them flew up into the sky in the direction of the palace.

“I wonder how long Umi is going to be gone!” Ascot said as he walked up and down the hall.

“Calm down there Ascot darlin’. She’ll be back sooner or later,” Caldina said calmly to Ascot.

“I don’t want to wait! I have something I want to ask her!” Ascot said and slowly turned red.

“Oh, I get it! You want to ask Umi out on a date don’t ya?” Caldina said loudly.

“Maybe,” Ascot sat quietly to Caldina. A few seconds later Hikaru came running into the room that Caldina and Ascot where in.

“Clef just spotted three dragons coming to this castle and one of them looks like Umi in her new form.”

“Ascot, looks like you’re gonna get your chance,” Caldina said winking at Ascot.

Hikaru shuck her head and said, “Well if you want to greet her than you should come to the main entrance to the palace.

Umi began to dive as she neared the palace and landed softly on the ground. Filia and Val followed close behind. All three of them quickly changed into their human forms. Except their was one problem: Xelloss hadn’t gotten off of Filia’s back yet and because of this Xelloss was sitting on Filia’s shoulders. Val and Umi started cracking up laughing at the sight of it…and the argument that soon followed.

“Get off my shoulders!” Filia said as she tossed Xelloss off.

“Hey, you should tell somebody before you change back!” Xelloss yelled back.

And then Xelloss and Filia turned to Umi and Val and said angrily, “What do you think you’re laughing at?”

Val and Umi stopped laughing and said, “Nothing, nothing,” but then they looked at each other and started laughing again.

“Anyways, shouldn’t we be heading over to that palace over there?” Filia said angrily.

Umi nodded and the four of them walked on to the castle.

Ascot was a little shocked and furious at how close Umi was to the guy she was walking next to. Is she even holding hands with that guy? How could she do this to me!! Ascot was thinking to himself as Umi, Val, Xelloss and Filia came up the path.

Umi opened the door to the palace with the touch of her hand. The doors slowly creaked open as they walked through. Mokona came around the corner and ran straight for Umi. He softly landed in her hands.

“What’s that?” Xelloss said pointing at Mokona. Umi replied, “I don’t know what Mokona is.” As she said that Mokona jumped out of Umi’s hands and landed on Xelloss’s head.

“Get off my head you freak of nature!” Xelloss said as he hit Mokona in the head with his staff. After the first hit Mokona quickly jumped off of Xelloss’s head making Xelloss hit himself in the head with his own staff.

At the same time the big doors leading to Clef’s study opened up and Hikaru came rushing out to greet Umi. “Umi it been a long time!” Then she looked at Mokona and Xelloss and asked, “What happened?”

“Don’t ask,” Umi said looking at Xelloss.

“Clef came out followed closely by Fuu. “So I thought you knew Umi not to bring people from the other world.” Clef said scorning Umi.

Geez, I’m one of the three rulers of Cephiro and I have been gone for a month and the first thing he says to me is why did you bring people with you? “Well Clef I kinda didn’t have a choice.” She told Clef as she watched Filia out of the corner of her eye noticing her patting the place where her mace was hidden under her clothing. I think I would be suffering from one bad headache if I didn’t say that she could come.

“Well, since they are here why don’t you introduce them to us,” Clef said to Umi.

Umi nodded and said, “This is Filia, she is my mentor in learning Holy Spells.” Then she pointed in Xelloss’s direction, who was still rubbing his head and said, “This is Xelloss,” Umi coughed, “Filia’s lover.” Then she turned to Val and said, “This is Valgaav, my friend.”

Xelloss started snickering after Umi said that and whispered into Umi’s ear, “Is that all that you two are?” Umi blushed.

“It is nice to meet you three. Umi, there is something urgent that I must speak to you about.” She nodded her head at Clef. Then he continued, “Caldina and Ascot will direct you to your quarters.” As he said that Ascot and Caldina came out of Clef’s study. As Umi, Hikaru Fuu and Clef passed Caldina and Ascot, Ascot just gave Umi a look of betrayal that Umi just didn’t understand.

Caldina led the way down the hall to the guestrooms.

“So what exactly is Umi’s rank here any ways?” Filia asked.

“Umi as well as Hikaru and Fuu are the future rulers of Cephiro, even through they are from another place. A place they call Earth.”

“How did they get here?” Filia questioned.

“Well, they were summoned by our last princess, Princess Emeraude to become the legendary Magic Knights. Mind you that all this happened about two years ago.”

“Then how old is Umi now?” Val asked.

“She just turned 16, two months ago.” Ascot said as he gave Val a dark look.

“As I was sayin’,” Caldina said turning to Ascot, giving him a look that said you better behave yourself or you wont like what I do to you. Then she continued, “Umi is the only one of the Magic Knight that took the Final Test that Selece, her guardian put her through, wait, did Umi tell you any of this?”

“No she didn’t say anything about that, but she did tell me about her being one of the protectors before we left.” Val replied.

“I over heard it all and went and told Filia.” Xelloss replied.

“Well, it doesn’t surprise me that she didn’t tell you a lot about her past because of what happened to Princess Emeraude. It still bothers her a lot even though you can’t tell unless Hikaru, Fuu and Umi are talking about it.” Caldina replied.

“What happened?” Filia asked.

“Well, you see the reason is that the three thought that they were to save Princess Emeraude from the high Priest Zagoto and in the end after a hard battle they had to kill him. But you see the Princess was our pillar and her prayers kept our world stable, but you see the princess fell in love with her high priest and when he was killed she went crazy. Because you see the Pillar cannot think of anything else but the stability of the world and because she fell in love with Zagoto she summoned the Magic Knight to kill her so that Cephiro would not be destroyed. In the end the three did kill the princess and even though this happened a few years ago they still have a hard time with it.” Caldina explained.

“I never realized that could happen, is there still a pillar?” asked Filia.

“No, you see Hikaru was chosen to become the next pillar but, she somehow wished that Cephiro wouldn’t need Pillars anymore. It’s kinda hard to condense the story for ya.” Caldina told them as they reached their rooms.

“I can understand that,” Filia replied.

“Well, if you want to know the whole story you should probably ask Umi yourself.” Caldina told them. Then Caldina continued and took them into their rooms and gave them the basic tour.

“Umi, what brings you back so soon from your trip?” Clef asked.

“Selece was trying to tell me something and then I got this sudden pain in my head. Then as the pain started to go away I got this bad feeling that something was going to happen here, in Cephiro soon. Something I can’t explain.” Umi told Hikaru, Fuu and Clef.

Clef nodded his head and said, “I want you to take this potion Umi, before you go to sleep. It will help you understand what your feeling is and it will show up to you in a dream.” He gave Umi the potion. She then placed it into a hidden pocket in her dress.

“I will take this tonight,” Umi looked at everyone and continued, “But I think I’m being rude though for not showing my guests around the palace myself.”

“I understand, go be will your guest Umi and try to be cheerful for awhile, O.K.?” Hikaru told Umi with a look of concern on her face.

“Yes, I agree with Hikaru,” replied Fuu.

“Thank you, so if you will excuse me, I will be going.” Umi replied.

“Go ahead,” replied Clef.

Umi then walked out of the room.

Umi stood on a Cliff and looked down below her at a woman who’s features where some how blurred. The woman challenged Umi to a duel and she accepted. The women kept telling Umi that she was going to kill everyone that she cared about as their blades clashed. The woman stabbed Umi scoring a lethal blow and Umi screamed out in pain as the blood poured down her side from the wound that she received in her chest. Umi collapsed and doubled up in pain. The women laughed and said that she wouldn’t let Umi die yet, because she wanted Umi to suffer. Everyone that she loved and cared about was slaughtered before her eyes. Hikaru, Fuu, Filia, Xelloss, Presea, Caldina and most of all, Val.

Umi woke up gasping for breath. Was all that just a dream? It’s only 11 o’clock at night. Umi thought to herself as she looked at the clock. She got out of bed and put on a plain dress and headed out of her room. She wandered the hallways of the palace. She stopped at a balcony and looked down at the ocean in the distance with the water crashing against the rocky shore. I feel so alone, Umi thought to herself as tears slowly ran down her cheeks.

“What’s wrong Umi?” Val said softly as he came up behind her. Umi said nothing she just looked at Val as she tried to control the tears that were slowly coming down her face. Val walked up to her and softly wiped away the tears. Umi wrapped her arms around Val and in their embrace she felt safe, safe from the nightmares that she knew would come as soon as she feel asleep.

She suddenly felt a dark presence in her mind and knew instantly that something was going to hurt Hikaru. She ran down the hall towards Hikaru’s rooms not knowing if she was too late. She heard someone following her and knew instantly that it was Val.

“Water Dragon!!!” Umi said casting the spell at the man standing at the door of Hikaru’s room. The spell just hit the man’s shields, leaving him uninjured.

The man turned around and laughed at Umi, “Your powers as a Magic Knight are no match for me!!” he said as he pushed Umi back with a wind spell. “It is not yet your turn to die, but my master will take care of you, herself.”

“You will not kill the ones I care about!!!” Umi said as she formed her sword in her hands and charged him.

“Useless!!” the man said as he disarmed Umi and glazed her side. He held her at sword point and said, “Don’t even try anything or I wont hesitate to slit your throat.”

Val slowly entered the room and took it all in. He saw Umi’s sword lying on the ground and picked it up. “Leave her alone!” Val said as he formed a green ball of energy in his free hand.

“Oh? So you are going to try and save this pathetic Magic Knight?”

Val just narrowed his eyes and tossed the ball of energy at the man’s feet causing a big explosion. Before the smoke cleared Val ran over to Umi and picked her up and took her over to a safe place.

As the smoke cleared the man replied, “Nice move, but how well can you defend yourself?”

“Easily,” Val replied as he crossed swords with the intruder.

As the fight drew on Umi laid on the floor trying to get her mind to concentrate on a healing spell. The nightmare came back in full force, but this time the woman was real and she wasn’t the only one who saw her. The woman laughed at Umi and for the first time she saw her face. She had ice blue eyes with long blond hair.

“Remember me, Umi?” the women replied.

“How could I forget you!” Umi said angrily.

“How indeed. As you know from the nightmare that you had tonight and the ones you will have in the future, that I will kill you. Do you think that Selece can really help you in this battle to come?”

“I remember quite vividly how I defeated you last time, Torla.” Umi said as she made herself stand to face her opponent.

“You are not ready for this battle you are too weak right now to be able to call forth your guardian.” Torla said in contempt.

“How would you know!” Umi yelled back still holding her side.

“I want to show you how powerful I am so I will wait ‘til morning before I will attack,” she smiled and continued, “Your hatred for me is so much fun to watch!” Torla said as she began to vanish once more with her subordinate, who was badly injured by Val.

Umi began to collapse back to the ground as her anger slowly faded away.

Val came over to Umi and gave her back her sword and said, “Are you o.k.?”

Umi nodded as everyone filed in to find out what was going on and replied, “I’m surprised that you where even able to use my sword it usually turns to water when anyone else but me handles it.”

“It does?” Val said surprised.

“Watch,” Umi said and handed her sword to Hikaru. As soon as Umi let go of her sword it began to melt. It went straight through Hikaru’s hands and reformed on the ground below. Val reached over and picked it up. It still, like when he was using it before, kept its shape.

“Presea made these weapons for these three alone. It is surprising that anyone else could use them.” Everyone from Cephiro nodded their heads at the truth of what Clef said.

Umi stood up and headed for the window still holding her wounded side that was slowly taking the effects of her healing spell. “I’m going to go out for awhile so that I can think,” Umi said as she started to glow with a bluish gold hue. She then jumped out the window and changed quickly into a dragon and flew off toward the crashing ocean beyond. Val tried to go after her but was swapped with questions from everyone else.

Filia walked in front of her son and looked at everyone who wouldn’t leave him alone and said, “I think we have asked my son enough questions for now. Leave him be!” she then looked at her son and said, “I understand that you are worried about her and want to follow her. Go find and talk with her Val I wont let any of these people stop you from going,” she said as she gave him a light push in the direction of the window.

“Thanks mother,” Val said and walked over to the window and quickly jumped and changed into a dragon. He flew quickly in the direction that Umi had flown.

Meanwhile still in the castle, Xelloss was talking to Hikaru about their unique swords. “So how is it that each one of you have a sword that supposedly no one else can touch. Even though Val can touch one, hey let’s prove that this theory is true, can I see your sword, Hikaru?” Xelloss asked.

“Last time someone tried to use my sword it burst into flames and burnt them pretty bad. So are you sure?” Hikaru asked.

“Yes, I still would like to see it,” Xelloss said being a little impatient.

“I warned you,” Hikaru said as her sword appeared in flames in front of her. Once her broadsword took its shape she handed it over to Xelloss. For one moment Xelloss held the sword and nothing happened, but suddenly the sword became on fire. It surrounded Xelloss and fried him. Filia ran over to Xelloss’s smoking body and said, “Are you okay?”

Xelloss looked up at her and said, “You know I should have tried Umi’s sword. It’s a lot less dangerous for a sword to melt then it is for a sword to fry you! I’ll be right back.” Xelloss said as he disappeared and reappeared wearing clean clothing, even though he couldn’t do anything about his hair, which was standing out from either side of his head.

A few minutes later Mokona happily came into the room with a can of whip cream. He gave a happy, “Pu, Pu!” as he came in.

Xelloss noticed that it was his own special brand of whip cream, “What do you think your doing with my whip cream?” Xelloss said angrily. Mokona started running as soon as he saw Xelloss. Xelloss started running after him trying to hit Mokona in the head with his staff and using low energy blast (so he doesn’t damage the whip cream!!) at Mokona, saying, “Give that back you GAY MARCHMELLOW!!!”

Val landed softly on the sand of the beach. He quickly looked around for Umi and found her on top of a rock watching the ocean. He slowly walked over to where she was and he noticed as he came closer that she had healed her wound that she had received earlier.

She turned around at the sound of his footstep, “What are you doing here, Val.”

“I came to see if you are okay,” Val said as he came up next to the boulder she was sitting on. “Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?”

She looked down at Val and smiled, “I guess that I probably should tell you so that you know what’s going on.” Umi scooted over a little bit and continued, “Come up here, there is enough room and besides, it has a great view.”

Val cast an instant levitation spell and flew up to the boulder and sat down next to Umi. He put his arm around Umi and she leaned onto his shoulder. They just watched the ocean.

After awhile Umi spoke, “It’s hard to believe that there is going to be a big battle tomorrow. It seems to peaceful for a battle.”

“I know, but why is it that Torla wants to kill you?”

Umi stiffened, “I fought her once before. I barely won. I’m surprised that she came back. All that happened about a year ago.”

“Didn’t Hikaru and Fuu help at all?”

‘They couldn’t help me, they had been captured by Torla and I had to fight her in outer space.” She looked up and saw the pale color of dawn on the horizon and then said, “As much as I would like to stay here with you, but I think that we should head back to the palace.”

Val helped Umi get up and teleported them back inside of the palace.

“It still surprises me when you do that.” Umi said as she kissed Val lightly on the lips.

Val and Umi suddenly turned around at the sound of Mokona loud and distressing pu’s.

Mokona with a can of whip cream comes running through the hall with an angry Xelloss hot on his heels.

“DIE, YOU STUPID GAY MARSHMELLOW!!!” Xelloss said as he cast a high-energy spell at Mokona’s feet. The can of whip cream went flying into the air. Xelloss dived for it and caught it. “Yes!! Now Filia should be happy with me!!” and then he suddenly disappeared.

“I don’t think that I can go back to my room tonight since I have to share a room with them and the way Xelloss looked at that whip cream makes me wonder if I could enter the room at all,” Val said getting a little annoyed.

“Then come with me.” Umi said as she led Val down the hall towards her rooms, and away from the extremely injured Mokona.

The next morning Umi and Val woke up to a loud crash as a robotic arm came through the glass doors that led out to the balcony. They both looked out of the window and saw a giant robot standing outside of the palace. “That’s a…a Rune-God!!” Umi said alarmed.

“Get out here and fight me you puny Magic Knight of Water” Torla said laughing.

“Have it your way!!” Umi said and the jewel around her neck glowed and a blue light enveloped Umi. Once the light vanished Umi stood there in her armor. Her long blue cape hanging behind her.

“What are you doing, Umi?!” Val said as he realized that she was going to fight that women Torla who was somehow inside of that big robot that Umi called a Rune-God..

“I am going to call my Rune-god out and fight her,” she said as she walked over to Val and kissed him. She then walked out on to the balcony and put her hands in front of the jewel that was now right under her neck. She let the energy build up for a second and then quickly pulled her hands away from the jewel and yelled out, “Selece!!” As she called out her guardian’s name a bright blue light came out of the jewel and formed Selece in his robot form. Umi was then surrounded in a blue light and disappeared. She reappeared inside of Selece. She quickly pulled out her sword and got ready to fight.

Everyone came running into Umi’s room and ran over to Val and asked him what happened.

“Torla showed up in that giant robot and challenged Umi to a fight. Umi then called out her robot and is currently fighting her now.” I feel so useless in a battle like this!!

“I think we should try to help her Fuu,” Hikaru said as the jewel on her hand began to glow. Then suddenly she stood in front of everyone wearing her armor. Her long red cape flapping in the breeze.

Fuu nodded and quickly changed as well. Both of them walked over to the balcony and called forth their guardians. Fuu yelled, “Windom!” and a giant robot resembling a bird formed in front of her. Fuu was surrounded by green light and then she disappeared.

Hikaru yelled out, “Rayearth!” and then a giant robot resembling a wolf formed in front of her. Red light surrounded Hikaru and then she disappeared.

“Where’d they go?” Filia said slightly alarmed.

“They are inside of the Rune-Gods,” Clef said absently as he watched the battle going on outside.

Umi dodged the magical attacks that Torla threw at her. Torla soon rushed Umi with her sword. Umi blocked the attack and pushed Torla back. “Waters of Damnation!” Umi shouted the spell and it hit full force into Torla.

“It seems that I have underestimated your power, but no matter, I still will destroy you. Electric Shock Wave!” The spell of electricity hit Umi with extreme force and she was knocked unconscious. She slowly fell out of Selece and at the same time he began to disappear.

Val stood motionless on the balcony as he watched the battle. His hands were turning white from how hard he was gripping the railing.

“What’s going on? Umi’s robot is disappearing.” Filia said getting a little alarmed.

“Oh no! That must mean that Umi was knocked unconscious!” Clef said.

“What?!” Val said taking his eyes off of the battle for the first time, “I’m going out there then.” He quickly disappeared before anyone could stop him.

He reappeared at the scene of the battle. Almost as soon as he appeared Hikaru and Fuu arrived to fight Torla. He left the battle to them and quickly looked for Umi. He found Umi under a tree. He slowly picked her up and was about to teleport away when Torla spotted him with Umi’s limp body in his arms. She quickly used a wind spell and blew the other two Magic Knights away.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she said pointing one clawed hand of her Rune-God at Val.

“Where do you think?” he said with narrowed eyes.

“Humph, you think that you can just take her and get away easily? You should know that I wont let that happen!” she said as she cast a fire spell at Val. He quickly put up a magical barrier but, it didn’t block it all and so he quickly turned his back to the oncoming attack. He protected Umi with his own body against the onslaught of magical attacks. He could do nothing as Torla kept casting spells and never stopping long enough for him to concentrate on teleporting out of there.

Umi slowly woke up and saw what was happening. She looked in horror as she saw all the blood that was dripping down Val’s back. She couldn’t stand the sight of the one she loved so dearly being hurt like this. So she summoned all her power that she could spare into her hands. She slowly stood up from where Val had been kneeling and protecting her and she cast her spell, “Water Blade!” and a huge sword of ice formed in her hands and she ran at Torla with tears streaming down her face. She raised the magical sword in her hands and cut Torla’s arm off. Torla looked in surprise at the bloody stump that she had left of her left arm and said, “I never expected you to be able to do that. Don’t forget that I will be back and claim your life.” She snarled down at Umi and quickly disappeared.

Umi hurried back over to where Val was laying. His eyes where fully dilated and the blood from his wounds on his back would not stop bleeding. She ran her fingers through his hair and said, “this time I will help you.” She closed her eyes and called the little bit of magical energy that she had left into her hands. She then placed her hands only a few centimeters from his wounds and cast a healing spell on him. Blue light covered his wounds as her magic forced them to close clean. Unexpectedly she started seeing visions of Val’s past, before he was reborn. First she saw him standing there on a hill as his true mother and father where killed by Golden Dragons, Filia’s kind. She could feel his pain from this memory of his past. Then she saw Val talking with Gaav, the Demon Dragon King. She was surprised at how she automatically knew who Gaav was even though she had never seen nor heard of him before. She then saw Gaav run a sword threw Val and he was reborn was the first time as a monster-dragon high bred and this is how he became known as Valgaav, Gaav’s servant. All of this came in waves to her in less than a second. Where those really what happened to Val before I meet him? She thought to herself as she finished with healing Val’s wounds. Once she stopped there wasn’t even a trace of a scar on his back from the wound that he received when he was protecting her.

He slowly got up from where he was laying and looked at Umi, “You used the last of your magical energy to heal me, didn’t you?”

Umi nodded her head and wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest as Hikaru and Fuu appeared before them.

“I am glad to see that you two are doing well,” Fuu said.

“I only am because of Umi healing my wounds,” Val said as he held Umi is his arms.

“Well, we just wanted to make sure that you guys where alright but Rayearth and Windom told us that they needed to talk to us for awhile so we will leave you two alone.” Said Hikaru. Both her and Fuu where then quickly teleported away.

As Umi and Val stood up Val replied, “ I’m going to teleport us back to the palace.” And then they disappeared and reappeared inside the palace.

Umi you need to take better care of yourself,” Clef said as he gave Umi a potion that would help her regain her strength.

“I know and I will try to take better care of myself,” Umi said quickly.

“And, not only should you take this potion but, you also should get some sleep!” Clef eyed Val and continued, “and I MEAN sleep! Which means nothing like you where doing last night,” Umi blushed as Clef said that. He then turned and looked at Filia and Xelloss, “and now for you two, Xelloss and Filia, you should be quarantined for a month with all that you do in your room and if you can’t keep it down in there I will personally see to it that you are quarantined!!”

“Hey now, you should watch what you say to a high-ranking monster such as myself and it is none of your business what we do in our room,” Xelloss said angrily.

Clef started shaking his staff in Xelloss’s direction and said, “I could hardly sleep last night with all the racket going on over there!!” Umi and Val started laughing at the argument because they knew that nothing short of a miracle would stop Xelloss and Filia’s passionate evenings.

Clef looked over at Umi and yelled, “Off to bed with you!”

“Yes, Master Mage!” Umi said as she headed for her room still laughing. Once she reached her room, she realized how tired she really was and quickly took the rancid potion that Clef had given her and quickly changed into her pajamas before she fell asleep.

That Master Mage has some sharp eyes but, I don’t think he can feel it when I teleport back and forth to places, Val thought to himself as he teleported himself into Umi’s recently restored room and walked over to where Umi lay sleeping on her bed. He could tell that Umi was having a nightmare by the look on her sleeping face. He tried to wake her up but she was sleeping to deeply for him to be able to wake her up. She slowly woke up from Val’s continually nudging her.

“What are you doing here?” Umi asked sleepily forcing herself to sit up.

“I came in to see how you where doing. It wasn’t easy to get in her with Clef out there watching me like a hawk. Good thing I did come in here, it looked like you were having a nightmare and-” Val was cut off as Clef stormed into the room.

“What do you think you are doing in here! Do you think I can’t tell when you are using magic to teleport back and forth to places? If you don’t get out of here quick, Filia and Xelloss wont be the only ones locked in quarantine!” Clef shouted at Val.

“What makes you think that anything is going on here?” Val yelled.

“Why else would you sneak in here?” Clef yelled shaking his staff at Val.

“Will you two shut up! I have a terrible headache!” Umi yelled.

They both looked at her in surprise as Xelloss, Filia, Caldina and Ascot (who was still fuming after Umi and Val came back in each others arms.)

“What do you think you are doing with Umi!” Ascot yelled at Val, who had his arm around Umi.

Val narrowed his eyes as he looked at Ascot and said, “Why should it matter to you?”

“Because...because Umi and me are meant for each other and there was that one night...wait that was a dream...no...it was a vision that it! It was a vision of Umi and my future!” Umi looked up at Ascot as he said that and everyone else just looked at him in surprise.

Caldina walked over to Ascot and whispered into his ear, “You better watch what you say darlin’ cause I think that Val is gettin’ pretty mad over there and we both know that he can beat you up in a heartbeat.”

Ascot started laughing hysterically and said, “I don’t care! He wont take Umi away from me!”

“Now who is taking me away from who?” Umi demanded as she got up and walked over to Ascot. “Your psychotic talk is making my headache even worse!” She slapped his face so hard that he fell backwards and landed really hard on his butt.

“Ouch!” Ascot shrieked as he landed and gave Umi a look of injured pride, “How could you do that to me? If Umi never went to that other world she would be all mine!”

“So you think,” Umi commented.

“Get over it Ascot! You’re makin’ a fool of yourself!” Caldina told Ascot.

“Whose side are you own?” Ascot whined at Caldina. She just ignored him.

“You need to see a physiatrist,” Xelloss said.

At this time Hikaru and Fuu walked into the room and Hikaru said happily, “We have gone through the Final Test too!” Then she stopped dead in her tracks for the sight that she saw. Ascot sitting on the floor rubbing his backside, an angry Umi and Val looking down at him, Clef and Caldina standing to one side talking, ignoring what was going on and Xelloss and Filia stood there listening to what Umi and Val had to say to Ascot, who by now had truly became Umi’s stalker. Nobody even noticed that they had come in.

Then Umi angrily started to form a blue energy ball in her hand and everyone watched her in surprise, “I would appreciate, if I don’t have to use this since I’m supposed to be recovering after my last battle but, you are leaving me no choice! So please leave my room at once!”

Filia pulled Xelloss out of the room and said, “I know that you should be saving your energy so...we’ll be going.” She then gave Xelloss a look that said I know something better that we can do!

Xelloss smiled, “Ya, that’s a lot better than watching a little fight!”

Caldina and Clef grabbed Ascot by the arms and dragged him out of the room while Ascot yelled on the way out, “Wait! I’m not finished yet!”

“Yes you are,” Caldina said as they continued to drag him down the hall. Hikaru and Fuu followed close behind and said, “We’ll talk to you later!” Val was about to go too but, Umi stopped him as she reabsorbed the energy from the blue sphere that she had formed into her body. “You don’t have to go,” she told him simply. He smiled and walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, “I don’t?” Umi just shuck her head.

“I really don’t think that it is safe to leave them alone like that,” Clef said grudgingly. Clef shut the door to his study as he heard the load banging on the wall separating Xelloss and Filia’s room from his own, “They’re at it again...,” Clef commented.

“Probably not, but hey, they are old enough to make their own decisions.” Caldina commented, ignoring the banging on the wall, “Were is Ascot?”

“He is in the back of the room sleeping, I put a sleep spell on him so that he doesn’t do anything stupid.”

Caldina got up and walked over to the door, “Lafarga is waiting for me so I have go.”

“I’ll keep an eye on Ascot for awhile, then,” Clef told Caldina as she walked out the door and headed down towards her rooms.

Clef walked over to were he had put Ascot and was shocked to see that he was gone! “Where did he go?”

Ascot sneaked out of the door that Caldina had left open and headed down the hall in the direction of Umi’s rooms.

Umi was slowly drifting to sleep on Val’s shoulder when they heard a knock on the door. She started to wake up again, but Val told her quietly that he would get it and slowly moved so that she was leaning against the pillows on the couch in Umi’s anti-chamber. Who could possibly want to try and bother Umi after what happened earlier? Val thought to himself as he walked over to the door. He was slightly surprised at who stood on the other side of the door. “Ascot, what do you think you are doing here?” he said as he lazily leaned against the doorframe.

“I think that I should be the one asking you that!”

Val raised an eyebrow at that, “Oh?”

“Yes, ‘oh’ I don’t like you touching her at all!”

“Well, isn’t that for Umi to decide?”

“Is what for me to decide?” Umi said as she slowly came up to the door, “Ascot, why are you here?” Umi echoed the same question that Val had asked earlier.

Ascot started scuffing his feet on the floor, “Cause I wanted to see you.”

“Hey Ascot look, touch, touch,” Val lightly touched Umi in the arm a couple of times with an evil look on his face. Ascot started to get mad as he watched Val. Ascot started to turn white as he heard the crack of a whip and a man screaming in a few rooms down the hall, “What’s that?”

“That is the reason I can’t go to my room,” Val said to Ascot.

Umi shuck her head, “They’re at it again and it isn’t even dark yet.”

“What’s going on over there,” Ascot said as something hard hit the wall.

“You don’t want to know what Filia and Xelloss are doing in there,” Umi said quietly as she hid a smile.

“Now if you will excuse us,” Umi said as she grabbed Val’s hand and started to go back into the room.

They heard a load roar coming from outside the castle and they felt the vibrations under their feet and Umi looked in horror out through her balcony. She saw Torla in her mecha coming towards them. “Oh no, she’s back!” Umi whispered.

:Do not loose hope, Umi because I am always with you.:

“Selece, I’m glad that you are okay!” Umi said quietly.

:There is no need for your concern, but the enemy is stronger than you currently are. You will need to combine with me in a completely different way then you ever have before.:

“What do you mean?” Umi asked. :Once your heart is ready, the words will come to you and you will combine with me and we will form a deity.: then slowly Selece’s presence left her mind.

“A deity,” Umi said troubled wandering what Selece meant by her becoming a deity.

“Get out here you little pest! How dare you ruin my arm like that! I should start by killing all of your little friends! Hmm…I think that I should start with that man that you are standing next to! If he had not been there you would be dead by now!”

“Don’t you dare touch any of the people I care about! Especially the one that I love most of all!” As Umi said these words her eyes turned completely gold and her body began to glow bluish gold. A light blue symbol appeared on her forehead, the mark of water. “Selece give me your power!” She raised her hand into the air and shouted, “Sainos!” She was quickly surrounded by water. Umi slowly took the form of a legendary deity as her power was combined with Selece’s and quickly got ready to fight.

“No matter how powerful your Rune-God is, I will destroy you!” Umi yelled at Torla.

Torla laughed at Umi with contempt. “I don’t think that you are powerful enough to kill me.”

“We will see!” Umi yelled as she rushed Torla with her sword and glazed Torla’s side with her sword.

“Hmm, it looks as if you have gotten stronger, but no matter, you still will die for cutting off my arm!” She raised the arm that Umi had cut off earlier and continued, “I will always have to wear this pathetic robot replacement!”

“It was your own falt!” Umi yelled as she took another swimg at Torla, aiming for her other arm. Torla just barely moved her hand out of the way and then Torla swung her sword at Umi, who easily jumped out of the way, “YOU WILL DIE TORLA!” Umi yelled and the blade of her sword began to glow bluish gold. She took her sword in both hands and swung hard at Torla’s head. Torla had no time to move out of the way as the sword cut her head off cleanly. Umi sunk to the ground and sighed heavily.

:You did it Umi! And now i will return you to where all of your friends are waiting for you.:

“Thank you,” Umi said as she was teleported back to the balcony of her room. Once she appeared on the balcony she was swarmed by all friends.

“Umi, what was that you were fighting in?” Hikaru asked.

Umi looked out through the balcony and replied, “I can’t exactly tell you but, one day when it is needed you will become a deity with your gaurdians, Hikaru and Fuu.”

“You mean...that was Selece, your guarian?” Fuu said astonished.

Umi nodded her head as she walked over to were Val was standing and wrapped her arms around Val and said, “I will understand if you want to go back to your world after this but, I have to stay here, it is my duty.”

“There is nothing more important than you to me,” Val said pulling Umi closer to him.

“I’m glad,” Umi said resting her head on his chest.

“My son is all grown up and he’s leaving home already!” Filia said through her wailing.

“Just think Filia, it will only be us at home and we don’t have to be as careful with what we do around the house anymore.” Filia just continued to sob.

Two weeks later Filia and Xelloss where standing at the portal getting ready to cross through. “Xelloss I have something to tell you,” Filia said gently rubbing her stomach. Xelloss looked at Filia strangely. She went over and whispered in his ear. “YOUR WHAT?! Lord Beast Master is going to kill me!!!” He then quickly went through. the portal. Filia soon followed.

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Val told Umi.

“Me neither,” she said back and then they slowly walked back to the palace.

The End?