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"The land is so beautiful, but seeing it from this view makes it look even more breathtaking.", Hikaru exclaimed, "Especially now that the people of Cephiro have the power to shape their own world."

"Yeah, I know. No matter how many times that we come back to visit Cephiro, I never get over how spectacular it looks.", said Umi.

Ever since Hikaru had abolished Cephiro's Pillar system, the land had flourished. Not only that, but the people were much happier. They no longer had to worry about their world crumbling or the possibility that it would in the future. The stability of the land no longer was maintained by the will of single being, but by the love the people had for their world.

"I must agree with you Ms.Umi", Fuu nodded, "but there is something different about the Cephiro this time."

"What are you talking about Fuu?" Hikaru asked as she used one hand to hold her hair back from the blowing wind. Although she wore her wild, red hair in a braid she still had loose strands that covered much of her face.

"Doesn't it seem a bit cloudy? It would appear that it has been raining here in Cephiro." Fuu answered.

Hikaru and Umi looked around at Cephiro again. They had to admit that the sky wasn't its usually clear, deep blue color. Umi let out a sigh, "Of course Fuu would notice."

"Yeah, but Fuu is right Umi. Now that I think about it it does look like Cephiro has been getting quite a bit of rain." Hikaru said. Just then they felt a strong gust of wind. Hikaru's braid whipped around wildly like a rattler's tail.

"Wow! I guess that's not just wind resistance!" Umi shouted.

"Well, it looks like the wind is starting to pick up." Fuu added.

"Jeez, no kidding, Fuu." Umi scoffed. She turned her attention toward the butterfly creature on whom they riding on. Its wings reminded Umi of stained glass in a church and the fur on its body like the black of night.

"Excuse me, Mr. Butterfly, but do you think that you will be able to get us down in one piece?"

The butterfly responded by making a sound that sounded like a combination of a chirp and a windchime.

"That's great!" she beamed. The butterfly began to fly lower to get away from the fierce blowing winds.

"I can see the castle from here!" Hikaru shouted. She could see the three crystal prism spires that the castle consisted of. Once they had landed safely the girls turned to look at the cloudy, gray-streaked sky. It had begun to rain.

"Whoa, it is raining here in Cephiro. What a coincidence! Didn't it look like it was about to rain back in Tokyo just before we left?"

"Yeah, that's right, Umi." Hikaru said.

"It's really beginning to pour hard out there, too" Fuu pointed out. Then Fuu turned her gaze toward Umi. Feeling Fuu's eyes on her she turned in her direction. "What is it Fuu? Is something wrong?"

"Oh, nothing Ms.Umi. I was just admiring you new hair style."

"My new hairstyle?" Umi hadn't really done anything much different to her hair, except for her monthly trims. She would never do anything dramatic since she preferred to keep her hair long. Umi stood with her hands on her hips and held her head high with pride.

"Yeah, Umi your hair is really a mess." Hikaru informed.

"What? Oh, no!" Umi panicked, "Why didn't you just say so Fuu?"

Hikaru scratched her head and laughed, "I guess that was Fuu's polite way of telling you, Umi." Both her and Fuu had developed sweat drops by their heads as they watched Umi frantically try to fix her hair. Fuu's glasses became larger and reflective, so that you couldn't see her eyes.

"Oh, well Umi. I think your hair looks fine." Hikaru said cheerfully.

"Oh, yes Ms. Umi!" Fuu smiled with her hands clasped in front of her.

From the way Hikaru and Fuu spoke Umi almost believed them.

"Ha! What would you know with that wild hair of yours Hikaru." Umi said as she ruffled Hikaru's hair.

"Oh, well…I was in the wind, too, Umi." Hikaru said embarrassed.

"No, it looked like that before the wind." Umi teased, "As a matter of fact it always looks like that." They all laughed.

"You guys, let's go." Hikaru said. They all paid the butterfly creature their thanks and left to find their friends. As they walked down the corridor the girls heard what sounded like the boom of thunder.

"Oh!" Hikaru said. That very moment had reminded her of the time they had been in the castle when Cephiro was crumbling because it had no pillar. It wasn't long before they noticed that Clef's throne room was just ahead. The doors parted on their own.

"Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu. It's good to see you again." Clef greeted them with the usual calm, evenness in his voice, but he did have a smile on his face. So did the rest of everyone else in the room. Ascot, Ferio, Caldina, and Presea also greeted them. Just then Mokona jumped down out of Presea's hands and into Hikaru's.

"It's good to see you, too, Mokona." Hikaru said to the bunny creature.

"Hey! Where is Lantis and Lafarga?" Hikaru asked.

"Their out on monster patrol, but Lantis will back soon, though.", Caldina replied.

"Oh, okay." Hikaru blushed.

"Sir Clef, we couldn't help but notice that it was raining here in Cephiro." Fuu replied.

"Yes, is something wrong?" Umi asked.

"That's what we've all been wondering Umi. The last couple of days the weather has been acting really weird." Caldina replied, "What the heck is going on here Clef?"

"In the past few days it has rained, there have been strong winds, and even ice has fallen from the sky. Then there are days when the sun is shining and the day is fine." Ascot commented.

"It's gotten to the point where don't know what to expect from each day. Then just now it begun rain." Ferio added.

"Cephiro is not crumbling again is it?" Fuu asked point blank. She had asked what they were all afraid to say out loud. Everyone turned to look at Clef for his response.

"At first that's what I thought. But that didn't make any sense. Cephiro no longer has a need for a pillar and with the people governing the land Cephiro has blossomed back into what it once was."

"Has there been an outbreak of monsters?" Hikaru asked him.

"Strange enough, no. As we all know last time when Cephiro began to vanish the appearance of monsters became very prevalent, but there have been no increase from the occasional sitings.

"What about earthquakes?" Umi asked.

"Actually, we've had a few small tremors."

"Oh, no! Then Cephiro is crumbling!" Umi said shocked.

"No it is not!" Clef responded, "Please calm yourself Umi"

"How can you say that? You just said yourself that there have been earthquakes and we know what earthquakes in Cephiro mean."

"Hikaru, how has the weather been in your own world?" Clef asked.

"Actually the weather has been much like Cephiro's. Lately the climate in Tokyo has been very unpredictable."

"Yes, we too have also experienced mild tremors, rain, and snow. Do you think that this could have anything to do with what's happening in Cephiro, Sir Clef." Fuu chimed.

"I believe so. While Cephiro and Tokyo are two separate worlds they are connected. I believe that what is happening to Tokyo is having an effect on Cephiro."

"But how can that be? Tokyo didn't start crumbling just because Cephiro was." Fuu pointed out.

"Yeah, when we arrived in Cephiro the first time hadn't it already been experiencing climatic troubles for a while?", Umi asked.

"Yes, but you see Cephiro is a shadow of your world, Tokyo. While things that happen here have no effect on your world, it is the other way around when trouble befalls Tokyo." Clef answered. The girls gasped at this revelation.

"So that means Cephiro is not the one in real trouble. Something is effecting our world." Hikaru summed.

"Then our world is the one in danger… and if the troubles that have befallen our world get worse then Cephiro will feel it, too." Fuu said.

"Right" Clef nodded.

"Wow. Hea-vy!" Caldina exclaimed.

"Then that means that we should return to our own world and protect it", said Umi, "But how can we protect our world when we don't even know what's effecting it."

"And even if we did know what's effecting it how can we defend it. We can only use our magic and rune gods here in Cephiro." Hikaru said dishearten.

"But maybe what's happening in Tokyo is just a fluke of nature. It may not be anything serious at all." Fuu told them.

"Maybe not" said Clef, "Something very serious is effecting your world, that is the only way that Cephiro would be effected too. If the destabilizing of your world continues then both worlds may begin to merge. That would create an opening from Cephiro to your world, bridging the two realms. If that happens then you might be able to call upon your Rune Gods and use your magic."

"Really!" Hikaru said excited.

"Yes, but there will be no real way of knowing until the three of you are able to find out what is affecting your world. I think it would be a good idea if you returned to Tokyo. I don't think you three will have to wait long before what ever menace reveals itself. At that time I'm sure the bridge between your world and Cephiro will begin to occur. Then only at that moment will you know if you'll be able call upon your magic and weapons" said Clef, "I want the three of you take back your jeweled gloves with you, so you'll be ready when the time comes."

The girls nodded in agreement as they each slipped on their gloves. They needed to go back to protect their world.

"Your armor and weapons are inside the gloves", Presea informed them, "You need only to wish for and they will appear."

"Thanks Clef. Thanks Presea. We just got here, but we have to go back and protect our world." Hikaru said firmly. Her scarlet, red eyes were filled with determination.

"Don't worry about it girl. We understand. You've all done so much for Cephiro already. Now you all go back and protect Tokyo" Caldina exclaimed.

Fuu and Umi walked over to Hikaru and stood by her sides. Since Hikaru had been deemed as pillar they now had the power to will themselves to travel to and from Cephiro. Fuu turned to face Ferio. She had felt his gaze piercing into her. They stared into each other's eyes deeply. They knew they would see each other again soon. Hikaru clasped the mirror pendant Lantis had given her. Even though she had not seen him this visit, she would never stop thinking about him. Umi gave Clef an endearing smile. Then they looked at the rest of their friends and smiled. At that moment they disappeared. When they reappeared they were rising above Cephiro.

"Huh? We're still in Cephiro." Umi cried, "Oh! We're floating!" She was ready to panic. But then they realized a strong gust of wind was supporting them and keeping them from falling.

"Are you doing this Fuu?" Hikaru asked.

"No, I am not Ms. Hikaru. I am just as puzzled as the both of you." Fuu responded.

Then they saw a bright light and the parting of clouds to reveal an portal.

"Oh, jeez! What's that?" Umi shouted.

Suddenly a young woman dressed in emerald green had appeared. She wore a green hooded cloak made of some type of see-through veil material. Her dark eyes were locked on the three of them.

"Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu. You are needed" she said. Before any of them could say a word the four of them vanished into the clouds.