Okay, major spoilers and a revelation of just how different Cephiro 
is now, in this chapter. Let me know what you think.

   Chapter 7, Section A: A World Away

   A kind, weary woman trod exhaustedly into a beautifully styled and 
decorated chamber in what was probably the most exquisite palace to 
ever exist, and tiredly slumped into a plush, thronelike chair, 
leaning forward onto the richly lacquered dark wood table. She 
brushed locks of her golden hair out of her face, heaving a sigh. 
Despite  her exhaustion, she wore a smile as she glanced around the 
room. 
   Decorating the walls were various sketches and painings of a young 
woman, with sandy blond hair, and lively green eyes. In some, she 
wore flowing, exquisite green dresses, and seemed to be dancing in 
the painting. In others, she wore an unusual, yet beautiful green and 
white armor, and carried an extremely long sword. In one painting, 
only a thin layer of silken gauze clung to her body, as an unknowable 
wind stirred her hair and rippled the fabric.
   "I just finished that one this morning," said a deep, gentle voice 
from behind her. She turned, and smiled at the young man who had 
spoken. As usual, his long, greenish hair created a somewhat wild 
frame around his weathered face. His face always saddened her a bit--
nobody as young as he was should have a face like that. The man's 
visage had been darkened and chapped by the weather, and small scars 
spoke of battles he had narrowly survived. The scar on the bridge of 
his nose especially bothered her.  
   But, he never spoke of it, so she never felt the need to ask. She 
was just thankful that he still lived, and was vibrant and strong...
and creative...
   The young man dropped into another chair, and laid a pad on the 
table. Selecting a charcoal pencil, he began carefully constructing 
another of the myriad pieces of art he had been filling the palace 
with ever since his return.
   "So," he asked as he brushed the charcoal across the rough paper, 
"Another exhausting day, sister?"
   She nodded. "Yes, very exhausting. But worthwhile." With a bright 
twinkle in her eyes, she said, "You won't believe what we got done 
today, Pherio."
   Pherio grinned. His sister was always happy when she returned to 
the palace. "And what did the Pillar of Cephiro do today, hmm?"
   Emeraude smiled happily. "We finally purged all the darkness from 
the Forest of Silence."
   Pherio's head snapped up, and he gave his sister an incredulous 
look. "You're joking, right?"
   Emeraude giggled and shook her head. "It's finally done. There is 
no more Silence in that forest."
   Pherio chuckled. "Unbelievable. You're sure it's really over this 
time? We thought the forest was tamed when that stupid rock was 
destroyed..."
   Emeraude sighed. "Yes, I remember. We were all disappointed when 
the Forest became just as dangerous again. But, thanks to my beloved, 
we found a new home for the darkness of Cephiro."
   Pherio blinked. "Oh?"
   Emeraude nodded. "You know the Intangible Mountains? Well, it took 
some doing, but we managed to transfer all the darkness from the 
Forest of Silence into those mountains."
   Pherio grunted an approval. "And since nobody could go into those 
mountains even if they wanted to..."
   "Nobody will ever be bothered by the monsters again."
   Pherio laughed. "Sounds good." 
   "Yes, it will make many people very happy..." Suddenly, Emeraude 
pitched forward onto the table, gasping. Pherio was immediately at 
her side. "Emeraude! What's wrong?"
   "I..." Tears of pain streamed from her eyes. "I'm not sure...I 
feel so..." Emeraude became limp, her breathing shallow and ragged. 
   "NO!" Pherio shouted. Raising his head, he bellowed, "SOMEONE GET 
A HEALER IN HERE, NOW!!!" Clasping his sister's hand, he whispered, 
"You'll be alright, sister, I promise...you'll be just fine..."

   Chapter 7, Section B: Pointless Loss: The Tale of the Magic 
Knights

   Once more, the group in the Nekohanten had all settled in a circle,
 sipping tea. "So," Hikaru said finally, "Umi-chan, Fuu-chan...what 
happened in Cephiro after Zagato sent me away?"
   Umi and Fuu exchanged a nervous glance. "We'd best tell her. She 
deserves to know," Fuu said.
   Umi sighed. "Alright. Here goes..."

   Two bitter, somewhat depressed Magic Knights recovered the Mashin 
Windam, and battled more of Zagato's minions. Umi had become slightly 
overzealous. Fuu had been very upset over how she'd changed.
   The first apparent change was during the battle with Caldina, the 
illusionist. Caldina's spell had ensorcelled Fuu, but somehow Umi had 
resisted it. The surprised and enraged Caldina had fought visciously, 
her daggers weaving around and between Umi's attacks, but the Magic 
Knight distracted her with the Mizu no Ryuu spell, and while Caldina 
made a wild dodge, Umi struck...

   Sadly, Fuu said, "I'll never forget that day. I still see in my 
nightmares that woman's beheaded corpse..."
   Hikaru gasped. Umi sighed.
   "When we finally got to Zagato," Fuu continued...

   The battle was not going well. Zagato had his own Mashin, and the 
Knights were wearing down trying to defend themselves.
   "Fuu, I have an idea," Umi said as they fell back a bit. "Let's 
try to combine our magic."
   Fuu, inside Windam, was doubtful. "I don't know...my attack magic 
isn't very powerful..."
   "It's worth a shot, right?" Umi asked.
   Concentrating, Umi and Fuu released their powerful Wind and Water 
magic, creating a Tidal Wave, which slammed Zagato into the wall. 
While the priest was down, Umi lunged forward with her sword. Zagato 
managed to roll to the side, but the blow pierced his shoulder.
   Suddenly, Emeraude's voice filled the chamber. "NO!!!!" Zagato's 
shoulder began to glow with a bright light. When the light faded, he 
was healed, although he still grimaced as if in pain.
   Umi and Fuu looked up incredulously. "That was the Princess...why 
did she just do that?"
   Suddenly, Emeraude, resplendent in her white dress, golden hair 
spilling down to the floor, appeared between Umi and Zagato.
   "Do not harm him. Please."
   The Mashins returned to their places in the Magic Knights' 
ornaments, and Umi frowned. "Princess, how else are we to rescue you?
"
   The Princess shook her head sadly. "You don't understand. I 
imprisoned myself. I called you here because I can not serve Cephiro 
as I am now. My life must be ended."
   Fuu and Umi gasped. Fuu said, "I don't understand. What is wrong?
"
   Zagato stood, and said, "She's in love, and she thinks it's bad 
for Cephiro."
   The two Knights looked at the princess, who bowed her head. "It is 
true. I love Zagato. But I also love Cephiro. It is my will that 
holds this world together. If I cannot devote my entire being to this 
world, then what will become of it?"
   Umi scowled. "Wait a second. You're saying you want to die because 
you're in love and you think you can't be a good Princess to these 
people, to this world, because of that?"
   Emeraude nodded. 
   Umi snapped. "That's the STUPIDEST thing I have ever heard in my 
life!"
   Fuu nodded. "She's right. Princess Emeraude...do you deny your 
love for Zagato? Are you ashamed of it?"
   Emeraude shook her head sadly. "I cannot deny what is in my heart.
"
   "Then," Fuu continued, "Do you deny your love for Cephiro?"
   Emeraude gasped as if struck. "Never!"
   Umi knew where this was going. "Then why? Why do you think you 
have to die?"
   "Because...because I cannot be the Pillar this world needs, if my 
heart yearns for one man..."
   "You're wrong," Umi told her. "If you can't accept your love for 
one man, if you can't say, 'Yes, I love this man,' then how can you 
say, 'Yes, I love this world'?"
   Fuu nodded. "Exactly. In our world, people who millions of lives 
depend on fall in love, marry, and have children all the time. It 
doesn't make you a weaker leader, and it doesn't mean you care less 
for your people."
   "If anything, it makes you stronger," Umi added.
   "They are right, my love," Zagato said quietly. "You are being 
foolish, to deny either myself or this world your beautiful spirit."
   Emeraude fell to her knees and began to sob. "What--what have I 
done? What...I almost did grave harm to this world...I've been 
foolish..."
   Zagato knelt beside her and embraced her. "It is alright, my love.
"
   "So, it's over?" Umi asked.
   Emeraude looked up, and nodded. "Thank you, Magic Knights. Thank 
you. You have truly saved Cephiro."
   Umi frowned. "Then send us back to our world."
   Emeraude was saddened. "Yes, of course...I apologize for 
everything I have put you through..."
   Umi didn't answer, except to scowl. Fuu did not look particularly 
pleased either.
   And then, just like that, they found themselves back on Tokyo 
Tower.

   Hikaru sat, stunned. "Emeraude...and Zagato..."
   Soun closed his eyes. "Such hardships as are faced, all for one 
person's fear of commitment..."
   "Sounds like someone we all know," grumbled Akane. 
   Cologne closed her eyes. "It is, indeed, a sad tale. That a young 
life be ruined, for such a silly thing."
   Umi nodded. "I still can't get over it. All the things that 
happened, everything we went through, everything Hikaru-chan went 
through, all for nothing."
   Hikaru smiled sadly. "Not true, Umi-chan. It wasn't all for 
nothing. After all, you did save Cephiro..."
   And with that, Hikaru moved apart from the group, slumped into the 
corner, and began to cry.

   Chapter 7, Section C: A Call For Help

   Pherio, Zagato, Clef, Presea, Ascot, Mokona, and various 
attendants and healers gathered around the bed upon which the 
comatose Emeraude lay. A large, ugly purplish blemish had appeared 
upon her left arm. 
   One of the healers sighed, and shook his head. "I do not know the 
cause of this."
   Clef observed the blemish, and frowned. "Something very dark is 
causing this illness. But what...?"
   A courtier suddenly ran into the room, and knelt before Pherio. 
"Forgive me, Prince Pherio, I know this is a terrible time, but 
something dreadful has happened in one of the outlying towns."
   Pherio, knowing that Emeraude was in the best possible hands, 
addressed the messenger. "Alright, what's going on?"
   "It's Mezo. Everyone in the town has become very weak, the plants 
and animals are dying, and the buildings are decaying. The sun no 
longer touches that town."
   Pherio rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Only that town?"
   The courtier nodded. "Yes, your Highness, but the darkness seems 
to be slowly spreading."
   Just then, the comatose princess groaned, and the blemish on her 
arm expanded alarmingly.
   As Pherio returned his attention to his sister, another courtier 
entered the chamber and said, "Your Highness! The area of darkness 
has spread into the outlying villages around Mezo. It's getting worse.
"
   At that, Clef looked up, and caught Pherio's gaze. "That darkness..
.with people falling ill and things decaying..."
   "It's like a blemish on Cephiro," Pherio finished.
   The two of them stared at the slowly growing blemish on Emeraude's 
arm. "A Blemish," they said as one. 
   "We need to find a cure, and soon," Pherio said. "If this 
continues, it's more than her life that's at stake. It's this entire 
world."
   With a loud "puu", Mokona suddenly vanished.
   "Where's Mokona off to?" Presea wondered.
   Nobody had an answer.

   On a street in the heart of Tokyo, there was a sudden flash of 
light, and a fat, white, rabbit-like creature with a jewel on its 
forehead suddenly dropped to the pavement. Making a loud "puu" sound, 
it bounced frenetically down the street, as if in search of something.
..

____
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"If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, and quacks like a 
duck...pour hot water on it."
Ryodachi Kouma
"The Eternal Lost Lurker"
squn29a@prodigy.com
http://pages.prodigy.com/EtLostLurker

no da.