When the blast cleared, Emerria was no longer standing there. In her place, the scepter that she had faithfully carried through the journey was standing there as if anchored by some unseen force. The green stone at the top had changed form too. Instead of being a stone, it was a form of green energy that was pulsing with power. Its energy flowed through the earth, and through the hearts of every inhabitant of Cefiro. This energy filled the soul with a deep connection to something that had been taken away from it. The world was now whole again. There would never again be a threat to the fabric of the world, and in their hearts the people knew of the power that was held and it gave them a sense of peace.

But close to that power, there were four hearts that were not at peace....and especially one heart that was missing a piece of itself. "Eme-chan...." sighed three voices in unison.

"She gave up her life to save this world." said Hikaru in a sort of awe.

"All her power..." Umi stood to look at the form of raw energy at the center of the green area

"She was the vessel of the earth..." Fuu looked at the form with a respect given to a deity.

The three Magic Knights looked at the form together as they had looked at the creator when they had faced it. What they were looking at was the spirit of the great mother incarnate. The ultimate power that held the earth together through its sheer power of will. True to their training as Magic Knights, the three girls automatically kneeled.

Across from them, Clef's will was building. He was not going to let it end like this. Too many times had the end been something sad....too many times had people given up their lives for this land......Too many times had he regreted doing making these decisions. And now.....now it had taken her away from him. "*YOU!*" he screamed viciously to the form of light. "I TRUSTED YOU!!"

The form of light brightened as he strode toward it. "Clef!" echoed a voice throughout the valley. "You have saved your world!"

"WHY!" Clef seemed to stop at the edge of an invisible barrier around it. "Why did you take *her*...."

"Oh.....Clef....." said the voice sadly. "I didn't take her.....she was me in the first place...." The form of light brightened and the four remaining companions shielded their eyes. "She was lost....you found both of us......and you brought us back together." When they opened their eyes, they were all floating in a void of black space. Around them, the scenes from the conflicts with Emeraude flashed before them. "You must realize that when the pillar betrayed Cefiro, she lost her contact with me."

"And this had *what* to do with Emerria?" asked Clef bitterly, though he himself had to admit he already saw the connection.

"Emerria was the physical manifestation of my lost power. She was not a real human being. Without that power, my spirit could only stay here and contact those who might have seen her. I never found her through that. But I did find *you*, my love."

Clef scoffed at that. "You.....couldn't know what that means..." he sighed as he thought of Emerria in his mind.

"But she did......she learned what I had no knowledge of before, and in me is her memories. It was nice enjoying that life. She gave it up with only one regret......" The voice seemed to sigh. Again it brightened and the four companions were deposited back in their respective places around the scepter.

Clef stood at the far north edge with a powerful glow about him. All the power that he had been given was manifesting around him. "I want her back......" he said in a vicious whisper. "I WON'T LET HER GO!!!!!"

The form in the center flickered as if in shock. "I thought that *you* of all people would be able to handle this better...." it sighed as it watched him gather his will. "I chose you because of your power, and because you can handle responsibility and not question the outcome. She needed your strength."

"I WANT HER BACK!" Clef screamed as he thrust his staff towards the form of the spirit. All the power around his body began to swirl in an unseen wind around the staff. "I WILL NOT GIVE HER UP!!!" Tears were streaming down his cheeks as he brought his staff up in the air. "I NEED HER!!!!!!!!" Suddenly, a blast of bright white light blinded all in the valley....

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