Magic knight rayearth overview part four, attack of the filler

When we last left out trio of protagonist girls they had just gained their magic evolving Escudo swords but were left without any further direction luckily the show's mascot character is capable of projecting messages from the show's once ambulatory exposition fountain, Clef (fortunately being turned to stone doesn't stop Clef from fulfilling his role as exposition fountain). He informs dour protagonist girls that they need to find (either the Ma Shin or Rune Gods depending on whether you feel puns or changes made in a dub script are more heinous). Unfortunately this show needs to stretch three graphic novels into twenty episodes so the would be magic knights aren't going to get their in a timely fashion.

I know filler episodes tend to have sub par animation but come on

This filler parade begins with the reintroduction of Ferio, who runs afoul of Zagato's minion Du jour, Ascot. As Ferio is not the protagonist he is quickly overpowered and has to beg for his life by convincing Ascot to spare him if he can lure the magic knights into a trap. He tricks them only to have second thoughts at the last minute, where he then decides to sacrifice himself only to be caught by Ascot's friend cum monster of the week.

You aren't gross and slimy enough to be my minion

The magic knights are a bit disheartened by this turn of events, but Fuu decides that the best course of action is to sleep the whole thing off. This off course is a ruse on her part as she goes off to rescue Ferio on her own in the middle of the night. She has no real plan or reason to go off on her own rather than have all three magic knights attempt the rescue, other than possibly the fear that Hikaru or Umi would rescue Ferio and he would be their love interest instead.  What follows is a strange sort of battle which culminates in Fuu having some ill-defined moment of resolution which results in her sword evolving and her thus being able to beat the monster. Ferio bids farewell to our protagonists and runs off into the monster infested earthquake wracked wasteland.

Remember to check your pets for creepy glowing red eyes

The next episode begins with our protagonists wandering through Cefiro when they happen upon a bunch of dead animals. There is also a rock monster which the magic knights assume is the cause of the carnage. Quick work is made of the monster. There is also a wounded puppy-like animal found which Hikaru immediately latches onto naming it Hikari, the same name as her pet dog back in Japan.

The magic knights visit the tomb of the unknown monster of the week

However this is a trap set by Ascot, as Hikari is actually a beast whose real name is Viggur. One morning while Hikaru is picking flowers with her new friend Viggur transforms into his beast mode. Umi and Fuu show up but are quickly dispatched by the monster as they are not the focus of the episode. Hikaru looks on, wondering whether she should save her friends from an animal she met yesterday. Eventually she caves in and defeats the monster.

The episode ends and everyone is sad, the magic knights and Ascot who is depressed that sending his friends into danger seems not to be working out. However as this episode is essentially filler the events here are never spoken of again.