The War Continues

Raven hovered high in the sky, looking at the world below him. He frowned a 
bit as he saw some children playing
a sort of game."Look at those creatures. They aren't worthy to live on this 
planet. That will change soon enough.
But, it's just a matter of time, and I'm starting to grow impatient. I must 
figure out where the Key of Granas is.
Then, everything will fall into play and this world will bow before its new 
ruler." Raven began to laugh to himself.
Shadow flew up to his master and bowed his head before Raven."Shadow, where 
were you? Did you find anything
of good use to us?" He then noticed the arrow in Shadow's chest."Shadow, what 
happened? Who dare attack you?"
Shadow growled, yet Raven understood it all."So.....that annoying group seems 
to be causing more trouble for us as
we get closer to our goal. No matter. As soon as Gaia is awakened, none of 
them will matter anymore." He then flew 
off to the North and motioned Shadow to follow. In a cloud that was near 
where they were floating, a pair of yellow
eyes was watching them. The owner of the eyes popped out of the cloud when 
Raven and Shadow left. It was Zeke.
He flew down towards the ground and headed into a large brush of trees. He 
landed on Elyssa's shoulder who was
sitting on the branch of a tall tree. Elyssa stood up and looked at the 
sky."Have fun, Raven. Your dream is about to
become a nightmare. Come, Zeke. Let's go bring some light over Raven's way." 
Zeke gave a small roar and Elyssa 
jumped off the branch.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The young man with turquose hair entered a bar in the town of Liligue. He sat 
at a table and closed his eyes to 
think."Somethings wrong, I can feel it. But, what is it?" The bar tender 
noticed him."Hey, buddy. What's the matter,"
the bar tender asked. The young man looked up."Nothing. I fine. I was just 
thinking...heheh." "I haven't seen you 
around here. What's your name?" "Me? My name is Fiore. Hey, uh...can I get a 
drink?" The bar tender nodded,"Sure."
Fiore sat and waited patiently for his drink, when the door opened and two 
people walked in. One was a girl around 18
and had firey red hair. She was followed by a boy with black, spikey hair. 
The two sat at a table next to Fiore, who
wasn't really bothered by them."What do you want to drink, Millenia? My 
treat," asked the black haired boy. Millenia 
looked at him and smiled."I don't know. Whatever your having, Jack." Jack 
turned and stuck two fingeres up at the bar
tender. Since he was a regular at the bar, the bar tender always knew what he 
wanted."So, what's the big news you've 
been dying to tell me?" Millenia smiled at her new boyfriend."Well, I hear 
the best minstrel group is coming here to
perform." Jack raised his eyebrows a bit."So, big deal. What's so great about 
that?" Millenia's smile grew wider.
"I'm not finished. Your friend Brandan is in the minstrel group." "Really, 
Wow! I haven't seen Brandan in ages. I 
wonder how the big lug is?" "And...you can meet Elena. I want to make her 
jealous." Jack smirked evily."You're going
to make HER jealous? Wait, wait, wait. Elena gets to travel around to all 
different place and she lives with TWO boys
and is getting good cash." Millenia gave him a sly smile."I don't really care 
about that. I got you and that would 
make any woman jealous." Jake put on a big smile."This is true!" The two 
began to laugh and joke with eachother. 
Fiore couldn't help but hear their conversation."She can't be....I wonder if 
they're the same person. Only one way to
know." Fiore got up and walked over to Millenia."Excuse me? I'm very sorry to 
interupt, but did you say Elena was in
a minstrel group coming here?" Millenia looked at Jake who just 
shrugged."Yes, I did." "Um....is she about 18 and has
blonde hair and brown eyes?" Millenia nodded."Thank you. That's all I want to 
know." He turned and left the bar. 
Millenia and Jake just exchanged looks and continued with their conversation. 
Fiore stepped outside and looked up at 
the night sky.'So....I was right. After all these years, I'll be able to see 
you again. I'm coming for you, Elena."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

In the night sky, not too far away....

Raven and Shadow flew through the night. Raven smirked at the thought of his 
dream becoming reality. Shadow was a bit
preoccupied. He was tring to figure out why Elena risked her life for Ryudo. 
Shadow didn't know what was right and 
what was wrong. He only obeyed his master, Raven. That was his purpose, it 
was the only thing he knew how to do. It 
had always been like that, from the moment Shadow awakened. Shadow's thoughts 
were broken when Raven called to him. 
"Shadow, let's land. I want to take a look around." Raven and Shadow landed 
in a small clearing. Raven stretched his 
arms out and yawned a bit. He then looked to Shadow who just stared at him 
blankly."Are you as bored as I am, Shadow?
I want to have a bit of fun. But...I want a challenge, not these weak 
humans." Before Raven could say another word, 
he heard a noise from the trees near them. Raven looked into the branches but 
couldn't see anything."It's no bother to
us." "You think so, Raven?" Raven looked harder but couldn't find the source 
of the voice."Who are y....Wait a minute!
I know you! You're that girl from the other night. Show yourself or I'll 
blast you out." "And waste all your energy? 
What a fool you are." Elyssa jumped out of the trees and landed infront of 
Raven and Shadow."Come, Raven. Let's see 
what power you posess." Raven just laughed as Shadow shielded him like Elena 
did."You say I'm the fool? What a laugh!
Nevermind, Shadow. I want to have some fun. Just wait for a moment till I'm 
done." Shadow backed away. When Shadow was
out of the way, Raven fired a blast that would be imposseble to dodge. Elyssa 
opened her hand and caught the blast and
threw it back at its owner. Raven flew into the sky and eyed 
her."Hmmmm.....You're strong, very strong, but still no 
match." Elyssa smirked,"We'll see." Raven dove at her and used some punches. 
Elyssa dodged them easily and manuvered 
with such grace that Raven couldn't land a single hit. Elyssa jumped back as 
Raven flew higher into the sky and 
watched her again."Now, see my power, Raven!" Elyssa closed her eyes and 
relaxed herself. Two white angel wings 
sprouted from her back. They glowed with a some-what golden light. Raven just 
watched in amazement. Elyssa's wings 
closed around her body. She then began to glow. When her wings opened again, 
Elyssa was wearing golden armor and had 
the Granasaber in its hilt on her side. Elyssa had a magnificent radiance 
around her. Raven's eyes widened when he 
realized what happened."NO! NO, IT CAN'T BE! IT WAS YOU! IT WAS YOU, ALL 
ALONG!" "It's been a long time, hasen't it,
Raven?" Raven clenched his hands into fists and shook with rage."GRANAS! I 
THOUGHT VALMAR KILLED YOU. YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO BE DEAD!" "I was given a second chance to stop you for good. I was also 
given a new name, Tsunami. You can call me
Granas or Tsunami, I don't really care. You're finished." Tsunami began to 
glow. Shadow realized that she was going to
attack Raven. Shadow opened his claws and drew silently to her. Shadow 
remembered she was still human and wasn't 
immortal. When Shadow was behind her, he readied his claws. He wanted to make 
sure Granas would never bother his master
again. Shadow began so swing his claw when another arrow hit his chest. Then, 
three more came and hit the same place. 
Shadow was in too much pain that he lowered his claw and screeched. Tsumani 
turned and looked at Shadow. It looked like
she had a bit of pity in her eyes. Raven motioned Shadow to follow as he flew 
away. Shadow followed at a slow pace. 
Tsunami could have followed easily, for she was much faster than Raven, but 
decided to wait her time. A stirring was 
heard from the trees where the arrows came. Fiore jumped out and stood before 
Tsunami. She smirked as she saw the bow 
in Fiore's hand."Thanks for the help...uh.." "Fiore. My name is Fiore. That 
was a very impressive performance, Tsunami
or should I say Granas." Tsunami only smirked. She closed her wings again and 
returned back to her normal state. "You
will keep my secret, won't you?" "Of course, anything for Lord Granas." 
Elyssa chuckled a bit."My real name is Elyssa.
I don't think it's a wise idea to call me Granas or Tsunami when I'm not in 
that state. People might get sucpicious."
Fiore nodded,"Yes, of course. Can I ask you something?" "What is it?" Fiore 
looked at the ground and then Elyssa. He 
felt a bit guilty asking this sort of question to a god."Why didn't you 
answer my prayers? Did you even hear them?"
Elyssa gave him a warm smile."Of course I answered it. I hear and answer all 
my prayers. Some people get upset when I 
don't answer the prayer with the answer they hoped. I can't say yes to 
everyone." Fiore nodded but still looked a bit 
upset."I understand. But, I don't understand why you said no to my prayer." 
Elyssa lifted his chin to meet her face.
"I didn't say no, Fiore. I said,'in time'. And, that time is now. One 
condition, though." "What?" "You must keep your 
identity unkown to her for the time being. It might throw everything out of 
balance." "But, what if she's in trouble. I
can't just sit and watch." Elyssa raised her hand to hush Fiore."I never said 
you can't help her. You just can't tell 
her your identity." Fiore nodded as Elyssa turned to leave."Elyssa, wait." 
She stopped and turned her head to him."Are 
you also known as 'The White Dragon of the Wind'?" "Yes, I am. Oh, and your 
friend, Roy, says you win the bet." Fiore
gave her a confused look."But, Roy's dead. He died two years ago in an 
accident." Elyssa smiled a bit,"I know. I have 
a connection to the spirit world. Roy has been wanting to tell you that when 
he found out for himself." Fiore nodded,
"Thank you. But, tell me. Is Elena alright? I'm worried about her. I haven't 
seen her for so many years. Heh, she might
not even remember me." "Don't worry. Elena is just fine and she will remember 
you. She misses you more than you think."
Fiore looked at her,"But, how?" "I have a special connection to Elena. Don't 
worry, you'll understand soon enough."
Elyssa turned and began to walk out of sight. Fiore only watched as the God 
of Light slowly vanished out of sight....