"Once upon a time, there existed a giant tree that was the source of all mana. A war, however, caused this tree to wither away, and a hero's life was sacrificed in order to take its place. Grieving over the loss, the goddess disappeared unto the heavens. The goddess left the angels with this edict: "You must wake me, for if I should sleep, the world shall be destroyed." The angels bore the Chosen One, who headed towards the tower that reached up unto the heavens. And that marked the beginning of the regeneration of the world."

Prologue.

Footsteps echoed ominously off the pale city walls. If dust could form in this place, surely the putrid particles would infiltrate the still, lifeless air. Even with movement, the air remained still. The air remained dead, like the empty eyes of the citizens of Welgia. The soulless, lifeless beings hovered in the air… dangling like glass ornaments attached to invisible strings, like mobiles, used to entertain young children and babies. Or maybe just to entertain the twisted ruler of this city? Such thoughts would not cross the mind of the man making these steps. Blind, by friendship, he exists like the false angels around him, but only due to his own arrogance. His fiery red hair brushed his face with the wind created by his proud stride. He scarcely used his wings. Somebody has to walk the barren road of Welgia. Arm resting on the hilt of his sword, he enters through the gates of the cold, grey castle. Constructed with otherworldly stone, the castle walls generate a menacing aura. Striding down the faint green carpet laced with gold around the edges, the man wearing a metal grey suit, part chain part cloth, with hues of blue, is confronted by another man with long blue hair tied into a ponytail, wearing a large black cloak. The man stares at him with strange eyes. Confliction? Suppressed fear? He was met with the red head's passive stare. Finally, one of them spoke, filling the dead halls with a low deep voice.

"Yuan, Lord Yggdrasil has summoned us, it would be unwise to keep our friend waiting." He continued on, Yuan followed half a step behind him.
Yuan spoke with traces of spite in his voice, "Don't flatter yourself by attempting to sound superior to me, Kratos, 'our friend', was your apprentice, not me."
Kratos responded "And yet, he is the superior of us all."
"Superior to you, maybe." Yuan said "but I could not immerse myself in the same stupidity. You know as well as I do, none of this is what she wanted…"
"She will be brought back from her sleep in time. I would have thought you would be more eager then any of us to wake her from slumber."
Yuan grabbed Kratos by his collar and pushed him against a nearby pillar. "Don't you dare think I wouldn't give less then my life for her!" Yuan shouted with hissing whispers at Kratos' face. "You know that Mithos' plans are a sick, twisted version of her last wish!" Kratos grimaced, and with a swift motion, grabbed Yuan's arm with his left hand, and pulled a simple ring off Yuan's hand with his right. Threatening to crush it, Kratos spat, "I don't question my friends' values, but know this, I am completely aware of your allegiance and creation of those pitiful Renegades, and do not think you can keep Yggdrasil in the dark for long. If you even attempt to enforce a full scale uprising, I will grind this ring to dust before your eyes, prior to killing you." Kratos pushed Yuan to the ground, and threw the ring engraved with the letters Y and M at his feet. Yuan quickly put the ring on his hand, as Kratos continued down the green carpet.
"So you'll crush my values then, instead of questioning them?" Yuan asked quietly, slightly disturbed after almost losing the last thing he gave her. Kratos stopped, and was silent.

"Yes. Besides, love is quite a strange value to question." Kratos finally spoke. "Just because you have no love…" Yuan whispered. Kratos heard the whisper, due to his angelic senses, Yuan's words as loud as if he was in his ear. "I highly doubt my position would change, even if I did." Silence shrouded the room once again. "Come, we have been summoned." Kratos continued down the ominous hall, while Yuan stared at him, seething with anger, trying to calm himself, before having to face Yggdrasil.

Chapter 1 - The Beginning.

Sky. Sea. Two blue lovers, often separated by the land, are always seen embracing, running away from the land's shore, off into the horizon. Both entities are bipolar by nature. Sometimes, as quiet and calm as trees, while sometimes, deadly to those caught in their mighty wrath, their anger and frustration. Even star-crossed lovers have their moments.

Reclined on the beach, two youths feel the sun kissed sand fall through their toes. Shoes tossed carelessly aside. They stared out towards the horizon, both smiling as the wind tickled their faces. One of them, a boy with short, unkempt, spiky black hair, glanced at the girl grinning out to the sea with his deep blue eyes.
"So," he asked, "have you finished being mad?"

The girl's smile wiped instantly off her face, she snapped her head towards him, and glared at him with her intense, emerald shaded eyes.
"No!" she answered coldly, tossing away the small flicks of hair from the side of her fringe that brushed her face. The rest of her long, green hair tied into a braided ponytail resting on her shoulder.
"I was just admiring the view, I don't have to be mad at everything when I'm mad at you!" She turned back to the sea frowning.
The boy lifted his right knee up, rested his chin on it and faced towards her.
"Well if you just told me why you were mad, I'd be able to apologize then wouldn't I?" he inquired.
"I can't believe you forgot, you're the worst best friend ever…" she said quietly and turned her head away from him.
"Yes, I am." He concurred, and proceeded to wrench off the black and white cap she wore on her head, and sprinted off along the beach laughing. The girl turned around quickly, jumped up, and chased after the boy.

"Grrrr! Come back here Tommy! I'm going to kill you!" she shouted after him, trying desperately to keep a straight face. Tommy sprinted across the thin waves, his unbuttoned black and white flannel shirt whipping in the wind uncontrollably. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and underneath this he wore a plain white tee shirt. He wore navy blue pants that would usually be tucked into his black boots, had they not been tossed off upon arriving at the beach.
Seeing her pursue him with speed, Tom intentionally slowed down and just as she was behind him, halted, and spun around. Due to the girl's speed, she ran straight into Tom and successfully sent Tom falling onto the flat water, the girl on top of him, her face inches away from his. They were silent for a moment before Tom stated flirtatiously, "You know, Tabby cat, this would be the perfect moment for a passionate kiss."
He was always a flirt.

Tabatha flushed with embarrassment and fury. She snatched her hat out of Tom's relaxed hands, and stood up abruptly, placing the wet hat on her head.
"Thank you," Tabatha said sarcastically, "now I'm wet. Also, try as you might, Tommy, you're too young for me, so don't bother flirting."
Tom stood up, his clothes drenched.
"Don't call me Tommy, Tabby cat-"
"Then don't call me Tabby cat." Tabatha interrupted sharply.
Tom smirked. "It's Tom, to you, and I'm only two days younger then you, stop acting as if I'm a child."
Tabatha glared at him. "And when is your birthday?" she asked.
"In two days." Tom answered, not hesitating in the slightest.
Tabatha continued her menacing stare.
Tom finally spoke, "Oh, so that's why you're mad at me? You thought I'd forgotten your birthday? Please, I'm not that cruel."
Tabatha didn't cease glaring. "So why haven't you said happy birthday yet, or anything?"
"Because I wanted to say that when I gave you your present," Tom answered and began to crouch. "I actually have my present with me now…"
Tabatha's glare stopped. "Really?"
"Yeah." Said Tom, and gestured for her to crouch down with him. Tabatha did so and looked down to Tom's hands. She waited expectantly for him to pull out some trinket, however found him quickly placing his hands in the water, and just as quickly pulling them up drenching her with a large splash of water shouting, "Happy Birthday!"

Tabatha was so stunned; she lost her balance and fell backwards onto her rear.
Tom burst out laughing; he hugged his sides while leaning forward, unable to stop his body from shaking with excitement.
Tabatha's shoulder less black dress, with lime green line patterning and tail-like black trailing, were completely soaked with the salty sea water. She stared up at Tom who insane laughter was starting to draw tears. Tabatha closed her eyes and spoke quietly. "Thankyou for such a nice present." She sounded sincere.
Tom stopped laughing and stared at her, wondering if she was really upset. He leaned down, facing her.
"Thank you for the gift," Tabatha repeated, "But I'm too modest to accept it!" She open her eyes cupped her hand in water and splashed water into Tom's face. Tom, like Tabatha was shocked, and stepped back, but tripped on the wet sand and fell on his own derriere. This time, Tabatha bust out laughing, sitting in the cold water, she clutched her own sides. When Tom realised what happened, he continued laughing as well, their fits of laughter resonating across the empty beach.
After what seemed like an age, they managed to calm down, still giggling occasionally and were smiling in silence at each other. Tabatha's smile quickly dropped when something came across her mind.

"What? What's wrong?" asked Tom quickly.
"The time! Oh my goodness, we're going to be late for class! " Tabatha said hastily, whilst getting up quickly and trying, in vain, to dry off her clothes.
Tom literally jumped up. "Oh crap, Sister Ana will have our heads!"
Disorderly, they attempted to dry off as they ran towards their shoes, which without them noticing, were caught up with the rising waves and were now as cold and wet as the rest of their clothes. They picked up their shoes out of the water and ran towards the Abbey, praying to Martel that they would be lucky enough to escape punishment, considering it was Tabatha's birthday.