Wooot chapter 14! Ohhh snap, it's action packed, fellow reviewers! Oh yes, I must thank LHL for being so nice and reveiwing, and I'm glad you liked that joke...XD Oh yes Kratos addict too yaya another fan:D I just want you all to know I feel ever so loved! Haha, well enjoy chapter catorce de Blue Skied Symphony! Only...13 more days till meh trip! Hehehe.

Flanoir…the once peaceful city in the snow was now a battleground. The home of people who believed in the Tears of Celsius the summon spirit of Ice lay in ruin. The once majestic church of Martel was but a battered frame of charred rock, and broken glass. Destruction, and devastation, everywhere, in the lives of everyone as darkness consumed all the snow was now stained red, no longer pure.

The man laughed as his eyes glowed bright red. His sword was in his left hand, its point facing down; he held it behind him, since he was turned toward the side. Lloyd growled under his breath, and Colette looked at him with dismay. Genis prepared himself for another spell.

"Well? You ready? Eternal Swordsman?" the man said tauntingly, Lloyd stepped forward Kratos held out his sword, and Lloyd froze, Kratos had an expression of pure anger on his face. Lloyd looked at his father with surprise. The serpent coiled around its master's legs, hissing angrily, its eyes flashing. Zelos's stance was that of a sonic thrust. Go Zelos…attack your friends…or should I say…your enemies. Zelos's eyes flashed dangerously as he dashed forward holding his sword in front of him, it split through the air, the shield of air around his sword was visible as he rushed forward toward a surprised Sheena. Yuan noticed first, and he jumped in front of the Mizhuo warrior, Zelos's sword collided with his, and a clang of metal reverberated through the desolate city.

"Yuan!" Yuan heard the girl behind him whisper, his gripping on the wet icy ground was bad, and he was being pushed back. Zelos's eyes glowed with pure hatred as he pushed the half elf further backwards; the chosen spun his head to the right, and jumped away, since Regal landed from the air with a drop kick. Regal's metal booted feet sprayed snow everywhere, as Zelos jumped backwards, flipping in mid air and parrying Regal's crescent moon attack with his red shield. Zelos smirked, as he looked into the blue haired man's eyes, Regal's eyebrow rose, then he saw it. The dagger, its tip shined in the setting sun's glow, he tried to jump backwards but lost his footing, the dagger slashed across his thin linen shirt, leaving red stains on the ground below him. Regal gasped as he looked down, red splotches covered his hands, and shining metal shackles. He jumped upwards as Zelos slashed forward again, the chosen looked up, then his eyes darted to the pink haired girl in front of him, her ax cut through the air and the chosen looked to his right, fireballs rushed at him. A black mass encompassed him and Presea's attack hit a hard scaled body, the fire balls as well, evaporated as they touched the black serpents skin. It hissed indignantly, its eyes flashing as it raised its body and struck downward at Presea, Regal pushed her out of the way, and he jumped back immediately, the snakes head crashed into the cobbled street sending the stone work and dust flying everywhere. The man laughed as he heard the cries of surprise from Presea, and Raine who had been standing nearby. Lloyd growled in anger as he ran forward swords behind him, the man turned and smiled.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Eternal Swordsman…lets see how good you really are." The man said rushing forward, Lloyd slashed upward with his right sword trying to cut the man's chest, but his sword never hit it's marked, and both Lloyd's and the man's swords clanged together sparks flew from the impact. Lloyd looked down at his hand, I'm…I'm shaking…I never felt this much power before, but how? He then looked into the man's eyes, pure cold hatred resided within them, and he smiled, Lloyd's eyes widened. The red clad swordsman slashed at the enemy before him with his left sword, the man as if expecting the move ducked, and kicked out Lloyd's feet, in what seemed to be a spinning heel kick, one Lloyd was accustomed to seeing Regal doing. Lloyd fell into the snow, a cold pointed tip at his throat. He felt the blood of so many innocent people on that blade, it's steel coldness surrounded him and he shivered at the pure malice given off by it, it was worse than the cursed swords of the underworld. The man's eyes shown bright red, as a malicious smile spread across his face.

"Finally…I shall finally get…my." The man's head spun to the left as Kratos crashed into him with a super sonic thrust.

"Arrgh!" the man cried out, his black clothes, and cape being shredded by the auburn haired man's attack.

"Damn it! Why don't you stay out of my way!" he cried as he leaped backwards, his snake coiling around him simultaneously.

"Lloyd, are you alright?" Kratos asked holding out a helping hand, for his son.

"Yeah, I'm alright." Lloyd stated grabbing his father's hand and pulling himself up, he shook off cold's terrible bite. Both father and son turned toward the man and his serpent. The man giggled.

"You think that'll do anything? Kratos Aurion?" the man said laughing as his clothes reformed as the gaseous matter from his snake intertwined itself forming new skin, and clothes about the man. Everyone looked in disbelief at what was transpiring before him or her.

"What are we going to do…" Lloyd heard Colette whisper, he never thought those words would escape her lips, words of hopelessness. The man titled his head back and held his hands up to the sky.

"Yes! More hopelessness! More power…" He looked back at the group, his eyes glowing bright red his hands were still held up. Lloyd heard everyone got into defensive stances.

"What the hell..." Yuan said, looking at a horrified Genis.

"Genis…what's wrong?" Yuan asked the half elf, Genis looked up at Yuan.

"That attack its…"

"I call upon the power of the unholy blades! Dark Sword!" An attack just like Genis's Prism Sword fell crashing into Lloyd's group.

"Guardian Seal!" Lloyd heard Sheena over the commotion, it was horrible, everything was black from the coals and dust of the burnt down houses. The attack sent everyone flying, Lloyd saw Kratos jump in front of Raine protecting her with his Guardian technique; Colette used her Damage Guard technique, and Genis his Force Field.

"Damn it, what kind of attack was that?" Lloyd said coughing as the smoke cleared everyone seemed to be fine. Regal and Presea had managed to use a nearby house as a shelter.

"Go Obsidian! Kill them! Every last one, annoying wretches!" they heard the man cry out and a rush of wind cleared the smoke, a giant serpent reared up before Sheena, who was staring at it, its eyes glowed.

"Sheena!" Lloyd cried dashing forward. No…I won't let what happened to Zelos happen to her! Never! Lloyd jumped onto the huge serpent, its head turned with a loud hiss as the serpents open mouth shot forward, its jagged teeth rushing forward with unimagined speed.

"I don't think so! Come get some! Air Blade!" thousands of greens blades, formed around the snakes head, cutting huge slices into its face. It continued forward though.

"Lloyd!" Kratos cried out, but the man in the black cape ran forward slashing the air sending black energy waves towards him, like a demon fang attack. Kratos turned his attention to him; he used his sword to parry the blow. The man smiled.

"You forget…I have Zelos as well." Kratos's eye widened as a shadow was casted over him, but a clang of metal and the sound of a thud, made Kratos smile. The man growled.

"You forget…I have friends, you bastard." Kratos stated, as he felt Yuan's back up against his.

"Reminds you of old times, doesn't it, Kratos?" Yuan said smiling, despite the event. Kratos sighed and nodded, they both pushed forward, throwing back both of their opponents. Zelos flew backwards, a waiting Presea swung her ax, but Zelos managed to land on top of it, Presea stared at him, Zelos raised his sword, but as he did he was kicked in the side by Regal, the chosen's body flew into a nearby pile of charred wood, staining his clothes black.

A bright light erupted around Sheena. As the snake floated about trying to sink its teeth into Lloyd, Genis kept casting spells, as Raine healed the party from a distance.

"Damn." Lloyd said as he gritted his teeth, he jumped behind a broken down house, he turned around to find the snake, and its eyes shined bright red in the darkened space of the house. A crash, and flying wood made Genis turn his head, he knew Lloyd would be coming through any minute; he had to be ready, but all this smoke, it was hard, a loud boom. There! Time to fry this serpent!

"Burn! Eruption!" Genis cried out, he heard the snake let out a hiss of anger as it's path to the running swordsman was blocked. Lloyd ran back to the group, he was panting.

"Lloyd you okay?" Genis asked.

"Yeah…I'm fine." Lloyd looked at Sheena she was still summoning.

"I call upon the disciple of everlasting ice! Celsius!" the figure of Celsius appeared her expression was that of pure anger. Celsius called on her companion, the blue fanged dog Fenrir appeared before her.

"It's over!" the summon spirit cried out. She and her dog rushed forward. Obsidian…destroy her, now! The snake looked at the rushing summon of ice, it lashed out at her with it's teeth, Celsius grabbed the snake by its two giant fangs, the massive impact sent the summon of ice skidding backwards, Fenrir jumped onto the snakes body sinking it's canian fangs into the serpents thick scaled skin. Obsidian let out an irritated hiss, as it shook its head about flinging Celsius about like a doll, it's tail hit into Fenrir sending it flying into a nearby building. Celsius let go of the gigantic snakes fangs, and it closed its mouth with a sharp snap, it ran into Celsius, who kicked it in the jaw sending it reeling back wards. The snake turned into a gas as the summon spirit unleashed it's attack.

"Ice Missile!" Celsius cried out crossing her arms over her chest then extending them forward, the ice missiles went through the serpent's body crashing into the houses.

"This isn't working, we have to leave here before more people are hurt." Raine said, everyone had regrouped they were now in a circle formation, they all nodded in agreement.

"But how? There's only three of them, and we're out matched." Lloyd said through clenched teeth, looked at Colette who was glowing, the power of mana washing over the entire party.

"Holy wings I beg thee to reveal thy glory! Angel feathers!" Colette cried out bursts of light like disks flew forward toward the man, who was now standing with Zelos watching his summon spirit fighting the spirit of ice, he saw the attack. Zelos, if you would. Zelos nodded in compliance and slashed at the disks deftly, they dissipated in mid-air. The man smiled.

"You can't stop me, so why not give up and join me…now." He said as he walked closer, the two spirits were still battling in the background.

"Never. I won't join, something…something like you!" Lloyd cried running forward, the man sighed and shrugged his shoulder.

"You just don't learn do you? Lloyd." The man said side stepping Lloyd's attack, Lloyd went flying to the right, he skidded to a stop and turned his head sharply to the left, and growled. The man turned to his left an ax filled his vision, he parried it staring into the expressionless eyes of Presea, his feet dug into the soft snow, he kicked Presea back, she grunted as her ax flew out of her hand, Regal appeared behind her and caught her. The man smiled, as he spun around his sword colliding with Kratos's Last Fencer. Kratos grunted as the man pushed him back, and kicked him in the side, sending Kratos flying to the side. Yuan ran forward his sword spinning; two waves of energy came from behind him.

"Yuan! Look out!" Yuan turned around and blocked both energy waves with his sword.

"Damn it." He whispered as the man jumped over him and landed, his back toward them all, next to Zelos. The chosen's eyes stared at them emptily.

The body of the summon spirit of Ice flew into a building on everyone's left, they all turned. Raine stared in horror. There were people in there she heard the cries of children.

"Lloyd!" Lloyd turned he looked at the professor's angered expression.

"We have to leave now." Raine said abruptly, a snow began to fall, coating the red stained town in fresh newly fallen pure snow, as if the heaven's were trying to forget about the carnage which was happening, the snow was to block out all the horror of the town. The summon fell into the snow face first, she was now all bloody, her black skirt with its blue designs running down it was in tatters. Sheena ran forward rushing past Raine.

"Celsius! Celsius!" the warrior cried her pink ribbon flying behind her she bent down to the now struggling summon spirit of Ice. Celsius's body was covered in cuts and bruises, her once clear crisp fiery blue eyes were now dulled. One of her golden bands on her wrists was missing.

"M-Master Sheena…I'm sorry, I-I failed." The spirit stated, as she began to disappear into little orbs of blue light.

"It's alright, rest for now, you tried." Sheena said getting up, she turned back to the man a black blur flew from behind him, and a giant snake reared up behind him, it's eyes flashed once and the man laughed, as he stroked it's head.

"You didn't really think that one summon spirit could defeat Obsidian, did you?" the man stared at the group, they were all worn down, the cold air didn't help either, it burned through everyone's lungs like a wild fire in a dried out forest.

"We have to…get to the Rehairds, now." Lloyd whispered so that only people standing close to him could hear they all nodded.

"Lets do this." Yuan said prying his sword out of the ground, he rushed forward. He jumped into the air; the man just titled his head up and smiled.

"TAKE THIS!" Yuan cried out lighting erupted from the sky striking his sword with a thunderous crash-sending volts of lighting dancing about his blade, he landed his sword hitting into the snowy ground the shock of his sword, clearly hit into the man, who jumped backwards, clutching his chest, the man let out a growl. Yuan lifted his sword up and twirled it; he turned his head back to everyone.

"Go! NOW!" Lloyd opened his mouth to reply, but Kratos tugged him away as the figure of Yuan was engulfed by what seemed the giant snake. The man looked at them as they ran away. Obsidian leave! Go after them, and get the child…I'll deal with this fool, remember the half elf. The snake nodded as Yuan's sword slashed through nothing but a black gas, the blue haired half elf spun around his ponytail flying through the windless air, a silver sword of his enemy torn through his cape, and shoulder.

"Gah!" he cried out clutching his shoulder, blood spilled onto the white snow. D-Damn it…this isn't good. The half elf spun around and saw Zelos, his empty eyes piercing the elf's and then, a shooting pain erupted through his head, and then the last thing he saw was the white of the snow, then nothing.

The Rehairds lay on the out skirts of town; Lloyd and the others ran through the billowing, torrential snowstorm. Genis's breath came out in wisps of smoke, only to be blown away by the storms winds. He looked at Raine who gave him a look of concern.

"Genis, are you alright?" Raine whispered.

"Yeah, I'm fine." The young half elf responded, as they trudged through the snow, he was freezing and not okay, that attack. How did he do that…it was exactly like mine, only ten times as strong…I-I don't understand. They all reached the Rehairds, Lloyd got on with Colette.

"Where are we going to go?" Presea asked climbing onto Regal's

"Any where, somewhere as far from here, we have to give ourselves some time to recuperate." Lloyd stated, everyone nodded and jumped on their Rehairds, they took off.

"Lloyd!" He heard Colette say, fear laced her voice, as he looked down to what she was pointing to, his eyes widened.

"Damn. Yuan." He whispered the man, Zelos, and the black serpent stared up at them as the winds blew snow and ice around them. The snake took the shape of a black Rehaird it's front had two red splotches on it, each marking the snakes eyes. The wings were silver with golden tips, and the back tail was longer than the normal Rehaird, this two was black, only with a spiked red tip. The man smiled up at Lloyd and his group.

"Shall we go, Obsidian?" the man asked stepping onto the Rehaird, it hissed, the man turned back to Zelos.

"Return to Derris Kharlan don't worry you won't be lonely for very long." He said as Zelos disappeared in orbs of black, then the Rehaird with the man with the black purple striped cape took off after Lloyd and his group.

The breeze of the cool night air brushed against Kratos's face, sending his hair flying about behind, and to the side of him. The sky was a rich shade of deep purplish blue, the sun had set sometime ago, and now was completely gone behind the horizon. The angel looked down at the rushing expanse of icy water beneath him, and to his left were massive grassy plains of Tethe'alla. He didn't know where his son was taking him, and as he looked over at his blue Rehaird he noticed a fiery, burning hatred in his son's eyes. He sighed. Lloyd…we will find out who he is, I promise… A loud crash and a cry of surprise made everyone stop in a jolt.

"GENIS!" Raine cried as a midnight black Rehaird, with red snake like eyes crashed into her red one. She hadn't even noticed it, or heard it for that matter, like a shadow.

"Raine!" Genis cried out as the black Rehaird pushed forward tipping the half-elves one over; Raine gripped the handle with her right hand, and extended her left to her brother who was now gripping to the edge of the Rehaird, a look of sheer terror over his face. The grassy canopy of the Gaoracchia Forest lay beneath them now.

"Genis! Grab my hand." Raine cried out, the man laughed as he jumped onto the red Rehaird, sword draw, his red eyes glowed in the sky's darkness. Raine had dipped the Rehaird low so if…No, I won't let you fall Genis.

"Raine." Genis whispered, as Raine's eyes shot around to a black figure his all too familiar sword gleaming as he jumped forward. Her staff went up immediately, as the man's sword clanged against its metal pole. He smiled, and looked down at Genis, who was losing his grip quite fast.

"Professor!" Lloyd cried out as he sped forward, but the black Rehaird materialized into a huge serpent it floated in the air, it turned around and lashed out at Lloyd's blue, machine. He tried to swerve out of the way, but the creature's tail clipped the right wing, sending both the swordsman, and his blonde haired friend spinning. Colette gripped onto Lloyd's waist as he tried to steady his machine.

"Damn it." Lloyd growled as he looked back at the scene, his Rehaird was damaged, and now the right wing was smoking, he coughed, the black smoke making the already impenetrable darkness even harder to see in.

"Take this! Fireball" Kratos yelled out the fireballs hit into the snake, it let out a loud hiss and it rushed forward fangs extended. It sunk its huge fangs into the auburn haired, and black haired Mizhuoian's Rehaird, as if it were soft plastic, and not metal. It pulled its teeth out all the while ripping the front part of the Rehaird to shreds, sending Kratos and Sheena in a spiraling downward fall, they crashed on the outskirts of the forest.

"Dad!" Lloyd cried as he tried to fly forward, but another attack front the serpent, it wrapped its black scaled body around the Rehaird, Lloyd heard his vehicle crunch and crack under the massive pressure the snake was exerting on it.

"Ah! L-Lloyd!" he heard Colette say, as he unsheathed one of his swords.

"LET…GO!" the red clad swordsman cried out slashing the body of the serpent, it let out an angry hiss, it felt something land on top of it, it's head turned away from the swordsman, and its eyes focused on a girl. A pink haired girl with a huge ax raised above her head stood on top of it.

"Die!" Presea said in an emotionless voice, as her ax came down, but the snake turned into a gas, and the pink haired girl fell through its body, and the wind blew her hair about, but Regal's orange Rehaird caught her, before she touched the canopy of the forest.

"Raine! I'm I'm slipping." Genis cried out pitifully, his eyes shut, as he tried with all his might to hold onto the Rehaird. He couldn't though; his arms were shaking from exhaustion.

"Genis…don't let go!" he heard Raine's voice say, with trouble as the man pushed her into the handles of the Rehaird, he smiled, and looked down at the young elf boy.

"Sorry…but this time…you lose." He said, as Raine's eyes widened, he stepped on Genis's hand, and Genis let out a cry of surprise, as he fell through the treetops, he saw Raine's expression of pure horror and terror.

"No! GENIS!" She cried out extending her hand, but her brother was too surprised and he was then engulfed by the blackness of the forest. Raine was jolted to the side, as a huge mass hit into her Rehaird, sending it spinning to the side.

"Obsidian, go locate the child, now." The man said as he slashed at Raine, she blocked everyone one of his slashes, she raised her staff, which glowed a bright white. The man hissed as he put up a hand to block out the light.

"Light! Photon!" light surrounded him, as the Photon attack engulfed his body. No…this, this can't be…the light, so painful. A burst of black fire and then, nothing as the photon attack dissipated.

"Professor!" Raine heard Lloyd call out; she landed her Rehaird, along with Lloyd and the others.

"Where's Genis?" Lloyd asked running up to the silver haired half elf, she looked down at the ground.

"He…he fell into the forest." She said quietly, her eyes had a pained look about them.

"Damn it." Lloyd cursed, as he then rushed through the forest.

"P-Professor." Colette said, not knowing how to comfort her teacher. Kratos and the others rushed over.

"What happened?" Colette heard Lloyd's father ask.

"Genis, he's in the forest somewhere." Colette responded.

"Oh no." Sheena gasped.

"We must find him." Presea stated.

"Where the hell is Lloyd?" Kratos asked angrily.

"He went into the forest, looking for Genis." Colette said, looking at Kratos expression of anger, and disbelief. He sighed.

"We'll split up, we'll cover more ground if we do it like this." Kratos stated, and everyone nodded.

"Colette you go with Sheena, Regal and Presea will go together, and I shall accompany Raine." Kratos said everyone paired up and went through the forest in different direction. Kratos stood looking at the professor, her silver hair gleaming in the moon's light. He sighed as the half elf walked into the dark forest, hopefully able to find her brother.

Pictures of the recent events swam through Genis's vision, he saw Raine desperately fighting the man, and trying to catch him, but it was too late. He fell through the trees their branches and twigs cutting and scrapping his bare arms, and getting in his silver hair. He landed with a loud thump on his back. Pain coursed through his entire body, and he got up groggily. He shook his head, and pulled out pieces of twigs and leaves from his hair. He sighed and looked around, almost fearful. This is…

"Gaoracchia Forest." he whispered, as he slowly took out his toy kendama, it grew into the full version in his hand. He stepped forward twigs snapping under his feet, he flinched, and a rustling had him turn his head around his blue eyes couldn't see anything in the blanketing darkness. A loud hiss made Genis spin around his body was ridged, the fear he felt, was never so much before, but it was…almost familiar. A laugh, it was a cold merciless laugh, and it made Genis shiver. Red eyes flashed, and he saw out the corner of his eye, he lifted his kendama into the air his mouth open, the mana surging through his body, but he saw, tiny snakes, and he fell backwards.

"W-What are those…" the half elven child cried out as they coiled up his legs, they wrapped themselves tightly around his wrists, a man in all black, with midnight hair stepped out from the forest. He took Genis's kendama from the child's limp hands. He smiled evilly as he looked at it, then the fearful boy. He bent down, his red eyes piercing through any defense the half-elven child had left. Genis's whole body was racked with wave after wave of fear.

"What, what do you want!" Genis cried out trying to run away, but the man appeared in front of him.

"Why, my dear boy…I want you and your power of course." The man stated, and Genis gasped as the man's cold pearl white hands wrapped themselves around his wrists. Genis tried to pull away but something inside of him, made him go limp.

"Ah! N-No, get away from me." Genis said softly, his voice not working, in the man's presence. The man smiled as he ran a finger over Genis's exspehere it glowed a bright blue, and then it began to thrum.

"Don't worry, Genis…you'll be joining your friend Zelos, very shortly." The man whispered into Genis's pointed ear, the half-elven child's eyes widened in fear. Raine…help me, please. Genis thought, and then darkness consumed his vision.

The wind danced through the leaves of the trees in the densely pacted forest. The rustling of the huge oak, and birch leaves broke the quiet forest silence. Kratos walked behind a silent Raine, he'd been eyeing her closely, and she hadn't spoken a word since they entered. He sighed, as he watched her walk carefully over an uprooted tree root. The silver haired half elf paused, and rested against a tree, Kratos walked over to her, and noticed her eyes were wet, and glistening from the sparsely lit forest trail. She turned her head toward him.

"Kratos…am I a bad, sister?" she whispered, looking down at the dirt ground. Kratos stared at her she seemed so sad, and lonely, how could he not notice it before.

"Raine…" he said, as the half elf walked by him, she shook her head and laughed.

"No. Never mind it's not fair for you to…" she stopped as a strong grip from the auburn man's arms spun to face him. His eyes were stern.

"Raine, it's not your fault. I messed up with not telling Sheena, but now I know. You can't blame yourself for this." Kratos said looking at the teary eyed women before him.

"But…but I, I promised to protect him! And now he's gone and all alone!" Raine said covering her face with her hands, as her shoulders shook from her sobs.

"I-I failed him, Kratos…what if that thing turns him into Zelos…what if."

"What if, what if! Why don't you worry about the present, Raine? And after we find Genis you can worry about the future, trust me thinking about the past, only brings more heartache than you need…I would know." Kratos said quietly, as Raine pulled her hands away and looked at the expressionless man before her. She smiled a bit, and Kratos smirked.

"Alright. Let's go." Raine turned around, just in time to see a black mass charging for her. Kratos unsheathed his sword and took the hit from the black serpent. The swordsman flew into a nearby tree with a cry of pain, and his sword went skidding across the dirt ground, he lay unconscious at the base of the tree's gnarled trunk.

"Kratos!" she cried, but a rustling made her turn toward an opening in the forests thick brush, a man, holding in his arms an unconscious half-elven child, stepped out his red eyes flashing.

"GENIS!" She cried as she ran forward, her silver hair sparkling in the light of the moon, she halted as a huge black mass swirled up from the shadows, its red eyes glared at her as she looked up at it. She took a step back, her foot brushing up against something solid. Her eyes looked down, Kratos's sword…She looked up at the snake, it's head was held high it's jaws opened revealing two huge fangs and smaller dagger like rows of teeth. It let out a hiss, it's head flew forward, Raine jumped to the side as the snake's head collide with the earth, she kicked Kratos's sword up into her hand and slammed it down into the snake's head, it let out a hiss, she then raised her staff, and looked at the man who was now running forward his sword brandished. She smiled, I don't think so you abomination.

"Take this! Ray!" The man stopped dead in his tracks his eyes filled with anger, he growled as a huge orb of light erupted above both him and the snake, beams of light fell down crashing into the snakes he body, cutting holes into its black flesh, it let out a hiss of anger, and fury, as its body flailed about trying to avoid the rays. The man jumped backwards lifting his arm up each time a ray flew toward him, a black shield rebounded it, but he was getting weak anyway. Raine during the commotion ran over to Genis, she grabbed his hand holding his exsphere it was still the normal shade of clear blue. Oh thank goddess he's all right. Raine said tears brimming her eyes, as she cradled her brother in her arms. A cold stone like grip cut into her arm, she flinched dropping Kratos's sword, and looked upward to find the man, his red eyes flashing angrily.

"You know, you're very, very, annoying. Also you hurt my summon spirit." He turned to the side to show Raine forcefully his crumpled summon spirit, its body riddled with holes. She observed the man as he stood before her, and he pushed her against a hard tree trunk, his face inches away from hers. Genis was lying on the ground beside them. His grip tightened as he gasped, Raine noticed a red liquid lying on the floor beneath him, he growled. His hand came up and a loud slap resounded through the forest.

"You…insolent, half elf! How dare you hurt me!" he yelled, his eyes flashing. Raine had fallen onto the cold dry earth; she felt something poke her in the back as she fell. She felt around her robes, as she put a hand up to her burning cheek, it was stinging with pain. The man gripped his sword.

"I was going to make you like your brother, but well, no one gets away with this…never." He said raising his silver sword. Raine felt it, a curled horn. The unicorn's horn…this might work… She allowed a little of her mana to flow into the horn, it glowed for an instance, and it vibrated against her back. The man swung downward, his eyes burning with crazed anger. He hit nothing but dirt and looked at Raine she had rolled to the right she stood up in front of Genis's unmoving figure. The man sighed, as he pulled his sword out of the soft earth.

"You're not making this very easy…professor." He said as he appeared behind her, Raine spun around her silver hair flying in the stilled air. The man wrapped a white hand around Genis's limp one.

"NO! Get away from him!" Raine cried out as she pulled out the shining unicorn's horn and in one swift motion stabbed it into the man's hands. He cried out in pain.

"ARGGH!" He jumped backwards into the woods, his eyes glowing red, the unicorn's horn shook as it embedded itself deep and deeper into his flesh.

"You wretched…" the man's head shot to the side.

"GENIS! Professor!" various voice called out, it was Lloyd's, Colette's, and Sheena's.

"Damn it, the summoner. Obsidian come…" the man stated his blood dripping onto the leaves of the surrounding trees. The snake let out a low hiss and evaporated into a black gas, the man did as well. Lloyd bursted through the surrounding plant matter, his swords drawn, he looked at the scene before him. Kratos laid sprawled unconscious against a tree trunk, his sword hand opened. Lloyd looked at the professor, Kratos's sword laid nearby, she looked extremely tired, and she fell but Lloyd ran over and caught her before she hit the ground. Genis lay against the tree, his chest rising and falling steadily.

"Professor!" he said shaking the half elf in his arms.

"Genis…is alright, Lloyd." She said smiling and her blue eyes closed blanketing her vision in complete darkness.