OK, I know it's been kinda confusing, the two stories, as soon as you guys know to read this one, the other will be deleted so bear with me. Sorry for taking so long for this one but I had a lot to do. Here is chapter 16.

Chapter 16: To find you

Dante returned to the bedroom where Elli would have been and sat and stared at the empty bed, he shouted Elli's name a few times as well. Elli wasn't there, neither was Dan. Dante thought that perhaps Dan had gone home, people had seen him going with his horse to the docks. Dante had no idea where he should look for Elli first; his heart ached for her already.

Dante sat and stared a framed photo of Elli and himself, they looked good together. Tears came to his eyes, looking into the eyes of the picture, not knowing where she was or where she had gone. She had left him, just like Karen. He was not going to let Elli just walk out though, he was going to track her down.

"I'LL FIND YOU ELLI!" He screamed, tears rolling down his cheeks.

"You won't find her here" Said a small voice.

"Who are you?" Said Dante angrily as he looked around to find no one.

"I am a Harvest Sprite, I am Aqua, I know where Miss Elli is" Said the same small voice.

Dante found the little elf figure and frantically asked where Elli was, how long she had been gone and how Dante could find her. The little figure said that they would find her together, but preparations would have to be made to take care of the farm while they were not there. Dante realised that Aqua was wearing an aqua suite, but it was not plain, it had embroidery on it, it did not make a difference to anything, but it was not exactly what he had heard that the Sprites wore.

"Well man, out with it, where is she, how can I find her, I must find her immediately!" Said Dante in a rush of fury and sobs.

"Do not be silly, leaving the farm in this state and gallivanting off to find Mistress Elli will not save anyone, especially when you find her and bring her back to an abandoned farm, after all, you have no idea where she is and how long it might take to find her" Said the Sprite in a matter-of-fact tone. The Sprite was calm and relaxed, not at all like it was said this particular Sprite was.

"Then what do you propose for the farm before we leave?" Said Dante irritably, he knew the Sprite talked sense, but would sense be enough to help him find and save Elli?

Aqua and Dante discussed the situation and what could be done about it. It was 10pm when they had finally decided on what must be done and the idea of putting the plan into action that very minute was set in Dante's head. Dante went outside and got onto Night's back, the Sprite insisted on riding under Dante's cap, that way if Dante became hotheaded and messed things up the Sprite could calm him without being seen. For some reason the Sprite seemed set on keeping hidden. Dante set Night to a canter as he went through the village in the dark. The animal was not worried at all in not knowing where it was going, it trusted Dante fully and was prepared to walk into a wall if that was where Dante decided to lead him. Dante healed Night to a stop in front of Doug's Inn and moved him under shelter. It had started to rain, that was going to put a halt to everything, if Dante let it.

Dante barged into Cliff's room and explained the situation to Cliff. Cliff insisted that Elli was like a younger sister to him and he would have done it for Dante for free but Dante persisted that Cliff would be in control of everything while Dante was gone. Cliff was already packing his bags when Dante came in, why did not matter to Dante at that present moment. Dante signed some papers so that people would understand that Cliff was in charge until he got back, he also told Cliff that as soon as he returned Cliff could have a permanent place at the farm, Dante and Elli would be happy to have him and his help would be paid for and appreciated.

Cliff left for the farm and Dante left for the Sprite's house, wherever that was. Aqua told Dante which way to turn and how far to go all the way to a small hut. The hut was tall but not very wide, about the size of a tall cubby house. Dante left Nght under a tree and entered the hut with Aqua walking at his side. He entered to find that the house was very simple. A table with seven chairs, a kitchen, a bathroom, and seven beds; very simple.

Aqua explained the situation to the rest of the Sprites. They seemed to be eager to help Dante, even if it was for Elli's sake. Dante did not care at the moment, he just needed them to help. They all jumped into Dante's rucksack except for Aqua, who rode in Dante's hat. Dante put Night at a gallop to get back to the farm before the rain got even heavier.

Dante reached the farm at 12am; he was falling down all over the place. Dante was weary from the day's woodcutting and the riding in and out of town on Night. Cliff could see Dante's inability to do anything at that time so Cliff came and took the reigns of Night and placed him in the stable. Then Cliff came back and helped Dante into the double bed in the bedroom. Dante could not stop his eyes from closing.

The next morning at 6am

Dante awoke to find Cliff already out and about, said he wanted to get an early start that morning. The Sprites were helping Cliff out as well, they seemed to be getting along well. Dante dressed and ate and was ready to leave by 8am. Dante exited the house to go and get Night saddled up. Bold approached him with Aqua at his side.

"Hello there Mr Dante, I have heard from my brother Aqua that you are searching for a Mistress Elli, is it? Well I would like to join you. I am a courageous Sprite, and I would like to join you. Nothing much exciting happens in this little village, and not meaning any disrespect for your cause when I say this but I think that this would be a very exciting task to take on. A much better task than taking care of sheep and cattle that is for sure!" The little elf figure raced through his words as though he had to get them out there and then in a great hurry.

"I have no objections to your coming with me though I must ask if you other brothers will be able to manage without both Aqua and yourself" Said Dante calmly.

"Well, let me tell you this, one thing about my brothers that they might not write in books. We are a team, just the seven of us, though we are small in size, there is non in the land who can match our ability to tend to animals, we were…born…for the sole task of running and helping in taking care of farms. My brother Chef will cook and clean without Aqua, they usually do that together, the rest of my brothers will take care of the animals and have it done in no time at all" Said the Sprite full of pride and quite satisfied with his little speech.

"Well in that case, I am not fused. Please ask Cliff for permission to leave though; he will need help on the farm. Make sure your brothers know that he is in charge and what he asks them to do must be done" Said Dante, he was a little worried that they might rebel against what Cliff said, but from what he had seen, they had taken a liking to Cliff.

The Sprite agreed and he and Aqua went off to inform Cliff of what would be happening. Cliff soon came up to Dante holding Night's reigns in his hands. Cliff smiled at Dante and thanked him for giving him a job so that he could stay in Mineral Town. Dante hugged Cliff and assured him that if he ever needed any help he should ask it of Dante. Dante and Cliff soon stopped hugging and swapped information. Dante picked up Aqua and Bold and sat them on his shoulders. Dante climbed onto Nights back and saw that Fable came up and was trotting alongside Night. Dante hopped back on the ground.

"You can't come girl, people in other towns just wouldn't understand. Stay here and be a good girl for Cliff, O.K.?" Said Dante lightly, he already missed Fable. Fable licked his face and went and sat at Cliff's side, she looked a little downcast, but Dante could not take her.

On the way to the docks Aqua explained that he could feel the general direction and area in which Elli was through a personal reminder of her. Dante had no idea what that reminder might be but Aqua assured him that he had one. Bold sat on Dante's shoulder and began to whistle a tune that Dante and Aqua knew. They rode along to the docks whistling and laughing together.

At the docks Dante got down off Night and led him up the stairs to the ship. Aqua and Bold hid in Dante's cap and talked amongst themselves in a tone too low for even him to hear exactly what they had been saying. Dante put Night in the onboard stables and took up a cabin that he had hired for the entire trip. This was going to be his second time on a boat since the "awakening" Dante sat and thought about it for a while before he curled up on the cabin bed and fell asleep.