I haven't been getting many reviews from you guys, how sad. Well please read and review, I've posted 19, 20, and 21, hope you like em.

Chapter 19: Dusk and Cliff

Dante's P.O.V

Dante brought Night to a halt; the Stallion heeded its master's commands and stayed where it had been dismounted. Yesterday morning Dante told Aqua to go back to town and get the police up here to this cabin; it had taken him three days since the 22nd to find it, they had had to go very slow so that Aqua could tell whether they were going in the right direction or not, the police would have a hard time with the little person that they were going to see but that would be the way it had to be. Dante had come to a hut at the peak of the mountain; it was all the colours of earth and blended very well with its surroundings. Dante was going to go inside and try and bring Elli out, he planned to gag the person or peoples who had taken her with Dan, but by the tracks Dante had seen on the way, there was one person and a horse; not a very strong horse, perhaps a donkey. Dante sent Bold to watch the goings on inside the house, he was supposed to return if anything happened to Elli; so far the elf-like person had not returned.

6am on 25th Spring: Cliff's P.O.V

Cliff got up that morning very groggily, it had been three days since the cooking festival but the memories of that night still played in his head, it was all he could do not to blush every time he thought about that night or every time he thought about Ann. Cliff turned his head to see Ann lying next to him; still sound asleep by the looks of things. He kissed her cheek and got up and had a shower.

As Cliff went to exit the farmhouse to begin with the days chores he heard footsteps behind him, before he realized who or what it was Ann had spun him around and was kissing him with some strength and vigor. Cliff wrapped his arms around her and held her there for a few moments before pulling away reluctantly and going out to the barn.

Four hours later

Cliff had taken off his shirt and was milking the last cow at 10am. He finished milking her and the harvest Sprites took her and put her back in the barn. Dante had left him with twenty cows and sheep; ten of each, and ten chickens. There were plants to be watered and also the fish had to be fed, for some reason Dante had made it clear that he did not want the fish to die, Cliff was not about to let his best friend down so he walked over and fed the fish. Dante had some fifty odd fish, Cliff found it hard to believe so many could live in that small pond.

Cliff walked into the house to get the watering can out of the toolbox. He saw Ann out of the corner of his eye doing her hair; he walked over and stood behind her as she brushed it. Cliff picked up her thick hair and parted it into three separate chunks, he then plated her hair as he was used to seeing her do before they were officially going out together. Ann looked at him in puzzlement as he tied white ribbons at the top and bottom of the plat; she looked just like she used to, she definitely looked good like that. Ann was still looking at him he realized and he bent and kissed her.

"You look beautiful now like you always have, grab your jeans and yellow T-shirt and put them on, I need your help outside with the horse, I know your good with animals" Cliff said into her ear.

"Are you sure, I thought I looked better with my hair down, are you sure I'm pretty enough for you just as I always have been?" Ann said to him looking up at him, as if to reassure her he swept her up out of the chair and kissed her deeply. When he sat her down she looked pleased and she went off to get changed into her jeans and yellow shirt.

Cliff went outside and went into the stables; he grabbed the animals' reigns and walked it outside into a pen he had built for Dante's cows and sheep. The animal didn't resist, it seemed almost eager for affection, though it also seemed scared he would hurt it, it was a very confused horse. Cliff had spent the last few days with the horse, just sitting and talking to it, stroking it's mane, patting it's back. He intended to ride the animal today, he intended to prove it was tame, and after that he would claim the horse as his own. Dante would not mind keeping it at the farm for a while, Cliff could keep and use the horse while he helped Dante on the farm; Dante had made a promise that there was always a place for Cliff to work at the farm if he so desired.

Cliff put the animal inside the pen and let go of the reigns. The animal trotted around the inner rim of the pen and nibbled on some of the grass. Cliff watched the animal and waited for the to settle so that he could attempt to ride it. Soon he heard Ann who was standing on the other side of the pen, she would watch; there was not much else she could do. The horse stopped trotting around the pen and seemed to walk slowly towards Cliff as if expecting Cliff to talk to it again today, it seemed it was warming up to him.

Cliff was about to try and mount the stallion when he heard Ann say she was going with the Sprites into the forest to have a look at their house. Cliff waved her goodbye and concentrated on the stallion standing looking into his eyes, it was reading and judging him. Cliff felt unsettled by the stare but he could not pull his eyes away, he had to stare the stallion down. The stallion dragged its eyes away first and Cliff could feel its uneasiness, he did not think today would be the best day to try to ride the animal. He knew he only had one chance, if he tried too soon the stallion would not trust him afterwards, if he waited and comforted it enough it would trust him solely.

In the end Cliff ended up sitting back and comforting the stallion more, there was no rush to ride him, Cliff had all the time in the world to try to ride him, why rush the animal?

At Dusk that evening

Cliff had sat and patted the stallion until dusk and was ready to put him back into the stables, Cliff tossed the rope that had been used to tie the horse to the side of the pen near him over his shoulder. He saw the saddle sitting over the side of the pen, for a moment he thought about saddling the stallion and trying to ride him, but he dismissed the thought, what if it was too soon?

As Cliff went to open the pen gate some of the Sprites came rushing back towards him. Cliff's heart skipped a beat, if they were back so as Ann, he hadn't realized how much he had missed her. At a glance the Sprites looked like they were running and having a race, but at longer inspection Cliff could see that the Sprites were worried. Soon Chef came up and yelled to Cliff.

"Cliff, Master Cliff! It's Ann, she's hurt, she tripped and fell in the river, she couldn't swim very well and she is now floating towards the waterfall unconscious, you have to help her!" Chef was rather worried, he liked Ann, and Ann was troubled. Cliff whistled to Fable and told her to take the Sprites and find Ann and howl when she found her. Cliff knew roughly where Ann would have fallen and knew roughly where she would be with the river rapids going as fast as they did at dusk. The thought made Cliff realize he would not make it to her by foot, and Fable could not save her on her own.

Cliff looked into the eyes of the stallion and saw something there, as if the stallion could see in his eyes that he was worried deeply. Cliff stared into those eyes and stroked the horse's nose.

"Please…." Was all Cliff said.

He could not wait any longer, if this was too soon then Ann was doomed, if this were too soon this horse would have to be put down because it would not trust anyone. Cliff looked at the saddle and dismissed it; there was not enough time to saddle the horse. Fable and the Sprites were gone, there was no time to let them try and do it alone, Fable could be lost if she tried to do it on her own. Cliff saw that his only chance was bare backed on this stallion, he had to do it, he had to do it for Ann.

Cliff pushed himself onto the stallions back and held onto its' mane. The animal reared and neighed and nearly tossed Cliff off, Cliff could lose everything if this was too soon; Ann and this horse were all he had, light and Goddess please let this not be too soon.

"Please…"Cliff whispered as the animal reared onto its' hind legs.

Suddenly the animal pushed both feet to the ground and galloped off in the direction Cliff had been trying to make him go. He heeled the animal softly to make it go faster as he led it through the forest, this must be the shortest way to the river before it reached the waterfall. Suddenly he heard Fable's howl and led the horse in that direction, the horse seemed to go faster when it felt Cliffs tears on its' neck. He only hoped that Ann would be ok.

Cliff and the horse emerged from the forest to see the river; it was rather wide; Cliff scanned it frantically for Ann. He found Ann right smack-bang in the middle with the waterfall not too far ahead, Fable was already in the water trying to help Ann but she could not swim against the rapids.

Cliff pulled the rope from his shoulder and tied it into a lasso shape; he stuck the loop around the stallion's neck and another loop around his waist. He then dived into the water and swam across to Ann, she was unconscious and Fable was tiring. Cliff looked at the stallion in hopes the animal would understand his need for it to pull him to shore. He met the stallion's eyes again and he called out to it.

"Please, pull us in, please" Cliff pleaded as he looked over his shoulder to see the waterfall only meters away, he whistled to the horse to see if that had any effect. The stallion turned and for a minute Cliff thought they were all doomed, but then the it turned back and slowly backed up; pulling Fable, Ann and himself towards the shore. At the shore the Sprites took Ann and tended to her, Fable rested her head in her paws and Cliff gave her a treat.

'Thank you girl, you did well Fable, Dante will be pleased" Her ears perked up at her owners name and she licked Cliff's face. He turned to the horse and smiled.

"Thank you boy, I couldn't have done it without you either, we were doomed without your help" Cliff patted the animals nose and the animal seemed, well…happy. Cliff looked at Ann and looked at the sun setting. The name hit him. He turned the stallion.

"Thank you Dusk" Dusk whinnied and neighed with approval and Cliff hugged his neck. Finally, Cliff had a family. He picked Ann up and put her on Dusk's back with him. All the Sprites jumped onto Dusk's back with Ann and himself and he led them all home at a trot. Ann became conscious half way back to the farm. She took one look at Cliff and one look at Dusk and she mirrored Cliff's feelings, she finally had a full family.

Cliff put Ann to bed as soon as they got home and fed Fable. Cliff went to put the stallion back into the stable but looked up at it; Dusk was a tall horse and quite easily matched Night for strength. The stallion frisked and danced and Cliff laughed. He grabbed the saddle and bridles and put them on Dusk. He put his foot in the stirrup and swung up onto Dusk's back, he heeled the animal to a gallop and found Fable running alongside them. It was almost night, but there was still a good hour left of dusk and light. Dusk, Fable and himself on Dusk's back ran through the woods and shared their glee with the forest as they raced through for no purpose other than to feel the cool breeze and the feel of the Earth moving beneath them. For that moment he felt he could fly.

That's 19 out of the way, please R&R