~~~~ JACK ~~~~
"Gather around little ones," we heard as we were going around with our young, naïve lives. His voice got our attention and he smiled as we all lifted our heads in synergy.
We all found a way to him; crawling, walking, or being carried by mama's arms. Each of us was eager to have his full attention set upon us.
This man of such respect and power to us, whose dark brown eyes shined and equally dark brunette hair swayed as his head shook of laughter.
This man, whose back was crooked and whose hands were scarred.
Whose brand-new blue baseball cap was the youngest thing about him.
Whose love stood stronger than any force we knew.
Our father.
Pete Arnold Royale.
As I said, each of us found a way to him. Slowly, but surely.
The first born son reached him first, running as fast as his 8-year-old legs could carry him. My brother, James Tyler Royale, who shared dad's eyes and hair.
My 2-year-old sister reached him a second before me. Jillian Cathleen Royale, sporting lighter brown locks and strange violet colored orbs. She always had to be first, ever since she was born one minute earlier than me.
Our youngest and last was only just born, and had to be carried in mother's warm embrace. Claire Olivia Royale, resembling our mother's same golden tresses and sapphire gems of eyes.
Mama, Stephanie Charlotte Royale, took a seat next to Daddy, smiling at our smallest of family members.
As for me, I looked a lot like Jill face wise, but James hair and eye wise. I was the only one Claire looked related to. Two years old, and so full of wonder, full of life.
My name is Jackson Charles Royale. Most call me Jack.
James sat upon the arm of the chair, Claire was huddled in Mama's arms with Jill in her lap, and Daddy reached down and plucked me up, resting on his strong legs.
James was the only one old enough to know what was happening, for he had gone through it before. Jill and I watched with curiosity, and Claire took to grasping and releasing Daddy's shirt with her tiny infant hands.
Looking at us with pure love, he took a deep breath and spoke, his voice sending images into our heads that only our imaginations could conjure.
"As you know, my children, we did not always live in this apartment," he began, James nodding and the rest of us holding in our oxygen.
"You see, my parents, Oma and Opa, owned a farm in a town named Mineral Town when I was born; I am the youngest of my family, the fourth son."
His voice captivated our young minds, enough to keep toddlers still and quiet; a near impossibility for most.
"That farm is still in our family today. Before I met your mother, I hadn't lived anywhere else my entire eighteen years."
He paused to take Mama's hand and squeeze it gently, and they shared an adoring look with each other. She kissed his cheek and he continued, keeping his gaze locked onto hers.
"She was the greatest thing that ever happened to me, next to you guys. Who knew that one trip to the city would change my life forever.
"We fell in love. What more is there to say? Within six months Father Conrad, with his son Carter carrying our blue feather, married us. I was on cloud nine.
"Your uncles had already married and moved out. Oma and Opa had built a home for us next to the blacksmith, and we lived there until James was three.
"It was hard at first. We all loved it there. But I learned early in my life I wasn't cut out to be a farmer. We moved to the city where I became an Architect and she a pilot. Our lives were good, and we were happy. Our happiness only grew as we added three more souls into this world."
We all looked at each other and smirked, shoving each other playfully and giggling. Daddy grinned and ruffled his eldest' hair.
"But I promised Opa I wouldn't forget to tell you all of the truth of our religion. We, my precious ones, are Harvesters. Meaning, we believe and follow the path of the Harvest King and the Harvest Goddess."
James smiled in acknowledgement, while Jill and I tilted our heads in confusion. Even baby Claire seemed to understand and was watching with wide-open eyes.
"The Harvest King is our God. He watches over the well-being of the world and uses his powers to protect the land and its inhabitants. He has long ruby red hair that crackles with lightening running through it, dark golden eyes and a majestic robe of power, with an aura of static swirling around him. He is all-powerful; none are to question his judgments.
"He ruled with only his wife by his side, The Harvest Queen, for many eons. The Queen has long, lush aqua hair that split into two tails that join together at her calves, forming a loop. Two long braids sprout from the top of her ears to her breasts; her eyes are the same shade as her hair. Her wings are long, rounded at the tips, and are tinted to the color of her hair. Her gown resembles a waterfall the way it pools at her feet and moves like waves off the sea. Golden jewelry graces her forehead, neck, waist and wrists. She is nearly as strong as the King.
"Then, he became a father. The Queen birthed him two daughters, two hundred years apart, both entirely immortal and with their own unique powers.
"What the children are named we have never known, but the eldest was given the title 'Witch Princess', and the youngest was bestowed 'The Harvest Goddess'.
"The Princess had strikingly golden, curly locks; and dark, glowing crimson eyes. Her sister had just as beautifully straight, snow-white hair; and bright, shinning white eyes. By the time the two sisters were full-grown, they had mastered their powers.
"The Princess had devoted her life to Witch Craft, causing mayhem and evil to spread into the world. Her hair had grown waist length and full of volume, her clothing consisting of stockings and cloaks and bags of spells.
"The Goddess had become her title as well, caring for the land even more fierce than her parents. Her hair had remained straight as rain, reaching her ankles, and she had crystal angel wings and a long golden robe.
"The two were like ying-and-yang; evil and good, light and dark. The Princess and Goddess were always undoing each other's work in a constant bit of jealous rivalry over their parent's love. But, as the Witch was evil, it was painfully obvious whom the King and Queen approved of the most.
"And that spelled unavoidable disaster.
"Overtaken by jealousy, the Princess had isolated her sister, and thrown a mortality spell upon her. The Goddess had glowed a brilliant white, the light becoming so bright it was more blinding than the sun.
"In a panic, the King threw a bolt of lightening into the light while the Queen looked on in horror. A loud snap was heard four times, and the light grew even brighter in a final explosion.
"When the light had faded, the parents sighed in relief as they felt their daughter's immortality intact, but were stunned as they saw what he had happened. The Princess shrieked in horror and utter hatred.
"The Goddess had split into four different beings. All were the same person; and yet each their own. One by one they came forward and greeted their mother and father.
"The first to step forward had shining magenta locks that waved and reached her shoulders, with a long ankle-length braid in the center. Her eyes glowed the exact same shade as her hair. She had small, pixel like wings and a gown that resembled a look of leaves tinted to all seasons. A headband of multi-colored flowers adorned her head.
"The second was not as grand, for she had no wings. Dark, thin emerald hair formed two buns above each ear, where a knee-length braid sprouted from the right bun; her eyes were a crystalline blue. She wore an ocean blue top that covered her breasts but bore her stomach bare. A skirt of the same shade covered her feet, and hung from a ruby red belt, where a golden pendant hung from the center. Golden cuffs were clasped to her wrists, and a pale blue sawn was resting on her shoulders.
"The third had tiny wings like a newborn butterfly. Her dark violet hair had similar buns like the third, but two braids fell to her knees, not one; her eyes were a muted cherry. A symbol of a red spade was tattooed onto her forehead, and rich red grapes hung from her buns. Her dress was white, but shined with all colors in the sun, and was thin and floor length, with a sparkling wrap opening up from the waist. An unidentifiable bracelet hung from her left wrist.
"The final Goddess had dark amethyst hair, which reached into twin braids that stretched to the floor; her eyes, although the same shade, had no pupils; only the color. She wore earrings of twisted gold and pearls, and her wings were long, tinted green, and thin, but pointed like a shard of crystal. Ting wings shaded like the others fluttered like a giant butterfly, resting on the back of her head. The sleeves of her gown were like forest vines, wrapping around her arms until they met at her breasts, where the dress turned white. As the folds wrapped around and around her, reaching the floor, the dress grew more and more purple. A pink diamond rested on her forehead, and twin swirls branched to cover the rest of it.
"The King and Queen looked upon them in amazement. They knew their daughter was still there, but they could not grasp her being four different beings.
"The Princess was furious. What had meant to leave her with a mortal sister that could be killed, had left her with four immortal versions of the sister she loathed with her very existence.
"The King was even more furious at his daughter's attempt, and disowned her. Shamed and filled with hatred, she fled her home. Unfortunately, the King left her with her powers and immortality, knowing that the world had to have evil in it.
"Wanting her daughter back, the Queen was unable to return the Goddess into her former self. She used her powers to have the four merge back together, but in a different way. Like how the four seasons come and go depending on where they are, the Goddess would change into one of the four forms depending on where she was. The King set up different spots in the world for her to live and protect more closely, land he was most fond of.
"And so the world continues to where it is today, with the King, Queen and Goddess watching over us, and the Witch Princess causing mayhem and tragedy.
"It is believed that the second form of the Goddess is in the Spring in Mineral Town, and so her followers moved to the area and formed the town there today. That is the town where I grew up; it is the place that made me a Harvester.
"However; there is a place Takakura, an old friend of mine, and I discovered a few years back. It is a town with a Spring, believed to be another home of the second formed Goddess. More followers moved there and set up the village of Forget-Me-Not Valley, a five-hour walk or an hour boat ride to Mineral Town.
"You see, Takakura and I found an old abandoned farm there. We both discussed it and decided that one day we would come work the old farm together.
"Perhaps in a few years, my young ones, that will be our new home. We have a great life here, but your father has not fully given up on his farmer roots. Won't that be something?"
Jill and I were so mesmerized by the story; we didn't realize Papa was finished. James clapped and cheered with enthusiasm, and we blinked back into reality. Claire had tilted her head thoughtfully, before blowing a spit bubble and laughed when it popped.
Father smiled at us and ruffled my hair, before turning to Mommy with a strange look. She returned the look, and they rose up with us, their hands still intertwined. They took us to our room and kissed us all good night. As they went to their bedroom, we stood up on our tippy-toes to see Daddy pull Mama in for a big kiss before slamming the door shut. We tried to hear what they were doing, but they had put on our lullaby music and we couldn't do it.
"…Jacky?" Jill whispered next to me.
"Yes?" I asked, the music already taking its toll on me.
"…What does 'immortal' mean?" she said, even quieter.
I thought about it. I didn't know.
"I don't know, Pony," I admitted.
She was quiet for a minute. Then we heard from James's bed, "It means you never grow older. You never get old, or hungry, or sick, and you can't die."
"Can't die?" Jill and I whispered together.
"Yes," he clarified, "Can't die."
"Oh."
We were silent again, thinking about what that meant. But we never got far; the music finally won after a few more minutes.
I continued to be the only one Claire looked related to. Jill continued to be the only one James looked related to. And Jill and I remained looking like the twins we are.
We went to school. Had our hearts broken. Crashed the car on our first try. Stood up for one another and occasionally beat up a bully.
We lived our lives.
Then one day, Papa died in a building accident.
He never did move to the Valley he always talked about.
-—-—-—-—-
"I can't take it anymore!" he screamed with anger and sadness. His fists slammed into the table and a single tear escaped his right eye.
We looked up from our work at him. "James, what is it?" Jill asked in concern, putting down her textbook and getting up out of her chair. Claire paused her music and took off her headphones, her eyes curious and scared. I placed my glue bottle on the table and went to comfort her.
He held his hand up, asking her to stop. She did. "James, you're scaring me," she said in a worried whisper.
He breathed in heavily, releasing his breath in a jagged sob. He kept looking down at the table.
"I can't stay here anymore," he chocked out.
Our eyes grew wide; Claire began to whimper against my arms.
"Bro-," I began, but he cut me off, whipping his head around to face me, eyes full of fire and grief.
"Don't 'Bro' me, Jack! I can't stay here where everything reminds me of him!" he screeched. "I can't stay in a place where a man a loved died before his dream was realized!"
Claire's eyes were tearing up now; she hasn't been the same since Father died last year either.
James's breath was rough and coarse. He looked at each of us, one at a time; slowly his anger retreated from his eyes, but the sadness remained.
"I'm nineteen now. I have to leave anyways," he whispered.
He leaned against the table with his arms, raising one to his face to wipe his tears away. He let out a shaky breath.
"I'll… go to that place… Forget-Me-Not… and I'll run that farm for Dad… yeah, that's it… like he always wanted. I never really liked college anyways."
He stopped breathing. So did we.
A smile spread across his face; a smile I haven't seen on him in over a year.
"That's it!" he shouted, jumping up from the table suddenly, causing us all to take a step back. "I'll move to the farm!" he cheered, running to Jill and sweeping her up in circle before putting her down. She was stunned with shock before she smiled and laughed with him.
He ran to me and gave me a head noggie, ripping Claire from my arms to place a kiss on each of her cheeks, getting a giggle out of her. He ran up the stairs, shouting, "Mom! Mom! Where's my suitcase?"
-—-—-—-—-
Her hands gripped the paper in front of her; she stood in my doorway, her head hung low.
"Claire-Bear?" I asked, seeing her there.
She shuffled towards me, her head still down. "Jackie?" she began, her voice tiny and uncertain.
"What is it baby?" I responded, pulling her close to me so she was sitting on my bed with me. Then I looked at what she was holding. It was Oma and Opa's will.
"What's this for hun?" I asked softly.
She didn't answer for some time. Then, in a small voice, "You know how Oma and Opa left us their farm in Mineral Town?"
"Yes?"
She bit her lip and chewed it for a minute. "Jackie," she breathed, "I want to move there."
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. She was only eighteen; she wanted to take a farm on by herself already?
"Are you sure, sweetie?" I asked. "You know running a farm takes a lot of work."
She nodded, her voice stronger. "James left when he was a year older than me. I can handle this."
I smiled and kissed her head, holding her closer, not wanting to let go.
"I know you can," I whispered. "You're a Royale; it's in our blood."
-—-—-—-—-
"I feel so lost, Jack," she sighed, plopping herself down on the couch, her hand covering her eyes.
I looked down at her; she was holding a picture of Mom. I understood and sat next to her, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and rubbing her arm.
"I just don't know what to do with my life anymore," she said, her voice muffled by her hand. She removed it and sighed, resting her head on my shoulder. "I've done my four years of college; I've gotten all our debts paid from Mom's battle with cancer. I just don't know what to do anymore."
"There's nothing wrong with that, Jill," I told her. "You just haven't decided what to do with your life yet."
"Shouldn't I have?" she said exasperated. "James is a married twenty-eight year old man with a six-year-old son and a successful business; Claire is a newlywed with an infant daughter and a successful business, and she's only twenty! I'm twenty-two years old, and still living in my childhood home!"
"So am I," I remind her. She pouts and crosses her arms across her chest.
"I pray to the King every night," she whispers. "I pray for him to show me my path in life. But he never shows me."
"It's not for him to show," I tell her, squeezing her closer. "It's for you to find out."
Hi. My name is Jackson Charles Royale.
This isn't a story about me. Oh no.
This is a story of us.
James, Jill, Jack, and Claire;
Our lives, loves, hopes and dreams.
This Journey is ours.
But it begins with me.