Crash

Hybrid Fairy

Note: This is the first in a series of five very short stories, centering the five original woman of the very first Harvest Moon on SNES. I tried to stay close to their original characters, but I haven't played the game in a long time, and I've long-sold my SNES, so what can I say? I'm a little rusty.

"It's cold," she breathed.

It was Winter. Ann didn't enjoy winter entirely; the grease gelled and the metal became hard to work with. Her hands became dry and stiff. She sneezed, wiping her nose with the sleeve of her brown shirt. Darn the cold.

It had been about two years since the new farmer had come. Ryan, she recalled with a smile. He was lean and slightly muscled, with a sweet face. The way he was kind to animals made her heart jump.

And he was always willing to help her with a new invention.

She brushed back her thick red hair. Of course, there was the fact he counted her as a friend, nothing more. She was always used to being thought of as a guy; she acted like one, that was for sure. Blinking, she eyed the screw-and-metal contraption in front of her, poking it gingerly with a screwdriver.

"Good afternoon, Ann!" a familiar voice sang out.

She froze. Oh god. She squeezed her eyes shut, then turned slowly to face Ryan. He was grinning, wearing a thick sweater she /knew/ had come from Nina. In his large hands was a box, with the emblem of Ellen's bakery. Ann hid her discomfort, and smiled warmly.

"Hey Ryan!" she greeted. "I hope you put your animals in the barn."

"Of course," he scoffed. "Who do you think I am, a cruel animal-killer?"

Ann rolled her eyes. "What's that in the box?"

For some reason, Ryan flushed slightly. "Ah, it's cake. I bought some and I was wondering… if you weren't busy, but…"

"You wanted to know if I had time to eat it with you?" Ann asked suspiciously. No, that'd be too good to be true!, she reminded herself.

"Exactly!" Ryan grinned. He flipped open the top, revealing a decadent chocolate cake. Her favorite. Her heart leapt in her throat.

"Wow, it's so much!" she breathed. "Thanks, Ryan!"

He beamed, fishing out two forks from the side of the container. "Let's dig in!" he announced, setting the cake on a worktable. "The year's almost over, and I need to relax."

Ann smiled, gently, and took the fork he offered her. With a grin, she took a piece and bit it quickly, raising her eyes… and seeing Ryan was staring at her.

"What, do I have something on my face?" she asked worriedly, dropping her fork to rub her face of any frosting. She cursed mildly as she picked up her fork again when he shook his head, amused.

"Well, there's something I've been meaning to do," Ryan said slowly.

He began to fish around in his pockets. Ann raised her eyebrow, studying him: what was he doing? She noted the way he bit his lip, the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. The thick, brown hair that fell into his face, the large eyes the color of the blackest night.

Something in his hand flickered an azure shade… no…

"There you go!" he said finally, fishing out the feather. Ann froze. It was like a dream come true. Raising her eyes, she noticed he was blushing furiously.

"I-I really like you… Ann…" he fumbled. "And well… I want to ask you something."

"Anything," she said listlessly.

He smiled, gently. "Do you think Nina would accept this from me?"

Crash.

All of Ann's future inventions and dreams fell in a collapsed heap in her brain. There was a little voice, taunting her, saying "I told you so!" She felt numb for a moment; this wasn't real, was it? But it was. Of course. She smiled gently, softly, trying to carry herself up again.

"Of course," Ann replied softly. "I know I would."

Fin.