Note from the author: I don't own Harvest Moon or the lovely picture for this story. Credit goes to the respectful owners.
Some of the pairings are a bit weird but I have a few ideas in store for them. ;) I also apologize for having so many lines in the chapter. I just felt like it made the story flow a bit better. Anyways feel free to let me know what you think and enjoy.
Mayor Hamilton had a plan. He could get the young adults of the island paired up in no time. "A friendly series of competitions ought to do the trick." He chuckled to himself. "Now my boy can finally get himself hitched. Any girl will do. This is going work out perfectly." Little did the mayor actually know just how well his little plan would work.
The next morning the bachelors and bachelorettes of Castanet were called out to the Church grounds. This included the islands four farmer siblings Kasey, Kevin, Molly, and Angela. The Witch Princess and Wizard also made an appearance. Though the Harvest God and Goddess were nowhere to be seen. No one knew exactly what Hamilton gathered them for, not even his own son, Gill.
"Welcome to the Castanet Couples Challenge." Hamilton announced.
"What are you talking about, father? There are no couples here." Gill asked.
"Let me get to that my boy." Hamilton replied. "I have created a friendly competition for you all to compete in. You will all be paired up, hence the couple challenge. The winning pair will receive a fabulous prize."
"Father, this idea is absurd. I have to obj-" Gill started.
"This will be a required event for all of you to participate in." Hamilton announced. There was a loud groan through the crowd and a few shouts of protest.
"Hey, what's the prize anyway, Hammy?" Kasey shouted. Everyone turned to face him. Molly hit him in side for calling the mayor Hammy to his face. "Ow!"
"I'm glad someone's into the competition," Hamilton said, disregarding the nickname. "Every pair walks away with a smaller prize, but the winners will get a prize so magnificent that it makes me want to enter myself."
Kasey opened his mouth to speak, but Molly quickly placed her hand over his mouth. "Will this interfere with our daily chores? My siblings and I need to tend to our farm daily." Angela asked.
"No, not at all Angela. You will have plenty of time. The events are spread throughout the week." Hamilton replied. "Any more questions?" No one spoke up. "Okay. Ladies, if you will please follow me. Gentlemen please stay here." Hamilton guided the girls back towards town, leaving the guys wondering what was going on.
"I apologize for my father's strange behavior. I can try to talk him out of his plan later." Gill said.
"I say we just bolt now." Owen said.
Kasey smirked. "Are you afraid to lose in a little competition?"
"Of course not. It's obvious that I will win." Owen retorted.
"This is a waste of time. I'm leaving." Chase stated bluntly, before Kasey could retaliate.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The Wizard said. Everyone stared at him. Chase raised a brow. The Wizard sighed and pointed at a few trees. "You see the Mayor has left a few cameras around to keep an eye on us." Everyone stared.
"So I guess this means we're stuck. " Calvin said.
"Why are you guys so down about this? It's going to be EXTREME!" Luke said, giving Kasey a high five.
"Anyway, shouldn't we be wondering who our 'partners' are going to be?" Kasey asked. This statement caught everyone's attention. "Personally, I'll take any of the girls, except my bratty sisters."
"What do you mean bratty? Angela is awesome." Luke said. Everyone laughed. They already knew about Luke's huge crush on Angela. Luke, now realizing what he said, added. "Molly's cool too."
"I just hope I don't get paired up with Maya." Chase said. "She drives me nuts."
"I hope to get my beloved Candace." Julius said. Kasey's eyes opened a little and he walked over to Kevin. He pulled out 200G and handed it to his brother. Kevin smiled at his winnings from the bet he and his brother had placed to whether or not Julius was gay. They made the bet immediately after finding out, two seasons after meeting him, that Julius was in fact a guy, not a girl.
"I guess he is straight." Kasey mumbled, out of anyone's earshot.
Before the boys could continue their conversation, Hamilton came to fetch them. "Follow me boys. Your partner challenge awaits." The group approached a massive maze along the beach in town.
"Was this here this morning?" Kevin asked. Everyone shook their head and shrugged.
"Okay boys here are the rules. You will all enter the maze. The first young lady you find will be your partner. Once you find a partner you will be directed out of the maze. No cheating, you are being monitored. Please line up on that line." The boys gathered around the line. "Ready set, GO!"
Luke pressed through the crowd and sprinted. He heard someone shout his name and turned, still running backwards. He saw Owen and Kasey sprinting towards him. Luke turned into the nearest path and turned just in time to knock a girl to the ground.
"Angela?"
"Hi Luke. Umm do you mind getting off of me?" Luke looked at their position. His face turned red and he immediately got up. He extended a hand and helped pull Angela up too.
"Luke and Angela have been paired." A loud voice boomed. The pair looked around for the source of the voice. They spotted a giant megaphone towards the center of the maze. A small beep came from one of the walls as it slowly lifted providing an exit.
"I guess we get out here." Angela said. Luke nodded as they headed off to the beach.
Kasey and Owen were still trying to outsprint each other. They finally got tired and started to walk.
Luna and Selena had found each other during the maze and stayed together. They heard voices approaching. They figured it was the blacksmith and one of the farmers.
"Where is Gill? He's supposed to find me." Luna whined.
"Shush, they are going to hear us." Selena whispered.
"Do you hear something?" Kasey asked.
"Yeah voices coming from over there." Owen replied.
They got closer to where the two girls were. "Sorry Selena, but I really need Gill to find me." Luna whispered as she pushed Selena forward from their hiding spot and ran off. Selena landed in a pair of arms.
"Wow Sel, you're really falling for me." Kasey joked, as he straightened her up. She turned a little red from anger and whacked him in the back of the head.
"I was pushed, you dope." She retorted.
"Pushed?" Owen asked. "Who was with you?"
Selena rolled her eyes. "She went that way." Owen took off.
He saw a girl ahead, with pink pigtails flying. He caught her arm. "Well, well, well if it isn't the little tailor girl."
"I'm not little. Let go of me." Luna screamed, kicking his shin.
"Oh and she's feisty too." He laughed. Luna glared at him. Before she could scold him, the announcer came on.
"Kasey and Selena have been paired. Owen and Luna have been paired. The rest of you need to hurry it up."
A door opened and Luna stormed off, with Owen right behind her.
Back towards the entrance of the maze, which had been closed since the last male entered, Gill, Chase, and the Wizard were still standing around. Three pairs had already been called.
"This is pointless." Chase said, rolling his eyes. The others silently agreed. Suddenly a bucket of water was appeared over their heads. The Wizard was quick to notice the bucket and the clear strings holding it up. He slowly slipped out of the splash zone, just in time for the bucket to spill all over Chase and Gill.
"Move it or get soaked boys." Hamilton shouted through the megaphone.
Chase and Gill were infuriated. They stormed off in opposite directions. The Wizard decided it was time for him to start wandering as well. He came to a stop at a dead end. He sat down and pulled a book out. About five minutes into reading a figure approached him.
"Hey Wizard." She said.
He looked up to see Molly standing right in front of him. "Hello Molly." He replied.
Toby was a carefree kind of guy, so when he was put into the maze he wandered aimlessly and found a nap spot. He too had found a dead end and decided to take a nap. A gentle hand woke him up. A brunette with kind maple eyes was kneeling beside him. He smiled.
Phoebe was getting anxious. Toby and Renee were already paired, so were Kathy and Calvin. She questioned why she had to participate in the contest. She of all people certainly had better things to do. In fact she really wanted to get to work on one of her inventions. As she looked around, she saw a figure approach. Her eyes widened. Dear Goddess no. Not him. Of all the residents of Castanet, Phoebe disliked him the most.
Julius approached her, arms crossed. "I guess you'll have to do, but we are going to have to work on your outfit. You are a fashion disaster. I mean red glasses, those are so two seasons ago."
"Excuse me. You are the one tha-." Phoebe started. The announcement cut her off and when the door opened, she fumed off.
Kevin found the Witch Princess and Gill about five seconds after they had found each other.
"Excuse me, but who are you?" Gill asked. "I can't say I've ever seen you before today."
The girl cocked her head. "You haven't heard of me. I am the Witch Princess. Feel free to bow before me, Gill."
A puzzled look came across Gill's face. "Are you joking?"
The girl raised her hands to her hips. She stared at him, finally settling on rolling her eyes. "Just don't get on my bad side or," she smirked, "I'll turn you into a frog."
Kevin turned to leave as he heard the announcement.
"Gill and the Witch Princess have been paired. Jin and Anissa have also been paired."
Kevin continued down a path. He saw a figure in the distance. He waved. He had found his partner.
Chase had to hurry. The only girls left were Candace and Maya. He silently prayed to get Candace. He just had to find her before Kevin could.
Chase heard footsteps behind him. He gulped. The announcement came on. "Kevin and Candace have been paired." Chase froze. That meant, no it can't be.
"CHASEY!" Maya squealed. Maya attacked him with a hug and started blabbering away about how excited she was. The Goddess hates me, he decided.
"Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen you have been paired off. No changes will be made. Now for our first challenge. The 24-hour handcuff challenge! You will be handcuffed to your partner for 24 hours." The mayor announced.
"Father, please th-" Gill started.
"No interrupting me." Hamilton said cutting him off.
"Mayor, with all due respect, I do sleep during 24 hours. I would appreciate sleeping without someone handcuffed to me." Molly said.
The mayor took the statement into consideration. In truth, he forgot about sleep. "Alright then, I will make the challenge 12 hours."
"What if we have to use the restroom?" Luna asked in a rather rude manner.
"I thought about that. The adults of the town have keys to the handcuffs. Just talk to them and they will unlock you for a few minutes." Hamilton replied, implying an idea of flawlessness. The pairs groaned. Ignoring them, Hamilton continued, "Tomorrow everyone is to meet at 9 am sharp at the Church Grounds. The twelve hours will begin then. Warning: if you or your partner is late, you will have to make up for the lost time. I will see you all tomorrow."
After his announcement everyone headed back home. No one was sure what the next few days would hold in store for them. All they could do was wait and possibly win.