Disclaimer: I do not own the Harvest Moon series or any of the characters mentioned in this story. All original characters and lines belong to Natsume Games and other respectable parties. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and not to be sold anywhere.

This is a work of fiction, any similarity or likeness to any events or persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

A/N: My first jab at a serious Harvest Moon fic. Let's hope it goes well =)

Voice4TheMute Presents

"Then you understand the situation." The short man in the red suit and tall hat said to me as we stood on the property that once belonged to my late grandfather. It hasn't been a year since his passing but here I am, already taking over his work. Being a direct descendent of him, the town suggest that there was no one better for the job. They wanted to keep the farm within the family, and my parents wished the same thing. This once famous farm was one of the shining beacons for the town and for our family. But even since his death, the place has become run down, most of the animals were adopted by the other farms, and the field is now a barren wasteland of sticks, stumps, stones, and weeds. While I didn't really see 'farmer' as my future career, this was what you would call an 'emergency' situation.

"I understand what you're saying, but I still find it hard to believe." I said to him, wearing my own variant of my grandfather's farming outfit…down to the blue hat.

"What's not there to get? The town is dependent on the farm for its produce."

"That I understand, but the reasoning behind why I'm here doesn't make sense." I said to him crossing my arms. The Mayor sighed as he looked out at the field.

"It's not that we tried to plant anything since your grandfather's passing. We definitely did try. But for some reason…nothing grows. Despite everyone's best efforts, we couldn't get a single seed to germinate." He said, the burden in his voice made it that much more depressing to hear. "While we do have refrigeration and some in storage, without this farm producing food we'll have to resort to importing our food and if that happens, our coffers will definitely run themselves dry. The town will go under and everyone here will be forced to move." I understood his concern. He told me over the phone of the current situation in Mineral Town. What was really bothering me what his reason of why they were experiencing such a dry spell.

"And you believe the Harvest Goddess has abandoned the town…?"

"Yes. Since your grandfather's passing, the mood and the liveliness of the town got…dark. I knew it was a bad omen when my clock unexpectedly stopped working. It was a sign of something big -" And the mayor continued his rant and theory about what was happening. I ignored him for the most part, seeing how over the phone he was trying to tell me everything that was happening to the town and whether or not I was still willing to come. But I knew I had to come back to this town. Even though I've been here for a summer when I was little, there was something I needed to do…or should I say…

…someone I needed to see.

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"I know we agreed to one year, but if you could possibly-"

"We'll see Mayor Thomas." I aid to him as he nodded. We agreed over the phone that I would give him one year of service. If the problem continues to exist then there really is no point of me staying any longer. I figured one year was good enough to both gage the problem and supply the town with food. Once solved, then someone can take over the farm and the farm will continue to support the town. Farming was just not something I found myself doing in the next five or ten years.

"Well…I just hope that whatever is causing this problem…that you are the key to bringing this town and this farm back on its feet." The Mayor said as he made his way home.

And so…my life as a farmer would begin here. Though I didn't care too much about the farming, it was good to be back to the place which influenced my childhood. Because I knew that somewhere in this small island town, a girl is waiting for me…

…waiting to waiting to hear the song of our past.

Harvest 101: The Curse

"Hey Jack, hard at work or hardly working?" An orange hair guy with oversized glasses said to me as he stepped on my field. I was clearing another section of the neglected field, trying to make space for the seeds I was planning to sow that day. It's been two weeks since I moved into Mineral Town. Most of the villagers here were warm and welcoming…others, like the local blacksmith, not so welcoming.

"What does it look like, Rick?" I said, beads of sweat on my brow as I continue to plow the land. I looked over to the area where planted seeds on my first day. They were turnip seeds, expected to sprout one week after first watering. So far…nothing came out…and it's the second week. I was concerned, but I can't let Rick, or anyone else know that. They're putting their faith in me, and I gotta do my best to show that I know what I'm doing.

"Right, right. Sorry." He said, scratching his head. "Look, I came to inform you about the Goddess Festival that's coming up soon. You should stop by when you get the chance. Can't farm all the time, right?" He said as I tilled the last plot of land that I wanted to do for the day. I looked back at him and the progress I made in two weeks.

"Well…I guess I have been working hard since I came." I said, figuring it'll be a nice break from all of this. "Sure. I'll come to the festival. I mean…everything is closed on that day so it's not like I can really do any work without going to the supermarket or seeing the mayor." I said to him as he nodded.

"That's right. Also, you can try asking out a girl to the festival. But I gotta warn you, by this time dates are already established, so good luck." He said with a smile. I never really saw Rick as the guy that would publicly hit on girls, so to hear him say stuff about getting a date and going to a festival with a girl really made me raise an eyebrow.

"Did you ask someone?"

"Yup."

"Who?"

"Not telling."

"Idiot…if you're GOING with her to the festival then I'll SEE her. Just cut out the middle man and tell me already." I said to him, poking holes in his evasive argument. "For all I knew, you asked her, she said no, and you're going as 'friends'." I said, rattling off my theory. Off the corner of my eyes I saw Rick hang his head low. Looks like I hit the nail on the head with that one. "H-Hey…I didn't mean it. I said it as a joke not…"

"Whatever man. Hope to see you there!" He said as he started to walk away and towards home. I shrugged as I picked up my hoe from the ground and headed to the house.

"One more thing!"

"What?" I asked as I looked over at him again.

"You can't ask out my sister!"

"Like hell I would!" I instantly said back. I really didn't have anything against Rick's sister, Popuri. I thought she was a kind, feminine girl with the most adorable personality and cheerful smile. She stood out naturally with her pink hair and her eyes always were full of life. She's a great girl…she's always so cheerful and bubbly…but I guess that's also the reason why I feel a bit intimated by her. Other than her being Rick's sister, she always seem so…happy…but who knows, maybe it's in her charm.

"Rest assured Rick that will not ask your sister out." I said to him as he was not pouting at me. "…what now?"

"So my sister is not good enough for you?"

"You wishy washy son of a- get out of here!" I said to him as I threw a stick at him. There was no way I would reach him with that throw, I just wanted to stress the point that I wanted him gone. Rick took the hint and wave good-bye. I sighed as I looked at the cleared area of my field, and the area where I sowed my turnip seeds.

The Goddess Festival, huh? They must be going all out for it since the mayor believe that's the reason for the curse on the town. Who better to lift the curse than the Goddess herself? Plus what Rick said saying about dates and girls definite sounds tempting. Work is important, but one of the reason why I accepted his job was…

I filled my watering can while whistling a song at I remember learning when I was here as a kid. It was a nice, high beat song that didn't have any words to it. It was as simple, catchy tune that anyone can learn if they were to hear it, but the composures of the song were me and the girl that I met here so many years ago. If she were to hear this song…I am one hundred percent sure she would remember me.

"Whatcha doing?" I child's voice say to me as I stopped mid-whistle to look over my right shoulder. There, standing in my red dress was May, the granddaughter of Barley, a farmer who takes care of livestock on the island. Why she was here I wasn't sure, but I saw the look of curiosity on her face that I just couldn't ignore.

"Farming, May. I'm about the water my plants."

"Can I help?" She said, in a rather excited and hopeful mood. I raised my eyebrow at her.

"I can't let a little girl do hard labor."

"But it's just watering plants. I can do that."

"Does Barley even know you're here?"

"I told grandpa that I was going to your farm to watch you work."

"Then watch me work…" I said, narrowing my eyes at her.

"But I want to help!" she said happily, extending both hands towards me, hoping I would give her the heavy pail of water. I knew it would look bad if I made this girl water everything that I planted…I mean I planted a lot! But if she truly wanted to help me, then I have a better idea. I set down the watering can on the ground and looked at her.

"Do you really want to help me?"

"I want to be helpful!" May said as I nodded my head. I reached into my pocket and took out flower buds I was saving for after I harvested my turnips. But seeing how it was taking longer than I expected, I wanted to see if maybe flowers would grow rather than vegetables. I handed her five flower buds and pointed towards the field.

"I already dug holes for these five flowers. I want you to plant them over there and water them." I said, kneeling down so I was her height. I smiled as excitement took over her face as I handed her the buds.

"Really? You mean I get to help? Really?" She said, very excited and happy. It was odd…why was she so excited about doing farm work? Was I this excited when I did farm work? A flash of insight made me remember something. I gestured her to wait as I went back to the house and found a few things that I purposely 'hid' from my grandfather when I stayed at his house .What surprised me was that the items I hid were still there and still in working condition. I walked back outside and knelt down to give May something. "Here…use these." I said, handing her a small watering can and a small spade for digging. "When I was on this farm, I use these to help my grandfather. I dug with this and water the crops with this. I said, giving her the spade and watering can. More excitement and happiness spread across her face. Anymore and she just might die of happiness. "I want you to plant these flowers and water them. Can you do that for me?"

"You bet! You can count on me!" She said as she started to run off to the area I pointed out to her. She was running so fast that she actually tripped on herself and fell on the ground dropping everything I gave her. I was concerned about her safety, and a little bit afraid that she'll cry, but she got back up, dusted herself off and looked at me with a smile.

"May's ok!" She said, laughing. "I will get it done. Don't worry about me!" She said and she pick up everything she dropped, one by one, and hurried yet again to the cleared area.

"Energetic, isn't she." I said out loud as I started watering my own plants. Throughout that day, May continued to attack me with different questions, most of them were regarding farming, but there were a few questions here and there about my own experience as a kid on the farm. "…and there was so much corn on the field that you couldn't believe-" I said, finishing up a tale when a voice called out from the front of my farm.

"May? Are you here?" The voice called, a hint of frustration and anger in the voice. I saw May hide behind me, griping the sides of my pants in fright. I knew that voice, and judging by the reaction may was showing, it would seem May might have stretched the truth when she said that her grandfather knew she was here. Barley approached me after catching a glimpse of his granddaughter behind me. "May! There you are! I've been worried sick you know! Telling me that you were going to the Inn to get milk and talk to Ann….my surprise to be told that you never WENT to the Inn. What were you doing here? Were you bothering Jack the entire day?"

"I…Barley. She wasn't disturbing me, we-"

"I was helping Jack on the farm!" She yelled at him, still using me as a wall between her and her grandfather.

"Nonsense! You're barely ten years old! A girl like you shouldn't be doing such hard, dirty work. You need to have fun with your friends. I'm so sorry Jack-" Barley said as he lunge his arm at May, barely catching her arm. He tugged away at her, forcing her to let go of my pant leg. "-sorry for babysitting her and ruining your farm. See you that? You're causing him trouble!" Barley said as I raised my hand to interrupt him.

"Actually she didn't-"

"I was helping him! I planted a flower!" May yelled again, her face was just moments away from tears. I wanted to help her, but who was I to get in the middle of family problems?

"Why do you want to work so badly?"

"Because I want to be helpful!"

"You can be helpful by going to school and playing with your friends!" Barley said to her. "Farm work is not something I will allow you to do!" He said as he started to drag away the resilient May. I saw her face one more time, this time she was now crying in full force. I felt my heart sink. I knew I was guilty for allowing her to work…but to see the enthusiasm on her face when I told her she can help me…it just brought more confusion to the situation. Why was she so happy when I told her she could help me?

"You never let me do anything on our farm!" She cried.

"That's because animals and livestock are dangerous around a girl your age! They might hurt you or fall on you or you might try to ride on top of them and you'll fall off, breaking your neck!"

"No I won't! I just want to be helpful! I want to help!" May continue to cry and resist the tugging of Barley back to their farm. "If I don't help, mommy won't come back!"

My eyes widen at that statement. I saw Barley look at me and I stared back at him. Did I hear that right? Could it be that May…at the age of ten, has been abandoned by her mom? Now that I think about it, what about her dad? Where ARE her parents? I saw Barley make an apologetic face to me as he looked back at may.

"May. Mommy will come back. She said so herself. You remember. She told you to be a good girl while she go finds daddy and bring him back.

"But it's been a year since then…what if she doesn't come back because May's been a bad girl? I…I…"

"May!" I yelled. I knew I couldn't stand here anymore and watch this happen…not on my farm. "…good job today." I said to her. Her crying soon turned into sniffles as Barley stopped pulling on her. Tears were still in her eyes as she looked at me, confused.

"W-what?" She choked out. I looked over at the area where she planted and watered the five flower bulbs I was planning to plant today.

"You did a good job on planting and watering those flower seeds. You definitely helped me out. If I didn't plant those today, then I may have been in trouble." I said, stretching the truth a bit. I wouldn't be in 'trouble' if I didn't plant those bulbs, but Barley didn't have to know that. "So thank you May. Can I depend on you tomorrow to help me again?"

"Of course!"

"Now wait a darn minute!" Barley interrupted. "She's too young to do this kind of work! What if she's gets dirty or get dehydrated or gets injured! There's too much danger in farm work, Jack!" It's then I realized what was going on. Barley was scared that he might lose the only family he has, May. His daughter is gone to some faraway place, unsure of he'll ever see her again. The only thing left is her granddaughter keeping him company. If something were to happen to her…It would mean he would be alone again. I can understand his concern about her safety, but going this lengths to be this protective about her?

"Barley, I can guarantee you that nothing will happen to your granddaughter." I said to him. "I will take full responsibility should anything happen to her. You can pick her up at 5 every day to bring her home. And I'll just let her do the watering. I won't let her use any sharp tools or handle the animals. Just the watering." I said to him. I wanted to appease them both. She really wanted to help out and he really wanted to keep her safe. It was the best compromise I could come up with without really thinking about it. Barley look at his granddaughter then back at me. Sighing in defeat, he simply said-

"Fine! But if something happens to her, I'm putting the blame on you!" He said ash May's eyes lit up again a she began to scream excitedly.

"I can help! I can help!"

"From now on May, you are responsible for those flowers over there." I said, pointing out to where she planted the flower bulbs. "Those flowers are now yours. Take good care of them." I said smiling at her.

"Don't worry! I'll take good care of them! Promise!" She said, smiling back at me.

"Yes yes…it's been a long day. Let's go home May." Barley said as he tugged May along. She was more than willing to go with her grandfather now. "Jack….she's the only thing I have in this world now. Please take care of her."

"I will." I said to him. He simply nodded as they walked out of my farm and towards their home on Yodel ranch. I breathed a sigh of relief as I knew I just helped out a family grow a little closer. Of course there was the whole problem of the land being 'cursed'…heck, I wasn't even sure of those flowers would even sprout…but at least I manage to make one girl feel important, and that's what really counts in the end of the day.


"Uncle Jack! Uncle Jack!" Wake up!" I heard May's voice call out while knocking on my front door. I slowly got of bed, rubbing my face trying to wake myself up. I grabbed my hat and put it on before opening my door. May stood there, her first still in the position of knocking. She wore her regular red dress, but this time she had a brown apron on with a matching brown bandana in her hair. Her grandfather must has gotten it for her to keep her clean. I should be thankful that he didn't go too far with it and completely incased her in a bubble.

"Good morning May." I said, still half asleep. "You know you don't have to be this early to help me. Your flowers will be perfectly fine if you come later in the day." I said but her excitement was something she couldn't hide.

"But uncle, look!" She said as she pointed out to the field. My jaw dropped and my eyes widen at what I was seeing. Those turnip seeds I planted two weeks ago….they didn't become sprouts but became fully grown turnips, ready for harvest. The potatoes, the cabbages, were also full grown, ready to harvest. May's flowers and the other crops I planted yesterday were still seeds, but to suddenly see the seeds I thought weren't growing at all suddenly become harvestable overnight? Something was going on.

"Unbelievable…"

"I'm going to go water my flowers! Can I help picking the vegetables?" May asked, hope filled her eyes. I didn't see the harm in doing so. Nothing in my field had thorns in them anyways.

"Sure thing May."

"Yay! Let get to work!" She said as I laughed at that statement. I wonder how long that enthusiasm will last. But it was such a refreshing breath of air to see something finally growing, even though I'm not sure why they just started now. But I'll think about it later…as May said, there's work to be done.

"Is this lettuce? Can I just take a bite out of it?" May threatened as I saw her about to bite into a head of cabbage.

"No! That's cabbage! You can't eat that raw!"


"Jack…? Jack? Can you hear me?" A voice called out as I slowly opened my eyes.

It is impossible to get a good night's sleep… I thought to myself as I reached for my table lamp…only to realize that it wasn't there. In fact…I wasn't even in my bed…or in my house. I felt a jolt of energy rock my body awake as I sat up, looking around to figure out where I am. The best way I could describe it is this…I was nowhere. I was surrounded by white space with no landmarks in sight. I got up and looked around, praying something will help me figure out where the hell I was.

"H-Hello?" I called, trying to get a response to the voice that woke me up. "Is anyone out there?"

"Oh good. You can hear me. And what's more, I can hear you." A female voice called as I spun around, thinking the origin of the voice came in that direction. I didn't see anything, however. Just more white space.

"W-where am I? Where are you? Where is this place?" I said out loud, feeling myself starting to panic.

"Calm down Jack. It's ok."

"Calm down? How can I? I'm in the middle of nowhere and some ominous voice is talking to me. Why should I calm down?"

"Because it's impolite to 'freak out' in from of a Goddess." The voice said as I turned around again. There, standing few feet away was a woman who wore an all-white gown with tailings on her arms. Her green hair and forest green eyes were staring straight into mine.

"Did…you say 'Goddess'?" I repeated as she nodded.

"I am the Harvest Goddess" She said as she walked closer to me. I wanted to back away but even if I did, there was nowhere to run. "I come to you because I want you to help me break the 'curse' on the town."


To Be Continued…

Please leave a review! Until next time…!