Goddess
Chapter 2
When Jill woke up, the world seemed much different. Sun flowed through the windows, birds sang, and it was peace.
Jill always loved mornings.
And then, it crashed. As it always had since it had began. As it always would.
She could hear the rumple of clothes in the next room, could see every dust speck on the surprisingly clean ground. She could hear a cheerful humming from downstairs, could feel a shy soul and a grumpy yet kind soul to her left.
It made her want to go back to sleep.
It made her wonder: Do normal people feel like that all day?
The thought that a life could be so happy, that she had had that happiness and more, seemed impossible.
Shaking her head, she pulled her tired body out of bed and out the door. As she stepped out the door, she felt a pair of eyes upon her. She paid no attention to the questioning feeling that she got, but simply walked towards the stairs.
Cliff and Gray might have been surprised by the new blonde, but were not entirely shocked. But as they watched, her form straightened, almost with resistance from her body. Her blonde locks shook out their kinks and seemed to glow. As for the rest of her, they couldn't even see, but could hardly imagine the change in them.
Both mouths dropped as they watched this strange girl descend the stairs, both deciding then and there in their minds that it would never be the same again in Mineral Town.
"I hope you had a nice stay," a friendly voice called out behind her as she opened the Inn door. "We're always here, so if you come back again..."
Jill whipped around. She was sure she had heard the voice before.
A happy looking redhead stood there, hair pulled back in a braid that just wanted to unfurl. She tugged at the ribbon as she walked over.
"Hi, my name's Ann. I'm the Innkeeper's daughter. My dad's Doug."
Looking into the happy blue eyes, she felt weary. Had her own blue eyes once had that color? That joy? She couldn't remember...
"Erm... A question," the girl said. "Are you that new farmowner?"
"I suppose."
"Oh, well then! You can come here to eat too! My dad says that he makes the best cooking."
'He was always extravagant,' a voice seemed to whisper.
Jill stared upwards as if confused. Had she heard the voice, or dreamt it? And had Ann just suppressed a smile?
But then Ann's attention was diverted as she grabbed the back of a jacket of a young man with a brown ponytail who was trying to slink out the door.
"Going to church?"
Looking at Jill as if frightened, he nodded his head like a deer in headlights.
"Okay. 'Bye, Cliff."
He didn't respond, just fumbled with the door then left as fast as possible.
"There's lots of people in this town," Ann said, attention now back on Jill. "You can meet them. If you want, I can introd-"
"No thanks," Jill said, tired as ever. "No."
Ann was a forgiving girl, but certainly not as much to forgive such an act of rudeness. She dusted the tables with furious vigor.
"I just don't get it," she said, infuriated, to the woman with flowing red hair floating beside her. "I was friendly. What is WRONG with that girl?"
A knowing smile from the other end. "Oh, Ann. You're so much like me."
Ann's face twisted as she knocked over the potted plant on the table she was cleaning. "I certainly hope not, Mother."
"So do you know how to farm?" The mayor pointed to the vast field.
"Well... I went to my cousin's farm when I was ten, once," Jill said. She glanced after his finger, and could immediately sense the love and hard work once put in the field. Remains of several dead plants were strewn just under the surface, sweet yellow corn and ripe sweet potatoes long gone.
The mayor smiled knowingly and proceeded to explain the farming process. He had an annoying habit of kicking his toe into the ground when he spoke, and she winced every time. Even more pain from something that shouldn't feel it. Pain, pain, pain.
'What is wrong with me?' She wondered, wearily rubbing her temples as the mayor finished up his farming speech.
"Oh, and also, we have a stray that's been running around and we'd like you to take it... If that's all right with you."
"A... Stray?"
"Yes. I don't know if it responds to any name, but- There it is."
A golden brown puppy bounced over, happy to be alive, then proceeded to lick her jeans as if she had been rubbed with raw meat.
It made her want to throw up.
'He had a puppy,' she remembered wistfully, wincing at the thought. 'No, Jill, NO! No thinking about him!'
The puppy was already running over to a run-down building, probably storage, and scratching at the door.
"Oh, and... That would be your house." The mayor scurried off before she could say a word about it.
She stepped over to it. It looked so cozy. A little fixing up and it would be brand new. But the house looked like
"Here it is," he said, motioning with one hand.
Her eyes filled with tears at the sight of the house.
"What's wrong?" He asked worriedly. "I know it's small, but I thought you wouldn't mind..."
She threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"I love it, I love it, I love it!!! Oh, you didn't!" She was filled with joy. She could just imagine herself and him, living there, with a family. A perfect family, with two parents, a dog, and a boy and a girl. A normal family.
A guilty chill crept up her spine as she was reminded that since recently she had not been so normal. But maybe with a little work, she could control that and live the happiest life she could dream of...
"There's even a garden in the back. And this time, I promise I won't let it get out of hand."
She stared at him in horror. No, no, NO! Not plants, not trees, not anything relately having to do with the ground! Even as the thoughts swirled through her head, she could feel several squirrels staring at her from up in the tree overhead in their small front yard.
He missed everything, and simply laughed and went inside the house to take a look.
A squirrel scampered down, as she knew it would, and spit out an acorn from its mouth at her feet, an offering as if she was some sort of god. It lowered its head as if in worship, and ran back up the tree.
She put her head in her hands and felt tears coming on again- This time not for happiness, but for just the opposite.
It looked like the house he had bought for them to celebrate their soon-to-be-wedding... Her hands clenched into sad fists.
She rubbed the tears out of her eyes with them as she opened up the house door, while the puppy ran inside.
She closed it behind her, then saw the bed and decided to go to sleep. She fell down on it. She had nothing to unpack, anyway.
She had nothing at all in the world. Nothing at all.
"Small!" A small voice chirped. "Small! Smells good! Huh, smells goooood!!! Gooood?"
Bolting up, she looked around hurriedly. Who would enter in her house? She hadn't heard the door open: And surely, with her sense of hearing, she would.
"Mmm!" The same voice squealed. "Harvest Goddess! Goddess!"
With that, she was jumped on by none other than her new puppy, who lifted his face into hers and opened his muzzle;
"Goddess! Goddess!"
Listening carefully to the words, she could make out something like an "Bark! Arf!" Beneath them.
Putting her hands to her head, she fell back on her bed.
Thinking of him always hurt... But now, surely, she was going insane.
She somewhat sat in the air, looking down on the field. She was feeling a bit lonely, tired, and sad. She shook her green head. She had never been tired before... But...
Although it had been a long time, she could still remember when she began to become... what she was... too.
She scrunched up her nose, trying to remember what it felt like to be heartbroken. She couldn't even remember her man's name.
She simply knew him as exactly that: him.
She felt a pang in her stomach.
Was that... Hunger?
It had been a long time since she had felt that.
With a look at the house and a sigh, she began to float towards her favorite place.
And with a small smile, she wondered what it would feel like to die.
A/N: Okay... Well, tell me what you thought! Oh, and the next chapter should be out in a week or less.
Awesome Rapidash- Thank you!!! I just randomly came up with it and I guess it works! Here's the next chapter!
Serene Pirate- Thank you too!!! Did you enjoy this chapter as much as the first? And thanks for the compliments!
Suri-Garasu- I'm going to keep going, and it's plenty thanks to support! I hope you liked this! Thanks!
A note: All reviewers absolutely ROCK. Thank you so much!