Hello! I want to make a clarification to the concerns about only waiting for reviews before I post new chapters. I will never at any time abandon a story simply because I didn't get the reviews! So please dear readers do not worry about that, I just was trying to encourage people to review :) With that being said...here is chapter 2 and thank you to my wonderful and patient Beta Harvest Loon :) ! Please read and review! Enjoy!
*I do not own Harvest Moon or any characters of the Harvest Moon world*
"I did it...Finn! Finn! I DID IT!" Akari exclaimed jumping up from her floor and swinging herself around, holding the letter above her head.
Akari stumbled and tripped, her knees hitting the edge of her bed and she fell backwards in a breathless gasp. Finn was laughing and hollering, his face turning red from excitement.
"Come on Akari! We need to go to the Harvest Goddess, she is going to be so happy!" Finn yelled as he flew towards the door and did little flips in the air.
Akari jumped up and reached for her work clothes on the chair next to her bed, but Finn zoomed up to her and tugged on her tank top.
"No time for changing Akari! Let's go!" Finn crowed whilst tugging hard on her.
"Finn, this is not acceptable clothing to present myself in front of the Harvest Goddess." Akari said blushing and pulling at her work shirt, but failing as Finn darted inches from her nose.
Akari looked at Finn's fierce expression with his eyes squinted and his nose scrunched up. She glanced at herself in the mirror and saw dark circles under her creamy brown eyes, her light chocolate hair sticking up at one side and she was sure that her breath was not savory in any way. She did not look like a "Hero", but according to this paper she was, and that was all that mattered.
"Alright Finn come on, but if I hear one word from the other sprites about my appearance before the Harvest Goddess I am blaming you and you will have to muck out the cows stalls!" Akari laughed and sprinted to the door, yanking it open leaving Finn twirling from being brushed off so fast.
Akari looked out towards her farm and saw the birth of a new day. The smallest rays of the sun were peaking over her fields, creating a small glimmer on the grass and crops making it look like a piece of glass. Akari ran over to the barn doors and shoved them apart; looking in on her sleeping herd of cows, sheep and goats. They opened their eyes slowly and looked at her curiously.
"Come along loves! Rise and shine! The grass is cool and fresh this morning, come come." Akari hummed patting the heads of her animals. Rising up, the animals stretched and went single file out the barn. Sprinting over to the coop doors, she ducked inside and clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, humming as her ducks and chickens ruffled their feathers and waddled up to her for their morning pats. Akari smiled from ear to ear and ushered them outside.
Finn was swinging around the coop waiting for Akari and as she jumped out he eagerly grabbed her shirt again and tugged with all his might. Laughing, she placed him on her shoulder.
"Are you ready Finn?" Akari smiled as the little sprite adjusted himself onto her shoulder.
"You bet Akari! Let's GO!" He cried and grabbed onto his hat as Akari lurched forward.
Running was something Akari did best. She loved how it made her feel like she was flying, the wind felt like it was lifting her off the ground, making her unstoppable.
She ran around the winding paths of Clarinet Fields up to the Garmon Mine District. She skimmed over the bridge where Toby and Renee where fishing, something that they always did in the early mornings on Toby's days off. They called out to her as she sailed by, but she only managed a wave before bursting forth with more speed. She could hear their fading laughter as she rounded another corner. She then saw Luke and Bo who were chopping away at some trees to be processed into lumber for Luke's father's carpenter business. Bo looked up and waved vigorously to her, and Luke called out something that sounded like "Whoa speedy!" but she paid him no mind and turned sharply down the path that led to the Goddess Pond.
Finally Akari heard the soft beginnings of water trickling and she finally slowed her pace as her feet splashed in the cool, blue water that flowed over the uneven stones up to the Goddess Pond. Akari stopped at the top of the steps and bent over, putting her hands on her shaking knees. She breathed heavily, filling her lungs with the air that stung and burned her chest. Finn stumbled off her shoulder, his poor face a worrisome shade of green.
"Akari? Is everything alright?" A small voice whispered from in front of her.
Looking up, Akari saw Ben the blue sprite peeking up at her with a concerned look on his face.
"I'm alright, though I can't speak for Finn." Akari said glancing over at Finn who was still gasping for air as he lay in the grass.
Turning back to Ben, who was still looking shocked at the scene before him, Akari straightened and looked up the path way. She could just make out the form of the Goddess Tree and she saw a sparkling mist gathering in front of it.
Just as she was about to step forward, a flash of purple whizzed by her.
"Are you really going to make an audience with the Harvest Goddess dressed like that?" Edge asked looking Akari up and down with a distasteful look on his face.
Akari looked down at her clothes remembering that she did not change out of her night clothes. Her sweat pants were wrinkled and her tank top was damp with sweat. Grimacing, she swung a look over to Finn who had finally started to turn back to a normal looking color. Finn sat up and adjusted his hat, before looking up at Akari. Startled by the look he was getting, Finn looked at Edge and Akari, finally realizing why they were so unamused.
"Look who gets to muck out the barn this week." Akari threatened under her breath to Finn.
Finn's eyes went wide and was about to speak when a gentle, soft giggle came from the Goddess Tree. A tall willowy figure stepped up at the top of the steps, her presence instantly made all things quiet and calm. Akari looked up at the Harvest Goddess and did an awkward half bow. She then righted herself when the Goddess's tinkling laughter filled the air.
The Goddess brushed her streaming blue hair back and raised her hand to Akari in a beckoning motion. Akari hurried up the rest of the way, being careful not to trip on the stone steps as she had done before on more than one embarrassing occasion. Once at the top, Akari lowered her head as she came close to the beautiful figure. She felt cool fingers caress her check softly and she looked up to see the Harvest Goddess smiling down at her.
"Akari, you have flown here faster than a starling to her nest before the long winter. What news do you have dear one?" The Harvest Goddess asked as her silver celestial bracelets clinked in a light tone.
"Harvest Goddess, I bring to you the title of Hero, necessary to bring forth the Harvest God to revive the Goddess Tree." Akari breathed out before she lost her nerve to speak. Talking to the Harvest Goddess always made her a little nervous. After all it was not every day that a mortal gets to speak to a goddess!
The Harvest Goddess gasped and brought her delicate hands to her mouth. Akari heard small cheers and laughter from behind and turned to see all the Harvest Sprites dancing and twirling around each other in excitement.
"Oh Akari! What wonderful news indeed dear one! Come, we must at once summon the Harvest God. There is no more time to spare!" The Harvest Goddess said as she turned and gathered her long dress about her. "Akari come here dear, I have an easier way of getting to where we need to go." The Harvest Goddess reached out to Akari and grasped her hand. Akari looked down in shock and didn't want to grab the Harvest Goddess's hand too tightly for fear of breaking it. "Now hold on tight, I am going to use the last part of my remaining energy to take us to the top of the mountain. That is where we shall summon the Harvest God." The Harvest Goddess explained as she began to glow brilliant shades of blue. Akari noticed that all her jewelry started to glow a silvery hue and her eyes clouded over to match the same blue her whole body had become engulfed in.
With a flash and the oddest feeling of being pinched all over her body, Akari blinked as she felt a cold breeze move her hair. She glanced around and saw the little sprites popping into existence with bursts of color. She was standing on top of a mountain overlooking the entirety of Castanet Island. Something tugged at Akari's memory, but she could not place the feeling nor what she was trying to remember.
"Goddess, we will now begin the Summoning Ceremony! Us Sprites will together ring our bells and call the Harvest God down from the heavens." Alan, the Red Sprite, announced as the other sprites gathered in a circle and brought forth their bells.
Akari looked on in awe at the Sprites as they each rang their bell and as each bell was added a beautiful song began to form. The Harvest Goddess stood in the center of the Sprites and she added her own magic to their song. Finn danced over to Akari and beamed at her, she scooped him up and placed him on his normal perch on her shoulder.
"Look up Akari!" Finn exclaimed excitedly.
As she did so, Akari gasped as a bright fiery light appeared above them and started descending down upon the mountain top.
"Akari it's like the..."
"Yes Finn, I know...it's like the sun is coming down from the heavens" Akari finished softly.