The Legend of Zelda: Shackles of Memory
Chapter 2: Bomber Mishap
A life of dedication and loyalty landed him a position as a high rank in the army. Anybody who opposed this promotion was welcome to challenge him, for the special gift he received assured him victory over all challengers.
-
Grasshopper had another one of those dreams. He counted two so far, and tried remembering them. He did not know if they meant anything, but he wondered if all people had such dreams. Anyway, it was just about morning and Grasshopper did not feel like getting up, so he let his upper body fall backwards into the bed.
-
The first thing Cremia heard when she woke up was the sound of the cuccos with their unique call to the sunrise. Such was the way Cremia was programmed in her mind for living on a farm all her life.
After dressing into her day clothes, she walked to the staircase to start her chores. When she passed the room designated for their special guest, she halted then took a couple of steps back and looked into the narrow opening made by the door not being closed all the way. Either Grasshopper was either sleeping quietly or just awake and lying down. She couldn't be sure, for his head was turned away from her direction. She put it out of her mind and continued downstairs.
-
Cremia started by milking the cows. This was one of those days where everything happened at once. Usually the cuccos lay eggs and cows are ready to milk and the produce (a new project they were working on) was ready to be harvested on all separate days. Rarely, all things came to pass on a single day. This happened to be the day, so Cremia knew she and Romani (and possibly Grasshopper, if he was up for it) had their work cut out for them.
As she milked, she heard the door to the house creak open and footsteps, "Romani?"
"Nope." Came Grasshopper's voice.
Cremia muttered an "Oh." and looked out the barn door out of curiosity. Now that it was daylight she could get a good view of Grasshopper. He stood at about half or less an inch above Cremia in height, five feet eight inches to be exact. He had a very dark brown hair that lighted up in the sunrise and hazel eyes that looked more green than brown. He currently still wore a nighttime tunic, which was a light blue shirt and pale tan pants.
One would normally stop there, but Cremia couldn't help but to scan him a bit more. She leaned out farther to drink up his broad shoulders, flat stomach, and arms and legs slender, yet slightly muscular. Overall, he seemed to have the physique of a knight or soldier of some sort. The fact that he wasn't bad in the looks department face-wise contributed well. She found herself staring, and who could blame her? All her life she had lived on the farm and really was never exposed to young men of her age, for according to Grasshopper, he was eighteen, like her. Cremia thought about how, in addition to the aforementioned, she never really experienced the thrill of love outside family, or dating at the very least, or even earthly pleasures, for her father had been really strict about that. She tried to dispel these thoughts, but they only came in stronger and more vivid, causing her to chew her lip nervously as she looked outside.
A stressed mooing brought Cremia down to Termina. She gasped as she saw the cow she was milking looking back at her. It seemed her thoughts had caused her to milk the cow a bit too hard. She quickly apologized to the cow and wiped her brow with her arm, which proved fruitless due to the fact that her arms was also covered in sweat. She blushed at the fact that she even thought those thoughts that made her skin so hot. She shivered at an illusive pleasure, and then took notice at how Grasshopper seemed so fascinated by the sunrise.
Well of course, Cremia thought to herself. He doesn't remember seeing a sunrise. It must be odd, to be at such an age and to see the world for the first time for all you knew. Cremia could only imagine how beautiful that sunrise seemed to Grasshopper.
"Hey, kiddo." Grasshopper's voice said. Cremia contemplated a pet name for herself, but then leaned to see out the barn door and indeed there was Romani standing right next to Grasshopper. That sneak! How did she manage to get outside without Cremia hearing?
-
Grasshopper was sitting on the grass when Romani approached him.
"How odd that I know what a sunrise is, yet I never remember seeing one. It's beautiful."
Romani just stayed silent, the concept of someone who doesn't remember anything past a day ago was new to her. Romani was known for being kind to strangers, but she seemed to take an instant liking to Grasshopper. Not even she herself knew why.
"What's that?" Romani asked, pointing to an object Grasshopper was holding.
"Oh, this? This was one of those belongings you found on me when you found me," He held up what looked like a miniature piano with many complicated buttons and some sort of framed area the one could tell words were supposed to go, "There were a lot of things you found on me, but this one fascinated me to no end. I think it's some kind of instrument… but what kind?"
Grasshopper pressed one of the buttons on the device and the framed area was filled with the word "ocarina."
"Hmm?" He furrowed his brows at the name of the wind instrument. He then pressed down on one of the buttons and from the instrument came an ocarina sound. Everyone within hearing distance nearly jumped up.
"How'd it do that!" Romani half-yelled, looking at the instrument.
"I… don't know…" Grasshopper pushed more buttons and more ocarina sounds came from it "… but it's amazing!"
He continued playing until his random button pressing generated an oddly familiar melody. It went: Up, left, right; Up, left, right When he played it, the cows from the barn all mooed merrily. Romani recognized that tune.
"How did you know that song?"
"I…" Grasshopper fought to find the word he needed, "I guess I just looked around this place, the ranch and all, and just concentrated on everything it stands for and suddenly this melody popped into my head."
Romani cleared her throat, "It's just that Grasshopper -The other Grasshopper, that is - and Romani used to play that song all the time. He would play on his ocarina and I would sing! It seems that he used it to call his horse, Epona. That's why he dubbed it 'Epona's Song.'"
"Really? Do you sing well?"
"Cremia says I do."
"Well how about a duet?" Grasshopper said, indicating his instrument. Romani seemed to like that idea.
"Oh, yes! Let's!"
With that, they began. Romani sang and Grasshopper played in unison, generating beautiful music.
All the while, Cremia heard and watched this all from the barn with a smile.
-
Later in the morning, Cremia returned to the barn because she heard ocarina sounds coming from that area. She found Grasshopper in there sitting on a crate playing for the cows.
"Grasshopper?"
Without looking at Cremia, being very absorbed in what he was doing, Grasshopper said to her, "I think your cows react well to this song."
Cremia let out a small laugh and pulled up a crate next to Grasshopper, and sat, "I heard you and Romani play that song together. It was really something."
"Yeah, that Romani has a wonderful voice."
"You and Romani sure get along."
"Yeah…" Then Grasshopper said with a smile, "she's the sweetest kid I know."
It took a little bit of thinking for Cremia to realize it was a joke about his amnesia and laughed again. Then she had to ask, "What are you going to do, now? I mean in general."
Grasshopper kept playing as he spoke, "I'm going to pack up and go to that Clock Town you were talking about. Maybe rent a room at the Inn there and use it as a base of operations for my quest to reclaim my memories. I'm going to visit all the regions and towns. I have to be known somewhere."
This took Cremia by surprise. She looked helplessly at Grasshopper as if he were physically slipping through her fingers, "You're… leaving?"
"Is something wrong?" Grasshopper was quickly known for picking up and acknowledging a bad vibe when present. He turned to Cremia, eyebrows raised.
"Oh, it's nothing. I knew you were leaving…" and obvious lie, "… but so soon?" She had to make it seem she didn't expect him to leave in some way, shape, or form, so it was a half lie.
"Well… yes. But something else is bothering you."
Cremia sighed. "I guess it is just the understaffing recently. Until a time ago, a man who took care of the cuccos and a woman who held dog races accompanied Romani and me. Not too long ago they decided to move off the ranch and pursue other careers, though I think my father's death made them worry about the financial status of the ranch. That just leaves us girls to fend for ourselves…"
Grasshopper had nothing to say to that. He just played on in a somber silence. He felt kind of disappointed; for he thought her problem with him leaving was that she liked his company, not his potential to work about the farm.
-
At noon, Cremia was found feeding the cuccos when Romani approached her. She stood behind her sister until Cremia finally noticed her.
"Yes?"
"Sister! It's Sunday! This is one of the days of the week when we visit Clock Town!"
Cremia looked as if she were just slapped in the face, then guilty at what she was about to do, "I'm very sorry, Romani. But today is one of those days were I have to work all day!"
"But I like going to Clock Town!"
"But Romani… I have a schedule to keep… everything could fall apart if…"
"I can do it!"
Both sisters looked to Grasshopper. He was now in day clothes, not much different than night ones. The only difference was that now his shirt was a light green and not as baggy, so an outline of his chest was barely visible. Cremia probably would have started staring again had the situation not have been as such as it was now.
"Could I take Romani to Clock Town? She really wants to go and you really want to stay and I really don't care, so I'll take her!"
It is his last day, Cremia thought then said, "I don't know…" "I don't know" as in he had only arrived at the ranch a day ago and his nice manners may not be enough for her to trust him.
"Oh! Could he? Could he?" Romani said in a pleading voice. Romani barely begged for anything, so Cremia could tell she really wanted this.
"Are you up for it, Grasshopper?"
Grasshopper looked energized, "Yeah!"
Cremia caved in. "Okay, take the wagon. I'm going nowhere."
"Yaaay!" Romani yelled happily and took off for where the wagon was kept.
"I'll take good care of your sister." Grasshopper said with a smile and thumbs up as he followed Romani.
Romani showed Grasshopper how to handle the horses when driving the wagon and he was a fast learner. Faster than any of them thought, they were Clock Town bound.
-
"I never noticed that locket you wear." Grasshopper said to break the silence.
"Oh, this?" Romani looked down at the locket she wore on a necklace.
"Where'd you get it?"
"My sister gave it to me on the third day the moon was really big. She told me she loved me and a whole bunch of other stuff. She made it seem like the world was ending. Grasshopper, the other Grasshopper, made the moon go away that same day."
"So that locket means a lot to you?"
"Yup!"
"That's Clock Town?" Grasshopper indicated a big walled-in town with a big tower in the center.
"That's Clock Town, all right."
-
In Clock Town, Romani gave Grasshopper a brief tour. After this tour, Romani noticed a bunch of kids playing in the grassy area of North Clock Town. She tugged on Grasshopper's tunic.
"Can I play with the other kids?"
"Depends. Does your sister let you play unsupervised?"
Romani remembered how Cremia would sit on a bench and read a book while keeping an eye on Romani when she went to play with the other kids. They often used that to poke fun at Romani for that reason.
"Yeah!" Romani said, keeping a straight, wide-eyed face.
"Okay," Grasshopper started, still occupied in soaking all of Clock Town with his eyes, "I'll meet you here in an hour and we'll go. Okay?"
"Okay!"
Grasshopper turned and entered the southern area of Clock Town.
-
Grasshopper walked all over the town meeting practically everyone in the town. His first encounter was with a rather loud, angry man who still appeared to have a heart of gold.
"I'm the carpenter of the town. Our current project is to build a ramp leading to the Clock Tower so we can go on its roof at the Time Festival. On the last festival, all my men chickened out because the moon had a face on it! Cowards!"
"A lot of people talk about the three days when the moon was odd." Grasshopper said, looking at the construction.
"Bah. I told everyone not to worry about it and look! We're fine! Now I'm just working these bums until they collapse with exhaustion." The carpenter then looked off and cupped his mouth with a hand, looking toward his men, "You lazy bums! Get working, up there!"
"Um, it was nice meeting with you. I hope you build that ramp in time."
Grasshopper left the carpenter howling at his workers as he left to meet with other people. While in the laundry pool, he had a pleasant conversation with the local Inn worker, Anju.
"Your husband was turned into a kid before your wedding day?"
"Indeed," Anju said, looking up at the sky, "an awful Skull Kid did it to him, or so he said. I was about to lose faith in my dear husband when a boy named Link showed me the pendant of memories and things only got happier from there!"
"Wow… and your husband became a man in time for your wedding?"
"Yes! It seems a mask controlled the Skull Kid and the Skull Kid apologized many times for how he wronged us. He made it up to us by playing a song he said he learned from a fairy boy on his flute. The song cured Kafei right there and then! It was the happiest day of our lives!"
"What an amazing story." Grasshopper looked at the big clock tower. He had half an hour left before he picked up Romani, "I'll be going now. I wish you good luck in your marriage!"
"You, too! I hope you get your memory back, um…"
"Grasshopper!"
"Oh, yes! Grass-" Then Anju stared blankly with a confused expression, "Grasshopper?"
-
Grasshopper finished his hour by talking with the lead of local law enforcement. Admiral Viscen. Grasshopper never really could tell if he was a grown man, or maybe just a very stern young man workaholic.
"As you can see, Mister," he cleared his throat as an indication that he though Grasshopper's name odd, "Grasshopper, I work vigilantly to make sure no major crimes occur in Clock Town. But still, crimes go on in secret and in the protective veil of nighttime. I may not stop all crime, but I work to make sure Clock Town is a better place."
"Keeping the peace is an honorable trait. Perhaps I should try something of that nature."
"Well, wherever you come from, son. I'm sure they are without a fine young man to help keep the peace."
"Thank you, Admiral," Grasshopper cast a look to the big clock, "if you'll excuse me, it is about time I left for now. Ah! There's Romani right- wait a minute…"
Grasshopper and Viscen looked to where Romani was and she was sitting on a grass mound crying.
"Something's wrong…" Grasshopper said and walked quickly to where Romani was.
"I'll investigate, as well," Viscen said, "I know for a fact that when a little girl in crying, all is not right."
-
When they got to Romani, Grasshopper knelt down to her, "What's wrong?"
Romani sniffed and said through tears, "O-one of th-those bomber kids g-got away with my locket…"
"Bomber kids?"
"The Bomber gang!" Viscen proclaimed, hitting a fist into the opposite palm, "They came off as the type of kids who spent their days making this town a better place. I had no clue that this was what they were after. They will all hang for this!" Then after a hesitation, "By their feet, of course."
"Is that them?" Grasshopper indicated a group of five kids who were dressed in blue and white with blue hats.
"That's them…" Viscen growled.
"Come on…" Grasshopper took Romani by the hand and picked her off the ground, "I'm getting that locket back."
As they approached, the bombers came less chatty and there were shushing sounds as all the bombers came to face them.
"Hello, Admiral Viscen!" They all said in unison and with too much innocence. By their look, you could swear that they weren't up to anything.
"Enough of that!" Grasshopper said with an accusing finger, "one of you has this girl's locket and we will not leave until it is returned."
There was a silence in which the bombers all got increasingly nervous and sweaty. Eventually one of them yelled, "Bombers, split up!"
As soon as that was said, all the bombers took off in different directions.
"Punks!" Viscen called after them.
Grasshopper knelt down and put his hands on Romani's shoulders, "I will be right back. You stay here."
Romani sniffed and nodded as Grasshopper looked at Viscen. Viscen nodded in acknowledgement of Grasshopper's willingness to help.
-
"Okay, then. I will go to the West side of town and you will go to the East side. Got it?" Viscen said, projected an aura of authority.
"Right." Grasshopper said, but halted, "Hold up a second…"
Grasshopper nodded his head to indicate the nearby slide. Viscen nodded and they both approached the slide. As soon as they did, the bomber kid from behind it jump out and started running. Chase was given until the bomber kid ran into another bomber kid. They both yelped and took off.
"They seem to go to other bomber's hiding places when they are found…" Grasshopper deduced.
"Good. We'll flush them all out and then catch them all at the same time." Viscen said, which was a sound strategy.
-
Viscen wandered West Clock town until he reached the highest point. He saw a bomber kid hiding behind a pole thinner than himself; a comical sight. Viscen tried to grab the kid, but the bomber ducked and ran away.
"Dammit!" Viscen hissed. Unfortunately for him, he did so in front of a group of villagers. His face burned in embarassment as he slowly edged to the exit that the bomber left through.
-
In East Clock Town, Grasshopper saw a bomber holding a cucco.
"Get over here!"
Grasshopper gave chase until the bomber climbed to the highest point of ground, then jumped! The Cucco allowed him to safely land on the roof of the Inn, where another bomber kid appeared to be. Grasshopper wasted no time in running into the Inn. Anju, who was currently tending the front desk, noticed Grasshopper come in.
"Oh, hello agai-"
She was cut off as Grasshopper dashed by her and yelled, "Important emergency talk later hey is that a new necklace you weren't wearing it when I first saw you-" At that time, he had disappeared to the top of the stairs.
Grasshopper emerged on the roof of the Inn, surprising the bombers. Grasshopper lunged for the bombers, but they had leapt off, making Grasshopper lose balance and nearly fall off the roof. Fortunately, he had grabbed onto the ledge so he was able to drop down safely.
-
At the edge of East Clock Town, four of the bombers met up. Unfortunately for them, so did Grasshopper with a rope. He threw the rope around them and tightened the loop. All the bombers tried to get out but failed. Viscen arrived shortly.
"Now, which one of you has the locket?"
All the bombers looked in a direction and yelled, "HIM!"
A fifth and lone bomber yelled out "snitches" and started running.
"Jim, the bomber leader!" Viscen shouted.
It seemed like Jim was about to get away when he was suddenly a rope from the ground tightly wraps around Jim's leg and hoists him into the air.
"Didn't become 'Admiral' without knowing a few hunting tricks." Viscen beamed, then approached the hanging Jim menacingly, "Now then… I'm sure the mayor will give you an earful about this!" and poked the terrified bomber with the wooden end of his spear.
"Wait," Grasshopper cut in, "let him down."
"What why? He's a thief!"
"Just... just do it."
"Very well." Viscen carefully severed the rope and let Jim down. Jim did not look like he was going to run away or anything of that nature. Grasshopper knelt down to talk to Jim easier.
"Okay, first. Give me the locket."
Jim uncomfortably took the locket out of his pocket, looked at it for a bit, then deposited it into Grasshopper's outstretched hand.
"And now... why did you take the locket?"
"Awwww..." Jim moaned, "Do I have to tell?"
"Hey, its either me or mister 'bad guard' over there."
"'Bad guard?'" Viscen echoed.
"Urgh," Jim moaned again in a surrendering tone, "it's... it's my grandma's birthday soon and I don't know if she has much longer to live, so I wanted to make this year's gift special. I thought about a moon's tear, but were in the outs with the astronomer, so we decided on something else. That's when I saw the locket. It was perfect! My grandma loves horses..."
"That still was no excuse to steal, young man." Viscen lectured, more calmly, but still very sternly.
Jim nodded, guilty, "I just wish I could stay on the astronomer's good side!"
Grasshopper thought for a second, then he had an idea. "Well, maybe you could be! What exactly did you guys do to make you think you were on the outs with him?"
-
Back in North Clock Town, Grasshopper, Viscen, and the bombers all came to Romani who looked up at them.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but I believe this belongs to you." Grasshopper said, revealing the locket from behind his back.
Romani's face lit up very joyously, "You, you got it back! Oh, Grasshopper you're the best!"
Grasshopper knelt down to put the locket back on her. As soon as he placed it back around her neck, she took this opportunity to say "thank you" and hug him around his while he was kneeling.
"Awwwwww..." The Bombers and Viscen cooed in unison.
Traveling to the observatory, Jim explained everything to the astronomer.
"It's like this... I saw this pot about to fall an' I ran to catch it and another one started falling because of the rumbles on the ground I made and another bomber came to get that one and eventually it got out of hand so bad that we lost balance and all the pots broke. We're really sorry."
The astronomer stroked his chin and thought about Jim's plight, "Well, I suppose I shouldn't be angry. Heck, if it happened to me, I would have the same result! No use crying over spilt milk, I say. Or in this case broken pots."
Grasshopper nudged Jim, then Jim said, "Um, sir? Now that we're on your good side again, is there any chance that I could have that moon's tear and give it to my grandma for her birthday?
After another process of thought, the astronomer said, "Perhaps, if you're willing to work it off."
"Work? In the observatory? awesome!" the bombers all spoke with excitement.
The astronomer smiled, "And after you pay off the moon's tear, we'll talk about salaries for all of you!"
The bombers were giddy with joy. An actual salary! After the hubbub died down, Jim went to Grasshopper. He cleared his throat ceremoniously.
"Mr. Grasshopper, we all want you to have this." Jim handed Grasshopper a purple Rupee, "It's worth fifty rupees, our hidden stash."
"Why are you giving it to me?"
"Because we're being paid now! We don't need any stash! We'll start a bank account right here in Clock Town, right gang?"
"Yeah!" All the bombers said in joyous unison.
-
As Grasshopper, Romani, and Viscen left the observatory, Viscen commented on how much of a different Grasshopper made today.
"Do not be so humble, Grasshopper. If not for you, perhaps this girl would have lost her locket. Jim would not have that moon's tear. The bombers would not have jobs. And possible if not for you, I would have dealt with those kids my old way! From now on, I decide to be the 'good guard' in interrogations!"
"You know," Grasshopper said, a little buzz of joy evident on his face and in his voice, "I believe this is cause for celebration. How about we all go to the Milk Bar?"
"I love the Milk Bar!" Romani said excitedly.
"How about you, Admiral Viscen? My treat!"
"As much as I'd love to take up on your offer and make you regret it," a comment which caused laughter, "I must get back to my duties. No rest for the weary, you know."
"Okay, see you around, Viscen!"
"Goodbye, sir Grasshopper!"
-
In the Milk bar, Grasshopper bought a round of milk for himself and Romani.
"I must say, this milk is very tasty and creamy!" Grasshopper said, savoring every swig.
"Don't you recognize the label?" Romani asked, beaming, "It's 'Chateau Romani', made at the Romani Ranch!"
"Wow," Grasshopper gasped, "I've must ask for some freebies when I leave."
"'Leave?'" Romani wondered when the person on the stage asked for silence.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, you wanted to see them on stage again, so here they are, back by popular demand, the Indigo-gos!"
Yet enough, the lights went to the stage and showed the Zoran performers.
Grasshopper asked Romani exactly what the heck were performing for them. She explained how there were not just "normal" people, but Zoras, Gorons and other specie in Termina.
"Aww, I wish Cremia were here! She loves this song!" Romani said over the music.
Grasshopper was only absorbed in the beauty of the music, these musicians really knew what they were doing.
-
At the time Grasshopper and Romani returned, Cremia had finished all the chores for the day. She even did enough so she could take time off tomorrow. She sat down on a crate and lifted her feet.
"My feet are killing me! I don't think I can walk another step..."
At that point she heard the voices of Grasshopper and Romani coming back and got off the crate and ran to meet them.
"Romani! Grasshopper! How was it?"
"I had the best time!" Romani said happily, "Grasshopper is the best!"
"Aw, stop." Grasshopper said and faked embarrassment.
-
While they were home, it didn't take long for the topic of Grasshopper's leaving to arise.
"Why do you heave to leave!" Romani blurted, almost in tears.
"I said I want to know who I am!"
"But, but, you're Grasshopper! You should live with us! Cremia, say something!"
Cremia was silent for a while until she blinked out her tears, looked up, and said, "All I'm saying is that if what he thinks he chooses is right, then he has my support."
Grasshopper was sent into a process of thought about this. On one hand, he could go. He'd be in unfamiliar territory and could get lost and never find his origins, or he could stay and help out Cremia and Romani at the ranch and make a whole new life.
"Well..." Grasshopper said, he had already make up his mind, but he wanted to make it dramatic, "I don't know if it's Cremia's story about understaffing or that I have just plain fallen in love with the ranch. Or maybe the deciding factor was that if my former life was without you guys, what kind of life would that be? I have decided to stay here."
What happened next was so fast. The girls apparently took that very well as there was a bunch of "Yay!" and "That's so wonderful." Romani almost cried and hugged Grasshopper around the waist, which was easily seen she was obviously crazy about him. Cremia watched, obviously holding back the urge to do so herself.
-
After all was said and done, the sun began to set on another day, and Grasshopper was sitting on a high mound watching the sun set as he did when the sun rose. He would not go and see where exactly the sun rose from, but he decided that he liked the life he chose much better.
After a while he heard footsteps. It was Cremia coming to join him in watching the sun set.
"Romani's asleep," Cremia said, a little in need of sleep herself, "said she had a full day today."
"We both did." Grasshopper said in agreement. He started to reflect upon the crazy day in his mind.
For a while they did not talk, just look at the canvas of colors displayed by the sunset. Eventually Cremia broke the silence.
"I'm glad you decided to stay." Her voice emphasized it much.
"Oh?"
"Yeah," then after a hesitation, "I don't think Romani's ready for you to leave, yet."
"Do you think so?"
Cremia looked at him, "Yeah… she's never really been this excited before in a while, I think you may provide a new beginning for this ranch."
"… And how do you react to all this on a personal level?"
"Um…" Cremia's head-wheels turned at a fast pace. I like you just as much as Romani, maybe even more so. I really like your company. You're a breath of fresh air. Looking at you gave me a feeling I've never felt before, and I want to keep feeling it until I understand it. Looking at you makes me want to do things to you. Any of those responses would have worked, save the last two, but Cremia ended up saying, "As long as you are willing to work, it is fine with me."
They both exchanged a laugh, which after concluded Cremia asked something of Grasshopper.
"Could you... play that song again? The one that you and Romani played?"
"Oh, sure," Grasshopper took the instrument from his pocket, "I've called it the Multitask, by the way. It appears to be able to take on the sounds of many other instruments."
"How?"
"I do not know. Magic?"
Grasshopper began to play the song as the harmonious sound filled the ranch and soothed all that heard it. As Grasshopper played with his eyes closed, Cremia just sat and looked at the sunset, allowing the song to take her to times past and dreams of times ahead.
Grasshopper has chosen not to pursue his past, but this may well result in his past chasing him. Only time will tell as the sun set on another day.