Hello dear readers!
I present to you Chapter 3! Yay! I hope everyone enjoys reading and is excited to read more! Many thanks and appreciation to my wonderful and amazing Beta Harvest Loon :) Please let me know what you think in the reviews and have fun! Chapter 4 will be coming soon.
Take care
~Rose of the Dawn
*I do NOT own Harvest Moon or the characters of Harvest Moon*
The descending ball of light and heat began to spin faster and faster as it reached the top of the mountain. The sprites gave their bells one final ring and, as if on cue, the great sun-like ball fell away to reveal one of the most regal looking men Akari had ever seen. Long fiery red hair whipped majestically and his white and sunset orange robes billowed out around the man's tall form. He opened his eyes and Akari felt a rush of startling butterflies in her stomach. For a moment she locked eyes with his- the reddest eyes that she had ever looked into.
There was a coldness that Akari's chocolate brown eyes had seen before when she had told her father that she was moving to Castanet Island to start her own farm. Looking away as fast as she could, Akari looked down at Finn who was bursting with excitement and tried to absorb his happiness. The Harvest Goddess had stepped from the ring of sprites and glided forward towards the Harvest God.
"Welcome Harvest God. Thank you for hearing our call in our time of great need." The Harvest Goddess greeted softly, slightly bowing to the Harvest God.
"Harvest Goddess, why exactly have I been summoned from the heavens?" The Harvest God's voice boomed out in a low rumble.
"My Goddess Tree is dying. I have my chosen hero Akari who helped bring us to this point of summoning you to help revive the Goddess Tree and save my beloved Island." The Harvest Goddess explained, turning and motioning for Akari to step forward.
Breathing in deeply and gulping down her heart that had jumped its way to her throat, Akari stepped forward and bowed low to the Harvest God. She could feel his eyes burning holes into her as she straightened up and again looked back into his burning scarlet eyes. Instantly Akari regretted her decision of not changing her clothes before coming to the Harvest Goddess to present her title of Hero.
The Harvest God raised one red eyebrow and turned his attention back towards the Harvest Goddess. He unfolded his large muscular arms and sighed.
"If the Goddess Tree is dying then we must hurry before time runs out. Come." The Harvest God said as he waved his hand in a sweeping motion.
Akari blinked and noticed that they were no longer on the mountain top. They all were standing back at the Goddess Pond in front of the Goddess Tree. Finn jumped from Akari's shoulder and joined the other sprites on the ground as they all clamored in excitement of the Harvest God's presence.
The Harvest God stood before the magnificent Goddess Tree and placed a large hand upon its trunk. For the smallest moment Akari saw a gentleness from the God that stood in front of her, but before she could really believe it, he had turned and was again looking at her intensely.
"The Goddess Tree is in a more dire state than what I had thought. It is the duty of the Hero to make sure that it will not be in peril and that it is nurtured and cared for. You can ensure this by making friends with the animals and people that live here on this Island. If the Goddess Tree becomes ill again, I will not be able to save it a second time. Be wary of this Hero, as you live your life here." The Harvest God said, giving Akari a stern look before turning to the Harvest Goddess.
Lifting his hand up to the Goddess Tree, the Harvest God started to glow varying shades of scarlet and orange, his eyes glowed a dark red and his golden jewelry on his chest, ears and forearms all glowed brilliantly as his power gathered.
Akari watched in awe as the Goddess Tree seemed to draw in a breath of life as it started to cover itself with perfect green leaves that sparkled in the sunlight, casting a dazzling shadow across the Goddess Pond.
"Make a wish Akari." The Harvest Goddess whispered as she bowed her head and folded her hands together.
Following suit, Akari folded her hands and bowed her head, closing her eyes.
"I wish for the Goddess Tree to remain strong and healthy for always. I wish for my friends to live joyous lives and that we may always know peace." Akari prayed softly. She then opened her eyes and looked at the Goddess Tree in wonder.
"Akari?"
Turning her head, Akari's eyes widened as she saw Renee and Toby standing at the top of the stairs to the Goddess Pond.
"Renee? Toby? What are you two doing here?" Akari questioned as she looked around at the Harvest Goddess and the little sprites that were still yelling and clapping excitedly.
"We saw you run by so quickly earlier and after a while we noticed that you hadn't come back yet, so we decided to come and check on you." Toby answered, his eyes gazing lazily upward staring at the Goddess Tree.
"Whoa! Since when did the Goddess Tree become that big?!" Another startling voice shouted coming up the stone path way.
Akari saw Luke, Bo and Dale as they tramped their way along the path and stood next to Renee and Toby.
"The Goddess Tree looks like it was...brought back to life." Bo said observing the tree and brought his hand up to his chin forming his normal "thinking" look.
"Pops noticed something different when he came out of the shop and could see the Goddess Tree above all the other trees." Luke said as he went up and stood in front of the Goddess Tree with his fists on his hips admiring its growth.
"Oh my! What a miraculous sight for my old eyes!" Another voice called up to the others.
Akari turned and saw Irene hobbling up the stone path with Jin at her side.
"I haven't seen it like this since I was a young woman getting married to your grandfather Jin." Irene said fondly as she brought herself up to the tree and put her hand on its trunk.
The Harvest Goddess smiled and clasped her hands together watching the villagers gather beneath the shade of the Goddess Tree.
Akari smiled down at Finn who was bubbling with happiness and excitement.
"Akari! There you are my dear!"
Lifting up on her tip toes, Akari looked for the voice that was calling for her and saw Mayor Hamilton puffing his way up to her. Gill was right behind his father looking sharply dressed and annoyed as always. Finally Hamilton reached Akari and took out a white handkerchief with a golden embroidered "H" on it. He dabbed his forehead with it and then proceeded to tuck it back into his suit pocket.
Clearing his throat, Hamilton went to say something to her, but was interrupted by more voices coming from the forest to the Goddess Pond.
"Uncle Ramsay look! Everyone is here!" Chloe chimed as she skipped her way over to Akari and went right to where the Harvest Sprites were gathered at the trunk of the Goddess Tree. "Ooh look at all the little sprites!" She said with curiosity, stooping down to get a better look.
"Finn, I thought you said that only I could see you?" Akari mumbled to him as Chloe jumped up and laughed chasing Edge and Collin around the Goddess Pond.
"Children are able to see us because they still believe in the magic that is us. Adults tend to outgrow that carefree innocence and are unable to see what is around them, but that is why the Harvest Goddess chose you for her Hero Akari, because you still believe." Finn said humming contently, kicking his legs back and forth and gazing at all the villagers that surrounded them.
"Akari." Hamilton began again, waiting for Akari to give her his attention. "I think that we all owe you our thanks and gratitude for saving the Goddess Tree, and ultimately Castanet Island." He said smiling as everyone turned their eyes to her.
Blushing, Akari looked around at all the villagers and was met with their smiling faces and proud looking eyes, something Akari had not seen from anyone in a long time.
"Let's hear it for Akari! Savior of Castanet Island!" Shouted Luke as he jumped up and thrust his fist high into the air.
A roar came from all the villagers as everyone one came forward at once and embraced Akari. Owen and Luke came on either side of her and, ignoring her yelp of protest, lifted her up onto their shoulders.
Akari covered her eyes and couldn't help but laugh from being filled with all the love and respect that everyone was giving her. The only people that had ever made Akari feel this way had been her grandparents.
Everyone gathered behind Owen and Luke as they held Akari tightly and marched back to Harmonica Town to celebrate. Akari swung her head back around and looked behind her, sucking in a breath as a pair of ruby eyes locked with hers. The Harvest God stood with his arms across his massive chest, his expression unreadable as the Harvest Goddess waved gently at her and the Harvest Sprites flitted in between branches of the Goddess Tree.
Quickly turning back to the laughter and chatter of the villagers gathered below her, Akari smiled and let herself relax for the first time in forever.
"I hope you chose your Hero well Sephia." The Harvest God said as he stepped away from the Goddess Tree and glanced up at the sun that was setting and casting shades of orange and pink through the emerald leaves of the Goddess Tree.
The Harvest Goddess turned her head towards the Harvest God with a small look of concern.
"You feel as though my chosen hero is not worthy of her title Ignis?" Sephia questioned as she watched him run a hand through his red hair and sighed heavily.
"You know how I feel about mortals Sephia. They start out with good intentions and then they move on in their ever changing world, forgetting about what they had come here to do."
"She isn't like her, Ignis. Akari is different, she is pure of heart and she cares for all. I have had time to watch her actions and hear her thoughts. She is different and that is why I chose her." Sephia said defensively.
The Harvest God sighed and closed his eyes not wanting to discuss the topic anymore. He then disappeared from the Goddess Pond leaving behind the Harvest Goddess who was frowning at his fading form.
"Akari won't leave us like the other Hero did right Harvest Goddess?" Daren asked as he tugged on the Harvest Goddess's dress.
Bending down the Harvest Goddess patted Daren's head softly and held him in her hands lovingly.
"No Daren, she won't. Akari is different, he'll see." The Harvest Goddess trailed off as she leaned against the Goddess Tree hoping that this time, she would be right.