Willow here,

Once again I find myself apologizing for the long wait. Sorry for that, but I realized if I was going to continue writing this story I was going to have to go back and do some research, I haven't played the game in ages and I haven't played the beginning in years. After going back and refreshing my memories I discovered some inconsistencies between this story and the game, for one I got AP mixed up with ToT (and come on who hasn't from time to time) and was under the impression Castanet was an island. After looking at the game map I realize it's not. Also I forgot that certain characters weren't unlocked until after the blue bell was rung. Oops...

So forgive my little mistakes and enjoy the next chapter, Hikari is still being painfully awkward when it comes to the wizard and more troubles turn up on the path to curing the witch. I'll try to put up the next chapter next week, as I think my 45 hour work weeks are FINALLY (Cross your fingers) coming to an end giving me more time to write and edit.

Hikari's Pov

I woke up to the sound of waves crashing onto sand and a familiar yet unidentifiable sent. I liked the smell though, it made me feel safe and I wondered where I'd encountered it before. Refusing to open my eyes and wake fully I drowsily pulled the blanket up over my shoulders and nestled in further. As I did so I immediately noticed that my legs became exposed to the chilly air. That was odd, this blanket was awfully small. That's when my eyes came open and I realized something was defiantly off. I sat bolt upright and stared dazedly at the beach spread out in front of me. It took me a moment to realize what had happened; I'd foolishly fallen asleep on the beach last night. I slapped my palm lightly on my forehead, of all the idiotic things… I looked around quickly, at least it seemed no one was around to see me, then as I turned to look behind me I felt the blanket I'd been using fall off my lap and I looked down at it to pick it up. As I did so my heart stopped.

It was no blanket, I hadn't even brought one last night, but in fact a jacket. A dark blue jacket with intricate white designs on the sleeves and a hood. The instant I saw it I knew who's it was, the wizard's. Of all the people that could have walked by and seen me last night why did it have to be him? He kept finding me such embarrassing situations he probably thought I was a huge weirdo. I felt a blush crawl up my face as I buried it into the jacket in misery. It was just so embarrassing, I probably looked like an idiot dead asleep out there in the open, and I hoped I wasn't doing anything weird in my sleep. I didn't think I snored but neither did every person who snored.

"Hikari what are you doing?" I heard Finn call out to me. I looked up to find him buzzing around my head like usual, as if we hadn't just stupidly spent the night out on the beach. "You look kind of upset."

"Why didn't you wake me and tell me to go back home?" I asked Finn.

Finn shrugged his shoulders, "I guess I fell asleep too." He said with a small laugh. I didn't feel much like laughing; I felt more like crawling into a hole. "What is that?" Finn asked pointing to the Wizards jacket which I was still holding up to my face.

"I'm pretty sure it's the Wizard's." I said trying to sound casual, "Unless someone else on this island likes his fashion style." I couldn't help but inhale the sent from the jacket, though I felt like a total creep as I did so. It called to mind images of old books and hot coffee, and some peculiar sense of being home. Maybe it was because my house always smelled of coffee and tea, or maybe it was because I could so clearly remember my mother's shelves of books as a child, I couldn't really put my finger on it.

"Was the Wizard here last night?" Finn asked me curiously watching me clutch the jacket with an annoying hint of amusement.

"He must have been." I said moving to stand up, "Unless someone else had his jacket and chose to leave it here. Though I don't understand why anyone would leave it here." I shivered in the morning wind, the day had yet you warm up and it was always windy on the beach not to mention summer was coming to an end soon.

"You must have looked cold," Finn said as though it all seemed so obvious, "So he left his coat to warm you up!"

It was a simple enough answer but the whole thing seemed impossibly outrageous. I mean, what were the odds? I shivered again and decided it was ridiculous to freeze out in the wind when I had a jacket in my hands. "Let get home so I can get some coffee." I said to Finn throwing the jacket on, "We can see about retuning this later."

I marched up to my house and quickly set about making the morning coffee, it was still fairly early and I had a little more time than usual to enjoy my first cup as long as I didn't waste time making it. I went through my entire morning coffee routine without once realizing that I still had on the Wizard's jacket, in fact I didn't even notice the thing at all until I had sat down and lifted the cup to my lips only to have the baggy sleeves fall around my elbows. It really was a very comfortable garment and I found that I liked wearing it. It was one of those jackets that had just the right weight to it to wear in any kind of weather, it was no wonder the wizard always had it on.

I took the jacket off to inspect it further and watched as a small pile of sand fell onto my floor. Having spent a night on the beach it was in need of a shaking out. I set it gently over the back of one of my chairs and set out to start my day. My corn had looked like it was ready for harvest when I'd walked by them this morning and I was eager to inspect the stalks further. If I could manage to harvest a high quality crop I had already learned how to make corn into corn meal at the watermill. I'd managed to make some perfect butter a few days ago and so all that would leave was the hibiscus flower.

I gathered up my tools, straightened up my appearance and set about doing my daily chores around the ranch. Rosie was doing well, as were my chicken and her chick, and my duck seemed to be settling in just fine, though she was always eager to be turned out for the day. I was a little worried what she'd do when the rainier weather hit. With the animal's all cared for I moved to my crops.

I was a little nervous harvesting the corn, unsure of how their quality would be, but I worried in vain. I managed to grow several cobs of good corn and even one perfect. I was excitedly storing the spoils of my harvest into my rucksack when I noticed Paolo come running up to my little farm. He seemed awfully excited about something and I half wondered if he had some other impossible contraption to show me.

"Good morning." I called out a little dubiously as I was filling my shipping bin with the crops I didn't need to keep.

"Good morning Hikari!" the boy called out with an amount of cheer that could have rivaled Finn, "A ship has come in!"

I snapped my head up and looked eagerly at Paolo, "Did you say a ship?" I asked disbelievingly, I'd only rung the bell yesterday.

Paolo nodded, "You've got to come see, let's go to the docks!" he said taking off back in the direction of town.

I shut the shipping box with an over enthusiastic thud and took off after the now running Paolo. We both ran the whole way there, though I couldn't help but feel a bit foolish doing so. The boy's excitement was contagious, since I'd shown up, Castanet hadn't seen a single ship come into its harbor. It had been a point of general gloom and anxiousness for anyone living here. Supplies couldn't be shipped to or from any or the surrounding islands and there had been no way for anyone to get to them. Now at last it seemed our isolation was coming to an end.

We dashed over the bridge into town and through the streets. When we reached The Fishery poor Paolo lost his balance and tripped over his own two feet. He was a little ways ahead of me so I managed to catch up with him and give him a hand with getting back up.

"Are you ok?" I asked pulling him up off the ground, "That was quite a spill."

Paolo nodded a little embarrassed. "I'm fine.' He said simply.

I smiled reassuringly at him as I dusted him off a bit. "Come on," I said cheerfully, "Let's go see that ship."

As we reached the docks I could see that Paolo hadn't been the only one to notice the new visitor to Castanet, there was a small crowd of people from town all huddled around and older looking man dressed as a sea captain and the ferry like ship that was docked behind him. Everyone seemed excited and relieved and the man they were all crowding began to speak just as Paolo and I approached.

He smiled amiably, "Sorry to keep everyone waiting," I he began, "I'm Pascal. Now that you're lighthouse is working again I can operate my boat here."

That was funny I didn't even know the lighthouse was broken. I looked imploringly at Finn but he shook his head as if to indicate he didn't have any idea either. I shrugged my shoulders slightly and turned my attention back to the friendly looking Pascal. He seemed to me like the kind of person Ozzie would get along easily with, indeed Ozzie was standing next to him beaming like an idiot, maybe they were old friends.

"Sorry I was gone for so long everyone." He said apologetically and he sounded like a teenager who'd been away from home too long, evidently he was part of this big family of ours. "From here on out it's smooth sailing ahead." He said happily, "I'll be sailing my ship everyday so long as the weather is good. I'll be taking passengers to Toucan Island!"

Everyone cheered and offered their warm welcomes to Pascal while I just stood back a ways staring and thinking. It was unbelievably good luck that the first ship to come to Castanet was the one that would take me to Toucan Island the very place I needed to go. I watched as each person in turn came up to the sea captain, said their hellos and eventually drifted off back to their daily lives. Nearly everyone was gone when Pascal finally noticed me.

Upon seeing that I'd been noticed I quickly moved to introduce myself, "Hello my name is Hikari," I said with what I hoped was my best smile, "I own a ranch just outside of town."

"I've never seen you around before." He said with a friendly air.

I nodded, "I only just moved here at the beginning of spring." I explained, "But I've already made my home here."

Pascal laughed easily, "Good girl!" he said brightly, "There isn't anywhere better in all the world," he told her enthusiastically, "and the people are some of the best you'll ever find."

I decided I liked this man, it seemed we both shared a similar love for this wonderful place and the people in it. I glanced over at Finn who was beaming brightly from ear to ear, it seemed Finn too thought Pascal was alright.

"Will you really be sailing to Toucan Island every day?" I asked curiously, "I have some supplies I need to get from there."

Pascal nodded, "If you want a ride to the island just buy a boat ticket from the fishery," he explained, "Ozzie always sells the tickets for me since I take him out on my boat for fishing from time to time. If you bring me your ticket I'll be happy to take you."

"Thanks I'll remember that." I told him giving him a wave, "It was nice to meet you!"

Pascal tipped his hat playfully, "And you too."

I couldn't help but laugh as I made my way back into town. "Well that was certainly interesting wasn't it?" I asked Finn who was flying in circles around me.

"Are we going to buy a ticket and go to Toucan Island?" he asked excitedly, "I wonder what kind of place it is?"

"We're not going today," I said with a small smile, "Let's let Pascal have a day to rest, we'll go first thing tomorrow morning."

Finn looked a little disappointed as he stopped flying in circles around me and hovered directly in front of me, "Ok." He said simply.

"Don't worry today will go by in flash," I assured him, "There's lots to do today and it's already nearly afternoon."

It was early evening yet and I was staring at the now so familiar blue door to the wizard's house trying, like always to work up the nerve to go in. I glanced down at the dark blue jacket draped over my arm. Just how was I going to go about giving this back to him? I'd been so adamant about doing this in my mind, I even brought it all the way out here even though it meant back tracking after having already been into town this morning but now I was seriously considering turning around and going home.

Just walk in and give it to him! How hard can it be? I asked myself, Say thank you, handover the jacket and leave. Still my feet wouldn't move and I couldn't bring myself to knock on the door. Even I found myself pathetic, why was it the wizard always seemed to turn me into such a timid mess? I didn't usually have difficulties dealing with people. I actually thought I was generally a people person I certainly never had any real trouble conversing with anyone else on the island even the more difficult personalities like Luna and Chase.

Maybe it was that the wizard was different? You know Magical? That had to be it I decided, what else could explain why he had such an unsettling presence that made my heart pound? Or why when he looked at me if felt like he could see straight into me? Still the answer didn't make going in any easier. I looked glumly down at my feet.

"Hikari if we stand out in front of this door any longer without going in people are going to start staring." Finn teased lightly, "You look a little dazed."

I looked around nervously wondering if people were in fact staring and Finn giggled. I flushed visibly; there was no one around to be seen. "You tricked me." I half pouted, "There isn't anyone around."

"But I got you to snap out of it." Finn said cheerily, "You looked really troubled just now."

I felt guilty for worrying Finn, it was easy for me to think that I was the one who looked after and took care of the little guy but the truth was it was he who took care of me. So to put him at ease I mustered the courage to knock loudly on the door before us. I waited a moment for the response I was confidant by now would never come and then proceeded to open the door that was now always conveniently unlocked.

I strode in to the familiar setting of the wizards house and let my eyes absently go over the room. The Wizard was at his telescope concentrating intently on whatever was on the other end. I'd seen him look through the telescope before but usually he'd busily move between it and his notes, quickly writing down a few words before returning back to whatever it was he was looking at but today he sat motionless, oblivious it seemed, to all else.

"Hello Wizard." I called since he didn't appear to have heard us come in, "It's Hikari, I came to return your jacket."

There was no response from up in the loft so with a sigh I decided to go on up and try to get his attention. I climbed the stairs and got a better look at him. His back was to me and I realized he looked a lot different without his jacket, slighter, plainer, more human… I looked down at the jacket in my hands and briefly wondered how one article of clothing could so drastically change an impression.

"Wizard?" I called again hoping to this time get his attention.

"Hmmmm?" Came the absent reply. He was obviously completely absorbed in whatever it was he was doing. I couldn't help but smile, for some reason I found it cute.

"It's me Hikari," I explained, "I stopped by because I thought you might be wanting this back." I said lifting up the jacket with both hands and shaking it, "I think I shook all the sand out but you can never be sure sand gets into everything. So sorry in advance."

I watched as he slowly looked up from the telescope and turned around to face me. Well some much for seeming plainer, when he turned to face me his presence was as unsettling as ever. He seemed to stare uncomprehendingly first at me and then at the jacket in my hands. I couldn't keep myself from laughing.

"Come back down to earth Wizard, your mind seems to still be in space." I teased lightly handing that jacket over to him, "Thanks for lending it to me, it was really warm."

He finally seemed to snap out of it and took the jacket, "…Thank you…." He said simply.

"No thank you," I said feeling suddenly awkward again, "Well I'll let you get back to whatever it was you were doing. Bye Wizard." I turned and started to leave.

"Wait….."

My heart stopped and my body froze as if in compliance with that quiet command. It was almost like I was helpless to disobey his request even though I wanted nothing more than to run away like I always did. I turned around slowly giving the wizard a puzzled look.

"What is it?" I asked almost afraid of what the answer might be.

"I'm curious….." he said slowly, "What were you….doing…..out there?"

I unconsciously glanced at the telescope without meaning to and suddenly felt very self-conscious. For some reason telling him the answer felt horribly embarrassing. He was obviously an expert when it came to celestial bodies and somehow it didn't seem right to classify last night's adventure in the same category as all of this. I felt a wave of heat crawl up my face and I stared down at my feet. I could feel his eyes on me though and I knew I wouldn't be able to manage walking away until I answered.

"I was out stargazing," I explained, "And I guess I just sort of fell asleep."

"…..I see." If he had any reaction to the answer to his question at all he did not show it. "Be more…careful…. In the future….. Don't catch cold."

It was same lecture that everyone gave me, be careful, don't fall ill, take care of yourself but for some reason it seemed extra embarrassing coming from the wizard. I didn't want him to think I was an idiot who couldn't even take care of herself. I really wasn't as helpless as I seemed lately.

"I will." I promised turning to leave, "See you later Wizard, thanks again!" I called out over my shoulder as I dashed for the door and closed it firmly behind me.

I leaned up against the outside of the door and sighed, my face hot, and heart pounding; this was beginning to become something of a routine…..

"I can't believe how much that cost me!" I huffed standing in front of the fishery. "For 400g this island had better be amazing."

I looked down at the tickets that I was clutching in my hands and sighed. After discovering that the boat tickets were good at any time regardless of how long ago you bought them I decided to buy two just in case. I'd hate to need to get to the island only to find that the fishery wasn't open for me to buy a ticket. I glanced over at Pascal's ship and decided that I shouldn't be so gloomy. I was only one ingredient away from success after all.

Finn was zipping around excitedly above me. He seemed unperturbed by the price or my displeasure at it. I suppose he was used to my complaining by now and truth was my coin bag was flush with the profits from yesterday's crop harvest so it wasn't like I didn't have the gold. Finn was beaming down at me with all of his cheerfulness; he was really looking forward to seeing Toucan Island.

"Are you ready to go?" I asked him carefully tucking my spare ticket into my rucksack.

"Yeah let's go!" Finn cried happily, "I can't wait to see what the island is like!"

I smiled in return and walked over to where Pascal was standing and handed him my ticket. The old man smiled warmly and took the ticket.

"You'd like to go to Toucan Island today?" He asked me happily.

"Yes," I nodded, "Sorry to send you out when you only just arrived but I really need to go there."

Pascal laughed, "Not at all!" he exclaimed, "I've been itching to get back out on the waves anyway."

I now realized I may have been mistaken the other day in thinking Pascal shared my love for this place. He certainly seemed to be fond of it but watching him stare out over the water it became abundantly clear the place he loved most was the sea. I briefly wondered what a life being tied to the sea would be like. The ocean was too vast and unknown to ever feel like home to me. Still I guess there were some who found that endearing about it.

I followed Pascal onto his boat with Finn right behind me and found a place to settle in for the ride ahead. I looked to Finn and suddenly remembered something.

"You aren't prone to seasickness are you?" I whispered remembering how dizzy he always got in the mine cart.

The tiny orange sprite firmly shook his head. "I'll be fine!" He insisted but I was a little doubtful...

It didn't take as long as I had expected to get there. I had hardly had enough time to grow bored before the ship had docked and we were walking out to step foot on Toucan Island. For being such a short distance from Castanet it was like night and day in difference. Toucan Island was a very small very tropical island composed mostly of beach. There were vibrant flowers in bloom and the beaches were littered with glistening shells I'd never seen before. It felt like an island get away and the only buildings on the island gave off a cabana feel that only reinforced the impression. I'd finally made it, I was so happy I literally jumped for joy.

"This is amazing!" Finn squealed, "It so pretty here."

"You've got that right," I said happily, "and I bet there are just loads of high priced items waiting to be foraged, who knows I might even make a profit?"

Finn shook his head at me and sighed, "Hikari….."

I laughed, "I know I know I was only joking." I reassured him. …Well, half joking… "That looks like an inn over there, let go on inside and see if we can't get a hibiscus flower."

Finn nodded enthusiastically and we both made our way for the door. It swung open with ease and caused some chimes hanging above the door to ring softly from being bumped by the door. It was a light sound and I found it to be very pleasant. The inside of The Pineapple Inn was just as pleasant, clean, summery and refreshing. I let my eyes wander around the room until they settled on a young woman standing lazily behind a desk. She had tanned skin and red hair with a pinkish tinge that she'd pulled up into a bun, and she wore one of the strangest outfits I've ever seen. Her midriff was completely exposed by her small purple halter with gold trim and white almost puffy pants. It looked more like a dancing costume than every day wear.

When our eyes met the languid girl suddenly sprang to life. She smiled brightly and gave an enthusiastic wave, "Hello there. You're From Harmonica Town right?" She said cheerily. "I'm Selena!"

"Hello Selena I'm Hikari." I said as way of introduction, "It's nice to meet you."

Suddenly Selena practically threw herself across the counter, making a loud bang as she did so. I jumped back a bit started by the unexpected reaction but Selena did not pull away and merely started talking excitedly.

"Now that the ship's sailing I want to visit the mainland!" she exclaimed with enough enthusiasm to convince the dead to start walking. She sure was animated.

"That sounds exciting." I said not know what else to say.

Just then we both heard someone walk into the room and Selena's bright expression turned instantly sour. I turned to see an older, more moderately dressed woman standing a little ways off looking very disgruntled. Her thin brows were furrowed together and she was waving her arms about insistently.

"I told you you're still too young!" the older woman snapped, "I absolutely won't allow it!" she said firmly.

Selena marched over to the other woman defiantly and began waving her fist in the air and stomping her foot screaming, "Stop trying to control my life!" She accused, "I'm NOT a child anymore!" she whined.

I was beginning to wonder just what it was I had gotten myself into, luckily the two were largely ignoring me. I glanced up at Finn who shrugged nervously when he noticed me. This was clearly a family dispute of some sort and I really wanted to find some way to discreetly leave.

"Well you certainly throw a tantrum like one!" The older woman shot back, "Selena you should SEE yourself right now!"

As if to only prove the other woman's point Selena folded her arms across her chest defiantly turned her head and huffed. "I HATE YOU!" she bellowed with one more foot stamp before she stormed out of the room like a rebellious teenager.

"Hey!" The other woman called after her, "Selena get back here!" and ran after the now already gone Selena.

I watched the door swing shut as the chimes I had only moments ago thought so pleasant jangle discordantly throughout the room. Well that was awkward….. I got the feeling I had probably just seen something I shouldn't. I looked over to Finn who appeared to be feeling much the same as I did. I opened my mouth to talk to him when I noticed someone else in the room. A burly looking man with a mustache and funny hair cut walked over to me looking apologetic.

"I'm sorry you had to see that just now," he said sadly, "I'm stuck between my wife and daughter….." and his expression really did look torn. "I want Selena to chase her dreams like any parent does."

I nodded agreeing with his statement, after all, that enthusiasm she had exhibited just a moment ago was a rare and precious thing.

"But" he continued, "I know Sue will be sad if she leaves. She's our only daughter and there aren't too many people to talk to on this lonely little island once tourist season ends if Selena leaves it'll be lonely for us."

I could sort of see their point but I couldn't really agree with them, I silently thanked my parents for letting me leave for Castanet without much trouble. I know they had been sad to see me go but they also knew it had been what I wanted. Still it wasn't my place to say anything to him on the matter, it was a family issue and I only just met them.

The man looked at me with sorrowful eyes, "I just don't know what to do." He shrugged helplessly and my heart went out to him. "I'm Samson by the way. I run this shop."

My eyes lit up, so someone was going to be able to help me buy the hibiscus flower after all. "The hibis…" I began but Samson talked over me.

"Normally we do good business in Hibiscus seeds. It's Toucan Island's famous flower you know." He said and I didn't like the emphasis he had put on the word normally, "I can't sell such a beautiful, peaceful flower, with all this fighting going on."

My heart dropped, you had to be kidding me. Of all the people to have to buy a flower from in the world I had to get the spiritualist with a feuding family… I couldn't comprehend his motives at all this and that were two totally different issues. Money is money no matter what point in your life you're in! This was a terrible business strategy, he just admitted that the hibiscus seed was his main source of income but he wasn't going to sell any due to family distress? Wouldn't falling into poverty only cause more distress?! I was about ready to explode, after everything I went through to get here, now that I was finally standing here within reach of my goal he was telling me to go home empty handed.

I left out a very heavy sigh.

"I hope this fighting lets up soon so I can sell Hibiscus seeds again." Samson said simply and it took every ounce of self-control I had in me not to scream. Samson went behind the counter and I gave a quick wave and made my way out the door before he could saying anything more that might put me past my limit.

"I guess we're not going to be buying the flower today?" Finn said helplessly, "I hope his family makes up soon, it's sad when people fight."

I looked straight up into the sky wonder just why it was I had to hit every single snag on my way to ringing these bells...