Hey world, this chapter is quite a bit longer than my previous ones. I thought about dividing it up, but I was just having too much fun. :P Yay for something actually having to do with the summary!

Along with my own version of the story of (insert your character's name here)/Skye, I kind of made up my own version of Skye's little Chick Beam. I'll even explain it in a later chapter, if people really want me to write that much. XP

A massive thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed my story thus far. I love hearing feedback.

As a warning, there is a good amount of alcohol in this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon or any of its characters/settings/anything no matter how awesome it may be.

--

Summer had arrived in Forget-Me-Not Valley, and with it came the blazing heat. It was never a time I particularly enjoyed.

So in the evenings, which were only a tad less scorching, I would find myself sipping a refreshing drink at the Blue Bar.

"CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!"

Okay, sipping might have been a bit of an understatement.

It was a normal, peaceful, and of course, uncomfortably warm summer night in the Valley. Inside of the bar that night, however, it was uncontrollable, wild, and even warmer than it was outside. A crowd of regulars at the bar were going insane as I stood back to back with my obviously drunk drinking buddy, Marlin, on one of the several tables inside. Steins in each of our hands, we did, in fact, chug their contents, much to the crowd's delight.

Our fun soon ended as the back of Marlin's head collided with the back of my own. We both began laughing uncontrollably and falling off of the table in opposite directions. Luckily, I fell snugly into someone's arms. I could not say the same for Marlin, however, as I heard a rather loud "thud" come from the other side of the table. I looked up towards my savior; a tall man with a very western-style hair job stared down at me in return. He was wearing his usual tan and gold long sleeved shirt, and through his mustache, he calmly informed me of what I had surely already been aware of.

"Holly, I think you've had a bit too much tonight."

"Thank you, Sir Griffin," I replied, plus a noticeable slur, "I'll just be going to bed now, good night."

I stumbled towards the door, barely able to walk straight due to the amount of alcohol I had consumed. I could not even recall how much I had drunk, if that was a sign of trouble at all. My work boots collided with the wooden floorboards harshly and loudly, as though an overenthusiastic bass drummer was attempting to leave the premises. I managed to exit the building eventually however, though not without hearing the fireworks makers protesting, "HAHAHA! No, drink more, girly!"

--

The next morning was… unpleasant, to say the least.

By 8:30 I believe I had used up all of the aspirin which both mine and Takakura's houses contained. And even then, I found myself lying on my stomach in bed, my face buried into my pillow, and trying as hard as I possibly could to not move my throbbing head.

As fun as the night before had been, it was certainly not one of the prouder moments in my life. Then again, neither had the last time I had been to the bar, nor the time before that. I could not help but wonder just where my life was going like this. Even still, it was a nice little escape for Marlin and I…

With that thought I shot up in bed. My head felt the repercussions of the sudden action, but I found myself not caring quite as much at the moment.

I had left Marlin at the bar last night.

As I was already dressed, I first tried to run back to the bar, but as I quickly discovered by my protesting stomach and head, that did not work so well. Instead, I figured a very slow walk would suffice; I would get to the bar eventually anyways.

Entering the bar, I stumbled upon an unconscious man in a simple white shirt who had appeared to have partied a bit too hard the night before. His black curls were even more uncontrollable than normal, and a distinct 5 o'clock shadow adorned his chin, along with a small trickle of drool. Sighing at the sight of Marlin, I realized that though I had not looked in a mirror that day, I probably did not look much more put together than he did at that moment.

I was about to attempt to haul my drinking buddy back to his place, when the door to the back room of the pub swung open. Muffy dashed into the bar area, clearly disgruntled. Her rich, blond curls bounced in a wild fashion as she leaned on the bar table, cradling her head in one hand as she held a piece of parchment in the other. Judging from her eyes, she was reading it over and over again.

"Muffy," I asked, "you okay?"

The woman had apparently noticed neither mine nor the unconscious Marlin's presence, as she looked up with great alarm at the sound of my voice. Her blue eyes were wide with worry, even though she appeared calmer when she figured out who was addressing her. Straightening her bright red summer dress, she answered, "Oh, Holly… I've been better, I'll tell you that much."

"What have you got there?" I questioned. I was hoping not to pry, but I was all too curious as to what the paper in her hand read.

"It's a notice," she replied. "There's nothing you could do anyways."

I chuckled, "You don't know whether I can help or not until you tell me what's on that paper."

I had taken a seat on one of the many sturdy chairs scattered throughout the bar. Muffy in return paced over to the table I was nearest to, and thrust the parchment down on the table.

"It's the Phantom," she told me, eyes closed in worry.

I felt my pulse quicken at what Muffy had said. My eyes quickly shot to the note sitting peacefully on the oak table in front of me. Though the light was indeed dim, the note was still legible. It was handwritten with fine, cursive penmanship; I would almost call it feminine in that manner.

To whomever it may concern,

I will be waltzing into your beloved Blue Bar tonight at midnight. It has been a while since I've had a good drink, so I hope that you will have quite the selection for me to pick from when I arrive. However, do not expect much to be there when I am through. Hehehe.

I hope you have a lovely day,

Phantom Skye

I looked up from the arrogant notice to find Muffy frowning in silent sorrow.

"What do you have that he would want to take?" I asked her.

"If he's looking for a good drink, then we're a gold mine for him," she answered, "The Blue Bar is in so much debt already though, if he takes anything at all, Griffin and I might have to resort to something drastic to even keep this joint open."

Though I felt great pity for the girl, my throbbing head did not. At the same time however, my chest was tight in a very unfamiliar, almost exhilarating sensation. My gut, though queasy, told me something clear as day; I had to be at the bar when Skye arrived.

"Muffy," I said, in the most reassuring voice I could muster with a class four hangover, "I want to help you."

"What?" she looked up at me, confusion written on her face.

I knew I could not reveal my rather selfish motives for my offer, so I gave her the goody-goody version of my reasoning, "I can't let this bar close, not just for me, but for you and Griffin as well. So, if you're willing, I'll help you in any way I can."

"Holly…" Muffy smiled for the first time since I had arrived, "thank you."

--

It had been arranged.

At 10:00pm I would arrive at the Blue Bar ready to do anything Muffy and Griffin were to ask of me. In return, I would get to see the Phantom once more.

He had snaked his way into my head. That much was obviously clear.

It was a quarter past three as I began to wrap up my daily chores. After taking an unconscious Marlin back to his farm, I had returned home only to find that there was still no aspirin lying about. Around noon I found myself able to move without a considerable amount of pain, and decided that it was probably time to take care of my animals. Hangover or not, I would be nothing without them after all.

Skye… I remembered the two days back in spring when he had entered my life. I remembered his perfect silver hair, his cold, velvety voice, but also his terrible deeds. He was an intelligent man; as a thief, quick-thinking is likely a necessary trait to have. It led me to wonder though, why was he a thief? Thievery was an action reserved for the cowardly and low. Through this continuous train of thought, it did not take me long to think of the largest question of all I had for the mysterious man.

What was he afraid of?

--

I entered the bar at 10:00pm sharp. For once, I had all the reason not to be late.

Before hand I had even looked in the mirror, and it was only then that I noticed how atrocious I appeared. I grappled for my hairbrush and gathered the courage to tame my wild hair. When I was through playing make-up half an hour later, I would even go as far to say that I looked rather nice. I was finally prepared to show the Phantom more than a pretty face.

The bar was still opened; it normally did not close until after midnight. I noticed one of the twins sitting at the bar, his grey hair askew in a gravity-defying fashion. I could have been mistaken, but I believe the present twin was, in fact, Kassey. He called over to Griffin, and stated his request in a rather straightforward fashion, "Griffin, look, I might have possibly just had the longest day of my life. I need the strongest stuff you've got, no holds back, you hear me?"

Griffin replied with a nod before turning to the shelf of ingredients behind him. Shoving aside various bottles and liquids, he pulled out a tiny vial of clear liquid. Had I been naïve, I could have mistaken it for simply a tube of water, but being in a bar, I knew that that was certainly not the case.

Griffin brewed what appeared to be a usual drink at the bar, before taking an eye dropper and adding only three drops of the strange clear substance into the drink. Passing it to Kassey, he was returned with a look of strong disbelief. A sly grin appeared through Griffin's brown mustache at that moment.

"Kassey, I'll tell you this," Griffin warned, "That vial was filled with a liquid that will knock you out for two weeks if you sip a teaspoon, and will kill you if you take any more. Stuff this dangerous, not only do you need a permit to even hold it, but a vial this large will cost you over five million gold right there. The commoners simply call it Nile Water, and if you add three drops of it to a nice drink, it adds the perfect amount of flavor, and enough kick to bring you to a nice buzz and beyond, if you hear what I'm sayin'."

Now, Kassey was never a fool. So he nodded grudgingly before taking a large gulp of his drink, and smiled with great satisfaction afterwards.

"You're a lifesaver, Griffin," He said with a smile.

Griffin replied with another nod, when he noticed I had entered the bar. "Holly," he greeted, "I don't believe you're here for a drink tonight."

"You think right," I confirmed, taking a seat at the bar. Muffy swiftly entered the bar area from the back room at the sound of my arrival.

"Pardon me, everyone!" She announced cheerily. At the sound of her voice, everyone in the bar turned their attention to meet her eyes. "We're going to have to close a bit early tonight, I hope you all understand."

--

11:55pm.

I was hiding behind the bar with Griffin and Muffy. The lights were off, and everything was quiet. To anyone unaware, the Blue Bar might as well have been deserted. The darkness abstracted everything in the small dining space. Chairs no longer looked like chairs and shelves seemed taller and about to collapse onto you. Perhaps it was only my imagination, or perhaps it was not.

Muffy shifted uncomfortably, as she had been all night. The plan was simple; we would wait for the Phantom to enter the bar and we would jump him. Personally, I found it too simple. However, Muffy thought it was brilliant, and Griffin agreed that sometimes spontaneous actions were the best ones.

Time passed by minute by minute. I was fairly sure that none of us behind the bar actually knew the time; it had become far too easy to lose track of as the minutes turned into hours. Muffy eventually stood up with a sigh.

"I'm going to get some air," she told us, "It appears to be long after midnight, and nothing has happened."

Griffin stood up along with her, "I'll go with you. I can't let anything to happen to you." The two smiled at each other as they stepped out of the bar area. "Holly," Griffin turned to me, "I believe the danger has passed. However, I would greatly appreciate it if you would be so kind as to stay here until Muffy and I return. Would that be alright?"

Personally, I felt that the danger had passed as well, and saw no real point for me to remain there any longer. However, I had agreed to help, so begrudgingly, I nodded, and stood up by the bar to stretch my own cramped legs.

I watched as the two took their leave out of the darkened bar, and perched myself comfortably on one of the several stools. The time had ticked by slowly but surely, and it appeared that Skye had in fact not kept his word. It struck me as odd that the Phantom would be the type to not show up, but then again, I hardly knew the man, and I should not be one to judge.

Staring worriedly at the floor, I waited for Griffin and Muffy's pleasant return. It was then that I would be able to return to my humble abode and sleep, though I would wake with regret that I had performed a steak out for no apparent reason. I closed my eyes, for once not out of fatigue, and I simply thought about how stupid I was for even coming here. He was just a man, a thief at that. More than that, he was a waste of my time.

At least, that was what I believed, until the most terrifying thing I could have imagined happened to me.

It started when I opened my eyes once again; staring down at my shirt I noticed a spot of shining blue light. It was as though someone were shining a laser pointer at me, or just maybe, a targeting light…

"MAIDEN CHICK BEAM, FIRE!"

The voice appeared out of no where, echoing off of every wall and object, surrounding me entirely. The once small speck of light enlarged until my entire body appeared to be glowing. Then there was the shaking. I felt the polished wooden bar floor shaking madly, as though an earthquake had struck. The impact threw me off of my stool and I fell onto the floor. When I looked up, I saw five illuminating yellow roots break through the bar floor. Each was as thick as a man's torso, and for all I knew they could have been infinitely long. I looked down at myself in a massive fit of fear, realizing that I was still glowing. Unfortunately, the roots had noticed it as well. At the realization of this, I did the only thing I could think to do, I screamed. Before I could blink, each root seized one of my limbs. When everything had calmed down, I was suspended a good ten feet off of the ground, unable to move in the slightest. I was not dead, but I was so scared that I might as well have been. Had I not been contained by whatever magic was at hand, I would have been shaking uncontrollably.

"I really wish I didn't have to resort to this kind of method," The voice continued, "But you simply wouldn't leave, so I had no choice. Terribly sorry… hehehe…"

The laugh was enough to tell me who the voice belonged to. It was the Phantom Thief, Skye. I could even imagine the cocky smirk spread across his face. His footsteps, though incredibly quiet, were audible enough to inform me of his position in the bar. He traveled to the ingredients shelf, and began rummaging carefully. From my position, I could see nothing besides the dark, cobweb-stricken ceiling of the bar, and it was paining me to feel so helpless.

"What are you doing here, Skye?" I demanded, unable to hide the massive amount of fear my voice contained, "What have you done to me?!"

With a teasing laugh, the Phantom replied to me, "You are the curious one, aren't you?" He stopped his rummaging briefly, what he did in that moment was unknown to me, but he continued once again, "I remember you from when we met in spring, of course. You are always asking me these questions… I know!" He said these last words with an amount of happiness, as though he had come up with a brilliant idea, "How about we make a little bargain, hmm? You seem so interested in me, that I'll make you a deal."

"I'm listening…" I informed the thief.

"This Valley is quite the fun place, there is so much…" he paused and let out a small laugh, "…to do here. I'll be around for a while, so how about this; if you can catch me at my little game, I'll answer any question your heart desires. Would you like that, my dear?"

I squinted in distrust at the ceiling; it would have been directed towards the Phantom, but he simply was not in my possible line of vision. After a sigh of regret, I made my reply, "Fine, I accept your challenge."

The Phantom Thief laughed joyously at this. "Excellent! This is great! I believe we will have loads of fun with this."

At these words he ran back past me towards the exit of the bar. With one final cackle, he said, "Well then, my dear Holly, I believe we have a bargain." He snapped his fingers once before exiting the building and vanishing into the night.

At the snap of his fingers, the mystical roots which had been suspending me disintegrated into thin air, and I fell straight to the floor. It was then that Griffin and Muffy crashed through the bar entrance; they found me in a curled heap, and the floor destroyed where the roots had shot up from the ground.

"HOLLY!" They called to me frantically, "Are you alright?!"

I only managed to say one thing before passing out from fear and exhaustion.

"I believe we have a bargain indeed…"