Chapter Six

***Melody***

It was late when Finn, The Wizard and I finally retrieved the last bell. So I bid The Wizard goodnight and started heading home.

It was dark in Harmonica Town… The streetlights were all off so the stars were my only source of light. I felt like I was walking on a cloud the whole way home, I had done it. Tomorrow I would ring the last bell and summon the Harvest King. I was all ballooned up with happiness.

I was so daydreamy on my way through the town I didn't even notice I had bumped into someone until I was on the ground.

"Ow…" I muttered, shaking myself into reality.

"Melody!" A voice exclaimed "Are you ok? What are you doing out so late at night?"

I looked up to see Owen, he helped me up.

"I could say the same for you, big guy." I laughed

"I couldn't sleep; I decided to go for a walk." He explained

"Well, I was just on my way home, so I guess I'll be seeing you. Goodnight Owen." I said.

***Owen***

"Wait!" I shouted after her. It was unsafe for her to walk all the way home by herself. "Let me walk you home, It's unsafe by yourself."

"Well fine, if you can keep up." She winked at me. She was referring to the time about a month ago when we had raced horses, she had won. But I totally let her win.

"So how have you been, Mel? I feel like I haven't seen you in ages." I said as we walked down the dark path.

"Oh I've been…busy." She trailed off

"You seem to be spending a lot of time with the fortune-teller guy." I said spitting out his name.

"You mean the Wizard?" She asked innocently.

"Whatever,"

"Oh, he's just been helping me out with a few things." She explained

Yeah I'm sure he has, I thought. I decided to be frank with her. "So are you two like, together now?"

"Owen, no! Why would you even think that?" She looked at me in shock.

"Well, the word around town is he's got it in for you. Chase said you found him passed out in front of your barn, and you took him in for 2 days while he 'regained his strength.'"

I had a flashback of being in the bar talking with Chase, he told me the whole story of how he went over to declare his love, and she had rejected him. And at that time the Wizard was under her gentle care. The poor kid was heartbroken, and he being heartbroken over another girl made Maya heartbroken. I decided I was tired of heartbroken people so I left Chase and Maya at the bar and went home.

I had feelings for Melody too, strong ones. I thought maybe she might like me too and I've been meaning to talk to her for quite sometime now. It seems tonight was my lucky night.

"Owen, the Wizard truly was in need of my help. We are not together. The man is self-secluding and doesn't seem to want anything to do with me half the time." She said matter-o-factly.

I realized we were at her ranch now, but I continued our discussion.

"Then why do you spend so much time with him?" My voice-level was rising. It really boiled my blood that a man who didn't want anything to do with Melody sucked up all of her time. While here I stood in love with her, and I hadn't seen her in weeks.

***Wizard***

If only he knew, I thought as I gazed at the image of Owen and Melody in my crystal ball.

She thought I didn't want anything to do with her. How wrong she was. I wanted everything to do with her.

I couldn't sleep at night, I couldn't eat. And right now I was feeling jealousy at such a magnitude I couldn't even put into words how I felt.

I continued to watch the two go back and fourth, they appeared to be arguing now.

"I told you Own he was helping me with something! Why are you so freaked out about that?" She said back in a frustrated tone.

"I love you Melody." Owen finally choked out, suddenly gentle. "It's because I love you, and I want you to want to spend your time with me. Not him. Not any other man. I don't know what to do." He stared directly into Melody's eyes, unashamed.

"Owen…I… I'm sorry." She looked down from his piercing gaze. His face wilted.

"Please still be my friend." She pleaded.

"Sure…. I… I just… Goodnight Melody." He turned and left.

I saw Melody go into her home and curl up in her bed – which was still unmade from when I had rested in it – and cry.

Not hard sobs, just one or two tears. The crystal drops rolled down her cheeks and I wanted nothing more then to whip over there as fast as I could and wipe them from her face. The Harvest Sprite did just that.

"Oh Melody, please don't cry!" He begged "We're going to save the island tomorrow remember?"

"Sorry Finn… I just really don't like being put on the spot like that. I hope none of those guys hate me…." She started to sob quietly until she fell asleep.

I wiped the image on my crystal ball clean and just thought who could possibly hate her?

I decided I would look into her heart. It was still as pure as ever, but confused. I was overjoyed when I saw myself in her thoughts, but I was merely a friend. And because she thought I wanted nothing to do with her she had decided to leave me in peace.

I sighed and went to bed. My heart felt like it was being stabbed. It's time I finally admitted it to myself. I was in love with this girl. This girl who had waltzed onto this sick, dying island and brought it back to life, the girl who had every strong man crying at night because they could not have her…Magical Melody… The girl that would summon the Harvest King and someday be his bride, the thought sickened me. I couldn't sleep that night.

***Melody***

I woke up happy. Finn and I were going to save the island today!

We had rung the last bell. I went to the mountain top where the five sprites and the Harvest Goddess herself was waiting. "Ah Melody," Her voice rang out like a bell itself.

"Let us begin."

All five bells were rung together in perfect unison and harmony, creating a lovely song. Suddenly a blinding burst of light fell down from the sky. I shielded my eyes. And when I uncovered them, a beautiful man stood before me. He had a toga-like outfit on exposing his toned, bare chest. He had a sly, clever face and long wild blood red hair. He radiated a orange glow.

"You have summoned me." He pointed directly at me, I suddenly felt nervous under his scrutinizing gaze.

"Um…. Yes." I replied, bowing.

"We need your help, Harvest God." The Goddess said.

"With what?" He answered lazily.

***Harvest God***

"With what?" I answered lazily. I gazed at the my sister and the girl in front of me.

"The Goddess Tree is dying! You need to help us!" The girl exclaimed. How dare she interrupt two deities in conversation!

"And why is that? Humans like you have ruined this island, why would I fix it? Just so they can ruin it again? No, I will not help you!" I said. And that was that.

…Or not.

The gentle-looking girl's face all of a sudden turned bright red with anger, she looked straight at me with her piercing blue eyes and spat through her teeth:

"No. I have worked too long and too hard… No. You've got your facts seriously screwed up Mr. 'Harvest God'. The island is dying because you left. Us 'humans' have been suffering ever since! All the time I was gathering bells hearing about the mighty Harvest King that would save us all, I pictured maybe a strong, powerful, kind hearted God that would help heal this island! Not a cold-hearted ginger with an attitude." She glared at me when she was done. I had never in my existence been spoken to in this way. A part of me was impressed. The other part of me wanted to destroy her.

"You ungrateful being! I should smite you where you stand! You…!" I couldn't even find the words.

"Ignis…please," The Harvest Goddess whispered in my ear. "This girl has worked very hard. I myself have been hopeful you would aid us."

I looked into her pleading eyes and decided it wouldn't take too much of my time.

"Fine… I will assist you." I finally said in defeat.

The girl's facial expression changed abruptly. Her face broke out into a wide, delightful smile. She was a pretty one… for a human, I mean.

***Melody***

We followed the Harvest God to the dying Goddess Tree and with one raise of his hand, the tree blossomed and grew.

"Wow…that was quick." I muttered in awe.

"Indeed…. I am very powerful." The King boasted.

I rolled my eyes but I don't think he saw.

Then it hit me… the island was saved! I jumped for joy and me and all the harvest sprites circle danced and hugged.

"Thank you Goddess and Harvest King." I bowed.

"Thank you Melody." The Goddess smiled at me. She elbowed the King.

"Ah… thank you savage" The Goddess stepped on his foot. "Uh… Thank you Melody."

I bowed again to them both.

When I arrived down the mountain to the town below, I was surprised to see every single resident there to applaud me. "You saved the island!" Jake patted me on the back.

"Stunning Job Melody!" Jin complimented

I even got some "good jobs" from Chase and Owen.

Luke came up to me and patted me on the back "Nice goin Mel!" Selena, the town dancer, came up behind him and grabbed his hand, he blushed. I beamed. "Are you two…?" They nodded. At least Luke could still remain one of my best friends.

The only one who wasn't there was the Wizard… This saddened me; I had thought we were friends. But I guess I shouldn't expect him to come out with a bunch of people just to see me, he wasn't fond of people.

The celebration quickly moved to the Brass Bar,

"Drinks on me!" Luke shouted, and everyone cheered. I had one or two drinks, but kept my wit about me.

***Wizard***

I wished I could've joined in the festivities, congratulated Melody on her astounding accomplishment, and maybe walk her home like a normal suitor might do. I watched in my crystal ball as she received hugs and cakes and pats on the back. I yearned to be there for her but knew I could not, nor ever be. I felt my horrible unsettling feeling attach itself to my heart. It felt like I was being poisoned from the inside.