Disclaimer: I do not own the Harvest Moon series or any of the characters mentioned in this story. All original characters and lines belong to Natsume Games and other respectable parties. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and not to be sold anywhere.

This is a work of fiction, any similarity or likeness to any events or persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

A/N: Welcome back! Final part of Popuri's arc is here! Thanks for reading everyone and I'll see you guys and gals in the next arc!

Voice4TheMute Presents

"Oh me, oh my. I rarely get visitors." Lillia said as I entered her home on Poultry Farm. Lillia, as usual, was full of life with a smile that seems to never go away. I did a small bow of respect to her as I occasionally glanced at the pictures on the walls and table ends. There were plenty of pictures of Rick and Popuri…but no real good photos of Lillia and her husband. It did worry me, but that's why I was here afterall. Maybe learning something about Lillia will give me a good base to figure out why Popuri needs her angel with her.

I'm sorry I haven't been seeing you more frequently." I apologized. "I' be been busy with the farm and all…"

"That's ok. I hear my daughter and Barley's granddaughter has been helping you as well. That's nice." She said to me as she offered me a seat. I accepted her hospitality as I sat down, being handled freshly brewed tea. "So Jack, what can a middle age-woman do for you today? If you need chicken-related products then-"

"Oh no. I'm purely here just to socialize. I mean we've been living next door to each other and we haven't exactly sat down and talked to each other. I said to her. Lillia narrowed her eyes at me.

"You're not trying to win me over so you can ask Popuri's hand in marriage, are you?"

"M-M-Marriage? Oh Goddess no, I-" I started but then stopped myself, realizing I was basically insulting her own daughter in front of her face. But she didn't seem offended. In fact, she was laughing…but it was probably because I fell so easily for her trap.

"You really are what she says you are."

"And what is that?"

"An honest, hardworking farmer." She said as she took a seat next to me. She had her own cup of tea that she sipped quietly, letting out a small sigh of relief. "She says that your farm is doing quite well, despite it being a barren wasteland a couple of months ago. My own son tried to fix up the farm but he couldn't grow a single flower. What is you secret?" I averted my eyes, as I sipped my tea nonchalantly.

"Oh you know…water, fertilizer, and the Goddess' blessing…"

"I hear that the Goddess abandoned us because we were too greedy and selfish." Lillia said to me.

"Where did you hear that?"

"Oh, just a rumor I suppose. Sasha likes to think that we're all doomed to move and Manna thinks that a witch is involved. It's all theories we wives have. Nothing else we can do but just gossip the day away." She said with a smile.

"Hard to believe that you're a mom, Lillia. I mean, you look so young." I said, with a bit of hesitance. She picked it up easily.

"Jack, if you're going to put the moves on a girl, you must have more confidence in yourself. One hundred percent or nothing. That's how it goes. But…I do appreciate the complement." Lillia said with a smile. Her smile reminds me so much of Popuri's smile, if not a little toned down. They both smile from the heart, and they will always display the feelings they are currently feeling. When they're happy, they'll be happy, when they're sad, there is no hiding it.

"You know…I haven't seen your husband around. Is he in Mineral Town?" I asked, hopefully breaking enough ice where we can start talking about what I needed to know. Lillia was quiet for a moment, a solemn expression on her face as she took another sip of her tea.

"My husband…is away at the moment." She said to me.

"Oh. Did he go on a trip or…?"

"I guess you can say that." Lillia said as she put her cup down. "He went out of Mineral Town to help find a cure for my sickness."

Lillia IS sick…

Harvest 107: The Angel of Youth

"Sick? You're sick? I have no idea." I said to her. She looked at me, as if I was lying to her. I did my best to hide the fact I was lying, but it would seem she let me go this time.

"It happened a few years ago. I developed a persistent cough then it turned into faint spells, then it progressed into weakness in my knees and arms…" She said, looking at her own elbows and wrist. "The Doctor tried to diagnose me, but couldn't find a reasonable conclusion for my illness. I received a second option from another doctor inland but she couldn't figure it out either. They say it's a very rare disease that only preventative medicine can help…but there is no cure." Lillia said as I felt myself become depressed from this information. Lillia noticed my sudden mode change and waved her hand in the air, gesturing me not to worry. "P-Please don't be sad for me. It's not like this disease is attacking my heart or my kidneys. This is just causing me some weakness in my daily routine. It's not life threatening…unless I faint into the ocean or off a cliff. Other than my cough and slow movement, I have nothing that is cutting my life in half." She said as I sighed with relief.

"That's good to hear…" I said to her as she smiled at me. I smiled back, but I knew that I had to dive deeper into this topic. "…and your husband?"

"…he's out looking for a cure."

"But you said that there was no cure."

"Exactly."

There was a moment of silence. While she wasn't exactly abandoned, for a man to leave his wife and kids to find an imaginary cure for a disease that's not life-threatening…I couldn't help but feel angry at the man.

"I…hmm…" I said, unsure what to say at this point.

"Yes…it seems silly and irresponsible to leave me and the kids…but all he wanted to do was to see me get better. Our life here on this island is very stable. We are in no financial hardships and the farm work we do is very simple and profitable. He knew that if he left now, we will be fine without him." She said, smiling. "And now with you here, we are in a very good position to keep our farm running. I was worried since we were no longer getting produce from the farm. The Mayor said that if we continue to go without a farm, we may have to move away. If we move…there is no way my husband would come…" She started but I interrupted her by handing her my handkerchief. She wasn't aware herself, but she was starting to tear up. As she saw my handkerchief, she looked dup with me with thankful eyes and wiped away her bead of tears with her own fingers. "It's quite alright Jack. I got it. It's just…when the Mayor said that we might move…I couldn't' help but feel sad. We would move…he would come home…only to find that everyone is gone. I fear that I would never see him again." She said, wiping away more tears.

"You really love him, don't you?"

"Of course. I'm his wife. And these are his children. He wants to see me healthy again…but I just want to see him."

I walked back to my farm to see that May, Popuri, and to my surprise, Mary were all there having lunch under my grandfather's apple tree. I casually walked over there, hands in my pockets.

"I don't suppose you have lunch for me." I said, smiling at them. They all greeted me and offered whatever they had left. As we sat down, we started talking about random things, mostly about future festivals and beach games. Popuri was particularly excited for the chicken festival and the tomato festival. May was excited for the fireworks festival. As for Mary? Well, she didn't seem to have much of an opinion of which one she likes. She did hint that seeing pyrotechnics peaks her curiosity of how they work. Before we knew it, it was evening. Barley came to pick up came to pick May up and Popuri had to go meet Elli at the clinic. The only people left were Mary and me. There was an awkward silence. Mary did her best to avoid eye contact with me while I was trying my best to get her attention. Abby, her angel, was watching on top of the tree, but not interfering.

Finally, I decided to break the silence.

"Hey Mary?"

"Eek!" Mary jumped, her face bright red as we made eye contact and looked away again. "Y-yes Jack?"

"I…" I started, feeling embarrassed. "…I wanted to say thank you. Without you, I probably wouldn't be here right now" I said to her as she kept her vision forward.

"O-Of course. We need you Jack. I mean…I…need…"

"That's true…without me, the town will be in some deep trouble, huh?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?" I repeated as we made eye contact again. Another deep blush conquered her face a she turned around to avoid me. I could have sworn it as on purpose, but I felt a rock hit the top of my head. When I looked up I saw the Angle of Knowledge whistling nonchalantly. "But er…thank you, Mary. For saving my life…and all." While saying thanks to Mary was part of my agenda, my conversation with Lillia today made me realize that I need to speak with Abby. I looked up at the angel who was looking down at me. I made a small gesture that I need to see her and she nodded, slowly drifting towards my field.

"I'm going to do a round around my field really quick. I'll be right back." I said to Mary as she nodded. I walked over to my field, over my wood fence to where the angel was watching one of my crops. ""Abby?"

"Yes?"

"May I have a word?"

"About what?"

"About Lillia." I said to her. Abby was curious about what I had to say. She floated down to the ground so we were now standing next to one another.

"It has to do with the angel in Popuri."

"You still don't know that she had an angel in her." She said instantly.

"True, but I think I might be able to prove it soon."

"How?"

"I need info on Lillia." I said to her as she sighed.

"I don't just give out personal information about people. Especially sensitive information. Lillia has her secrets and she keeps them to herself." Abby said to me as I shook my head.

"I was talking to her earlier today. She told me about her illness and about her husband." I said to her. Abby remained silent, as if she was judging how much information I knew compared to what she knew.

"I'm going to repeat myself. I don't give away-"

"I just need to know one thing." I said to her. Abby fell silent as I worded my question in the following way. "Are Popuri and Rick's father…Lillia's husband…still alive?" I kept my eyes locked on the angel as she kept her vision locked on me.

"This information will show that Popuri has an angel in her?" Abby asked as I nodded my head.

"It's a working theory, but if I'm correct, then I will be able to release the angel by the end of the day. If I'm not, then there will be a way I can ease the mind of Lillia and her family. This will at the very least be beneficial to them and if the angel is inside Popuri, then it'll be a plus. But I need to know if Popuri's father is still alive." I said to her as the angel looked at me with skeptical eyes. It showed that she was reluctant to surrender the information, but she sighed as she looked at me square in the eyes.

"That man, husband to Lillia, father to Popuri and Rick, is dead."

"Popuri. Odd meeting you here." I called out to the pink hair girl that was at the peak of Mother Hill. I made it to the top and looked at the view she was looking at. From the very top, the entire town and the shore of the island was clearly visible. The ocean that surrounded the island stretch all the way to the horizon. It was definitely a sight to see, and even more breath-taking when the sun rises and sets.

"Oh you know…just admiring the view. I like to come here at least once a year to remind myself how great nature is…" She said with a slightly broken smile. I knew the truth, however.

"Does she do anything ritualistic related to her father?" I asked the angel.

"In three days, she will hike up Mother Hill and look at the town for approximately one to two hours. She will then go home and serve corn bread and spaghetti to her family. That is the last day she would see her father and what they did that day before he left."

"I see. I like to come here too…you know, to look at the view." I said to her as I took a seat on a nearby stump. She looked over at me, the look of desire on her face. I knew what she wanted. I scooted over and patted on the extra space I made. "Want to sit down?" She nodded and took her seat next to me. We sat there in silence, just observing to town and watching the sun slowly progress downward. It was still hours away until sunset, and I knew she would go home before that time. But it was my goal before she leaves Mother Hill…

…I will get the angel out of her.

"I wonder if gramps is watching over me." I said aloud. Popuri looked over at me, slightly confused.

"You mean the old man that originally ran the farm?"

"Yeah. He was a good man. A hard worker. I would come here one summer to meet him and he would teach me the basics of farming. He would praise me when I did something good…scold me when I did something wrong…but I knew he means well. I mean, with that knowledge I got from him, look where I am now." I said as she nodded.

"A natural farmer."

"You would think so." I said to her as I sulk slightly. "…but I'm not a real farmer. Truth be told I never really wanted to become a farmer." I said to her as she took it as the world's most shocking news.

"But but but you're so good at it! How can you tell me that you don't see farming in your future?" She said, still in a state of shock. I tried my best to calm her down.

"C-Calm down Popuri! Yes, farming wasn't a career that I thought of in my future. I did learn a few things, but I only been on his farm once. That's all. But seeing the progress I made since I moved to this town…maybe, just maybe…it could be a possibility." I said to her. I wasn't lying. I remember having this conversation with Mary a while ago. At the time, farming was still not a viable option for me in my future. But that was months ago. Things change, people change, and suddenly, farming didn't seem so bad. "I have met some great people. Learn a few life tricks, even partake in fun town festivals. The problem is…" I started, "That despite my epiphany of my desire to farm…I'm on a contract with the Mayor."

"The Mayor?"

"One year…" I said to her. "One year…and then I'm gone."

"YOU CAN'T!" Popuri yelled at me, now turning fully around to face me. Her face was a mixture of angry and sadness. "If you leave then the town will go under!"

"I was hired to help the farm prosper again. So far things are looking well. If this keeps up, then Rick can take over and I can go back-"

"You can leave us!" She said, as if she had the final word.

"But my contract with the Mayor."

"Get a new one!""

"As easy as that may sound, I had other plans for my-"

"Cancel them!"

Now it was getting annoying.

"Popuri…I do appreciate your concern, but I made plans for my future. While I'm regretting my past decisions, I feel like I need to do this for my own future and-" I started but Popuri, again, cut me off.

"What about us? Aren't we in your future? If you leave, will you even stay in contact with us? Contact to me? Will you just forget about us like a bad dream and just run away, doing whatever you want?" As painful as it was to see Popuri break down like this, I knew that I had to be strong with my resolve. I had to keep emphasizing that I was going home.

It was the plan, afterall.

"Popuri…I know you care about me. I care about you too. I care about the whole town. That's why I came back here. A guy, who has only one season's worth of experience, taking over a farm that a town is completely dependent on it for food. I came back because I had to come back. "

"But when you leave, you won't come back!"

"I'll come back to see you guys! I mean, I came back before. And you guys mean the world to me. I may have made plans for the future to do something else, it doesn't mean that I won't come back."

"You won't come back! I just know it!"

"How do you know?"

"Because HE didn't come back yet!" Popuri yelled at me with all her might. Tears were now streaming down her face. She tried her best to wipe them away, but there were just too many.

"You're…talking about your dad." I said to her as she nodded.

"He was supposed to come back. Why isn't he back yet? Mom is still suffering and he promise that he'll come back to cure her but he…he…" Popuri cried. It was a risk…a very big risk…but I had to do it. I reached over to Popuri and pulled her into an embrace. I wasn't trying to use it as a move to win her over…but I wanted to show her that I could be the shoulder she could cry on. I felt her body jolt for a second, but I heard the sound of muffled sobbing after.

"It's ok Popuri…"

"No it's not. He hasn't come back. What if he never comes back…?"

"You have to be strong for him." I consoled her.

"That's what mom said…that's what Rick said…we're being so strong to show that we can be strong without him here but…" Popuri said as she move away from my shoulder to look at me straight in the eyes. "I miss my daddy." She said, her eyes full of tears and mouth trembling in sadness. It was at that moment, I pair of angel wings appeared behind her. It was exactly how I thought the Angel of Youth will act. Now it was my turn to get her out of Popuri.

"Popuri, listen to me." I said as I held her shoulders. "You are a great, strong, very independent girl. You're lively, charismatic, and always living in the moment when others are living in fear. Your dad, wherever he may be, will be so proud of you and the woman that you've become. So take pride in yourself. You are the offspring of a devoted mother and a very determined father. You miss him, but he's moving towards a goal, and he will complete that goal…even if it means his life." I said as she the tears slowly game to a stop. She wiped away the tears in her eyes, a faint blush on her cheeks as she smiled weakly at me.

"You say a lot of nice things Jack. But that won't change the fact that my father hasn't come back yet."

"What I'm saying is that you shouldn't' hide the fact that you miss your father. Don't put up the ruse that you're this strong, independent woman who was able to get by without your dad. Say that you miss him, talk to your mom about him because she misses him too. There is only so much you can hide before it all breaks down. Missing your father…it's just a part of you that means you who you are. Your childish persona is cute…but I want to know the real Popuri. The one that doesn't hide what's really bothering her." I said to her smiling. She smiled back at me as the wings on her back started to shine even brighter than before. I had to shield my eyes for a moment, but when I lowered my hands, I saw her. An angel, again in simple garments, but she had short bobbed hair that went down to her chin. Ironically, she was a lot shorter than the Angel of Knowledge and the Harvest Goddess, but I guess that's why they call her the Angel of Youth. I looked at her for a moment before looking at Popuri, hoping that she doesn't turn around to see the angel that's behind her.

"So can you do that for me? Be the adult girl I know your father would be proud of?"

"Of course." She said smiling at me. I saw her close her eyes and collapse against me. I held her shoulders as I gently guided her down on the stump, getting off of it to allow her to fully lay on it. I looked over to where the Angel of Youth was floating and gave a small smile.

"Hello angel."

"Wahh? You can see me? How can you see me, mortal?!" She said as she, somehow, spawned little berries and started throwing them at me. While they weren't real, they definitely felt real to me.

"S-Stop it! What's wrong with you?!"

"Indeed Katie. You must calm yourself. I don't want you harming my messenger now." I heard a familiar voice behind us. We both turned around to see the green haired Goddess walking towards us.

"G-Goddess!" Katie called a she floated over to the Harvest Goddess and began to nuzzle herself against her. Smiling, the Goddess placed a hand on the top of her head and ruffled her hair a bit.

"It's good to see you Katie…" She said as I looked at her then at the sleeping Popuri. "Good work Jack." He simply said as she walked over and gently touched Popuri's forehead with her finger. A small light engulfed her head for a second before it died down. I felt a pain in my stomach as I witnessed this for a second time. I knew the reason why she was doing it…and as much as it pains me, I knew it was necessary. No matter how close I get to these people, the memories that we make together will never last. While I was telling the truth about wanting to stay here a bit longer, I knew it would be this much easier to leave the town since there will be no one in this town that'll remember who I was and how close we use to be. "So tell me Jack. How did you figure little Katie here was in Popuri?" The Goddess asked as I crossed my arms, keeping my eyes on Popuri.

"It was simple…kids are reckless but that doesn't mean they aren't scared. At first I thought I was looking for someone that threw caution in the wind and use youth to make them take on challenges head on. But what I was really looking for was a frighten girl who uses youth to mask her problems. Popuri misses her dad…there is no question about that. But with her responsibilities as an adult, there just isn't a time show that you were sad or you miss someone. We…just have things to do and we have to keep moving on. Popuri always believe that her father will come back…so she kept her childish ideals to herself and make it her own." I said as I looked at Katie.

"W-What?"

"If not Popuri…you would have watched over Lillia…right?" I asked her. Katie looked at the Goddess before looking back at me.

"Y-Yes…" She squeaked as I closed my eyes. I knew that his wasn't over. There was still one more thing that I needed to do before I could feel satisfied with this angel and I knew I would be needed the help of Katie and Abby.

"Eat up! Eat up! There's plenty to go around!" Popuri happily said as she served her family and me her once a year spaghetti and bread sticks. I was gracious that she allowed me to have dinner with them. The Angel of Youth, thankfully, agreed to stay out of sight until the dinner was done, despite her childish rants. For now, seeing her back to her almost-usual self was a good thing. And what I mean by almost-usual I mean…

"Hands off! No second helpings of bread sticks!" Popuri snapped at her brother, a scene I never saw her do. Rick himself was confused as well.

"Popuri, what's wrong with…?"

"The second helping should go to Jack since he's our guest of honor." She said with a more mature smile that what I've seen her with. I looked over to Lillia who was also smiling at me with e same maturity as Popuri. However, I felt that her smile was a bit more…sketchy.

"Oh my Popuri…playing favorites are we?"

"He's a man, mother. He needs as much energy if he's going to work on the farm. Afterall, we all have a responsibility to uphold. We gotta keep going until the end, right Jack?" She said to me, as she put another loaf of bread on my already sizable plate.

"T-That's right…" I said nervously. There was an awkward silence in the house but soon, it was broken by Rick.

"Stay away from my sister!"

"You're not the boss of him!"

"Oh me, Oh my."

"Goddess what do I do now?" I muttered.

The next day, with the help of the Angel of Knowledge and Youth, I took the ferry back inland to pick up something. Under the guidance of the two angels, I was able to find the thing I was looking for and manage to sail back to Mineral Town before evening.

"Lillia?" I called out as I entered her home. Lillia was there in the kitchen, already preparing dinner for the kids. In my hands was a wrapped box with a white string holding it together. I didn't say anything to her and she dint' say anything to me. I walked over to her and handed her the box, explaining what the item was. She looked at me with wide eyes as she hesitantly took and carefully unwrapped the box. A hand instantly went to her mouth, trying to stifle the sounds that were coming out of it. However, the tears in her eyes was proof enough of how she was feeling. She opened the tin box, picking up the various letters that were inside, all address to Lillia and the kids, as well as some pictures, dried herbs and flowers, and the wicker doll that was intended to be a good luck charm. I told her where I found it, and where the original owner of the box was laid to rest. She slowly nodded her head, tears in her eyes but now visibly relieved.

"Thank you Jack. You have put this mother's heart to rest."

"Thank you for rescuing little Katie for me! She's my favorite angel!" The Goddess said, nuzzling the Angel of Youth.

"Yay! I'm free! This is nice place you have here! Can we put a swing set? Or a slide? Maybe a circus!" Katie said as she continued to hug the Goddess.

"So about that thing you call sleep? Yeah…that's been canceled." Abby said to me as I was already slamming my head against the tea table.

To Be Continued…

As always, please review and I will see you guys for the next angel! See you Sunday!