Misunderstandings
~Do I know you?
Looking out onto the field, Jacklin wiped the sweat from her brow leaving a smudge on her face from harvesting turnips and smiled. It was only spring 7th and she'd already done so much. She had the entire field cleared, crops on one half and she fenced and planted grass on the other; with her animals grazing on it. Fulfilling her promise she went to poultry farm and bought 2 chickens from Rick and bought a cow from Barley. She named them Yolky, Easter and Cookie; she looked at her watch, seeing that it was almost 2 she called "I'll be back in 2 hours, max you're in charge"
The dog perked his head from the tall grass where he had been napping and barked to let her know that he heard then Jacklin went into her house to change from her muddy work clothes and get her to-do list. After changing she looked at the list and hummed, all she had to do was go pick up a milker from Saibara and she could hang out with Ann or Popuri for a while.
"Max I might be a little late coming back late!" she called out the door while putting her cap back on. As she threw on her dark blue sweater a growl came through the door; Jacklin turned to see her dog giving her the 'not so fast missy' look.
"What's wrong?" she asked confused, then the dog looked over to the food bag. "No Max, you already know I feed you too much for a dog your size" he huffed and turned his head from her and sat in the doorway.
"Come on dog I gotta go out" he ignored her. Jacklin sighed and picked up the catalog Ann had given her and searched through the animal section until she found what she was looking for and showed it to the dog. His eyes almost popped out of his head and looked up at her 'are you serious?' she could've sworn he said. "Yeah, but you have to stand guard while I'm gone and when it rains your off duty" max looked at the food bag then the giant bone in the catalog, he couldn't choose. For a minute he disappeared then came back into a room with a pen and dropped it in her palm.
"the bone it is" she replied as if finishing a deal and filled out the order form and placed it in a little red zipper purse with the gold and placed it in the dogs mouth to put in the shipping bin. She felt bad for the little guy and she knew she was gonna regret this later; quickly she put a cup of kibble in his bowl as he walked in with a melancholic aura. Jacklin rubbed Max's head and pointed towards the bowl, his eyes lit up; quickly he licked her face then attacked the bowl. "See you later!" she called before leaving her farm.
-------
I pushed opened the door to see Saibara smiling at me "Hey Saibara" I greeted cheerfully, Gray wasn't there so I felt a weight lifted from my shoulders. We haven't been Seeing Eye to eye, but what am I to do? "I need a milker" I stated getting the money out as he went into a room to get what I requested "here ya' go missy" he hummed as I purchased it.
"Jacklin" he called and my head turned to face him "Are you going to the goddess festival with anyone?"
"When is it?" I asked with interest, he chuckled due to my cluelessness and replied "Tomorrow, could you do me a favor?"
"Sure, anything, well not anything, but you get my drift." I replied wondering what he could possibly want.
"could ya' save an old man a dance, I'd dance with my own granddaughter, but she'd probably fling me" he answered flinching slightly at the thought of Ann flinging him.
"Sure, why not. See you later "I retorted while putting my milker in the bottomless bag and opening the door
-------
I walked down the street until I reached poultry farm were Popuri greeted me with a hug. When I met Popuri we just clicked, she's like my little sister and one of the very few villagers who knew I was a girl. I mean I'm not really hiding it from anyone and if someone asked I'd tell them, but other than that I didn't feel a need to correct anyone. But that was before I met Karen.
"Jack!" she called from beside rick with hands in the air ushering Popuri and I to come over, but I could feel his eyes watching me as I walked over, glaring; Karen and Rick were two of the many who believed I was a guy.
"Hey Rick, hey Karen" I greeted in a polite tone trying not to make Rick any more jealous, don't get me wrong, Ricks a real nice guy and all, but when it came to Karen he didn't want anybody to take her away from him; and I had a feeling he could have a grudge for the stupidest reasons.
Karen pulled my hat off and rubbed her hand in my hair giggling at how silly I looked 'why me' I internally groaned as she put the hat on and rick shot daggers at me.
"You have a big head" Karen called giggling, "Terribly so" I replied wanting to get away from this thick atmosphere. I sighed and took my hat back and walked away with Popuri clinging on to me to make Karen stop her annoying pestering.
-------
"Ann~!" we called in unison looking around for the waitress. When we saw her she carrying a pink dress with flower and laces, Popuri looked as if it was a normal occurrence, but my mouth reacted before my brain could filter my words.
"Ann who did you rob!?" she just looked at me like I had a third eye or something. ".ha. Jacklin, this is my dress" I stared at her with a furrowed brow "It's for the goddess festival"
It must've been 4, cliff had just walked in and greeted us in a group hug and rubbed his hand in my hair messing it up much like Karen had earlier, but it didn't bother her as much. Then Ann piped up"Were going to meet up at Jacklin's house at 10 for the festival" everyone nodded and I stood there somewhat confused but agreed any way "Ann I gotta go home and pick out a dress, see ya' tomorrow!" I called leaving her friends to discus whatever and ran down to her farm to check on her animals and make sure Max hasn't done something that'd make her regret leaving him in charge.
When I had finally reached the farm, I was shocked. Max was moving the animals back into the barn and pen then it seemed like he was having a conversation with the shipper and picked up the red pouch from earlier and dropped it right in his hand. At this I couldn't help but giggle and they both whipped around slightly embarrassed.
"Jack, your dog here has a lot of talent" he paused to ruffle the dogs fur then continued "you should enter him in the dog festival on summer 1st" max smiled and jumped on me only to be caught " you did great today! If you work like this you can get double portions every day" I stopped talking due to the smothering I was getting from the dog and forgot Zack was even there "Who's mommy's little messy monster" I replied rubbing his nose against mine.
"Mommy?" Zack asked confused. I blinked at him with big eyes and I simply replied "well I am a girl….what else could I be to him" he raised an eyebrow and asked "if you're a girl, how come your names Jack?" "My names Jacklin, but everyone calls me jack" Zack looked as if the thinking about it was giving him a head ache "Sorry for the misunderstanding" he replied trying not to look me in the face. "Don't worry, it happens all the time" I smiled opening the door to let max to go in, then went in to search for a dress for tomorrow.
When I woke up I wasn't in my bed, nor my house. "Is she awake?" I heard a small voice call, I sat up to look for the person the voice belonged to, but there was no one. I looked down to where I was laying and it was a rainbow, "Am I dead?" I wondered aloud not expecting an answer, but this time a different little voice sounded "no, but we need to make sure" the voice went to mumbles and she could it was embarrassment in its tone.
"Either check or ask!" said another in a frustrated cry. "Check for what?!" I exclaimed frightened of these voices, "This'll fix her!" called the first voice then I could feel something on my lap then looked down to see an elf of some kind with short green hair in a red suit pushing something that I couldn't see at me and then the little guy just disappeared into thin air. "Where'd he go!" I called starting to panic. Then a sharp pain shot through my head and I blacked out.
--
I woke up again this time it was still dark out, but this time I was in my bed. I sighed with relief, clutching the covers close "it was just a dream" I chuckled "more like a nightmare." Then I heard something coming from outside, I looked at my watch and saw it was 3 in the morning. Who would be out at this time of night? Especially when there's a festival today! As I pulled my leg off the bed I knew something was wrong. I wasn't wearing my pajamas like in the other dream or when I went to bed, but flowing dress and my hair was longer than she remembered; in fact it hasn't been this long since that fight. But my hair had a purplish shine to it and more finely curled than it was before.
I stood up and ran to the mirror to look in shock. 'This isn't me!' my tan skin was pale now and my brown eyes were much like my hair, they had a purple shine. The only thing that belonged to me were my freckles everything else was changed. I looked as if I were going to wedding! No not going, but the bride to be. I panicked. I opened the door to see the red sprite staring at me with wide eyes "you're alright!" he screeched tears in his eyes. Then 6 others came around her, all the colors of the rainbow I thought, then remembered that something was wrong
"Why do I look like this, what happened to me?" I asked and they looked at me with soulless eyes, they were filled with fear and worry of rejection when one of them spoke up. "If I tell you" he paused for a minute unsure of how to continue then spoke again "if I tell you, do you promise to stay?" "What do you mean?" I asked confused, he didn't answer instead all of them began walking with myself trailing behind.
I swear, if anyone saw me now they'd think they'd seen a ghost the way the dress twinkled in the moonlight and my now paled skin glowed. We walked up the path towards the mine and for a second I thought I saw someone duck into the cave, I couldn't help but look. When I entered the glow from the dress illuminated the cave, rendering the use of a flashlight useless.
"Is there anyone here?" I called, no one answered so began walking away when something grabbed my arm and pulled me close. "Are you real?" a man asked with closed eyes and had matted red hair. He was trying to separate reality from this dream world that stirred his thoughts. I stepped closer to see who it was, "Gray, Is that you? Why are you here so early in the morning?" I questioned stepping closer as he stepped back.
"Do I know you?" gray inquired moving closer to examine her face and she flushed red pulling back to keep from embarrassment hidden from him. "I'm sorry gray, I didn't mean to attack you the day we met" I mumbled under my breath. Looking away from him I began walking towards the exit to find out where those little elves had gone and I was drawn towards the pond near the cave and stepped onto the water without the surface breaking then took more steps until I was behind a waterfall into a hidden cave.
"Why did this happen?" I wondered aloud 'Are you not happy?' I whipped my head around to see no one, but answered to it anyway "no, I don't even know what's going on and I'm confused" I confessed holding long curls in my hands and clearly expressing my confusion glaring at the dress. The voice had a soft laugh and replied 'pure hearts can see and make a deity' "I don't get what you mean" I responded bluntly.
'Because of her disappearance you must take her place until the original deity is restored' the voice sweet but the words sounded bitter in my ears. "What will happen to me?" I asked both curious and worried, the voice sighed 'You'll go thru the second part of the change at random times, but once your able to control it you'll have no need to worry' there was a pause, I looked down at myself, the shine gone and my hair had shortened almost back to its original state as did my skin. The dress was still there which she didn't mind and the voice spoke again.
'The only way to revert back is to keep your emotions calmed or to restore the goddess' "what do I have to do?" I asked eagerly not wanting to deal with this curse 'you must find the other pieces to your puzzle' the voice replied in a gentle loving voice, it sounded as if it knew her, 'I mean you need to find your happiness, when you do, it'll show with your work and help her return'
"What happened to the little elves?" I asked absent mindedly looking around for the little guys. This time the voice laughed 'their sprites not elves' "Do you have a name? If I need to talk to you again will you be here?"
Gray P.O.V
As gray entered the shop he couldn't help but ask himself, 'did hell freeze over?' his grandfather was smiling and humming. Gray twitched, and took a double take to make sure he wasn't seeing things, but he was still there smiling.
"What's wrong with you boy?" Saibara asked only having half of his happy demeanor intact. "Who are you and what have you done with my grandfather?" gray questioned folding his arms across his chest and keeping his eyes on Saibara's expression. For a second it dropped into a scowl, and then it rose into a cheeky grin as if he knew something gray didn't. "I got a date to the flower festival" he answered griping his chin in his hand and for a second you could've sworn there was a sparkle in the corner of his mouth.
'Probably an old hag' gray thought to himself slightly chuckling and his grandfather noticed this and decided to screw with his head. "She's prettier than any girl you'll ever get" Saibara's hand was now against his cheek holding himself and the 'matter of fact-ly' smirk on his face, to taunt him.
"Who is this old bird anyway?" gray asked hands still crossed with irritation and interest in his expression and Saibara just laughed making him angrier. "She's no old bird that's for sure!" Saibara retorted laughing a little too hard for grays taste. "in fact, she could kick your ass along with every other guy in mineral town; including me" gray rolled his eyes "well I guess I'll just see this old coot tomorrow then" he replied sarcastically with a faint smile.
Saibara looked up at the clock on the wall and sighed "It's 4 boy, you can go home." He grinned a little "Ann's gonna want to fix you up for tomorrow" whatever little smile gray had immediately fell and went into painful grimace. He hung his head low and exited the shop, he loved his sister to death, but sometimes she could be a bit much.
----
Walking down the path that led to home, gray felt his face heat up. The guy who beat him up and accidentally kissed was coming out of the inn and running at him full speed. Gray was like a deer in the head lights and just stood there; he didn't notice the guy had past until Ann, Popuri, and Cliff were staring at him. Ann waving her hand in front of his eyes didn't flinch when he growled and shook his head.
"Good, your okay" she cheered grabbing his hand and pulling him through the door. "Popuri, Cliff, go and get ready for tomorrow, I've got a lot of work to do with this one!" she had an evil smirk on her face, one like a Cheshire cat just thinking about the torture she could inflict on her brother.
----
"Ann its midnight, stop! Go help cliff or something, your annoying" gray growled pushing the brushes and combs away from his matted bangs that he would have rather kept under his hat. At the word 'cliff' Ann was gone and a yelp could be heard from the other room.
Something in the pit of grays stomach twisted as he tried falling asleep. He even risked getting attacked by Ann, going into his own room to sleep, but it didn't help. He had a strange felling that urged him to go outside, and followed it even though he was only wearing pajama bottoms and a t shirt. He heard a noise as he opened the door, like shuffling little feet, but no one was there. He decided to go to the spring, with his restlessness he wasn't going to get any sleep any way; so why not get a walk with no distractions.
Gray heard that someone had taken over the farm and with that guy around he knew it was only plausible that it was him. Only a foot on the property his face was in shock. The field was covered, not with weeds, stumps and stones, but crop, grass and fencing.
"this guy doesn't waste any time does he" he mumbled walking down the path scowling at how much was done in what, 5 or 6 days. Then a distracting glow shun in gray's eyes, wth? Covering his eyes he continued on his somewhat 'peaceful' to the spring, the light followed him and he thought he was dreaming; he didn't believe in ghost and he wasn't gonna start now no matter what. But as the light drew near he heard little voices and his hairs stood on end.
A woman his height came up the hill, her eyes violet-brown and her hair the same; curls everywhere. Paled skin covered in an exotic dress, ones you see on goddesses in a Greek mythology book. She appeared to be walking on a rainbow 'alright gray, now you're nuts!' shaking his head he ducked into the cave and sat against the back wall with little to no light that could reach him.
"Is there anyone here?" gray froze as a light approached him, 'I'm gonna die' was all his mind could scream as it came closer, then it turned away. Around her leg was that anklet again and instinctively he grabbed her wrist, frustrated, his eyes closed; he asked "Are you real?" he heard a light foot step and ruffling of clothes, as if she was bending down "Gray, Is that you? Why are you here so early in the morning?" he toppled back but caught himself as she took a step forward.
"Do I know you?" he asked both scared and curious and moved his head towards her face, examining her. Not noticing that he could feel her breath on his skin and the blush on her face as she turned around and mumbled an apology. Following her exit the cave he noticed something familiar about her, not knowing what but something. She stepped on the water and he stopped wide eyed and his jaw dropped as she continued walking. As he tried to attempt the same, putting his right foot on the surface; it went down nearly 3 feet and he almost snapped his neck. Wet, Gray got up and sat by the pond; shivering he fell asleep.
Jacklin P.O.V.
"Gray!?" I called watching the guy shiver and ran over the water's surface to the edge were he lay; kneeling so I could get a better look at him.
He doesn't look sick, but I better take him home. Picking him up bridal style, too worried to notice, my hair had regained the purple shine and lengthening due to it. When I reached the farm I thought about it,
is it really a good idea to bring a guy who doesn't like you into your house? Probably not sighing I began walking through the town, not once seeing those little 'sprites' any were.
Reaching the inn I jiggled the handle and the door opened, I let the both of us in not wondering why the door was open and ran up the step as I felt him moving around in my arms. I do not want to explain this to anyone, hell I hardly understand it myself! He moved again, I swear he's milkin this! I opened the bedroom door to see cliff laying in one of the bed closest to the door, asleep like any sane person should.
I walked across the room to the farthest bed and tucked him in, trying to avoid the stripping him down part and turned on my way out my door
Achooo!
Shit! Okay let me do this before everyone wakes up. Face flushed I walk over to the bed pull the damp blankets off of him and he rolls over so now I can see his face. Relax Jacklin, just relax and you'll be okay and this'll be the end of it! Sighing I go to the bathroom to get a towel to dry him off, but when I come back he's not there. Holy crap he's gonna get me! My brain shouts being paranoid as usual; then I hear footsteps and a tap on the shoulder comes right after.
"Mom… could you make us some pancakes?" What? I turn around to see a very drowsy Ann pulling the hem of my dress with one hand, rubbing her eyes with the other. Hair splattered all over her face, all she needed was a teddy bear and she'd look like a five year old. "Um…sure, but we have to find your brother first, he might be sick" I answered the sleepy girl who walked down the stairs with myself close behind.
"If he's sick he should be in the kitchen" Ann mumbled grabbing the dress again following me into the kitchen. "Gray?" I called looking around and soon did I see him sitting on the counter top watching water boil with weary blue eyes, just staring at the pot. "Ann could you go get a blanket…. I'll make your pancakes now" either I'm in a screwy dream or Ann isn't the morning person I thought she is and gray is just well strange. "Okay mom" she replied rather drowsy rubbing her fingers through her messy hair and left the kitchen.
"Gray, what are you doing up there?" he didn't answer, instead he shivered grabbing a cup off the rack to make something, tea would be my guess. Ann walks back into the kitchen with an enormous bundle of blankets and rest her head on the counter top where gray was just sitting. Gray abandons his cup for the blankets, only to curl up into a ball and sneeze again. They look like a bunch of little kids Jacklin sighed and began making what they wanted.
Not wanting to wake the two she placed the orders down on the counter, I need sleep! She groaned rubbing her head walking back to the farm house nearly tripping as her worry dissipated.
i've been watching too much robot chicken, espeacialy the one with "what a twist?" it gets me every time! then i thought about it and decided why not? its not real so it could have any ending or content i want and thats how i got this chapter.=3
