Well I don't know what to say…I guess that another Chapter is up. :P

This is going to be a fairly short chapter, as it's only the festival, which usually takes 6-7 minutes at the most.

This Chapter covers the Festival! :D YAY!

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It was night. And it was dark in the village of Tipa.

The village was alight with torches as the families made their way to the center of the village, where the crystal lay.

Creston was handing Roland the crystal chalice. Roland took it and set it on a rock in front of the crystal. Creston took a torch and returned to stand next to the others as they watched Roland perform the ceremony. Roland opened his book and started to speak the magic words. Finally, the elderly Clavat waved his hand and spoke one last word.

The Crystal emitted a brilliant light and the myrrh flowed into the Crystal. Everyone watched as the chalice was emptied of its contents. When the crystal finally stopped absorbing the myrrh, there was complete silence.

The next minute everything changed. Music began to play from a band featuring all four of the tribes. All of the families danced around the glowing crystal, its luminous light brightening up the entire village. The Clavats did their little jig, the Lilties hopped around, the Yukes were twirling gracefully, while the Selkies were doing back flips. Even a few moogles, Stiltzkin included, were present, moving to the tune of the band's music.

Sam was dancing next to Star, their faces bright with smiles after they had returned to their wonderful home. They both weren't the greatest dancers in the world but they were having fun. That's what mattered, right?

Nieta and Mika were at a table eating, hungry after dancing. They ate heartily, enjoying the cheerful atmosphere around them, as they watched adults and kids alike dance joyfully around the crystal.

Lianora, meanwhile, was reading from the diary of the caravan, to some of the younger children. Creston heard the enthusiasm and joy in her voice as he looked on. The children's eyes glowed with wonder as they imagined the thought of goblins, Hell Plants, and Giant Crabs. Creston turned and walked up to the cliff of the town that hung over the ocean. He wasn't really a party person.

Garrett and Ray were both dancing and singing loudly. Mika wondered why they were both so cheerful, until she realized they were drunk. She stomped over with Nieta and yanked both boys away from the glowing crystal.

"Just because it's a party doesn't mean you're allowed to drink underage!" shouted Nieta.

"Well, your younger siblings don't seem to mind that rule so much," said Ray matter-of-factly.

Nieta and Mika whipped their heads around to see Mika's younger brother and Nieta's younger sister reaching for some bottles on a table. The two girls rushed over.

"You're not old enough to drink!" scolded Mika.

"But I've only had two!" protested her brother. Mika smacked her forehead in frustration.

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Creston sat at the top of the cliff, watching the ocean, still listening to the joyful shouts from back down at the party.

The others hadn't realized it, but actually, they had only about 2 weeks left before they would've ran out of time. And 2 weeks wasn't a long time. If they hadn't returned soon, their town would've become just like Tida.

"We have to work harder next time," Creston murmured. "The village needs us to protect them."

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A Lilty was down by the mill, getting some bread to bring up to the party. He scratched his head for a moment, but then he heard a noise behind him. He turned and found another Lilty younger than him, giving him a hot glare.

"What do you want, son?" asked the first Lilty gruffly. "Unless you want to help me carry these up. An old man like me can't do it on his own."

"An old man who was a warrior could've," came Garrett's retort.

"How many times have I told you, I'm a miller and it's staying that way," said Garrett's father sighing. They used to always have this argument.

"Nice badge, dad," said Garrett, his eyes smoldering. "Who gave it to you? The commander of your forces, or who?"

Garrett's father sighed again. He knew this day would come eventually.

"So, dad," said Garrett, pacing slowly. "I thought that badge was only given to men in the army, and the golden color symbolizes a great warrior. But I don't see a great warrior in front of me. Only a dumb miller."

"A miller that WAS a warrior, and a miller that could beat your ass," came the reply.

"How could you just…LIE TO ME MY WHOLE LIFE!" shouted Garrett, his voice rising. "You could've been awesome, but now look at you! You threw it all away, damnit!"

"It was for a good reason!" his father shouted back.

"What reason then?" Garrett snarled.

"You," came the one word answer.

"What about me?" said Garrett, too shocked to yell.

Garrett's father wiped his forehead, and began to explain. "Times were hard back then, Garrett. Families were poor. And we weren't fighting monsters. We were fighting other tribes. If you were alive back then, you could've been fighting Ray, or Lianora for all you know."

Garrett gulped a little, uneasily. He hadn't thought of it like that.

"As I said, times were tough, and we weren't doing well. Your mom and I weren't wealthy, and she had a kid to take care of. But then well…something happened."

"What happened?" asked Garrett.

"She got pregnant with you," said his father. "And then I realized that she could never survive on her own with two kids. So I left the army to return home. Instead of protecting the Lilties, I decided to protect my own children instead…and the commander recognized that importance, and THAT'S why he gave me the badge. Not because of my fighting skills. But of my honor and duty to protect my family. He understood, and from that day on, I spent my days being a miller, but watching you and your brother grow up at the same time."

Garrett was too shocked to speak. He tried to form words but they didn't come out right. Soon he found his voice again.

"Th…that's the reason?" asked Garrett. "Because of…me…?" His father nodded.

Garrett walked past him. He leaned against his house. Then he spoke once more.

"I…I get it now…thanks, Dad, for telling me," said Garrett.

"No problem, kiddo," said his dad. "You've made me proud, that's for sure." He reached for the bread.

Garrett got up and walked over. "I'll help you with the bread."

The two smiled at each other. "That's my boy," said his father.

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Meanwhile, Sam and Star were dancing together still. Everyone else had stopped and was watching the two still going.

Nieta ran over. "Can I join you guys?"

"Sure!" said Sam. Nieta joined in the dance as well. Ray and Mika, who were eating, saw them and rushed over.

"Can't have a party without us," said Ray.

"Hey, Ray…dance with me," said Mika. Ray looked at her incredulously.

"Okay," he said, smirking. He walked towards her, and she put her arms on his waist.

"Hey Ray…," Mika began.

"Hmmm?"

Mika held up her wallet in her hand, smirking. In the other hand she held a striped apple. "Nice try."

She went back to join the others dancing. Ray smacked his forehead, both in disbelief and humor.

"Damn she's good," he said, before running over to join the others. He noticed Lianora had joined them as well.

Garrett appeared walking up towards the village with his dad, helping him. The Lilty warrior looked like he was in a considerably better mood than before. He looked at his dad, who nodded and took the bread from his hands, then gestured for him to go join the others. Garrett came over and joined them all.

Creston appeared walking down the slope, stretching. Lia caught sight of him.

"Creston! Come on, join us!" she said. Creston shook his head.

"I don't dance," he said. Lianora went over and grabbed him by the arm.

"Neither do I, so we're going to learn!" she said, dragging him towards the group.

All eight of the caravanners were now dancing in front of the crystal (even though Creston was doing so halfheartedly). As they danced under the stars, illuminated by the crystal, they forgot all the hardships they had gone through and celebrated joyfully. However, they hadn't realized it.

Their journey had only just begun.

But they didn't have to worry about that now. All they had to do was enjoy themselves, as the crystal glowed beneath the moonlit sky.

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First year done! WOO!

I think this chapter was good chapter. Note that this is probably one of the few festival chapters I'll do.

Garrett and his father have made up now. I think Garrett's character has been developed well enough for a bit.

A little spoiler: Next character to have a character development chapter is Nieta. First of all, no, I am not Lilty biased. But the two "Lilty villages" are the first two you go to. So Nieta will develop in Alfitaria, while Garrett in Marr's Pass (because it's a blacksmithing town, and blacksmiths are important to warriors). Also, I might do two characters in one chapter. Also, don't think "character chapters" will only occur in cities. Sam, Lia, and Ray are not going to have their character chapter in a village.

I know some stuff isn't accurate in this, but I tried to change it a bit (such as all eight of the caravanners holding torches, but only four hold them in the game).

And no, none of them are couples yet.

Next Chapter: Leaving the village again. But a startling discovery is made…

Nieta: And now it's my turn! Uh…review everybody! Do it! Do it now!