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.

Voice4TheMute Presents

"I have to hand it to you Jack…nice work with the Angel of Virtue…." The Goddess said to me as we all sat at the table in my dreams. The new addition to our little tea party was Chloe, the angel that was watching over Karen. "…to think that you were able to not only lie to the face of an angel but to get away with it."

"I don't understand how that happened. Nothing can escape my gaze!' Chloe yelled as she almost took her tea and splashed it on me.

"It's simple really…by definition, 'virtue' is moral excellence and goodness. Jack, while he did lie to Karen about not telling her parents, had good intentions for her the entire time. It was his intentions of letting Karen cool her own head that saved his halo from turning black. He knew that Karen would return home eventually…she just needed time to think things over and revaluate her convictions with her dad and the whole supermarket. Am I right, Jack?" The Goddess said to me as I turned my head away from the angels, a bit embarrassed.

Dang she's good…

Harvest 111: Days Gone By

"So why am I doing this again?" Karen asked as she lifted the hoe in her hands over head and plowed it straight into the ground. I was brushing my cows, making sure their coat was nice and clean. May was happy singing her watering song, making sure she waters each and every sprout she saw. It was a cool fall day on the farm. With us already knee deep in the fall season, the demand for carrots, yams, and eggplants were in high demand and as such, I needed all the help I could get. Karen, who was wearing her usual purple vest but instead of a short sleeve white top, she had a checkered red and black long sleeve on with brown pants. May changed her dress to reflect the fall season, a nice dark pumpkin orange with her brown apron and brown bandana. As for me, I kept it classy with my blue hat band blue overalls but changed my shirt to a long sleeve purple and black plaid shirt. My farm is in full farming mode as the first harvest of crops just finished and we were re-tilling and watering the plants.

"You're here because I needed help and I knew you won't mind the work."

"How did you know that? For all you know I hate farm work. Why would I get myself dirty to do this kind of thing, anyways?" She called out to me as I looked over at her from behind my cow.

"You haven't run away yet. Don't you find that strange?" I asked her as she looked at the hoe in her hand and raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah…that is strange. What did you do to me? Did you brainwash me or something?" She yelled, waving the hoe over her head vigorously. Of course I couldn't tell her why she liked farming so much. Even if I tell her, she wouldn't believe me. And the issue isn't believability…it's because she did do it, but she just simply forgot. It was the Goddess' will, afterall, that she forgets. At the same time…it is my fault as well. But I kept my mouth shut, knowing that if I tried to get her to remember, even worse, if she DID remember, then there will be hell to play and most likely complications that will take months to clear up.

"Don't be silly Karen…this is your first time on my farm…"

"Ok…so why is Popuri here?" I heard Karen ask as she pointed with the hoe towards the chicken coop. There, sitting on the post looking at the chicken was Popuri in a brown dress with a white undershirt. She stared blissfully at the chickens as a pallet of eggs rested at her feet.

"She's here because…" I started but bless Popuri's honesty.

"I MISS KAI!" Poprui yelled out from the top of her lungs, causing all the chickens to start panicking. My cows and sheep also got startled, making it hard to continue my work.

"Quit your belly aching! He'll be back in the summer like he always has!" I heard Karen yell at her.

"But that's in nine months. I can't wait that long!"

"You've been waiting that long ever since he came here in the first place! Man up, and wait dammit!' Karen yelled, trying to give her 'support' the best way she would. Popuri only looked at the two of us before she continued to cry.

"Is Aunt Poprui alright? Did she get an owie?" May asked as she waddled over, her watering can weighting her down.

"I guess you can say that. But just leave her alone. She'll get better in time, don't worry." I said as I patted May's head.


Fall was definitely in full swing as the trees that were once full of life were now turning orange and withering away. The forest animals were doing their best, scurry across the forest, in preparations of the cold says ahead, and I was busy stacking up on lumber to make sure that my fireplace remained nice and lit for this season and the next. What I found during my rounds in Mother Hill wasn't something that I could sell in my shipping bin.

"Ann? Ann is that you?" I called as I spotted Ann looking down into the Goddess Pond. A solemn expression was on her face as she mindlessly stared in the water. I slowly approached her, making sure that I let my presence known so that she doesn't get scared into the pond. I'm sure the Goddess wouldn't appreciate that. I stepped on a few tree branches intentionally to get her attention. She finally looked over and saw me, looking at me with her cerulean eyes. Her orange hair was up in its usual braid, tied back with a white bow. She signature blue overalls were covered her entire body but she had a red long sleeve on, most likely to keep her arms warm when she's outside.

"Hey Jack. What brings you out here?" She asked as I stood beside her, putting my hands in my pocket to keep them warm.

"I should ask you the same question. I usually don't find you here." I said to her as she laughed a bit, staring back into Goddess Pond.

"During fall, I have longer breaks. It's mostly because there's one day in fall where I will be left in charge of the Inn and dad goes off to do official business." She said to me as I look into the pond myself. There was calmness in the pond that I could relate to but at the same time….this pond gives me a bit of a headache. I just could never tell if the Goddess will one day come out of the waters and try to surprise me with tea and cookies.

"You'll be left in charge of the Inn?" I asked her as she nodded.

"Just for one day. All the reservations, all the cooking, all the bed making…it's going to be all me. So in compensation, dad allows me to have longer breaks, even have a few hours to myself to do whatever." She said a I picked up a small pebble and tossed it in the pond, watching the waters ripped outward to the side of the pond then reflect back inward.

"Tha't nice of him, I suppose. Though you'll have to work, literally, twenty-four hours." I said as she nodded.

"Yeah…but he needs to do it. He's done it every year and I've been able to do it myself all this time. So it's not that it's my first time doing it but….it's still a struggle." She said as I nodded.

"Have you ever considered getting help?"

"I have, but with everyone being a patron, there is just no helping it. It's something I must do by myself." She laughed. "I like to think that this is my big day. That all that work I was doing the rest of the year was to prepare me for the rush. I know my dad will one day retire from this work and I will be left to inherit it…and I don't mind. I love my job. But…I have to learn to endure so that I can keep everyone happy. To serve with a smile." I respected her position. To be able to do her level of work while keeping up with the demand of others and making sure everyone she serves is happy …it can't be easy. In some ways I relate to her. My job, essentially, is to carter to others. An order of a particular vegetable comes in, I work, I toil, and I do my best to make sure those vegetables don't die so they can be delivered. I have to make sure they're in perfect shape so that everyone is happy. Her job is like mine, if not a little more direct with the people.

"I can help you Ann." I said, offering my services.

"Don't be silly, Jack. You have a farm to do and you're still a patron as soon as you walk through those doors."

"I want to help you. No on should shoulder all that work."

"I'm used to it, trust me."

"No trust me." I said moving her so we were looking at each other face-to-face. ""I know what it feels like to have the weight of everyone on your shoulders. Believe me…" I said, looking at the Goddess Pond with a mixture of spite and depression. "But no one should do it alone. Heck, I have May, Poprui, and sometimes Karen helping me on my farm and let me tell you, despite their lack of experience, anything they could do that that takes work away from me is better than nothing. Allow me to help you. Allow me to take some of those easier things off your shoulders like taking orders or fixing the beds. I can do that stuff." I said to her but she was laughing, not taking my offer seriously. "Come on, don't shrug me off like that. You know I'm good for my word. I'm a hard worker. You know it." I said as she loked down at the ground for a second before looking up at me.

"So you think you can handle being a worker at the Inn, huh?"

"Try me." I said to her. She smiled at me, impressed by my little monolog.

"Ok Jack. Deal. Come over to the in on Friday, three weeks from now at eight AM. Finish up all your farm work and then get ready for more work because it'll come at you hard and fast." She said, a bit of playful euphemism in her voice.

"Hard and fast…? It's the only way it should be done, right?" I returned as we shook hands, making a deal.


"Do you angels know what's going on with Doug and Ann?" I asked as for once, in a long time, all of us were sitting peacefully at the table, calmly sipping on our tea like how angels and Goddesses should behave. Though it's been weeks since the release of Chloe, Karen's angel and the Angel of Virtue, there hasn't been any big leads to who could have the next angel. Even with the angels looking around the town via their link with their original host, none of them could find the faint trace of the two missing angels. So for the past couple of day, things have been calm and peaceful in my mind. And somehow, my honest, curious question of Ann and her dad would soon disturb the peace.

"The human that you refer to as Ann's mother and-"

"Hold on Abby, let's not just give away information here." Chloe quickly interrupted as I drooped my eyes at her. I know it's her title, but did she really have to be considerate even during a time like this?

"We all have the same goal correct? To save the Goddess? Why are you hindering our goal?" I asked putting my tea cup down and looked at her.

"There is just some information that just shouldn't be let out so easily. Things about parents and loved ones especially." He said as Katie spoke up.

'Now I wouldn't say that. It was because of unknown knowledge of the parents that brought my host's mom closure from her distant relationship with her husband. Without that knowledge, she would still be living in a world of negligence and wishful thinking." She said as the Harvest Goddess nodded.

"While it's true that the knowledge that Abby has provided us has been nothing but helpful, this is a sensitive topic we're treading on. Why do you need to know about Ann and her dad? Is it related to the missing angels?" The Goddess asked me.

"To tell you the truth, no. I was just curious. I mean…there is no reason Ann should be working an entire day by herself where her dad goes off to do whatever. I just want to know what's going on…that's all…" I said, sipping my tea.

"If that's the case, then get Ann to tell you. It shouldn't be hard. I've seen you with her. There should be no problem with the progress you're making." Chloe said as I felt myself get embarrassed. I really hope she wasn't implying that I think she was implying. However, it would seem that Goddess and her angels understood it quite well.

"You love Ann?"

"Does she know?"

"Should we prepare for a spring wedding?"

"Forget I said anything and let's get back to our peaceful tea time, please!' I yelled at them.


"Whoa Jack…you look terrible…" I heard Popuri tell me as she was helping me pick carrots out of the ground.

"You don't know the half of it…" I said to her. The rest of that night was spent trying to defuse the ticking bomb that was the conversation of Ann and me getting together and starting a family. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Ann or anything but the idea that she would give me the time of day and vice versa were two ideas that were in the backburner. There was just no possible way I could see that happen. The scenario ultimately lead to one conclusion: if I was curious about it, then I need to find out for myself. The angels will not help me this time trying to pry into someone's personal life if there is no proof an angel exist in her to cox the information out of them.

"So shall I get going?" Poprui said as she was already heading to the chicken coop. I didn't even get a chance to signal her to go ahead…she went on and did it anyways. She lately has been coming to my farm to tend to my chickens mainly because Rick decided to put more effort into taking care of the chickens on their farm. Now why the sudden increase in care? Well it's because…

"I'm here. What needs to be done?" I heard Karen call out right behind me as I turned around, crossing my arms.

"How long will this feud last?" I asked her as she walked over and gently slapped my face.

"Jack. You know better than to pry into a woman's issues." She said as she walked over to where I kept the watering cans. Apparently Rick and Karen had a little fallout. As a result, it caused Rick to be more focus on work while Karen…actually I don't know why Karen is here. She was the one that hurt him! I felt a tugging on my pant leg to see May standing there, acting shy from the two new helpers. "What's wrong May?"

"D-Does that mean I wasn't doing a good job?" She asked, on the verge of tears. I looked over to see Poprui with the chicken and Karen watering the plants. I shook my head at her, gently placing my hand on the top of her head.

"No no, you did a good job. Karen and Poprui said they wanted to help too. And Karen forgot that you are in charge of watering." I said as I got back up. "Karen! You're in charge of brushing the cows and sheep!"

"WHAT!" Karen yelled in protest.

"See? The plants are all yours. Do your best, ok May?" I knelt back down and gave her a smile. She sniffled a bit but she smiled right back at me, the light returning in her face.

"Yes Uncle!" She said a she hurried over to the watering cans so she could start watering. The air was full of chickens clucking, livestock shuffling, and a few choice curse words from Karen, but so far today was turning to one of those days that everything was going well for once in my life. Despite not having a strong lead on an angel, I knew today could be used to relax…whatever that word means for me. I heard footsteps behind me to see a familiar figure there. I was surprise because she would usually stay in isolation…so imagine my surprise to see Mary on my field.

"Mary. What are you doing here?" I asked as Mary walked towards me and handed me a empty blue vase.

"The flower you gave me withered away today. I came to return the vase." She said as my eyes widen.

"Today? Er…I mean, that's impressive that you manage to keep a flower from withering for that long. How did you do it?" I asked, curious.

"I work at a library and my father is a botanist. With a little research and some advice, I was able to prolong the rate that a planet will wither by two hundred percent." She said to me in a monotone matter. I took the vase out of her hands. To my amazement, and a little on the sympathetic side, I watch as her hands still formed the base of the vase and they slowly flexed in and out, as if her fingers were wondering where why there was avoid between her hands. Her vision looked towards the ground as she gave a small bow.

"Thank you for the flower. It was nice having it around." She said as she reluctantly turned around to walk back to the library. I looked down at the vase and then back at Mary.

"Mary wait!" I called as that instantly stopped her in her tracks. Whatever this plant or vase was for Mary…she really took care of it. Maybe she was expecting something more…? "I don't suppose you read anything on fertilizer that works in the fall." I said, trying to think of the first scientific thing I could think of.

"Fertilizer of any kind will work at any time and temperature."

"No what I mean is if there was a book or you heard somewhere of a fertilizer that works the best in the fall season. Or maybe…" I starting, going off on a limb here "…maybe you know how to make it?" I said, slightly unsure what I was asking Mary to do. If I recall correctly, I just asked her to make fertilizer for me. Though her eyes were the same, I could have sworn I saw them glinting.

"…I will look into it and come up with a working prototype by the end of the week." She said, her voice not really changing but from what I could tell, she was excited. Everything was in perfect harmony…in an odd dictator sort of way. But feeling like I needed to do some work, I picked up my hammer and decided to start breaking down that huge boulder that I've been avoiding since the first day I got here.

Three hours later

"Go Jack, Go!" Karen cheered as I was still cracking down the giant boulder with my hammer. Bit by bit I was chipping away at the thing as the girls already completed all the farm work. All that was left was this boulder and the girl's couldn't' help because, as Karen put it, they were girls.

"Put your back into it!" Popuri yelled.

"Don't hurt yourself Uncle!"

"Don't you guys have other places to be other than watching me suffer?" I yelled as I took one more monstrous swing at the boulder, breaking off another piece of it but not destroying it or cracking it in half.

"Supermarket is closed today."

"Rick finished all the work by now."

"How is Rick? Still sad?"

"All thanks to you Karen! I can't see my favorite chicken anymore!"

"You have a favorite chicken? How can you tell them apart?"

"She wears a bow." Popuri said, smiling.

"Chickens can wear bows? Uncle? Can we decorate the chickens?"

"No one is decorating anything!" I yelled again as I took another big swing at the rock. This time, no visible damage was seen and that just made me pant even harder. "Geez this thing is impossible to break…" I said as I plopped myself down at the base of the rock and wiped my brow. "This is going to take me all day…unless…" I said looking over at the girls, but they all got up from their seats, looking in some arbitrary direction.

"I just remember I need to fix dinner for the family. Bye Jack! Popuri said, rushing off.

"And I remembered that I…need to…" Karen struggled. "…to wash my hair." She said, making a face. I made a face right back at her as she scurried off. "Catch you later Jack." I looked over at May who was still there smiling, swaying her body.

"What about you? Do you want to help be break a big rock?"

"Nope!" She said smiling.

"Smart kid." I said as I got up and patted May's head. "You should go home today May. You did a good job." I said to her as I helped up and collected her things. She waved to me good-bye as she hurried back to Yodel Ranch to get dinner. So there I was, about five in the afternoon trying to break a rock in the middle of my field. My night was still young, but I always imagine myself doing something a little more exciting. I took one more big swing of my hammer, hoping this would be the final blow…only to watch a small pebble break off from it. "My Goddess this will take awhile." I said, completely exhausted.

"Seems you're trying to tackle a mountain there." A voice called from behind. I looked behind me to see who was talking to me. I have familiarize myself with all the villagers and their voice was one that I have never heard before. As I turned, I saw someone that I've never seen before. She was about my height, if not a little shorter with straight orange hair that went down to the middle of her back. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of blue and she had a very nice forest green dress on. The dress itself wasn't fancy but it long enough to cover her ankles and loose enough not to look like it will hinder her movement. I raised an eyebrow at the girl's sudden appearance as I placed my hammer down and walked over to the fence that she was separating herself from me and from the rest of my field.

"It's a stubborn rock that doesn't know when to quit." I said as she giggled a bit. "I don't think I've seen you before. I'm Jack." I said, wiping my hand as clean as I can before offering it to her.

"Lily." She said as she took my hand and gave it a gentle shake. "I don't think we've met before either."

"So are you a new girl in town or a villager that I just happen not to see or…?"

"I'm a villager. It's amazing that we've never met. But then again you must be so hard working on the farm that you've never leave this place." She said laughing a bit. I scratch my head as I looked back at my farm.

"It's true. This place is home for me, but I do go out every once in a while." I said to her as I saw that that sun was setting and fast. I wasn't sure who this girl was or why she was here, but if she's a villager, I might as well take some time to learn who she is. "Why don't we take this conversation inside? I can brew up a mean green tea in my house." I offered to her as she nodded, accepting my hospitality.


"You've known my grandfather?" I said in amazement as I poured Lily her sixth cup of tea. As for me? This was my seventh. It was already nine at night but I just found myself talking to this girl that literally appeared out of nowhere. Out topic of discussion was what the town was like when I wasn't here.

"Oh yes, your grandfather was a caring man. We would sometimes spend days just watching his livestock walk around and aimlessly make animal noises at one another. It's really warms my hear tot see that this grandson is here to continued his work." She said sipping her tea.

"I guess you can call it that. Special circumstances required me to come back, but I'm sure you know all about it." I said to her as I looked down at my tea. "I always knew that my grandfather was a good farmer…I just never had the chance to see his farm in full bloom. I kinda regret not being able to see it at its peak. You know, as a point o reference." I said to her as she smiled at me.

"Are you saying that you're thinking of being a farmer all your life?" Lily asked. This wasn't the first time this question was posed to me. Farming, as I remember, was the farthest thing for a career choice for me. A part of me still believes that, but seeing how well today went and how efficient everything is, it made me realize that this gig wasn't as bad as I thought it was. Granted, this day went really well…but suppose that something terrible happened? A storm randomly blows in with no warning, uprooting my crops, abducting my cattle…would I still have the courage to look at the aftermath, pick up my hoe, and continue where I left off? It was definitely a big factor to consider and I knew my silence was enough to inform Lily my true intentions of the farm. "I see…"

"It's not that farming isn't a rewarding career...it's just might not be for me in the end. I want to help the town, I really do, but helping like this…" I strayed as I looked over at the clock for the first time since we came in almost four hours ago. "Oh…it's getting late."

"Are you kicking me out?" She asked as I looked at her. She had a warm smile and welcoming gaze and as much as I didn't want to, I knew I had to. I slowly nodded my head to her as she sighed, drinking the rest of her tea in one swig. I was impressed…mainly to the fact that I just brewed that tea a few minutes ago and it should be piping hot, but she down it with no worry whatsoever. "Thank you for the green. It was indeed, a mean brew." She said as she got up and headed towards the door. I open it for her as I watched her walk out.

"Maybe I'll see you around sometime?" I asked her as she turned her head to look at me from behind and nodded.

"A lot sooner than you think." She said with a smile as I closed the door.

Man…what a girl. And she knows so much about my grandfather and the town. I would love to get to know more about her and what she knows. Well…until then, let's get some sleep.


"How could you betray us Jack."

"W-What?"

"I thought you were a good guy…a loyal guy…"

"What do you mean?" I asked as I was now sitting at the tea table but all the angels had their back towards me. "I don't get it, can someone fill me in?"

"Why don't you tell us." The Goddess said as she pointed off to my left. There, sitting in the seat next to me, sipping on freshly brewed green tea…

…was Lily.

"Mmm…so this is your secret to your mean brew of tea."


To Be Continued