Wow, ShermanTheWorm, DesertRoseSparty, and MikariStar – you guys reviewed so fast! I wasn't expecting anything (I figured I annoyed everyone/scared them off with my non-updating D:). Thanks so much!

And also I know why you told me that; it's because you're psychic! HOW DID YOU KNOW. Like really, I have my soundtrack all written out, that's number five. Great song! It fits so well for them, right?! So glad you like it, too, Sparty! :D

I decided to get another chapter out as soon as I could, and it sounded like a lot of fun today. So back into the story we go~! With a long chapter – yay!

The Fifth Task

The Witch gently placed her glass of blackberry juice back down on the table, dabbed her mouth with a napkin, and folded her hands in her lap. "That is by far, the worst excuse you've ever created."

"Excuse?!" Molly nearly spit out her own juice, holding the cold glass close in her lap. "But it's true!"

"You're telling me Renee captured you and gave you a tranquilizer?" The Witch scratched her head under her hat, hesitating. "But Luke freed you from a fox?"

Molly shook her head. "No, Renee saved me from the fox. Luke got me out of the cage."

"Bah! Whatever," Vivi stood up, taking the tray of their midnight snack with her. "Aren't you the little damsel in distress?"

"I know – I hate it. It's high time I got myself out of a jam…" the farmer chugged the last of her juice and slammed the glass down onto the table. She looked at the purple rim at the bottom of the cup. "I wish this was alcohol…"

"Ha! That's the last thing you need," Vivi snorted from the kitchen. Molly stuck her tongue out. "And put that tongue back in your mouth, you undignified tart."

Molly blinked in surprise and did as she was told. Sighing, the girl brought her knees to her chin and snuggled into the back of the very uncomfortable wooden chair. "Oh, Vivi, I'm just so exhausted with this whole thing."

"Really? I thought that nap you took in the lake earlier this evening would've perked you right up!" The Witch replied sarcastically as she scrubbed down their dirty dishes in her barrel sink.

Molly huffed the bangs out of her eyes. "You know… I really miss Gill at times like these. He was always so practical. It was impossible to be anxious when he was around."

"More like impossible to have fun…" Vivi grumbled, dunking a plate into the water. She used one of her dripping wet hands to get a long silver lock over her shoulder, getting bubbles in her hair.

"Do you think maybe we could switch tonight?" Molly asked. She felt she was asking for permission from her mother, making her feel a guilty unease. "Just this once?"

"What, you think it's a walk in the park over there?" The Witch dried her hands on a towel and turned around, crossing her arms and leaning against the counter. "If I didn't care so much, I would've broken off the engagement for you long ago!"

"No! Wait, what?!"

"Oh, please. It's not like you've been giving Gill any thought recently. Admit it – you're having too much fun without him," Vivi smirked.

Molly wouldn't. She coughed into her fist and fidgeted in her seat. "Er. Well. Still… it would be nice to see how the wedding plans are coming along at least. I mean… it's kind of my wedding after all," Molly mumbled and practically hummed the last part.

"No. Go play with the carpenter. I'm too busy saving your marriage, and I don't need you making things even more confusing."

The Witch's glare caused Molly to put her feet back on the ground and drop the subject. She let out another sigh as she flopped onto the table top. "Well, I'm all out of ideas on these tasks. What am I supposed to make him do?"

Vivi rolled her eyes. "Like I have all the answers!"

"Well, you are incredibly smart. It's no wonder I would ask you," Molly put on her sweetest smile.

It was Vivi's turn to stick out her tongue. "Don't butter me up. Just… I don't know – go on a hike!"

"We already did that!"

"Well—!"

"Hm," Molly put a hand to her chin. "You know, we haven't really been to Garmon Mountain. I wonder if—?"

She was cut off by a loud knock at the door. Both Vivi's and Molly's heads whipped around to stare at the handle with wide-eyes.

Vivi whispered: "Well? Get it!"

"It's your house!" Molly whispered back. The tapping continued in a pattern like a rhythm-less song. 'Dun, dun, dun-dun, dun… dun, dun!'

"Useless!" Vivi threw her hands over her head and stomped over to the door. As an afterthought, she marched back over to her bed and picked up her gnarled, magic staff. Sucking in a deep breath, Vivi adjusted her hat and skirt and opened the door wide.

The hinges creaked as usual on the swing, but the visitor didn't have time to look inside before the end of Vivi's staff was at his nose. "What are you doing here?"

"Whoa, are you the witch? Hi!"

"Luke?" Molly asked, quickly rising from the table. She jumped up behind Vivi, more or less pushing her aside. "What are you doing here?"

Luke smiled crooked. "Well, you always run this way, so I figured I'd find you if I just kept walking… Wanted to see if you were doing okay."

"I'm fine, thank you," Molly smiled at the sweet gesture, though it was awkward with Vivi standing there with a snarl between them. She looked in confusion at the bundle Luke was holding. "What's that?"

Luke looked down. "Oh!" He thrust it towards her, forcing Molly to take it. "You forgot this when you left, so, uh… here ya go!"

Molly pulled the fabric away and uncovered the pound cake. Her eyes brightened. "Oh! I completely forgot… Sorry you had to walk all this way…"

The Witch wouldn't be ignored. Her nose wrinkled at the unveiling of the hideous cake. "What the hell? Is there dirt on it?"

Molly protectively hugged the cake, angling it away from The Witch. "It was my fault – I dropped it! Luke was nice enough to bring it all this way since… you know; we'll need it for the spell!"

"Pfft. Oh, right," Vivi nodded in the most unconvincing way. She snatched the cake from Molly and went to her giant cauldron, tossing it inside with a clunk! "Bubble, bubble…"

Molly smacked her forehead.

"Are the pine cones in there, too?" Luke asked cheerfully.

"Er – yeah! And that flower!" Molly thanked the stars she remembered something for once.

Luke stepped across the threshold, peering around the room. "Nice place you got here!"

"No, no, no, no, no!" Vivi sprung away from the cauldron towards Luke. She pushed him with all her might, but she couldn't budge the young man. "Out! Out! I want him out this very minute! No tours! OUT!"

Molly giggled, glad she wasn't the only one who was puny in comparison to the carpenter.

The Witch continued to struggle with Luke staring down in confusion at her. "Out! EEK! Mud! He's gotten mud on the carpet! THAT'S IT! Molly, remove your mutt at once!"

"Alright, alright!" Molly laughed. She grabbed Luke's hand, pulling him out of the hut. "Let's get out of her hair, Luke. I wouldn't advise getting her mad."

"Too late for that, mud clots! LEAVE!" Vivi barked, slamming the door behind them with a humph.

Luke looked at Molly wide-eyed, pushing the bandana off of his forehead. "Sheesh! She sure is grumpy!"

"I AM NOT!" The Witch shouted from the other side of the door. "Now get off my lawn!"

"She really doesn't like company," Molly explained as they took the path to the bridge. Archie peered curiously at them from around the house where Romeo's beady eyes glinted in the darkness. Speed's head appeared through the tall grass by the lake. "Well, when she's not expecting it, I guess. This whole thing started because she was lonely, so…"

"Aw, really?" Luke tilted his head. "I'll be sure to stop by more often then!"

Molly smiled. "That would be nice of you! Though I don't think she's so lonely anymore… I mean, I've been hanging around for quite awhile now."

"Yeah… Sorry about that! We had better get started on a new task then, huh?" Luke suggested.

Molly stopped walking and looked around the dark forest. The Witch's cottage was behind them, but she could still spot the end of the bridge in the starlight. She squinted upwards, catching sight of a waning moon. She bit her lip. How much time would she have left? This next season was her last chance. And then…

She couldn't think like that. When Molly looked back down, she saw Luke watching her. He was probably just waiting for her to say something, but Molly couldn't help but feel there was something different about those honey colored eyes. Yeah, they are like honey, aren't they? She vaguely remembered establishing that in her sleepy delusion, but she was surprised that it stuck (no pun intended… maybe).

Molly shook her head. What was she doing? Just staring? That certainly wasn't productive… "Um, I know where we have to go, but it's going to be quite a trek. You still in for it?"

"Like an adventure?" Luke asked.

"Yeah!" Molly nodded.

Luke fist pumped. "EXTREME! Let's get going!" He took off through the woods, dodging trees and brambles out of Molly's sight.

"W-Wait up! Luke! Hey!" Molly rolled her eyes and dashed after him, having no other choice. "You don't even know where we're going!"

"You sure you need a diamond?"

"Mmhm!" Molly hummed in the affirmative, rocking on her heels. They had already taken the 'romantic' flowers and food route, so she was milling about jewels now. Because girls were supposed to like gems, right? They were supposed to be romantic and… stuff.

Luke stared into the entrance to the Garmon Mountain mines and shrugged. He lugged the heavy hammer over his shoulder as Molly picked up the lantern and followed after him into the cool darkness.

"Where'd you get that hammer anyways?" Molly asked, swinging the lantern ahead of them. The path was well lit in the main sanction, but the levels would be pitch black without a torch of some kind.

"It's Owen's. He left it by the entrance again," Luke said, pressing ahead through the right passage and up the rocky stairs.

Molly struggled to lift the light high enough to light his steps, but he didn't seem to care for caution. "You sure he'll be okay with you using it?"

"I'm not gonna break it!" Luke scoffed. "What could possibly go wrong?"

"Bad things always happen when people say that…" Molly muttered.

Four or five flights of steps later, Molly's feet started to ache. "How much farther do we have to go anyways?"

"Er…"

"Do you even know what you're doing?" Molly asked suspiciously.

Luke gulped but put on a brave face. "Of course!" The nervous hand holding the knot in his bandana didn't help prove the lie. "Owen talks about mining all the time."

"Well, if you talk about lumberjacking all the time, shouldn't Owen be just as experienced as you in the forest?" Molly reversed his logic.

"Um… yeah?" He guessed.

Molly sighed. She shimmied past Luke, hugging the wall, to take the lead. "Oh, well. I'm sure we'll figure it out. How many flights does this have anyways?"

"Don't you ever explore the mines?" Luke asked as they continued to walk. "I thought you were some master farmer or something."

"Hero farmer, thank you very much," Molly corrected with a grin. The lantern whacked the cave wall, creating a loud echo that made her yelp and come to a quick stop – backing into Luke in the process. Molly looked up and saw Luke looking back down at her in the yellow low light. It was ghostly in a way how only their faces could be seen. Luke's eyes glowed, distracting her again.

Molly cleared her throat and pushed away from his chest, taking a brisk pace forward. "Anyways, I'm a farmer. Not a miner. I've never really found much use smashing boulders on the off chance you might find a sparkly rock that's worth your time," she hoped the limited light had hidden the red hue her face had taken.

"I'm not a huge fan either," Luke added, struggling to keep up with her quickened steps. His boots clomped against the stone, echoing with their voices in the hollowed rock. "I like sun and air and trees. It feels like things don't breathe much in caves."

Molly silently agreed, rounding another stair case. At the top, she paused and set down the lantern. "How many flights have we gone up, do you think? I lost count after thirty-six."

"Oh… Um… I wasn't counting, actually," he admitted as he set the hammer down at their feet, leaning on the handle. "But my calves say it's been more than that – this is boring, but it's a work out!"

Molly shook her head in good humor. "Well, then let's head up a few more steps. Just in case."

"Onwards!" Luke commanded, posing forward gallantly. She laughed and swatted at him to cut it out.

Luke and Molly pressed on. The air became even colder, and they could see their breath in the lantern light. As they left another stair case, Molly let the lantern hang down at her side. "Is it just me, or is it getting brighter?"

Luke squinted up at the next stair case, eyes brightening. "Hey, I think you're right!"

They ran up the last flight of stairs and looked around the empty room. Everything glowed a strange bluish color. There were no more stairs and only a single door to the outside before them.

"Where are we…?" Molly asked, stepping out onto the ledge. Her skin prickled from a sharp wind and she hugged her shoulders.

"We made it to the top!" Luke announced, bending down. He showed her a fistful of snow. "Look – snow!"

Molly looked around them and found the entire outcropping was coated in snow. Save for a hot spring that seemed to be too precariously placed to enter. At least for Molly's opinion. A long, impossibly gravity-defying staircase stretched out to another peak in the distance. Clouds circled below and around them, and a blanket of brilliant stars covered the black sky.

"I've never been up here…" Molly wondered aloud. Sure, Molly had rung all the bells, but she had never summoned the imperial Harvest God. "Could this be where the Goddess wanted me to go…?"

"What was that?" Luke's brow twisted in bewilderment.

"Oh, nothing!" Molly quickly supplied. "Just… I have a big to-do list once this is all over…"

In an attempt to change the subject, she pointed upwards. "But look at these stars! I've never felt so close to the sky, have you?"

"This is pretty high," Luke agreed, staring up in awe. "I still prefer a tall tree, but, man… You don't see this every day."

"No, you don't…" Molly said, still staring up. A smile came to her lips, and she felt at peace for the first time in ages. This was the kind of place you could see shooting stars. Where people made wishes and fell in love. A place where magic could happen. It was in the ground here, in the air, the sky. If it wasn't so cold, Molly could live in a place like this.

"Er – uh – we should probably get back to work!"

Luke's strained voice brought Molly back to Earth. She looked down at their intertwined hands – something she hadn't consciously done – and saw how Luke's eyes were pinched shut and his face was the color of a tomato. And it wasn't any fault of the cold.

Molly released his hand, feeling warm, too. "Yeah… Um… Right. Let's go."

They ventured back into the dark, picking up the hammer and the lantern left at the stairs. They mindlessly walked down a few flights, unable to take their minds off of the sudden tension between them. Luke kept repeating she was engaged in his head over and over, and Molly felt she was coming to terms with a very uncomfortable notion.

Silence remained when they finally picked a floor, and Luke got to work. Molly insisted she take a turn after awhile, and Luke warily handed the hammer over to her. He was impressed how fluid she was in her work, forcing him to remember she was a strong, independent farmer – and also, how cute her skirt was - STOP.

Molly sat back against the wall next to the lantern, letting out a tired sigh. Luke took the hammer and went back to work without argument.

"Four white wonderfuls! We're doing great, Luke!" Molly smiled, finally finding her voice again. "We're a good team."

"Er – yeah!" He was forced to agree. He smiled as he plunged the hammer down through a thick rock, releasing a yellow stone. "Darn… Next rock – four out of thirty-two!"

Molly hugged her knees, watching him. It was admirable how he put everything he had into whatever it was he was doing. Molly hoped she could say the same of herself, but she wasn't so sure. She couldn't match his enthusiasm. Even now, when he had said himself he didn't like the mines, he had created a game out of it. Perhaps it was to pass the time. Or maybe it was to make things fun. Whatever the reason, it was cheering Molly up from this dreary atmosphere.

Luke threw the hammer over his head. The sound was unusual – as if he struck something twice. Molly frowned and peered through the black. A thin crack was over Luke's head. "Careful, Luke! I think you hit the ceiling!"

"Huh?" Luke asked, not hearing her.

Molly was about to repeat her warning when the crack suddenly opened, bits of gravels and dust falling through. "Luke you – LOOK OUT!"

The ceiling over his head collapsed. Rock and dirt poured down, creating a terrible fog. Though it was impossible to see, Luke opened his eyes anyway, shielding his mouth with his elbow. He could only see the dim light of the lantern across the room. But he wasn't hurt. He hadn't been hit. He had been pushed out of the way…

Luke picked himself up and coughed. "Molly?" He coughed again. "Hey, Molly!"

He couldn't wait for the dust to clear, but it was no use without the light if she wasn't answering him. Luke scrambled to his feet, surprised with the force she had used to knock him off his feet. He shook his head and inched his way back to the lantern. The handle was hot from being against the glass, but his leather glove diminished any pain it might have caused to the touch. Luke quickly turned back to the spot he had been hammering.

"Molly! Molly, are you okay? C'mon, Molly, you've gotta answer me, or I'm gonna freak out!" He called through the dust. The heaviest bits started to settle and a silhouette appeared where Luke had dropped the hammer. "Molly!"

Luke skidded to his knees as he dropped the lantern and picked up the unconscious girl's arm. She was planted face first, sprawled on her stomach. Luke turned her head and felt breath coming out of her nose.

Luke sat back on his heels, a wave of relief washing over him. "Phew…! Gee, for a minute there, I thought…! Well, don't worry, Molly, I'll get you out of here. Diamond or not!"

The carpenter had to remove a few fist-sized rocks from her back before lifting her. He dusted his hands off (like it mattered) and heaved Molly up by the arms. With a great effort, Luke managed to pull Molly up onto his back. She was like a sack or a rag doll, so he was forced to pitch her arms and head over his shoulders as he held onto her legs piggy back style and snatched the lantern. The hot glass of its cover hit him in the leg, and he winced. He coughed again as he took the first steps down the stairs.

This floor had gone completely untouched by the miniature cave-in upstairs. It was as silent and echoing as before, but without any communicative company, it felt scary and time felt short.

"You'll be okay, Molly – you'll see!" Luke convinced himself as he hurried down the steps. "Just a bump on the head, probably. Nothing serious! You'll be up in no time! It's not like… you sacrificed yourself for me or anything…"

But she did. Didn't she?

Luke didn't have time to be thinking of such things. Instead, he had to focus on his feet and the floppy girl behind him.

"Almost there!" Luke reassured after awhile, panting hard. He paused a second for a breather.

"Luke…?" Molly mumbled, coming to.

"I knew you weren't dead!"

Those aren't the best words to hear upon regaining consciousness. Molly blinked rapidly and tried to sit up, nearly falling off of Luke. She squeaked and gripped his shoulders tight. "Luke, where are we?! What happened?"

"You uh…" Luke didn't know why this was hard to phrase. It was a simple fact. But for some reason, it was making him very uncomfortable. All over.

"Oh, the ceiling collapsed!" Molly thankfully remembered for him. "Are you alright?"

Luke smiled, shaking his head and looking down to hide his face. "Yeah… I'm okay."

"Oh, good…" Molly said. She gave his bandana a pat. "You can um… put me down now."

"No way!" Luke refused, hiking the girl up higher and starting to trek back down the stairs again. "You're still pretty shaky – and um, besides, I promised I'd get you out of here!"

"Luke, I'm perfectly fine," Molly insisted.

"So do you want to be a miner?" Luke changed the subject as they wobbled their way down.

Molly shook her head, leaning against his back in defeat. "Nah… it's kind of scary and so dangerous! I'll stick to wide open spaces, thanks."

Luke agreed and took the final step down onto flat land. He finally released Molly, and she jumped down to her feet. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just a bit… a bit dizzy," she admitted. "But I'm fine. Thank you."

"Nah, uh – thanks. I mean, thank you, that is…" Luke furiously adjusted his bandana with one hand to busy himself, still holding the lantern with the other.

Molly blushed, remembering what she had done without thinking. It was reckless of her, but… it just came naturally. And for once she had done something for somebody else. For Luke. That felt good. She smiled and stood on her tip toes, giving him a kiss on his dust-covered cheek. "Any time, Luke."

"Uh…! Um, I brought the wonderfuls!" Luke quickly provided to fill in the awkward space. He dug into his pockets and showed her the bright white stones.

"Oh, great!" Molly clapped, looking them over. "I sure hope there's a diamond in one of these…"

"Yeah, me, too. I'll get them refined in the morning so we can find out!" Luke smiled, back to his old self.

"Okay! Um… I guess I'll head on home then," Molly reluctantly cut off the evening. Even after everything, she didn't feel like going back to the old hut by the lake.

"You sure you can make it?" Luke went back into concerned-adorable Luke, making her nervous again. "You can take my room or something."

"I'll need the lake, remember?" Molly reminded. "I'd hate to wake up as a swan in town…" Or transform in front of you again because that was really embarrassing.

"Okay… You sure though?" He pestered again.

"Yes!" Molly laughed, walking away. "I'm fine, Luke! And don't follow me home, mutt."

Luke grinned and watched her go. He put the wonderfuls back in his jean pockets for the morning and picked up the lantern. He blew out the fire, finding himself alone in the dark.