Blanket disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. I do not claim any rights to Harvest Moon Animal Parade or any characters associated with the game. No money was made from this fan fiction.

Author's note: I apologize for the length of time since the last update on this story. I know many of you have wondered if I had given up on it, but as I told many who PM me I was trying. All I'll say on why I've been absent is health related issues, you can go to my profile for more of an update on what was going on. Thank you for those who offered me support and encouragement. This chapter hasn't had the care of a beta so I'm sorry for any grammar errors that might have escaped me, I didn't feel right after so much time bugging anyone who'd been so kind as to offer before. I promise there will be another update coming soon and I have more stories in the works; I'll be posting a Gajeel & Levy from Fairy Tail romance soon. I hope you all enjoy.

Having being devoid of sensation during his punishment a trip to Garmon District via the mine cart was a treat for his senses. He couldn't remember the last time his heart had speed up just from the jerky movements of the mine cart following the curve of the tracks or the last time the wind had felt this invigorating as it whipped against him.

Realizing just how much he was enjoying the ride, Wizard blinked in surprise. Biting down on his lower lip, he worried the flesh between his teeth. He'd been noticing since he awoke from his punishment how everything around him felt 'new' again. He wondered if this was a side effect of his punishment or was part of the elation he felt knowing there was still a chance to develop a relationship with Hikari?

Perhaps, allowing his self to experience the world around him for Hikari's sake wasn't a bad idea. Witch often complained about his lukewarm personality, but he'd found it was an effective deterrent against anyone coming too close to him. After experiencing the sting of betrayal not long after coming to live in Harmonica Town with his Master, Wizard had been determined not to experience such pain again. To protect himself he refrained from get too involved with the world around him.

Of course Hikari had shown up and tossed aside all his intentions. But besides his erratic emotions towards Hikari, he couldn't remember the last time something aroused more than a feeling of intellectual interest, and at times mild annoyance –an emotion he experienced mainly when he had to interact with Witch.

Actually before he'd fallen in love with Hikari he'd given up trying to find any joy in life. Master had urged him to find something that gave him joy in his life. Being immortal could be difficult to handle if you stopped caring about life in general.

After his Master left Wizard could see little reason to continue looking for joy, observing and giving help when asked was enough. In the time before Hikari entered his life Wizard knew he'd only been going through the motions of living without experiencing life.

Exiting the cart he methodically brushed his pants off –actually he needed the time to school his expression before setting off towards the Goddess Spring.

It would take some time to get use to, but having some enthusiasm towards life again was probably a good thing. Since Hikari had made it clear that a relationship beyond friendship might be possible between them. Wizard understood the ability to make your partner happy was an important part of relationships. Hikari was human and would have certain needs like to be able to interact with others. He couldn't remain completely anti-social if they were to be together. Also if he couldn't find any joy in life how long would it be until he chased Hikari away? So perhaps something good would come out of his punishment. Not that he'd tell the time spirits.

Stepping over a common mushroom growing near the mine cart tracts, Wizard headed towards the entrance to the Harvest Spring. His trip to Garmon would be twofold; he needed to speak with both the Harvest Goddess and Luke.

He realized he'd been too vague last time he spoke with the Harvest Goddess. So what if he was able to love Hikari and was free from any object that would keep them a part. What did he have to offer? Just feeling love for her wouldn't be enough. What about providing her with support through life's trials? He'd noticed couples normally worked together to build a life, was that something he could do? At some point most human couples decided to have at least one child. Now that he thought about it, wouldn't it be unfair and cruel to wait until Hikari wanted a child to find out if he was able to or not? Plus even if he could feel love for her, could he live as a human? Could he be her husband and live with her, support her, even maybe work beside her? Would he be free to choice how he lived or was he fated to only be able to go through the motions, pretending to be human, but always be a part from others?

He didn't need the day to figure out if he wanted to be with Hikari. All he wanted was to be with her in whatever fashion he could. If she only wanted to be friends then so be it, but if she could see something in him that made her want him for more he would greedily take that as well.

There was no doubt in his mind that he loved her, but he understood that love took two people. She had to love him that way too before it could go anywhere. And even while he loved her he also recognized that she was his best friend. No matter what happened between them Wizard couldn't stand the idea of losing her completely. He wondered if Hikari knew just how greedy he was?

Wizard was also here to speak with Luke. The carpenter's necklace was safe in his pocket, along with the note. Proper manners dictated he thank Luke for helping save him.

Irene liked to gossip and she'd spilled the fact that Luke had been the last person in town to give something. Actually she'd complained that the young man had arrived at the clinic soaking wet and covered in mud a few days before Wizard had awakened and left the necklace then. He'd also left quite the mess that Irene had to clean up.

So it seemed Wizard's existence had truly been in Luke's hands. Luke could have easily refused to help. Wizard could see the young man standing in the road in front of the Carpenter's shop. He was suddenly glad he lived in town and not Garmon, especially if Luke always stood in the middle of the road swinging his axe. Everyone seemed use to such scenes, the children gave him a wide birth and none of the animals ventured too close.

Luke pulled his axe swing, allowing the axe head to dip towards the ground just as Wizard crossed the wooden bridge by the General Store. He gave Wizard a quick nod to acknowledge his presence before walking over to his father's shop to lean his axe against the wall. The two met right at the entrance to the Goddess Spring.

"It's good to see you up and walking around. Hikari stopped by to drop off pop & Bo's stuff. She told us you were alright now. Since you're here I guess you my note huh?" Luke asked, tightening the knot on his bandana.

"Yes."

Sighing Luke shook his head. "Okay, so I'll be doing most the talking again huh? That's fine, I got plenty to say."

Wizard shift his weight, pulling Luke's necklace from his pocket. "Thank you for lending Hikari your necklace." He extended his hand, holding out the necklace that normally hung around Luke's neck.

Taking his necklace, Luke fastened it around his neck. "I hate to admit it, but for about this long," he held his fingers a part. "I hesitated to give anything." Taking a deep breath and letting it out in a huff, with a sad smile he admitted, "I finally came to my senses though."

Wizard mussed the back of his hair. "You have a good heart."

"Thanks." Kicking up a small cloud of dust with the heel of his boot, Luke shrugged. "I kinda wondered there for a while just how good of a heart I really have. I finally figured out what I had to do though," He shook his head. "Anyway, look I've been wondering about this ever since this whole mess happened. Do you like Hikari? I mean do you want to be her boyfriend and get married?"

"That is . . . a very personal question."

Wizard's dull reply and equally irksome expression ruffled Luke a bit. He was really trying to understand thing here. "Look man, you might think I'm getting all up in your business here, but I'm not real smart about this kind of thing. I've been confused for over a season now and if I don't get some answers how am I ever going to understand any of this?"

Sighing Luke hooked his hands around the collar of his white shirt and pulled it down baring more of his throat. "As if I wasn't confused enough Hikari just laid another bomb on me and I still don't know what to make of it."

"Yes."

Luke cocked his head to the side, "huh?"

Taking a deep breath Wizard nodded. "I care a great deal about Hikari."

"Then why didn't you tell me? If I'd known, I wouldn't have asked you to help me plan a date with her."

Wizard looked towards the Harvest Spring. The bears were loitering around the entrance as usual, it was strange to think if things hadn't worked out how they did he might never have seen this sight again. "I accepted the crystal . . . it was no longer my choice."

"That's a load of bull." Luke growled, making Wizard jerk his attention back to him. "That lady at the spring, down there, explained all that to me . . . ."

"You saw the Harvest Goddess?"

Luke nodded. "She scared the crap out me, that's for sure. I mean I always believed in her and all, but it's a different thing to come face to face with a god, you know? She said it was all thanks to Hikari that I could see her. I don't think I'll ever go back there again though."

Wizard nodded, he couldn't believe that Goddess had recovered so much that even normal humans could see her again. It had been a long time since that happened. He couldn't imagine why Luke would be frightened of her. Goddess had always treated everyone with kindness. If Luke had met Harvest King, then Wizard would have understood being afraid.

"So, just 'cause I gave you that gem you couldn't tell me your feelings about Hikari? That Goddess lady said you just couldn't refuse to help me."

Sighing, Wizard crossed his arms over his chest. "Perhaps it is easy for you to admit to just anyone how you feel . . . I've never felt like this for anyone before," he admitted. "I was just realizing what it was I felt towards her when you came asking for my help."

"Well, gee wiz man," Luke threw his arms up, gesturing wildly. "You think I understand what I'm feeling anymore than you do? I ain't ever had feelings like this before either."

"Plus that was the first time we spoke to one another . . . ." Wizard butted in. Perhaps speaking to Luke so soon after he recovered wasn't such a good idea. He didn't have a good hold on his emotions right now.

Taking a deep breath Wizard wrapped his arms around himself; trying to hold back his anger, glaring he growled back. "You expect me to blurt out my feelings that I have towards Hikari to you . . . when I hadn't even spoke with her yet? When I wasn't even . . . sure myself what I was feeling or what . . . I was hoping for?"

Luke pressed his lips together. Wizard did make a good point, walking up and telling a stranger how you feel about someone was kind of weird. "Alright, I get it. I guess I don't have any right to be angry that you didn't say anything." Reaching up, Luke rubbed his forehead he was getting one hell of a headache from all of this.

"Did Hikari talk to you about what she wants to do? I don't understand. She told me she cares about us both, and doesn't want to stop being friends with either of us, but she's not ready to date. I just don't get what the holdup is. If she cares about one of us why not just start dating? But I guess she likes us both. I haven't heard of anyone ever dating more than one person before. I'm not sure what I think about all this. What do you think?"

"You don't understand because that isn't what she meant." Wizard growled, at his sides he clenched his fists. Witch would be cackling her head off if she could see him like this. "She said she didn't want to lead either of us on . . . or hurt anyone."

Wizard shifted his weight, looking towards the ground between them. "Yolanda and Colleen at the Inn reminded me that there is more at stake than just what you or I want. Don't you see? She's not ready to date either of us yet. Hikari is being honest with us and doesn't want us to rush into something we aren't ready for. That is why she told us to make up our minds if we can deal with only being friends, and she will keep our feelings in mind."

Was this really so hard to understand? Maybe Luke needed to spend a season lock within a void. Would he then be able to understand that rushing into a relationship wasn't something anyone should do?

Taking a step back, Luke blinked. "Okay, now that you say that, it does sound more like what she said, but what is it suppose to mean? It just sounds like she wants us both. I guess I'm still not listening to her, huh? I'm a real idiot, ain't I?"

Covering his face with his hand, Luke sighed. "Man this stuff is really deep. You're right. At least for me, I've been going off half cocked, deciding everything based on what I felt. I never told her what I was feeling or even asked what she wanted." Pulling his hand down his face so he could look at Wizard, Luke asked. "Did you do the same thing?"

Taking a deep breath Wizard pushed his anger back and unclenched his hands. "No, I had just realized . . . I thought I had more time. Then you showed up." Looking up at the sky, Wizard chuckled; it was a sad and weak sound. "I have never felt time was an issue before."

Luke also gave a small laugh, flicking his nose with his thumb. "We make a hell of a pair. I'm running full throttle, not taking the time to cover all the bases and you're dawdling behind like you got all the time in the world. Guess that makes you the tortoise and me the hare."

"I am . . . a turtle?" Wizard cocked his head to the side.

"Yeah, you know it's a . . . ." At the lost look he was getting Luke decided maybe it wasn't important. "Never mind, it's not important."

The sound of someone coming up the hill drew their attention. Candace came into view as she topped the mountain path. Both men took a step back to allow the young tailor to pass. Even as shy as she was Candace bit her lip and acknowledged them both. Wizard and Luke watched her until she finally went into the Accessory Shop. Snickering Luke pointed out, "She does that every time she goes to visit Julius." At Wizard's questioning look, Luke explained, "Standing outside the shop fiddling with her clothes. She does it every time before she goes in."

"Julius likes it when others take care in their appearance. She likes him so it makes sense she would try to please him. Isn't that something everyone does?"

Still staring at the Accessory Shop, Luke scrunched up his eye brows, deep in thought. "I suppose so."

They were both quiet for a few minutes until Luke found his voice again. "So are you going to go after Hikari or not?" At the searching look he received Luke added, "Look man, I don't want us to be jerks to one another. I don't think there's anyone around here that I'm not on good terms with, and I would rather keep it that way." Crossing his arms he huffed, "I understand you might not feel comfortable talking about your feelings, but damn it all, we need to know where we stand."

Copying Luke, Wizard crossed his arms as well. "Agreed . . . I plan on making sure what I can offer Hikari and letting her know how I feel for her. I will continue to visit with her and try to make our relationship grow. I plan to give her time to decide who is right for her. What will you do?"

Smiling, Luke snapped his fingers. "I guess that makes us rivals then. No matter what, I still like Hikari. After everything we've been through I'd say we aren't strangers anymore either. In fact, I'd say this make us pals."

Wizard cocked his head to the side observing his 'new friend'. He wasn't sure about the young man in front of him, did he really think just like that they were friends? "I'm not sure . . . ."

"And as my new pal, we're going to promise that no matter what goes on with Hikari, we stay friends got it?"

He felt himself nod before his brain caught up to what Luke was saying.

"Great, now that we are friends we're not keeping secrets from each other anymore. But just 'cause we're friends doesn't mean I'm going to hand over Hikari either. Don't forget you got competition, man." Luke explained, slapping Wizard on the shoulder.

Could two people really compete for another person's affections like a contest at a festival? "I only wish for Hikari to be happy, even if it isn't with me. It would hurt but . . . ."

"Well, same here." Luke nodded. "That's why we should be friends. That way no one completely looses. No matter whom Hikari ends up with, this way we all remain friends, right?"

Wizard smiled, he wasn't sure, but it made sense to be on good terms with Luke so at least he could remain a part of Hikari's life no matter what happened. "I believe . . . I would like to try and be friends."

Laughing, Luke jumped at him, wrapping his arm around Wizard's head, giving him a noggy. "That's what I'm talking about."

{Break}

Getting Luke to let go had taken some time. He didn't want to insult his new friend, but he wasn't use to all that touching. Making his way to the Goddess Spring, Wizard stopped at the last step. The sprites had gathered on the edge of the grass when they heard him coming up. Five large, watery, happy eyes peered up at him.

Edge was the first to move. Bursting from the group and wailing the whole way. He wrapped his arms and legs around Wizard's ankle -holding on for all he was worth. Currently the purple sprite was using his foot as a seat and crying into his pant leg. In front of her now perfectly healthy tree, Goddess attempted to hide her smile behind her hand. In his opinion she seemed to be enjoying his discomfort a little too much.

"Try to be patience, young one. We all have been very worried about you." She reminded him. "Plus, I believe since you made friends with Luke you'll need to get use to more invasions of personal space."

She had a point, why did he agree to be friends with Luke so easily? His lack of common sense must be a side effect from drinking too much tea.

Finally she took pity on him and motioned for Edge to come to her. "You have more questions for me?"

"Thank you for helping revive me . . . I apologize for making you all worry." Straightening from his bow, Wizard made his way around the sprites to stand beside Goddess. "Yes, I have more questions. Do you know why everything seems different now?"

"Different? How so?"

"It is like . . . the world is new again. Even simple things bring me joy."

Smiling, the Harvest Goddess chuckled. "Many have said love can make everything in life brighter and more joyous. Perhaps it is because you were denied feelings for so long things are new to you again or it could be knowing there is someone who has feelings for you has made life worth living again."

It was something to consider, but Wizard figured it wasn't as important as his other questions. "You told me before I could love anyone I wanted and live how I wish."

Soothing the spirit in her arms, Goddess nodded. "Correct, even deities have the ability to love anyone they wish. Though Harvest King and I are tied to our areas of power, and can't leave for extended periods of time, we are still able to share a special love with another." Harvest Goddess bent down and placed Edge onto the ground. "So, yes, you have nothing stopping you from loving Hikari. Since you aren't tied to any thing you can even live with her like any other man would."

"What about children?" Wizard suddenly found the grass very interesting, Goddess blushed at his question and he was certain his own face was colored as well.

She cleared her throat before answering and it sounded suspiciously like she'd done it to hide a chuckle. "Yes, it is even possible for you and Hikari to raise a family together. Any children will probably be more human than magical being -they might have some abilities and have a bit longer life span than most humans, but any children you might father would not have anything that would set them apart like you've experienced. You must remember, unlike a deities you do have the slightest amount of human in you. That is why you are not tied to an item that holds your power."

He couldn't believe it. To be able to offer Hikari a normal life like any other man was a wish come true. A smile stretched across his face before turning into a frown. "What about my life span?"

Her smile slowly faded. Sadly Harvest Goddess shook her head. "I'm sorry, but nothing can change the fact you are basically immortal and she is mortal. This is something you'll have to deal with. The cold hard truth is you will outlive her and any children the two of you might have."

Reaching out Goddess laid her hand on Wizard's shoulder, giving it a supportive squeeze. "Hikari will continue to age until she enters what you could call the fall of her lifetime; like the leaves on the trees turn colors Hikari's hair will change to white, she will slow and become frail like the plants during the fall become brittle. She will age until she enters the final winter of her life, then just as it does with all mortal things her body will fail and she will die. This will be repeated with your children as well. And all the while you will remain as you have always been -unchanged by time. You will live in this world how you are now until the magic inside of you runs out, and then you will return to the elements that created you. Even when you turn back into the wind you will still be ever a part of this world, only in another form."

Moving her hand, Goddess stroked his head; like a mother would her child. "I am so sorry. There is nothing you or anyone can do to speed up your end or avoid Hikari's. The magic that mixed with the wind to create you was very strong and your existence will outlast even most magical beings. This is something you'll have to decide if you can deal with. Weigh what you will gain by what it will cost you carefully. Make sure this is something you can endure." Slowly she drew her hand away.

He'd already figured that would be his answer. Sighing, he gazed up at the Goddess Tree. He wondered if this was how Master felt when he left to search the world for his love's reincarnation. Wizard wished he could apologize to his Master for his words and actions the day the elder wizard left. Now, he sort of understood what the other was going through. "But her soul will be reborn throughout time, correct?"

With an exasperated huff, Goddess shook her head. "You are so much like your Master. The similarities in how both of your minds work just show that you are father and son."

At his questioning look, Goddess smiled and shook her head, taking a deep breath before answering. "Yes, all soul can be reborn. Some souls; like those of magical beings, take centuries to return unless extremely powerful magic is applied to jump start the process, but magic will not help a mortal soul be reborn any quicker. The only thing that can speed up the reincarnation process for a mortal soul is if a situation arises suddenly that a mortal soul is fated to have a part in, and then it can cause the soul to be reborn sooner."

"I understand." Bowing again, Wizard gave Goddess a serene smile.
"Thank you for answering my questions. Please don't worry about me. I realized awhile ago that I'm willing to deal with the pain for the chance to be with Hikari."