A Chaotic Experience

Chapter 51: Zephyr [Winds of Change]

For the group who went to Scotland, the rest of the 13th was spent telling people that they were back in Flower Bud or relaxing.

"Why is it so windy?" wondered Popuri the next day. She was hanging out in the greenhouse with Ewan as he watered his crops.

"I'm not sure…" the farmer replied. He filled his watering can. "Maybe it's an omen against Cliff and Ann's wedding!" Ewan joked. The wedding would be the next day, since they did have it planned on the 13th without anticipating how long they would be in Scotland.

"Are they just having the wedding out on the field at Green Ranch?" clarified the florist. Ewan explained that this was correct. "Isn't that funny how everyone decided to have their weddings at different places?"

"It is weird," Ewan laughed.

"I don't know where I would have my wedding," Popuri placed her hand on her chin. "Maybe the mountain since no one else has had their wedding up there."

"I was about the say the same thing," replied Ewan with a small laugh. "A lot has happened up there on the mountain…" he said thoughtfully.

"A lot HAS happened…" Popuri replied in the same tone, looking at Ewan with a little smile. When he turned over to look at her, Popuri quickly looked away.

"So, what are you gonna do for the rest of the day?" Ewan asked.

"I'm not sure," she said. "Maybe I'll just stick around with you all day. It's been a while since we've spent the whole day together."

"Sounds like a good idea to me!" replied Ewan, cheerfully. "Well, I'm done with my chores. Where do you want to go?"

"How about the church?" Popuri suggested. "I'm feeling music-inspired today." Ewan nodded and said that was a good idea. They got outside and the wind blew quite heavily.

"Geez, how can you bare with this!" wondered Ewan, putting his sky blue hair deeper into his bandana. Popuri just let out a giggle and did her best to keep her hair on her left side.

"I'm just used to it," she explained as she watched the branches of a tree move with the wind. "I was born to have hair like this. I love it."

"Have you ever tried any other hair styles besides just what you typically have?" Ewan asked as they left the crossroads and entered the actual village area.

"Um… not really," Popuri admitted.

"You should style a big ponytail that hangs to the left," recommended Ewan with a smile, "in front of your body. Sort of like what you're doing now."

"That would be an interesting look," Popuri nodded. "Maybe sometime in the future."

"Yeah… and then you can wear make-up to look like a skeleton," Ewan kept going on with ideas. "Oh, and wear a tuxedo and dance around…"

"Okay, now you're crazy," laughed the florist, deciding now to put her hair back to where it was. They entered the church quickly to find no one inside.

"Every time we come here it's only us," Ewan noted. "Isn't that weird." Popuri shrugged.

"I quite enjoy it," she said with a smile. Ewan asked her why she was feeling music-inspired today and Popuri simply smiled back at him. "I'll tell you first then, since you asked."

"Uh. What?" wondered Ewan. The two sat down and Popuri explained a story about something that happened in the town after the train from Scotland, but before the boat ride back to Flower Bud. She heard a song being played in a nearby store and started singing along. Someone waiting for a boat to the city apparently heard her and the two started talking, mainly about Popuri and all her friends.

"And out of the blue he said that he wanted to do a little concert in our little Flower Bud!" Popuri announced. "I'm planning it with him to make sure that the talent that we have in town shines."

"Popuri… that's amazing! When's it gonna happen?" Ewan wondered, completely gobsmacked by the news.

"It's gonna be at the end of the season," explained Popuri. "All the 'instruments' and such that we have missing will be provided by… someone. So we don't have to worry about that either."

"What date can I mark on the calendar?" Ewan asked. Popuri said that it would probably be the 29th. The concert area would be at the forestry. "Why not the village square?"

"We figured that people would probably be packed and… we didn't want people falling down the stairs," she laughed, softly. "There's gonna be shops and stuff there, though. And yes, I've already cleared this with the mayor and he's gonna make an official announcement about it on the 16th."

"All the roles and such will be revealed then, right?" Ewan wanted to clarify. Popuri said this was correct.

"Then with whoever is singing they can decide what songs to sing and such," explained Popuri. She smiled and started humming a little of a song. "Sorry, I'm just so excited!"

"I'm so excited, too!" Ewan beamed. The rest of the day was spent in the church talking about the concert and how excited they were.


The next day wasn't as windy as the 14th, but it was still strong enough for people to note how windy it was.

"At least it's not gonna ruin the wedding or anything," Harris noted. Everyone was dressed and everything was all set up out at Green Ranch.

"Looks like we're just waiting for Ann," Maria said, looking around. She was glad that she talked Ann out of coming out from the barn, but Ann complained that the main house was farther of a walk.

"Oh, she's about to come out now!" Hall called out, watching the door open. She walked out and revealed that she was wearing a very simple white dress with a simple veil covering her face. Ann carried a beautiful bouquet with white and orange flowers.

"Don't try to hop the fence!" Cliff yelled with a little laugh as Ann showed her impatience and started running towards her husband-to-be, nearly jumping through the fence. The rancher chuckled and followed the path until she met up with her dad and, eventually, the alter where Cliff was waiting for her. He told her that she looked beautiful.

"Thanks," she said, blushing. "So do you." the wedding started and Thomas said everything that was said in all the other weddings.

"Do you take Cliff to be your husband?" Thomas asked the redhead. She turned dramatically to Cliff and giggled a little with a small nod.

"Yes, I do," Ann said. Thomas nodded and asked Cliff if he took Ann to be his wife.

"I now pronounce you man and wife!" the mayor said, loudly. "You may kiss the bride!" everyone cheered as the couple got closer for a kiss.

"Don't forget to throw your bouquet the right way," Cliff whispered to Ann with a small chuckle, pointing at Popuri when she wasn't looking. The redhead chuckled and nodded before making her announcement.

"Okay, I'm going to throw the bouquet now!" Ann was speaking quite obviously and directly to Popuri. She was able to notice this and chuckled as she stood up. No one else stood up with Popuri, which made her feel a little awkward.

"I'm ready," she laughed, fixing her dress. Ann nodded and tossed the bouquet. Popuri caught the flowers dramatically and started laughing. Ann and Cliff decided to walk up to her for a chat after some dancing and the usual post-wedding festivities.

"So… what's your status with Ewan at the moment?" asked Cliff, bluntly. Ann awkwardly put her hand on her nose because she was trying to think of a way to ask the same question more subtly.

"Um. Friends?" the florist replied. "I think I've already generally made it clear that I'm not looking for a relationship at the moment."

"What if you were to fall in love with him?" wondered Ann. "You know… again." Popuri paused for a moment before replying with a small shrug.

"I just want to stay single for the time being," Popuri explained. "I've got more important things to focus on, especially now."

"Especially now?" the vagabond wondered what she was talking about. Popuri just laughed softly and said that they would find out tomorrow. Ewan walked over and they started talking about "the secret" and walked away from the newlyweds.

"I'm guessing Ewan knows the thing," murmured Ann, raising an eyebrow.

"She probably still is in love with him…" Cliff mused before wrapping his arms around his wife and taking her to go dance.

The rest of the festivities that day went off fine and Cliff and Ann were truly happy, regardless of any future arguments that would inevitably occur.


It was the 16th now and, even though not everyone in the village would be involved, Popuri and Thomas made sure that everyone was there to hear the announcement.

"Flower Bud is going to be hosting a concert!" Popuri announced. Almost immediately, the crowd reacted very positively.

"A little village like this never has concerts!"

"It'll be like a slice of the city!"

"Now when I dress up fancy, I'll have a reason to do so!"

"Hang on a second…" Thomas tried to calm down the crowd. Once they were finally subdued, Thomas explained that this would most likely be a one-time thing and that the village would keep its quiet village atmosphere. "Except for the one day, of course."

"You can help out if you want, even if you're not going to be part of the actual concert," Popuri added. "We'll need setting up, people running little stands… stuff like that."

"How are you writing it and such?" wondered Raffi curiously.

"I'm doing it based on three things: a small plot, songs, and people who would most likely want to sing," replied the pink-haired young lady. "It's not entirely complete either. In all honesty, it's sort of self-revolving just because that's what the person who sorted this out wanted." no one seemed to contest to this, though.

"You can go shopping in the city if you want… to get fancy outfits or whatever you want to wear," Popuri suggested with a small laugh. "I'm probably gonna have a few costume changes."

"So basically if there's a plot, then do we have lines to remember?" asked Kai. Popuri nodded to the winery worker.

"Yeah, but it's not really going to be a lot of between-song dialogue," she explained.

"Are all the songs gonna be solo songs?" Alex wondered.

"No, I want to put some duets in," Popuri replied. "I've already got one in at the moment and it'll probably have four in total. Oh, and then I think I'm going to put a group-singing song in for the end."

"Is it gonna be any expense for the village?" asked Elli.

"Nope, the city director will have everything paid for and make sure that Flower Bud will not be dirty from trash or anything," Popuri told the baker. It seemed that most questions were answered, so the group dispersed for the most part.

"So, can you show us some songs that you've put on so far?" asked Ewan with a hopeful smile. He did know about the idea, but he wasn't able to get any other information out of Popuri.

"No, sorry," Popuri laughed, softly. "I want to finalize it and make sure that it's perfect before I hand out what is needed for certain people."

"Don't you need to finalize it soon, though?" Cliff wondered, concerned that Popuri would be able to make the deadline for the concert.

"Yeah, but I'm close enough to being done," she replied. "Plus the concert's on the 29th, so everyone's gonna have enough time to know their song and such."

"Well, you'd better finish soon," Karen murmured. "I want to get a nice outfit that would be good for the song I'd sing." they all started laughing at how Karen needed an outfit for her song and they spent the rest of the day chatting about the concert. The excitement of the concert seemed to set a happier tone for the rest of Winter.

(A/N: It's been a long time since I've done a shorter update like this. SO, ENJOY!)