I finally updated this! Homework got out of the way and now I finished the next chapter at last! Read, review, enjoy! Oh and I'll be using the line a lot!


Chapter Two: A New Day, and the Dawn of Black Metal

Jack woke up to the rising sun. It was about 7:00 AM judging by the time of year. Time to get to work, time to build a new future... So he stood up and stretched. He would worry about breakfast some other time. He really wanted to get to work. He had to. It was his only medication from his tragedy. If he worked, he'd concentrate on work, and wouldn't have to remember.

Jack walked out of his new found home, and looked around himself. The day was calm, there was a small breeze, and the sun was already warming the morning air. This was a place to go for a vacation, but he'd never like this place as much as he did his home. We walked into the barn, and up to his new cow Beginning.

"There is a milker in your tool shed," said Takakura, walking up from behind Jack and startling the troubled farmer.

"Don't sneak up on me like that," said Jack turning around. He started to chuckle a little afterwards. "Thank you Takakura. I'll get to work right away."

"All your other tools are in there too," continued Takakura. "There is also a very large rucksack in there. It can hold a lot of stuff. I'd even say it is magical. It was given to your father by someone claiming to have gotten it from a deity."

"Really?" asked Jack with excitement. "Wow, thanks!" Jack was ready to start the day. All he needed were some seeds, milk Beginning, and... It seemed vague to him. He was so upset about losing his farm that he was starting to forget what else to do. Brush! He brought a brush with him for Hyperion, and it would work just as well on Beginning. He had everything he needed right away, even a fishing rod for getting food should have the situation turned sour. Takakura left the barn after saying goodbye and good luck.

Jack walked into the tool shed from the door on the side of the barn. He gathered up the magical rucksack, put the tools in, and went back into the barn. He got to work on brushing and milking Beginning. He began to talk to Beginning.

"I know it must seem strange," said Jack. "We just met and already I feel we've bonded nicely. I'll be sure to take good care of you Beginning. It's time to do great things in this life. I've had more of my share of blessings in this life. I was never poor till I came to Harvest Moon. Then I went from rich to poor, from lonely to happy. Soon I was rich again as I worked hard to become a great farmer. I've made irreplaceable friends. I wish I could have said goodbye... but I didn't want them to become involved in my petty problems. The military... what a surprise! Ha...ha..." Jack began to weep again, while smiling to himself. The tears were just softly making their way down his cheeks. It was thought to be sad to see a man cry. Jack felt that it was the only way to prove you were human in times of hardship. But he was beginning to wish he didn't cry. It WAS sad when you were beginning to become accustomed to it. Jack needed to put that life behind him now, and do it fast.


"Hello again," replied Tim to Jack's hello. "Jack was it?"

"That's right," said Jack. He had finished with Beginning not to long ago, and had decided to become more acquainted with the surrounding area.

"What brings you to the Inner Inn?" asked Tim.

"I wanted to delve into our introduction more," replied Jack.

"Delve huh? Well you know that I run the Inner Inn with my wife Ruby. She's a good cook. We used to travel around before we came here. That is how I got all the decorations here in the Inn. I think it gives you a sense of culture, atmosphere."

"Yeah, one Inn that I knew of was in Mineral Town. That is where I was before I came here. It didn't have as many decorations like your place does, but it had a nice atmosphere."

"You talking about Doug's Place? I know what your talking about. I've tried to get that same atmosphere in here, but then I noticed that it was Doug's personality that floated in the air. Sense then I've just tried to put as much of myself in the Inn for people to enjoy."

"Only works if you have class," said a female voice coming from down the stairs. Jack already knew that the voice must belong to someone of intelligence. A red haired girl was making her way down the stairs. Jack hadn't seen her the other day, but was told about her. Nami.

"Don't get me wrong," continued Nami. "This place has a class of it's own. But not one atmosphere like Doug's Place."

She walked up to Jack and looked at him for a minute. This had happened to Jack many times before, and then the girl would instantly become curious about him. He knew he was a good looking guy, but it was becoming repetitive. But Jack was surprised at how she was surveying him. Her poker face and her ice blue eyes told him that she was trying to pick out features on him for a different reason. Did she know him? Was she trying to remember him?

"So your that Jack guy," she said finally.

"You know me?" is what Jack thought, but he thought it would be more appropriate to ask rather "So you've visited Mineral Town?"

"Yeah," said Nami. "I didn't see you, but I was told of you. It was a year ago that I went there, it was during the spring, the fifteenth I think."

"Yeah well I was visiting the Harvest Sprites for a tea party," thought Jack.

"So what are you doing here?" asked Nami.

"I...lost my farm in Mineral Town," replied Jack grimly.

"Voted out. I remember that you were going to be voted to either stay or leave. You don't seem like the kind of guy that would get kicked out of a town like that. You get robbed of it?"

Jack's facial expression became one of surprise. She knew? Who was this girl?

"Thought so. The political offices of Harvest Moon are easy prey to major companies across the sea. They probably noticed how well your farm was doing and took it from you by force."

"Right, that might be it," said Jack trying to smile.

"There's more to it?" she asked, her right eyebrow rising slightly.

"No well um...eh," murmured Jack.

"Your embarrassing yourself. That is common around me. Guys, especially strong guys, tend to not like smart women. But I don't have the same effect. I'm one of those girls that guys AND other women want to at least keep up with in a conversation. They normally don't, and make fools out of themselves. Then they continue to murder their sentences. Then they make some fool excuse for why they can't carry on the conversation."

"Uh no! I wasn't trying to seem smarter then you!" said Jack while in panic.

"Don't worry," continued Nami. "I knew you weren't." She smiled softly to Jack and walked out the door of the Inner Inn.

Jack walked out of the Inner Inn and watched her leave. Nami was unaware of Jack. The young farmer wanted to go after her and talk to her more. He wanted to know more about the mysterious girl, but couldn't find the courage. Jack leaned against a support beam to the balcony of the Inner Inn and sighed. "She was very interesting. She must be type of person that you wouldn't get mad at because of her intelligence, but look up to. She seemed to know a lot about talking to people. She seemed like she was reading my mind, but was actually just picking out changes in my composure and guessing on what was in my head. That must be why she wasn't showing any expression. She didn't want me to read her. She must have only smiled at me because she thought it would be okay to reveal that emotion. And...she didn't seem to become enraptured with me on this first encounter. SHE'S IMMUNE TO ME!" Jack laughed out loud at this.

"I finally found someone who is immune to me!" laughed Jack. It was so strange to him that every girl he met was instantly interested in him when they first met, and then soon after they'd love him. He didn't know if anyone was IN love, or if it was just a crush. Nami was the first girl that didn't get a crush on him during their first encounter. He had to get to know her more. She would be the only person that he would be able to talk to without her getting giddy or overly cheerful in the conversation. Karen was like that, but she would blush now and then. It didn't make him appreciate her or anyone else less, but it did make the conversation more awkward or turn to awkward subjects.

Jack looked up at the blue sky and smiled. Things were going to be good here after all. If Jack played his cards right, he might be able to get close to Nami and have his first FEMALE FRIEND, not girl friend or some girl who had a crush on him but just a girl who was just his friend! That had never happened to him before, and he planned on making that come true.

"She made an impression on you didn't she," said someone from behind Jack. Jack jumped slightly and turned around to face the person, but slammed into the support beam. This was followed by joyous laughs. "I guess I was right," said the voice again. Jack looked up and saw Rock, whom he met the other day, but didn't really get to know. He helped Jack up.

"Don't worry about that," continued Rock. "It's only natural that you'd be interested in her."

"Sure," said Jack awkwardly. "I am interested in her, but probably not for the same reason your thinking."

"Yeah? And what would that be?" asked Rock.

"She was the first person that didn't become show interest in me after one conversation."

"That sounds like a big headed thing to say," said Rock with a smirk... did this guy know Kai by any chance?

"It does, but it's true," continued Jack. "Every girl I've run into seems to like me. Before Nami, a girl named Karen had the record for 'longest without loving me.' She covers it up pretty well but I'm pretty sure she likes me. It kind of bugs me that I can't find a girl that just wants to be friends and that will actually pull it off. I think Nami may be that girl."

"You want a girl to talk to that won't swoon over you in the middle of the conversation?" laughed Rock. "I find that hard to believe but okay. So what brought you here to this boring place. This is a retirement home village, not the place for me."

"I got kicked off my farm by the government," said Jack glumly.

"What? The government? That's screwed up! And here I thought we didn't even HAVE one, I mean this TOWN doesn't even have a mayor!"

"Vote for me," said Jack smiling.

"Yeah right," laughed Rock. "You seem like a fun person Jack. How about we throw a party some time to liven up this place? Go talk to the pyrotechnicians some time. One of them wants to throw a party too. You do like parties right?"

"I threw one once at my farm in Mineral Town, before I lost it."

"Hmm...okay then. Later."

"Ta ta for now."

Rock walked away and towards the beach of Forget-Me-Not valley. Jack decided to proceed through town and get to know the inhabitants better.


The scholar Carter sat in the gloom of his dig site, looking at his recent discovery. He'd seen it many times before, but every time he digs up this statue, it brings him worry. Was Forget-Me-Not Valley the home of an ancient river civilization such as the Egyptians? Or is it something else. Carter's discoveries do not suggest much, other then that the people were artistic, and existed a long time ago judging by their skulls. By the shape of their skulls, the civilization was indeed very old. Carter would have an accurate date for which time they lived if only Daryl would agree to try radio-carbon analyzing for the skulls to see if they existed 50,000 years ago. Radio-carbon dating would only go that far back, and the skulls that Carter found were pre-human. But how could pre-humans already be doing farming and sculpting as his other discoveries showed? All pre-humans discovered were hunter gatherers! Weren't they? That is what pushes Carter on. He's standing on a scientific break through. The question of what human potential is lies in what our ancestors before we were human were capable of.

Worry worry worry... These skulls are not human, but close, and they were found right next to artifacts that are skillfully made. Next thing he knows he will find that they wrote and smelted metal! That would be a great discovery, but so long as people like Daryl refused to help... the discovery wouldn't be brought into the world. Carter needed all the help he can get to get this project finished. He appreciated Flora's help.

Carter put his small shovel into the ground and began to dig gently. Slight mistake could ruin everything. This was his life now. What if he found a clay tablet that would have something like Sumerian cuneiform on it? If he makes a mistake he might chip a piece off and might not be able to decipher it! Carefully, now... Careful. Carter nearly jumped when he heard a metallic bang. Scared of what he may have damaged, he slowly began to dig around the object. Once he isolated the spot, he gently brushed it off with his hands until he was able to lift out a somewhat large but very light brown stone. "Careful observation reveals that it is dirty," hypothesized Carter with a laugh. Carter took out a small brush and gently began to brush away the dirt. He came to a shiny black surface. It was some black metal ore. Carter stood up and walked out of the dig site. He blinked a couple of times as the sun met his eyes, and proceeded to the river to wash off the metal.

Carter proceeded to his tent. He had finished washing off the ore, and it was a strange metal. It was large, yet light. It seemed hard as well. This was definitely something that would be valuable to an ancient civilization! It would be perfect for making tools! If he could find something smelted into another form made out of the same metal, he would have discovered that pre-humans were very intelligent! And what if this metal was already an alloy! Then his discovery would already have been made! Not only that but this metal was (evil)...where did that come from? Carter tried his best to think about why he thought that. Some kind of...power did seem to resonate from this metal. Carter was positive that it was his own excitement that gave the metal it's 'aura.' Why would a metal resonate power? Not unless it was radioactive, but even then it wouldn't feel like this. It was an emotional power, such as one gets when listening to a beautiful finish in a symphony. Carter began to wonder exactly what this metal was like. He hit it with a small hammer and it wouldn't bend, as to be expected. Carter walked to a large hammer in the corner of his tent, picked it up, walked over to the ore and hit it. The metal cleaved. The ore wasn't as sturdy as he thought. He also noticed how it was flaking. The archaeologist took a brush from the shelf nearby and began to brush off the flakes. While doing this he began to wonder what it would be like if he discovered and proofed that there was a highly intelligent civilization of pre-human hominids in Forget-Me-Not Valley. Would he be famous? Yes. Would he become rich. Maybe. What would he do with the money? Get himself a nice trip? NO! If this discovery proves to be what he hopes it will be, this site will be his permanent home. Any money he gets for his discovery would go right to more tools, more excavators to help him, and anything else he needs to discover as much as he can about this old civilization. Deeper and deeper he'd go until he got to the very roots of this old place. What mysteries lie in wait for him?

"Carter," said a voice from behind him.

"Hello Flora," said Carter to his assistant. "Come and look at this metal ore I found. It's-"

"Messy," finished Flora.

"What?" said Carter. He looked down at the large pile of flakes and dust in the soil from his brushing. "I'll clean it up."

"Well when your done come on out and meet the new farmer," said Flora.

"Right," said Carter with a smile. A new farmer? Maybe he'd help with this excavation! Flora left the room and Carter looked at the large pile of metal flakes. Weird metal this was. If you got cut with this stuff it would probably deposit itself in the blood stream and cause problems. Carter wondered if the outside was hard from time, if it was like clay and hardened from heat. The soil in the dig site is damp, maybe water hardens the outside of this flaky and fragile metal. Carter looked at the ore shard in his hand and at the pile. The rock flaked off that much, but it hadn't changed! That wasn't possible! How could he shave off that much of the metal and remain unchanged! Now if Daryl isn't interested in something like this Carter will scream. This is some new kind of stuff! Carter cleaned up the dust and into a large bag, and marked it 'mystery metal shavings.' He would take this to Daryl's too, after meeting the new farmer.

Carter emerged from the tent. The young man next to Flora must be the new farmer.

"Hello there I'm Jack," said the new farmer. He seemed like a spirited young person. Carter had to laugh to himself in his mind. Here he was, a young person himself, not even in his thirties, and he was calling this guy young. Jack was probably no more then 18.

"Hello Jack," greeted Carter. "Welcome to the Valley. I'm Carter. I see you've met my assistant Flora. We are in the middle of an excavation. I think we are standing on a major discovery, but we are short on help. Please come by and help us out sometime."

"Sure sounds fun!" commented Jack with a smile.

"Really? Some say it's boring," said Carter. "I'm glad you said that. I think it's the finest thing in the world. Knowing that each grain of sand you move over brings you closer to truth. We've discovered hominid bones. Are you familiar with the term hominid?"

"I think so," said Jack. "Aren't humans considered hominids as well as earlier guys?"

"Correct, although some people will tell you otherwise."

"What else have you found?"

"Well wooden carvings, coins...I don't think this early civilization made the coins though. They are pretty modern looking. I think Daryl, the energy researcher, hid them in the dig site to make me look like an ass when I dig them up. He's jealous of me. I don't know why though." Carter looked at Flora, who was very attractive. "But I have a good idea why," Carter thought. "Well it was nice meeting you Jack, but I'm sure we both have things to do so I'm going to get back to work now."

"Okay bye," said Jack and began to walk off while humming a merry tune.

"Well you get back to it then Carter," said Flora. "Van's in town today and I've got to pick up our new shipment of tools."

"Right," said Carter. "Thanks." Flora left down the hill, Jack already near the bottom. Carter walked back inside his tent.

Carter gathered up the metal ore as well as all the instruments he used when he found it. He needed to show everything to Daryl. If Daryl decided to research this stuff, Carter would need to show him exactly what he used on it. A brush with softer bristles would probably not have the same flaking effect on this metal. Once he finished gathering up the tools, he proceeded out of the tent and down the hill. The river rolled to his side, and insects clicked merrily in the tall grass next to the river. This metal ore... what if water did effect it? Would that mean that there is more next to the river?

"Daryl open up!" shouted Carter. "I've made a potentially major discovery that will make us both famous if you but help me!"

"What is it?" shouted Daryl opening the large metal door to his lab. "What is with you Carter? How can you stand to spend your days digging away! What makes it so fun for you to live in the ground?"

"Live in the ground?" asked Carter. "It's not like you get anymore sunshine then me when you hold up in there all day."

"That's has nothing to do with it!" shouted Daryl, his tired red eyes blaring. "I was talking about digging up wooden carvings and not actually helping society! I WILL BE THE ONE TO CHANGE THE WORLD! I will be the one to solve energy crisis! I will someday create a form of clean and efficient energy that will run on a renewable resource! I will do it while you play in your holes!"

"Well in the mean time how about you-"

"Fine here's the skull!" shouted Daryl practically throwing an ancient skull into Carter's arms.

"What about it?" asked Carter.

"I hate to admit it but that is a good discovery," said Daryl calming down. "It looks human, and it is genetically similar, but it has properties about it that are so inhuman that that skull can't be human."

"What!" shouted Carter backing away.

"It's not human, but another skull that you gave me is very similar to that one but IS human. The first skull you gave me was obviously human. Very strange how these two skulls are. One suggests a pre-human that is anything but human, and a skull that is human found in the exact same dig site. Your probably thinking that the civilization evolved in this valley. Your support would be that you found the human skull above the layer of dirt where the sub-human was found. Well here's another surprise for you Carter. I did some radio-carbon dating and they are both of the same age. They existed at the exact same time!"

"Your joking?" said Carter stunned. How could something looks pre-human, exist with something that is human. How could that pre-human skull be absolutely inhuman at the same time. "And how is that sub-human...inhuman?"

Daryl closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"I apologize for yelling. You are a great scientist like me. Truth is I am interested in the dig. Not before but now I am. You knocked on my door only five minutes after I finished analyzing the data my computer compiled. I am fascinated by the hominid skull. It's genetics say that it would look exactly like a hominid, and behave like a hominid. The only difference is that...it was cold blooded. It was like a reptile in that sense, but it was still covered in skin and had hair!"

Carter nearly jumped out of his skin. This was a huge discovery!

"Do you know what this means Daryl!" shouted Carter.

"No, and that is why you better get back to digging so we can find out what it means!" shouted Daryl, more out of enthusiasm then anger. "I will help. If this discovery proves to be right we could make a lot of money. I need more money so I can continue my energy research."

"Well I need you to study one more thing Daryl," said Carter. "I found a mysterious black metal digging today. It's strange. The outside is hard like a rock, but not like actual metal. I don't know if it's a rock or a metal. I hit it with a hammer and it cleaved into five separate pieces. I brushed it awhile, because it was flaking on the edge of cleavage, and I created a one and a quarter foot high pile of shavings. That isn't the weird thing though, it's the fact that the rock DIDN'T CHANGE after all that brushing!"

"I find that hard to believe. Give me the ore and I'll run some tests on it."

Carter took a pack off his back and opened it up. He showed Daryl the mysterious black metal, put it back in the pack and handed the pack to Daryl.

"I'll be going back to my dig site now. Come see me as soon as your done studying that metal."

"Right."

Carter began to walk off towards his dig site. Daryl stared after him. "I can't believe I actually want to help that guy," thought Daryl. "But this is too important for grudges. Cold blooded pre-humans living with fully evolved humans? This is too important. And it will give me the chance to get closer to Flora anyway..." Daryl smiled and walked back into his lab. New motivation discovered at last.


How could a day that started out so well go so wrong? That was what was on Jack's mind as he left Vesta's farm. Celia... Not another one! He had a feeling that he ensnared her the other day, but now he was sure of it. A hug wasn't something to get so worked up about, but when it feels the same from someone you just met from someone you knew for three years and obviously liked you (i.e. Ann, Popuri, Elli, and Mary) then you knew she liked you. In addition she gave him that warm smile with a blush that he'd seen on Karen when he invited her to the party he threw.

Jack was going to visit the neighboring farm just for a quick visit, and introduction. He had walked up to Vesta, and Celia. Marlin was probably somewhere else. Most likely over where the merchant Van was. Jack passed introduction to Van when he came in, but said that he'd get better acquainted as he came back that way after his visit to Vesta's farm.

While Jack was there he asked about what kind of seeds are best for the seasons in this valley. Jack knew that the temperature would make a difference for which seeds to sow in which seasons. Once he got the information he needed, he began to walk out of the building. Celia stopped him.

"Hello Jack!" she had told him.

"Oh hello there Celia," Jack told her. She had blushed slightly but warmly.

"I see you remembered my name," she had said.

"Yes..." said Jack awkwardly. "Yes, I did."

"Yes, Celia here has taken quite a shine to you Jack," said Vesta all of a sudden, embarrassing Jack and Celia at the same time. Either Vesta didn't notice or it had the desired effect, for she continued on. "Jack, I hope you will consider marrying Celia some time soon."

All Jack was able to do was gasp, while Celia buried her head in her hands.

"Well!" Jack had said trying to be as cheerful as he could. "Thank you for...telling me that...I will be on my...way now..." Jack gave a weak laugh and walked out of the house. Celia followed him outside. She caught up with Jack and apologized on Vesta's behalf.

"She umm..." Celia stuttered to Jack, her face was bright red.

"She sure is involved in your life!" laughed Jack.

"Yes..." Celia had said meekly. "You aren't angry at her are you?"

"No," said Jack.

"Are you upset with me?"

"Hahaha no I'm used to things like this."

Celia smiled in response, and flung her arms around Jack.

"Thanks!" she said and quickly withdrew, blushing and muttering apologies.

That is what happened to Jack at Vesta's farm. He didn't hate the fact that women found him appealing but really! How could it happen to so many women... Jack was even asking this to himself as he wandered back towards the main town. He happened across Nami as he went, who saw and listened to the event.

"So that is what Rock was talking about," said Nami, surprising Jack. The farmer turned to face her.

"You saw that?" asked Jack.

"Yeah," replied Nami, and seemed to sigh while doing it.

"Are you sleepy?" asked Jack.

"It's the spring, it does this to me," said Nami. "It gets worse in summer, sometimes I pass out from the heat. It's hotter here in Forget-Me-Not valley then in other places. So are you making a bet with yourself when I will fall for you?"

"Gah! NO! I don't want you to at all! I would like a female friend who isn't-"

"You seem like a nice guy but your choice of words doesn't suggest that you'd be popular with girls."

"I'm confused about it myself," commented Jack, scratching the back of his head with an awkward smile on his face.

"I think it's your face," said Nami. Jack's attention locked on her. "You have one of those faces. Somewhat like Apollo incarnate, or Aros to be more precise."

"Apollo was the god of the sun wasn't he?"

"Yes, and the god of sportsmanship, said to look very handsome."

"And who's Aros?"

"The Romans called him Cupid. He was the male god of love. He is depicted with either arrows, or with a hare. Yes I think you would make a fine Aros considering your good looks and that aura of... hmm. I don't think there's a word for it."

"Well umm thanks for the comments?"

"Relax. They are just that, comments. Simple flattery. It won't make a difference in the slightest because I'm going to be leaving this pl-" Nami cut herself off and showed a surprising amount of emotion in her face. "I FORGOT TO LEAVE! Have I really been here this whole time? How did I afford it!" Nami rushed off to the Inner Inn.

Jack stared after her in confusion. What just happened? Was she some sort of traveler? Jack ran after her, and scurried into the Inner Inn.

"What you mean you've been paying for my stay!" shouted Nami. "Your not supposed to do that! I pay or I leave! What are you planning on making me do when you get my bill high enough!"

"We're not plotting anything," pleaded Tim. "Ruby and me just didn't want you to leave! We've grown attached to you, like your our daughter!"

"Absurd!" replied Nami. "What are you doing here Jack?"

"Me?" questioned Jack, surprised that Nami knew he was there without turning around.

"This is none of your business Jack so leave," said Nami coldly. "But if it will make you feel better if I tell you what happened back there fine. You know I've been to Mineral Town, but it wasn't on a visit. I was traveling around, and I came here and forgot to leave. Now before you forget to do the same leave this room."

Jack wanted to object, but felt it would be better if he left. He needed to finish his rounds of introduction anyway.

Jack exited the Inner Inn and proceeded towards the Blue Bar, and get to know the people there better. On the way he came across Wally and his son Hugh. Unusual name for a boy Jack thought, but didn't give it too much of a thought.

"Hello there my friend," said Wally cheerfully while keeping a look of confidence on his face. "Would you like to FEED ME!" Wally said darkly. Jack frowned.

"What?" he managed to say.

"Would you like to take a jog with us," said Wally, perfectly normal.

"Yeah would you like to jog with us?" said Hugh. "SO THAT I CAN EAT YOU!" he finished darkly.

"What are you talking about? Jogging? Eating?" inquired Jack.

"Yeah we would like you to go jogging with us," said Wally. "And don't worry, we'll take a lunch break. Do you just want to jog so that you'll be hungry around lunch time?"

"Hugh said something about eating me..." said Jack with a puzzled look on his face.

"What?" said Wally with a laugh.

"I said that we'd like to jog with you to see how fit you are," said Hugh. "I didn't say I wanted to eat you. What made you think that I wanted to CRUSH YOUR HEAD IN!"

"I didn't think that you were going to crush my head in!" said Jack.

"Dad he's scaring me," said Hugh with a puzzled look of his own.

"Maybe he's just stressed out about the move here," said Wally. "If you come with us you can DIE lose stress during the THERE IS NO WHERE TO RUN run and you will feel better at the end THE END IS COMING! FEED ME! will be more then happy to invite you to lunch, Chris is my wife by the way. She will be making some energy restoring RESTORE MY ENERGY SO THAT I MAY LIVE foods and energy drinks I WILL DRINK THE ESSENCE OF YOUR SOUL. Jack maybe you should LIE DOWN DEAD lie down. You look pale."

"I don't want to ofofend you but youururur...you sound possossosseeeessed!" stuttered Jack.

"Possessed? I WILL POSSESS YOU SO FEED ME! Jack you really must be stressed out. Come for a run with us, it will KILL YOU!"

"You are possessed!" shouted Jack, fear in his eyes.

"What with my running? Everyone thinks I'm possessed! Is it that wrong to run all the time?"

"No! But your talking about killing me and other stuff in the middle of your sentences with a dark voice!"

"Dark voice?" asked Wally tilting his head to one side.

"You hear it too?" asked Hugh with fear in his eyes. Wally looked down at his son.

"What dark voice?" asked Wally growing concerned.

"I was hearing Mr. Tim talk evil yesterday," said Hugh. "And I heard Mr. Sebastian do the same! But mom told me it was just my imagination! But Jack can hear the voice too! It says 'feed me' and stuff like that."

Jack looked from Wally to Hugh quizzically. "Are you guys trying to scare me?" asked the puzzled farmer. "I try not to be prejudice but I think cannibalism is wrong, so I'm just going to leave now. And please don't eat anyone!" Jack began to walk away from them. Hugh ran up to him and tugged on his pant leg. Jack looked down at the boy.

"We don't want to eat you, its the ghost guy that wants to! I think the ghost lives in Daryl's lab! He says weird things to people, and so does the ghost. It's okay, jog with us!"

"Fine, but you better not try and eat me!" commented Jack with a half smile half frown. "Just let me finish my visit to the Blue Bar. I want to get to know the workers there better."

"Now you definitely are going to get eaten!" laughed Wally.

"Huh?" questioned Jack.

"Oh you'll see," said Wally with a wink. "We'll be over by the well warming up." Wally turned towards the sea, and Jack did too. How did Jack not notice that the merchant's stand was there. "Hello Van didn't see you there," said Wally. "Are you planning on eating anyone today?" Wally began to laugh.

"Hello," said Van. "I am not the way I am because I gobble down people. It's my metabolism. I am always traveling and yet I stay this way."

"Have you gotten off the Napkins diet yet?" asked Wally while trying to hold back a laugh.

"It was called the Mapkins diet," said Van.

"Oh right. Personally I think that the new diet thing called Atkins would work better. Napkins sounds better though for someone like you though. No wait, Seefood diet is better. You see food you eat it."

"I don't want to be on a see food diet," said Van, seeming to be insulted.

"I know. But bumping into wall diets aren't going to help. You need to work out more then you already do if you want to lose some weight. Oh and by the way this is Jack."

"Hello again Jack," greeted Van. "We meet again."

"Yes hello again Van," said Jack.

"You've meet before?" asked Wally.

"Yep, but we haven't exactly been introduced to each other exactly," said Jack. "So Van your a merchant. Have you ever been to Mineral Town? That is where I was before I came here and I never saw you there."

"That's Won's territory," said Van. "I lost the privilege to go there on a bet."

"What was that?" asked Jack

"Oh well Won told me I must eat one JUST one salted peanut in the period of one hour, while standing next to a bowl of salted peanuts in a room all by myself. I've been stuck on the stuff ever since." Van grabbed a hunk of his bowels and stretched it out and looked at it. "Still don't know how he knew I ate more then five bowls."

"You'd probably have gotten away with two or three," said Wally. "But you can't pass off five bowls as one peanut!"

"Hmm...maybe your right..." said Van. "Anyway nice to meet you Jack."

"Like I said Jack me and Hugh will be by the well," said Wally. "Lets go son."

"Sure dad!" said Hugh merrily and they both ran down to the well.

Two words to describe Jack's thoughts about that conversation from feed me to Van. Veeeerrrrllly intuuresting!


Daryl had just finished his experiments on the strange mineral that Carter gave him. Weird stuff... It could be shaved away without losing mass. It also had a strange unknown chemical, something that gave Daryl the chills just looking at under microscopes. It was almost as if the chemical was some sort of 'evilium.' It excited Daryl and scared him. The stuff could produce an enormous amount of energy when it was smelted or had anything done to it for that matter. This metal just may be the key to gaining a powerful renewable power source! A nugget of this would produce more energy then coal, and it would burn cleanly. It gave him the chills when he burned the shavings. Instead of giving off a gas, it gave off some emotional trauma as a waste. That wouldn't be too much of a problem, and since it could be shaven and not lose mass it would be the ideal power source. It's the next best thing to cold fusion!

How is that such an element could exist? A type of metal that can flake without changing? And it was a hard metal when you smelted it. It was easy to work with when it hand not been melted, and when you did, it was near indestructible. It could be made to make powerful alloys, produce energy, and all you need is the one nugget and the shavings could be compressed and melted for all the other needs. However, that might take too long. Daryl had to get more of the Black Metal. It was as if it was calling out to him to dig deep into the earth...

"Power," Daryl stuttered. It was a mysterious force. It could save money, and lives. And yet it also took those things. This stone, it's power... What called from the depths of the earth? Was it the stone or something else. It was like the stone was a medium. Daryl didn't believe that the stone was calling for him, but subconsciously he knew he heard the voice of the darkness. Dig...dig now!

Daryl quickly packed up everything he could get his hands on and carry that could be used to dig. THIS WAS IT! Daryl stepped into the day, destiny on his mind. Super powerful coal that could be burned forever! Daryl stopped for a moment to think a bit. He has caused trouble once or twice in the pursuit of bettering the world, but he never really thought that what he did was bad. That was what made him partly crazy. But even now he could tell this would lead to something dangerous. War's over this metal to make weapons or energy in other countries? No...something like war but not exactly what he was thinking. Something told him that if they dug too deep, something bad would happen. A war would start but it wouldn't be over the coal, it would be over freedom. However, Daryl shrugged off the feeling with what logical mind he had and proceeded on. Though he kept in mind that it was absurd that something evil lurked in the coal, he still couldn't shake off that eerie feeling it gave him.


Jack approached the Blue Bar, he could here an old phonograph playing in the bar. Laughter could also be heard within and the sound of a guitar being played. Jack opened the door and walked in. Several members of town that he had yet to meet were inside. The two pyrotechnicians were inside, as well as a man with a rather large green hat on. Rock was also inside.

"Ah! Jack!" Rock announced merrily. "I just finished telling these guys about you!"

The man in the strange hat walked up to Jack and held out his hand.

"I'm Gustafa," he said. They shook hands. "Don't work yourself too hard, gets pretty hot here in the summer."

"Either from our fireworks or your playing skills," laughed the pyrotechnicians. One of them walked up to Jack.

"Hi I'm Kassey," he said holding out his hand. They shook hands. "I'm the best pyrotechnician in the world."

The other brother walked up to Jack, and they shook hands too.

"I'm Patrick," he said. "Second best pyrotechnician."

Jack noticed a way he could tell them apart. Kassey had a smiley face on his trousers while Patrick had a flower.

"And I'm Griffin as you know," said the bartender, not taking his fingers away from his guitar. "Oh Muffy," he said calmly. "She only got to hear your name yesterday. I'm sure she would like to become more acquainted with you. Muffy! Come out!"

And she came out. Jack had to admit she was pretty, but she was revealing... That was his only complaint. Usually a girl like that turned out to be strange. And she was just that.

"TASTY JACK!" She growled. "PEPPERJACK YUMMY! YOU SHALL FEED ME! YOU SHALL BE MY SUBSTANCE TO GREATNESS! I SHALL RULE! FEED ME! FEED ME! FEEEEEED MEEEEE!"

She pulled up her dress. Where her stomach should have been was a hideous monster! It had razor sharp teeth that overlapped. It had one singular eye that was like a glass ball filled with blood. The creature opened it's mouth and released a horrible roar that sounded from the pits of hell. Jack screamed and ran from the Blue Bar as fast as he could.

"You scared off another one," Rock laughed.

"That'll teach you to try and turn my bar into a strip club!" Griffin yelled, still angry with her stunt.

"Sorry," she said. "I have another dress on underneath!" She began to fuss with how she just wanted to surprise him.

"Oh hello Jack!" Rock screeched trying to mimic her voice. Her voice wasn't nearly as high in pitch as Rock was trying to reach for, adding to the humor. "Welcome back Jack! You are going to have fun! You shall be my dance partner! We will rule! Rule! Rule! Ruuuuule!" Rock jumped up on the bar and began to dance around like a fool while flapping his vest up and down. Everyone laughed hysterically.

"What would we do without you Rock!" Gustafa laughed. "Hey lets play him a few tunes Griffin!"

"Alright," Griffin said while remounting his guitar on his knee.

They began to play a sexy tune while Rock was laying on the bar with his head propped up on his arm and his other arm laying against his side. His hand was on his hip. He reached out gracefully for Kassey's head and said "Oh Jack!"

They all jumped when Muffy slammed the door. She went back to her sleeping quarters fuming about how they were making fun of her. However, they didn't pay much mind to the slammed door, as they began to laugh heartily once again.

Elsewhere, a certain black sword belonging to a certain Cliff began to glow dull red just as the creature Jack saw on Muffy roared.


Nami was not happy with herself. How could she have forgotten to leave? Nami looked out her window at the coming dark night. The nights were beautiful and peaceful, but she hated them. He didn't go to sleep till late in the evening. She didn't like to sleep in this village. Ever since she came here she had been having horrible nightmares about cold blooded Neanderthal warriors coming out of the ground with black swords. Blood, destruction, and pain. Why did she stay here so long? As she looked out the window she could see Jack running around the Valley with Wally and Hugh. If she didn't have a reason to stay before, she did now.

"Stupid Nami," she said to herself. "You let him ensnare another one."


"Dear diary,
The town his haunted! People are becoming possessed and that Muffy girl nearly ate me with her stomach! What kind of monster was she? Oh well... I'll try and get some sleep anyway."