Hello! Wow, I'm sort of pumped. I'm sorry that Kai sounds so evil, but like I said, I can't make him with a good impression. And also in chapter two when I named off the kids, I said Michelle's nickname was Micky...well I kind of changed my mind and her name is just Michelle. I just had to get that out...sorry. Anyway I'm very sorry if this chapter is boring, but I really wanted to put in a somewhat nonchalant chapter to lighten the mood and lessen the tension a bit. Well without any further babbling from me, here's chapter seven.

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Chapter Seven-The Goddess Festival
It was Spring 7th and Karen was having a discussion with her nephew about the Goddess Festival. Now that all the village kids had reached age seven, they were all eligible to escort or be escorted.
"Now Danny," his aunt began, "I know you've had a lot on your mind lately...especially with your father returning and all, and I think you should escort someone to the Goddess Festival. You know, just to get your mind off things for awhile." Danny lowered his head in an unconfident manner.
"No one wants to go to the festival with the pink-haired geek... I know you're trying to help, Aunt Karen...but it won't work," Danny replied walking out the door. But just as he exited his house he saw Aaron approaching Nikki who was gawking at the chickens. At that instant Danny forgot all about the conversation with his aunt, and instinctively jumped behind the hothouse. This is great, he thought, I know he's here to ask her to the Goddess Festival, and after he does it can be another reason to tease her. Yeah! Then just as Danny had so effortlessly predicted, Aaron the "gentlemen" made his move. Danny eavesdropped ever so quietly from behind the hothouse.

"Hi Nikki," Aaron quietly greeted while Nikki whirled around transferring her full attention from the chickens to Aaron. And just like always her face glowed a deep raspberry red.

"Oh...hi Aaron," she shyly replied with her face reddening by the minute.

"Well I guess you're seven now...huh?"

"Uh-huhhhh." Danny rolled his eyes knowingly at the two lovebirds. I hate to think of what she'll be like when we're older, Danny thought to himself, it looks like Junior Soap Opera or something. Danny then took the time to chuckle at his own joke, but he was soon interrupted by Nikki and Aaron's continuing conversation.

"I was just wondering...if anyone had asked you to the Goddess Festival yet?" What do you think, Aaron, Danny questioned in his mind, it's 10:00 in the morning for crying out loud! But once again Danny reluctantly pulled himself away from his thoughts to see Nikki's response. She simply nodded with stars twinkling in her eyes. "Well...will you go with me?"

"Of course!" And with that said in done, Aaron made his exit as a boyish grin flashed across his now reddened face. Danny gleefully hopped out from behind the hothouse fully charged to tease his cousin, but when he saw her dreamy expression he configured that he was in a danger zone so he abruptly abandoned his attempt to tease Nikki and took off.

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After leaving the scene Danny decided to stop in on May for a little bit so he entered Yodel Ranch to find May watering very nourished looking Moondrop flowers. She instantly caught notice of her young friend and halted her work.
"Hi Danny," she cheerfully greeted. "I heard through the grapevine that all of your generation is eligible for the Goddess Festival, eh?" A warm and somewhat ornery smile played upon the young woman's lips. Danny decided to play along.
"Yeah, I guess that's the talk of the town," he replied with a sly smile on his face. Then May shot him an expression that capped it all. Her eyes questioned him, did you ask anyone? Danny shook his head thoughtfully still cracking a playful grin. May just rolled her eyes good-naturedly and continued watering her flowers. Danny attempted to exit Yodel Ranch, but May quickly stopped him.
"Oh we'd be honored if you'd stay for lunch," she chimed then continued with a tone that teenagers use when they want to "borrow" money or use the car. "Pleeeeeeeease?" Danny smacked his hand to his forehead, shook his head, and shrugged.
"I guess I have to," he expressed good-naturedly. He then followed May in to the kitchen table where Stu and Barley were already comfortably seated. The conversation at the table was quite lively and Danny realized why Barley was almost never lonely.
"So," Danny cut in to Stu's farm chat, "have you started coming up with baby names yet?" Stu stared at him in disbelief as if he was appalled that Danny had interrupted him, but he then abruptly joined everyone in the new conversation subject that Danny had suggested as if nothing had happened.
"Actually...not yet," May coyly answered. Danny quickly gobbled down the last spoonful of mashed potatoes on his elaborately designed plate.
"Well, I should go now," Danny declared carefully placing his plate and silverware in the sink. "Thanks for the meal!" Danny ran out the door and decided to go to Rose Square.
He entered the square to find not only Anna, Sasha, and Manna the motor mouth, but also the majority of the village girls huddled in a circle all babbling about who asked them to the Goddess Festival. Danny dared to approach them, and luckily they didn't notice him because they were too wrapped up in their conversation. Nikki and Jackie were doing the majority of the talking while Emily just sat back and patiently listened. Then the question entered Danny's mind, what about the remaining girl, Michelle? As he scanned his eyes over Rose Square he got his answer. Over in the corner was a very downcast-looking Michelle. Her ebony black, braided pigtails branched out from just above her ears which held the pair of perfectly round glasses lenses that her sad, aqua eyes gazed from behind. Her head hung dismally over her emerald dress, which had almond brown hiking boots awkwardly peeking from under it. She closely resembled a character out of Little House on the Prairie. Danny's heart ached for her, for it wasn't easy to be the only one who was not asked to the festival. Then the thought dawned on him, duh! No wonder she's the only one who didn't get asked. There's only four guys and four girls and I didn't ask anyone so...

He was about to approach her when Jackie noticed his presence and absent- mindedly wailed, "Hey look, Danny's here!" His face turned absolutely red, and he took off, for no one, especially not a boy, wants to be around girls who are that giddy. So he guiltily continued running until he reached the Poultry Farm. Aw man, he thought remorsefully, it's my fault that she's so depressed. He sat on the chicken fence and dismally threw corn kernels randomly at the chickens, but his guilt was abruptly shoved aside when his aunt called him inside the house.

"Oh hi, Danny," Karen expressed as he trudged through the door to find her moving the furniture around. "Um, could you be quiet when you go through here because I'm going to be teaching Nikki the Goddess Dance...that's why I'm moving the furniture.

"Yeah sure, Aunt Karen," he blandly replied, "actually, I think I'm going to go to bed." Karen cocked her head and a worried expression spread across her face.

"Are you okay?" Danny simply nodded, and Karen gave up, shrugged, and continued moving the furniture. Danny threw himself onto his bed and effortlessly dozed off. It had been a long day.

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Danny awoke earlier than usual, but he didn't beat Nikki this time. He'd never seen her so riled.

"Oh my gosh, Danny! I can't believe you didn't ask anyone to the festival!" she exclaimed. The comment sent a twinge of guilt to Danny's heart as he recalled the sight of poor Michelle, but Nikki didn't waste any time in carrying on with her chitchat. "Oh, I just can't believe Aaron of all people asked me to the festival." Danny responded by rolling his eyes knowingly, but Nikki wasn't quite vulnerable enough to miss it. "What?"

"Nothing," Danny replied trying his best to sound innocent, but again Nikki caught on.

"What?!" She was getting quite irritated.

"Well honestly Nikki, who else was going to ask you to the festival?" Nikki's eyes were beginning to get an evil sort of glare in them and her nostrils started to flare. "I mean he always shows up at the most "significant" times." Now she looked like she was about to pulverize him, but just before she could Karen burst into the room with her goddess dress.

"Here it is, Nikki," she declared staring lovingly at the dress. "Ah, it brings back such memories...of the first time I danced with your father. This dress was my mother's and her mother's and-well, you get the idea." Karen put her beloved dress up against her daughter to quickly measure it. "Well, it seems a little big, but it'll do. Come now Nikki, try it on." Danny was relieved when he was left alone downstairs, but he was not alone for long because soon his uncle made his way down the stairs.

"Hi Danny," he kindly greeted. "Nikki and Karen sure are wound up eh?" Danny nodded as he flashed a charming grin. Then both Rick and Danny were amazed to find a transformed Nikki in the goddess dress. Rick's mouth flew open in disbelief. "Nikki is that you?!" Nikki calmly blushed as she nodded. "Well I do declare, you remind me of how beautiful your mother was when I first took her to the Goddess Festival." Karen came down the stairs just in time to hear Rick's comment, and when she did she blushed deeply. Rick went over and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek. Then Nikki and Danny rolled their eyes simultaneously.

"Well Nikki," Karen declared with her arms around Rick, "looks like your prince has arrived." She gestured towards the window. Nikki blushed even deeper as she made her way to the door, but I stopped her for a brief minute.

"Nikki I hate to admit it," he stated to his cousin, "but you're real pretty." She flashed a sweet smile and gave him a quick hug then was on her way.

"Children grow up too fast for my liking," Rick expressed to his wife. Danny glanced at them before he exited and he thought to himself, they look so happy together. Why can't my parents be like that? A tear was beginning to vividly form in his eye, but he stubbornly blinked it away and made his way to Rose Square to watch the girls rehearse their dance.

Danny entered Rose Square to find that they'd already started. He took a seat with the other guys and watched contently. He kept his eyes glued to Michelle. He was somewhat relieved to find that she didn't look as depressed and had her full attention on the dance, but perhaps she's trying to hide her feelings, he pondered. The practiced all morning and into the afternoon until people began to arrive. When it was time to do the dance for everyone every girl had a somewhat terrified expression painted upon her face, every girl except Michelle. Finally the young village girls began their first official Goddess Dance before the town. Jackie, Nikki, and Emily all looked as if they were about to topple over, but Michelle looked like an expert. She surprised everyone and baffled a few. The girls all got a standing ovation from the kind villagers, and soon after came the time for couple dancing. Lonely and sad, Michelle made her way to the side. Danny very timidly approached her with a sheepish smile.

"Hi Michelle," he sheepishly greeted. Instantly she cracked a shy grin. "Um...I didn't ask anyone so...would it be okay if we, um hang out together?" Her face brightened exuberantly as she nodded.

"Want to dance?" she wasted no time mentioning. Danny's face grew sheet white, but he managed to keep his head.

"Well I, um...ya see...I," he stumbled dumbly. "I'm not very good at dancing."

"Oh, don't worry about that! I'll teach you as we go." Danny reluctantly went onto the "dance floor" with Michelle who was as confident as ever. At first he stumbled frequently, but as they danced more he began to get it. Soon everyone else joined in the dancing and everyone danced away the evening. Almost everyone was gone by the time the beautiful collage of colors breathed life into the sky. The boys escorted all their girls home. Michelle began to walk away alone, but Danny abruptly stopped her before she could take five steps.

"Uh, Michelle, is it, um okay if I walk you home?" Then, even though the amount of light was rapidly dwindling, Danny saw her face turn a deep shade of red as she slowly nodded. So they walked to Michelle's home as the sun sank beneath the horizon.

In the morning Danny had predicted that he would go to bed this night with an uneasy feeling, instead, he went to bad with a soft, warm feeling. He dozed off dreaming about the events tomorrow might bring.

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Yay! I'm done. Again sorry if it was boring, but as I explained above... Well, I don't have much else to say on account of my exhausted condition so...goodbye for now and please R&R.