Harvest Moon: Magical Memories

Chapter Four:

"I love you so much."

"I miss you."

"Why?"

"Please...?"

Luna woke with a jolt, her leg paining at a dull ache now, mind filled with fantasies. Skruskru growled at her sudden awakening with annoyance before turning over (probably more exercise than he had wanted this entire day) and plopping back down, face once more placid. "Dumb mutt. I mean, dammit! Why can't I get one night's sleep in this frickin' town? SHIT!" She had just noticed the face staring back at her through the window. "What the hell?" She clutched the covers up tightly around her before she let out a frustrated cry, the realization that she had yet again slept in her clothes just dawning on her.

Making her way across the room, she thought she heard voices. They were, she figured, the shadow of a dream left behind.

"Luna! How are you doing with the ranch? Look at this day!" Theodore said, gesturing with his hand. "It didn't even rain! Aren't we lucky?" Luna stared at the pudgy red-ball-of-mayor before forcing a smile.

"Grrrreat." She said sarcastically. She had been hoping it would rain actually. The day went by so slowly as it was; she didn't think she could handle another average day. Naturally, he didn't catch the obvious sarcastic undertone and a smile cracked onto his rubbery face.

"I'm glad to hear it! So, you have any animals yet? Meet any friendly folk that interest you?" All the while he was saying this, he was leaning around her, staring into her house. Annoyed, she shut the door a little.

"I was just about to buy a chicken." She offered.

"Oh great! So you have a coop?" Damn. Stupid goddamn coop! There's always a catch... and why can't I just have a frickin' wild bird? It can live in my house- Ok. A coop sounds great.

"Uh... no I was going to get that too."

"So you've got land?"

"Ok so I was lying about the chicken." A hell of a lot quicker way to say 'shut-up'. "Anyway, I've got to go, uh... buy something or farm so uh... yeah." She maneuvered around the stout man, wishing she had remembered to wear pajamas so she'd have had an excuse for just returning to her house for the rest of the day.

Kurt was standing right there. Outside the mines. Looking in. He was right there. She was right behind him. She could've reached out and just tapped him on the shoulder. Could've said something- anything. Could've asked him. But now, looking back, Luna felt her dream meant nothing. She couldn't piece it to anything, couldn't think of what to say any more. So she slowly turned, taking a final glance over her shoulder, and stalked gloomily away, regretting that she hadn't just said 'hello'.
The rest of the afternoon droned on slowly. She decided to trudge up to the mountain again, maybe to catch some stars or something. When she did get to the top (or at least as high as she could go without climbing up a ninety-degree angled slope), she sat in a rocky meadow overlooking a river. She hummed and closed her eyes, the ache that had been in her leg gone. She felt different, renewed somehow. That under glaze of disturbing loneliness had faded, if only for this moment in time, and she felt at peace. At peace. She shivered at that thought and forced herself to think of something else. Wasn't the goddess up here? She turned her head, craning her neck, and sure enough a large cavern could be seen far in the distance. She smiled and got up, jogging to it.

It was a while before she made it, stooping to collect a few flowers. She tucked one behind her ear and entered, feeling apprehensive about the entire situation.

"Luna..."

Her eyes struggled against the darkness until she finally made out three silhouettes. One blue, red, then yellow, all staring up sadly at a lone statue. The statue itself was wrought with sadness, nothing at all cheery or friendly about it. More hollow and distant. Luna gaped at it, feeling a great sense of reverence for no apparent reason at all.

"How do I help her?" Luna inquired, eyes still remaining locked onto the stony figure.

"Please?"

"How?"

"Please... just... please..."

"I can't if you won't tell me how!" Her frustration rising, she hadn't even stopped to listen to them. Really listen. She stormed out, taking one final glance at the statue. A statue that reminded her of herself. Completely different from everyone else, set apart in a world that wasn't her own. She threw herself down on the rocky field, absolute misery washing away her previous excitement. Absentmindedly, she pulled out the flower from behind her ear, letting a strand of hair fall free from her pigtails.

"He loves me...
He loves me not.
He loves me...
He loves me not."

Four petals.

Four simple petals off a thing of beauty and she was left holding a drooping green stalk.