(( Chapter Seven: The Unwanted Guest ))

Rick stepped up to the platform, looking at both chickens carefully. He raised his hand into the air," This will be our final match! The contestants are Winnie versus Veloci! Good luck to both the owners and the chickens themselves! Both will do their-"

Veloci, his patience finally run out, crowed and shot a sound wave at Rick. Rick was blown back off the platform, and into the stage. Eyes widened largely as everyone turned their heads to the stage. Bry gulped, while Anna grinned, hoping Veloci would be disqualified. Immeadiately, Lillia rushed over.

" Veloci! Why'd you do that!" Bry demanded angrily.

Veloci turned to look at Bry and shrugged. He then turned back to Winnie, and began to preen his black feathers. He then looked to Sparky, and clucked many times, as if he were trying to tell him something.

Sparky nodded, understanding Veloci was saying, and began to bark at Trinity.

" What are they doing?" Ricca asked suspiciously.

Trinity nodded," Sparky says that there was a cockroach on Rick, and Veloci was fed up with looking at it, so he decided to get rid of it. He just hit Rick as well."

Ricca stared, and said flatly," A cockroach?"

Anna laughed," You have got to be kidding me! How can you understand what a dog says!"

Trinity narrowed her eyes," Sparky and I have been friends ever since I was a little girl. I wouldn't be challenging our relationship girly."

Everyone gasped at Trinity. Anna looked angry, and was about to say something, but only gave a "Hmph!" and looked back at Bry," Well?"

Bry raised an eyebrow," Well what?"

Anna growled," Are we gonna fight or not!"

Miro looked to Rick," It seems our referee is knocked out."

Bry grinned," Well, we can still fight. I don't see why we can't."

The audience then turned to look at Bry and Anna, looking very anxious to see who would win. Ann then began to clap, followed by Jack, followed by everyone else. In just a few moments, the whole audience began to scream and cheer. They seemed excited.

Veloci gave a cock-a-doodle-do, and the sound came to a total stand-still. Everyone watched with anxious eyes.

William stepped up onto the platform," Okay. I think I've watched this Festival long enough to referee it. Just make sure either of you don't attack me, okay? Anyway, get ready, set, go!" He jumped off the platform, the chickens both crowing.

Veloci decided to make the first move, but was frozen in mid-attack. Not by ice, but it seemed his body had just stopped. He gave an angry crow, as if demanding why this was happening.

" HEY! QUIT CHEATING ANNA!" Bry ordered," How'd you do that!"

Anna giggled," It wasn't me. It was Winnie. Watch what happens now." She pointed to Winnie, and Bry looked to the hen.

Winnie then began to float somehow, and closed her eyes. Wind began to flow around her, a strange pink wind somehow, that incased her from eyes' view. Bry watched speechless, along with the whole audience. Winnie had not done this in her other battles. In a few moments, the wind disappeared. Winnie floated back down to earth gracefully. She looked much different. Instead of white feathers, her feathers were a light cotton candy pink. Upon her chest was a small red heart, that matched in with the feathers. Upon her cheeks were two small red hearts as well. She crowed sweetly, looking around with large blue eyes.

Bry's mouth opened wide," She's all girly! Like you!"

Anna giggled," Only I didn't do it."

Bry looked to her," Then who did?" he asked.

Anna giggled more," Oh, only the Harvest Goddess. It happened a year ago. I was making an offering to her, and instead of throwing the egg in, I accidently threw Winnie in by mistake. Luckily, the Goddess saved her, and blessed her with the power of the Heart."

Miro raised an eyebrow," The power of the Heart?"

Anna smiled," More like love. See? She's all pink! Only Ricca has seen her like this before."

Ricca nodded, agreeing.

Veloci became unfrozen, shaking his head vigorously. He then stared at Winnie, expressionless. He didn't seem to notice her differences to her colour or anything.

Bry smirked," Well, just because Winnie looks like some Carebear doesn't mean that she'll beat Veloci! He's too tough!"

" Don't diss Carebears!" Anna yelled back. Everyone looked to her, raising an eyebrow. She blushed scarlet red," What? Carebears are awesome! Anyway…" She looked to Bry," You're on!"

Veloci then began to rush towards Winnie, and jumped high into the air. His claws stretched out as he came in for a landing, aiming for Winnie.

Winnie crowed an elegant cluck, and pink wind began to blow. It seemed to push her out of the way just before Veloci made a landing. Veloci clucked in protest, and shot sound waves at her.

Winnie clucked gently, and pink wind began to go against the sound waves, seemingly blowing them away. The sound waves bounced off everything, causing loud crashes.

Bry grumbled," That's not fair!"

Anna smiled," Nothing's not fair in the Chicken Festival."

Veloci clucked viciously, and began to rush with amazing speed at her. Winnie jumped into the air, and bounced off Veloci's head, causing him to slide onto the ground, while Winnie landed like a feather.

Veloci crowed, and began to teleport around the ring, causing Winnie to look around frantically. She began to send pink wind in every direction, clucking. Suddenly, Veloci teleported behind her and slammed into her, causing her to fall over. Winnie gave a yelp, and got up, beginning to protest. She jumped over to her side of the stage, Veloci teleporting to his.

The crowd looked tense, no one muttering a word in fear of missing something. Bry and Anna looked nervous, while the teenagers looked greatly amused.

Veloci sent out sound waves, while Winnie sent out her wind once again. This time, they used all their power. An explosion was started, smoke flaring into the air, and no one could see what was happening.

" Winnie!" Anna cried out, worried," Are you okay?"

Bry clenched his fist, hoping Veloci had made it out all right.

Suddenly, a neigh of a horse was heard. One not from Rikku, Jeromaru, or Greaser. As the smoke disappeared, it revealed the figure of a horse. A pinto, with a grey body with black blotches. More smoke disappeared, revealing a brown haired girl, only their age. She wore a plaid dress, with a dark green apron and brown boots. She was smiling happily, her eyes chocolate coloured. She then cried out," Hey Bry! Hey Miro!"

Miro and Bry gasped," Cecilia!"

Cecilia grinned," Yep!" On the back of the mare were Winnie and Veloci, looking fine. They looked to each other, clucked, and bowed their heads for a good fight.

Miro then recognized the horse. His horse." What are you doing with Mei Lin!" He demanded.

Cecilia looked to Miro," Well, we don't have a horse, so I thought I'd just borrow yours."

Ricca replied," Ever hear of stealing?"

Cecilia retorted," Ever hear of keep out of other peoples' business?"

Ricca gritted her teeth, clenching her fists. William put a hand on her shoulder," Oh come on Ricca. We don't even know her."

Ricca sighed," Well, if she doesn't shut up, there's gonna be hell to pay." Ricca muttered.

Miro protested," You were stealing from our farm Cecilia! Did you even ask my parents?"

Bry smirked," How'd you get by Nami?"

Cecilia looked a bit forgotten," Oh. I sort of forgot."

Miro growled, shaking his head," Cecilia! Why'd you even come? And how did you know we'd be here!"

Cecilia replied," I followed you! You guys didn't even notice! Not even that girl with the strange accent." She then frowned," I'm really sorry Miro. Forgive me?"

Miro sighed," I will, if you didn't hurt Mei Lin or made her lame."

Trinity raised an eyebrow," The girl with the strange accent? You do sound childish. And you look to be the age of all of us. Care you introduce yourself? Everyone already knows who I am. Trinity Foreman."

Cecilia smiled," Okay! I'm Cecilia! I'm from Forget-Me-Not Valley! I'm fourteen, my birthday is Fall 7th, I wear plaid dresses and dark green aprons like my mom, and I love nature, and I-"

" We get it." Bry interrupts," And we can see what you wear Cecilia. You're so odd."

Cecilia smiled again," So?"

Everyone shook their head. Bry and Anna then spotted their chickens on Mei Lin, beginning to chat.

" What are YOU doing with Winnie?" Anna demanded.

Cecilia gulped," Oh, well, you see, I saw them fighting, and then the explosion, so when there was smoke over everything, me and Mei Lin saved her and the rooster. I just didn't want them to get hurt."

Bry yelled," They're supposed to fight! THAT'S WHAT THEY DO IN A CHICKEN FESTIVAL!"

Cecilia looked away," I'm really sorry. I didn't know." She sniffed, wiping her eyes.

Bry growled," I don't even see why you came here. We aren't even friends."

Cecilia sniffed harder, as a tear came from her eye," I'm sorry!" she cried, weeping, she jumped off Mei Lin and ran off.

Everyone stared after her, and turned to look at Bry.

" That was mean." Trinity said," You made that poor girl cry."

" Boy Bry. You need some help with women." Matthew replied. Everyone turned to look at him," What? It's true."

Bry sighed, then looked at the chickens," Well, I guess we call this a tie Anna. Until next year, I guess."

Anna nodded," Okay. But we'll beat you next year!"

Bry sighed," Yeah, okay."

William raised an eyebrow," Eh Bry? You just said you would lose."

Bry sighed," Yeah, okay."

Miro replied," Well, okay then. Let's head over to the Inn for something to eat. Cecilia's bound to end up there sometime."

The crowd cheered like mad, and after that, Bry and Miro all said hello to Popuri, Kai, Elli, Cliff, and the rest of the townsfolk.

They then all headed down to the Inn, Anna leading because Doug was her Grandfather mostly.

She opened the door, and yelled," Hi Grandpa! We're back from the Chicken Festival! Bry and Miro also came, along with a new girl named Trinity!"

Doug looked up from cleaning a few glasses, and smiled," Hey Anna. Hello Bry and Miro. It's been a long time, hasn't it?" He then looked to Trinity," Hello Miss."

Trinity smiled," Hello. I'm Trinity Foreman."

Doug nodded," I'm Doug, owner of this Inn. Ann is my daughter, and Anna is my grand-daughter."

Bry laughed," You're getting old now aren't you Doug?"

Doug suddenly looked serious," Quiet down Bry. So, I think Miro and you and Trinity will be staying here?"

Anna nodded for them," Yeah! So can they?"

Doug laughed," Sure Anna. Anyone who's friends with my grand-daughter can stay."

Miro muttered," She's a bit spoiled."

Bry replied back," They let her dye her hair. What'd you expect. Anyway…" Bry looked to Doug," Thanks Doug."

Doug smiled," No problem."

Trinity spoke up," Are dogs allowed? I have a dog. But he's very friendly and well-mannered."

Sparky barked at hearing dogs.

Doug smiled," Sure. We even have a cat here. She's old now though. Nora!"

A meow came from the stairs, where an old orange cat sat, purring and grooming herself.

Bry opened his eyes wide," She's still alive? She's got to be fourteen!"

Doug laughed," She sure is. But she still acts like a kitten, Nora."

Nora meowed again, and jumped onto the rails on the stairway, walking up with great balance.

Bry then walked over to Doug," So…have you seen a girl around here lately?"

Doug raised an eyebrow," A girl? Brown hair? She's upstairs, crying. You do something?"

Bry nodded," Yeah. But I really didn't mean to. Thanks Doug."

Everyone watched as Bry went upstairs, knocking on the door that Cecilia was in, because he could hear she was still crying," You in there Cecilia?"

Cecilia cried," Go away!"

Bry sighed," Well, I just wanted to say sorry. See you later, I guess."

Cecilia sniffed, and began to cry again.

Bry then looked at Nora, who was licking her paw," Hey Nora. You sure are old." He then picked her up and sat on the floor, laughing, he held her up by her paws, and tried to make her dance.

Everyone watched, muttering," He's gonna get it."

Bry then screamed in pain, feeling his face as Nora walked away, probably cursing in kitty-cat language. Bry removed his hand, and muttered," Ow ow ow ow ow…" On his face was a long scratch.

At the scream, Cecilia opened the door. Seeing Bry, she giggled, and then returned to her room.