Chapter 4

As Jack made his triumphant exit from the Goddess Spring, he spotted an eager Rothe running right back in. The happy farmer turned to face the dark cavern which Rothe recently entered, then turned back as he proceeded to head towards the village. Jack then gave a shrug. "Well, I've done all that I can. The rest is up to her, I guess..."

Inside the spring cavern, Rothe's breath labored as she finally reached the Harvest Goddess once more.

The Harvest Goddess welcomed her visitor again with a warm smile. "You seem pretty fatigued from your run. Would you like me to restore your energy?" she asked.

Rothe nodded. "Yeah, that would... be appreciated."

The Harvest Goddess then channeled the energies of nature and bestowed it upon Rothe, who was completely refreshed.

"Thank you" Rothe uttered in a breath "Anyway, I notice there's this really strong connection between you and Jamie, and well... Jamie claimed you saved that guy's life, I think. So then, what exactly is the story behind all of this?"

She then took a careful look at the Harvest Goddess' violet hair, and recalled the similar coloring in Jamie's hair.

"Waitasec... I just realized you resemble that disgruntled farmer in ways..." Rothe pointed out.

The Harvest Goddess nodded. "Indeed, there is some history behind that troubled rancher, and a certain fate that connects us" she admitted.

Rothe sat down and gave her full attention to the Harvest Goddess. "Okay, I've definitely gotta here this now" she said.

The Harvest Goddess brought her hands together as she prepared to tell her tale.

"Yes, it was a long time ago... years, decades, perhaps even centuries ago, I cannot recall the exact date, but I clearly remember the events of that day. Back when Flower Bud Village was simply a land of wilderness, a lone woman wandered Mt. Moon for purposes I was unsure of. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, this helpless woman died before I could offer my blessings to help her, but not before giving birth to such a precious baby. With no one to care for it, it cried and it cried, and it continued to do so until it tired itself into fatigue. With the freezing winter temperatures, the baby soon grew sick, and quickly reached death's door. It was then that I was able to act and save the poor child from a horrible fate. With little life remaining, I had no choice but offer a portion of my power and spirit in order to sustain this baby. It was then that the young baby from before transformed into a healthy demigod in a fully grown adult form" she explained.

Rothe's eyes narrowed. "And that demigod... is Jamie, isn't it? That's why that rancher seems to exhort an exceedingly powerful presence" she said.

The Harvest Goddess nodded. "Yes. On that day, the little baby that was once affectionately called Leona by a loving mother was reborn as a young man I named Jamie, With no one else to turn to, young Jamie devoted himself to me, and looked up to me as his Mother, Sister, and perhaps even more..."

Rothe gave the Harvest Goddess a funny look. "Wait... did you just say that a little baby "Leona" was reincarnated as an older man named "Jamie"? Er..."

Rothe was left speechless after her question, but the Harvest Goddess was happy to oblige.

"Yes, Jamie used to be a human baby girl; however, at the moment of rebirth, the newborn being had considerable influence over its chosen form due to the great powers of a demigod, and so Jamie chose to become a young man. But that is beyond the point..."

Rothe was still rather startled by this news. "Eh... doesn't that make Jamie---"

"The cycle of life is a rather complicated subject. Miss Rothe, who's not to say that you might have been a man in past life, or even an actual cat? If you would like to look even deeper into your soul's history, I can show you right now" The Harvest Goddess answered.

Rothe, too scared of the possibilities, remained silent.

"Good. So with the passing of time, Jamie devoted most of his life to aiding nature by assisting me in raising the plants and animals of this land. Sometime later, the tale of a baby surviving in this wilderness became legend, which started attracting strangers. Eventually, the first settler had made his way towards the Goddess Spring. He was Theodore Rosswell I, the ancestor of your current Mayor."

Rothe gasped. "Wow, so that's why there was a bunch of pictures of similar looking guys hanging in his house. His family history really IS that long here! It's... kinda cliché, but at least it makes sense" she thought to herself.

"At that time, Jamie wasn't so angry towards humans. He sympathized with the man's plight and let him live off the nuts and berries he normally gathered while he himself began establishing the Jamie Ranch. Without the convenience of common domestic animals, the aspiring rancher relied upon the once thriving mountain goats of this land, and even took up fishing, much to his regret of harming the water life. After some time young Theodore I built his own cabin, he started loving this humble land as well, but he became lonely without the society he was used to. He tried his hardest to bring even more outsiders to our land. His efforts were rewarded with the coming of the happy ranching couple Harvey and Elaine, and earnest florist Lana, who inhabited the fields young Theodore cleared off in order to build and expand his dear cabin. Curious of the new life these strangers introduced, Jamie bartered for plant seeds and farm animals to expand his ranch, perhaps even have it thrive. And so, with the help of these new businesses, Flower Bud Village grew and thrived. People communed here to appreciate the atmosphere, and the villagers established special holidays in honor of their treasured harvest and myself. Jamie was happy, the inhabitants, and nature thrived even more harmoniously with the help of the people. Sadly, things could not last. More time passed, and the influence and dependence of the outside world grew further and further. With the arrival of modern conveniences and the establishment of a woodshop, the people began forsaking me. I... did not mind some of these changes at first, but Jamie grew anxious. It was not until the drastic change of the Harvest Goddess festival, and the extensive stripping of the lands that he finally grew furious... and when I turned myself into stone out of despair. Please understand that this place meant the world to him, as it was the only home he ever had, and that I was the only family he ever knew. To him, it was as though the people had spat on everything he ever cherished..."

Rothe quivered. Again she remembered her roommates Ein and Ledah, along with her great friend Lorelei. She then remembered how all three left them for their own purposes, and how Jamie might have felt as the Harvest Goddess left him.

"I was rash and foolish at that time... I believed that with the experiences Jamie had, he could continue caring for nature and humanity in my stead, but his heart proved too fragile to find forgiveness. Still, I have to believe that Jamie can find the beauty in the world he once saw. At the very least, I believe that such sentiments cannot fade completely." The Harvest Goddess continued.

Rothe nodded understanding. "Harvest Goddess... I think I understand how I can help that rancher now... thanks."

The Harvest Goddess smiled. "No. Thank you for trying to get through to him"

Rothe bowed her head in gratitude, then immediately left to find Jamie.

The harvest sprite in red let out a huge groan. "That girl is... really meddlesome, isn't she?"

The Harvest Goddess faced her friend in red with a kind expression. "It's an essential quality for the way of life she wanted. She actually aspired to be a detective, once."

The red harvest sprite let out a gasp. "Wow, simply amazing! You must know everything!"

The Harvest Goddess giggled. "She revealed this to me as our hearts communicated, that is all."

She then gazed towards the exit. "I hope Rothe can hold out until her cherished friend can return. They could very well find happiness together if Rothe doesn't remain so reluctant..."

At the Jamie Ranch, the disappointed rancher still sulked. He was about to turn in for the day when he heard thudding footsteps heading his way. He turned away to see a furious Rothe standing right behind him. The frustrated rancher was about to tell her off once more until Rothe cut him off.

"Don't you DARE give me that 'little girl' crap! I also happen to have a sickle in my pack, and I'm not afraid to use it!" she threatened.

Jamie remained silent and simply scowled in response.

"Oh boy, I think I just channeled Serene's spirit mentality again. But I guess, I should probably be thankful this time" Rothe thought to herself. She then dropped her threatening stance and approached Jamie in a friendlier manner.

"Okay, thank you. Anyway, I got the whole story from The Harvest Goddess about how you're really a demigod and everything, which, I guess explains the unusual claims of the villagers believing you go out during typhoons and snowstorms. But on to my point. Jamie, considering your original circumstances, why did you choose to be reborn as a man?" she asked.

Jamie shook feverously, partially out of shock, but also out of fury. The immortal rancher saw the sincerity in Rothe's eyes, and decided to hold back his anger. "I can't believe she told you everything" he muttered to himself.

Rothe sighed. "I'm sorry, what was that? Were you answering me?" she asked in a cheerful, yet teasing tone.

Jamie sighed. "It's because I wanted to be someone fitting for her" he uttered softly.

Rothe gave Jamie a funny look.

"I barely remember my past life, but I can still picture how weak and helpless her expression was before she died in the snow. I still remember how beautiful, yet fragile the Harvest Goddess looked as she took me in. And I still remember the hopeless look in her eyes before she turned herself. The few women I knew in my existence were so fragile, and I wanted to be strong for their sake" he explained.

Rothe felt a sharp pain in her chest that would've forced her to send Jamie into a whole world of hurt, but she felt it was best to hold it back.

"I wanted to be there for her always. I wanted to protect her. I wanted to bear the pains that she couldn't stand..." Jamie said with depression in his eyes.

Rothe thought back to a time shortly after Lorelei's death, where Ledah had a similar look in his eyes. "Ledah said those exact same words... and with the diamond ring Lorelei wore, I knew he was serious..."

Jamie continued, "I loved her. I wanted to remain at her side, and yet she left me by myself. She sustained me with her very soul, and yet she left me in shame. I have fallen from my former grace. Those gentle eyes of hers can only look down at me with pity. How can she ever see me again as she once did?"

Having enough of Jamie's ranting once again, Rothe grasped the collar area of his poncho again.

"First of all, you're being unbelievably sexist" Rothe growled. She then loosened her grip into a gentle hold.

"Second of all, when someone decides to leave out of their own volition, it doesn't necessarily mean they've lost interest in you, or they hate you for some reason. I would know. One friend ended up sacrificing her life because she understood the significance of another's. My roomies decided to join the army because they couldn't stand more unnecessary deaths in the world. I'm not saying that there isn't any reason to be frustrated by their choices. In fact, I'm still trying to get over their sudden enlistment in the army. The thing is, you can't use it as an excuse to worsen the lives of those around you. That's selfish, and it won't even help you, anyway" Rothe pointed out.

Jamie looked at Rothe with a skeptical gaze. "That still doesn't say... what she thinks of me. How would you know such a thing?"

Rothe sighed. "Actually, I would know. When the Harvest Goddess was telling me your life's story, spoke of you in a fond way, despite how you acted like a jerk for the past few years or whatever. And that hopeful, nostalgic look in her eyes. Jamie, I don't think someone like that would ever look down upon anyone with inconsiderate pity. She wants to see you happy and healthy, not with your head hung in shame. If anything, she's still prepared to return all the love you have for her." she explained.

Jamie allowed Rothe's words to settle in for a while. He then observed the unusually soft expression on her face.

The rancher sighed. "All right, you've got me curious now. You better be telling me the truth about this" he uttered in a low tone.

Rothe answered with a big grin. "Don't you worry about that! I guarantee it! But if you have your doubt, we can make a bet out of it. How about it? We can come up with some pretty embarrassing consequences for the loser if you want. But if I'm right, you're going to be in for a most interesting time..."

Jamie groaned as he made his way towards the Goddess Spring. "Never mind a bet. I'm just going to see her myself and get a straight answer" he answered.

Rothe's smile widened. "I see... are you afraid I may actually be right?" she teased.

Jamie shook his head. "Not really. I may actually be courageous for once" he answered.

Rothe looked at the traveling rancher curiously. "Y'know, the brooding rancher may actually have a point!"

Night finally came to Flower Bud Village. After spending a great deal of time dealing with his inner pains, Jamie finally made it out of the Goddess Spring. The poncho-wearing rancher emerged from the cavern with eyes wet with tears; however, they were tears of joy and relief.