Chapter 8
A few days passed since the incident at the Inn. Manna decided to visit Anna's house to pick up on a recipe or two, as well as share more local gossip.
"It seems the fist fight between Mitchel and Ann is pretty well-known around town! Nobody can stop talking about it!" Manna exclaimed.
"Yes, but I've heard so many versions of the story, it got pretty crazy! I even heard one version where Mitchel resorted to performing Kung Pao Martial Arts along with his prized chicken, Ruby." Anna said.
"And that's why we gossip, my dear Anna! Only through our collaboration can we find out the truth! I mean, there are just so many stories like you said, but I feel I have a knack of getting the most accurate story out of anyone, because you won't believe how exaggerated it becomes, or what assumptions people make! Can't you believe it?"
Anna nodded slowly. "I tried to find out what Sasha knew, since her daughter happened to be a witness, but she couldn't get her to talk. Apparently, Karen got drunk the following morning to make up for lost time." she sighed.
"Well then, maybe we could go talk to Ann or Popuri or Mitchel for the full story! But then again, all three of them don't seem interesting in sharing, well, at least Ann claimed she was drunk the entire time, but we all know Ann isn't the type to get drunk, so it's likely an excuse she used that ended up obscuring the whole story! I also think Mitchel and Popuri were in denial of the whole thing, maybe because two of them are afraid of bringing attention to themselves, and Mitchel doesn't want people to think he's some violent ruffian!"
"I guess the thought of Ann getting herself drunk is a little far-fetched, but she did seem a little moody lately." Anna mentioned. "I heard from a few people Mitchel and Popuri are starting to get pretty close now."
Manna wore a sheepish grin upon hearing this. "Hmm... interesting... this is juicy stuff! " she said with a glint in her yes. "Whatever Mitchel and Ann were fighting over must've pushed them both over the edge! That Mitchel spends so much time with Popuri that maybe he's now using her to get Ann jealous... and it's working! Ooohhh... that little schemer! But it's working, and sooner or later.. Ann will be filled with so much jealousy, that she'll have no choice but to confess her true feelings, and Mitchel will be more than happy to return those feelings, and soon, the Blue Feather will be played! We'll finally here Wedding Bells the first time since forever!"
"That sounds interesting, but... it still concerns me that those two actually fought in hand-to-hand combat. Whatever happened between the two of them must be serious." Anna said in concern.
"And that's exactly why we have to help those two make up that much sooner! I mean, stubborn people can just fight on and on like Duke and I, but when the two parties are aware how much they like each other, it's always easier to make up! I just wish petty quarrelling wasn't such a regular occurrence sometimes! But a fight to break out between Mitchel Ann? That's rare! That's over the top! And if I didn't know any better, which of course I know much better than most realize, I would think that those two just completely hate each other like natural enemies! But you know when a man and a woman can despise each other with a fiery passion, that there's another kind of passion lurking within their blessed hearts! You know what they say, "Love and Hate" are the opposite sides of the same coin or something like that!"
Suddenly, a knocking came at the door. Anna decided to answer it, finding Rick outside with a carton of eggs.
"Here's your dozen egg order, just like you asked!" Rick announced.
"Thank you very much, Rick! I'm just glad you're willing to provide this sort of service to the community." Anna asked.
"Much obliged, ma'am!" Rick said with a grin. "Well, I better be off now. Karen's waiting for me by the supermarket and---"
"WAITAMINUTE!" Manna blurted out.
Both Rick and Anna turned to face the chatty chick.
"Uh... hi, Manna. What do you want?" Rick asked curiously.
"You're one of Karen's best friends, right? So I'm sure maybe YOU might know something about the brawl at the Inn?" Manna asked desperately.
Rick scratched his head while he thought about anything Karen had to say on the matter. "Well, you can be sure a fight broke out. Karen told me Ann was really out of it and charged in at poor Mitchel. I heard the whole thing was pretty one-sided with Ann doing all the attacking at first." he explained.
"So I guess Ann really WAS drunk, that day! I guess she gets really violent when she's under the influence." Anna noted.
"So, yeah. Karen told me Mitchel had to dodge a lot of attacks, which were apparently strong enough to make a few dents in the Inn. But then Ann said something about Cliff and Popuri, then tried to knock Mitchel out with one blow. Sometime around that, my sister stepped in to stop the fight. Popuri told me she was getting tired of all their fighting too, and wanted to help put an end to it. For the most part, she was successful, until Ann decided to sneak up behind the two of them and take her drunken vengeance on Mitchel. That was when Mitchel ended the fight with a back fist. My sister really didn't want to talk about that part, but it really impressed Karen for some reason."
Anna decided to ponder this tale for a bit, while Manna nodded in confirmation.
"Aha! Ann did say something about Popuri! This proves she's angry because she's jealous!" Manna declared.
"But... how does Cliff fit into this? Didn't you say Cliff's name was mentioned in the fight?" Anna said.
"Yeah. Ann said something about everything being Mitchel's fault that Cliff was doing something to her. In fact, some of their arguments tend to spark when Ann says something about Cliff..." Rick mentioned.
"Ooh! Another jealous tactic by Ann, this time!" Manna concluded. "Ann must be using Cliff to rile up Mitchel, just like he's using Popuri to get Ann jealous! Poor little pawns used in a game of love gone awry!"
"That sounds a little too dramatic coming from Manna, but I guess it makes sense when you think about it." Rick said.
"Personally, I think Cliff and Ann would make a better couple. She used to be so sweet to him until Mitchel came along. Then it was just fight after fight between that dysfunctional pair while poor Cliff was left to wander around too look for another girl." Anna lamented. "It's sad... to see such a potential couple broken up in an instant."
"But I guess it's like what happened between Karen and Kai. You know how those two used to go out together until he moved on to my sister. So then poor Karen ends up coming to me for comfort while I have to protect my sister from that pesky playboy!" Rick proclaimed.
"But... weren't Karen and Kai just friends all that time?" Anna said to Manna in secret.
"Yes, I believe so. But I found out Karen loved that beach boy for the longest time, while Kai just didn't feel that passion. The poor girl drank every chance she got that week she was rejected." Manna replied sympathetically.
"Well ladies, I'm sorry to say this, but I better go now. I shouldn't keep a good friend of mine, waiting." Rick said aloud.
"Oh. Well then, thanks again, Rick! It was a pleasure clarifying some things with your help!" Ann cried.
"Bye, Rick! Good luck with Karen!" Manna called out.
The eager young man in glasses blushed from hearing Manna's comment as he left through the door. He returned a simple wave goodbye before he headed off towards the Supermarket.
"That's enough gossip for today, I guess. How about we get started on making chocolate cake?" Anna suggested.
"Oh, great idea, Anna! I was wondering forever what it is you had in store for me this week, and I'm just overjoyed to learn it's chocolate cake! I mean, it's a personal favorite of mine, as well as many other people, I presume! It's all because chocolate so delicious, and so is cake, so chocolate in a cake has to be the perfect idea for a desert! Come on, Anna, teach me!" Manna cried.
"Alright, first of all, you'll need---"
"WAAAAIIIIITTTT!" a high-pitched squeal cried out as a streak of red and white swept into kitchen.
"Oh, Popuri dear, I was wondering where you were today! You usually arrive for cooking recopies so early that I assumed you were sick or preoccupied." Anna said in delight.
The pink-haired girl had to catch her breath for a moment.
"I'm... sorry for being late..." she said during a few intervals of inhaling and exhaling.
"So then.. what are we making today, Miss Anna?" Popuri inquired.
"I'm glad you asked, Popuri! Today will be an extra special treat from my kitchen: Chocolate Cake!" Anna answered.
Popuri squealed with delight.
"This is perfect!" she thought to herself. "I have Valentine's Day to consider, and a chocolate cake will be perfect! Finally, I have the ideal way to show him how I feel..."
Omake: Blessing
One fine day at the church, Cliff found himself alone while standing before the altar.
"Great Harvest, please hear my words! Why is it that I must suffer so much? I thought I could find peace after leaving my troubled home, but still I am hounded by misfortune! And now... the love of my life has already been stolen from me!
I understand that maybe I may have committed some unforgivable sin without realizing it, but can you please hear my wish and spare Ann her grief? Even with love in her grasp, she still cannot find the courage to claim it, so I pray you give her and Mitchel my blessing. Please let them find happiness where I cannot..."
Suddenly, a mystical force filled the church. A blessed aura shaped itself from sparkles before the hopeful young man. In a matter of moments, the Harvest Goddess herself, in all her green-haired glory, arrived in the church.
"The Harvest Goddess? B-But... but I thought you only appear to people in the pond!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, that's true, but I'll make you an exception since you're a special case." she explained.
"Really? Then... will you grant my wish for Ann?" he asked desperately.
"I'm sorry for all the misfortune that has befallen you throughout your life, but there's little I can do to fix your sordid past. However, I have some good news!" The Harvest Goddess announced.
"I can save 15 percent by switching to---"
"No! Not that!" the Harvest Goddess exclaimed. "Listen, honey. Despite everything you've heard, Ann and Mitchel don't love each other. I can see what people feel in their hearts. Besides, the strange chicken guy chucked Ann into my pond the other day."
"Wait... what? Are you serious?" Cliff cried hopefully.
"Yes! Are you insane? Those two clearly hate each other!" the Harvest Goddess scoffed. "But from what I can tell, Ann really has a thing for you, and Mitchel's been trying hard to remedy your sorrow. You should go for it!"
Cliff felt awed by this sudden news. "Is this true? Does Ann really have feelings for me? But then why--- no, it has to be true! I'm hearing it from the Harvest Goddess herself! She's supposed to be this omnipotent being that I didn't even believe in at first! But here she is, bearing good news!"
"I... I can't believe it!" Cliff shouted. "Ann loves me?"
The Harvest Goddess smiled a gentle smile at Cliff. "Indeed. Cliff, you must realize that only you can grant her the happiness you believe she deserves."
"I don't know what to say... Rick told me the same thing, but I wasn't sure if I could really go for it! But to hear from the Goddess herself that Ann has feelings for me... thank you!" Cliff cried.
"You're welcome, Cliff. But perhaps you should go to her. Poor Ann has lost her way since you stopped hanging around her." the Harvest Goddess informed him.
"Really? B-but... now I feel let her down somehow, and I still don't feel comfortable with sharing y feelings..."
"It is alright, Cliff. What Ann really needs most is a friend right now. And that friend is you. Go on and rebuild your relationship with her. I am certain she will still open her heart to you." the Harvest Goddess replied.
"Right!" Cliff cried with new found hope. "Thank you, again, Harvest Goddess!"
"This has been a pleasure." The Harvest Goddess told Cliff.
The vagabond then sped out of the church to find Ann at the Inn, while the Harvest Goddess stayed behind with her arms crossed.
"This has been one heck of a year. A bunch of gossipers kept praying that I'll hook up two angry mortals against each other, just to get their fill of romance. They're practically asking me to force a mongoose and a snake to fall in love! At least Cliff's wish was made by a sincere, compassionate heart! But it looks like the love lives of this town is finally running around smoothly..."
The Harvest Goddess then faded from the church, with intentions of good tidings forming in her head.
