Disclaimer: I own nothing in Harvest Moon.

Mary groaned softly, placing her hand on her forehead. It hurt a little bit, but the pain wasn't pounding. She found she was laying down on something that was nice and soft, along with a blanket that covered her body.

"W… where am I?" she murmured as she slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was a little fuzzy, but she could see bright colors around the room. She sat up and began feeling around her glasses, finding them on the table near the bed she was sitting on. She placed her glasses on her face, clearing her vision, and a gasp escaped her lips.

Mary found herself in a beautiful room, the walls pink and white. On the wall to her right, a full body mirror could be seen, and from the left, a window was open allowing the sunlight to shine on the pink carpet, and she could hear the birds singing their morning songs. A cabinet made of dark colored wood was close to the mirror.

"Where am I?" the raven haired girl repeated, looking around the room some more. She tried to think, but it was hard to get her thoughts in order.

The last thing she could remember was that she was with Jill, and they were sitting on the steps that led to the mansion. She had opened the book that the Witch Princess had given her and there was that flash of light. Next thing she knew, she woke up here.

As she was thinking, the door to the room opened, and a young woman walked into the room. She was wearing a green gown, and from where Mary was sitting, she could see her shoulder length blonde hair. Yet, she could also tell that she had never seen her before.

"Ah, Princess, it's good to see that you are up," the woman said with a smile.

"Princess? Who is she talking to?" Mary thought, with a puzzled expression on her face.

The blonde haired woman looked curious as she walked over to Mary's bedside. "Are you okay, Princess Mary? You seem to be confused about something."

The words the woman said startled to bi-speckled girl. That woman called her 'Princess Mary.' But she wasn't a Princess! She was a librarian down in Mineral Town, and had even written stories of her own.

"Are you okay, Princess?" the woman asked, gazing at the girl before her.

"Oh… uh, yes, I'm fine," Mary said quickly. She didn't know what was going on here, but she figured that if she said anything about her questions, it would cause some unneeded problems. So she figured she may as well go along with it.

The woman smiled at the girl. "That's good to know. Breakfast is just about ready and I came to get you, Princess. Would you like me to help you get dressed?"

Mary nodded, wondering if the woman before her was some kind of maid. "Yes, I would appreciate that. Thank you."

Over the next few minutes, Mary got out of bed, and was dressed in a beautiful blue sequined dress, and a silver tiara was placed on top of her head. Looking into the mirror, Mary had to agree that she did look like a Princess.

"Come now, Princess Mary. I'll escort you to the dining room," the maid insisted.

Mary just nodded slowly and followed the woman into the hallway. She noticed many people standing around, talking, and doing whatever. All of them were dressed as guards, soldiers and maids. As she walked, she listened to the conversations around her and pieced everything together.

It seemed that she was the Princess of the Alekia Kingdom, the daughter of King Edward and Queen Alice. The Queen had passed away about a year ago. From what she could understand, there were occasions when she left the castle to be with her friends. She did this at least once a week. Alice thought it was good for her to get out every now and then, but her father, Edward, didn't seem to think so. He seemed to be rather protective of her, and ever since his wife passed away, he really didn't want her to keep going out. Still, she always did against her father's wishes.

"Hm… going out at least once a week… that is like when I leave Mineral Town once a week to be with Lumina and Jill. Or when there is a festival." Mary had a thoughtful expression on her face. "But I'm not sure I understand what is going on here. That book the Witch Princess gave me… Jill did try to warn me about it…"

The next thing she knew, the maid informed her that she was at the front door of the dining hall. Well, she was hungry. Maybe she would feel better if she had something to eat. Even so, this whole thing was beginning to feel like some kind of dream, a very real dream, but still a dream.


After breakfast, Mary had been summoned to the throne room by her father. Or rather, the father this world claimed she had, King Edward. Supposedly, a visitor had come to see her when she was eating, and it had been suggested that they wait until the Princess was finished.

The throne room looked like it had jumped right out of the fairy tales that the raven haired girl had read. The floor was covered in red carpet, and the thrones were mostly gold, but were red cushioned. A royally dressed man was sitting on the left throne. Black hair could be seen under his royal crown and he also had a black mustache. For some reason, even though the name was different, she almost expected the king to look like her father Basil, but he didn't look anything like him.

However, what surprised her was the other man that stood in the room. He was dressed in a black robe that had white designs covering it. He had light brown hair and gave the girl a kind smile.

"Carter?" Mary questioned out loud, unable to help herself.

The man gave her a confused look. "Carter? I'm afraid you are mistaking me for someone else. My name is Heath."

"Oh, sorry," Mary apologized. She had been so surprised to see someone that looked like Carter; she said his name without even thinking about it. That meant that the priest didn't follow her and Jill into the book. And then she found that she was questioning herself when she realized that the Priest doesn't leave Mineral Town that often.

"Mary, do take a seat," Edward offered, motioning his hand to the empty throne.

"Yes, Father," the raven haired girl answered as she moved forward, being careful not to step on her dress. She wasn't used to wearing a Princess dress, but she had a feeling she was going to have to. She carefully sat herself down, and looked to the man who called himself Heath.

"Now then, you said you had a message for my daughter?" Edward questioned, leaning back against the throne.

"That is correct," Heath said with a nod of his head. "I am an oracle, who has come to tell you something important." Looking in Mary's direction, he continued, "You, Princess Mary, are about to embark on a journey, a journey that will prevent an evil being from taking over your kingdom. And if you do not act, not only will your kingdom be in danger, but other places as well could slip into darkness."

Mary's eyes grew wide with what she was hearing, but the man continued before she could say anything. "In order to protect what you hold dear, you must collect the six shards of the Star Shine Jewel. Only then… can your destiny be realized."

When the man finally finished talking, Mary quickly shook her head. "A… a journey? I can't be who you think I am. I don't even know how to fight!"

Heath waited for the Princess to finish what she was saying, before he spoke up. "I am not wrong. I know what I saw in the vision, Princess Mary. I've come all this way to give my message to you."

"You sound so sure," Edward murmured. "But even so, I couldn't put my daughter in such risk. Aside from what you claim you have seen, you have nothing to prove it either."

Just then, the doors to the throne room burst open, and a soldier rushed into room. "Your Majesty… your Majesty, the castle is under attack!"