(Author's Note: Sorry I took so long to update; I had a very busy week, but I'm back. I hope you enjoy the update, and I'll try to be more consistent with them. Have a good read!)

. . .

It was back. That sinking feeling of despair, that chill sent down his spine, the chest pain from the first time he encountered the Plague. Without even needing to ask or read her mind, he knew Witch Princess felt it too. Molly only stood stiffly with fear, memories of what happened before they left flooding her mind, clouding it. If that black cloud wasn't the Plague, they didn't know what it could have been.

Kevin slowly pushed up the rainbow as the cloud drew closer eerily. His heart was beating, thinking that he needed to hurry before it came closer. It felt like an eternity before seeing his beaming, yet innocent face.

Wizard broke the stiffness of the group, knowing that their mission was at an end. He grabbed hold of Molly, and lassoed forward, and Witch Princess followed suit. They found themselves on top the tree, just in time to see the Harvest Goddess returned.

"Is it me, or does she look exactly like Sephia, Gale?" Witch Princess asked telepathically.

"She does. Curious."

They all knew she could see them. Even without telepathy, they knew she was the only presence who could possibly be capable of seeing them. They waited as she created a fabulous rainbow for Kevin to walk across in victory. It was bigger and far more incredible than the other five, and he marched across with great pride. Wizard made sure he forgot that Jin ever knew about the rainbows before he even moved his leg. The sprites returned to the spring below, just in time for the Plague to appear over them.

It formed a spear this time, and in the same fashion as before, it aimed directly for Molly. She wanted to move, but too stiff in fear, Wizard dashed in front of her, and blocked it again. It stood before his hands at bay, just like before, only this time, her pink mixed with his purple and the cloud was taken aback. It shrieked again, but all three of them were shocked to find that it hardly did any damage.

The Harvest Goddess gently placed Wizard aside and walked forward. She shut her eyes, and in an instant, they became blue. She pushed her arms to the Plague and what followed was a great beam of beautiful blue shooting towards it. An even louder, far more pained scream followed this and just like what happened the first time, it dissipated. A wave of relief fell over the trio, mixed with awe and residual fear. They looked to her and all she could say to them was, "Yes, I know I look like your Harvest Goddess.

"I could be called her double, because I created her to be me, but with different loyalties. I thought I could take on two islands on my own, but when I found one body was incapable of the load, I went to prove that I could do it if I were split. I believe this was maybe three or four hundred years ago. What I found interesting is that she created her own identity, and could truly connect with humans to the point where she imbued some of them with her own magic unintendedly. I believe it was an old man and a little girl."

Witch Princess looked quite flush.

"The only downside is that her form was also slightly weaker than mine, and so she needed the Harvest King, which was perfect, because the island truly needed that mutualism. Now Castanet is indeed a great island, and I can say I'm glad to have done so." Wizard smiled a bit and asked, "So that magic follows from person to person then?" Harvest Goddess nodded and answered, "I can't say I quite know why that could be, but her connection with humanity has done a lot for the people of Castanet, and the nature, so I try not to think of it too much. After all, you two seem to function quite well with it."

The two of them looked to each other, and shrugged. It felt good to have some understanding of why they are who they are. On the other hand, Molly was still confused. "If we saved your island, why did the Plague come back? Didn't we make happiness more prominent through our actions? I know it can't be eliminated entirely, but shouldn't it have been minimalized?"

"Yes, but it wasn't quite attacking the island. It came for you and Kevin, Molly."

The other two looked to her in shock, and Wizard asked worriedly, "But why? Why her?"

"She caused happiness when once, islands like ours were prime feeding grounds for it. It thought since it caused it, it was better to kill the snake by cutting off the head."

"But it wasn't just her; it was… a pool of people who all contributed… to restoring the power of the elements and saving the Goddess Tree," Wizard countered, "So shouldn't they be attacked too?"

"Not necessarily. Although everyone contributed, Molly was the one who carried out the will of the Harvest Goddess and did quite a bit of work to ensure the restoration. It can't eliminate everyone when all it wants is to eliminate what made said people happy." Wizard hung his head and Molly asked, "That can't be the only reason, can it?"

"No; I can't say what, but you have a strange presence, unlike any mortal I have ever met. I'm sure that may have something to do with it too." Molly looked to the sky where the Plague once was and said, "It's going to come back, isn't it?"

"I'm afraid only one split goddess won't do any good against years of endless pain and agony in a collective pool. I'm sure something could, but it won't happen today. I merely weakened it enough to make sure it knew to stay away."

Wizard walked next to Molly and told her, "I know we can do it." Molly nodded and said, "I think… it's finally time to return home."

"I tend to agree, Molly. I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to you for your assistance in restoring the islands rainbows and my special tree. You'll have a special place here, even after death. May I have the honor of sending you three home?" the Harvest Goddess asked.

The three turned to her and the three chorused a grateful "Yes." She closed her hands together as if in prayer, and extended them like wings. On that extension, they blinked and found themselves in Molly's home. Molly was on her bed, Wizard in front of it, and Witch Princess on the table. They arose, rather dazed. "What time is it?" Wizard asked.

"Nine o' clock in the morning." Molly answered.

Witch Princess fell off the table, stood up quickly and asked confused, "Wait, have we been here for a whole day?"

"I believe so." Wizard replied.

Witch Princess shrugged, but gasped loudly and yelled excitedly, "My forest!" and disappeared in a puff of pink smoke.

"Uh, Molly?"

"Yes?"

This was it. His heart was pounding, his hands were clamming up and he could feel his throat drying. "Do you have… time today? I… want to talk?" He seemed a little shocked when she replied, "Of course!" He knew they needed time to readjust, particularly her for what she was going to explain to everyone for why she was gone for nearly three months, but he was so nervous, he could only blurt out, "Lighthouse at 4…" Molly nodded in understanding, and Wizard walked quickly to the door in embarrassment. "See you then" he said before quietly leaving and teleporting to his home for the first time in a long time.

He looked around his lab once again, finding relief that everything is as it was, and could only think of one thing.

"Time to take a nap in a real bed."