Chapter Four: The Bell and the Moon
Hikari groaned as the sunlight shined through her eyelids. She sat up and stretched. Finn flew over and sat on her blanket. "Good morning Hikari!" "Good…morning Finn." Hikari said, attempting to crack a smile. Her smile was more of a sneer which caused Finn to leap back in fright. It was not a good morning. It was three days ago when they had found Collin's bell. Hikari had been heading to Marimba farm to buy more Honeydew seeds when she had spotted something yellow protruding in the sand along the path. Her and Finn had rushed over to the beach and dug the bell out, but Collin was too weak to be of much help. In order to help Collin they had to bathe his bell in moonlight three times. But he had up and poofed before he could tell them where to bathe his bell.
So for the past three days Hikari had searched over Castanet to find these "Moon Stones" as she liked to call them, but no such luck. They hadn't found a single one. Hikari was tired and not looking forward to working today. With another aggravated sigh Hikari forced herself out of bed and got dressed. After a brief breakfast of eggs Hikari set to work on her farm. When they had returned Alan's bell, the fire and heat of the island blazed back into life. The hot spring in the corner of her ranch was actually hot now and provided some much needed relaxation. Hikari was grateful for that at least. She walked outside to meet the cool, moist air of a summer day.
After tending to her animals Hikari watered her field of honeydew. The qualities of her crops were increasing, so much so that she was able to buy two new chickens and an egg was incubating. Hikari smiled to herself. She couldn't wait to meet the new addition to her family, not long now before it hatched. Hikari finished quickly and put her tools away. "Let's head to town." she told Finn. Hikari quickly walked quickly down the path to Harmonica town, stopping now and then to collect the occasional berry or fruit. As she crossed the bridge she spotted Phoebe leaving her father's photo store. "Morning!" She called. Phoebe jumped like a frighten cat. "I am sorry; I didn't mean to frighten you." She shook her head and smiled bashfully. "No I was just… distracted." Hikari had come to befriend Phoebe among all the female on Castanet. She'd never known her confident friend to be so embarrassed. "Ok spill it." Phoebe eyed her wearily. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Hikari put her hands on her hips and eyed her friend. "I know you Phoebe; now tell me who it is." Phoebe looked around as if someone was there and then leaned close to Hikari. "The IT you're asking about is a guy I met in the upper mines." Hikari grimaced at the mention of the upper mines, not a favorite memory.
Phoebe continued. "His name is Calvin and…" Hikari stifled a laugh. "He is a fine piece of eye candy?" Hikari teased. Phoebe turned so red Hikari swore she was a tomato growing on her ranch. "So where is this fine piece of…?" Phoebe put her hand over Hikari's mouth. "Please stop." Hikari gently pulled her friends hand away and giggled. "Ok, ok. But where is he? I have to meet the man my friend is head over heels for." "I am not…" Phoebe began to protest but stopped. "He's at the lighthouse examining some rock on the ground. He says it has something to do with the moon." Hikari nearly ran without saying goodbye. "Alright I am going to go meet this guy." Phoebe clutched Hikari's arm. "Please don't say anything." "I won't." Hikari reassure her. With a final wave Hikari headed towards the lighthouse. Just as phoebe said there was a man bent on one knee examining the ground.
Either A, the dirt was fascinating. B, he was watching the grass grow. Or C, there was a moon stone there. Hikari peered over his shoulder and her heart nearly stopped. There it was a smooth flat stone with a worn picture of a moon on it. The man noticed her and began to stand. Hikari backed up to give him room. He had the Indiana Jones thing going on. An open shirt to reveal a slightly hairy chest and he sported a dark brown cowboy hat. He had an open, kind face with broad features. "Excuse me miss." Hikari smiled. "It's Hikari." "My name is Calvin." He said, tipping his hat. Hikari stooped on the ground. "What is this?" He bent down next to her and ran his finger along the moon design.
"It's a moonstone. It's meant to catch and magnify the moons rays. I discovered it by following a clue I found." Hikari looked up at him. "A clue?" Calvin stood and rummaged in his rucksack for a moment. He pulled out a heavy stone tablet with faintly carved letters inscribed in it. "I can't seem to decipher the other two clues. Perhaps you could?" Hikari nodded eagerly. Calvin handed her the tablet and she held it carefully. "Thanks Calvin." He smiled warmly at her. He dipped his head again, and it might just have been Hikari's imagination, but she thought she saw his cheeks redden just a bit. He walked towards the inn. He turned before he walked inside to wave. Hikari returned the gesture and he disappeared into the inn.
"He sure is friendly." Finn said. Hikari rolled her eyes and studied the tablet. It said, "Catch moonlight at the mine, a musical field, and a house of light." Hikari looked at the stone on the ground. "That is the stone at the house of light." "A musical field… That must mean flute fields!" Finn said. Hikari nodded. "We'll save the one at the mines for last. We still have some time to kill, so what do you want to do?" Hikari asked, stashing the tablet in her rucksack. "Why don't we go see Jin? You promised you'd give him that potanta root." "I almost forgot about that." Hikari made her way over the bridge and past the fishery, waving to Pascal as she went by. She stopped to say hello to Yolanda outside of Ocarina inn and was nearly at the Clinic when she stopped. She faintly smelled coffee in the air.
It wasn't coming from the inn, Jinn didn't like coffee. Following her nose Hikari made her way up the steps beside the Choral Clinic and found a large blue door. Hikari read the sign by the stairs. "Wizard. Fortunes, Spells, and Potions." Hikari knocked lightly on the door. No answer. She knocked again and the door didn't open. Hikari tried the knob. Locked. "So much for being sociable." Hikari left the Wizard's home and went to the clinic. She handed the root to the much thankful Doctor. Jin placed the root in a jar and stashed it on a shelf for safe keeping. "Thank you Hikari, Anissa has been feeling unwell recently and…" Hikari patted Jin's shoulder. "No problem, anything for the future Daddy and all." Jin blushed furtively. "How did you know?" "Oh please," Hikari said while rolling her eyes. "Anissa hasn't left the farm in two weeks and you haven't stopped wandering around like a spaced out zombie. Plus I couldn't help notice all the Parenting Guides lying over there on your desk." Jin hurried to place the books in a more discreet place.
"So when is the baby due?" Jin looked over his shoulder at her for a moment. "I estimate in about five months." Hikari smiled. "Well I can't wait to meet the little dear. If you'll excuse me I have to be going now." Hikari made an exaggeratedly slow exit of the room. "Why hello Irene, have you heard the news?" Jin grabbed her arm and jerked her back into the other room. "What is it you want Hikari?" Hikari smiled innocently. "Whatever do you mean?" Jin gave her a flat look. "I suppose I can keep quiet and let you announce the good news yourself… If you promise to let me be the first to see the baby after he's settled in." Jin released her arm, surprised. "That's it? You'd be the first one Anissa would…" He rubbed his forehead in annoyance. "You tease me."
Hikari couldn't suppress her smile. "You bet, and don't worry there is more to come." Jin groaned but he couldn't hide the amused smile on his face. "I'll be dreading it. See you Hikari." "Tell Anissa I said congratulations." Hikari walked out of the clinic and proceeded to waste the day away until nighttime. And of course by the time the sun set clouds began to pass over. It was well into the night before the clouds cleared enough to try the moonstone. Pulling the yellow bell from her rucksack, Hikari held the bell above the stone. For a moment nothing happened, until the moonstone began to glow brighter. A brief flash of yellow light engulfed the bell and vanished. Hikari blinked rapidly, blinded by the sudden light. When her vision cleared she examined the bell. It gleamed a little brighter and the cracks in the bells base were smaller.
"Let's go to Flute fields Hikari!" Hikari was already headed down the path out of Harmonica town, leaving Finn in her dust. After some minor confusion with Finn, and an unpleasant encounter between Finn and a baby boar, they found the second moonstone. After the bell was bathed in the moonlight it looked even better. All the cracks were gone and the bell gleamed as if freshly polished. "Finn, where is the last stone in the mines?" Finn shook his head. "It's near the mine not in it Hikari. Maybe the Harvest Goddess knows." Hikari and Finn headed up to the Garmon Mines and pushed their way through the tall grass. The Harvest Goddess stood in front of her tree as always. Alan slept by her feet. The Goddess's eyes were closed and her face was turned towards the sky. Hikari walked up to her but the Goddess didn't greet her. Puzzled, she stood besides the glowing being and tried to figure out where the goddess was… literally facing. The only things that could be see above the tree tops was the top of the mountain, obscured by clouds. The moon was just over the peak.
"Hello Hikari." The Goddess opened her dazzling green eyes and smiled warmly. "It's nice to see you again." The Goddess nodded. "What is it you need help with?" Hikari explained that they couldn't find the last stone but the tablet said it was here in the Garmon Mines. "It's above the blacksmith shop, near the mountain base. Hikari, why the uneasy look? What happened?" Hikari told the Harvest Goddess how she had nearly fallen to her death, and that she should have died but woke up unhurt. Genuine concern filled the Goddess's face. "Are you sure you alright?" She asked. Hikari nodded. "That's the thing. I fell fifteen floors and I don't have a single bruise."
The Harvest Goddess thought for a moment. "And you say you felt heat. Like the sun?" "Exactly. Was it maybe Alan? He is the element of fire and all, perhaps he saved me." The Goddess shook her head. "Alan was too weak at the time; there is no way he could have saved you. But do not fret Hikari, this is a good sign." Hikari frowned. "A sign of what?" The Goddess shook her head. "I cannot tell you now, but you need to go Hikari. Collin is fading fast." Hikari nodded and waved goodbye. She let the subject slide, but the Harvest Goddess would need to explain soon.
Just as the Goddess said, the moonstone was on the porch of an abandoned house above Ramsey's shop. Hikari set the bell on the stone. The bell glowed so bright Hikari had to look away, the ground shuddered and the air hummed. Hikari peeked from behind her hand to see Collin dancing above his bell. Only this time he was all there, not a pale see through image. "Thank you Hikari! You saved my life, just in time to." Hikari sensed that he was preparing to crack a joke, but she cut him off. "Collin where is your pedestal?" "Oh that's easy!" he replied. "It's in Craig's fields, right beside Marimba farm." Hikari pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. "The gate to his fields is locked, and he is so down that he won't even farm." Finn flew into her vision, waving his small arms. "We could ask Ruth!"
Hikari knew Ruth could help her, but it would take some work on Hikari's part. "Alright, we'll see her tomorrow." "Alright!" Collin yelled. "Wake me when you get near my pedestal!" "Hey!" Hikari yelled. But Collin disappeared and his bell stopped glowing. Hikari huffed and put the bell in her rucksack. "This is not my idea of fun."
No disturbances, no interruptions. Everything was normal again. His energy didn't stir, his blackness didn't shift. Everything is as it should be.
(Excuse me? Hi… a little note from the author here. Sorry this chapter isn't very long or exciting. There isn't much to go with when it comes to this bell. But I'll do my best to make sure the other chapters are much longer and way more interesting than this boring bit. Thanks for continuing to read this story!)