Chapter Nine: The Summoning
It's so dark here. Where am I? Who am I? My name… what was it?
Hikari stood at the base of the Garmon mine, looking up. From this perspective, it only looked higher. Terribly high, and the Goddess expected her to get to the top before the sun set? This would be impossible. "You still need the title Hikari." Finn reminded her again. "I know this Finn; I was just checking it out." "Again," he said slyly. Today was the day. It was the end of summer, already Hikari could feel the chill of autumn seeping into her bones. She groaned as she thought of the bitter cold that would follow. "It's almost been two years," she thought. "Let's head back," Hikari said more to herself than Finn. So they did, heading down the winding paths that lead to her ranch. Lemon raised her head and mooed in greeting, grass in the beast's mouth. "Hey there girl, did you watch the ranch like I asked?" The cow looked at her blankly, clearly not amused. Hikari smiled and patted her back, and continued to greet the other animals in the same manner.
Hikari had recently come into money, all thanks to her crops, and the superb products from her loving animals. She had upgraded her barn, making it roomy enough for more additions to the family. She was thinking about a new cow, and had already bought a foal. The little creature hobbled up to her on wobbly legs. Hikari pulled a carrot from her pocket and secretly fed it to the awkward creature. She patted her head. A name dawned on Hikari. "Cherry." Hikari whispered. The foal's ears swiveled at the word, her big brown eyes shining with interest. She repeated the word again, louder this time. The horse responded by whinnying softly. "Cherry it is then." Hikari made her way toward the bell and rang it. The animals all raised their heads, and headed into their respective shelters. The little foal was last, hurrying to follow the others. Hikari went inside and dropped into her bed, looking forward to tomorrow.
What was that… ringing? He knew the word for it. Bell. It was the fifth bell. What did it mean again?
Hikari woke to a very annoying orange hat bouncing in her face. She resisted the urge to swat Finn like a fly and she sat up, groaning and rubbing her eyes. Finn was yanking her hair, urging her to get out of bed. "Hikari you did it!" He said, bouncing up and down in the air. "Huh?" She asked groggily. "You've earned the title Hero Farmer! We can summon the Harvest King!" Hikari leaped out of the bed and ran to her dresser, pulling out all her clothes. She stopped. What am I doing? Hikari picked her most comfortable clothes and sturdiest shoes and dressed quickly. She ran into the coop, fed the animals, and ran out without gathering eggs or milk. She was too excited to call Lemon, her feet flew across the ground at she ran to the Garmon Mines.
What was that annoying presence, why couldn't everything leave him alone?
Hikari climbed up the steps on her hands and knees, exhausted. "Hikari get up!" Hikari raised her head to glare at him, the room spun. "You have wings, I don't." Was all she said, the meaning behind her words clear. Finn wisely waited in silence why Hikari caught her breath. She pushed herself up and waited for her legs to stop shaking. "Ok," she panted. "Let's keep going." Hikari counted forty three floors when she checked her watch again, it was seven thirty. Just two more floors, two more floors. She thought repeatedly. Hikari hoofed it up the next flight of stairs, and then dragged her aching limbs up the last.
They arrived in a small cavern; cold air blew against Hikari's face. She looked up; the sun was shining through a doorway carved into the rock. New energy burned through her limbs, she raised herself up and walked through the doorway. The sun was brilliant and it blinded her. Cold air blasted around her as the wind roared. Hikari peeked through her fingers and stared in awe. They were up so high; the clouds were like an endless white sea that kissed the endless blue of the sky. She looked around her, a large stairway led onto a higher peak of the mountain. Hikari made her way over to it, but stopped, nearly fainting. The stair dangled precariously over a lethal fall, no handrails. "You can do it Hikari, slowly, one step at a time." Finn urged. She gulped and nodded. Hikari placed one foot carefully on the first step, then the next. The roared around her, making her lose her balance. Hikari fell on her knees, jarring them against the hard stone stairs. "It might be best to crawl." Finn nodded, feeling uneasy even though he had very slowly crawled up the steps, to arrive at the top with the goddess waiting for her.
The sprites were standing on what looked like a circle. A part of the ground slightly higher than the rest, smooth and flat. Snow was scattered across the peak, but not a flake touched the throne. "Hikari, you made it." The Goddess said, a warm smile transforming her face, she gently took Hikari's hands. "You are tired. Forgive me for asking so much of you Hikari." She shook her head. "Do not apologize, I want this." The Goddess was so pale, the lovely green and blue of her aura and eyes was fading, nothing compared to the brilliance it used to be. The sprites were gathered in a circle on the throne. "Hikari you're here. Let's summon the Harvest King!" Alan said. Hikari nodded and took her placed beside the Harvest Goddess. The Goddess bent her hands as if in prayer, and Hikari mimicked the action. "Empty your mind Hikari, focus on only one thing, the Harvest King." The goddess instructed. She nodded and bent her head over her hands. Hikari breathed slowly in and out, ignoring the world around her. She conjured the only things she knew about the Harvest God, the sound of his voice and the heat of his power. "Is everyone ready?" Alan asked.
What was happening? He felt something ringing through him, pulling his being together, demanding he come.
The sprites all closed their eyes as if in a trance. "Ring Red Bell!" Alan called. The red bell appeared above his head, and began to ring its melody. "Ring Blue bell!" Ben said. "Go Yellow Bell!" Collin said with a spin of his little body. "Green Bell…" Daren whispered with a yawn. Edge rubbed his nose and raised his little arms. "Ring Purple Bell!" Edge cried. The bells melody wove together as one; energy built and seemed to hum in the air. Then the power took form, shooting towards the sky.
Something was stabbing at his darkness, tearing it apart, shedding its unwanted light. He knew now. He was the Harvest King, he was being summoned. He screamed in silent defiance, desperately trying to gather his darkness back to himself. His attempts were in vain, the song rang through his energy, gathering it up and forcing it to assemble. Nothing bound could stay in the energy plane. His energy couldn't resist the call, his being sucked into the physical world, his immense power solidifying. He felt stone beneath his feet, air filled his lungs. His power was being gathered and knitted together to form a body.
It was disorienting, through his pain and confusion he sensed his sister and the fleeting energy of the Harvest Sprites. They were gathered around his body, channeling his power into a whole. The Harvest King felt energy, a pale blue glow in the raging inferno of his red aura. He opened half formed eyes to see his dying sister, and the human.
Hikari opened her eyes to see what looked like a see through man. Slowly the swirling mass of his power made him visible. His face was contorted in pain, his massive shoulders hunched over. Then his power receded into him in a gigantic flash of heat that melted the snow. He was standing straight now, a tall being with flaming red hair. It was braided into a long braid that led to his feet, swaying on its own accord. He wore robes of red and white that revealed a muscled chest and arms. His very appearance spoke power. "Brother." Hikari turned to look at the Harvest Goddess. Her eyes were welling over in tears, her hands clutched to her heart. The Harvest King didn't move, except for the flaming red aura surrounding him. "Silence." He ordered. Then he opened his eyes. Hikari quickly looked away, keeping her head bowed.
"Was it you who summoned me with the bells?" She knew he was talking to her and not the Goddess. Hikari stood straight and rigid, focusing her gaze on his forehead. "Yes, it was I who summoned you." He raised one powerful arm, hand open and facing Hikari. "Then you shall die." Hikari felt a warmth rise around her throat, then air stopped going into her lungs. She clutched at her throat, gasping for air as he crushed her windpipe without mercy.