Surprises of Life Chapter 6 Ringing the Red Bell
"Kayla, get out of bed, you are leaving the house!" Finn yelled landing on my face, trying to push my eyes open.
I groaned, "I don't wanna..." I said flipping onto my side to face the wall.
"GET UP OR I WILL TELL EVERYONE WHO YOU REALLY ARE!" Finn yelled out landing on my bed and pulling the blanket off of me causing him to fall to the floor.
I groaned again sitting up in my bed, "How..." I asked crossing my arms.
"I'll tell them, how else would I." Finn said.
"Remember no one can see you let alone hear you, Finn" I said making air quotes with my fingers.
"Ohhh...right..." he said sitting down gently mumbling to himself. "How would that work..."
"It wouldn't, Finn, but you're right I need to leave the house." I sighed ruffling my hair.
"I am...!" I nodded. "Woohoo, I'm right for the first time in my life, but you really do need to leave the farm, go to town or something." Finn said happily flying in loops.
I slid out of bed walking slowly over to my dresser to change into my work clothes. I picked out a gray shirt and a pair of my jeans with my dark brown boots.
"Are you ready!?" Finn asked flying over to me.
"Yeah I guess..." I said as I grabbed a bagel to eat for breakfast before going outside to start my chores.
I watered my potatoes and picked a few that were ready to be shipped before heading into the barn to take care of George. I quickly finished and walked outside to check my shipping bin to make sure I have everything I wanted to ship ready.
"So...what should we do now?" I asked Finn.
Finn floated in front of me rubbing an imaginary beard while thinking before snapping his fingers saying, "I know we should go see the Harvest Goddess, we can ask her how to fix the elements."
"Okay let's go." I said nodding in agreement.
"To Garmon Mine District!" Finn yelled out pointing in the direction we needed to go.
We walked around the small lake by my house, following the path leading up to the mountain area known as Garmon Mine District. We walked forward to the now fixed bridge, walking slowly across it to make sure it didn't break from underneath us.
"I'm glad I can fly." Finn said flying across the bridge while I carefully walked across, afraid to fall down into the water far below.
I glared at Finn, "Yeah...so lucky..." I said through gritted teeth, making him chuckle.
A few seconds later I was across the bridge, I sighed in relief, "Okay where is the Harvest Goddess at?" I asked Finn.
"The Harvest Goddess Pond." he said flying forward past the Carpenter, me following behind, both of us stopping at the path that leads to the Harvest Goddess's Pond.
"Well that was easy to find." I said with a smile as I walked forward, Finn flying beside me as we went down the path.
All of the sudden wild animals came out of nowhere blocking our way.
"Move!" Finn yelled glaring at the animals making them even angrier than they already were.
"Finn, that's not very nice." I said frowning at him.
"But they're in the way..." he said holding his hands out pointing out the obvious.
"I know but that is no excuse, maybe they have a reason why they are blocking our way." I said glaring slightly at Finn.
"Will you all please move so we can go see the Harvest Goddess? I came here to ask her for help about fixing the elements." I told the animals but all they did was growl at me with death glares.
"I don't think they understand..."
"How would they understand, they're Japanese not American." Finn smirked.
"Shut up...let's go." I pouted as I lead the way back to where we came from.
I walked towards the edge of the cliff in front of the Carpenters, staring off thinking with Finn about a plan to get past those animals when five people walked up to me.
"Hi, Brian." Chloe said with a wave making the four others with her stop.
I turned towards her, "Hi, Chloe,...Owen...Luke...Calvin...Julius..." I said with a small wave absently still thinking.
The four guys started to walk away, but Chloe glared at them to stay, they looked really uncomfortable standing there silently.
"What are you up to?" Chloe asked turning to me with a smile.
"Thinking..." I stated.
The guys must have thought that I meant about jumping off the cliff because they gave me a scared/ horrified look with their mouths hanging open in shock and disbelief.
"Not about jumping..." I said with a dismissive wave. "I need to get to the Harvest Goddess Pond, but wild animals are blocking the way and won't move."
"Ohhh..." they all said with a look of slight disappointment before switching it to a neutral expression.
"I can't come up with any plan, Kayla, sorry..." Finn sighed falling onto my shoulder with a frown.
"It's okay, Finn, I'll figure something out..." I said, the five of them all giving me a confused and insane look.
"Um...are you sure you're okay...?" Owen asked. "Owww..." Chloe elbowed him in the ribs.
"I'm fine, I guess I'll see you guys later, you all probably have somewhere you need to be going." I said.
Chloe shook her head, "No they're playing with me today so I say we stay and help Brian!" she semi-yelled happily.
The four guys groaned and so did I all at the same time, making all of us break out laughing.
"You guys don't have to stay and help, but I think I'm going to go for a walk and think out a plan." I said before bowing and leaving back over the bridge.
I was halfway across when Chloe yelled out, "We'll go with you!" while running onto the bridge making it swing wildly, making me have a slight panic attack while holding on to the ropes tightly with my hands.
The bridge stopped swinging, all of the guys were on the ground laughing while Chloe stood next to me with an innocent smile on her face.
"Are you okay, Brian?" she asked swinging her body back and forth innocently with a devious smirk on her face.
"I-I'm f-f-fine..." I said through gritted teeth, my knuckles white as snow since I was still holding the rope tightly in my grasp.
We heard footsteps and turned to see who came to laugh at me even more. Luna, Selena, Maya, and Phoebe were the only girls laughing, Kathy, Anissa, Renee, and Candace were glaring and smiling slightly at them and the four on the ground still laughing plus Gill, Toby, and Jin.
"That was uncalled for!" Chase yelled furiously pushing past everyone. "You all should be ashamed of yourselves for treating someone like they are trash!" he said grabbing me by the hand and pulling me across the bridge and down the slope to get back to my farm.
Everyone just stared after us with their jaws dropped to the floor in shock, thinking that Chase would be the first to laugh at me.
Chase finally stopped by the small plot by the watermill, "You can open your eyes." he said, I could hear the worry in his voice so I raised my head and opened my eyes that I didn't even know that I closed.
"Umm...thanks for um...you know saving me back there..." I said looking at his face, my face growing red because of him still holding my hand.
"Umm...uh n-no problem, are you sure you're okay?" he asked finally realizing he was holding my hand and lets it go to rub his neck nervously while looking away from me.
I smiled, "I only helped because I felt sorry for you, but don't let this happen again because I just might laugh along with them next time." he said with an uncaring look before just walking back towards town.
"Umm...okay..." I muttered confused and hurt by his words.
"I guess none of them will ever want to be my friend..." I sighed to Finn.
"Don't worry, they'll like you once they get to know you, Kayla." Finn said.
"I'm not too sure about that, but at least I won't have to stay here once I finish my mission." I said. "Let's get something to eat, I'll make some sandwiches for us."
We walked into my house as everyone walked down from Garmon Mine District, they saw me walk in and felt bad about what they did slightly well not the four girls that laughed or the original four guys and Gill.
"He deserved that..." Gill thought with a smirk to himself. "How can my best friend defend such a loser, and someone that is obviously gay?"
They walked past my house laughing as they enjoyed their conversation while I was glaring at them through my window.
A few hours later, I walked back up to Garmon Mine District with Finn not stopping to slowly go across the bridge even though I am still terrified of the said bridge. We walked towards the Carpenter to see Dale playing with a huge and super cute dog.
"Hello Dale." I said with a bow stopping in front of him.
"Ah...hi Brian, how's the farm going?" Dale asked petting the top of his dog's head.
"Great so far...except for one thing..." I sighed.
"Really? Maybe I can help...?" Dale said.
"I think you can...!" I said with a slight smile.
"Okay...well what can I help you with?" he asked.
"I've been trying to go to the Harvest Goddess Pond, but it's blocked by wild animals." I explained.
"Wild animals that won't move huh..." he stated tapping his chin in thought, I nodded.
"Well it seems like they don't like you..." he said, he noticed that I was giving him a confused look.
"See this is my dog Boss, I trained him myself and I trust him with my life, you need to open your heart to animals to show that they can trust you with their lives." he explained.
"How can I do that?" I asked.
"I have an animal whistle that might help...I wonder where it went..." he said as he searched his pockets. "I must have dropped it earlier, I hope nobody gets hurt because of it..."
"I'll find it!" I said.
"Okay if you find it you can keep it, good luck Brian." he said before Boss and him walked inside their home.
"Let's find that animal whistle!" I said happily.
"Yeah!" Finn said as we went to ask around if anyone has seen it. We went to go see Barbara in her store.
"Hello Barbara, have you seen an animal whistle?" I asked.
"No, I haven't sorry. I suggest you ask Julius." Barbara answered, I nodded in thanks before leaving to go to the Accessory Store.
"Uhh...hi Julius, have you've seen an animal whistle?" I asked.
"Yeah, Simon found one on the ground and gave it to me to appraise it, it was worthless." Julius pouted.
"Can I have it?" I asked.
"Sorry...but I gave it to Chloe." Julius said, I bowed in thanks for the information before heading over to the Blacksmith.
"Hello Ramsey, do you know if Chloe has an animal whistle?" I asked.
"Well...I'm not sure, I haven't seen her, but if she did find something she would show it to Owen, who's in the mine." Ramsey said, I bowed in thanks before leaving for the mine.
We walked into the mine and headed down the steps, "I wonder what's down that hallway?" I asked Finn.
"It's too dark and plus I hate dark places." Finn pouted making me chuckle as we went down ten floors to see Owen.
"How much farther..." Finn whined.
"J-Just d-down t-these s-steps..." I panted as I semi-walked/tripped down the steps.
"H-Hey O-Owen..." I said trying to catch my breath making him turn around towards me.
"Ohh...hi Brian, what are you doing down here?" Owen asked resting his hammer on his shoulder.
"D-Do y-you k-know i-if C-Chloe h-has a-an a-animal w-whistle?" I asked finally catching my breath somewhat.
"Yeah, she did, but when she blew on it a bear and a boar came out of nowhere so I took it from her for her own safety." Owen said.
"T-Thank the Goddess, can I please have the whistle, I need it to go to the Harvest Goddess Pond?" I explained.
"I guess...here, be careful with it though, I'm not going to save you if an unwanted animal tries to kill you." he said with a slight smile, handing over the whistle.
"Thank you and don't worry I can take care of myself, none of you will have to worry about me." I said with a huge smile and a wave before heading back up.
I ran out of the mine and past the shops, Ramsey, Chloe, Dale, Luke, Bo, Barbara, and Phoebe gave me a weird look as I past them.
I ran across the small bridge and slid on the gravel and dirt but I turned it into a turn towards the path towards the Harvest Goddess Pond. I ran down the path, Finn having trouble keeping up with me. I stopped in front of the still angry animals, Finn on the other hand kept flying, not stopping fast enough.
I grabbed Finn's tiny foot to stop him, he sighed in relief, "Thanks Kayla, I thought I was a goner there for a second..."
"No problem!" I said. "Let's see the Harvest Goddess!"
"YEAH!" Finn yelled out happily fist pumping the air.
I pulled out the whistle and blew on it making the animals happy and they moved from our way.
"You did it, Kayla!" Finn cheered.
"No, we did it, let's go, Finn!" I said as we walked forward towards the pond.
We stopped at the top of a flight of stairs, "Wow..." I said in awe.
"This place is awesome isn't!?" Finn asked happily with a smile.
"Yeah...it's so beautiful..." I said as we went over the path to the main area of the pond.
"Where's the Harvest Goddess at, Finn?" I asked looking around when I heard a voice behind me.
"Welcome Kayla, to the Island of Castanet." I turned around to see a beautiful woman with braided long aqua hair in a beautiful aqua colored dress with a calming aura.
"A-Are y-you t-the..." I trailed off still in awe.
"Harvest Goddess. Yes, I am. I sent you here, you're the only one who can save the island." she said.
"Okay, yeah, I know that, but why didn't you tell my brother that he couldn't save the island and you let him keep trying until he was kicked off?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest waiting for a good reason.
"I've never met your brother, Kayla, he couldn't even figure out how to get past the animals like you, I would have told him if I could, but I can not leave my tree." she said.
"It had to play out like that to get the true savior of the island here, I am truly sorry for causing you and your family unnecessary pain." she said with a frown.
"I had to drop everything in my old life just to come save an island that isn't even on the map! I had to leave the guy of my dreams that I can finally be with after having a crush on him my whole life. I had to leave for this island because my brother was crushed that he couldn't do ANYTHING to help save the island." I semi-yelled/ranted.
"I'm truly sorry for the pain I have caused you, but your brother is strong and would have been able to save the island if he was the person the island needed." she explained.
I sighed, "Fine...what do I have to do to save the island?" I asked, Finn landing on my shoulder.
"You see the tree behind me?" she asked, I nodded.
"This is my divine tree, that helps distribute my powers and keeps everything in balance." she explained.
"It doesn't look to good..." I stated.
"No it's worst, it's dying which is making my powers fade, and the elements disappeared because everything is out of balance, if it isn't fixed soon the island will be uninhabitable. I asked my five harvest sprites to ring their bells, but they are sleeping and I fear they are too weak to do it." she explained.
"So that's where I come in, all I have to do is ask them to ring the bells and then I can go home, sounds simple...so where are these bells at?" I asked.
"That is the problem, I do not know the five bells' locations." she said with a frown.
"I see...is it possible that they were moved from where they are suppose to be?" I asked.
"Yes, it is possible anyone could see and take the bells." she said.
"Wait, how...when they can't see Finn...?" I asked slightly confused.
"They are normal bells with some of my powers that control the island's elements. All of the children and adults with pure hearts use to be able to see the harvest sprites and I, but one day they couldn't see us anymore so they forgot about us, some believed that we were still there but that they just couldn't see us. They still prayed to me, but people stopped visiting." she explained sadly.
"Soon after the people stopped believing and my power started fading...please Kayla you are the only one who can save the island and fix the elements."
"Kayla, you have to help save the Harvest Goddess!" Finn cried flying into the Harvest Goddess's arms.
"Shh...Finn...don't cry." the Harvest Goddess hugged Finn comforting him.
"I'll do my best...for you Finn, Harvest Goddess." I said before bowing and walking back the way I came to leave the pond.
"Kayla, take Finn with you, he'll help you with your mission." she said sending Finn with me as she waved goodbye to us. "Come back if you ever need help with your mission."
"Okay!" Finn and I said happily as we left.
"So which bell do we start out with..." I asked Finn as we walked down the path back to the Garmon Mine District.
"Well there's the red bell, yellow bell, blue bell, green bell, and purple bell." Finn said.
"I think we should start on the red bell because a lot of people need fire to cook food, stay warm, and work and we can just go in that order and if we need to change the order we just do the bell that we need to do to get to the next one until we finish."
"Good plan, Finn, let's go back to the mine for some quick cash, and we can start looking for the red bell tomorrow." I said, Finn nodded in agreement as we walked back into the mine.
"Kayla, remember that rock Owen was smashing?" Finn asked me.
"Yeah, we should go see if he's broken it yet since we're going down that way anyway." I said, Finn nodded as I pulled out my hammer.
We finally got back down to the tenth floor along the way I got two iron ores, two copper ores, two silver ores, two gold ores, and a rare ore. (I actually did this when I played my game)
"Kayla, look the boulder is broken!" Finn pointed out happily.
I walked forward with Finn, "It's the bell frame, but where is the bell?" Finn asked while I sighed.
"Let's go it's past noon, we can stop at the Accessary shop and get this stuff appraised." I said leading the way back up.
"Shouldn't we thank Ramsey, about how he told us where Chloe and Owen would be with the whistle?" Finn asked me.
"Yeah, you're right, we can do it on our way to get this stuff appraised." I said, Finn nodded in agreement.
We walked into the Blacksmiths, "Hello Ramsey, I wanted to thank you for the information once again." I said with a bow.
"No problem, Brian, but did you find what you were looking for?" Ramsey asked, I nodded that I did.
"Kayla, maybe you should ask him if he's seen a red bell." Finn said.
I nodded, "I did, but I was wondering if you've seen a red bell?"
"A red bell...hmm...no I haven't, but Chloe might know something about it since she's down in the mine all of the time." Ramsey suggested.
"Thank you again for the information..." I bowed before leaving.
"I hope you find what you're looking for!" Ramsey said stopping me in the door, I nodded before leaving with Finn.
"Kayla, look the red bell!" Finn yelled pointing across the small bridge to the bell just sitting on the ground.
"Come on, Finn!" I said running forward across the bridge.
"Eight...Nine...Ten!" Bo yelled out turning around to see me running towards the bell when Chloe ran out of nowhere and kicked the bell up into the sky.
Finn and I stood there in shock at what just happened when Owen walked up smiling with Bo.
"I was sure I would kick it this time." Owen said.
"They've been kicking...the bell..." Finn sighed falling to the ground in shock.
"Wow Chloe, that is the best kick I have ever seen, it even landed in the chimney." Bo said.
"I can't believe you just kicked that, like it was an actual can!" I yelled, surprising Owen, Bo, and Chloe.
"But..." Chloe said.
"You guys have no idea how important that was to me!" I yelled, running towards the Blacksmiths, Chloe running after me leaving the two guys standing there confused.
I ran into the Blacksmiths, surprising an already confused Ramsey.
"Grandpa, can you get out the bell for Brian?" Chloe asked.
"I'm sorry, I already tried, but it's stuck in there pretty good which gives me the feeling that this had something to do with you." Ramsey said to Chloe with a slight frown.
"Owen, Bo, and I were just playing..." Chloe said sadly.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at you Chloe, please forgive me." I said with a bow.
She nodded, "I think I'll be able to get it out if you give me one iron ore, one copper ore, one silver ore, and one gold ore to put on the already weak fire should make enough smoke and make enough force to get it out." Ramsey said.
"Well, then I guess I'm lucky because I already have them." I said with a smile.
"Wow, really...!" Chloe said in awe, I nodded handing over the ores so Ramsey could put them on the fire.
"Okay, we're ready!" Ramsey yelled as Chloe and I ran outside to watch the bell shoot out of the chimney and I was able to catch it.
"We did it, Kayla!" Finn yelled happily while Chloe clapped.
Ramsey walked out of his shop, "Thank you both." I said with a bow before they went back inside.
"Kayla, let's go put the bell back!" Finn said as the sun was setting.
"Okay, let's go before it gets any darker." I said as we walked back down into the mine. Getting down took somewhat longer than it did the first time I went down there.
"Finally..." Finn sighed as we walked forward to the bell frame.
I put the bell onto the frame, "So...what do we do now?" I asked Finn.
Finn shrugged, "I have no idea..."
All of the sudden a bright light appeared from the bell.
"Hiiii I'm Alan, a Harvest Sprite!" a red sprite said.
"Eek!" Finn screeched hiding behind me.
"Umm...hi...I'm Kayla, I was wondering if you could ring your bell..." I said petting Finn's head a little.
"I can if you answer this one question..." I nodded. "Who are you working for and what's your mission?" Alan asked with a glare.
"That's two questions. I'm helping the Harvest Goddess, and it's getting dark out so can you please ring the bell." I stated with my hands on my hips.
"Fine...you're not any fun..." Alan pouted. "Ohh, red bell of fire, ring so we can hear your beautiful melody!"
The bell rang making a beautiful melody, "We did it, Kayla!" Finn yelled happily, hugging my face tightly.
"Yep! We did it!" I said with a fist pump before yawning.
"We really should get to bed, Kayla..." Finn yawned.
"Yeah...let's go." I said as we waved to Alan before heading back up.
It took a few hours too long to get out, "I never want to do that again..." I sighed wiping sweat and dirt from my brow.
"AIIIRRR! Finally, I'm free from that suffocating earth! What time is it, anyway?" Finn said.
I looked down at my watch, "It's three in the morning..." I yawned again as we walked across the bridge back down to my farm.
I walked down the slope to see someone watching the ocean from my plot of land in front of my house.
"Finn, go inside the house." I whispered opening the door quietly for him.
"Okay...but be careful, Kayla." Finn whispered as I shut the door quietly and walked over to the person standing there.
"It's beautiful isn't it." I stated walking up next to him.
"Umm...yeah..." Gill said ruffling his hair.
"I should get going..." he said.
"You can stay if you want, I won't stop you..." I said.
"Um...thanks I guess..." he said.
We stood there silently watching the ocean.
"So...why are you up so late?" I asked.
"Just couldn't sleep..." he said, I nodded in understanding.
"Been there done that, it'll pass though..." I said.
"I don't know if it will, though..." he said.
"I'm not going to force you to tell me anything..." I stated. "But if you want to rant, I'll listen..."
We stood there silently for a minute before Gill spoke.
"I'm worried, this girl keeps bothering me to no end... She keeps on implying that I should ask her out..." he said with a frustrated sigh.
"I wouldn't worry about her, the Goddess gives us our choices, but we choose to follow only one and it's our decision where we want our life to go...not someone else that is forcing you to do what they want..." I said with a sad smile.
My advice shocked him into silence.
"How do you know that?" Gill asked turning towards me to see my face.
"Everyone has a past, some have one they aren't proud of...others could care less about the past, but everyone has a future with someone that they love and that will love them back for who they are..." I said.
"You didn't kill someone, did you?" he asked.
I shook my head and laughed, "No...I just have a past like every other person on the island..."
We were silent for a few seconds, "Do you regret coming to Castanet, Brian." he asked.
"Sometimes...but I'm needed here, and plus my life in the city wasn't really that great..." I said with a shrug.
"You can tell me if you want to rant..." he said.
I laughed, "Thanks, but I did all of my ranting down in the mine earlier today."
"I like your laugh." he stated.
I blushed, "Um...thanks..."
We stood there quietly enjoying the view before I spoke.
"Gill..., life takes you on surprising twists and turns, and you'll be surprised what life brings you...good night..." I smiled still with a slight blush before turning around and heading inside my house for some much needed sleep.
"You're right...thanks for the advice, Brian..." he said with a small smile, staring off into the sunrise.
"Kayla, what were you talking about with Gill?" Finn asked.
"It's nothing, Finn, just go to bed." I said walking out of the bathroom in a blue tank top and black shorts, Finn nodded before falling to sleep.
I walked over to one of my windows to see Gill still standing out there. I leaned against the window sill watching him when he turned around to leave, but I moved out of sight when he saw me for a split second.
That was close...
