The cart came to a halt next to the Celesta Church and I climbed out to be met by a wild beagle that yapped and ran around my legs, begging to be petted. I threw a treat down for the pup and ascended the stairs to the Church grounds, holding my hand out to the large Pyrenees that had bounded over to me. I heard jovial laughter coming from the Church entrance and looked up to meet the gaze of the priest-in-training, Perry.

"He seems quite taken by you," he commented, averting his attention to the large white mongrel that ran in circles trying to bite his own tail. I beamed at first the dog and then the priest, laughter escaping my lips.

"Well, I kinda just have that effect on animals," he glanced at me and grinned largely.

"Yes, you definitely do," he chortled, before making his way back inside the building. I rubbed the large dog's head one more time before I strolled over to the large path that would take me to the main part of Harmonica Town. The entire time I spent walking, I observed the picturesque scenery of the island and the ocean. Rosy blossoms fell from the trees that lined the pathway, catching in my hair and fluttering about my face, the wind carrying them out over the expansive sea. Such perfection in the movement of the petals was not entirely natural, but more of a blessing of the Goddess herself. Ever since she had regained her power, the island had become much more beautiful than ever before, or at least since I arrived here, but many times the citizens had told me that this isle had never been more stunning.

Before I knew it, I had reached the town, and straight away headed to the home of my closest friend, the Wizard. I rounded the corner of his house and let myself in, calling out merrily as I closed the heavy sapphire painted door behind me and my small companion.

"Hello, Gale!" He looked up from his spell book that lay open on his desk.

"Hello, Akari…" he uttered slowly, a concerned look spelled out upon his face as he stared at me. He must have sensed my confusion because he beckoned for me to come over to the table that held the crystal ball. I followed after him, puzzled but curious; he was never this solemn when I visited him before. Well, apart from the time when I told him about the Witch turning herself into a frog.

"Akari… I promised you that as a… friend I would… always look out for you…" he began gently. I nodded my head vigorously, nervous and unsure about where this was going. Gale exhaled loudly before he continued.

"Well…" he stopped, choosing his words. "I looked into the crystal ball…" he gestured in front of him with his hands.

"And?" I questioned. He closed his mismatched eyes briefly.

"Chase… he has another… romantic interest… other than yourself." The words left his mouth as a barely audible whisper, though he may as well have been screaming them. The words stung me and I sat completely shocked and unable to move. The Wizard met my eyes and offered me a sympathetic look. I felt my face fall into a scowl.

"But why… how could he…" I furrowed my eyebrows and focussed on the most important question currently running through my mind. "Who?"

My close friend avoided my inquiring glare and stared at an image in the ball that only he could see.

"Maya…" The name slapped me hard. Maya? As in the girl that Chase had so many times told me he couldn't stand; the girl who was supposed to be my friend? I slumped in the chair I was sitting on, all my happiness and joy from the morning fading completely. Finn rested his small figure on the top of my head in a comforting way as I tried to hold back my tears.

"Maybe the crystal ball was wrong?" Finn squeaked hopefully, holding onto the locks of my hair. For a brief moment I felt a small glimmer of hope that what he said held some sort of truth, but I remembered what Gale had said the first time that the sprite had questioned it.

"The crystal ball is never wrong," I repeated those exact words sorrowfully, sniffing as I felt tears begin to spill from my eyes and down my cheeks. The vague sound of Gale's voice reached my ears.

"I'm so sorry, Akari…" he was stood right next to me, his hand offering a handkerchief. I accepted it and wiped my face.

"Gale… t-thank you for telling me," the words were thick and shaky. "A lot of people wouldn't have said anything." With that, I unwillingly got to my feet, twisting around to face the door. The Wizard stood by me for a moment, awkwardly placing his hand on my shoulder before sighing and turning away. I rubbed my eyes fiercely with my palms, taking deep breaths and yanking on the door handle.

"See you later then, Gale?" I mustered as much enthusiasm into my voice as was humanly possible in the circumstances, but a slight wobble gave away my false demeanour. He nodded pityingly at me, his eyes showing his worry and sadness.

I exited his house, instantly beginning to sob uncontrollably. I was thankful that most people in town were currently working in their small businesses so no one would come and disturb me or ask me for the reason why I was weeping so mournfully. Finn wiped away my tears with his tiny hands.

"Come on, Akari. I think it's best if you just go home now." I nodded in agreement, treading down the steps in front of Gale's house. Unfortunately, I hadn't made the best choice in direction, because as I turned to make my way through town, I found myself right in front of the Ocarina Inn. Her workplace.

A/N: Things are starting to get intense.

Also, it's been like a year now since I wrote this, I cringe so hard.