March 8, Spring, Year 20
It's the Seed Sowing festival today! I can't wait, maybe I can wheedle myself into the basket of the hot air balloon! Though I don't know who was picked as the Harvest King for this year, I always miss Mineral Town's Harvest Festival in favor of the one here. What can I say, free food as opposed to possibly choking on a coin.
Pony probably told me, but that would have been… way back in September. I think I was in Ming City, actually…
Ah well, probably no ride for me. If it's Gray, I hope he picks my sister! Pony would flip to go up that high with just him. Hehehe. 3
I put in an order for more grass seed, which Uncle T got to me yesterday. Repairing the damage to the grass fields is such a hassle. But it's got to be done, especially if I want to make sure that any livestock I get can survive through the winter.
Oh, that reminds me! I've got the variety channel back! That brought my total of sprites rescued yesterday up to another five, so I've got 26 of the little guys back.
26 in only seven days. I like this! …Ack, gotta run, I have to pass over the mountain quick if I want to make it to the festival on time!
Claire hastily capped her pen and swept up her backpack as she rushed out of the house. It was supposed to remain sunny all week so Dakota and Puppy were running around outside. Dakota jumped the fence to wash Claire's face, leaving Puppy to run in circles and whine until his mother was returned to him.
"Stay Ducky!" Claire said, holding up one hand and cleaning her face with the other. "I'll be back later, Uncle Takakura will feed you guys! Bye now!"
Having recovered completely from the stiff and sore muscles, Claire ran out of the farm and through the Valley. To her surprisethere was a shimmer of light that she'd started to recognize as a returning Sprite and she stopped short as Roller popped back into existence.
"Ah Claire! Thank you! I have something to tell you…"
"Sorry Roller," she smiled a touch embarrassed, "whatever it is will have to wait, it's the Sowing Festival today, and if I delay much more, I'm going to be all kinds of late!"
He seemed a bit taken aback, but then he nodded.
"I'll meet you at the Sprite Company tree tomorrow then," he called at her waved over he shoulder in acknowledgement and kept going. Stepping into the pass she saw another shimmer, and groaned a little in annoyance. At this rate, she wasn't just going to be late, she'd miss the whole thing!
Jackie popped out in her way, and blinked.
"I.. I'm back!" he cheered. "Claire, where are you going?"
"It's the sowing Festival Jackie," she couldn't help but feel a little harried. "I'm going where I always go today."
"B-but… what about the Valley!" he complained. "And the rest of the Sprites?"
"Jackie…" Claire frowned. "counting you and Roller I've gotten twenty eight sprites back in less than a week. I'm working harder than I have in my entire life, I need a break!"
Reluctantly, the path guarder stepped to one side. Claire immediately grinned, all traces of the impending bad mood vanishing like a cake with Kate or Hugh.
"Thanks Jackie, see you later!"
She hiked through the mountain pass, reaching Moon Mountain by nine, and her sister's farm, Blue River, by ten. Pony was standing next to her shipping box, and waved at Claire as she approached.
"Hi sis!" the younger girl grinned. "You look frazzled today, what happened?"
"A lot," Claire groaned. "But it can wait until after the festival. Let's get going before we're late!"
"Oh, right!" And Pony giggled a little, her brown hair bobbing as she and Claire passed into Mineral Town proper. "Does it have anything to do with what Karen told me yesterday, about your Goddess and what the Harvest King did?"
"Pretty much. Makes me glad you decided to upgrade Grandad's crappy tools instead of stealing Dad's uber ones," the blond girl panted. "Otherwise I probably wouldn't have half of the Sprites back that I have now. But I think I've found all the easy ones."
She made a face, and her sister laughed again.
"You'll learn to love farm work sis," Pony promised as they approached Rose Square. "It's hard, but there's nothing more rewarding than seeing your fields and going 'I did all that,' I promise."
Claire chuckled a little sourly.
"Yeah well…" she half-collapsed on a bench just inside the square, "I'll believe it when it happens squirt. Who's King this year, I forgot."
"It's Gray," and Claire saw her sister blush. "I wonder who he's going to take up in the basket…?"
"Well kiddo, if you want it to be you, you'd best get up to the front of the crowd," Claire teased. "Otherwise you're gonna miss out!"
Pony stood there, shuffling her feet until Claire got off her bench and gave her sister a sharp shove forward.
"Go on silly," she laughed. "The worst he can do is pick someone else to go with him."
The younger-but-more-experienced farmer stumbled forward under her sister's urging, and soon enough was ensconced happily in the basket of the balloon with Gray. Claire went and retrieved a pink balloon from Karen, and waved as her sister went up with her crush.
"My my, imagine running into you here!"
Claire jumped, and spun, nearly releasing her balloon in surprise, then froze as she came face to face with Phantom Skye. Her blue eyes went wide, and she took a hasty couple of steps back.
He had a balloon too, dark green, with a packet of grass seed attached to it. He also looked as though he had only just woken up.
"Relax," he said. "I don't do anything in broad daylight, I'm not a fool. Besides, this place has a middling competent patrolman. I'd rather not risk myself to justice."
"B-but you're showing yourself to m-me!" She stammered. "I c-could go tell Harris if I wanted t-to!"
"Ah, but a pretty girl like you wouldn't want to," and he winked, making her blush. "After all, it's not every day that you see a thief in broad daylight, hmm?"
She had to admit that he'd made a good point, but that didn't make the blond any less annoyed. Seen up close in sunshine he was even more impressive than in the moonlight, his sea-green eyes glinting with amusement as Claire attempted to pull herself together.
"Okay everyone!" Thomas called. "Release you balloons!"
Claire was so startled that she jumped and released her balloon, tripped over her own feet and fell hard against the stone of the square. Skye released his smoothly, then reached out and offered Claire his hand. She stared at it as though it was a snake that would bite her.
"I promise miss, I won't do anything to disturb this festival," he seemed a little miffed that she was so distrustful. "But if you keep acting like this, everyone is going to start wondering…"
If there was one thing Claire hated, it was drawing extra attention down onto herself. She put her hand in Skye's and allowed him to help her up. He gave her a smile which only made her more flustered, and she quickly dropped his hand, half-turning away from him.
Silence fell between them, as Claire turned her head up to watch the balloon soaring away into the distance. Skye wasn't inclined to speak if the pretty farmer wasn't, and he followed her gaze up towards the balloon.
"Tell me about this festival," he said after a minute, making her jump. "I'm afraid I don't understand it."
"W-well…" Claire swallowed, and mentally scolded herself. How the hell was he turning her into a coward so easily? "It's the Seed Sowing festival. A King is chosen at the Harvest festival the previous Fall, and he chooses someone to go up with him in the balloon and supervise the spreading of seeds over the island. Uhm…"
She paused, and raked a hand through her hair.
"Flowerbud across the island has the same festival, and there's usually a trade of balloons every year, cause that's almost always where they land. Though.." and she smiled a little, remembering. "One year when I was younger the balloon landed on my parent's farm. It was funny."
"Ah, I see," Skye nodded slightly. "What happens while everyone waits for the balloon to come down?"
She gestured slightly around the Square at the people talking and laughing. Karen waved at her, and she waved weakly back, making her cousin give her a sharp curious glance.
"What usually happens. Socializing. And I'm going now, bye."
"Farewell beautiful."
"Claire," and there was a mildly peevish undertone to her voice as she corrected him.
Skye chuckled.
"Alright Claire. Farewell."
Claire made a quick escape over to Karen and Mary, but she could feel Skye watching her.
"You okay cuz?" Karen asked, rested a hand on Claire's shoulder. "You look kinda spooked. Did that guy say something to you?"
She looked so ready to go over and beat the answer out of Skye that Claire shook her head, and just rested a hand over Karen's.
"It's okay Kar," she replied. "Really. I was just caught off guard is all."
Mary looked at Claire with worry as well, and got a sheepish smile in reply.
"I mean it," the farmer repeated. "Don't worry! Mary, how goes the campaign to get of the island and become a best selling author?"
To Claire's relief that turned both of her friends back onto the subject they'd been talking about before she'd come over, and bit by bit she relaxed into a semblance of normalcy. They were well into a discussion of Mary's latest attempts, when Karen straightened abruptly.
"Oh!" Karen snapped her fingers, "Claire didn't you want to pick up your books?"
Claire blinked, then smacked her forehead. She had completely forgotten her other reason for coming to Mineral Town. Karen and Mary both laughed at her rueful expression.
"Yeah, we should probably get those before the other balloon shows," she nodded. "Sorry Mary, won't be more than a few minutes."
"It's okay," the librarian smiled. "I can do a bit of writing while I wait for you two to return."
They both watched as Mary selected a bench and did exactly that, sharing amused grins as they left the Square.
Claire pointed did not look in Skye's direction, though he watched her unashamedly. Karen nudged her lightly with her elbow when they got out of sight of the Square, grinning.
"You know him?" she asked, green eyes glinting. "He was staring at you Claire."
Claire shrugged a little, trying not to blush.
"Not r-really… I've seen him around the Valley a couple of times, but I don't talk to him… What's he doing here?"
"Staying at Doug's Inn," Karen shrugged, unlocking the door of the store. "Nobody really knows anything about him other than he stays out all night and sleeps most of the day. Does he go to the Valley in the middle of the night or something?"
"I guess," and this time Claire did manage to sound less than interested. "I'm usually sleeping though, all things considered. Farm work really makes you tired."
Karen laughed, and patted her cousin on the shoulder.
"Here's the books. How many of those are presents anyways?"
Now it was Claire's turn to laugh as she shoved the large and bulky package into her backpack.
"Mot of them. Uncle Carter's birthday is coming up and so is Pony's. Oh before we go, you think I could grab some grass seeds? There's so many pock-marks in the ground from the storms we had. I've already used up the ones Uncle Takakura brought…"
"Yeah, sure. How many?"
"Uhh…" Claire paused, and pulled out her money pouch, trying to remember how much she had. "I should have enough for twenty, I think?"
"And if you don't you'll send the money with Takakura," Karen grinned. "You're the only one who can get away with credit buying, you know? Dad finally told Duke that he wasn't allowed to buy anything else on credit, since he's never been good for it."
"Awesome," and the blond farmer grinned. "It's about time he did that! So I'm the only one allowed to do that now?"
"And that's only cause you've got Tak coming through on a daily basis with you stuff," Karen nodded. "He pays us with your money, and everything's square!"
The grass seeds joined the books in Claire's backpack and her purse was, once again, mostly emptied. There had been just barely enough.
"How're you earning money anyways, when you haven't bought seeds from either us or Vesta?" Karen asked as they left.
"Well, I find stuff in Uncle Carter's dig site and the mines and sell them to Van. He pays good for the fancy stuff," and she smiled faintly. "And I get all the herbs and things that are growing, and ship them. But what I really can't wait for it the fruit trees to start giving me stuff. That's going to be awesome!"
Karen nodded, and grinned, then looked up at the sky. Claire did too, and they saw a red hot air balloon descending.
"Look, it's Jack!" and Claire waved madly at her older brother. "And Eve too! I guess he wasn't kidding when he said he was going to ask her out last time we all got together!"
Both girls raced back into the square as Zack, Rick and Trent all worked to tie the basket down. Jack vaulted the side then staggered back against the basket as Claire tackled him with a cheerful laugh.
"Jeez sis," Jack grinned. "Missed me or something? Where's Jill?"
"Pony went up with Gray," and Claire's blue eyes glittered impishly. "So you'll probably pass them on your way back to Flowerbud. What've you been up to?"
Karen and Eve both shook their heads in amusement as the two siblings chattered away.
"You'd think they'd been separated for months instead of a couple of weeks," Eve said wryly, reddish-purple eyes glinting with laughter. "What say you little sister?"
Karen just rolled her eyes and elbowed Eve with a chuckle.
"Well, she's got new problems to deal with," the blond-banged shop worked replied. "So she's probably hoping for farming advice. Wait til you hear what the Harvest King did…"
Phew, what a day! I'm exhausted.
But it was nice to see Jack and Eve again, I bet Jack's going to ask Eve to marry him soon. I hope he does, Eve's awesome. And then Karen and I will be.. what in-laws as well as cousins?
It's really amazing the way everyone on the island is related in some form or fashion. Good thing Eve and Karen aren't more than third cousins, otherwise there'd be a problem there.
Finding out that Skye's over in Mineral Town was… weird and kinda unnerving. But I guess if he's staying at the Inn there, it's less of a worry for me. It'll be easy to turn him in if he steals anything else from the Valley!
It'll be more work tomorrow, planting grass and all that… But it ought to be worth it, I guess. Who knows, I might find another sprite or two!
I wonder how many Sprites I have to rescue before the Harvest King will return the Goddess?
Ah, the cats are complaining that they want food, and I'm worn out, so I guess it's time to call it a day.