Chapter 2

Hikari pulled one final weed from the field as Evelynn ran around chasing Finn in and out of the barn, both of them laughing loudly at the other. She smiled at her energetic daughter and stood up, wiping her forehead as she did so. It had been a pretty loud and crazy morning, but this seemed to be typical as the children grew older and adjusted to one another. Hikari only wished they would adjust a little faster.

"Evelynn, don't scare the calf, please." Hikari leaned around the barn entrance and stared at her daughter's guilty face.

Evelynn jumped slightly and scooted behind the much tinier Finn. "Okay, Mama."

Hikari gave a tired smile and returned to the animals who had now mostly wandered outside. She slowly brushed one of her sheep while thinking about what Gale had said earlier. He seemed really concerned and even frightened, which was very out of character for him, but Hikari knew that when it came to her and the kids he seemed to overreact to most things. When Orion got his first cold, Gale was in a complete panic over how to calm the then infant, and watching him feed a baby for the first time had been the one of the funniest things Hikari had ever witnessed. She laughed quietly at the memories and stared off towards town where he was no doubt pouring over every book in his extensive collection. He always found the answers he needed and this time she was sure it would be nothing, or at least nothing that would be too complicated to fix.

She looked at her watch and sighed, she didn't have much longer until she needed to prepare lunch. Maybe coffee ice cream would cheer him up... She'd have to get that prepped in time to be ready for dinner. The tired mother took a moment to rest and sat down facing the ocean, trying to remember the last time she'd even been alone with Gale. It had been long enough that she couldn't pick which memory was the correct one, and when they had been it definitely wasn't for more than a few minutes. Their children were precious to her, but every couple needed an evening to just breathe and relax.

"At least we'll get a date soon," she whispered and smiled remembering his expression when he'd said 'date'. It had been adorable.

She felt her chest grow warm with the thought and she wrapped her arms around her legs, drawing them up to her. Her life before this town had been so empty, and she couldn't even recall a time where she had been truly happy before she moved here. When Finn had found her life had been so monotonous—so dull and meaningless. The bells had given her a reason to exist, and saving the land made her feel important. But she had been younger and more naïve then. Gale had been the one to offer her unbiased advice and guide her. Their relationship had been painful at times, but Hikari knew that she would never have found a more loving and devoted person. Gale had seen all the evil and good humanity had to offer, and despite all his experience and wisdom, he chose her. She was unremarkable and was of average intelligence, she couldn't begin to understand what he researched, and there was nothing unique about her other than she was more in touch with the magical world. However, Hikari only openly questioned him on it once.

"Almost time." She needed to stop reminiscing and get back to work. Lunch wouldn't be ready if she didn't prepare it.

She stood, but stopped feeling a strange energy next to her. "Who are...?" She stared at the figures who had suddenly appeared on her left.

She hadn't seen or even heard anyone walk up the hill. Her mind immediately went to Evelynn who was still in the barn with Finn, and she knew the three people in front of her were not mere visitors.

"Can I help you?" She looked at them with a disturbed and uncertain face.

They didn't have any discernible features showing that she could make a mental note of other than their builds indicated that they were most likely men, but it was difficult to tell as they all wore long, hooded cloaks that concealed their bodies and faces. She bit her bottom lip, it honestly seemed like generic villain garb, but maybe there was a reason for that stereotype.

She repeated herself, "Excuse me, can I help you?"

"... Hikari, correct?" the middle one spoke in a deep, yet sinister voice. Hikari felt chill bumps spread over her.

"Who are you?" She didn't give an answer, but she knew that he was already aware of her identity.

He didn't respond, none of them did.

"If you have no business, please leave." Hikari tried to sound threatening, but they seemed too menacing to be intimidated by her weak words.

The man in the middle raised his arm slowly and aimed a hand towards her. Hikari took a step back and then froze, unable to even feel her limbs anymore.

"Enough," he hissed, jerking his hand to the left and down, causing Hikari's body to follow the motion and slamming her against the ground.

She yelped and stared up at him, her teeth clenched in pain and then the obvious dawned on her.

Evelynn.

He couldn't know that Evelynn was there. She cursed herself for even making a noise, her daughter was bound to check on her. She thought of calling for Gale, but there was no way he would hear and neither would anyone else. Their connection wouldn't be as useful without a constant stream of pain being inflicted on her; all the years of hurting herself during farm work had caused him to stop questioning every sting or jolt he felt. The only way he'd know was if she spoke his name, but that was out of the question. Who were these men? Obviously at least one knew magic, but what did they want with her?

"Hikari, do not struggle, yell or try to fight," the same man spoke and walked towards her.

She tried desperately to move, but she still couldn't feel her body. "Stay... away," she barely replied.

"Soon, it will be done." He knelt down next to her and held a stone in his hand.

Hikari's eyes moved to stare at the stone as she heard him speaking in the same language Gale spoke. It suddenly it began to glow a dim green color and she knew he was casting something, but no matter what effort she made to move away, she was paralyzed. Her eyes squeezed shut and she felt a tingling sensation spreading throughout her body. This couldn't be happening, this wasn't real. Gale would show up—he had to, he'd promised he'd protect her. What if Evelynn was in danger? How could she save her like this? What would happen to Orion or Finn? Were they being targeted as well? She had to protect her family, but she just couldn't focus. Her eyelids felt heavy, her breathing became more labored, and everything started to blur. Gale, the children... what would happen to them?

However, it didn't matter as the world around her darkened and the only remaining thing was the strange, glowing mark on the stone.

"Mama..." Evelynn stared at the scene from inside the barn and her body began to tense in preparation for her inevitable cry.

"Shh! Evelynn, we have to be quiet!" Finn swooped next to her and pulled her back, covering her mouth to muffle the scream.

Who were those men? What did they want with Hikari? What had they done to Hikari!?

Evelynn began to struggle and Finn shook his head at her. "Shh, we'll get your Papa soon."

Oh, no. No, no, no! He had no idea what to do! He had to protect Evelynn though, and he tried to silently calm her while watching the men disappear seconds later. No bright light or smoke, just like Finn had blinked and they were gone.

Evelynn, although tiny, still had the size advantage over Finn, and finally escaped his hold. "Mama! Mama!" she cried as she ran out of the barn and fell to her mother's side.

"Evelynn, stay back! We don't know what they did!" Finn came up behind her and began to tug on the back of her dress, spinning in the air when he failed to pull her off.

She was inconsolable, and Finn knew he couldn't leave her there alone. What if those scary looking people came back? He had to tell Wizard what had happened, he'd know what to do! Finn looked around nervously and tried to call out to the Harvest Goddess, hoping that She would be able help Hikari. Luckily, it didn't take long for the Goddess to appear before him, obviously sensing the situation was dangerous enough to warrant Her leaving the Spring.

"Finn, what's happened?" She knelt down and brushed Her fingertips against Hikari's forehead, recoiling slightly as the same green light from before appeared. "What's this? I haven't felt this in a very long time... She's been put in a deep sleep. A dangerously deep one."

Evelynn stared at the Goddess in terror and started hysterically crying once more, the brief comfort she'd experienced quickly dissolving with the Harvest Goddess' words.

"Goddess!" Finn flew to the young girl's shoulder and used his small hands to brush away her tears. "Evelynn, shh, shh! We'll get your Papa! He can fix this! Right, Goddess?" He looked at Her with high hopes of delivering some kind of good news.

"Yes, locate him and tell him what's just happened." The Goddess offered no apology and simply took Evelynn's hand. "Little one, let's take your mother inside."

Finn knew the Goddess could keep Evelynn safe and didn't pause for even a moment before turning and flying back towards town. He had to tell Wizard! It didn't take long before Finn was at the mysterious man's door and he mustered all of his strength to knock as loudly as he could. Sometimes he wished more people could see him.

"I'll help save you, Hikari! Just hold on!"