At the river on her mother's farm, Akari spent seemingly endless days dreaming, pretending, and living… So much, that the river now lived inside of her– a rich memory which manifested itself as a secret dream world.
Truly, every detail of that river was forever etched in Akari's mind and heart. The coolness of the soggy grass around the water's edge and the warmth of the itchy grass beyond. The creaking of the wooden waterwheel– endlessly churning alongside the droning chicken coop… and the whispering through the lone tree standing in the middle. How strangely it chattered over her mother's distant voice.
Akari was supposed to play in the fish pond instead. Her mother insisted that it was safer than the dangerous river. But Akari loved to climb to this secret spot behind the fence. It was her own special place.
At least, it was supposed to be.
A woman's scream pierced the peaceful sky, followed by the sound of feet stomping down the river's southend bridge. All at once, human voices shrilled in terror.
"Eeek! What IS that awful THING in the water?"
"A monster… A water imp. What a horrendous creature!"
"A demon? Disgusting! Somebody! Somebody, kill it–"
Akari ducked her head under the bubbling clear water and swam. She swung her arms, splitting through the water at inhuman speeds, but dream logic prevailed and the Mineral Town villagers– brandishing scythes and axes– stayed close behind her.
But then the sky darkened, and in a moment mirroring an actual memory, the burly carpenter– the man who lived in the forest south of the farm– reared back his axe and threw down the blade, cleanly cleaving Akari's right arm off. It flopped to the forest floor, and with as much sense, she appeared beside it, doubled over and crying for help.
"Uwa, uwa…" Akari jumped awake, whimpering miserably, cradling her sides, and hunching down to the floor. In the wake of her realistic nightmare, the sound of the Caramel River outside only made things worse.
It seemed that the river back home wasn't the only memory forever etched in Akari's mind and heart. She could never forget the collective fear, disgust, and hatred from her old villagers… and what the possessed carpenter had done to her arm.
With an uncertain hand, Akari slid her hand up her sleeve and grasped her right shoulder. It was still there– her arm, and the shiny pink band of flesh encircling it– a massive scar which was about as grotesque as her hidden kappa skin. I have to be careful with my arms, she thought gravely. Papa's not here to re-attach them…
Leaving her house after her frightening dream was a difficult affair, but Akari managed to prompt herself out the door by forcibly shouting "LET'S GO." Surprisingly, this also gave her enough courage to attempt some farm work. Attempt.
Due to having passed out yesterday, she barely had enough strength to water her crops. To remedy this, she traveled up the falls and to the hot spring for a soak. Bathing in broad daylight was unnerving, but she had left her shoes by the archway (as the monkey had previously instructed) and so trusted his words. Minutes flew by as she stewed in the soothing hot water, and just as soon as she lost herself in it, she lost herself in thought.
I said some big things to Jin yesterday, Akari realized, knowing fully well that she had basically sworn to never see him again until she was an elemental goddess. But I'm not sure how to ACTUALLY go about that whole thing… Nor did she know if it was even possible. And I still have to see him everyday as per the kappa promise. Her head slunk low. Maybe he'll think I meant it all metaphorically. I really do want to get stronger, though…
"Then get stronger!" a familiar voice sang out, the mountain monkey appearing before her in a majestic, spraying fountain of water. "To do so, ask me, Monkey, to show you the immortal's way and to be your teacher." He tipped an imaginary hat at this and the fountain of water jetted and subsided.
Akari, disturbed by the monkey's random and disturbing appearance (but not too surprised), sank down into the water. "My teacher?" she asked. "You'll really show me how to become a river goddess?"
"That I will! Just follow my lessons. Listen to my intelligent words and apply them to your daily life. Never mind that I was once a simple mountain monkey who had drowned in this very spring. As I had drowned in the waters of death, I also drowned of the wisdoms of life!"
"I can't imagine you ever having been a simple mountain monkey, but ok… Teach me, Monkey!" I have to show that doctor up, Akari added mentally.
Swinging his long arms at this, the monkey became enraged. "First of all, don't be so eager to turn your life into a horse race!" he said; "You'll attract disasters with such a rash attitude, you understand?"
Akari nodded silently.
"Good. Second of all, you will call me Master Monkey or Glorious Monkey King. You choose."
"Uh… I think the first one."
"Then do so!"
"Yes, Master Monkey!" How ingratiating!
"I hear your thoughts, child! This is for self-discipline, which is important in setting yourself free. Now then, listen well to what I have to say. You will surpass your mortal fears, avoid temptation, and journey to the 30th floor of the Ganache Mine."
"Right! Wait… huh?" Akari blurted, thinking that the last part sounded quite tacked on.
"Listen! Once you make it there, you will find a magical berry; a fruit bestowed with the good will and energies of the harvest deities. You will search for these fruits from now on."
"A power berry…" Akari recalled the name. Her mother would often speak of the subject. With just a handful of such a fruit, one could become a legendary farmer. With an endless supply of them, one could even live forever– regardless of health. This was one reason why her mother decided to live in the kappa's realm upon falling deathly ill– it was a place where such rare plants grew wildly.
Monkey grinned cheekily upon reading Akari's mind. "You know what I speak of," he squeaked. "What an advanced student!"
Akari stood up from the water, her towel nearly flopping off in the process. "I'll go there! Right now even," she swore; "I'll get stronger right this very moment!" She wanted to get as strong as her mother once was.
"Tsk tsk, don't be so hasty," the monkey clicked his tongue at her. "Today is your first festival. You shouldn't miss it for the world! And like I said, rush things and you'll invite disaster. You should probably put some clothes on, too."
"T-today's a festival day?" Akari smacked her gushy head around, trying to recall what day it even was. "That's right… Tuesday. The Flower Festival," she said; "Today's the Flower Festival!"
"Well you'd better hurry before it ends!"
Colorful pennant flags waved overhead and sharp floral perfumes lured Akari by the nose as she stomped up the stairs to Waffle Square. Reaching the top, she was startled by the frenetic clapping and bouncing of Mayor Hamilton, who was standing before the main flower display and making a cheerful opening speech (welcoming all within shouting distance). So amazed by his energy were the festival-goers that they all gathered around him and clapped.
I can see why he's in a good mood, Akari thought, inhaling the sweet air. The colors and scents are delicious, the square looks magical, and cute flower petals are all over the ground! Chasing the pink petals beneath her feet, she considered bending down and snatching one up, but she fortunately dispelled that dumb thought (and not the water in her head bowl). Running circles around the square, not sure what booth to peruse first, Akari heard the strumming of guitars and spun around in their direction.
For some reason, a young woman in belly-dancing regalia– a complete stranger whom Akari had never seen before– was busting some moves in the spot where Mayor Hamilton once was. For a moment, Akari considered that the mayor had evolved. That he had assumed a new, more curvaceous form (possibly upon some exposure to a glowing moonstone ore). But then Akari knew that was all very stupid.
The woman stopped dancing and glared back. "Hey, you over there," she said, running a hand through her copper hair. Her voice was harsh but with an amusing and almost endearing accent.
Akari realized too late that she had been rudely staring at the woman. A massive red exclamation mark sprung from Akari's head as she fruitlessly looked around for someone else to pin the blame on. But her escape maneuver failed in the suddenly and unexplainably empty square.
"Yes. You." The woman directly spoke to Akari; "Buy me a lily!"
She wants a flower? Akari thought, astonished by the woman's forwardness but also puzzled that she didn't outright want money. Could that be what she was dancing for?… Well, if she wants one… Sure! Why not? To her, it was an excellent and sound way to make a friend.
Buying the lily from Anissa's perfume and goods booth– or actually receiving it– since Anissa mysteriously handed it to her without a proper transaction, Akari nervously approached the stranger and placed the crisp flower in her hands.
The strange woman loved it. "Hee, hee. Thank you!" she chortled sincerely. "I love this flower. You're so kind!" Tucking the flower in her hair, she proceeded to warmly introduce herself. "I'm Selena. I'm from Toucan Island."
"I… I'm Akari!" the girl squeaked. "I'm from the mainland… Ah, a place called Mineral Town."
For a reason unknown to Akari, Selena frowned and winced, slumping her shoulders in a downtrodden way. Akari would've cried if she'd know that the woman had ALSO mistaken her for a boy.
This boy is actually a GIRL? Selena thought, her self-confidence blowing away with the square's flower petals. I can't believe this. I thought he… she… was a little too cute… but I dismissed that since I like 'em young… Ay, I guess you make these kinds of errors when you've lived on a desert island for all your life.
"I'll be staying here for a while…" Selena mumbled and avoided eye contact. Why did I have to ask for a LILY? she scolded herself further; She'll definitely take that wrong… I'm not good with people. I need to get out of here. After more awkward silence, she walked away, leaving Akari in further confusion.
"That was weird," Akari thought aloud, quickly disregarding what had just happened. Turning aside, she came face to face with Gill, who appeared to have seen the whole thing and with a bit of unease.