Why me?

[Butterscotch]

Very interesting!

[unavaliable]

this mind thing is kinda confusing me

[moko]

hmm, i've read stories with the shadow goddess, but do any of you know what the REAL shadow goddess looks like? if you want to know, look up information on harvest moon: song of happiness.

[Firefly]

Author's Note~ Okay, I know this will get confusing, but this chapter is in Karen's PoV. Unlike Ann and Elli's only this chapter will be told in Karen's Point of View.

Chapter 37

As I opened my eyes, I saw... blue? Lots of blue. Was I in Heaven? But, I was so very cold! So I couldn't be... in the other place. Wait. Cold? How could I be cold? Was I still alive?
I sat bolt upright. Where am I? I looked next to me and saw Elli sleeping, looking wet. I noticed that I, too, was soaking.
It hit me then. I had tried to kill myself! I shivered at the thought. How could I have been stupid enough to do that? I'd endangered myself, and Elli, too.
Why would she save me? I almost killed her!
Oh. I remember that, too. I told her. Everything. Well, everything that was on that paper--
Where is it? I searched the pocket frantically. Elli! Could she have taken it? I shook my head. She's not that nosy. Wait!
Right next to me was Ann, laying down. I thought she was knocked out, too, but her blue eyes were wide open. For a horrifying second I thought she had died. I was about to burst into sobs when I saw her breath slowly and calmly. I let out my breath.
"Ann." I whispered. When there was no answer, I said, louder, "Ann." Why isn't she answering? I waved a hand in front of her face.
"HellOOOO, ANN!" I yelled, shaking her. She did nothing. I was utterly confused. What could she--
"--Shadow Goddess!" Ann shouted, making me jump about two feet into the air. Shadow Goddess? My mind whirled. Maybe... maybe Ann was trapped... but where? She obviously wasn't here... maybe inside her soul or mind!
Karen felt a sudden pang of guilt. The Shadow Goddess had probably taken her instead of me! I had to save poor Ann! What could the evil Shadow Goddess do to her?
"There is nothing you possess that I want." The voice frightened Karen. Maybe Ann couldn't get out! She had obviously found the Shadow Goddess, and now the Goddess wouldn't let her out. And... without something in return, Ann would stay in her mind for eternity.
And its all my fault.
I sucked in my breath. I had heard rumors that the Shadow Goddess loved to see true bravery, when someone trades thier soul for another. I knew now that is what she must do. Its not like she had anything to live for. And, Ann would finally know I was only trying to get my best friend back.
"Take me instead!"
***

[Firefly]

Chapter 38

I heard the voice, so familiar. Karen! What was she doing? How did she know? What did I look like out there, in the real world?
The Shadow Goddess looked startled for a moment, then her mouth turned into a crooked grin. "I've always valued true bravery," she hissed.
Bravery? What was Karen doing? And what did she mean by, "Take me instead?" But I thought I knew.
The Shadow Goddess raised her hands and purple sparks flew from them, making odd shapes and patterns. She was muttering some words to soft-spoken to be heard. And then Karen was there.
"Karen!" I shouted, running toward her. She spun around and smiled weakly at me.
"I came to save you," she mouthed.
"What do you mean, save me?" My voice was rising. "What are you going to do?"
She smiled again, not speaking, and shook her head. She then turned toward the Goddess and walked toward her, slowly but steadily. She was not scared.
"Karen! Stop! Please, you can't fight her!" I pleaded.
She paused and looked at me. "I'm not going to fight," she insisted. "I'm saving you."
"How?" I didn't wait for an answer, I just charged at full speed toward her, trying to get her away from the Goddess.
The Shadow Goddess, however, muttered some more words and waved her arms. I ran into an invisible barrier. I pounded my fists into it, but nothing happened.
"Karen, now we'll both be trapped! Please, just save yourself!" I shouted, knowing there was no way the Goddess would let her go.
Karen heard me. She looked at me, smiling sadly. Why was she smiling?
"Please, Karen, that is the Shadow Goddess! She'll hurt you!" I pleaded again, falling to my knees.
Karen looked away. Had she heard me? I couldn't tell. She spoke to the Goddess, saying words I couldn't hear.
Finally, the Goddess grinned triumphantly. She waved her hands all around Karen, and purple sparks flew all around her body, seeming to dance mischeiviously. Karen began to grow foggy. "No!" I screamed, reaching my hand out. Karen said something else, and floated over to me. She touched my hand, but I couldn't feel hers. She was disappearing.
"You're my best friend," she whispered, and then she was gone.
***

[Butterscotch]

Wow! I guess Karen turned out to be a true friend after all.

[Kayla]

Wow... Great chapter...

[Firefly]

Chapter 39

"No!" I screamed. Karen was gone. Gone! Forever! I slammed my fist into the ground and began crying. The Shadow Goddess looked at me disdainfully.
"Your friend is so much braver than you. She risked her life to save you, even though she knows you hate her."
I looked at her in surprise. How had she known?
She sighed. "I suppose a bargin is a bargin." She waved her hands, and more of those purple sparks that dissolved Karen came shooting at me. Was she going to get rid of me, too?
She seemed to sense my fear. "No, no, you foolish mortal! Your friend traded her life for yours! I am returning you to your world."
The sparks danced around me, and the Shadow Goddess whispered, "She saved you."
And that was the last I saw of the Shadow Goddess.

I blinked, and realized my eyes had been open. Elli was looking at me, obviously worried.
"Ann! You're okay!" she cried, throwing her arms around me and sobbing.
I couldn't speak, or breathe, for that matter. Elli was crushing me. I tried to make a sound.
"Oh! Sorrry, Ann!" She practically jumped away from me. "What happened?"
I began to tell her. She was a great listener. She 'ooh-ed' and 'ahh-ed' at all the right places, and she even screamed when I told her the Shadow Goddess was in my mind.
"I...I can't believe it!" she cried out, her eyes wide. "Is... is she-"
"No." I shook my head. "When I figured her out, she came out and wasn't allowed to go back."
Elli brethed a sigh if relief. Then, her eyes grew worried. "Where is Karen?" she asked fearfully. I sighed, looked down, and told her that, too. By the end of my story, she was crying.
"Thats awful!" she sobbed. "Poor, poor Karen! I should have told you, I should have!"
"Shhh." I coaxed her. "There wasn't enough time. You wouldn't have saved her if you had explained."
She looked up at me and sniffled. "I guess so... but you saved me!" She looked sheepish. "When you saved me, I thought you would throw Karen off again."
I smiled weakly. "Yeah. I might have."
We were silent for a moment, looking out into the sea. After what seemed like an eternity, Elli suddenly cried out. I jumped.
"Elli! Is everything okay?" I asked, alarmed.
Elli continued screaming, and she was on her feet now. She was waving her arms like a windmill. I thought she had gone crazy.
"...Elli..." I timidly asked, reaching out to take her arm. She just glanced at me before continuing her odd tactics.
"What is it?" I asked, confused. "What?"
She stopped flailing her arms and pointed. It took me a minute, but I saw what she was pointing at. It was... a ship?
***

[Butterscotch]

A ship?

[moko]

"She was a great listener. She 'ooh-ed' and 'ahh-ed' at all the right places, and she even screamed when I told her the Shadow Goddess was in my mind."

that sentence is totally from the harry potter book. you know, when harry is at the hospital at the end, telling his story to ron and hermione.

[Firefly]

moko said:

"She was a great listener. She 'ooh-ed' and 'ahh-ed' at all the right places, and she even screamed when I told her the Shadow Goddess was in my mind."

that sentence is totally from the harry potter book. you know, when harry is at the hospital at the end, telling his story to ron and hermione.

I've never read Harry Potter. I've heard about it, but it didn't sound too interesting. Is it good?

[Firefly]

Chapter 40

I strained my eyes even more. A ship? What could possibly be on it that made Elli so exited? Ships hardly came here, and when they did, it was only a small boat, no bigger than the one that took Popuri and herself to the city.
"Why are you so exited, Elli?" I asked my friend. She looked at me in surprise.
"Well, have YOU ever seen such a huge ship?"
I nodded.
"I mean coming here!"
I shook my head. I had never really thought about it before. I guess I didn't care, either. I was just so used to seeing nothing besides water in the sea, I forgot ships were there, too.
"I wonder what could be inside it?" Elli asked, turning to me. I shrugged. I didn't really care. Why was Elli so exited about it? Well... she had never been outside Mineral Town. When I thought about it... it was kind of interesting. What could be inside? What ever it was, I wanted to be the first to see.
"Elli," I asked her, "Please don't be so loud."
She looked at me in confusion.
"Well, don't you want to be the first to see whats inside such a huge ship?"
"Yeah, I guess..."
"Stop shouting so loud! People will hear and come to see what is wrong."
She looked sheepish. "Sorry. I didn't really think. I just did."
I nodded, my mind back on the ship. It looked so far away! It would take hours for it to get here. I sighed and sat down.

"Ann, Ann! Wake up! The ship is here!" screeched Elli, waking me.
"Huh?" I groggily sat up. Had I been asleep for so long?
"Here it is!" Cried Elli, jumping up and down. I stood up, scanning it. What could be on it?
"Ann? Elli? Hi! I missed you guys SO much!"
I whirled around. Popuri was standing and waving at us.
"POPURI!" I screamed, running to hug her. Elli gasped.
"Annie!" She cried. She was the only one who could get away with that. Well, her and... I swallowed my tears. She looked at me oddly.
"What are you doing with Elli?" she whispered. I looked at her, confused.
"Oh, I forgot! I have so much to tell you!"
Popuri looked exited, but before I spoke, she did.
"Guess what? I'm pregnant! Kai and I are getting married this summer!"
***

[unavaliable]

Pineapple said:

"Guess what? I'm pregnant! Kai and I are getting married this summer!"

if this is anything like the game...

[Butterscotch]

She's pregnant?

[Firefly]

Chapter 41

I almost fell backward into the water, I was so shocked.
"WHAT?!!?" I shrieked. I had NOT seen this coming. Popuri... pregnant? Ew. I'm not even going to THINK about it.
"Tha-thats great, Poppy." I weakly state, smiling fakely.
"I know! Isn't it awesome!" she clapped her hands. "I wanted to tell you first, and have the wedding preformed here. Then, I'll stay the whole Summer and... and I'll have to leave the rest of the year." He lip quivvered. "Thats the only part I don't like. I'll miss you all!" She looked down, only to look up again. "You HAVE to tell me EVERYTHING!" she shouted.
"Sure," I laughed. "Elli, I'll catch you later. Good luck!" She waved and walked away, obviously thinking. About what?

Finally we arrived at the Poultry Farm. Lillia was so estatic to see her daughter, and was pleased that she was marring Kai. Rick, on the other note, almost slapped Popuri. I decided it was a good time to leave. Before I did, Popuri thanked me for catching her up on everything. She was so scared when I told her about the Shadow Goddess, and shocked when she heard what happened to Karen. I invited her to my wedding (She was so exited! Popuri loves weddings) and I to hers.
I looked at my watch. The time was 7:20. I had just enough time to visit my fince before going home. I still could hardly believe I was getting married. Heck, I could hardly believe half the stuff that had happened today! Especially with the Shadow Goddess...
I shook my head. Wait untill Jack heard that! I hope he believes me... of course he will, I told myself. He loves me. Unless... I giggled. ...he thinks I've gone mad.
As I neared his house, I realized this was my fututre home, starting in less than a week. I didn't mind. This was as good as my own house.
"Knock, knock!" I called in a sing-song voice as I knocked on my fiance's door.
"Who's there?" Jack answered as he opened the door, grinning. "Hello, Ann, my bride-to-be. Come in!!"
"I've got SO much to tell you!" I exclaimed, and rushed inside. "I went to the beach..."

An hour later, Ann had finished. Jack hardly belived it, but "Since it came from you, I will." He was also sad about what had happened to Karen, even though he resented how she would drink every Sunday night.
"Thats horrible..." he muttered, hugging her. Then, in mock disappointment, he addedm "Why does all the cool stuff happen to you, huh?"
"Don't say that!" Ann exclaimed, playfully punching his arm. "You wouldn't want all that to happen to YOU."
"You're right," he sighed, and glanced at his watch. "Uh-oh. Its almost nine. You'd better be leaving."
I got up, ready to leave. He did, too. When I was outside, I put my hand on my hip. "Hey, where's my good night kiss?"
And with that, he wrapped me in his arms and we kissed for what seemed like an eternity.
***