//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Goodbye // Story: The New Heralds of Harmony // by Dusty Star //------------------------------// It was a bright and sunny day with my best friend, Eric, out at my Uncle Will’s house. Uncle Will is a fat but fit man who is in his seventies. He retired from his work to live in his faraway house which was near a beautiful forest. Eric and I decided to spend our summer with him to enjoy the outside after a school year in the city. After we had breakfast, my uncle took us hiking in the forest to explore it a little more since the last two years we visited it. “Hey, Owen!” yelled Eric as he was looking at a peculiar flower that had a rainbow-ish color and large petals. “Look at this, you don’t see a rainbow colored flower every day.” “It’s probably just because of the sunlight,” I said as I walked towards him. When I looked at the flower, I noticed a large tree on the other side of the forest. “Huh, look at that.” “What?” he said still looking at the flower. “That large tree over there, it has a large, dark branch sticking out of it,” I giggled as I went closer to get a better view. “That’s weird.” “Wait, Owen! NO!” “AAAAAAAHHH!” I struggled, holding onto a thin branch after I fell down a cliff I didn’t notice before. When Uncle Will heard the racket he quickly leaped over to see what happened. “What happened here?” Uncle Will said, feeling very nervous. “He was looking at that tree, but fell down this cliff because he didn’t notice it,” answered Eric. “Alright. Owen, you okay down there?” “Yeah, I’m fine.” “I’m gonna get some rope to pull you up. Eric, Owen, stay right here okay?” said Uncle Will right before he ran back to the house. “Owen, you’re gonna be alright, okay?,” Eric said in an attempt to comfort me. “Yeah,” I said sarcastically. “I’ll just hang on.” Minutes later, the branch started to crack due to my prolonged weight on it. “Crap, I think I’m gonna fall.” “NO! You’re not going to die!” Eric yelled. “We’re best friends okay, I won’t let you fall to your death. Here, take my hand.” He handed out his hand while trying to reach me. As I tried to reach out my hand, the branch started to break more. I struggled as I tried to reach Eric’s hand. Moments later, the branch finally snapped but I managed to push myself up enabling me to grab Eric’s hand. “There,” he tried to pull me up as much as he can. ”Wow, you’ve really put on much weight.” “Shut up.” “Oh sh-“ Our hands seemed to sweat and started to slide. “Argh!” Eric yelled. “I can’t… let… go…” We struggled to hold on to each other as Eric tried to pull me up. “It’s no use,” I said. “I don’t think uncle will be coming soon.” “Ugh, but… I… can’t let… you… fall.” “It’s okay. I’m not much of a use to other people most of the time anyway. I may be able to help people all the time, but I’m probably the shyest person ever. I don’t really do well when around people. At least, back in our city I won’t be a bother anymore. I still think we’ve only met each other halfway; it’s been a five years since we’ve met. It’s better to- “NO!” Eric shouted before I can finish my statement. “That’s why you have me… your best friend. Friends… are there to support… each other, right?” He struggled while trying to pull me up as much as he can. “You are more than meets the eye. That’s why… I am always with you… to help you improve… as you do with me. I won’t let go. I will-“ Our hands finally gave in letting me fall freely. “OWEN!!” Eric shouted, hoping that this was all a dream as I was falling to my doom. Soon after, uncle finally arrived, realizing he was too late. He looked down together with Eric, crying. “Well, I wonder what’ll happen to mom and dad once they find out about this,” I thought. “And also lil’ sis, I think she’ll just mess with my room. I guess everyone in school will probably forget about this quickly - if they find out about it. I’ll miss going to that forest right by Uncle Will’s house, and especially with Eric. Eric, I hope he will never forget about me. Well, life is short –“ Before I can finish that thought, something hit me really hard as if it was running. The last thing I remember before completely blacking out was seeing a bright light accompanied by a loud whoosh.