#I forgot that I’m only limited to a few fruits when you restart your island

[lovejenkins]

I have been playing Animal Crossing New Horizons to keep myself sane during this past stressful month for me. If anyone wants to be a G and give me an apple, cherry, and a peach, that’d be super duper awesome. I have a small amount of bells and miles.

[lilstar242]

The Crescent Curse-1

The soft melody floated in the air, tying in with the pleasing wind. The stars overlooked the ocean and the little houses that represented the courteous village of Victoria Cliffs. It was midnight, and the crescent moon mirrored the silver fish that swam in the deep. All was quiet, except for the delicate tune that radiated passion. All was dark, but the small fire on the beach lit up the whole island.

Ashley’s fingers danced over the strings of his guitar, but his mind were far from them. His eyes were like the fire he had made moments ago, which was still blazing.

Opposite him sat Giselle, the love of his life. She closed her eyes at the sound of music, breathing in the summer wind. The harmony spoke to her, the songs of nature moved her.

The music then stopped, and Giselle opened her eyes at the sudden capture of silence.

“I think that is enough for tonight.” Ashley said, placing his guitar beside him. “I’m tired.” He got up from his cross-legged position before tipping the contents of his water bottle onto the fire. The flame disappeared, leaving the grey ash and blackened wood. Giselle stood up reluctantly, already missing the sound of Ashley’s guitar.

“I still wish I could play an instrument like that.” Giselle said, though she had commented on Ashley's music countless number of times. Ashley smiled before going up to Giselle and kissing her on the forehead.

“You have many other talents, Giselle.”

Giselle shrugged as a response, knowing that he was telling her sweet lies.

“I’ll walk you home, Giselle.” Ashley said, but Giselle shook her head.

“I think I’ll be okay.” She said.

Ashley rolled his eyes playfully.

“Look, I know you like walking home on your own so you can be an independent woman or whatever but it’s dark.”

It was Giselle’s turn to roll her eyes.

“I’m fine, Ashley. Honestly. I live the opposite way so it would be pointless.”

“Okay.” Ashley gave in. He slung his guitar over his shoulder, grains of sand gently falling from the strap. “Just make sure you call me when you get back.”

Giselle nodded as they headed towards the village. Giselle glimpsed at the sea that she had grown up to love. Giselle’s eyes then caught something moving out of the water. It looked like a large, silver fish tail.

“Woah!” Giselle stopped. “Ashley! Did you see that?”

Ashley turned around.

“See what?” He followed Giselle’s eyes out to sea.

“A big fish tail! I’ve never seen one like that before.” Giselle said excitedly.

“It was probably a dolphin. Come on, Giselle.”

“Or maybe it was a mermaid.” Giselle joked. Ashley laughed a little.

“Yeah. Or maybe it was a shark, coming to eat you.” He teased. Giselle pushed him playfully, whilst Ashley laughed joyously.

Giselle walked into her home happily, realising that she missed Ashley already. Since he had come into Giselle’s life, she had been content with almost every aspect of it.

As soon as Giselle closed the door, she became face to face with her mother, who looked displeased.

“And where have you been?” Giselle’s mum stood, her arms crossed.

“I was just with Ashley.” Giselle replied honestly.

“And you didn’t bother to tell me? I suppose you walked home alone as well didn’t you? God Giselle, why worry me like that?”

“I’m sorry okay I’ll won’t do it again.” Giselle said as if she had rehearsed the lines over and over.

“You always say that,” Giselle's mother sighed.

Giselle took the opportunity of the silence to take herself upstairs. Giselle’s mother had never really been the same since Giselle’s father died. It was like all the energy was sucked out of her, like she had no motivation in anything any more. Most days, Giselle felt as her mother’s presence was simply just a reminder of her dad’s death. Ashley had distracted her from that, had given her something to believe in. He had given Giselle the hope of the Crescent Curse; an ancient legend that talks about the tale surrounding the mysterious Crescent Island. It told of how a wretched curse was put on the island by a Goddess from an old religion that used to be practised all around The Crystal Isles, Victoria Cliffs included. The curse caused all the inhabitants of the island to develop supernatural powers, turning them into mystical creatures that only existed in fanatical children books. As a child, Giselle’s mother had read Giselle countless stories about the island and the curse. But when Giselle’s father passed away, those stories became simply a memory that was only associated with her childhood.

Ashley had changed that. He always talked about Crescent Island, he even talked about visiting it and restarting life there, regardless of the fact that the tales they heard were probably just stories that were told for the benefit of children. But with Ashley, Giselle was reminded of those sweet memories that take off in her mind.

Giselle ventured back downstairs after changing into leggings and a hoodie. Her mother looked like a dismal scene; staring at the blaring television as it told the public of local news. Giselle sat on the staircase, watching the television through the banister. It was the same stuff really, riots and conflict happening elsewhere in the Crystal Isles whilst Victoria Cliffs remained somewhat unharmed. The small set of islands that made up the Crystal Isles were never all fully at peace any more; People who lived in either Victoria Cliffs, Eagle Beach, Dolphin Bay or potentially Crescent Island barely even visited each other. The most that happened between the islands was a few rebellious or brave people visiting the other islands every now and again. Even these factors were limited with the recent events of potential war. Nobody ever went to Crescent Island, some people didn’t even believe that it existed at all. There was so little talk about it, so little interest in it. Giselle however, hardly ever thought about anything but the island.

Giselle decided not to disturb her mother as exhaustion took her over body. Giselle walked up to her room as the wave of tiredness hit her, making her fall back on her bed and close her eyes.

 Giselle was in a forest; one that was unfamiliar to her, yet she felt calm in the mysterious setting. The place was magical, the trees towered over Giselle regally and the grass smelled sweet. Giselle looked up, and saw a boy in front of her. His eyes were a bright blue, but it was impossible to make out the rest of his features. Giselle didn’t know why, but a warm feeling spread inside her as she looked into those eyes. They invaded her mind, she couldn’t think of anything else. Slowly, the scene began to fade in a white light.

The soft rays of sunshine leaked through the window, landing on Giselle’s closed eyelids. She opened them sleepily and turned onto her back to stretch. Giselle stared at the ceiling, recalling her dream. It had felt so wonderful, even more so then when she was with Ashley

“Giselle!” A familiar voice called, making her lips form a smile. Desire surged within her and she got up, flicking the bed covers off her body. She ran to the window and was quick to open it. As Giselle peered down onto the front of her house, she saw Ashley looking up at her. He squinted, shading his eyes over with his hand as his hair gently moved in the wind. He looked like a perfect descendant of Romeo, in which Giselle was his Juliet.

“You forgot to call me!” Ashley shouted as soon as he saw Giselle. “Come on! I want to take you somewhere!”

Giselle simply nodded before rushing back to her wardrobe to get ready.

“Where are we going?” Giselle said for the thousandth time, as Ashley led her to an unknown destination. Despite her mother’s constant warnings, Giselle had agreed to spend the rest of her weekend with Ashley. His hands covered her eyes as he walked Giselle up a steep slope

“Stop asking!” Ashley answered. “You’ll find out okay! We’re almost there anyway.”

Giselle groaned, putting her arms out in attempt to feel her surroundings. She walked cautiously, following Ashley’s lead. Giselle would have been nervous, but Ashley’s voice was so calm and comforting, any anxieties she had disappeared instantly.

“Okay,” Ashley finally said, taking his hands away from Giselle’s face. “You can look now.”

Giselle opened them immediately, desperate to find out where Ashley had led her too. She gasped excitedly at what she saw: they were on top of the cliffs that their home town was so very famous for, with the view looking out onto the spectacular beach. A picnic was laid out for two; with colourful fresh fruits of mango, pineapple, oranges, bananas and grapes. There was cheese and bread and coconut pieces and various other local dishes and foods all laid out on a traditional, chequered picnic blanket.

“Ashley!” Giselle exclaimed. “This is amazing!”

Ashley smiled, brushing his fingers through his hair. “Yeah,” He said. Ashley took a seat on the blanket and gestured for Giselle to do the same.

The breeze gently floated in the air, making Giselle shiver as her brunette curls bounced around her shoulders.

“Are you cold?” Ashley said in concern. He put down the piece of pineapple he had bitten into down and took off his jacket. He put it around Giselle’s shoulders, pulling her closer. Giselle leant on Ashley’s shoulder, closing her eyes to feel the sea air on her face.

“You better eat this with me.” Ashley said, putting his hand around Giselle’s waist. Giselle stared at the food, not knowing where to start.

“It’s like we’re on Crescent Island.” Giselle said like she was daydreaming.

Ashley laughed at her reaction, his eyes sparkling with passion. Giselle tried to cover the blush she could feel from the heat on her face with her hair, but Ashley tucked it behind her ears gently.

“Giselle...” Ashley said, looking down. “What would you say...” He hesitated, and Giselle raised an eyebrow. She already all knew what Ashley was going to say, but she allowed him to continue anyway. He took a deep breath and lifted his head to the sky to avoid eye contact with Giselle.

“What would you say, to going to Crescent Island? Maybe, one day? Just me and you, yeah?”

Giselle smiled happily, before jumping into Ashley’s arms.

“Yes!” She said excitedly, hugging Ashley tightly. She didn’t even question whether it was real or not.

“Woah!” Ashley exclaimed, leaning back slightly. “You’re going to push me off this cliff if you’re not careful!” He laughed.

“I’m sorry,” Giselle said, pulling back and tucking her hair behind her ears shyly. “I’m just so happy!”

“Just one thing...” Ashley started to say. He paused suddenly.

The atmosphere had changed: the air seemed to become heavier and the sky became darker. A noise shattered the silence between Ashley and Giselle, the clouds gathering together to create a black disarray.

“Was that…?” Ashley started, staring at Giselle, who simply gasped. He got up and walked to the edge of the cliff and peered over it cautiously. “Thunder?”

A flash of lighting suddenly hit the edge of the cliff, sending it crumbling. Everything seemed to happen all at once in one mad panic. Ashley’s foot skidded on the crumbling rock, falling down completely.

“Giselle!” cried Ashley, as the cliff took him with it.

“Ashley!” Giselle yelled back, watching him as he attempted to hold onto the remaining edges of the cliffs. His fingers slipped and his body dropped. Gravity and death worked together as Ashley’s body disappeared.

Giselle could hardly shout or scream anything, her voice had suddenly gone. Giselle couldn’t feel her legs, she couldn’t feel anything, she simply looked right over the edge, not knowing what to do in this tragic yet unlikely occurrence. She couldn’t see the beach due to the mass of grey clouds, and extreme panic ran through her at record pace. Giselle wanted to run, but she simply froze to the spot as the unexpected storm continued around her. Tears burned her cheeks and she was shaking all over. Her legs finally gave way, and she fell to her knees just by the edge of the cliff. The world seemed to be spinning around her, she had difficulty breathing properly. Giselle closed her eyes and hoped it was some sort of bad nightmare. But no matter how tightly she shut her eyes, Giselle could still hear the sound of thunder like a deep sounding alarm.