The Sweet Musk of Dirt and Produce [END] (1,397 views)

[Maddie]

"Huh? Oh, uh..." Star squinted at the sky, considering the position of the sun. "I would say about thirty minutes to six. We're making great time. If you're worried, I don't think you should be! Look, we're almost done!" She got to her knees and dropped some seeds into the freshly tilled soil. "I just need you to water these last few seeds here. Think you can handle that?" She gave him an encouraging smile, like a mother talking to her son, almost.

[Blue]

Azelf hesitates at first, drifting into another flashback... one time as a littler boy, his powers went berserk and their farm became withered. He kept crying to his mother, who comforted him and said "It will be alright. We can start new ones again..." In his memory, she had that same warm smile like Star's at that moment.

The shoyru blinked and snapped out of his daze. "Uh, s-sorry about that! I spaced out!" Azelf looked away and blushed again. He approached the soil with the planted seeds. He smiled sweetly as he watered them. "Uh, s-so how m-many days until the fruits grow big?" He asked out of curiosity.

[Maddie]

"Well, tangellas typically begin to visibly sprout after one to two weeks, but to reach its harvesting period it could take anywhere from three to five months," Star answered, dropping the last seed. Raising to her feet, she dusted off her gloves and placed her hands on her hips, surveying today's work with pride. "If you're asking because you plan on visiting again, just know that I'm cool with you popping in whenever. I'll take any opportunity to boast about my farm! Ha ha ha!" She reached forward and pat Azelf on the back, leaving behind a dirty paw print. "And if I were you, I'd want to watch these little sprouts grow, too. It's the most rewarding part of my job!"

[Blue]

"Wow, uhm, r-really? Yeah! I'll definitely come back... to visit!" Azelf watered the last planted seed. "I-I like watching seeds grow!" The shoyru turned to the other side. The colorful crops everywhere caught his attention. "Oh... uhm... that reminds me... c-can I still take a tour of the rest of your farm? I uh, haven't seen them all... y-yet...?" He giggled anxiously. "... maybe a-after the work is d-done? I mean... are there still more to do? I-if there are any..." Azelf felt a little conscious after that last question and couldn't help but be a little embarrassed about it.

[Maddie]

"Nope, we're done!" Star declared with a clap of her hands. "And of course you can have a tour of my farm! I'd be offended if you didn't ask!" She pressed her paws against her stomach and let out a loud, belly laugh. "Come on!" she guided, picking up Azelf's cloak from the ground and slinging it over her shoulder. "I have a lot to say, a lot to show, and little time before sunset, so let's hoof it!" She began to march onward, towards the next lot of crops.

[Blue]

Azelf first watched the biscuit kacheek as she started to march away, then followed her curiously, carrying himself with his wings. His feet floating near the ground as they reach the next part of the farm. The shoryu was pretty thrilled, seeing the colorful crops up close. For him, it felt like he was in a magic wonderland... of fruits and vegetables? "They're so pretty... Mom would've loved this!" He looked around. "I don't really memorize all their names though..."

[Maddie]

"Oh, that's easy!" Star claimed, turning towards Azelf eagerly. She pointed to each row of fruit and began to list, "cocorot, screlon, furanga fruit!" perfectly on point. She gave a wide grin teeming with pride, balancing on the balls of her feet like an excited child. "I can even name the optimal weather and soil conditions for each! That's how perfect I am!"

[Blue]

Azelf giggled. "A-awesome." He continued to follow her with his hands behind his back, listening to her while looking around shyly. "Heh. It's o-one of my dreams... to find Fresh Faerie Fruit seeds--if there are any--and plant them in a farm someday... They say the fruit looks odd, but tastes like every fruit a Neopet can ever imagine. I know there are a lot of other cool fruits, but I-I'm just so curious about that one..."

The shoyru paused for a moment. "S-so... uhm... y-you managed to gather... ALL the types of fruits in Neopia?" He asked out of curiosity.

[Maddie]

"Hm, no actually!" Star explained as the couple marched forward. "I only grow Brightvale fruits, as they are indigenous to the land and thrive is this kind of soil. But sometimes I go outside the box and grow plants that are native to lands of similar soil type - say, Neopia Central!" She stopped and gestured to a row of vegetables. "The celeriac, for example, is commonly grown in Neopia Central. But look! I'm growing my own here!"

[Blue]

"Oohhh!" Azelf took a close look. "And they're really healthy too..." He grinned. The shoyru continued his daze around the lot. "Uh, so... there will be certain seeds that won't grow well... uhm, depending on location... o-or soil?" He fidgeted his hands. "...l-like a kreluberry found only in Kreludor for example?" He scratched his head. "You think uhm... faerie fruits really do exist?" Azelf just had so many questions, but then tries not to ask too much, believing that he might sound annoying. He got nervous again, which caused him to have cold sweats.

[Maddie]

"Yes, precisely," Star answered with a slight head nod. "A kreluberry should only be able to grow on the surface of the moon! Amazingly, that also means it does not require oxygen to grow! Incredible, isn't it?" She jammed her hands into her pockets and began to rock on her feet once again. "And interesting that you keep bringing up the faerie fruit. I never gave the myth much thought, if it even is a myth. It might be true! Not sure." She scratched her chin thoughtfully. "I don't visit Faerieland often, nor do I grow any fruits native to it. The soil there must be infused with magic or something, because faerieland fruit is very particular to it. Nearly impossible to grow it anywhere else! So I'm sorry I can't add much to that topic."

Star laughed a little, but gradually frowned upon noticing Azelf's nervous behavior. "You look a little clammy, bud. Is something wrong? Is it getting too late for your comfort? I can hand you your cloak, if you'd like. Don't worry, I won't judge you if it's like a security blanket." She winked to try and lighten the mood.

[Blue]

"H-huh? N-n-n-no, no..." Azelf shook his head while waving his hands, blushing. "I, uh... i-it's fine! I-I just..." he faced towards the ground. "...thought I guess... it might... g-get a little... bothersome asking too many questions... That's all... I-I'm alright."

"Ha, nice going, Azelf." He thought to himself, sarcastically. "Well, t-that sounded kinda... a bit dumb... I know this isn't your first time actually talking to a girl, just calm down... And she seems really friendly too." He just smiled anxiously at the thought. "It's not like something bad's going to happen again... right?"

[Maddie]

Star placed her hands on her hips and puckered her lips slightly. "You need to stop that!" she asserted suddenly, much to Azelf's surprise. "A situation is only awkward if you make it awkward! Don't make yourself think you're a bother! Don't make yourself think you're talking too much! Don't make yourself worry about what the other person thinks!" She leaned forward and jabbed the blue shoyru on the forehead with a crooked, sly grin. "Because you're a wonderful and unique individual, so who the hell cares what anyone else thinks? Stop trash talking yourself!" She straightened out her back and added humorously, "You sound like my older brother."

[Blue]

The skies seem to have become slightly a mixture of warm and dark colors since sunset is fast approaching. Azelf was completely dumbfounded... speechless even. There was a feeling in his gut that he wanted to scurry away as quick as possible, but he wouldn't do that, especially to his newfound friend. He'd feel guilty if he did, and with certainty he knows that Star is right... he just won't admit it. His heartbeat seemed to be pounding louder to him than normal. The blush on his face developed into a burning flame; it became red like a tomato. Apart from that, he has gained respect towards himself. Usually his Kacheek brother would do the same in case he started being pessimistic again. It was a huge wake up call, hearing it from someone else. "...uhm." Azelf tried to speak. "Y-yea--yeah, my brother tells me that too." the Shoyru responded, beginning to have lessened stuttering over a word. He honestly did not know how to answer over a compliment. He took a deep breath and breathed out. "...Thanks." the Shoyru put up a shy smile.

[Maddie]

Star returned the smile, pleased that she had gotten to him. If only that worked for Cici. "You're welcome!" she replied sincerely, clasping her hands together.

Glancing at the sky and noticing its change in color as well, Star began to realize this marked the end of her tour with Azelf. It was nice, she thought. His compliments had made her feel special, although she had too much pride to admit it. She tried to appear chipper even though she was disappointed to hear he'd have to go. She was going to miss the little fella. "So you noticed it too, huh?" she asked quietly. "The sunset. I assume this means you'll be leaving, right?"