Legend speaks of sacrifice at world's end,

Where ripples form on the water's surface,

In the depths of the ocean,

A restless serpent yearns for strife.

Wings of light and dark spread afar,

The Goddess descends from the sky,

To spare the sands, the seas, the skies,

An offering to the master of the ocean, her gift everlasting.

Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess,

The absence of which,

Shall bring about the war of the beasts,

And the Calamity from the skies.

* * *

"And that's why at the end of every harvest season, we give thanks to the Water God -" A mother narrated to her child, but was abruptly was cut-off in her storytelling.

"By throwing away perfectly good candy?!" A boy cried. Aside from his gender, the child was the spitting image of his mother, inheriting her golden locks and crystal-blue eyes.

"Yes, Cloud, but for good reason. After all, it brings the rain that gives us our bountiful harvests. A fair exchange for the essence of life, wouldn't you say?" She questioned from his bedside.

"I don't know…" Cloud trailed off, unconvinced.

"Think of it this way. Without rain, you wouldn't have pumpkin candy and all your other sweets would you?" She tried to explain from a different perspective.

"I guess...It still seems like a waste. And why do they have to throw away so much Banora candy? Those are my favourites! They could at least toss all of that yucky spinach candy. I wouldn't miss those," the boy griped.

"Haha, those are actually good for you, you know. Besides, you're lucky to have any candy at all. Hundreds of years ago, people offered human sacrifices," the woman stated ominously.

"What?!" The boy shouted, wide-eyed.

"But now we give candy instead because they're more yummy," Mother Strife said with unsettling cheerfulness.

"So...it doesn't eat people anymore?" He asked nervously to reconfirm the fact.

"Well, I don't know. They say that every year on the night of the harvest moon, it leaves its ocean domain in search of naughty little children to gobble up." She mimed the action of eating by blowing bubbles on the boy's tummy.

"Momm...haha...that tickles!" The young blond exclaimed in between squeals of laughter. All fears of giant man-eating sea serpents forgotten.

When he started becoming red-faced, she finally decided to have mercy on her son. "However, as long as you have sweets the serpent can be dissuaded from eating you."

"Oh, is that why we go around collecting candy on the night of the Harvest Festival?"

"Yes, dear. It's a holiday to give thanks and also a day off for everyone to enjoy the fruits of their labour," she said, explaining the significance of the holiday. "Did you have fun tonight?"

"Are you kidding me? It was the best. Night.Ever! I got gumdrops, jelly beans, apple candy, cherry cakes and...Oh! Tifa's Dad brought boxes of chocolate all the way from Rocket Town. She gave me some!" The child happily listed off his stash of confectionery.

"Sounds like someone had a very productive evening."

"You bet! I can't wait for next year!"

"You already have a enough candy to last you for months and you want more? All that sugar is going to make your teeth fall off," she chided.

"That's okay, I'll just suck on 'em," Cloud declared with a confidence only found in youth.

"You think of everything, don't you?" She ruffled her son's hair affectionately. "Alright now, time for bed."

"Aww Mom, but I'm not tired," Cloud remarked with a half-yawn.

"Sure you aren't." Mother Strife chuckled as she tucked in her little boy and planted a kiss to top of his head. "Goodnight, my little Cloud. Sweet dreams," she wished.

"Night, Momma," Cloud replied sleepily.