Author's Note:

Hey everyone, this is the first fanfiction piece that I've ever written whoo! Please R&R! (please be kind T.T) I apologize if any of the characters seem a bit OOC so please don't shoot me!

Disclaimer: Harvest Moon belongs to Natsume and not me. No copyright infringement is intended. *insert more legal stuff here*

It was criminally early when I set out for Acre Farm. Old man Dunhill had set me up to the task of delivering the twins' first cow to them. Ugh as if those two idiots could be trusted with a cow anyway.

Anyhow, Dunhill had paid me a rather large sum of money 'for my trouble'. Business is business and that extra gold was more than sufficient to pay for that new amp I had been hankering after. So I acquiesced. Though I'm willing to bet last month's earnings that those two clowns wouldn't last a month in Echo Village.

Who in their right mind comes to Echo Village anyway? The last time I checked, people left Echo village instead of arriving here. There's nothing to do in Echo village. I mean sure the forest is beautiful and all but people get sick of it after awhile. They crave excitement and entertainment, none of which this sleepy village can offer.

Why do I stay then? Well, I guess I enjoy the peace and quiet. I'm not much of a people's person. Besides, there really isn't anywhere else I can go.

Anyway, back to the topic of those two clowns. Their names are Henry and Rio, pretty daft names if you ask me. Their father had inherited the farm from his parents but left Echo Village to chase his one true love. "That's so sweet!" Hanna and Emma would coo when Dunhill told the story for the umpteenth time. Me? I don't buy into this love bullshit.

What I know is that city-folk can't be trusted. They're cruel and heartless and utterly despicable. Just look at them with their expensive clothes and fancy gadgets, so oblivious to the world around them. I had been to the city a couple of times. The streets were always lined with trash. Abandoned animals prowl the sidewalks. I try to feed them whenever I can but I'm usually chastised for feeding the 'strays'. Heartless jerks.

I'm sure these two won't be any different.

I actually hear them before I see them.

It would appear as those two were fighting over something. How typical.

"Rio, why do the turnips look like they're wilting?"

"Don't blame me! I watered them yesterday!" screeched a female voice. That must be that blasted Rio.

"Well you must have watered them WRONG!" hollered Henry.

Morons.

"Ahem," I cleared my throat. "Will you two please stop your infernal shouting?" So much for peace and quiet with these two around.

They both whipped around. You wouldn't believe that these two idiots were actually twins. Henry was a brunette with brown eyes while Rio was blond with blue eyes. They possessed the same corpse-like parlor though. Ha! Come summer, I'm sure these two pasty clowns would be burnt to a crisp.

"Sorry! Come on in! I'm Rio and this is my brother, Henry. We're the new farmers. And you are?"

Gee, she was obnoxiously perky. It was way too early in the morning for her nonsense! Is she pretty? Uh well I suppose she is, if you're into that stuff which I'm most definitely NOT. She offered her hand, which I reluctantly shook. It was ridiculously soft, like cream. No doubt she must have lived a charmed life. Up to now, that is. Boy was she going to be in for a rude shock.

"I'm Neil, the animal dealer. I'm here to deliver your cow. Don't get the wrong idea, it's a gift from Dunhill," I replied with as much hostility as I could muster.

"Sup man, and thanks," greeted Henry. He was much more tolerable than his sister.

I gave them a lesson on the rudiments of animal husbandry. Despite their overly eager nods, I could see the confusion in their eyes. I genuinely feared for the poor cow's life.

Those two spent the next century or so arguing over the cow's name, thereby further robbing me of my sleep. Henry was gunning for Lucy while Rio chose the very ridiculous name of MooMoo.

"Lucy it is then," I interjected. "MooMoo is a stupid name for a cow." I threw in an icy glare for Rio's benefit.

However it would seem that insult had no ill effect on her whatsoever. Ugh! How could she be so goddamned happy all the time?

"That's great Neil! Thank you so much!" she beamed while I handed over their pitchfork, brush and milker-all tools they would fail at using I'm sure.

I responded with a standard harrumph, hoping it would get the message across. No, I don't want to be friends. That didn't deter her though.

"Can I give you a gift to express our thanks?"

"Come on Neil!" Henry chimed in. I was seriously re-thinking my earlier favorable judgment of him…

"Uh no thanks, I've got to hit the road. Just try not to kill Lucy like you killed off your crops."

I could hear Rio's obnoxious giggle as I left the farm. Sweet goddess! Could someone just tape her mouth shut already? I pitied Henry. He has to spend twenty-four hours at day with that aggravating little dolt.

It wasn't a joke, I added mentally.

It was about 7am. Just enough time for me to catch a quick nap before I had to open Neil's Animals. Not that it matters since no one visits anyway.