I've been reading a lot of Fan-Fictions so I can better figure out how this whole thing works, and something that I keep seeing (and enjoy) is to have an author's note beforehand about the story, so I'll try to make a point to do so! Also, I prefer to write in first-person perspective, for this particular one I will stick with Ms. Convict (true name yet to be revealed.) Just to add a bit more, I'll write a short quip of a different character's thoughts/actions sometime during the chapter in italics at the end.

Updates might take a bit longer since I have a very busy life and a slow writer. You should also know that I start a story with only a vague idea where I want to go with it, so I may update chapters with new content depending. Enjoy!

It always took a little while to get used to the proportions belonging to the newest form Uncle gives me, but I was finding this one most favorable. Upon my request, I now had hair to match his—as long and fire-like as the sun's rays along with eyes and skin hardy enough to be under the sky's stare for hours on end, no matter the weather. For all intents and purposes, it was a wonderful body to be in, even if my left hand…

Better go scavenge some plums, I quickly interrupt my own thoughts, I can't rely on—I discontinue the sentence with a slap to my own face; surely what I had done hadn't disturbed me thatmuch right? So much so that I couldn't stop my own mind from reminding me? I had stolen many things before with the guidance of my odd sensory ability—a few arguably more valuable. The ownership of my Clydesdale, Norfork, and the admirable carriage he pulled were certainly more precious than a tired old man's eye… although they can't bring the comfort of looking into the first fatherly gaze I'd ever known.

This is ridiculous! I just need some blood flow to circulate these thoughts out of my head, that's all. Grabbing Norfork by the mane, I pull myself onto his bare back and set us off at a strong gallop along the mountain trail, making the carriage creak behind the dust Norfork kicked up.

It was all well and good to feel the breeze blow away any thought until I noticed that my Clydesdale had defaulted the same route where I had first met him and his daughter . . . and had taken to traveling together down countless times.

"Damn it! I gotta get out of here!" Dealing with this atypical feeling of regret was too foreign for me adapt to; and thus, deal with. I'll ditch Norfork and the carriage as well, just not right now—aught as well travel in comfort.

Norfork whinnies in protest as I yank his mane to turn him around, not liking being told where to direct himself, but set off at a fast trot anyways. The nice thing about Norfork was that, although he had some pride issues, he was far more intelligent than any other of his kind that I had met and had an infallible sense of duty to perform well, no matter the situation. I'll have to be sure to leave him at a nice home, one where they can use him even better from the one I took him from.I analyze my own emotions for a moment. At least I don't feel any regret about taking Norfork away from someone's life to take him into my own—

"Oh no! You do not . . . !"

A stranger's voice is all that I hear before my world spins around me, an empty blue and a fuzzy green spinning, competing for the focus of my vision. It was long enough of a sensation that I had time to realize that I was rolling down the mountain, until there was a loud thud—my body slammed against a tree.

Sitting up slowly, I examine my own body. I wasn't even cut, despite hitting a few fallen branches on my trip—I make a mental note to thank Uncle nest time I come across him—but my clothes were a different matter. No amount of laundry-mat treatment could bring back their ability to be presentable.

"Is someone there hurt?!" The voice was unmistakably familiar—what's Ina doing in this obscure area of the mountain?!

I quickly collect my bearings; somehow, my rolling had placed me at the base of the pond that was below the festival cliff—with the lack of foliage, the only way I may have hide myself would be to jump into the pond and hold my breath, but it was much too clear for that.

"Are you alright?" Rutger, the mayor of Bluebell, reached me before Ina did.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I stand up, noticing too late that my savaged clothes showed an indecent amount of skin.

"Ah. . ." He blushed furiously, then quickly turned around to the path leading up to our location. "Ina, come quickly . . . !"

She emerged from a nearby tuft of forest—they must have split up to look for the source of the noise, but she only had to glance at Rutger and I in order to comprehend the situation. "You choose the worst times to be bashful, Rutger!" Ina unfastened a strap on the long red headdress that she was wearing, and it along with a river of dark brown hair came loose. "Here, you can wear this as a sun dress until you find some decent clothes."

Nodding my thanks, I pull it over me. It only goes down to my mid-thigh, and doesn't have a very flattering fit, but who's to complain? "Have you seen a horse and carriage around here?" I ask the pair of them.

"I did." Rutger grinned, "The carriage isn't too far from here, and there are some tracks leading to my lovely village of Bluebell."

Thank Sephia, Ina would have recognized Norfork and that would lead to some awkward questions. . .

"Speaking of which," Rutger continued, "could you be the farmer we were told about that would be moving into the area?"

I've heard people talking about this when I was in Konohana! Ought as well play along until I can book it.I put the most valid countenance for the allotted situation, "Ah, yes!" I give an embarrassed grin, "Sorry I didn't say so right away, I'm Noelle Cecile. I know that I was supposed to come next spring, but my situation changed. . . I hope that's okay?"

"It should be, but he," she jerked her head to indicate Rutger in a tense, disapproving way that matched her speaking tone, "and I have had yet to decide upon where you should live."

"Haven't we already?!" Rutger flared up at once, "I've told you, Ina, that we have already prepared a wonderful story-book home and yard for Noelle!"

This queer name would take some getting used to. . .

"And I have countered you, Rutger, on that point as we have taken the same action necessary for Ms. Cecile to come enjoy our elegant village!"

Rutger turns to me sharply, "you seem to be a worldly person, Noelle, so I'm sure that you would appreciate our modern, animal-loving lifestyle at Bluebell FAR more than the stale routine of plant-life that Konohana follows."

"How dareyou?! How could Bluebell have anythingon my darling Konahana?! All you have to do is sample you inferior cooking compared to ours to understand the difference in quality!"

"I wouldn't even feed your rubbish cooking to our chickens! Do you—"

"Please stop fighting. . ." I speak quietly and fake a little whimper—from my experience people tend to trust those who seem vulnerable faster than they do capable ones.

"Now see how you've upset her!" Ina snarls at her rival, then comes over to comfort the sad, sweet girl I'm posing as, putting her hand on my back and leading me along a path to Konohana. "I'm sure we can find something for you to wear at my place. . ."

"How I've upset her?" Rutger was indignant. "I'm not the one carrying off Noelle towards their village when she might be too confused to think about the decision clearly."

"Hmph, fine then. What do you think, Noelle?"

I quickly poked my eyes to make them water, as if in distress. "Well. . . I really appreciate your giving me this here headpiece. . ." Damn it! I hate to use the same lie twice, but I don't have time to think of another one that can justify me staying away from Konohana without good reason. ". . . but I have this weird allergy that's related to some kind of plant, I don't know which one, but it can be a bit dangerous for me. . . sorry. . ."

Rutger gave a triumphant grin, "—And there you have it, Ina!"

"We have a doctor in our village," Ina tried to sound motherly rather than competitive, but it was all too clear that she would despise the idea of losing custody of me over to Rutger, "You would be able to be treated if the slightest issue came up. It would be far safer for you; after all, it's not as if Bluebell doesn't have their own plants for feed and such."

Ina was always inconveniently sharp, and curious, wanting to get to know me during my brief stay at Konohana . . . I sneak a glance at Rutger to see if he could find an argument for me, best not to seem too acute, but his debilitated demeanor didn't give any sign of one.

"I really am sorry, but I'm quite sure it has nothing to do with animals . . . I lived on a ranch before now with no problems. I wouldn't have accepted the invitation to come here at all if I questioned whether I could handle taking care of livestock or not."

Ina sighed, defeated. "Fine then. As long as you know that you can move to Konohana at any time, the house will always be there, even if no one is living in it."

"Thank you!" I smile towards her, "I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Anyways, I'll have to go back sometime to return this to you, right?"

"Oh, very true! Dr. Ayame can give you a tour when you stop by; I'm sure that your mind will change once you've had a look around."

"Ehem," Rutger coughed as a means of interruption, "We'd best be on our way, Noelle, it'll be dark before long, and we still need to find your horse."

"Ah, you're right!" I make a start, and wave to Ina, "I'll be seeing you!"

She gives a sharp nod, and we part ways.

Ina

How unusual, I brew on the condition that was keeping Noelle from joining Konohana, the girl Mako was looking after had a similar issue . . . I wonder if Reina found a cure before the girl was stolen that unfortunate night—I'll have to ask her once I get back to Konohana.