Alright! I just got Harvest Moon: Animal Parade, so.. Well, going to give a Harvest Moon story a shot. Critiques welcome, just getting started on the first day of gameplay here.. Have fun!
"Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah, someone's in the kitchen I kno-o-ow, someone's in the kitchen with Di-nah! Strummin' on the old banjo!~"
Somewhere, down a road heading to an old worn out ranch that had been left in disuse for so long its roof sagged with neglect, a well meaning man was considering strangling his young, sprightly passenger. He had spotted her walking down the side of the road, carrying a rucksack with what looked like all of her personal belongings and covered in road dust. She had looked half dead on her feet from all the walking she must have done, and he had worried for a few moments that she had heat stroke from the way she continued to talk to the air beside her. Some water had brought her around, and when she had mentioned where she was headed... Well, how could he not offer her a ride? The bright grin and the flood of thank you's had sealed the deal, though he was finding himself honestly wondering why he had done it when he heard her singing line after line of off tune childrens songs.
The girl in question was actually a young woman, though she hadn't acted or looked it since she had climbed into the back of his wagon her hair short and brown and her clothes not at all suited for the life of a rancher, though she had been quite insist that she was going to do just that. Finally the song came to a blissful end, or so he had thought. He heard the young woman open her mouth again and inhale to begin singing and quickly began asking her questions, just to keep her from singing again.
"Oh, hey... Er, what was your name again?" Jackpot. The girl smiled from her reclined position in the wagon and chirped her response back at him.
"Molly, sir!"
"Ah, that's right... Molly..." He sifted through his head, looking for more questions to ask before that wretched singing began again. "I'm Cain, the owner of Horn Ranch. Nice to meet you!" Nothing.. Shoot.. Keep talking! "It's only a little longer to your house. Would you mind if I asked you a few questions about yourself until we got there?"
"No, go ahead sir." Cain settled down a bit. Maybe she did have a horrible singing voice, but her tone was light, cheerful, happy.. Something so unusual to hear now a days.
"It's just that it's so unusual for young people to want to start up a ranch these days..." He gave a glance to the girl's short skirt, top and tank top, feeling a little doubtful that she would manage to make it as a rancher, still though.. "Well, let me start with this. What's your favorite food?"
"Ah... I suppose.. fruit and vegetables the best? Fish is a great runner up though!" Alright, that answer was actually a good one. He nodded and smiled.
"I see... And when's your birthday?" They were going to be neighbors, and if he knew his wife and daughter they would love to have a new friend around the area.
"Spring, ah... Early spring," she said, leaning back against the hay and staring up at the cyan skies.
"Gotcha..." He paused, having run out of questions to ask the young rancher, then sighed and began to speak again. She had to learn about what was going on sometime, right? "Anyway, like I was saying, there aren't a lot of ranchers now... I hope that you'll be able to reinvigorate the town. This place has seen better days though.. We haven't had any good crops in a while.. and no one seems to know why..."
If this bothered Molly it didn't seem to show as she remained laid back in the hay, relaxing her weary muscles and luckily not picking her singing back up. Cain relaxed a bit, his short bout of nervous speech over as his passenger seemed to drift off and sleep...
Molly laid back, feeling the sun on her face and smelling the sweet, fresh air, barely hearing Cain's talking, for the most part missing his talk about how things had been going in the area. She was too happy for that sort of thing anyway. She was finally out of the city with its smog and noise and crowded streets, finally on her own, finally an adult! A real adult! The joy of it flooded her body and she sighed happily, even while a miniature person flitted around her, squeaking anxious words into her ears. She'd been singing the past few miles to drown it out, but...
"Hey, don't forget that we have to go see the Harvest Goddess! I have a feeling that she really needs our help and you're the only one who can see me!" He squeaked, waving his minuscule arms about as he buzzed circles around her head, leaving a trail of sparkles behind him that seemed to emanate from his wings. She just continued relaxing, letting her thoughts come and go and feeling her aching muscles slowly unwind and relax...
...Ah, right, he was Finn. Finn was a Harvest Sprite, she had run into him on the road while she was heading to her ranch. She remembered his shock, then joy upon finding that she could see him and remembered him chirping about how long he had been looking for someone that could see him. That's right... The Harvest Goddess.. What's wrong with the Harvest Goddess though?.. "Hey, Molly! I know you're exited about finally getting your ranch, but don't forget that we have to see the Harvest Goddess as soon as we get there!"
'Right.. Harvest Goddess.. Gotta see the Harvest Goddess,' she thought, drifting off to sleep as she lay in the warm, dry hay.
"Hey, are you even listening to me?! Heeeeeey!" She heard the Harvest Sprite squeak from a distant, undoubtedly waving his little fists with his face a mask of frustration. Still.. Between the sun and the hay.. It was just too nice out..
Molly finally stood at the edge of what would be -her- property, just beside a road sign and the start of a fence that surrounded my property... Or, well, what was -mostly- my property. It looked like there were two other plots of land out there that weren't mine technically, but that one other there with the cherry trees had to be mine! As Cain's wagon and horse pulled away from my property, I gave a little leap of joy, feeling it from my head all the way to the tip of my toes. It was mine! All mine!.. I think anyway... How did this work anyway?.. Ah well.
I was happy to see that Finn at least seemed just as pleased as I was, zipping in small circles around me as I grinned and then following me as I ran down the path towards my house. I could see a barn, a coop... that looks like my house but what's wrong with the roof?.. And the siding.. And the yard... and the door.. I came to a stop at the door of my house and frowned slightly, noting the missing shingles, the unused lumber in the yard, the outright missing sections of roofing and siding.. The coop and the barn weren't much better all things considered. Finn floated beside me, suspended in the air by his rapidly working wings, looking just as saddened as I felt.
"Uhh... This ranch is pretty... beat up..." He finally murmured to break the silence, and I couldn't help but laugh a bit. Beat up was one way to put it alright, though she guessed it -was- her mess, so she'd just have to get used to it. A few buckets, some warm blankets and some elbow grease and it'd be fine. It looked like she even had some crops leftover in the plot, so-
"Hello! Helloooo!" The voice was boisterous, a little aged, but kind and almost excited, a cautious sort of excited, but still excited. I turned around, Finn landing on my head to rest his wings and look with me and saw a short, chubby man with a kindly face and ornate blue clothing running towards me as fast as his little legs could carry him. He stopped to catch his breath a few feet away, then closed the distance, offering a bright and cheerful smile. I liked him immediately.
"Hello! You must be Molly! Welcome to Harmonica Town! I'm Mayor Hamilton!" He said, voice chipper despite the great gusts of air that accompanied them as he gasped for air. I could only grin and nod, which made the little man react with visible joy, throwing his arms in the air in a small show of it. Was everyone around here this open and happy? I felt a part of me that had been worried about moving to a new town, that little inkling that something could go wrong, leave immediately. With people this friendly, what could go wrong?... Well.. I turned and looked at my house a moment, considering that and causing Mayor Hamilton to look as well..
"Ahh.. Why don't I explain some of the basics about your ranch?" He offered, tone a bit nervous as if the sight of my worn out home would make me pack up and leave. "It may look a bit rusty, but with just a little care, it'll look fabulous in no time!"
Fabulous huh?.. I turned and nodded to his offer, which immediately put a bright small on the little man's pudgy face. He instantly began to chatter on about my ranch, how to take care of it, everything really. I listened as intently as I could while Finn grinned, chirping as he flitted around my head.
"Wow, this is great Molly! You get a house and land for free? What a town!" He chirped, something I responded to with a giddy smile and a slight nod.. right up until Mayor Hamilton said, "Oh, I nearly forgot! You can make the 5,000 gold payment for your new land at Town Hall! There's no due date, you can pay it anytime!"
Bah, knew it was too good to be true. Judging by Finn's look, he seems just as let down as I feel though.. Might not be too bad if I can pay anytime, right?.. As it turns out, the Mayor isn't done as he gives me a map, a kit for my farming.. Wow! Seeds, a watering can, just wow! This will make things a -ton- easier, considering the meager savings I've built up over the past few months. Just moving here spent most of that up, I couldn't imagine buying all of my farming tools as well. Among the items he gives to me is also a map of the surrounding area with different places marked. Marimba Farm, Horn Ranch, Harmonica Town.. Ugh, my feet are already aching.
"You'll find the Flute Fields over there, there's a farm and a ranch so they can help you if you have questions. Also... Opposite of Flute Fields is Harmonica Town, and head a little further North along the path to get to the Garmon Mines... Ah! I've also left you some helpful books in your bookshelf to help you out!" The Mayor chirps, motioning in the directions of the mentioned areas and smiling widely. "Well, I'll be heading back to Town Hall. Once you've settled in, please stop by Town!"
I nod, and with another grin and flourish, Mayor Hamilton started back towards town, his squat legs moving as quickly as they could carry him. It was almost funny watching his legs almost make circles under him, enough so I began to giggle until Finn darted a circle around my head, saying, "Well, let's start by naming the ranch, Molly! Ranches need names!"
Name? I hadn't even considered that! Though... Dumpville seemed strangely appropriate for the neglected old ranch. Turning I stared at the building, biting my lip a moment as I stared at the old house, barn and coop. This was my new home. The place I was going to stay for the rest of my life I hoped, the place I wanted to build my new life.. What kind of name fit all of that? All of my hopes, dreams and plans? Oh...
"..Promise. It's Promise Ranch now," I say, knowing even as the words tumble out of my mouth that its the perfect name for this place I'm building my new life. Finn grinned.
"Promise Ranch? That's a great name!" He chirped, making me blush slightly with embarassment. He starts to talk again, but already my mind if racing with possibilities. With what I could do with this place, with thoughts of animals and plants and nice long sunny days and long winter nights filled with hot cocoa. With one happy jump, I hurry inside, just barely hearing Finn behind me.
"HEY! Molly! You're not listening again!!!"