This is my very first fanfic for Rune Factory, and it will be submitted to tsuki aoi usagi's writing contest for the Rune Haven forum. This is written for Rune Factory 1, set after the plot is finished.

Theme: Letters

Deadline: July 31st

Wish me luck, and be glad you've been spared one of my ungodly-long author's notes.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rune Factory, any of its characters/places/items/etc., or the original storyline/plot. I am merely a gamer trying to make my own fantasies real.

Part One: The First Step

The first day of spring was always Raguna's favorite day of the year. The birds were singing, the flowers were blooming, and he could finally spend some time getting his farm back in order. Cave-farming was all well and good, especially during the winter, but he loved the feeling of accomplishment he got from tilling his own field and watching crops grow right in front of his very eyes. This spring day, he decided that he was going to plant a whole mess of strawberries, cucumbers, radishes, potatoes, and maybe even some cabbages. There was no spring crop that he didn't enjoy growing, so he would simply grow them all. With a gentle smile, Raguna hefted his hoe and began turning the rich, dark soil in preparation of planting. He was just finishing the last row, a light breeze cooling the sweat that had accumulated on his brow, when he heard someone shout his name. He turned to see Rosetta by the farm entrance, waving her arm wildly to get his attention.

"Raguna!" she called. "I've got something for you!"

What? A present, maybe? Raguna loved presents, especially from pretty girls. Now that he didn't have to worry about the Sechs Empire destroying the peaceful life he had built, he was perfectly content to settle down in Kardia and raise a family. He knew all of the young women, and he liked them all. He just didn't know which one he liked enough to marry yet. He contemplated how life would be if he married Rosetta while he made his way out of the field. The blonde girl smiled cheerfully when he had stopped in front of her, one of her hands held behind her back to conceal whatever it was she had brought.

"What is it, Rosetta?" Raguna asked curiously.

"It was the strangest thing," Rosetta said. "You see, all the members of my family either own or work in general stores all over Norad. Some have even set up shop in the Sechs Empire. We trade our goods to each other all the time - that's how we sell your crops, by the way. But just this morning, my uncle sent me something from the Sechs Empire, where he lives."

Raguna tried not to be too put off by Rosetta's garrulousness. She was good company, but he would have liked her more if she held her tongue sometimes. He was just wondering what the point of her long-winded story was when she took her arm from behind her and held out an envelope.

"Apparently," Rosetta went on, "someone dropped this off at Uncle Jess's shop and asked it to be 'passed on to the recipient specified.' It went through a few different stores before Dad's, but...well..."

Raguna was surprised enough that Rosetta was fumbling for words, but he was even more surprised when he took the envelope and looked at it. There, in swirling, fancy, lovingly written script, was his name. Raguna. He swallowed against the uncertainty welling up in his stomach, not noticing the anxious expression on Rosetta's face. This letter, whatever it said, had come from the Sechs Empire. It had to be from someone who had known him before he had lost his memory...before his memory had been stolen from him. He had been someone then, and this was the first step to remembering.

"Raguna," Rosetta said softly. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah," he said absently, giving her a small smile. "I'm fine. Um, thanks for...this."

"No problem," Rosetta said, unconvinced but willing to let the farmer end the conversation if he wanted. "If you need me, you know where to find me."

Raguna waited until Rosetta was out of sight before he looked at the envelope again. He almost opened it right there but stopped. Anyone could come and find him here. Without knowing why, Raguna didn't want his past and present to collide so abruptly. It just didn't seem...right. So instead, he made his way to Misty Bloom Cave. No one ever went there, and anyone who did was only there during winter, when they could get inside the cave. He settled cross legged beside the water surroung Misty Bloom's little island and flipped open the envelope. The letter inside was short and written in the same fancy script as his name had been.

Raguna,

I know this must be strange, hearing from me. You probably don't even remember me. In fact, I know you don't. After all, it's my fault that you've lost your memory. I overheard Ethelberd (he's the Emperor here) in a rage because General Lynette's plan had failed. He was so upset! It appears that sending you to Kardia served no purpose, but I hope you're happy there. I assume, though, that they'll leave you alone now, which means it's safe for me send you this. I would have come myself, but travel to Norad is forbidden. So I've used a relay.

It's my fault that you were used so terribly, so it's only right that I give you back what was stolen from you. Raguna, my dear friend, I can't tell you everything, but I'll certainly try to fill the gaps. I've arranged to send you another letter with everything, so that you can choose whether or not you want to know who you once were. It should come in a day or so. I hope you're not too disappointed if you decide you really do want to know.

I'm sorry...for more than you know.

~ Vanessa

Raguna was stunned. He sat there for a few hours digesting the news he had just received, wondering who this Vanessa could be. Was she a friend? A sister? An enemy who now regreted being hostile toward him? He couldn't know. His only memories were of his life here in Kardia, as a farmer-swordsman. There was so much about himself that he didn't know. Maybe he would be disappointed when he read the promised second letter, but he had to know. This had not been his choice. He didn't choose to forget everything. He wanted to know what had been stolen from him. He smiled. Vanessa had used that phrase in her letter. She knew who he was; she held the key to everything he wanted to know. Whatever it took, whatever cruel realities were revealed, he would read that letter.

When Raguna went to sleep that night, he dreamed of a faceless girl reaching out to him. She had something to give him, but no matter how hard he reached, no matter how fast he ran, he couldn't reach her.

He received Vanessa's second letter the next morning.

Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'm only now seeing that writing for Raguna might be a bit lame (most people seem to use one of the other characters), but I like this story.

Please, if you've read this far, review. It's wonderful motivation.