Chapter One
She wakes up in a forest.
And laughs.
;;;
(It's a little maniacal. A bit hysterical.
No matter how much she checks, there's nothing there.
Her tears water the grass.
Waking up is almost cruel.)
Clover gets to her feet and stumbles forward.
;;;
Her hair is blue.
The reflection on the lake is almost identical to who she was. Her eyes, a dark brown, holding the agony of someone lost (of who lost a world).
(She lived in a concrete jungle.)
Clover splashes water on her face, gasping at the chill. She wets her blue hair, redoing the braid. Even her eyebrows are the colour.
"Where am I?" Clover asks the rippling stillness.
The pristine world lays before her without answer.
;;;
There is something in the sky. She follows the river to it.
;;;
Clover enters Trampoli by almost tripping down it's waterfall.
She waves a hand through the letters in front of her, a burning fear simmering as they fade. Ever so carefully, she climbs down.
"Are you alright?" the girl addressing her is young, with pink hair, thick red robes, and a witch's hat. There is a word over her head, and numbers underneath it.
Clover swallows her irritation. "I'm lost."
"I'd say." The kid makes a fist and slams it into her palm. "I know just the thing to help! I own the bathhouse here. I'll get you set up, and then you can tell me what happened."
Clover, who has spent the last few days in the forest, feels her dry throat close with emotion. "Water?"
"I'll bring you some fresh stuff to drink! And eat!"
"Thank you," Clover chokes and holds together the last of her pride. "Thank you."
She lets the girl take her hand and lead the way, head held high.
;;;
Melody is not a kid, and Clover is not as old as she once was.
"I don't normally come to Trampoli," Melody says, sipping enchanted tea. Relax Tea. Clover can see the name of the item hovering over the item. It's very confusing. "There was a shift in Runeys, and I really wanted to see what that was all about. So many water Runeys, I'm surprised I can't do a single water spell!"
The girl laughs, and Clover cracks a smile. She begins drinking her own relax tea, feeling the effects immediately. "I don't know about any… Runeys. Or magic at all. There wasn't any where I was from."
"Huh?" Melody puts a finger on her own cheek, tilting her head. "Well, there isn't much information about travel between worlds this far out. You'd have better luck in the capital looking for answers."
"I'm not sure I can go back." Not sure if she wants to, after everything that happened. Is there anything left of her to go back to? "Can you tell me more about this place? I don't want to be running around like a crazy person."
"No worries!"
In the back of her head, a map of Norad unveils.
;;;
"This amount of rain is definitely a rune wonder," Melody hums, watching it fall through the open door of the bathhouse. Clover sits in a nearby chair, dressed in an old red witch's outfit. "When it's over, we'll travel to Kardia with Mist. She'll be happy with this weather, at least."
"Do you two move between places often?" Clover asks, her brain hurting a little when her 'translating' skill increases as she reads.
"Not really. Kardia gets more traffic because it's on the boarder between kingdoms. Usually I'm there, but when magical things happen I like going to see them play out."
"Mist and Sharron told you about the Runey shift, yah?"
"Yep! Sharron's considered an oracle. Mist is just good at telling those types of things, even if she can be a bit distracted at times. I'd almost say they're Earthmates, but they've got none of the known powers."
"What's an Earthmate?"
"Eh? Well the broad version are people who can communicate with spirits and the earth. Nowadays it's only certain skills that get you recognized as an Earthmate. Revitalizing the land, using ancient magic, and things like that."
"…How is that different from witches?"
"Magic!" Melody explodes from her chair, twirling and drawing a fond smile from her companion. "Witches can use a variety of magics with only their own ability! Or they can specialize in certain areas!"
"And you want to be one?"
"I want to learn so badly!" Melody collapses in her chair with a squeal. "My own magic reserves are non-existent, but I won't give up! I'll become a great witch!"
Clover reaches over and pats the young woman's hand. "I believe you."
Melody looks like she's been given the world.
;;;
His name is Danny, and Clover sees the word over his head change to his name as soon as he's introduced.
His number is low.
He is also rude.
Because he is there for Melody's bathhouse, Clover holds her tongue. She watches the stick figure of a white boy slouch as soon as he thinks eyes are off him. His number and name don't change.
According to Melody, he runs the only store around. Clover thinks some healthy competition would be good for him.
She makes sure to be upstairs, glancing through books for quick information, when he leaves. Less chance of snapping at him.
"Menu," Clover mutters, glancing at the words and numbers that appear in the frozen world. Like a game character, her numbers are slowly rising. A title is still under her name. There are no magics she knows, and her inventory only holds her old clothes.
Her fighting with fists skill is higher than her knife skill from shadow boxing before bed. Clover still is not comfortable using the weapon Melody insists she carries for 'just in case'.
Danny's name has been added to the list of people she knows.
And still, there are no quests.
This isn't a game, no matter how much it feels like it.
"What am I supposed to do?" Clover wonders, barely whispering as she looks to her title. Sees her age in this world. Cuts her eyes away from the teenage status.
Almost two seasons away from being an adult.
She closes the menu and goes to make dinner.
;;;
Clover
Fate's Ruin
;;;
Across from her, Mist gives Luna Lovegood vibes without even trying. "Live in my house."
"What?"
"Mist," Melody groans from her spot at the front of the horse and cart. If she didn't have to lead the horses, she'd turn and shoo off her friend. "You can't just do that to everyone you meet."
"I have a second house no one uses," Mist continues in her wispy voice, happily toying with an oversized turnip in her lap. "You do not have a house. Come live in mine."
"…Are you for real?" Clover looks between the young women. "I mean… you're right, I have nowhere… but for real?"
"Of course!"
"Then sure," Clover shrugs, a bit worried why Melody mutters 'wait for it', "thanks for the offer."
"Oh, this is great!" Mist claps her hands together. "We'll live so close to each other, and I'll be able to teach you how to farm-"
"Wait, what was that?"
"There is a large farm plot that needs to be used." Mist falters at the storm cloud growing on her new friend's face. "I can teach you how to use it! Nobody ever grows turnips anymore… but with you around, we can bring the Runeys back!"
Clover has to take a few deep breathes to not snap at the truly innocent face. "Does staying in your second house require me to farm?"
"Well, no…" Mist pouts a little. "I thought it would be nice…"
"The field usually scares people away," Melody breaks in from the driver's seat. "Don't worry, my door's always open for you."
"I'll give it a few days try," Clover grits out. Mist looks a thousand times happier while Melody sighs. "How much longer to Kardia?" As if she can't see their progress in a map every time she closes her eyes.
"A few hours," Melody hums. Mist switches to sit beside Clover. "Go ahead and rest up. We'll make it in time for lunch."
"What's up?" Clover asks wearily as Mist snuggles into her side.
The white-blonde haired young woman sighs. "The world is quiet around you."
Clover stiffens for a second. The cart wheels keep turning, and she lifts her arm around the smaller woman's shoulders. Mist snuggles in and falls into a peaceful rest.
"Don't be too offended," Melody says after a quick look at them. "Mist tells everyone she meets that they, word-for-word, 'looked like the farmer type'. No one takes her up on her house after they see the field."
"That bad?"
Melody makes a face. "Sometimes monsters crawl out of there."
Clover's eyebrows rise. She's learned the knife will send the creatures back home, amongst other weapons available for purchase. Still, she does not want to run into anything considered a monster.
But if any are in the field, she's not scared to take them down.
;;;
"Oh no," Melody whispers, stirring Clover from her sightseeing. The taller woman braces when the cart jerks to a halt.
"What is it?"
"Orcs."
Clover gently wakes Mist while she strains to see. They are furry creatures, almost human-like in how they move. The blue haired woman jumps out of the cart the same time as Melody.
"Leave," Melody says, voice shaking a bit but a knife out and ready.
The three Orcs advance.
"Are you alright there, Mist?" Clover says, tense as a wire. When she gets a positive, Clover runs to pass the horses.
The Orcs stop and chitter before advancing, her arrival only shaking their confidence slightly.
Clover tosses the enchanted knife back and forth in her hands. When Melody gives the signal, the women rush forward.
Clover sees the low numbers below the words 'Orc' and deals with the weakest first. She knows all the moves and hits with a sure accuracy she's never felt before. Time almost feels like it's slowing down.
After dealing with the second, she and Melody team up and defeat the level five Orc. The light of the defeated monster disappears, and Mist gives them a standing ovation.
"Heh," Clover pants and makes her way back to the uneasy horses. She coos and pats them, flashing the other women a relieved smile. "We did it."
"We did," Melody looks at her with the beginning of a simple hope. "That was awesome!"
"You were so cool!" Mist breathes, sitting back down. "The mayor should let you go in dungeons."
Melody jerks, eyes wide. "Well-" she cuts off and stares at Clover. "Actually, yah! You'd be a great help!"
"Dungeons?" Clover feels all her good mood abate.
"Where the monsters come from," Mist nods. "Sometimes people go in there to thin out their numbers, so they don't come to bother the village."
"Or adventures," Melody sighs and hops back to her place in the driver's seat. She holds out a hand to assist Clover up. "We'll ask the mayor if you can have access to a few."
"Do I get a say in this?" Clover drawls, swinging a leg up.
"It's just something there, if you ever want to explore," Melody explains. "Who knows, maybe you'll find something to help you in them? People are always finding new rooms and treasures."
The treasure part sounds interesting, but Clover would like to stay alive thank you very much. "I'll think about it."
"Farming helps you level," Mist whispers when Clover settles beside her. "You use less RP that way."
"What do you mean?"
Mist hums and tucks under her arm again. "Some Earthmates can see numbers. Everyday things level us up, let us get stronger and smarter, even if we don't know it. Farming and fighting are the best, they say."
"And what do you think?"
"I can't' see any numbers," Mist pouts. "I want to help people get better. Farming helps."
Farming is all she can offer. Clover softens, still holding a bit of anger but starting to understand. "Be one with the earth and all that?"
"More Runeys mean we all grow stronger."
Or maybe Clover's not understanding quite yet. "And growing more turnips will help?"
Mist looks up with wide, hopeful eyes. "Of course."
Clover snorts and leans back to watch the scenery. "Alright, dudette. I'll help out." Because it may not be a game, but the need to level and get stronger is already creeping in. Numbers aren't visible to be unprepared, after all.
Mist brightens considerably, stars practically shining in her eyes. Before she can say anything, a rush fills the area with the scent of dew and fresh rainfall.
"Are they following us?" Clover groans as water Runeys fade in and out while the area settles.
"I think one is," Mist hums, leaning away from Clover. She raises her turnip to her ear.
"Maybe Sharron will know what's up," Melody says poking a Runey as they go by. She giggles. "I'll make sure to bring her by to see you."
Melody's best friend may have some answers for Clover, but neither is sure how helpful the Oracle can be with matters of other worlds. Better to try than to not.
"Oh," Mist lowers her turnip, gazing at it with a sort of wonder. "Have you been by a lake recently, Clover?"
"Yah?"
"That makes sense." Mist settles back against the blue haired woman.
"What do you mean?"
But Mist is already asleep.
Melody laughs at Clover's aghast expression. "Don't worry about it, Clover. The Runeys will pass like they always do."
Clover wants to know what kind of world treats sudden shifts in the environment as normal.
This one, apparently. Clover goes back to watching the trees go by, this time with sparkling water on their branches. It's amazing to see and experience.
It will take a while before impossible things stop surprising her.
Disclaimer: I have no claim to the Rune Factory series. All rights belong to their respective owners.
A/N: I've been going through my old, unposted stories and found this. I don't know… I thought it might be nice to put this up… Thanks for reading