AN: So I've been wanting to actually buckle down and write a fic instead of just thinking about it for some time now... And I figured there's no better time than midnight to write a first chapter! So here's to my first fic! More chapters to come later! :)
Dreams by Careening
Chapter 1: Introductions
She stared out at the expanse of field that would soon be her property, the property that had previously been her father's. She felt a sharp pang in her heart; her father had never had the opportunity to see his dream, this dream, realized. She wished she could somehow talk to him again, hear his voice... She wanted to let him know that she loved him, and how much she missed him...
Before coming here, she hadn't understood. But looking out at this land... It had awakened something within her. Her gaze hardened with resolve, and despite how much the decision scared her, she felt a smile find its way to her lips.
It was then that she knocked on Takakura's door.
He stared out the open window of the shop, watching newly-budding trees sway in the breeze and the clouds roll by. Part of the spring wind wafted into the building through the window, mixed with the clean valley air. He breathed in deeply; he didn't think he'd ever quite get over how sweet and pure the air was here. Plus the people were kind, the scenery was beautiful...
He just wished he could do more work. He was feeling a little bit stronger every day, already he was thirty times stronger than he was when he had first come here three years ago. And yet, he still had to limit himself. Spring and fall weren't bad as long as it wasn't raining, but summers were full of the sweltering heat he so much hated, and when it was more than just a little cool, Vesta and Celia wouldn't let him out of the house...
He sighed in exasperation. It wasn't that he minded watching the store. Sure, he wasn't the most socially adept person there ever was, but he enjoyed the brief conversations he had with the people of the valley. It was just... he was a twenty-four year-old man. And almost all young men felt the urge to do some sort of hard work in the day, something to make the day worthwhile and to... to just do something.
Marlin glanced out the window at Vesta gathered fresh cabbages in one of their fields. He didn't see Celia; she must have gone to town or the spring. He absentmindedly wondered what he would do tonight... Go to the bar? The beach? Maybe both, he decided. He could use a glass of Griffin's Body Aid and some cool night air. Sounded nice...
At that moment, there was a hesitant knock on the door, interrupting Marlin's thoughts. Weird, people don't usually knock, he thought to himself. The wooden entrance creaked open to reveal a beautiful, petite blonde, clad in worn denim overalls and a red and white plaid shirt. She had large, expressive blueish-gray eyes and a cheerful smile on her face.
"Uh... hi!" She offered, giving him a wave of greeting.
"...Hey..." He said. A moment of silence passed, him shyly staring at this smiling girl. "Um... who are you, exactly?"
She blinked in confusion, then realization flooded her face. "Oh, duh! Haha, sorry, I spaced out! My name's Kimber. I'm going to be running Sunset Farm on the hill over there." She motioned towards the direction of the old farm to the south.
Marlin blinked, his face blank. This tiny woman... was going to be running that huge farm, all by herself?
It certainly was an interesting idea.
It suddenly hit him that he should probably introduce himself. Fighting down sudden nervousness, he said, "Well, my name's Marlin. Welcome to Forget-Me-Not Valley."
A smile lit up her face, and she let out a chime-like laugh. "Well, thanks!" She said.
"No problem." He replied.
The girl, Kimber, brought her gloved hands together and smiled again. "So... do you sell seeds here?"
He blinked again. "...Yeah. Vegetable and fruit seeds, fertilizer, and produce. Do you need something?"
"Yeah. I need something... well, don't laugh, but I need something... easy?" She laughed nervously. "Truth be told, I've only ever grown one thing, a bean plant back in elementary school... So I'm not really to sure about how great I'll be at growing crops. But I want to try!" She finished with gusto.
Marlin found himself smiling. There was something he couldn't quite place about this girl... Something he liked.
"Turnips and potatoes."
"Huh?"
"They're easiest to grow..."
"...Oh!" She smiled yet again.
"...Yeah." He smiled back, and went to grab her a seed pouch of each from the cabinet. "Turnips grow faster than potatoes, but they're both pretty simple. Just water them daily... Unless it's raining, of course..." She was nodding at every instruction, as though mentally taking notes. He suppressed an amused smile, handing her the seeds.
"Each of these pouches should cover about nine tilled squares each. The turnips should be ready to harvest in a little less than a week, the potatoes in a little over a week. Any questions..?"
Kimber brought a finger to her lips as though in deep thought. "Can I eat them when they're ready to harvest?"
He laughed. "Yeah."
Her eyes seemed to sparkle at the thought of eating vegetables she grew herself, and she let out that chime-like laugh again. "Great! So, how much do I owe you?"
"They're on the house this time." He replied. She shook her head adamantly.
"No, you've been such a big help in explaining this to me! It's really not necessary. How much-"
"They're on the house." He repeated.
Another smile.
"Well... If you're sure. Thank you, Marlin!" She was beaming.
"No problem."
"Well... I guess I better go plant these! I'll see you around!" The young farmer was still smiling when she the shop.
He was smiling, too.
AN: I know it's kind of short, but oh well, it's my first fic, I'm allowed to be lazy! XD Please read and review, as I have no idea what to think of this. There will be more chapters soon! :)