Okay :D so later than I expected, but I kind of got really sick and had a crap load of make up work to do. Anyways, this is my re-write of Waffles Taste Best with a Little Adventure. I figured it's better than just re-uploading chapters.
By the way!
"thinking"
"speaking"
drinking age is 16 and up in my story for plot purposes.
Yada-yada-yada~ Don't own Harvest Moon.
Sincerely,
Lexi :D
Chapter One
"I'm afraid...life as we know it...will no longer coexist with the human world...Unless one brave warrior...stands up for our world as well as the humans'...to save us all from peril...and destruction...I must go...for I have lost the strength to protect the two worlds...and I must lay dormant until that brave warrior arrives...This warrior will complete fourteen tasks...each of you will help the warrior understand and...ac-"
A young woman awoke from her troubling and confusing dream that had been plaguing her since she had decided to move about a month ago after a very loud and disorienting whistle came from the train she was traveling in. She raked her fingers through her dark tresses and groaned as she fully woke from her nap. Her hazel eyes shifted to the window of the train and she felt her heart flutter as the ocean came into view, sparkling like a million diamonds.
A small smile graced her lips as a thought occurred to her, "A new life, no a new beginning is in store for me. I wonder what everyone's like."
The conductor's voice sounded over the intercom and announced that Dolphin Dock, her stop, was coming up.
She felt her lips pull into an even brighter smile as she stood with her small suitcase and rucksack, all she had to her name.
As the train came to a complete stop, she had a moment of self-doubt, "What if I can't do this? I'm only seventeen. I've never farmed a day in my life, how do I expect to be able to farm?"
"We've arrived at Dolphin Dock folks. I hope you had a nice journey on the Moon Flower Express, and please watch your step as you step out," the conductor's voice sprawled out from the intercom again, forcing the young woman to make a decision.
"It's now or never Dani, get your ass off this train and begin your new life already!"
She nodded and a determined expression flushed upon her face as she began to walk towards the open door, a slight spring in her step.
"I can do this," she whispered to herself when she came upon the metal stairs that would lead her off of the train. With one swift movement she picked up her boot cladded foot and stepped down the stairs quickly.
The smell of ocean air flooded her senses while she strode along the sandy shores. She inhaled the marvelous scent and exhaled any and all pent up worries with one breath. Dani's eyes danced as she scanned the deep blue beauty of the vast ocean until they came to the unfortunate looking yacht that awaited her at the dark wooded dock.
The ship was pitiful compared to the beauty of the beach and the ocean. Its chipped and yellowing paint job had definitely seen better days, and Dani was convinced that it bobbed a little lower in the water than it should have. Her hopes began to fall until her eyes landed upon the obvious captain who looked incredibly proud of his old ship as he patted her side with a large smile on his face and his pipe in his hand.
A long and loud whistle erupted from the train as it began to chug away from its lone passenger. Dani stared after it for a few moments until it began to gain more and more speed, when suddenly it was only a speck on the horizon and its whistle only a whisper on the ocean breeze.
Dani's attention was brought back to the pitiable yacht and its proud owner. She gave a hopeful smile, small as it was, and trekked her way across the perfect sand to the dock.
The elderly man, who Dani guessed was probably in his late fifties or early sixties, turned when the sound of light footsteps signaled that someone was walking on the dock. He gave a hearty smile to Dani as she neared and lit the tobacco in his old pipe.
"What can I do for ya lass?" The old captain asked sincerely and kindly. Though Dani felt a little bad about making fun of his boat that he obviously cherished, she gave a small smile.
"Is this the boat that's traveling to Waffle Island?"
His smile broadened even more as he held his pipe between his lips.
"That it is lassie, and I'm about to take off. Are you heading to Waffled Island?" came his slightly muffled reply.
Dani nodded and maneuvered her rucksack on her shoulders slightly to try to gain a little more comfort.
"Well then, welcome aboard! Here let me get that for you!" The captain exclaimed and grabbed her suitcase before she could protest. He animatedly marched up the sloped attachable walkway and led Dani to her cabin and placed her small luggage on her sardine sized bed. Dani graciously thanked him and placed her rucksack alongside her suitcase and smiled.
"Gosh I can't stop smiling. I still find it hard to believe that this is happening."
Dani glanced at the small mirror that was no bigger than her face and stared at her reflection. She considered her eyes to be her best feature, slightly catlike and a pretty blend of green and a sort of honey colored brown. Her nose, in her opinion, was too small compared to her proportions and pointed up slightly at the end, causing her to really not care for it. She took her pointer finger and pushed the tip of her nose down a little and giggled, knowing she really couldn't do a whole lot about her looks. Dani groped around in her suitcase's side pocket, found her brush and quickly ran it through her hair a couple of times before finally giving up on taming it.
"Oh well," she sighed and replaced the brush in its proper place in her suitcase.
A knock came at her door and Dani quickly turned to open it, though she didn't have to turn much seeing as how the cabin was a very tight space. She opened the door and found the captain standing there reloading his pipe and smiling.
"Hello lass, just wanted to tell you that we're leaving the dock now. By the way, I'm Pascal and I'll be on the deck if you need me," the captain announced. Dani nodded and thanked him as he walked away. Dani reclosed the door and sat on the firm mattress. She yawned and kicked off her shoes as well as placed her suitcase and rucksack on the floor of the tiny room.
She moaned at the hard feel of the bed and the somewhat rough rocking of the boat, but lied down and fell asleep.
As sleep claimed her, a similar scene played in the depths of her mind as REM began to take over.
Seven little men with green hair and each wearing a color of the rainbow stood crying in a semicircle around a beautiful woman with long blue hair and wings. Her pale skin looked ghastly against her beauty and unnatural. She was obviously ill and seemed as if she would collapse at any moment, making the tiny weeping men sob harder. She seemed upset but regal at the same time and closed her eyes as she tried to find the right words to say to her companions.
"I'm afraid...life as we know it...will no longer coexist with the human world...Unless one brave warrior...stands up for our world as well as the humans'...to save us all from peril...and destruction...I must go...for I have lost the strength to protect the two worlds...and I must lay dormant until that brave warrior arrives...This warrior will complete fourteen tasks...Each of you will help the warrior understand and... accomplish these tasks...I'm counting on all of you...so...please-cough-please-"
A clash of lightning and the exploding sound of thunder jolted Dani awake. Disoriented and scared she quickly sat up without thinking and slammed her head against the window pane that revealed a grisly storm brewing outside. Waves crashed on the yacht and thrashed the poor thing around. Dani's head felt as if it might explode as her vision became blurry. Another wave slammed against the boat and flung Dani out of the bed and sent her crashing onto the floor and effectively knocking her unconscious. Her last thought before everything went black was, "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all."
Bright rays of sunshine seeped through a window onto Dani's tired and resting form. As speckles of light caused the lids of her eyes to turn red, she groaned and turned over on the comfortable mattress but without much difference.
She popped one eye open and quirked an eyebrow at the unfamiliar room. Opening both eyes she looked around, scanning the room for any familiarity but finding none other than her rucksack and suitcase that rested in one of the corners of the room. Dani pushed herself up on her hands and grimaced at the migraine she had somehow obtained but ignored it and sat up fully.
"Where am I?"
Dani was starting to worry when she heard voices traveling from below the floor. She quietly stood and slipped her boots on that resided near her bed. Grabbing her rucksack and suitcase she peeped outside the door, glancing left and right. Several doors were situated on either side of the room she was occupying as well as parallel to her room.
The voices became louder as she stepped to her left and she could distinguish that there was more than one female speaking. Slowly, Dani walked the length of the hallway and discovered that to her immediate left there were two more hallways full of rooms and to her right was a staircase.
Suitcase and rucksack in tow, she traveled down the steps and peeked around the corner to see three women conversing, each of a different age, one elderly, one probably in her forties, and a girl who looked like she might be the same age as Dani. Deciding to announce her presence, but not wanting to disturb the ladies' conversation, Dani tip-toed down the steps as quietly as possible, but one of the steps squeaked under the sudden change in weight and all three women turned and looked at Dani.
Dani gave an apologetic smile and walked the last couple of steps down.
The woman who seemed to be in her forties gave a kind smile and stood. Dani shyly looked at the woman. She was really rather pretty with her violet eyes showing nothing but kindness and joy. She had a simple hairstyle, her strawberry-blonde locks cropped short, and she was considerably taller than Dani, her long emerald dress highlighting that fact. Dani couldn't help but notice that her nose was perfect too…
"Hello miss, how are you feeling?" She asked.
Dani gave a small smile and admitted, "My head hurts but I'm fine."
Dani paused for a moment and asked, "If you don't mind my asking, where am I?"
The woman chuckled and quickly answered, "I'm sorry how rude of me. You're at the Sundae Inn on Waffle Island. You got in a pretty bad storm on your way here and bumped your head pretty hard. Poor Pascal was so worried about you! We decided to keep you here until you felt up to talking to Mayor Hamilton. I'm Colleen, and my husband and I own this Inn. This," she motioned to the two women who had stood up a while ago, "is my daughter Maya and my mother-in-law Yolonda. I don't believe I ever got your name miss."
Dani quickly said, "Oh, I'm Dani it's very nice to meet you all. Thank you so much for your hospitality! But, um, I'm afraid I don't have any money…"
Colleen stared at Dani quizzically before laughing melodically, "Oh don't be silly! I don't expect you to pay me! I'm simply glad we could be of service to you when you needed it."
Dani smiled, surprised at how nice people seemed already. She glanced over at the two other women and gave them a sincere, "Hello, it's very nice to meet you."
Maya cocked her head to the side and took in Dani's appearance and quickly pranced over and shook Dani's hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Dani," Maya grinned, though something seemed off about her smile, like it was a little too sweet. Dani ignored the feeling and nodded as Yolonda came up to her and looked as if she was digesting Dani's appearance. Dani felt slightly uncomfortable under her gaze, her hooded eyes showing some sort of peculiar interest in the young woman.
"My," Yolonda began, "You sure are a pretty thing to be a farmer."
Dani blushed severely. No one had really ever told her she was all that pretty, so Dani was not only surprised but incredibly embarrassed.
Colleen gave a half-hearted glare to the older woman and announced, "Yolonda! You're embarrassing her! Shame on you."
Yolonda grinned in reply and gave a hearty laugh as Dani's blush deepened even more. Maya rolled her eyes at the conversation and quietly walked up the stairs to the rooms. Dani noticed this and furrowed her eyebrows as she stared at the stairs.
"Did I do something wrong? Did I offend her? What just happened?"
"Embarrassing people again mother? What will we do with you?" A masculine voice interrupted Dani's thoughts. She turned to see a man with graying hair, though he was rather handsome for an older gentleman. He strode over to Colleen and kissed her cheek then acknowledged Dani with a small smile.
"Hello, I'm Jake the innkeeper here. You're the young woman who is here to start a farm aren't you?" He asked kindly.
Dani nodded and told him her name. Jake simply nodded as he placed an arm around Colleen's waist naturally while she leaned into him.
"I believe Mayor Hamilton wanted to speak to you as soon as you woke. He said he'd be waiting for you outside."
Dani nodded and thanked them all again for their hospitality while they smiled and wished her luck. She quickly walked out the door, suitcase and rucksack in tow, and stepped into the bright haze of sunlight that blinded her slightly on her first appearance outside.
As her vision cleared, Dani began to look silently at the scenery before her, but before she could completely take in her surroundings, the pitter-patter of heavy foot-steps sounded on the cobbled pavement. She glanced to her left only to see a slightly heavy-set man breathing hard and running towards her. Dani had to bite her lip so that she would not laugh at the old man's appearance. He was shorter than Dani by a couple of inches at least, and his gray hair was done up in a strange pig-tail fashion resembling something of a French powdered wig. His rather large stomach bounced as he attempted to sprint over to Dani, though really only doing a light jog, and his breaths came out as harsh grunts.
When he finally reached the young woman, he had to pause before speaking and bent over to try and catch his breath, resting his hands on his knees.
"Are you alright?" Dani asked, still keeping her chuckles at bay.
Through his labored breathing came a, "I will be in just a moment."
He huffed and puffed a few times more before standing at his full, short height and smiled, his thin lips creating strange lines across his pudgy face.
"Hello, I am Mayor Hamilton, and I'm here to welcome you to Waffle Island!" He thrust his arms into the air and grinned.
Dani smiled, though awkwardly, and nodded. She only half paid attention to his rambling and would nod or shake her head whenever she was directly asked a question as they walked through the small vicinity of Waffle Town. As they walked, the Mayor would stop and point out a building and offer the name and a description of what goes on there such as the Town Hall and how it takes care of all community and environmental issues as well as offer a library and an office for Hamilton himself to perform any and all mayoral duties.
She wasn't terse to be rude; she was just quite tired of carrying her suitcase and rucksack entailing all of her belongings, not to mention she was very ready to move in to her new home. But alas, her home would not come along for another couple of days as had Hamilton informed her. All Dani could do was bite her cheek in aggravation and follow Hamilton quietly while wishing she could just move in already.
"And now," Hamilton announced, "I shall take you to Soufflé Farm so that you may learn a few things about farming and such."
Dani perked up a little at the notion. She could learn a little about what exactly she needs to do to become a farmer. Maybe this farm has cute little animals that she can play with or maybe she can learn how to shear a sheep or ride a horse or milk a cow. A sparkle became evident in her hazel eyes at the prospect, and she picked up her pace and became somewhat more animated.
Much to her dismay though, the farm was not one with cute little fluffy animals she could play with. It was not a place where she would learn how to shear a sheep or ride a horse or milk a cow. It was a simple harvesting farm that only held fields of strawberries, which Dani loathed, and some pretty flowers. Dani's animation was quickly lost and she glared at Hamilton for getting her hopes up. Oh how she wanted to wring his fat little neck, but Dani didn't dislike him that much, no she was just annoyed that he tricked her into thinking she was going to an actual farm, with actual animals.
"Alright, we are now in Ganache Mine District, and this is Soufflé Farm. You will be staying here until your house is completed. I will come for you when everything is ready. I truly hope you'll enjoy your stay here. By the way, do you think you'll most definitely continue living on the island?" Hamilton asked while beaming brightly.
Dani only nodded in response and ignored the urge to roll her eyes.
"Well of course I'm going to stay stupid; I kind of have nowhere else to go."
Hamilton clapped with joy and ushered Dani to make her entrance into the main building of the "farm." Dani complied slightly begrudgingly and sighed.
She only turned back when she reached the door after taking the steps, only to find Hamilton mouthing words of encouragement and silently cheering her on. She shook her head and smiled.
"I guess he's not that bad."
She opened the door, a bell ringing with it, and stepped inside only to be greeted with a frosty air conditioned room full of crates of fruits, vegetables, and fertilizers. Dani instantly felt chilled and with her free hand, her other one carrying her suitcase, wrapped it around her waist and shivered.
An old woman with very short, cropped, dark hair and a sad looking face entered the room from a hallway upon hearing the jingle of the bell above the door and crossed her arms as she stared at Dani. Dani cleared her throat and placed her suitcase on the floor next to her and readjusted her rucksack.
"Um, hello," Dani began, feeling a little awkward under the woman's stare, "Mayor Hamilton told me that I'd be staying here for a few days. I'm Dani, it's a pleasure to meet you."
The woman smiled a very small almost unnoticeable smile and held her hand out to meet Dani's for a firm but gentle shake.
"Hello Dani, I'm Ruth. I run this farm with my husband, and as far as I know, it has been arranged or you to help out with some of the work around here correct?"
Dani replied, "Yes, that's correct."
Ruth nodded quietly and stated, "Alright then, come with me and I'll show you to your room." Dani grabbed her suitcase once again and followed Ruth into the hallway she had come out of and ushered Dan into a very plain room.
Dani thanked her and placed her items in the room quickly. Ruth informed her that dinner would be ready in about thirty minutes and that her daughter and husband would arrive shortly. With that, Ruth left the room and closed the door behind her. Dani stood there for a few moments, staring at the door without any thoughts really.
"This is totally not what I expected, but I guess it's okay at least so far. I can only hope that my house will be ready soon. I wonder if I'll actually learn anything here."
Before Dani knew it, a knock came at her door to warn her that dinner was ready. Dani glanced at the mirror and tried to smooth down the cowlick she had had since she was very little, but to no avail. She sighed in defeat and walked out of her room to be greeted with the smell of something delicious. She followed the scent and found the kitchen where three people, Ruth being one and two others Dani had not met before, sat at the kitchen table while they began dishing out food.
Ruth raised her head as Dani entered the room and smiled the small smile she apparently used more often than Dani had thought and ushered her to the table. Dani took the seat across from a young beautiful woman who looked as if she may be slightly older than Dani. She was absolutely gorgeous. Her hair was long and dark, and her pretty brown eyes were clear as day.
The pretty girl smiled at Dani and introduced herself, "Hello, it's very nice to meet you. I'm Anissa."
Dani blushed a little and stammered slightly when she introduced herself to Anissa.
Craig, Anissa's father and Ruth's husband, introduced himself as well, albeit somewhat angrily. Anissa later explained that her father works really hard and sometimes feels a little unappreciated and that he doesn't mean it when he comes off as mean.
The food was delicious and needless to say Dani was stuffed and quite sleepy. As dinner conversation ended and Dani became more comfortable around the three, they all went to their rooms and called it a day.
Work on the farm was difficult and tedious, and Craig wasn't exactly the nicest guy to work with, but Dani persevered and worked her butt off until those couple of days seemingly flew by. When Hamilton came to receive Dani and take her to her new house, Dani suddenly realized she was kind of reluctant to leave. She had become so used to Anissa's, and her small chats and Ruth's cooking, and Craig's crabbiness that it felt strange to her to suddenly have to leave even though she knew this was coming all along.
Dani slowly repacked her suitcase to try and prolong her stay, but to her dismay the time came when she had no more items to pack. After checking, double checking, and triple checking to ensure that she was not forgetting anything, she sighed and sadly walked out the door to the bedroom that was no longer hers and made her way towards the front door.
Before she opened the door to the outside, Ruth flew after her to stop her for a moment. Before Dani could question Ruth's actions, she shoved some three-hundred G in her hands. Dani couldn't believe the transaction, and stared at it dumbfounded for a few moments before almost tackling Ruth in a bear hug. Ruth stood motionless for a moment before hugging her back and chuckling.
Dani stuffed the money in her rucksack and headed out, bearing Ruth and Anissa farewell, and stopped at the bottom step to give Craig a hug which he awkwardly accepted. She then followed Mayor Hamilton out of the Ganache Mine District to the Maple Lake District, then to the Caramel River District, where situated on a hill, located next to a river, stood a simple but nice house in which Dani would be calling her own from now on. Hamilton escorted her in, and after ensuring that she could get settled, he left her to herself.
Dani smiled and collapsed on her small but decent enough for one person bed and gave a contented sigh.
"Now I have a place to call my own." Dani whispered and closed her eyes. Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.