AN: So I started playing Harvest Moon: Animal Parade and I thought I'd make a Chase X Farmer Girl but I never really liked the fact that all the playable girl characters had short hair. I know working on a farm is tough and hair just gets in the way but I just never liked it so, I've decided to change the way the character looks and her name. If you don't like it then don't read it, I'll try to stay close to the story line of Animal Parade with a few changes only because some of the things they do is… weird. Also I've decided to start a year in, why, because I can! MU HU HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!
Chapter 1
She couldn't believe it, she just couldn't. It was unfathomable, a year, one whole year had gone by and THIS is all she's accomplished? "This place is a mess, what did I get myself into?" The young farmer, Nariko, asked herself. Her house was a wreck inside and out, she managed to mend a few holes in the roof but her house was in serious need of work. Then there was the barn and the chicken coop, they looked like they could fall over at any given moment, she was actually surprised they lasted this long without doing just that, and then there was the land. It was dry and it felt like sand, not good for growing crops or even grass for that matter, however weeds were a constant problem, another thing she found curious, hardly anything would grow in her yard but every morning when she woke up she'd have to pull those god forsaken weeds out. "It's been a year now and I've got nothing to show for it, except a cow a chicken and some badly growing crops! This isn't how I expected this to go." The farmer leaned over her well and looked at her features, her vibrant red hair, that when just past her shoulder blades, in its usual ponytail, her usually bright blue eyes now dulled, her lean figure sporting the usual t-shirt and shorts. "Maybe this was a mistake, maybe I should just go back home." She said as she turned around and looked at her cow she dubbed Momo and her chicken she dubbed Sweetie. "Tch go back home? Yeah right, all I'd get would be 'I told ya so' and laughs. I can't do that, but I can't live like this either, I don't have any money and what little money I do have I've had to buy food for myself and the animals, or to buy seeds in hopes of getting more money… URGH!" She started to pull her hair out and stopped and thought she would look rather funny with no hair, so instead she plopped herself on the ground. Then it hit her, "Perhaps Elli has some work to be done in town hall?" She looked up at Momo with hope only to be responded with a moo. "I'll take that as encouragement Momo, thank you!" The young farmer jumped up and ran into town.
"Now where did I put that thing?" The brunette girl behind the counter said while sifting through various papers, when suddenly the door flew open. "Oh yes can I help- OH, Nariko, how nice to see you. Is there something you wanted?" She said going back though papers as the young farmer proceeded toward her. "Well actually Elli I was hoping you needed some help, some paid help preferably." "Farm life not going well for you I take it?" The snide comment coming from behind her. Nariko twirled around only to meet eyes with none other the mayor's son Gil. Now Gil wasn't exactly one of her immediate friends, if she were to even really consider them friends, but over time she did come to respect the man. He cared a great deal about the island and the people in it, even if he acted like an obnoxious jerk at times "You can just be quiet." "I'll take that as a yes." The blonde man said disregarding her comment. "Don't feel too bad Nariko, everyone else on the island hasn't been doing well either." Elli said hoping to cheer the girl up. "Yes, it's quite the oddity, it seems like the whole island is, for lack of a better term, dying." Gil explained. "Dying? Why?" Nariko said perplexed "If we knew we would fix it wouldn't we?" Gil said irritably. "However some people around here believe it's because the Harvest Goddess has abandoned us." "Harvest Goddess? I've been here a year and I don't recall anyone talking about a Harvest Goddess." Nariko said fascinated with what this Harvest Goddess looked like and who she was. "That is because it's just a legend." Gil scoffed. "Now you said you wanted some paid work yes?" Nariko looked up at the man with a smile plastered on her face. "Then you can take this paperwork to Shelly, it's the deed to her shop, she's finally paid it off. Something you should think about." "I'm barley getting by as it is!" Nariko exclaimed furiously. "Yet you have the luxury of going to the bar most of your nights?" Gil quirked an eyebrow at the girl. "Kathy gives me free drinks for... whatever reason, free booze is always good in my book." "Well perhaps you should concern yourself more with your work and less with your booze." Gil chastised the farmer who in turn folded her arms and stuck out her tongue in a childish manner, which in turn made Elli laugh and Gil furrow his brows. "Here just take her the papers and when you're done with that come back I have a few more things that need to get done." Gil said while handing her the papers. Nariko took them and scurried off to the tailor's shop.
Nariko crossed the bridge and entered the tailor shop only to find a distressed Shelly. "Ah Nariko how good it is to see you, what can I do for you dear?" Shelly said trying to hide her distress. Nariko smiled and handed her the papers, "Gil wanted me to give these to you, it's the paperwork to the shop." Shelly jumped up in excitement. "Oh good, that's wonderful news thank you so very much Nariko." She took the paperwork and put it away and sighed gently. Nariko scratched the back of her head, not really wanting to butt her nose in where it didn't belong. She always had this thing to go poking her nose into others business, not that she was nosey no, more like she liked helping others even if all they needed was an ear to talk to. An annoying trait, a good heart, not that it was really annoying so much as inconvenient especially when she had enough problems of her own "I don't mean to butt my nose in but, you seem upset. Is something wrong Miss Shelly?" Another annoying trait, being polite. The old woman looked up at her and smiled, "Well aren't you sweet to listen to the rantings of an old woman?" Nariko looked down and smiled, "Maybe I can help?" Shelly shook her head, "Maybe, it's just hard to come by wool anymore, Cain said that the sheep aren't growing hair fast enough, they can barely make any feed anymore the windmill just isn't turning fast enough. Ozzy came by the other day to have me fix a shirt of his that tore and he was telling me about how he and Tobi can't catch anything these days, and Craig says the crops aren't growing like they used to. It just seems like the island is withering away." Shelly looked down at the ground sadly. Nariko couldn't help but do the same, Gil was right the island WAS dying, but she didn't know what she could do. Who was she but just a farmer hoping to catch a lucky break? "Oh but look now I've gone and upset you." Shelly said to the young farmer. Nariko waved her hands dismissively, "No I'm fine I just wish I could do something to help." Shelly shook her head, "I know what you mean, but what can we do?" They both shrugged their shoulders and sighed, "Well I think I've kept you from your work long enough." Nariko chuckled and nodded her head, "Yes Gil said he had more work for me, I'll see you around Miss Shelly." Shelly laughed," You can just call me Shelly dear, goodbye!" Nariko walked out of the tailor's shop and walked back over the bridge to town hall. "I just wish there was SOMETHING I could do for this island." Nariko sighed.
Filing, that's the work Gil had for her, filing papers. She wasn't alone Elli was with her and Gil came in every once in a while to see how they were coming along, only to get a death glare from Nariko and nervous chuckle from Elli. "I hate him sometimes." Nariko said while putting away some of the papers. Elli looked at the girl beside her and elbowed her, "You don't really mean that." Nariko clutched her arm, "Right now I do, and how is it this got so unorganized, I mean of all people this could happen to Gil would be the very last on my list." Elli giggled, "it's giving you work isn't it?" The redhead looked at another piece of paper and crumbled it up, "What it's giving me is a very serious headache." The brunette shook her head and laughed. A moment later the door opened and Gil walked through it and looked at the two girls. "I swear Gil if you ask us how it's going one more time I'm going to give you a paper cut." Gil narrowed his eyes at the threat but ignored it "Actually I came to say you're done for the day, it's five o'clock." Nariko jumped for joy at the thought of no more papers. "And as I said it was paying work so here. " Gil handed an envelope to Nariko who gladly took it from him. "Thank you Gil!" She exclaimed while opening it up. Three hundred pieces of gold, it wasn't a lot, but for the farmer it meant the world. Gil folded his arms and looked at the redhead before him, "You are welcome; you didn't finish filling the paperwork. If you're interested you can come back tomorrow and finish, of course it'll be paid but after that I won't have anything else for you." Nariko looked even more excited if that were even possible, "Ok I'll be back here tomorrow at…umm..." "Nine o'clock. I'll assume that will give you enough time to finish your farm chores?" "Oh it will thank you Gil!" Nariko exclaimed and out of excitement hugged the blonde man. "I'll see you tomorrow then bye!" Nariko rushed out to her farm leaving a speechless Gil and a giggling Elli.
She ran home and put her animals inside for the night, then went outside to water her crops again. "They still look like shit, oh well, maybe with this extra money I can buy some fertilizer and perk them up a bit." After she was done watering her crops Nariko went inside and went to bed. During the middle of the night there was a crash which of course woke her up. "Um… hello?" Nariko said nervously. The island had never had a problem of break-ins but desperate times… "Is anyone there?" "Yes can you see me?" A little yellow thing flew toward her scaring Nariko to death. "Who-what... are you? Am I dreaming?" Nariko said not sure if she should be afraid or dismissive. The little thing smiled at the girl, "You CAN see me yay!" Nariko quirked her eyebrow, "Yes I can, now again who and what are you?" The little guy bowed and introduced himself, "I'm Finn, and I'm a sprite of the Harvest Goddess." Nariko looked at him questioningly, "Okay…. And I'm Nariko-""I already knew that the Harvest Goddess sent me to come and find you and I'm sure glad I did, she needs your help Nariko." Nariko quirked an eyebrow at the sprite and chuckled, "Why would a Goddess need MY help?" Finn looked down all sad, "She is very weak and the island is suffering from it," he started crying, "Please Nariko you have to help her, please!" Nariko blinked at the little sprite as he continued to cry. "Ok, alright, will you stop crying if I help?" Nariko never really liked it when people cried; she never really knew how to handle the situation. Finn perked up, "You will?" "Sure but I don't know how?" Fin jumped up and down in the air, "Don't worry all you have to do is go talk to her she'll tell you what to do. I'll take you to her tomorrow." Nariko smiled uneasily, "Ok, I have work to do first but as soon as I'm done I'll go with you." The sprite continued to bounce up and down with 'yippes' and 'yays'. 'Tomorrow's going to be a long day' Nariko thought to herself. After the sprite calmed himself down Nariko fell back asleep hoping that this was just a dream.
Well that's it that's the first chapter, I know it's probably very boring and you're all wondering where the hell is chase?! Well he'll be here soon enough lol. So tell me what you think.