Chapter 2

Journey to Misty Village

"Well I just heard about a horse race in Zodiac Town and I wanted to enter and I need to buy a horse so do you have one I can buy off of you?"

"Unfortunately I haven't had a horse I years. I'm sorry I can't help but you can always go to another town to buy it."

"You think Zodiac Town would have a horse?"

"With the contest in that town I doubt it. But I think I might know another place you can buy your horse."

"Tell me which!"

"Misty Village."

"Misty Village? I never heard of it."

"It's a very small village in the middle of nowhere; I doubt anyone in Mineral Town has heard of it."

"But that doesn't matter! So where is it anyways?"

"It near Powan Mountains, you'll need to take a train if you want to reach Misty Village in a day or two. But there might be a few things you should take into mind before going though…"

"Yeah like what?"

"Well… First you'll have to buy the train tickets which will cost a hefty amount of cash. Next you will have to actually find a farm carrying horses for sale. And then you will have to buy a horse which I have heard can cost a lot of money."

"No matter the cost I have to win this race."

"Well that's just it! You'll need 10,000 gold entry fee and then you will have to ask Gotz to build you a hut which will also cost a lot of money. And considering the horse, it will need a lot of fodder, water, and care."

"I never thought of that…"

"Oh and how are you supposed to get that horse on the train?"

"You are seriously putting me down right now. But you're right, thanks Barley."

"Goodbye Jack."

Jack slowly walked back to his farm and unlocked his door slowly. He felt the cold doorknob pressing against his hand. He slowly pushed the door opened and shut the door behind him and sat on his bed.

"How am I supposed to get a horse and win this race with all these things to take into consideration? There has to be a way, there has to be a way… Unless I stay at a hotel in Misty Village and ride my horse home. Man I'm an idiot. Where will the horse stay and what will I eat for the journey, wild grass? God I need to find a loophole."

Jack got out of his bed and pushed the door open with his shoulder. He grabbed his sickle and started to cut down weeds. While he was working on the fields, his anger and sadness grew inside of him and after an hour he dropped his sickle.

"I just don't feel like working today… Maybe I should head for bed. But it's only 1:32. What should I do now? I just can't find a solution. Eh, I should get back to work."

Days passed and Jack's worries grew bigger and bigger until his life was token over by his own fears. He would spend more times with his animals and his farm. His social life suffered and once he worked so hard he collapsed in the field. Obviously he knew that this fear was taking over his mind and would soon drive him insane. He would scream with fear at night and he would constantly take breaks to calm himself down. He knew that this was growing into a huge problem and it had to be stopped before it was too late…

3:47 P.M.; Spring 28

Jack threw his hoe onto the field and locked up; he looked back at his farm and slowly made his way into town.

"What's wrong with me? I know it's not a huge problem but it's taking over my entire life. The only way I can stop it from spreading is to get the money I need. And the only way to get the money is to win that horse race. I guess I'll have to find a way to get my horse from Misty Village to Mineral Town. But forget about that, I have to get started!"

Jack ran off sprinting through town until he finally stopped at the local supermarket. Jack pushed open the door and stepped inside. A bell rang and Jeff turned around and welcomed Jack in.

"Good evening Jack how may I be of assistance?"

"Oh, good evening. I just stopped by here to see if I could purchase a ticket to Misty Village."

"Misty Village? I've never heard of it, and we don't sell any plane or transportation tickets here."

"Oh, thanks anyways. I'll be on my way."

"Hey! If you want to purchase tickets, ask Won. He'll probably have some in stock, you know Won."

"Thank you."

Jack left the building and ran towards the beach. Then suddenly he bumped into someone.

"Ah! I'm sorry are you okay?" Jack said and reached his arm out.

"Hmm? Oh yea I'm fine." The person said and got up.

Jack looked at the person standing in front of him a little surprised.

"You're a new face around here aren't you?"

"Oh yea, I just came here to pick up some- Shoot! My train leaves in a few minutes, catch you later!" The person yelled and ran off.

"A man with blue jeans, brown sweater, cowboy boots, and a hat. I wonder why someone would come here. Anyways I have to get going."

Jack ran past the beach feeling the cold ocean breeze blow past him and he opened the door to Won's shop.

"Who's there?" Won asked from behind the counter.

"It's me, Jack."

"Jack come on in boy. Now what are you here for?"

"Well I was wondering if you sold train tickets."

"Of course I sell train tickets boy! Now to where are you going?"

"Misty Village."

"Ha! You must be joking! Why would you want to go to such a pathetic place like that?"

"Well I need to buy a horse for a race but forget that, do you have the tickets or not?"

"Ah let me check." Won said and started flipping through some files.

"I found it, here are the possible schedules." Won said and pulled out a small list.

"Well the nearest time is… On Summer 1. I guess that'll be alright. How much?"

"For you, 75 k."

"What! 75 k for a puny little trip!"

"Ha! I was just playing with you! 35 K would do fine."

"That's still a bit too much, how about 15 k?"

"Hm… No. The lowest I'm going is 35 k got it?"

"Eh… Fine, let me right a check."

"Nice doing business with you."

Jack handed the check to Won and Jack grabbed the ticket. Jack pushed open the door and stuffed the tickets in his pocket.

"Now only one last thing to do…"

COMING SOON

Horseshoe Chapter 3

Next Destination: Misty Village