Friday, spring 2nd

Dear Diary,

We're almost at Flower Bud Village now!I can't wait.The ferryman said it would only be a few more minutes.I can already see the beach from the boat's deck!Ahhh,Flower Bud Village.It looks like such a nice place.I'm sure I'll enjoy living there.

...I do miss the city,though....

...Argh,I guess I shouldn't be lying to my own diary.I hate this.I SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE IN THE CITY!How will I get used to this?!I had to sneak my laptop into my suitcase!My parents weren't going to let me bring it!!Can you believe it!?I also had to sneak in bubble gum,my CD player,my CDs,my video games and systems,my hair care products,and a whole bunch of other stuff!WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE,A MISH!?

*Sigh*

Well,I guess I should stop writing now,Diary.We're getting pretty close to the shore...Hm,a lot of people there,too.Intresting.Anyway,until the next entry...

~Rose

Rose snaps her diary shut,gazing out ahead,jade green eyes scanning the beach. (The people there all look somewhat...dated...fashion-wise.) Rose thinks as she raises an eyebrow,her gaze stopping at a particularly old-fashioned looking blue and white dress,worn by a girl with light brown hair in a boyish cut. ( She certainly looks happy.Wonder how she manages it in such a tight,frilly thing...Maybe she wears a corset,too...) She gives a quick shudder.

(Oh well.They can't be that bad...)

The ferry pulls up to the dock,and Rose can't help but grin as she steps out towards the happy waving crowd.She slips a few strands of her bright red hair behind her ears,hoisting her suitcase up a little higher with her other hand so it won't brush against the sand.People are already rushing up to meet her,and before Rose can blink,another redheaded girl in a yellow blouse and jean overalls is shaking hands with her,somewhat vigorously.The girl is grinning broadly at Rose,albeit a tad sheepishly.

"Hiya!My name's Ann!Welcome to Flower Bud Village!!" She says,and lets go of Rose's hand,her french braid swinging in the breeze. She tugs at the blue ribbon in her hair,and points with her free hand at a large farming area just above the sleek rock wall leading down to the seashore.

"I have to get back to work.My family and I run the ranch up yonder,and my dad has a store for livestock and farming equipment. Stop by anytime! It was nice meeting ya,er...Oh yeah,what's your name?" She asks,cocking her head and giving an awkward smile,her hands now behind her back.

Rose blinks a couple of times before answering, "Ahm,Rose.It was nice meeting you too--"

"Rose!Got it!I'll cya later,Rose!" And she was gone,running briskly up the pathway to her Ranch.

Rose blinks again,and watched her leave. (Well,that was strange...)

She walks cautiously over to the other people,and the girl in the frilly dress walks up to her.

"Um,hello there..." She says,giving a quick polite bow and holding out her hand. "M-my name's Elli.I'm very pleased to meet you,Rose." She smiles pleasantly and Rose shakes her hand,half-smiling back.

(She seems nice),Rose thinks,as Elli steps back and gestures to the pathway with her hand.

"I have to go now.My grandmother is expecting me shortly.She's kind of weak,and couldn't make the walk here.My...family and I run the village bakery.Please stop by sometime!"

She turns around and walks quickly up the pathway,waving as she goes.

The last girl there walks over to Rose,and does a quick curtsy.She has long,wavy pink hair up in a dark red hair band,and is wearing a dress almost as old-fashioned as Elli's.She holds out her hand.

"Hello.My name is Popuri!It's wonderful to meet you,Rose." She grins broadly and Rose shakes her hand,but the grin fades quickly,and becomes a short smile. "My mother is the village florist. She runs a shop in the village for plant seeds,so you should visit us there once you get everything worked out." She brushes the skirt of her dress off with her hands,then turns to leave. " I have some errands to run now. Everyone's in a hurry,it seems..." She lets out a small sigh,and Rose watches as she runs up the pathway like the other girls.

There aren't that many other people left now: Only the mayor,some young children and their grandfather,the local potion maker.Rose greets the children and old man,and then he mayor,an eccentric little man in a bright red suit,offers her a tour of the village.

"No thanks." She says,trying to hold back a snicker as mayor bows his head,and replies with all the theatricals of a Shakespearean play: "Oh,well,I suppose you can find your own way,then.Farewell!" He scuttles off up the pathway,the potion brewer and his grandchildren following close behind.Then he suddenly whirls around as the other three leave. "B-but you ought to know where your farm is,at least!" He yells. "Go up the pathway and take a right!You can't miss it!" And with a tip of the hat,he was gone.

Rose stands there a moment,chewingthe inside of her cheek thoughtfully. (Oh yeah...The stupid farm...) She trudges up the pathway with a dramatic sigh. When she arrives at the farm gates,she pushes then open,and they give a loud creek.

"Wow,these things are really rus--GWAAAAAA-A-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"

~To be continued in Chapter 2~

A Nugget of Authorific Joy: o.o Tah-dah.And stuff...Gah,the next chapter might be in past tense X.x;; Silly,hm?Anywho,please review... --Pheep