DISCLAIMER (I forgot one of these in the first chappie. Whoops!): I do not own Harvest Moon. I wish I did.

Second Spring, the Beginning

I didn't expect to pick up my pen to write again so soon, but I feel the need to describe my visit to Pendula Valley.

I left Forget-Me-Not Valley earlythis morning. The sun was just beginning to rise; its bright rays of warmth smiling on us all, diminishing the memory of last night's rain. Galen and Nina were up early, taking a nice, slow stroll through town. I wanted to stop to chat with them, but Vesta's instructions were that I was to be in Pendula Valley by 10 that morning, so I contented myself with a quick hello before passing on.

I walked past Silver Birch Farm on my way to the beach, and was pleased to see that James was up and about already, tending the crops he planted the day before. He didn't see me, however, so I walked on.

Many people think that I am fragile and weak; that I can't do much besides take care of my plants. I dislike this opinion, because it is quite untrue. I can row a boat for myself, and that is what I just did today. Pendula Valley is only a couple of hours away, and the only way to get there is to cross the ocean. It's a beautiful place, the ocean. I've heard of some oceans that are a murky gray. In the colder northlands, their water does not have the sparkling blue that we have here. In the northlands, the water stinks from pollution, or so I've heard. How people can be happy in such an ugly area of industrialization is beyond me, but I am content to live in our small coastal valleys and forget about such things.

I saw no one on my journey across the waters, and was happy. I like it better that way. I find it easier to enjoy the clear, cloudless sky, the serene, peaceful water, the shining golden sun, and the all-around natural beauty of the out-of-doors when I have no company. I spent the trip relieving happy memories of the times I had spent in Pendula Valley as a child, and hoping that it hadn't changed too much.

I arrived at Pendula Valley all too soon, and was dismayed to find that it was not at all how I had remembered it. The beautiful forest I remember as my favorite childhood haunt is now gone – rows and rows of identical brick homes now take its place. It was all I could do not to cry as I looked at these unattractive houses and remembered sitting nestled in the shade of my favorite oak tree, quietly reading books. I remembered exploring the forest and running back to my mother, when she was still alive, and telling her excitedly how I had found a pretty caterpillar or a flower I had never seen before. Mother would laugh that high, tinkling laugh of hers, and explain to me what I had found. She knew more about plants than I could ever hope to know, my mother did. I suppose growing up in Pendula Valley, the land that used to be full of nature, helped quite a bit. She would be sad now to know what has happened to her valley.

As I looked around, willing the tears to leave, Peter came to meet me. He had a rather rogueish face, and his hair was a stunning black, but it had none of the quaint charm I noticed immediately on James. Nor did his eyes, a startling blue, share any of the same warmth and understanding that James had aquainted me with the day before. Peter's eyes were cold and dim, showing no sign of happiness, only of a cold indifference. However, when he spoke, the rest of his face was all smiles.

"Why, hello, Celia!" He said exuberantly. "Please, come with me!"

I followed behind rather nervously, willing myself to stop comparing Peter to James. He's not James, I told myself sternly, but you have to give him a chance.

Peter told me during our walk through the valley that he works as a blacksmith's assisstant. He sounded like he really enjoyed his work, but while his gestures seemed to agree with this, his eyes still remained cold and stoic. Rather strange, don't you think?

He led me to a quaint, cozy little cottage next to the blacksmith's workshop, with all the comforts you could ever want or need. As soon as we stepped inside, Peter presented me with a bouquet of flowers. Toy flowers, I noticed immediatelly. Not that there's anything wrong with those, of course, but they are the most common of Spring flowers. Even in a place like Pendula Valley, which is losing all of its charm as a natural haven, there are still dozens of varieties of flowers.

We spent the afternoon talking over a cup of tea (I noticed instantly that he gave me the cup with a chip and a crack on the handle, while he took the nicer one) and walking around town, with Peter showing me the new sights and changes in the town. I was beginning to feel rather uncomfortable with Peter, who seemed to be more concerned about getting the best for himself than for his guest, and simply with being in the valley, where I don't think I will ever be truly happy ever again. I felt the need to escape, so at 3 o'clock that afternoon, I bade Peter goodbye. I told him Vesta needed me back by six, so I would need to start the journey home. I didn't like to lie, but I felt it necessary. I think that it unnerved him slightly that I wanted to depart so abruptly, but he merely nodded consent, walked me to my boat, and bade me farewell.

I had no desire of returning home. Vesta would question me as to why I was back so early – she truly wasn't expecting me until seven or eight. As I slowly and sadly rowed the boat along, my eyes burning with the tears I could finally release, I knew I had to stop and turned into a cave cut out of a rock I passed. After sitting quietly in the cave for a minute, I realized that this was the cave I would always go to as a child when I wanted to be alone. This was the cave I had come to hide in after my mother passed away and I realized she wouldn't come back this time. This was the place I came to when Marlin told me we would be moving in with his sister, Vesta, and would settle down there – no more roaming from valley to valley.

When these thoughts had processed through my head, I let out a sob and let the tears fall hot and fast, obscuring my vision and senses, allowing me to lose myself in their wet embrace. I cried for Pendula Valley, for the sad industrialized area it was beginning to become. I cried for the forest I had loved to explore as a child and would never explore again. My tears shone for my mother, whom I still deeply missed, and for Peter, who seemed overall like a nice person until you added into account the little things. The tears fell furiously for what seemed to be an age. After what I now know to be several hours, the tears stopped at last. I shakily stood, preparing to leave when I saw with horror that my boat had disappeared! I must not have tied it tight enough, and it floated away. I felt my eyes stinging with tears again (Though wouldn't you think I would be out of tears by then? I must be severely dehydrated now.)I was such a stupid, silly girl, to think that I could handle the boat ride myself! Before the first tear fell, a whisper of my name turned me around.

It was James. Instantly, I panicked - he must have thought I was so stupid! He walked over to me quietly, and grasping my hand softly in his own, he led me to his boat. After he made sure I was seated and had a blanket around my shoulders for warmth, we cast off. He told me that it was 9 o'clock already, and that Vesta and Marlin were getting very worried, so he offered to set out and look for me. I thanked him for his kindness, wiping my tears and hiding my face so he wouldn't see them falling. He seemed to have guessed, though, for he produced a flower and handed it to me, whispering softly, "Don't cry."

After an hour or so, we finally made land at Forget-Me-Not Valley. I was stiff and tired from my long day, and I had to lean heavily on James, who supported me without complaint, and led me back to Vesta's farm. She and Marlin were both pacing back and forth frantically, and when she saw me, she nearly threw herself upon me, but James stopped her. "Please, Vesta," he said quietly, "Celia's had a very long and tiresome day, so I think it would be easiest for her to just get some rest for now."

Vesta looked nonplussed, but I think she saw the sense of this idea and agreed immediatelly, thanking James repeatedly for his kindness and inviting him to have a cup of tea before turning in. Marlin led me upstairs to my bed and then went down to join Vesta and James. I somehow have the feeling that Vesta only invited James to stay because she wanted to question him about where I was. I can only hope he doesn't tell her too much.

I'm quite weary, but the moonlight has cast brightness on the flower James gave to me in the cave.

It's my favorite Spring flower – a Goddess Drop.

A/N: Well, Chappie 2 is here! What did you think? Please review and let me know! I was afraid this chapter seemed to rush the plotline a bit too much (I think what I'm trying to say is that maybe I should have included this chapter later, like in summer maybe), so please let me know if you thought so. I was also afraid it came on a bit strong in those parts (I'm not sure how to describe what I mean by that) Oh, and the ocean description? It was supposed to be kind of like my opinion of the Atlantic Ocean (I live pretty close to it) but worse. I'm not sure how well it turned out. As always, constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. See you next chapter!

-Tineley -