Melody

[pendulous threads]

Chapter One: Nightmares

I walked across the old wooden bridge on my way home. Something floating slowly down the river caught my eye and I strained my neck to see what it was.

"Papa..." I breathed nervously. My walk soon broke out into a run. "Mama, come quick!" I screamed, throwing the door of the house open. She flew out of the kitchen and followed me over to the stream. Tears streamed down my 14-year-old face as Mama waded into the icy water to retrieve Papa. Once they were on solid ground she began shaking him frantically.

"Daniel, please, say something!" Mama screamed. Her shakes became more violent once he didn't respond. "Daniel!" She arched over the cold and unmoving body, letting tears slowly drop onto him.

I quickly sat up in bed, my heart pounding in my chest. I turning the light on my night stand on and slid off the bed. I grabbed the picture of Papa, Mama, and I and sat at the table. Tears quickly came to my eyes as I looked over the faces of my parents.

"Mama, why did you leave me?" I asked out loud, even though I knew there would be no answer. "Papa would have wanted you to stay with me." I laid the picture down on the table and cupped my head in my hands. I could remember very clearly the night Mama commited suicide. It was only a week after we found Papa dead in the stream.

They day we found Papa was 3 years ago from this very day. I had run away from the orphanage only a month ago, leaving behind all the people that had become part of my "family." A couple of the others said that they would probably leave soon too, but I knew better. None of them had the guts.

I now lived on Moonshine Farm. I didn't have any animals, or crops yet. I'm just to lazy to do anything. I have made a couple of friends which include Ann, Popuri, and Karen, but other than that basically everyone tries to ignore me. I often visit Ann at the Inn, and Popuri at her families chicken farm. Karen and I like to play pranks on the guys.

I heard something make a thump outside my door. I went over and slowly opened it, ready to attack the intruder. I saw a lump laying about 5 feet away, and cautiously walked over. A person lay face down on the lawn. I touched their shoulder and flipped them over to find it was Cliff. A boy from the orphanage, known as my best friend.

"Cliff, you are stupid." I said picking him up, and carrying him into the house. I knew he had fainted from lack of food. "I told you not to run away from that orphanage." Of course there was no reply.

I sighed and went over to the kitchen to make soup for Cliff. Stupid boy, he could have died. My best friend from the orphanage could have died, I thought to myself. Cliff groaned and sat up.

"Melody?" he asked. He rubbed his head and I walked over with the bowl of soup cupped in my hands.

"I told you not to run away, stupid." I shot at him fiercly. "You could have died Cliff. You could have died." I pushed the bowl of soup into his hands and sat on the edge of them bed.

"Stop acting like my mother used to." he snapped back. "Besides, you ran away too. Stop bossing me around." I rolled my eyes, giving up on even caring about him anymore.

[Candyapple]

Cool story so far. ^^

[pendulous threads]

Thank you. The second chapter is my favorite out of the three I have written, but I'm waiting to post it tomorrow, or after more people read this chapter.

[moko]

hmm, i usually don't really like stories where the fan character and the game character have some connection to each other, but this story seems pretty good. i hope you write more! ;D

[pendulous threads]

Thanks. I now have eight chapter typed up...here is chapter two. I can't wait any longer...

Chapter Two: Fixing Up the Farm

"Good morning, Melody. What would you like today?" Barely asked, stepping behind his paper covered counter. I thought for a moment and then replied, "A cow."

"Okay, that will be 5,000 G." he told me, slightly surprised at my request. "Give 'er a name." I turned to Cliff which had tagged along, and smiled.

"What should we name her?" Cliff looked shocked at this question and his mouth dropped open, and he let out a small squeak.

"Name what? Are you going to have a baby?" he practically yelled. He obviously hadn't been paying any attention to mine and Barley's conversation. Barely stifled a laugh, and I blushed.

"No, Cliff, I'm buying a cow from Barley." I answered shyly. Cliff walked over to the counter and stood beside me. He let out a sigh of relief, and then blushed at his idiotic question.

"Oh." he laughed. "I want to name her Melody." he hung his arm loosley around me. "After my best buddy." I held back giggles and Barley took us outside to get Melody.

"Thank you!" I called back as we exited the farm. When I looked back over at Melody, Cliff was riding on her back.

"Yee-haw!" he shrieked. "Run, Melody, run like the wind!" Melody obeyed his command, and started sprinting down the dirt path. I started to run after them.

"Clifford, you get off the poor cow!" I screamed. He looked back at me, and then turned back around, pretending not to notice. "Clifford!" I caught up to them at the entrance of my farm, and demanded him to get off. He did as told, and we took Melody into the barn. As I was putting her milk into the shipping bin I could hear Cliff say, "I love you Melody." I spun around to find him stroking the cow.

"What?" I asked in surprise. He looked over and rolled his eyes.

"Not you. The cow, dummy." he smiled, and came over to me. "We have to go buy some sweet potato seeds. There my favorite."

"They aren't in season Cliff." I sighed. "We are going to buy pineapple, tomato, and corn seeds today. Shows how much you know about farming." I walked to the super market with Cliff tagging along again behind me.

"Yankee Doodle went to town..." he sang merrily. I hate that song.

"Cliff, please stop." I said in an irritating tone. I walked a little futher and then rounded the corner.

"RIDING ON A PONY..." Cliff started to sing again. This time I spun around, my fists clentched.

"SHUT UP!" He backed away a couple of steps, and then I spun around again. We neared the supermarket and passed Basil.

"STUCK A FEATHER IN HIS HAT AND..." Cliff sang loudly and obnoxiously. I spun around once more and stomped towards him. I held my fist up in the air.

"Do you see this?" I growled. He nodded and his eyes widened. "Do you remember the last time you made me mad at the orphanage when you cheated at checkers?" He nodded insanely, and it looked like his head would fall off. "Then I would advise you to stop singing." I said, trying to calm myself down. He did stop singing, in fact he didn't talk to me.

"Hey Mel, want to come help me embarrass Gray today?" Karen said, noticing I walked into the store. I smiled and then shook my head.

"Sorry Karen, I gotta babysit him today." I replied, pointing to Cliff which was browsing through the bed-time story books on sale. Karen chuckled and then waved with a, "Okay, maybe tomorrow." I went over and tugged Cliff to the register with all the seeds I needed to buy. Cliff grabbed a book and set it on the counter.

"This is my favorite story." he commented, pointing to the title.

"Cinderella?" I asked, looking at him strangely. He nodded excitedly and bounced up and down. "Drop the act Cliff. Act your age, you're a man."

"Nut-uh. I'm not 18 yet. I have to be 18 before I can be an adult." he argued. "I'm a teenager. You know, the age where you get in trouble constantly?"

"Yes, Cliff, I'm a teenager too. I need you to act your age though, please. I'm not your mother, or your babysitter." I scolded. I turned to Jeff which was eyeing us strangely. "We will take just the seeds." I told him.

[Candyapple]

haha, nice chapter. ^^

[pendulous threads]

Thanks ^_^ Here is chapter three.

Chapter Three: Melody Attacks

I stepped outside, ready to do the farmwork for the day. Yesterday had gone...okay. Cliff made it more difficult than it should have been, but helped some. He planted the seeds, and helped with the cow yesterday, but today might be different since he is still sleeping. I was staring at him as he slept in the hammock I had put up for him outside, between to tall oak trees.

I first watered the plants, and then made a fenced off area for Melody to graze. I milked Melody and pushed her out into the field. Cliff was still sleeping, and snoring loudly. Melody mooed and then nudged me in the arm.

"Yeah, he is childish huh?" I asked, looking down at the cow. She mooed loudly in reply and I smiled. I glanced off the farm into town and saw Gray walking down the dirt path on his way to Saibara's blacksmith shop. He looked over at me, and smiled. Okay...that was strange.

"Hey Melody." he called. I waved, and then blushed. But I didn't blush because he was talking to me, but because he had forgot to put pants on, and was standing in his boxers. He must have notcied my shock, and looked down. He laughed nervously and dashed into the blacksmiths where I heard his grandfather shreik, "Gray, put some pants on!"

I giggled and walked over to where Cliff was sleeping soundly. I grabbed the edge of the hammock and flipped it over, flinging Cliff onto the ground. He scrambled to his feet, and glared at me. The he stuck his tongue out. We were a weird pair of friends I have to admit...

"Meany." he said, crossing his arms. I smirked, and then threw him a dirty look. I laughed at the sight of him as I soon noticed he had slept in his boxers, which had ducks on them. "You don't like ducks?" he asked sadly, noticing my hysterical laughter.

"I like ducks..." I managed to say between laughs. "It's just 17 year old teenagers don't wear boxers with ducks on them." He shrugged and put his pants on.

I walked over to the super market by myself. Cliff had found a good spot to fish up on the mountain, so he left about 2 hours ago.

"Karen, ready to go pull some pranks?" I asked, walking into the super market with a smile plastered on my face. She grabbed my arm and pulled my outside while saying, "You betcha."

Before we went to play pranks on Gray I told her about what happened with him this morning. She laughed, and then thought of a plan. I put water in the bucket from my farm, and grabbed string from inside my house and met up with Karen outside of the blacksmiths. She was writing the note.

I readyed the bucket with string, and Karen hung the note from the roof. As soon as we hid behind the bush near the side of thebuilding Gray stepped out, weared a tight pair of Saibara's pants.

"Watch out boxer boy?" he said confusedly as he read the note. I pulled on the string and then bucket tipped, soaking Gray in ice cold water. Karen and I burst out laughing and Gray spotted us and glared. He walked away to the Inn, where he slept. Karen and I high fived each other and laughed a farewell until tomorrow.

I found Cliff inside my house once I got home, cooking the fish he had caught.

"Something smells delicious." I said. This comment suprised Cliff, and even myself.

"Well there is enough for both of us, so dig in." he said, motioning towards the table where a huge plate of fish sat. We ate dinner together and I told him about Karen and I pulling that prank on Gray. He thought it was very funny and about died, choking on his food from laughter.

"See you in the morning." he yawned, walking outside. I smiled at him, and crawled into my bed. I'm doing a good job at this babysitting thing. He is becoming more responsible, I told myself. I sighed and rolled over onto my side. I heard a loud scream come frm outside, and quickly ran out.

"Melody! Help me!" Cliff screamed, noticing me standing in the doorway. My cow has obviously jumped the fence, and had started chasing him around the farm. All I could do was laugh.

[Butterscotch]

Cute story so far ^-^

[pendulous threads]

melody said:

Haha. Aww poor Cliff! Getting chased by a cow.

Very good so far. Just curious, how many chapters do you think there would be?

I already have 9 chapter typed. I like this story...a lot. It's very good actually. I think it is anyways. I have a good ending thought up, but I need to type it.

[fxeni]

It's nice so far... keep it up ^_^

[pendulous threads]

Thanks everyone ^_^ Here is chapter four

Chapter Four: Overheard Conversation

I rolled off the hammock, and stepped onto the ground. Cliff had to sleep inside that night, considering Melody wouldn't stop chasing after him, meaning I got stuck sleeping on the hammock. I spotted Gray walked to his grandfathers, with pants on this time. He smiled and waved, and then pointed down at his pants. I gave him a thumbs up sign and then went to water the crops.

"You know, that was pretty funny what you did last night." I told Melody as I brushed her. She mooed and then nudged me. "No, you have to leave him alone tonight. I want to sleep in my own bed." She stomped her foot as if she was objecting to him sleeping outside. I smiled and walked into the house and screamed out, "Cliff!" He quickly sat up and then fell off the bed. I laughed and helped him up.

"You scared me! I thought that cow might be attacking you!" he yelled at me, his eyes wide. I have never seen him be so...father-like. "Don't ever do that, you scared me." I continued laughing like I didn't care what he said. He rolled his eyes.

The rest of the day consisted of watching Cliff act childish, and whine. I tried to do some more farmwork, but Cliff would not stop bothering me with all kinds of bugs he found.

"Look at this spider! It ginormous!" he said, holding a spider out in his hands towards me. I screamed, and jumped away. "Scared?" he teased. I backed away quickly, and then he started running after me with the spider held out. Once I threatened to use my fist to pound him into the ground, he dropped the spider and ran from me.

Now, I laid awake in bed, not being able to sleep. I hope Melody is behaving out there. I got out of bed, and slipped outside, unnoticed and sat on the roof. I glanced over at Cliff but he wasn't there. I looked around some more into the darkness, and strained my eyes to see something. I foud Cliff petting Melody in the field.

"So, why aren't you chasing me tonight, girl?" he asked, stroking her back. She nodded her head towards my house and he chuckled. "Oh, I see. You had a little chat with 'Queen of the farm.'" I crossed my arms ready to yell at him, when he added. "She's not that bad, you know. She is my best friend." I smiled and laid, on my back, ready to listen in on the rest of the conversation.

"She can be a little mean, and pushy sometimes, but deep down, it's different." he started. "She has a heart of gold." Melody mooed, and he glared at her. "No, I don't like her for more than a friend!" he spat. His face softened a little, and then he commented, "Okay, maybe I have a little crush, but don't tell okay?" I smiled to myself and waited to hear more.

Melody mooed as if she were agreeing to keep it a secret. Cliff sighed and then bowed his head. "I could never tell her though. She wouldn't ever like me, I'm to childish. I made that obvious to her a long time ago."

I frowned, and slipped back inside, not wanting to hear anymore. I fell asleep that night, trying to sort out my own thoughts about him.

[Butterscotch]

Another cute chapter. I must say though, its a bit confising at times when the cow has the same name as the main character ^^;

[pendulous threads]

Yeah, I think so too. I'll try to think of a way to tell the two apart.

[pendulous threads]

Yes, you will find out. Very soon. ^_^

[pendulous threads]

In chapter six you will find out...here is five.

Chapter Five: Kai

I woke the next morning, feeling bad about listening in on that conversation. I mean...yes, I liked him, but he is childish. I got ready and walked outside to see Cliff had already taken care on Melody. I watered the plants while he sat, stroking her lovingly, talking away.

I walked into town, Cliff tagging along once again. He didn't start singing until we walked past Barley's farm and into the square.

"Mary had a little lamb..." he sang, bouncing along, right behind me. "Little lamb, little lamb..."

"Cliff, please, not today." I said calmly.

"Oh, you don't like that song?" he asked, in a child-like voice. "I made a different version of it." I groaned and waited for him to annoy me more. "Melody had a little cow, little cow, little cow..."

"I don't like that version either, now shut up." I sneered. He sighed and followed, without speaking a word. I stopped at the bulletin board to read what the events for this season would be. Then, a boy I didn't know walked up to me.

"Hey pretty lady." he greeted. I glared at him and crossed my arms. "What's your name?" I rolled my eyes and then focused them on him once more.

"Get a life." I sighed, trying to step away, but he grabbed my hand to shake it.

"Hello, Get a life, your very pretty." he commented. I glanced over at Cliff which was couple feet away staring Kai down like a mad-man. "Okay, really, what's your name?" he asked sweetly.

"Melody." I replied bitterly. Cliff started making faces at Kai, not noticing my eyes watching him. "Nice to meet you." And then I started to walk off but he grabbed me around the waist.

"Call me Mel." He winked and then let go of me. I didn't start to walk off because I wasn't finished with him.

"Okay I'll call you," I started. "To warn you when I'm going to shove a watermelon up your..." But I didn't have a chance to finish because Popuri slapped her hand over my mouth. Kai and Cliff stood there shocked at what I had said, and Popuri dragged me off to a corner of the square.

"What are you thinking!?" she screeched, pacing back and forth. "Don't pass up that offer! He is hott!"

"And he is a jerk." I told her. I walked back over to Cliff and tugged onhis hand. "We are leaving."