Unforgetful Holidays

[Ember]

Chapter 1: New Surroundings

Leaning forward on the old wooden table, the pink haired girl laid her head on the desk, and sighed heavily. As she lay there, she wondered what all her pals in Mineral Town were doing; surely they were having a much better time than her. This valley bored her, there was nothing to do, and no where to go. The country side was said to contain miles upon miles of wonderful coloured flowers, and have bright skies and a beautiful landscape, but she saw none of that here. Just boredom, a produce farm and an uncouth short man who made her own brother look like a television star.
The door to the Inner Inn was gently pushed open, and a cold wind blew in, causing the girls dress to rise from the floor, to almost a third of the way up her leg. The soft red material danced around her, as the cool breeze caused it to rise. The draft stopped within a few seconds of the inn door being pressed closed, and a light clicking noise was heard.
“Evening Jack,” a cheerful woman said from behind the counter, “You’re up late, are you not?”
The girl heard footsteps cross the wooden floor, and stop at the counter. Looking up, she saw that this male was quite tall, and had messy brown hair. He wore dark blue trousers, tucked into brown boots. His shirt was white, or at least she thought it was supposed to be, but it had quite a lot of mud on it.
Swinging a green rucksack off of his back, and dipping a red gloved hand into it, Jack gave a smile and said, “Yes, it is quite late. But one of the chickens’ isn’t feeling too good this evening, and I didn’t want to leave her alone.”
The woman chuckled joyfully, “Oh Jack, you’re so protective over your livestock. I know you care, but exhausting yourself isn’t the best option.”
Giving a weak smile, he reached into his bag and placed a couple of dishes on the table, and then looked up at the inn’s hostess, “I know, Ruby. But I can’t sleep knowing that one of my animals is ill.”
“You have a lot to learn about life,” Ruby replied, shaking her head, and picking the dishes off of the counter, “I’ll just go sort these, back in a moment.”
The young man nodded and placed his rucksack on the counter. He waited until the woman was out of sight, and then put his elbows down on the surface, and promptly put his head in his hands, and sighed.
Somewhat disturbed, yet fascinated, the girl stood up from the table, and walked over to him. He hadn’t heard her approach, so she took a moment to think about how to introduce her self to him, but decided that it would be best just to make it up as she went along; she was one to do things, not to plan them.
Leaning against the counter beside him, she smiled politely and said, “Hey there, I couldn’t help but overhear that you own an ill chicken?”
The young man turned his head slightly to take a look at her. She was a little shorter than him, and had long pink hair, and bright, alert, red eyes. He lifted his head out of his hands, and took one elbow off of the surface, and turned himself slightly to look at her properly. “Yes, poor thing has been looking quite bad all day, but got a lot worse this evening” he paused for a moment, “I can’t bear seeing one of my animals in such a poor state.”
Frowning slightly, the girl looked up at him, “I know what you mean, I work at a chicken farm in Mineral Town with my family. It is devastating to see one of your livestock in bad shape.”
Jack smiled briefly at her, “You work on a chicken farm? How brilliant, I own one of the two local farms here, Mootenn farm. I take care of several different animals.”
The girls’ eyes grew slightly, with fascination. She hadn’t seen a farm whilst exploring, other than a produce farm near the entrance. She began to wonder where it was, and immediately images of home flashed into her mind: Her blonde haired brother running around, chasing the chickens as he tried to round them up for the night, her mother smiling and laughing as she watched her son and her livestock ‘bonding’. Smiling to herself, she tuned herself back into reality of what was here, in Forget Me Not Valley, just as Ruby walked back in.
“Here you go Jack, I’ve given them my special seasoning,” she said cheerfully, and placed them down on the surface.
Jack smiled at the woman, taking the dishes, and carefully wrapping them in tinfoil, and placing them slowly into his bag, “Thank you very much,” he said happily, as he pulled his rucksack onto his back, “Celia and Vesta will enjoy these at lunch tomorrow.”
Giving a wave, the young farmer walked towards the door, in a brighter mood than when he walked in, and placed his gloved hand on the handle, and gave it a half turn. As he went to open it, he turned and waved at the girl, “It was nice meeting you…” he said, then broke off suddenly, realising that he didn’t know her name.
The girl giggled slightly, and then replied, “Popuri.”
“Right, Popuri,” he laughed nervously, “Good night to you both.”
As he pulled the door closed behind him, Ruby came out from behind the counter with a cloth and began wiping the table. “Oh, that boy, he is caring yet does him self harm by straining to look after that farm. If I were him, I would have instantly turned down the job when Takakura told him about it.”
“Who is Takakura?” Popuri asked, looking up at the woman, whilst resting herself against the counter.
“A middle aged man who lives on the farm with him, someone who brings in the livestock from Mineral Town, and gives him his wages,” she said, returning to the desk. “Now dear, I believe you should get yourself to bed, the Sun begins to rise at 4am in the valleys.”
Popuri nodded at Ruby and promptly walked upstairs to her room.

[Ember]

Chapter 2: Over-reacting?

Yawning as she pulled the bed covers off of her; Popuri lazily stumbled to the window, and looked down the small hill outside the inn. The Sun was already high in the sky, looking down over the valley, washing away the night and awaking the world once more. Unlatching the window, she lifted the glass pane up and lent forward. The air in the valley smelt so fresh and new, as if it was a whole new atmosphere. Humming to herself, the pink haired girl turned away from the window and slowly slipped off her night clothes, and put a swimsuit, followed by a clean dress over the top. Closing the drawers in her small room, she wandered over to the bed, and gently pulled the bed covers into a neat position, and then picked up a small purse, which lay on the side; containing a few hundred gold, and a photograph of her family. She also picked up a small pink hair tie, and wrapped it around her wrist, and a white towel.
Opening the door, Popuri left the room, and walked downstairs, where the inn’s hostess was already awake.
“Ah, good morning Popuri, you didn’t sleep long.”
She smiled at the older woman, “I know, but I’m not tired at all.”
Ruby gave her a wave as she left the Inner Inn, and went onto the road, “Make sure to get yourself some breakfast, dear.”
Walking down the small path to the beach, she thought about her family once more, she couldn’t believe she had to spend a week here until her brother, Rick, came to pick her up. Last night, a few hours after she had arrived, she had decided she’d disliked the place, but seeing it in the morning changed her mind, and her opinion of the valley was far nicer. She did like it, it was just she was a little homesick, leaving her family for the first time. It did help that she was gone though, as summer was just around the corner really, as it was already the 26th day of spring. It gave time for her mother to have a little peace, and her brother to get the land ready for growing fresh corn, which would have to last from fall, all the way through to this time next year, she would just get in the way and be a right old pest.
Slipping off her shoes, and tossing the towel down on the sand, Popuri took a few steps into the sea, and lifted her skirt until it was just above her knees. The cold water hit her like a block of ice, and she immediately took a step back, but it didn’t take her long to get used to it, and the Sun helped the water warm up a little too.
Going in a little further, she pulled her dress off and threw it back onto the sand, standing in a light pink one piece swimsuit, in a foot of water. Pulling the hair band off of her wrist, she tied her pink locks into a messy bun, and continued to walk further out into the water, until she stood waist high in the sea. There, she took a glance behind her, and saw that the area was still silent, no one was there. She then leant forward and drew one hand over her head, whilst pushing off with her feet from the surface, and began swimming, away from the mainland. She was enjoying herself, and was quite glad she came to Forget Me Not Valley after all. The scenery was gorgeous, and the people she had met so far were very kind. It wasn’t too bad meeting new people, even though she did miss those back home.
Popuri froze as a large fish nipped her toe, and fell down into the water, but arose within seconds. Treading water, and gasping for breath, she looked towards the mainland; it seemed so far off and small, she had swam out quite far. She looked down to see the fish coming back for seconds, and instantly began to swim back towards the shore, where someone now stood, on horseback. She looked back to see the fish following her, and quickly increased her speed. When the water become shallower, she took to her feet and half ran, half walked out of the water, and then fell to her knees on the sand. Her heart beat wildly, and she took large, deep breaths. Leaning forward on her hands, she felt her lungs calling out for oxygen, though she didn’t have the strength right now to take in as much as she needed. Her wrists gave way and she fell down onto her stomach, coughing up water, she couldn’t believe how much she had swallowed in just a few moments.
“Huh – hey - Miss!” she heard a male voice call, and heard footsteps as whoever she had seen on the shore ran over. He bent down on one foot beside her, and placed one hand on her shoulder. “… What, Popuri?”
The pinked haired girl raised herself just high enough to turn her head, before her arms gave way once more and she landed with a thud in the sand. Letting out a cry, she opened her eyes to see a blurred man pull her towel over her, and he then placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”

[Deniz :]]]]

wow ember your good

[Ember]

Thankyou. ^^

[Ember]

Chapter 3: Cloaked Men

The fire roared steadily in the old farmhouse, slowly heating the room and all who were within it. It crackled occasionally, spitting small sparks, but it didn’t really bother the people.
Steadily lifting her eyelids, Popuri opened her eyes, to find herself in a small house, under the soft sheet of someone’s bed. The home was made of wood, and very little furniture existed. There was a chest of drawers, a bed, a bedside table, and four chairs and a large, square table. On the floor lay a dusty old rug, tattered with age. Stains existed on the fabric, looking like someone had spilt their morning coffee when in a rush, or still half asleep.
Trying not to move too much, she adjusted her position so she could see more clearly. There were here people in the room, one she knew, who was Jack, and the other two were strangers. There was a short brunette sitting down at the table. She wore a long green dress and a large smile on her face. The other woman was dressed in more farm-appropriate clothing, and Popuri was sure she had seen this person when entering the valley. She recognised her scruffy blonde hair and dirty apron.
“Cheryl is still pretty rough this morning,” Jack said, leaning forward on the table. By the tone in his voice, she knew that he was replying to someone’s question.
Popuri lay still as Jack cleared the plates, and the two women left, leaving the two of them alone in the warm house.
“Jack?” she said faintly, as she saw him come back through into the main room. He stared down at her, and then walked over to the large lump in his bed. He had sat down on the soft, old quilt, and put a hand on the girls’ shoulder.
“You feeling alright?” he asked softly, sympathy taking over.
Popuri nodded briefly, and sat up, looking directly at him as he withdrew his arm. She looked down to find herself still in her swimsuit, and flushed instantly, letting out a weak giggle.
The farmer nodded towards her clothes on the floor, and promptly left the room, shutting the door behind him.
She stumbled out of bed, feeling embarrassed, and quickly changed, slipping on her dress. As she took the hair tie off, she noticed something at the window, and immediately went over. Peering at her was a short man, with scruffy black hair, and wore a white coat. She eyed him mysteriously, and he ran across to the barn.
The young girl hesitated, before throwing her belongings on the floor, and fiercely pulling the door opening, and running, bare footed, down to the barn.
Swinging open the door, she carefully scanned the barn. Four feed troughs stood, filled too the brim with fodder. Behind one stood a beautiful brown horse, which slowly approached her with caution. A brown cow, and a black and white cow stood on the others side of the barn, both with large, brown eyes. The third trough had no animal behind it though, which disturbed her greatly.
Noticing the man escaping out of the other end of the barn, Popuri quickly led a stubborn horse out of the barn, and mounted him carefully, not bothering to add reins or a saddle. The horse hesitated, yet decided to let her own. The girl leant forward against the horses’ neck, and the two ran towards the farms exit, where the man now stood. The horse fiercely tore the ground beneath his hooves as he ran, skidding around a corner as the two left Jacks property, and came into the main area. Before the two of them, stood a few houses, the Inner Inn and the Blue Bar. Quickly identifying the man in the white coat, the horse ran fast, dashing at full speed.

[Kikyou Saya Rin-Ren]

I like it!!

[Herfefiny]

This is a pretty good story, Ember! I like it, I hope you write more!

[Ember]

I will do, ta guys.

[natsumegirl]

Wow! This is awesome!and it's about Popuri! Great job. Keep up the good work.

[melody]

I just got through with reading the first few chapters. I find it really good.

Will you have another chapter soon?

[Ember]

Yup, I've written half of it already, might be a tad short like Chapter 3 was though.

[Ember]

Chapter 4: Broken Glass

Popuris’ hair flew in the wind as the energetic horse obeyed her, running as fast as he could through the village, tearing the ground as they raced after the short scruffy man, who was quite far ahead of the two, considering that he was on foot.
As the two approached the Inner Inn, Ruby came out of one of the side doors, and call out to the pink haired girl, “Popuri – down that path, you’ll get there quicker!”
“Thanks Ruby!” she replied as she swerved around the corner of the Inn, just missing the fence in her haste. The two dashed across the grass, and between houses they could see they were almost level with the man. Pulling out of their course, she swiftly directed the horse to round the water well just ahead. Turning onto the main path, she jumped off of the horse as they rounded the well, placing one hand on the wooden pole, and her bare feet landing firmly on the stone wall. The white coated man hadn’t seen her yet, and was still running in the same direction.
“No where to go,” she said, sliding her tongue over her teeth as her foe approached, and then paused in fright, “No where to hide.”
He looked over the pink haired woman in front of him, taking a step back in fear as she swung herself around on the pole of the well and promptly jumped to ground level, eyeing him strangely. The scruffy man in the white coat whimpered, looking around for an exit, or a hiding place. He could easily get to his house from here, it was just behind the Blue Bar, but the young woman was far too quick for him, he would never make it. Behind him lay the path he and just come down, and to the right a dead end. Ahead was only one obstacle blocking his path, and that was Popuri.
“What gives you the right to watch a woman getting dressed!?” she screeched, getting angry.
The man took another step back, walking into someone as he did so, who instantly let out a cry. A glass box which lay in the other person’s hands crashed to the floor, the shards going everywhere. Popuri gasped and rushed over to help the blonde woman who the coward had just walked into, taking a hold of her arm as she let out a yelp.
“Daryl you jerk!” she fumed, “Now I have a flaw in my perfect skin!”
Popuri let out a sigh, and released her grip on the woman’s arm, glad to see she had no more than a scratch, and turned her attention back to Daryl.
“Well…?” she said, getting angrier whilst the blonde frantically cursed and cried over a simple scratch, exaggerating the situation. Popuri tried to ignore her, but found her attention being occupied by a far off sound, the sound of galloping hooves. She turned to face the path she had come down, and saw a jet black horse scurrying towards her, and skidding to a halt before the three.
“Popuri, Muffy, are you two alright?” Jack said from the horses back.
Popuri nodded in reply, but Muffy just walked into the Blue Bar, ignoring the farmer. Jack looked at the pink haired girl, but she just shrugged and turned her attention to Daryl, but before she could open her mouth, Jack spoke.
“I say you could look at the cows if you were so desperate, Daryl,” he stated firmly, “but I didn’t agree to you coming up to my home and drooling over pretty young girls through the window.”
Popuri felt her face redden, and her back stiffened as Daryl ignored the farmer, and kept his eyes on her.
“Do you understand?” Jack asked, knowing he was eyeing up the girl once more.
“Yeh,” he mumbled quietly, and trudged past the two on the way to his home, and shutting the door firmly behind him.
“You alright Popuri?” he asked, straightening his back. Popuri nodded and walked over to the brown house, and mounted him quickly. Jack smiled as he watched her inelegantly place her arms firmly around the horses’ neck, and swing her legs up onto the horse, and then straighten herself out.
“You’ve rode before?” he asked her, directing his black horse to the other, stopping just before the other two. The girl shook her head. “You know, it’s strange he lets you ride him, he doesn’t even let me mount him, do you no name?”
“No name! He doesn’t have a name?” Popuri exclaimed, stroking the horses’ mane.
“That’s right, he’s a really odd young horse, no name I think of really suits him,” Jack replied, as the two began to ride back to the farm, “Can you think of one?”
“No…” she replied sadly, “But I’ll try to.”
Jack smiled at her as the two rode back, giving a small wave to Ruby as they passed her. The two stayed silent as the horses took a nice slow walk back, enjoying themselves, and calming down after the little incident.

[Herfefiny]

I alwyas knew Daryl was freakyer then the people say!
Great job Ember. Keep up the good work.

[Ember]

My evening plans have changed so I am able to write up a good couple of chapters tonight... depending on how quickly i can get the wording right.

[melody]

That was very good, Ember.