Promises

[BorderWolf]

A/N: Here is the somewhat long awaited follow up HM story, that I said I was going to write. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

A young man tucked a blue cap in his pocket as he walked into the courtroom with the six other people that he served with on Grand Jury duty. They came to see the judge who would swear them out of the service.

The judge stood up, "Thank you for helping out on getting cases ready for court. Even if you are now going to be no longer under oath to keep secret of the cases you have heard, I will ask that you still keep quiet on them. Will you do this? "

"Yes, " said the seven Grand Jurors.

"Thank you. I hope to see some of you, when you are eligable for jury duty again. So you are now herby dismissed. "

As the seven jurors were leaving, one of them spoke up.
"That was quick, " said a blonde haired girl.

"Yeah, those were interesting cases we heard, " said the young man as he put his blue cap back on.
"True, but towards the end of our service, it looked like you were a bit distant, " said the blonde girl.

"I'm just worried about my friend. I haven't heard from him since fall. "

"Is he a friend you met in school? "

"No, he is older. He is 76 years old. "

"Is he your grandfather? "

"No, years ago my parents took me on a trip to see the countryside. They felt that I should see more of this world. So we went to this small town that is on an island. I wandered away from my parents. I ended up at this farm. The owner was an old man. He was kind enough to help reunite me with my parents. He said that we could stay at his farm for a few days. When we were leaving, he said that he never had a family, so he asked me if I could write to him. My parents thought that it would be nice and told me that I could. So he and I have been writting each other over the years. "

"Didn't you at least go to visit him during summer vacation? "

"No, my parents took me to see other places. "

"I see. So you are finally going to visit him? "

"Yes, if he is still alive. "

"If this town is on an island, how will you get there? "

"I'll use the ferry, if it is running since tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and the day after that is New Year's Day. "

"That's right some ferries don't run on holidays. If the one to that town isn't running, what will you do? "

"My father has a friend that has a fishing boat. I'll ask if he could take me. "

"Well I would like to know how this turns out, so let me give you my address, " said the blonde girl. She quickly wrote down her address and handed it to the young man. "Here, since there might not be an internet connection on this island, I gave you my mailbox address. Please keep in touch. "

"Thanks Claire. I'll let you know how this turns out. For better or worse. "

"You're welcome Jack, " said Claire. " When you were telling me about your friend, it looked like there was something that you were tring to remember. "

"Yeah there is, but for some reason, I can't quite remember what it is. "

"Promise me when you do remember, what it is. "

"Sure, I promise. "

"What is the name of this town that your friend lives in? "

"The town is called Mineral Town. "

"MINERAL TOWN?!?"

"Yes. Have you been there before? "

"No. It's just the day before the Starry Night Festival, I had this weird dream that I bought a farm that was for sale. The ad made the farm sound as if it was in top notch shape. When I saw the farm, it was very run down. The mayor of the town found it funny that the company that made the ad, lied about the condition of the farm. Somehow I pulled this hammer out of thin air, and I hit him with it. The name of the town in my dream was Mineral Town. "

"Wow, that sounds like a strange dream. "

"Tell me about it. Well I better get going, my boyfriend Pete said he would take me out to dinner. "

"Then is it going to be ok of me to write you? "

"Yeah, he gets a few letters from a few girls that he knows. So he won't mind if a few boys write me. "

Claire walked away, giving a wave.

Jack watched her go. *This Pete is one lucky guy to have her for a girlfriend. If he stupidly pushes her away, then he is an idiot.*

Jack then left the courthouse to go to his apartment, to get ready to go to Mineral Town.

[Limegreen Queen]

Good job Borderwolf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BorderWolf]

Thanks, I have written on paper the first and second chapters. I'm still writting the third. I'll try to post the second chapter tomorrow.

[moko]

was her boyfriend pete based on the guy from the gba games? his name was pete, right?

[BorderWolf]

moko said:

was her boyfriend pete based on the guy from the gba games? his name was pete, right?

Yes, I wanted to put the other HM guy into this story. Even if it was in name only.

[allmighty]

You're lucky, this is one of the few Harvest Moon fanfics that I read and I like it.

[BorderWolf]

Thanks Dan. This is slightly tied to my first one ( You're Not Always Alone For The Holidays ).

[Limegreen Queen]

Yeah more tomorrow! Tomorrow is just a good day for me!

[BorderWolf]

Chapter 2

A little boy stood on a hill. A little girl stood in front of him.

"You better remember me. If you forget me, I'll hate you forever, " said the little girl.

"Why would I forget you? "

"Because you are going back to the city. "

"I will not forget you. "

"Pinky swear it. "

"Huh??"

The little girl held up her left hand with the pinky extended, "PINKY SWEAR IT!! "

The little boy sighed. He felt the little girl was being redicules. Why would he forget her? The little boy held up his left hand and extended his pinky, and interlocked it with her pinky. "Ok, I swear I will not forget you. "

"You better not, or else I will hate you forever. "

"I will not forget you ... "

TOOT!!!

"Your attention please. We will be arriving in Mineral Town in 30 minutes. Please be ready to depart. "

Jack rolled out of the bed he used during the trip.

*Great, every time I get close to remembering her name, something happens to wake me up. When am I going to be allowed to remember her name? *

Jack changed into a new change of clothes. Then packing up the few items he unpacked, he then headed up to the top deck. Looking around he saw the island that Mineral Town was on. He wished that the ferry would go faster. After what felt like an eternity, the ferry pulled up to the dock. A large black man caught the ropes that were thrown and secured the ferry to the dock. The ramp was lowered, and the doors were opened and the ramp extended. Walking quickly down the ramp, Jack headed to the stairs that would lead him to the town. As he was heading down the peir in a fast pace a voice shouted to him, "Hey! Slow down. Do you want to fall into the water? "

Jack continued to walk fast, he just had to see if Joe was alright. It was now spring and New Year's Day as well. So Joe should be fine. Climbing the stairs he heard that something was going on nearby. He entered what looked to be a plazza square. Tables were being set up for something. He used the south exit of the plazza, a voice shouted, "The way to the Inn is the other way. "

Jack headed down the cobblestone path. After he turned the corner, he began to run. A feeling of dread started to creap up. He turned left when he came to the end of the southern most east-west cobblestone path. Jack then leaped over the low fence to Joe Bauer's farm, and ran a short way. He saw that the field was almost filled with debries. With tears starting to fill his eyes Jack said, "Oh Joe, why did you let your farm fall apart? "

[violet]

that was really good!

[Limegreen Queen]

Yeah

[BorderWolf]

Chapter 3

As Jack was looking at the field a voice came from behind, "Hey! Just who do you think you are?! This happens to be private property! You city people think that you can walk into any property that has its gate closed?! "

Jack turned to look at the person yelling at him. With anger starting to boil, Jack spoke to this annoying man, "I happen to know that this is the farm of Joe Bauer. "

The short man in a red coat and hat replied, "This was Joe Bauer's farm! "

Jack staggered back, "What?! It was?! "

"Yes, it was! "

Jack collapsed to his knees, tears started to flow from his eyes, "No. No, no, no. "

The short man was surprised at Jack's reaction. He asked softly, "Did you know him? "

Jack nodded.

The man then asked softly, "How did you meet him? "

"It, it was about twelve years ago. My parents felt that I should see more of this world. They felt that the countryside would be the best place to start. "

Jack paused because he was on the verge of breaking down and crying. The short man was kind to let Jack calm down enough to continue.

"They felt that this town was the best country town to go to. After we got here, I wandered away. I got lost and ended up here. Joe was kind to reunite me with my parents. He even let us stay here. When we were leaving, Joe asked if I could write to him since he never had kids. My parents thought that would be a nice thing to do, after the kindness he showed us. "

The short man nodded sagely, and waited for Jack to continue.

"So Joe and I have been writing each other. Towards the end of fall I was summoned for jury duty. While I was waiting in the room with the other jurors, they read off the names for grand jury. My name was selected. I wrote to Joe telling him. He replied that he was proud that I would be helping decide what cases would go to court. The service would last an entire season. I wrote to him on the Pumpkin Festival that things were going well. That the group I was in sent twenty-three cases to court. A few days later I heard that a snowstorm hit here. So I knew that it would be a while for when an answer should have been sent back. When none had been sent, I wrote again, and a few days later, I heard another snowstorm hit here. So for the rest of my service, I had a hard time concentrating. When the service ended the day before New Year's Eve, I decided to come here to see if Joe was ok. "

Jack felt tears beginning to flow from his eyes.

"Then when you arrived, you found out that Joe had passed away, " said the short man.

Jack nodded.

The short man layed a hand softly on Jack's shoulder, "I'm sorry I was cross with you. Joe was a very good person. Are you by any chance Jack Harvest? "

Jack nodded, "I can show you some ID if you need me to. "

"No lad, that will not be needed for now. I believe you. I think that Joe was right to leave his farm to you. "

"What? He left his farm to me? "

"Yes lad, it took a while to find his will. Since he passed away the day before the Pumpkin Festival, we had to hastily harvest the crops. Since it would be hard to keep the livestock fed, we had to sell them. Then when winter arrived, there were the two snowstorms. It was as if someone was gloating the Joe had died. "

Jack listened to this. The short man continued, "Then there was a break from the storms. I had a nightmare the day before the Starry Night Festival. It prompted me to search for Joe's will. When I found it, I thought that Joe was leaving the farm to someone older. But since you are the one he willed the farm to, it's yours if you want it. "

Jack looked around. The house, barn stable, and chicken coop need repairs as well as a new coat of paint. The field would need a lot of work to remove all of the debris. He then thought what his old friend would want.

"I think that Joe would at least want me to give it a try, " said Jack as he stood up.

"Well then, let me welcome you to the neighborhood. I'm Mayor Thomas. "

Jack shook Thomas's hand.

"Some of the townsfolk are going to be at the Rose Plaza, for the New Year's Day Festival. How about if you come and meet them? "

"It wouldn't be a problem since I'm new here? "

"No sometimes people from the mainland come here just for the festival. "

"Ok, I'll come. "

"The festival starts at 6 in the evening, so how about you take a look at your new home until then? "

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I'm sorry that I was cross when you yelled at me earlier. "

"It's ok Jack. I would have done that same thing. "

Thomas handed Jack the keys to the house, then left to finish the preparations for the festival. Jack went up to his new house, unlocked the door and entered it.

[grim]

hehe gj your story is really good =)

[violet]

Good Job

[Limegreen Queen]

Yeah it's really good!