Intoxicated (Stardew Valley)

Prologue

FROM URBAN TO rural, the landscape changed as the bus trekked far from Zuzu City and towards Stardew Valley.

I looked outside the window. There were rolling hills, thick forests, and mountains resting on the horizon. It was nature at its finest and so different from the city I was accustomed to.

My hand instinctively touched Grandpa's letter in my pant's pocket, its paper crumpled and worn out from how many times I'd read it. I didn't have to open it once again to know what it said; the words were engraved in my mind.

If you're reading this, you must be in dire need of a change.

The same thing happened to me, long ago. I'd lost sight of what mattered most in life... real connections with other people and nature.

So I dropped everything and moved to the place I truly belong...

On his death bed several years ago, he had given me the letter, and had instructed to open it when I felt as if I were crushed by modern life.

I didn't understand it then as a young girl, but now as a woman facing all the hardships and burdens of society, I finally understood.

After a long day of work, I had felt as if I were worthless. As if there was more to my life than just sitting at a computer screen all day. I didn't want that life. I didn't want that heavy weight constantly on my shoulders. And so I had opened the letter, remembering Grandpa's words.

To my surprise, its contents contained his will, stating he left me the inheritance of his farm, in hopes of carrying on his legacy and looking for a change.

A farmer, huh? I thought almost mockingly.

From working at Joja Corporation to a farmer, it would definitely be a change. I hated it there. Hated their corruption, their evil businesses, and everything in general. Working there was a robotic routine: wake up, work, eat, sleep. I needed change.

No, I wouldn't let that company take over my life, nor would I give in to it.

I shook my head and continued to look out the window. My reflection stared back at me: my brown eyes looked so lost and confused, and my dark hair stuck to my neck from the precipitation—the lack of air condition during the travel was horrible.

I was a mess, both physically and mentally.

Consciously, I also looked down at my clothes. I had thrown away my Joja uniform, never wanting it in my sight again, so I was wearing what I had left: a short sleeved purple shirt and black overalls. It wasn't the best option, but it was all I had. The townspeople would just have to deal with it.

This is good, I tried to console myself. Sure, you may not know how to be a farmer, but you'll adjust...

Finally, the bus skidded to a stop and I was met with a small town. Pelican Town. Grandpa's town. My town.

I stepped out of the bus and felt the solid ground beneath the soles of my shoes. The spring breeze whipped at my face, and the scent of flowers and trees filled my nose. The bus soon closed its doors and left me alone.

"Hello! You must be Mae!"

Suddenly, I saw the presence of a woman. She was fairly young and had a bright shade of orange hair, beaming at me as she introduced herself. "I'm Robin, the local carpenter. Mayor Lewis sent me here to fetch you and show you to your new home. He's there right now, tidying things up for your arrival."

I gave her a tight smile. Mayor Lewis was Grandpa's old friend. I wonder what stories he had of him.

Still beaming, Robin started to usher me elsewhere. "The farm's right over here, if you'll follow me!"

As we walked, a familiar structure came into view. I'd been to Grandpa's farm many times, but its memory started to wear off as the years went by.

When we stopped, I looked at my surroundings. I was about to ask if this was it until Robin said, "Here it is! Sundew Farm!"

My jaw dropped and I even considered turning back to go back to my old life with what I saw.

The farm was a mess.

It seemed like a barren wasteland. Trees covered most of the land; bits of rocks, wood planks and shrubs were sprawled everywhere. There were no farm animals, no crops, nothing. With the farm being vacant for so several years, the condition was understandable, but this was extreme. This disastrous sight stretched off toward the whole piece of land!

How did Grandpa even make a living?

I looked towards the house. It was simply a one story wooden shack that definitely needed upgrading. I sighed and started to wonder if doing all this was worth it.

But anything is better than that awful city, I tried to assure myself.

"What's the matter?" Robin asked. I gazed back at her with a look of disappointment. "Okay, sure it seems a little overgrown, but with dedication, you'll fix this place up in no time!" I wanted to believe her, I truly did, but I came here to fix my life, not fix up this farmland.

Soon enough, Mayor Lewis came outside. His old age was clearly shown with the way he walked and the gray hair. Once he and Robin started to bicker about the conditions, I started to drown them out and forced a tight smile.

I was too absorbed in my thoughts to realize that Robin and Mayor Lewis said their goodbyes and left me alone.

I walked up the steps to the porch and slowly opened the door. Once inside, I was greeted with nothing but furniture. It was just me.

"Home," I whispered and sat on the couch, the very same one Grandpa sat on.

Well, better try to make the best of this new life, I thought.

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Hi all! Welcome to the prologue of this story. I wrote this back in January of 2019 and I am editing this now in May of 2020 (during the dire times of this pandemic) and I can very much see how bland (and cringey) this writing is.

I assure you, it DOES get better throughout the end–I've definitely improved over the months–and the plot isn't just the basic Stardew Valley fan fiction, so I hope you'll trust me on this!

Thanks for checking this story out :)