Prologue
Sheffield was exceptionally grateful for having been allowed a place at Sanctuary Hills, one of the first places the Sole Survivor had visited upon emerging from his ancient slumber.
He had helped Sheffield truly kick his addictions to drugs by providing him with safe alternatives like Nuka Cola, along with jobs throughout the settlements. Polishing the cannons that would defend them from Raider attacks would be a decent job, if a boring one for him.
He missed the good old days, before addiction and homelessness had ruined his life, but he loved being useful again. It would be too late to settle down and form a family, but having something to believe in again was something he would never sacrifice.
It was night, while the rest of the settlement, including Nate himself were fast asleep. Only Codsworth and Strong were wondering around, while Dogmeat was in his kennel. So he was satisfied with this new position. Only he noticed something. "What's that?" he exclaimed as lights started to appear in the horizon.
That was soon followed by what looked as if reality itself was shuddering, as it blurred and things began to change. It wasn't at the immediate borders of Sanctuary Hill, but on the hilltop short of Vault 111. He saw that the previously barren woods were being replaced with a woody environment instead, with birds flying out in app directions from the confusion. He had to see what was going on.
The green forest was much bigger than he thought. He had previously believed that little lied to the north of the Commonwealth but wasteland. Maybe there was some kind of city in former Canada. But it looked like they were no longer in the wastes. Maybe the commonwealth had been taken back in time? 'No way' he thought, for that was magic and that didn't exist of course.
The forests were exceptionally full of life and... green. It was beautiful to see so much thriving here, even if it was quite cold. He took some berries and stuffed them into his mouth. 'This is great' he thought. 'New life and a new chance at it!' As owls hooted, another creature supposedly extinct, he wondered if the settlement and area had been shifted to a whole other world. He didn't encounter any people for an hour or two of walking, until he saw some men with what looked like horses, those things which had died long ago in the Great War.
And yet here they were. The men looked medieval in their format, which was strange indeed. They were tired and were clearly not used to going out at night at such times. Maybe he had gone further back than he thought, back to the Middle Ages? He remembered lessons in Diamond City vaguely, but this seemed to strange to be true. Why be sent back to the medieval world? And it wasn't just him, a significant chunk of land had been sent here. Maybe the rest of the Commonwealth was here too? He wanted to go over and ask them what was happening.
"Scuse me, but do you know where we are?" He plucked up the courage to say to these strange people.
They looked at him with a confused appearance. "The forests of the Neck, about 25 miles to the south-west of Moat Cailin and 35 miles north of Greywater Watch for that matter. What's up with your accent? You sound like you're not from around here. We've already seen some strange hairless rats roaming around. Bit my leg they did".
Sheffield didn't know how to reply, but tried regardless. "We..., I dunno, just appeared here in this forest in the middle of somewhere. I've never heard of this Greywater place, where exactly is that? Are we in Canada? Names Sheffield by the way."
"You don't know where we are?" The man said. "We're near the Neck, in the North, in the land of Westeros. Where else would we be? You must be drunk!" His companion shoved him aside and said "forgive me for my companion Selwyn's boldness, he's always suspicious of strangers. My names Gared, and we're soldiers of House Reed. Would you like to go to the tavern for a drink of ale?"
"Sure, why not?" He said as they started on their way towards the tavern. A few minutes into their journey they were cut short. Sheffield went to pee next to a stump and a grey rock. Gared and Selwyn stood around waiting for their new conpanion so they could continue. He could hear rustling in the bushes. He finished a few seconds later and turned around to face the guys. "So, what direction to the tavern? I can't wait to get my hands on some girls and booze!" He said.
Gared was intrigued "what's this booze you talkin' about?" Sheffield replied "Oh, you know alcohol. I brought some vodka along if you guys want to try it". Nate had forbidden him from drinking, but he wasn't here, so it was his choice now. "Here you go" as he threw it their way, with Gared putting it in his bag.
The men replied- "Sounds good to me, it'd be nice to... Oh", they slowly turned from curiosity to fear to downright terror on their faces.
"Dire! Run" Selwyn cried as they fled the scene as quickly as they could. Sheffield turned around to see what te fuss was about and came face to face with the biggest dog he had ever scene. It was covered in fur like a wolf, but must have been nearly as big as the horse, and with razor sharp teeth. It looked hungry.
"Nice doggy" Sheffield whimpered as the dog approached. He felt his own urine down his legs as it opened its mouth. "Goodbye, cruel world" he whispered as the beast pounced.
