TRIGGER WARNING: Mild description of the abuse of a kidnapped victim

Theme Song: These Dreams - Heart


"You're not going anywhere until I say you are!"

The man had dragged her back to some sort of building in the depths of the woods. She struggled against the ropes that he had tied her in as he approached with a knife that he stuck under her chin with a growl.

"You think you're so special and pretty don't you? Girls like you never give attention to guys like me. Well, until now, that is. Now you're giving me all of your attention, aren't you? Heh. We'll see how pretty you are when you lose your best features. I'll start with your hair first. Then maybe your eyes will be next…"

She struggled more violently and tried to scream, but her mouth was stuffed full of dirty rags, complete with a gag to keep her from spitting them out. And the more she struggled, the happier he seemed to be. He let her wriggle for a few seconds before roughly grabbing her by her hair, pulling it tight and then pushing his knife blade through it… chunk by chunk… Until the majority of her hair was lying on the ground and tears were streaming down her face.

"Not so pretty now… Are ya?"

The knife flashed a final time, and she burst awake with a gasp. Shaking, she stared at her hands, no longer tied behind her back. Cookie also sat up, then came over and started licking her face as if to let her know that it was okay now.

"Just a dream…" the farmer breathed.

Or was it a memory?

Not wanting to dwell on it, she got out of bed and headed out the front door, both animals in tow. She opened the mailbox and blinked in surprise as she pulled out a letter. Only this one was from an M. Rasmodius. That wasn't anyone she knew. Curious, she opened the envelope and read the card inside:

My sources tell me you've been poking around inside the old community center. Why don't you pay me a visit? My chambers are west of the forest lake, in the stone tower. I may have information concerning your… 'rat problem'.

M. Rasmodius, Wizard

Wizard? Was he for real?

But she didn't dwell on that too long because she was far more disturbed by the fact that whoever this person was, they had obviously been watching her. Probably stalking her. She felt her blood turn cold. She couldn't go to some strange stalker's house!

Then again… Hadn't Linus mentioned there was another strange man who lived seemingly exactly where this letter was telling her to go? Could that be his friend?

He knows about the apple ghosts… And if he's been watching me, maybe he'll know who attacked me. And if he's the one who did attack me… I have an axe. I'll take it with me.

Gripping the letter in her hand, she was determined to see things through. First, however, she was delighted to see that her parsnips were ready to be harvested. She ignored a voice inside her that was ringing alarm bells about plants and the amount of time they take to grow… And picked her 15 parsnips with pride and watering her 5 potato plants.

Not wanting to lose a single moment, she decided to try and brave the rest of her farmland, which hadn't been cleared yet. She scrambled over boulders and branches, scratching herself on several thorny weeds before she came to the pathway that led to Marnie's Ranch. After that, it was much easier to walk. She headed for the lake, and once she reached the shore she could easily see the stone tower that had been mentioned in the letter.

As she passed the lake, she took a moment to pause and stare at her reflection. She was sporting various cuts and bruises that had been acquired in her farming adventures, but her eyes landed on one specific feature…

Her hair.

The unevenness of the cut. The fact that it felt strange to her, even though she couldn't remember her own name. Looking at it brought a sense of sadness, regret, and loss that she didn't understand…

My dream… Could it really be real? It's starting to seem that way…

She shook her head to clear it, determination filling her once more. Perhaps the stranger who sent the letter would know… And she continued on her way, only pausing one more time outside the door of the tall, stone tower to pick up a wild horseradish.

Last chance to turn back. You might be jumping right back into the fire… Are you ready for that?

She gripped the axe tightly in her fists, and pushed the door open slowly.

"Hello?"

"Ah… Come in."

She stepped inside the tower, the smell of dew and grass immediately overwhelming her nose, causing her to sneeze a couple of times. It was a weird quirk she had noticed the past few days. Walking into sunlight, or any strong light for that matter, and strong smells always caused her to sneeze. The one she was breathing in at that moment seemed to be coming from a giant cauldron to her left. To the right, she could make out some kind of summoning circle on the floor.

"I uh… I'm here because of a letter?" she held the paper out, hand still holding tight to the axe, ready to swing. "Are you… the one who sent it?"

He nodded, "I am Rasmodius… Seeker of the arcane truths. Mediary between physical and ethereal. Master of the seven elementals. Keeper of the sacred cha- you get the point. And you… Farmer. The one whose arrival I have long foreseen…"

"Wait, you knew that I was coming? Like… Coming here to your tower or coming here to Stardew Valley?"

To her immediate annoyance, he ignored her, "Here, I'd like to show you something. Behold!"

He held his hands up, and with a bright flash, one of the apple creatures appeared in the center of his summoning circle.

"The apple ghost!" she cried, surprised.

"You've seen one before, haven't you? They call themselves the 'Junimos'... Mysterious spirits these ones… For some reason, they refuse to speak with me," he waved his hand again, and the image disappeared. "I'm not sure why they've moved into the community center, but you have no reason to fear them."

"That's a relief," she put a hand over her heart, which was beating extremely fast now. Magic? Was magic real? Something in her brain kept saying it was impossible, but how could she really know what was possible when she didn't know her own name. All she could do was roll with the information as best she could. "But maybe you can help me, if you know what they are. They weren't the only things in the community center. There was a golden scroll written in strange symbols-"

"Hmmm?" he looked up, obviously invested in this new information. "You found a golden scroll written in an unknown language? Most interesting… Stay here. I'm going to see for myself. I'll return shortly."

She let out a loud gasp as the wizard disappeared suddenly, in a burst of magic. She glanced around the room, trying to take it all in, but also finding it so hard to believe. Everything about this valley was starting to feel impossible, even though she was living right in the middle of it all. She felt like she was being torn in two different directions… Her brain screamed that this was all wrong while her heart longed to further explore this new adventure and embrace it all.

"I found the note…" the wizard's voice startled her and she jumped slightly as he returned through the front door. How strange that he had disappeared from the room and yet reappeared outside the tower. "The language is obscure, but I was able to decipher it.." He cleared his throat before continuing, "We, the Junimo, are happy to aid you. In return, we ask for gifts of the valley. If you are one with the forest then you will see the true nature of this scroll."

"So… I get a tree costume and stand out in the woods?" she chuckled to herself. "I feel like that actually wouldn't be a first for me. I think I have this memory of-"

The wizard made a weird noise that was a cross between a snort and a gasp that caused the memory to slip as quickly as it had started to come back. Unaware of her devastation at the loss, he started pacing his tower and muttering to himself, "Hmm… 'One with the forest'... What do they mean?"

She sneezed. The smell from the cauldron was growing again.

"Ah-hah!" the sneeze seemed to give him an idea as he hurried to the cauldron and motioned for her to follow. "Come here! My cauldron is bubbling with ingredients from the forest. Baby fern, moss grub, caramel-top toadstool… Can you smell it? Here. Drink up. Let the essence of the forest permeate your body."

Was he for real? Did he really expect her to just… drink a weird potion from his strange smelling cauldron when she barely knew him?

"Uh…"

"It's perfectly safe."

"No offense, but I barely even know you… And I have so many other questions that need to be answered…" she backed away, pulling the axe up in front of her. The wizard looked like he was going to protest until his eyes landed on her makeshift weapon.

"Fine," he grumbled. "We'll make a deal. You ask your questions, but once I've answered them, you drink."

"That depends entirely on the answers…" she shook her head.

He muttered under his breath, but relented, "Ask your questions then."

"How long have you been watching me?"

"Since the day you arrived," he answered sincerely. "In fact, I'm the one that coaxed that boy to go down the mountain pass to check on you. He'll never find the glowing frog again, but I think he'll find something of greater value in the future…"

"Friendship?"

"That too," the wizard shrugged. "I was thinking more along the lines of the satisfaction of thinking on the well-being of someone other than himself."

"If you were watching the day I arrived, then you'd know… Was I attacked before Sebastian found me? Is that why you sent him?" she clenched the axe tight, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"That I-" he stopped, as if he was choosing his words carefully. "I sensed that you were in danger. I sense many things in this valley. When you arrived near the farm, I was able to assess the situation and realized you would die in the snow without aid. I do not know exactly what happened before you entered the range of my scrying abilities."

It wasn't much of an answer, and it didn't relieve any of her anxiety, "Why not come get me yourself?"

"The people in Pelican Town don't view me too kindly. There would be too many questions, since I rarely leave my tower. Having one of them find you was the best way to get you quick, immediate care," the answer sounded so rehearsed, but she couldn't assume the worst. He had, after all, saved her… The list of people she owed her life to was rapidly growing.

"I'm sure Dr. Harvey would have treated a sick patient, regardless of who dropped her off," she moved the axe into position, ready to swing if she needed to. "So tell me the truth… Did you try to attack me that night?"

"Goodness no, child!" the wizard held his hands up. "Put that thing down. I doubt you could swing it hard or fast enough to hurt a magic being like me anyway."

She lowered the axe, but her defenses were still on high alert, "You're telling the truth?"

"Yes!"

"You have no idea who I am?"

"No more than anyone else in town."

She mulled it over in her head. She didn't have a reason to disbelieve him, but it hurt to realize her only lead had once again become a dead end. And she wasn't sure if she trusted him enough to drink the strange potion in his cauldron.

"Honestly child, I mean you no harm," his voice took on a comforting tone. "But if it's answers as to what happened in the woods the night you were found, it might be helpful to be able to communicate with the spirits of the forest, don't you think?"

She hated how much he was starting to make sense.

"And if it kills me?"

"Nonsense," the wizard laughed. "There isn't anything poisonous in here. It's completely natural."

"Yeah…" she raised an eyebrow. "Magic potion. Natural."

"Are you saying you've never seen magic?" he gave her a questioning look, and for the first time, he seemed genuinely surprised.

"I-" she winced, her head starting to hurt from all the strain of trying to remember what was just out of reach. "I don't remember. I'm sure you know that much, since you've apparently been watching me closely."

"Only to make sure you recover fully and completely," he added defensively.

"I'm skeptical. So all I can think is that whoever I was before would be just as skeptical."

"Huh. Curious," he made a note in a notebook lying on the table. "Well, the choice is yours. I won't force you, but you really have nothing to lose."

He was right. She didn't. She could lose her life, but she couldn't even remember her life to begin with. It could knock her out and leave her incapacitated, and if he really was the kidnapper…

His voice isn't the same.

The realization caused her to pause. She wasn't sure how much she could trust her dreams, but it was a strangely comforting thought…

Oh, what the heck. Stop thinking and just drink it. You can deal with the aftermath as it comes.

Determined, she grabbed a cup off the table, plunging it into the cauldron and downing as much of the liquid as she could before the taste hit.

It was repulsive.

She gagged, dropping the cup on the ground as she desperately tried to spit the taste out of her mouth. The wizard jumped from his seat and caught her just before she fell to the ground. She was barely aware of him struggling to help her stumble to a seat. She felt weak and shaky, and the lingering taste of plants and dirt causing her head to pound.

Distantly, she was aware of the wizard speaking, explaining to her, "You've gained the power of forest magic! Now you can decipher the true meaning of the junimo scrolls."

Everything seemed to take on a green tint. It was like she was caught in some sort of fever dream. She could hear the wizard droning on and on. She briefly thought she saw him talking to a junimo, but her vision was also swimming with leaves and trees and all manner of forest greenery…

"Are you alright?"

She blinked, looking into the face of the wizard as he set more books on his table, busying himself around the tower, "What…?"

"Sorry. I should have warned you it was a fairly potent potion. The good news is that you'll be able to communicate with the junimos. The bad news is that it will probably take a couple hours for the wooziness to wear off completely," he helped her to her feet. "But you're fine enough to walk, so off you go! Go read that scroll and see what the little spirits want from you. I imagine that's why you're here."

"But-"

"Farewell, young farmer! Good luck to you! If you need anything, I'm always here. But not today. I have the afternoon booked out for taking a spa day, and you don't want to be around for that. My toenails are particularly nasty…" he pushed her out the door and pulled it shut again behind her before she could even turn around.

What in the actual world!?

She stood on his doorstep for a couple minutes, just trying to orient herself. Good news, he wasn't a kidnapper. Bad news, she wasn't sure what all of that was. Good news, she had a lead to follow and continue seeking her past. Bad news… She felt awful.

With a groan, she began the trek down the hill and through the forest. As much as she wanted to just return home and get some sleep, she had to figure out what was on that scroll. If it could tell her anything about herself… Even just her name…

"You alright there, farmer?"

She looked up and glanced around, confused. She had been walking through the woods, but now… Now she was on the edge of town, her feet moving her towards the community center of their own accord. She barely remembered the walk there… And now Sam was standing in front of her, concern written all over his face.

"Yeah… I'm… Fine," she shook her head. "Just daydreaming, I guess. How are you?"

"I'm fine!" he smiled. "Hmm… I just remembered that I was meaning to do something. But I forgot."

"Oh. Sorry," she placed a palm against her forehead. She still had a splitting headache.

"This happens to me all the time," he shrugged and gave her a boyish grin. "Are you hungover, by chance?"

"This?" she winced, hiding her eyes from the sun. "No. At least… I don't think I am…"

"You don't know?"

"Something might have been fermented," she admitted. "But I think it's just… a magic side effect."

"Okay, crazy," he sounded very amused. "You aren't talking any sense. You probably shouldn't be left alone. Where are you headed?"

"The old community center," she cleared her throat. There was something in the way he said it… Like… He didn't necessarily believe in magic either… Like she had been before drinking the wizard's potion and seeing his magic at work. "Mayor Lewis asked me to… Investigate. He thinks there might be rats in there or something."

"Aw, typical Lewis!" Sam grimaced. "Send someone else to do your dirty work. A girl, nonetheless." He brightened slightly. "I can check it out instead, if you want!"

"I don't mind," she protested. "I'm not afraid of rats."

"Wait…" Sam looked confused. "I could have sworn that Maru told Sebastian that Harvey said-"

"Okay! Nice chat! I'll see you around! Bye!" she quickly waved farewell and took off down the walkway, her face burning while Sam stood there, very confused. Of course. Small town gossip. She'd have to be more careful with her lies from now on.

Or, you know… Just stop lying.

The community center was just as dark as it had been the day before. If she was going to be spending time here, she'd need to clean the windows and let in more light. For now, she had enough to make her way back to the lower room where she'd first found the scroll.

Is this… A shopping list? No… But it is a list of needs. They did say they would ask for gifts from the valley in exchange for their help… But help in what?

She tilted her head, a smile drawing across her face.

Remembering who I am? Is that why they wouldn't speak with Rasmodius? Because I'm the one who needs help!

There wasn't a moment to lose, but there was one problem. The list asked for foraged items from all four seasons. If she couldn't find those items right now, did that mean she'd be stuck here for a year, with no idea who she was?

No, the memories are coming back. They'll all come back soon, but in the meantime, it doesn't hurt to help the Junimos. At least… I don't think it will.

She did have one item already on the Spring Forage list. She took out the horseradish she had found earlier and placed it on the ground. The Junimos would probably take care of it. She might also have enough wood and stone back home to fulfill part of the construction bundle as well.

It shouldn't be hard to find these other foraged items for Spring. I've found them before, most of them. I could probably spend the rest of the day looking for them and then focus on farming and remembering for the rest of the season.

"Alright, little apple fellas," she stood up, brushing the dust and dirt from her knees. "I'll be back with more gifts… And please… Help me remember who I am."

She started by returning home to pick up the wood for the construction bundle. She had enough to fill both orders for 99 wood. She also noticed her mailbox had a note in it.

Congratulations on harvesting your first parsnips. Here's some money as a reward. Make a scarecrow next, to keep your plants safe from crows.

Included was 100 gold pieces, but more intriguing was the fact that there was no name attached.

I don't know who you are, but bless you.

She took the mountain pass to look for leeks and berries. As she was rummaging around in some bushes, hoping to find a salmonberry, she looked over the top of the bush and noticed Sebastian walking towards town.

"Sebastian!" she waved as he turned, slightly alarmed before realizing who it was.

"Oh. Hey. Sorry, I was busy thinking about something. What are you doing up here?" he walked over to join her.

"Just looking for some foraged plants. To sell." She explained. "I picked my first parsnips today, but figured I'd continue looking for other ways to make money in the meantime."

"I see," he shoved his hands into his pockets. "And it's going…?"

"Haven't found anything yet."

"Hmm… It changes from day to day. I haven't noticed anything up here today. Probably best to head back into town."

"Right. Mind if I walk with you?"

"Do whatever you want," he turned to walk away, leaving her a little flabbergasted at his lack of enthusiasm. Perhaps he wanted to be left alone…

"Oh, actually, I think I left something at home. I'll just… Take the mountain pass. Thanks though! Have a good day!" she headed in the opposite direction, swallowing her disappointment. It was really hard to make friends here! Everyone seemed so… closed off. Then again, she was new. They probably just didn't trust her.

I'll change that. And I'll do it by befriending Shane first. That ought to leave an impression on everyone, right?

On her way into town, determined to find Shane and strike up a conversation with him, she noticed a dandelion out near the bus stop. Quickly, she ran to pick it, excited at fulfilling another of the Juminos' orders. She took it directly to the community center, passing Haley along her way. She thought she heard the blonde mumbling something about wanting to go shopping, and the lack of a mall in Pelican Town.

Once the dandelion was dropped off, she checked the time. It was starting to get later into the evening. She'd check the saloon for Shane, first. He seemed to hang out there most evenings, from what she'd seen… And sure enough, he was there, and grumpy as ever.

"Why are you bothering me? I want to be alone," he growled as soon as she approached him.

"Fine," she shrugged. But that wasn't the end of it. She quickly motioned for Emily to come over, handed her some gold pieces and instructions, then headed for the door. Before exiting, she turned and saw Emily hand Shane another stein of beer and point at her. Shane looked up, his eyes wide as the farmer waved one last time and stepped out into the night.

As her eyes adjusted the the dimmer light, she noticed Sebastian once again, walking by the saloon. Wanting to avoid another awkward encounter, she turned and started to head around the side of the building.

"Hey!"

She froze, turning to face the young man as he ran towards her, "Yes?"

"I just-" he stopped, wheezing a little as he placed his hands on his knees. He seemed to be winded rather easily. "I just wanted to apologize. I sounded like a jerk earlier, and I didn't mean to."

"It's fine."

He shook his head, "It's really not, though. I hate it when my step-father pulls crap like that. It makes me feel awful. I just had a lot on my mind and spoke without thinking. I know we're already in town, but… Do you mind if I walk you home? To make up for it?"

She had a hard time hiding her surprise, "Oh. Um… Sure! That would be… That would be amazing!"

Sebastian nodded, then started trudging down the sidewalk, hands shoved in his hoodie pocket. It was quiet for a while, then he asked his first question. "How are you settling in?"

"Oh! Uhm… Quite nicely, I guess. It's been almost a week now. I have small memories coming back every now and then. I already told you I harvested my first parsnips today… Uh… It is a little difficult to make friends," she admitted.

"Yeah," he sighed. "We're a hard bunch. Elliot would probably empathize most with you. He moved here last year. A couple months before that it was Leah, and another couple months before that Harvey took up the Mayor's call for a town doctor and we built the clinic. Didn't have one before that. Always had to go into Zuzu City."

"What's Zuzu City like?" she asked, genuinely curious. "I mean, I'm sure I'll go there soon, but…"

"It's an amazing place," Sebastian's eyes seemed to light up with excitement. "It's busy all day and all night. Shops rarely close. People crowd around on the streets while they go about their lives, never realizing how lucky they are to have so much right there. We have very little here in Pelican Town, aside from the seasonal festivals."

"Festivals?"

He nodded, "Yeah. We have the Egg Festival next week. At the end of spring we'll have the Flower Dance."

"That sounds… fun?"

"Ugh!" Sebastian winced. "No! It's awful! Lewis makes us wear these awful suits and the dance isn't even fun. It's very, very old…"

"What do the girls wear?" she tilted her head. "If the boys wear suits…"

"White dresses," he paused, as if thinking. "The dresses are actually… Very pretty. The girls always look nice. Then we boys have to look absolutely ridiculous!"

The farmer chuckled under her breath, "I look forward to it, then!"

Sebastian groaned, "Do us all a favor and stay home that day. That's the last thing I want you to watch."

"I'm sure it's not that bad."

But the look on Sebastian's face said it all. It was that bad.

"Just don't laugh too hard."

"No promises!"

By then, they had reached the bus stop and the edge of the farm.

"Thank you again, for walking with me," the farmer turned and smiled at Sebastian. "Even if we aren't really friends, it's nice to have someone to talk to and tell me about the town."

"Well, we don't have to be strangers forever," Sebastian shrugged.

"Alright then. I guess I'll see you around."

"Good night."

The farmer walked away, feeling fuzzy and warm. She felt much better than she had earlier that day. Between her shenanigans to convince Shane she wasn't all bad, and Sebastian's apology, making friends didn't feel so hopeless.

She was, however, very tired. So tired, she forgot to place her parsnips into the shipping crate before tucking in and falling asleep.


Sebastian couldn't get his heart to stop pounding until he got home. How sad it was that his smoking habit had made it so he could barely go on a walk without being winded. He really needed to quit.

Yeah. It was definitely the smoking that had his heart fluttering.

"Where have you been?" Maru raised an eyebrow as he walked into the house.

"Out," came his short answer.

"Out doing what?" she persisted.

"None of your business."

"Dad's going to be angry," she said, folding her arms.

"Demetrius can take his anger and shove it up-"

"Sebastian!" His mom came around the corner, hands on her hips. "Do not finish that sentence!"

He put his hands up, relenting, "I'm an adult. I can go where I want."

"Living in our house!"

"Your basement," he corrected. "Hidden away from the rest of the world because you're so ashamed of who I am! Sorry that I'm not brilliant like beautiful, perfect Maru. Sorry that I'm HALF of my dad, which you can't seem to get over. I didn't ask to be born. Just… Leave me alone."

He pushed past Maru and ran down the stairs to his room. His prison. He thought he could hear Maru and Robin talking quietly about him before he slammed the door, but he didn't care. His evening was already ruined.

They could all go to Hell.