This story is a love-letter to the games, and ultimately to Clementine as a character. More specifically, my Clementine.

For context, I was vaguely familiar with TWD since my dad watched the show, and he was invested enough to buy the first few seasons on DVD. Now, I was a little kid at that point, so I didn't watch the show. I was instead in the Minecraft side of YouTube, and I happened to stumble upon a play-through of the first season (Stampylonghead's). And while I was terrified of zombies from concept to realized interpretations (plus whatever fungal shit insects can get), I grew fond of those videos, which is funny to think about now given my interests and how my writing has gravitated towards body-horror.

Never really went back though. Not until many, many years later when I bought the whole series for myself to play. I had been in a writing slump because depression and spiraling mental state or whatever, and over winter break of high school senior year, I played the games. The first season was looked at fondly, yet still felt like a new experience (for instance, I knew Lee was going to die, but spoilers have never been a big thing, and I still choked up anyway). And then the rest? Well. The rest established Clementine's importance for me. This was perhaps compounded by the fact that I had played the games in December 2019/January 2020, and immediately dove into writing. To say that was surreal to have played those games, to have had this retelling in my head for the following months afterwards, during the COVID pandemic—yeah its an understatement.

This is really my way of expressing just how these games never had the chance of just being another game. Not to me at least. With the timing, the characters, the world and everything in between, there just wasn't that chance.

So we go back to Clementine. My Clementine. And this retelling.

For those unfamiliar with AYDF, it's a simple story, really. It's about Clementine where she forgot herself and lost the image she had as the kid Lee met in Season One to alcohol. And throughout Season Three: A New Frontier, she is reminded of the good in humanity through Javi. And throughout Season Four: The Final Season, she's within the process of remembering what she lost through the school kids. And neither were easy. Neither would leave her without the scars she collected, but, in the end, she remembers that little girl. I promise, she does.

But see? A simple story. Just PTSD-riddled addiction that plagued my Clementine as she survived the apocalypse with A.J at her side.

In any case, if you're here to see a Clementine who has stuck to her roots as the little girl in Season One with a heart of gold, well… Um… Sorry? My Clementine isn't really a hero. Hell, she's not even the hero of her own story (which is this one). If anything, she plays more as a villain in some respects. In a lot of respects.

Okay, Clementine is simultaneously the protagonist and antagonist. Antagonist as in she is what she is fighting against, villain or not. But, ah well. I don't care. I still love my Clementine with all my heart, and there's nothing you can do about it. Lol.

Anyway.

Now I have to be honest, this simple story is a rather selfish one. While every story of mine is written for myself first, since every writer has to actually enjoy the thing that they're spending their energy and time on, much of my fanfictions are written with the audience in mind. I crave feedback. I gage the reception. Everything. In part because I want to see what works with my storytelling and what doesn't, depending on the fandom, and also which fandoms (or environments) are better suited for my writing. So there is usually that element there where what I write is with an audience in mind, all while I immensely enjoy myself and write what I want to fuckin' write.

Not with this one, however. Largely because this is the first piece of fanfiction that doesn't really feel like fanfiction. It's the first one that I've put into Word instead of using AO3 and 's word processors (which has since become a standard for my longer stories). It's the first one where I honed into an element, that being mental health and that body horror deal (again, both standards of mine, now). This fic doesn't feel like one because of its impact on me, and just how close it is to my coal, leathery, something something heart. What you're reading here is, by definition a fic, but it's also the innerworkings of a developing writer, I suppose. Something that's evident when you compare the timeline of my fanfiction writing overall, how AYDF fits into that, and especially when you compare the former to the remastered version.

But I digress. Lol.

This fic means a lot. And I don't care about any criticisms. It is my fucking cake and you're lucky to have the slice you're getting goddammit.

…kidding. Of course. Kind of. Sort of. Not really.

For those who are familiar, though, have read the previous version, and have waited for the next chapter—the one that promised the Ericson kids—to be published, I do want to say a whole-hearted thank-you. I apologize for taking so long, but I hope you understand how much time I needed to give this story it's due attention, and know that every comment and kudos across platforms helped encourage me to spend that time. And while it'd be a lie to say that this story was written for you, because it's not (again, it's a rather selfish story of mine), I can say that part of the reason why I felt the need to write a remastered version instead of replacing the old and pretend it never existed is because of those comments and kudos.

That, and the comic pissed me the fuck off.

I'm going to be honest, the comic really put a dent in my updating for the original version of AYDF. In the end, I think I do owe it a thank-you, since I doubt I would've written the remastered version, but…yeah. It did. Largely because I have a feeling that the comic won't serve Clementine the way the fandom wants, and it most certainly (probably) won't serve my Clementine well. (I don't resent Skybound nor Tillie, just to keep things straight. I've read some of Tillie's other projects, which aren't bad, and Skybound has done other things I respect as well. So yeah. I would also love to be wrong about the comic itself, but…yeah. Lol. I have a feeling.) So, with this, I intend to write the story that I saw as I played, and establish that, no, my Clementine would not leave the school kids for snow, for one thing. And if you spend the time to read my retelling, it will be clear as to why. Nor would she just redo her whole journey through the games. Clementine didn't need to go back on the road. She needed to take her experiences on the road and, well, use them to nurture her own settlement and be a leader.

I digress. Lol. Again, I have nothing against Tillie, and am just a lil disappointed in Skybound. To put simply, though, Season Two branded Clementine's hatred for snow. It's why she would resort to drinking fire, after all.

But I, again, digress. Fuck the comic (civilly, with due respect), love the games, and I hope you enjoy this love-letter.

:)