Sage leapt off the Dodo airlines boarding platform. Inhaling deeply and swiveling around to take in his surroundings, Sage placed his suitcases neatly in the corner of the deck and observed what lay in front of him. Once he had taken in his full display, it all came to his mind. This place was completely and utterly..
Empty.
But that was ok. Because he expected deserted. He wanted to shape it. Perfect it in his own masterful way. His intentions were large and they were, in fact, going to occur. Wilbur chatted with Sage for a bit until Sage got impatient and decided to head to the island. He really didn't know what to expect. Huge cascades? After all, he had decided to name it Cascade Cove. A forest? Some tents? Sage took a deep breath and trotted forward. Suddenly, he was stopped by a stubby raccoon.
"Hello." Then the raccoon (who was supposedly called Tom Nook) gave Sage a big lecture about the island and smartphones and whatnot. But after handing Sage an expensive NookPhone that was made "especially for island residents", Tom Nook started going on about bells and currency and Sage begged he'd get on with it. He wasn't on an investment mood. Tom Nook then, out of nowhere, brought up the fact that Sage owed money for discovering this deserted island off the coast from Marvel City (not going to it). Sage was shocked and honestly wasn't going to complain because he had no time for that. He just nodded and pretended to listen to Tom Nook's verbal abuse tactic.
When Sage was set free from all disturbances and random animals coming up and talking to him, he took a moment to let the whole thing settle in his mind. It wasn't common that you'd find an island everyday. Sage was ecstatic when he saw it's sandy shores from his boat. And so, he went straight to Nook Inc. to tell them. And from then, Sage had hope of a place where he could feel happy.
Tom Nook had gifted Sage with a tent and Sage wasn't hesitant to set it up near the large tent which Tom Nook lived in. Tom had hammered a sign into the gravel in front of his tent which read, 'Resident Services'. Sage assembled the cozy yellow tent and headed over to Resident Services to talk with Tom Nook. when he strolled into the tent, he noticed two infant versions of Tom Nook. They waved at him and Sage ambled over to them. They both muttered at the same time and welcomed him. Sage was confused. This was his island. Why were they welcoming him? Nevertheless, Sage thanked them and they yacked on about how they were opening a shop. Sage caught their names. Timmy and Tommy. He thought those names fit them. Then, after their short sweet conversation, Sage waddled over to Tom Nook.
"What can I do for ya?" Tom Nook said. Just as Sage was about to open his mouth, Tom Nook's face lit up with shock. "I forgot to tell you about my DIY workshop!" then he started to chat about the workshop and how thought it was quite the impressive. Tom gave Sage a card with an acorn on it and sent Sage on his way. Sage looked at the card while hanging out the side of the tent and learnt the recipe quite quickly. "5 tree branches. How the hell do I get that." he swiveled around for any sign of a helping. Then he checked the card. again
Shake trees.
Raising his puzzled head in hope, he shuffled over to a tree and started to rustle it's leaves and shake the wood. A lanky, slim piece of wood plummeted to the grass. Sage snatched it from the ground and slipped it into his pocket. He moved on to the next tree in the planted line and shook more and more until he finally received 5 tree branches. Ecstatic, Sage sprinted over to Resident Service, ran in like he owned the place and smashed the branches on the workbench.
"Look who got the materials, punk!" He swirled around the tent with his arms in the air. A long fishing rod poofed on on to the workbench and Sage grabbed it with glee, singing as he stumbled out of the tent.
"Oh wait"
He twirled back in stopped to chat with Timmy and Tommy to see what he could purchase. He scrolled through their options, purchasing a number of items (after all, they were surprisingly cheap and Sage only had 500 bells). He walked out with a bundle of necessities and lay them on the gravel outside.
DIY Recipe Flimsy Axe
DIY Recipe Slingshot
Flimsy Shovel
Flimsy Net
He was quite happy with what he had bought. That's when he noticed his real surroundings. The sun was glimmering down over Cascade Cove and over the summit of the orange trees. Sage's hair brushed against the wind and he just realized what he was viewing. The cascades. They were the most elegant things Sage had ever seen. The water trickled down the stone, watery cascade pathway and into the river that crossed between the two parts of the island. Sage was in awe. He had never seen something so beautiful in his life. And in fact, the emptiness he had seen at the start, never felt so fulfilling and incredible.
He pulled out his net and watched as the fluttering dragonflies drift into the sky and Sage could just make out the words:
New Horizons
Sage just couldn't take it.
He had never been happier in his life.
At that very moment he felt a singular, uplifting feeling. It engulfed him entirely and Sage couldn't feel depressing emotions such as sadness or anxiety.
That one feeling would stick there for the rest of his life.
This was the place.
This was the place for him.
He just knew it