A/N: Hi everyone! Hope you all like this slice of life fiction that I've created. It's not super dramatic or anything just yet, as I'm trying to get my bearings with this site. Anyways, as in the game, we begin in the Spring.

Cheers,

Mer

SPRING

1.

She swung at the sky and with a loud grunt, plunged her rickety hoe into the dirt, creating a small hole. She did it again and again, each time with louder grunts that eventually turned into frustrated cries. Smack! Into the dirt again, and another primal cry. Smack! Once more. A messy row of dirt in front of her little house, ready to be turned into something more. Breathing heavily, she felt her sweat, even though it was pouring rain outside. Why had she chosen to do this particular task in the rain again?

She tore open the packet of seeds with her teeth, her arms too tired, and knelt to begin planting. A few seeds in one hole, then carefully covered up, and then a few more in another. This was the easy part. She felt a calmness overtake her efforts, and settle over her earlier frustration. She could do this. She had to. This farm, this small plot hole in her life, had to be filled with something. But that something was unknown to her.

Rei Mizuhara had moved to Stardew Valley less than a month ago. In her short time, she found out quickly that her work was cut out for her. The local carpenter had kindly shown her the old cabin that her grandfather had resided in for most of his life. And the mayor of the town welcomed her heartily, however, how much of that was fear or apprehension, she couldn't say. Her name meant something to these people. To the entire world. Mizuhara was name of the CEO of Joja Corp. And her? The young 20 year old heiress to that fortune.

The villagers had started whispers as soon as she had stepped off the bus. They started in the Saloon, one night, with Pierre, the owner of the small market all in frenzy as he described the horrors of Joja Mart and how she was there to spy on them. Even with the ridiculous way he projected his own insecurities, some of the villagers couldn't help but be a little suspicious. She felt it as she walked through town the next day, just to check it all out. Barely anyone greeted her, and the children of the town seemed even more suspicious of the new stranger. She heard some of the mothers whisper about her posh appearance, and how could a little wisp of a thing like her possibly farm? Embarrassed by her appearance for once (she had wanted to dress up a little coming into town) she bolted out of the town square pretty fast and made her way to the little beach.

Sitting at the end of the dock calmed her a little. She even allowed herself to swing her legs out over the edge, something that would've been absolutely "un-posh" for her to do back in the city. Cameras all the time, recordings of her whereabouts, and a careful way to keep her appearance had exhausted her. Strange, she thought, how she loved that attention at first. It was always the best way to make her father happy, by being the perfect daughter to the world for him. Oh, how that had all changed.

"The sea always seems tah calm my nerves some."

A gruff voice from behind her. She turned to see a weathered man ambling towards her.

"I'm Willy, old friend of your grandfather's." He held out a very calloused hand. As she took it, she felt salt flakes, or maybe skin flakes? She forced herself to not care.

"Pleased to meet you, I'm Rei."

"No need to be so formal. But here, I got something for ya."

He held out in his other hand a fishing rod and tackle box. Rei must've looked confused for he started laughing big guffaws.

"You probably don't know how to use this, so let me teach you. The Valley provides, and in every season, you'll be able to catch fish. Fresh or saltwater, it don't matter."

Rei, standing in her prim skirt, nice blouse and sunhat, couldn't figure out if he was joking. Yet, he pulled bait out of the box, showed her how to tie all the correct knots and how to cast. They practiced for a few hours and she begin to loosen up as she concentrated harder on trying to perfect the skill. She came up with some seaweed, some trash, and driftwood. However, it was the best few hours since she moved into the Valley, and she trudged back to her overgrown farm with a small warmth in her chest from learning something new.

That was a week ago by now. She hadn't seen Willy since, and assumed he was out at sea, fighting bigger fish. She had kept at it, the only thing that gave her some pride as well as more frustration. Clearing the farm was no easy task and she had only managed to clear as far as the small pond in front of the cabin. Her petite hands, once freshly manicured and moisturized, were now a mess of splinters and broken nails. Her back hurt, her sides hurt, her arms hurt. And she had crawled into bed every night that week with new bruises and awoken the next morning with dull aches and protesting muscles.

It was when she had decided to go to Pierre's to buy some new seeds that her pent up frustration hit her. She had been gifted some parsnips from the Mayor, however her pride told her to buy more seeds, to have a larger garden. So she squared her shoulders, opted for jeans and a t -shirt to blend with the villagers more, and marched into the market. She was bent down, examining a pack of green bean starters when she heard the voices.

"She looks like such a little princess. I can't believe she's even out here."

"Why would she give everything up? Ugh, I mean, if I got to be a part time model and be super rich already I'd never come here."

"Bet ya she'll give up by the end of the month."

Slowly she straightened to look at whoever was speaking. A girl, her age, golden hair cascading down her back looking all for the world a true country girl and a boy, built with muscles and a too eager grin. The two turned to look at her.

"How's it going Farm Girl?" Said the boy, with a teasing smile.

Bubbling rage started to make its way up to her face. She dropped the bean starters, looked each of them squarely in the eyes, and walked out. Her mind was a mess, swirling thoughts and memories hitting her brain.

"Rei! Rei! Look over here for the camera!"

"Miss Mizuhara! What's your next event after this one?"

"What do you think of your father's new plans for the company?"

"Is it true that you don't want to marry Jake Ito?"

"You aren't like every other girl Rei, you're more. You have to be, for this family."

A painful jolt from her big toe sent her face planting into the ground. She groaned, looked up and realized that she had reached the farmland already. And her foot was throbbing. A few drops of rain started, splashing down on her upturned forehead. Then, inexplicably, downpour. Curling into a little ball, she heaved out heavy cries of frustration. Those villagers were right. She couldn't do this! What game was she playing? Trying to be a farmer when she had never done anything like this in her whole life? Why farming?!

Another memory shot through her just then. Her grandfather, picking strawberries with her at this very farm. She must've been about 5 years old. He could pop one in his mouth every once in awhile and give a great big smile. She had followed suit, happily munching. Later in the evening they caught fireflies together, while her parents sat on the porch drinking hot cider. She remembered how she would wake up at the farm, look out and see nothing but trees and forest and hear a creek in the distance. How the chickens were let out to graze in the mornings and the fresh milk for her cereal came from the cows outside. Everyone was so happy then.

Her head snapped back up. A grim look settled over her features as she forced herself to stand. She walked to the small chest that held all of the rusty tools and selected the hoe. Memory. That's why she had to farm. She had to honor Memory. Not just of her grandfather, who had on his last dying wish, bequeathed her the property, but for her mother as well.

Presently, as she continued to fill the messy holes with parsnip seeds, she thought to herself, "If you could do this Mother, so can I."