While Arthur was recovering, he learned several things of great importance. The first being he was no longer in the U.S., but rather a country called the Ferngill Republic. He asked Harvey more about it during one of his checkups, and from what Arthur could gather this country was an island nation and that the town they were in was near the southern coastline. He also learned that this country was at war with another called the Gotoro Empire for about two years. Now geography wasn't really a strong suit of Arthur's, but he was fairly certain that these countries didn't exist.
However, a greater shock came to Arthur when he looked at the nearby calendar that read February twenty twenty-three! At first Arthur thought he was imagining it, or it was some sick joke that was being played on him, but Maru confirmed it for him when he asked for the date. He refused to believe that he had time traveled; there was no way that the strange man took him to the future, it was impossible. However, all that doubt washed away when he remembered a certain birth marked stranger.
Francis Sinclair.
Now, when Arthur met the man, he thought he was a bit odd. He also thought the man had the weirdest accent and an even weirder task for him, but he was offered money, so he didn't question it too much. That was until he returned to him to find him missing and instead finding a woman holding a baby with the same birthmark Francis had. At the time Arthur was confused but didn't think much of it, but the thought that Francis was a time traveler did cross his mind. And now here he is, a century into the future.
He didn't really know what to do with this information. So, he decided to keep this dilemma to himself, he didn't need Harvey or Maru to think he was insane and lock him up in an asylum. He also needed a coverup for his past, so he came up with the story that he's been spending the last couple of years in the wild. They didn't seem too suspicious of that, apparently this town has its own wild man and that might've helped in the believability of his story. That or Harvey and Maru cared more for his health than any lie he had been spouting.
Speaking of Harvey and Maru, Arthur got to know the two of them better during his recovery, mostly because they were the only one's allowed to see Arthur. Maru worked at the clinic part time, so Arthur only saw her on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She was apparently an inventor; Arthur could tell she was very eccentric and ambitious about her inventions. She reminded him of Marko Dragic in a way except less aggressive and less European. During one of his checkups, the kid kept rambling on about planets, stars, and meteors. Arthur mentioned the time he found a meteorite crater in Roanoke Ridge to Maru. She then gushed about this and asked Arthur for more details with wide eyes and a wider smile.
Harvey was much more reserved and professional than Maru, though this was only when he was working. Arthur noticed that when Harvey is in a more casual setting, he was more prone to awkward ramblings about health facts. He tried to make small talk with the doctor during one of his checkups to break the ice, and he asked what he did for fun during his spare time.
"Oh, I build model airplanes when I have the chance."
Arthur just stared blankly at the doctor with a confused expression painting his face. After a moment of processing Harvey's words he said, "What the hell's an 'airplane?'"
Harvey then spent the rest of the checkup explaining what an airplane was and how it functioned, with a passion that Arthur had never seen from the doctor before. Arthur was also surprised that people were able to fly with machines, but then again, he was a century in the future. Technology had probably advanced farther than Arthur could imagine, after all Harvey explained some of the medical devices to him in the room like the heart monitor and an X-ray, the latter of which Harvey used on him to see the tuberculosis in his chest.
It was a bitter feeling for Arthur. Having to deal with a changing world was bad enough, but this was an entirely new world that he woke up in.
Although one thing he did enjoy about this new era was the medicine. His health was beginning to improve dramatically, there was more color to his skin, he was coughing less, and he felt much stronger than before. Harvey mentioned that he was recovering impressively fast, and he estimated that he would make a full recovery.
It was currently the twenty eighth of February, and Harvey and Maru were doing one final checkup before he was discharged. Harvey currently had a stethoscope on and was listening to Arthur's breathing. Maru was off to the side of the room ready to assist if Harvey needed it.
"Well, Mr. Morgan your lungs have certainly gotten better since our first meeting." He took off the stethoscope and put it aside. "However, that doesn't mean the tuberculosis is completely gone. I still want you to take the antibiotics daily, and I would like you to come here for monthly checkups still, but other then that I feel that you're fit to be discharged."
Arthur nodded his head in understanding. "Thank you for everything doc. I'll be sure to pay you back soon." Harvey just chuckled and shook his head.
"I told you already Arthur, you don't owe me anything." Harvey said earnestly. "Anyway, your clothes are on the dresser beside you, when you're ready to get changed. I already washed them so they should be clean. We'll leave you with some privacy." Arthur thanked Harvey who soon after left the room with Maru following.
Arthur was glad to get out of the gown and into something more familiar to him. After a moment he was clothed in his gunslinger outfit, with his blue shirt underneath his tan jacket, and his brown pants that were tucked into his black riding boots, and of course his signature black gambler hat sat comfortably on his head. He was also clean shaven, courtesy of Harvey lending him his shaving kit. Overall, he looked and felt much better than before. He grabbed his satchel which still had the things the strange man gave him in it.
Arthur stepped out into the clinic lobby where Harvey and Maru were waiting for him. They both looked up at him when he entered, eyeing his new clothing.
"Mr. Morgan, you're looking like a farmer already." Maru commented, with Harvey nodding his head in Agreement.
"You excited Arthur?" Harvey asked.
"I don't really know." Arthur answered, and he never really imagined himself becoming a farmer. The only instance of farming that crossed his mind was Dutch's grand plan of becoming Mango farmers on Tahiti.
"Well Lewis is handling some finishing touches on your farm as we speak, and your escort should be here any second." Harvey said. "I also cannot stress this enough; you have to take that medicine daily. If you are feeling any aches in your chest or if you start coughing up blood, come to me immediately. He said with great importance as he handed Arthur a bottle of pills.
"I will doc don't you go worrying on my behalf." Arthur said.
"And if you need any more clothes, I know this place which sells good outf-"
Arthur interrupted Harvey with a firm hand on the doc's shoulder. "I think I'll worry about farming first and then the clothes second doc."
"Ah of c-course Mr. Morgan." He replied awkwardly.
Maru just chuckled at the two men's interaction, she looked out the window and a smile formed on her face. "Arthur your escort is here," she said chipperly.
"And who exactly is my escort?" Arthur asked.
"Well, it was originally supposed to be Lewis, but the farmhouse took longer to setup than he realized so he sent mom to escort you instead." Maru explained to him excitedly.
Arthur raised his eyebrows at this, "Your mother?"
"Yup," she confirmed, "and you don't need to worry about her she's very welcoming. She's also been pestering me about you, and she practically begged the mayor to escort you." Maru said.
"Well, I shouldn't keep a lady waiting then. Thank you for the hospitality, Harvey."
"Of course, Mr. Morgan and don't be afraid to visit." Harvey said to him as he exited the clinic.
He stepped out into the town square, with his eyes having to adjust to the brightness of the sun. Intricate brick paths layered the ground ahead of him each leading to buildings that looked familiar yet modern to Arthur.
He breathed a deep breath of fresh air in his now healthy lungs. A gentle breeze brushed past him wisping his hair.
He noticed a red-haired woman with a yellow jacket approaching him and waving him over.
"Hello there, Arthur, I'm Robin the local carpenter," she offered a hand to Arthur, "I'll be taking you to your farm, but I'm sure Maru already told you that."
Arthur shook her hand; she had a very firm grip he noticed. "Yeah, she did along with telling me that you 'begged the mayor to be my escort.'"
Robin let out an amused huff. "She's told me as much as she could about you, and I must say you're looking much better than when we found you by our house."
"Doc says I'm expected to make a full recovery, and I must thank you for saving me, ma'am." Arthur said.
Robin waved her hand dismissively, "You don't have to thank me Arthur, I was glad to help. Now c'mon I think Lewis should be finishing up on the farm."
Robin led the way while Arthur followed right behind.
"So, what made you want to come to Stardew Valley?" Robin asked.
"To get away from it all I suppose, and to start fresh somewhere quiet." Arthur answered.
"Well, you picked the right place to stay. We're a small community, away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, but I think you'll manage to fit right in. I'm sure Maru told you how the entire town has been gossiping about you." Robin said.
Arthur just chuckled, "Yeah, I heard about that. Though this isn't the worst uproar I've caused in a town before." Robin raised a brow at this.
"What kind of uproars have you caused?" she asked.
I've shot up most of the towns I've been in, Arthur thought to himself. "Ah you know, couple of bar fights here and there." A near truth he supposed was better than an outright lie.
Robin narrowed her eyes at this, "well I hope you don't start one here."
Arthur raised his hands in defense, "Wouldn't dream of it ma'am, besides I don't really start the fights I just end them."
Robin faces softened slightly at this information, "Ok then, and if you don't mind me asking what you did before we found you in the mountains."
"I was living it out in the wilderness, going from place-to-place living off the land." Arthur said using his cover story.
"Oh, like Linus." Robin exclaimed.
"Linus?" He echoed.
"He's our local wild man; lives in a tent nearby our house. Most of the town is weary of him, but he's a very friendly person when you get to know him." Robin explained to him.
"I think your daughter mentioned him to me actually, never gave me a name though." Arthur said.
The two of them continued the trek in relative silence. It was a cool evening and Arthur enjoyed walking after being confined to the clinic for weeks.
The two of them made it to the farmland, and to put it mildly Arthur wasn't expecting the farm to be this run down.
Robin noticed this as well and said, "It may be a bit overgrown but there's good soil underneath this mess." Arthur prayed that Robin was right.
His house was better than the farm, it was like many of the cabins and homesteads he would encounter out in the wild. Although it looked like the wood on the house would need some serious work. Besides he slept in worse; he always hated that house in Shady Belle.
Lewis stepped out of the house, a coat of dust layering his clothes. He noticed the two of them and his face brightened.
"Mr. Morgan good to see you. I see Robin had no trouble in escorting you." The mayor began, "Cleaning out the cottage was a task and a half, but I managed." He handed Arthur a key which he pocketed. "I'm glad you're settling in it; was afraid we'd have to sell it to Joja soon. It's a very 'rustic' cottage if you ask me." Robin chuckled at the mayors wording.
"Rustic is one way of putting it; 'crusty' might be more apt though." Robin said.
"Well, rustic or crusty this is a step up from where I usually sleep." Arthur said.
"I'm glad you enjoy it Mr. Morgan, it's yours from now on." The mayor said joyously. "Oh, I also took the liberty of making you a dinner, I didn't know if you were up to cooking since your discharge, so I made you spaghetti." He added.
"Lucky you," Robin said with a tone of jealousy, "I've been trying to get the mayors spaghetti recipe for years, but he won't budge." Lewis laughed. Arthur didn't know what spaghetti was, but he did recall Jack having it with his time with Bronte.
"Can't say I've ever had spaghetti before." Arthur stated.
"Oh, then you're in for a treat Arthur." Robin said with a smile.
"By the way Mr. Morgan, your tools are inside the house for when your ready to get started, and if you have anything to sell just place it in that bin beside your house. I'll come by at night to collect it." The mayor explained to him.
"Thank you, Mr. Sinclair." Arthur said.
"Oh, and there's a chest behind your house that I couldn't seem to get open." The mayor added with Arthur already knowing what was in it.
"I'll be sure to check it out." Arthur reassured.
"Well, I best be off, good luck Mr. Morgan." And with that Lewis left the property on the same path that Arthur and Robin took.
"I should also get going, don't want to keep the family waiting for dinner." Robin said. "Oh, speaking of we would love to have you over for dinner whenever you're free next." She added.
"I'll think about it ma'am," he looked over at the vast farmland which was overgrown with trees and vines, "though it seems I'm going to be busy the next couple of days."
"Of course, maybe you should also head into town and introduce yourself to everyone soon." Robin said, with Arthur contemplating if he should in fact greet the townspeople or just live like a hermit. She then waved goodbye and walked away on a northern pathway instead of the one they took to get here. Arthur would have to keep that path in mind.
As soon as she left, he decided to check out the chest behind the house, wondering how many weapons the strange man had left him with. It was a fairly big chest with a lock that could easily be picked by Arthur. Once unlocked Arthur opened it to find every single one of his weapons in it. All his revolvers, pistols, rifles, repeaters, shotguns, and hell even his bow. He decided to just grab his cattleman revolver because he didn't think he'd need to be armed to the teeth in this small town.
He went back inside his house to have a moment by himself. The house's interior was comfy enough for Arthur. There was enough furniture for him with a bed, table, and chair, as well as a fireplace that was currently crackling with a warm fire. In the corner of the house there lied a weird gray box with a couple of buttons on it. He decided to leave it alone for now.
It was all surreal to him, this was his house, and his farm. He wasn't used to owning property or just having something be his own. It was usually part of the gang or was contributed to the gang.
The sun was setting, and Arthur decided to try some of this spaghetti, that was currently on top of his table. It was impressively good, especially compared to the hospital food and Pearson's stew that he had for God knows how long.
The sky was beginning to darken with a purple tint covering the sky. Arthur sighed; he was grateful for this fresh new start but at the same time…
He was lonely.
He was always used to being part of the gang; his family, at least the closest thing he had to a family, and now it was gone. It was a bittersweet feeling for Arthur, so he decided to draw in his journal to keep his mind occupied. He drew the four townspeople he met already: Harvey, Maru, Lewis, and Robin.
He made little notes about them, but still his thoughts wandered. From the Van Der Linde gang, to John, to Mary Linton, and then finally to Eliza and Isaac. Arthur paused; he supposed losing the gang wasn't the first time he lost a family.
But Robins words echoed in his mind, about meeting everyone in town. Then a stray thought came to his mind.
Maybe I could raise a family here. Though would I mess it up like last time? Arthur thought solemnly.
Arthur let out a yawn, perhaps he could sleep on the idea.
He laid down in his bed with heavy eyelids and drifted off into the land of dreams, thinking of all that has transpired.
Author's Notes
Arthur's farm is the standard farm option.
I decided to use the real world calendar instead of the Stardew one.
Message me if I've made any typos or grammar mistakes. I'll try my best to fix it.