AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello! This will be the first fanfic I've ever typed up in my LIFE, so constructive criticisms would be much appreciated. I really hope to improve myself as a writer, so I await your future responses. On a side note, there will be some references to the game in this story, so I apologize if some parts are confusing to those who may not have played the game. Thank you!

"1.. 2.. 3.. 4..."

...

"Alright, one more.. 10." Sweat trickled down the man's face and body as he finished off his reps, carefully placing the 250 lb barbell before his feet before grabbing a nearby power drink and towel. As he wiped the sweat off his face, he looked over to his wall of gridball heroes, posters upon posters of his idol players that were able to make it big in the world of gridball. Making it into pro league had always been the man's dream since he graduated high school, so ever since then, he had spent his youthful days dedicated to training his body. There were no limits in his capability to continue to grow stronger each passing day. Through pain and misery, he was able to endu-

...

At last, his stomach growled.

"I guess it's lunch time," the man muttered to himself.

It was a beautiful spring afternoon in Stardew Valley following the cold winter. The snow had finally melted, and the environment bloomed with an abundance of greenery and colorfully assorted flowers. Berries scattered across the numerous bushes of the valley, and cherry blossoms flew across the skies as the wind carried them away nonsensically. In the meantime, Alex Mullner sat by himself in the comfort of his home, devouring a steaming hot, tangy steak his grandmother, Evelyn, left out for him.

"Always hits the spot," Alex sighs in contentment. After a quick 5 minute eating session, he got up, grabbed his gridball, and wandered outside to meet with the ol' hound, Dusty.

Dusty's ears perked up upon hearing Alex's approaching footsteps, and jumped up from his cardboard kennel to meet him; yet only to be obstructed by the splintering wooden fence that surrounds his dog home. "Hey there, buddy," Alex happily greets the dog. From his pocket, Alex took out a key entrusted to him by the dog's owner, and unlocked the door barricading his loyal friend. Dusty immediately jumped out and pounced on Alex, greeting him with a very, very wet kiss. "Whoa, calm down boy!" Alex laughed. "I've only been gone overnight. Nothing special." Dusty happily barked in response and soon sat erect in anticipation for his master's next command.

Wiping the affectionate slobber off his face, Alex playfully asks, "Guess what we're playing today, buddy?" With Dusty's tail wagging in excitement, Alex already knew he didn't have to ask the question. "Alright boy.. CATCH THIS!" and flung the gridball across the yard.

Solid throw, Alex thought to himself. Just as he watched the ball spiral downwards, his heart sunk when he realized where the ball was going to land. He watched it all in slow motion as the ball fell into the arms of an unfortunate passerby, and as Dusty, with his enormous body, on top of it.

"AAAAAH-!" the yelling was cut short as the breed's weight muffled the victim's cries.

"Ah shoot! Dusty, get off will ya?!" Alex yelled in a panic. He ran towards the victim and slowly lifted his.. or her upper body off the ground. "I'm so sorry I.. uh, who are you?"

Before him was definitely not anybody he has ever seen before in the Valley. In a small town like Pelican, visitors were rare.. yet the girl he held in front of him didn't even seem to dress the whole vacation part. Her muddied boots, dirtied jeans, loose shirt, and tattered straw hat suggested a much different impression. This girl is definitely not here for vacation.. She could be homeless, but even Linus cleans himself up every now and then.. He pondered a bit before continuing, "Ah sorry, this is a bad situation to ask that kind of question. Are you hurt anywhere?"

The small girl opened her eyes to see a sweaty, red-faced jock looking down on her, and she got up immediately. "Oh my.. oh my goodness was that your dog?" she asked blankly. The dog returned the gridball to Alex, and soon backed away in whimpering guilt.

"Well, uh, you see.." Alex replied nervously.

"My stuff.." the girl gasped in dismay, as she looked at the trampled dandelions and daffodils surrounding the two of them. Alex was at a loss of words at the scene before him. "I.. am so sorry. I was only playing fetch with the dog and well.. I didn't think you'd walk right into it."

The small girl glowered at Alex, her hazel eyes boring deep into his soul as he shrunk back in his own guilt. Her eyes soon soften and she hesitates, ".. It's fine." A silence swept through them for a few mere seconds before she added, "Just help me clean this up." Right away, Alex bent down unquestionably and swiftly obeyed her command.

...

After cleaning the whole area, the girl stood still and glanced at the shadows forming around her in disappointment. "It's getting late," she muttered to herself. As the awkward silence ensued, Alex finally spoke. "I'm sorry, but I have to ask. Who are you?" The girl's eyebrow arose in question, but she removed her tattered straw hat for the sake of a proper introduction. As soon as she lifted the hat off her head, her light brunette hair fell over her face and settled at her temples, a hair length just barely touching her shoulders. "I'm Reina Park, and these are what could've been money," she pouted, eyeing the mess that now laid in a basket in her arms.

Alex sighed, and went along to introducing himself to the sassy newcomer. "The name's Alex, and the hound is Dusty. He's not.. dangerous I swear. That was my fault." Alex laid his hand out, and she hesitates before she finally decides to shake it. He continued, "I'm sorry about all this. If you really needed the gold, I'd be willing to help pay you back to make up for it." Although I really don't have much to offer with, Alex thought. Reina shook her head and replied, "It's alright.. I'm sorry myself for overreacting. It's just.. it's just difficult trying to get a head start in this town." Alex scratched his head in confusion and asked plainly, "You do realize it's a small town here right? Even the local businesses here are struggling. I don't see why you'd ever want to try to open up a business here unless you're that corporation right there," he says as he gestures toward the towering, blue sign, etched in the familiar dirty white lettering, Joja Mart, and ironically, under the brand name, "Join and thrive". Reina replied in disgust. "Ew. I left that corporate life for the farm life I'm trying to start right now. All because of a deed my grandfather left me as a kid." Shuffling through her pockets, Reina removed a small piece of aging parchment and presented it to him. "Ahh, I see," Alex awed in response. "Farmer, huh? So I'm guessing you're the one living on that huge plot of land down the street?"

"Yeah, basically," she said roughly. "Well, I gotta get going. It's gonna get dark soon."

"Ah right," Alex replied. "Sorry again." After a small exchange of goodbyes, Reina left on her way back to the farm.

...

After much thought, Alex turned to his hound and smirked, "Bet you 10,000 gold she thought I was cute."