War had led us here, a world fractured into two. War had left us scarred and scared. We rebuilt what we thought was a better home. Maybe human nature is too strong. Maybe betrayal and deception is so strongly engraved in our genetics that someone will always be born without morals.
War led our world to death. When the ground split and life on the surface became toxic for us we retreated. Humanity, the original animals we saved, our cultures and abilities, we stuffed in stone boxes miles below the surface until we could find a way to save ourselves. Over generations things seemed to change within us, we fought for a better world for us all, we planned and detailed how we would keep problems down. Happiness seemed the easiest solution. Happiness allowed creativity and advancement while reducing the negativity that seemed to cause the hatred and harm that caused us to lose ourselves in the first place.
We found that by allowing people to explore everything they could find what made them happiest, do what made them happiest, and we all prospered. Farmers that loved growing plants and animals produced the best products and produce, scientists that loved their jobs found solutions faster, carpenters the best woodworking craftmenship. If art was your thing, we supported you no matter your talent level with encouragement and praise, and talent always grew as confidence did. Our cultures thrived, our people thrived.
One day, long after most had given up hope of humanity ever walking on the face of earth again, scientists announced that the world could be cured. It would probably never go back to what it was fully, but with teraforming and maintenance, we could bring back humanity, and all the original species that we managed to save. We would be sharing the world with whatever survived the processes that had and would change the earth. We would protect our earth, our people, and our happiness. Thus they began the process of cleaning the earth.
When it was finally healthy for people to walk again in the sun, the world looked like a brighter cleaner place. It took generations upon generations and many things changed during those times, but the pursuit of happiness was never let go.
When society settled back in their old new home, it was split. Split into two equally contributing and important sides that cohabitated and worked together.
Some chose The Countryside, as it was called, where flowing fields, peppered with freely ranging animals, orchards, vineyards, little crafting cottages, small and large farms, and a farm more simpler way of life reigned free. Technologies still touched this way of life, you couldn't escape it and in fact many happy farmers improved their levitating harvesters or free range floating milkers that allowed a mother to keep her calf with her and only drained the excess milks that pained her. Craftsman that preferred to practice in the quiet nature had access to instant deliveries from anywhere, tools that not only followed the hands but the very thoughts of their weilders. But technology didn't abound in this place quite as much as in it's sister society because they chose a simpler way of living, connecting with nature, preserving the earth as was meant to be.
Some chose The City. This was a place of bustling energies, fast traveling bodies and thoughts, new rises in technology and sciences and arts. People here tended to want a more urban lifestyle. They were more comfortable with most of their lives having technology helping them achieve their goals. That's what they needed. They found cures for sicknesses with the help of their improved scientific equipment, they improved life for crippled people with advanced replacements, found joy in surrounding themselves with many things that constantly moves and improved on itself even as they improved on it too.
Life was thought to be nothing but joy and progress from every angle. The sister society's had even set up laws that gave every single person the option to find their true passion, even if it was not where their family wanted them to go. Life felt great for everyone.
Except deep down, corruption always seems to find a tiny crack, flood it with the negativity it craves, and infect a perfectly healthy organism.