The Other Animal Crossing
Shadow Aura 64
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LEGAL STUFF
I do not own the Animal Crossing series, any of its characters, or anything by Nintendo whatsoever. I only own Clyde. HE'S MY CHARACTER! GET YOUR OWN!
*ahem*
Enjoy.
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Clyde stared out the window of the taxi. Rain pelted the glass as the small red automobile drove through the storm. He sighed.
"Everythin' alright?" asked the driver, a talking sea turtle. Clyde muttered something. His life never made sense, so he didn't even bother questioning how the Hell a sea turtle was speaking. "A silent one, eh?" said the driver. "Well, if ye don't want to make conversation, ye could at lease tell me where it is yer goin'."
"The Animal Crossing," Clyde said. He felt the taxi slow down slightly.
"Excuse me?" said the driver.
"Animal Crossing," repeated Clyde.
"Uh... I don't mean to butt in, but are ye sure ye want to go to that place?" the driver asked. Clyde nodded. "Why would ye want to go there?" the driver asked.
"I lost everything in the war," said Clyde. "My friends and family, my home, and all my possessions. I've got nowhere else to go."
"... A sad tale indeed," said the driver. Clyde rolled his eyes. He didn't want or need sympathy. There was a long silence. The driver didn't resume the normal speed. Instead, he continued to drive slowly. "So, young feller, what's yer name?" the driver eventually asked.
"Clyde," said Clyde.
"Most folk call me Kapp'n," said the driver. "I'm goin' to ask ye once more: Are ye absolutely certain ye want to go to Animal Crossin'?"
"I was told I wouldn't need anything at all to start a new life here," said Clyde.
"Well, that's true," said Kapp'n. "But I'm warning you: be careful. It's a dark place, that Animal Crossin'. Believe me, trust no-one."
"Then why should I trust you?" said Clyde.
"Ah, yer a clever one," said Kapp'n. "I don't know how the folk at Animal Crossin' will react to seein' a human such as yerself, but I'm sure they'll get used to ye."
"What do you mean?" asked Clyde.
"I guess ye weren't told," said Kapp'n. "There are no humans in Animal Crossin'. You'll be the only one."
"Why?" asked Clyde.
"When Nook rose to power, he got rid off all the humans. Said they were no good. I heard he had a fallout with a human in the past. Since then, he doesn't trust any of 'em. Just don't get him angry, and ye'll be fine."
"Who's Nook?" asked Clyde.
"He's a tanuki," said Kapp'n. "A raccoon."
"And he can talk?" asked Clyde. Kapp'n smiled, but Clyde couldn't see it.
"All the inhabitants of Animal Crossin' can talk," said Kapp'n. Clyde didn't say anything. "Look, just don't rock the boat, and try not to get yerself killed."
"What?" said Clyde, startled.
"Nothing," said Kapp'n. "It's just... Well, some say Nook is... evil. He feels no sympathy for anyone. No-one's got the guts to stand up to him. He's too powerful. He's taken over Animal Crossin', and all he cares about is money. Bells, he calls it, 'cause of the sound it makes when you shake a bag of it. Anyway, he's a greedy feller. But he'll reward you if you stay on his good side. Keep in mind, however... Try and stay out of debt. Give him his Bells, or you may find your stay in Animal Crossin' cut rather... short." They heard the booming of thunder. Kapp'n turned a corner.
"You... aren't serious, are you?" asked Clyde. The taxi stopped.
"Well, we're here," said Kapp'n. "Just stay inside for a minute. I gotta take care of some stuff first." Kapp'n opened the door, and hopped out.
"Who is it?" a voice called. Clyde looked out the window. All he could see was a large building with four large windows, light streaming from them. It was so dark that the only thing Clyde could see was that single building.
"It's Kapp'n. I have a new person who wants to live here," said Kapp'n.
"What is their name and species of animal?" asked a voice coming from behind the building.
"Clyde, human," said Kapp'n.
"... Did you just say... human?" asked the voice.
"It's okay," said Kapp'n. "He's got nowhere else to go, and he means no harm!"
"How do you know he's not like the others, hm?" asked the voice. "He can not be trusted."
"Just give this one a chance," said Kapp'n, his voice starting to grow shaky.
"I'm afraid I will not take that risk," said the voice. "You know the rules, Kapp'n. And yet, you still brought a human here, yes?"
"Tom, I was just doin' my job," said Kapp'n, his voice growing more unstable by the second.
"No humans are welcome in this town!" shouted the voice. "And neither are you!"
"Tom, please!" begged Kapp'n. "I'll take him back!"
"It's too late for that," said the voice. "He knows where this place is. More of them could come here, hm? We'll be overridden in the filthy things!" Clyde's heart was beating fast. "What the Hell is going on here?" he thought.
"Tom, I think we should give the humans another chance. At least let this one live here. Yer bein' unreasonable. I don't agree with yer methods!" shouted Kapp'n.
"Then die!" shouted the voice. Clyde heard a gunshot come from the shadows, and Kapp'n collapsed. Clyde kicked the car's door off its hinges. It fell to the ground with a clatter, and Clyde jumped out. "Filthy human!" screamed the voice. Clyde heard more gunshots, but none of the bullets hit him. He ran towards the building. He dove into the door. It slammed open, and he landed in a heap inside the building.
"What in the world was that?" cried a voice. Clyde looked up to see a white pelican standing behind a large desk.
"Someone's trying to kill me!" exclaimed Clyde. The pelican's eyes widened.
"Oh, no... Not again..." she whispered. "Quick, get behind here!" Clyde ran at the desk, and jumped over it. He ducked behind it, right as a figure burst through the door. Clyde tried to see what it was, but couldn't without raising his head above the desk.
"Where'd it go, Pelly?" the figure demanded.
"Where did what go, Mr. Nook?" asked the pelican.
"You know damn well what I'm talking about, hm?" said the figure. "No humans may enter Animal Crossing, yes?"
"I don't see why he has to die," said the pelican. Clyde heard the sound of a gun reloading.
"So now you're defending the scum, hm?" the figure said.
"I'm telling you, there's no-one here!" the pelican cried.
"... Very well," said the figure. "I'll look elsewhere."
"Does he have to die?" the pelican asked quietly.
"... I'll think about it. Who knows? He may be of use to us, yes?" said the figure.
"Are you talking about...?" asked the pelican.
"Indeed I am, Pelly," the figure said. "If I'm in a good mood when I find the human, I won't kill it, hm?"
"Okay, Mr. Nook," said the pelican. Cylde heard the door close. "It's safe," said the pelican. Clyde climbed out from behind the counter.
"What the Hell was that?" he said as rubbed his arm.
"That was Mr. Nook," said the pelican. "He's a bit... hostile towards humans."
"Why?" asked Clyde. The pelican shook her head.
"That is not for me to discuss," she said. "I can, however, help you find a new home." She pulled out a piece of paper, and gave it to Clyde. "This is a map of Animal Crossing. The Town Hall, which is where we are now, is here." She pointed to a spot on the map. "And your new house is..." Suddenly, they heard the sound of a large church bell. "Oh... it's 10 o'clock," the pelican said. "I'm sorry, but my shift's over." Without a word, she left, going behind a door towards the back of the building. A second later, a second pelican walked out of the door. She looked almost identical to the first, except she was purple, and wearing make-up.
"What the Hell are you doing behind the counter?" she shouted. In his surprise, Clyde stumbled back, and fell behind the counter. He caught the map as it landed next to him. "Wait, what are you doing here?" asked the pelican. Clyde got to his feet, and put the map in his pocket.
"I, uh, moved here," said Clyde.
"But you're a human!" the pelican said, as if it wasn't obvious.
"Yeah, I know," Clyde said stiffly. "Is this one going to try and kill me as well?" he thought.
"You shouldn't be here," said the pelican. "This place stinks enough without humans here."
"What was that?" Clyde asked.
"Nothing," the pelican said. "Look, you're going to die if you stay here."
"I don't care," Clyde said. The phone on the counter started ringing. The pelican answered it.
"Hello? Yes, it's Phyllis... Oh, good evening, Mr. Redd... No, not yet... Uh-huh... Yes, it's true... It's right here, actually. I'm looking at it as we speak." Clyde looked around nervously. "What? No, I haven't heard from Nook... I think so... Something about using it... Yeah, something like that... What? Are you sure?" Clyde started to move towards the door. "But couldn't we...? No? Are you sure? This opportunity doesn't come every day. Fine, I'll kill it. You blithering idiot... No, I didn't say anything... Okay... Yes, I've got it right here... Yes... Alright. Tell Lyle I said I want my Bells back. Goodbye." Clyde started to open the door. The pelican hung up. She looked at Clyde, who was halfway through the door. "And where do you think you're going?"
"Uh..." Clyde started. He saw the pelican reach under the counter. "I was going to..." The pelican pulled out a small handgun, and pointed it at Clyde.
"Whatever it is you're doing, it stops now," she said. "I have orders from the boss to kill you."
"Who, that Nook guy?" asked Clyde.
"No, my sister's with Nook," said the pelican. "I work for Redd. And he wants you to die. He and Nook rarely agree, but neither of them trust humans. Therefor, you die."
"How are you even holding that thing?" Clyde asked. The pelican looked at the gun.
"Actually, I don't know," she said. "I never really questioned it. But now that you mention it, I have no idea. The lack of opposable thumbs would pose a problem..." She looked up to see Clyde was gone. "Damn it," the pelican said. She put the pistol down. "Eh, humans are stupid. He'll probably get himself killed, the moron." Clyde burst out of the large green recycling bin in the corner, holding a wagon wheel in one hand, and a shovel in the other.
"Right, I'm certain you insulted me that time," he said. He threw the wagon wheel at the pelican. It shattered when it hit her head. Dazed, she stumbled back. Clyde ran at her, and smashed the shovel over her head, knocking her out. He grabbed her gun, and ran outside. Rain was still pouring down, and Clyde could scarcely see. He pulled out the map, but could scarcely read it in the dark. He ran in any direction, and soon bumped into something large and hard. He could feel a door on whatever it was, and concluded it was a building of some kind. He opened the door, and ran in. He felt his way around the house, before finding a lamp. He turned it on, and the building was illuminated. It was a single-room house. Inside was a bed, a pair of stone columns, a small boom box, a large couch, and a pool table. Clyde looked around. He touched one of the stone columns. They weren't fake, definitely real stone. He heard the door open behind him.
"What the fuck are you doing in my house?!" a voice shouted. Clyde spun around to see a large red bull standing upright.
"Uh, I got lost," Clyde said nervously. He felt the bull's eyes scan him. The bull's eyes fell on Clyde's gun.
"What are you doing with a gun, macmoo?" the bull asked.
"That pelican in the Town Hall tried to kill me," said Clyde.
"Ah, that'd be Phyllis," said the bull. "She works for Crazy Redd, and he... Wait, you're a human!"
"You just realised?" said Clyde.
"You shouldn't be here, macmoo!" said the bull.
"I need to stay here," said Clyde.
"Fuck off," said the bull. "I don't care. You're not staying in my house, macmoo." Clyde took out his map.
"Can you at least help me find an empty house?" he asked.
"Ugh, fine," said the bull. "Whatever'll get you out of my house." He looked at Clyde's map. Clyde moved out of the way slightly so the bull's horns didn't poke him. "Well, my house is here," said the bull as he pointed to a spot on the map. "That koala bought the house here... So... I think the last spare house is... There." The bull pointed to another spot on the map. "Just head south-east from my house, macmoo." Clyde put his map away.
"Thank you," he said.
"You're welcome," the bull said. "Now get the Hell out of my house." Clyde walked outside. The bull closed the door. Clyde looked around. He started running in the direction the bull directed. He soon came to another house. He entered it, closing the door behind him. All that was lighting the room was a small candle on top of a cardboard box. The only other thing in the room was a small tape deck. There was no carpet or wallpaper. Clyde put his gun and shovel next to the candle. He took his soaking shirt off, and let it fall to the floor. He noticed a staircase next to the door. He went upstairs to find a small room, containing nothing but a small bed and a phone. He lay down in the bed.
"What have I gotten myself into?" he thought. He closed his eyes, and was soon asleep.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, there's the first chapter. I might upload more, depending on feedback. This is just an idea I'm working with at the moment. Tell me what you think.
