This may be a record amount of reviews.
E. Taylor - Any review is a good review. Interesting you didn't like Mystery, he seems to be popular with other readers. :P Thank you.
rAwrXdiNo3 - *HUGS* ...Yes, I love hugs. :L Thank you. I wouldn't say flawlessly, but... er... that means a lot. instertmodestyhere.
xblindxfirex - Hoh-neh-vray. xD LOST is an epic TV drama about a plane crash on some strange island... it's confusing, but epic. And Sawyer is a southerner with a really distinct accent. Poor Louis.
Obzezzed - Danger? Hm... I'd say Drama, but I don't foresee any danger as such for some time. Well, Goldie's fate is revealed in this very chapter, oddly enough. And ha, I didn't kill Jenny without hesitation. Worst thing I've ever done in a story. D: Yes, yes, there will be relationships. It's a bit difficult to do in an animal crossing fanfic, cause I'm not quite sure how to make an animal relationship... not seem creepy. And haha, Mystery's name will be revealed eventually.
too lazy to sign in - It's refreshing to have a negative review. xD I don't expect everyone to love the story, I've always wondered why there doesn't seem to be anyone who doesn't. Don't be afraid to criticise or sugarcoat anything, I accept all reviews. That is an interesting view of Josh, though. And I'm glad someone has seen that side of him, cause that is the kind of character I tried to make him appear like, as well as the nice, friendly guy that everyone likes. He's kind of two faced, so yay for you seeing that. Although I appreciate your honesty, I'm not going to change my writing or story to please one reviewer. I write for fun, pleasing people is just something I aim for. I will stick to my plans regardless of what people reading think. But please keep being honest, and suggesting changes, because I may still include/change what you suggest if I think it works. And BWIADW stands for but what if animals did walk.
bomrocks23 - Thank you. The answer to one of those questions is in this. And awesome, I finish next week. :P
emma2679 - Thanks. And irish ftw.
noname - Will all be explained eventually.
Alana - Good... i think. xD
noname2 - Not sure if you're the same person as above two, but yeah. It's Bobby, not Bob. ;\
The living pen - Uhh, that's one thing I need to work out. Let's just say it's December, right now. Thanks :)
o-CrystalSakura-o - haha, really not sure whether to take that as a compliment or criticism from you. :P 2nd review - I'm glad you like Kabuki, he's probably my favourite character at the moment. I can't guarantee any amount of length for this fanfic, but my current intention is for there to be more after book 2. This story will basically keep going until one of the following happens... I run out of ideas, I get bored, people stop reading or I die. :L If the latter, hopefully that'll be when I'm old... it'd be rather interesting if this story was still going in 70-80 years time...
misty-the-fox103 - Thanks. :) And haha, you know what I'm like with keeping secrets... in answer to Mystery's question, I mean. And of course! I quite like writing romance, even if it does suck when I write it. As for whether there'll be a Mystura romance... again, I keep secrets.
galeforcewinds12 - Poor cow. Thanks! Who's your sister, or is she a silent reader? Love getting new reviewers, anyhow. o3o And don't worry about rambling, I like the rambling reviews more than the three or four word ones. :P
That was an insane amount of reviews, definitely a record I think. It's a shame that I have to start a new fanfic now, rather than seeing how many reviews I can get for this thing. And so... I present, the final chapter of BWIADW. It's a heart-breaking moment. Enjoy.
Goodbyes and Returns
"How do you know about that?" Laura asked sharply, suddenly appearing very serious, "That was... five years ago. You're not going to tell me we've met before, are you?"
"Nonsense." Mystery chuckled, eyes glinting slightly, "Now that would just be impossible... But you haven't given me an answer, GP. Do you accept defeat, or will you answer?" Laura opened her mouth to reply, before closing it again, looking at him oddly. The cafe was still empty, leaving them free to talk about whatever they wanted for a while longer.
"No, you're going to explain." Laura retorted stubbornly, watching him, "If you don't know me, how could you possibly know about him?"
Mystery chuckled slightly, shaking his head, "What if I knew him?" Laura's eyes narrowed, and Mystery gave a slight smile, "Just a theory, of course... Again, that would be impossible, right? Anyway, let's continue our game, shall we?" Before anything else could happen, footsteps echoed from the stairway. Mystery and Laura looked to the entrance as Portia entered, looking emotionless as always. Laura's eyes widened.
"...Oh." Portia stiffened as she stared at Laura, "It's you, ruffian." She remained still by the entrance, before turning to leave again.
"P-Portia, wait!" Laura cried, jumping to her feet and jogging towards the young dog. Mystery remained where he was sat, watching the encounter silently. Portia turned again to look at Laura, saying nothing as she approached. Laura hesitated, before saying, "I'm... I'm sorry."
Portia blinked once, but otherwise seemed unaffected by the apology. "For what, ruffian?"
Laura frowned anxiously, "For the fossil... I thought I was in a dream. I wanted some way to wake myself up." She broke off, tears bubbling up in her eyes, "I never meant to hurt you... Please. Forgive me."
Portia gave a small smile, "You don't need to lie to me, ruffian. You know as well as I do that you didn't break the exhibit." Laura seemed genuinely confused. "You had nothing to do with it. You didn't even touch it."
"Wha..." Laura gasped quietly. The smile had faded from Portia's face, replaced with sadness and... guilt? "P-Portia... what are you talking about? Everyone blamed me..." Portia shook her head once, but still didn't reply. Laura frowned again, "B-But... if it wasn't me, then who...? How do you even know?" The Dalmatian gave a sigh, and it suddenly clicked. "Y-You? But... why would you... huh?"
"...What is the point, ruffian?" Portia questioned rhetorically, approaching a painting on the wall, the same one as she had stared at all that time ago on the Friday night. Laura followed her, staring up at the two Dalmatians in the painting. "What is the point of trying to be as good as my parents? The point of trying to be good as someone I can't... The fossil was the one thing that tied me to my parents, ruffian, and I sabotaged it. You were just there at the wrong time." She glanced casually over her shoulder at the girl, waiting for a reaction. Laura remained speechless for a while, before eventually asking in a whisper:
"...But why did you sabotage something that meant so much to you?"
Portia smiled thinly, "Because it was time to put the past behind me, ruffian. The one thing keeping me here gone... meaning I have no reason to stay. I just hadn't found the right time to leave with everything that happened, ruffian. I came here to say goodbye to Brewster."
"...B-But why do you have to leave?"
Portia sighed, "Too many bad memories here. I need to find my parents, ruffian. I've never been great with goodbyes... so... Goodbye, I guess, ruffian." She offered an awkward smile to Mystery, who gave a nod back, before hurriedly leaving the cafe. Laura looked to the boy at the counter, before sighing.
"You know, it was a year ago today I moved in." I commented to the group around me. We were still inside Kabuki's house, but had somehow managed to collect half the town. Bob, Cube, Bones, Static, Wolfgang, Mitzi and Dora had ended up sitting around. Kabuki didn't look too happy about the crowd.
Static was first to reply, "...Happy towniversary, krzzt."
"You should have bought a cake, d-d-dude." Cube commented lazily from beside the fridge, helping himself to a chocolate muffin.
"We should actually throw a party, yip yip!" Bones exclaimed excitedly, hopping to his feet, "This town's been so depressing lately; we should just throw a party. Food, music, friends. Bring back the Honevray spirit, yip yip!" I raised my eyebrows with amusement, but my friend seemed determined. "You've become a key member of our community, Louis... and you saved my life... What's happened in the last year? Drama, fights and tragedy. Kapp'n and Goldie have gone, Jenny's dead, Bobby turned out to be some villain, yip yip... We need a party."
"Wuh 'e sai'." Cube mumbled through a mouthful.
"I agree, mew." Mitzi smiled from beside me, squeezing my hand, "Louis has done a lot for us."
"Bah." Everyone looked to the door as Tank and Roal entered, "All that loser's done is create those dramas, ker-POW!"
"Outta my house, meooo-OH!" Kabuki snapped, rising to his feet.
"Leave, snarrrl." Wolfgang murmured, going to join Kabuki alongside Static.
"Ohohoho..." Tank chuckled, shaking his head, "Relax, ker-POW! I'm just telling the truth. Before that fat kid, that dorky girl, and the one who thought she was in a dream came along, we were fine. The only decent humans are Josh and that Mystery, ker-POW! You? You're the one to blame for everything."
Kabuki rolled his eyes, "Riiiiight, meooo-OH. Is he also to blame for that pathetic excuse of a fight you gave us? Get over yourself."
"Calm down, b-b-buddy." Roald intervened with a laugh, "We're just here to pass on a message. Portia's leaving, so rather than throwing the kid a party, maybe you should all head along to say goodbye. See ya, b-b-buddy." Roald gave a sarcastic wave of his wing, before leaving the house with Tank.
"...Guess we should say goodbye then, yip yip." Bones broke the silence unhappily. I sighed.
"...Well, goodbye I guess." I murmured, looking at the Dalmatian in front of me, "But I still don't think you should leave." Practically everyone, excluding Purrl, was stood inside the town gates, ready to say goodbye to Portia. She gave me a slight smile.
"I'm afraid that's not enough to stop me, ruffian." She replied softly, "But thanks anyway."
"Take care of yourself." Josh murmured with even less enthusiasm than Portia usually showed. He hugged her gently and briefly, before pulling away, "Honevray will always be your home if you want it to be. Good luck, wherever you go."
Portia smiled, "Thank you, ruffian. You've been kind to me ever since I arrived, and I really appreciate it. Take care of yourself, too... and don't go killing anyone else, never thought you of all people would do that." Josh chuckled darkly. Portia gave another smile, before moving past him.
"Aww, bye-bye Portia, silly!" Rosie exclaimed, hugging the dog tightly. Portia returned it with a small laugh. "Don't you dare get in trouble! And keep digging, silly. You're like... the smartest animal I know!" Portia continued through the crowd, giving hugs to residents such as Blathers, Bones, Mitzi, Dora and Bob. She then looked behind her as the gates opened, pulled by Copper and Booker. I shivered slightly as I watched the yellow bus enter, pulling to a stop in front of the waiting crowd.
"Well, ruffian..." She lifted up her suitcases, offering a smile to everyone, "Thank you all for the good times... I will miss you all. Expect letters from my new town." She bowed her head, before turning to enter the bus. She took a step onto it, before looking over her shoulder one final time to give us all a last, fond smile. The door hissed, and she disappeared from view as the doors slid shut with a hiss behind her. Several residents called out goodbyes as the bus turned to leave. We all waved, and soon a black-spotted, furry paw stuck out the window, waving back. The bus began to drive away as we continued our goodbyes, before the yellow bus disappeared from view.
"Close the gates!" Copper ordered, and the two guards turned to push them shut.
"Wait!" Mystery exclaimed, and gasps came from the crowd as he pointed to someone approaching the town. Her fur was tatty, her clothes torn, and she looked exhausted. The Labrador stumbled into the town, wide-eyed and weak.
"...H-Help..." Kabuki darted forward, catching Goldie as she collapsed...
END OF BOOK ONE!
A/NAnd that's the end of 'But what if animals did walk?'... Not quite sure what to say now. I was never expecting this to be as popular as it is... It's been going eighteen months, fifty chapters, near 80,000 words. I still don't know where I'm going with the sequel. I can't plan this story, I need to improvise or I'll never get anywhere. Thank you everyone who has read, followed, favourited, reviewed or even glanced at my fanfic.
I know this is just an Animal Crossing fanfic, that if I'm honest, is over-rated. It's something I write as a hobby, because I enjoy creating characters, plot etc. It does mean a lot that people say BWIADW is their favourite story, but there are so many fanfics around here that are better, that you should go and check out. I'm so pessimistic. But anyway... erm... the sequel. I have a few rough ideas, because obviously you're all expecting a follow-up of Bobby's death and the whole humans are poison plot. I'm not sure if that'll be wrapped up in book two, or if it'll go into 3... But all I know is that I'm going to try and make the sequel less action-oriented.
Of course, this fanfic is a drama, so plenty of plot-twists still to come. But now we've had the "introduction", it's time to start exploring the characters. BWIADW had Kabuki and Portia as the main animal characters, but still, we don't know who they are. So book two's going to start looking at their histories, actual characters and such. Might be an idea to actually get a timeframe as well... Cause I have no idea what month it is in the story. Supposedly December, seeing as Louis has been there a year.
So yeah... this is the end of BWIADW, and book two will be out... soon. But my focus right now is to finish my Pokemon fanfic (profile to read), so you may be waiting a while. I won't let this die, of course. So keep me on alert, and look out for the sequel... still no idea what it'll be called. And so I say goodbye, for now. I hope you all add me to author alert or something so you know when I post the new story... I have no idea why I feel sad writing this. :P But I love you all! You'll see the next story soon, and I'll reply to all your reviews in the start of that, so please review this. o3o Farewell!
