Side note before reading:
Hi everyone, I just wanted to say sorry if anyone had read this before I edited it. It had come to my attention that it wasn't published in the correct format. I had took a huge break from fan fiction writing and of course I'd forgotten how to upload a story properly lol. However, hopefully now I have fixed it! In future, if I haven't uploaded something correctly ect. Then please do let me know in a constructive manner :) However this time I will check before uploading, but with that sorted, I hope you enjoy my first animal crossing fanfic!
My last day in Phoenix
I wake up and know straight away that today is the day. The day I decide that I leave Phoenix.
I had been thinking about it for a good few weeks. I was wondering through the town when I saw on the notice board that a new line of airlines named dodo airlines were transporting people to new islands, anywhere you liked! To start a new life.
I had stood there and pondered for a while whether I wanted to go. It seemed so inviting! A new life on a faraway island, wow!
"Are you alright there, Emily?" Eloise had asked.
A funny yellow elephant with a slight attitude, she always made me smile whenever I would talk to her. But I didn't find myself smiling, but instead almost crying.
"Woah, why are you almost crying?" Eloise asked, putting her arm around me
"Eloise…I am sorry…but I think I might be leaving."
That was two weeks ago. Of course, not everyone took it too well. Yuka and Francine, both new to the town and didn't know me very well, didn't seem too bothered. Or maybe they were but their personality hid it so well? Phoebe, Eloise and Shari on the other hand were a little bit sadder but they understood my decision, and even helped me pack the other night. Derwin, my cute little duck friend, cried when I told him but like the three girls, he too was happy for me and fully supported my decision to want to start a new once more.
"You have been mayor for a while now," Derwin pointed out as we drunk tea at my place. "Wait! Could I be mayor?"
I knew he was joking of course. Lionel, the posh lion, didn't seem fussed either way.
However, it was two girls that I dreaded telling the most. They had been my best friends since day one of moving to town and becoming mayor.
Ankha, an Egyptian cat who also had a slight attitude problem, but were both mutual on it, came to the door one night as I had lightly knocked on it.
"Oh, hi Emily! I wasn't expecting you here."
"I know, sorry if it's late, but…can we talk?" My voice cracked slightly but Ankha didn't notice and instead left the door open for me to walk in.
"I was actually about to cook some food, did you want to stay for dinner?"
I shook my head. I couldn't stop twiddling my thumbs.
"What is it? Why so nervous?" She rested one of her paws in her hip.
"Ankha…I need to talk to you about something."
"Okay…shoot!"
"I'm…I'm leaving town."
Her mouth simply fell open…and that was it: her reaction. If anything she was more shocked that I was leaving, claiming she didn't see me having the travel bug.
"I am shocked and I'll miss ya, but hey, if you feel that you need to leave, then so be it."
"I also came to tell you that…I want to give you and someone else joint leadership in this town and if you would like, you can become mayor."
"Ah yes! I always wanted to be mayor." Ankha said, clearly forgetting herself. She cleared her throat however and gave me a sheepish smile. "Thanks Emily. I will miss you, but…who will I be mayor with?"
That brings me to the final neighbour who I knew I was going to miss most.
A cutie kola bear named Melba answered the door and gave me her cutest smile. She was my best friend here, almost like sisters. We always looked out for each other, and had welcomed me warmly since I moved to Phoenix. I knew saying goodbye to her was going to be the hardest.
"Emily! What brings you here? Please, do come in! I had only boiled the kettle and cut my Victoria sponge cake."
"Aw Melba, that's lovely!" I tried to sound excited but really I was trying to hide the crack in my voice.
I sat down on her sofa whilst Melba poured our teas and hummed quietly to herself. She placed a slice of cake each for us on her coffee table and placed the teas down after. We both ate in silence for a while, mainly because Melba's baking was the greatest and whatever she baked was always so yummy!
"This is so yummy Melba!" I exclaimed.
"Thanks, Toasty! So, what brings you here this evening? Not that I don't like having you round or anything."
I placed the tea down and sat there, just staring. How could I think of leaving? I was going to miss everyone here. But Melba…she was my best friend. How was I going to survive without her?
"Well…I'm…"
"Are you leaving?" Melba said for me.
I looked at her in surprise. "How did…"
"I saw the notice on the board the other day, and I hope you don't mind me saying, but I could see you looking at it and then you became rather upset. I was wondering what on earth had made you cry so much. But when I looked at the notice and realised what you were crying about and I had a feeling that maybe you were going to leave." Melba smiled a sad but warm one. "And…if that's what you want then…I fully support your decision. I'm just going to miss you a lot, toasty."
I threw my arms around her and cried. "I don't want to go but…I need to move on from the mayor life."
"Emily, you have made this town into a lovely one! There is only so much you can do here, and I understand the change in life you want."
"Melba…I didn't only come here to tell you about my leaving but also…I want you to become mayor along with Ankha."
Melba's eyes filled with tears. "Me? A mayor? But…why?"
"You're my best friend Melba, along with Ankha, and I feel that you would both suit the role well. I know then that I am leaving this town in great…well…paws."
We both laughed at this. We didn't spend the rest of the night being sad, but instead planned a last minute sleepover at my place.
I gave the plans for the town to Isabelle. She smiled sweetly at me.
"I can't wait to join you as well," Isabelle enthused. I was glad that she would be coming eventually. She too felt the need for a change in life, but she said she still had secretary duties to carry out in Phoenix.
So now I stand at the train station, my suitcase that I had come with only just seven months ago, in my hand. All of my neighbours crowded round me and gave me hugs and best wishes for the trip ahead.
"I will come and visit you know," I reassured them all.
Before I boarded the train, I heard a small voice call my name. It was Melba and in her paw she had a gift.
"It's something for you, in case you get homesick."
It was wrapped neatly in some pink wrapping paper and a red bow. I undid the present very carefully. In it was a picture of the whole neighbourhood taken together. It must have been taken in the first week I had arrived here. I traced my hand over the glass, tears prickling my eyes.
I was really going to miss everyone here.
The train whistled it's final calling to leave. I gave Melba a long hug and smiled into her warm fur.
"Thank you so much, Melba. Remember to write to me, okay?"
"Of course I will!"
I looked around the station one last time, at everyone's adorable faces. Yes, I really was going to miss this town. But as I stepped onto the train and sat in one of the chairs, I knew that my next adventure on a new island was going to be just as fantastic.
