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I knew that getting information from Nook’s Homes was going to be difficult, but it was honestly my best option. I’m sure that town hall has its fair share of documents about every animal that's ever lived in Place, but I can’t risk the mayor waltzing in and I very much doubt that his secretary would keep quiet about it.

Regardless, Mr Nook took some persuading. I explained to him and Mr Lyle the trouble at hand; how Vladimir had been influencing the ongoing progress of the town to the point of forcing undesirable villagers out, how he went out of his way to sabotage the construction of a competent police station, how Becky had been gathering information for him… the whole scoop.

The otter was the one who questioned me the most, and he wasn’t particularly kind about it.
“This girl? Ms Koala? Lost her marbles. No doubt,” he said, bluntly.

“Look, I know it sounds really far-fetched and conspiratorial,” I pleaded, “but I’ve been looking into this for a while now and I have support from some of the others… I think.”

“Evil bears? Doubtful. Spying chickens? Unlikely. Mayoral sabotage?! Off the hook! You’re busting our proverbial chops here, Ms Koala. Our time? Wasted. You? Out the door!”

“What exactly is it that you want from us, hm?” asked Tom Nook, who had been quiet the entire time.

“I just want to read through some of the accommodation papers you have on Vladimir,” I explained, diplomatically. “I know it probably flirts with the borders of legality and all, but I just want a background check and that’s it.”

Lyle shook his head while Tom thought for a moment.

“Please,” I begged. “I fear we don’t have much time.”

Mr Nook, most graciously, allowed me to snoop through whatever I wanted, much to his co-haught’s bewilderment. I have a feeling that he believed me, though for what reason, I’m not really sure. Perhaps the thought of the mayor being in trouble was what persuaded him to help me? Maybe he always had suspicions of Vladimir from ever since he moved in? Those questions could wait. I had a job to do.

Vladimir’s files were frustratingly vague, to the point where it seemed that nothing could be learned from them. The two very sceptical men of Nook’s Homes watched my every move, which ultimately proved to be a blessing as Lyle noticed something that completely passed me by.

“His last residence. Boondox. Know that place, Lyle does.”

“You do?” I asked, surprised to see the quick talking salesman taking an interest.

“As do I, yes, yes” said Tom with a grave expression. “Old Tortimer used to mention it off hand from time to time, urging people to donate to a grand renovation of it. Although, I always thought he just made up the place to fund his retirement island, since he was never the charitable type…”

“Nope. Nada. Boondox? All too real…” Lyle confirmed. “Fried dirt for supper. Mud baths in the evening. Terrible place until it was dolled up. New name? Boondopoilis!”

The words ‘renovation’ and ‘donation’ stuck out to me. Those words had become synonymous for the past few months in Place, especially after Vladimir arrived. Knowing that he lived there before here made it obvious that he had something to do with it. But where were the negatives?

“So, Boondopolis,” I asked, “still a good place?”

“Negatory,” Lyle sighed. “Fell back to ruin very quickly. Like BANG! Blink and you’ll miss it! All those donations? The bells earned from restoring the town? The fruit of the Boondoxian’s labour? Vanished! They lost their perfect town status quicker than they earned it. So sad. Makes Lyle wanna cry!”

“H-how long has it been that way?”

“Lyle’s not sure, so Lyle’s gonna guess… Lyle says around the same time Tortimer retired. Maybe a little after. Details, details…”

“And when was that?”

“Early last year,” said Mr Nook, “which is when your little friend seems to have moved away from Boondox...” He pointed to the eerie dates on Vladimir’s private papers, joining the dots as the realisation struck both of us.

“That’s it! Do you see what I’m saying now?!” I exclaimed in a mixture of excitement and horror. “He’s doing it again! I don’t know how the old mayor fits into this, but Vladimir helped rebuild Boondox, then took everything away from them before running off!”

“Running off… to P-Place?” asked Lyle, now visibly nervous. “Ms Koala? Maybe not so crazy after all...”

“And I’m pretty sure he needs to get rid of the mayor to do this,” I gulped. “They’re celebrating Place earning it’s perfect town status today, and if I’m right, Vladimir’s gonna do something really bad, but I have no idea what tricks he has up his sleeve…”

“Then let’s get moving!” said Tom, putting on his coat. “Come on, Mr Lyle, your job is at stake here!”

“Party crasher? Not in my job description... But just this once? Happy to oblige! Bang!”

“So, you believe me?” I asked as we headed out of the front door. “We’re really doing this?”

“I should have known Vladimir was trouble the moment he flattened that flower bed…” Tom scowled. “And if I know the mayor, then the only way we’ll convince him is if we make a scene in front of everybody!”

I liked the way Mr Nook thought.
Without further delay, the three of us hurried to the town plaza where the rest of the village had gathered, praying that we weren’t too late…

~Author’s Notes~
Those that have played Wild World will probably recognise the name Boondox. It was always a very intriguing piece of Animal Crossing ‘lore’ that I wanted to incorporate in an interesting way, so I hope at least somebody appreciates the reference. If you’re unfamiliar, check Nookipedia.

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Description

I knew that getting information from Nook’s Homes was going to be difficult, but it was honestly my best option. I’m sure that town hall has its fair share of documents about every animal that's ever lived in Place, but I can’t risk the mayor waltzing in and I very much doubt that his secretary would keep quiet about it.

Regardless, Mr Nook took some persuading. I explained to him and Mr Lyle the trouble at hand; how Vladimir had been influencing the ongoing progress of the town to the point of forcing undesirable villagers out, how he went out of his way to sabotage the construction of a competent police station, how Becky had been gathering information for him… the whole scoop.

The otter was the one who questioned me the most, and he wasn’t particularly kind about it.
“This girl? Ms Koala? Lost her marbles. No doubt,” he said, bluntly.

“Look, I know it sounds really far-fetched and conspiratorial,” I pleaded, “but I’ve been looking into this for a while now and I have support from some of the others… I think.”

“Evil bears? Doubtful. Spying chickens? Unlikely. Mayoral sabotage?! Off the hook! You’re busting our proverbial chops here, Ms Koala. Our time? Wasted. You? Out the door!”

“What exactly is it that you want from us, hm?” asked Tom Nook, who had been quiet the entire time.

“I just want to read through some of the accommodation papers you have on Vladimir,” I explained, diplomatically. “I know it probably flirts with the borders of legality and all, but I just want a background check and that’s it.”

Lyle shook his head while Tom thought for a moment.

“Please,” I begged. “I fear we don’t have much time.”

Mr Nook, most graciously, allowed me to snoop through whatever I wanted, much to his co-haught’s bewilderment. I have a feeling that he believed me, though for what reason, I’m not really sure. Perhaps the thought of the mayor being in trouble was what persuaded him to help me? Maybe he always had suspicions of Vladimir from ever since he moved in? Those questions could wait. I had a job to do.

Vladimir’s files were frustratingly vague, to the point where it seemed that nothing could be learned from them. The two very sceptical men of Nook’s Homes watched my every move, which ultimately proved to be a blessing as Lyle noticed something that completely passed me by.

“His last residence. Boondox. Know that place, Lyle does.”

“You do?” I asked, surprised to see the quick talking salesman taking an interest.

“As do I, yes, yes” said Tom with a grave expression. “Old Tortimer used to mention it off hand from time to time, urging people to donate to a grand renovation of it. Although, I always thought he just made up the place to fund his retirement island, since he was never the charitable type…”

“Nope. Nada. Boondox? All too real…” Lyle confirmed. “Fried dirt for supper. Mud baths in the evening. Terrible place until it was dolled up. New name? Boondopoilis!”

The words ‘renovation’ and ‘donation’ stuck out to me. Those words had become synonymous for the past few months in Place, especially after Vladimir arrived. Knowing that he lived there before here made it obvious that he had something to do with it. But where were the negatives?

“So, Boondopolis,” I asked, “still a good place?”

“Negatory,” Lyle sighed. “Fell back to ruin very quickly. Like BANG! Blink and you’ll miss it! All those donations? The bells earned from restoring the town? The fruit of the Boondoxian’s labour? Vanished! They lost their perfect town status quicker than they earned it. So sad. Makes Lyle wanna cry!”

“H-how long has it been that way?”

“Lyle’s not sure, so Lyle’s gonna guess… Lyle says around the same time Tortimer retired. Maybe a little after. Details, details…”

“And when was that?”

“Early last year,” said Mr Nook, “which is when your little friend seems to have moved away from Boondox...” He pointed to the eerie dates on Vladimir’s private papers, joining the dots as the realisation struck both of us.

“That’s it! Do you see what I’m saying now?!” I exclaimed in a mixture of excitement and horror. “He’s doing it again! I don’t know how the old mayor fits into this, but Vladimir helped rebuild Boondox, then took everything away from them before running off!”

“Running off… to P-Place?” asked Lyle, now visibly nervous. “Ms Koala? Maybe not so crazy after all...”

“And I’m pretty sure he needs to get rid of the mayor to do this,” I gulped. “They’re celebrating Place earning it’s perfect town status today, and if I’m right, Vladimir’s gonna do something really bad, but I have no idea what tricks he has up his sleeve…”

“Then let’s get moving!” said Tom, putting on his coat. “Come on, Mr Lyle, your job is at stake here!”

“Party crasher? Not in my job description... But just this once? Happy to oblige! Bang!”

“So, you believe me?” I asked as we headed out of the front door. “We’re really doing this?”

“I should have known Vladimir was trouble the moment he flattened that flower bed…” Tom scowled. “And if I know the mayor, then the only way we’ll convince him is if we make a scene in front of everybody!”

I liked the way Mr Nook thought.
Without further delay, the three of us hurried to the town plaza where the rest of the village had gathered, praying that we weren’t too late…

~Author’s Notes~
Those that have played Wild World will probably recognise the name Boondox. It was always a very intriguing piece of Animal Crossing ‘lore’ that I wanted to incorporate in an interesting way, so I hope at least somebody appreciates the reference. If you’re unfamiliar, check Nookipedia.

Next>
Prev>