Animal Crossing: Place of Power

Author's Note: This piece is in 'After Hours' mostly because of the personal nature of the scenario it depicts and the vibe it seeks to create. If you are unfamiliar with the series and setting of 'Animal Crossing', it is unlikely to make much sense! 

Content warning would be 'Accidental Domination' 'Size' and 'Pet Play'... sort of.

Enjoy!

...

Diva had been one of the trio who initially signed the deal to come make a home on the island of Smolsburg, and though the lovable blue-bear Kody had long since moved away, Diva had remained steadily where she was the entire time… aside from one or two housing relocations.

It had been quite the ordeal putting together a vacation home to the specifics Diva had requested, but Tadpole had managed it well enough in the end – at least in their own opinion. Ever since they had set up on that miraculously typhoon-free tropical island, Tadpole had worked hard to make the place as hospitable for the other residents as possible, but none received quite as much attention and adoration as the little purple frog herself.

Diva had been one of the trio who initially signed the deal to come make a home on the island of Smolsburg, and though the loveable blue-bear Kody had long since moved away, Diva had remained steadily where she was the entire time… aside from one or two housing relocations.

It had always bothered Tadpole that the continual updates to the island’s infrastructure just never seemed to get around to making time to update the interior of the little frog’s home however; for as charmingly stylish and exotic as she was, Diva was stuck living in a basic little wooden box with a few sparse furnishings. While she was cheery and tolerant of the situation, it never sat well with Tadpole, who had resolved to one day find the opportunity to remedy the situation.

That opportunity came in the form of employment with Paradise Planning, and Tadpole immediately seized the chance to improve their skills, expand their arsenal of home-design tools and get plenty of practice designing homes for other villagers.

When the time had finally come to proposition Diva to have a vacation home of their own, Tadpole had been anticipating something fancy, something stylish, something that would seem to fit with the casually elegant vibe that Diva gave off. Needless to say, being asked to make her vacation home into a ‘place of power’ wasn’t something they’d been expecting.

Still, it had been a fun experience! And when they had finished setting up and decorating with the piles of mystic and occult objects Diva had specified, Tadpole had the distinct pleasure of seeing Diva’s ecstatic reaction to seeing it all for the first time.

In some ways it actually went a little too well, as Diva ended up spending huge amounts of time at her vacation home rather than back on the island. It did grant Tadpole the opportunity to give her island home a much-needed make-over, but that was a small consolation to her general absence from the community.

All that came to a halt however on the day that Diva came home after nearly two weeks of absence, stepping off the docks and onto the faux-streets of Smolsburg. Tadpole heard the familiar voice echoing over the rooftops of the model city as they stood abruptly up, a beaming grin on their face as they jogged through the carpeted streets to greet her.

“Heya Tadpole! What’s cookin’?”

“Same ol’, same ol’, just swapping out some of the older models for more up-to-date stuff. The microwave was a good stand-in, but these doll-houses have made the whole thing look so much better. How’s vacation life been treating you? Been relaxing?”

A devious little twinkle of cheer appeared in Diva’s eye as she smiled in response.

“Not especially; I’ve actually been working harder in my vacation home than I ever did here.”

“Oh?” Tadpole’s eyebrow raised curiously as they leaned against one of the model skyscrapers that made up the island’s signature ‘tiny city’.

“Well yeah, I needed somewhere private where I could practice my stuff without accidentally blowing up something important. I’ve made so much progress!”

“Progress? Stuff? What kind of stuff? Glad you didn’t blow anything up though.” Tadpole was pleasantly bemused; they loved listening to Diva talk, even if they didn’t always understand it.

Diva giggled impishly and rubbed their palms together beneath rich blue gloves.

“That’s why I came back actually; I feel fully confident that I can give you the present I’ve been working on now.”

A happy swell of surprise rose in Tadpole’s chest as they beamed.

“A present? Thanks so much! What is it?”

“Well,” Diva said slowly, gesturing out at the sprawling model city, “I know you’ve been working on this little model city since we first set up here; it’s been like… your dream project, y’know? It looks so, so cool, and… well… I wanted to help make your dream a reality.”

“Aw, that’s awfully sweet of you.” Tadpole said, genuine appreciation mingled with the thinly veiled confusion. Had she bought some more model kits or something? They waited for her to continue, and Diva turned, placing a hand on Tadpole’s arm.

“Okay, so, all I need you to do is picture your dream in your head; imagine it how you want to see it. Then close your eyes.”

Rather theatrical really, but Tadpole was happy to play along. They looked out over their model city, over all the little skyscrapers, the landmarks, the suburban districts, the roads, the little fake villagers they’d spread around… and they closed their eyes, picturing it like the bustling little Smolsburg they’d always envisioned, down to the tiniest detail.

The sound of a beetle buzzing by sent Tadpole’s imagination wandering in the warmth of the afternoon sun. They imagined how it would look for the myriad of bugs on the island, picturing the charming little models as full-sized structures, and chuckled inwardly at the sight.

A faint sensation of electricity crackled over their skin, like moving their arm too close to a power-line, and Tadpole felt warmth surge through them.

“All done! Open your eyes, Tadpole! … Tadpole?”

Diva’s cheery voice sounded confused, as well as being significantly louder than normal.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to shout.” Tadpole replied, opening their eyes to see whatever it was Diva had brought them.

They blinked, non-comprehension on their face as they looked at the bustling street before them. Dozens and dozens of villagers stood along the road, blinking in bewilderment as they looked around, appearing just as lost as Tadpole felt. Café signs blinked merrily in active windows, and the sight of it produced a sense of total wonder in Tadpole. It was all far, far too much to take in at once, but it was… it was exactly how they’d envisioned it. Sure, it was a little bigger in scale than they’d envisioned, but it was…

“Wow! WOW! Diva, this is-” They began, turning to look down at their little purple friend.

Instead of the familiar face of the lovely, cheerful frog, Tadpole found themselves staring at a polished, dark blue surface. The surface of an enormous, preposterously huge boot. Their heart skittered in their chest as they craned their neck back slowly, looking up… and up… and up…

Prior to this moment, Tadpole would have stated without hesitation that Diva was tied for the second-shortest person on the island, a contest closely held between her and Flurry. She was a perky, laid-back little thing who Tadpole could use as a cheeky leaning post when they weren’t expecting it; an absence of height that they made up for with a towering personality.

Now though, Diva was by far the biggest creature Tadpole had ever seen. Her immense form loomed overhead, her shadow cast along the street as she blinked to her side, perplexed by something. A choking sound of shocked surprise escaped Tadpole’s throat, and at the noise, Diva’s head pivoted down to look at the source of the sound at her feet.

Her eyes widened, mouth dropping open in disbelief.

“T-Tadpole?! Wha… why are you down there?!”

“Why am I down here?! Why are you up there?!”

“Up here? … Tadpole, I’m… the same as I was before!”

The words had scarcely finished leaving her mouth before Tadpole heard the distant sound of startled, surprised squeals from further into the model city. Beneath them, the road shook in a steady beat as windows rattled in the frames of miniature buildings.

“Oh! Goodness!” A familiar, softly booming voice echoed through the streets. “So many strange little bugs on the island today! Do please be careful, I don’t want to tread on anyone.”

Tadpole turned and looked up the road as the absolutely monolithic form of Megan strode into view, the plump, purple bear trying to keep the hem of her yellow dress from snagging on any of the buildings. So distracted was she above holding the hem of her clothes close that she hadn’t even noticed the half-dozen miniature villagers stuck to the sole of her paw. Fortunately, none of them seemed to be injured beyond being pummeled and compressed. Each step the titanic bear took smashed them unceremoniously into the road, miraculously without turning them to a pulpy stain in the process.

“Megan!” Tapdole and Diva called in unison, though Megan’s gaze looked over only to the little frog, passing right over Tadpole themselves.

“Oh! Diva! Hello; look at Tadpole’s wonderful city – they’ve been working so hard on it! It’s like I’m walking through a real miniature town!” Megan strode over, their villager-coated paw lifting over Tadpole as they went.

“Whoa, hold up! Megan, wait!” Diva began – but not in time to stop the bear’s paw from pounding down on Tadpole with a heavy ‘FWUMP’.

“What is it, Diva?” Megan asked curiously as Diva’s gloved hands clasped over their mouth.

“Megan!! Lift your foot!” She got down on her hands and knees as Megan complied, her expression perplexed as Diva brushed the other villagers down onto the ground with a total lack of concern. Her sticky, gloved fingers pinched around Tadpole and plucked them off the bear’s paw as she stood back up. “Tadpole! Hey, are you okay, squirt?!”

Tadpole was breathing hard, eyes wide as they stared between their two enormous friends. Their hands quickly patted themselves down, dreading some horrific injury they just couldn’t feel.

“I… uh… I think I’m okay!”

“Phew.” The sigh of relief escaped Diva as Megan stared in naked surprise.

“W-what?! Is that… Is that Tadpole?! How did they get so small!?”

“I don’t know!” Diva replied, their eyes flickering as they tried to figure it out. “I… I cast a spell, but it wasn’t supposed to do this!”

“A spell? Like, a real magic spell? What did you do?!” Megan replied, a mixture of worry and fascination in her voice.

“I mean, it was just meant to make Tadpole’s little tiny city into a reality! It wasn’t supposed to shrink them!”

“Well, how does the spell work?” Megan pressed, “The magic in my books always functions a particular way.”

“Well, it just takes the dream in Tadpole’s head and makes it a reality; if it affected them like this, then it must mean…” She trailed off, an expression of revelation on her face as she looked down at the tiny little human in her hand. “…it means that this was part of Tadpole’s dream; they wanted to be like this.”

Tadpole’s eyes widened.

“No, no no no, I definitely didn’t want to be like this!”

“Aww,” Diva’s face spread into a supportive smile, “hey, no judgement here Tadpole; no need to be embarrassed. I should’ve explained how the spell worked beforehand, didn’t mean to bust in on your private fantasies.”

“Hold on, you’ve made a mista-” Tadpole started, but Megan cut them off, their voice just as full of support as Diva’s.

“Yes! Absolutely; you’ve done so, so much to make this island wonderful for everyone – I think you’ve more than earned the right to enjoy it in whatever way you’ve always dreamed of!”

“That’s the spirit Megan!” Diva agreed, standing up straight with a look of determination on her face. “Probably should have guessed from the whole ‘tiny model city thing’ huh?” The pair laughed as Tadpole tried to raise their hands.

“Hey, will you two listen for a sec? I’m like a bug down here!”

“Ooooh! Right!” Diva nodded in response before Tadpole could continue. “Don’t worry, I’m getting what you’re putting down, Tadpole.” She rummaged about in her bag and produced a small, transparent plastic tub. An insect cage.

Tadpole’s face went pale, their tiny expression aghast as they were momentarily struck dumb for words.

“A bug cage? Are you sure, Diva?” Megan pondered, their tone introspective.

“Definitely! This is Tadpole’s big dream; can’t half-ass it, right? If we’re gonna show them off to everyone else, we’ve gotta make sure that they get the right idea from the very start!” Diva’s hand lifted over the lid of the bug cage, flipping open the latch and tilting until Tadpole had slid from their palm. They tumbled into the depths of the enclosure with a painful ‘thud’, looking up and scrambling to their feet in a last-ditch attempt to avert their friend’s decision.

‘Click’.

The latch flicked shut, trapping Tadpole inside the little plastic prison in Diva’s hands.

“This… this can’t be happening!” Tadpole breathed as the box shook all about them. They could only watch as they were carried towards resident services.

“So, what are we doing to do, Diva?” Megan asked, trundling along beside her as the little purple frog beamed with pride at making their friend’s dream come true.

“We’re going to speak to Isabelle and get her to make an announcement; everyone is to gather at the town square to meet the new and improved Tadpole!” She patted the side of the cage fondly as she held it against her chest.

“But how are we going to introduce them? Won’t people be worried that the Island Representative is so tiny all of a sudden?”

“Not if we make it very clear that it’s what they want.” Diva replied with certainty in her voice. “We can always choose another Island Rep after all; everyone adores Tadpole. If we just explain to the others that it was Tadpole’s dream to be a little pet bug, they’ll be happy to accept it! Won’t that be great, Tadpole? You’ll get to be everyone’s pet now!”

Tadpole placed their palms against the plastic outside of the cage, sinking down onto their knees, their expression hidden behind the faintly frosted material of the plastic. The bottom fell out of their stomach as they swallowed, taking it all in.

“E-everyone’s pet.” They sputtered. Dismay filled them as Diva set down the bug cage in the middle of the town square, the revelation rolling over them like a tidal-wave. There was nothing they could do but watch as the other members of the island gathered one by one in the square, surrounding the little plastic cage. All their looming friends, looking down at their new ‘pet’.

The excessively happy tone of the thunderous conversation did not bode well for what lay beyond these new horizons.