A/N: CodeOne: Howdy, all. This is what's known as a Fusion Fic, where two stories are merged into one. In this case, Star Wars with Zootopian mammals replacing the main characters. Various characters from the Zootopian movie will show up, as well- Bogo as a Jedi Master, for example. The story takes place parallel to the events of the prequels- in other words, Judy and Nick have their own storyline not directly connected to the main one. There will be occasional cameos by the main Star Wars cast, however.

Many thanks to Erinnyes for co-authoring this fic with me- I greatly enjoy his writing and hope to learn a lot from him.

For those who have read the prologue posted in my other work on AO3- it has changed a bit, so make sure you re-read it. Otherwise, I and Erinnyes will be shooting for one or two chapters a week as far as scheduling. Should have the next chapter out today. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy!

The two guards stepped in front of the cowled figures that approached the Jedi Temple. They were relaxed but alert- Jedi frequently approached with their faces covered, to avoid giving away their movements. "Halt!" ordered one. "Identify yourself, please."

The leading figure, much shorter than the one that followed her, lowered her hood. Two long ears sprang up, revealing her as a rabbit "Jedi Knight Judith Hopps," she said.

The guards nodded at her. "Greetings, Jedi. Welcome back to the Temple."

Hopps inclined her head in return. "It is good to be back." She gestured to the figure behind her- much taller, though still shorter than the two wolf guards at the door. That figure, head bowed beneath an enveloping hood, started to move forward.

The guards didn't move. "Your pardon, Jedi Knight," said the first wolf apologetically. "But we must identify your companion as well."

The bunny Jedi's expression did not change, but both guards noted a certain tension in the air. They both tightened their grips imperceptibly on their blaster rifles, though the gesture was unconscious. Her lips compressed into a thin line, Hopps turned to the figure who had followed her.

"Lower your hood," she said, her tone gentle.

The other hooded figure hesitated, and though its face could not be seen, both guards saw how it cocked its head questioningly at the Knight.

"You're here with me," said Hopps, her voice still soft. "It's all right."

Slowly, the figure raised its arms, the sleeves of the robe slipping back to reveal red-furred, clawed paws. With one final pause, the hood was thrown back, revealing startlingly green eyes in a fox's face. The fox stared at the two guards defiantly.

Both guards snapped their blaster rifles up at the fox. "Get on the ground!" shouted one of the wolves.

There was the snap-hiss of an igniting lightsaber, and both guards instinctively fired.

The blaster bolts struck the ground to either side of the fox, who still held his paws out to his side.

Between the guards and the fox, Hopps stood, her lightsaber still raised in the position it had been in when she deflected the two bolts- held in both paws, slightly above her head, slanted almost horizontally. The glow of the lightsaber reflected strangely in the fox's eyes.

"Stand down," said Hopps, her face calm but her voice icy.

The two guards exchanged looks, stunned. "But-"

"He is with me," said Hopps. "Do you think I would bring him here, unrestrained, if I wasn't taking responsibility for him?"

Slowly, the guards lowered their blasters. "Are you sure, Jedi?"

"Sure she must be, to bring this fox here she has," said a voice. Hopps, the fox, and the two wolves turned to look into the Temple, the guards snapping to attention.

A wizened figure slowly made his way towards the door. Hopps immediately bowed her head. "Master Yoda."

The ancient Jedi Master waved away her obeisance. "Returned you have, I see, hm. And with your quarry." The Jedi Master eyed the fox keenly, who met his gaze calmly. "Much anger in this one I feel."

"Master-"

Yoda held up a paw, looking over the fox carefully. "What is your name, young one?"

The fox hesitated, looking toward Hopps. She nodded reassuringly.

The fox looked down at Yoda. "You know my name. Nicholas Wilde."

"This name chosen for you was." The Jedi Master's voice suddenly became very hard, in stark contrast to the avuncular tone of before. "What is the name you chose for yourself?"

There was a long silence. The two guards spread out slightly, paws gripping their blaster rifles, faces set in determination. They had to know that if a fight broke out between the three Force users, they would barely be a speed bump. But they were ready, especially as they saw the spasm of anger cross the fox's face.

Finally, the fox spoke. "Darth Ferox."

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Wilde stood silently under the gaze of the Jedi Council. He met their eyes squarely, almost defiantly, his jaw set. Only his ears, which kept laying back against his head, betrayed his nervousness.

His ears, and the Force. "I sense a great deal of fear in him," said Master Bogo, his eyes boring into Wilde. "Fear leads to anger.

"Anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering," finished Hopps. Her eyes flashed as she looked at the buffalo. "He knows, Master." She recollected herself, visibly schooling herself to calm. "He knows better than anyone."

"That's one way to describe falling to the Dark Side," said Bogo dryly. "Yes, Hopps, I suppose he does know. Which is exactly why punishment must be meted out to him."
"He can be redeemed," insisted Hopps. "He has already taken the first path on that road. He saved my life, when all he had to do was let me fall."

"We read your report," said Ki-Adi-Mundi. The rhino grunted. "And your recommendations for Ferox's rehabilitation."

"His name is Wilde," said Hopps, turning to face the Jedi Master. "He's rejected that name."
"Has he?" mused the Master. "Is that not for us to decide, young Jedi?"

Hopps hesitated, before dipping her head in submission. "Yes, Master."

The Council exchanged glances. "We will soon have a discussion, Hopps, regarding your tendency toward defiance. You are young, yet. Your thoughts are noted, but do not be too headstrong. That way leads to the Dark Side."

"I am afraid."

It was Wilde who had spoken, and the Council's scrutiny shifted to him. "Yes," said Yoda quietly. "You are."

"But it is not a fear of what will be done to me," said Wilde, his voice shaking slightly. "I'm afraid of what I've done. Of what I am." He straightened, his voice firming. "I stand ready to accept the judgment of the Council."

"The Sith are masters of manipulation," sadi Bogo. "Crafters of lies. They use words like daggers." He watched Wilde keenly, but there was no reaction to his words. He studied the rest of the Council, until his eyes fell on one in particular. "Master Yoda?"

Yoda stood slowly. "Runs deep, does the corruption of the Dark Side. Vile have your crimes been." He shook his head sadly. "Certain, the verdict is." There was a deep sadness in his eyes as he met the fox's gaze. "Death."

His voice was grave, stern. The same as the voices that followed. "Death," said Bogo.
"Death," said Adi-Mundi.

One by one, the verdicts came. Wilde's breath slowed, his stance became more relaxed. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

In contrast, Hopps grew increasingly agitated with each reiteration of the word. Her gaze snapped back and forth wildly, her breath coming in quick pants. "Wait!" she cried.
"Master Bogo," said Yoda remorselessly. "Take custody of the prisoner, you will."
The water buffalo nodded and stepped forward- only to find his way blocked by Hopps, her ears back, her paw hovering near the lightsaber clipped to her belt. "Master Bogo," she pleaded.

"Step aside, Hopps," said Bogo.

She didn't move. "This isn't right!" she insisted, her voice breaking. "He saved my life! He only killed Jedi in self-defense, who attacked him without warning!"

"One good deed does not make up for a life of evil, young Hopps,'" said Bogo, his voice firm but not unkind. When Hopps still refused to move, his eyes narrowed. "Step aside, Hopps. That is an order."

She shook her head, setting her feet in resolution. "I won't let you take him."

With an irritated snort, Bogo moved to brush her aside.

Hopps drew her saber in a smooth motion, bringing it up in a guard position. Immediately, lightsabers leapt to the paws of the rest of the Council, including Bogo's.

"Have you gone mad, Hopps?" shouted Bogo. "Stand aside!"

"I will not," said Hopps, gritting her teeth. Her eyes flicked from side to side, seeing the Council- any one of which could easily defeat her in a fight- moving into combat stances. Only Master Yoda was unarmed, his lightsaber still undrawn. "You won't get him except through-"

Her saber snapped off as it shot through the air, yanked by the invisible grip of the Force. She gasped in surprise. It shouldn't have happened- she was ready for such a move from any of the Council-

Then she turned and saw her lightsaber, held in Wilde's upraised paw. "Nick?"

The Jedi Masters blinked in surprise.

"Judy," said the fox. His voice was calm, serene. "We both knew this might happen."

"No!" said Hopps. "You trusted me!"

"I trusted you to do your best, Judy. You've done everything you can." He turned to Master Yoda and inclined his head, holding the lightsaber loose in his upraised paw. The Jedi nodded gravely and the saber shot from him to Yoda's paw.

"You can't do this, Nick," said Judy. "You can't-"

"How did we get here, Judy?" He looked at her. She gazed into those green eyes, seeing regret- but also peace. "Because I won't let you fall."

Bogo stepped forward and a massive paw fell on Wilde's shoulder. "You must come with me, Ferox."

"It's Wilde," said the fox tiredly. "Just Wilde."

Bogo nodded slowly. "Wilde, then." And then he did something strange. Instead of leading Nick out of the room, he looked to Yoda.

The old Master slowly stood. With a measured pace, he walked in front of Wilde and met his gaze. "No more fear do I sense in this one," he said quietly.

Hopps blinked.

"He is at peace," said Adi-Mundi. "He is prepared to become one with the Force."

"What do you-" began Hopps, a sudden hope rising in her heart. She stopped as Bogo looked at her.

"You were willing to fight the entire Council to save him," said Bogo. "Why?"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. "Because he deserves a chance at redemption."

"Do you?" said Bogo to Wilde.

The fox shook his head. "No," he replied.

"And what will you do if you are given one?"

Wilde looked to Hopps. "What I must, Master. I can't make up for what I've done."

"No," agreed Bogo. "But I wonder if you can become more than what you were." He raised his gaze, meeting the eyes of each Jedi Master in turn. Then, he turned to Hopps.

"We're still going to speak about your defiance, Hopps," he warned.

Right now, she didn't care. Bowing her head to hide the smile that was creeping steadily over her face, she put as much humility into her voice as she could. "Yes, Master."

Bogo shook his head, a slight smile on his face. "He'll be your responsibility."

"Yes, Master."

The water buffalo nodded. "Very well." He raised his voice, addressing the room. "Nicholas Wilde, once known as Darth Ferox, is hereby granted a stay of execution, to determine if he has truly renounced the Dark Side."

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"Why?" asked Hopps as she strode alongside Bogo.

The water buffalo looked at her. "He was afraid."

"Yes?" she queried. "Fear is a path to the dark side."

"He was afraid," clarified Bogo, "Until he was sentenced to death."

She blinked. "What?"

"It's not punishment he fears, Hopps. He's made peace with that. He was at peace with himself, at peace with the Force. It was the prospect that he faces now, the necessity to earn his redemption- that's what he fears." Bogo stopped and turned to inspect Hopps, the fading light from outside the tall windows in the hallway casting a shadow over his features. "And fear is still a path to the Dark Side. In his case, back to the Dark Side."

"I see," said Hopps.

The Jedi Master studied her. "You can still say no," he said. "Because if he falls again, there will be no third chance. Your task is to guide him so he doesn't. But if he does-" the buffalo stopped.

Hopps closed her eyes. "Then it will be for me to destroy him."

"You understand," said Bogo, his eyes on hers. "It is no small thing we ask of you, Hopps. You are young yet in the ways of the Force. You can still decline it."

"No," she said decisively. "I won't give up on him." She braced her feet, defiance in her eyes as she looked at her former Master. "You didn't give up on me."

Slowly, he nodded. "Very well, Hopps. May the Force be with you."

He turned to leave, and she held up a paw. "Master, I have one question."

Bogo looked back at her. "Yes?"

She hesitated, gathering her courage. "Nick- Wilde, I mean. He said- he said that the Jedi who he killed attacked him first, without warning. It just- it just doesn't seem the Jedi way. To kill without warning, without giving him a chance to repent, or at least surrender."

Bogo turned fully to face her, studying her with expressionless eyes. "There are times, young Jedi, when even the Jedi have to give way to pragmatism."

"But-"

"You are young yet, Hopps. In time you will see the truth of what I say." He nodded, dismissing her, and walked away.

Judy stared after him, her thoughts in turmoil.