A/N: Hey, reader! This is the first fic that I have ever written and am currently learning the trade of writing material worthy of your time to read. In order to fill the job requirement I will need some help from you, the reader. If you could be kind enough to leave any kind of criticisms or anything that could help me make your reading experience that much better. Be as honest as possible.
I was inspired to write this story by fanart believe it or not. The running title of the first draft of this story was Zootopia: Worth 1000 words where the gimmick was to create a short ~1k story on the certain fanart. The story you are about to read was my first attempt at the 1k stories, but while writing it i was inspired to make a fully fleshed out version. I do still plan to use the original idea or maybe just find more inspiration.
With that out of the way I hope you enjoy my first fiction about Zootopia: Worth so Much More!
Chapter 1: A Better Beginning
It was a late afternoon in the Zootopia slums and its residents settling down after the day's activities. The roads were quiet aside from the rare vehicle that would pass by the rundown homes, piercing the silence of the still roads with the air flowing across the car's exterior and wheels rolling across the cracked asphalt with a audible thud as each axel went over a bump.
In one of these homes a fox kit lay on a surface unknown to him, but it was comfortable and had high walls. He lays in silence unlike the room not too far from his. Muffled yelling and arguing could hardly be heard, but with the child being born weeks before he couldn't make much out of what they were saying.
"You know we can't afford a child!"
"I know, but I can't entertain the idea of giving him away!"
A fox couple in the kitchen of their home argues over the future of the fox kit in a room not too far from them. The father fox paced back and forth at such a pace it would leave a mark. The todd grumbled under his breath at the circumstance that he was currently in. On one hand he always wanted to be a father, but on the other he didn't want a child so soon.
The vixen wife sat in worry for the child's future for she too knew they couldn't support a child with their finances. She thought about the idea of adoption, but who would adopt a fox kit? All fox families are related by blood and have never been known to adopt.
"Well… what do you propose we do?"
"Perhaps different species adoption…?"
"And you expect a non-fox family to take in a fox kit?"
"Well no, but a fox family wouldn't either!"
"So, then I guess we're at square one!"
"Well, we could take him somewhere that has no fox families. That way a family in that area would have to take him."
"Somewhere out of Zootopia?"
The couple thought on this for a moment trying to dissect all the possibilities. Dropping the kit off on a doorstep with no fox families around could increase the chances of him being taken care of. This was the only idea brought up consistently in their argument following making it the final decision.
"Okay, tomorrow morning I'll leave Zootopia and search for a place. Should be back the next morning."
The next morning came swiftly leaving the couple with very little sleep. The weight of what they were about to do was immense and left them thinking all night. 7:30 am and Rick started getting up. He packed the car and found blankets and a child carrier for the kit. He grabbed a cup of coffee that Vivienne prepared. They kissed goodbye and with tears in their eyes as Rick made his way outside of Zootopia.
The fox kit clapped his hands in excitement as he was placed into the back seat of the car. Looking intently out the window as the tall grey buildings pass by unbeknownst to him that'll be the last time he will see them for a while. As the passing buildings transitioned to concrete walls of a tunnel the fox kit was fast asleep.
Upon leaving the exit tunnel from Zootopia, Rick looked at the backseat of the car to check on the fox kit. Fast asleep. Rick smiled to himself briefly then the feelings of fondness were quickly replaced by ones of guilt. He snapped his vision back to the road. This is going to be a long trip.
After a few hours of driving Rick's stomach growled so he assumed that his son would be hungry too. Making a quick stop at a gas station Rick got himself a snack, water and a few softer foods for his son. After getting the fox kit to eat and drink Rick pumped some gas and got back on the road.
After a few more hours of driving Rick decided to stop for more gas. Rick gave his son more food and water then turned to the pump. After paying he opened the back-car door to see his son.
"You know you're a saint of a kid."
The fox kit had no response, but a straight face with eyes unblinking. This gave Rick the impression that his son was already judging him. A wave of dread washed over him. Shortly after Rick was thinking how his son already hated him the kits tongue rolled out of the side of his mouth and the kit went into a fit of laughter. This surprised Rick and even made him chuckle. Rick took his hand and ruffled the fur on his son's head and went to remove the pump. He sat back into the driver's seat and looked back at the kit. Already fast asleep smiling. Bringing a tear to Rick's eye.
After miles of driving Rick decided that the next area to come by would be far enough, plus there isn't a fox town within miles of where he was. After making this decision it wasn't long until a large sign popped up on the horizon reading "Welcome to Bunnyburrow!" accompanied by a counter that was constantly increasing. Rick flinched after reading what the counter was for.
"That's a lot of bunnies."
After driving around the area Rick decided he should find somewhere close to the road so he can make a quick get-away when he drops his son off. Luckily he found one almost right on the road.
"Hopps Estate. Tsk bunnies and their last names."
Looking at the clock it was almost 10 pm. After about a half hour of waiting Rick got out of his car and grabbed the sleeping kit out of the back of the car. Rick parked maybe a quarter mile from the house. Not too close, not too far. Made it easy not to be spotted. Rick made his way over to the house from his vehicle. Taking in a deep breath of the country and the dirt beneath his hind-paws he knew this place was in no way related to city living. Upon reaching the front porch of the house Rick noticed just how large the building was from up close. He placed the basket on the porch and pulled out a piece of paper and pencil and wrote "Nicholas V." Almost writing Wilde at the end but couldn't erase the V that he just made. Finally, Rick placed the note into the basket with Nicholas and rang the doorbell. Upon hearing the doorbell Rick kissed his son's head and quickly made way to his vehicle tears in his eyes.
A high pitched ringing spread throughout the large house. A collection of groans and commands to get the door were muffled through the ornate front door. Eventually the collective noise stopped by a louder voice shouting "COMING!" The door opened wide and at the entrance was a bewildered buck.
"Uhhh… Ummm Hey Ma!?"
"Who is it Barney?!"
"Says here his name is Nicholas V.!"
"What does he want!?"
"By the looks of it probably a place to stay!"
"Place to stay? This isn't some hotel were mammals can..."
As soon as Mrs. Hopps came to the door she was greeted by a wide eyed buck holding a basket with a red fluff ball that was smiling. Upon the sight her heart beat a mile a minute as she bolted out the door looking for the person who left this unexpected package. She shouted asking if someone left him there but no one answered. After about 3 more attempts of shout searching she started heading back to the house. Taking the basket from her son Barney she carefully inspected the contents. There were a few blankets, some meat based baby food, a piece of paper and a red fox kit.
Several questions came racing into her mind and leaving just as fast as they came leaving Bonnie Hopps unable to process what's happening. Why would someone leave a fox kit at our doorstep? Why would you leave a fox kit at a bunny's doorstep? WHY WOULD YOU ABANDON A CHILD? All of these and then some were questions that remained unanswered.
Upon hearing about the commotion from a younger bunny, Stu Hopps, the patriarch of the Hopps clan, came to the foyer of the house to find his wife holding a child carrier with one of the most confused looks he has ever seen.
"Who was at the door Bon?"
No answer
"Bon are you feeling alright?" he asked as he reached for her shoulder to shake her out of her stupor.
"What? Oh yes I'm fine and no one was at the door except this fox kit."
"Fox kit? Is that some kind of threat?"
"None that I've heard of before, but his name is Nicholas V."
Now it was Stu's turn to have the look to total bewilderment as he became unresponsive to anything while he processed the information. Why would someone leave a fox kit at our doorstep? Why would you leave a fox kit at a bunny's doorstep? WHY WOULD YOU ABANDON A CHILD? The same questions that assaulted Bonnie are now stuck in the buck's head.
"Well do you think he was left here for a reason?" inquired Bonnie
"A reason? Of course he was! Everyone knows that those shady lowlifes can't afford to make a living and guess what? Now they've stuck us with their problem!"
"Alright, it's clear we need to talk this over. Kids bedtime!"
A collective groan could be heard resonating from the walls in the foyer followed by dragging footsteps up and down the stairs leaving Mr. and Mrs. Hopps in the large family room. Bonnie walked over and placed the baby carrier on the couch and slowly lifted Nick out of it and held him in her lap.
Nick only stared at Bonnie with droopy eyes making it obvious to her that he needed to sleep. As soon as Nick got comfortable in Bonnie's lap he fell asleep with his head in the crook of Bonnie's elbow.
"What do you think we should do with him?"
"I don't know Bon, I've never been in this kind of situation."
"Well, the way I see it this can only go one of two ways. 1: We pass him onto the CPS in hopes he finds a home. 2: We raise him."
This second option caught the buck off guard and would have made him fall into his seat if he were not already sitting down. Stu felt as if his temples got smashed into by bowling balls as he brought his hands up to rub them.
"Why would we consider option 2?"
"Well I happen to be a sucker for fate and I think it was no accident that this little fox ended up on our doorstep."
"Of course it wasn't an accident, babies don't just appear out of thin air!"
"Well you never said no to raising him."
"Well how about I say it now? No."
"Oh come on Stu, we've raised plenty of kits in the past. Granted they were all ours, but we know a thing or two about raising a child."
"You said it yourself Bon, we have no experience in raising a fox."
"And you have never held a high opinion of foxes, so why don't you raise one like you think they should be? Plus he showed up just in time with the newest litter. He'll fit in perfectly!"
Stu knew that arguing with his wife about child raising was futile. Arguing with her in general was a lose situation for him. As much as Stu didn't like the idea of raising a fox, the idea that CPS would just put him in a orphanage sounded worse, so he finally relented and gave into the will of his wife.
"Okay, we can try to raise him. I do like the idea of a well raised fox, but still hesitant."
"Wonderful! I will make an announcement at breakfast about our new family member!"
"So I'm guessing you will take care of the adoption papers tomorrow?"
Bonnie laughed, "Whatever gets me out of doing the farm work!"
As soon as the conversation was resolved Nick started rustling in Bonnie's lap. A quiet giggle escaped Bonnie's mouth as she cradled him in her arms and carried him to the baby care room in the house. Bonnie knowing exactly how many infants she had in the house knew where an empty cradle could be found. She laid Nick down into it slowly and left the room.
The night went silently on as the whole house was at rest. The first time in the Hopps household that a crying fit didn't happen. Greatly relieving the Hopps matriarch. She needed this peace of mind to sleep, especially after what transpired from tonight. One thought stuck true in her mind, "How is this new fox child going to be affected by bunny raising methods." After thinking about it she came to the inconclusive answer: only time will tell.