Here comes chapter 2. Okay first, two things. One, I already know about the original age different between Nick and Judy in the movie. That's why this story is an AU. As in Alternate Universe. This story is just a "What if Nick and Judy were the same age at the same time?" thing. Since this is a fanfic, I thought it would go without saying. But I decided to say it anyway so people get it. Second, if anyone read the story from "Nick x Judy One-Shots", this is pretty much the same thing. But, I added and changed a thing or two. For this chapter, Nick and his parents have just arrived in Bunnyburrow and it's the same day as the fair and the Talent Show. Let's see what happens next.
Bunnyburrow. A small town filled with an ever-growing population of bunnies. But that doesn't mean only bunnies live there or mammals of others species didn't visit it. This includes a small family of foxes from the city of Zootopia. This family of foxes was the Wilde family. John, Francine, and Nick took the train from Zootopia to get to Bunnyburrow. They had just arrived and are currently walking around town. Nick was behind his mother and holding her paw, looking a bit nervous.
"Mom, pop, are you sure it's okay for us to be here?" Nick asked his folks.
"Now now, dear. Don't be afraid." Francine told Nick. "Mammals like us need to experience other places outside of our little city."
"Your mother's right, son." John said. "It's true that there are a lot of bunnies here and we are all foxes, but that doesn't mean we can't get along. We just need to show them that we mean no harm."
"Okay." Nick said.
Nick still held onto his mom's paw, but stopped hiding behind her. He even started to smile a bit. The family then noticed a spot in town where there was a lot of booths. They also noticed that there were a lot of mammals there. It made Nick and his parents really curious.
"Hey! What's over there?" Nick asked.
"Huh. Looks like some little fair." John said noticing all the booths.
"Can we go check it out?" Nick asked looking excited.
"Should we, Johnny?" Francine asked.
"I don't see why not, Frankie." John said smiling. "We are here to experience other places after all. It would be a shame if we didn't see everything that this town has to offer."
"Yay!" Nick said cheerfully.
So the Wildes went to see what the booths were all about. Turns out, it was an fair. The Carrot Days Festival. There were games, food, and small rides. It also seems to invite anyone even if they were out of town. So long as they paid for admission. After paying for admission, the Wilde family walked around the festival. Nick seemed to be in awe with all the booths. This is the first time Nick has ever been to a festival before. One of these booths sell this delicious little candies that Nick had tried a few of. There was also a booth of balloons-n-darts, a booth with a ring toss, carrot products, and many more. But what really made Nick curious was looking up at the big red barn nearby that had a huge sign that said "Talent Show Today".
"Talent show?" Nick said tilting his head.
"They did say that a school here helped sponsored the Festival. Guess the school is also doing a talent show with some of the kids." Francine stated.
"Interesting." John said. "I say we should check it out. See the talents that the kids in this town have."
"I was just about to say that, pop." Nick said. Nick then grabbed both his parents paws and started walking to the barn. "Come on. Come on. Let's go. Let's go."
"Hey! Easy Nicky." John said.
"Your father and I aren't as youthful as you are." Francine said.
So they went into the barn to see the Talent Show. There were mostly bunnies inside the barn and it was pretty crowded, but the Wildes were able to get seats. They stayed to watch a few of the acts. But one really surprised them. It's was a play by a certain little bunny. It was, of course, Judy.
"BLOOOOOD! BLOOOD! BLOOODDD!" Judy shouted throwing a bunch of red ribbons in the air. She then laid down pretending that she was dying. She then reached out for a ketchup bottle and started squirting it over herself and the floor. "Gaahh! AND... DEATH..." She said as she squirted the bottle one more time.
Judy's family seem to have... mixed feeling about that act. The same could be said about the Wilde family.
"Oh my..." Francine said looking a bit stunned.
Nick and John, however, were both trying hard not to laugh at the bunny's overacting. Francine notices this and gives out a big "Ahem!" and the two stopped laughing immediately. They then continue to watch Judy's play.
"Back then, the world was divided in two. Vicious predator and meek prey." Judy said. Boxes then flew over and landed near the jaguar and the bunny. "But over time, we evolved... and moved beyond our primitive savage ways." As Judy said that, a little black sheep wearing a white robe did some dancing and threw some petals in the air. The boxes were now lifted up and both the jaguar cub and bunny were also wearing white robes. "Now predator and prey live in harmony."
Nick smiled a little bit at the fact that she mentioned predators and prey living in harmony. It seems that the bunny was just as optimistic as he is. Judy went on about how young mammals have multiple opportunities. The black sheep, Sharla, said she wanted to be an astronaut. The jaguar, Kyle, said he was gonna be an actuary. But the thing that really surprised Nick was what Judy she wanted to be.
"And I can make the world a better place. I am going to be..." Judy said. She then ripped off the robe and revealed a blue t-shirt with a gold badge. "... A POLICE OFFICER!"
Nick's eyes widen as he heard that.
"A... police officer?" Nick said looking surprised.
"A bunny who wants to be a police officer?" Francine said also looking surprised.
"This little bunny has some big ambitions." John said looking a bit impressed.
"Hmm." Nick said started to smirk a bit. He then happens to hear some laughter from one of the kids. He looked at the crowd to see who it was and saw a fox kid in overalls was the one doing all the laughter.
"Hahaha! A bunny cop! That is the most stupidest thing I ever heard." The fox boy said insulting Judy.
Nick wasn't too happy to hear that boy's comment. Let alone liked the fact that he was a fox like him. It was like he was starting to send his species name down in the dirt. He then started growling in anger. Francine petted his head to calm him down and he did. Judy then continues to talk.
"It may seem impossible to small minds. I'm looking at you, Gideon Grey." Judy said looking at the fox.
Gideon didn't seem to happy about being called small minded. Nick started to laugh a bit again. He like that fact the bunny could stand up for herself, even to a fox.
"But just 211 miles away stands the great city of Zootopia..." Judy said.
"Zootopia? That's where we're from." Nick stated to his folks.
"Where our ancestors first joined together in peace and declared... anyone can be ANYTHING." Judy shouted happily.
It seems like that was the end of the play. The audience clapped a bit, including Nick's family. A few minutes later, Nick and his parents left the barn and were currently all eating some cotton candy (it was blueberry flavored).
"I really liked that bunny girl's play." Nick said while eating some more of his cotton candy.
"What did you like about it?" Francine asked her son.
"Well... I like what she said about predators and prey living in harmony now and the part about Zootopia, where anyone can be anything." Nick said.
"I liked that too. The little bunny has some pretty big dreams." John said.
"Hey pop? Is it... possible for a bunny to become a cop?" Nick asked.
"Of course it is." John said pridefully.
"But... how come there aren't any bunny cops in Zootopia?" Nick asked.
"Simply put, it's one of two reasons." John said taking a bite out of the cotton candy. "One is the fact that bigger species don't think a rabbit is cut out for that line of work. You know, the big idiots."
"Johnny..." Francine said not wanting her husband to call officers idiots.
"The second is that no rabbit has actually been brave enough to try." John said. "It's because of that, some mammals only see them as these little fuzzballs." John then walked over to his son and lean down and petted his head. "Remember this Nick, some mammals have to work twice as hard... or even more than that to make others see them differently. It only takes one mammal to stand up for their species. Only then... can other species grow as a whole." John then stopped petting Nick and got back up. "Do you understand, son?"
"Yeah. I think I do." Nick said. He then finished his cotton candy and put the cone on a trash can nearby. "Mom! Pop! Is it okay if I go out on my own for a while?" Nick asked them. "I want to see if I can find some kids my age to talk to."
"Sure. Go on ahead." John said leaning his arm on Francine.
"Just don't go too far, okay? We'll be leaving soon." Francine said.
"Yes, ma'am." Nick said.
So Nick went out on his own and walked around to look for some kids his age to talk to. The problem was since he was a fox, most bunnies might be afraid of him. But that wasn't gonna discourage him. As he walked by the booth, he stopped when he noticed a few kids near the cornfields. Two sheep, a weasel, a bunny, and a fox. He then remembers that it was the same fox, Gideon from the barn. Nick then stayed by behind a tree as he watched them. It seems like Gideon was bullying the kids and taking the black sheep girl's, Sharla from the play, tickets from her. Nick was getting mad at the sight of this. He was about to go over there and give Gideon a piece of his mind, but then he sees someone else came over there.
"Hey! Cut it out!" The voice said.
Nick looked to see it was none other than the same bunny girl from the play early. Judy. He was surprised to see her standing up to Gideon again.
"Nice costume, loser. What kind of crazy world do you live in believing a bunny can be a cop?" Gideon said as he walks closer to the bunny. But she didn't seem scared.
"Kindly return my friend's tickets." Judy said firmly.
"Come and get 'em." Gideon said to her. "But watch out, cause I'm a fox and like you said in your dumb play, us predators used to eat prey and that killer instinct still in our DNNAR."
"I'm pretty sure it's pronounced DNA." The weasel said.
"Don't tell me what I know, Travis." Gideon said to the weasel.
"You don't scare me, Gideon." Judy said keeping calm.
Gideon then pushed Judy down to the ground. The bunny's friends ran away to stay away from the fight. Nick anger started to rise as he saw that. Judy started to look scared and her nose started twitching. Gideon started mocking her.
"You gonna cry, little bunny?" Gideon said laughing.
Judy then kicked Gideon in the face with both of her feet. Her friends were surprised that she did that. Nick kinda cheered her on from the tree. Gideon felt his left cheek and was not looking too happy.
"You just don't know when to quit, do you?" Gideon said getting his claws out.
"Ahh!" Judy shouted in fear.
Gideon was now about to claw Judy on her face. But at that moment when he was about to strike, someone was holding on to his right arm.
"KNOCK IT OFF!" The voice shouted.
Gideon, Judy, and the others looked to see who it was. It was Nick. Nick stopped Gideon from hurting Judy. Nick also had a pretty angry look on his face.
"What did you say?" Gideon said to Nick.
"You heard me. Knock it off." Nick said before growling a bit.
Judy was stunned to see a fox stand up to another fox for her. The idea of a fox standing up for a bunny just seemed kinda... hard to believe. Gideon was getting pretty mad now. Not at Judy, but at Nick.
"Who are you suppose to be?" Gideon asked the other fox.
"Does it really matter? All you need to know is that I'm a fox like you." Nick told him. "But unlike you, I don't go bullying bunnies."
"You are defending HER? But she's just a dumb bunny." Gideon said. "Us foxes are above bunnies like her."
"She's not a dumb bunny. But looking at you, you are DEFINITELY a dumb fox." Nick said. "Just because we're foxes, doesn't mean we have to treat bunnies or other mammals like their beneath us. It's foxes like you that give us GOOD foxes a bad rep."
"Are you picking a fight with me?" Gideon said at Nick with his claws still out. Nick wasn't fazed by Gideon at all.
"Of course not. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna let you hurt her." Nick said. "So... I'm gonna give you a choice."
"A choice?" Gideon said looking confused.
"Prove me wrong." Nick said. "Leave the bunny and her friends alone and walk away. BUT... if you lay even a SINGLE claw on her, then I will lay all my claws on you. And don't forget..." Nick then got out his claws. "I'm a fox too. So we are both on an even playing field."
The two foxes angrily stared down at each other. Everyone watching was scared to find out what would happen next. After a few seconds, Gideon decided to back down.
"Tch!" Gideon said retracting his claws back. "Travis, let's get out of here."
"Ri... right!" Travis said.
"You better hope our path don't cross again, pal." Gideon said at Nick poking at his chest. He then looked at Judy, who was still down on the ground. "And you. You're never gonna be anything more than a dumb carrot farmer."
With that said, Gideon and Travis left them. Nick stuck out his tongue at Gideon as he walked away. Nick then walked over to Judy and offer her his paw.
"Please don't be afraid. Let me help you up." Nick said to Judy.
She still seems surprised that a fox wanted to help her. But he seems nice enough. So she accepted his paw and Nick helped her up.
"Are you okay?" Nick asked her.
"Yeah. I'm fine." Judy said as she brushes the dirt off her clothes.
Nick then grabbed Judy's police cap and brush off the dust off of it. He then gave it back to her.
"Here you go." Nick said.
"Thanks." Judy said putting her hat back on. "Why... did you help me?"
"Did I really needed a reason to? It's because you needed help." Nick said. "That other fox was such a jerk. He's the kind of fox that drags other foxes names down in the dirt." Nick then noticed that the bunny's friends were still hiding behind the tree. "Uhhh... are your friends still gonna hide behind that tree?"
"Oh. You guys can come out now." Judy said. "It's okay. This fox is nice."
Judy's friends came from behind the tree to her and Nick.
"Judy, are you alright?" The white boy sheep asked.
"Yeah. I'm fine." Judy responded.
"That was awesome how you stood up to Gideon." Sharla said.
"Not as awesome as this fox over here." Judy said pointing at Nick. "He wasn't scared even once."
"Oh. That... was nothing. Really." Nick said scratching the tip of his nose. "Honestly, I was a bit scared myself. It was only because he was a fox too that I was able to stand up to him. I didn't really want to fight him. I was only lucky that he decided to ran off."
"But still, you were brave enough to stand up to Gideon. That's more than any of us could ever do." The other little bunny girl said.
Nick didn't know how to respond to being called brave. It kinda made him blush a bit. Then he remembered something.
"Oh wait! That Gideon guy still has your tickets." Nick realized. "I have to go get them back from him."
"That won't be necessary." Judy said.
Judy then took out the tickets from behind her. This surprised everyone, including Nick.
"My tickets!" Sharla said happily getting her tickets back.
"How did you..." Nick said looking surprised.
"I took them from him when he wasn't looking." Judy said smirking. "Right about, when you showed up."
"Thanks, Judy." Sharla said happily.
"Pretty sly for a bunny." Nick said with a smirk.
"Guess coming from a fox, that's a pretty nice compliment." Judy said smirking as well.
"I should introduce myself. My name is Nick." Nick said offering his paw. "They said your name was..."
"Judy. My name is Judy." Judy said shaking Nick's paw. "I've never actually met a NICE fox before."
"Well consider me your first." Nick said proudly and putting his head up high. "I saw your play earlier. I liked it." Nick said. "But the whole 'BLOOD! BLOOOOOOD! BLOOOOODDDD!' part seemed like you were milking it a bit."
"It was acting. It's either go big or go home." Judy said boldly. "So... Nick, I don't think I've seen you around here."
"Cause I'm not. I'm actually from Zootopia." Nick said.
When Nick mentioned Zootopia, Judy's eyes lit up.
"YOU'RE FROM ZOOTOPIA?!" Judy shouted in awe. "That's soooooo cool. What's it like?"
"It's a pretty huge city." Nick stated. "There are so many species of mammals that live there. That and you can always find something new to do. It's literally one of the best cities anyone could ever be in."
"Awesome." Judy said happily. "I've always dreamed of going there one day."
"So Judy, do you really want to be a police officer?" Nick asked.
"Uh huh. Why do you ask?" Judy said.
"It's just that... there are NO bunny cops in the ZPD." Nick stated.
"So I've been told." Judy said crossing her arms.
"Uhh... don't feel bad. I'm not one to talk. There are no foxes in the ZPD either." Nick said while scratching the back of his head.
"Really? No foxes either?" Judy said looking surprised.
"Yeah. I think it's because some see us as... what's the word? 'Conniving'." Nick said while doing air quotes.
"Well, you said you were a nice fox and... you do seem... nice." Judy said slightly brushing her feet down the ground.
"Thank you. You... seem nice too." Nick said scratching the back of his head.
Judy's friends started to feel awkward. It was like the two of them were having a moment.
"Hey Judy, can I tell you something?" Nick asked.
"Sure. What is it?" Judy asked listening.
"Don't listen to what that Gideon guy or others say. If you want to try to be a cop, then try to be a cop." Nick said. "My pop told me that some mammals have to work twice as hard... or even more to make others see them differently. It only takes one mammal to stand up for their species. So if you can be the first bunny officer, then who knows what other bunnies would be inspired by you." Nick then put his right paw on her left shoulder. "You just got to work hard for it."
"Wow. That's... some really good advice." Judy said. "Thank you, Nick. You're right. I'll be sure to do my best."
Nick smiled at Judy for taking his advice. Then Nick happens to hear a voice call out to him. It was his mother, Francine.
"Nick, sweetie! It's time to go." Francine shouted from a distance.
"Oh. That's my mom." Nick said. "Well, I have to get back to Zootopia."
"Oh... right." Judy said seeming a little upset. Nick looked a little upset too.
"Well... guess I'll... see you around." Nick said to Judy.
"Yeah. See ya." Judy said.
Nick waved goodbye and then started to head to where his mom was. But he stopped for a second to tell Judy one more thing.
"Oh... and Judy? Good luck with your dream." Nick said with a smile.
Judy simply nodded as Nick left. Judy did felt sad that Nick had to go, but was happy to know that someone supported her dream. Judy then looked back at her friends and notice the wide smiles on their faces.
"What? What's with those looks?" Judy asked them.
"JUDY'S GOT A BOYFRIEND! JUDY'S GOT A BOYFRIEND!" The three children sang out.
"WHAT?! It's not like that." Judy said blushing a bit.
"Come on, Judy. We saw the moment you two were having." The white sheep said. "It's like you two didn't even notice us here."
"Not only that, that fox just happen to save you from Gideon." The bunny girl said.
"He's like your knight in fox fur." Sharla said.
"You guys are just seeing things." Judy said blushing madly and holding one of her ears. "He just happens to be a nice fox. A really... really nice fox." Judy didn't say it, but even with the fact that she and Nick just met, she felt that she was going to miss him quite a bit.
Meanwhile, as Judy was being embarrassed by her friends, Nick was... also feeling the same way. He happens to hear that those kids singing "Judy's got a boyfriend!" as he walked back to his folks. Nick sees his mom and dad waiting for them near one of the booths.
"Hey, mom! Hey, pop!" Nick said to them.
"I hope you're ready to go." Francine said.
"Did you made any new friends?" John asked.
"I... actually did." Nick said. "That bunny girl from the play. Her name is Judy."
"Really? Oh, that's nice." Francine said happy for her son.
"I'm a little down to leave, but at least I got to know her a bit." Nick said.
"Good. I'm proud of you, son." John said. "By the way..." John then walked down to Nick whispered something to him. "Nice work back there."
Hearing John said that really surprised Nick. So Nick's dad had been watching him the whole time. John was happy that he didn't have to get involved. He patted his son on a nice day's work and doing the right thing.
"Now then, let's go home." John said.
"Okay." Nick responded.
As Nick held both his mom and dad's paws, he looked back at the Festival where Judy was. He was secretly hoping that someday he would meet her again. Only time will tell.
So Nick and Judy met each other and it seems that they also have made a bit of a connection. So, what will happen next? Will the two even be able to meet each other again? Find out in the next chapter.
