Hybrid Conundrum
Chapter 2
New Life New Dreams Old Fears
Nick stood overlooking the battlefield as the smell of blood and death rose up from below. The fox, clad in thin gray armor and carrying a rifle both unsuited for fighting these bugs, felt no fear as he looked down at the horde of beast. Why should he, he had spirit, his claws and enough ammo to make a difference. He was an invincible citizen and best of all he wasn't alone.
He had the best damn troopers behind him, Wilde's Wrecking Crew formally Bogo's Brawlers, were the best in the in the MMI. He wasn't the only one in command, his partner beside him all the way. The bunny even in armor was half his weight but equal in skill.
Nick smiled at Judy then together the pair looked back at their platoon. As one he and his partner yell, "Come on you mongrels, you want to live forever?" The three dozen mammals yelled back as a snare drum thumped signaling the charge, fast pace rock music thundered around them all in time with the mammals' boots.
They had a job to do. Cut through the bug horde and claim the base they had overrun. Just a typical job for Judy and him. Bullets flew by the pair as they lead the charge, impacting the bugs. Blowing through their angular black and yellow striped bodies, sword like limbs flew off as bullets tore through them. Bugs fell but more took their place.
Still Nick and Judy ran.
They met the bugs with honor and fervor. The two were surrounded in a moment. Scissor jaws that could cut a wolf in half snapped around nothing but air. The fox and bunny fought in perfect harmony. While one reloaded the other covered them. But still the bugs came.
One of the sword like arms cut Nick's weapon in half, just barely missing him, but the fox wasn't scared, "Judy!" he calmly called as he caught the stabbing limbs with his paws. The scissor like jaws came forward but stopped when Judy grabbed its nose as she stood on Nick's shoulder. The bunny stuck her rifle in the bugs maw and blew it away. The viscera missed them as she dropped into Nick's arms.
Nick leaned down and kissed the bunny as the rest of the bugs died around them. After the long kiss Nick and Judy barked more orders and led the rest of the way to the base. Behind the walls of the base the group found nothing.
"Spread out." Judy ordered the mammals under their command. While MMI troopers searched the base for any sign of what happened, Nick and Judy kissed hotly with the driving battle music replaced by triumphant, romantic music playing all around them now.
"Hey, you two should come see this." One of the faceless wolf soldiers called. With a sigh Nick pulled away from Judy's lips and the music changed again. Nick didn't notice the childish nursery melody playing under the heartbeat drums. Nick and Judy followed the wolf into the corrugated steel corridors of the base's walls. After what felt like hours and about a thousand turns still with that music playing the wolf motioned that the thing was around the corner.
Nick and Judy checked that their weapons were loaded and then with a nod jumped around the corner. They were expecting to see some big brain slug or something. Not some little orange puff ball in a diaper.
"What is that?" Nick asked, confused and finally frightened.
"You should know." Judy's voice echoed from the blackness that surrounded Nick, the foreboding nursery rhyme medley continuing, but now frighteningly out of tune. The fox searched around for his partner, his weapon, a way to escape but none were there. His lover's voice giggled blissfully unaware of his fear as she spoke. "We made her and all the rest."
The hybrid kit turned and cooed at the fox but left behind a silver furred kit looking the other way. This more bunny like one turned leaving another kit looking the other way. Each of the hybrids were a different terrifyingly adorable combination of Nick and Judy. "What is this?" Nick said as a wave of kits rolled closer cooing, giggling, crying and screaming. The mass of offspring threatened to crash over the fox.
Nick didn't run.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Nick's eyes shot open. The room was bright with morning sunlight. He sat up breathing heavily in the lion sizes bed, he didn't remember why he was so frightened. "Must have been dreaming." The fox said stretching. Despite how he woke up, he felt well rested. He smiled remembering what today was, even though he couldn't sleep in on this day off he was beaming.
It was his Wedding day.
It was the final sign that he wasn't that scoundrel anymore. He was a cop and a family mammal. The fox looked at himself in the mirror as the shower warmed up. "Today's going to be a good day." He had been looking forward to this day since he had agreed to the informal proposal Judy made in the hospital. Even more so then when he made it official after a month of searching for the right ring. Even if his new fears had soured his mood, he still wanted to go through with this. Maybe it would even fix it, but his dad married his mom too.
Nick shook the thought away and climbed in the shower. While his mind wondered Nick cleaned his body. His brain trust discussed how they thought the day might go. All four hated that they wouldn't get a honeymoon for various reasons, innocent or not, they were all good reasons. However, Nick joked, he had already been on his honeymoon that week and a half after the Anti-Feral task forced had been disbanded. While Robin said everyday with Judy was like their honeymoon.
It was hard to disagree with that.
Once he was clean Nick dried off with a towel then a blow dryer. He gathered up his simple black tux. It was not form fitting, but it was nice and elegant. Crisp white shirt under a black vest and tailed jacket. A red bow tie added some colors. He left the jacket on the hanger as he carried it outside. Leo and his wife gave the fox a ride to his car as the sun worked its way too it's peek.
It wasn't long before Nick pulled in the chapel parking lot. Peter and Clawhauser were waiting there too doll up the sports car for the drive home. Both Fangmeyer and Ben were somehow equally as excited. Almost bouncing in place as they held window paint and cans on strings.
The fox rolled his eyes and smiled, he wasn't the only mammal excited by the day's events. Even if it was a formality to have a wedding, A formality that some mammals thought was making history, a great step forward for equality and acceptance. Others thought it was a sin against god and that mammals should stick to their own kind. Nick and Judy understood both schools of thoughts, but they weren't doing this for others, this was for them.
Well the marriage was for them the wedding was for the family.
Most of Judy's immediate family had come for the wedding. Thanks to the size of bunnies, the church would fit them all with ease, even with the larger guest. Nick's mother was there as was his aunt and her husband, his only living relatives he knew well enough to invite. The remaining guest were cops. All the members of the Anti-feral Task Force, their spouses and some close friends from the station.
And then there was Fru-Fru, her husband and father along with their entourage. Thankfully other than a long stare down between Bogo and Mr. Big nothing happened. Yet.
The two camps on different sides of the law that both worked toward order was like vinegar and baking soda.
Judy was in her dressing room with her bridesmaids, most of the twelve females were her closest sisters, Fru-Fru, the maid of honor, was there as well as Tara the polo and Sonya the pig. They all wore simple silk off white strapless dresses, there was no way Judy could wear virgin white. It just didn't feel right to lie, and the bridesmaids had to match. Their skirts came down to their knees with a hem tip that looked like a large ribbon that wrapped around their legs. Each maid had a bouquet of purple roses to match those of the bride. They finished the outfit with jewelry to complaint their own colors, as well as that of the wedding.
The bride herself stood on a stool so Isara Wilde, Nick's mother, and Bonnie Hopps could finish adjusted the dress for the final time. Like her maids it was strapless and over the weeks she had filled it out more as her belly and other parts swelled from her pregnancy. Isara was pinning a soft purple ribbon around Judy to hide the final and rather obvious adjustments to the top. Her spiral layered skirt looked like a ribbon flowing around her till just above the floor, or would if the bunny was wearing heels, something Bonnie often voiced concerns about. White elbow length gloves and her grandmothers vail, finished out Judy's wedding dress
"I just don't think in your condition you should push it with the heels." Bonnie said again, trying to persuade her daughter not to wear them. She bit off the string she was using to sow the purple ribbon in place.
"Yes mom." Judy replied as Isara exclaimed being done. "I'm only wearing them during the ceremony." the pregnant bunny said with a sigh. "These will make the big kiss look better."
"He could just pick you up." Isara commented.
"No, no it just wouldn't work." Judy said as she picked up her bouquet of purple flowers and looking at herself in the mirror. The older fox nodded, giving in. With a flick of her long ears the old off white vail fell over Judy's face, hiding most of her features as it should.
The happy smile she had faltered when she heard her mother sob. "Mom, I'm hardly your first daughter to be married." Judy said annoyed, she didn't want to start crying either.
Isara had turn away, she felt what Bonnie did, but maybe worse. Nick was her only child after all. Some would think she should have been with her son at this moment, but only those that didn't know Nick. The last thing the fox needed was his mother fussing over him.
"I know, I know." Bonnie said. "But your one of my few that's leaving the family." She smiled as she dried her eyes as best she could without messing up her makeup.
"Mom, no matter what, I'm still your daughter." Judy replied with a smile behind her veil with tears in her eyes.
Bonnie laughed still drying her tears. "Your sisters all said the same thing."
"But they weren't nearly as calm about it." Stu said as he slipped in the room ready to walk Judy down the aisle. The music from the outside was getting close to the march. Judy was about to say something when her father sniffled in a similar way to her mother a moment ago. The whole conversation starting anew.
The chapel hall was loud, with 89 bunnies under the age of 10 with older "siblings" attempting to keep the chaos to a manageable level. The Hopps children were well behaved but they were still children.
Nick stood by the altar, Peter, Ben, Leo and the rest of his groom's mammals behind him. His tail was bushed out with nerves, but he was smiling. He would be happy no matter what. It appeared his fractured mind agreed. His other selves were around but quiet.
Nick took a deep breath; he knew he was about to start seeing the organist was ready to play at any moment. Then he saw something that made him smile more and his tail wag a little bit. Fin had made it. The short fox slipped in through the front door with another tall cream furred fox.
The two foxes slid into a back pew on the groom's side of the chapel. Fin may have been a reminder of his old life, but he was also a sign of change. Side by side the pair had gone through so many 'lives' together and now here comes the biggest change in Nick's life and it would be with a different partner, but thankfully, Fin was not alone ether.
Nick's chest swelled with pride as a single tear of joy rolled down his cheek and fell away as the organ began the classic opening to the wedding march. Slick was beside his real self, wearing the tightest jeans he could, a red t-shirt with a flaming cat's skull and a tiger shark leather jacket covered in pins and buttons with a chain on his shoulder. God, did he really have a fashion sense like that at some point?
The real fox glanced to his left. Robin stood there as tall and pound as a fox could be, his dress blues were crisp and clean. It had taken a week to convince Judy to not have a police wedding, but It wasn't the only thing about her life so why force it into their day. Besides sometimes Nick just needed to have a say in things, however seeing how good he looked like that made him almost regret the decision.
In time with the wedding march, the doors in the back of the chapel opened and the bridal procession started its way down the aisle. Tara and Sonya were the lead of the precession walking in practice time with the music. Nick, however, saw the image of Todd at the front of the line, for once he looked groomed with straight fluffy fur. He sauntered along with his head and tail held high. On his head was a was a woven crown of little purple flowers and bright green vines. A common wedding day adornment from the wild times, or at least Nick had read that once.
As the third set of bridesmaids walked down the aisle, Nick did a quick scan of the room. Everything seemed normal. Older bunnies attempted to keep their younger "siblings" in lines. A few of the guest on the groom's side watched the rowdy bunny kits with varying degrees of interest and opinion, most were more interested in the wedding party. Despite their efforts, the bunnies' several pews were a mass of chaos until, she came out.
Like a bright light at the end of a hall Judy stepped out into the aisle, her vail hiding her face, her arm hooked with her father's and the purple bouquet held over her round belly. In front of the bride the pair of flower girls tossed pedals on her path.
With her heels, Judy was noticeable taller than her dad, but the buck with a couple proud tears in his eyes made do. Judy was nervous but not so much about the wedding, she was more worried about embarrassing herself. Tripping, burping or some other loud gross bodily noise. She had been told it would be understood because she is pregnant, but that wouldn't make it any better.
She looked up at the altar before her and any fear melted away. Waiting for her with a smile on his face, Nick stood proudly by the alter. Judy could tell he was nervous, like she was, by the set of his tail, his hardened shoulders and the hint of a scent only her feral nose picked up. No one knew that at his feet, with her claws gripping his tuxedo pants, sat Ripley, the savage bunny version of Judy. She sleepily leaned her cheek on his leg blinking slowly. At least one side of her could relax. Marian and Sara walked along side Judy and Stu, as nervous as their real counterpart. The music finished as Stu and Judy stood before the stage.
The preacher stood a few steps back from the alter. The Asiatic black bear held his palms together, his eyes closed and nose to the sky. His natural white collar and black coat blended with the clothing of his station nicely. The bear finished his prayer and clear his throat. "Who gives this doe to be wed?"
Stu's voice caught in his throat as he spoke. "As much as I don't want to," he looked at his daughter her smiling face only hinted at through the veil, "I do." Stu slipped Judy's arm from his and held her paw as she stepped up on the small stage. She stood in front of the small table with the alter behind it. Thanks to the bunny's heels Nick could loop his arm around hers and hold her paw with both of his much more easily than normal.
"Dearly beloved." The bear pastor started classically. "We are gathered here today to witness something extraordinary." The bear's soft passionate gaze looked out over the gathering. "Not for any reason other than these two mammals are driven by love."
The bear took a breath and smiled. "These two mammals, Judith Laverne Hopps and Nicholas Piberius Wilde, have long dedicated their lives to protecting this city we all love." He motioned dramatically. "But now they are making an even bigger commitment, in front of every mammal here and god above."
"A commitment to each other." He smiled as he looked at Judy and Nick. "A promise to love and to hold each other. To support one another and become stronger." He motioned for Nick and Judy to pick up the little glasses of sand from the table. Nick held white sand while Judy lifted a glass of dull gray. "Life offers challenged you must overcome, throws distractions in the way." Nick and Judy tilted their glasses and poured their contents into a larger glass. The sand flowed into the glass forming a wavy layer pattern. "These two mammals are strong but together they are stronger." The sand ran out and the bride and groom set the empty glasses down.
"Work, bills, family, friends and many obligations will try to get in the way and it will seem that there is no time in your life for your spouse." The bear picked up a coffee mug from under table where the glass of sand stood. "Just remember, you must always make time for your spouse, you never know what a cup of coffee can do." He poured the contents into the clear glass. The dark blue liquid instantly turned the white sand in a bright blue and the gray sand dark blue. It almost matched the ZPD colors perfectly, just like Judy hoped.
With that out of the way, it was time for the next step. The bear priest lifted his head and called, "Who has the rings?"
Peter stepped forward from the groom's mammals "I do." He produced two simple gold rings one much larger than the other. The priest took them and said a short silent prayer before giving them to the bride and groom.
Nick and Judy stepped close again and hooked their arms once again. The bear smiled as he picked up his holy book, his pleasant gaze fell on Nick. "Do you, Nicholas Wilde take this doe, Judith Hopps as your lawfully wedded wife, from this day forward too love and cherish, for better or worse, till death do you part?"
Nick lifted his head his voice caught in his throat for a moment, but not from fear. As Nick and Judy faced each other, how could he be afraid in this moment. Every thought in his head was about how happy and how proud he was in this moment.
He wasn't a loner scoundrel anymore.
"I do." Nick said with all the conviction he could muster with the proudest smile on his muzzle. Judy held up her paw and Nick easily slipped the ring onto the finger of her left paw. It seemed to glow there nestled among the gray fur.
The preacher brought his gaze to Judy behind her vial. "And do you Judy Hopps, take this tod, as your lawfully wedded husband, from this day forward to honor and support, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live?"
"I do." Judy's normally strong voice wavered, not from sadness but tearful joy. It took a little working to get the ring over Nick's paw pad, but it slipped on and held tight to the fox's finger tying him to his lover for all time.
"By the power vested in me, by god above and the city of Zootopia, I pronounce you Husband and Wife." A cheer rose up as the preacher spoke. "You may kiss the bride." With gentle care the fox lifted the veil and draped it over the back of Judy's head.
Judy's cheeks were damp with tears, but thankfully her makeup had not run. The bunny had a big smile, teeth shining white. They sparkled almost as much as her eyes. Nick looked into those eyes as he held her paws. He leaned down to the mammal that changed his life their eyes closed as their lips met. Just like Judy had planned her high heels made the kiss much more picturesque.
The rolling cheer rose to a new high as Nick brought one paw up to cup Judy's cheek. The kiss became two as Nick slide the paw from her cheek to the back of her head and moved other to the small of her back. Judy didn't protest but instead grabbed the lapel of his's tux and pulled herself closer. She tried not to crush the flowers of her bouquet, they survived for the most part.
In their minds the newlywed couple weren't the only pair kissing. Robin now a full-grown cop knelt on one knee holding Sarah's paws, the bunny cop apparition was once again in her dress blues, armed and all. She had a paw over his, the gold ring shining as they kissed sweetly.
Marin the farm bunny wasn't the type to wear heels, so she jumped up and threw her arms around Slick's neck and pulled him into a kiss. The young con fox held the pregnant farmer up by the firm rump his of fellow apparition. Like his real self, Slick was a butt fox. Unlike Nick he could indulge in his favorite body part to his false hearts content. An advantage of being in the head of another being.
The shared delusion of the newlyweds was not always as they expected. Cause nether would have thought Todd to just stand as tall as he could on all fours his tail wagging as he looked down, while Ripley was low on all fours looking up. The only thing either of them wore was the crown of little flowers. Their noses touched as their smiling eyes gazed into each other's. Todd lick the little pink nose of the plump bunny before Ripley returned the lick.
Nick pulled away from Judy's lips, and they both smiled proudly at the wedding party as the priest announced. "I present you Nicholas and Judy Wilde." Arm in arm, Nick and Judy trotted down the aisle, the cheers growing ever louder from the predominantly bunny guests. As they exited the chapel, with the groom's mammals and bridesmaids in tow, Nick commented. "I thought there would be more gun shots."
With a giggle Judy slapped Nick's belly, "Farmers not hillbillies." Truth be told, the bunny did have a few relatives that just might, and shotgun weddings were not unheard of.
While the newlyweds, bridesmaids and groom's mammals were off getting pictures taken the rest of the guest filed into a reception hall. The band started to play music to keep the mood relaxed as the guest milled about waiting. Mr. Big sat in his favorite chair on the table where he had been placed. His only present guard stepping up to the table. "Your drink will be here shortly, Mister Big."
Before the shrew could thank his faithful bodyguard, a young bunny boy asked. "Why does he call you that?"
The massive eyebrow of the shrew lifted slightly as he looked at the bunny. The little gray blue-eyed bunny could have been Judy's brother or nephew, though it was all the same in a farm bunny family. "Because, it is my name, sweet child." Mister Big replied fatherly.
"But you're so small. Even smaller than me." The bunny said innocently. "My last name is Hopps and well, bunnies hop, sometimes, not all the time, but some the time." He spoke with the rushed excitement of youth.
When the bunny paused to take a breath, Mr. Big began to reply but was once again cut off by Bogo. "It's not him that's big, but his business."
"Oh, so you like, run a big business?"
"Something like that child." The Shrew answered with a smile.
"Cool, what kind of business?" The bunny asked.
Seeing the boy about to go off on another tangent probably about his father being a farmer Bogo cut in with a light jab. "Well, he's got his little paws in everything."
"Oh really?"
"Yes my child." Mister big answered. "Why don't you go off and play rather than talking with two boring old fools." As if on cue, a little tan paw reached out from under the table and slapped the boy on the knee with a call of him being it. The bunny boy dashed off proclaiming he would get his sibling back.
Chief Bogo and Mr. Big's eyes met, the tension in the air was thick enough to chew on. "Must we do this here?" Mister Big ask motioned with a paw. The polar bear guard grew tense despite the calm nature of his boss.
The buffalo snorted, he knew both the mammals were criminals. The little shrew had done things, that were pretty bad to plenty of innocent mammals back in the day. However now anything that could be connected to the Big family was either internal or against other criminals. The classic protection racket from the family wasn't truly a con, the police can only be in so many places and all large cities have a gang problem.
While Bogo and many cops would love to arrest the whole family, they knew Mr. Big kept order in the underworld and doing so would cause more trouble than it would solve. Besides every so often a call would come in detailing a crime complete with suspect and where to find them. The tip almost always led to an arrest.
"No, no this day isn't about us." Bogo finally replied.
The singer called out, "Okay everyone put your paws together for Mister and Mistress Wilde." a cheer rose up as the door opened and Nick and Judy walked in. Judy had removed her veil and heels for comfort. Her makeup had been touched up before the pictures, so the adornments were pristine. She gripped her husband's paw as they walked into the reception hall. Both smiled wide, and for once there wasn't a hint of sarcasm on Nick's face.
The now combined family clapped and cheered for the couple of the hour and the rest of the wedding party entered the hall. The music started up with a short pick slide on the electric guitar before falling to a slow dance song from Judy's youth. "Now y'all know the lady of the hour shouldn't really be pushing herself, so let's get this dance going." The song picked up slightly, "Now clear the floor and give her space."
Nick smiled down at his bride as he took her right paw in his left, then scooped his short pregnant love's arms. His strong paw supported the bunny's rump as she reached around behind him. The fox swayed back and forth in a slow waltz, holding Judy so she did not have too dance much less deal with her belly being almost level with his legs. The bunny giggled as she put her chin on Nick's shoulder.
"Sly move Mister Wilde." Judy whispered.
"Anything for Misses Wilde." Nick replied with a smile. The pair 'danced' in happy quiet for most of the song, during the final faster paced Nick spun happily for a moment. Long enough for fun but not to be too dizzy. Then, while the song started to wind down, Judy leaned back and smiled at Nick. she closed her eyes and kissed him. It was a deep loving kiss filled with lust as much love, while the eagle-eyed wolf guitarist jumped up a key on his guitar to emphasize the moment.
The pair whispered three special words to each other once their lips parted. Stu cleared his throat to get the couples attention, "I think it's my turn."
Nick reluctantly set Judy down as a more country waltz started. "I just don't want to give her up."
As Stu took his daughters paw, "I know what you mean."
"Y'all know I'm here right." Judy said with a roll of her eyes. The three laughed as Stu took his daughter's paw.
As much as Nick wanted to stay with his new wife he had an old friend he needed to see. Once the song started the red fox trotted over to the tan fennec. Fin leaned on the wall by the exit. His face was neutral, but Nick could tell he was happy and maybe even proud of him. "Glad you could make it, Fin."
"Ahh its nothing." Fin replied, "I had to see if it was true."
"Hard to believe huh?" Fin laughed.
"Nah, you've always been a bit of pansy." He pushed away from the wall and held up his paw. "I got to get Sasha back to work."
"I really appreciate you coming, Fin." Nick said as he took the shorter fox's paw.
Without warning the surprising strong fennec pulled Nick lower and jumped up. He hugged Nick's neck and whispered to him. "I proud of you, brother."
The embrace was over a breath after the words left Fin's muzzle, "Okay. I'm out, Chow." Flicked his sunglasses out and put them on. As the fennec got to the exit door he paused. "Call me when the kits born." He opened the door and joined the creamy white fox outside.
"Will do." Nick replied, fear in his eyes again as he stared at the exit door.
0o0o0o0
Stu held his daughters upper back while she had a paw on his shoulder. "So, any words of advice for your daughter?" Judy ask as she and her father swayed to the music. They didn't move much as they danced.
Stu sniffled shaking his head. "None that you would listen too." He chuckled. "Don't think you every really listened."
"More than you think." Judy said with a giggle to hide that she was about to cry as well. "And now we'll be calling with lots of questions."
"What about Nick's mom?" Stu asked.
Judy giggled as she replied. "Oh we'll be calling her all the time to." she giggled and leaned her head on Stu's shoulder. As the song closed to its she whispered, "I hope I made you proud, daddy."
"Yes you have, Judy." Stu whispered back trying not to cry. "Very, very proud. You did something no bunny has ever done several times over." They finished out the song in a gentle hug.
The pregnant bride pulled away from her father smiling as she wiped away a tear. The slow dance music was replaced by a classic hoedown. "I don't mean to butt into this tender moment, but this is our song." Bonnie said as she held her paw to Stu.
Stu's ears lifted as he listened. "Oh! So, it is." Judy watched Stu's eyes sparkle when he took his wife's paw and danced their way into the group of dancers. Judy turned as she felt a presence beside her. Nick smiled at her, that same sparkle in his eyes. Behind the loving gleam there was that glow of feral power, Nick saw the same in Judy's eyes.
While others would be frightened by staring into a beast eyes like theirs, for Nick and Judy it was all just a part of the mammal they loved. Judy did a slight hop into Nick's arms. He gently caught her and hugged the plump rabbit. The pair slipped from the dance floor to rest at a table. It also gave the many guest a chance to congratulate the couple.
When it was Bogo and his wife's turn the female cape-buffalo gave the pair heartfelt well wishes and a hug. The size differences made it almost comical. Bogo himself wasn't exactly the hugging type but he made it a habit to offer one to his officers at their weddings, if he was invited. Judy happily took it while Nick just shook his chief's hoof. "So, now I guess when I yell for Wilde no one will know who I mean anymore?" The buffalo attempted to joke.
"Yep." Nick chuckled. "We're both troublemakers anyway, so you'll probably be right."
"Well I'm still going to be Officer Hopps." Judy corrected. "It's a work name of sorts."
"Yeah." Nick smirked. "There's that too." That wasn't a surprise, but there was one on its way.
After a short laugh the pair of buffalo moved on making room for others. The meal was served shortly after. A variety of salads for the herbivores and a selection of either fish or chicken for the predators. The food was good even if the mammals congratulating Nick and Judy never stopped.
Ben came by with his plate of chicken, beside him was a cute thin female cheetah. She was the exact opposite of Clawhauser, build wise. The black dress she wore was form fitting and made her yellow and white coat stand out even more. She smiled as sweet as can be as Ben congratulated Nick and Judy for the third time that night. "I just can't say it enough, that I am so happy for both of you."
"Thank you again, Ben." Nick said while Judy giggled. "And who might this be?" The fox asked looking at the female feline. Both he and Judy thought it was Benjamin's sister the few times they had seen her earlier.
"Oh, my where are my manners." The plump cheetah smiled as he gestures to his date. "This lovely kitty is, Amy."
"Hi, Ben, has told me so much about both of you." Amy said stepping daintily forward to shake the heroes of her city's paw.
Nick greeted the feline politely while Judy felt her instincts rise up. However, before the feral bunny's mind could label this innocent female as a no-good rival, Judy forced herself to smile and asked. "So how do you know our little, Clawhauser?"
"Well we've been keeping it quite till now but I'm his girlfriend." Amy explained excitedly. Ben just about squealed as he bounced in place, Amy giggle and blushed under her fur as she squealed as well, her paws up to cover her muzzle.
Both Nick and Judy's muzzles hung open. It took a moment for them to recover for the shock. It did however erase Judy feral need to chase off this, rival or mark her mate. "Well it's good to meet you Amy." She finally said.
"Yeah and you better be taking good care of our little Benji." Nick commented.
"Oh, I am, I swear." Amy giggled. "That goes double for both of you."
The pair agreed as Fru-Fru was set on a stool on the stage. "Alright everyone how you all doing." She giggled as she walked around the stool. "I hope you're having a good time celebrating Judy and Nick's special day." She giggled and continued. "When I first met Judy almost two years ago I knew this bunny was special and it wasn't just because she was saving my life." Her tiny eyes sparkled as she looked at her friend. "Then like two days later she broke a massive case, then another and another. She was on a roll. It's why she's my daughter's godmother."
A gentle clap rolled through the room as Fru-Fru continue. "But she didn't do it alone. She had a charming rogue beside her every step of the way. Now I've known Nick casually much longer then Judy and well I can tell you the fox he was then can't hold a candle to the fox he is now."
The shrew's voice became serious as she continued. "It's not just that Judy made him better. She pushed him to be better and then he pushed right back." Fru-Fru's voice caught in her throat as she showed off her diamond encrusted wedding ring, she looked at her tiny husband back at their table. "And that's what this whole thing is all about, making you both better mammals." She shook as her emotions came up. "Show us what it means to be a better mammal."
The wedding party clapped as Fru-Fru left the stage and Peter stepped up. He plucked the mic off the stand and set his drink down. "Oh, um, I'm supposed to," be tap his claws of his glass making a ringing sound, "there we go." The audience laughed lightly.
Peter smiled and looked out at the gathering. "You know she's right, oh so right." He paced a little nervously. "Not that I know much about marriage and all." He smirked at Jessie the leopard he was dating, as another soft laugh came from the crowd of mammals. "But I really can't put it much better. Really, I can't. I could stand up here and make a bunch of jokes but that wouldn't just be right."
The white wolf stood firm. "Some of you know back when I first found out about Nick and Judy being together… Well, let's just say I wasn't a fan." He smiled at the doe and fox of the hour, before looking around again to speak. "But the more I saw them together. The more they pushed each other to be better, like Fru-Fru put it." He paused and looked at the pair again. "Saw what they sacrificed for others and for each other."
Peter choked and looked at the ground. "Don't stop." He looked back at the couple. "Don't stop pushing, don't stop. Cause from everything I've seen there isn't nothing you can't overcome, when you're with the right mammal. Nick, Judy you found the right mammal." He lifted his glass and called. "Let's hear it for the happy couple." The crowd cheer whistled and called bride and groom names.
As the white wolf returned to his seat he paw bumped Nick and Judy, bonds formed in trying times don't break. The planer retook his microphone. The red panda smiled. "So touching, and oh so true. But I'm craving cake and I've seen plenty of you mammals eyeing it." He motioned too Judy and Nick. "Can I get the three guests of honor up here."
Judy laughed as she slipped less then daintily from her seat. Nick hid his less than enthused feelings behind his smile. He held Judy's paw as they worked their way through the tables. The couple approached the three-tiered cake with smiles. The smooth dark blue icing had soft blue flower accents looked just about perfect. On top was a wax depiction of a ZPD badge featuring both Nick and Judy's badge number.
The bride picked up the knife and whispered. "Don't do it."
"Wouldn't think of it." Nick replied as he wrapped his paw around hers. They cut a couple of slices. Cameras flashed the whole time, then more as they served themselves. Nick pulled a bite from his slice and smiled. Stifled laughter rolled through the wedding party making Judy sigh. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth. Her paw hovered over her slice of cake ready to slap Nick with it if he pulled anything.
Nick however knew better, he just smiled and stuck the mouth full in her maw. The moist cake, and creamy icing smeared across Judy's cheeks. The rabbit looked like a chipmunk with her cheeks puffed out as she chewed. He always overestimated her mouth. With a chuckle Nick taped her little pink nose leaving spot of icing to complete the mess.
Judy rolled her eyes and with more cameras watching she pull off a tiny bite of cake. She swallowed her mouth full and jumped up, Nick caught her, and she stuffed the little bite in his maw. He chuckled and held Judy for a moment before kissing her sweet lips. After wiping off her paws and face Judy lead Nick back to the table. Their slices didn't make it far. Which was probably for the best, because the wedding planner called them over to a backed barstool. Meanwhile Fru-Fru took the stage again and announced it was time for the garter toss.
The couple waited a few moments for the males to gather. Benjamin called for them to wait as he scarfed down his cake, after which he took his place in the group of unmarried males. Judy sat cradling her belly as Nick stood nearby. Fru-Fru was hyping up the crowd with the possibility of whoever catches the garter will be the next to marry.
Finally, Nick slipped down to one knee and smirk as he lifted his brides skirt. His paws slipped up her caves then thigh. Judy couldn't see him with the dress over his head, but she heard him chuckle. "What?" the Bunny questioned worried what he might be thinking.
"Was expect to see carrots under here." Nick joked.
Judy's ears turned red as she giggled. "Shut up." She retorted as the fox pulled the garter off her thigh. Nick emerged from under his bride's skirt with a triumphant bark. The other males barked and howled as the fox stood and spun the garter around his finger. Judy had to look away, embarrassed as Nick launched the blue and white lacy elastic band through the air.
The garter was arching through the air heading straight for Clawhauser. The cheetah could not be happier until just as the garment got in reach a black and white bunny jumped into the air and snatched the garter. Benjamin's face fell as he looked down at the bunny. There was little way to tell if the cheering bunny was related to the bride or not. It didn't matter anyway Benjamin was too busy pouting to figure it out or care what Fru-Fru was saying.
Amy rubbed her date's shoulders and kissed his plump cheek. She wanted to stay with him, but the bouquet toss was any moment. She hopped up and joined the group of females. Nick retrieved the flowers for Judy while she gingerly climbed down. With the bouquet in paw she turned around then looked over her shoulder at the lineup of eager girls. The bunny smiled at Nick and tossed the flowers over her head.
The feral strength on her arms sent the flowers sailing through the air. Many bunny doe's jumped trying to claim the prize, but their excited paws only served to bounce the bouquet up again. Even Jessie and Amy's swipes only severed to send the trophy flying farther away.
Benjamin was watching from his table when he saw his moment. With the bouquet free the fat feline pounced. The kerfuffle of girls turned just in time to see Ben standing tall and triumphant. The cheetah wanted to roar but only a giddy chirp escaped his maw. Followed by a giggle as Amy kissed his cheek and hugged him.
"Okay, well that happened." Fru-Fru giggled. "Not what I expected but very cute." She smiled as the triumphant cheetah was photographed. "Okay everyone, while the happy bride and groom are changing could everyone line up outside. You can grab a bag of confetti on your way out." The shrew pretended to be surprised. "Oh, and I heard that someone is giving out bubbles to the little ones." The youth mammals cheered as they were herded toward the exit.
Nick and Judy returned to the brides dressing room, where they collected the clothes Judy wore. They debated if Judy should change but decided that would take too long. So, with the cloths in the bag with Judy's make up and heels along with Nick's jacket the pair left. Arm and arm the newly wed Wildes headed to the large double doors of the church. Cheers, claps, whistles, confetti and bubble washed over the pair as they descended the steps. It was a moment of pure joy that cameras attempted to capture.
Music played loud and proud as Nick opened the door to his car for Judy. Their eyes met and in a moment of tension, the feral beast leapt at one another. The newly christened Mrs. Wilde wrapped her arms around the back of Mr. Wilde's neck and kissed his muzzle all over. Nick for his part held her and returned the affection where he could.
Cameras flashed as Nick finally set Judy down in her seat. As she buckled in Nick took his own place and the engine of his car rumbled to life. The vehicle rolled away trailing cans with just married painted in the back window. The couple drove in happy silence for a moment before Judy giggled and looked up at Nick. "Someone else is excited to."
The bunny picked up Nick's paw off the gear shift and placed it on her large round belly. He could feel a strong thump inside. His heart skipped a beat, his daughter was alive. He already knew that, but everyday it felt more real. Soon he would meet her. And though that terrified the fox. Soon he would be responsible for a helpless, little, innocent mammal of his own flesh and blood, could he handle the stress? His father certainly couldn't, and he was his father's son.
His eyes widened with worry and his smile fell.
Before the fear could ruin the day for Nick a car behind him at the stoplight honked. The fox jerked his paw away and put his car in drive and drove on. Judy never noticed her husband's worry; the normally perceptive bunny was too busy humming a tune to her belly. Something she had seen her mother and some of her sisters doing. Thankfully dealing with traffic distracted Nick enough. They returned home to a normal night of sci fi movies and delivery food. It may have been their wedding night but in Judy's state they couldn't consummate the marriage. Though they already pretty much had, same with going on their honeymoon. That night they curled up in bed holding paws, their wedding bands glinting together.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The corc charged at Nick, the corded muscles of the reptiles' massive arms tased as it brought the crude axe down catching only the tail of the fox's great coat. Commissar Wilde stuck as he rolled under the croc's clumsy attack, the warring teeth of his chainsword tore through flesh and bone with ease. The horrid alien fell crying out in more confused than anything. The fox stood put his plasma pistol to the back of the beast head and fired.
As the massive croc's head turned to ash Nick smiled and adjusted his high chested hat. The driving music of battle thundered all around Nick as Guard Mammals formed up beside him. Nick surveyed the battlefield. The tanks of the Guard blasted croc machines and artillery vaporized infantry formations. The plan was working perfectly. Colonel Hopps would soon be in position and this war would be over.
However, something didn't feel right.
A burst of static came through Nick's com bead before becoming Judy's voice, "Commissar Nick were moving in."
"Good, Carrots." Nick replied with a smirk, regulations be damned she was his lover, friend and now his wife, let every mammal know how he felt. "How's it look."
With another burst of static formed into Judy words. "Looking good, AHH!"
"What is it?" Nick demanded, "Are you alright?" the red fox in a black great coat asked, "Carrots talk to me."
"It's time Nick."
Nick's eyes went wide, he knew what that meant. The driving music of battle turn frantic as Nick ran to where he knew Judy was. Crocs leapt from the shadows screaming and howling as they cut down the mammals before them. Nick snarled as his shot, chopped and stabbed the reptilian beasts but still they came piling on Nick eventually smothering the Commissar.
Crocs were thrown to the sky as Nick's powerful hot rod burst from the pile of alien flesh. Tires squeaked as the car landed on black top. The black car left red trails of light leading to the tail lights as it darted between other cars. Fire spewed from the tail pipes scorching the road but Nick didn't care as he slide sideways down an exit ramp and into the parking lot of the hospital.
Nick raced inside his ZPD uniform barely standing up to the strain of the feral's muscles propelling him at full sleep. The fox burst through the front door on all fours. He stood and call, "Carrots, where are you?"
He saw nothing but a long-shadowed hallway. "Judy, where are you!?" Still no response. "Anyone there!?" Nick's night vision saw movement in the distance, the fox hurried toward it. "Hey, I'm looking for my wife."
The shadows parted revealing a small gazelle nurse carried something wrap in a pink blanket. The nurse said nothing and laid the bundle in Nick's arms. "What about, Judy?" Nick asked. The nurse walked away and vanished into the shadows. "Wait, does this mean?" The fox's eyes went wide. "Wait no. NO!"
"No!" Nick yelled sitting up. He panted as he looked around the dark bedroom. With a swallow the red fox realized his paw was on Judy's pillow.
Judy's empty pillow.
A coo followed by a baby's cry drew the panting fox's attention to the crib on his side of the bed. Nick shook as he reached out with his left paw. His ring glinted in the light of the moon. He whined at the lonely feeling creeping into his mind.
His baby cried again drawing Nick back to the moment. There was no one else to care for the little one, so he stood and stepped closer to the crib as a shadow extended up above it. Nick stopped and stared stunned by the sight. The voice of his daughter came from the tall shadow, but it was deep and distorted. The hint of a face grew with in the looming threat. A sinister smile with sharp teeth showed itself.
Suddenly, excruciating pain shot through Nick's shoulder.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Judy grunted in the cockpit of her bipedal robot in the rough shape of as missiles exploded against its paw held red tower shield. It was okay the Bundam could take it. It was a tough machine, but this was the toughest battle it would go through, and hopefully the last. Taking this final space base should be the final blow to the rebel Zoono. Judy blasted the enemy machine from her flight path and discarded the hyper bazooka, its magazine depleted.
A buzz twinkle sounded in Judy's mind she turned to see Clawhauser Guncatton jump off the shield of one of those new machines Zoono had rushed into service. The cheetah pilot smashed the wolf like head of the bipedal war machine with his own fist before Ben boosted away firing both shoulder cannons into an approaching formation.
However, that wasn't what her feral senses were telling her about. "It's him." The bunny shaped head of the Bundam turned to look to empty space. A streak of light was the only sign of the approaching danger. The green eyes of Judy's machine flashed and its 'ears' adjusted into combat positions.
The red comet, Judy's rival form since the start of the war raced toward her in some new monstrosity. Its skirt was full of engines instead of having legs. Its arms could detach to fire powerful lasers from every detection. This new beast of a machine was more than a match for anything on the field. The Bundam was a tough prototype with powerful weapons but it was 6 months old, a lifetime in a technological war like this one. However, Judy was a great pilot and a feral with reactions times to the precognitive level, but so was the red comet.
The combatants met in space as a song of love, loss and victory bargain to play. Lasers flew through the void cutting through lesser machines as the bundam and red comet just barely dodged out of the way. Every mistake could be deadly as the rivals blasted each other's unit to near pieces.
The battle covered the several hundred miles to the asteroid turned space station. Along the way Judy's machine's tower shield faltered and the bundam lost its left arm from the same attack.
A moment Judy landed her machine on the asteroid base. She jumped to the side shot a laser beam through the arm of the red comet's machine, then another through the lower abdomen, destroying the machine, or so she thought. The head of the enemy mech detached and blew the Bundam's own head clean off. Even with their mobile suits crippled neither of the rivals were out of the fight.
Using only her navigation radar and the camera of her beam rifle Judy followed the Red Comet into the bowls of the asteroid base, all while the battle raged and music blared around them. Judy growled as she gripped the controls of her mech. "This is so a trap." The feral bunny flipped the keyboard out from behind her seat. Her eyes darted back and forth between her sensors and the commands she was programing in.
With that done Judy opened the cockpit and jumped out into the gravity less vacuum of the tunnel she was in. The ravaged Bundam stomped into a large shaft probably for shipping or mining it didn't really matter now. The angular mech stop, widened its stance and fired straight up as a torrent of energy impacted the prototype. While the Bundams armor boiled away the final attack of the mech struck its target leaving both destroyed.
But the fight isn't over.
Judy's feral eyes saw something jump from shadow to shadow then duck into a corridor. The bunny gave chase. She couldn't see anything about the mammal she was following, but she knew without a doubt it was the Red Comet. She would get that fox if it was the last thing the fit bunny ever did.
The shadow jumped into an open door. The power in the room was still on, judging from the lights. Judy whipped around the corner her pistol up. The room must have been an aristocratic officer's office judging by the deep red walls and rich mahogany furniture. A collection of weapons through the ages lined the walls, plenty of them swords. There examining the weapons was the red comet.
Nickelus Wilde.
"There you are, Dumb Fox." Judy said stepping into the room as the walls shook slightly from the bombardment.
Nick turned around and smiled, "Ah, so we meet again, Sly bunny." Judy hit the button to close the door with her elbow. As she floated across the room Nick continue. "We really must stop meeting like this." While Judy still had her pistol aimed at the fox. Air filled the now sealed room with a hiss as Nick gently tossed a small mammal rapier too Judy.
The thin steel weapon floated gently toward the bunny. She slid her pistol into the hustler. "Must we really." She took up the sword just in time. Nick's backpack jets growled as it launched him forward. Judy grunted with the effort of defeating his sword and was forced to the floor.
The bunny's boots sank into the carpet she activated her own thrusters, but instead of launching herself at the fox she held herself to the floor like she would on earth.
"Must we do this every time?" Judy commented as she easily locked blades with the fox.
Two quick jabs with his blade that Judy easily parried. "Well, I always thought foreplay was appreciated."
Judy struck out with her blade locking it with Nick's and spun it out of the fox's paw. "It is but," the feral bunny tossed her blade away before jumping into her rival and lover's arms, "I've had enough of it."
Nick easily caught the bunny as she pulled her helmet off then his own. The pair kissed as the room shook around them. They shed their space suits as the fight music turned to jazzy rock for the act of lust occurring. A dangerous act but nothing would interrupt it.
In the throes of passion Judy bit Nick's shoulder something that normally drove the feral fox wild, but as the copper taste filled her mouth Nick yelped in pain. With a whine Nick pushed Judy off him.
Judy blinked in the darkness of their bedroom looking up at her husband as he uncurled from around her. The shoulder of his shirt was wet and sticky. The smell of blood filled Judy's wiggling nose as the liquid dripped from her muzzle. "Nick I-I..."
"It's all right, just, ow." Nick said as he climbed out of bed.
"Here let me"
"No, no, I got it, Carrots." Nick said walking to the master bathroom. The wound wasn't the worst he'd ever had but was kind of bad. However, he just needed a moment alone. The new husband and father to be had to process his nightmares.
While Nick stared at himself in the mirror, trying to convince all four of the foxes in his head that he wasn't going to run away from his daughter, Judy looked down at her belly. She cradled her unborn child as a new terror rolled through her mind. She didn't know what she would do to the newborn.
Ferals do have strange and terrible instincts.