Chapter 1: Phantom and the Ninjas

A/N: The italics are the songs just for a note.

"Are you sure your parents are going to like me?"

"Nick," I say, turning my dad's old blue pickup down a dirt road, "I'm sure they will. I've told them so many good things about you. I'm sure you'll be fine."

"But are you sure…"
"Nick."

"Okay, okay, I'll stop talking. I won't say another words the rest of the way."

I roll my eyes, "Okay, Nick. Whatever you say."

My fox nods and turns to fiddle with the radio. I've never seen Nick so jittery before. Not even the time we got caught by Mr. Big was he this jittery. It's kind of cute to watch.

He eventually stops messing with the radio when a slow pop song coms on. I actually don't know if I'd call It pop. Its ore slow rock than anything. I recognize the singer's amazingly smooth voice immediately.

"Is this Phantom?"

Nick nods,"Yeah, its Phantom."

"Hah!" I smile proudly, "I knew I could recognize Phantom and the Ninjas anywhere."

Nick smiles," yah, he's pretty recognizable."

I listen for a while. I gasp when I hear a certain part in the song.

Hey Nicke Fox D, why aren't you smiling?

Didn't I say I'd be okay?

Did I ever lie to you before?

Don't give me that look Nicke

Fox trot and sly names go nothing on you

You are guy Nicke D

Don't you give in

Don't you fall apart

And I promise, brother'll be back before the snow

Yeah, I promise

Once the verse is over, I turn to Nick excitedly.

Nick, Phantom was talking about you!"

"Phantom talks about a lot of people in this song."

"But he talked about you. You don't find that awesome."

He shrugs. "Maybe he'll talk about you next, Judy. I mean, the guy knows pretty much everybody."

I frown. Nick doesn't think this is cool. I guess he thinks it's a coincidence. Then I notice that he's singing to the chorus.

Hey family don't you miss me now

I told you I'll be here before the snow

Neverlands been fun

It been all I've dreamed of but hey

I told ya I loved ya and I don't lie

So I'll be back before dawn

Yeah, I'll be back…I'll be back

"I didn't know you had a favorite band, Nick." I say.

Nick shrugs, "I didn't really till I heard those guys. They just kinda…clicked, I guess. They are one of a kind."

The song ends and a cheery announcer starts talking

"That was Phantom and the Ninjas, Back before the Snow! If you haven't heard yet, Phantom and the Ninjas are going to be in Zootopia this Saturday, facing off against famous pop singer Gazelle. This is something you don't want to miss, folks. Gazelle verses Phantom. Saturday night. Be there."

"We should go." Nick says," to the signer battle."

I look at Nick in surprise." You actually want to go a concert. I don't' have to drag you there. "

He shakes his head," No. I want to go. I haven't seen Phantom live before. He's' kinda always been…out of my reach.

I grunt in agreement. My parent never want to go the city, so I never saw a concert till a year and a half ago. It was Gazelles' concert. She complimented Phantom on his music then a month later Phantom sang a song for her compliment. Seeing these two battle will be different. I actually want to see it, too.

Nick and I yep as I hit a big dirt patch that lies outside my home. Nick shrieks out dumb bunny and I purposely jerk right so Nick hits the window. My parent swatch us drive up form the pouch. I stop the truck and hop out before Nick can earn revenge.

"Judy, my honey bunny!" Daddy cries walking to me, arms wide open. Mom comes down, too, and we make a group hug. My sibling peek at us. I can hear tem running around fields.

Nick grunts as he slams the truck door. As he comes up, I say, "Mom, dad, this is Nick Wilde. Nick these are my parents."

Nick shakes their hands while my parents observe him. Finally, dad says, "Well, you're a sporty city fox, aren't ya."

"DAD!" I scream. Nick looks down at his Hawaiian shirt, the back at Dad.

"Its okay, Judy." Nick says, sticking his paws in his pockets. "I'm used to looking odd."

"Oh, it's not that," Mom smiles. "It's just that-"

"OKAY!" I say loudly, "Mom, Dad, it was a long drive. Can Nick and I go unpack?"

"Of Couse, honey," Mom nods. "Stu and I are almost finished with dinner. Once you're done come to the field."

"Kay, mom. Come on, Nicky D!"

I hop back to the truck and throw Nicks bag to him.

"Thanks, Judy-cutey." Nick says as I grab my bags. I hop off the truck and start to the house.

"Don't call me cutey."
"Don't call me Nicky D."

I 'm about to ask why abut decide against it. He'll just use my words against me.

Nick chose to take the room down the hall from mine. Most of my younger brothers sleep in that room so I hope Nick can get some sleep. I'm sleeping with my younger sisters in my old room. While I was away, I almost missed sleeping with my siblings. But now I wish I was back I in my six foot wide apartment.

"Judy!"

"Judy, your home!"

"Judy, did you bring that fox?"

"What his name?"

"Judy, do you like him?"

"Do you like the fox?"

"Do you love him?"

"Easy, easy," I call out, finding my buck and sitting down, "How did you guys know a fox was coming with me?"

All my sisters yell out at once. I hush them, then call on one of my sisters. She comes up and sits next to me. She is the spokesperson, "Mom said that you were bring a fox home. She didn't say his name, though."

I nod in acknowledgment. "The fox is Nick. No, I don't love him. Not in that way. He's…family."

"But you like him?"

I look at my sister's faces an sig," yes, I like him."

My sisters giggle. Then a scream form down the hall penetrates the walls. "JUDY!"

"Boys, leave poor Nick alone!" I yell.

"Aw, Judy, you're no fun!" I hear two or three of the boys yell. I just laugh, picturing Nicks' stressed face go into relaxed composure.

"Nicholas! Judy! Get in here!" My mom yells.

I let go of my bags and maneuver my way through my siblings. I meet up with Nick outside my door and we head to the front room. My mom and dad are both sitting on the ginormous couch. Our small TV is on and its turned up to loudest dial.

"Mom, what are you-"

"Shh," Mom hisses," Its Phantom."

"Your parents called me Nicholas." Nick whispers.

"Roll with it." I reply.

The scene switches off of the Zootopia announcers and goes to a walking paparazzi group. In the shot is plenty of animals, trying to get answers out of three superstars. Font and center is Phantom, looking as happy and humble as ever. On his left is a pink, two legged serpent. Karai is his girlfriend a backup singer. Her story is that she was experiment on and formed two legs. On his left is hot keytar player, Usagii. He isn't from Bunny burrow but every girl here like him, including half of my sister. Usagii is indeed hot! White fur, tied back ear, beautiful eyes and-

"I hate that rabbit," Nick growls lowly.

"What!?" I say, wide eyed, "What?!"
Nick shrugs," Lets just say he rubs me the opposite way of happy."

An interviewer gets in front of Phantom and stops him with, "Phantom, what are you thinking of this battle with Gazelle?"

Another asks," Phantom, where is the rest of the band?"

Phantom raises his hands and people quiet down. His voice is clear but she sounds almost irritated, "Zootopia, I have no time for questions. My brothers will arrive Saturday for the concert. I wish Gazelle all the luck in the world and I will see you all Saturday night."

Phantom and his group continue on. I twitch my ears when I hear a question that states that Phantom was at the ZPD but I forget it immediately. I mean, why would such a famous star go to the ZPD? There is no reason.

The screen turns back to the TV announcers. The snow leopard says," Phantom is on his way to the Zootopia train station with fellow band members Oruku Karai and Miyamaoto Usagii. Some reporters are claiming he came from the ZPD. Phantoms recent activity has been different for him. His normal appearance at the concert and only his concert has been interrupted three days before it. This makes many authorities wonder: What is Phantom playing at and most importantly, who is Phantom looking for?"

"Oh, dear," Mom mutters, "I hope he isn't sick."

"I'm sure he's not, mom," I say, I'm sure he's just trying a little switch of plans."

"He's nervous," Nick says, "you can see it in his eyes. Something's happened."

I look at him in surprise. Nick could really see Phantoms eyes. Its' like…he know what Phantom was feeling, thought he didn't show it on the TV.

"Nick….how could you tell"

Nick is quiet. It's surprising to hear him this way. "I just do, Carrots. I just do."

"Well," Daddy says, standing and heading to the back door, "I'm sure the veggies are done. Lets' eat."

We let my siblings go before us. Nick walks kind of slow. I slow so I can whisper to him.
"Nick, you okay?'

"Yeah," Nick says, smiling weakly, "lm good. I just am thinking about the past."

"I thought you didn't like dwelling in the past."

Nick shrugs, "Sometimes I can't t help it."

I sit down at out giant patio set next to my sister, Tara. Nick sits next to me, looking at the small cup of water. Tara looks up at me and pulls out her ear buds.

"Hey, Judy, Phantom and the Ninjas just released the new song. Want to hear it?"

I nod, "sure. Lets' hear it.
I glance at Nick. His ears are perked so I know he wants to hear it, too. Tare pulls the earphone cord form her phone.

The song starts out slow and calm. It slowly builds till it's a piano in the back ground and the guitars are extremely louder than the drums. Phantom always make his music likeable to anybody. He does all Varity's. This one is rock.

Life was just grand, we were at peace

We looked to the dreamy happy ending

The moon watched us form above

But, really, no smile is the same

Born an angel, heave sent us

But the fall from grace is destructive

Stars will start dropping form the sky

And the moon will mourn its rose's death

As truthful as the rose is red

And snow is white

Tears will soak an angel's face

You fell from grace

I fell from you

All we really needed was faith

This song definitely reflects Phantom. His songs are usually symbolic. The ones that are more normal are usually by his brothers. But he and Usagii write songs like this one an Back before the Snow.

I continue to listen.

There was a moment in time

When we were pushed to far

And we couldn't go back

There was a pain where you broke

An a point where none could take much more

There was a time and a place for us

But we can't wait while lives are at stake

As truthful as the rose is read

And snow is white

Tears will soak an angel's face

You fell from grace

I fell form you

All we really needed was faith.

Nick is nodding to the song and Tara is singing along. I feel left out. I don't know the song and Phantom is not my favorite. So I just nod to the song so I seem like I'm enjoying this as much as Nick is.

Now we're saying goody-bye to thins we loved

Couldn't bear another day without you here

You said all of the joy was taken from your life

To have us in your life and yours in ours was all we ever wanted

But now we took our years for granted

You yelled how could you leave me when you

Promise that you would stay.

Nicks head stops nodding. His eyes grow big. He reaches for his water and takes a long gulp of it.

The song ends with the beautiful solo of piano.

As truthful as the rose is red

And snow is white

Tears will soak an angel's face

You fell from grace

I fell from you

All we really needed was love

Now…we're all red as snow…

"Beautiful, huh." Tara says, "I think it was one of their best songs yet."

"I don't get it," I say, "What does 'we're all red as snow' mean?"

"It's symbolic, Carrots." Nick answers, "You just gotta see it as one."

"How do you see it?" Tara asks Nick.

Nick thinks for a moment, then says, "I see it as Phantom saying that old Bible scripture. What was it? 'Though your sins be as scarlet, they hall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they'll be as wool.' That's what I think he means."

I stare at Nick in awe. I never thought of Nick as a religious guy.

My sister says, "Whoa. Do you know everything about Phantom and the Ninjas?"

Nick shakes his head. "I'm no liar. I don't know everything."

I glare at him. My fox just smiles. Its' our own little private joke.

My sister keeps going." Well, do you know what inspired Phantom to write Back before the Snow?"

Nick shakes his head again as he pours himself a glass of water and takes a long drink.

Tara giggles, then explains, "Well, in an interview, Phantom said he was inspired by a memory. He said he remembered almost a decade earlier he was moving from Zootopia to what he called the Higher Up. As the train was leaving, a friend of his was running alongside the train. They has gotten in a fight a few days earlier, so it was a surprise to see his friend. So he and his brothers got a scrap of paper, scribbled on it as fast as they could and threw it out the window. Phantom doesn't know if that letter ever reached his friend, but he recalls that it said 'I'll be back before the snow. I promise.'"

Nick chokes on his water and it starts coming out his nose. I leap to my feet, crying, "Nick, what-"

"I'm fine!" he cries, "I'm just going to go for a walk. The- the stuffy atmosphere is getting to me! How can you stand it, Carrots!? I'm just going for a walk. I'll be back in an hour…or two."

With that, Nick marches into the field. I stand to get him, but Daddy sops me. "Don't worry about him, honey. I bet it's the open air. The country air is strange on city folk."

"Oh, Stu, be nice." Mom says, playfully punching Dad in the shoulder.

But I don't believe them. Nick's been acting funny all day. And I'm gonna find out why, even if it kills me.