Sapperjoe85 : There will be a lot of flashbacks throughout the stories to fill in the blank. It's a bit hard to not rely heavily on them, but I'd rather do that than having a character just tell the story. As for who resolved the NightHowler case... It's something you will have to discover.

Altair1812 : I have now lost the ability to go through door designed for humans thanks to my massively inflated head. Thank you for the compliment :)

Guest 1 : Well, since it is and AU, I decided to push it a bit more by giving her a small crush on him. That wasn't very useful to the story, but I like to throw some what if's into the mix.
I have NO IDEA why you think Nick would have been the one to crack the small mammal case. As for him making it into the ZPD... Nah, not saying anything. You'll just have to read. As for him being a hero of hers, that's pretty likely.

Guest 2 : Thanks for the compliments. As for it not being WildeHopps, I haven't really decided yet, but it probably won't be the focal point of the story either way. This isn't what I want to make it all about.
And MOAR is coming, don't worry :)

Next chapter is going to be more centered on Judy's background, so please bear with me.

This chapter's title has been brought to you by Ytodd's Shitty Puns and Trashy Humour.


Chapter 2 - Train of Thoughts

The bunny was looking through the train window, the scenery slowly changing as Zootopia got closer and closer.

Her tears had ended up drying and she rubbed her eyes. She felt like she had cried out twenty years of swallowed tears, and was glad no one had approached her to ask what was happening. She wouldn't have been able to talk about it at the moment.

She turned on the phone she had left off on purpose, and as she had expected, it started beeping like it was possessed. She quickly cut off the sound and looked around. A few mammals were staring at her with perplexity. What was that bunny doing that was putting her phone in that state ?

356 furbook notifications, 258 text messages, 178 unread e-mail, and 85 missed calls from various callers. And all of these numbers kept climbing, news went fast in bunny-burrow. Her phone froze, artefacts appearing on the screen. It would be as useful as a brick for the next few hours. Or days.

She settled back on her seat and let her gaze follow the horizon line, making her drowsy. If everything went according to plan, she'd be in Zootopia in less than two hours.


"...And sadly for the small mammal population, at eighteen voices against fourteen, the inclusion mammal initiative has been disapproved. This was Peter Moosebridge and Fabienne Growley, for ZNN."

The sound of broken ceramic echoed in the kitchen.

The whole room had turned toward the sound, and were now staring at a distraught twenty-one year old Judy. Staring at the TV screen in disbelief, she hadn't even noticed she had let go of her beverage.

"No." Her lips curled and her nose started twitching. "No !" She shouted, despair creeping in her voice.

"Oh honey… " Began Bonnie.

They looked at each other, and even though Judy could tell her mother was sad for her, there was a faint glint of relief hidden in her eyes that wanted to make her scream.

She realised everyone was looking at her, as her tears started to well up. She didn't want to hear the comments that were likely to follow. She didn't want to hear that it was a good thing, that she wouldn't have had a chance anyway, that it was for the best. Turning around, she started running toward the exit. By the time she reached the door, she was already crying.


Her dosing was cut short by loud trap music. A young coyote, wearing a tracksuit, and every element of what could be defined as a "gangsta" outfit (complete with a beany over a cap, and everything.) had gotten into the train at the previous stop and was now making his way in the train car, with absolutely no regard for anyone else.

Every single mammal in the car was staring at him disapprovingly, but no-one moved. To the other voyager's disappointment, he slopped down on one of the seat, and started moving his head in rhythm with what could barely be described as music. The bunny could hear the veiled comment that were being made, but even then, no one seemed like they were about to do a thing.

She sighed, knowing full well she wouldn't be able to take it for the remainder of the trip and made her way toward him. She could feel the stares on her as she approached the oblivious canid.

"Is she crazy ?"

"I hope she's not going to do what I think she's going to do."

"Does she want to get hurt ?"

If they were so worried about her safety, maybe one of them would move and act in her stead, but the bystander effect was strong, and she knew there was little chance someone would actually do anything.

She stopped in front of the coyote and took a non-threatening stance.

"Ahem, excuse me ?" She asked. He didn't even register her presence. "Excuse me ?" She asked again louder. The Coyote blinked and looked around him. "Down there."

He looked down at the matronly bunny, and lifted a brow. "What do you want ?" He asked with a hint of hostility.

"Could you please turn off you music, or put on some earplugs ?"

A dismissive grin appeared on his face. "And why would I do that ?"

"Common courtesy. You're bothering everyone else." She said in a neutral tone waving at the rest of the car.

"Not my problem." He snorted. "Scram, bunny." He snapped her fangs at her and settled back on his seat with his head back, the matter resolved. The fang snap always made the runts scamper.

Judy clench her teeth and squinted at him. If someone were to take a really close look, they would have been able to spot the smoke coming out of her ears.

The coyote suddenly felt something land on his lap and when he looked at what it was, he could see a really pissed off bunny with her fists on her hips, and a piercing glare riveted tp his eyes. "Now listen to me young man, you are going to turn off your music and apologise." An accusing finger shot up and stopped a mere millimetre from his snout. "Or I swear on both of my children, I'm going to drive the truckfull of spanking your parents failed to deliver, right into your back alley."

The only thing that could be hear in the car was the music coming out of the coyote's phone. No one dared to say a word, expecting the crazy bunny to be punted away. And any other bunny, the coyote would have punted away, but this one… Something was burning in her eyes. Resolve, will, certitude. Every instinct told him it was a very bad idea to further anger the frightening bunny.

"Yes ma'am." He muttered, while trying to avoid her gaze, his thumb tapping his phone screen. The music stopped.

"And ?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am."

She beamed at him. "Good." She hopped down and made her way back to her seat. "Judy on duty, terror of bullies, still gots it." She said to herself, discreetly pumping her arm.

As she settle back on her own seat, an announcement was heard. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, this train will be delayed for several minutes at our next stop, Podunk's train station. Please forgive us for the inconvenience."

There was a general sigh of annoyance in the train car. Well, it wasn't tragic, she was supposed to get where she was headed at lunch, and it was only 9AM. A few minutes more on her trip would mean a few minutes less to wait at the rendez-vous point.

She felt like she had spent her life waiting anyway, what were a few more minutes ?

As she put on her earbuds, a deep feeling of loneliness washed over her. She was slowly starting to realise how many bridges were burning behind her. Bridges she had spent a lifetime building.


"So, what did you want to talk about ?" Judy was seating in their usual booth, sipping tea. In front of her, Ethan, the glass wearing buck she had been dating for the last six months was nervously playing with his fingers. She liked him, years later she would realise she had lied herself into believing she loved him. She would realise she had used him to try (and fail) to erase the last pieces of her dreams.

"Well… Do you know why I approached you to begin with ?"

Judy lifted a brow. "We met through Gideon, you were the one that tutored him in science in highschool. That was very nice of you actually." Ethan was one of the fist bunny that had been comfortable around the fox that would become her best friend. She would have never accepted to date someone that wouldn't respect him. In a strange way, the fox had become a sort of benchmark for dating material.

"Yes… No, it wasn't because of that… I know you don't like to talk about that time, but you were- you are Judy Frickin' Hopps."

The nickname of her highschool years was a bit hard to hear. It was the one they had given her when she had shown she could do anything she wanted. And it was painful reminder of the event that had made it a lie. The disapproval of the Small Mammal Initiative.

"Anyway, I'm not sure you noticed it, but a lot of us bunny started to follow our own dreams because of you. Before you, most of us, if not all, would have ended up as farmers. And look at me, I have a degree in biology. I know it might seem bizarre to you, but I feel like I owe a bit of that to you. A lot of us do."

Judy meekly smiled at him. She was glad her example had let others to make a good life for themselves, but she couldn't shake off the pang of jealousy that had installed itself in her chest.

"You are the most fantastic doe I've ever met."

"I think you're a fantastic buck too Ethan." She said, meaning every word. " But what are you getting at ?"

The buck drew a deep breath, and started fiddling with something in his pocket. "You already made my life better twice, by being an example, and then by becoming my girlfriend. I'm asking you to make it better a third time." He took out a small velvet box and slid it toward her as he opened it. "Judith Laverne Hopps, I love you, will you marry me ?"


She was pulled from her reveries when the train started again. She checked the time, and she noticed that a full hour had passed. Given how close they were to Zootopia now, she doubted she'd be late. Then she noticed the train wasn't going at full speed. In fact, she was pretty sure that if she were on a bike next to it, she would easily be able to outpace it.

"Ladies and gentlemammals, we're sorry to announce that there was an accident at the Oasis Hotel stop. The tracks are currently blocked by debris, as well at the next two trains. Given our reports, it will take at least four hours for the way to be fully cleared."

A collective groan resonated in the train car and Judy gritted her teeth. Now she knew she was going to be late. She needed to call to tell her future boss of her tardiness, but her phone was still bricked, at least until she got another sim card which meant she would have to borrow a phone. The bunny looked around the car anxiously. Three mooses, a bear, a wolf, a pair of rhino, and a family of mice. And the coyote. Of course, all rabbit had left the train in Podunk. So, either she'd have to use a phone as big as her, or one smaller than her pinky. Alternatively, she could ask the coyote she had just scolded an hour ago.

Sighing in front of her misfortune, she hopped down from her seat and made her way back to the kid. "Excuse me ?"

The coyote almost jumped and gave her a wary look. "Yes ma'am ?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm having phone problems, and yours is pretty much the only one I could use given my size." She was expecting him to dismiss her. After all, he had no obligation to lend her anything.

The coyote, for his part, was astonished by the bunny. No one in her size had ever dared to scold him, and she was now asking him a favour, without a hint of fear or contempt. "Uh, sure. But make it short."

"Thanks !"

He unlocked his phone and gave it to her. She took out a crumpled paper from her back pocket and quickly dialed a number written on it. It rang a couple of times before it was answered.

"Yeah ?" Came a deep voice that she didn't recognize.

"Excuse me, is this mister Ramowitz ?" She asked.

"Nah, the fu- ram retired two months ago. Wha'd'ya want ?"

The bunny gaped before shaking her head. The ram that had recruited her had retired ? Merely a few weeks after he had hired her ? Why hadn't she been told ? "I was calling you about the job-"

"Oh, yer the new ranger he hired ? Actually, tha's good yer callin', we're actually in a bit of a pickle about… Well, you."

She felt a weight fall in her stomach. Arthur Ramowitz wasn't working at the Meadowland's Park Department anymore, they had a problem with her… Were they about to void her working contract ?

"We won't be able to pick ya up before..." She heard a voice in the background. "5PM. Our shit truck is bein' a bit moody."

Judy sighed in relief. "Oh."

"Sorry 'bout that."

Judy waved dismissively. "I was actually calling you to tell you that I was going to be late."

She heard the mammal on the other side chuckle. "Ya callin' to tell us 'dis soon before yer late ? Woah, tha's pretty proper of you, missy."

"Uhm… Thanks ?"

"Yer welcome. See you in the evenin' den ? Haymarket's metro stop ?"

The bunny blinked a few times, her memory digging for a map of the city she had memorized years ago, when she still believed she could make it as a cop.

"Yes, I see where it is. Alright, see you at 5PM."

And he unceremoniously hung up.

"I forgot to ask his name." She muttered before shrugging. "Well, I guess there won't be a load of MPRD trucks there." She then gave the coyote his phone back. "Thanks, it was really nice of you."

"You're welcome." The coyote nodded before the bunny left.

She smiled to herself. Everything was going to be better than expected. She could still remember the last time her life had taken such a turn, and it had been a bumpy ride too.


"You're doing great honey."

Judy glanced up at the buck holding her paw. He was dishevelled, anxious, and it was obvious he was barely keeping it together.

"I'm doing nothing at the moment, Ethan." She said, with some pain in her voice. "It's just contractions."

"Yes… Yes I know." He draw a curt breath. "I know."

A strong contraction pulled a groan of pain from her throat and she felt his supporting paw press hers.

"I hope it won't take much longer." She said between her clenched teeth. "How could mom do that… Five times over."

One of the bunny nurses raised his head from between her legs. "You're almost at the peak dilatation, Mrs Hopps, you-"

"Arrrgh !" She screamed, as the biggest contraction yet hit her. From the corner of her eyes, she could see that all blood had left Ethan's face. She really hoped he wouldn't faint.

The bunny didn't need the nurse's word to know she should start pushing. In fact, the first kit of the litter felt like it was just sliding out.

"That's one !" Declared the nurse supportingly. The baby bunny started crying right away and she gave it to another nurse so that they could make a full check up.

The second kit seemed like it didn't want to get out as much. The pain had kicked up a notch, and she had to struggled not to crush Ethan's paw. She started pushing, a feral growl curling her lips as she felt the small body being freed from her belly.

There were a few seconds of anguishing silence, before it started crying too, and was taken away for a medical check.

"You okay ?" She asked her husband.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking that ?" He answered with a nervous chuckle.


She set foot in Zootopia five hour later than expected, but two hours before she'd need to reach the rendez-vous point. And she wasn't that upset about it. In fact, the few hours she had would be put to good use. She'd be able to buy some food, as well as a replacement SIM card with a new phone number. Then she'd head to the Haymarket's metro stop.

Finding some food as well as a telecom provider shop had been fairly easy, so she used her free time exploring the city for a couple of hours, using that as an excuse to postpone another phonecall she had to make.

Strangely, her feet led her back to the metro, and she resolved to make her way to the Haymarket. The trip was short, thanks to the city's extensive public transport system, and when she arrived she had still at least thirty minutes to kill.

She took out her phone and swapped her old SIM card for the new one. She had only taken a one month plan that could easily be recharged. When she turned her phone on, she saw that most of the notifications she had seen previously had disappeared, since she hadn't chosen a plan that included internet use. She was suddenly very glad for having made a point to memorize both of her kits' phone numbers as wells as her parents' and her now ex-husband's.

She dialled her son's number first but only reached the voice-mail. Either he had turned off his phone, which she doubted, or he was already calling someone else. Most likely her. She then dialled her daughter's number. It took only a half-ring before it was answered.

"Hello, Katie speaking ?" She instantly recognized the young bunny's voice. She sounded slightly distraught, and Judy could easily guess why.

She drew a breath. This wasn't going to be fun. "Hello sweetheart. It's-"

"Mom ? MOM ? Oh sweet cheese and crackers ? Where are you ? What is happening ?"

She could hear the voice of his son in the background. "Is it mom ? Quick, put her on speaker." There were shuffling noise, before her children's voice could be heard again, louder and slightly distorted.

"Mom ? What- I don't even know what to ask." Said Evan with a calm voice, though she could tell he was struggling to keep it from trembling..

Judy sat herself on her suitcase and stroked her ears back. "I don't know what to say either, Evan."

"Why ?" Came her daughter's voice. "Why would you divorce dad ?" Anger had started to appear as she finished her sentence.

"I felt trapped." Were the only words that came out.

"Couldn't you have talked it over ? You always told me communication was key in a couple. Did you even try that ? Did you even try to make it work ?"

Judy knew her daughter was partly right. But she was missing a key piece of insight. "Sweety, I didn't want it to work anymore. I wanted out. I wanted another life. I never wanted the one I had."

"You didn't want us ?" He daughter's voice turned to meek.

"No ! I didn't say that ! You two were the only thing that made me stay until the end. You are… I can't put it into words… You're the only reason my reason my life isn't full of regrets."

It was Evan's turn to talk. "Should we have stayed in bunny-burrow mom ? Is it because we left to study-"

"It's not because of you. Never think that ! It's on me. It's my fault. Not your father, not yours, mine !." She could hear a few hiccups coming from her daughter on the other side. Knowing her son, he was probably stroking her ears to sooth her.

"But why now ?" Evan asked. "Why wait for us to leave ?"

"I had to wait until you left… Because I needed to be sure that you could handle yourself without me. I'm not giving up on you, but I'm starting a new life. And it means I won't be able to support you two as much as I did before. As much as I should. As you deserve."

What she didn't say, the other reason she didn't dare to voice, was that they could be free to never talk to her again if they chose too. She had to give them that possibility, as it was only fair, even if it terrified her.

"I get it." finally said her son. "I can't say that I like it, but I get it."

"Well I dont !" Said Katie angrily.

"Kit, do you remember when mom told us about the ZPA, and the mammal inclusion initiative ?"

"Yeah of course. 'Never give up on your dreams, even if they seem impossible' why do you think I'm in med school."

"What if tomorrow you got expelled of med school for no reason other than your fur color ?"

Katie fell mute.

"What would you do ?" He asked.

"I don't know." She muttered.

"Do you think you wouldn't want another life than the one you were trying to avoid to begin with ?" He asked, still able to rationalize despite his distraught state.

"I don't know !" Shouted Katie angrily.

Silence lingered between them, while Judy hoped her children would accept her decision. If they decided they didn't want to talk to her anymore, she didn't know what she would do.

"I wasn't sure you would do it." Evan finally said in a strangled voice. "I hoped… I hoped you wouldn't go through with it."

"You knew ?" Asked Katie.

"I suspected. I was using the home computer a few weeks back, and I saw an e-mail notification about a job in the Meadowlands. Then I snooped around..." His voice finally broke.

Judy cringed, she thought she had been more careful. It was his turn to cry now, and she knew that Katie was the one stroking his ears now.

"Wasn't there any other way, mom ?" Asked Katie. "Anything else you could have done ?"

"I was going to leave, with or without a divorce. I just couldn't stay anymore. And I didn't want him to wait for me if I didn't come back. Your dad doesn't deserve that. He was fantastic, never let anyone tell you otherwise, but he wasn't what I wanted."

"You settled." Stated her daughter. "That's what grandpa Stu said… You know, I never realised why he looked so sad when he said that."

"I'm sorry Katie, really. I wish… I wish I hadn't had to do that. But I had. I-"

"I get it. I hate it, but I get it, mom. I just need to know, if you could go back would you do things differently ?"

Judy didn't even have to think before answering. "If it meant giving up on you two, no. Never."

Silence fell again, and the tears that had risen in the corner of her eyes dropped. She couldn't believe she still had tears left to cry.

"I… It's going to take time, mom." Declared Evan, choking back his own tears. "For me to accept that. I don't know how long."

"For me too." His sister added.

"I know. I understand… I don't know what I would do in you place. I'm sorry for putting you and your father through all this. I would understand if you never wanted to speak to me again, I know how selfish I'm acting. But never doubt that I love you. The both of you."

Ten seconds of agonizing silence followed her last sentence.

"We love you too, mom." They said at the same time. "Bye." Katie added, before cutting the communication.

Judy wiped her eyes and put her phone back in her pocket. It had gone better than she had hoped for. Her fear that they would reject her hadn't turned real, and it was the best she could have hoped for given the circumstances.

Her new life was only fifteen minutes away now, all she had to do was wait for the Meadowland Park Department truck to show up.


OHOHO, BUT WHO ANSWERED THAT PHONECALL ? WHAT A MYSTERY...