Moving was something Judy knew a lot about. She'd done it in childhood, adolescence, and she was doing it now. This time was different, though. This apartment was where she would live as Zootopia's first Bunny cop. She could already imagine it: coming home late after a long day of work, setting her badge on her desk, and remembering the mammals she would have helped or saved that day. She was so close now that she'd passed the entrance exam, and it felt like everything was falling into place. Even the weather had been on her side that day. The second all of her things were in the dry, warm apartment, it had started raining. Now if only Judy could find her box of dishes that had disappeared. She'd been searching for almost twenty minutes through the mess of moving boxes stacked around the otherwise empty apartment, but found nothing.

The rushing sounds of wind and rain moved her thoughts to Nick and the times they'd been forced to stay inside to avoid harsh weather. Storms were uncommon in Zootopia so, whenever they appeared, bittersweet memories of how things used to be would creep back to her mind. A loud crack of thunder sounded outside, startling her out of her thoughts.

Judy's back pocket started buzzing and she took her phone out. Speak of the Devil. "Hello?" she answered. The sound on the other end was mostly static. "Hello?" she repeated.

"I said- et me in."

"What? You're here?" Judy went to her door and buzzed it open. "Good. You can help me find my plates."

When Nick got up to her apartment, she still hadn't found the box. Judy opened the door and Nick practically danced into the room. He was dripping wet from the storm outside and waved a paper around in his paw. She was planning out the next box to search when Nick pressed the damp paper onto Judy's face. "Eat it."

Judy swatted at him and grabbed the paper, skimming over it.

The words were there in fine print. "Wow. You actually did it." Judy said, trying not to show her disappointment.

"Did what? Oh, hey Nick." Judy's roommate, Dawn, walked into the room and looked to see what was on the paper. "Holy shit! You passed?" Dawn lifted a paw and Nick high fived it.

Judy continued staring at the writing that said he'd start with her at the police academy in two weeks. "The fact that you have a clean record to do this still amazes me."

Nick took the paper back. "Well I am pretty amazing and it looks like I'm one step closer to winning the bet." Judy felt her body tense up at the thought of losing.

Dawn put a paw to her hip. "It doesn't matter how close you get cause we're both gonna leave you in the dust. Right, Judy?"

"Uh huh," Judy answered, not fully believing her words.

"Oh and there's a box of plates in my room. Not sure how it got there," Dawn said.

"Really? I thought I lost them forever." Judy said, thankful to have an excuse to move away. Her feet padded on the hardwood floors into the orange-painted bedroom and there, next to the mattress, was Judy's box. Dishes Fragile was written in black sharpie on the side, but Dawn must have missed the writing. Judy picked up the box with little effort. She'd been working out in preparation for the police academy and she felt pride in knowing most Bunnies would struggle with lifting as much as she could.

"Does that mean I'm right?" Nick said as Judy passed them.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Dawn answered.

Once the box was on the kitchen counter Judy stopped for a breath. It was easy to hold a first but after a few moments all the dishes weighed her down. "What are you two chatting about?"

Nick followed Judy into the tiny kitchen. "Dawn's just telling me about your secret strategy to beat me."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Like I'd ever do that." Judy smiled, shaking her head, and started putting her plates in a low cabinet.

"This place isn't as bad as I thought it'd be." Nick said behind Judy.

"Where I'm from, they call that a backhanded compliment," Dawn teased. Judy giggled, placing another dish in the cabinet.

She sensed Nick step nearer to her. "Uh, They wanted to tell you happy birthday," he said in a more serious tone. The two usually avoided saying the word 'parents'.

Judy stopped unloading the dishes. "Tell Them thanks." Her 22nd birthday had been a week earlier and They seemed to be back using Nick as a messenger.

"You could tell them yourself." Judy raised her narrowed eyes to his. "Okay, okay. Just a suggestion." Nick held his paws up in defense. The thought of Them put Judy in a lousy mood and, more than anything, she just wanted to think about the ZPD. That was something that would always keep her positive.

"Wow it's raining so much outside. Isn't that..something?" Dawn said, breaking the awkward silence.

Nick stuffed his paper into his jacket pocket and moved to leave. "Yeah I should probably go. The boss is waiting on me. I just came to rub my success in your face" Nick opened the door. "Literally," he added before leaving. The door clicked closed and Dawn let out a low whistle.

"Well that was weird. Wanna take a break and watch Zootube?" Dawn offered, probably trying to give her some much needed distraction.

Judy sighed. "I thought you'd never ask."


NOTE: After some trials I found that this method of flashing forward was the most effective. It's only going to happen every three of four chapters and, depending on the reception they can be longer or shorter even. The next few chapters will take place in the original setting. I wish I could show chapter 6 to you guys right now because it's...pretty eventful. Chapter 5 needs tweaking first, though, so hopefully they can be released pretty close together.

ANOTHER NOTE: If it wasn't clear They = Nick's parents *gasp!*