Hey. I'm back with another chapter already. The problems are piling on for Zootopia. Missing mammals and savagery, This religious fundamentalist group, Fear, hatred... What will happen next?
Still don't own Zootopia.
CHAPTER FOUR
"So, Mayor Wilde, with the influx of Canavari, and your own party calling for a Canavari Registry, or even an outright immigration ban, what do you plan on doing?" asked Fabienne Growley.
"Well, Fabienne, I, unlike most of my party, do not believe in persecuting any mammals, be it for their species, politics, or religion. I see those elements of my party as an abhorrent, vocal minority, and I'd like to think that the silent majority within my party believes in Equality, justice, and religious freedom."
"So would you say you are against speciesism?" she continued.
"Am I against speciesism? Yes, yes I am," Nick replied.
"So, then, why did you say in your press conference several days ago that, quote, 'I may have been unfaithful, and I truly regret that, but I would not be involved in such an interspecies relationship.' Is that not a speciesist comment, to say you would never be in a relationship with a rabbit?" Fabienne shot back, hoping to catch the mayor in a trap.
Nick crossed his legs, and felt his mouth go dry. I really should have thought harder before I said that… Should I walk back the comment, or should I double down? His eyes darted to Fabienne, then to the cameraman, then to the studio audience, and Judy, standing by the door.
"I… I will admit that I'm not perfect, and I do occasionally have speciesist thoughts. Everyone does, to some extent. I try my hardest to avoid thinking them, but every so often, when I am experiencing strong emotions, such as, in the case of that press conference, regret, I can't filter myself as well as normal. I regret saying what I said, but that doesn't change the fact that I said it. I apologize. Now, I think that this is an important apology, and I don't mean to detract from it in any way, but I think we should discuss a more important matter.
Namely, I'd like to address the city, and say that though the recent attacks are awful, and there is no excuse for them, there is also no excuse for persecuting the Canavari people, because they aren't all responsible."
Dawn Bellwether sat in her apartment, watching the television, seething. Not only had Wilde avoided the trap Growley had lain, he was promoting a message of tolerance. This was unacceptable. She needed to do something.
As she tried to think of what to do, her cell phone rang. She looked at the screen and saw Woolter was calling her. She hit the answer button.
"What?" she spat out, still angry about the mayor.
"Well, Ma'am, Emmett Otterton, the otter we've been buying the Night Howlers from, is going to tell Mr. Big about our plans. What should we do?"
"WHAT?!" She screamed into the phone, her fist clenching around it, threatening to crack the screen.
"Emmett Otterton, the ott-"
"I know what you said, imbecile. Have Doug deal with him. Now."
"That was a good interview, Nick," Judy said as they walked to the SUV parked outside.
They walked to the vehicle, and just as they were about to get it, Judy was shocked to see a snow-white vixen walk out from behind it, step up to Nick, and slap him in the face, and Judy reached for her baton, but Nick spoke.
"Nikula. I deserved that. I'm sorry."
"You want sleep with other fox, fine. We are done. Find someone else you flaunt to public," the arctic fox, Nikula, said, before spitting in Nick's face and walking away.
Nick stood there, astonished, then, when the fox had turned the corner, let out a sigh of relief.
"Finally," he said, then got in the SUV.
Finally what? Thought Judy, as she walked to the driver's side door and got in.
"Take me to my apartment. I need to find out what she took."
Judy stood in the living room, somewhat surprised at how simple Nick's apartment was compared to the bunker. It was in a decent neighborhood, but the building was pretty old, and had seen better days. She had even seen a cockroach climbing a wall near one of the apartment's door frame.
Inside, Nick's apartment was decently sized, much larger than hers, at least, but nowhere near the grandiloquent size of the bunker. It had an average sized living room, with a few oil paintings hung on the orange walls, which Nick had explained were done by his Father's aunt, a light grey, victorian styled couch, which he had bragged about getting for $50 at a local thrift store, a small flatscreen TV, mounted to a dresser with a piece of plywood, obviously something Nick had done himself. Between the couch and TV was a coffee table on top of a small purrsian rug. Beyond those were two desks, one up against a wall, with a medium sized desktop computer, which looked rather old, and another, the back facing the room, allowing Nick to look at his guests while he sat behind the desk. It had a black desk pad taking up most of the surface, with an old brass desk lamp on one side and an antique wooden globe on the other. In front of the pad was one of those long desk pens in a stand, and several ornate ink bottles. It looked as if the desk was the centerpiece of the room, as if it was where Nick chose to spend most of his time.
Judy felt a bit of curiosity about the rest of the apartment, and walked into the room adjacent to the Living room. As she walked past the door, she saw an odd looking symbol on a wooden shield-shaped piece. It was black, with orange and green carvings around the edge, and a yellow trident shape in the center.
Huh… I wonder what that is. Judy thought, before continuing into the next room. It was a very small dining room, with a table and some chairs, that led into the kitchen, which was obviously old and covered in a very thick layer of white paint. A small counter was occupied by a Microwave, Toaster, and cutting board.
She left the room, curious to check out the rest of Nick's apartment, and walked through the closet/hallway to the Bedroom. She saw Nick sitting on the bed, holding an empty display box. He was looking at it, seeming very sad.
"Are you okay, Nick?" she asked, noting that he didn't look up, or even seem to notice her. Just as she was about to ask again, he spoke.
"She took my dad's watch. That was all I had left of him. I could care less about the money, or any of the valuables she took. That watch was all I cared about here.
Judy found herself breathing a bit heavily, her nostrils flaring. How dare she take that. How dare she hurt Nick. She was surprised by her own anger. She would find that fox, and get back the watch.
"Don't worry, I'll get it back for you," she said, and stormed out of the room.
Nick looked up, a bit surprised, and a smile came onto his face. He had never had anyone offer to help him like that, without expecting anything in return.
Nikula sat on the bench, crying. She had never loved anyone before, and she felt as if she'd been run over by a train. How could her Nick do this, cheating on her. What was wrong with her? Was she too old? Was it because she was an immigrant? She pulled out the bag of things she had taken from their apartment. She pulled out a tie, grasping it tightly in her paws, sobbing. She was so absorbed in her sorrow that she didn't see the grey rabbit in a police uniform walk up to her and sit down.
"Miss Viviankoff?" asked the rabbit, pulling her out of her own mind.
"What you need, officer?" she responded, then recognized the officer. "Hey, you are that bunny drives Nick around. Why he send you here?"
"He didn't, Miss Viviankoff. I actually volunteered to come get his father's watch. I saw you crying. What's wrong?" Judy said, feeling a bit sorry about her outrage at the fox earlier.
"I… it is just very sad. You have ever loved someone just for them betray to you? I am feeling this for Nick. He does not love me but I him. You say you are here for his father's watch?"
"Yeah. He, uh… He says it's all he has left of his dad." Judy replied, feeling guilty about coming to confront the mourning vixen. She just took the stuff because she wanted to remember Nick. It's actually really sad to see her like this… "Don't worry, Nikula. It'll be okay," she continued, patting the fox on the back, and she was pulled into a hug from the vixen.
"Thank you. I am happy you can understand. I am glad for this. You can have the watch, I don't want to hurt Nick, I just wanted to remember him.
Two older wolves sat in the dingy apartment, the floor covered in several purrsian rugs, Canavari prayer mats, and a few boxes around the walls. Green wooden crates, filled with explosives, rifles, handguns, knives, armor, and other military items.
"So. Where are we going to attack? I am dying to spread terror and kill many Nophiri." said one of the wolves.
"You know we cannot kill any non Canavari people until Doyen calls us." responded the other.
"Yes, yes, but why? Why should we only attack those who Doyen says we should? Would it not spread more fear to have constant attacks? Would it not bring justice to more Nophiri?" asked the first, when a laptop buzzed. A prompt to accept a video call from Doyen was on it. They answered.
Dawn sat there, dressed in a wolf outfit, and dressed in a fundamentalist Canavari Headdress, covering all but her false face. She clicked the call button on the computer, and quickly checked to make sure the background was good, and looked like an apartment in Lupenon. Finally, the call was answered.
"Akela Antar. Mahmoud, Faris, how are you?" she asked, in a very thick Lupenese accent. "How goes the spread of the Canavari Caliphate?"
"What do you mean? We do not act to spread it except on your orders," said the second wolf, and the first chimed in.
"Yes. Faris has a good point. We do not. I think we should. Constant attacks would be more effective at spreading the Caliphate," he said, then got up, grabbed a handgun, and stuffed it in his belt. "I am going to get another faithful Canavari to sacrifice himself to kill more Nophiri!"
And with that, he walked out of the dingy apartment.
Nick sat on the couch of his apartment, watching the TV, changing the channels slowly, when Judy walked in, tossing him his father's watch. He looked down at it, then up at Judy, and smiled. She really was willing to go do this for me. Wow.
"Breaking News. Yet another Canavari terrorist attack tears apart the city, marking the seventh such attack this week. This time, a young timberwolf by the name of Rahat Rashid Wollefo detonated a suicide vest on a passenger train near the Olive street station in Sahara Square. It is estimated that thirteen are dead, and a further twenty one wounded. More information later. Until then, I'm Peter Moosebridge, ZNN."
Judy and nick both looked at the TV. What is going on?
Things are gearing up... Anyway, So while I was reading another fanfiction, I got an idea, and I started making a cover photo for it. I'm interested to know what you guys think of the cover. Bonus points if you can guess what its an homage to.
/gallery/ju3ap