Even though the Hopps family is starting to accept him, Li doesn't feel at home. Maybe because of all the glances and whispers. But, hey! Carrots Day is near. Apparently, it's the biggest festival of the year and the Hopps family have a few stands. Maybe he'll help…
"Come on sleepyhead! Were gonna be late!"
"Please, five more minutes…"
" You said that half an hour ago!"
With much groans and moping, Li drags himself to the bathroom. After a –cold- shower he dresses and meets the rest of the family downstairs.
" Well people, today is Carrots Day and we have a lot on our plate. Amalia, you'll show Li around the blueberry stand, Mark take half of the teens to the flower stand, Mary, you're in charge of the children, has everybody got their assignment?"
After a unanimous "sir yes sir!", Mark, a white furred buck and Mary, a black and white doe head towards their respective responsibilities. Li hasn't got the time to wonder about what he has agreed to do before Amalia yanks him with surprising strength towards the blueberry stand.
"So… what am I supposed to do?"
"Well, you see, you put the blueberries in the bags and on the stand."
"Which bags? There's like a thousand different ones!"
"Now, don't you start being a crybaby on me, understood? The bags size vary on the price, the small ones are one dollar each and the price grows following the size of the bag. Oh, and don't worry, you can be generous!"
"As my lady wishes"
Hours later, the stand is finally closing with all the blueberries sold.
"What do you say we take a little stroll down the fair? It seems quite fun."
"If you want to, but hurry, we've got to be back at home by six"
"What do you mean (looks at his watch) it's already five o'clock! We spent nine hours here!"
"Actually, eight. Lunch break."
"For you maybe, but I had to stay here while YOU took your sweet time to get a sandwich"
"Your lost fair and square."
"Whatever, lets go."
As they stroll through the fair arm linked, Li is suddenly aware of the looks and whispers, "disgusting", "freaks" and, sporting the largest smile he could, he lifts her and kisses her, and while she laughs, sends a mocking smirk to the shocked faces of the bigots.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Amalia Hopps."
"Jacob" she answers icily
Jacob Stompton, the son of Henry Stompton, the local business magnate and also, Amalia's ex-boyfriend.
"What do you want Jacob, I told you it was over."
"Maybe it is, but is "that" all you found to replace me, a runt?"
Meanwhile, Li watches him with an uninterested look and tightens his hold on Amalia.
"Don't you dare call him like that!"
"Is the wittle tiger so afwaid that he hides behind his girlfriend? Pathetic, I knew you preds were cunts but come on, it can't be that bad!"
Jacob's little declaration has attracted quite a crowd, and not a sympathetic one. Meanwhile, Jacobs henchmen were creeping behind Li and Amalia.
"Come on Li, lets go…"
But as he is about to turn he feels a sharp pain on his back, bringing him to his knee. He struggles to regain his breath as he feels another hit on his back. He feels dizzy but he manages to scramble back to his feet to see five of Jacobs henchmen surrounding him and Amalia being held by another.
"What are you doing? Let him go you psycho!"
He looks to Jacob, sees him laughing. Want to wipe that smile of his face. Another hit, more pain. He senses another coming.
Remember: block, think and attack!
A punch to the jaw sends one of Jacob's henchmen flying through the wall. A kick knocks out another. He's standing now, the henchmen stand back, glancing nervously to each other.
Remember, position!
"Well, what are you waiting for? Go get him! Now!"
Remember, focus! See without looking, feel without touching, Breathe!
Meanwhile, the crowd has fallen silent, watching in awe at this show of beautiful violence. AsLi fights, his movements are fluid, sharp and strong. Every punch and kick lands and every attack is blocked and soon he is surrounded by the knocked out bodies of Jacobs henchmen. Said rabbit is standing slack-jawed, well before Amalia lands an elbow on his jaw effectively shutting him up and knocking him out.
After the initial shock, Bonnie appears, she obviously was searching for them.
"Amalia! Li! Are you alright? What happened? And-is this Jacob Stompton?"
"Yes"
"Li! You're covered in bruises! Come this instant! We need to get you patched up!"
Before Bonnie's show of authority, Li can only gulp and think about his mom.
"Yes ma'am…"
A few hours later, the burrow has gone to bed. However, many of the adults are still up and discussing.
"What should we do?"
"About what?"
"About the tiger sleeping in our burrow you knucklehead!"
"Well, what about him?"
"You saw what happened at the fair!"
"That wasn't his fault! It's Jacob who started it! His goons attacked him! He didn't do anything to them!"
"Ha! You saw what state they were in? They couldn't even stand!"
"SILENCE!"
The two bickering rabbits stop and look up at Stu
"He might have single-handedly beaten about ten rabbits but it obviously was a case of –how did Judy call it?- legitimate defence, these guys attacked him and he defended himself, maybe he didn't have to send them to the hospital but remember what Amalia told us, he is obviously trained in martial arts."
"Well, what should we do?"
The whole room falls silent
"But, doesn't Amalia has to go back to Zootopia? Her college is here."
"Yes, I think she is going tomorrow night."
"Well, problem resolved!"
"Yeah, right…"
Epilogue:
A shadow stands under the moonlight. White fur and black antlers. He does not move, he finally found him. "Brother?"
