Author's Note:

Thank you, GhostWolf88, the two Guests, Altair812, USA Patriot, and Team Blue for your reviews of chapter six.

And yes, USA Patriot, I did accidentally call the FN 57 an FN 97. My mistake.

And don't worry—this is the turning point of the story. It'll get happier soon, so hang in there.


Chapter 7 – Bunnyburrow:

(Judy's POV)

"All aboard the Zootopia Express! Next stop, Bunnyburrow!" came the announcement from the loudspeakers scattered around the station. I picked my suitcase up and boarded the train, blending into the crowd. I picked a seat by a window and sat down. I noticed some police cars with their sirens on racing down the road. I ignored them and started to drift off to sleep.


(Nick's POV)

Me and Will got into the cruiser and raced to the train station a few miles away.

"I hope we can get there before the train leaves," I said, checking my watch. "Which is in one minute! Step on it!"

When we arrived at the station, the train was pulling out. "To the next stop! Quick!"

Will started following the tracks. "You do know that that is the last stop until Bunnyburrow, right?"

"I'll just call and have them stop the train," I said, picking the mic up. "Clawhauser! I need you to get the 2 o' clock train headed south to stop!"

"10-4, Nick." There was a silence for a while. "They said they can't stop it unless continuing would be putting the passengers in danger. Is there any immediate danger to the passengers?"

I sighed in defeat. "No. No imminent danger to any passengers. Thanks for trying, Ben."

I was silent as we headed back to the precinct. Once we arrived back, I went straight to Bogo's office.

"Sir!" I said.

"What is it, Wilde!? I'm in the middle of something! You barge in here just about every fanfic!" Bogo said.

"Really? A fourth wall joke?" I asked. "Anyway, Sir, Officer Hopps has gotten on the train to Bunnyburrow. Permission to leave early."

"Granted."

I ran out to my car and drove off towards the highway. Bunnyburrow is a nearly three hour drive, but I was going to make it in two at the latest. "Please be there, Judy," I said to myself as I went down the highway at ninety miles an hour.

On my way, I dialed up Mrs. Otterton.

"Oh! Hello, Nick."

"Sorry to bother you, but can you pick the kids up from daycare and maybe babysit them for a while. I know I had asked you to take them to daycare this morning, and I know you babysat them yesterday, but could you—"

"No need to ask me that much, Nick! Anything to help the officers that saved my husband's life."

"Thank you very much. I'll find a way to repay you for all you've done for us."

"No need! I used to work in child care. It's my calling."

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Otterton," I said.

"You're very welcome. Goodbye."

"Bye."

The next call I made was to Mr. Hopps. He didn't answer, so I left a voicemail. "Mr. Hopps? This is Nick. I know this is short notice, and I probably needed to tell you sooner, but Judy has lost her memories and isn't Judy anymore. She's made her way to Bunnyburrow and I need you to intercept her and keep her safe until I get there if you can. Thanks. Call me back as soon as you get a chance."


(Judy's POV)

The train arrived at Bunnyburrow, and I was the only one to leave the train. I looked around at the area—it was a rural farming town, mostly carrots and lettuce by the looks of it. The population seemed to be mostly bunnies with a few sheep, foxes, coyotes, horses, and other various species mixed in.

I stepped off the platform and headed to a restaurant that caught my eye nearby. The place had a retro style—made to look like a fifties roadside diner. I sat at the bar and looked at the menus they had on the counter.

"Judy!" came a voice from behind the bar. I lowered the menu and saw a bunny waitress standing in front of me. "It's so good to see you!"

I was confused as to how the waitress knew me, and who she was. "How do you know my name?"

She laughed and said, "I'm your sister—Janice!"

I went along. "Yeah, I was just joking."

"Nice to see you visiting for a while. What can I get you? The usual?"

"Sure." I didn't know what the "usual" was.

"Coming right up." Janice peeked through the kitchen window. "Hey Harold! We got Judy in here! We need the usual!"

"Stop yelling at me! I'm workin' on it!" Harold yelled back.

"Don't yell back at me, Harold! Do you want to sleep on the couch tonight?" Harold handed a plate with a veggie burger and fries to Janice, who then set it in front of Judy. "There you go, sis. Number one with no cheese."

"Thank you," I said. "How much do I owe you?"

"Oh no! It's on the house as usual for family."

Janice went to take other customers' orders and I was left alone with my thoughts as I ate my food.

Did I do the right thing? Does my family live here? Who are they? I wonder what Nick is doing right now…


(Nick's POV)

The winding road leading to Bunnyburrow would've normally been really fun to drive on with my car, but I wasn't thinking about fun—I was hoping Judy had gotten off at Bunnyburrow.

When I finally arrived, I went straight to the Hopps' Farm. I ran up to the door and knocked and Jake opened the door.

"Hey, Nick! How's it going?" Jake asked. "And why are you in uniform? Is there a problem?"

"Where's your father?" I asked.

"Out in the west field. Why?"

"No time to explain right now. Thanks!" I said, running to the machine shed. I hopped onto one of the five four-wheelers. Luckily, Mr. Hopps taught me how to drive them.

Last time I was here, me and four of Judy's brothers had a race on these things. Needless to say, Mr. Hopps wasn't too happy about that.

I put it in high range and 4x4 mode and drove off down the dirt road towards where Mr. Hopps was. I noticed the tractor in a carrot field to the south, so I cut across a lettuce field to get there quicker.

When I arrived, I waved Mr. Hopps down, and he climbed out of the tractor.

"What're ya doin' here, Nick? We weren't expectin' ya to visit for another month," Stu said as he climbed out of the tractor.

"Is Judy here?" I asked.

"No. Why would she be?"

"Didn't you get my voicemail?"

"No. I've been on this tractor since morning. I need to get this field taken care of. Ya know, harvest is right around—"

"Judy's in Bunnyburrow, and I don't know where she is."

"Ah, quit worryin' She knows the entire tri-burrows better than anyone in the family. She'll be fine."

I sighed, knowing Mr. Hopps wouldn't like this. "Well, you see, Judy...isn't Judy anymore."

"What'd ya' mean?"

"There was an accident on patrol several days ago, and Judy hasn't been herself since. She's lost all her memories."

Mr. Hopps was silent, obviously taken aback by what I was saying. "Like a computer-ma-jig's hard drive-thingy when it's wiped?"

"Um…I think so. Is one of your kits the IT mammal for the farm?"

"Never mind that. Let's hop in the truck and go lookin' for her!"

I jumped into the passenger seat of the farm truck that was on the edge of the field, while Mr. Hopps got into the driver's seat. He drove us to town, because that would be the best place to start.


(Judy's POV)

I had been walking for a few hours around the town, going nowhere. I eventually got tired and sat down on a bench outside a bakery. I pulled out a picture I had taken from the apartment when I left. It was a family photo. Nick and I stood in the background, while Nicole and Kenny stood in front, all of us smiling.

I was sorry I wasn't able to be a part of this wonderful family.

A tear landed on the picture, right on my face on the picture. The water smeared the ink, erasing me from the photo.

"Aww, now that's a darn shame," said a male voice from behind me. "Your picture got ruined, Judy."

"Who are you?" I asked, turning to see a pudgy red fox in a baker's apron brushing flour off his paws.

"Shucks, Judy. I'd figure you'd remember your parent's business partner!"

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember."

"I'm Gideon Grey! The owner and founder of this here bakery," he said, motioning towards the building. "And I see you need help."

I put the photo back and turned away from Gideon. "No, I don't need help."

"Judy..." Gideon said, sitting beside me.

"I said I don't need help."

"Well, I may not be the brightest mammal in the tri-burrows, but I can tell when somethin' is wrong."

"I don't know who I am."

"Uh...pardon?"

"I got shot two weeks ago, and now I've lost all memory of Nick, the kids, my past, everything. I don't know who I really am."

Gideon put a paw on my shoulder, and as he was doing that, his claw lightly scraped my cheek. It brought back something.

"I want you to remember this moment anytime you think you can be anything more than a stupid, carrot-farming, dumb bunny!"

I shoved Gideon away, and looking at him with fear in my eyes, I picked up my suitcase and ran away, tears streaming down my face.

"Judy!" Gideon yelled after me as I ran.


(Nick's POV)

We got out and started walking around, calling out for Judy every so often. A few of Judy's siblings were in town and helped us in the search.

Around 1600 hours (4 PM), me and Stu stopped at the restaurant that Janice and her husband worked at for a break. Janice had already given us all the details she could remember from when Judy had been here, but it seemed to be a dead end. "Thanks," I said as Janice set a chicken burger in front of me. I was famished from all the walking. As soon as I took a bite, my phone rang. It was Mrs. Otterton. "Hello?"

"Nick," she started. "I think I found something you might want to see."

"What is it?"

"It's a note. I found it on the refrigerator. I'm sending a picture of it to you right now."

"Thanks. How're the kids doing?"

"They're a little worried for you and Judy, but other than that, they're fine."

"That's good to hear."

"Nicole wants to talk to you."

"Daddy?"

"Hey, sweetie! How's Mrs. O treating you?" I said as I took a bite of the burger.

"Ok, I guess. When will you be home?" I could tell she had most likely been crying.

"I hope to be home before you go to bed, ok?"

"Ok, Daddy. Love you."

"Love you too, sweetie. Bye," I said.

"Bye bye, Daddy," Nicole said. I hung up and opened the file Mrs. Otterton had sent me. It was a note written in Judy's handwriting. It read:

Dear Nicolas P. Wilde,

I know it has been hard to cope with me, so I am going to start my life over. Don't try to follow, because I'm not coming back. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but I feel I don't have a choice. Tell Nicole and Kenny I'm sorry it couldn't work out. Maybe I'll meet you again in the future.

Farewell,

I started crying when I read the last part—she didn't even put a name for herself. She really wants to leave this life behind. "Maybe I should just give up," I said, slouching into the booth. But then a sharp pain across my face brought me back up. "What the heck was that for?"

"Don't give up!" Stu said.

"You didn't have to slap me!"

"Listen to me," Stu said, grabbing my shoulders and making me face him. "Would Judy give up on you?"

It then dawned on me; no, she wouldn't.

"This is a fight that is right! You need to fight to find her, and bring her back! If not for your sake, but for your kits!"

"You're right, Mr. H, I will!" I said. "Right after this sandwich."


Author's Note:

Well, the Great Meme War has ended in a cease-fire declared by the Allies. You can read my Great Meme War Memoir at /r/prequelmemes on Reddit.