The Void

As happy as she was to be back home and prepare for leaving for the academy, she found that she couldn't enjoy it as much as before her father was forced to repay a debt to a shrew crime boss. Her parents noticed the change in their daughter because she mostly sulked around the house. Even the neighbors noticed that the once-cheery Judy Hopps who would always greet them with a smile would just drive on in her truck looking mopey.

Mr. Longfoot was the only one brave enough to ask her why she was like this when she stopped by his house one afternoon, "Judy? Are you sure you're all right?"

"Yes, Mr. Longfoot… I'm… fine…" But even she wasn't so sure about that. For every day that passed, the ache in her heart grew.

"Your parents told me how you were very brave to take your father's place to repay that shrew. They begged all the neighbors to not tell their younglings because they didn't want them to know their sister was trapped to serve the crime boss."

"I know, we had to tell them that I was back from the academy for a break, but I would be going back soon, which will be the truth since I'll be going this time…"

"You don't seem very thrilled… I can recall a very excited Judy Hopps that couldn't wait to leave so she could fulfill her dreams."

"It's still my dream, but… I don't know. I feel like something is missing…"

"Or… is it someone?"

Judy glanced down, unable to meet the older rabbit's eyes.

"So that's it… you miss someone dearly…"

She started weeping in her paws. "It hurts to be apart from him! But the last thing he told me was to go live my dreams! I want to do that, but I can't!" she crouched down in sorrow while Mr. Longfoot patted her back.

"There now. Let it all out…"

"Judy!" Harold rushed in, "Are you all right?"

"She just misses someone she cares for deeply…" Longfoot replied.

"What?!" Harold accidently yelled out and softened his tone, "I mean… I'm so sorry, Judy…"

"I'll go get some water for her. Think you can keep an eye on her, Harold?"

"Of course, Mr. Longfoot. Please."

Once the elderly rabbit went inside, Harold crouched down to Judy's level.

"So… who's the lucky rabbit?"

She looked up to him in disbelief, "Seriously, Harold? That's all you can think of? How someone holds a place in my heart and it's not you?"

"I'm just trying to understand who it is you could have possibly met while you were trapped in that awful place."

"It wasn't awful. I didn't like how my father was threatened to come work there, but once I got there myself, I met so many good mammals and I learned so much."

"And by mammals, did you meet other hares?"

Judy scowled and got up, "Why should that matter? We're past being prey, and predators are nothing like their ancestors."

His eyes widened at that statement, figuring out what she meant, "Oh, no… Judy, you can't be serious! What will your parents say?!"

"They can say anything they want. They supported my decision to be a cop to an extent, but when it comes to falling in love, I'm willing to ignore their apprehensions."

"Your parents told me there were foxes there! Is it one of them?!"

"I'm not telling you anything. You're obviously are stuck on the past when there can be a brighter future waiting for all of us!" she ran from him.


So many memories… so many shadows… As he passed the rooms, he could see those images of him and her playing out as if they were really there… When he passed the kitchen, he saw them making that pizza that lead to a food fight, and making blueberry pancakes for breakfast that one time. In the hallway, he saw the many conversations they held there. The recreation room where they played many of the games there and she'd usually win… He looked out a window and saw them playing in the snow… And finally, when he passed the dining hall, he saw their first dance…

He lingered there, seeing them dancing away… but in reality, there was no one there. Just an empty hall.

Finnick was carrying Fru-Fru in his paws as they carefully witnessed the scene. He whispered.

"What did I tell you? It's been that way since she left…"

"Oh… Poor Nicky… He hasn't spoken in a week! How he must be suffering…"

"Suffering" was an understatement. Nick could feel the agonizing pain in his heart and it just kept growing every day. To him, this was worse than when he had been muzzled.

All he had left of her was memories.


Judy's suitcase was nearly packed on the bed, but she found herself unable to finish as she sat there staring at it and the acceptance letter that sat inside. She sighed. His words echoed in her head, "Go. Live your dreams, Judy Hopps, show the world what you're made of… Get in the force and show them what a good damn cop you can be…"

"I want to… but without you… how can I?" she found herself saying out loud.

"How can I what?" her mother walked in the room without her realizing it.

"Oh, Mom… I didn't see you there…" The scenario suddenly made her remember a different scenario involving a fox about to take her outside to play in the snow. That just made the ache inside her grow deeper.

"Judy… honey, are you sure you're okay…? If something had happened to you at that place, please tell me…" Bonnie pleaded with her eyes.

Judy took a breath, "Something did happen in that place…"

"What?" her mother fretted.

But her daughter just gave a reassuring smile, "I met someone…"

Bonnie gasped and covered her mouth.

"I know you always hoped I would find a nice rabbit to settle with, but I couldn't help myself… He may be a fox, but he and I had so much in common and we had this mutual bond, becoming each other's best friend… I will admit we had a rocky start, but once we looked past our differences, we were able to find something to share and we had been sharing ever since…"

"Oh, Judy…"

"I know this isn't normal, a predator and prey relationship, but are there any rules about love? I studied long enough to know the laws of Zootopia and I am willing to follow those rules as a righteous police officer, but for me personally and my heart, I want to be with the one I love…"

Bonnie had a small smile on her lips, "I do understand, Judy… It's going to take some getting used to… but your happiness should matter… Your father will need some time, but he'll give in. Just… which fox is it?"

Judy gave a cheesy grin, "The tall one."

"Ah. Well, like I said, it's going to get some getting used to, but the way you described your feelings towards him reminds me of when your father and I first fell in love…"

"Really?"

"Oh, yes, and suddenly, your sulking around makes even more sense. When we were first married, your father was away delivering the produce for a week and I missed him terribly."

"So when he came back, you were happy again?"

"Absolutely, and it turns out he missed me terribly, too. I always believe that when you miss someone so enormously, it's true love."

Judy's amethyst eyes widened at the thought. She slowly said, "You're right… Oh, Mom, I can't put it off anymore! I love him! I need to go to him and tell him!" She hopped off the bed and rushed past her father.

He exclaimed, "Whoa! Jude, where's the fire?"

"The fire is in my heart!" she shouted back and ran out the room.

"Oh." he gave a confused look, "What?"


Judy was about to get the truck when a van screeched into the driveway. She yelped at its sudden appearance when she gaped at who was at the wheel.

"Finnick?"

"Judy!" the small fox got out and had a worried look in his eyes. "I'm so glad I found you!"

"What? Fin, what's going on? You're never worried, so something's wrong!"

"It's Nick, Judy…"

She gasped and she could feel the blazing fire in her heart started to dim.

"He left in the middle of night without us knowing and left this note." he handed over the paper to her.

Judy read the note out loud, "Dear everyone… I couldn't stay in the house any longer, not with everything reminding me of her… I thought I could get past it like I could with everything else, but let's face it, Judy has touched too much of our lives for her to be not so easily forgotten, especially by me…" Tears were starting to spill from her eyes as she kept reading, "I decided to go on my own for a while to help clear my head. I'll be back. I just don't know when. Tell Big and Fru-Fru 'Thanks for everything', and Finnick for being the best partner in crime and pal, who was like a brother a fox could ask for… and if you see Judy again, tell her I-" She saw that was how it ended. He couldn't finish the last part, but why?

"Once we read that note, I rushed over to find you. He's never done anything like this before. It actually scares me, Judy, because he's right. He is like the brother I never had. Why else would I put up his bad jokes?"

Judy wiped a tear away, "You're so right, Fin… As a matter of fact, I was about to come over to tell him I love him."

The fox's eyes widened before he broke into a grin, "About time!"

"Mind if I take shotgun?"

"Be my guest. If anyone's going to find him, it's a lovesick bunny he misses…"

She rolled her eyes, but then gave a determined look as they got in the van. "By the way, where did you get this vehicle?"

"It's mine. It was in Big's garage."

"Nice." It was all she could say as she pushed the petal and drove them away.

They were unaware that a hare was listening to them by the house the whole time. He reached for his cell and dialed the number. Harold said, "Yes, hi. I think I will take up on your deal, after all. In fact, I would like the privilege to use a Night Howler on a fox that's stolen my girl…"