I do not own Zootopia, that belongs to Disney. This a fan work made solely for the sake of amusement.

The Translation of Dawn Bellwether

Chapter Ten: The Mammal Inclusion Initiative

By: Gabriel LaVedier

The City Council represented the collective will of the districts, effectively sub-mayors of the miniature cities that made up the megalopolis of Zootopia. Some districts, due to size or prior legal agreement, simply didn't have their own council member, and just relied on the Mayor and served as a demarcated organ of the city. Meadowlands had its own district council for internal matters but relied on the city for most everything else. The Canal District and Marshlands were too sparsely populated for representation, Canyonlands was always quibbling about its status in relation to Sahara Square and the Polar Strait had been considering division, but remained as a smaller segment of Tundratown. Happytown certainly qualified for district status, but no one ever dared make an effort to give them a proper status, given the population composition.

Sahara Square, Tundratown, Little Rodentia, the Rainforest District, the Nocturnal District and Outback Island, all had their representatives that sat three times a month or if an emergency meeting was called by the mayor or one of the councilors. As Mayor, Lionheart was in effect also representing Savannah Central.

The chamber in which they met had been built to demonstrate a sense of regality and stoic justice. The walls were all paneled in dark wood to half way up, while marble veneers went up to the ceiling. The domed ceiling was a fresco, representing the three primary social religions: the sun, stars and earth of Solaterra, with farmers in toil and praise; the moon and glade of the Holy Selenic Convocation, with baying figures and the raising of insects; and the peaceful waterhole in the savannah merging the two in the center representing the Peaceground Unitary Church Association.

All the furniture was modular, each podium sized and designed for the councilors serving at present, though the one for Little Rodentia looked to be older than the rest, as it never changed much. The central of the seven podia was set higher and slightly more forward to represent the Mayor's primacy in relation to the rest of the council. Set to the left side was a small stand for a steno, the one for the day being a trim and studious-looking cheetah woman, in a light gray pantsuit and a pair of glasses on a chain perched on her snout.

Dawn was there, but as an observer, sitting at a small desk on the opposite side of the podium line from the steno. It provided a nice sense of balance, predator and prey on the two sides, both looking civilized and professional. In front of the semicircle of the council seats was a large table, with two sizes of chair and a tiny staircase onto it, with three sizes of microphone sitting on the tabletop.

Behind that was a low wooden balustrade with three different sizes of gate in it, separating the formal area from the audience area. A series of padded wooden benches were separated by size in the area, along with some rodent-sized seats arranged on the walls like theater boxes.

The councilors all entered the chamber from the rear entrance taking their seats in their own time. An older female fennec from Sahara Square in a sandy brown skirt and jacket combo; a slim stoat in her summer color, wearing a conservative black dress, represented Tundratown; a male lemming in a toned-down business suit sat for Little Rodentia; a slightly heavyset male armadillo in a light-colored suit with a bolo tie was there for the Rainforest District; a male gray-headed flying fox in an oddly modified vest and pair of pants was there for the Nocturnal District; and a small female wallaby in a white pantsuit represented Outback Island.

Leodore cleared his throat and shuffled a few papers that he had brought with him. "Well then, let's get this City Council meeting underway. Is there any old business from Swinton's last meeting?" After a negative murmur from the others Leodore clapped his paws together and smiled. "Well! New business. I have a new initiative I'd like to get approved by the council. I had copies distributed to all of you and there should have been time to look it over. Will anyone second to begin the discussion?"

"Second," the stoat said, raising her paw.

"Thank you, Miss Erminova," Leodore said with a smile. "Now, as I related to each of you personally, this was an initiative crafted by my highly talented Assistant Mayor, Miss Bellwether. If at all possible, I'd like her to offer the formal explanation of the whole thing. A vocal vote will confirm it."

Dawn blushed hotly at the praise from Leodore, and blushed even more deeply when everyone agreed with the proposal. She strolled over to the table in front of the council, availing herself of the highest chair and the medium microphone. "Thank you Le- Mayor Lionheart. This initiative is aimed at helping those traditionally underserved by the machinery of social activity in the city. Now..."

"A moment, if I may," the lemming said, holding a paw up.

"The council recognizes Mr. Seedsworth of Little Rodentia," Leodore said.

"What kind underserving were you talking about? This note about machinations of social activity seems very conspiratorial."

Dawn twitched slightly, looking down at her notes to hide the wince that ran through her. A conspiracy. There had been a conspiracy, by her doing, but that had happened in a different life, a life that didn't even exist anymore so far as she was concerned. "It has been my observation that there are traditional pockets of highly conserved activity. Certain professions, or broad professional areas, have been narrowly restricted by species or at least genera lines. Either by dint of 'conventional wisdom' or archaic notions of 'perpetual niche competence.' Both ideas should strike all of us, civilized and modern mammals that we are, as inherently speciesist."

"A question, please," the fennec from Sahara Square interjected.

"Yes, Mrs. Fanak, you may proceed," Leodore rumbled.

"I take your meaning, but we rely on these shortcuts and rules of thumb to help this modern, civilized society function smoothly and speedily, do we not? Why should we not rely on the best we can get?"

"But that's the point of it," Dawn said, flipping through her papers. "We don't always get the best, we get the conventional. We just make a blind assumption that this mammal or that one is the best because, at best, we happen to be a particular species. At worst, their family pushes them into it because it's what the family always did, even if they show no aptitude."

"Is this some new method of predator promotion?" Seedsworth asked, cutting in before any other comment could be made. "Did you put your words in the mouth of a sheep, Lionheart?"

"Mr. Seedsworth you are out of order. Frankly, on many levels, but you did not seek recognition and your accusation is uncalled for," Leodore snarled, rapping a gavel sharply.

"I would like to address the comments made by the representative from Little Rodentia," Dawn humbly said.

"Please proceed, Miss Bellwether."

"The initiative does not focus on any family in particular, but applies equally to all species, with no restriction. It's about equality and inclusion, which will help everyone, by offering them equal opportunities formerly denied, often for no reason at all. Look at me, it's clear I have a condition, one I was born with. But I'm capable and smart, I can do things, and I had the opportunity but only because I had connections. Someone exactly like me, without those, would not be here. In essence, that's what the Mammal Inclusion Initiative is all about. If you can do the work, you get the job, without restrictions based on old thinking."

"Your estimated financial impact is somewhat unclear, Miss Bellwether, could you elaborate on that?" Miss Erminova asked.

"Yes, well, as this only inserts language into existing city codes and adds extra protections it's hard to estimate impact, as it's unclear how many will avail themselves. Court costs will be the largest concern, but those can be minimized by strong encouragement to businesses and other organizations to police their own groups. It really does work more smoothly and efficiently that way, and they'll see the difference. By hiring the right mammal for the right job they can avail themselves of a skilled sector of the population they might not have considered before."

"Unknown costs, a nebulous benefit, a lot of folksy words and populist platitudes. It's just not adding up for me," Mr. Seedsworth said.

"Yes, Cecil, we know you used to worth at Lemming Brothers," the wallaby said with a roll of her eyes. "If you prefer to think about bucks and not mammals you can go back there. I heard you were good at that."

"Money is the ultimate bottom line in a city this big! They say you can't eat gold but you can't buy food with warm feelings!"

"But you can get help when mammals are mammals and not something you write off and throw away!"

"There is no proof I ever wantonly dismissed anyone over a matter of profit or loss!"

Leodore rapped his gavel sharply, looking between the two councilors with a sharp gaze. "Mr. Seedsworth, Miss Macadam! This is a new opportunity to cease this kind of fractious behavior and do something of real, tangible benefit for the city. I promised the citizens this kind of new inclusiveness and open opportunity for all. I'm willing to use my executive power to enact the initiative in the districts under my direct purview, and allow the Meadowlands district council to vote on implementation in full or external enforcement. Then we can watch migration patterns to the open areas, and the economic benefits Miss Bellwether mentioned. Meanwhile, your own constituents, who voted for me on the strength of this, will be battering down your doors and clogging your phone lines demanding to know why other districts get to have something they don't. It's a painful, protracted and yes, Mr. Seedsworth, costly possibility.

"But I would very much prefer we not do that. I want the maximum benefit for as many mammals as possible as quickly as possible. And as well, I want everyone here to continue to look good. I think we all want the best for the citizens of Zootopia, so let's show them that we mean all the things we promised to get to this place."

The council went silent for a long moment, all of them seeming to think deeply on the words. Dawn was rubbing her head as expectation crashed headfirst into the new reality. The old Lionheart had made the same threat, but with more shrewd venom and pomposity. He had used things he knew about them to subtly intimate a negative outcome, and still had almost gone ahead with it. He had won no friends that day. She just grasped that that had come back to hurt him somehow, but the specifics were still lost and locked in the haze of Morning Star's will.

"You're a shrewd mammal, Lionheart," Cecil said, breaking the silence. "I like that. I can respect that in an executive of any type. I'm inclined to give this a go."

"Sometimes we all need a little help, I guess. I was lucky I have money on both sides of my family, and the perception is that fennecs are shrewd enough to be politicians, as opposed to red foxes," Mrs. Fanak sighed. "I take no pride in it but I still availed myself of it. I did prove myself, but they were gambling on a bias. They should be voting on assured promises of competence."

"I'd like to open a vote of acceptance, to then begin the process of implementation. Those in favor, raise your arms," Leodore said. Though it took a moment, all of the councilors raised their arms. "Let the record show a unanimous positive vote."

Dawn just managed to hold her happiness, clapping her hooves together cheerfully, tapering off as she realized she was being stared at. She took her papers and scooted off back to her seat.

Leodore gave a huge smile and cleared his throat. "Well, now that that hurdle is out of the way, let's move on to the other matters involved in running this great city of ours..."

Hours later the council adjourned, with a great deal accomplished besides the agreement to fully implement the MII. Dawn followed Leodore into the heart of City Hall, nervously chewing her lip. She had to ask him about his promise, but she was almost too afraid to. She had no reason to believe he would betray her but she couldn't fight the old memories.

Leodore whipped out his cell phone and brought up some contacts. He made several phone calls as he walked, all of them being some variation of talking to a reporter or the news desk, arranging a press conference. He spoke a lot about a major announcement, but gave no further details.

"So are we... announcing the Mammal Inclusion Initiative?" Dawn shyly asked.

"That's on the agenda. We need to strike while the iron is hot, and, let's be honest, put the whole city on notice that prejudice in hiring and education and everything else will no longer be tolerated. That should shake things up a little bit. Since I called all the news outlets they'll be aware of each other, and realize this is big. We'll get a tremendous boost to coverage."

The comment didn't do anything to assuage Dawn's fears about the promise being ignored. Though her more rational mind was well aware of how silly it would have been to hold a press conference and talk show tour to announce a simple relationship. It would have been pure excess. "Will it be in your office?"

"Out front, very public and visible. It projects a more powerful image to have City Hall in the background, and to be down on the street, among the populace. That says it all, creating a mix of political power and a concern for the Zootopian in the street. That's what this is all about."

"Yes. All about..." Dawn echoed softly, keeping her smile up, but without any spark in her eyes.

In very short order a small herd of all varieties of media mammals had crowded around the steps of City Hall. The big three networks, ZNN, the local papers, news radio and even the independent stringers hanging at the back of the crowd. They all started clamoring for commentary, flashbulbs popping to snap shots as Leodore and Dawn left the building.

"Thank you all for coming out, I have very important matters to relay, so the whole city can prepare."

A large rhino pushed his bulk forward, waving a microphone in Lionheart's direction. "Mayor Lionheart! Jeremy Bicorn, ZNN. Are we to understand you have passed the initiative you promised during the election?"

"Absolutely! It was the first order of business and we were swift about it."

A svelte red deer slipped up close with her own microphone. "Trisha Roe, ZBC. Did you make an executive decision and put it only in places directly under your power?"

"No, not at all. We had a debate and the initiative was unanimously passed, to be implemented in all districts at once, once the language has been inserted. Formally, as the law states, it will take effect in one month's time, unless action has not been completed."

A mouse on a moving, elevated platform brought himself up near Lionheart. "Musculus Gray, Little Rodentia Union-Tribune. Just what will be the actual effect of this? All your campaign information was very vague."

"That was just the question I was waiting for. I want to make sure this is clear. This new initiative absolutely puts to an end any preemptive hurdle to acceptance into contention for a job or other position open for general filling. If a test can be taken, anyone can, if an application can be submitted, anyone can. Any mammal with a desire to perform a task will be tested and assessed without bias. It brings me no pleasure to say that the courts can and will be involved if discrimination is overt and provable, but, and I emphasize this part, it should be obvious to all concerned it would be best that that not happen.

"The reasonable solution is to comply and accept all applicants and have standardized methods of hiring. It's a new, modern world. Why we've held back this long is a mystery. But, all the mistakes of the past will be remedied. Long neglected potential will be broken free, doors opened, possibilities realized. That's the effect of the Mammal Inclusion Initiative."

The reporters all chattered together, some calling their editors and hyping the story, preparing the night editors and others to get the announcement flying out over the airwaves or across the pages of the papers.

"Looks like a smashing success. That should get the word out successfully. All those businesses and major civil occupations will certainly be on notice," Dawn said, with a smile plastered on her features. She really had no other expectation, and should have been happy that the initiative she had crafted, and for which she had been credited, was in place and being promoted all across Zootopia.

"I wasn't finished!" Leodore roared, attracting the attention of the busy reporters. "I had another announcement, and arguably, a much more important one, also related to a promise I made. And as an honorable lion, the right thing to do is to fulfill that promise."

"What's this new announcement, Mayor Lionheart? Some new piece of legislation that was passed as well?" Trisha asked.

"No, no. This is something entirely personal, and very happy! I promised as soon as the MII passed I would announce to the city, formally, that Miss Dawn Bellwether graciously agreed to see me, socially. I can't find any way to express how much it means to me. And I want to express it to all the city. I love Dawn Bellwether."

The whole crowd went silent, half in disbelief, half in pure shock. The quiet stillness burst open like a shattered dam, unleashing a wave of sound, the furor all directed at Dawn's stunned, slightly-pained face. Microphones pushed at her face and every reporter that could reach her cried out for her reaction.

In her mind, a storm. The ego wasn't there. The claim on ownership, the smiling assurance of his certain legacy, vague deflections and not much of anything real, with her in the background, forgotten. But no, this Leodore, this one was too good for that. He had kept his promise; the divergence was wider than ever, the difference never more sharp. Even if the other one had been involved with her he wouldn't have said so, not that that quickly.

Her mind burned with hatred, from the locked-away memories, from the rage the old memories held for any predator, especially Leodore Lionheart. He was the source of her anger, the heart of her plot. Elsewhere.

She fought the pain, fought the fear, fought against the tide of words. She felt Leodore's paws on her shoulders, heard his firm voice calling for calm and respect for her. For her. She opened her eyes and stared at the crush of bodies.

"It's true! I'm dating Leodore Lionheart. The Mayor and Assistant Mayor are a couple, and I don't care who knows it! We shared lunch and a really nice dinner, and we got to know each other. I've been charmed by him since this whole campaign started, and I'm not going to apologize! He's the sweetest lion out there, well worth being involved with!"

Leodore drew her closer as the reporters pushed in, like the third act in a zombie movie. She was softly pulled off her hooves and pressed into that glorious chest, into a place of comfort and security. "That's enough! We'll be releasing statements later, but you have your story! Now please let Dawn... that is, Assistant Mayor Bellwether be!"

She clung to him, as he swept her along back into city hall, with the cries of the media behind them. He rushed them into an elevator and hit the button for their floor.

After a moment of silence Dawn finally asked, "So.. are we chancing going home through that?"

Leodore dropped his usual hearty, booming laugh. "Oh no, they're probably watching the bus routes and our cars right now."

"I thought so. I guess... takeout? My treat, you paid last time. And... you actually did it. I didn't think you would. I don't think I was really sure what would happen."

"Well now we know. And of course I had to do it. I promised you. A promise is a debt, but to you, it's something even deeper."

Dawn blushed, burying her face in his thick, luscious mane, enjoying the scent of fruity mane conditioner and a touch of sweat from the sudden dash. No matter how hard her head throbbed, nothing could make her stop loving that moment.