Author's Note: Just wanted to remind you guys that in chapter 12 I posted an author's note about the title. I haven't gotten any feedback yet so I will keep it as is but if you haven't seen what I am considering changing my title to then please go check out chapter 12! Other than that, please enjoy chapter 14 and please follow, fav, and review!

***DISCLAIMER: I own no part of Zootopia***

Chapter 14: Stay or go

Luke walked with Judy that evening to their cubicle at the ZPD to see Nick sitting at the desk in his cubicle. He was holding an ice pack to the side of his head where Luke had kicked him while he typed with one paw on the computer. He turned sharply when he saw Luke and Judy standing at the entrance of his office space. He quickly logged out of his account while Luke began to speak to him.

"Hey Dad, I'm sorry about hurting you back there." Luke hung his head down while Nick's emerald eyes, in contrast to the fight, were now full of warmth and sympathy.

"Luke, you shouldn't be sorry" Nick said as he got up to comfort Luke by putting his arm around his shoulder. "You did exactly what was expected of you. I'm impressed that you had what it took to land that knockout blow on me. And you passed your assessment! Congrats son!"

"Thanks Dad." Luke showed a small smile before Judy spoke up.

"Luke, is there something you need to tell Nick?" Judy shot a glance at Luke.

"Oh yeah. Dad, there's something really important that I have to tell you about." Luke said as he took out the pendant. "Remember the night we spent in the living room after our discussion at the diner? I told you in the living room about the glowing of the pendant?" Nick nodded slowly. "When I was on my first date with Sarah, it glowed. For the first time since I've been in Zootopia it glowed. It was when we passed this large grey building en route to the concert. I think this may mean something. It- it may be my way home." Luke saw Nick's stunned expression and stopped talking, not knowing how much of Luke said Nick was actually processing.

"You alright Dad?" Luke asked as he waved his paw in front of Nick's blank expression.

Nick at that moment didn't know how to react. He simply stared into space while Luke's words rang through his head.

"It may be my way home"

Those words stung like salt in a wound. Nick felt that Luke was very much an essential part of his life. He knew Luke would continue to wonder about a possible return to his life back on Earth. However he could not stand the idea of Luke actually leaving and now that it was actually plausible, Nick was in utter disbelief. As he finally shifted his gaze back toward Luke, he did something that he vowed to Judy on their wedding day that he would never do again.

He didn't let them see that it got to him.

"Really Luke? That's incredible! We've got to check it out! You think you could bring us there?" Nick plastered on a smile. In truth he wanted nothing more then to walk out the door and leave right now. Everything inside him felt as if it was crumbling. However, Nick didn't let a crack show as he kept his warm exterior alive to prevent Luke and Judy from knowing the truth about how he felt.

"I mean, I guess I can. It may just take a bit to refresh my memory. Dad, are you alright? You've been smiling at me for a while now." Luke said cautiously. Nick was acting different, in a way he had never seen him before. Luke brushed it off though.

"Probably disoriented from the fight", Luke thought as he waited for a response from Nick. "Dad?" Luke asked again.

Nick's smile faltered as he let out a yawn. "Yeah, I'm just tired…son." It hurt him to say that last word.

"Who am I kidding? He's not my son. Somewhere out there his human parents are looking for him while Judy and I have been playing nothing more than a childhood game of 'house'". Nick thought as he shifted his gaze away.

"Carrots and I will get the day off tomorrow and we'll go check out that building. Sound good?" Nick asked. Luke's eyes struggled to meet the familiar emerald green of Nick's. "Now come on, let's go get some dinner" Nick plastered the smile back on as he walked briskly out the door, leaving Luke behind with Judy. He didn't look back.

Judy had managed to convince Bogo and Clawson to give each of them the day off the following day. After eating breakfast, the trio hopped in the car while Luke retrieved the pendant from his pocket to observe. Judy started up the car while Luke kept his eye on the pendant and instructed Judy to head to the Zootopia Amphitheater. Meanwhile, Nick silently stared out the window. He knew that the events of today would forever change his life. If Luke had the choice to leave, he had to brace himself for life without him. Nick's aloofness did not go unnoticed by Judy, who gave concerned glances to Nick. Nick, however, paid no mind to them as he kept his focus outside of the car.

Once Luke began recognizing the scenery, Judy slowed the car down. He was glad that he took the time to admire the view during his first date with Sarah. Luke looked down at the cold crystal pressed against the pads of his paws. Sure enough, Luke noticed the pendant begin to faintly glow and Judy drove forward.

"It's glowing! Slow down!" Luke exclaimed as Judy applied the breaks. Judy made the car creep around the corner as the faint glow intensified. Luke looked up to see the large grey building sitting on the hillside. They parked the car on the side of the road and hopped out as they walked towards the large structure. All three of them were silent as they walked slowly up to a large iron door.

"Luke, I just need you to prepare yourself. We don't know if you'll be able to get home but all we can do is hope that you will have the choice. You just need to prepare yourself for the possibility that returning to Earth may not be possible. Are you sure you want to do this Luke?" Judy gazed up at Luke, who was nervously swishing his tail side to side.

"I have to know. I have no choice, guys. I'm well aware that I may never return to Earth but I miss my sister and my human parents more than ever. If there's any possibility- I love you guys and that's why I need you there when I find out." Luke took a deep breath while Judy nodded understandingly. Nick remained emotionless throughout this entire ordeal.

Luke slowly reached his paw up to the metal door and rapped his knuckles upon the cold, grey surface. After a few seconds of unnerving silence, a badger creaked the large door open as he poked his head out.

"Yes?" He asked with a glare. Luke took a step back out of discomfort.

"Hello! My name is Judy Hopps. This is my partner Nick Wilde and my son Luke Barrett. We are from the ZPD. Do you mind if we talk to you? We just have a few questions."

"Oh yes! Of course!" The badger opened the door as he gestured for the three of them to enter the building.

"Easiest way to enter. Tell someone that you're from the ZPD and they immediately assume you're on official police business" Judy snickered as they followed the badger, closing the heavy door behind them.

"My name is Doctor Meles", the badger said as he held out his paw for each of them to shake. "I'm sorry for being curt. I was working for all of last night so I've barely slept and I get a little cranky when I'm sleep-deprived. So what can I do for you all?"

"This may seem a bit odd" Judy said as she took the bright pendant from Luke's paw and held it up for Dr. Meles to see. "Do you know anything about this?"

Dr. Meles' eyes widened as he saw the pendant in front of his snout. The light shined off his dark, beady eyes.

"Come with me." Dr. Meles ordered as Nick, Luke, and Judy followed him further into the building, their claws clicking against the cold, ceramic floor. Together the trio followed the badger down a dimly lit staircase, all the while exchanging nervous glances with one another as they approached a room at the base of the stairs. Dr. Meles opened the door as he flicked the light switch up. The harsh light immediately caused their pupils to contract. As their eyes finally adjusted, they were shocked at what they saw.

The light reflected off of nearly every surface. The pure white tile floor and walls constituted the entire room. Fluorescent light rods were mounted overhead while wires ran across the length of the room, all leading to a large metal arch.

"Dr. Meles, what the hell is all this?" Nick asked, too shocked to keep his silence.

"This is my workplace. Please, take a seat and I will tell you everything you need to know about that curious little crystal you've got in your possession." Dr. Meles pointed to a couple chairs near the wall.

"Is it just me or is something off about this guy…" Nick whispered to Judy as they took a seat.

"Nick, if Luke can get home this way then we need to give him every chance he's got." Judy whispered back as Dr. Meles walked over and sat down in front of them.

"Now Luke, tell me. Where did you get this crystal?" Asked Dr. Meles, Luke felt the beady eyes of the badger focus on him. Luke shot a look at Nick and Judy for support, who nodded seeing Luke's nervous glance.

"I- I was attacked by a bear. In the woods." Luke stammered, avoiding eye contact with the badger.

"Luke, you don't need to be afraid. I'm here to do whatever I can to help you out and give you whatever you need to know. You were attacked in the forest you say? On Earth?" Dr. Meles asked. This caused Nick, Judy, and Luke's jaws to drop. This badger certainly knew a lot, he was the only other animal besides the three of them that they had heard speak of Earth. The fact that he knew was very alarming to each of them. All three were on the edge of their seats now.

"Relax, there's a clear explanation as to why I know about this." Dr. Meles began to explain. "It has to do with all this equipment. You see, I was working to develop a new form of transportation for the citizens of Zootopia, something quicker, more efficient. After years of work, I finally developed this." Dr. Meles gestured to the large metal arch on the far side of the room. "This portal frame was supposed to be my way to success. But as it so turned out, the path to glory in Zootopia is not a road that comes without deviations. Instead of a portal that brought me to another location in Zootopia, I wound up on a strange world called Earth. The animals were all primitive, they showed no emotion. Predators were ruthless killers while prey were always forced to cower. I knew I couldn't venture there without protection. So I earned the aid of my lab assistant, my friend, a brown bear named Mr. Arctos. Together we ventured this new world, observed the behaviors of these primitive mammals, and even stumbled across a new species that we heard refer to themselves as humans. That pendant you hold, Luke, we used it to travel back and forth from Earth to Zootopia. Our expeditions were for the benefit of Zootopia. Only Arctos, he thought that those human creatures could be taken advantage of. He became obsessed. He ventured closer and closer to their settlements, desperately wanting to communicate with them. I warned him of the dangers but he repeatedly ignored me. One night, Arctos snuck into my lab when I was working late one night. He quickly stole the pendant from me. I tried to stop him but he fought back." Meles unbuttoned the top of his shirt to reveal a jagged scar that ran down his torso. It was clearly the bite mark of a bear. "I fought back, I managed to wound him so he could do less damage to the mammals there but in the end he escaped with the pendant." Meles took out a bear fang from his pocket, which caused Nick, Luke, and Judy to flinch. He passed it to Luke, who fumbled it clumsily in his paws. The fang slipped and dropped right onto the ceramic floor, chipping slightly.

"Oh jeez. Dr. Meles I am so sorry" Luke began as he picked up the fang and handed it back over to the badger.

"Oh please, don't worry about it. Enamel is tough stuff." Meles began before he noticed the chip in the tooth. "You didn't happen to see the piece that broke off, did you?" Luke shook his head.

But Nick had noticed, he just didn't admit it. As Luke was busy picking up the fang, Nick had quietly pocketed the chunk of tooth that rested by his foot.

"So, Luke. You know about me now. So let's hear about you." Dr. Meles asked.

Luke, once again, looked at Nick and Judy who nodded for him to speak.

"I wasn't always a wolf, Dr. Meles. I was a human. When the bear, Arctos, attacked me, I grab hold of the pendant and shouted 'Get me out of here'. When I woke up, I was a wolf. I've been here ever since." Luke replied.

"How long ago was that?" Dr. Meles asked.

"About 6 to 7 weeks ago." Luke responded.

"You seem to have adjusted well." Meles remarked. "So I bet you're wondering if this pendant can get you home. In case you haven't figured out it was you shouting 'get me out of here' that caused you to travel to Zootopia. So can it get you back to Earth? Well you bet it can."

That was it. Nick's perfect family life had been shattered. No matter how much he braced himself for it he knew it was all over now. Time seemed to stop around him. All Nick wanted to do was to leave, pretend this badger and his work never existed. However, all Nick did was sit a little further back in his chair while his and Judy's faces remained emotionless. They listened attentively for Luke's response.

"So- so I can get home? When?" Luke asked eagerly.

"Well we can do it right now" Dr. Meles paused as he saw Nick and Judy's blanks expressions. "But I suggest you take a couple days to think about it. Once you leave Zootopia, you won't be able to return."

"Why's that?" Luke asked with a puzzled expression.

"Well we'll be using the pendant to enable the portal. It acts as a sort of key. But after you return to Earth I'll need to destroy the pendant. If it ever fell into the wrong hands the results could be disastrous." Dr. Meles replied.

Luke nodded in acceptance. This was a big decision and he felt his mind was being torn in half by the conflict regarding his future. Stay or go? That was the question.

"Do you have any questions?" Dr. Meles asked, bringing Luke back from the land of his thoughts.

"Just two. Why did Arctos attack me? And why did I turn into a wolf when I arrived in Zootopia?" Luke could barely hold himself back. He was very on edge.

"Well, Luke. To answer your first question I believe Arctos attacked you because the constant isolation with nothing but savage animals caused him to psychologically deteriorate. He became savage to survive. As for your second question, I'm not quite sure. We're just at the tip of the iceberg in terms of portal exploration. However, I believe it's because humans can't exist in Zootopia. It's just a guess but I think that if you return to Earth, you will return to your human form."

"Alright, thank you Dr. Meles. I have some thinking to do." Luke said as he shook Meles' paw.

"You're welcome Luke. Call me when you let me know you're decision. I'll be waiting." Said Dr. Meles as he handed him a post-it with his phone number.

With that, Luke, Nick, and Judy left Meles' lab and drove back to the apartment. The drive back was even more silent than the drive to the lab. However Luke's head was loud with one thought and one thought only.

Stay or go?