Here we are at chapter 35. Glad that I still make time to keep working on this story. So, the last chapter was a huge hit. Got more faves and follows and people in the comments just loved everything about it. After all the drama from the last chapters, I think it times for a nice and mellow chapter. For this chapter, all of the kids hang out together and discuss their plans for the summer. I got the idea for this from one of my favorite games, Kingdom Hearts II, Day 5 from Roxas's story. It's gonna be a nice and relaxing chapter. So I hope you all enjoy it. Let's begin.
It was another nice day in Zootopia. Out in one of the parks in Savannah Central were the kids. Nick, Judy, Benji, Gideon, Finnick, Gazelle, Travis, Mervin, Ronnie, Audran, Falisha, Flash, Kyle, Bobby, Sharla, Gareth, Libby, Chuck, Darwin, Phillip, Wilfred, and Ed. After a long day of playing, they all just sit down and laid on the grass, looking at the clouds in the sky.
"Ahhh!" It's such a great day in the city today." Judy said happily.
"You said it, Judy." Libby said agreeing with Judy.
"Nothing like this Spring breeze, eh?" Audran said.
"Eh." Everyone else said.
As Nick looked up in the clouds, he kept chanting something.
"Two more months. Two more months." Nick kept chanting.
"What do you keep saying, Nick?" Benji asked.
"Two more months. We are on the last quarter of school and we only have two more months of school left." Nick stated.
"That's right. School's almost over now." Travis said.
"You all know what that means, right?" Nick said with a smile.
"SUMMER VACATION!" All the kids shouted out happily as they raised their fists in the air.
Summer vacation. To most kids, it's the best time of the year. 3 months of no school. Just late mornings, hours on the couch, watching cartoons, playing games, hanging out with friends, and visiting vacation spots.
"Summer's just around the corner. Aren't you all excited?" Nick asked his friends.
"You betcha, Nicky!" Mervin said excitedly.
"When Summer comes, you guys should visit us more days in Bunnyburrow." Gareth said.
"And you guys should do the same for us here in Zootopia." Ronnie said.
"Yeah. Summer means longer visits." Judy said happily. That would be great."
As everyone talked more about the Summer, 5 of the kids had other thoughts running through their minds. It was Chuck, Phillip, Darwin,Wilfred, and Ed. The five just had their eyes on the clouds.
No matter what you do, your actions can never truly be forgotten and you can never truly atone for your actions.
Darson's words from before still lingered in their heads. Nick noticed that they were lost in thought and snapped them out of it.
"Guys? Guuuuuuys?" Nick said as he snapped his fingers.
"Huh?" Chuck, Phillip, Darwin, Wilfred, and Ed went getting back to reality.
"Dudes, you okay? You were zoned out for a while." Nick stated.
"Oh. Sorry." Chuck said.
"Are you guys okay?" Judy asked.
"We're fine. Just a bit on our minds." Ed said.
"Wanna talk about it?" Judy asked.
"Naw. Maybe next time." Phillip said as he gets up from the grass. The same for the other four. "Anyway, we got something that we are obligated to do."
"Yeah. So we really have to get going." Wilfred said.
"Really?" Benji asked.
"You sure you can't just hang out with us a bit longer?" Bobby asked.
"Sorry. We really do have to go." Wilfred said.
"But we're see ya guys around?" Chuck said with a light smile.
"Uhh... sure." Nick said. "See ya."
With that, the 5 boys left the group to go on their way. The other kids felt odd about them leaving out of the blue.
"That was weird, wasn't it?" Gareth asked everyone.
"Yeah. They had to go right out of the blue." Ronnie said.
"Maybe they still feel uncomfortable hanging out with the rest of us." Mervin said feeling that the 5 boys were still feeling like outsiders.
"They said they had something they were obligated to do. So I guess we should just take their word for it." Nick said to everyone. "Now then, let's start planning what to do for the Summer."
"Isn't it still a bit too early?" Travis asked.
"It's never too early to plan for the Summer. Besides, you plan early to make sure the plans don't fall apart." Nick stated.
"Hmm. You have a point." Judy admitted.
"So City Boy, do you have any plans in mind?" Gideon asked.
"Boy, do I?" Nick said excitedly. "Let me ask you my friends, what's the #1 thing that people do during the Summer?"
"Sit on the couch and watch TV for 3 months?" Benji said.
"No. Well... besides that." Nick said knowing that some people do spend most time on the couch watching TV.
"Uhhh... go to the beach?" Benji said.
"Yes! Exactly! That's what we need to do." Nick said eagerly. "We all should go to the beach."
"The beach?" Everyone else went.
"Yeah! The beach!" Nick said with a wide smile. "Think about it, guys. The sand, the sun, the blue waves."
If there really is one place people go to during the Summer is the beach. Whether it's soaking up the sun, placing their feet on the sand, catching some waves, or hanging out with family and friends, the beach is definitely one of the places to go.
"We all need to go to the beach this Summer. Why, some of you may ask? Because I have never been to the beach in all 9 years." Nick said firmly as he crossed his arms.
"You never been to the beach before?" Judy asked.
"Have any of you ever been to the beach before?" Nick asked.
"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." Everyone else went. This implied that none of them have been to the beach before.
"Now that I think about it, have any of us ever step foot on a beach?" Nick asked.
"Uhhhhhhhhhh..." Everyone else went. This also implied that even the ones who live in the city haven't step foot on a beach either.
"There's oasises in Sahara Square." Finnick stated. "I mean, they aren't really beaches. But there's sand, sun, and big pools of water. So they're beach-ish."
"We'll put that in the back pocket." Nick said. "For now, we should go to a real beach."
"The whole beach idea does sound fun." Bobby said liking the idea.
"I'm down with the idea too." Kyle said.
"Me three." Gareth said.
"Hold it. Hold it." Judy said telling everyone to put a pause on things. "I think we're going too gun-ho on this beach thing. I mean, it's one thing to start planning but what about all of our parents?"
"Ohhh. That's right." Sharla said realizing what Judy meant. "It's one thing that our parents let us visit you guys sometimes..."
"But... going to the beach is another thing." Bobby said.
"Yeah. I don't think all of our folks are gonna be keen on it." Gideon stated.
"Well then it's lucky for us that one of us just happens to have the coolest parents in the whole world." Nick said with a bold smile.
"By that modesty,..." Judy said with a straight face. "I assume you mean Mr. and Mrs. Wilde."
"Uh huh, fluff." Nick said nodding. "Mom and Pop love to see me happy and they like me hanging out with all my friends. So I'm sure they will be all for the beach trip."
"Even if your ma and pops are cool with it, what does that say about the rest of us and our folks?" Finnick asked.
"That's where you guys come in." Nick said. "All you need to do is mention the beach trip and then my parents."
"Okay. But even with that, how is that gonna make are our parents gonna be okay with it?" Audran asked.
"Simple. Just say one or two things about my folks and how awesome they are." Nick said with a joyful smile.
"Nick, if you're using us just to one-up your parents..." Judy said looking a bit mad.
"Hear me out." Nick said before Judy got into a tizzy. "Parents don't like their kids thinking that other parents are better than them. A strike at their egos would usually effect them pretty hard. They don't want to feel that 'kick' in their brains saying 'We can let those foxes to get all the glory.' Not wanting to be outdone, they would be more than willing to let us all have fun in the sun at the beach. It's as simple as that."
Everyone else thought about it for a moment and realized that Nick might be right. In fact, to them, Nick idea works perfectly.
"Sometimes I worry if you would ever use that brain of yours for evil." Judy said.
"What if I already am?" Nick asked with his signature sly grin.
"Please, Slick. You're as good as a piece of grammy's pie." Judy stated.
"What kind of pie?" Benji asked curiously.
"Doesn't matter, Benji." Judy said.
"All pies aside, Nick's idea could actually work." Sharla said.
"Yeah. One time, I told my mom that one of my friend's mom made the best brownies. She made brownies for a whole week just to prove she could make better ones." Bobby stated.
"How much brownies was that exactly?" Benji asked curiously.
"Another time, Benji." Bobby said to Benji.
"So, we're all going with Nick's plan." Mervin said. "This beach trip is gonna rock!"
"Yeah. Once we plan everything, it's gonna be awesome." Nick said happily.
"Hold on, everyone." Falisha said not wanting everyone to get ahead of themselves. "As fun as the beach all sounds, aren't you guys forgetting something? Something before we can do our beach trip?"
"What's that?" Nick asked Falisha.
"Final Exams." Falisha said.
"Uggggggggghhhhhhh..." Everyone else groaned.
"Final... Exams..." Flash said slowly and not happy about them. "Not... good."
Final Exams. To most kids, a nightmare. Everything they learned in the school year put together in several stacks of paper. You have to do the exams and get a good average to get to the next grade.
"Fals, did you really have to even mention exams? Uggghhhh... I just want to skip 'em so badly." Mervin said looking displeased.
"Now now. Exams aren't that bad." Falisha said."In fact, let's give us some motivation."
"What kind of motivation?" Ronnie asked as he raised his eyebrow.
"We can only do the beach trip IF we do the exams AND pass them." Falisha said.
"Uggggggggghhhhhh..." Everyone else groaned again.
"So basically, anyone who isn't Judes, Nicky, or you, is screwed." Mervin said looking disdain.
"Why are you just assuming the rest of us aren't smart?" Sharla said looking stern.
"Alright. Alright. None of us are dumb. Besides, doing good on the exams aren't a bad thing." Judy stated. "If we do good on them, then it will just sweeten the pot for our parents to let us do the beach trip."
"Hmm. You have a point." Audran said thinking about it. "One time I got a A on a big test, my parents took me to a theme park."
"See? Parents reward their kids when they do good in school. If we all can get passing grades on the exams, then we are as good as gold for the beach trip." Falisha said.
With all that said, all the kids nodded their heads, agreeing with Falisha's words.
"Okay. So it's settled." Nick said as he clapped his paws. "We get through these last two months of school, then the final exams, and then... BEACH TIME!"
"I'm all for it." Judy said happily.
"Me too." Benji said.
"I suppose I can study a bit and at least get a passing grade." Mervin said shrugging.
"Ditto." Finnick said agreeing with Mervin.
"Now we just need to pick a day." Travis said.
"Oh. That's right." Nick said. He then started pondering what day would be best. "Right after school is too early and right before school is too late. So... somewhere in the middle?"
"We can figure out the day later." Judy said. "We still have plenty of time before then anyway."
"I suppose you're right." Nick said agreeing. "Let's save the day planned and the beach to go to for later."
It looks like the gang have already done some decent planning for the beach trip. Now they just had to wait til school was over. As the gang talks more and more about the beach trip, someone walks over to them and gets their attention.
"Well, this is quite the group." A young boy's voice said.
The kids all turned to see who it was. It was the Darson Coynac, the former bully of Nick's school. He was wearing a black button shirt over a white shirt and jeans.
"Darson!" Nick said happy to see him. "How's it going?"
"Nick Wilde. I thought I saw that fox mug of yours." Darson said with a sly grin.
"Well, it's a good mug." Nick said also grinning slyly.
"There's that ego again." Judy said with her left paw on her face.
Even if the Zootopia kids knew Darson, the Bunnyburrow kids, except for Gideon, didn't know him.
"Who's this guy again?" Travis asked.
"Darson Coynac. A bully from school." Mervin said.
"Former bully." Gideon stated. "But like myself, he straighten up by Nick and he's good now."
"The reason why Darson was a bully was because when he was born, his mom died and he blamed himself." Gazelle said to the Burrow kids.
"Oh." Sharla, Gareth, Kyle, Bobby, Libby, and Travis said looking sad.
"But it turned out his mother was sick BEFORE she even had him." Gazelle said."After that, with Nick's help, he's learning to be a better person."
"Oh. That's good to know." Sharla said with a smile.
Darson then took the time to realize how many kids were here.
"Okay, how many friends do you have, Wilde?" Darson asked sounding amazed.
"Not including Judy's 280 brothers and sisters?" Nick asked.
"Nevermind. Forget I asked." Darson said not wanting to know the real number of friends he has. 280 is already a big number. "Anyway, what are you all up to?"
"Oh. Are you actually interested?" Judy asked.
"Nope. Not even." Darson said honestly. "But... I'm learning how to be a 'better person'. So tell me anyway."
"If you must know, we're making plans for the Summer." Falisha said Darson.
"Plans for the Summer, huh? Must me nice." Darson said. He then started to look slightly depressed. "*sigh* Not gonna lie, it isn't looking good for me. Even with Wilde's help at school, my grades are still kinda low. I might be heading to Summer School."
"Ouch! Summer School." Nick said flinching a bit.
"It hurts just to hear that." Finnick said.
"Will you be okay with that?" Audran asked Darson.
"Meh. I'll be fine." Darson said not sounding worried. "It shouldn't be too hard. And even with Summer School, I should be able to zoom by it and enjoy what's left of the Summer."
"Heh. You sound pretty positive for someone who might have to go to Summer School." Falisha said sounding surprised.
"Can't be a downer, right?" Darson said shrugging.
"Heh. Right." Nick said with a smile.
Darson had changed quite a lot. He's less rough around the edges and more positive about life. It was like he took a total 180.
"Anyway Darson, come sit with us and let's talk." Nick said as he pats a spot next to him.
"Sure." Darson said as he shrugs his shoulders.
Darson walked to the kids and sat by Nick in the grass.
"Also, don't call me Wilde." Nick said not liking being called by his last name. "Call me Nick, Nicholas, Nicky, or my nickname, Slick."
"Fine, Nicky." Darson said making a smile. "By the way, I don't see Chuck or those other four." Darson noticed that they weren't here. "Where are they?"
"You just missed them a few minutes ago actually." Nick said.
"Right..." Darson said looking a bit sad.
The last time Darson talked to those five... wasn't really a nice thing to say. In fact, what Darson said to the Chuck and the others was the harshess thing anyone has ever said to them. Even beating out Nick and Mervin. Looks like Darson had some regrets.
"Do you still feel bad for what you said to them, Darson?" Judy asked.
"Ummmm..." Darson said before speaking. "Don't get me wrong. I already said sorry to Chuck for causing him to have an anxiety attack AND I'm sorry for how I said things. But... I'm not sorry for what I said."
"What?" Nick said surprised that Darson said he wasn't sorry.
"Nick, the five of them got away with muzzling predators just because they didn't want them to join their pack. That's a serious offense. If things were different or if they were older, they could end up in a cell in juvie for a few years. They could have even been trailed as adults." Darson stated. "Could you honest say that they should be forgiven just like that?"
"Well, no. It took a while for me to even handle being near them. But they're trying to change and I'm willing to let them." Nick said honestly.
"They may be willing to change, but that doesn't change what they done." Darson said. "Listen Nick, even when I was still a bully, I own up to all my mistakes. ALL of them. But those 5 haven't done that yet."
"But they are still being blackballed by the other kids at school. Not only the other kids, but the grownups as well." Mervin stated.
"That's not owning up to their mistakes. That's just taking the blow that are dished out to them." Darson stated. "If they really want to make up for what they did, they have to do something that equals their actions."
"That equals their actions? Then what are they suppose to do?" Judy asked.
"That's... not for me or any of us to decide. It's only up to them." Darson said.
"I see. Do you think that they'll ever own up to their mistakes." Nick asked looking concern.
"Again, it's not for any of us to decided." Darson said.
"Right..." Nick said looking a bit sad.
Nick, Judy, and the others have actually started to think of Chuck, Phillip, Darwin, Wilfred, and Ed as their friends. It started to bother them that things were still rough for the 5 boys. But what Darson said was right. They still need to own up to their did if they want to have another fresh start.
"Okay. I'm pretty sure those five don't want you to talk about them too much or worry about them. So let's talk about something else." Darson said.
"Alright." Nick said agreeing to change the subject. "So, how are things with you and your dad?"
"Great! Actually, better than ever." Darson said happily. "Pop and I are talking more and our relationship is stronger from it."
"Oh. You call your dad 'pop' too?" Nick asked.
"You're not the only one who can call his own man 'pop'." Darson stated boldly. "To be honest, I used to call my dad that all the time. Back then, we did a lot together."
"Really?" Nick said sounding interested to hear more.
"Oh yeah." Darson said as he started reminsicing the good times he had with his father. "Even with it just being the two of us, pop and I did a lot. Play ball, go to the park, go out for ice cream, the usual father-son stuff. Those were all some of the best times I've had with him." Darson expression then changed from happy to sad."*sigh* I can't believe I ever thought that my dad hated me."
"Why did you? Did something happened?" Judy asked.
"I guess you can say that." Darson said to Judy.
"Can you tell us?" Benji asked.
"It was before I knew the truth. You know... the real truth about my mom." Darson said. "When I was younger, I always asked pop questions about mom. He would usually tells me the small stuff. That she was spiritual and that pop loved her dearly. Then... when I was 7, he took me to her grave the first time. It was not only the first time I got to visit her grave but... the first time my father visited her grave since... you know."
"WHAT?!" The others shouted out. The kids were all surprised to hear that. Even if a widowed husband doesn't visit his wife everyday, they would at least visit the grave every once in a while.
"So... your dad never visited your mom's grave after she died?" Judy asked.
Darson nodded his head. "He never really had it in him to do it." Darson said. "So the day he took me to mom's grave, just seeing the grave, he... started to break down. I've never saw him like that in my whole life."
"He must have never got over your mother. Which is totally understandable." Falisha stated.
"Exactly. That's when... I took a good look at mom's tombstone. I saw the date and... when I found out she died the same day I was born, I... was in total shock." Darson said as he rubs his shoulder. "After that, I did some research and found some mothers didn't survive after childbirth. I thought I was one of the cases and... that's when it started to happened. Add the fact that I'm a predator, throw in some kids too scared to be friends with me, and..."
"You have the elements needed to turn one into be a bully." Travis said.
"Bingo." Darson said. "I thought I was bad because I believed me being born killed my mom. I thought I was only meant to be a bad thing, so I just went with it. It's not like anybody gave me a real choice."
Everyone started to feel sad for Darson.
"Figures!" Finnick said looking a bit ticked. "This is just another case of mammals discriminating on other mammals. I'm getting sick and tired of it."
"Yeah. But even with all of that, I... was really only using that as an excuse to be a bully." Darson stated sadly. "The whole time I thought things would be better off without me. But it was totally the opposite. Finding out mom was ill opened up everything. If mom and pop never had me and mom was already sick anyway or if mom died before giving birth to me, pop would be alone. He wouldn't have anyone. That... made me felt worser than if I was never born."
"I get it." Nick said understanding Darson. "You probably had it rougher than any of us ever had it."
"Your story still makes me very sad." Gazelle said trying not to cry.
"Me too." Benji said failing at not crying.
"Thanks for the sympathy, but I'm fine now." Darson said starting to cheer up. "My dad doesn't hate me or think I'm a burden, I right my wrongs, and I'm a better person. I own you one, Wilde."
"Don't worry about it. Honestly, I've been making others' lives better for a while now." Nick said with a happy grin. "Also..." Nick then lightly smacked Darson on his shoulder. "... I told you, call me Nick."
"Owww..." Darson said as he rubbed his shoulder on the spot Nick hit him. "Alright, Nick. Still getting use to that."
"I suppose I'll let it slide. But only because I'm such a forgiving person." Nick said in a boasting matter.
Nick and Darson were getting along quite well now. There was always tension when Nick and Darson got near each other. But now that tension seem to have disappear.
"Say Nick, can I ask you something?" Darson said to Nick.
"What is it?" Nick asked.
"Before, everytime I was near you, I would get this burning and angry feeling. But now, it's a different feeling. It's... cool and kinda calm." Darson said describing it.
"You too, huh? It's the same for me." Nick said to Darson.
"What is that feeling?" Darson asked.
"I don't know. But if I had to guess... it's because we now understand and trust each other." Nick said smiling a bit.
"Trust, huh? Me trusting a fox?" Darson said.
"You wouldn't be the first one." Nick said with a smirk.
"You really wouldn't." Judy and the others said since they all trusted Nick too.
"Hahaha! I guess with everyone here, I'll take your word for it." Darson said smiling.
"I'm glad that you decided to change." Ronnie said to Darson.
"You know, when you think about it, you and Nick are kinda alike, eh?" Audran stated to Darson.
"WE ARE NOT ALIKE!" Nick and Darson shouted out boldly.
"Yep. Starting to see those similarities even more now." Audran said a smirk.
"Okay. So maybe we have SOME similarites. Like that obvious fact that we are predators that were down on their luck and awesome dads that want us to work hard." Darson said. "But I know for a well known fact that there's one thing the two of us don't have in common."
"What's that?" Judy asked.
"My love for all things blueberry." Darson said with a smirk.
The second Darson mention the word 'blueberry', everyone else eyes widen and they all had shocked looks on their faces. This confused Darson.
"Uhhhh... why do you all have those looks on your faces?" Darson asked everyone.
"Yo... you love all things blueberry?" Nick stammered.
"Yeeeeeeahhh..." Darson replied.
"I love all things blueberry." Nick stated.
Now Darson was the one with widen eyes and a shocked face.
"Don't lie to me, Nick Wilde." Darson said pointing a finger at Nick.
"I'm not. I'm serious." Nick said to Darson. "Everyone else will tell you the same." Nick then looked at all his friends. "Right, guys?" Everyone nodded their heads.
"Oh... my... cobblers." Darson said in disbelief.
"Oh no. It's happening." Mervin said looking worried. "When Nick helps someone change, they start changing into him!"
"And it looks like it's already effected Darson." Benji said frantically.
"The rest of us might have already change and not even know it." Ronnie said frantically.
"Hey! What's wrong with being like me?" Nick said feeling insulted.
"Nothing." Everyone else went.
"The way you all say that, I seriously doubt that." Nick said with his arms crossed.
"Don't worry about it, Nick. Just be thankful we all like you." Judy said with a smile.
"I... suppose you're right. Buuuuuut... I own most of being because of you, Carrots." Nick said to Judy.
"Oh yeah. You did said she was the reason you stayed the way you are, right?" Darson asked recalling that Nick mention that..
"Right." Judy said nodding. "Even when nobody believed in Nick, I always did and I always will. No matter how others may see him, I know what who he is and nothing will change my opinion on that."
Darson was surprised to hear Judy talk so high about Nick. It's not often a bunny talks that way about a fox. He remembered that Mrs. Wilde said that Judy and Nick are really close. He was starting to understand what Frankie meant.
"So, I guess the two of you are at a point where you two can really trust each other, huh?" Darson said smiling a bit. Nick and Judy smiled back. "You know, you two may be different species, but you actually make a nice couple."
"A NICE WHAT NOW?!" Nick and Judy shouted out.
Once again, someone thinks that Nick and Judy are in an romantic relationship. Darson thought that was the case for Nick and Judy. Nick and Judy's friends respond to this by giggling and snickering.
"WE'RE NOT A COUPLE!" Nick and Judy shouted out red-faced.
"You're aren't?" Darson said looking surprised. "It's just that... the way you both talk about each other, I thought you were boyfriend and girlfriend."
"It's..." Nick and Judy said still red-faced.
"... with a space in the middle." Their friends all said knowing that they would probably say that.
"Space in the middle? So they don't have the 'hots' for each other?" Darson asked still confused. Nick and Judy started looking more red-faced.
"It's complicated." Nick and Judy's friends all said.
"Ahhh. I get it." Darson said understanding that they meant and smirking a bit. "It's one of those 'will they, won't they' things."
"Exactly!" Nick and Judy's friends all said.
"What is with you guys? Our Nick and I just some dramatic romance to you?" Judy asked looking flustered.
"Maaaaaybe..." The kids all went slying.
"I'm starting to miss the times when I had lesser friends more and more." Nick said with an straight face.
"Phhtt! Hahahaha!" Darson said. "Come on. It's not their fault that they think you're cute together."
"Don't call us 'cute'." Nick and Judy said both looking mad. Which is rare for Nick when he's called cute.
"You're not permitted to call a rabbit 'cute'." Judy said firmly to Darson. "Do it again and I'll give you another slap in the face."
"Okay. Okay. Easy." Darson said with his paws up a bit and not wanting to get slapped by Judy again. "I definitely don't want another slap like that again." Darson then started rubbing one of his cheeks. "For a bunny, you hit pretty hard."
"Should have warn you about that." Gideon said knowing what it's like to get hit by Judy.
"Couple or not, it's... nice that you have each others back." Darson said to Nick and Judy.
"And we always will." Judy added. "Especially when we join the ZPD one day."
Hearing Judy said that, REALLY surprised Darson. Enough for him to get up on his feet.
"Woah woah woah! WHAT?!" Darson said in shock. "I mean, when I saw Hippity-Hop in her cop costume I already assumed that she wanted to be a cop. But Nick, you want to be a cop too?"
"Yeah. I decided that for a while now." Nick stated to Darson as he gets up. Judy did the same.
"Unreal. A bunny AND a fox wanting to be cops?" Darson said still in awe.
"Don't sound so surprised." Judy said with a grin and her arms crossed. "You should already know we go above the regular fox and bunny stardards."
"True enough. Then let me ask you both this one last question." Darson said.
The air started to fill up with a serious feeling. Whatever Darson wanted to asked Nick and Judy, it must be a really serious question.
"Nick Wilde, Judy Hopps, do you really believe a fox and a bunny can become cops?" Darson asked. He then turned to Judy. "You first, Judy."
"Of course I do. Zootopia is the city where anyone can be anything." Judy answered.
Darson was a bit surprised that Judy's answer was so simple. He then turned to Nick. "What about you, Nick?" Darson asked.
Nick hesitated longer than it took Judy to answer. Then Nick spoke out honestly. "The truth is... I don't know. It's not like there were any other bunnies or foxes to make people say otherwise. There are even some mammals that are the usual species that don't make the cut. So, as far as chances go, they're slim. It won't be easy."
Judy and the others didn't expect Nick to say all of that. Logically, he was right on every account. There are no bunnies or foxes that have ever joined the ZPD and chances of passing the training courses were also low.
"But..." Nick said before boldly saying more. "... is the best things supposed to be easy? Thanks to my friends and family, I learned something. You have to work hard to achieve your goals. It doesn't matter if the odds are stacked against. It doesn't matter if others don't think you're cut out for it. The only thing that matters is, even with all of that, you have to try. Try and put your heart and soul into it."
Darson looked at Nick and could tell he was quite determined with his goal.
"I'm gonna do everything I can to make becoming a police officer happen. But to me, it's more than that." Nick said boldly. "I don't want to just be Judy's partner. I'm also not just doing it to give foxes a better reputation. I'm doing this to fix every injustice in this city and wipe all discrimation right off the map. If others realize a fox and a bunny could be cops, maybe it will inspire others mammals like us to do more. If that happens, imagine how better the city could be and how better the world could be. Even if it's a slim chance, I still want to take it. It only takes one person to start things up."
Such bold words of ambition for Nick to say. It really put everyone in awe. Nick then realized that his answer may have been a little overboard.
"Ummm... so to answer your question, it's a yes for me too." Nick said as his twiddle his paws.
Darson was still was in awe by Nick's answer. He then finally responded by doing this.
"Ha... haha... hahahahahahahahhaha!" Darson laughed heartly. This put Nick and Judy in confusion.
"What's so funny?" Nick said looking a bit mad.
"Haha... sorry. This isn't bad laughter. I swear." Darson said as he stops laughing. "It's just that... your answer... it was soooooo long, man. Seriously. Judy's answer was short and to the point. But yours was like an essay. So long. So unnecessary long."
Nick was looking a bit mad at Darson and puffed out his cheeks. Similar to what Judy does when she's mad at Nick. "Hmpt! If I didn't explain everything, you wouldn't understand why." Nick said firmly.
"Haha! I don't know what's funnier? The fact that your answer was so long or..." Darson said before having giving a sincere smile. "... that I actually believe you."
Nick and Judy then looked surprised again.
"You two might actually be able to pull it off." Darson said. He then started to dig into his shirt pocket for something. "There's something I want you to have, Nick." He then took out a small and interesting looking item.
It was a willow hoop with net threads in a pattern and a tiny circle in the center. It also had colorful beads and feathers hanging from the bottom of it. Darson handed this interesting item to Nick. Nick held it by the string loop on top.
"Uhhhh... what am I looking at?" Nick asked with confused look on his face.
"It's called a Dreamcatcher." Darson replied. "Pop said my mom was into spiritual stuff. You're suppose to hang it near your bed side. When you dream, the bad dreams gets caught in the net while the goods dreams go through the center hole."
"Oh. So in a way, it keeps the bad dreams out and the good dreams in." Nick said.
"Exactly." Darson said. "My mom actually made this."
"Wait, what?" Nick said a bit stunned. "Your mom made this and you want to give it to me?"
"Yeah." Darson said.
"I can't take this." Nick said as he tried to give it back.
"Why not?" Darson asked.
"Because your mom made it! I mean, I know you never got a chance to know your mom, but don't you still want to keep it so that you always have a small part of it?" Nick asked.
"It's fine. Really." Darson said as he pushes the dreamcatcher back to Nick. "Pop and I have been going through mom's old stuff. She made like 30 of them. 3 are hanging by my bedside right now. Just think of it as an early birthday present."
"Are... you absolutely sure?" Nick asked still looking a bit unsure.
"If you don't take, my mom might take it as an insult and haunt your from her grave." Darson said slyly.
Not wanting to be haunted by the ghost of his former bully's departed mother, Nick happily accepted Darson's dreamcatcher.
"You know what, pop did say it's poor matters to not accept someone's gift." Nick said. "Thank you, Darson."
"I should be the one thanking you." Darson said to Nick. "Thanks to you and Judy here, I'm was able to straight up my life. You're good people, Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps."
"You're not the first people to say that to us..." Nick said.
"... but we sure hope that you're won't be the last." Judy said with a smile.
It was nice to hear some positive motivation for Nick and Judy from Darson. Darson really has changed quite a lot now. Still, he felt that he talked to them long enough.
"Alright. That's enough opening up and expressing my feeling today. I need head home." Darson said. He then put his paw out into a fist. "See ya at school?"
"Yeah." Nick said with a smile and as he bumps Darson's fist.
Darson then turned back around to the kids from Bunnyburrow. "It was nice meeting you, other kids that I don't know the names of." Darson said to them.
"Sharla, Gareth, Libby, Travis, Kyle, and Bobby. They're all from Bunnyburrow, like me and Gideon." Judy said to Darson.
"Got it. I'll try to know who's name is who next time." Darson said. "Later."
Darson was then on his way. But as he walked, Nick called out to him for one more thing to say.
"Darson, wait!" Nick said halting the coyote.
"Yeah?" Darson asked as he turned around.
"Would you... consider joining our pack?" Nick asked.
"Really, Nick?" Finnick said surprised.
"Seriously?" Mervin added.
"I'll... think I'll pass." Darson answered.
"That wasn't a noooooo." Nick said smiling widely.
"Heh. No it wasn't." Darson said smiling back at Nick.
Darson then went back to being on his way. Nick then looked at the dreamcatcher some more and thought it was actually a good gift. He then looked at his friends that... were supposibly giving Nick a bit of the stink eye.
"What?" Nick asked as he shrugged.
"You just like being friends with everyone, don't ya Nick?" Finnick asked with his arms crossed.
"I don't ask to be friends with everyone." Nick said. "But I will be honest with you. I feel that all of my friends are either former bullies, crazies, or weirdos."
"Heeeey!" Everyone else went.
"Not cool, Nick. Wait, am I a crazy or a weirdo?" Mervin said.
"If you have to ask, you already know." Nick said with a straight face.
"*sigh* Weirdo..." Mervin said knowing because of his laughter habit, he was a weirdo.
"I'm not a crazy or a weirdo, am I Nick?" Judy asked.
"No. You're not a crazy or a weirdo." Nick said.
"Aww. That's nice of you to..." Judy said. But before she could finish, Nick started pull at both of her face cheeks. "OWWW! OWWW!"
"You're a crazy weirdo." Nick said as he pulled at Judy's cheeks more. "Since I met you, you been trying to do goals bigger than yourself and that includes being a police officer. You got to be the most crazy and weird bunny in the whole planet."
"Grrr! Well, what about you?" Judy asked. She then started pulling at Nick's cheeks.
"OWWW! HEY!" Nick shouted out in pain.
"Besides that silver tongue of yours, you're the opposite of what I thought what a fox is suppose to be like." Judy said as she pulled Nick's cheeks more. "Your trustworthy and you seem to make everyone's life better. Including my own. You're no different from me."
"Seriously, quit it!" Nick said wanting Judy to let go of his cheeks.
"You quit it!" Judy said wanting Nick to let go.
"NO, YOU!" Nick shouted.
"NO, YOU!" Judy shouted.
Once again, Nick and Judy were at it. There friends were not even surprised anymore.
"Again? Really?" Sharla said.
"Why are we even surprised?" Kyle asked shrugging.
"Haha! I swear, it never gets old." Mervin said laughing a bit.
"They're not gonna make it far as partners with them acting like this." Gareth stated.
"I still feel weird about them both wanting to be cops." Audran said.
"I'm not. In fact, I understand perfectly." Benji said. "I actually want to be a police officer too."
"Wait, WHAT?!"Everyone else went, shocked to hear Benji say that.
"YOU?!" Nick and Judy said as they finally stopped pulling at each other's faces.
"Judging by all of your reactions, I'm guessing you're all surprised." Benji said.
"Uhh... yeah!" Nick said. "This is brand new infomation."
"Ben, how come you never told us this?" Judy asked.
"Well I actually wanted to be a police officer before you two. But unlike you two, there has already been cheetah cops. A fox and a rabbit is totally new and different." Benji stated.
"You still could have told us, Benji." Judy said.
"So, Judy and I know the reasons we want to be police officers. What's your reason, Ben?" Nick asked.
"If I had to guess, I'll would say..." Finnick said but was halted by Benji.
"No, it's not because of the doughnuts." Benji said with a straight face. "And for the record, who here doesn't like a good doughtnut?"
Everyone started looking at each other awkwardly. Let's face it. They ALL like doughnuts.
"I actually like a good raspberry glaze." Judy said.
"I'll eat any one that is jelly-filled." Nick said.
"Bear claw." Ronnie said.
"Maple bar." Audran said.
"Lemon curd." Mervin said.
"Powdered suger." Falisha said.
"Pink frosted with sprinklers. Also churros." Gazelle said.
"I'm with City Boy on any one that's jelly-filled." Gideon.
"Anything chocolate." Sharla said.
"Anything vanilla." Gareth said.
"Chocolate glazed with the little candies on it." Libby said.
"Vanilla Creme." Kyle said.
"Chocolate... Eclair." Flash said.
"I love a good cruller." Bobby said.
The only one who didn't respond to Benji's question was Finnick. Everyone turned to Finnick, expecting an answer.
"Finn, everyone else answered. Your turn." Nick said to the fennec.
"I think we already established that we all like doughnuts." Finnick said.
"Finn..." Nick said still waiting to hear Finnick's answer.
"*sigh* I like... mini doughnuts." Finnick muttered quitely.
"Sorry, didn't catch that." Nick said with his paws on the back of one of his ears and leaning closer to hear Finnick better.
"Mini doughnuts, okay?" Finnick said speaking up.
Pretty much everyone else snickered after hearing that. Finnick didn't like it one bit.
"Figures. Little guy Finnick likes the mini doughnuts." Ronnie said chuckling some more.
"What? Does the tiny doughnuts make you feel big?" Mervin asked with a smirk.
"Hey! Back off! There mini so you can have more than one." Finnick stated.
"Fair enough." Falisha said.
"Okay, that's enough about doughnut." Judy said. "Benji, what is the reason you want to be a cop?"
"Well, it all started about two years ago." Benji said while flashing back to that time. "I was playing in the park and some kids were being mean to me. I was chubby back then too. They blasted me with the usual 'Slowpoke' or 'Fatty' name calling. It really upsetted me. But then, a big shadow came from behind me and the bullies ran away. I turned around to see who it was and it was this big police officer. He saved me."
"An big police officer?" Nick asked as he pondered it a bit.
"Yeah." Benji said nodding. "After he scared the kids off, he looked at me and said 'If you don't want kids to pick on you, you better toughen up.'. He was pretty firm when he said that, but I keep his words to heart. Since then, I want to up to become a cop. You know, to help others the way the officer helped me."
"Wow Benji. Such a great reason to join the police officers." Gazelle said.
"Hmm... but it makes me wonder." Nick said still pondering a bit. "Ben, who was this officer you met?"
"I didn't know his name but I do remember what species he was." Benji said. "He was a buffalo."
"A buffalo?!" Nick and Judy said in shock.
"What?" Benji said.
"Benji, was this buffalo tall and muscle?" Judy asked.
"Also was he... kinda intense?" Nick asked.
"Uhh... I don't know if I would call him that, but your description sounds about right." Benji said.
Nick and Judy then had shocked expressions on their faces. If what Benji said was true, then that means the officer he met was Officer Bogo. The same officer Nick and Judy met the first time Judy visited Zootopia.
"Nick..." Judy said as she looks at her fox friend.
"I know. It has to be the same officer we met before." Nick said.
"Met before?" Gazelle said. "So, you actually met the same officer Benji met?"
"It was the first time I came to the city. Nick and I checked out the inside of the ZPD precient." Judy said.
"You mean YOU checked out the inside of the ZPD precient." Nick stated firmly. "I told her we shouldn't have gone inside. As we did, big ol' buffalo butt's shadow was behind us. He had to be the scariest guy Judy and I have ever met. Uhhh... what was his name again?"
"I... can't say I remember." Judy admitted.
"Meh. Guess it doesn't really matter." Nick said shrugging. "Odd our he will probably retire by the time we become cops."
"But as scary as he was, he did inspire Benji to cop too. So he can't be all bad." Judy stated.
"Yeah. Guess your right." Nick said agreeing with Judy.
"So when we all become cops, let's all work hard." Benji said sounding determined.
"Right." Nick and Judy said movitated and pumping their fist.
Nick then looked at his dreamcatcher from Darson again.
"Bad dreams get caught in the web, good dreams go through the center." Nick said. "Meaning that you'll only have positive dreams."
"Looks like you like Darson's little gift." Gideon said.
"I do." Nick said smiling.
"Now that you mention it, Darson said to think of that as an early birthday present." Ronnie said. "But if memory is right, you're birthday's coming up, right Nick?"
"Oh yeah. It is." Judy said realizing Ronnie was right.
Nick's birthday was coming up next week. Soon the 9 year old fox will be 10 years old.
"So Nick, how do you feeling about your birthday coming in just a few days?" Judy asked with a smile.
"Meh." Nick simple said while shrugging.
"MEH?!" All his friends went.
"Yes, meh." Nick said.
"What do you mean 'meh'?" Mervin asked Nick. "This is your 10th birthday we're talking about. The big one-o. Double digits, baby! You should be more excited about it."
"Guess I'm just not." Nick said honestly.
This put everyone into shock again. They couldn't believe Nick wasn't excited for his birthday. Most kids would be happy when their birthday comes. So why isn't Nick?
"Seriously, why aren't you?" Judy asked.
"In case most of you guys don't remember, up until now, I never really had much friends to have a party with. Even then, my birthdays weren't much. Just a few presents from family and birthday pie."
"Birthday pie?" Everyone else went.
"Birthday pie." Nick said. "Pie for my birthday."
"You're suppose to have cake." Gideon stated.
"Again, not that I had much friends to share cake with." Nick said.
"Well... that's gonna change." Judy said boldly. "Nick, where going to make your next birthday the best birthday you will ever have."
"That would be great, but I'll pass." Nick said.
"Why?" Everyone else asked.
"Because if I wanted to have a big party, I want to have all my friends to be there." Nick said.
"ANNNNND?" Everyone else went.
"Maybe you all didn't hear me. I want ALL my friends to be there." Nick said firmly.
"ANNNNNNND?" Everyone else said again.
"My birthday is on a Wednesday... on a school day. Meaning my Bunnyburrow friends can't come cause they only visit on the weekends." Nick stated.
"Oh... right..." Judy and the Bunnyburrow kids went. That little fact seem to hit everyone with an arrow of realization.
"I mean, I would like to have a big party. But it wouldn't be the same without Judy, her brothers and sisters, or my other Bunnyburrow friends." Nick said.
"When you put it that way..." Finnick said understanding what Nick meant.
"But still..." Judy said as her ears drooped with a sad look.
"Hey! Hey! Don't give me those sad bunny eyes." Nick said to Judy. "I'm fine with whatever. Besides, you guys know I'm mature for my age."
Nick was a bit more for someone his age. Then the kids all started to the sound of some music. Music that all kids are too familar with.
"Wait! Do you guys hear that?" Nick asked everyone as his ears wiggle.
"That sounds like... " Judy said as her ears go back up.
"ICE CREAM TRUCK!" All the kids shouted out.
"QUICK! EVERYONE, CHECK YOUR POCKETS FOR CASH!" Benji shouted out.
"I'll stop the truck while you all get your cash out." Nick said as he already was on the move to catch up with the truck. He even got on all fours a moment. "HEY! WAIT! SOME KIDS WANT SOME ICE CREAM!" Nick shouted out out.
As the others were still digging in their pockets for money, they decided to talk about Nick and the whole not wanting to have a birthday party.
"Can you guys believe Nick doesn't want to have a big birthday?" Judy asked.
"I know." Sharla said. "When my birthday comes, I like to have it as a big deal."
"Nick says he only wants a party if all his friends could be there." Benji stated.
"Will a few of us here, we could make a birthday party for him. But knowing Nick, he would probably still want Judy and the rest of you to be there." Mervin stated.
"So, what do we do?" Falisha asked.
As they thought about what they should do, Nick came back.
"Guys! I stopped the ice cream truck." Nick said. "For a dollar, we can get a fudgey bar, a rocket pop, a cheery-blueberry twist, a lemon freezy, or a orange creamsicle."
"I'll think I'll have a..." Judy said.
"You know what, you guys just give me the cash and we're just mix-n-match." Nick said with his paw out.
"O... kay..." Judy said as her and others each give Nick dollar.
"Thanks." Nick said happily. He then turned to Benji. "Ben, help my carry the ice cream back."
"Alright." Benji said agreeing to help Nick out.
Nick and Benji then went off to the ice cream truck to get their frozen treats.
"Nick actually seems okay with not having a big party." Kyle said.
"I'm pretty sure it just because he's used to low expectations. Remember, fox." Finnick said.
"Him being a fox shouldn't be the problem anymore." Judy said. "Out of all people in this city, Nick deserves a good birthday party. No, he deserves the best party ever."
"We could have a party for him next weekend." Bobby said.
"But... it won't be his birthday then." Gareth said.
"Still..., Nick... has... done... so much... for... all of... us. Should... we... at least... do... the... same... for... him?" Flash asked.
"As long as that was, Flash is right." Ronnie said agreeing with Flash.
"Nick's been one of the best friends any of us could as for. Birthday or not, we got to do something for him to know that we care, eh?" Audran said.
"Eh." Everyone else said agreeing with Audran.
A few seconds later, Nick and Benji were back holding all the ice cream they bought.
"We're back with frozen delights for everyone." Nick said happily. "Pick your treat, guys."
Everyone picked out a fudgey bar, a rocket pop, a cheery-blueberry twist, a lemon freezy, or a orange creamsicle. Whatever which they liked the most. As they all take their treats out of the wrapper, Nick told everyone to raise their ice cream up.
"To awesome friends." Nick said joyfully as he raised his fudgey bar up.
"To awesome friends!" Everyone else went with their ice cream up before eating them.
The kids all enjoyed their treats as well as the rest of the day. As they did, Judy couldn't still couldn't help but feel weird about Nick not wanting a birthday party.
Later the evening, it was time for the Bunnyburrow kids to head back home. Judy however, she wanted to stay in Zootopia a bit longer. Her parents felt weird unsure about it, but then John and Frankie said they could take Judy back home tommorow themselves. Stu and Bonnie were okay with that. So they let Judy stay with the Wildes for the night. Judy was happy about that.
Hours later, it was time for Nick and Judy to go to bed. Nick aloud Judy to sleep in his room. The two were currently in Nick's room after changing into their pjs. Nick put a hanger by his bed and put the dreamcatcher he got from Darson on it.
"Annnd... there." Nick said as he finishes hanging up the dreamcatcher. "Look out, bad dreams."
"Haha." Judy laughed.
"Okay. Let me get the sleeping bag out. I'll sleep in that while you can take my bed." Nick said to Judy.
"What? This is your room and your bed. I can't just take it from you and let you sleep on the floor." Judy stated to the fox.
"You're my guest. I don't mind." Nick said.
"Well I do." Judy said firmly. "Everytime you sleepover at my house, you're able to have a bed. I wouldn't feel comfortable if I let you sleep on the in a sleeping bag and your own bed."
"Well... what do you suggest we do?" Nick asked.
"In my family, we compromise. So what do you want to do?" Judy asked.
"We could..." Nick said as he started to blush and scratch the back of his head. "... share the bed."
This made Judy's face red.
"Sh... sh... share the bed? Isn't that kinda... awkward?" Judy asked still red-faced.
"On... only if we make it awkward." Nick stated red-faced himself. "Come on, my parents sleep in the same bed all the time." As Nick said that, he thought "Why did I say that?".
"Ri... right. It's the same for my parents too." Judy stated. As Judy said that, she thought "Why did I say that?" She then said something else to Nick. "Heck, I use to share a bed with 5 or 8 of my brothers and sisters." Inside her head, Judy was slapping herself in the face and thought "Stopping talk, Judy!".
"Yeah. We're totally good freinds. So sleeping in the same bed should be no big deal." Nick said still sounding conflicted about all of this. "Alright. Let's just get some sleep now."
"Right." Judy said.
So the two turned of the lamplight and got into the covers of Nick's bed. While they both said it wasn't awkward being in the same bed, it really was. Nick and Judy were close but never close enough for this. Nick and Judy both looked at each other and said "Goodnight." before turning the opposite way and drifting to sleep.
A few hours in the night, Judy woke back up. Guess Judy couldn't really sleep. She kepting about throwing a birthday party for Nick. She didn't want the fact it's on a school day change anything. Judy then turned around and as she did, she realized Nick's face was in front of her now. Nick was still asleep, but he must have turned around.
"When did he turned around?" Judy thought all red-faced. As she looked at Nick, she sees that he has a big grin on his face. She actually started smiling too. "Even in his sleep, Nick still has that goofy grin. He really does make everyone's life better and he works so hard." Judy then started to look sad. "Too bad not enough people see him for more than just a fox. If foxes are treated half as badly as he is sometimes, then the world is being too hard on all foxes."
Judy just had to speak with Nick some more. So she lightly tapped on his nose to wake him up.
"Nick. Nick." Judy said quietly.
"Ugggh..." Nick said groggy and with his eyes still closed. "Carrots, I told you. We can sleep in as long as we want."
"I know. It's just that... I wanted to tell you something." Judy said.
"What?" Nick said still with his eyes shut.
"You... you know that I completely trust you, no matter what, right?" Judy asked.
Nick opened his eyes as Judy said that. "I know, Judy." Nick told her.
"I... just want to make sure you know that." Judy said.
"Well I do." Nick said to her. "Judy, you know that I would never do anything to break that trust, right?"
"I know, Nick." Judy said to Nick. "You can be sneaky sometimes, but I still know you're good in the inside. Nick, do you remember when you said that I was the most amazing person that you ever met?"
"Yeah?" Nick said.
"I just want you to know that you're the most amazing person that I have ever met." Judy said sincerely and true.
"Haha." Nick lightly laughed. He then held Judy's paw. "I'm only amazing cause you help me stay that way. Like I told you before, your friendship is precious to me."
"Me too, Nick. Me too." Judy said with a smile feeling the same way.
"Alright." Nick said after letting go of Judy's paw. "Back to sleep. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Slick." Judy said.
The two then turned back around and went back to sleep. Happy that both of them trust one enough. Even if they both already knew that.
"Nick, I'll be sure that you have the best birthday ever." Judy thought.
Judy was still determined to give Nick the birthday party he deserved.
That's all for this chapter. Took a bit longer than I wanted it too, but I glad I finished this one. Next chapter, Nick's birthday. Will he get the party he always wanted? Find out in the next chapter.