A/N: Tried to get the update out last week, but I couldn't make it, sorry! I am starting to get something of a rhythm in update schedules though! I'm extremely excited for this chapter, because it's one of my favorite parts in the movie, so I hope you guys enjoy it! A snippet of the song "Almost There" will be here so...

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the song lyrics featured here. They are all property of Walt Disney Animations, as is Zootopia and Princess and the Frog.

Chapter 5: Masquerade Kiss

The milky moonlight shone upon a regal white mansion as lively music spilled out of the courtyard and into the streets of New Orleans. Streams of costume-wearing mammals from all over the district flooded through the stately doors of the mansion. The mammals were led into the sophisticated and spacious courtyard, where a masquerade ball had commenced. Elegant lamp posts stationed around the courtyard lit up the dance floor as mammals mingled and chattered. A small band gathered to the side and played a fast-paced tango as couples danced along. Most mammals were socializing near long tables where the refreshments were being served.

The back of the mansion showed off two sets of a large ivory staircase. The staircase was structured to resemble an arc, the tip of the "arc" being a small hallway where the back door was located. The small band was situated off to the side of the stairs, and a small pink table sat right near the stairs. A pretty-looking grey bunny wearing a brown and honey-toned Renaissance dress, stood at the back of the table serving fluffy, sugared desserts to the masses.

A slender dingo costumed in a Roman toga walked to the table. The grey bunny grinned at the dingo.

"Stella! How are you doing?"

The dingo beamed back. "Splendidly, Judy! Your delicious beignets are bein' snapped up quickly, aren't they? And can I just say that I am adorin' your dress, honey! Renaissance is it?"

"Thank you! And yes, yes it is! I absolutely love your outfit as well! Roman toga?"

Stella grinned. She knew that Judy knew that she was endlessly fascinated with Roman and Greek culture. "You know it!"

They both shared a laugh as another mammal came by the table to grab a beignet.

Stella smiled. "I was right about those beignets."

Judy nodded. "They are selling pretty quickly. I made tons of batches though, hopefully, it's enough to last the night."

"Just the same, it's a good problem to have," Stella affirmed. "Those beignets really are amazin'! And speakin' of, would you be a dear and pass me one, Judes?"

Judy grinned slyly and shook her head in mock annoyance. "Ah ah, I saw you had six already, Miss Stella!"

Stella tilted her head and dropped an ear as she clasped her hands to her chest. "Please?"

Judy snorted and giggled. "Alright, but just one."

Stella grinned and held out her paws for her beignet. As she bit into the soft dessert she started to walk away. "I'll be back for more!"

Judy grinned. "I'll hold you to it!"

As Stella made her way to the dance floor, she gave a friendly wave to an Arctic shrew in a pink ball gown, standing on the railing of the ivory staircase. The Arctic shrew seemed to be in the middle of a minor argument but stopped to return the wave.

A weasel in a jester outfit stood by the shrew. "Fru-Fru, you said later two hours ago!"

Fru-Fru dropped her head and sighed in annoyance at the weasel. "Travis, when a lady says later, she really means not ever. Sorry Trav, I'm sure there are plenty of young ladies dying for you to waltz them into a stupor."

Travis walked away dejectedly, in search of another female to persuade into dancing. As soon as he was out of sight, Fru-Fru hopped off the railing and landed directly on top of Judy's small pink table. "Give me those napkins, quick!"

Judy whipped her head to the small voice and quickly handed her a tiny stack of napkins. "What on earth for?"

Fru-Fru frantically stuffed the napkins in her chest and underarms. "I'm sweating, Jude, I'm sweating like a sinner in church!"

Judy rolled her eyes and gave her a lopsided grin.

Fru-Fru looked around nervously. "Oh, Judy, it's getting to be so late!"

"There are still a few stragglers!"

Fru-Fru pouted. "It's just not fair! My prince is never coming."

"Now, Fru—"

"I never get anything I wish for!"

"Fru, wait!" Judy ran up the staircase as Fru-Fru dashed up the railing. Streaks of mascara streamed down Fru-Fru's cheeks as she ran. Judy caught up with her and patted her shoulder lightly. "Just calm down and take a deep breath, Fru."

Fru-Fru, deep in her thoughts, paid no heed to Judy as she gazed at her paws. Her head lifted abruptly as her teary eyes brightened. "Maybe, I just have to wish harder!"

Judy raised an eyebrow at Fru-Fru as the tiny shrew clasped her hands close to her chest and raised her head to the heavens. Her eyes squeezed shut as she repeated, "Please, please, please, please, please..."

Judy shook her head. "Fru-Fru, you can't just wish on a star and expect things to—"

"Ladies and gentlemales! His royal highness, Prince Nicholas!"

Majestic music exploded from the small band as the fox prince entered the courtyard, waving regally to the crowd of mammals.

Judy and Fru-Fru stared, dumbfounded, as the prince made his way through the crowd. Judy looked up to the heavens in quiet awe as Fru-Fru swiftly dabbed at her eyes and fixed her makeup. She quickly cleaned the streaks of mascara before whistling shrilly. Seemingly out of the blue, a bright spotlight shined upon Fru-Fru. The fox prince turned to the light as the tiny shrew batted her eyelashes at him. Mammals cleared the dance floor as Fru-Fru enthusiastically ran down the railing.

A mammal from the crowd ran out to the middle of the dance floor and set a small, round table down. The fox prince put his paws out and laid them flat for Fru-Fru to climb on. He carried her over to the table and stuck out a finger from both paws, one for Fru-Fru to hold, and the other for him to wrap around her waist. The music transitioned into a slow waltz as they danced leisurely.

Judy walked down the staircase slowly, smiling happily at the sight of Fru-Fru and the prince dancing. She stopped near her small pink table and stood in the back of it. Swaying to the music, she giggled softly at the size difference between Fru-Fru and her prince. They made quite the comical couple as they danced around the table. Judy watched as the prince dipped Fru-Fru low and she caught her eye. Judy winked at Fru-Fru as the shrew grinned at her.

Judy continued watching her with a joyful expression, glad her friend had found her prince at last. As she watched Fru-Fru's contented expression, she wondered fleetingly if her mother was right about finding her "true love". She had, after all, made her dream come true in owning a restaurant. Shouldn't she find a new dream?

These thoughts quickly dispersed as an oryx and kudu in business suits made their way to Judy's small pink table. Judy grinned brightly at them. "Bucky! Pronk! Good to see you two!"

Bucky and Pronk glanced at each other before Bucky replied, "Yeah, you too."

Judy gestured to their outfits. "What are you guys dressed as?"

"Uh...real estate agents?"

Judy stared blankly at them. "Oh! Like your job?"

Pronk snorted. "Obviously. What else would we be dressed as? Farmers?"

Judy shrugged. "It's a masquerade. You could wear anything you want."

Bucky turned to Pronk. "I told you it was a masquerade but no, you didn't listen."

Pronk crossed his arms. "Why can't you guys just call it a costume party? It would be so much easier."

Judy grinned. "It's fine you two, besides, you look great!"

Bucky shrugged. "It's been a pretty good party, so far."

Pronk sniffed the air. "Those beignets of yours smell pretty good."

Judy held the platter of beignets out to Bucky and Pronk. "They're going to be the house specialty once I sign those papers you guys bought!"

Bucky's eyes widened as he grabbed a beignet. "Uh...yeah...about that...you...ah—"

"You were outbid," Pronk stated calmly, as he chewed on his beignet.

Judy's joyful expression dissipated into confusion. Her brows furrowed. "What?"

Bucky avoided Judy's eyes as he spoke. "A fella came in and offered the full amount...in cash. Unless you can top his offer by Wednesday—"

"You can kiss that place goodbye." Pronk waved his beignet at her for added effect.

Judy's expression morphed into one of anger as Bucky and Pronk walked away. She went around and blocked their path, eyes blazing.

"Do you know how long it took me to save that money?"

Bucky patted her shoulder. "Exactly! Which is why a little bunny of your...background, would have had her paws full trying to run a big business like that. Nah, you're better off where you're at."

Judy took in her breath sharply at the slight. Her paws clenched into fists tightly. "Now, wait a minute you two—"

"Love those beignets though!"

Fire in her eyes at the patronizing comment, she grabbed Bucky's coattail, attempting to halt their departure. "Now, hold on there! You come back right this—AHH!" Judy's grip on his coattail gave way as her foot slipped upwards and she collapsed on the floor with her back to her small table.

The impact caused the table to shake and not a second later, beignets rained down on Judy, powder splattering all over her body, and the sound of plates shattering echoed in her ears. Judy coughed and sputtered as she tried to rub off the powder on her dress. She sighed in defeat and stood up shakily, powder sprinkling off her ears and dress as she moved.

Oblivious to what had just occurred, Fru-Fru came walking up to Judy, slightly out of breath from dancing. She giggled as she looked over her shoulder flirtatiously at the fox prince. She squealed as she turned to face Judy. "Ooh, Judy! Time to give Prince Charming some of those mammal-catching be—"

Fru-Fru stared in concern as Judy furiously wiped white powder off her ears.

"Judy, what happened?"

Judy looked up and stammered. "I...just...I...uh..."

Fru-Fru tsked. "Oh, you poor dear." She looked over towards the fox prince. "Oh, Prince Nicholas! I'll be right back, sugar!"

She turned back to Judy. "Don't you worry a bit, Judy. I have just the dress for you."

Judy bent down and laid her paws flat for Fru-Fru to climb on. Judy walked up the staircase and made her way into the stately mansion. As soon as they reached Fru-Fru's room, Judy gently set her down on her dresser.

Fru-Fru's room had hardly changed since she was a kit. Pink frills laced the curtains of the large, pastel pink canopy bed, and plushies were scattered around the room. A rose-colored folding screen was stationed near the corner of the room.

Fru-Fru turned to Judy. "Now, honey, I have a beautiful dress in my closet that I was saving for your birthday, but this is as good a time as any. You can change in the back of the folding screen and just leave the stained dress for the servants to take care of, okay?"

Judy smiled faintly and nodded. She opened Fru-Fru's closet and took out the bag containing the dress. As Judy changed, Fru-Fru chatted on about the dance while touching up her makeup. "Oh, Judy, did you see the way he danced with me? A marriage proposal can't be far behind. Thank you, evening star! You know, I was starting to think that wishing on stars was just for kits and crazy mammals."

Judy slowly emerged from the folding screen, dressed in a silky, sky blue, sweetheart style dress. Fru-Fru put her paws to her cheeks and softly squealed. "Oh my gosh! Look at you! Aren't you just as pretty as a magnolia in may!"

Judy neared the dresser and stood by it, as Fru-Fru struggled to push a crown towards her. Judy took the crown and quietly thanked Fru-Fru as she placed it over her already droopy ears.

Fru-Fry's brows furrowed in concern. "Jude, are you okay? Wanna talk about?"

Judy gave her a small smile. "I'll be okay, Fru. You need to get back to the dance floor, the prince is waiting for you."

Fru-Fru smiled. "Aw, if you're sure, Judes. Are you gonna come?"

Judy shook her head. "No. I...I think I'll stay here for a bit, thanks."

Fru-Fru walked out through the door designed for smaller mammals and made her way to the dance floor.

Judy leaned against the frame of the large canopy bed. She never understood why the Bigs used big furniture such as the canopy bed, but it made things more comfortable during the sleepovers they would have as kits. The servants were all different sizes and species, so that was brought into account as well.

The thought of tiny Fru-Fru sleeping on the comically large bed had always made Judy smile, but she did not feel like smiling at the moment. She felt as droopy as her ears were. Judy walked over to her stained Renaissance dress and pulled out a small paper with the silhouette of a restaurant that read "Judy's Place" from the dress' pocket. Somehow, the paper had not stained, which Judy was eternally grateful for. She gazed at the paper and could feel the tears being formed in her eyes. She slowly made her way to Fru-Fru's balcony as she began to sing softly, hoping it would lift her spirits.

Almost

I was almost there

Mammals would have come here

From everywhere

I was...almost

There...

Her voice caught in her throat. She couldn't do it. She couldn't continue singing. She didn't trust herself to not burst into full-blow tears, tears which were now blurring her vision. She stood out on the balcony and stared off into the distance. She was almost there. She could almost see, hear, and taste her dreams coming to life. All she had to do was sign those papers and the restaurant would be hers. So close, and yet so out of reach. Tears began to drop down her cheeks as Judy was reminded of the suddenness of it all. The apathetic behavior of the real estate agents angered her, and the patronizing and belittling comments irritated her to no end.

She sniffed and wiped tears from her eyes. No. She would not give them the satisfaction of having made her cry. She sighed heavily and straightened her back as she looked to the heavens. For the first time in her life, she felt helpless. Wednesday was too soon to come up with that considerable amount of money. She couldn't—

Wait

Judy squinted at the sky. A bright star shone out like a diamond from the inky night sky. The star's reflection mirrored in Judy's glassy amethyst eyes. A memory from her childhood flashed through her mind.

Judy turned to her siblings and said, "Fru-Fru's fairytale book said that if you make a wish on the Evening Star, it's sure to come true!" Her parents came closer to her and hugged her. Bonnie chuckled and replied, "Well, you wish on that star sweetheart."

Her father nodded, "Yes, you wish and dream with all your little heart. But you remember, Judy, that old star can only take you part of the way. You got to help it along with some hard work of your own. Then, yeah, you can do anything you put your mind to.

Judy thought about this. Lord knows she worked her tail off saving for her restaurant, but now...she needed a miracle.

Wishing on a star? That's crazy. It's something Fru would do.

Judy bit her lip and sighed. "I cannot believe I'm doing this."

She looked around quickly, making sure no one could see her, lifted her head, and shut her eyes as she held her restaurant paper to her chest.

"Please, please, please."

She opened her eyes and...nothing. No lightning bolts, no thunders, no shooting stars. Nothing. Except a frog.

A frog?

Judy did a double-take at the small green creature seated on the railing of the balcony. She glanced back to the bright star and her shoulders drooped as she rolled her eyes.

She sighed. "Very funny. I don't have the strength to be startled at the moment, little frog. You can leave now."

The little frog continued to stare at her, almost questioningly.

Judy raised an eyebrow at the frog. "What now?" She smirked as she remembered a certain story her mother would read her. "I reckon you want a kiss?"

Judy squinted at the frog. Did...did the frog just... smirk back?

The frog's eyes became seductively half-lidded as it opened its mouth. "Kissing would be nice, yes?"

Judy let out an ear-piercing shriek and haphazardly ran backward into Fru-Fru's room, crashing into her bookshelf as she fell. Dozens of plushies fell off the bookshelf, burying her in plushies.

The frog jumped into the room. "I'm sorry! Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you!"

Judy groaned as she lifted herself from the pile of plushies. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the green frog. She swiftly began grabbing plushies and hurling them towards the frog. The frog jumped out of Judy's aim and held up its sticky fingers. "Wait! No! No! Wait a sec, listen!"

Judy paid no heed to its protests, wildly flinging plushies at it.

The frog grinned roguishly as he dodged plushies.

"You have a very strong arm, Princess. Ow! Okay, please, put the plushies down!"

Judy threw a plushie and it landed directly on top of the frog's body. She stood up on the chair with a large book in her paws. "Stay back! Or I'll…I'll…" She lifted the book in her paws, preparing to smash him.

The frog hopped on top of Fru-Fru's dresser. "Wait! Let me introduce myself. I am Prince Nicholas—"

Judy whacked Nicholas with the book.

The flattened frog continued weakly. "Of…Zootopia."

Judy raised an eyebrow in confusion as the frog stood up clumsily. She looked in the direction of the shining evening star. "Prince? But I didn't wish for any…"

She turned back to the frog prince and held up her paws with her brows furrowed. "Hold on. If-if you're the prince, then who was that dancing with Fru-Fru on the dance floor?"

The frog managed to stand up, wobbling slightly as he replied, "Look, all I know is one minute I am a prince, charming and handsome, cutting a rug, and then the next thing I know, I am tripping over these." He wiggled his webbed feet at her in emphasis.

Judy's expression contorted into a grimace at the slimy green feet, and she held the book up once more. The frog lifted his arms in protest. "Wait! Wait—" He squinted at the book. "Wait! I know this story!"

Judy turned the book so the cover faced her. "The Frog Prince?" She pawed the book over to Nicholas.

Nicholas nodded as he struggled to prop the book against the mirror on the dresser. "Yes! My mother had the servants read this to me every night!"

He rapidly flipped through the pages. "Yes, yes, yes! This is exactly the answer! You must kiss me."

Judy narrowed her eyes at him. "Excuse me?"

Nicholas raised an eyebrow roguishly. "You will enjoy it, I guarantee! All ladies enjoy the kiss of Prince Nicholas. Come, we pucker."

Nicholas' throat inflated. He grinned. "That's new."

Judy stared at him and sighed. "Ah...look, I'm sorry. I'd really like to help you, but I just...do not kiss frogs."

"Wait a sec, but on the balcony, you asked me."

Judy threw her paws up in exasperation. "Yeah! I didn't expect you to answer!"

Nicholas grinned. "Aw, but you must kiss me! Look, besides being unbelievably handsome, okay, I also happen to come from a fabulously wealthy family. Surely, I could offer you some type of reward. A wish I could grant, perhaps? Yes?"

Judy's ears raised slightly as she glanced at her "Judy's Place" restaurant paper lying on the floor, as a result of her initial panic towards the frog.

Judy looked back at the frog and hesitantly replied, "Just...one kiss?"

Nicholas nodded. "Just one...unless you beg for more." He licked his lips.

Judy shuddered in disgust. She squeezed her eyes shut and puckered her lips, moving slowly towards Nicholas. She slightly opened an eye to see Nicholas' huge frog lips and recoiled in disgust.

Judy gagged at the thought of kissing Nicholas' slimy green lips. She breathed in and out and quietly calmed herself down. "Okay, Judy, you can do this. You can do this. Just a little kiss, just a little kiss. Phew. Okay."

Judy breathed in deeply, squeezing her eyes shut and plunging into the kiss.

Green light shined from their kiss as sparkles exploded around them. Judy disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Nicholas opened his eyes and quickly checked himself in the mirror. He sighed dejectedly as he found that his frog body had not changed. He looked around the room, confused at the absence of the grey bunny. Suddenly, he heard rustling from the ground. He peered over the dresser, and his mouth fell open.

"Oh my gosh."

A sky blue dress lay on the ground. The dress rustled quite a bit until thin, long green fingers stuck out. A small, dainty frog popped out from the fabric. She coughed and looked up toward the dresser, opening her mouth to speak. "Well, you don't look much different. But how did you get way up there? And how did I get way down here in all this—"

The frog noticed her sticky green hands and gasped. A small compact mirror lay near her and she quickly checked her reflection. An earth-shattering scream rang out.

The small frog jumped atop the dresser and started to hyperventilate.

Nicholas grabbed her arm. "Easy, Princess! Don't panic!"

The bunny-turned-frog looked at him, incredulous.

"Don't panic? I just kissed you and look what happened! What did you do to me? I-I'm green and I'm slimy and—"

"No, no."

"Huh?"

"That isn't slime. You're secreting mucus."

Judy's eye twitched. "You—you—frog!"

The anger and frustration got the best of her and she tackled him. They both fell on top of a seesaw-like toy and the large book on the dresser tumbled down and fell on the other side of the "seesaw".

Nicholas and Judy were catapulted out of Fru-Fru's room and out the balcony. They both screamed and clung to each other as they fell into the courtyard. They landed with a thud on the drumset from the small band near the mansion. The mammal playing the drums stared at the pair of frogs and tried to whack them with his drumsticks. However, instead of whacking them, he only managed to hit his drumset, which set a new rhythm for the rest of the band to follow.

The band began to play a more upbeat tune, which the mammals on the dance floor gladly transitioned into. Nicholas and Judy hopped onto the drummer's mallets, only to be tossed out as the drummer waved his mallets around. They flew through the air and into the dance floor.

Fru-Fru, dancing on a small table, was oblivious–like the rest of the mammals– to the two frogs sailing through the air.

The two frogs landed on Fru-Fru and knocked her over on the table. Judy's eyes widened and she grabbed Nicholas' arm, jumping off the table as Fru-Fru let out a shrill scream.

Judy and Nicholas jumped helter-skelter through all the tables of the courtyard. Dozens of mammals attempted to catch them as they hopped on their heads.

A male Arctic shrew seated near a dingo noticed all the commotion. He turned to the dingo, "Stella?"

The dingo nodded. "I gotcha, Mr. Big!"

She ran towards the frogs in her Roman toga. Nicholas paled as he saw the dingo chasing after them. He pushed Judy to go faster. "Run! Run!"

Judy narrowed her eyes at him. "I can't run, I'm a frog."

"Then hop!"

They hopped recklessly atop tables and heads of mammals. As they reached the end of the tables, Stella stood at the end. They tried to hop on her head, but Judy slipped and fell into Stella's paws.

Stella beamed. "Ha! I gotcha!"

Judy squeaked. "Wait! Stella! It's me, Judy!"

"What! Judy?"

Nicholas managed to jump into Stella's paws and grab Judy's hands, hopping into the air and grabbing onto a balloon floating through the air.

As they floated through the air, Judy breathed in and out heavily. "Did you see that? She heard me!"

Nicholas nodded. "Yeah, why wouldn't she?"

"Maybe she could've helped us!"

"Some mammals actually eat us for dinner, Princess. I wouldn't take that chance."

Judy paled. "Mammals eat frogs? Ew! That's just...gross! Worst than kissing them!"

Nicholas rolled his eyes. "You know, if you let every little thing bother you, it's going to be a very long night!"

As they floated away, a small ewe stood in the Big's courtyard wearing a lab-coat costume. She seethed as she watched the balloon floating through the sky. As fast as she could, she ran to a small shop with a sign that read, "Bellwether's Emporium."

She raced to the office and opened a jar, audibly groaning at finding it empty. Not a moment later, a fox ran into the office, slightly out of breath. The ewe turned to the fox and stared at him silently, unnervingly.

The fox laughed nervously. "Heh, you're...so quiet."

The ewe's frustration boiled over. "YOU. LET. HIM. GO?"

The fox stammered. "The—the poor devil was gasping, so I loosened the lid...ever so slightly."

Bellwether groaned. "We needed him, Duke! It's the only thing keeping you from turning back into a weasel. His mucus, or slime, or whatever. No slime, no pink potion, and no more fox!"

"I'm so tired of this! Why can't you be doing this instead!"

Bellwether sighed. "Don't you understand? We need your...skills for this. You know Nicholas best, therefore you are the best candidate for this. You know how to act like him. Besides, we both know the real power in this world isn't magic! It's money! Buckets of it!"

The weasel-turned-fox nodded. "It's true."

"Aren't you tired of living on the margins while all those fat cats in their fancy cars don't give you so much as a sideways glance?"

Something snapped in Duke and his eyes flashed. "Yes. I am."

Bellwether patted his arm. "All you have to do is marry Big's little princess, and we'll be raking in the dough, with me ruling Zootopia! Heh..."

Duke nodded. "Hmm. Yeah. But...ah...what about Nicholas?"

Bellwether shrugged. "Maybe it won't be such a big deal. Your little slip-up will be a minor bump in the road. So long as we still have the slime in that jar." She pointed to a jar filled with green slime.

They both chuckled. Bellwether grinned.

The show is still on.

A/N: If anyone forgot or didn't know, Stella is the dog from Princess and the Frog. I loved her so much, I decided she needed a part in the story. I changed her to a dingo though, since dogs aren't in the Zootopia world due to their genetically modified backgrounds. Also, be on the lookout for a new cover photo, done by a friend of my editor! It's really cool, so all praise is directed at him. XD.