Sipping on a juice box Ash watched rain pour outside a countryside diner. Thunder slices deafeningly across darkening horizon. It reminds him of his mother's gloomy, bleak landscape paintings. Oak walls equip scones that cast warm cozy light upon attendants delivering delicious food to waiting tables. Mice, sheep, horses, rabbits, and voles eye the fox warily as he devoured chicken in seconds. No other patrons have sharp glinting teeth. Ash only vaguely noticed.
.
Removing a wallet from his pocket he glanced at aging, weathered family photos. A smile bittersweet appears on his muzzle. Two catch his interest and brings melancholy.
It was of Nick and him when they were still cubs. Ash, the eldest brother was teaching him how to play the town's famous sport Whack-Bat. Father was cheering and mother sat atop a hill painting.
Another photograph displayed Nick, Ash, and Kristofferson selling paw-shaped popsicles during summer.
.
'Why'd you leave?' Ash knew more than anyone what it felt like to be seen as second best. The guy picked last. Not as awesome as the popular kids. He guessed that Nick left to forge his own adventures. But Nick never returned and letters stopped arriving at the Wilde's doorstep.
.
Ash resolved to find his lost brother. He refuses to let all those good memories turn to dust. Packing his bags Ash left to search far and wide for Nick. Kristofferson stayed if Nick unexpectedly returned.
The last letters are the only clues he has. Somewhere, Nick resides in a new city called Zootopia.
.
Paying his check Ash hurriedly boarded a train. His suit is in perfect order and condition. Father made a profitable business selling fancy party attire. From suits to ball gowns and wedding outfits. Ash grinned, thinking he looks professional. Someone important. Like a detective or superhero in disguise. Passengers glare at him.
.
"What's a fox wearing a fancy suit like that?"
"Foxes are conmen."
"Deceitful."
"Aren't all carnivores?"
"Dangerous."
Ash's perceptive ears swivel and catch every word above clattering train wheels. The Wilde family is mischievous but not villains. He silently reads his comic, waiting for the train to stop at the station. Ash is focused on his sole mission to find his brother.
.
Unostentatious countryside abruptly transforms into sleek, metal cityscape. Zootopia is a towering marvel that gallantly glows. Their mirror like surfaces reflects blinding sunlight. It isn't like the ancient treehouses or small burrows back home.
.
Amazed, he can hardly wait to explore the city. 'So the word is true! They really do have four major ecosystems!'
The train pulls into a futuristic station. He supposed the other animals' frantic whispers are from cheerful conversations.
.
Ash exits the train. The underground tunnel is shockingly dull, drab, and gray. Distractedly he studies flashy screens. It's advertisement. None are about wonderful food, luxury items, or fashion though.
.
They display information about a tiny sheep, the mayor of Zootopia, called Bellwether. Her overjoyed, superficial expression and eyes are…eerie. Like a rabid beagle. An icy draft startles Ash when the next image slides by. "Carnivore Initiative?" He whispered in bewilderment.
.
It's an everyday animal. A wolf talking about some famous band. But one thing stands out. Equipped to his neck is a shock collar. It's a model that disperses painfully high voltage. He stares at it in shock. 'How can anyone wearing that be smiling?!'
.
Busy bustling crowds push past Ash. He observes them. Herbivores don't have collars. Panic squeezes the room. It shrinks, threatening to collapse on him…
.
Find Nick. That's his mission. Recovering, Ash decides to sneak out of the train station. What's really going on in Zootopia?
His short height gives him an advantage to blend in. Slipping into the crowd he vanishes. It's so crowded it's hard to tell a cat from a dog.
.
Shadows conceal Ash. His apt vision guides him to a barricaded exit. An old entrance maybe? Fresh air hits his face. The fox yanks the weak weathered planks free and jogs up steps. He's blinded briefly by light.
.
Zootopia. Renowned to be a paradise. A magnificent measure of a praiseworthy society. From an initial glance it looks like it. Neon signs advertise the latest trends and shows. Friendly merchants set up shop, couples walk and children play games in elegant parks. Ash sees that carnivores withdraw from crowds of herbivores.
.
This isn't like Ash's town. He tugs his suit collar up. Hopefully nobody notices he's not wearing a mandatory shock collar. The fox stealthily walks into the shadows again. Where could Nick be? Ash decides to look around Zootopia.
.
He must use old tricks he's learned from his father's past adventures. Ash wonders if he still has talent for lock picking.
Nick had been selling his signature paw-shaped popsicles. Then he suddenly vanished. The last time anybody has seen Nick is by an abandoned district, their purpose long forgotten. There was chain-link fence and construction equipment surrounding the place. It looked like it was going to be renovated for amusement parks, movie theaters, and other shops.
.
Mold and rust stab Ash's nose. He clasped his nose to try and dispel the pungent scents. He doubts anything valuable is stored here. The fox realizes that he's in a florist shop. Nature eclipses steel and concrete. Flowers and plants banish the smell of metal. Heavy dust floats in air.
Wait. Is…Is that cider?
.
Cider. In a florist shop. Ash recognizes the brand too! His town is famous for cider. Kristofferson crafted cologne from it.
Nick has to be here. Maybe a secret door is hidden somewhere.
.
The floor rattled. Ash jumped. A metal hatch unlocked and is lifted up by two rabbit ears. Blue eyes and a twitching pink nose look above. Seeing Ash, it shouted in shock. The hatch shut with a heavy metal clangor.
.
"Wait!" Ash tugs at the hatch. Didn't move. Ears swiveling, he flourishes his lock picking tools. He recalled father telling him, Kristofferson, and Kylie about these skills during their thieving days on the farms.
Ash warily, slowly lifts the lid. His nose quivered. No traps? And the bittersweet scent is unmistakable. Cider.
'I'm an athlete. No obstacle is going to stop me!' He quickly drops into the burrow.
.
Small steps descend into a shelter. Red, purple, and blue neon lights stretch into a metal corridor. There are stations on either side. Each section had something different. Computers, gardens, beds, medical supplies, even a library. It's like those spy movies.
Ash's chin suddenly smacked metal floor.
.
He frantically turned to face his attacker. Powerful and agile legs kick him around like a footbag. "What the cuss?! Who're you?!"
"I'll be asking you the same questions!" A rabbit skillfully evaded Ash's punches and hurled him away. She disarmed him. "Or I'll have Clawhauser deal with you!"
Ash scoffed and scowled. "I recognize that cider smell. Where's Nick?"
.
Her eyes shine in astonishment. "How do you-"
"Carrots? The alarm signaled that someone broke in and-"
"Nick?!"
Wilde's jaw dropped. He doubts what he's seeing. "Brother?!"
"He's your brother?!" The rabbit asked.
Nick lowered his weapon and nodded. "Yes. You can let him go."
.
She released Ash who hugged Nick. "We haven't seen you in years!"
"I know," Nick laughed and smiled despondently. "Three years." He avoided Ash's gaze and rubbed his neck. "A lot has happened. I wanted to write to you guys again. I did. But I couldn't."
Ash grumpily crossed his arms as his tail sweeps the floor thoughtfully. "Why?"
.
"If you don't mind," the rabbit's prior briskness is replaced by cheery politeness. "I can tell you what happened."
"We both can."
"I'm Judy Hopps. Nick's told me a lot about you."
"About the whole family actually." He laughed.
Ash grinned. "Our family is extraordinarily daring."
.
Judy kindly grabbed Ash's paw and lead him to the kitchen. "Lunch is almost ready. Are you hungry?"
"Yeah! Got any fish?"
"Plenty." Nick strolled lazily besides them. "Clawhauser makes the best food in Zootopia."
.
"You two are on the run?" Ash is baffled.
Nick sheepishly smiled. "That wasn't the plan."
"Many of us are. Flash, the Ottertons, Clawhauser, we…you see the lack of shock collars?"
"Yeah. Isn't Zootopia supposed to be paradise? Why are carnivores wearing those?"
"It was. Nick and I discovered that Bellwether was turning carnivores savage."
"Savage?"
"Bellwether used a complex chemical made from night howler flowers."
.
Nick thanked Clawhauser for a doughnut and some coffee while Ash grabbed a stack of fresh fish. The cafeteria wasn't crowded like usual, leaving the group in heavy silence.
"Night howlers make animals crazy. They'll attack anyone, using claws or teeth." Judy explained. "There's an antidote. We managed to stop her. Bellwether was arrested."
"But she escaped." Nick added.
"And now Bellwether captured Zootopia with her original plan."
"How?"
"We don't know yet. But we had to run. Our friends tagged along. This is our headquarters. Pretty cool right?"
Ash nodded heartily.
.
The fox chewed his food thoughtfully. "Everyone would be so proud! You guys are awesome! And," he looked at Nick. "I'm glad you're safe."
"Is that why you traveled to Zootopia?"
"Yeah."
"It's good to see you again brother. I'd go home but…"
Ash met Judy's sorrowful gaze. She hasn't seen her family in a while either.
"Count me in."
"What?"
"I'm going to help you guys. Kristofferson taught me martial arts!"
"Really? We have a lot of stories to talk about."
Clawhauser sat with his friends and hummed cheerfully. "Judy and Nick forgot to mention the best part. How they fell in love!"
"Love?!" Ash's eyebrows jumped up in shock.
.
It's true! Judy and Nick are wearing wedding rings.
Clawhauser sighed. "It's a romantic tale for the ages."
Nick smiled and Judy held her husband's hand.
"Now that's a story I have to hear." Ash said.
"We'll tell you about it later." Judy smiled sweetly at Nick. "It's my favorite story." She faced Ash. "But let's give you a tour. And you have to meet our friends. We have a lot of strategies to discuss on how to save Zootopia."