Here's chapter 75.
Finnick was walking through the woods on the outskirts of town, although he was already aware of the past of the people he was going to see, a part of him still refused to believe that those who lived in the past couldn't have happened, was too fanciful, even despite everything that happened since Saturday last week trying to convince himself otherwise. Even though among Zorori, Ishishi and Noshishi's group of acquaintances there were three sorcerers (two girls who were sisters and a boy who was the older sister's boyfriend) who outside of their outfits that looked like Halloween costumes he had yet to see them wear magic, there was also a fairy-like creature that was slightly taller than him, which from the looks of it had a certain resemblance to what he thought might be a female human. And the creature that seemed to be a stone statue that can move and talk, one thing that made him very puzzled when he saw it, just like when he saw the fairy, but what made him most puzzled is that inside that statue what there was actually a ghost that made the statue move and could enter and exit the statue at will. Though he still hadn't seen the ghost outside the statue.
Nicole and Jerry would definitely like to know more about them, although the previous time they saw Zorori's companions like these they had dressed up so as not to attract attention in the streets, both children didn't realize that they looked like fairy tale classic story characters, and Finnick still hadn't told them, because if he had told them they would have insisted on accompanying him, it wasn't that he had a problem with that, but the main reason was because since he didn't know them very well yet, he wanted to be sure that nothing it could happen to his niece and nephew interacting with these characters, although he didn't think they were bad peoples either, but he wanted to wait a bit.
It didn't take him long to get to their meeting place. The yellow fox and the two boars were already waiting for him, although he could see that they were reading some plans that they had in their hands. Finnick already figures out what they were planning, despite how little time he'd known them. So he came over to greet them in his own way.
"I see that you are formulating a plan to achieve your goals. Right?" Finnick said getting the attention of the other three.
"Of course it is," Zorori said as he left the map with his apprentices, none of them had heard when the fennec fox had arrived. "That we are in the middle of a problem, doesn't mean that in quiet moments we should not continue planning how to get a girlfriend and have my own castle."
"I understand them, if I were in my home country right now, I would do the same and dedicate myself to what I do best."
Finnick then walked over and began looking at the blueprints that Zorori, Ishishi, and Noshishi were looking at. I can notice something curious and it is that in those planes the different failures that the three had had in the step so that the yellow fox had a girlfriend and his own castle appeared marked. And he was surprised to see how many mistakes they had in the past. It was quite a large amount to count and at that moment the fennec fox had neither the time nor the inclination to count or read how many times they failed. Although if he should admire his perseverance. Because with the number of failures that they seem to have had, that means they can be over 10 years into this and they haven't given up despite the amount of time.
"And tell me, do you think that plan you have in mind will work?"
"Of course it does, although I don't think it will work until we get back to the area of the country where we came from. But I prefer to have everything planned in advance."
"Well said. Well, you don't feel like resting, look what I brought" said Finnick taking out a bottle that he had in a backpack.
Zorori, Ishishi and Noshishi were surprised with what he brought.
"It's a sake bottle," said one of the boars.
"And one of the rarest," said the other boar.
"And that not even we have been able to taste before. How did you get it?" asked the yellow fox.
"I have my ways," said the fennec fox with pride in his voice. "Well I think it's better to go inside, to take this with a little more privacy."
The fox and the two boars nodded in agreement. They took the plans and entered the castle being followed by the fennec fox. After entering the door was closed, with the outside being nothing but the trees that were around the construction.
As they walked deeper into the castle, Finnick could see that some of Zorori's, Ishishi and Noshishi's acquaintances were in some of the rooms they passed on their way to their destination. And he finally witnessed things that if he had been drunk, he would have thought were part of his imagination, but they were real enough. Since he on the one hand he could see Milly, Nelly and Roger practicing magic while they using their flying brooms. On the other hand, he could see Najō together with Puppe interacting, but what surprised him the most was that the ghost that was inside finally came out of the stone statue. Those things he saw were too much for Finnick to process together, even more than what he learned from the mobians.
Once they reached a small room, the two foxes and the two boars took some glasses that were kept in a cabinet, poured themselves some sake and began to drink it calmly. It wouldn't be like this for long though.
...
Back in town, Nick and Haida met at a small joint that Haida frequents when he has free time to play or listen to punk music. There were many people wearing or having extravagant haircuts, which Nick noticed and took the opportunity to tell Haida a little joke about the fashion of the place, the red fox said it in a low voice so that only the hyena could hear. That little joke made Haida laugh, albeit in a covert way so as not to attract the attention of the others present. They both went to an empty space near one of the amplifiers that were in the place so that Nick could now practice playing the bass with music. They had spent most of the morning getting Nick to learn the correct finger position. Although the red fox tried to maintain his characteristic smile, the hyena could see how the fox had been hiding his stress behind the smile. Since it was more difficult than it seemed at first. It was just at that moment at noon that Nick had finally learned what the correct position of the fingers was like, and it was for that reason that they had now arrived at that place.
Once they were seated, Haida took the bass out of his backpack again and plugged it into one of the amps next to where he was sitting. And then he put his bass in position and started playing a little bit so that Nick would learn the tune that he wanted him to play when he was done. It was an easy song, and he asked Nick to watch his fingers so he would know how to move them when it was his turn, if Nick could even get through that part, then the lessons could be over for the day. Another day, he could teach with something intermediate and then something more difficult. He just hoped Nick would be patient with the hard part. There were people who lost patience when they got there, although he didn't think Nick was like that or at least it wasn't the impression the red fox gave at first sight. Perhaps his friend Finnick of his was another story.
Once Haida finished playing the song, Nick asked him to repeat it a few more times so he knew which fingers to move at which time and which strings to play and how long to play them before changing. He was concentrating quite a bit on that, with about three or four more times watching what the hyena was doing he would learn it, he just hoped it wouldn't take as long as it was with the position of the fingers, which was one of the most stressful things he'd ever been through in his life. And that was saying a lot. It was almost stressful like that case where he and Judy worked together when they met, or the case where he and Judy and Finnick had to work together with Jack when they met him.
After about 10 minutes and Haida had already played the times Nick needed to see, he finally handed him the bass, so he could start practicing a bit. The red fox, having the stringed instrument on him and in the correct position, and remembering the position of the fingers, began to play the bass for the first time, he was doing a good job, or at least that was what it seemed when he saw the expression of Haida on the face. So he kept concentrating on the music as he concentrated, that's why he closed his eyes. He wanted to concentrate as much as possible. He didn't know why, but inwardly he told himself that he had to do it perfectly. Before he knew it, he was done, he only realized when he heard a group of applause. Opening his eyes, he realized that Haida was applauding, although not only he, but everyone else present in the room was doing it too.
"You did quite well" said Haida after finishing applauding, at the same time as the others present.
"Really?" Nick asked still unable to believe it.
"Of course, no one here would have clapped if he hadn't called it out or if you had done it wrong. It seems like you have a natural gift since you got the easy part right on the first try."
"And tell me, how long did it take you to learn to play an easy melody?"
"If I'm honest... about two or three months" he said looking away feeling a little embarrassed.
"Well, at least it was pretty quick and didn't take you many years like many others."
"If I'm honest, unlike you, I learned to play alone, without anyone teaching me, that's why I think it took me a little longer with that".
"Oh I understand. Would you mind if I played the bass one more time for practice."
"No, it does not bother me. You can continue."
After that Nick started playing the tune again trying to match him like he had just done a few minutes ago.
...
Meanwhile in a limousine was a donkey which had been sleeping in the back of it and was completely wrapped in a sheet. Since it was a day that he hadn't had anything to do during the morning, he didn't see a reason for him to wake up early, so for that reason he decided to wake up a little later. Now that he was awake, he got out from under the covers. His only company in the limo was his driver who was in the front seat, although in reality the limo drove itself, by law he had someone in that driver's seat who had always been there since he had hired him years ago.
Once he sat in the limousine seat and stretched out, he could see what part of the city he was in, it was one of the places where there were a lot of clubs. He didn't seem like a bad idea to go into one of them, anyway, there were still a few hours to go before meeting with Haida. So he decided to enter the one he was closest to. Although before leaving he brushed his teeth. When he was ready, the limousine stopped in front of the club he was going to enter and he got out of it.
"Kobayashi, if you want you can take some time off, I'll call you when I'm ready to retire. It's okay?" said the donkey.
"Yes sir" replied the schnauzer dog taking out a video game console and starting to play with it in the driver's seat.
The donkey closed the door of the limousine and went to the entrance of the premises.
Once inside, he saw that there were many people gathered there and it was quite an interesting place, since there were many people with a punk look and who listened to music of that style. But when he was observing the people present, at a table in the back he saw a similar face and approached it.
"Good to see you here, Haida."
So far the chapter. I hope you liked it. As many must already know, Zootopia+ has already premiered on Disney+. And this fic also takes that series into account.