Heart of Gazelle and Humanity

by The Imperator 2 you

With all hope lost Humanity places its final hope in the souls of those frozen in time. While excavating a tunnel, a team of Mammals going about their business discovers a relic of millennia past, and an ancient species thought mythical and legend. Yet of all eggs discovered only 1 survives. Can Humanity be redeemed for the sins of its past, in the future it cannot control?

18. Chapter 17

The Imperator 2 You - This is almost 20k words long… I hope you enjoy this chapter… I'm exhausted as fluff

.

Take this feeling, make it grow…

Never let it, never let it go…

You gave me something that I can believe in…

Don't let, go of this moment in time…

I can't explain the things that I'm feeling, no I won't let go…

Chapter 17 – The Gala De la Terre

(Jeremy's PoV)

[Jeremy, how many times do we have to keep having this conversation?]

He sighed sheepishly as Ema took his vitals and scanned his body for nutritional supplements and once again, discovered that his protein levels were lower than normal. He had 'tried' eating more meat, but it was very hard to eat 'meat' when the mammal who is letting you live with them is an herbivore, or more commonly known as a 'prey' mammal. He didn't want to make Gazelle feel uncomfortable with him asking for 'meat' when she doesn't eat it by nature.

"I know, eat more meat…" He muttered.

[We're going to have this conversation every time you come into my medical bay.] She chided him while putting a syringe full of 'protein' into his arm. [These protein supplements aren't meant to be used regularly, I don't care if Gazelle only eats leaves 'you' are not a vegetarian by choice, and you aren't eating enough protein rich 'vegetables' and 'fruits' to avoid eating meat. Now I don't care how you do it, starting next week you are to eat at least 'two' servings of meat, lunch, breakfast, dinner, I do not care, just get some 'meat' into your systems!]

The giant mechanical spider injected him with the protein supplement and finished taking his vitals.

[Your systems have settled down, and I've finished analyzing your disease in relationship to your body. Frankly I'm impressed my logic circuits haven't exploded with the fact that your body has managed to not only 'accept' your Cryogenetic Sclerosis, but that its still functioning normally 'despite' having permafrost embedded in almost every single blood cell and blood vein.] She stated. [Then again, you're only the seventeenth case in the history of humanity of Cryogenetic Sclerosis. All the others died shortly afterwards because doctors didn't understand how it worked or was activated. Naturally I've catalogued your case for record purposes.]

"Thanks… I guess…" He muttered quietly.

Hearing his tone, she stepped over him to look optic to eye. [What's wrong?]

"Nothing Ema, I'm fine…" He said, moving to get up.

Instead Ema held him down with one leg while the other seven held her up or began grabbing vials from the nearby Biobeds. For the last few days Ema has been working nonstop using the materials Mayor Lioness has been sending her to research, develop, and cure diseases and cancers. So far, she's finished only the two samples of Cancer, but that was only because she was focusing on each cancer or disease she was sent, cataloguing and cultivating samples so she could tackle them into the ground. With all the blood samples she's been sent as well, she's been developing a Mammal Medical Database, using the blood samples to understand and research every species and subspecies of mammal on the planet.

She developed a 'true' cure and vaccine for the Type S and T Rabes that Mayor Lioness announced 'dead', stating that she was unsatisfied with how the 'general sample' she tested performed, and was unsatisfied that she only had a few samples of mammals to test it on, and so spent the next twenty hours perfecting them. Once she's finished cataloguing every species she can, she will start to research and develop the cures and vaccines to the diseases she's been given. She informed the Mayor that, despite her knowledge, experience, and all the power she has being a B.W.S. Class Medical Drone, it will 'still' take her some time to cure 'everything', however if a particular species need is dire, or a mammal's life hangs in the balance, she will develop a quick solution to cure that mammal of whatever is plaguing them, though it will not work for the rest of mammalkind because of how limited time she had to develop it.

[Jeremy, I've known you since you were birthed, considering I helped birth you.] She stated in a semi-serious, more somber tone. [I know when your hiding something from me, spit it out. As a drone, I don't care about your feelings, I have a job to do, regardless of your species status.] Then she used that one leg she was using to hold him down and instead wrapped it around his shoulder. [But… as I'm 'like' family… because I've watched you grow up almost 'every day' you've been active… I'm here to listen to you.]

He sighed as he thought how to explain it to the drone. "Tomorrow is Gazelle's 'big party' that she's invited me to… and I just do not know how to act there." He said quietly. "She's all excited, especially after you agreed to help mammals with their diseases and cancers, develop synthetic organs, and everything else…"

[You mean 'you' helped them.] Ema stated. [Remember, I'm a drone, I couldn't have cared less for those mammals or their problems, let them solve their issues that's not my job. I help because 'you' woke me up, you told to help them, and you gave me a reason 'to' help them. If not for you, I would have been stuck as a curled-up ball and remained offline.]

"Yea… but she's so excited to introduce me to her friends, help me get to know other mammals… and… I don't know how to act." He said. "I wasn't 'trained' to go to parties… what am I supposed to do? What if I embarrass her or somemammal thinks I'm 'weird' or something?"

[Well, it's a good thing I'm a medical drone then, because I have no idea how to help you there.] She stated, before a ringing sounded over the intercom. [Though on that note, off you go, your 'dance lessons' with Aelita are calling.]

"How did you know Aelita was giving me dance lessons?"

[Because Aelita is a category '10' AI.] Ema said as he began to leave. [She warned me to let you go when she called. That 'ring' was her calling me.]

He shook his head in amusement as he left Ema's medical bay and headed to the Holo Room for his dancing lesson. For the past few days she's been teaching him basic dancing lessons and dinner etiquette, and table manners. He just wanted to impress her and show all her friends that he wasn't able to act 'formal' at something important like this dinner party. He knew that Gazelle was a big name, so to be 'her' guest, he had to try to impress to show that she chose right for a guest.

A few minutes later he walked into the room and over to where Aelita was standing next to his gear.

"Alright, let's get back to it!" He said eagerly, putting everything on. "Only tonight and maybe tomorrow left to train to impress everyone!"

Aelita giggled at that, before creating a picture of Gazelle with one hand, and a picture of the Tiger Brothers with the other. She smirked as she pointed them out to him, giggling the entire time.

"Oh, shush you!" He muttered with a blush while putting on the headset. "Can we just begin please?"

She nodded spun in a circle, growing in size as her white gown twirled around her in a wave of lights so that she could stand just below his height.

"Just asking again, why do you insist on teaching me to dance while still looking like a child instead of as an adult?" He asked the AI, as she had not changed her appearance in the slightest, only growing in size.

She just shrugged and snapped her fingers, causing a voice to say, [Now Playing, 'As The World Falls Down'…]

She smiled and held her arms out, inviting him to hold her by the waist with one and her outstretched hand with the other.

"There's such a sad love… deep in your eyes, a kind of pale jewel…"

He breathed in deep and held Aelita, and slowly began to twirl and stride around the room. This was the easy part, because 'she' was leading him to show him how to waltz.

"I'll paint you mornings of gold, I'll spin you valentine evenings, though we're strangers till now…"

She nodded to him and let him take the lead now, and slowly he began to roam around the room with her.

After a while he tried out the dance lesson from yesterday, and let her waist go to send her in a light spin which brought her free hand to his free hand, and shifted the positions so that he used the other hand to guide her now, roaming around the room to the music. She smiled as he performed it perfectly, though he still stumbled 'slightly' because he made a misstep and almost stepped on her foot.

Then she pushed a little closer to him and smiled while resting her cheek on his chest, slowly swaying with him in time with the music.

The music ended and he bowed to her, as she smiled back with a bow. "Thanks, Aelita… though I still don't think I mastered it." He muttered, remembering how he almost stepped on her foot.

She waved her hand dismissively before snapping her fingers again, and reappeared as her normal self, only this time with a table and set of silverware for him to use.

"Okay… let me see if I remember how to do this." He muttered as he sat down in the chair and stared at the dinner table. "So… first off farthest spoon on the right, also happens to be the biggest is the soup spoon… obviously used for 'soup'… right?"

She nodded.

"Then the 'dinner' knife is used to… help cut meats, right?"

She nodded with a smile.

"Okay, and then starting with the forks on the left is the dessert fork, right?"

She shook her head.

"No… uh… that's the middle right?"

Aelita shook her head again.

"No… no that's the dinner fork that's used for the main course served, so then this is the 'salad' fork, right?" He asked holding up the right most fork.

She giggled and shook her head that no, that it wasn't.

"Then by process of elimination this is the salad fork and what I've been talking about is the 'desert' fork." He muttered feebly. "Plates are… bowl is obviously for soup, and this is the service plate."

She nodded proudly at him.

"And when it comes to eating and drinking, drinks are on the left… no they're on the right… left?"

She planted the cup on his right.

"How am I going to remember all this when its time?" He muttered. "Then I've got to learn how to make conversation, how to address people… and napkin placement, aren't I supposed to fold it diamond shaped and place it on my lap? Or… or is it square shaped and it stays on the table on my left… or is it under the plate so its…"

Aelita stopped him with her hand and covered his face with a shake of her head. She pointed at the dinner stuff and shook her head, then pointed at himself and shook her head again, before smiling and placing both hands on her heart and nodding.

"I know but… I don't want to disappoint Gazelle or embarrass her Aelita." He said sheepishly. "She's so hyped about this party, and I want her to have a good time… I don't want to make her regret inviting me. She's a big pop idol, a singer, a model… and I'm just… a human."

He sighed as he thought about that.

"Take away the technology I have access to, remove the drones… the fact that I'm the last of my kind… and what am I?" He muttered. "Just a human… nothing special, not when compared to 'her'. She's a singer, she's an idol, she's loved by every mammal in Zootopia, all I did was take advantage of… well 'you' and Ema and everything. I just want to show I'm… someone… that I can 'be' someone."

She smirked at him before shaking her head in amusement.

"Put your makeup on, get your nails done, curl your hair, run the extra mile, keep it slim so they like you… do they like you?" She sang while she created a mirror for herself and pretended to 'pretty' herself up. "Get your sexy on, don't be shy girl, take it off, this is what you want, to belong so they like you… do you like you?"

As she sang her mirror self-changed into that of a very pretty woman, with beautiful lips, smooth and shiny skin with prominent eyebrows and sparklingly silky hair, wearing a beautiful red gown that clung loosely to her body. Yet as she beheld her image she frowned and shook her head.

"You don't have to try so hard; you don't have to give it all away, you just have to get up, get up, get up, you don't have to change a single thing…" She sang while looking at him with her reflection. "You don't have to try, try, try, try… You don't have to try, try, try, try…. You don't have to try, try, try, try… you don't have to try… you don't have to try!"

She walked over to the table and her mirror-self followed, creating a dinner table and even a 'party' behind her whereas he sat alone. Her mirror image sat down and picked up a cup with wine, pretended to converse and smile.

"Get your shopping on, at the mall, max your credit cards, you don't have to choose, buy it all so they like you… do they like you?" She sang while he was focused on her mirror image. "Wait a second, why should you care what they think of you, when you're all alone, by yourself… do you like you? Do you like you?"

Her mirror-self looked at him before frowning and shaking her head, before looking down at herself with a shake of her head. Then she stood up and started removing all the things that she'd put on, returning to 'plain Aelita' as she was, just a childish girl with a simple white gown and walking barefoot. She smiled and twirled happily, and danced silly in the mirror, not caring that she didn't fit in with the 'formal guests' behind her.

"Take your makeup off, let your hair down, take a breath, look into the mirror at yourself… do you like you?" She sang as she brought his attention to the 'real' Aelita now, holding him with both hands and a smile on her face. "Cause I like you…"

She let him go before using the holo room to create a flower, a lily by the looks of it, and then decorated it with gold and diamonds, rubies and sapphires, then pointed to him and then the flower. She shook her head with a smile and returned the flower to what it was before nodding in approval.

"I'm trying to become a gilded lily huh?" He whispered to her which caused her to nod. "Just, be who I am and forget the others?"

She nodded happily, before making the selfie image of Gazelle and then another image of Jeremy that was being used to spread around the Mammal's interweb. She doctored it up to make him look 'different' and shook her head, before reverting it and putting the two together, only changing it again to make them look like they were dancing, Gazelle in a simple white dress like hers, and Jeremy in a simple black suit dancing. She smiled and held the image to her heart, as if she were remembering a wonderful memory.

"She doesn't want to go with me because I'm famous or important, she's going with me to this party because she wants to spend time with me." He repeated, getting the message. "I know, it's just…" He sighed as he just wasn't sure of how to say it.

She nodded in understanding before pretending to look embarrassed, but then stood straight, crossed her arms and looked proudly before her.

"Your right, don't worry about what other mammals say, I'm not going to this party to impress anyone, I'm going to enjoy some company and have a good time!" He said with a smile.

She clapped happily before snapping her fingers and making the table and silverware disappear and creating the music again. She assumed the position and invited him to dance again.

"But first… get the 'Waltz' down… so I don't step on her foot!" He chuckled in understanding.

She nodded in agreement, and within moments he was once again doing the slow dance, practicing it so that he wouldn't make any mistakes again when it came time to 'really' dance.

(Gazelle's PoV)

"Well I'm glad that your happy to hear that I've decided to attend the big premier party Sable." Gazelle said over the phone as she stepped inside her limo.

Today was a very busy day for her, finishing up recording a soundtrack for her latest album had been very taxing and she was looking forward to a nice relaxing dinner with Jeremy and maybe even Aelita. She only had Moe to drive her today since it was only a recording day for her, though before she arrived at the record studio, she stopped by Sabre's Clothing Store and picked up Jeremy's suit and her custom designed dress.

Once again, her friend had worked his magic with the outfits. Jeremy's suit was a more traditional three-piece outfit, with white shirt and back light jacket with velvet leather and matching pants, with extra padding making it slightly heavier but warmer to help with his disease. For Sabre's pizzazz he had sewed the image of a pair of fluffy wings curled inward and keeping a ball of orange shielded.

Her dress on the other hand, was more extravagant, a white short sleeved ballroom dress with a cut on the side and flowed in the back down to her ankles while the front end cut right to her knees. For the 'typical Sabre flare' that her friend added, it was trimmed with lace along the sleeves and edges while the front had beads embedded along the chest area in the shape of a pair of feathery wings spread wide as if in flight.

She had 'loved' both outfits, and when asked about the wings, Sabre simply responded, "Why, for Zootopia's two angels of course! The 'Angel with Horns' going to a party with the 'Angel without Fur', what better design choice?"

The 'angels' of Zootopia, she'd had that name for a while simply for speaking out and being a good mammal. Yet to find out that Mammals were calling Jeremy the 'Angel without Fur' caused a smile in her. After what he had done, waking up Ema and creating the arrangement between the drone and mammalkind to cure diseases and cancers, for free…

She couldn't think of a better or more fitting name.

"Well it's about time Gazelle~!" Sable said over the phone as Moe started the limo up. "So, since you decided to go would you like to go with me? I still haven't been able to find a guest!"

'Yea I bet you haven't…' She thought with a roll of her eyes. "Sable, you know I 'also' got an invite. Just because you have a leading role in the movie and I only sang the theme song and had like… four seconds of screen time, doesn't mean I didn't get an invite either."

"Yea but still…" Sable said. "We'd look like suuuuch a cute couple at the party is all I'm saying, think of what the fans would say~! They'd be gossiping for weeks about us! Paparazzi would go nuts!"

'And that's probably what you want…' She thought grudgingly. "I know… but I don't need anymore rumors or cameras trying to catch me in public, I have that enough!"

Her limo pulled out of the parking lot and began the trek to the base entrance, as it rolled, she just imagined a quiet dinner with Jeremy, a nice talk and maybe a few laughs about weird stuff that happened to him or her. But of course, her thoughts were being interrupted by Sable who she just couldn't tell him to 'buzz off' and leave her alone as well as tell him straight up to stop asking her out. She didn't really 'mind' him or hate him, he was after all a decent enough Antelope, but he just was so full of himself sometimes.

"Well who else are you planning to go with, there aren't that many mammals going that I don't know of." He said in minor confusion. "Everymammal I've talked to is bringing someone big or popular, you're like the only one who hasn't picked a guest… well besides me~! Don't tell me your thinking of coming alone girl."

She sighed and finally decided to drop the bombshell on him, she was getting tired of talking to him anyway. She didn't intend to go to the party to begin with, but after Jeremy appeared, she thought it would be a great way to introduce him and get him more comfortable around mammals.

"Look Sable, I'm sorry to say it but I already have a guest I'm bringing." She said.

"You do, who is it?" He asked incredulously, right as her phone beeped about a text message. "Is it one of your backup dancers?"

She looked at the message and smiled, seeing it from Aelita, the text said {Dear Gazelle, I know you might be planning a dinner at home, but as tomorrow is the big party I think this is a special occasion that warrants eating out~! I would love to sing again at that karaoke restaurant again, just saying. : D}

"No, but you will see them tomorrow Sable. Till then bye~!" She said with a giggle, before ending the call. "Moe, change of plans, we're picking up the others 'and' Jeremy, tonight's a celebration dinner, we're going to Shooting Star Café."

"You got it!" He called from the front before turning onto a busy road.

Within a few minutes all four of the tiger brothers were in the limo and talking about what they were going to order while she phoned her old friend ahead of time, "Hey girlfriend, yea its me… quick question… do you think you could setup a 'private' dining area for two? Yea I'm bringing Jeremy again." She said as they turned up to the base entrance where Jeremy and Aelita were waiting with, none other than a pair of RAPTOR drones which aimed weapons 'as usual', before lowering them after recognizing the limo.

"Doesn't matter how many times I see them; they look just as scary as the first time!" Donny said.

"Agreed." Moe said.

Within moments Jeremy had climbed in, leaving the drones to walk back into the base while they all went off to her old workplace. Once there she led the way and was welcomed by her old friend the sheep who looked to be slightly gasping as if she'd run for miles.

"Tables for two and four?" The sheep waitress asked cheerfully.

"That's us." Gazelle said cheerfully.

"This way please~!" The sheep said to her and Jeremy while a Cougar waitress took the tiger brothers to the 'predator' section.

Off to the side were a number of screens with a built-in doorway that concealed the patrons at the table, so they had privacy. They walked inside and Jeremy and Gazelle sat down, but not before Aelita got his attention and made a request to go and play music and sing at the karaoke. He agreed and asked the lamb if she could do it.

"Oh, of course she can Mr. S… I mean Jeremy!" The sheep said with a happy smile.

Tentatively she took Aelita's sphere from him and left to take her to the jukebox. Within minutes the sounds of Aelita's singing voice could be heard as she began a gentle song.

"Doooont give up… it's just the weight of the world, when your heart's heavy, I will lift it for you~…" She sang warmly.

"She's such a wonderful singer." Gazelle muttered warmly.

"Yea… she has every song 'ever' created… in her database." He said.

Moments later the sheep walked in through the door and gave asked for their orders. Jeremy just asked for the same thing as last time, and Gazelle decided to also eat the same thing.

"Right, I'll be right back with your orders!" She said happily.

They just sat in silence waiting for their food, all the while listening to Aelita singing, who had finished her first song and now moved onto another one.

"I've been waiting for a while now… you've got me feeling like a child now… cause every time I see your bubbly face…"

"So, excited for the party tomorrow?" She asked.

(Jeremy's PoV)

"Sorta… I'm a little nervous." He replied honestly. "I've… never been to a 'party' like… what you invited me to… only parties I've ever been to were the few 'birthday' parties we had in the base."

"What were they like?" She asked him.

"Well… mostly it was for children, the only birthdays we had were for those in the base." He said, remembering his 'last' birthday party. "Like I said… we didn't have much to work with regarding fun times. Not like in the past. But we tried whatever we could to make it special for children."

Moments later Starla came in carrying two plates of food and two 'warm' glasses of juice. She put both down before them but lingered a little bit longer, staring nervously at Jeremy.

"Yes?" He asked, knowing she wanted something of him.

"Uhm… I just want to say…" She muttered 'sheepishly'. "Thank you, Mr. Jeremy… for what you did a few days ago!"

"Do you mean with the cancers? I only pushed a button and asked my base's medical drone to help you." He said.

"No… when you brought those… fancy magical organ thingies!" She said while straightening her blouse. "One of the mammals you saved was a Ram… uhm that's 'male sheep' by the way. And… he was actually one of my 'sisters' husband. Her name's Yulara Bellfloof and she had gone to the uh… other 'spirits' graves to pray for help."

"Yulara's your sister?" He said, not really seeing the similarities outside of the fact that she was also a sheep.

"Oh, only in religion!" She said quickly. "We both practice the same branch; we follow the main branch religion and pray to the 'Spirits of Health'… so she's my 'sister' in that regard."

"Well, your welcome." He said warmly. "I'm just happy to hear he's doing better."

There was a moment where she giggled awkwardly before she 'eeped' as she was called, then apologized for holding them up with their meal and rushed as fast as she could out to get back to work.

Both him and Gazelle chuckled before he slowly began to eat his food. "You know Jeremy, she's not the only mammal you helped." Gazelle said warmly, causing him to look up at her.

She was wearing a very warm smile as she nodded at where her friend had left.

"You did so much more than you realize, not just with your actions." She said. "There are mammals who struggle to make ends meet and getting medication for themselves or even their children like rabes shots is so hard to do, and even then, it's not a guarantee that they won't contract the cancer. What you did… was erase their fears and worries about that forever."

He looked away feeling embarrassed that he was being given such praise. "I only did what I thought was right, nobody should be denied medicine that can save them just because they aren't 'important' or rich."

"I wish everymammal thought that way, and I am happy that 'you' think that way." She said warmly, before picking up her fork and starting to eat. "So, what were birthdays like, you were talking about them?"

"They weren't all special when I grew up… just that one day a year that children and even some parents celebrated in the base. I'm not sure how it was like outside but… we tried our best to make it still 'feel' special." He said, recalling his last birthday and how important it was to him now. "There weren't any gifts, no toys, nothing like that when we were all trying so hard to repair all the damage done. But… we did at least have 'one' thing we gave the child on their birthday… and that was a single piece of chocolate."

He heard her drop her fork as she was eating and looked up to see the look of shock on her face. "That was it, just 'one' piece of chocolate?" She whispered in disbelief.

"It was all we could spare… by the time I was born, we had reduced all of our food options to just a single food paste… we couldn't 'afford' to make anything special because it was a waste of materials." He said sadly, remembering the 'jumbo' chocolate donut the shrew gave him after he replaced his donut stand's sign. "We only made a single piece of chocolate for the kid's birthday… and it only went up until they turned thirteen, at most I got… seven or eight pieces of chocolate in my lifetime, 'before' being frozen."

He remembered one time offering to share it with his friends, but everyone told him it was his and his alone. It was his 'special present', that he treasured now because that was all they had.

"Um… when 'is' your birthday?" Gazelle asked him.

"Don't know, you'd have to ask Aelita, I've been frozen so long that… I don't even know what month or 'year' it is by my species' calendar, let alone yours." He muttered.

"Here I am trying to make a cheery conversation before the big party, and I just bring up sad memories, I'm so sorry Jeremy."

"No, it's okay, you were just curious is all, no shame in that!" He replied with a smile. "So uh, about the party… how are we getting there?"

She took a moment to finish eating her mouthful of food before explaining. "We're planning on taking the limo, as usual." She said with smile. "I was going to hire a Vale to drive instead of Moe or his brothers, as they also are coming but with 'dates' instead of guests. Since they work for me as my bodyguards when not dancing on stage, but since this is a party, I'm letting them have some fun and let them have the night off!"

"Oh, I thought that for these 'fancy parties' that they send out special vehicles to take you instead?" He asked, having used some of his time to read up on some formal parties during human time.

"Oh, some events do that, but since I'm only going last minute because I had originally not intended to go, I have to bring my own car." She giggled.

At those words he suddenly had an image pop into his head, an image of them all driving up to the party not in a limo but in another vehicle, one that suddenly popped into his imagination.

"Would you…" He whispered quietly.

"Hmm?" Gazelle asked, looking moderately confused as she finished eating.

"Would you… be opposed if… 'I' take you all?" He asked sheepishly.

"You drive?" She asked in surprise. "I didn't know you could drive a limo; did you learn how to do that when I wasn't watching you?" She giggled jokingly.

"No not drive the limo… I mean… 'I' take you all to the event in… well… 'my' vehicle…"

At that her joking demeanor changed to a more surprised one. "You have a car?"

"Not… yet… but… I am working on something in the base that can take us to the event." He said nervously. "I just… figured… since this is my 'first' formal party 'ever'… I wanted to make it memorable and special… for you at least… you know, because I'm your guest and everything!"

"Jeremy… I don't know what to say accept… I'd love to!" She said with a smile. "So, when do I drop you off so you can pick us up?"

"About that… if I'm going to get it ready for tomorrow, I need to get back to the base and stay there overnight to work on it and get it ready."

"Oh, I was actually hoping to spend some time with you when we got home." Gazelle said sadly, but still had a smile on her face. "Well, if you really need that much time alright. I can't wait to see what it looks like!"

"Thank you, I promise you won't be disappointed!" He said.

After they finished their drinks and Gazelle paid the bill for her friends' meals, apparently his and hers were on the house, they all got back into the limo and made their way back to the base. She handed him his suit and told him that she and the others would be waiting at her home by seven thirty, near dusk. After they left and he walked into the base, he instantly slammed his head into the side of the cavern wall.

"What was I thinking, I don't have ANY way to carry them all to this party!" He screamed loudly. "Not only do I have to finish that drone model in less than twenty hours, but also construct a vehicle from 'scratch'? What am I going to do!?"

In his hands Aelita got his attention by shining her light. She smiled and held up a holographic image of a vehicle, almost exactly like what he had been imagining, but with her own twists on its overall design. Not only did she have the holographic image of it, she even created a set of schematics and blueprints for its construction.

"How and when did you find time to do that?" He asked her.

She smiled even wider as she transformed into both him and Gazelle eating and talking.

"In the restaurant? But I 'literally' just asked her that minutes ago, how could you have heard us and…"

She grinned even more as she tapped her ears, and he recalled that her holosphere, though small and limited in scope, was still equipped with powerful listening sensors, enabling her to hear and pick out the most muted of sounds within range. She'd heard his entire conversation with Gazelle, and in the few minutes he'd made that promise, she'd not only used his history of the ancient human modes of transportation often associated with formal parties as a stepping point but also created a schematic and design to begin constructing it 'based' on his search, 'all' while singing and leaving him none the wiser.

"You are 'good' Aelita." He praised the AI, who nodded and curtsied in gratitude.

In seconds he and Aelita were in the Command Center and surrounded by multitudes of drones, even ANT Commanders were in the room with him as he began typing away and issuing orders.

"Alright if we're going to pull this off, we're going to need to use the full power and might of the Sentinel Drones and their ability to work non-stop." He said to himself while Aelita typed away alongside him.

She nodded in understanding as she assisted in pulling up the manifest and requested materials for the vehicle's construction.

"While I'm busy working on the new drone line, you will have to take control and lead the drones in the construction work of the vehicle. I can't control their actions, but you can handle coordinating 'all' of the drones together." He said as he finished ordering the drones Sentinel had scheduled for other tasks or were sitting in recharge cycles. "It won't be easy for either of us, I need to jam a week's worth of build into a few hours, and you need to control over twenty thousand drones, most of which are ANTs. This is going to take everything we have to get it done on time, think we can do it Aelita?"

She smiled widely and did an arm pump, mirroring an old poster of 'Rosie the Riveter' from pre-2000 era of humanity.

"Alright then, lets get this started!" He shouted proudly as he stood up. "Drones, let's get to work!"

[As you command!] They all shouted in unison while Aelita fist pumped the air.

Ten minutes later as Jeremy began to work on the drone's structure, Aelita decided to start singing over the intercom to help inspire him.

"I'm in Over my Head!"

(Aelita's and Jeremy's PoV)

"They want to try and build me up, so they can tear me down!"

She watched him grunt and groan as he wedged in a pair of pistons for the legs while trying to make sure the servos they were attached to stayed in place, and giggled inwardly as he fell backward, causing a pile of parts to cascade and rain on him.

"I wish I could be back there, but I'm writing here right now!"

She could only facepalm as a line of ANT drones tried to force a strip of steel 'around' a corner and had to take control of each ANT individually so as to get it around, because they were holding up the line of materials needed to construct the vehicle.

"They've taken everything that I've had to give and… they say it's over but man I'm still here living!"

Jeremy was wrestling with a tangle of wires and cables as he tried to connect them to the proper circuits, and then smacked his head into the side of the drone's shell as a part of the leg that he'd painstakingly put together fell out. Aelita meanwhile was inspecting the overall body through the eyes of MUTT who was busy welding a piece of filament onto the frame, and only noticed the mistake too late as she was still coordinating the thousands of ANTs who's job it was to cut apart pieces of metal and steel into perfectly angled shapes.

"I don't know what to do, I think that maybe… I'm in over my head~!"

She was frantically waving and trying to get three DOG drones to 'gently' lift the body up so they could install the battery cells, but they failed and accidentally threw it onto its back.

"Stuck in the red!"

He carefully plugged the optic into the drone's face and smiled, only to realize that he'd put the wrong one in and had put them in backwards.

"Something they said, makes me think that i'm in over my head! Over my head!"

She clapped happily as the RAPTORs sliced open the doorframe, but then slapped her forehead as she saw that they had 'also' sliced into the hood of the vehicle's frame.

He tiredly welded pieces of frame together while running the AI patch check to make sure it would function in the background.

"Over my head~!"

After a few hours Lula appeared and seeing all the chaos going on, asked the AI if she needed help, but Aelita said no, though directed her to Jeremy's position and told a FOX to guide her.

Within a few minutes she walked into the parts chamber and asked the same question, if she could help him.

"Uh, 'sure'… do you know how to use a wrench?" He asked her.

She smiled and nodded, before instantly rolling up her sleeves, getting down, and starting to help by using the power tools available to her and helping construct the drone.

Aelita smirked at the extra help, but suddenly panicked as she lost focus on her drones and that was all it took for a RAPTOR to overextend its plasma cutting arm and saw off a portion of the drive train.

"I've got to get away from here, and it couldn't be too soon! Cause I see the stars are here with me, like rockets to the moon!"

After Lula got over the nervousness of working alongside the human, she was eventually shown what parts were what, how they fit together, and even explained how they were to be installed. Soon they were both using welding masks and hard welding the metal frames to the skeletal structure of the drone.

Aelita at the same time was testing out the drive train to make sure it would work, and smiling as it 'sorta' worked, but then gasped in surprise as it somehow caught on fire. Though it was quickly extinguished by the drones as they beat it down with their feet.

"You take me everywhere that I've never been and, show me the meaning of what had to give and, I don't know what to say, I think that maybe… I'm in over my head!"

Aelita's head spun in circles slightly as she was trying to focus on so many drones and keep them all in line, but it was so hard despite her vast capabilities. Each drone's intelligence level complicated it as the ANT drones were 'stupid' and needed very, very specific orders that were simple and to the point. Despite their numbers being their best asset, it was causing her a headache keeping them all on track. The other drones complicated that matter because while a RAPTOR could understand more complex orders, it was not a construction drone by design and so had to be 'carefully' monitored to ensure it didn't go full power on anything. FOX drones, while good assassins and infiltrators were poor builders, and at most could only reposition things that the others couldn't using their more 'svelte' design. DOG drones, with the exception to MUTT, were only good at carrying or lifting stuff regarding construction, and so did the majority of that.

All of these things she had them doing simultaneously while 'also' keeping the string of materials flowing to the construction site was taxing even her AI.

This was a project being rushed, and should have taken more time, but they only had less than thirteen hours left, and still they had so much to do. The seats needed to be installed, the drive train needed to be redesigned, the body needed to be painted and smoothed out as well as shined… and she didn't even concern herself with the energy transfer drive yet…

Trying to get her mind off things she looked through the cameras and checked in on Jeremy to see how he was doing with his drone, and smiled as he saw that he was 'finished', but apparently dead tired as he and Lula were both sleeping on the ground.

She paused construction and took a FOX drone, and two RAPTOR drones to the parts room they were in.

As she walked in, she saw that the drone's AI was installed and awaiting power up sequence, and that Jeremy and Lula were fast asleep.

Seeing them asleep made her chuckle, it was just so cute seeing them asleep, even if it was on the floor. They had probably exhausted themselves with working on the drone, and so fell asleep as they finished it.

Using her FOX drone's holographic emitters, she walked over to Jeremy and gently brushed his hair with her hand, wishing him a pleasant dream. Then she leaned down and gave a soft kiss on his cheek.

'When your heart and mind are in sync, there is nothing you cannot achieve…'She thought proudly, before snapping her fingers and pointing at the two of them.

[Error, no human children detected…]

She looked at the two RAPTOR drones with an 'oh really' expression, before taking one hand and typing away at thin air. Within microseconds she had rewritten the two drone's subroutines and 'forced' them to mistake the two for children, and thus activate their 'Child Care Protocols', a subcategory of algorithms and protocols related to the Human Protection Protocols.

[Children detected…] The two RAPTORs stated, stepping forward and replacing their sharpened claws, teeth, and toes with rubber equivalents.

[Oh, what are you little ones doing here?] The one drone stated in a sweet motherly voice, bending down and gently picking up Jeremy to carry him bridal style. [This is not where little ones sleep, you two should be asleep in your nice soft, cozy warm, blanket covered beds…]

[Let's go JI-401, these two are past their bedtime!] The other said in just as sweet a motherly voice as the first did. [Little darlings fell asleep when playing 'builder'… off to bed we go!]

She giggled so much inside as the two RAPTORs walked out to take them to their preassigned rooms, cooing and humming lullabies as they went.

After she had her laugh though, she looked at the drone and smiled, marveling at its simplistic nature yet complex structure. It stood proud and tall, a symbol of humanity's strength and genius. Though it was not alive, nor was it 'sentient' like she was, it nonetheless was a miracle of her creators. Only a 'creator species' could possibly create and design something like that, and she was proud to have nudged Jeremy into building it.

She sighed as she had her FOX return to the Command Center with her holosphere, and upon her arrival she once again tapped into the AI of every drone waiting for her commands. With a snap of her fingers they all resumed work.

Jeremy had finished his job, now she would finish hers.

The next day passed as all days passed, and soon the time for the party was almost upon them. Aelita helped Jeremy into his suit after he cleaned and prepped himself. Their mode of transport was shined and ready to go, Aelita having pushed herself to get it done with time to spare for one last dance lesson.

"Okay… how do I look?" Jeremy asked as he finished adjusting his suit.

Aelita looked at him and curled her fingers around her chin as if judging him, before she pretended to squeal and pinch his cheeks.

"Oh, leave me alone you." He replied to her teasing. "Alright… let's get this show on the road, we're just a few minutes behind schedule!"

He climbed into the front seat while Aelita and her FOX drone hopped onto the front hood where a raised platform was situated for them. She created a holographic top hat and placed it on her head before signaling him with a thumbs up.

"Move out, destination… Gazelle Residence!" He declared.

[Moving Out…] The drone stated in a low tone, before marching forward and out of the tunnel.

(Gazelle's PoV)

"Oh, I can't wait to see the movie Gazelle, I hear you made a great background character!" Donny's date chuckled.

"Yes, I screamed quite well for all of four seconds as an explosion sounded!" She giggled to the Tigress.

"Speaking of the party, when 'are' we going?" Moe called while he and his brothers were playing their game again.

"We're waiting on Jeremy to come pick us up." Gazelle said.

"Jeremy, you mean Mr. 'Angel without Fur'?" The Cougar waitress from her old workplace asked excitedly. "Are we going in some fancy flying car? Oh, I hope we go flying to the party, that would SO shut up my mother about dating a backup dancer!"

"Don't take it personal Franky, Jess's stupid mom just thinks she can do better!" A Cheetah said with a laugh. "Gazelle is Jeremy your 'date' to this party, is that why you decided to finally go after being invited over four weeks ago dear?"

"Oh, that would be 'soooo' romantic… Jeremy the 'Angel without Fur', the last of his kind, rescued by Gazelle, falls in love with Zootopia's own 'Angel with Horns'… a match made in the heavens!" Joe's date a 'Doe' swooned warmly. "How happy I am for you Gazelle, he's so amazing…"

"Girls, girls he's just my 'guest'…" She said with a blush. "I invited him before he did the whole medicine thing, just to introduce him to more mammals and get us used to him. It's not a date…"

"Oh girl, you are sooo losing an opportunity here." The Cougar chuckled. "Trust me when I say, a male like 'him' isn't going to stay single for long, not after what he did."

"She's right you know!" The Doe agreed. "My little sister writes stories in her free time, and she's writing fantasy stories about Jeremy sweeping her off her hooves and taking her to space! I wouldn't be surprised if there are females out there who try to catch his eye as quickly as they can."

At that she could only blush and imagine. She knew how 'that' felt being on the receiving end of boys trying to hit on her when she became famous, sure the Tiger brothers acting as her bodyguards stemmed the tide 'eventually', but she still had guys who fantasized about her. Jeremy on the other hand, was a fresh face, and he was probably the rarest catch any female could get if they could get him for their own. Thinking someone like Jeremy might get married, caused her both to blush and feel a tiny 'pang' of hurt in her heart, not because he'd be taken from her but because it wouldn't be 'her'.

Suddenly her phone rang, and she got a message from Aelita. {We're about 2 minutes away, please be outside, and turn to your left ; ).}

"That's Jeremy, our ride is almost here everymammal." Gazelle called, and within seconds they were all outside and waiting.

"Hey look, here he…" Donny started saying before going speechless.

"Oh… my…" Franky muttered.

"That is something you 'don't' see every day." Jess whispered.

There, walking toward them on four mighty metal legs, with a steady walk and clapping its metal feet on the floor with each step, walked a creature similar to a Zebra. It had thousands of strings which displayed multitudes of colors greater than even the best rainbow could match, blowing in the breeze as it walked. It's eyes, or optics stared at them with a light blue glow as it proudly pulled the vehicle behind it, and its glowing tail waved gently in the wind as well, glistening yellow light as it walked and cast an almost angelic glow behind it.

The vehicle which dragged behind, was nothing, nothing like she had ever seen, not even the most glamourous limo could compete with its design. It traveled the road on eight 'spherical wheels', almost complexly spherical like they were balls. It had two headlights that were casting a gentle white light as it moved forward, lighting the ground in perfect lighting. As for its body the design was almost a rounded rectangle but curved slightly at both the front and rear. The roof became rounded on the sides and had exquisitely carved designs of flowers and petals, as if they were blowing in the wind into its body. The vehicle's color was an overall silvery sheen that glistened in the moonlight and reflected the white orb above in 'perfect' clarity. The windows were made of some kind of glass that prevented them from seeing inside, but she had no doubt that Jeremy was inside that vehicle as it approached them.

Riding atop the 'car', as she had no words to describe it, was Aelita perched on a small platform that seemed to have been built into the vehicle's design. She sat next to a FOX drone with a pair of holographic harnesses reaching out and wrapping around the 'drone', apparently to control and direct it, but the drone moved steadily toward them without her directing it at all. She also wore a top hat instead of letting her hair hang naturally like usual and waved at them when they neared.

"Gazelle if you don't get that male before next week, I promise you he's going to be taken before you regret your mistake." Jess whispered to her. "A male like this comes around 'once' every thousand girl's lifetime…"

She had to nod in agreement as the vehicle finally rolled to a stop. [Destination Reached… this unit has arrived 'on schedule'.] The drone declared in a low tone.

Aelita smirked as she tipped her top hat toward them and moments later the door on the left side of the car opened up to reveal Jeremy in his suit.

"Hi everyone, sorry if I'm late!" He said sheepishly.

"With a ride like this, you can be as late as you want darling!" The Tigress chuckled. "Name's Lydia, nice to meet you Jeremy!"

"I'm Jess." The Cougar said warmly.

"I'm… Jane." The Doe whispered nervously.

"Name's Pavia." The Cheetah said.

"Jeremy… where did you get 'this'?" Gazelle asked incredulously.

"To be honest… we had to build it all last night…" He replied nervously.

"You 'built' this?" Donny asked in amazement. "In one night?"

"Well not 'me' but the drones did, it took everything they had as well as Aelita to get it done, I was too busy with 'HORSE' to help." He said pointing at the large drone.

[Awaiting Directions…] It stated, looking at him as he spoke about it.

"Horse?" She asked.

"HORSE, stands for Homing Omnidirectional Reconnoiter Survey Echolocator, also known as 'HORSE', for shot." He explained. "I based it off a creature that worked alongside humans for… thousands of years, I figured it would be a nice way to introduce drones that are… you know… 'not' combat by design."

"Wait, your saying 'Zebra' ancestors used to work alongside humans for thousands of years?" Franky asked.

"Not Zebra, but a similar looking species." He said. "They've been a part of human history since before human history could remember, do you like it?"

She smiled as she looked at Jeremy. "It looks wonderful Jeremy."

After a while Franky coughed and cleared his throat, "We're running a bit late Gazelle, we better get going if we're going to make it on time!"

"Right, right… uhm… here." Jeremy said and clapped his hands.

Instantly four sets of doors opened up on the right side, showing the interior to be extremely cozy with purple colored seats and matching felt for the floor. Each row of seats was separated by a thin metal wall.

"Fancy…" Jane muttered as the boys let the girls enter first, with Gazelle being helped inside thanks to Jeremy.

Once all the doors on the right closed, the doors on the left opened to allow the boys to enter and take their seats.

"Where to Gazelle?" Jeremy asked.

"Uh… to Downtown Zootopia, The Moulin Hoofton."

[Destination locked, moving out!] The HORSE stated, before pulling them forward.

"This is so cool…" Gazelle whispered as they left her residential area behind. "How fast can we go?"

"HORSE can only go about twenty miles per hour, but the vehicle can go almost a hundred and fifty in seconds." Jeremy explained. "Only reason why I had HORSE take us is because… well I thought it would be appropriate for the party. I just wanted to surprise you and everyone."

"Well… you surprised me Jeremy." She muttered warmly as they just sat and watched the scenery.

HORSE marched on without care or concern, moving as it was directed and taking them to their destination. It was a somewhat slow process but what Horse did that the other vehicles around it weren't doing was going at its slow pace that didn't slow down at all. Somehow as HORSE entered the downtown district, it managed to circumvent any potential red lights or pauses in its trek. Mammals on the streets were staring in awe and wonder at their vehicle, which Jeremy defined as a 'Horse-drawn Carriage/Advanced Solar Powered car' hybrid. Car drivers who drove past them actually slowed down to watch in amazement, and she could guess why, a vehicle like Jeremy's has never been seen even in 'Jeremy's' time, let alone hers.

Glancing over at Jeremy she saw him looking out the window at all the mammals. Smiling she nudged closer to sit next to him and leaned a little on his shoulder. "Don't worry Jeremy, this is going to be a fun party."

"I just hope I don't ruin it." He replied nervously.

"Don't worry, everymammal will love you!" She assured him as HORSE turned around a corner and continued, being tracked and talked about by every mammal that saw it.

(Sable's PoV)

Sable stood before camera crews and interviewers who were all talking about his big part in the movie and trying his best not to chuckle.

"Mr. Sable how does it feel to have gotten your 'third' leading role in the film industry in less than a year?" A Fox asked him.

"Oh, I am ecstatic over it." He said with a smile. "Why I actually am planning to try out for Mr. Vincent Van Doe's newest take on the ever classic, 'To the Moon'. From what it sounds like it's going to be exquisite."

"Look at you, just finished one movie and already planning for your next lead role?" His guest Alura Pelt giggled.

"Well what can I say dear, I'm quite 'flexible'!" He joked as he pretended to strongarm pose.

"Mr. Sable, Mr. Sable!" A sheep reporter suddenly burst out excitedly. "Any statement for the 'rumors' saying that you tried to invite 'Gazelle', the number one pop idol in Zootopia to this premier event party?"

"Yes, yes, I did try, but she said she already had a guest planned!" He laughed off. "I still don't know 'who' she chose to invite, I know everymammal here who 'could' be here!"

He still wished he could have come to the event with Gazelle, while Alura was his 'second' choice, Gazelle would have no doubt tipped his popularity points extremely high. Still, having the second most famous designer in the dress industry was certainly not something to scoff at. He just wished she would have told him who the 'lucky' mammal she invited was, whoever they were had to be really famous or popular, but as he just said, he knew them all, and all of them were here at the party.

"Well it is almost time to begin, I just hope she shows up soon." He said as a pair of headlights shined on the road. "Oh, that mu… b…"

He could only stutter as he saw a huge crowd of mammals watching across the street as a 'thing' that looked like a metal Zebra walking on all four trotted up to their street. Cameras flashed and took pictures as they watched the vehicle it was dragging behind it roll to a stop. He'd never seen such a design before, it looked almost 'alien' to him, yet its intricate design and long profile put to shame even 'his' top of the line limousine. Riding atop it was a glowing entity that he'd never seen, but as soon as 'it' appeared every camera crew and reporter went into a frenzy to get a good look and angle.

[Destination reached, time remaining to event start, three minutes and seven seconds. This unit has arrived ahead of schedule!] The machine at the front declared proudly, before rearing up onto its rear legs to flail the front to. [Kreeeeieeeieeeigh!] it proudly screamed, before stomping the ground.

Then the doors opened on the left side and they couldn't tell who stepped out until…

"Oh, my goodness it's the human!" A mammal shouted, and around the front of the vehicle Sable watched as the human that had been in the news appeared. As he watched four Tigers stepped around as well and together, they opened the doors on the right side. First to step out was a Doe, then a Cougar, then a Tigress, next a Cheetah, and then finally…

"Gazelle?" A reporter asked incredulously.

"Gazelle…" He whispered.

Gazelle stepped out of the vehicle with a smile as cameras flashed and reporters tried to ask questions. She simply shook her head or responded with a chuckle or giggle. Then she offered Jeremy her hand, which the human took, and she led him and her group into the building past him, all the while hounded by reporters and cameras.

[Relocating…] The machine declared, before trudging off on its own, taking the vehicle with it.

He just simply stared in awe as everymammal began entering the building for the party. "Well, we better go with them Sable." Alura said with a smile.

"Yea… let's go." He muttered.

Together they walked in as well, but deep down he was 'extremely' jealous of the human. The human was barely known to everymammal for more than a month, and already he was familiar with Gazelle enough to get invited to such a private party? So what if the human simply used his technology to help them with diseases and cancers? As great as that was, he didn't do anything, it was his 'tech' that did it as far as he was concerned.

(Jeremy's PoV)

He walked into the building past all the pillars and guests with Gazelle leading the way and holding his hand. He was acting like a gentleman as Aelita had taught him to act, allowing her to take the lead and determine where they go. Behind him her friends and their dates followed and behind all of them, Aelita on her own with her FOX drone carrying her Holosphere tagged behind with arms clasped behind her.

Gazelle led them into the main room where all of the guests were standing and talking, but all talk ended as soon as he and Aelita appeared, and he just felt himself wanting to melt and vanish as all eyes turned to them. There were hushed whispers and some mammals stepped out of their way, even forming a circle around their group so they could get a glimpse of him and especially Aelita, who simply smiled and waved, ignoring how many eyes were on her.

"Hello everymammal, sorry I'm so late!" Gazelle declared warmly as she let go to introduce him. "This is my guest of honor, Jeremy Wilheart."

"Greetings everyone." He said, clasping his hands together and giving a short bow to them all. "And this is Aelita… my friend…"

Aelita smiled warmly and curtsied in response.

"Greetings."

"Salutations!"

"Well hello there!"

Soon the crowd of mammals were getting closer to shake his hands and talk to him. He felt extremely nervous as Gazelle just let them surround him and Aelita, but he guessed that this was going to happen no matter what, and so just tried his best to endure it.

"Jeremy, I have to say its an honor to meet you!" A large sheep said warmly, shaking his hands vigorously. "William Baaath, owner of Baaaath and Beyonds. On behalf of all sheep and lambkind I'm sooo honored to meet a living 'spirit'!"

"Nice to meet you sir." He said.

"Jeremy where did you get those marvelous things you called 'Synthorgans'?" A Porcupine asked him curiously. "I work in the medical industry, own a hospital, Mercy hospital, you've been a patient there before I think, and I would LOVE to figure out how you made those marvelous inventions."

"Uhm those are 'very' hard to develop but… I will 'try' to help you learn more about them when I have time." He said sheepishly.

On and on it went, mammals left and right talking to him and wanting to meet him, some of them asking him weird questions like 'what's it like being the last of his kind' and 'are humans prey or predators'? Some of the questions he was asked were extremely awkward to answer like 'how did you meet Gazelle' and 'what's it like traveling with the most popular idol and face of Zootopia'. On and on they talked to him, spending almost half an hour just questioning him about everything he could think of.

Aelita though by comparison was answering every question posed to her with speed and efficiency that he wished he had.

"What 'are' you?" A Skunk asked her.

[I am Aelita, an AI created by humans.] The drone responded for her, as she used sign language to respond and the mammals couldn't understand her otherwise.

"Who made you?" A Rabbit asked.

[Jeremy's father, he spent over thirty years working on my program.]

"What's it like 'being' you?" Another mammal asked, an Antelope like Gazelle asked now.

She smiled warmly at that before saying, [Jeremy?] To get his attention. [May I show them?]

"Of course, you can show them Aelita." He replied.

[Thank you, if every mammal could please just for a moment give me some space!] She asked using the FOX drone.

"Oh, this sounds like it's going to be exciting!" Some mammals started saying as they all began to clear the area around her, and Jeremy stood with Gazelle near the rear of the crowd.

He smiled with Gazelle as Aelita waited for everyone to settle in, and then a hush filled the room as every mammal waited for her to begin.

Then without warning, she vanished, and in her place were tiny, miniscule drops of water. These little drops of water floated around the room to every mammal's awe and delight, but out of curiosity one mammal, a Timberwolf, grabbed a floating drop as it passed by him. It changed shape in his hand and became a picture, this picture showed a small boy with a dog, a Pomeranian by the looks of it based on what Jeremy knew of dog species. The small orange fur colored dog was running behind the boy as he ran ahead in a pair of shorts and a thin shirt, both playing on a sandy beach.

'Who's your favorite boy, come on tell me!' A hauntingly low echo sounded, barely heard by any mammal except for the Timberwolf and whoever was nearby.

'Arf, waaarf!' the dog barked, again also in a very hauntingly low echo.

He couldn't tell but from where he stood the Timberwolf seemed to tear up, as he wiped his eye quickly before any other mammal could notice.

All around mammals started picking up these drops of water, seeing a picture of humans in the past, and hearing the echoes of the scene they portrayed. Gazelle muttered to him, "She didn't do this the last time with me."

"Her Holosphere wasn't meant to be so extravagant, the FOX drone's is." He explained. "She's making the sounds herself, but the FOX is creating the images for them."

After a few moments the images in each mammal melted out of their hands and onto the floor, creating a massive ripple effect as they saw an 'ocean' underneath them. Each of their images sparkled and glistened so that they could keep their eyes on them, but then within seconds thousands, hundreds of thousands of more glistening little lights appeared. Within moments every mammal understood that they each had been holding just a 'tiny' memory, and now an ocean of memories were beneath them, but Aelita was not yet done with her demonstration.

"I'm living in nature…" She sang. "I touch, I feel, I cry… knowing that you have gone so, so far away…"

Beneath them the water rippled, and all of the sparkles slowly began to converge and appear as if they were a single large leaf.

"Surrounded in silence… believe… forgive… time is running out to make it better…"

The leaf began to shrink, showing it connected by its stem to a very thin branch, but it was not alone as more leaves were revealed, each connected to that tiny, tiny branch.

"I hear you call… I reach out to where you are… I hear your voice… the words come from deep inside of me…"

Then as the first branch began to reveal itself, it too revealed that it was connected to another branch, this one larger than the previous, and that first branch was but one of 'thousands' connected to this larger branch. Each of those tiny branches had their own collection of leaves which together seemed to create a large bushel of leaves.

"I fly… this sky… in darkness… light the world with hope and belief… I fly… to you… overflowing… all my feelings here the garden of love…"

Once again, she revealed the scope of who she was, as she shrank that first large branch down to indicate, like the first that it was but a small part of the whole. This first branch was connected to a larger branch, one that connected to the main body of a tree, but this branch had extended outwards, branching out with itself to allow hundreds of these branches to reach farther and farther out.

"We're together… I'm here… for you~…" She sang solemnly, as if remembering a beautiful memory that once was and never would be again. "I was standing in brightness… I saw you… and felt… you smile… believing you and I are always forever…"

Then the tree began to rotate, smaller and smaller, as more and more of its massive branches appeared, together reaching the farthest ends of the room high above them. But still Aelita was not done demonstrating herself, as she shrank she made the roots of her tree appear, and they spread far and wide in the vast ocean she had created which represented the sea of humanity's memories, thoughts, beliefs, history, culture, and 'everything' else she contained inside of her.

"Connecting our vision… voice sighs… in peace… singing colors are reaching out to us…" She sang warmly, as her demonstration neared its end.

As they all watched a silvery disk appeared, and they realized now that she had created the moon, the vast moon which seemed to be only 'half' as tall as the tree appeared. With the tree now fully realized she made each and every single leaf on the tree sparkle, almost blindingly sparkly, as tiny miniscule drops fell away from the tree, but were sucked up by her roots.

"Clear our minds… we are inseparable… clear our eyes, nothing is real until I touch you…" She sang proudly as Aelita appeared in her true form, replacing the tree as she cupped the water beneath her, smiling lovingly as she picked some up and held it in her closed hands, as if she were holding the most wonderful thing in the universe.

As if 'nothing' could take away her happiness or love.

"I fly this sky, in darkness… light the world with hope and belief, I fly to you… overflowing, all my feelings here the garden of love…" She looked to the moon and cried but a single tear, the look of love and joy not leaving her once. "We're together… I'm here… for you!"

As her melody ended the FOX ended her demonstration, returning everything to normal as Aelita smiled and nodded to them. Every mammal remained quiet, but then a very 'low' clap sounded. Jeremy knew that what Aelita had done was not for entertainment or performance, but to speak to them so they knew what it was she was. She was not a singer by design, she was not a performer by action, she was the collective knowledge, wisdom and culture of his entire species.

Everything that was good in them, she was, and she 'loved' them more than any other entity could hope to match.

But he and Gazelle also heard the lament in her song, the sadness that they were all gone… say for one member.

"I could listen to that all day." Gazelle whispered to him. "You have such a wonderful friend Jeremy."

"I know." He replied as Aelita began answering more questions again, not at all surprised that they were so interested in her. "She's wonderful."

After a while several waiters began making their way around the room and mammals began to converse and talk among themselves. Waiters were handing out glasses of cold beverages, wines and waters. Jeremy refused politely, pretending not to be thirsty because he saw they were filled with ice cubes.

While others began to drink and talk, Gazelle brought over a few of her friends to introduce him.

"Jeremy, these are friends of mine, Charlotte Kangora, and Vesuvia Galora."

Gazelle's friends were a female Kangaroo and a female Giraffe, both of which looked similar to their ancestor equivalents in his time but obviously were more 'civilized' and taller.

"Howdy partner, names Charlotte, lovely to meet you mate!" Charlotte said with a 'heavily' Australian accent, no doubt a trait inherited from her ancestor's ancestral homeland. "Gazelle here been saying quite a bit about ya whenever we talk on the phone, and then you's all over the news with that big parade? Man, what she says about you doesn't do you justice buddy, you are a cutie 'and' a hero to boot, tell me your still single!"

"Uhm…" He said with a nervous blush.

"Buahahha, just kidding mate!" She said with a hearty slap on his shoulder. "I got me a guy at home, lovely thing, stay at home dad. I make the dough, and he's happy watchin the kids at home!"

"Charlotte runs a music records label; she's helped me a few times with my pop music career." Gazelle explained.

"More like she helped me, I get my best sales when she puts out a new album!" She laughed heartily.

After Charlotte had her chance Gazelle's other friend Vesuvia leaned down and shook his arm before backing up. He noticed she had to bend her neck slightly halfway just to look him eye to eye, even if she was taller than him.

"Names Vesuvia, I'm a financial entrepreneur, and it's truly an honor to meet you Messier Jeremy." She said with a more African accent, again probably due to her Ancestor's homeland. "When I heard on the news about what you offered, I just 'had' to meet you, and when Gazelle told me that the Jeremy 'she's been talking about is 'the' Jeremy who has given us access to the technology to cure not only diseases and cancers, but even to create synthetic organs… why I was over the moon about it!"

"Now Vesuvia, just cause your still single don't mean ya can hit on our boy here, Gazelle's got first dibs after all!" Charlotte giggled.

"Oh, why… I didn't mean anything from it!" Vesuvia said, lifting her head suddenly in shock and embarrassment.

"Eh hehehe…" Jeremy said still blushing. "I'm very uh… flattered that you girls think that way."

Gazelle however was blushing madly. "Okay girls, let's give Jeremy some space, he's got other mammals to meet and rub elbows with!"

While Charlotte laughed heartily as the three of them went off to gossip and talk, he was approached by another Antelope, male by the looks of it. Behind him he could see Aelita with her own crowd having increased and smiling and talking animatedly, no doubt conversing and having enormous fun.

"So, Jeremy correct, I see you've met Gazelle?" He asked with a smile, but something about it set him off.

"Uh yea, and your name is?" He asked trying to be friendly and offering a handshake.

The Antelope looked at him momentarily before taking it and shaking him. "Sable, Sable Antelhoof." He replied. "Probably have heard of me, correct?"

"Uhm, actually no I haven't I'm sorry." He replied. "I haven't really had time to do 'much'… of anything."

The Antelope looked a little annoyed, but let it slide as a waiter offered them glasses of wine and water. Sable warmly took a glass of water, but Jeremy again politely refused.

"So, how do you know Gazelle?" He asked politely. "I'm guessing the mayor introduced you two when she was doing that publicity stunt with the parade?"

"Uhm, no… actually she, kind of saved my life." He replied nervously, seeing the subtle message Sable was saying. "She just saved my life when I first was unfrozen, and since then she's been helping me adjust to life here in Zootopia."

"Oh… and how is that?" He asked.

"Well, she's shown me around a few times, introduced me to her backup dancer friends… spent time with me when she can…"

"You spend 'time' with her?" Sable asked in annoyance. "How does she have time to spend with you, do you live with her or something?"

"Uhm… sort of?" He replied quietly, realizing the Antelope was becoming jealous of him. "Is there, anything else you would like to know about me?"

Sable breathed in rather deeply before he sighed and nodded. "Well, since you've asked me, how did you find a way to cure 'every known disease' known to mammalkind. Even if you 'are' a legendary species you couldn't possibly have been able to do that in one night, not even a week, all by yourself."

"No, I didn't, and no I couldn't have." He explained a bit more sternly. "It would have taken me a lifetime to do that, but I knew of a faster and more practical way thanks to my friend reminding me of what lay dormant in the base. Ema is the one who mammals should really be thanking."

"In other words, you did nothing yourself." He stated a tiny it louder, enough to draw a few eyes toward them.

"Your right, I did 'nothing' myself… I couldn't do anything like Ema could, not without years of effort and study. She can do that all of it in seconds, thanks to hundreds of years of medical knowledge she's got contained in her."

At that Sable smirked a little and took a sip of his water. "So basically, you're just taking advantage of 'others', letting them do all the work and 'you' get all the credit." He sneered. "Is there 'anything' you've done yourself without the help of your machines, without them doing all the work for you?"

Before Jeremy could respond the Antelope shook his head in disbelief. "I'm sorry for sounding so rude to the 'big hero' of all mammalkind, but I just can't understand why you are getting all of this praise when you've done so little to earn it. I had to work very hard, 'very hard' to get where I have, just to get these roles in movies… but you come along and just 'exist' and more mammals know who you are than they know their entire family practically."

He took a deep calming breath before looking at him.

"Perhaps your right." He explained calmly. "Perhaps I 'don't' deserve this praise."

Sable looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"All I've done is push a few buttons, tell drones to do things for me, ask others for help to do what I cannot. In that regard I have done 'nothing' myself." He said while closing his eyes. "I didn't invent any of those cures or vaccines, I didn't analyze or create the cures and vaccines to Rabes Type S and T, that was all Ema. I didn't create the Synthorgans that saved the lives of mammals who would have died without them, that credit belongs to my fellow humans who lived and died in the base. I didn't research or experiment on the vast medical history and knowledge that made it possible to develop those cures and synthetic organs… they belong to my ancestors."

"I don't deserve 'any' of that praise." He said with a smile as he looked at Sable. "I however 'did' make it possible for mammals to 'receive' those very things. I'm honestly nothing more than a messenger, a courier 'from' my species who gave them to you. Without me those would have remained locked in the base, out of reach of mammalkind. If I had died, they would never have been recovered, even Aelita would have been unable to access them, as only a 'human' can do that."

"The real credit, the true credit for those miracles I gave belong to real heroes, heroes from my time like Jonas Salk, who developed the first vaccine for Polio, he was hailed as a hero. But he instead campaigned for vaccination to be public and mandatory. He didn't want to become famous or rich, he just wanted to develop a safe and effective vaccine as quickly as he could, with no interest for personal gain." He said proudly. "I'm just a messenger compared to people like that, but like him I don't care for money or fame, I didn't ask Ema to do what she's doing to make money, I did it because it was right and I wanted to help. Medicine that can save someone's life should not be withheld because they lack the money to afford it, or because it wasn't intended for them just because they aren't the same species as me!"

"I don't need to become famous for what I do, all I need to know is that I can help somehow."

Sable's eyes twitched slightly as they stared at one another. "You think I do what I do because I want to be 'famous' or 'special'?" He snapped. "I work hard in the movie business to prove that prey can be just as strong as predators 'human'!"

"Then how come your acting like I 'want' all this attention?" He countered.

"Why you…" He snarled but instead of punching him, he instead lowered his glass of water and flung its icy cold contents at his face.

He had only a moment to comprehend what was happening, before suddenly his whole face and neck were suddenly 'freezing'.

(Aelita's PoV)

She was just answering a few questions when she detected her drone act up. Curious she looked and saw that it was watching Jeremy and Sable, and before she could tell him to stop, the male antelope suddenly flung a glass of cold water on him.

Seeing this she screamed [Jeremy!] to get Gazelle's friends attention as well as Gazelle herself.

It worked, within moments mammals were backing up as Jeremy suddenly fell to the floor shivering and holding himself as if he were freezing, with them all asking what's wrong and what happened.

Her drone however, suddenly focused on Sable, and she noticed as she watched that its optics had changed from blue to 'yellow'… and then to 'red'.

[Threat detected…] It stated in a low tone, opening its mouth and readying its assassination tool.

Reacting fast, she began typing and accessing her drone's information and checked its subroutines and was shocked to discover that it had 'cleared' all three of the restrictions placed on it to prevent it using lethal force. The drone had watched the entire scene that she hadn't paid attention to and saw that Sable had splashed cold water onto Jeremy's face. In seeing this, knowing his disease, and thinking Sable was a threat, it now was obeying the HPP and was preparing to eliminate him.

Acting quickly, she quickly began hacking and trying her best to wipe its memory, but it was too late. It had already transmitted the information to Sentinel and now Sentinel had granted the drone permission to eliminate the mammal.

While Jeremy was being helped by Gazelle and her friends, she was focusing on stopping the drones before they made the worst mistake of their lives.

(Gazelle's PoV)

She quickly led her friends away from Jeremy so they could talk among themselves.

"Gazelle girl tell me your trying to get that sweetie all to yourself?" Charlotte said with a grin.

"Indeed Gazelle, he is as nice and charming as you described him!" Vesuvia said in agreement.

"Girls girls please!" She muttered. "I will admit, he is a wonderful male but, he's only 'just' starting to get used to living in Zootopia… remember he's the last of his kind!"

"Exactly girl, and the bloody fangirls are going to be ogling him and trying to get him in their pants after everything he did!" Charlotte laughed loudly. "If I weren't married meself, I'd try and get that hum dinger to my place and beg him to bend me over and show me every shade of grey there were!"

"Charlotte!" Vesuvia whispered. "I will admit, he is quite the gentlemale, but going that far…"

"Thank you Vesuvia…" Gazelle sighed in relief; glad her friend was being the voice of reason.

"Although… I 'am' in the market for a husband… I wouldn't mind if Jeremy was available to go for dinners in the evening with me. He may be smaller but… he is a gentlemale and, he 'does' have that fancy vehicle he drove you and your friends in… so he 'is' a prime candidate." Vesuvia muttered as she brought her head to full height to think deeply.

Both of them started giggling while Gazelle just felt embarrassed.

"But I'm serious girl, watch out for him, he's a fine male… and in this world fine males are hard to come by." Charlotte said seriously. "He's a nice one, got a good heart, doesn't have an ounce of greed in him… a male like that gets snapped up instantly when they go on the market. I'm sure a few girls would try to take advantage of that, he has a wonderful nature that if he needs to take responsibility, he'll take it."

"What Charlotte says is true my friend… keep an eye on him." Vesuvia said to her. "Take care of him… I would hate to see a male like him used and abused."

She was just about to agree when she heard the digital voice of Aelita scream [Jeremy!], causing her to look around.

In shock she saw Jeremy collapse to the ground clutching himself and shivering.

"Jeremy!" She yelled as Donny and Franky, Moe and Joe rushed through the guests, shoving them aside to get to him quickly.

"Jeremy what's wrong buddy?" Moe asked.

"Jeremy… what's going on?" Donny yelled as he didn't respond.

As she got through, she saw that he was shivering in cold, his neck was showing blue veins as they popped out, and his cheek had taken on a slightly icy blue shade that wasn't there before.

"Oh no, he's freezing!" Franky yelled as he felt his cheek.

"Jeremy how did this happen, tell me?" Gazelle yelled as everymammal was staring in confusion.

"Somemammal get something warm, a glass of hot water, something, anything!" Joe screamed. "Call an ambulance!"

"Jeremy, I'm right here… I'm right here Jeremy…" She whispered as she pulled him to her, trying to keep him warm as he shivered in cold.

Once again, his body was fighting a near hopeless battle to stay warm. The only question was 'how' it happened, he didn't drink any water or wine because she 'knew' that he knew it was cold.

"Jeremy, what happened, tell me!"

He started saying something, but his mouth was stuttering too much to speak loudly, so she leaned closer to hear him.

She snapped up and looked at Sable who looked 'confused'.

"Donny take care of Jeremy for me." She said.

"Don't worry man… we're right here, hang in there…" Donny whispered as he took Gazelle's place and tended to Jeremy. "Why did you do it?"

"I… I didn't…" He stammered.

"You splashed his face with cold water… 'he's got a disease that not even 'HIS' species can cure!" She said angrily. "His body reacts to the cold in a way that can kill him. If he 'ever' comes into contact with the cold, he could die because his heart 'also' has that disease because it freezes him…"

"Well why is he here then if he has a disease!" He countered. "He should be at a hospital or in that base of his!"

"Because it's not contagious!" She said. "The only way to get it, is to be frozen cryogenically and then unfrozen improperly. That's how I met him… that's how I saved him… he was 'dying' when I saw him… he nearly 'died' again to bring those Synthorgans to us… why would you splash him with cold water, what did he possibly do to deserve it? Simply 'touching' a cold surface is enough to trigger it, even 'kill' him if he's not careful and it reaches his heart."

"He… he insulted me." He stammered. "He said I was only an actor because I wanted to be famous and popular."

"Not how it sounded to me." A Skunk stated. "You were talking down to him, making him sound like he didn't do anything to 'deserve' his popularity and praise."

At that she glared 'furiously' at the Antelope, furious that Sable was trying to win a 'popularity contest' and mad that he lost it to Jeremy. At that she pulled her hand back and slapped him across the face.

He was shocked to see her slap him, but none more so than the guests. All eyes were on them as Jeremy tried to recover.

"I should have you 'arrested' for this Sable… getting 'jealous'… over Jeremy?" She stated. "He didn't want all the attention he's getting, he only wanted to help us… because 'we' helped him."

"Not… his fault… please." Jeremy whimpered.

She looked to him and went to his side instantly.

"He didn't… know… about my disease… and I 'did' provoke him…" He muttered. "It's not… his fault… I triggered him… please…"

She softened her expression as he told her, forgiving Sable even though deep down she guessed that he started the whole thing.

"Alright… if you say so." She whispered warmly as Donny came with a scarf to wrap around him. "We're going home everymammal!"

"But…" Jeremy tried to whisper but she silenced him with a finger.

"It's okay… I didn't even want to come here to begin with… I just wanted to introduce you to friends and other mammals." She got up and signaled Donny and Moe to help carry him. "We're leaving everymammal, I hope you enjoy the rest of the party… I for one liked it for as long as I was here!"

(Sable's PoV)

He watched as Gazelle stood up and left with her friends and their dates, speechless that everything had happened that way. How was he to know that the human had a disease, nomammal said anything about it.

"You know Mr. Sable… I oughta slug you for what you just did." A voice whispered menacingly behind him, and he turned to see two burly Tigers glaring at him with one cracking his knuckles.

"Oh really, and I'd love to see how you'd act to my lawyers when they charge you for assault!" He countered.

"I'd take jail time to knock you out for what you nearly did." The other stated. "But I think Gazelle did it for us."

A moment later the holographic girl signaled them, and they picked her up in her little sphere before leaving.

The robotic fox however, stayed behind and watched him constantly.

"What do you want?" He yelled.

Instantly the fox's eyes glowed and a beam of light shot out and went up and down, as if 'scanning' him. It then declared in an ominous tone, [Scan complete… genetic makeup and identity confirmed… Sable Antelhoof… Status, Priority 1 Threat…] It then stared at him while tilting its head. [By order of Sentinel of Eden Facility Seventeen… you are to be monitored constantly as a threat to humanity.]

At that he felt the tiniest bit of fear as he had no idea what the machine was capable of, or what it was talking about. "Oh yea, I'd like to see you 'try' to get past my security."

At that the drone marched toward him and he stood his ground, ready to kick it. When it got close enough, he threw a kick to knock it away, but instead his leg passed right through it and he fell on the floor.

It simply walked through him and stared directly into his eyes with its own glowing yellow eyes.

[This unit has already been sent a detailed layout of your home and it's 'defenses'… other units have already begun to survey your home… you cannot keep us out for even a second.] It stated in a cold tone. [Any further attempts to harm Unit Jeremy… will be 'noted'…]

With that it walked away and through the crowd, before vanishing from sight as if it weren't there to begin with.

He shakily got to his feet before looking around at the crowd.

"Ya know sugar, I think ima go home and watch an old soap rerun." Charlotte the Kangaroo said nonchalantly. "This party has lost its appeal now that the 'Angels' have left the field."

"I'm in agreement." Vesuvia muttered and walked out.

"But… what about the movie and the dinner?" He asked as others began to leave as well, agreeing with them.

"Honey I'm used to take out, I don't mind getting something to eat on the way home!" Charlotte called.

"I'll catch the movie when it hits DVD." Vesuvia said politely.

Soon a lot of guests began to leave in droves, ignoring him as they talked about random things.

(Jeremy's PoV)

HORSE trotted through the night, taking the ideal route to get home. Their first destinations were the Tiger Brothers date's homes. Yet as they moved, all he could do was feel like he ruined the whole evening for Gazelle and the others. She had been excited about this party, wanting to help him get familiar with other mammals and feel more welcoming, but instead all that happened was him ruining it because of his disease.

He had since recovered, the vehicle's temperature-controlled insides had warmed him up rapidly thanks to Aelita's foresight in the vehicles design.

"I'm so sorry Gazelle… I didn't want this to happen." He muttered apologetically. "I should have just ignored what he said… I shouldn't have replied to him. Now your whole evening is ruined because of me."

"Your wrong Jeremy… you had every right to feel even slightly offended." Gazelle said warmly. "It's Sable who should feel ashamed of himself, thinking he has to win a popularity contest with you of all mammals. He has no idea what its like to be you…"

She turned to him and smiled.

"I don't mind just spending an evening at home watching tv or just talking… as long as I spend it with you, it's an evening well spent!"

"Thanks…" He said back.

They sat in silence as HORSE moved onward.

Then, he had an idea come to him.

"Gazelle… would you and the others be interested in attending a Gala party tonight still?"

"A Gala? Is that like a human party?" She asked.

"Yea… we had formal parties in our time as well… I never went to one but… you know we still had them." He said sheepishly. "I was thinking… since we're still dressed for it, would you all be interested?"

"I'd love to go!" She replied instantly, her face gleaming with happiness. "What are they like, are they anything like 'our' formal parties?"

After a quick round of asking, all of Gazelle's friends and their dates agreed to join them, interested in the idea of attending a Human Gala. With that HORSE changed direction and took them off to the base.

Minutes later they arrived at the entrance and Jeremy led them all inside. Aelita quickly set up the Holo Room, while he showed them what to do with the armbands and headsets.

"Wow, this is so future tech!" Jess said.

"You're telling me, every time we come down here, we see the craziest of things." Donny muttered.

"Alright everyone, when you hear the message, close your eyes, and wait a few seconds after it finishes the countdown, then open them up." He said loudly as everyone nodded. "Aelita, activate it!"

The little AI gave him a thumbs up and snapped her fingers.

(Please close your eyes… holographic session beginning in 5… 4… 3…)

He closed his eyes with everyone else and smiled.

(2… 1… activating…)

He felt his hair once again blow behind him and heard the sounds of horses neighing and clopping nearby.

"Woaaaaaa…" Everyone simultaneously shouted as they opened their eyes.

He smiled as he opened his too and saw they were on a starry moonlit night, surrounded by buildings as tall as some mammal buildings. The street was paved, and multiple streetlights were on and lighting the sight of the human city. In the distance he could see the Eifel Tower in the distance, towering over everything and lit up in a beautiful blue gold glow.

Before them though, five carriages and five sets of horses to pull them stood waiting. Each had a human driver and a human assistant to help them into the antiquated vehicles, and all were wearing old military attires seen during the colonial period.

"Where are we?" Franky asked.

"Humans!" Moe yelled as they finally noticed them.

Upon recognizing them, one of the drivers stepped forward warmly and proudly, bowed deeply and crossed his left arm over his chest, before standing straight and pulling out a scroll and unraveling it. "My lords and ladies… you are all most cordially invited to attend the most prominent and fabulous… Gala de le Terre…" He said in a French voice.

With his declaration said, he rolled up the scroll and backed up with his fellows before they all separated to their individual carriages.

"After you Gazelle." He said to the antelope, who nodded warmly as she got into the first.

"Now this is the royal treatment!" One of the girls declared as the drivers and their assistants lowered miniature steps from the carriages to help them inside.

As they both entered Gazelle simply marveled at the humans and their attire.

"Do all humans wear that?" She asked as the horses neighed and began moving.

"No, it was only ever used by a 'few' groups of people, and mostly it was ceremonial or as a dress uniform." He said. "I mean, people 'used' to dress that way, but not anymore."

As they rode in their carriages Aelita giggled in the seat with them as she was enjoying the ride. Gazelle simply watched the scenery changing, from a residential block to eventually fields of green. Then after a while she saw a brilliant light show in the distance, and within moments witnessed a grand and massive building of such opulence that she couldn't even believe her eyes.

"What is that…" She gazed in awe.

He smiled as he recognized the landmark. "The Palace of Versailles." He replied. "It was once the home of the French Monarchy. But it eventually became more of a museum. Sometimes it was used as a big ballroom for formal parties of importance." He then pointed at it with a smile. "And that, is where we're going."

As the carriages moved to their location, the palace and all its glory appeared to them. The great building a monument and testament to the grandeur of his ancestors. The gardens were massive and well kept, fountains carved exquisitely and finely. And as they finally entered, Gazelle could only marvel.

"Your species knew how to build 'big'." She muttered. "I thought some mansions were expensive and over the top… this puts them all to shame!"

"We didn't build like this anymore before the Final War, it was seen as a waste to build so much for just a select group of people." He said.

They reached the front door and stopped, but a pair of servants dressed in a similarly formal attire was there waiting to open the doors for them.

"Welcome my lord and lady to the Palace of Versailles." They both said warmly, bowing to them as they exited.

Soon the others had received the same treatment, being addressed as lord and lady, and then were soon welcomed into the palace itself, in particular the ballroom. As the entered a group of people, VIP's and other guests that Aelita had programmed in for some reason were being introduced by news reporters.

"Welcome everyone we are here at the Party of the Century, the Gala De Le Terre." A woman with glasses was saying loudly and excitedly. "We're moments away from the opening dance and we have a ton of guests and special visitors from all over the world here! Anyone who is 'anyone' has been invited here and my I can't wait to meet some of these people. Oh, look there's a few of them now!"

The woman pointed to a pair of individuals who were walking and wearing formal attire, one of whom was even wearing a decorative headpiece called a laurel.

"Oh, my goodness it is Cleo and Julius from Italy and my aren't they a pair, almost like a salad!" She said jokingly. "Oh, who is that, I see someone else! Oh, my goodness its Mr. Sirus visiting from Egypt! OH, OH SIRUS!"

She frantically waved at a man with tanned skin.

"Mr. Sirus can we get a word?"

Sirus smiled and giggled before calling out "Baaaaaawk!"

She laughed with everyone as they got the joke, but the laughing stopped as people were getting out of someone's way.

"Oh, my goodness ladies and gentlemen who could that parting the crowd, why it's none other than Moses!" She yelled excitedly as a man with an enormous belly and laughing while moving through the crowd.

Then right behind him a very tall man with a prominent beard and wearing a suit stepped up to her.

"And who are you my fine sir?"

"I'm Thor…" He said with a serious expression.

"You're 'Thor'?" She asked in confusion.

"Well I've been walking all day ma'am; you know how it is!" He said with a grin. "Thorton Thompson, pleasure to meet you!"

"Ahahah, you're such a kidder Mr. Thompson." She laughed heartily. "Well since we've got a moment we're going to talk about our sponsor, once again this broadcast has been brought to you by Wine – It's being served here people and its expensive, so don't waste it!"

As he and his group made their way to the main ballroom they were also stopped by the newswoman and her microphone. "Oh, my goodness if it isn't the Gazelle of Zootopia and her friends, welcome to France darling, how has the visit been so far!" She asked.

"Oh my… uhm…" She said in confusion, no doubt wondering 'how' this hologram knows her.

"Play along… have fun!" He whispered.

"It's… wonderful you have a beautiful place here." She said warmly.

"Oh, I am so happy to hear that!" She said back. "Oh, and please tell me about yourselves, you four are all quadruplets how it feels, please tell us all at home!"

"Oh… well you know, it's just like having a brother only you have 'three' brothers who all share the same birthday as you!" Donny chuckled.

"I love my brothers I can't lie; in fact, we get to have such awesome moments… like this!"

"Oh no it's the four tiger's routine." Gazelle chuckled in embarrassment as all four of them lined up and mirrored each other's stance.

All three of them started to sing in unison, causing everyone to laugh as they were having so much fun. Aelita had vanished somewhere, where to Jeremy didn't know but he honestly didn't mind. She had her own plans for this party, and he didn't care, he was having fun with Gazelle and her friends and their dates were also having a laugh. This was all that mattered to him.

They all began to walk with all the other guests to their seats, each one with a carved swan of ice. All around Servants were walking around with glasses of water and wine, much like at the premier party, but none came to them, something Gazelle asked as she sat with him at their own table, while her backup dancers each had their own table to share with their dates.

"Everything here is holographic, including the drink and food." He explained. "To your body it may seem real and feel real, but when the simulation ends all the feelings return to you twice as hard. You won't have eaten anything, even if you 'think' you ate it, your body will realize the problem instantly."

(Jeremy's and Gazelle's PoV)

"Everything is so amazing Jeremy…" She whispered in awe at all the people around her, while off to the side a band was getting ready to start. "I really am loving this… this is the best night I've ever had in my life."

"I'm glad you think that way…" He replied looking at her smile.

For a brief moment they just simply stared at each other, neither noticing how close their hands were getting, or their faces as they just 'stared' into one another's eyes. Jeremy wasn't even aware he was getting closer to her, and neither did Gazelle. There was just something 'right' about how they were each feeling about the other.

Gazelle thought he was such a wonderful, kind… magnificent individual.

Jeremy thought she was a beautiful, warm, gentle soul in his heart.

They just felt in their hearts that they wanted to be closer to the other, and without realizing it they were moving ever closer.

Then the lights turned off and broke the spell they were each under as the master of ceremony stepped forward.

"Welcome all to the Gala De Le Terre." He said with a proud voice, to applause around the room. "I ask you all to dance, be merry, and enjoy yourself this night… and now, may I present… our Maestro for your entertainment… Aelita!"

In surprise Aelita stepped forward to applause, wearing only her normal white dress and wearing a mask that only showed her smile and grin, and holding a Maestro's stick. She bowed and curtsied before turning to the band and tapping her stick on a stand.

"And now… to open up our evening with our first dance…" The Master of Ceremony declared. "Give a warm hand to Jeremy and Gazelle!"

A spotlight appeared on them, the source of which they couldn't tell but instantly everyone in the room applauded.

"I…" He started saying before Gazelle chuckled and got up.

Soon he got up too and together they walked into the center of the room. He looked to Aelita who was snickering and nodding, indicating that 'yes' she had pulled this stunt.

'It's just a dance… she just wants you to dance with Gazelle that's all!' He thought as Gazelle turned to him and he placed his hand on her waist and held her other hand.

"Uhm… Jeremy… I don't know any 'human' dances…" She muttered nervously.

"In that case… let me lead…" He whispered warmly to her.

She looked to him and nodded, trusting him to take care of her.

"Tonight's Opening Song is Tchaikovsky – Waltz of the Flowers… performed by Maestro Aelita." A voice declared.

She bowed and bowed again, before turning to the band and signaling them to begin. Within seconds the music began playing, and Jeremy slowly led Gazelle around the dance floor.

It was a very slow dance, the only one Jeremy had learned but as the music began to slowly pick up, he sped up slightly as well feeling confident. Gazelle soon got the hang of the dance and was soon walking with him in perfect sync.

Then an exciting piece of the dance came, and he let go of her waist to spin her gently with his other hand. Once she had gone a full circle, he caught her again, only this time his right hand was on her waist and his left was holding her hand. She was slightly shocked at that, but soon smiled warmly and got into it with him, following his lead as he led her around the room, all the while the spotlight following them and casting them in an eerie setting in which it seemed the world fell away and it was only them.

Gazelle meanwhile was so unused to this kind of dancing, that she didn't know what the point was, but soon she realized that it wasn't about the motions or the movement, or even the dance itself. The world seemed to fall away, leaving only them on the floor, leaving only them in the light, all others around her were just an empty void. She and Jeremy were alone in this room, despite being surrounded she had Jeremy all to herself and that was all that mattered.

As he led her around the room, she moved in time with him, spinning perfectly thanks to her years as an idol, and landing in his arms with precision and happiness.

As she felt his hands on her waist, and she held his waist with her own, she felt herself edging closer. He too edged closer to her with the music's beat, almost feeling her heartbeat with his own as they beat as one.

Then the music's tempo and beat began to rapidly pick up and they twirled one last time, before it stopped, causing them to stop with Jeremy looking slightly down at Gazelle, and her looking into his eyes.

Their faces were just 'inches' away from one another, and their eyes only focused on one another's.

For a moment… they just wanted to close that distance.

As the crowd applauded and more people started to get up and join them on the dance floor, temporarily blocking them from view of the Tiger brothers and their dates… they did just that.

Jeremy leaned down and kissed Gazelle on the lips, and Gazelle leaned up and kissed Jeremy on his lips.

For a full 'second'… they felt each other's lips… their warm, soft… sweet and tender lips and eyes closed, simply enjoying the moment, feeling as if it could last forever, enjoying the warm bubbly sense that came from two individuals who kiss for the first time with one they felt they were 'destined' to be with.

Then they snapped back to reality and separated with blushes on each other's faces and looking away.

"What a wonderful performance, and now… our next number… Tchaikovsky - Dance Of The Swans!" The Master of Ceremony proclaimed, and Aelita began to play again.

"Uhm… Jeremy…" Gazelle whispered nervously. "Can we… keep dancing?"

He glanced at her in agreement. "Sure…"

As the music began to play again, he placed his hand on her waist and held her other hand, and they joined everyone in the dance. For the rest of the night they kept the knowledge of what they both just did to themselves, and each silently agreed with the other, without saying a word, to not share that secret with the world. They didn't share another embrace, or stare into each other's eyes as deeply, but deep down they both understood one thing.

They didn't 'care' it happened, they had each wanted it to happen. And neither regretted doing it, instead they would fondly remember it for the rest of their days.

(Aelita's PoV)

She smiled as she waved her stick and played the music.

Mission 'accomplished'… sorta.

She figured they had hoped nobody noticed, but she was Aelita, the Category 10 AI, and she had watched the 'entire thing' happen.

She guessed that they were both 'still' somewhat shy of one another, despite her pushing and prodding. She would have to keep at it, but so far everything was going according to her plan.

Jeremy may have planned simply to give Gazelle a nice evening so that she wouldn't be disappointed in having him as a guest, in both party and house sense. Yet she however, had 'other' plans, and so far, everything was going according to her plans.

So, while her friends all danced, she continued to play, and let the night go, for just this one night to forget the woes of the world. For this moment in time, she was their director, and they the play she wished to direct. Let the troubles of the morning come when they come… let the problems they must deal with arrive when they must… for tonight… as she watched Gazelle and Jeremy, her human and antelope…

Tonight, this was all that mattered…

After three more Waltz Musics, she directed the crowd to their seats for a 'surprise song' that they weren't required to dance to.

"And now… performed by Maestro Aelita… Magic Dance – David Bowie…"

She extended the stick's microphone and turned to the crowd with a grin as the instruments changed by the band behind her.

"You remind me of the babe…"

"What babe?"

"Babe with the power…"

"What power?"

"Power of voodoo…"

"Who do?"

"You do."

"Do what?"

"Remind me of the babe~! I saw my baby… crying hard as hard as babe could cry!" She sang with a spring in her step, walking toward the center of the room. "What could I do… my baby's love had gone… and left my baby blue… nobody knew~!"

She swayed and clapped as she pointed at Donny's table.

"What kind of magic spell to use…"

She pointed at Moe's now and spun in a circle.

"Slime and snails…"

Next came Franky's table.

"Or puppy dog tails?"

Joe's table now as she swayed again.

"Thunder or lightning…"

She grinned as she pointed at Gazelle and Jeremy now.

"And baby said…"

She clapped and started dancing, and now everyone including the mammals started bobbing in time with the music, clapping in unison as well.

"Dance magic, dance… dance magic dance~!" She sang before jumping. "Jump magic jump… Jump magic jump…"

"Put that magic jump on me… Slap my baby make him freak!"

She sang and sang, made their night, and helped them dance the night away.

She was Aelita… Category 10 AI… she would guide them to happiness, using all her tools. Singing… was just her favorite.

(Sable's PoV)

It was close to midnight when he made his way home and drove into the parkway. He grumped angrily as he thought bitterly about the human Jeremy. That human had ruined his evening. Not even a 'tenth' of the mammals who showed up stayed to see the movie. They just up and left. Those who did almost all left before the movie ended, and the few who remained still just ate their food, paid their tips and left, without even talking to him. Even his 'guest' didn't talk very much to him, she just wished him a good night and left him.

"Whatever… just forget him and get on with your life." He sighed as he walked inside.

As he changed into his night gown, he played with the curtains a little, his little fun before bed… before he shifted them enough to reveal a pair of glowing red lights outside his home.

He jumped slightly as he looked outside, but once the curtains obstructed his view outside, he pulled them open to reveal… nothing.

He shook his head and closed the curtains and crawled into bed. Yet halfway during the night his instincts came kicking in, and for some reason he felt he was being watched. Wearily he got up and looked around his room, saw there was nothing, and tried to go back to sleep, but that feeling of being 'watched' wouldn't leave him.

'clinkclinkclink…' Was the sound he heard.

He snapped his eyes open and looked around, it sounded like a pair of gears turning, having heard it so many times in his first movie in which he played the role of a janitor dodging spirit possessing robots. He looked around again and saw nothing. Then he looked outside the window and nervously, shifted one of the curtains a sliver just to see outside.

Right in front of his window a pair of red lights watched through the window.

"Gaaaaah!" He screamed in fear as he accidentally kicked the curtains open.

Only now the lights were gone.

He breathed in panic as he looked outside and saw nothing still. Fearfully he got up, turned on all the lights… went to check every door to make sure they were locked and bolted, closed every curtain, and even locked and closed his bedroom door, before nervously returning to sleep.

"It's just my imagination… just my imagination." He whispered.

[We will be watching youuuuu…] An electronic voice echoed quietly in the house… a voice that sounded just like that fox machine's that threatened him at the party.

"Just… my imagination… I'm imagining things…" He whispered as he went under the blankets, but covered his entire body with them, curling into a ball of fear.

He didn't see the four pairs of optics, all with red lights, watching him from different areas of his house, able to detect his presence thanks to his unique bio signature. Each of them regularly reporting his position, every minute… every second… of every 'hour'.

Of every day.