Hi, Readers. This story is my first half-human half-anthro AU story and it's loosely based on Enchantimals (excluding the besties part). Just like in Zootopia, some citizens face specieism. One of Gru's daughters overhears the speculations from a neighborhood Karen, Gladys Sharp, former president of the HOA. Will the new neighbors stink up her and her family, or are the only things stinking are Sharp's rumors and prejudices?
It was an everyday world. The people, however, weren't. They weren't complete humans: they were half humans, half animals (both real and mythical) with magical skills to nature. They're called enchantimals. They were in countrysides, cities, suburbs, villages: all across the globe called Everwilde. Each enchantimal lives in a habitat of choices such as Harvest Hill, Snowy Valley, Junglewood, Grazy Grasslands, Sunny Savanna, Royal Isle, Ocean Kingdom, and Wonderlood. All enchantimals live in harmony regardless of customs, ethnicity, social classes, religious beliefs, gender, sexualities, and career choices. There used to be disdain against each other, but through the years, they lived in harmony. Unfortunately, they're only a few who are speciesists.
This story takes place in a suburb in Wonderwood. In one house lived two half-unicorns, Gru and Lucy, and three adopted half-kittens: the oldest Margo, the middle Edith, and the youngest Agnes. They just got new neighbors who are florists, the Wiggins, and they've just moved who moved in a week ago next door. A mom named Helen, her mom Norma, her oldest son Once-ler, and her youngest son Ted. The thing about these enchantimal families: they're half skunks. Of course, they've got a few wary looks once in a blue moon, but being half skunk, they get used to it. Plus, their grandma would be mistaken for an albino skunk enchantimal due to her grey hair or that Once-ler was adopted since his hair was black and his mom and brother were Brunettes. It was Friday, the Wiggins had just finished unpacking, and the skunk sons decided to greet the Grus again on their mom and grandma's behalf since they were finishing touches with flowers from their shop.
"We'd love to come to your housewarming barbecue," said Lucy.
"With the unpacking finally finished," Once-ler chuckled lightly. "You can't enjoy a new home without it."
"It's at noon Saturday" informed Ted. "And if you wish, our shop is a few meters past the park." And the boys went back inside their house.
"See you tomorrow," waved Gru.
Later that sunset, Gru, and Lucy came back from the store with simple but elegant housewarming gifts while Gru's fried, Dr. Nefarious, watched the girls. At the same time, their other next-door neighbor, a half-cat named Gladys Sharp, president of the Home Owners Association, came back from her week's holiday.
"Why hello, Gru and Lucy!" Gladys gleamed with a slight fake, condescending smile. "Looks like we got new neighbors judging by the wine and gift baskets."
"We do actually," said Lucy.
"They're hosting a housewarming Saturday," replied Gru.
"What kind of enchantimals are they?" Sharp asked.
Gru raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask? You normally have a hard time with neighbors."
"Just curiosity."
"Well, if you must know," his wife iterated. "They're skunk enchantimals."
"Good to know. As long as they don't cause any troubl-" Her eyes suddenly widened at that one keyword. "Skunks?!" She screeched. "They're half skunk?"
"Do you have to scream every time new people "inconvenience" you and draw heads?" Gru asked annoyed.
Too late. The shriek caught the girls' ears in their bedroom. The first two didn't pay mind, but the youngest was curious and was eavesdropping through their window.
Gladys sneered at the man's remarks. "Skunks are nothing but trouble."
Lucy internally rolled her eyes. "Please. You meet one troublemaking skunk and then all skunks are trouble."
"Even if you haven't," her husband added. "So what if they're skunks?"
"So what?" she scoffed incredulously. "How could you tolerate having those walking stinkbombs for neighbors? They probably use the city sewers as their bathtub. They could be using Limburger cheese as deodorant. Heck, who's to say they aren't using stinkbugs as perfume and cologne?!"
"That's funny," Gru said smugly. "When we met them, we didn't smell a single thing on them. Even if what you're saying's true, anyone would've smelt that from miles away."
"Besides," added Lucy. "They don't stink, period. They create a stink when threatened or protecting others."
"They also do it when they're mad," Gladys pointed in a 'gotcha!' attitude. "You know how easily mad they get, and when you get them mad, they'll spray you. You don't even have to get them mad. They'll spray you for kicks. You probably didn't smell them because they had to take one hundred baths to cover up their stench."
"Wow," Lucy said with disgust. "Speciesist much?"
"Mark my words," Sharp warned. "It's just a matter of time before they stink up your family and the neighborhood, turning it into a stinking slum they came from." She walked to her door and unlocked the door. "Enjoy the fresh air while it lasts!" And she slammed her door.
The couple just shook their heads and went inside. "And I thought cats weren't supposed to be snoots with sticks up their-" An the door was closed.
Well, there's the speciesism showing and a little girl eavesdropping.