Lemon Moons- ;)

nick495- This is a love story, but it's a far from simple one. Conflicts will always arise! ;D

stepehnrobilliard- I get what you're saying, but consider this: Nick is the shyer of the two, and Judy is a lot more straightforward. Therefore, Judy is usually the one to act first in many circumstances. However, this isn't saying that Nick won't gain the courage. Keep your fingers crossed! ;)

just-a-guy-having-fun- Keep your fingers crossed on that "OTP"! ;)

Guest- I understand what you're saying, and trust me, you won't have to suffer too much longer! :)

TyrannosaurusVex- Don't explode! Lol

Garouge Faux- Although I wasn't associated with what you went through, I still offer my sympathy. Hate hearing about people who go through the horrible concept that is bullying.

Hello everyone! As you're beginning to see, yes, this story is more than just the typical angsty teen romance! There are plots, schemes and sinister plans for the city of Zootopia. Now, a word of warning, this is where some things begin to get quite dark. However, this doesn't mean you shouldn't read it! Enjoy chapter seventeen!

Nick POV

"Don't let him in! Please!" my mother sobs as the police officers try their best to keep the front door from being smashed down, knowing that what is on the outside isn't touched by even the slightest graze of mercy, but consumed by blood thirst.

I quiver in the corner of Judy's home, holding onto her with all my being, the tears streaming down my face as the yelling accentuates in volume, and my mother becomes hysterical as the door breaks off the hinges.

Judy's parents scream a bone-chilling screech, running desperately to take cover, but it's too late for escape.

My dad steps into the house and opens fire, splitting the air with deafening rounds of gunfire as he shoots down my mother in cold blood. I see her gasp as the blood bursts from her chest, her head hitting the cold, hard floor with a sickening "thud"
as a pool of crimson liquid forms around her.

Judy's parents are also brought to a swift end by the hellish bullets as Judy watches, and I feel her innocence beginning to slip away into the carnage capturing our attention.

Finally, his possessed eyes shift to Judy and I as I cherish my final moments, closing my eyes tight.

"This is for you, Nick!" he screams as I hear him stomp closer to me.

I hold Judy close as he points the gun at me, my face buried into her shoulder as I hear his finger pull the trigger with a "click", and a ear-bursting "pop" right after.

Judy's screams are beyond nightmarish as my soul aches, and I finally accept my death as I feel the hands of death grip me, and my arms are pulled away from Judy as her purple eyes quickly become riddled with absolute terror.

"Nick!" her voice shrieks, and suddenly everything turns into a burning darkness, my being beginning to fall apart as I slip away...


I scream as my eyes flicker open, filled with the deepest of fears.

I sit up quickly, observing my surroundings with a heavy breath as I slowly am filled with realization

It was just a dream.

I take a deep sigh and hold my hand over my forehead, my pulse beginning to slow as I recall my current predicament.

Although I wasn't able to stay in my home last night, my mother and I were offered the comfort of the Hopps' living room, which is a very hospitable thing on their part.

For a family who doesn't exactly feel that comfortable about foxes in general, I'm certainly impressed.

"Nick?!" my mother speaks, worried about my well-being, "what's wrong?".

I glance her way in the dim light, my breathing beginning to slow down.

"Nothing...just a dream..." I reply, pinching myself on the arm to make sure I'm not in another dream or something.

"Oh, okay" she responds, placing her head back on her pillow.

I study the room and glare at the corner that I suspect is the exact place Judy and I were cowering in my dream, trying my best to look at it as nothing but an innocent corner.

I slip out of my makeshift bed and walk out onto the balcony of Judy's apartment, closing the door quietly behind me.

I don't know if it's common knowledge or if it's just a cliché, but standing outside really helps me to think better. After all, after witnessing my mother and best friend being brutally murdered I need some time to clear my head.

I lean over the metallic railing with a sigh, observing the buildings and lights that surround me with such a dreamy appearance.

After experiencing such a harrowing dream, I'd normally head right back to sleep. However, seeing Judy slaughtered has a different effect on me.

I almost feel like I can't go back to sleep until I see Judy alive and well.

The time is 4:02 AM, so I have to get up in two and a half hours anyway. Why bother going back to sleep? Honestly, I'll probably sleep in math class, so two more hours is quite pointless.

The lights of the buildings around me are quite mesmerizing, and the quiet echo of car horns fills the air around me. I embrace the faraway presence of the planets in our solar system, wondering if there exists some sort of world out there without prejudice
and pain.

I study the sky, full of bright stars hovering the earth with little difficulty, and I envy them.

No, I don't wish to be a giant ball of burning gas in the middle of outer space; I'm jealous of their ability to simply float above the earth.

I, on the other hand, will never find myself above the world. I'm stuck like a rock at the bottom of the ocean, crushed by the weight of the controversy around me. I simply can't rise above it.

However, a new thought sneaks it's way into my mind:

What if Judy acts as my wings? What if she lifts me up?

I really wish that the feelings I have for her were returned, and I put emphasis on the "really". I find myself constantly bashing who I am because I fear that Judy may not feel the same way about me.

But seriously, with someone as perfect as Judy, who wouldn't find themselves fearing heartbreak? I simply can't resist her, no matter how hard I try.

I think back to all the times she has cuddled up to me or hugged me slightly longer than I imagined friends ever would.

But what if? What if she actually...likes you?

Nah.

I see several police cars down on the road, knowing they have the house completely surrounded in case of protesters or something of the violet sort.

See Nick? No way dad is going to get in here. No way.

I know I'm more secure than I've ever been in my entire life, but I still feel quite vulnerable. I feel as though I'm becoming too known to the point that all eyes are on me.

"Oh look, it's Nick Wilde!" I hear people on the streets say, and I know they aren't associating me with positive things. I'm the guy who dared to stand up for myself in the wake of being treated like...well, every other fox in the history of Zootopia's
society.

I'm the one who dared to break the rules of society.

Judy, she respects me for that, and I love that about her. She stands with me through everything, even if it puts her in a risky situation.

And if it ends up killing her, I'll never be able to forgive myself...

Judy POV

I open the door to my room to a crack after hearing Nick's frightened scream and peer out into the den, but notice that my best friend is missing from his former sofa-bed.

Where's he gone?! What if something bad happened?!

I sneak out into the den, and glance down at Ms. Wilde as she notices my presence.

"Um, Ms. Wilde? Where'd Nick go?" I ask her, and she calmly looks up at me.

"I think he went outside for a breath. He just had a nightmare a few minutes ago, and it kind of shook him" she explains, and I turn around, noticing him leaning over the railing of the balcony in thought I assume.

"Do you mind if I go talk to him?" I ask her politely.

"Yeah. I'm sure he needs someone to talk to. I was actually about to go out myself" she tells me, and I nod.

"Alright" I say to her with a nice smile.

"Just don't sneak and kiss him or anything" she says with a teasing chuckle, and I giggle nervously.

"I don't think that'll be a problem" I respond to her, and she looks shocked, at least in the dim light.

"Why not?" she asks me.

Doesn't she know that we're just friends?

"Well, for one, I don't think he...likes me that way" I tell her, and she nearly chokes in laughter.

"You really can't tell? He really likes you, sweetie. Trust me" she persuades me, and I stare ahead in thought.

"I hope you're right" I speak to her, still doubting her words as I turn towards the doorway.

I take a deep breath before I slowly place my hand on the cold door, and then I slowly begin pushing the door open to my right.

Luckily Nick's mother is at an angle that she couldn't see anything if anything were to go down...not that it will, of course. But the way my feelings are raging at this point, this might be the moment where my feelings are finally let loose.

And I hope that this fall ends with me landing on some sort of cushion instead of the rock-hard cement.

"I heard you scream" are the words that I speak for the sake of gaining Nick's attention, which I do effectively.

"Oh, Judy, u-uh...yeah, I had a nightmare" he informs me, straightening up his posture, "but I'm okay now".

"What about?" I ask him, standing beside him along the railing overlooking part of the city.

"My dad" he says without hesitance and full of remorse, leaning his elbow on the railing as he puts his hand under his chin, staring off into the moonlit streets.

"Oh" I say, knowing the significant negative impact he left in his life, "are you alright now?".

"I don't really know" he replies honestly, "I'm just...scared. I've never been one to open up to anyone, but I'm willing to admit it to you. I'm really scared".

I can see the tears forming in his eyes as well as his ears lying down flat on his head, and I know he is truly hurting. I want so badly to just give him all the love that is close to flooding from my soul, but I manage to hold back.

"Me too" I tell him, "it's a scary situation, I know".

"What if one of us ends up dead?" he asks me quickly, as if it's a question he's been wanting to ask for a while, "I won't have a friend like you ever again. I won't have anyone to talk to like I talk to you. I won't have anyone to eat ice cream with,
or play video games with, or someone to lean on when I'm down, and we won't get to-".

He suddenly stops talking, leaving me to wonder what his next words could be.

"Get to what?" I ask, leaning my head down to look him in his aching eyes.

"It's nothing" he replies, trying to move on.

"No, seriously. What were you going to say?" I ask him, and I notice his eyes glint with a suppressed desire as he forms a response.

"No, it's stupid" he proclaims, "I promise, it's just...".

He trails off, leaving a curious silence hanging in the air.

My heart is pounding at this point, and I'm finding it hard to hold back my feelings anymore. This is it, Judy.

You're doing it. Now or never.

Nick POV

I stare at Judy's moonlit eyes, gleaming with something that I equally reflect in my heart. Well, at least I think that's what it could be.

Love.

No, it can't be.

"Judy" I speak before I can stop myself, and she holds her gaze, her expressions becoming a bit more dreamy.

"Yeah?" she asks sounding hopeful for reasons I can't quite figure out.

"Have you ever really..." I begin.

"Yes!" she says before I finish, sounding really happy.

"Took any time to look at the stars?" I finish, and she looks slightly underwhelmed as she blushes, glancing up at the beautiful sky.

"Oh, uh, no, I guess I haven't taken the time to...you know, look at the sky" she answers, and I wonder why she looks so distant now.

Is it something I said?

"It's really cool, isn't it?" I ask her, and she nods, smiling my way, looking like she's down-to-earth again.

"Yeah, it definitely is. It's just really beautiful how the stars are arranged" she says gracefully, and I feel the need to add a cheesy "almost as beautiful as you" comment, although I manage to hold my tongue.

"I used to lie up on top of my roof on my dad's "bar" nights, or whatever. He'd get back home and he'd be really grumpy, and he'd start hurting my mom and screaming at her, so I...I...just went up to the rooftop and stared at the sky, and...it kind of
helped distract me" I say, staring up into the galaxy above as I recall the common experiences.

"Nick, I know I've said it before, but you're very strong, y'know that?" she asks me, looking amazed at all I've made it through.

"Hah, you mean this?" I ask, lifting up my far-from-muscular arm jokingly, and Judy giggles.

"No, silly! You know what I'm talking about" she answers, "you know muscles and stuff like that don't matter to me".

"Hah, yeah, I know Judy, I'm just kidding. Thanks, though. It really means a lot to hear someone tell me that" I tell her, and I feel my face getting hot.

Every conversation leads to this moment, multiple times even. The time where I could easily confess my feelings to her, but have never found the courage to. The fear of the unknown has always been what has stopped me, but I have to admit, it's becoming
more and more difficult to contain as of late.

Just taking one gaze into her eyes causes me to start acting like a complete idiot; fumbling with my words and suddenly feeling quite vulnerable in all the sweetest ways.

"Anytime, Nick. That's what friends...um, best friends are for" she speaks softly, and I feel my insides becoming a mess again.

"I just wish you had shown up sooner" I tell her, and she nods.

"Me too. Maybe my brother would still be alive if we had moved sooner" she speaks softly.

"And maybe I wouldn't have this annoying thing" I say, holding up my itchy, annoying cast on my left arm.

"You're never going to get over that cast, are you?" she asks me with a smirk.

"Nope. Never. I mean, who invented these things so...uncomfortable?" I ask, seriously wondering who in the right mind would do such a thing.

"I don't know, Nick" she says with a chuckle before taking a moment to speak again, "how is the cut in your side doing? You know, where the tube was".

"Oh, it's getting there. Still looks all "stitchy" and you know, bad, but it doesn't hurt anymore" I answer, "and this is kind of annoying too" I add, pointing to the stitches on my cheek.

"Well, you did break you cheekbone or something, right?" she responds.

"Yeah, but I still look like a zombie or something" I reply amusingly, lightly touching the stitches on my face, "and there's still bruising around my eyes. Geez, I probably do look like a zombie!".

"Well, you're one adorable zombie" I hear her say, and I feel my face heating up again, by throat becoming dry as I look into her wide eyes.

"T-thanks, Judy" I stutter in reply, blushing madly.

Had I heard her correctly? Did she just refer to me as "adorable"?!

"Sorry if that sounded weird or something" she says quickly and nervously, grasping her left hand with her other in timidness.

"It's just like if I called you "pretty" or something, right? It's not weird" I say, beginning to realize how romantic this all sounds.

"Do you?" she asks quickly, and I hold my breath in apprehension.

"Do I think you're pretty?" I ask, and she nods.

I can only hope that Judy wants me to say yes, because if not, well...this has the potential to become awkward.

"Yeah" I say instinctively before I can stop myself, "I do".

She nods with a huge smile, looking away from me and out into the skyline of the city.

"Thanks Nick, that's really sweet" she responds, sounding quite happy, and I release my breath.

This isn't the least bit weird, right? Friends can call each other pretty and stuff, right? She doesn't seem weirded out. Maybe, just maybe she might like me...

But I highly doubt it.

I start laughing at a seemingly random time and Judy turns to me with a confused expression.

"What happened? Did I do something wrong?" she asks me worriedly, glancing around the area anxiously.

"No, no, you didn't do anything wrong. It's just that I never imagined that anyone would ever give me a compliment like that" I say to her, and she rolls her eyes playfully.

"Well, I don't see why. But then again, I don't see why the animals at school hate you so much either. I guess everyone else is just...stupid when it comes to looking on the inside" she tells me, and I know what she's speaking of.

The prejudice that has plagued me my entire life has become something I've gotten used to, and was never considered by me to be outside the realm or normality. I thought that's just how it was in life.

It's safe to say that Judy has shown me differently. I feel like I'm worth something now, and I can also say that each time Judy testifies that I'm worth just as much as everyone else, I truly feel like I am.

When I look into her eyes, I feel like I'm on top of the world.

"When I was a kid, I never really understood why everyone looked at me funny, or why I was always the one alone at the lunch table. I always wished for someone like you to come along, you know. I'd watch for a shooting star every night and every time
I thought I saw something move in the sky I'd wish for someone to be my friend" I tell my best friend, envisioning the painful nights of my earlier childhood.

"Well, you don't have to worry about that ever again" she tells me.

"But what if you get hurt? What if you die?" I ask, knowing that the both of us are wanted dead by many.

"Don't worry" she says, pulling me into a hug with a swift movement, "that won't happen".

Her scent combined with her warmth cause me to feel quite drowsy as I hold her close, never wanting to let go. Her breathing seems to slow as the hug lasts nearly thirty seconds, and then we separate.

"I'm going to get a little bit more sleep" she tells me, giving me one last sheepish smile.

"Yeah, me too" I say, "goodnight Judy".

"Goodnight" she answers softly as she slides the porch door shut, leaving me feeling warmer than ever on the inside.

I hold me face with my hand, my elbows on top of the railing in front of me as I become lost in thought yet again.

There's no denying I'm in love, and I need to tell her soon. She needs to know, after all.

There's always the "what-if" factor, but this time, it's time to think positive.

She totally like me. She likes me. She likes me. It'll be an easy thing to do! Just tell her! It'll be perfect! She's perfect for you, Nick!

I continue mentally coaching myself as the stars fill my vision once more; my body still stuck on planet earth, but my soul feeling like it can fly into the clouds.

Kygo POV- 1.5 Hours Later

"Kygo, are you sure you have everything done?!" my mother screams at me as I creak open the door to the hideout, knowing that it's time to head to Judy's home.

"Can you not trust me for once!" I yell back at her.

Geez, it's such a joy to have a mother with such severe trust issues. Old woman...

"We have no room for failure! Remember that!" she responds, and I choose not to respond as I close the door behind me, taking a weary breath.

I'm supposed to be this big part of this secret plan against Zootopia, but honestly, being away from the entire operation team and my mother is the brightest part of the day for me, and I can't explain why. I don't want to admit that I'm becoming an average
citizen or something, but it sure seems like I'm becoming...

No! Kygo, what are you talking about! You're ruthless! You're a powerful weapon! This is your time! It's time for your moment of glory!

I begin my three mile-long walk to the doorstep of Judy's house, assuming that Nick and his mother haven't moved locations since I left.

Or been murdered.

I glance at my reflection in my phone screen, noticing my messy fur and rough look: something that I've never really payed attention to. My amber eyes seem just as focused as usual, although a bit lost at the same time.

Recently I've found myself dwelling the subject of abandoning my mother as a whole, but still, the thought of overthrowing the government keeps me in place.

It may be my obvious bias stemming from my mother, but I absolutely despise the government. They're not just, for starters. They're also secretive, untrustworthy and delusional.

They don't deserve to rule over me.

"Oh my gosh, are you Kygo?!" someone asks, and I roll my eyes.

As one may know, I used to be a host of a criminal-hunting show called Zootopia's Worst, for reasons I'd prefer to keep confidential for now. Anyways, I seem to attract random scumbags off the street; also known as my "biggest fans".

"Yes, yes I am" I reply to him as nicely as I can muster, trying my best to walk a bit faster.

Then, I realize this armadillois after me for all the wrong reasons.

"You're the one who killed that coyote!" he accuses me as he matches my quick pace, glaring at me angrily.

"Why, yes I am!" I reply cynically, looking back at him.

"Why'd you do it!?" he asks me in a shockingly hostile tone, and I stop walking.

"He came at me with a knife! What'd you want me to do?!" I ask him irritably, placing my paws on my hips to make reaching for my gun easier in case I may need it.

"Hah! All you predators are the same! He probably didn't even have a knife!" he says, accusing me of lying.

"Gee, Zootopia sure has some bright people" I mutter to myself, and the man hears me.

"Watch it!" he screams, and I snicker at his feeble attempts to scare me.

"Watch what?! You getting shot?!" I ask furiously, and he takes a step back with wide eyes.

"You wouldn't...".

"That's exactly what the coyote said. Try me" I dare him, squinting my eyes threateningly.

At last the nuisance backs away from me, leaving me to continue my walk.

Many animals would feel awful for threatening others with death, but as for me, well, I can't say I'm of that type. As a whole, prey have been terrible to me all my life, leaving my mind stained with the notion that all prey are this way. Now, I know
it isn't safe to generalize people in this way, but it's more of an unconscious process that takes place in my confused mind.

I notice a lone police officer staring my way, and I turn my head, focusing on walking more so than being in yet another argument over whether I'm actually a member of the ZPD or whatever.

Sooner rather than later, I fear my true purpose will be discovered. And for the sake of my life and our cause, I hope it's after phase one has passed...

Judy POV- 1 hour later

I close the house door behind me as Nick waits for me, and then we begin sauntering down the steps of my apartment, feeling quite exhausted.

Even the backpack on my shoulders feels like twice the weight that it usually is on bleak school mornings such as these.

"I so don't want to go to school today" Nick whines.

"Neither do I, but think positively" I say, "at least we have guards to keep us safe".

He noticed the many guards at the bottom of the stairs; Kygo being one of them, and he looks back to me.

"I don't want to see anyone get hurt, though" he tells me, and I understand what he means.

Seeing animals die at the hands of an unforgiving bullet is never a graceful thing to witness, and it's something that can haunt one in their dreams for weeks; much like my experiences in the hospital.

"I don't either, but I guess it's something we'll have to get used to seeing" I tell him with a hint of sadness.

"Hurry up! We haven't got all day!" Kygo yells to us as we walk down the metal steps slowly, trying to waste as much time as possible due to the school day ahead of us.

I mean, tons of kids hate school, but Nick has the ultimate reasoning as to why he hates it: until this point in time, school has been absolute hell for him.

According to him, now that he has me, school is a bit less of a burden. Although I'm glad to be a positive influence in his life, school is still an dismal experience for him each and every weekday; that is if he isn't in the hospital.

"Wow, now I have four bodyguards" I mutter as I pass Kygo, and we begin walking to the new bullet proof car that I'm "required" to travel to and from school in.

"Yep! And I'm the leader here, so remember that!" Kygo says in a commanding tone, glancing at the officers around her that all seem quite reverent of her.

The drive to school is one full of tension, and for some reason, I can't quite tell why. I'm here with Nick, my best friend, but I still feel quite...off.

Kygo seems to acting strange as she sits beside me; scared even, and won't stop glancing around the car nervously.

The three other officers all dressed in uniform seem much more calm and stable, and the group consists of one jaguar, one polar bear, and one bull.

At last we pull up to the school and Nick and I jump out quickly, beginning our walk to the door. I take one last glance back at Kygo as she converses with the other guards, but notice that they aren't moving.

I assume that they'll follow us inside; after all, it is their job, and they know what they're doing.

"This is weird" Nick whispers to me, and I nod with a increasing pulse.

"There's something strange going on here..." I mutter in reply.

Kygo POV

I've heard the expression said many, many times.

I feel sick.

Never up until this point have I felt a dread this strong and overwhelming. I gaze at my hands as I notice the shaking rocking through my body, and I suddenly sit back down into the car seat, unable to lessen my lightheadedness.

"Kygo, what are you doing?" Tyrell, one of the "officers" speaks to me.

"I-I...I can't do it" I gasp, beginning to panic as I slouch down in my chair.

"Kygo, this is what we've been training for! You're our leader!" he replies, knowing this is no easy job even for him.

"I'm sorry...I can't...go on without me for this one" I say, feeling admittedly defeated.

"Kygo-"

"Just go!" I scream suddenly, causing the three of them to jump in startled fashion.

I watch them walk away, knowing very well what is about to happen. I know that this could potentially be the end of my life, and also everything I've lived for thus far.

Sorry mother, I hate the government too, but this is too far!

It's too late to change what's about to happen. It's too late to stop what's about to unfold.

Tears pour from my eyes as I tremble, feeling the full agony of the pain yet to come for me among other people.

I think about Nick and Judy, and I squeeze the armrest beside me, overcome with mental pain.

I have to stop this...

But how?

You've trained for this.

Your mother will hate you.

You'll be disowned.

My mother is a monster!

Remember that Zootopia is the real enemy!

They're so innocent...

Stop thinking this way, Kygo! You're losing it!

Well then I'm glad to lose it.

I reach a trembling paw towards the pistol in my belt, and I know what I have to do. Whether I come out dead or alive, at least I'm doing something for once.

I will be more than a simple part of a plan in this life.

I will.

Nick's Dad POV

I glance down at my watch with a twisted grin on my face, knowing the current hour all too well. It's almost time.

I laugh maniacally as the minutes tick by, knowing it's getting closer...and closer...

The officers stand on the other side of the bars of my cell, repeatedly asking me what's so amusing.

They can ask all they want. I hope they find out. I want to see the terror in their faces.

I want to see their eyes grow wide. I want to see them realize that there's nothing they can do.

I want to see them cry. I want to see them fall to their knees. I want to see them scream.

I want to see them hurting.

I peel the watch from my wrist as the beeps begin accelerating in frequency, and I toss it in between the bars, immediately diving for cover.

"Oh my god!" they shriek, but it's too late for them.

It's too late for them all.

The watch detonates, blowing the bars of my cell into smithereens, and I glance up from behind the bed with a crazed smile.

I dash over to one of the burnt corpses, pulling the gun from his belt, pinching myself to ensure that this isn't another of my so-beloved dreams, but I know this is no trick of the mind.

Now, phase one begins...

Here we go.

Like I said, dark elements are about to come into play starting next chapter. I'll have a more detailed warning at the beginning of chapter eighteen.

Anyways, I can hear it already.

"Why don't Judy and Nick just kiss already!"

Yes, it's a painful wait, but trust me on this, it's going to be glorious! I assure you that I can't keep you waiting forever....

(In other words, it will happen soon!).

Next chapter will include many more characters, so no worries! It'll be a big one...

Anyways, please leave any thoughts in the reviews, and brace yourselves for the madness (and love) about to ensue...

Until next time!