When Bogo woke up, his TV was still on and so were the lights. He looked down at himself to see he was wearing grey pyjama bottoms, a white vest and maroon dressing gown. He certainly did not remember dressing into them. He switched his lamp on groaning in pain. His head was strongly throbbing from the dosage he took before the … the …
"I still remember Larvix appearing as a ghost in chains? He said three spirits would come. The first at one o'clock. But I'm sure this was all a dream."
He looked at his alarm clock that read more minute to one. Maybe he hadn't drunk enough Buckweiser to forget it all. Or maybe this was all part of it. A tremendous mistake and promised himself not to do that again.
The clock struck one; no effect of anything.
"Yes," Bogo said to himself in satisfaction though rubbing his head. "Nothing more than as stupid dream. Wilde must have spiked my coffee after all. I'll text him right now and tell him that he is fired!"
He grabbed for the phone when, the lamp, the lights and the television all switched themselves off. It was snowing heavily outside. Did the snow cut the power off?
The phone was still on, so he could still perform his moment of triumph by ridding the ZPD of a fox. However, just as he was about to scroll through the names of his call list, the screen brightened and brightened until the while light hurt Bogo's eyes. He threw the phone to one side as the light slowly lit up the room as Bogo sat frozen to the spot. Did he spill Buckwieser over it? Will it result an explosion? Just as he expected the worst, a ball of yellow brightness emerged from the glowing screen and expanded to the side of a snowman's end. inside it, a figure took shape. The figure faded into a small fawn in a snow-white robe. Its fur was unusually a strong gold as were its eyes and the golden light still surrounded the figure. It smiled gently at Bogo.
"Are you the spirit whom I was told would arrive at one?"
"Thou art correct," replied the deer in a soft, mellifluous voice.
"A child?" remarked Bogo in confusion. "What use is a child who lost its life young? What do they know of this dangerous world?"
"I live as I am standing before thee," remarked the fawn patiently. "We spirits live within everyone in in city and beyond. Thou hast spent many years without our protection. Thou has locked us up, but I, the first of three, am granted the chance to guide thee. As for the dangers of this world, the only dangers on this world are those of thyself who are blinded by light I bring. The light of joy and freedom of sorrow. Thou art a prisoner of the latter."
Bogo was amazed how a child spoke in such a way.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I am the Ghost of Christmas Past," the fawn introduced.
"Long past?"
"Thy past, Fernando Bogo," the fawn clarified.
"Do me a favour," requested Bogo, "And tone down that light."
"I should use thy words wisely if I were thee," replied the spirit sternly but calmly. "Thou people birthed me by the truth of the already. Light is truth, black is deceit. Foolish of thou people to choose black to deny the truth."
"Oh," replied Bogo. "Fair enough. So, state your business then. What brings you here?"
"Thy welfare," replied the spirit.
"At one in the morning?" grumbled Bogo. "A little early before starting don't you think? Why not eight?"
"Thy reclamation then," replied the ghost as it floated towards Bogo and extended a hoof out to him. "Rise and walk with me. We are off to examine the light of thy past."
"You can never go back to the past," Bogo yawned. "I couldn't if I wanted to, woke up with a splitting hangover."
The ghost smiled, blew at the buffalo and his head was clear.
"There's always a solution to lure thee to redemption," replied the ghost. "I repeat; rise and walk with me."
It flew to the window which opened by itself like it did with Larvix's ghost.
"How do you expect me to fly?" responded Bogo shortly. "Happy thoughts? Pixie dust? I can't have you making me commit animalslaughter upon myself. I'm mortal don't forget."
The ghost floated towards him, its glow warming Bogo up contentedly.
"Bear but a touch my hoof," it said gently. "And you shall be upheld in more than this."
Hesitantly, Bogo touched its hoof and he was suddenly floating from his bed.
"The coffee still hasn't worn off," he panicked.
They shot out of the window through the sky, the city of Zootopia seeming the size of a snow globe as they soared based countries, oceans and other districts under them as they owned the sky.
"Art thou well?" asked the ghost looking at Bogo who wore a queasy expression.
"Not very," he replied with a muffled gag. He never liked travelling through the sky. "If you were with me all my life, didn't you witness me puking on the roller coaster as a calf?"
"Oh yes!" the sprit chuckled. "But that being Christmas not, but that of summer."
Bogo felt himself ready to lose his insides when he found himself standing in a snowy meadow and the memories slapped him in the head as quickly as that. He looked about him as the hills and tree lines caked in snow flowed into his sight and into his lungs, the familiar smell of freshness, the area of his very childhood.
"Does thou intellect this place?" asked the spirit who ascended towards Bogo by skating beautifully on a frozen pond.
"I know this place!" he gasped, excitedly. "Oak Stream Grove! I was a calf here!"
"Dost thou intellect the way?" asked the spirit.
"I could prance this place blindfolded!" reacted Bogo happily.
The spirit waved its hand and a cloth appeared wrapping its way over Bogo's eyes as he danced about in the dark, yelling in panic.
"Not literally!" not snapped.
He ripped it off and found himself facing the pathway to a grand building. Grand, but bleak. Everything was grey, black and aged. It almost seemed to Bogo as though the building was victim to a great fire, but then, such dismal places earned a dismal appearance, the appearance which he had forgotten about so many years past.
"The orphanage," he murmured to himself.
The door suddenly opened as young animals with couples that matched them walked away carrying suitcases in high Christmas spirits, chuckling, talking and frolicking, throwing snowball and drowning everybody with "Merry Christmas!". Bogo watched as all the familiar appearances restored his eyes and mind.
"William Buck!" cried Bogo pointing at a young beaver pup with his new family. Bogo soon identified more as his memories flourished back into his head. "That lion cub! Jonathan Pride! And that … that goat! Doris Milk! Guys! It's me, Fernando! Fernando Bogo!"
But no matter how loud his voice was, they took no heed as they left the orphanage far behind.
"Thou stand before imagery that has already played," the spirit explained to the buffalo. "Thou art invisible and silent to all, as am I."
Bogo felt an emotion in his heart, grief but happiness at the same time. Is that what emotion was like to travel to the past you deeply cherished? Bogo shed a tear which the sprit could see.
"Thou weeps for the memories thou lived?"
"Just some frost," said Bogo, wiping it quickly.
"The orphanage is not all deserted," the spirit said sorrowfully. "A solitary child neglected by all is left there still."
Bogo knew exactly who the child was and just before he refused to enter, The door opened again and out came a very haughty-looking fox cub with a couple who looked just as haughty.
"It's a miracle I no longer have to share a roof with a cowardly buffalo, thanks to you both," he replied smugly.
"Indeed," remarked his new father. "You were right to address all these things which he is. How he breaks things and came from a bad family. We wouldn't want you fraternising with a troublemaker and ending up in the ZPD with him."
Bogo growled and tried to attack the cub, but he went right through him.
"Thou canst touch or feel the already either," explained the spirit.
"Come," said the spirit as it beckoned Bogo to the open doors of the orphanage.
The indoors were rather homey but not to Bogo's eyes, heart or mind. The lobby was grand, but the ornaments and beautiful red carpet could never coat the inner ugliness Bogo remembered, no matter how grand or accurate to wealth it all seemed. They headed up the stairs and into the dormitories.
In the lonely room there was nothing but a row of bunks, all of the possessions of the orphans stripped so to leave with their families. At the very end in the corner, just a single bed, sat a small, grey buffalo calf, the Bible clenched in his arms singing a carol before shedding some tears. Bogo walked up to the bed and sat beside him, trying to put his hoof over the calf's shoulder but forgot he could not comfort him due to the child being grown up in the state he was in now.
"Thee," said the spirit gently.
"Yes," said Bogo tearfully. "That was me."
"I believe thou knows't whence you came from?"
"Matron said I was left on the doorstep," the buffalo explained. "My mother died giving birth to me. My father disowned me for it. Gave me away for good …. I wish …"
"Yes?" said the ghost with curiosity.
Bogo sighed.
"A fox cub was singing carols outside my office last night. I wish I could have given him something. I wasn't the most pleasant at that time."
The spirit looked outside the window from where the entrance outside was visible.
"That cub thou attempted to assault out there, is he the reason of thy prejudice?"
"I suppose he is," said Bogo. "Forgot his name but who cares? He just told lies about me and ruined half my life. A lot of the orphans turned on me because of him. No fox is good in my eyes."
The calf was finished his silent crying. He actually stopped while they were talking. He was now lying on the bed. Bogo lifted the sheets and placed them over his younger self.
"Let us see another Christmas," said the spirit.
In a flash, the young calf looked rather older through he had not grown his horns yet and was wearing nicer clothes than he did previously. Bogo smiled gently at this subtle change when the door opened and a newcomer entered the dormitory.
"Ferdy?"
Both Bogo and the spirit turned to see a beautiful female cheetah of about seventeen, wearing a lovely Christmas-tree-green coat.
"Gloria?" gasped Bogo.
"Gloria!" cried the young calf, as he left form the bed and jumped into her arms and snuggled into her.
"She often worked at the orphanage," Bogo explained. "My relationship with her was stronger than with any of the others."
"I'm so happy to see you, Gloria!" said the calf happily.
"Me too," said Gloria. "But you'll see more of me know. I'm bringing you home with me."
"What?!" cried the calf incredulously.
"Home, Ferdy! Home!"
"How long?"
"Forever! We're adopting you!"
"But why? I'm a buffalo."
"That makes no difference, Ferdy," Gloria protested. "Family comes from the heart, not animal race. Daddy came to visit the orphanage one day and he saw how well we get along. He even pointed that out to me. He spoke so kindly to me about it one night when I was going to bed. So, I asked if we could bring you home and he said yes! You're going to be my little brother, never to come back here! We'll have the merriest Christmas in all the world!"
"Oh, Gloria!" said the calf in happy tears. "This means so much to me. You've always been like a sister to me! You are one in my eyes – and my heart."
"To me as well, little Ferdy," Gloria returned as she kissed his head. "And that's not all," the cheetah continued as they left the dormitory. "Not only are you a little brother but also a big one. Mama gave birth just two weeks ago. You will love Ben. I think he will love you too."
"She was wonderful," Bogo began as the two new siblings left the dormitory and headed down the stairs.
"Very much similar to thy Benjamin," said the spirit.
"Cheetahs, obviously," replied Bogo bluntly.
"By nature," the spirit clarified. "She had a heart that would melt away all the evils of this world. She died a young woman I believe, yet her brother inherited her gentleness."
Bogo considered all of this as he watched the young calf and cheetah leave thorough the gates from the dormitory window. Maybe this was why he did not wasn't to look Ben in the face all these years, for it pained him to see Gloria's face only to be brought back to reality, the fact that she had left him. The spirit was right though about their natures. Gloria had a heart big enough to melt away all the evils in this world, while Benjamin Clawhauser had a heart as big as – his belly.
"Ben is all that's left of Gloria," lectured the spirit. "Thou wouldn't wish to waste thy time avoiding him. You both lived and laughed together once. He stills hopes for thy dark light to be lit."
Bogo looked at the ghost considerably, but something else caught his attention.
"Do forgive me, Spirit, but I don't recall you having antler stems when you first appeared."
"As thy past grows older, I grow older," replied the spirit. "Now I shall show thee the merriest Christmas thou hast had."
He was about express his doubts when Bogo found himself standing in what looked like a bar. Very grand with flawless, white table clothes, four tiny chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, a dance carpet under a big stage with jazz instruments lying on a big table and a band set, the bass made of lovely bronze. On the side at the bottom of the platform, tables were set neatly and a tin-foiled buffet.
"I know this place!" Bogo cried in excitement like ant grown-up would recall happy memories by becoming a small chid again bouncing up and down. "This is Orangstrong's Bar! There! There I am."
An adolescent buffalo in a light sleeve-rolled blue shirt was visible emerged form a back door and setting everything in order. His horns were also beginning to reveal themselves. Very handsome and slim with muscular adolescence on his chest and arms. The present Bogo then looked at his more muscular self and asked the spirit, "Do I look fat to you?".
"Yoo-hoo! Banjo Fernando!"
In swung a small, round orang-utan in a very modern purple suit dancing about.
"Why, it's old Orangstrong!" said Bogo in delight. "What a soul! Good old Orangstrong! And every day was a party - especially at Christmas time! I worked her during my training for the academy."
"Yo, Bogo Stick! Gimme a hand here!" said a plump, grey bear also wearing the same attire as the young buffalo who was carrying some boxes.
"Phil Beariss!" Bogo identified. "Life of the party he was. We were very attached, me and Phil!"
Bogo watched in admiration as they had a playful little boxing match, the young buffalo punching the young bear's big belly, the latter chuckling as he held his paw, pressing it on Bogo's head who tried to get at him saying, "Even a minotaur has class, Theseus!"
"It was more than just one attachment," said the spirit.
Before the both of them, there was a wild party full of dancing and singing and more; Orangstrang was performing with his trumpet along with the jazz band on the stage. Younger children imitated him with his simultaneous dancing and partying with each other dancing about the bar, their parents joining in. Some were at the bar almost passing out, others were eating what was left of the buffet. Bogo remembered how much he enjoyed the festivities and immediately found himself joining in the dancing with the young animals his age presenting to use instruments, dancing very badly and Orangstrong was dancing on stage with his huge wife, a large but beautiful orangutan in a peach-orange dress and hat. They both danced the stage down, the partners in full swing, no matter the type of music that played, they were full of energy and stole the entire show. After several seconds, Bogo saw his younger self facing a somewhat intoxicated Phil was wearing a banana peel skirt. He burst out laughing at the joker he was, him and the present Bogo. Never had they had such a friend like him.
At last, the band stopped and everybody either sat down or collapsed, Mrs. Orangstrong falling right onto her small husband who did not complain but laughed at the while circumstance.
"And that, boys!" he announced. "Is how you marry a fun wife!"
Everybody applauded as his wife curtseyed again and again, chuckling out of humility and of exhaustion. Her husband suddenly announced the mistletoe to drop from the stage, a massive, paper mistletoe to which they both kissed under, Phil picking them up and holding them up in the air, the two monkeys laughing at all the pleasure received.
Bogo on the other hand laughed and applauded and, after joining in all the dancing, he sat down next to the spirit, whom has sprouted a few inches and its antlers beginning to sprout
"Seems too much of thy profession," said the spirit, a smidgeon of deepness in its voice.
"Now see here!" Bogo said in an offended tone standing up and looking down at the spirit. "Old Orangstrong served his employees with respect and never gave them a dull moment in profession! Not a drop of disdainful blood in his swinging veins!"
But his mind reflected on his treatment to Officers' Hopps, Ryo, Clawhauser and Wilde from yesterday evening. Then he sat himself back down, confused and lost with his emotions.
"Something else quakes thy mind," stated the spirit.
"I just wish I could say something to my recruits," Bogo muttered.
Bogo watched his own nineteen year-old figure advancing towards someone else, a female buffalo in a pretty blue dress and eyes as blue as the eyes their self. She was sitting calmly and fanning herself.
"Maggie," Bogo suddenly remembered.
"Good evening," said the young buffalo. "Would you like a drink?"
"I'm okay, thank you," replied the buffalo girl sweetly. "Quite a party. You are quite a dancer too."
The past Bogo blushed.
"Do you have a name if you allow me to venture asking?" inquired the female buffalo.
"I'm Fernando," he introduced as he sat down. "Fernando Bogo."
"I'm Maggie," said the she-buffalo. "Maggie Hays. You come here often?"
"I work here part time," Past Bogo explained.
"Orangstrong and my father are good friends. I usually like a good show they put on, especially that bear."
Phil stood on the stage, dancing very randomly and giving the younger children back rides and they all succumbed to tickling him all over as he rolled about.
"I never go overboard like that," replied Past Bogo. "I'm a buffalo. The rescuer, the fighter, the lifter."
But his bragging soon parted ways with him as he succumbed to Maggie's green eyes. Maggie seemed to be doing the same to his eyes, because after a few minutes, the two buffalos brought their mouths together and kissed, becoming the only animals in this world and nothing could ever pull them apart.
Before long they found themselves dancing to a soothing Christmas theme along with the other couples of the party. The two buffalos waltzed gently on the dance floor wright in the centre, again the only animals left on the planet. Bogo's own heart felt light again remembering how much he loved her. He still loved her now.
"Thou made plans to marry here," said the ghost.
"Yes. I loved her very much," said Bogo." I did really."
"But eventually, thou had released her. Wherefore didst thou let her go?"
Bogo could not answer. But the spirit sensed it, so it took Bogo outside the bar where a hyper Phil Beariss was dancing with an equally hyper Orangstrong. Past Bogo and Maggie were headed to some bar beaches, ignoring the drunk bear and orangutan. There they were, just outside and the teenage Bogo protested a mistletoe hanging it above them with his hoof. The two buffalos paired their lips together when a gruff sound of a male clearing his throat interrupted their moment.
A huge polar bear in a black suit and tie eyed them both.
"Mr. Larvix," said the young Bogo. "This is Mag -"
"I did not come here to listen to your neglect of duties, Fernando," said the polar bear shortly. "I came to inspect your duties. Whatever are you doing here goofing around?"
"This is my part-time job, sir," Past Bogo explained. "Mr. Orangstrang organised this event with the kindness of his heart. Because it's Christmas sir, everyone should have a break."
"Breaks are not tolerable in a law profession, my young friend," said Mr. Larvix crossly. "If you ever expect to be successful, you must put all this aside. Zootopia is full of wicked predators. You yourself should know from the experiences at the orphanage."
"Yes, sir," said the teenage buffalo sadly.
"Indeed," said the polar bear pompously. "I will expect you to be about your studies in my class tomorrow morning."
"But it's Christmas Day tomorrow sir," the Past Bogo meekly protested.
"Are you looking for a way to quit?" Larvix growled.
"No sir," said the buffalo. "I'm sorry."
"Remain that way," said Larvix angrily.
Bogo watched his younger self hang his head in shame as the polar bear bade him and Maggie good evening, then left them.
"The years drifted," the spirit narrated as the scene went black. "Thou stayed in his respect. Lost many chances of joy, Orangstrong missed you dearly, especially when you would not see him off when he moved the Jungle Islands."
The colour restored itself and Bogo found himself outside a waiting room in a hospital. Outside it was raining most violently and in the vacant waiting room sat a young tearful-looking Ben who was being greeted by a female ape nurse.
She sat down and took his paw gently as she delivered him the bad news:
"It is with deep regret to tell you that your sister did not make it, Mr. Clawhauser. Her pneumonia was too strong for her to cope in her fragile sate. We're very sorry, Mr. Clawhauser. We did everything we possibly could. Before she left, she told me to say to you that she loved you and Fernando very much. The staff and I give you our deepest sympathy."
The nurse slowly left Clawhauser with his thoughts and he clutched his tail as he let the tears falls, sobbing silently. Bogo lamented as he recalled the day he came home with the news. He sat next to his sobbing half-brother, but completely forgot he goes right through him when he tried to place a consolable hoof over his shoulder.
"And where wast thou when he grieved?" asked the spirit whose voice had now deepened more and and its antlers growing longer and looking quite muscular in the cheesy.
"The ZPD," he murmured guiltily looking down on the floor.
"It matters little to you. Very little."
He shot his head up to the familiar female voice and found himself in his own office at the ZPD, all his trophies kept where he always had been storied. Bogo turned to see his older self and very strict and as firm as his horns.
"You've changed," said Maggie by side.
Bogo looked to see he was no longer in the hospital but in a study.
"Another value has replaced me," said Maggie who was wearing an attractive black coat. "A professional one."
"I am not towards you, surely," said Bogo. "Zootopia is full of evil you do not understand."
"That I do," said Maggie. "Larvix has hardened your heart. You fear the world too much, Fernando."
"I'm wise," said Bogo who was sitting at his desk. "That's all there is to it. I was nothing more than a juvenile calf when we met. It's all a balance of life, Maggie; we grow, we play, then we find out way in this world. These things take time before we resume the lives that we desire."
"But it's more than that," said Maggie sadly. "Success is pushing me aside. It was at Orangstrong's when we fell in love. I loved you the moment you placed yourself before me. But it was when Larvix spoiled it all."
"He's made me what I am!" said Bogo angrily. "He expects a lot from me and I cannot waste time when his needs are more relevant."
"Indeed, he has changed you," replied Maggie. "You distaste for Christmas, our love, the future. Our chances of being together is an old one."
Past Bogo was bewildered at that remark.
"I do not wish to remain in heartbreak over this, Fernando. I still love you, but to remain there by your side and see you work and have no eyes for myself, I who try to keep you awake and see that your business is not the only importance in your life. But it shall be the only importance of your life. I release you, Fernando."
Past Bogo looked up from typewriting.
"Did I ever ask for release?"
"In words, no," replied Maggie. "At least not vocally, but in your alteration. If you could seek me out now, today, would you try and win my heart. A wretched young girl whose father left her so little on his deathbed. You wouldn't. The past is all I have to cherish, Fernando. You may feel some pain once all this has concluded, but it shall soon pass and you will have no recollection of any of it. Not even our first meeting or what might have been out future. For the love of the young man you once were Fernando Bogo, I release you with a full heart."
Maggie made ready to leave when she paused, placed a hoof over her stomach. She seemed to wonder what to say but she could not bring herself to do it. Instead, with a tear in her eye, she simply turned to Fernando who was now back to his typewriting.
"May you be happy in the life you have chosen."
With those words, she left his sight forever.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Bogo snapped at his past self who was still typing. "Get up and stop her. STOP HER! YOU BLOODY IDIOT! STOP HER!"
His past self just remained where he was, a cold expression still cemented on his face as he typed away without a thought for anything that had just happened. At this his mobile rang and the present Bogo made out Clawhauser's number. He had clearly tried to ring him to tell him about the departure of Gloria, but Bogo watched himself cancel the number and shut the phone off completely. He then got up from the chair and looked out the window to watch Maggie leave what was left of his remaining sight to share with her. As soon as she disappeared, present Bogo, who was also looking out the window, turned right on time to see himself look at a black and white image of himself and Maggie, scrunch it up and slammed it into the waste bin. Then he sat down and typed furiously away without any word or consideration of his actions Upon this, Bogo reached into the bin and rescued the picture. It was taken on New Year's Eve, the same year they had met. Bogo looked regretfully at it and placed it into the pocket of his dressing gown.
The present buffalo turned to the spirit now a full stag.
"What did she mean future?" he demanded.
"Art thou positive to know?" it asked in its deep voice.
"Why else would I be asking?" Bogo snapped.
Everything blacked out and faded into a cold, empty room with a baby in a cradle. It was a baby buffalo calf sleeping peacefully with a tag on its blanket:
Oak Stream Orphanage Ward
Name: Franklin Fernando Hays
Animal: Buffalo
Birthday: December 25th, 2013
Father: Unknown
Mother: Margaret Hays. (Deceased / Cause of Death: Childbirth)
Relatives: Unknown
No Further Data
Bogo reflected sadly as realised that his true love was now gone with Gloria. And he had a son who was a bastard born. Exactly like Officer Wilde with his cub.
"I've had just about enough of you!" he snapped at the spirit who stood majestically and sternly, the same impression Bogo always wore upon his face. Its antlers were as sturdy as was his chest. "Why must you let me relive everything that's happened? I ought to book you for this!"
"Thou hast witnessed events of the already," replied the spirit wisely. "Created by thee, not I."
Bogo looked sadly at the little baby in the cradle who started to whimper as everything went dark. Even the baby itself started to fade away, its wailing starting to echo as Bogo tried to reach for it but could find it nowhere. Everything came back into view and Bogo was back in his room, no sign of the Ghost of Christmas Past. Was it a dream? Bogo looked at the empty stash of empty Buckweiser bottles. He put his hooves into his pockets upon doing this and he felt something. He brandished it and saw it was a scorched piece of paper with him and Maggie. He sat on his bed and though of all the remarks Officer Nick and the wife of Officer Ryo at the thought of his son cold, alone and lonely in the orphanage, only four years old.
"I'm sorry, Maggie," he said sadly. "I'm sorry, Frank. Daddy will find you. He promises."
He lay on his bed, not bothering to switch the lamp off and he sobbed himself to sleep as he recalled this journey he had experienced through loneliness, acceptance, love, joy, romance, loss and tragedy.