"Am I in the presence the Ghost of Christmas Future?" asked Bogo.
The figure slowly bowed, without any vocabulary to respond with.
"And you shall show me what hasn't happened but soon will as time goes on? Is that the case, Spirit?"
It bowed again.
"Ghost of the Future, you intimidate me more than any of your comrades, but I understand your position is to do me good."
The buffalo looked at the now vacant space where calf was sound asleep, now vanished from the scenery.
"The night is wading fast and I hope to be another buffalo from what I was and the father I must be for such children who believe they are orphans, time is all the more precious to me. Lead on, Spirit. Lead on."
The spirit placed a hoof - or at least - the skeleton of a hoof onto the buffalo's shoulder, which chilled Bogo all over unlike the other two. Everything faded and lit back up. They were in a very grand office and there sat a lion behind the desk.
"Mayor Lionheart?" reacted Bogo. "What's he to do with the future?"
The phone on the desk rang and the Mayor answered.
"Mayor Lionheart," he responded. The voice was distinct over the other line, but he must have heard something good.
"Oh, he'll be no trouble," he chuckled. "I know noting much about him, except that he's dead. He died, just last night. Yep, he overdosed himself. To think I ever appointed him into government authority. His funeral? Nah, I'll rehire Smellwhether before I go to the funeral. Ironically, I don't think anyone would attend. But I'll go if they willing to give some meat before cremation."
The Mayor burst into laughter again as the scene faded.
Bogo reflected what Lionheart was so jolly about. Why would death bring glee to the most powerful animal in Zootopia? It must have been pretty clear at this image that Lionheart had no heart and therefore should have just had the Christian name of Leodore Lion.
The image faded and Bogo found himself in what seemed like a coroner's chamber in a hospital. A light was shining above something of a table. There were two animals in white coats covering it, interfering with Bogo's glance. One was an elephant and the other a silverback.
"This is literally the only time in my career I'm happy," said the elephant.
"Who wouldn't be?" replied the silverback? "He was hateful enough. I'm so celebrating with a banana cordial tonight on me?"
"Count me in!" chuckled the elephant, and added to the table, "Fancy one? What's the matter? Too dead to join in?"
The two coroners walked out of the room, laughing heartily but the echoing of it chilled Bogo's spine. Could anyone in Zootopia be hated that deeply? He took a full view of what was on the table; a body zipped up in a sack, the upper torch still shining on it.
The spirit pointed at it.
"I suppose you want me to open it?"
The phantom nodded.
Bogo advanced closer to it, held a hoof out to the zip - but drew himself back.
"I cannot!" he said. "I tremble to see who it is."
The spirit still stood, pointing at the shrouded body.
"I understand you," Bogo assured it. "And I would do it if I could, but I have not the power, Spirit. I have not the power! Let me see some tenderness connected with a death. Surely there must be some emotion about this lonely departure?"
A chill spread through the room and warmth suddenly replaced the surroundings and Bogo was beginning to feel at him. But he was too big for the area. There was a lot of cosiness around the room with the furniture and the little bunnies playing on the floor, about ten of them. He was evidently inside a rabbit warren. Sitting on a chair near the fireplace sat a plump female rabbit was sitting on a chair feeding a baby bunny. More of her other children came into the room, right through Bogo who was barring the entrance. Unlike the ten playful ones, they were looking concerned.
Then a chubby rabbit came into the room, a look of concern on his face.
"What is it, Stu?"
"Judy is the lieutenant, Bonnie."
Bonnie gasped.
"Now I'm really scared, with that monster about."
"If Jude the Dude can solve a night howler case, she can certainly protect her family. The old good-for-nothing is dead, so she will not be held back."
He kissed his mate and she him, while the kids looked away.
After the kiss, Bonnie looked down at the kids, concerned and playful.
"Two slices of carrot cake to celebrate, cauliflowers," smiled Bonnie.
The kids all cheered at the idea of extra dessert.
"How is this helpful?" snapped Bogo to the spirit. "Give me some substance, at least!"
They were out of the chamber and outside the Clawhauser household.
Bogo's heart lit up at once and ran to the door. He opened it and looked for Ben, Shirley and the cubs … but there was no one. Everyone and everything were gone, especially the furniture. The warm glow of love and all, everything was as cold as outside. He rushed back to the front door where the spirit stood.
"Where are they?" asked Bogo. "Not the villain, surely not."
The ghost pointed outside the door. On it was an ageing piece of paper. Bogo walked up to it and read:
Whoever finds this first,
I loved my position to the ZPD and everybody's smiling faces when they entered every morning. But after the tragedy of the little fox, my fiancée and I have left, because we agree that Zootopia is no longer safe to raise our kittens. It was a tough choice for me, but I don't want to lose anymore lives of those I love.
Fernando, if you're reading this, good luck. Please be careful.
Benjamin Clawhauser,
Dec 24th, 2016.
Bogo looked down in sadness but traced back.
"Little fox?" he asked. A frightful thought came to mind. He didn't think … it couldn't be. As he looked up from the note, he found himself back in Officer Wilde's house to see Nick's parents sitting together in quiet and Judy nursing a baby in silence.
"Nick is taking his time," Mrs. Wilde breaking the silence. "Must be near his time"
"Past it rather," agreed Mr. Wilde. "He's been walking quite slowly these past few evenings "Here, take my tissue."
"Oh, no," said Mrs. Wilde wiping her eyes. "The light is just straining my eyes. Wouldn't want Noah seeing me like this."
"He wouldn't want that," said Judy gently looking down at the baby. "He was a beautiful boy, sweetie. You are lucky to have him for a big brother and your father loved him very much. He was no trouble. Not trouble whatsoever."
Bogo watched as a tear streamed from the rabbit's eye.
Bogo desperately searched in the room where he played his video games, then he ran up to the bedroom up above. The bed was empty as was the whole rom. The second spirit's voice rang inside his head; a vacant bed and a baby without a big brother. The room faded to night and there sat Nick on the bed, staring at a frame by the bed side, of him and Noah asleep on the couch, they day he took him in. He held it close to his chest as his tears streamed from his eyes.
"My pup," he sobbed. "My little pup."
Bogo looked down in sadness and guilt, also sobbing himself. What did that sweet little fox cub do to deserve to die? He had been bred through five years of cruelty, taught to steal, been attempted to be killed and how it was succeeded.
"Wait," gasped Bogo. "What about my son?"
The spirit opened a portal and Bogo stepped in. He was in a dirty alleyway, there were a group of young preys and predators smashing and vandalising old homes, screaming, laughing and swearing. From a broken wall emerged a young buffalo calf with horrible attire and a can of graffiti in his hoof and spraying it on a tramp (a scruffy wolf) sitting nearby, making him yell in pain and fled.
"YEAH!" he screamed laughing. "KEEP RUNING, SCUMBAG! RUN TO YOUR MAMA!"
"FRANK" demanded Bogo. "PUT THAT CAN DOWN AT ONCE BEFORE I GROUND YOU!"
But he remembered that he was invisible to the future events due to their not happening yet. He could do nothing, but watch Frank and his misleading friends run off, looking on in sadness.
"He needs a daddy," said Bogo. "So, he won't become like this, spirit. Only I can put a stop to all of this before it arrives. I understand at last, spirit."
At this, distant cackling could be heard. He followed the sound until he found three ragamuffins: a beaver, a fox and a bear. They were all carrying large sacks. Bogo didn't see how this was relevant to his son, but when he looked up at the spirit, he pointed at them, showing he wanted Bogo to follow them.
He followed them into a wide alleyway and a big shack which read the name Weaselton's Wears.
They entered the shop, very ugly and smelled of rotten alcohol and ashes from cigarettes that have been burned fifteen years ago. The shop full of accessories and new looking cutlery and crockery. Stolen goods, no doubt – especially displayed in the appearance of the scruffy weasel in a wite vest.
"Come to exchange, have we?" he welcomed. "Always pleasure to my eyes."
The three crooks and the weasel cackled as the beaver rushed forward.
"Open my bundle first, Duke!" she shrieked in delight.
Bogo didn't peer in, but the weasel announced it through his reaction. "Him and his instructor?" he cackled. "They're of no valley – except for bullseyes at the bar!"
"Only too obvious," chuckled the beaver. "Destined for the bars big time, that worked old screw! What's left of him at least. Art too valuable to get any smudges on! Dart holes adds a nice touch on him."
They all laughed for a bit until Duke Weasleton paid the beaver and announced, "Who's next?"
The bear stepped forth with the biggest bundle. He handed it inro the weasel who unwrapped it and peered in.
"Blankets?!" cried Weaselton. "Every single one he had?"
"Not a thread pulled," remarked the bear bed proudly. "He was so cold, he didn't really any blankets to keep him warm. He's warm enough already!" he added, tapping his foot onto the ground, making them all cackled with laughter.
After the bear was paid on his efforts, if thievery is considered an effort, the vixen brought her clunking bag to the checkout as the weasel dug into looking in. All that clattering sounded promising.
"All his trophies?!" he cried in delight. "Who says foxes cannot be trusted! You were born to make your fortune!"
"Kindest thing I could do!" she remarked cackling. "He needed someone to tend to him when he was struck with death! There's a rumour he had a son he knew nothing of and he's now creating shenanigans. That makes things worse for him. He will burn while his son spends half his life in the ZPD!"
Everybody cackled again at this remark, too much for Bogo to bear. He tried lying to himself that these belongings were somebody else's. Coincidences could be made, surely. He turned to the spirit and said "I wouldn't let any child, such as Frank, live like this. Please show me my office at the ZPD, Spirit! Surely I'm there at this time of night."
The spirit, looking at Bogo, pointed with its hoof out the shop door. Bogo walked up the door, glad to leave all the evil laughter behind. He opened the door and found himself at the ZPD reception area. He felt a very homey emotion about it. Everybody was doing their business, but most of them were smiling. He caught a glimpse of what some of them were saying. Officer Wolford saying to McHorn "Drinks after our shift on me,' to which the rhino smiled and said "Thanks, Wolford. We all need a good drink to celebrate. Who knew death could bring so much happiness into this world?"
Bogo was still trembling at the good idea of this departed person. Suddenly, he remembered that Ben and his family left and that he bound to replaced and replaced he was for there, in his usual corner, sat – a big, black screen. He saw the elephant officer known as Francine communicating with it by pressing a button, asking it a question and it answered her in a very robotic and boring manner, though there were subtitles in fairness. Intellectual, but Bogo already missed his stepbrother's adorable smile which lightened even the darkest days in the ZPD and would answer anything with his cheerful voice. At this thought, he ran up to the stars and up the door off his office when read, not Chief Bogobut newly labelled on the door, Chief Ryo.
He stormed inside, ready to confront the rabbit – but remembered this hasn't happened yet. Yet nothing disturbed him more to see Blake Ryo from the Deerbrooke County Police Department typing at his desk. As he watched him, a knock came on the door and in walked his wife. Upon the sight of her, she immediately embraced and kissed her.
"The moment I heard, I ran all the way here, dear," she smiled.
"The best thing that's ever happened to me – this and marrying you, Bellflower."
"Will Judy be with you soon? She is the right lieutenant for you."
"Another week," said Blake. "She needs a lot time with Nick."
"But what about Nick himself?"
"He's resigned," said Blake ruefully. "He feels he has failed as a dad. Damn the last chief."
Blake looked back at the office which had been removed of all the trophies in the room, especially the images. All of them now replaced with banners of congratulations.
"What did he do with all his money?" asked Bellflower.
"Who knows?" said Blake. "Hasn't left it to me that's for certain and all the others have taken the trophies for a bonfire this evening when we go for some drinks. Celebrate our loss and achievements. Care to join us, my love?"
"Indeed I would," but I would also like to visit Judy's baby. "Maybe try and convince Nick that he at least has another child to guide through this cruel world."
"That will be granted," smiled Blake as they hugged each other, Bellflower starting to sob.
Bogo stood in guilt; Officer Wilde proved himself a good father, lost his child and threw away all his potentials at the ZPD. However, his heart enlightened at the thought that none of this has happened yet and he could do something about them. Whilst at thought, the phone rang and Blake ran to answer it. After responding in many ways Bogo did not understand, Blake informed Bellflower that the thug wearing a black hood is a gorilla. Bogo felt some relief, so he knew at least he can track the monster down so little Noah could be spared and live to see this Christmas which can be bright and colourful, a Christmas made even better by him being out of his cast.
"I realise now, Spirit," said Bogo seriously. "I must rid Zootopia of this rogue before he can take any more lives. You three spirits have taught me very valuable lessons and I couldn't be more grateful. But I must ask one question before this journey ends. I have a good idea who it might be, but I cannot avoid it any longer; who was that corpse at the hospital? The person whose death had brought so much happiness into Zootopia?"
Fog smeared the scene and after a while of making out what was happening, Bogo felt a winter chill about him. To him felt colder than Tundra Town. He was standing outside a churchyard at night. The chapel was open and the spirit was stranding by the doorway beckoning at the buffalo to come forth. Bogo did so and above the gate he read Zootopia Crematorium. Slowly ascended inside the chapel.
The chapel was eerie and empty, the night making it all the more frightening. Either it was the advantage of Bogo's fears or he could hear soft voices form that of a requiem. Stain windows did not cure his fear either, for at the very end of the church stood the spirit on the preacher's stand and pointing at the cremation chamber. On top it lay a coffin.
"Before I read the coffin's inscription," gulped Bogo. "Please answer me one question vocally; are you showing me the shadows of what will happen or what might happen?"
The spirit just pointed forward still.
Bogo slowly advanced up the aisle but continued as he did so: "The ways of animals can foreshadow ends, good or bad. When animals change for the better, surely then their ends have to change as well. Please say it is so."
The spirit made no other gesture but remained in the same one, still pointing at the coffin.
Bogo walked closer and closer until he reached it. It was difficult to bring His eyes to the name, but he knew that the truth had to be told whether he was frightened or not. Finally, his eyes met with the coffin lid widened with horror. His worst fears had been realised as read the golden plaque the very name he had suspected all through this futuristic journey:
FERNANDO BOGO
DEPARTED FROM THIS WORLD DEC 25TH.
"I was the corpse in the coroner's chamber?" he said in devastation. "I was the person everybody was happy to be rid of?"
The spirit, who had suddenly appeared by his side, pointed from to coffin to Bogo and back at the coffin.
"No!" he wailed, tears welling up in his eyes. "Please, spirit! No! As the Lord as my witness, I am not the buffalo I was! I would never return to the buffalo I had been. Little Noah's innocence opened my heart! So why would you show me this if I'm past all hope? I will hold Christmas within me forevermore! You and the other two spirits, Christmas Past! Christmas Present! Christmas Future! All three of you wise spirits I shall keep within my heart just as long! Forevermore! I shall never shun your warnings! I will never shut out the lesson you have taught me! Noah will live and Frank with have a father to guide him!"
The spirt slowly faded away, the church door locking itself up.
"Please, spirit!" Bogo cried on his knees. "Don't leave me! Tell me I can change the future. Tell me Noah will love! Tell me Frank will come home with me! TELL ME I CAN ERASE THE WRITING ON THAT COFFIN!"
As he turned, the coffin was sinking into the box. Bogo peered in to see the lid open. Somehow, he slipped in wailing in panic and landed inside the coffin.
As he tried to get out of the coffin, the lid clamped shut. Chains from each corner linked his sides and a muzzled clamped over him. They were indeed a very ponderous chain and overtook his own strength from that of a buffalo. Underneath, the backside of the before it began to crack and felt very hot. Soon the entire plank gave way and Bogo found himself falling into an infernal furnace where angry flames arose, red skeletons of animals appearing and screeching at him as Bogo plummeted all the way down into the blazing flames.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!"