FLUMP!
Bogo had landed upon a soft surface. He was shaking about frantically, but he was somehow free from the chains, muzzle and all. He wasn't in that – extremity – either. This wasn't any place but -
"My room," he gasped. "My bed! I'm alive! I'm alive!" he reacted as he tears of relief streamed form his eyes as he hugged his pillow. But then, he stopped and thought; was this a dream? Surely it was. He remembered what he stored in his pockets. He rummaged through and sure enough, there they still were: his picture of him and his sweetheart and his son's birth certificate.
Bogo gasped in shock, but a smile spread upon his face.
"It wasn't a dream at all!" he cried. "It all happened! It truly happened!"
He glanced at everything. The door where the ghost of Isaiah Larvix came through, the window where he joined all the wandering spirits, the station where the Ghost of Christmas Present sat, the phone on the floor where the Ghost of Christmas Past emerged from.
"And the shadows of future can be dispelled!" declared Bogo. "They will be dispelled! My trophies! My blankets! My photos! They haven't been taken down! They are all still here! I'm here! There is still time! Noah will live and I will find Frank! There is still to repent and rectify!"
Bogo got up, laughing his lungs out, dancing merrily and whooping and cheering about the room.
"Thank you, Spirits of Christmas!" said Bogo as stopped and fell to his knees. "I will keep you all within my heart forevermore. And everything you taught me! I have a chance to change!"
He looked at the picture of Isaiah Larvix on the wall.
"Thank you, Instructor Larvix," said Bogo streaming tears of happiness. "On my knees, I thank you."
He got back up packing the room in confusion, but still jumping about like small child in a playground.
"I don't know where to start!" he chuckled. "I'm as light as feather! I'm as happy as an angel! I'm as giddy as drunken buffalo!" he picked up am empty bottle of Buckweiser form his stash and threw it to one side, chuckling. "I'm merry as any child should be!"
He ran to the window and ad opened it. The sun was shining brightly and the chill was refreshing. Never before has Bogo seen such beauty in all his life. But them it occurred to him that he was unsure what day it was.
"I don't know how long I've been amongst the sprits!" Bogo said, but soon found himself laiughing. "I don't know anything!"
At this, a polar bear cub in a blue winter coat and hat was passing by.
"You, lad!" Bogo called, to which the cub halted to.
"Forgive me, but – what day is it?"
"Eh?"
"What's today, my fine young fellow?"
"Why, Christmas Day of course!" responded the cub in surprise.
"It's Christmas Day!" he gasped to himself in happiness and relief. "I haven't missed it! The spirits did it all in one night. Well, they can do anything they like of course they can."
Once again, he caught the attention of the cub.
"Do you know anything about an orphanage called Oak Stream?"
"Of course I do," replied the cub.
"Intelligent boy!" remarked Bogo. "Remarkable boy! Do you of anybody who happens to work there?"
"Yes, sir. My dad works there part time."
"Is he on his way there today?"
"Half an hour I'm guessing."
"Well, do you mind asking him to stop here?" Bogo requested. "I need to get there myself. I have reason to believe a child there may be mine. Tell him to come here and I'll … give you five dollars!"
"On my way, sir!" the cub accepted and dashed off at full speed.
"Daddy's coming, Frank!" said Bogo cheerfully. He went over to the old picture and kissed, looking at it sadly. "I have a son to claim. I promise he will never lose us again, Maggie."
Once again, he danced about the room again and yelled
"A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE! AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL THE WORLD!"
The polar bear's father gave him the directions, paid the cub and picked his attire to visit his son for the first time in four years. Found a white shirt, black tie and a dark green suit coat. He recalled the green coat that Gloria was wearing when she gave him a new life, so now he would wear the same colour to give his son a new life. He drove in high spirits towards the orphanage where he spent his early years. He passed the very location where the Ghost of Christmas Past had started him by and felt happy to be in the very type of place where he would play during the summer. When he arrived, he noticed everyone had their own families as they left out the door, but there as a couple of two haughty-looking foxes and their son commenting on a worthless buffalo calf left behind which his parents agreed on. Bogo looked down in sadness as the memories flourished back into him a second time, all alone in the world until Gloria - wait, the Ghost of Christmas Present told him that those close to him lived within him. The feeling he felt was love and want. Love and want for this little calf to be in his life. At last, he understood what the sprit meant by that.
He walked up to the orphanage door and knocked gently on it. The building alone was still as it was so many years, but in fairness, it was given a brown coat of paint.
The door was answered by a female arctic wolf who looked up at the buffalo.
"Merry Christmas, ma-am," Bogo greeted in his best smile. "I'm Fernando Bogo, Chief of the Zootopia Police Department. May I come in?"
"Of course," said the wolf looking concerned. "I'm Matron Pads. Is there something wrong, sir?"
"No, no," said Bogo as he entered. "No one's in trouble. In fact, I am the one who is guilty on this occasion."
Bogo walked into the same foyer with the same furniture, though renovated in different positions and the rest carpet and a much nicer, cream carpet. He, the matron and the polar bear sat and the buffalo explained the mistakes he made if the past, losing Maggie and having no idea that she gave birth to a calf which was also his.
"I see," said the Arctic wolf when the story was finished. "Forgive me for challenging your authority, Chief, but do you have any proof of this?"
"Nothing to forgive dear lady," Bogo smiled as he brandished the certificate and addressed it to her.
She examined the details and DNA comparisons.
"Hmm," she responded convincingly.
"It's all accurate," she said. "Follow me, Chief."
He followed her up to the flight of steps he always trotted, the area now in better colour and light than it ever used to be in his calf years. But as for the dormitory, it was pretty much the same.
There on a bed, on the very bed Bogo resides in during his time here, was a small calf looking out the window with a Bible in his hooves.
"Frank?"
Frank turned and looked up at Bogo.
"Who are you, sir?" asked Frank.
"Your daddy," said Bogo happily and gently.
"What?" asked Frank incredulously.
"I'm sorry, son. I made some very stupid mistakes which caused your mother to leave me," said Bogo sadly. "But little did I realise she had you and died giving birth to you. Finally, just last night, I gathered up that I had a son here. All I did was fall for the abuse of working the wrong and losing sight of what was more important. Your mother and you."
Frank walked up to him and looked at the buffalo with the same features; the face and the eyes and the little child smiled.
"Daddy!"
He ran up to him and Bogo picked him up and hugged him for what seemed like a while.
"God answered my prayers," said Frank happily.
Matron Pads smiled as Bogo fell back on the bed and held his son up and bringing him back down.
"I've come to bring you home, son!" said Bogo. "Home for good and all!"
"Forever?"
"Forever, son," said Bogo as he kissed his son's head, looked at him and smiled sadly.
"Can you ever forgive a stupid old father like myself for having no idea that he was one?"
"There's nothing to forgive, Daddy," said Frank as he snuggled into his father's chest.
Bogo felt the best warmth he had ever felt since he fell in love. This must have been how Gloria felt when she first held his younger self in her paws, someone to be there for, like he was now.
"Mama must have loved you very much when you first met."
"Yes," said Bogo. "We loved each other very much. You have her beautiful eyes, son."
They looked into each other's eyes for a moment and snuggled again.
"One day, I want to be as big and strong as you, Daddy!" announced Frank.
"So you shall, son," said Bogo. "Your daddy is chief of police in Zootopia and he'll make a buffalo out of you. Let's see how you are with your horn skills."
He crouched down on his hands and knees, Frank doing the same as they pressed their heads together, despite the calf having no horns and they head-wrestled through laughter and joy. After gathering Frank's presents, wishing Matron Pads and a happy Christmas along with the staff and thanking them for the security the gave Frank, they drove to the wide city Zootopia. Frank was amazed by everything that came into his eyes and up to a huge house.
"Is this our home, Daddy?" asked Frank.
"No, son," replied Bogo. "Daddy wants to make a little surprise for his recruits. You stay here and I'll be back."
Bogo walked up to the door, knocked it and straightened himself up with a severe expression, hoping his gleeful heart won't give any hints.
The door opened and Officer Hopps appeared.
"Chief Bogo!" reacted. "What brings you here?"
"Wilde is who brings me here!" he said.
Nick appeared and reacted at Bogo's presence.
"What's up, Chief?"
"I've thought long and hard of what we discussed yesterday," said Bogo firmly. "And here is my response to your defence."
"You're not gonna sack me?" said Nick with worry.
"I'm sacking you - a bagful of bonuses to your salary," snarled Bogo.
Nick stared confusion, but then the buffalo smiled widely.
"You heard me, Wilde!" Bogo chuckled. ""You spoke some great sense into me yesterday and I cannot thank you enough. Had it not been for you, the spirits would be playing Chess with a pigeon trying to teach me what I needed to know!"
"Too early for Spirits, don't you think, Chief?" responded Nick.
"Never when you are in chances of redemption like I was," said Bogo brightly. "Only last night I realised we have a lot in common."
"Common?" said Nick smiling. "A fox with horns, yeah you're right."
"You and your sarcasm, Wilde!" Bogo laughed heartily. "Remain as you are. Don't change, ever. Please wait."
Bogo rushed outside to his car, opened it and brought out a small calf in puffed, grey coat.
"Sir!" gasped Judy.
"Everyone," said Bogo. "This is my son, Frank."
"What?!" they cried.
"It's a long story," said Bogo. "What do you say we wait until the thug is caught and all will be revealed?"
Judy and Nick were reacting with great big smiles and reactions.
"And speaking of which, Wilde, your son - "
"He has something for you, Chief," said Nick. "Please come in. You and your son."
"How do you do, Mr. Wilde and Mrs. Hopps?" greeted Frank. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you too, Bogo Jr.," Judy greeted.
Bogo followed Nick and entered the room where he witnessed the latter playing video games with his God's blessing. Yet there he was playing the video game surrounded by the very presents given to him this morning. He was smiling as Bogo remembered him as.
"Hey, Wilde One Leg," Nick altered.
Noah paused and looked at his father and then at the buffalo he knew to be the employer for his father.
"Chief Bogo!"
In his excitement Noah was wobbling his chair and was soon to fall but Bogo rushed and saved the cub, holding his arms. Though in shock he was smiling at the little fox who smiled back.
"So you know you want a broken arm?" joked Bogo making everybody giggle.
"Thank you, Chief," smiled Noah. "I've got something for you."
Nick went to the corner and brandished the very envelope Bogo knew even though it hadn't been opened. Bogo put the fox back on his chair, took the envelope, opened it and read the very words Noah had written allowed.
He smiled, knelt down to the cub and hugged him in the arms.
"Christmas was very confusing for this old grump," smiled Bogo. "But little do you know, Noah, you helped me see the light long ago".
He turned to Nick and said "We both have this in common Wilde. Not knowing what we were missing but learned it's not too late.
Frank entered and looked at Noah.
"Merry Christmas," said the calf looking at the cub. "I'm Frank Bogo."
"And I'm Noah Wilde. Merry Christmas."
They shook hoof and paw together.
"I'm sure we'll be fast friends," said Noah.
"I'm sure," said Frank. "I'm sure your fiend ship will be true Christmas present to me.
The door knocked again.
This time Nick answered.
"Blake! Bellflower! Merry Christmas!"
Upon hearing this, Bogo ran up to the two rabbits. Upon seeing him in Nick's house, Bellflower looked worried and Blake frowned.
"Come to give Nick the sack too?" he said darkly.
"To restore you in the ZPD," said Bogo kindly. "I don't expect you to forgive me immediately, but we need you, Officer Ryo. I was an idiot in the wrong state of mind. A big Buffalo Butt!"
"The most honest thing you've ever stated," smiled Blake, a friendly smile. "Of course, I'll return if you need me."
"Splendid!" cried Bogo happily. "And we will keep you orphans safe. They will all live to see next Christmas, especially Noah. I safely guess we will have this rogue behind bars after Boxing Day. And as for you, Wilde! You shall spend today and tomorrow with your baby and your baby soon to come!"
He smiled at Judy's bump.
"A much nicer future than I was seen! And your little baby shall meet his or her big brother."
At these words, he looked at what Bellflower was holding in her arms. Three, blue bundles with grey little bunnies, eyeing up at the buffalo. One stuck its tongue at him to which Bogo returned, making the babies giggle.
"I was in live myself," he said looking at Blake and his Mrs. "Treat it well. Such love I've seen displayed is a rare thing"
"Forgive me for asking, Chief," said Bellflower in utter happiness, "but are you Chief Bogo?"
"The one and only, Mrs. Ryo," said Bogo standing pridefully. "Not a pleasant name, I'm sure but you will never know how happy and grateful he is after everything that happened over night."
"Christmas spirit," assumed Judy.
"Correct, Judy!" said Bogo. "Three Christmas spirits!"
When all the greetings were said and done, Bogo wished them all a Merry Christmas and he and Frank were on their on the road again.
"Where are we off to now, Daddy?" asked Frank.
"Christmas Dinner," said Bogo. "Christmas Dinner with the family Daddy should have made equal time with. But Daddy had one quick wrong to right"
They stopped at a house outside near Bunny Burrows. Bogo told Frank he won't be long, went to the porch, knocked at the door and it was opened by Gideon Grey in his Christmas Pyjamas with a pudding on the front of it.
"Chief Bogo!" cried Gideon in surprise.
"Merry Christmas, Mr. Grey!" said Bogo in rarest form of glee you could ever imagine. "Is your son home? I must apologise to him for my attitude last night – and to award him for his beautiful voice."
Gideon smiled.
"Of course, you can make amends. Forget and forgive as I believe in. Graham!"
The young fox, in a Santa-red wunsee, appeared from the door and when he saw Bogo, he looked in shock despite the fact smiling.
"I'm very sort, Chief!" he said in panic.
"No, no, I should be sorry," the buffalo returned kneeling to his level. "You really moved my heart with your voice and such voices should be paid with respect."
At this, he gave him an envelope. The young fox opened it to reveal twenty dollars.
"Thank you, Chief!" he cried happily. "Merry Christmas to you!"
"Be sure to come to my office next year," smiled Bogo. "Can't get enough of your voice."
Just as he turned to leave, Gideon called him back and inquired the same thing Bellflower had inquired.
"You'd never believe it if I told you, Gideon," replied Bogo, "but to cut a strange tale, short, I have time to change everything."
"That's wonderful, Chief!" said Gideon. "Everyone changes as I believe. I made a few rotten choices myself as a pup, but I'm now a happy daddy."
"As am I!"
He pointed at the car to which Frank waved at the plump fox.
"Well, I'll be!" remarked Gideon. "Why didn't you tell me you had a son?"
"A long story," said Bogo, "but to also keep things short, I'm ready to be called Daddy. See you soon, Daddy Grey and have a wonderful Christmas, you and your son!"
"Indeed, I shall, Daddy Bogo!" declared Gideon. "A merry Christmas to you and your calf!"
With these amends, made Bogo drove to the next location, the very place he called home many years ago when Gloria rebirthed his life. They arrived at the house Bogo had not visited since he was in his adolescence. It still was as it was back when he remembered it and in the present and he will not allow the future to make it as he saw it. He inhaled deeply at the feeling of live that gushed through the house and inside he could hear happy, merry voices as always had been but had forgotten.
Taking his son's hoof, he knocked kindly at the door and it was opened by Ben was wearing a Santa coat.
"Fernando?" he gasped.
"Merry Christmas, Claw – err, Ben," said Bogo sheepishly, "I've come to dinner, if you will allow me. Will you have me, Ben? Me and my son?"
Ben looked at the little calf smiling gently and back at his stepbrother.
"Allow you?" cried Ben happily and squeezing the buffalo with a hug. "Of course, I'll allow you! who is this little Dickens?"
"This is my son and your nephew," said Bogo. "Frank, this is your Uncle Ben."
Ben picked the smiling calf up and hugged him. "You're cuter than any calf I know!"
After putting him down, Ben brought Bogo in to a strong, strangling hug he had never felt for some many years and hugged him back, tears streaming from his eyes.
"Will you ever forgive me for shunning this place for so many years?" he questioned.
"I already have!" cried Ben. "I knew some day you would come to your senses. Welcome home, Ferdy!"
"Only now I've noticed," Bogo added, "that you have Gloria's eyes. I always believed she was gone for good, but she isn't really. She's in your face and eyes and nature."
Shirley appeared at the door with her kittens and watched the whole seen in surprise. Upon seeing the beautiful cheetah before her, Bogo advanced calmly to wanted her nervously and asked, "Can you forgive pathetic c excuse for a police chief for not seeing the future his stepbrother has created for the family tree?"
Shirley smiled threw her arms around his neck.
"Merry Christmas, Ferdy!" she greeted as he hugged her tight. Then he looked into her face also and for a movement, he saw, no Shirley, but Gloria herself, her nature, her forgiveness, her rare sweetness, Ben had revived his beloved sister who brought him in form the cold.
Bogo then looked down at his nephews, who looked rather unsure but smiling all the same.
"Merry Christmas, boys!" Bogo greeted as he knelt down and reached his arms out. To which, the kittens charged at him and pinned him in a huge welcoming, cuddle, purring and snuggling. They snuggled with him almost every hour which he took pleasure with, as he finally knew what being alive meant. He spent the entire day with his family and son, playing games, laughing, dancing and feasting on the finest turkey Shirley had picked through her shopping.
After sitting down and talking for many hours, Bogo received a text from Nick on his pawphone. He looked into the message which read: Get over here when you can, Chief. You have a blast from the past waiting for you.
Bogo invited everybody to come along and they all crammed into the car to meet this 'blast form the past'. Bogo and the others walked up to house through the sunset and knocked on the door. It was opened by Nick who greeted Clawhauser's family with a Merry Christmas. When they entered Bogo looked in surprise, for there, standing by the stairs, was big, grey bear smiling at him.
"Haven't we met?" he smiled.
"PHIL!"
They both embraced for a long, long time. It seemed like forever when they last met, playfully boxing each other and laughing. They stood there for what seemed like hours discussing the past and how happy they were. Phil told Bogo of Orangstrong's whereabouts and gave him his number to invite him to a New Year's party on him. It was a wonderful moment to hear his old boss' voice again, the voice who taught him real joy. Bogo said he saw the light and was happy be back with one of his first friends and first boss again and was delighted to see Phil's two adopted sons, bear or no bears. From what he recalled, they were the thieves of a purse but was delighted to see them turn over a new leaf, even laughing at Skips' quip about having Gazelle stuff for Christmas.
Come close to the eve of the new year, Bogo had given his son late Chrsitmas presents, another feeling for giving to his own offspring. The more his son was around, the stronger his love grew, his smile and laughter reminding him very much of Maggie. The party on the other hand was set in the ZPD, everybody Bogo knew he was invited, especially Mr. and Mrs. Orangstrong.
"It's been so long, Bogey!" cried the old orangutan patting the buffalo on the back as his wife gave him a massive kiss and she did the same with Phil, her two boys who were almost and always like sons to her and to her husband.
"Will you forgive for keeping out of touch after so many years?" asked Bogo. "Is it too late?"
"It's only too late when you're six feet under!" laughed Orangstrong. "You saw the laugh and that's all the matters, son!"
Bogo smiled gratefully when he caught Nick's eye. He beckoned at the fox to come over.
"Mr. Orangstrong, Mrs. Orangstrong, this is Officer Nicholas Wilde. A great honour to the ZPD."
"Know each other since we were kids," Phil pointed out.
"Since you were kids?" reacted Orangstrong looking at Nik was smiling.
"Crazy!" remarked the orangutan rolling his head and eyes simultaneously.
"Life's like a box of blueberries," said Nick. "You never know what you're gonna get."
"Too true, sonny! Too true!" chuckled Orangstrong.
Suddenly, the clock struck eleven and the announced it through the whole station.
"It's time," said Nick.
Everyone wondered what it was all about when he and Ben brough their cheetah and rabbit before them and knelt down on one knee.
"Judith Hopps"
"Shirley Honors," the two animals said together. "You have bright light into our lives from day one and we wish to continue our lives with you forevermore."
They brought out two small boxes and opened them.
"Will you be my wife?"
At which, both females reacted in happiness and accepted at once.
Everybody clapped and applauded, as did Bogo who was in love once himself and this resulted the party back in full swing.
Though at a fair age, they still had the moves he remembered in his youth and felt as if the first spirit had allowed him to alter the past in some way and with a thankful heart. Ironically, Graham was singing a song similar to that perspective as Bogo reflected upon his own redemption. He was ready to alter the darkness of the future. Bogo was better than his word. He it all and infinitely more. He did everything that was his duty, the thug was caught that very day before the party, which also turned out to be a reunion part for him and his son, inviting everybody he knew in and outside the ZPD. Noah was to live a full life and the future was bright and colourful. Bogo became as good a friend, as a good a master and as good a buffalo as the good old city of Zootopia had ever known. His newfound heart was spread all around the city and became his strongest achievement for him - which he was also very prideful of as well as being a father that he would not left affect his own past. As for Noah, who I repeat, was to live a full life, he was a second father.
Waiting for the morning to arrive, Bogo picked up his calf and Noah (who changed his life which he would never forget) as they call counted down:
Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It was said that Chief Fernando Bogo knew how to keep the spirit of Christmas alive, if any animal alive possessed the knowledge. May that truly be said for all of us, as Noah Wilde observed:
"God bless us, everyone!"
Inspired by A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Chief Bogo - EBENEZER SCROOGE
Nick Wilde - BOB CRATCHIT
Isaiah Larvix - JACOB MARLEY
The First Ghost - THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PAST
The Second Ghost - THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT
The Third Ghost - THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS YET TO COME
Benjamin Clawhauser - FRED
Shirley - FRED'S WIFE
Noah Wilde - TINY TIM
Graham Grey – CAROL BOY
Judy Hopps / Mrs. Wilde - MRS. CRATCHIT
Blake and Bellflower Ryo - THE CHARITY GENTLEMEN
Gloria Clawhauser - FAN SCROOGE
Orangstrong – FEZZIWIG
Mrs. Orangstrong – MRS. FEZZIWIG
Maggie Hays – BELLE
Mr. Wilde – MR. TOPPER
Phil Beariss - DICK WILKINS
Isaac Carrotford and Alex Coop - THE CRATCHIT CHILDREN
Orphaned Panther Twins - IGNORANCE AND WANT
Bonnie Hopps - CAROLINE
Stu Hopps - CAROLINE'S HUSBAND
Duke Weaselton – OLD JOE
Bear Thief – THE UNDERTAKER
Beaver Thief – MRS. DILBER
Vixen Thief – THE LAUNDRESS
Polar Bear Cub – TURKEY ERRAND BOY
All Rights to Disney Charles Dickens
A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN ZOOTOPIA
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!