Continued from Chapter 63
The very positive response from the previous chapter sparked this quick turnaround. Hope you enjoy!

Karma was broken out of her intent view of Judy Hopps getting ready for her first day of work as a police officer by the sound of heavy, metallic footsteps.

"What's going on here?" Came the heavy, strong voice.

"Oh, Fortitude!" Serendipity said, hovering close to Karma. Karma groaned; she had almost managed to forget the bunny goddess was with her as well. "C'mon and relax; we're watching Zootopia! Judy Hopps, this bunny here, just became a police officer. You'd like her; she's strong of will!"

"A bunny that's strong of will? That seems interesting," Fortitude said. He was a rhinoceros god, and his whole body appeared to be made out of steel. He was the god of strength, both of inner and outer; of the ability to impose one's desires through force.

"Judy and Nick might have their chance meeting today, Karma, might!" Serendipity vibrated excitedly in midair, changing colors a few times in glee. "Then the fun will really begin!"

"Well, I hope we don't draw too much attention to ourselves..." Karma said pensively, chewing on her tail absently.

A little bit later, Nick and Judy did indeed meet.

"She's profiling him, as is her bias," Karma said. "Oh, she shall pay for this." Karma snickered slightly.

"They met! They met!" Serendipity flew around happily. "The wheels of chance have landed on our number!"

"Oof, he's really giving her the business!" Fortitude said as Nick started giving his speech to Judy to cut her down a peg. "Stay defiant, bunny! Don't listen to him!"

"What, is that bunny blind?" A different voice said. Over came several of Industry's bodies. Industry was the mouse god of structure, both physical and personnel-based. He could appear as several bodies, as many as he wanted, though he was one individual. Each of his bodies had a different marking on them to signify which of them it was. "There's wet cement right there!"

"Ah, hello Industry..." Karma's tail flicked nervously. "We're getting the interest of more and more Celestials, Serendipity..."

"Aw, he got to her," Fortitude ignored Karma, sadness flashing across his face. "It's... it's okay, bunny! You can do it!"

Serendipity shrugged. "Hey, we Celestials like a good show every now and then! And thanks to me and you, we're putting one on!"

"Yeah, but..." Karma started worrying about the ramifications of getting so many Celestials together in one place. It was only a matter of time, the canid goddess thought, before Order or Chaos took note.

"Whoa ho! It's gettin' good!" Fortitude slammed the ground with one of his front feet. It was one day later, and Judy was chasing Duke Weaselton through Little Rodentia. "Get that thief!"

"Oh Order, this is a disaster waiting to happen!" Karma fretted.

"Go go improbability!" Serendipity clasped her hands. "Don't let any of these mice get hurt!"

"If none of them get hurt, it would be a miracle...!" Karma bared her teeth in terror.

"Well, we are goddesses," Serendipity said confidently. "C'mon...!"

Industry's bodies shrieked in fright as Duke tread on several buildings, dislodging them from their foundations. "Sweet Order! There's no way those buildings are up to code!" Judy struggled and made sure the buildings didn't fall over with her legs.

"Yes!" Fortitude stamped both of his front legs with a heavy clang. "This bunny is something else!"

"Told ya you'd like her!" Serendipity giggled.

"They're together again, and you didn't do a thing..." Karma marveled as Judy sought Nick out. The Celestials watched in silence as Judy pulled her own hustle on Nick.

"Yes! Our little bunny and fox are in this to win this!" Serendipity clapped twice.

Both Fortitude and Industry looked at the two goddesses with some degree of concern.

"Ah, Karma, you do know that those two... well... they appear to be soul-bound," Industry said cautiously.

"Yeah, and Destiny's still off moping!" Fortitude continued. "Only she's supposed to bring the soul-bound together."

"I know, I know," Karma whined. "But this is a good chance for both Judy and Nick to reap the seeds they've sown. It's... it's my charge too!"

"And a bunch of wacky, improbable things are happening," Serendipity grinned wide. "Totally my area!"

"Well, okay, if you're sure," Industry looked at Fortitude with all of his heads. Fortitude shook his own head, unsure as well.

"Sweet Chaos..." Fortitude marveled. "If Judy hadn't saved Fru-Fru's life incidentally..." Serendipity cackled wildly, flying around the seated Celestials.

"Happenstance!" Serendipity proclaimed. "Lovely, beautiful happenstance!"

"And Judy is preserving her own life and Nick's for saving a life!" Karma said, getting into it. "It's only just!"

"Put her there!" Serendipity offered her paw to Karma.

Karma almost slapped it with her own paw, but paused. "Wait... let's see how this goes."

"Aw, okay," Serendipity looked a bit crestfallen.

"Whoa!" Fortitude blinked as Renato Manchas went savage and started chasing Nick and Judy through the Rainforest District. "I'm gonna have to show this to Fervor when it's all over! This is intense! Holy Chaos! Did you see that!? The bunny is holding the fox with one arm! Yes! Defy your fate, bunny!"

"I'm glad Fortitude is into this, at least," Karma said, chewing on her tail nervously.

Serendipity giggled. "Saved by a lucky net of vines! Twice! Classic! Wondrous!"

"Nature is it's own structure, the living serves the living in its own way," Industry said, captivated.

"The fox defies the buffalo!" Fortitude gestured with his front leg. "Yes! Defy him! Oh, Fervor would love this! I wonder where he is..."

"Aw, Nick is so charming!" Serendipity giggled.

"He's using his past experiences both to protect and show his own weakness..." Karma said her voice, betraying adoration. "He must be rewarded."

"With Judy's trust!" Serendipity clapped again. "It's only fair...!" Karma nodded her agreement.

But then, several hours later, things started to go wrong. The press conference began after Lionheart was escorted to jail.

"Wait, the sheep is behind this!" Fortitude was confused. "What's going on? Did something go wrong?"

"No, not everyone has gotten their comeuppance yet..." Karma said. "All is going well."

"Uh...!" Industry was so terrified he reverted to having one body. "Uh, Karma...? Is now really the right time for this? She... Judy will be doing damage to the very fabric of the society of Zootopia!"

"She deserves it!" Karma snapped. "She is still oblivious to her bias, despite the progress she has made with her soul-bound! She must be shown. It's only proper!"

"There's got to be another way, Karma!" Serendipity gasped as Judy finished her press conference, still unaware of the damage she had done. "Let something Nick says touch her!"

"No, this is perfect, she will receive no help from me!" Karma said defiantly. "Circumstances have woven as you arranged them to put this moment together. Judy will be punished! Her soul-bound is the perfect executor of this punishment! Go after her, Nick!"

"Judy..." Serendipity's jaw dropped at the words Judy started to say, and how she couldn't stand up to Nick's pained assault.

"No, bunny, stay strong! Don't give in!" Fortitude looked like he was getting upset, his eyes sparkling. "She can't do this without help...!"

"The Celestials have already interfered enough!" Industry wailed. "Zootopia will soon become a quagmire of blind hatred and mistrust!"

Judy and Nick parted ways.

"But... they were soul-bound," Karma said, baffled.

"Not even the soul-bound are impenetrable..." Fortitude said sadly, sniffling. "Severe stress can cause their relationship to buckle or... break."

"No..." Karma said, looking at Serendipity, who just pouted.

The display in front of them vanished, to none of the Celestials' will. Appearing before the Celestials was a radiant, enormous presence; looking at once like it contained the inspiration for every living animal and seeming perfectly structured and glorious to behold.

"Uh oh...!" Serendipity squeaked.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" The deity said in a loud voice with perfect pitch and cadence.

"H-hello, Order..." Karma knelt. "I um..."

"CHAOS HAS TOLD US THAT ZOOTOPIA IS FALLING INTO DISARRAY," Order proclaimed. "WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?" Fortitude and Industry both winced.

Karma stepped forward and humbly knelt her front half. "I am, my Deity." Serendipity's jaw dropped.

"WE SEE," Order said. They made a grand gesture with one of their many limbs. "CELESTIALS, RETURN TO YOUR DUTIES. WE MUST SPEAK PRIVATELY WITH OUR DAUGHTER KARMA."

Fortitude and Industry both took their leave of Order's presence, but Serendipity hesitated.

"Go, Serendipity," Karma said. "This burden is mine." Serendipity looked like she would protest, but she bit her lip and vanished.

"TWO SOUL-BOUND HAVE BEEN INTERFERED WITH," Order noticed.

"Yes, Order," Karma said, feeling very anxious. "I felt that... it would be a good opportunity for the two to receive their comeuppance, as is... as is my duty."

"THE SOUL-BOUND ARE DESTINY'S DUTY," Order corrected.

"Y-yes, my Deity," Karma said shamefully, trying not to catch Order's omniscient gaze. "H-however, Destiny has not... she has not been performing her duties, of late..."

"THIS IS OUR CONCERN, NOT YOURS," Order reproved. "DESTINY IS ALSO OUR DAUGHTER. SHE MUST BE DEALT WITH BY US."

"I'm sorry..." Karma said woefully. "I will humbly accept whatever punishment you deem is proper, Order..."

"OF COURSE," Order said. "HOWEVER, AS THIS WOULD SATISFY YOU, WE WILL NOT PUNISH YOU, AS IT WOULD FULFILL YOUR SENSE OF JUSTICE."

"M-my deity!" Karma's jaw dropped.

"INSTEAD," Order made another gesture with another hand. "YOU MUST ATTEND TO THE DAMAGE IN ZOOTOPIA THAT HAS BEEN CAUSED. WE WILL SEE TO DESTINY."

"But..." Karma protested. "I'm not sure I know what to do..."

"YOU MAY SEEK AID," Order said. "NOW, WE HAVE PROCLAIMED YOUR DUTIES. LET THEM NOT BE QUESTIONED FURTHER."

Karma bowed again, trembling. "Yes, Order, thank you, my Deity..."

Order's presence vanished. Karma let out a huge sigh. What was she to do? It wasn't long before the void Order left was replaced by a swirling, fiery blackness. Karma's jaw dropped once more. The "figure" of Chaos was appearing before her. A constantly morphing, twisting array of animal forms, Chaos embodied change.

"Chaos," Karma said reverently.

"WELL, YOU REALLY SCREWED THINGS UP IN ZOOTOPIA, KARMA," Chaos laughed. The voice was at once absolutely terrifying and sublimely pleasant to listen to, full of conflict and contradiction. "WE NOTICE THAT YOU DIDN'T SELL OUT OUR DAUGHTER TO ORDER THOUGH. WE ARE INTRIGUED!"

"I... I just figured that Serendipity was your charge, Chaos..." Karma said hesitantly.

"OF COURSE SHE IS," Chaos cackled. "YOU TWO MAKE QUITE A PAIR, THOUGH! NOW, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FIX ALL THIS, WE WONDER?"

"I don't know... I should seek aid, as Order has allowed," Karma said.

"DO YOU WANT OUR OPINION?" Chaos inquired.

Karma hesitated. "With all due respect, Chaos... I am Order's child, not yours..."

"YOU ORDER KIDS ARE ALWAYS GOING ON ABOUT HOW YOU'RE 'THEIR' CHILD," Chaos said disparagingly. "YOU ACT AS THOUGH ORDER AND CHAOS ARE OPPOSITES!"

"Well, aren't they?" Karma seemed confused. "Order is structure, law. Chaos is change, the challenging and bending of law."

"YES," Chaos began. "HOWEVER, WITHOUT ORDER, CHAOS IS MEANINGLESS, AND VICE VERSA. WITH NO LAW, THERE IS NOTHING TO CHANGE. WITHOUT CHANGE, LAW CANNOT BE SET IN MOTION."

"So uh, what do you mean then?" Karma asked.

"SILLY DAUGHTER OF ORDER, DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?" Order cackled. "THE UNIVERSE ITSELF WAS FORMED FROM A UNION BETWEEN ORDER AND I, A MEETING OF CONFLICTING FORCES. OUR CHILDREN ARE MERELY ASPECTS OF US, BUT WITHOUT SOME SEED OF THE OTHER IN THEM, NOTHING COULD EXIST."

"So... you're saying..." Karma looked down, trying to gather her thoughts. "I should seek one of your children to help fix Zootopia."

"SOMETHING LIKE THAT," Chaos released an enormous laugh. "HAVE FUN, KID." Chaos vanished as well in a flash of brilliant darkness.

"Well, a visit from both Prime Deities in one day!" Karma scolded herself. "This is certainly new for me."

As the days went on, Karma visited many of Chaos' children, such as Fortitude and Fervor, seeking help with the problems that had befallen Zootopia. None of them were quite sure what to do. Karma visited the area of the Celestial realm where Phantasm was known to dwell. The female equine goddess usually kept to herself.

"Phantasm, are you here?" Karma asked.

Phantasm manifested. Her form was that of the night sky, her eyes were pure white and left trails when they moved, as if they were comets, and her mane and tail were wispy and colored as the northern lights. Phantasm was the goddess of ideas, imagination, and thought. Mortal mammals of old, when they caught sight of her in their slumber, knew her for only her negative traits, and blamed her for them. She came to be known as the Nightmare among the mortals.

"Hello, Karma," Phantasm said. "Do you seek my aid?"

"Yes, please," Karma said humbly. "I have been charged to fix the damage I have caused in Zootopia."

"The gossip is that it was not only your fault," Phantasm smiled. "I heard the idea was that of Serendipity."

"I... am just as guilty as she is, if not more so," Karma sighed. "I was the one who insisted on Judy Hopps getting her full comeuppance at the press conference. I was blind to the damage it would cause her and Nick, as well as all of Zootopia."

"I see," Phantasm trotted around Karma. "What would you like me to do?"

"You're the goddess of ideas," Karma said. "Can you... I don't know, maybe put it into their heads in a dream or something that they must get back together? They are soul-bound, after all... they have much potential and power together."

"Order has forbade me to help you," Phantasm looked at Karma sidelong. "As far as interfering with the mortals directly is concerned."

"What?" Karma looked crestfallen, and bit her tail in frustration. "So Chaos says I should get help from one of their children, but Order is telling you all not to help?"

"Not directly with the mortals," Phantasm shook her head. "We can still help."

"Well, do you have any ideas, then?" Karma's voice was almost pitiable.

Phantasm smiled slyly. "My dear canid, I have every idea."

"Of course..." Karma sighed.

"To save Zootopia, the best course of action is for the soul-bound to reunite," Phantasm said with a grandiose flair.

"Yes, but how?" Karma said. "Their strings of fate are pulling taut. I feel like eventually Judy might give up and leave Zootopia, to go home as Nick suggested, her tail between her legs..."

"Interpret my words how you will, Karma," Phantasm smiled. "It is of course the purpose of the dreamer to find meaning in the dream." Phantasm trotted off at what seemed to be light speed, leaving a trail of stardust and northern lights.

"Right, Phantasm loves speaking in riddles," Karma rolled her eyes and grumbled, shaking her head.

Nearly three months passed since Zootopia fell into disorder. Karma reclined sadly, looking at the image of Judy Hopps who was consumed by her own depression and her inability to cause the positive change she wanted to Zootopia. Thus, she had fled back to Bunnyburrow. Karma sighed.

Serendipity appeared, floating in front of Karma. "H-hey, grumpy girl. How are you doing?"

"Just seeing what I can do, Serendipity," Karma said. "Today I am going to reward Gideon Grey and try to cheer Judy up."

"Gideon Grey?" Serendipity blinked. "The bully fox?"

"He has turned a new life course and become a wholesome, kind fox," Karma sighed. "He deserves emotional release from the guilt he feels over hurting Judy."

"We haven't talked much since we screwed up..." Serendipity said, moving her paws together in trepidation.

"I screwed up, Serendipity," Karma turned her head away. "I was the one who tried to still Judy's tongue so she couldn't withstand Nick's hurt tirade. If I hadn't been so concerned on her getting her just desserts then... I don't know, maybe she could have gotten them later. As it is, many mammals have suffered for Judy's actions. I've been an instrument of Chaos, not Order."

"No, that's my job," Serendipity giggled cautiously. "And hey, it was all my idea in the first place! I got this whole train wreck a-rollin'!" Serendipity tried to jauntily float in front of Karma and make a guilty smile, but Karma turned her head again, looking disinterested. "C'mon, Karma..."

"Down in front, Serendipity," Karma sighed. "Gideon arrived at their stand." Serendipity flew out of the way and tapped her chin rapidly, her mind working in overdrive.

"This is cute and all, but what we really need here is a big freakin' coincidence!" Serendipity suddenly vanished. A plain-looking, honey-colored female bunny blinked into existence at a distance in the fields near the stand. She looked suspiciously like a Hopps kit. Karma stood up on all fours swiftly and gasped.

"Serendipity, no! Not intervention!" Karma started to panic. "That is intensely frowned upon!"

"Hey kits!" Serendipity called out to a trio of Hopps children. "Gideon's here! You know what that means! Yummy pie!" She instantly vanished before they could turn around, reappearing near Karma.

"Serendipity!" Karma stared intently and worriedly at Serendipity. "That was... very bold of you."

"I barely did anything!" Serendipity excused. "Now, let's see what happens." The kits getting too close to the Night Howler flowers caused their scientific and colloquial name to be discussed among Judy's family and Gideon. This caused Judy to gasp enormously as a spark of realization burst into her mind.

"The linchpin of the whole dilemma..." Karma said. "Judy is realizing it!"

"Hey Celestials!" Serendipity shouted loudly. "Judy's going back to Zootopia!"

"I just can't take it!" Fervor, a wolverine god with continually flaming fur said, pounding at the ground with his paws. "It's so... so tender!" Fervor was the god of intense emotions, passion mostly, in the form of anger or love.

"Would you quiet down, Fervor?" Fertility, another bunny goddess, scolded. She was the goddess of sexuality and parenting and the scheduling by which this involved. "It is indeed sweet, though."

"Thank Order," Karma sighed in relief. "Nick and Judy made up..."

"Thank Chaos!" Serendipity winked. "I think everything is in place now... all the little coincidences they need, all that has to happen now is for then to follow the path to the end."

"Whoa!" Fortitude yelled in excitement during a train chase that Nick and Judy found themselves on. "Yeah! Kick that ram! I love that bunny!"

"The action is literally heating up!" Fervor concurred, vibrating in excitement. "Apparently the path they're on involves exploding trains! Insanity!"

"Ugh, think of the property damage they're causing!" Industry put all of his heads in all of his hands.

"Now comes the critical moment," Karma bared her teeth and chewed on her tail in worry. "Will they be able to overcome Bellwether?"

"She has many ram guards, they're trapped, Judy is injured it seems hopeless," Fortitude fretted. "C'mon, show your strength, you two..."

"Let your spirits burn within you and come together!" Fervor exclaimed, his fur alighting in an extra-powerful blaze. "They are soul-bound, they must find an escape!"

All of the Celestial host gasped in surprise when Dawn Bellwether was thoroughly outwitted by the bunny and the fox, and the day was saved.

"Well well," Phantasm smirked. "What a good idea they had."

"They look so sweet together, holding their arms around their shoulders," Fertility clapped her paws in delight.

"Yeah!" Fervor exclaimed, floating around Fortitude in a spiral of flame and giving him a high-paw.

"What a relief," Karma sighed. "Everyone got their just due."

"Thanks to a bunch of crazy coincidences!" Serendipity said brightly.

Order manifested in the background, causing the assembled Celestial host to blink in alarm.

"IF EVERYONE IS QUITE FINISHED, WE SUGGEST YOU RESUME YOUR CELESTIAL ACTIVITIES," Order proclaimed. Chaos manifested to the other "side" of the realm.

"AH COME ON, ORDER," Chaos shrugged an amalgamation of limbs, "IT WAS A FUN WATCH, YOU'LL HAVE TO ADMIT."

"WE ARE PLEASED THAT NOTHING TOO DRASTIC OCCURRED," Order nodded their head slowly. "IT WAS... FORTUNATE... THAT SERENDIPITY AND KARMA COMPLETED THEIR TASK." Serendipity gave a big bashful grin and Karma looked away in embarrassment.

"FORTUNATE, YEAH!" Chaos cackled. "AND THINGS WENT ALL ACCORDING TO THEIR CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED PLAN!" Chaos laughed even harder, causing Order to respond with a somehow grandiose groan. The two vanished from before the host of Celestials. The other Celestials dispersed to resume their duties, but Karma lingered, causing Serendipity to reappear near her.

"What's up, pup?" Serendipity grinned. "We won! The day is saved, thanks to the bunny and dog goddesses!"

"I'm just very relieved everything worked out," Karma wagged her tail, forming a small smile. "Thank you for your help..."

"Well, if Destiny would get off her big giraffe butt and do her job, we wouldn't have had to intervene!" Serendipity put her paws on her hips, giggling.

"It was our choice to intervene, though," Karma admitted. "And we almost ruined everything in Zootopia..."

"Yeah, but what a ride it was!" Serendipity landed on Karma as if to "ride" her.

"Would you get off?" Karma groaned, shaking herself to remove Serendipity.

Serendipity laughed and floated in front of Karma, pretending to look crestfallen. "Aw come on. We make a great team! You know you like me!"

"You're..." Karma closed her eyes and turned her head away. "Not my least favorite goddess."

"Yeah! Now there's a nice compliment, coming from you!" Serendipity snickered rapidly, floating alongside her.

Karma sighed, feeling at peace. "Hey, did... did Chaos ever punish you for interfering?"

"No way!" Serendipity giggled. "They thought it was a blast. I am glad everyone was fine in Zootopia, though."

"Yeah, me too..." Karma nodded.

"And... I'm sure I'll get whats coming to me eventually," Serendipity put on the smuggest grin she could muster, staring pointedly at Karma.

"Yeah, if you're lucky," Karma retorted with a coy smile, the two moving off into the expanse together.