Chapter 5: Ring the Bell Finale
Written by Fox in the Hen House
Edited by Cimar
Sitting back with a smug look on her face, Jade couldn't help but grin at the stunned bear. Not only had Judy beat all of her cadets, but she had also posted the best time all year. "So much for 'breaking a little bunny', huh Ursula?" She was rather surprised at how well her guest had done, but after speaking with Nick about bringing her along she really shouldn't have been.
"But...how..." Still shocked into near speechlessness, Ursula looked as if a few fuses in her brain had short-circuited. "These cadets have been training for months and this...this...teacher, just comes along and not only beats them but jumped overthem to do it!" Turning with a suspicious glint in her eye, the polar bear eyed the other instructor. "What kind of rabbit did you bring me?"
"Oh she's just an ordinary teacher. Who runs to and from school each day. Eight or nine miles one way." Taking a leaning stance, Jade couldn't help but goad her friend even more. "Even as hardened as I am, I doubt you'll find another bunny as fearless as this one. Though I'm certain she won't do quite so well at shooting or in combat. However these runs and even the obstacle course I'm betting she'll be crazy good."
Pondering for a moment, the bear decided to bring up something that she had noticed when the bunny arrived. "Fearless you said. Is that why she wasn't bothered by the predators' teeth and claws? Especially mine? I tried to intimidate her a bit and she didn't even blink."
"Oh that." Jade giggled which caused the Major to raise a brow. "Yeah, you won't find that working on her at all. That girl is married to a fox. And from what I know of canines, they really get into using their teeth in the sack. Most you or any predator out here is gonna do is rev her up so bad she jumps her fox when she gets home."
More than a bit surprised by the news about the bunny being married to a fox of all mammals, she decided to bury her personal opinions as they really didn't matter. Not that she saw any issues with that union, just the oddity was a bit shocking. "Alright. Well... Guess that answers that part. So why do you think she'll be good at the course?"
"Honestly? She gave me her whole life history on the drive over. You wouldn't believe the things she did as a kit. One of them though was recreating the obstacle course here in her backyard, though the pond wasn't freezing and she never did get the sand to fly except when storms hit. Apparently she ran it ten times a day for nearly five years. I'd be shocked if she wasn't able to do this blindfolded." Ursula simply huffed.
"Well, we're about to find out. CADETS!" her shout rang across the training yard, making every mammal, even those currently gasping for oxygen after their run, snap to attention and charge over to stand in front of their instructor. "Since you all seem unable to beat a fourth grade teacher in a five-mile run," the whole class turned to stare at the pleased bunny, their expressions a mix of embarrassment and admiration, "I've decided that anyone who fails to beat her time climbing the ice wall will be scrubbing the barracks with their toothbrush. Now MOVE IT!"
Caught off guard, there was a momentary stumble from some of the smaller mammals in the front as the rhinos began charging forward. Judy, having been rocked slightly by the loud shout, flinched heavily and took a moment to regain her bearings before chasing off after the other cadets. Ursula, seeing the gray bunny falter slightly, turned back to Jade with a grin of satisfaction on her lips. Her moment of triumph was short lived however as Jade waved her paw behind the bear.
Turning just in time to see Judy weave her way through the assembled mammals and tear off across the ice, leading ahead of the larger and slower mammals. With a mighty leap, she easily cleared the freezing water, however the slick ice and her stubby claws made for a rather ineffective way to scale the mound. Feeling herself sliding back, she positioned her feet against the wall and shoved hard, propelling herself back and over the hole in the ice.
Taking a moment to analyze her situation, Judy ran back in the opposite direction, gaining herself a few confused looks as well as some remarks about 'being scared' sent her way, figuring she was headed back to the lockers to change and leave. Instead, Judy turned on a hindpaw and raced back across the ice, nearly double the speed from before. Coiling her legs, she shot up into the air, grabbing hold of a hippo's shirt and using it to push herself off before bouncing on his head. She ignored the protest from the mammal and leapt over to one of the rhinos and used his agitation and attempt to throw her off into the energy she needed to clear the wall.
Major Friedkin had to work hard not to collapse into a puddle of disbelief. Her paw simply ran up over her face and head, knocking the giant hat onto the ground. Jade for her part was over the moon with glee. However, when neither saw the bunny coming around the back, they exchanged some confused looks until a familiar yell caught their attention. Turning their gazes to the top of the wall, both mammals watched as Judy began calling out to the other cadets.
"Hoofson!" A zebra looked up in alarm, not expecting to be yelled at by a bunny when he was halfway up the ice, let alone said bunny knowing his name. "There's a few chips in the ice to your upper right. If you can break off a few chunks the missing pieces will handle your hooves and you can pull yourself over the top." Noticing her plan would actually help him complete the course in far less time than it normally took him, he quickly nodded his thanks and began punching the crevices.
"Hank! Sorry about your head. Are you okay?" Seeing the hippo nod, Judy felt some of her guilt vanish. "Oh thank goodness. I didn't want to hurt you. If you look to where Dave is, you'll see a large outcropping under him. As soon as he passes over it, you can use it to get up a few feet closer. Okay?" Mumbling a thank you, the large and very heavy mammal turned to stare at the llama who gulped audibly and did his best to scramble out of the hippo's way.
One by one Judy moved to each cadet, instructing them on where best to put their paws and hooves. Soon nearly everyone had cleared the wall, posting some of their best times yet. A few of the more stubborn mammals were still trying to climb upwards. They refused any help from 'a cute wittle wabbit' they said, however, by doing so they couldn't use the easy methods they normally relied on as it would seem like they were using Judy's suggestions after all.
Merely giving them a shrug, Judy slid down the back of the ice wall and trotted over to the Major, joining the other cadets in line. A sudden loud roar from behind them followed by a very large splash had the stoic faces cracking slightly. Jade had started rolling around in mirth which brought a smile to Judy's lips. She never imagined her idol would be so much like a regular mammal, but then again, she really only knew her from the fights, not her downtime. Maybe that can all change, she thought silently. Maybe it doesn't have to be a one day thing. Sure wouldn't mind another rabbit doe for a friend that didn't include the other teachers. Maybe she'd want to go bungie jumping!
The Major stomped over to them. "Well. It seems that since Wilde over there didn't leave the wall ahead of you all, you technically get a pass on the barrack scrubbing. However you three," she yelled, pointing her paw at a coyote, a rhino, and a soaked tiger, "you'll be going through quite a few toothbrushes tonight. I guarantee that. Now. Let's see how you all do today at one thousand foot falls."
Ursula Friedkin was speechless. For the first time in years, she had experienced her world being turned upside down. Ironically it was another bunny who had done it the first time when Jade had beat her in the ring and earned herself a job as the combat instructor. It was even more astonishing though to have watched a bunny from the country, a fourth grade teacher even, complete the course with ridiculous speed and ease.
She first thought the rabbit would fail while swinging from bar to bar in the wet and muddy rainforest simulation. Expecting to see her climb her way out of the muck, a 'you're dead, fluff butt' poised on the polar bear's lips, she was once again stunned when she used her one remaining paw on the bar to swing herself up and between them, choosing instead to run along the tops, speeding past everyone else. It was technically a way to make it across and so earned her no fouls. No mammals as small as a rabbit had attempted to join so no one had ever considered running on top of the course.
It was at the sandstorm part that she expected the rabbit to have gotten in over her head. She kept waiting to see her fluffy white tail poking up out of the sand. She did not however expect to see the doe crawling behind the hippo who was purposefully shielding her from some of the harshest winds. When she stomped over to admonish them, Judy had simply looked up at her. "I thought police officers were supposed to have each other's backs?" Not having any response to that point, she'd grunted and moved on to another pair of cadets who had somehow knocked over the fans.
Now, after having replenished her energy with a lunch she wouldn't classify as 'good' but better than her own cafeteria at school served, Judy was ready for the part she had been waiting for all day. With the other cadets all in classes learning the rules of law, the doe was about to go one on one with her idol. Her hero.
And she was absolutely petrified.
"What's this? I thought Judy Wilde didn't fear anything?" Tapping her gloves together, Jade began dancing around the ring, making sure to keep herself loose while watching the other rabbit hesitate.
"I'm not scared," she shouted, a little louder and sharper than she had meant to. It only caused Jade's brow to raise and a look spread across her face that basically told Judy her idol knew she was lying. "Okay, I'm a bit nervous. I mean I haven't done any sparring since I was fifteen! And even then the Bunnyburrow sheriff wouldn't let me really box because he didn't think a bunny should be a cop. I don't want to...you know...look dumb."
Halting her jumps at seeing the embarrassment on the other doe's face, Jade walked over and placed a comforting glove on her shoulder. "Judy, listen. You nailed that course so well today that I think Ursula wishes you had applied to be a cop. I can't even begin to think about climbing that ice without shuddering. Put me up against an eight hundred pound buffalo, but I draw the line at fighting against mother nature. We all have our strengths, Judy. Now," she tapped the bunny on her head, forcing the padded body part to the side playfully, "show me if you've got any other strengths other than just bouncing all over the woods."
Now feeling a bit more confident, Judy started hopping in place before moving around the ring, following Jade's moves. Just like chess, she thought. Black always mimics white. Takes em by surprise nearly every time. Unfortunately for Judy, Jade must have played chess at some point in her lifetime. Rather than let Judy copy her simple moves, the fighter added in some very advanced footwork. It had the other doe tumbling forward with how fast the movements had been.
Seeing her advantage, Jade rushed forward and laid the doe out on her back with a vicious clothesline. With a groan and a slight bit of double vision, Judy opened her eyes to see two smiling rabbits looking down at her. "You okay?" they both asked simultaneously.
"Which one of you said that?" Now chuckling, Jade reached down and linked their arms together while hauling her up. Letting her steady until her head stopped spinning, Judy then moved towards the ropes, hanging on tightly. "Think we could go over that a little bit slower?"
Laughing, the rabbit's green eyes glinting in amusement, Jade moved back. "Sure can. We'll go half speed. Now, when I rush you..."
The sharp clack of keys in the lock had Nick sitting up and looking down the hall toward the front door. He had promised himself he would stay awake until his wife had gotten home but at some point or another he must have fallen asleep in his chair while watching the Harry Otter weekend Marathon that they ran just about every weekend. Cracking his neck, he hopped up and made his way towards the store entrance. Glimpsing a pair of gray ears with black tips through the window, he casually sauntered over wanting to greet her at the door.
Judy stepped past the threshold while turning back towards the idling car. "Thanks again for the day and the suit, Jade!". Judy held up the folded garment in one paw while waving tiredly with the other, though her voice carried a large amount of happiness. "I'll see you next Sunday, yeah?" Getting a double beep in response, the doe hopped in place excitedly while watching the vehicle speeding off. Turning into the store, she was suddenly swept up by the large russet furred arms of her husband.
"Hey, Carrots. How was it? Did you enjoy yourself?" He knew she was still in very good shape but he wasn't sure how she would fare at the academy after so many years of not preparing.
Judy beamed brightly before grabbing his paw and tugging him towards the back. "You aren't gonna believe what happened. But first, there were a lot of claws and fangs there..."
"Well, that answers that question, huh Judy." Nick stretched as he slid his legs off the chair.
The rabbit nodded as she removed the helmet, though quickly brought out her phone and began rapidly typing on it. Nick had nearly pressed back the curtains when he noticed she wasn't by his side. "Judy?"
"Just a minute..."
Nick walked back towards the bunny and leaned over her shoulder. "What'cha doing?"
A slight blush ran across her cheeks. "I...I just wanted to see about something..."
"Hmm...indeed," Nick chimed in when he saw her Zoogle search. "MMMA bunnies, eh? Should have known that you'd have a thing for that."
"Oh hush, you," she said, lightly pushing away his muzzle as he let out a chuckle. "I just wanted to see if there were any bunnies in the MMMA."
"Well, are there? As if there aren't, I'm sure you could easily be the first."
"I'll always be a cop," Judy said instantly, a smile on her face as she scanned through the results. "Yes!" she jumped up and pumped her fist in the air.
"What did you find?" Nick asked as Judy walked towards the exit.
Judy shot him a grin as they departed the PIXAR machine. "Our next date night." She showed the phone to Nick. The fox's ears shot up, an incredulous look on his face as he stared at Judy, then back to her phone.
"Wow..." he muttered as they left the arcade. "There really is a bunny in the MMMA named Jade."
"And we," Judy stated happily. "Have seats for it next Saturday."
"Well look at you." A smirk graced Nick's face. "Is somebunny excited to see if the Jade in their experience lives up to the hype?"
A nervous but happy smile graced Judy's lips. "Maybe...Or maybe I can learn a thing or two about take downs to help me with our police work!"
Nick let out a riotous laugh. "Of course you'd bring this back to police work." The fox ruffled Judy's ears, laughing as she let out a 'hey' and hip checked him. They were silent for a while until, finally, Judy decided to ask the question on her mind.
"Do you think she could teach private lessons?"
Post A/N: So there you have it. With how many times I have put them through hell I figured I owed it to Nick and Judy to give them a perfectly normal and happy existence. I hope Jade Warren, my OC, was a lot less hated this time around. Look for her again in an upcoming story from me. Make sure to tip your waitress, bartender, and me (especially me). Thank you and goodnight!
AN: Cimar here, I want to thank Foxy for writing this amazing story, and want to let folks know that this story will be posted on his account as well. Such an excellent story and I wonder how their first date went, or where this friendship went. Anyone else wondering that as well (go ask Foxy). XD