Epilogues: Sad Endings/Happy endings

A/N: Hope everyone had a merry Christmas! I don't know how often I'll still be doing these fanfics, but I already have a Christmas story I've been conjuring in my head for next year. "Guess who's coming for Christmas?" It's a combination of "Guess who's coming to dinner?" and "A Christmas Carol". It starts as half of a WildeHopps tale as they are visiting the Hopps farm for Christmas. At this time, they've been dating for two years and it's the first time all the Hopps family have met Nick outside of the parents visiting Zootopia. Nick charms everyone and all is well. Then, at Christmas eve, Nick proposes to Judy and she says "yes". Everyone's ecstatic except for Stu. He's furious and he refuses to give his blessing. The family ends up very upset with him. Then, the rest of the story focuses on Stu himself. Bonnie makes Stu sit on the couch and during the night, he meets the ghost of his departed mother and she takes him through a journey about himself and his bigoted, abusive father. In the end he learns that bigotry isn't learned as much as it's taught.

Epilogue One: The New Intern

June 1992

Despite breaking up with his mouse girlfriend, Nick Wilde had the best Christmas he would ever have in his life. Sadly, it was also the last one with his father. While 1991 ended on a high note, 1992 was one of his worst years of his life. His father dies in March from a work related accident, his mother is forced to work two jobs just for them to survive and his growing friendship with Chucky cost him his friendship with both Ben and Flash. They warned him that Chucky would betray him, but he wouldn't listen.

Now came Nick's initiation into the ranger scouts. He was so excited. His mother scrimped and saved to buy him a uniform but it was worth it. With Nick in the scouts, other kids wouldn't look down on him or fear him as much as he'd have the respect of his peers. He'd be with other mammals who want to do good and help others. Finally, he'd be in a pack. All the sacrifices he made would pay off, or so he thought.

Nick headed down the stairs and Chucky greeted him. "Ready for initiation Nick?"

"Yeah! Pretty much born ready." Nick said with a cocky swagger. He gave a friendly slap to Craig's hooves and walked over to Chucky, ready to be part of the scouts.

With a snap of Chucky's fingers, the lights went out and a flashlight was shone in Nick's confused face.

Chucky instructed him. "Okay, now raise your right paw and deliver the oath."

This was it. Nick was so excited. He raised his right paw. "I, Nicholas Wilde, promise to be brave, loyal helpful and trustworthy!"

Chucky looked over at Craig. This is the moment he'd finally get payback. "Even though your a fox?"

Nick was very confused. "What?"

In less than a second, the lights were off and Chucky shoved Nick hard to the ground. The other kids pinned him down. Nick was both confused and scared. "No! What did I do wrong guys?! No! Tell me! What did I do wrong?!"

While they had him pinned, they placed a muzzle on him. "Whud dud ah dooo?!" Nick cried through the muzzle.

Chucky laughed in his face. "If you thought we'd trust a fox without a muzzle, you're even dumber than you look!"

With a look of shock and horror on his face, Nick quickly ran out of the building. He could hear the other children mocking him the background. "Aww! He's gonna cry!"

Nick hid around the corner and angrily pulled and pulled at the muzzle until he yanked it off and threw it hard down the alley. He slumped down crying his poor heart out.

Chucky and some of the other kids came out to attack Nick. "I'm not done with you Nick! Let's get him!"

They were quickly scared off by a small fennec fox with a baseball bat. "You little punks better get outta here!"

Chucky and his friends scattered as Finnick tried to console the crying pup. He put his paw on Nick's shoulder's. "Sorry Nick. I warned ya.

"Y-You were right Finnick, SNIFF! I-I tried so hard to be their friends and-and they set me up just to hurt meeee!"

Nick used his scout handkerchief to wipe his tears. "I'm s-so stupid! I lost everything! I lost my father and I lost my friends! A-And my momma has to work two jobs and I barely see herrrr!"

Nick threw himself at Finnick and hugged him. The fennec fox gently pushed him away. "Sorry kid, but I'm not much of a hugger. Damn right I was right! Look, those punks and prey like him will only ever see you as untrustworthy, but that doesn't mean you can't sucker them."

"W-What?"

"How would you like to make money for your momma? Help her get back off of her feet?"

"Y-Yeah?"

"Why don't you be my intern? I can't pay you much to start, but you're good at spotting a con. REAL good! I think you got the makings of a great con artist."

"B-But my momma told me that lying is bad!"

"Lying to good people is bad. Prey are NOT good people! They're hypocritical at best. Now, you wanna make money for your momma don't ya?"

"Well...yeah."

"Good! Meet me at the corner of Elk and Bone tomorrow at 5pm. I'll get you started. Don't tell your momma your out of the scouts just yet. That way, she won't be suspicious of where you are, And you DEFINITELY can't tell her about me! She hates me."

Nick pulled off his scarf and looked at it with disgust. "Stupid scouts!" He threw it away, but Finnick picked it off the floor and gave it to him. "You'll need this to pretend you're going out for scouts.. Besides, I like to keep mementos of the things that hurt me the most."

"Why/"

"Well for one, I don't want to forget the people who wronged me. Two, when I'm feelin' down and things ain't goin' my way, I can remember the times when I was doin' much worse. Ya dig?"

Nick looked at the scarf. "Kinda. Yeah."

"Cool. See you tomorrow. Just remember. Nowhere to go now but up."

As Finnick walked away, Nick looked at his handkerchief. He gripped it tightly in his paws. "I won't forget this."

Epilogue Two: A Breathtaking Moment to Gloat

It was 2017 and life was going much better for Nick. He was on the police force with his best friend Judy Hopps and made up with his childhood friend who was also on the force, Ben Clawhauser. While he was only a close acquaintance with Flash, they were becoming close friends again too. Even if he did have to arrest him.

Nick loved being partners with Judy. They complimented each other so well. When capturing criminals, he'd provide the distraction and she'd provide the muscle. It wasn't just work either. Socially, they fit like a glove. Nick loved teasing the bunny and she was great at quipping him right back. Nick was feeling that they should be more than friends and they had been going on some friendly double dates with Wolford and Fangmeyer just to test the waters.

One day while on patrol, they got a call from dispatch. "We got a foiled bank robbery attempt at Hill street. Officers needed to arrest suspects locked inside a safe."

Judy got on the CB. "Officers Hopps and Wilde. We are near the bank and will apprehend the suspects. Copy."

As Judy drove, Nick leaned back with his shades on. "Are they really 'suspects' if they were caught red-pawed and are locked up?"

"Witnesses or no, everyone deserves a fair trial Nick."

"Spoken like a true girl scout."

"Got every merit badge there was!...Do you think Bogo knows about us dating?"

"We're still employed so my guess is...no. Here's the place."

They arrived at the bank and were greeted by the head banker." Thank goodness you've come so soon! They wanted access to the safe, but the idiots all went in instead of leaving a lookout and we were able to shut the safe and keep them trapped inside. They need out very soon. Those safes are air tight! They'll run out of oxygen right away."

"Thanks for letting us know." Judy replied. "We'll take it from here. Nick. Get out your tranq gun. They could be desperate."

"For air at this point." Nick said. "Say Carrots, do you know what you and an airtight safe have in common?"

"I'm afraid to ask."

"They both take my breath away."

Judy couldn't help but laugh. "HA-HA! That was terrible!"

"Maybe, but you laughed."

The banker got to the vault. "Well, here we are are. Be careful."

The banker slowly opened the vault and both Nick and Judy had their guns drawn. However, they needn't bother as half the perps were passed out due to the lack of air and the others were gasping on the floor to get more air into their lungs. The opening of the safe allowed more air to get into the safe, but some weren't moving at all. Nick directed Judy. "Judy! Get some oxygen tanks from the back of the truck! ASAP!"

"On it!" Judy quickly ran out of the bank to the squad car.

Meanwhile, Nickm cuffed those who were conscious, but noticed that one woodchuck wouldn't respond when he tried to wake him. "He's not breathing!" Nick immediately used CPR on the woodchuck, Pushing down on his chest and blowing hard into his mouth.

After some gasps and coughs, the woodchuck came back to life. "Wh-whu-whaaa?"

"We almost lost ya there." Nick said. "That's what you get for trying to rob a bank."

The woodchuck adjusted his eyes. "What the...Nick?!"

Nick was surprised himself. "Wait a minute...Chucky?! Chucky Damwood?!"

"Y-Yeah?!"

"Now I recognize you! And that zebra must be Craig!"

No, that's Steve. Craig left our gang to become an accountant."

"Good for him! Y'know, this is great! It's great meeting you and saving your life, Y'know that?"

"R-Really?!"

Nick kept talking as Judy put an oxygen mask over Chucky and some others. "Yea! Because now I know I grew up way better than you did!"

This upset Judy. "Nick, don't gloat!"

"Me? Gloat? What would I have to gloat about I mean, I only grew up to become the first ever fox cop and just saved Chcuky's life while Chucky here became a crook? Do you know who Chucky is Carrots?"

"No."

"This little jerk is the one who kicked me out of the scouts and sent my life into a downward spiral that only you saved me from. That's all." Nick then turned to Chucky. "Also, I saved your life on top of that! I ended up so much better than you!"

Judy just went to work. "Well let's just read these men their rights and get them in the squad car. And wipe that huge smug expression off your face!"

"I can't Fluff! I am drowning in smug. I may need a gloat-tation device."

They started to put the perps in the squad car, but Chucky wasn't going quietly as Nick was pushing him forward from behind. "I know my rights! I want an attorney! I want my lawyer! I want my mommy!"

"Isn't your mom in the getaway car?" asked Steve. "Also, an attorney and a lawyer are the same thing."

"Shut up Steve!" yelled Chucky.

Judy smiled. "Well Steve! If you give us a description of the car, I'm sure we could shave off a good amount of jail time for you."

"Really?!" Steve replied.

"I said shut up Steve!" Chucky yelled again. He then felt a sharp pain from his arms being held behind him. "Ow! You're hurting my arm Nick!"

Nick still had a smug look on his face. "Really? Gee. I'm sorry buddy! Here, let me change position. How's this?!"

"OW! That's worse!"

"Oopsie!"

Judy gave Nick a warning look. "Niiick!"

"Sorry Carrots. I'm not used to escorting such 'small' and 'frail' suspects. I'll be careful next time."

"You are loving this, aren't you?"

"You have no idea."

As they were driving back, Steve had given up the details on the getaway car. Judy had sent in the details and got a report that the cops had found Chucky's mom and were in pursuit. "Well Chucky, looks like your mom may be joining you in prison."

"Not my mom!" Chucky sobbed. "I should have never gotten her involved!"

"Well that was her choice."

Chucky was sobbing in the back. "This is the worst day of my life! Baah-Haaah!"

Nick decided to show some mercy. He pulled out some cloth from his pocket and handed it to Chucky. "Here."

"Thank you!" Chucky blew his nose into the cloth and then looked at it. "Wait! I know this. It's an old ranger scout scarf."

"You can keep it."

Judy was surprised. "Are you sure you want to give that up? I thought it had sentimental value?"

Nick leaned back with a smile as he put his shades back on. "It did, but not anymore. It represents a painful memory that I didn't want to forget. But now, it's time to let it go. It's all behind me. Quite literally!"

"...That's why you kept the carrot pen after I left, isn't it?"

"...Yeah."

Judy rubbed her paw on Nick's leg. "Nick, I'm so sorry I hurt you back then."

"Ah, that's way in the past Carrots. Oh and Chucky?"

"Yeah?" Chucky asked.

"My life's better than yours is! My life's better than yours is!"

Judy chuckled. "You are so childish!"

"Am I childish?! Yes. Yes I am."

Epilogue Three: Reunion

December 22nd Present Day

Nick and Judy were driving in Nick's new (to him anyway) car on the highway towards Bunny burrow late in the evening. The two of them had now been dating for almost two years since Nick was on the force. They had a long drive ahead of them and were chatting away.

Nick was in the middle of a joke. "So I told him, 'With that attitude, you'll never be a Buffa-high!' Hahaha!"

Judy didn't really respond much. "Ha...Yeah."

"Something wrong Fluff?"

"I'm okay, it's just...I'm nervous about my entire family meeting you. We've never had a fox in our burrow before. Well, I mean, I hear Gideon visits, but just for deliveries and he stays outside."

"Don't worry Carrots! I'll charm the pants off your family. Remember how great I got along with your mom and dad when they visited last year?"

"Yeah...well...there was a reason for that."

"What reason?"

"...Promise not to be mad?"

"I know you were very nervous introducing me to them, so I'll understand."

"I told them you were gay."

"..."

"Nick?" Nick I'm sorry. I was desperate! Speak to me!"

"Come and knock on our door! Come and knock on our door! We've been waiting for you! We've been waiting for you!"

"It's not like Three's Company!"

Nick chuckled. "It's exactly like that. Sorry to disappoint you Fluff, but I'm not gonna pretend that I don't love you all the way through Christmas weekend,"

"Well George and Sam are gonna be disappointed."

"Who are George and Sam?"

"Two of my 122 brothers, only they're gay and they've been really excited to meet you."

"Hey, with a bod like mine, who wouldn't? How much longer?"

"We're at Breiberg. Just twenty miles past that."

"Breiberg...Breiberg. Sounds so familiar."

"It's an all mouse town. They have a livable brick-o house as a tourist trap."

The memories then came flooding back to Nick. "The brick-o house! Oh my God! I gotta pull over!"

"GAAH!" Judy shouted as Nick almost skidded off the road. They went down the ramp towards the town. "Nick what is wrong with you! We can't park around here! This place is for tiny mammals only!"

Nick ignored Judy as he got out of the car. "Where is it?!" He looked around until he noticed the blue tiles of the toy house far in the distance. "There it is! My brick-o house!" He ran off in a hurry panicking Judy.

She quickly found a legal place to park and ran after Nick. "Nick! Nick stop! You'll tread on some mice!"

"I'll be careful!" He shouted.

Judy was gently stepping around mice in their small streets. One was really upset. "Hey! You're not supposed to be here!"

Judy flashed her badge. "Sorry! Police business. I think. Actually, I'm not sure what's going on. NICK!"

Nick was at the house and peeked around. "Oh my gosh! It's just how I remembered it! Judy! Quick! You have to come and see this!"

Judy quickly tip-toed around some other mice and almost slipped on a car. "The only thing you'll be seeing is my foot in your butt! What is wrong with you?!"

"Judy...This is the house me and my family built for my first girlfriend, Stacy."

"Well, unless Stacy was a mouse..."

"She was. I was seven. It was puppy love." Nick was getting misty-eyed. "Her and her mother were homeless at the time and my bright idea was to well...give them a home."

"Aww! That's very sweet!"

"Yeah...SNIFF! My father helped me build it. It...It was the best time I ever spent with him before he passed away."

Just then, they heard a tiny voice yelling towards them from the house next door. "What's all this racket?! Visiting hours are over!My kids are trying to sleep!"

Nick looked down at the tiny mouse. "...Stacy?"

The mouse looked up at him. "...Nick?! Oh my God! Nick! Is that you?!"

Tears ran down Nick's cheeks. "I told you I'd come visit you someday. I always keep my promises."

Stacy leaped onto the roof of the brick-o house and then leaped onto Nick's chest. "Nick! Nick! I can't believe it! After all these years! BAWW-HAAW-HAAW!"

"It's so great to see you again Stacy! The house looks the same!"

"We made some modifications inside, but otherwise, yeah. Oh my gosh! You've gotten so big!"

"You've grown a few centimeters yourself. I'm sorry it took me so long to see you again."

"Water under the bridge. Actually, us parting was probably the best thing for me. I really was obsessed with you. Once you were gone from my life, I was able to concentrate more and my grades skyrocketed. I ended up with a business degree and eventually opened up two bookstores in town."

"Nice to know breaking up with you and never seeing you again improved your life."

"H-Hey now! I missed you greatly. Besides, you were planning to be my tutor. Remember? Also, this house you built for me has been great for tourism."

Suddenly, they heard another tiny voice down on the ground. "Lookout mommy! It's a giant!" Nick and Judy looked down and saw a mouse pup along with two others running towards her.

Stacy explained. "It's alright kids! He's an old friend!"

"Technically an ex." Nick replied which got a friendly jab in the ribs from Judy.

"Nick, these are my children. Jacob, Amy and Nicholas. Kids, this is the fox I was talking about who built the house!"

Nick waved back. "Hey kids! Well, it wasn't just me. My mom and dad helped a lot. I'm sorry! I never introduced my significant other. Stacy, this is officer Judy Hopps. She's my partner on the force."

Judy waved. "Pleased to meet you! Nick, why didn't you mention her before?"

"I was seven at the time."

"Yes, but how many foxes fall in love with a mouse?"

"Not enough if you ask me!"

Stacy giggled. "Are you really a police officer Nick?"

"Yup! Judy here turned my life around."

"That's so wonderful!"

Suddenly a nervous voice was shouting from the house window. "H-Honey! Who is that?"

"It's okay dear! It's Nick Wilde! He made the brick-o house when he was a child! Remember me telling you about him."

"Only a million times. She was really crazy over you."

Jacob asked his mother. "So this huge fox was your boyfriend?"

"For a whole five days." Nick replied. "Would you like to hear about the Christmas I made this house for her?"

"YEAH!" Yelled the children.

"Don't be too long." Judy warned. "We are basically trespassing."

Stacy explained. "You'll be fine! Once they learn you were the one who's house has been bringing in the mice tourists, I'm sure they won't care."

Nick then sat on the ground and the mice crawled into his lap. "Well, a long time ago. Back around Christmastime of oohh...1991 I believe, Stacy was my deskmate at school so she had her desk on top of my desk and..."

The chat went on for a bit and they finally said their tearful goodbyes once again. Nick promised that every time he had to visit Bunnyburrow, he'd swing by Brieberg as well.

Judy and Nick got into the car and buckled up. "Well, we're probably gonna miss dinner." Judy said. "But it was worth it. It was nice hearing about an early part of your life. I got to see what a sweet and wonderful person you were even as a pup."

"Thanks Fluff." Nick replied.

"Just to let you know, we're one of those families that open our presents right at midnight."

"Oh? Why?"

Judy chuckled. "Because it takes almost 24 hours to get through everyone!...Sooo. Can you give me a clue about what you got me?"

"Oooh no Carrots! You'll just have to wait until the stroke of midnight Christmas eve. But I think you'll be pleasantly surprised."

She gave the fox a quick kiss on the lips. "I can't wait."

Nick drove along the highway with one paw on the steering wheel and the other one in his jacket pocket fondling a tiny, velvet box with an engagement ring inside. "Neither can I."

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT YEAR!