Sadly, school is about to start back up. That means that much of my time will be taken, possibly leaving me with much less time with this story. That is part of the reason why this chapter is so late. I've had to prepare myself for school. (That includes things like shopping for new clothes, figuring out classes, stuff like that.)
But don't worry! It may (or may not) take longer for me to update this story, but, it will continue to be updated until its completion. I know school is important, but, I will always reserve time to this story. I may even find time to write it during class if I finish all the work for it that day.
Or, perhaps, I may update this story quicker. You see, I've been busy at home lately, even without school. But, that may change. It seems that stuff is slowing down. I may find myself with more time to write if I am not given an overwhelming amount of homework. If it doesn't pile on along with my responsibilities at home, then things may be better.
Whatever the case may be, you will continue to see this story updated. It's my responsibility. Zootopia and you all, my followers, mean a lot to me.
That, and I absolutely love writing this. Writing is one of my passions, even if my writing can sometimes be lackluster. Or, perhaps, I'm overly critical of myself. Am I?
...
It would be safe to say that Amber Wilde was one of the happiest foxes on Earth when her son and his girlfriend entered her home.
"Make yourselves at home!" she exclaimed.
"Thanks for letting us stay here, Mrs. Wilde."
"Remember what I told you?" She put on a fake scowl, barely withholding the grin that tried to reform. "Call me 'Amber.'"
"I'm sorry, I will, Amber," Judy said slowly, with her eyes locked to the ground.
"Okay… what's wrong you two?" Amber had been a mother long enough to know when someone was troubled. Reading facial cues can prove to be an invaluable skill for parents. "I know… you've been evicted. It should've never happened."
"It's not just that…" Nick piped up as he took a spot on his mother's couch. Judy sat beside him. "You'll see it on the news soon enough." He didn't feel like explaining.
"Honey, the news?"
"…Yeah."
"Well, you're both welcomed to stay here as long as you want. This is as much my home as it is yours."
Judy felt her spirits lift a little. At least she was welcomed here. They had a good home for the time being. "Thank you, Amber. It means a lot."
"Well, you are my son's girlfriend," she chimed with a devious grin. The bunny-fox couple on her couch held awkward looks on their muzzles, neither daring to move an inch. "Saw it on the news… would've been nice to be told by you two, though."
"I-I'm sorry, mom, we were just busy and there-"
"Hush up, Nicky. It's alright. I'm happy for you two." She pulled them off the couch and wrapped them both in a hug. "I'd say you are made for each other."
"Mom!" Nick desperately tried to free himself from his mother's grasp. Judy simply blushed, more out of appreciation than embarrassment.
"I think so too," Judy replied timidly. Nick nearly melted on the spot.
"I'm so happy to hear that. And I really wish we could catch up more, but it is getting late. This old vixen has to get her beauty rest. I'm looking forward to seeing you two this morning. Just don't get frisky tonight…"
"Mom! Really?!"
"You know I love embarrassing ya, Niiicky. But I am serious." Her son was beginning to regret his decision to live here for a bit. Judy couldn't hold back her giggling. "Goodnight you two. Oh, and there is a sleeping bag for one of you in Nick's old closet," she said as she walked off.
"Want to get a hotel?"
"What? No, Nick," she laughed. "I'm already having fun!"
"Of course you would," Nick groaned, threw his keys to the table, and slumped back down onto the couch, laying down. He was about ready to go to sleep. He didn't even want to go to his old room to sleep on his old bed. His embarrassment was crippling.
"Well, I love your mother. I may even get some embarrassing stories about you out of her," she giggled.
"What did I do to deserve this?!" The poor fox breathed out slowl and proceeded to throw a pillow over his entire face.
"You fell head over heels for me, remember?" She crawled onto the couch beside him, them both being small enough to fit comfortably there. She put her back to Nick's chest, almost cuddling him.
This was a pleasant surprise to the fox. Nick pulled her closer to his body, wrapping one arm and his tail over her. "That's one way to put it, Carrots." Nick allowed himself to smile. "But there is truth to that statement." Despite what just happened, he was feeling... happy. He felt like his mood was on a rollar coaster. Not even a couple minutes ago he was down in the dumps over the casino, but now, his previous mood is slipping away. Judy had this affect over him.
The same could be said about the rabbit. She was feeling oddly happy, despite everything.
…
It was now well past twelve, and finally, the fox and bunny felt the soft tugging at their eyes, easing their breathing and heartrates into something more calm, more relaxed. It was not long until they lost their grip on the real world, plunging deep into sleep.
Unfortunately for them, the incident at the casino kept creeping into their dreams, their little made-up worlds in their minds. Dreams became nightmares that night, the fox and bunny being bonbarded with the memory that is the casino.
But they still had each other. With every fright and terror they both experienced alone in their minds, they subconsciously felt comfort from just being together, sleeping together. Neither would awake, but every now and then, a paw would grasp their mate's, a nose would nuzzle one's neck, and so on.
Even in sleep, they were comforted by each other.
…
A golden shaft of light crept its way to Judy's closed eyes, and then Nick's, the fox observed.
Amber Wilde was in her living room with one of her husband's book draped across her lap. She couldn't stop looking at the adorable couple on her couch.
They were wrapped up in each other. Judy was facing Nick and had one of her arms draped over his neck while the other was grasping his tail like a blanket.
Her son's paw had found it's way to his girlfriend's cheek. Ever so slowly, on that spot, one of his digital pads was gently rubbing her fur.
And he wasn't even awake.
He also had his muzzle set in between her ears, almost in a protective manner.
It was an odd slight, but it made her heart jump. They truly did seem like they were made for each other. Mrs. Wilde could almost feel the love they felt for each other as if it was so strong that it radiated off of their bodies, no longer just something deep down in their hearts. It felt like it was being projected to the outside.
It made her think of her husband.
She pushed that thought out of her head and witched on her television. It was only a box television, but it was good enough for her.
She made sure to turn the volume down low enough to not disturb her guests. It was still early anyway and they had a rough night.
Another hour had finally dragged by when she got tired of watching the latest realilty shows and the countless commercials that chopled them into ten minute chunks. She switched to the news channel, hoping to find something of interest on there.
And she did.
It was a news report on covering a fight that occured in a world-renowned restaurant on top of Lenox's Casino.
Nick and Judy were brought up.
She left her body go numb as she watched and listened to what happened last night.
She felt bad for them. No one should have to go through that sort of thing.
Amber found out about Mark Johnson. His cousin and his death. Mark's inherentence of the casino and restaurant. Everything.
Then she found out her son was nearly killed.
She fought hard not to break down right there.
What made it worse was how some people were taking the entire incident. Some were blaming predators for his actions, talking about the savage animals that killed his cousin are the root cause of everything.
A certain group was using it as a rallying cry. The news referred to them as the Liberators. Apparently, they had been quiet for some time now, but this had rekindled them.
Still, there were some that were calling the bull a monster. Though, it didn't change the fact that people were blaming predators as a whole.
Sometimes, the people of this city can be despicable beyond her comprehension.
They were even calling Nick out, saying that he was part of the problem. Those idiots even had the nerve to call his relationship with Judy an abomination!
Why can't people be accepting? Why can't we all live and love together in peace, regardless of what's on the outside?
She'll never understand it. It didn't stop her from getting angry over it, however. The fox jumped out of her seat in agitation and turned off her television.
"Mornin', Amber." Judy was awake?
"Oh.. hey, Judy. Sleep well?" How long has she been up?
"More or less. Kinda wish I slept longer. I'm getting tired of hearing people blame predators for these things, blaming Nick. It's awful."
"I'm sorry… I thought you were asleep. I would've turned off the news if I had known." So, she'd been awake for at least part of the news broadcast. Great. More stress for her, now.
Judy was glad to have seen it, actually. This way, they can prepare for the inevitable hate that'll be thrown their way. She'd likely have to deal with a lot of it today. "Hey, Amber, I"m sorry, but we need to be going soon. We have to work in two hours."
"Do you have your uniforms?"
"It's back at our old place. In fact, all of our stuff is... and we have only a few days to put in storage. It's another thing we need to do today."
The aging fox got a little idea. Perhaps she could help them get their stuff into storage. It would help them immensely. "It may get better. Keep your chin up?"
"We'll try." She got to her feet and shook Nick awake.
"Oh… hey, Whiskers. What tiiiime," he yawned, "is it?"
"Time to get to work." She pulled his lazy butt into a atanding position. "Niiick, c'mon, we need to go."
Amber took this as an oppertunity. She fished out Nick's house key from his key ring he threw on the table last night. Judy still had her key, so they'd be able to get inside their former-home.
"Son, you really should be getting up." Amber was sitting back down, Nick's key in her pocket.
He stood up and stretched. "Okay, okay. But I get first shower."
Judy pinched his ear.
…
They were only a few minutes from the Precinct now. They could make out a few of their fellow officers also making the commute to work. Judy waved at them while Nick simply nodded his head at each one.
Despite their outward attitudes, both were still feeling the effects of last night. But, they were officers. This wasn't the first time they've seen deceased animals.
But it was the first time they witnessed a suicide. And that's not even counting what caused the entire thing.
In the end, though, when you have a job to do, it doesn't matter how you feel. Especially when you are trying to stop a city from tearing itself apart. With their resources as officers, maybe they can dig up something on the Mayor. Something that'll change people's opinion of him. Hopefully, it'll be enough to stop the anti-predator movement that seems to be gaining more ground with every passing hour.
But could they really do it? Could they actually stop this tragedy?
Neither wanted to even acknowledge that question. Instead, they focused their thoughts on other things.
"What do you think is waiting for us at the Precinct?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Carrots, Bogo is gone. Who's taking his place?" Nick was sure he wouldn't like his replacement.
"I don't know." She shrugged.
"You know he had to have been appointed by the Mayor."
"Yeah, I figured as much." She took a worried look at her fox to her right.
"Don't be surprised if he fires me for being a predator."
Judy nodded. "Then I'll quit. I'm not leaving you behind."
He turned to face her. A sudden look of gloom was present in his eyes. "This is your dream job. I'm not letting you quit just because I'm not there."
"Nick, listen." She pulled into the ZPD parking lot. "I will not work for someone with those ideals, those morals. And when we get Keegan out of office, we'll be able to reinstate Bogo. I'm sure he'll happily take us both back."
Nick gave her a sudden kiss on the cheek. "You would seriously give up your job for me?"
"I'd do anything for you. Just don't try to talk me out of it if what you said happens!"
"Likewise, Fluff-butt."
"Hey!" On the inside, she giggled at the nickname.
…
Everything felt different. Foreign.
Perhaps that's because just about everything was.
For starters, a bighorn sheep was standing in Bogo's place in the bullpen, eyeing everyone down with his dark brown eyes. He shifted the papers he held in his hooves, grunted and coughed, and proceeded to walk around the room. Not once did he say anything.
Nick and Judy had no idea what he was doing.
After five minutes of awkwardness, he spoke up in a very high pitched voice, one that threatened to tear Judy's ear drums. "I'm disappointed."
No one retorted.
"Why is a tiger partnered with a rhino? Anyone?" The silence continued. "Why is there a fox and a little rabbit together in a partnership? Hm?" He made his way back to the front of the room. He took a minute to separate and organize a few papers he had on his desk he brought in there. "That's is not how my Precinct will run!" He smashed his hoof down on the desk.
"There will be changes made here, today." The sheep pulled out a drawer from his desk and fished out a nameplate that said Algarotti. He then brought out a hammer and three nails that were a couple centimeters thick.
He walked up to the wall behind him, his wool shaking and shuffling with each of his hobbled steps, and gently placed the nameplate on the wall.
One at a time, he lightly tappen each nail until they were in place, but still hanging out by three inches.
The sheep turned around, flashed a small-toothed smile, turned back around to face the wall again, and smashed each nail further into the wall. Cracks the length of yards grew into the wall.
"Algarotti." He whispered. "Mr. Algarotti. Now, you all will remember my name." Algarotti took a minute to return to his desk.
He still held the hammer in his hoof. Judy shuffled a bit closer to Nick on the chair they shared.
The new Chief of Police calmly walked to the couple who sat in front of him. A fox and a rabbit.
Algarotti swung the hammer onto the table un front of them, sending splinters flying in the air. Nick and Judy jumped up for action, but the sheep just walked past them with a blank expression.
He proceeded to hit every table that was shared by two different animals, thoroughly ruining just about every table there was in the room.
The officers tried to protest, but he held no reaction to the flurry of cuss words and insults that were thrown his way. The Chief just walked back to his desk, say down, and clicked his hooves on the table with the same blank expression he had.
"Wilde. Hopps," he turned to them. "Drake, Schneider," the sheep swivled to face another two officers that were not of the same species as each other. "Francine, Archer." Again, Algarotti faced them. He did this until he had called out everyone who were partnered with someone who was not of the same species. "There will be change."
The bighorn sheep was given a task, and he was going to see it through.
"Bogo had no idea what he was doing." Algarotti pulled out a cigar from his pocket and lit it. Fumes engulfed every officers in the room. "But…" he took a drag on his cigar. "…I do." Another drag, another puff. "First off, no one will be permitted to be partners with another mammal of a different species."