A/N: I think this would be the perfect opportunity to introduce everything that has happened in Zootopia. After all, what has her family been doing?

Chapter 7: Uniting Zootopia: The Search for Avery

Uniting Zootopia: The search for Avery

Day 1:

Nick POV:

I am spending a long weekend with Judy at her apartment. Her apartment only has one bed so we end up sleeping together. It's one of the few moments where I am able to enjoy her embrace. She doesn't see us as anything more than friends yet. It's been six months since I've joined the police force. Our jobs have consisted of mundane cases and parking duty. Nothing, has been able to match the thrill and excitement of the Nighthowler case.

Judy told me she has a surprise for me today. I am here just waiting to see what the surprise is. So, far there has been no hint at what it can be. Someone knocks on the door. I go to answer the door. I am tackled by five bunnies. Apparently, she has decided to take this day to introduce me to her family. This is also the first time I'm meeting her parents.

I say, "A little help here?" as five bunnies pile on top of me.

"Let me use my cellphone first. This is adorable.", said Judy. She takes out her cellphone snaps a picture of five bunnies on top of me in various positions. I am sure she's going to use that for blackmail later. Her parents were extremely supportive of her friendship with me. They too love the sight of five bunnies playing with me. I can't get one of her sisters to stop hugging my tail. It's like the only thing she likes. Any attempts to dislodge her were futile, she hugged my tail wherever I went.

We sit on the couch. I have one rabbit behind my head, one hugging my tail, two on my shoulders and another hugging my leg. We recount our adventures in the nighthowler case.

The day proceeded without incident. I headed "home" back under my bridge. Her parents and their children left as well.

Midnight, Judy calls me and tells me Avery was missing and asked if I had seen her.

I told her that I didn't and went back to sleep.

Day 2:

Morning:

I meet Judy at Precinct one headquarters. Judy seems like she hasn't slept at all. She's worried for her sister. Avery is still missing. her parents and her other four siblings were fine. They've returned to Bunnyburrow and placed their faith in her to find Avery. Judy requests permission and help to search for Avery. It was granted. Unfortunately, we don't have any leads. Our best course of action is to blindly review traffic cameras. Bogo also has the other officers keep an eye out for Avery. Her parents only noticed Avery's disappearance when embarking the train back to Bunnyburrow. So, she disappeared somewhere en route from Judy's apartment to the train station. What's worse than parking duty? Reviewing traffic cameras searching for someone. Our entire day was unproductive, there was simply no sign of Avery. I return home and waited for the next day.

Day 3:

Today I noticed that Judy seemed like she hasn't slept when she showed up to work. She must be searching for Avery without any rest. It's not healthy at all. Her next idea is reviewing random traffic cameras with the slight hope that Avery might be found.

I noticed her ability to think rationally degrading. I tell her, "You should get some rest. I've got a better idea to find Avery." She tells me that Avery has always looked up to her. It's one her siblings that she's developed close relationships with.

I get the sense that she won't get a goodnight's rest if left alone. I ask her if I could go over to her apartment. I also tell her that I live under a bridge still. She takes pity on me and agrees. I had to calm her down. She wants to spend the entire night driving around looking for Avery. This obviously wouldn't work.

I sleep with her again just like the long weekend. I've been woken up twice by her sneaking out of bed, I assume to try to find Avery again. I end up holding her in my embrace so she can't leave the bed anymore.

Day 4:

In the morning, I allow Judy to leave the bed. I tell her of my plan. She tells Bogo that she wants to hold a press conference. Bogo agrees, with the public searching for her, it will be a lot easier to find where she is. She uses all of her political clout to hold a press conference. Judy's appearance is simply dashing. She looks simply radiant in a police uniform. She steps up on to the podium and prepares to speak:

"Greetings Zootopia. Today, I come to you with a personal request. My sister has gone missing. We have tried to find her but were unsuccessful. I ask of you, to keep an eye out for her. I know I have caused strife for this city in the past. United, we can overcome anything, just like we overcame the Nighthowler crisis. Let the misguided animals see that we will not be divided. We will stand together united as one. Lionheart, in the past thought it would be a good idea to hide missing animals from the public eye. This, being the first case of an animal gone missing and being unable to be found promptly since then. So, I ask of you Zootopia, will you help me with this personal request?"

The screen behind her, shows an image of Avery on the day she disappeared.

"Zootopia, will you help me? Will you help me in the search?"

The press asks for details including her interests, habits, friends. All in an attempt to figure out where she went. All of Zootopia knows that Avery is missing now and that she was last seen wearing a green checkered shirt and blue pants. I told her that would be sufficient. We can't keep driving up and down a random street expecting a bunny to show up. Life doesn't work like that. We spent the rest of the day together relaxing, enjoying each other's company and waiting for news on Avery.

Day 5:

The sky itself cried out in pain for Zootopia's loss. Flashes of lightning came down from the sky looking to smite the guilty. Judy and Nick spent the day at home watching television while waiting for their phones to ring. The television reception gave out for about an hour. Judy gets a call from a Wolf towards the end of the day:

"I am Ashclaw Coldnails, I believe I've found clues to where Avery might be. Would you like to drop by tomorrow at Reckless Pleasures?", said Ashclaw.

Judy says, "Can we come by now? I know it's late but I'm worried for my sister and haven't slept well lately."

Ashclaw says, "What I am going to show you will take too long, it doesn't seem like there's a need for a rush, just come by tomorrow at your earliest convenience. Oh, and wear casual attire, not police uniforms."

Judy says, "We'll be there."

Judy hangs up the phone and relays the news to Nick.

Nick says "Carrots, you know that's a very particular establishment, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say, it's worse than Mystic Spring Oasis."

"What can be worse than that?"

"You'll find out tomorrow. I don't want to ruin your innocence."

Judy is unwilling to sleep again. Nick has to physically restrain her to the bed so she doesn't leave.

Day 6:

Judy and Nick drive to Reckless Pleasures. Judy's wearing blue pants and a pink checkered shirt. Nick is wearing his usual attire of a Hawaiian green shirt and brown pants as well as a striped tie. Judy notes the establishment is rather unique. The walls show a naked deer leashing a naked tiger to the bed. Another image on the wall shows both the bunny and fox without clothing, the female bunny is wearing a collar and pleasuring the fox. This makes her blush and her ears turn red. Another image shows a lion mounting another lion. They are both male.

They step past the front doors and notice an assortment of different species. Animals in this place are display an unusual sense of fashion. They are watching the television which is currently displaying an otter having his face held down in a bowl of milk by a lion. The otter is slowly licking up the milk. The otter is naked and collared while the lion is wearing casual clothing. An orange shirt and black pants.

A lynx wearing extremely revealing red clothing and a collar greets them, "Hi, how can I help you today?"

Judy says "We're looking for a wolf called Ashclaw Coldnails."

Lynx replies, "There's no need for her to set up arrangements, I can show you a list of services we provide, as well as a list of rooms and equipment that you can use."

Nick says, "What types services do you provide?"

Lynx says, "Well, we have different animals willing to serve specific interests, is there something you would like in particular?"

Judy blushes as she realizes the implications of the lynx's words and says "We're here to find Avery. Nick, we're not here to participate in activities."

Lynx says, "You can find her at the end of the hall."

They go past the lobby and walk down a hall. Some of the rooms have black windows. Others give a clear view into what the occupants are doing. Some of the occupants look up and continue what they're doing. Other pause and wait for them to move out of sight. Judy quickens her pace eager to be out of this hall. They reach the end of the hall and find Ashclaw Coldnails. They open the door. It shows a wolf sitting behind a desk wearing a spiked collar that digs into her flesh. She's wearing a black suit with a red tie aside from that. The desk contains various binders, folders and papers scattered on top of it. The walls of the room contain various images of animals performing various acts.

Ashclaw says, "Greetings, Welcome to Reckless Pleasures."

Judy gets right to the point and asks, "What do you have to show us? We're here to find Avery not to partake in festivities."

Ashclaw says, "Right, given the nature of my establishment. I end up recording various things from television that might be suitable to my clients' interests. I happen to record a competition in which I think Avery took part in. I don't know where it is, would you like to see it?"

Ashclaw leads us to a room with a television. She takes the DVD and puts it in. Ashclaw says "Would you like to see the entire thing? Or just the ending. I have a strong hunch that Avery might be dead. That's why this wasn't urgent."

Nick says, "If this is her last few moments, we might as well see the entire thing."

Judy says, "Yes, I'd like to see the entire thing."

The television is playing: We see a massive stadium filled with animals. Predators and prey sit side by side. An announcer yells, "Welcome to the Pet Talent Show. The First contest today will be a test of agility. Pets will jump to see how many times they can reach the highest bar within the allotted time."

Judy and Nick notice that all the animals are wearing shock collars. Some of the animals are shocked to death. They are unable to see which one is Avery. Judy pauses the television and asks Ashclaw, "Which one is Avery?" Ashclaw replies, "Since, you wanted to see the entire thing, just enjoy it. I promise it'll be clear at the end." Nick says, "This competition isn't even remotely fair. Some of the animals can't jump that high."

They see wolves dragging the corpses of dead animals off the field. They note the stadium is quite advanced, able to transform its terrain at will. A tiger is given a gold medal. The tiger and the rabbit seem to be paired together. All the contestants were prey so far, each had a predator partner.

The announcer yells, "Time for the second event, A contest of speed."

We see the animals take positions at the edge of the field. They run around the track over and over. After thirty minutes, tiger from earlier is given another medal. A few animals die again. The announcer yells, "Lunch Time." We see various prey stream into the stands and the stadium itself. They are eaten alive. Judy pauses the television. Judy is getting annoyed, "I thought you said this would help us find Avery, you have just shown us senseless depravity! Since, I don't know of any location like this in Zootopia, I'm tempted to charge you with obstructing a police officer."

Ashclaw says, "You said, you wanted to watch the entire thing. You can't even identify Avery on the screen right now. If I just showed you the ending, would you even believe me?"

Nick says, "Ashclaw has a point here, let's just watch, we can probably learn something from all this. It feels too real to be fake."

Judy acquiesces to their requests and they continue watching the recording. The show now shows lunch time for the contestants. They see them eating bugs and drinking murky brown water. They see close ups of a few predator and prey pairs. The prey is usually bargaining with the predator not to make them eat the food. It turns out not everyone finishes their meal. One of the animals is shocked to death.

The stage appears again. A few animals walk to it and are given money.

They see a tiger walking down to the field carrying a gigantic stack of paper. The announcer yells, "Go, pick up the rules and information of the next event."

The stage vanishes. A white rectangle on the edge of the field is seen. A white line running across the middle of the field is also seen. The announcer yells, "Aleksander and Pillow step forward and take your positions."

The wolf is given a bow and ten arrows and shoots them where the sheep is. The sheep is seen trying to catch those arrows. At the end of it, two arrows are piercing the sheep's left eye and four of them are in his body. The sheep walks back to the wolf while blood drips on the grass. Multiple pairs of animals go through the same events with various results. One of the animals is tortured then killed because he tried to run towards the animal shooting him. Judy and Nick finally hear one name they recognize. The announcer calls, "Elunatee and Avery Hopps step forward on to the field." The tiger is seen walking to the rectangle on the field. The bunny is naked except for wearing a collar. She is seen slowly walking along the blood-stained grass to the white line. You can see the tears in the bunny's eyes. Her face is dirty and stained with vomit. The bunny is now past the edge white line, the tiger takes aim. The television is now displaying a white noise background.

The recording ends.

Ashclaw says, "The recording ended because of the storm yesterday when the signal came back up, it was showing a rerun of one of the cartoons on that channel."

Judy says, "So, you think this was our Avery and she died in this event?"

Nick says, "How, can this event happen in Zootopia? It's unheard of."

Ashclaw says, "I don't know if it is, I think it might be. The channel is called Bloodbath Networks."

Nick says, "What is this Bloodbath Network? I've never heard of it."

Ashclaw says, "It's simply a television channel. It displays various programming similar to the one you saw today."

Judy says, "We'll take a copy with us back to the Precinct if you don't mind."

Nick says, "Carrots, why are we leaving so soon? We can stay around and enjoy some of the activities."

Judy blushes and waits for a copy to be created. She takes the copy and leaves the establishment.

Nick says, "I'm sure we'll visit again." Nick leaves the establishment too. Judy and Nick finally have a lead. A recording of a TV show that was cut out because of the storm. Avery's death wasn't shown but was heavily implied. They left Reckless Pleasures with a copy of the recording and went to Precinct one to ascertain its validity and get second opinions.

A/N: I hope I characterized Nick and Judy well. Tried to think of a plausible chain of events that led them to this part. Also, trying to retell the events in the previous chapter from a vastly different perspective. Still trying to think of an adequate conclusion to the talent show in Chapter 6. Based upon, the story so far, what do people expect?