Before I start, I would want to thank you for the responses. Also, I got some good news. I have a new spell checker. Sure, it is not perfect, but having an extra set of digital eyes is better than having a set that barely works. With it, I managed to edit this chapter a little quicker (also the previous chapters). I have re-updated those. Thank you for reading despite the spellings. It's a non-native speaker's problem that I really want to fix.

With that out of the way, please enjoy.

Disclaimer:

The following is a fan-based fiction. Zootopia and its characters are owned by Disney. The songs I reference here belong to their respective artists as well.


(The song Reminiscence by Brian Crain begins to play)

Chesterization proudly presents

A Zootopia fanfiction

Wild times with Wilde

Chapter 8: Dream

Nick did not remember if it was raining that day or not. He could not even remember if that day was a Tuesday or a Thursday. He only knew it was one bad day. He was a kid, no more than nine, or maybe even younger. At that age, with the lack of vocabulary, a bad day could range from "not be able to go to the amusement park because of the weather" to "be denied of the simple dream of being a boy scout". That day, it was the latter. He did not know if it was raining or not, but in his memory, his eyes were a downpour. He sat under a park stone bridge and curled up like fist protesting death. He could felt salt running down his throat as the rain in his eyes continued. He had a look outside, a street lamp somewhere had lit up. The light it provided was not enough to shine the darkness under this bridge. However, the light was just enough to make the muzzle he had thrown away shimmering. Young Nick did not even have the strength to walk up and kick it away. He just sat there, waiting for something. Maybe he could just fall as sleep and wake up from this bad dream. Nick withdrew into the darkness; he heard footsteps coming toward him. Someone was outside.

"Oh my god, Nick. You have me down right worried! Why are you here?" His tear-filled throat failed to utter "Dad." His father kneeled down, his hand clutched tightly to his chest. "I don't think my heart can take any of this, literally." He chuckled at his own bad joke. He looked into the darkness; all he could see was were faint features of his son. He hoped that it was not another kid in boy scout uniform having an absolutely terrible day. "Nick, what happened son?" Nick shook his head, sprayed some of those tears from side to side. "Not feeling up to it right now, huh?" His father reached into his suit's pocket and fished out a handkerchief. "Okay, how about we wipe those tear and calm you down with some ice cream. That always works for me when I was a kid." He stepped in the darkness, joining his son. John handed the piece of cloth to Nick, who just balled it up and sloppily whipped the tears.

His father looked around, "Have to admit. It is quite cozy down here. Hum, do you mind if I just lie here? I'll leave when you ask me to, how about that?" Nick nodded slowly. "Okay," he then lied flat on the ground, with the expensive suit on. With his knotted hands serve as a pillow, John let out a relaxed sigh. "Feel free to talk to me whenever you feel like it, we have all night."

Like a corrupted string of home movies, another random memory played in his mind. Nick was sitting in John Wild and son. His father had given him a few chores around the place, something to keep him busy and far away from being a mope. As Nick was finished measuring a piece of fabric, his father entered the shop. His joyful grin was bigger than usual. With an equally cheerful voice, he announced, "Hey Nick, good news, I figured out the perfect way for you to spend this summer."

He looked at his father and put up a smile. "Really?" he said.

"Yes, siree! No more days of doing chores around the tailor house, welcome days of doing chores somewhere outdoor." His father cleared his throat. "E-hem, Kobb, my cousin, said she is okay with letting you crash land in her farm for the summer. You still have to earn your stay, though, so expect to work hard." He paused at his son's reaction. "Ah, I know that face, don't worry, it's nothing too complicated, just helping her out around the farm, sorting out seeds and all that."

"Will you join me?"

His father looked away for a split second, then resumed eye contact. "Nick, um, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but, no I have to stay. I got work to do." He patted Nick consolingly on the on the shoulder. "Young man, there will be time, when you have to take care of yourself. Consider this as a training wheel for you, if that time ever comes. Do you understand me?"

Nick nodded, "Yes, dad."

"Good, promise me you'll learn, okay?"

"I will, dad. So, where does Ms. Kobb live?"

"Somewhere in Bunny Burrow, not too far from town." The name of the location deflated Nick's enthusiasm significantly. He did nothing he could handle being around prey this entire summer. His head looked down and away from his father. "Don't worry, she said the locals are not that bad. She said they, fear and respect her. I don't know what she was implying by fear, but respect is good enough. Plus, there are plenty of foxes and other predators children there, maybe you will make a new friend. Why stop at one? How about a bunch of them?" His father kneeled down, hand prepped up for a hi-five, "What do ya say, buddy? Are you with me?" Nick gave the respond his father expected, their hands clapped. "Trust me, it'll be great." His father assured him.

Nick was sure that his father did not lie to him, not directly anyway. His memory jumped forward a few days. He found himself sitting in the same pose, curled up like a fist. This time, though, he had his hands covered his ears. Surrounded him was shade provided from the giant lump of dirt above him. Someone was digging a home out of this hill but had given up halfway. Someone's trash is another one's treasure; this hole provided Nick the perfect hiding spot. Judging from the reaction he got from the local predator children, his was going to use this spot for a long time, maybe even the rest of the summer. He started crying again. A mixture of tear and a scent of grass touched the back of his nose. He tried to wipe his tears, hands left his ears. He could hear laughter from above, laughter that he wished he could be a part off. Then came a sound, sound that he would never want to be a part of.

It was a kid with a Southern accent, "Are you going back and cry to your mommy? Don't be such a sissy."

A different voice jumped in, "I don't think he has one."

"That's a weird thang to say, Travis. Anyhow, boo hoo. Crybabies like you ain't welcome here. Only strong predators can stay with us. You can go back and be a prey in that city of yours. Let's go, Travis, we got better things to do."

That was Gideon, a local fox, who dubbed Nick the crybaby. That was a rather dumb thing for him to assume. Just because he came from a place where all grown up predators were submissive to the system, that did not mean he was a weakling, a crybaby. However, it did not matter if that was a silly assumption or not. Gideon is the top predator around these parts. He said and the other kids followed. If he branded Nick as a crybaby, he shall be a crybaby. It was not as if Nick could fight back.

After the last sound of footstep had gone, Nick let the stream run loose from his cheek. He did not have to gut to say in his head that this was his father's fault. He did not know who was to blame for this. Maybe it was himself to blame, he thought. How? He did not know. Tormented by questions he could not answer, he moved deeper into the shade.

A new set of footstep came, right out of nowhere. Nick quickly crawled deep into the hole. A bunny in a plaid dress then jumped down from above; she landed just outside of the opening. She turned around and looked at Nick. She said with innocent filled her voice,"Hello? Are you lost? What's wrong?"

In his mind, he had the perfect answer for that, "Everyone hates me! No matter where I go; Who I met; Preys or Predators, they all HATE ME!"

His mouth did not. "Go away!"

The bunny recoiled at his respond, but, she then gradually moved toward him, "Hey, it's okay, I'm not here to hurt you. I just, want to help you." She approached him, her hand reached out.

Nick spat at her with, "I'm fine, just leave me alone."

"No, you are not. Mommy said when your ears are drooping, that means you're super sad." Hearing that, Nick's ears moved up a little, as if to prove the bunny wrong. The bunny took out a handkerchief, "Here, have this, you are gonna ruin your fur if you keep crying like that." Nick, slowly and cautiously took the piece of cloth. He balled it up and dampened it with his tears. The bunny protested, "No, that's not how you do it. You're such a dummy. Here, let me help." The bunny moved a little closer, close enough for her to gently reclaim the handkerchief, and then wipe Nick's tears the "proper" way.

Nick said, "Th…thank."

She responded with a prideful smile, "You're welcome. Just helping out any way I can." After Nick had stopped crying, she introduced herself. "I'm Judy, what's your name?"

"Nick." He sniffled.

His memory jumped forward a few weeks. It was the annual Carrots Festival. Nick never quite understood the concept behind the name. However, it was a good reason for the community to throw a fair, so he did not ask questions. That day, and for a long time to exact, he was no longer sitting and moping. This time, he was running through a small crowd of mammals. The first and loudest thought in his mind at the time was he was going to be late for the talent show. He could not care less for such an event, but he had made a promise.

He found the barn that housed the show shortly after. Nick quickly caught his breath before stepping in. The place was packed; he was not expecting that. It seemed, he had not missed much, the announcer was just finished her job. While the animals were clapping, Nick tried to find an empty spot somewhere in the back rows. He found one, one the edge of the final row. The fox stood on the seat, for that was the only way for him to see any of the show at that point. He saw cutouts of trees, which he, Judy and numerous mammals in Bunny Burrow had made, being set up on the stage. Bobby the bobcat was prepping up the opening music. The show was about to start.

Nick saw Judy stepping on the stage, beginning her narration. Nick jumped up and down, waving furiously to catch her attention. She did and responded with a wave. Afterward, she gave this over the top performance of what she thought Zootopia to be. Nick just, smiled at that and enjoyed the show. He did not want to the sourpuss that ruined the show for everyone, especially Judy. Beside that position had been taken by Gideon.

After the show, Nick quickly got out of the barn. He had some errands to run for Ms. Kobb. With Judy around her parents, it was clear that he would not hang out with her that day. Nick did not remember what errands he had for that day; pick up some produce from the fair maybe. He only remembered what happen after he had done them all. He walked by a gap between the booths and saw Gideon's hand gripped onto Judy's head. He was pinning her down, while his other hand prepped up claws. Standing nearby were two sheep and a small rabbit. The three of them were paralyzed by fear, just like Judy. Nick dropped the bag of whatever he got and ran toward the commotion.

Gideon forced the words into Judy's ears, "I want you to remember this moment, next time you think you will ever be anything more than just a stupid carrot farming bunny."

With his head held high, Nick shouted, "Hey. Back off, Gideon!"

Gideon left Judy on the ground and turned around. He told the weasel that was standing behind him. "Oh look, Travis, it's the crybaby." He looked at Nick with a smirk.

Travis said, "Look like he's trying to be a hero."

Gideon pointed, his claws were still out, "Look, city boy, stay out of this. This lesson is for her, not you."

Nick advanced; he tried to get his claws out but failed. "What kind of lesson is that? Who are you to tell her what she can, or cannot be?"

"Fine, then let this be a lesson for you too, pretty boy." Gideon extended the claws on his other hand. "Don't pick a fight that you can't win." Gideon started popping his knuckles. Nick suddenly froze. His eyes stare blankly above Gideon. "Yer scared aren't ya?" As Gideon finished popping his last knuckle, a shadow loomed over him. Whoever cast that shadow had made Travis flee. "Where are yer going?" Gideon asked.

A hand slapped on his shoulder. "Gideon, Gideon, how many time do I have to tell you. "Do unto you as you do to others."

Gideon stuttered; his eyes opened wide. "Ms., Ms., Kobb."

The hand gripped tight into his shoulder, clenching to the bone. "What're your ma and pa going to say about this, huh?"

Gideon cried out, "Stop, you are hurting me."

Ms. Kobb maintained the grip, "What's wrong? I'm just teaching you a lesson."

The other children, unknowing to Nick had already taken refuge behind a tree, Miss Kobb then looked at them. "What are you three doing here anyway?"

The black sheep said her voice was weak, "He has our tickets."

"Oh really? Gideon my dear boy, I think you owe your friends an apology. Return what you have taken." Gideon took out a handful of tickets and reached his hand out. "Come, take them back, he won't bite", Ms. Kobb told the sheep. After she had the ticket back to her possession, "Gideon, what should we say?"

Gideon winced and said, "I'm sorry."

"Good, is that everything?" The children nodded. "Great, then return to the festival. I want to have a talk with your friends." After the three had left, Miss Kobb's finger flicked Gideon's left ears.

"Listen to me, and listen well. I'll keep my mouth shut, as long as you leave these two alone. If I hear a wink of complaint from my nephew, you know what to expect, from your ma and pa, and me." Gideon gulped at the last line." She released her grip on Gideon. "Now, shoo, dismiss, scram." Gideon ran away, he took the same route as Travis.

Her shadow lied on Nick. She reached into her satchel and took out a bottle of oil and a fresh bag of clean cotton. She tossed them at Nick, who caught it perfectly. "Nick, help her clean up the wound." She turned to Judy, who was still on the ground. "You can stand up, can't you?" The bunny nodded and got back on her feet, she dusted herself. "Good job. Bunny girl, today is the day you learn about white lies. Tell your ma and pa that you were scratched by tree branched or something. You got that. Good." Ms. Kobb then turned around. "Oh, and Nick, I expect the bags to be on the table before I get home.

"Yes, Ms. Kobb." He said, then Ms. Kobb just walked away.

Later, Judy sat on a nearby rock while Nick applied oil onto her wound.

"Judy, I don't wanna say this, but that was really dum", he remembered what Gideon was saying to her, and quickly corrected himself. "eh, reckless."

"An officer is there to serve and protect, ow ow ow, careful." She winced at the slight touch of the oil dipped cotton.

"You are not an officer yet, so don't." He then carefully brushed the cotton on the three claw marks. "This one looks really bad. I'm sorry."

"Why do you need to say sorry? You didn't do this." She said while making a face.

"Yes, but, he, is a fox."

"So, he's a jerk, and you're not, big different."

Nick pulled the piece of cotton back. He said, "You're so, what is that word again. Nai-ee, no, oh naïve. Yeah, you're so naïve, Judy."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

(Song ends)

A quiet voice woke him up, "Nick, can you hear me?" As light from the real work overtaken the light of his memory, the voice said, "Thank goodness you are okay."

Nick slowly got up. Whatever bed he was sleeping on did not serve its jobs well. He heard tiny voices surrounding him. His vision was quite blurry. How long has he been asleep? He blinked rapidly, auto focusing his sight. He found himself inside a wooden cottage of some kind, with twenty or more little rabbits swarming around him. They stared at him with their big and curiously eyes. "Where am I?", he said.

Judy stood nearby, said in the same soft and gentle voice, "You are at my home. The Hopps' resident. And these are my brothers and sisters." The bunnies waved at him, then bombarded the fox with trivial questions like Was he really a fox? What did predators eat? Why was he so big?

Nick shrugged off those questions and got off the bed. Or rather beds, as he way lying on at least ten of them. He looked down at his own body. His shirt and trench coat had gone. There was a long strip of bandage wrapped neatly around his abdomen. It was then he noticed the fainted pain down his back. Must be water that slapped him, he thought. He then asked, "Why, am I at your home?"

"I couldn't take you to a regular hospital. So, I got you the next best thing."

"How long have I been out?"

"A few days."

Nick squinted his eyes, "Wait"

Judy dipped concern into her voice, "You were badly hurt, so, you need all the rest you can get."

"No, I get that but, your brothers and sisters slept without beds for a few days?"

Later, the two of them headed down to the living/dining room, the largest part of the Hopps resident. Nick, for the life of him, could not see how this was a living room. He guessed that it was the television and couch in the corner that set the place apart from a full-on dining room. He looked at the center table. The large wooden piece of furniture was there to serve as a station for the hungry bunnies to put their plates on, finish their meals (mostly carrots), go to the kitchen, and make room for another batch of hungry bunnies. With the sea of fluffy ears that Nick was seeing, that cycle of munching down carrots was not going to stop at any time. Nick walked passed the TV and saw a senior rabbit sitting motionless on the couch. It appeared that the old timer was sleeping. Judy gently nudged him and guided him to another room. She made sure that Nick would not wake him up.

Nick asked while they were walking around. "How many of you are there?"

"Well, there are 275 of my brothers and sisters here. And that's not counting my parents and Pops. Speaking of whom, you should avoid him."

Nick's mind let out an "Ah". "Let me guess, he doesn't like foxes."

"Yeah, and his ears are not as good so, no matter what anyone says, it doesn't work."

Nick sighed, "Good to know."

Both approached the main door, seeing a group of Judy's sister gathered around the mail slot. "Check mail, check mail!" one of the younger sisters said, enthusiastically. Another one, who could actually read, picked up a bundle of envelopes and announced. "Anny?" A hand reached in and took it. "Rosanna" another hand took it. "Sierra" the bunny was not there, so she put the letter in her pocket. The bunny then continued. "We got one for Nick Wilde. Who is Nick Wilde?" Nick sprinted toward her. His sudden movement made the bunnies jumped a little, and his collar let out a small discharge. He said through the slight shock, "It's me. I'm Nick Wilde." The bunny gave the letter to him; her hand was shaking.

Nick got the letter. It was wrapped up in a large white envelope, sealed by a stamp with a black "B" sigil. Nick had a look at the address, "HarryLynxon, 7156 80th Ave, Tundra Town, Zootopia". He could not recall hearing that name or location anywhere. He opened the envelope; the letter inside resembled a note than a formal letter. It read, "Come see me at the tree by the hill. Alex."


Author note:

Thank you so much for reading. If you enjoyed what you have just read and wished to see more, please follow or leave a review. They would give me the motivation to write more for everyone. All feedbacks will be appreciated. If you find anything lacking or flawed in my story (grammar, word use, etc.), please tell me in the reviews as well. I shall do my best to update these chapters sooner and make them more polished. This is one of my first stories so please forgive possible mistakes in the future and help me fix them.

Thanks again and have a pleasant day.