Hello everyone! I bring you the first chapter of Judy's side of this new arc!
To everyone who has reviewed and subscribed so far, thanks so much, the response to this story so far has been overwhelming, and far better than I ever imagined.
There have been a couple of reviews though that might be bugged or something. I get a notification for them, but then FF says the review doesn't exist. I try to respond to most of my reviews, and I am sorry if your review didn't get one as a result of that.
I don't own any Disney characters.
Happy reading!
Judy closed her book and let out a long, satisfied sigh. She was finally ready. It had been a long road, but tomorrow she would once again get on a train to Zootopia and take the entrance exam to the ZPD Academy. She was nervous, of course, though the feeling was nothing like it had been four months ago. She felt nervous, but ready.
She had worked harder for this than probably anything else she had ever done in her life. The last four months had been a cycle of sleep, working for the family, exercise, studying late into the night, and then more sleep. It had been tough on her, in more ways than one. She had practically shut herself off from most of the family outside of the necessities. Not out of any sort of spite, but simply to avoid distraction. And her family wasn't the only thing she had neglected. Sleep for one, though she would be going to bed early. Her friends too, though she had been neglecting them for far longer than just four months. Certainly the family business, often taking any excuse she could to leave early. He parents hadn't said anything, but she knew they both knew. That wasn't such a problem anymore these days though, both her mother and father had begun to step out of her way over the last few months.
She had told them about a month ago that she had signed up for the exam, and that, if she passed, she would be joining the ZPD Police Academy. Her parents had lodged their usual complaints: it was too dangerous, the city was too far, how would she take care of the farm, and all the rest. In the past Judy might have tried to argue, debunking each in turn, but she was past that. Comfortable in the path she was choosing, and so she tried a different tack. She said simply, "I know you are concerned, I understand. I need to do this though, for myself, I'll never be happy if I don't try."
Her parents had been silent then, both trading pained glances, until her father let out a defeated sigh and said, "Oh gosh darnit, that's what John said too…"
That surprised her, that her father had spoken to Nick, even more so that he listened. Nick had said nothing, though they hadn't spoken of much after she returned from the city. But as far as she knew her father couldn't stand the fox. He had after all made that very clear on the first day Nicholas had awoken.
"Judy, ok," her mother continued where her father left off. "We know that we couldn't stop you if we tried… that it would be wrong too… we just–" and she cut herself short with a sob.
"We just don't want our little girl to get hurt," her father finished the sentence. "And we don't want you to go off to the big city and forget where you come from. You're a rabbit you know?"
She supposed she did, on some level. Though she knew she never wanted to live in Bunnyburrow again, she knew she would bring the Burrow to the city. "Yeah, I do," was all she said.
That hadn't been enough for them though, now that they had accepted her plans to leave they needed to know the details. Where would she live, how would she get to work, did she know anyone in the city, any rabbits, what about Jeremy? She told them all these things and more, had been planning for months. Knew exactly what she wanted, and what to look for. It would be scary at first, but she would be fine.
They weren't done though. "Who will you go to if you get into trouble?" her mother asked.
"What about John? He's a cop isn't he Judy?" her father replied. Again he surprised her.
"No! He's a predator!" her mother exclaimed.
"Exactly, Bonnie! Who better to protect Judy from the dangers of the city than one of the very mammals who make it that way?"
And so Judy had sat, marveling at the argument before her.
That had been a month ago. A long month. But it was in many ways the culmination of much of her effort over the years. She had a place to stay for a few days, had been in touch with her father's sister, had even began researching things to see all over the city. She was prepared. She was ready.
And through it all, there was one other thing that stolen a place at the forefront of her mind: Nick Wilde.
She looked over at the opened package that sat next to her desk. When she had received it, nearly three weeks after his sudden departure, she had known instantly who it had been from, though there was no return address. Who else would have sent her a package? It had contained study material, a lot of it. Everything she would need to succeed in the Academy. All sorts of flash cards, cheat sheets, workbooks, everything. All of this had been accompanied by a simple, unsigned, handwritten note that said:
"I took the road less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.
You should too.
–Good luck."
She had been so happy. Happy that she now had the materials she needed to get into the Academy, but more importantly, happy that there was still a connection between them. She had spent many an hour lamenting the fact that despite everything that had happened between them she hadn't asked him for some way to get in touch. Hadn't even asked for his number. She had been so stupid, forgetting something like that. It would have been nice to know someone in the city once she got there. Someone to show her the ropes. Make sure she didn't do anything dumb, like knock over a building in Little Rodentia. After he left she had been worried that that had been the end of it, despite his promise to go to her graduation. How would have even know when it was if she didn't tell him after all? But the box had proven to her that, wherever he was, that he was still thinking of her. And that made her happy.
There had been another surprise contained in that package though, hidden in an envelope amongst the folds at the bottom of the box. 5,000 Bucks. When she realized what it was it had almost flown from her paws as it had been on fire. The bills scattering about her room. In that too was a note, again written by the same paw. Nick's paw. It said:
For the next time you try to take that test. And the next after that too, if you need it.
For minutes she stared at the message. Trying in vain to process everything before her. And then she noticed something written on the back:
You won't though.
5,000 Bucks. She had never seen that amount of money outside a safe. It was more than twice what she made in a year, and could fund 10 more attempts at the Academy and still have some left over. But… no… she couldn't. She couldn't take something like this. Something so huge. Couldn't even understand how he could have afforded such a gift, and to send it to her. She cried. The magnitude of it all finally evident.
She had hidden all of the money. Back at the bottom of the box beneath all the Academy material. But for the first few days she would check on it, just to be sure that it wasn't a part of some bizarre dream. But the money was real, and that reality had compelled her over the days and weeks that followed to debate with herself over what to do with it. She appreciated the gesture immensely, but how could she ever accept so much money? 5,000 Bucks was a lot. And she quickly settled upon leaving it, and returning it to Nick as soon as she could. Upon reviewing her finances however she realized just how important that little gift actually was. She wasn't destitute, but much of her funds were going to her family in one way or another. There was little chance of her having enough to stay in the city unless she used some of the money now in her possession. So, she had compromised, she would spend of it what she needed, but no more, and once she was an officer she would save money each pay cycle until she could return the gift in full.
And then there was the matter of the letters. Those had also had a profound impact upon her. She had posted them both to her cork board, the message on the back of the second displayed proudly even if it only made sense to her. She wouldn't need to take the test again. Never again. She would pass, and then she would take the next step, and then the next after that, and onwards she would go. And at the end of the tunnel would be a lot of things. Her dream job for one, but also, a smiling red fox.
Yes he would be there, and maybe, just maybe, that wouldn't be all.
She blushed, her ears turning a bright pink. She had long ago recognized that it was really pretty weird that she was attracted to him like she was. But she had also recognized long ago that she didn't much care. It was only a silly little crush, there was no harm in it, and in the meantime it was fun to imagine what a relationship with him would be like. Foxy. She had decided, and she still grinned to herself whenever the thought arose.
She stood up, chuckling to herself and looked about her room. All of her things were packed, not that she needed much of it. She would only be gone three days, and pass or fail she would come back here for the short time before the next training class began, just two weeks. Even so she hadn't been able to hold herself back, and she had packed much of what she wished to have with her when she moved to the city. The room looked rather bare now, with much of her own personal flair removed. She knew that anything she didn't take with her would just be absorbed into the possessions of whomever were to take the room next, and so she had been careful not to leave anything she cared about. Categorizing it all and neatly packing everything into boxes. It was a little sad really. It wasn't quite the end of things, end of an era really, but it was obviously approaching rapidly.
Her breath caught in her chest. She would miss this place. Miss everyone.
It finally hit her, as she looked about her room, the gravity of what she was about to embark upon. She was casting loose everything that made up her life until that point. All her family, all her friends, everything that made her feel comfortable and safe, the places and most of the things. She was letting go of all of it and forging out into the great and terrifying unknown. And that was exactly what it was, truly. This would undoubtedly be the most frightening thing she would ever do. Her family, in large part, was already against her path, it wasn't just her parents she heard it from. It came from all quarters, her siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, even grandparents. And she wasn't just taking a trip, she was moving away, far away, far beyond where anyone she knew, except for Stu's sister, had ever gone before.
It felt like she was abandoning them, and she was afraid that they felt the same way, that the moment she stepped foot out the door that she would never be welcomed back in. That she would be talked about in the same way her brother Christopher was spoken of. As if she was long dead of a tragic accident. It made her shudder, as if she was experiencing a great and terrible loss. Things would be so different after she was gone. Would they ever call, wondering how she was doing? Would they ever visit? Would she be truly alone out there in the big city? She had no friends out there, and no family apart from Stu's sister Sylvia, who she hadn't seen in years. And Nick. She did have him, he would be there, to guide her through it all.
She calmed down, just slightly. Her family would be angry with her, was probably angry at her even at that very moment. But she wasn't alone. she had Nick, and she would make other friends, see so many new things and places… she would be unafraid how her choices might be received by her family.
Yes, there was that. She would no longer have to live how they wished her to. She could take her own life into her own paws and do with it what she wished, how and when she wished it. She would no longer have to live with the constant judgement of her family, the relentless gossiping, and occasional outright scorn. She would be free of all that, and she would make her own life. And it would be good, because it was hers.
"Judy?" The sound came from beyond her door, and Judy turned towards it to reply.
"Yeah mom, whats up?"
"Can I come in?"
"Yeah, of course, it's not locked," Judy replied, perhaps a little impatiently.
Her mother entered and surveyed the room, unhappy resignation written across her face, evidently just as affected by its bare state as Judy was.
"Judy... " she sighed, " I know things haven't been so… great between us. And I am still really not comfortable with where you are going and what you are doing." Judy prepared herself for another arguement. "But I want you to know Judy, that, both your father and I love you, and..." she paused as if trying to find the right words, "and we will be seeing you off tomorrow at the station. Most of us will."
"Really?" Judy replied, surprise written over her face.
"Yes of course Judy. Our family sticks together, even if we aren't always happy with each other. You know that. Have we stopped visiting you brother Eric after he married one of the Cottontails? No of course not. His in-laws may not be worth the dirt they live in, but he is still my son and part of the family… And his wife isn't too bad either." The last was added as an afterthought. "But of course, I don't mean to say that becoming a police officer is anything like that," she clarified, obviously conscientious of any possible slight.
"Mom, I…" Judy attempted a reply, but she was too caught up in the gestured being offered. It wasn't the same as whole hearted support but it was the closest her mother had ever come. She could do nothing but hug her, and so she did. Hoping it it would be enough to convey what she felt.
It was. "I am sorry if we ever made you think we wouldn't be there for you. That's not right. I am really proud of the rabbit you are becoming. You're very brave. Far braver than I ever was."
Judy tried not to cry, had scolded herself time and again for her propensity to do so, and she stopped herself only with immense effort. This small gesture meant the world to her, truly, but she would not cry.
It was a gorgeous day. The weather conspiring to put on its best for her departure, despite the season.
Fall was a beautiful time in her home. The vibrance of the colors always amazed her. Kept her looking forward to each new day, hoping to see the new change. And they did not disappoint. The reds, oranges, and yellows lining her way to the station. The best day of it too. As if even the very trees were giving her a rousing send off.
Her whole family had come. Well, that wasn't true. Much of it hadn't, for various reasons, but all the ones she felt closest to did – nearly one hundred – and that was what mattered. They had, some of them despite their feelings, rallied around her, at least for this, and it had been decided that she wouldn't go anywhere without all of them seeing her away.
She loved her family. Despite all of it, she loved them. That didn't mean they still didn't frustrate her however, even now, her father was lecturing her about how dangerous Zootopia was.
"It's not that we don't want you to go sweetums… well we don't, right Bonnie?" She rolled her eyes. "Right, we just knew how dangerous a big city like Zootopia can be. My sister told me she was almost stepped on once!"
"Dad, I'll be fine. I'll keep an eye out for larger mammals."
"I know you will Judy, but no one ever gets stepped on in Bunnyburrow. That's what you are giving up Judy. That's the sort of peace of mind you will come to miss once you've been gone," he said matter of factly.
Judy chuckled. "Dad, I know, I know. But sometimes you have to take risks right? I think I am willing to take the risk of being stepped on."
"You think? Judy, being stepped on is not pretty. I would know I–"
"What I think your father is trying to say," Bonnie interrupted, "is that we want you to be careful. Zootopia is so big, and so far away."
"Yeah… I just…"
"We know Judy," she soothed. "Just take care of yourself Judy. Its big world out there."
"Oh!" her father exclaimed. "And just think of all the predators! Lions, and, and wolves-"
"Wolves?" her mother interjected. "Darling, this is really not the time."
"Yeah, yeah, and weasels–"
"You play cribbage with a weasel–"
"And he cheats like there's no tomorrow." Her mother rolled her eyes again, letting out an exasperated sigh. "You know, just stay away from all predators. They are all dangerous, and Zootopia is full of them. Oh, and especially foxes!"
"Dad! A fox just spent more than a month in the burrow."
"Yeah, so I know what I am talking about." He gestured pointedly.
"You told me he wasn't so bad just yesterday!"
"Well… yes that's true," Stu replied, gesticulating wildly in his excitement, "he was alright. And he was practically a Ham…"
"What?" Judy asked, not sure what he was talking about.
"Judy," again he mother interjected, "John might have been alright, but don't expect other foxes to be so nice. They are dangerous, it's in their biology. Remember what happened with Gideon Grey?"
"Mom! I was nine. So one fox was a jerk, that doesn't mean they all are."
Her father sucked his teeth before replying, "You have a lot to learn Judy. Oh! We put you together a care package!" He turned and motioned to one of her siblings, who dutifully proffered up a small bag. "Here look... " And he starting picking things out of the bag. "Ah, fox pheromones, see?" He held up a small container emblazoned with a grinning fox.
Judy recoiled, a little alarmed. "Uh, dad, I don't think that that is what you think it is."
"What do you mean Judy?" he asked, as he continued to show her items in the bag. "Oh, and fox repellant, and… oh! A taser!" He pulled a larger taser from the bag, activating it as it did so. The device emitted a terrible crackling sounds as the tendrils of electricity seemed to reach out longingly for Judy. She recoiled again, horrified that her parents would include such an item. She snatched the bag from her father before he could replace it.
"Ok, ok, thank you, thank you. This is really great," she said, placatingly. She rebuffed her father's every attempt to drop the taser into the bag. "Dad, I really don't think I will need that."
"But Judy, you never know when you will need it!"
"I think, Stu, that our daughter will be just fine. Good luck Judy. Don't forget to call!"
"I won't Mom." She hugged them both. "I love you."
"We love you too," her parents said in unison.
The train pulled up then, and Judy rushed to load her belongings, what little she had, aboard the massive passenger car.
"Wait, Judy!" a voice range out from the crowd of rabbits on the landing.
Judy turned towards the sound, already knowing exactly who it was. Martha was pushing her way to the front of the crowd of rabbits that had gathered, looking quite disheveled. She had been sulking over the the last week or so before Judy's departure, unhappy that she would be leaving. Judy wished Martha could express her unhappiness in a way that didn't only make the source of it worse, but teenagers are teenagers.
"Martha," Judy said as she opened her arms wide. Martha ran into her embrace, burying her face in Judy's chest.
"I don't want you to go," she said, the sound muffled.
"I know Martha," Judy cooed, "you know I have to, though." Martha nodded, still not looking at her sister. "You can always come visit, or maybe even move to Zootopia when you are old enough." Martha, like Judy, had always been rather fascinated by the City, though she didn't have quite the same
Martha looked up, wide eyed, "You think?" And she looked back towards her parents.
"We'll talk about it," her mother said.
Martha looked back at Judy, a grin spread ear to ear across her face. "I can't wait."
Well that's it for now, I hope you enjoyed it!
I realized that I am really terrible at giving credit where it is due. Nick's short little letter is the final line of the Robert Frost poem The Road Not Taken.
Next chapter will be out in two weeks.
Live well!