AN: Credit goes to guest reviewer Nitpik for thinking of the name Fox N' Spots and to answer your question Nitpik if you look back to the first chapter you will see that Gazelle is her given name as Giselle is her real name, at least in this fanfic.
Headmaster Lionheart stood on the stage with a microphone in his paw as he addressed the students competing in the Battle of the Bands in the auditorium.
"Now, we're just going to do a run-through of how each mammal or group sounds. We're not singing any songs just perform the score. And we'll see what placement you'll get for the first round. Now, let's start with the group that signed up first," he looked at the sheet, "'Fox N' Spots?"
Nick smirked as he and his band got up to the stage and warmed up. Then once Lionheart sat in the auditorium and said, "Whenever you're ready." They began playing.
The students watching gapped at how great they were sounding which made a certain cape buffalo and lion very nervous. When the dean gave the signal to end it, they stopped with a flourish. Causing a few claps from the audience.
The headmaster also seemed impressed as he said, "Thank you, boys, you may return to your seats."
They did so and Nick saw Bogo was glaring angrily at him making the fox all the more satisfied with their performance.
Lionheart called for his son's group next which was called, 'Manegement'.
Ben giggled at the name while Fin whispered, "The whole group must have been on high when they were figuring out names."
Gideon said, "That's got to be it."
Nick wasn't paying attention as he focused on how the group was just as sounding good as their group so he knew that Manegement was going to be their biggest competition. And he meant that literally since the group comprised of the largest mammals, being a cape buffalo, lion, rhino, tiger, and a hippo. Nick recognized the other three as McHorn, Fangmeyer, and Higgins.
When they were done they got off the stage and once they took their seats, Bogo looked back to face the fox with a smug look. Nick just gave him an unfazed look.
Dawn and Judy got off the bus in the Meadowlands and walked a couple of blocks to where a large campus with the sign: Menagerie Prep Academy above them was. They could see from the entrance that students were going about their day by hanging out, studying, or exercising. They took the precaution of wearing different attire than their school uniforms so in case they did get spotted MP wouldn't know where they were from.
"They seem like ordinary students just like us." said Judy, "They're doing what we and All-Boys' does on a weekend."
"So it seems. But our curricumtion could be different from theirs so they could be learning more than we are."
Judy pondered on that thinking that could be true.
"And in sports we always come close to losing to them so they could be training harder."
Again, that seemed right.
"The only major difference that is clear between us is that girls and boys attend the same school together versus the All-Boys are our brother school while we're their sister school."
"Don't you sometimes wish our schools were co-ed?"
"No. I like it as it is. And the only reason you're wishing it were, is because you're dating Wilde right now." the sheep smirked.
Judy blushed, she didn't want to admit it but she was denying it either.
"All I can say is, he better treat you better than that last boyfriend of yours."
Judy had a dreamy look, "He all already has."
"Oh?"
She nodded.
"Okay, I obviously missed something crucial. What exactly have you two been doing?"
She slightly frowned, "After our fight, I went to him for support and when I couldn't go home during break because it was snowed in, Fru offered for me to stay at her place where he came for a visit on Clawsmas, and that brought us closer. And since I was stuck in Zootopia it gave us an opportunity to solve the mystery but it turned into another dead end. We went on a date afterwards and well…" she touched her heart with a smile, "we have never been more in love…"
Dawn gapped and ended up covering her mouth.
Judy kept on smiling until it faltered the moment she spotted something across the campus. It was Ruby in a Menagerie Prep uniform as she was walking alongside a well-dressed female pig.
Dawn noticed the upset look on Judy's face, asking, "What it is?"
Judy pointed to the rabbit with the dark fur, "That's Ruby."
"The one that used to be your friend and the cheating boyfriend's sister?"
"Yes." Judy harshly replied.
"I see she's with Ms. Swinton, the headmistress of this school. I've seen her and my mom talking at school board meetings. And I can tell you they're not on friendly terms."
Judy wasn't listening. She was too busy staring at Ruby. All the pain of them being friends once came back as she realized how she been played again. She kept Judy away from the truth of knowing who the true vandal was. Suddenly the message: ALL-GIRLS AND ALL-BOYS DON'T STAND A CHANCE! made sense. With the Academy Games coming up and with them going against MP they wanted them to be intimated without being found out. And since apparently, Ruby was one of them she made sure to keep Judy from finding out by sending her on a wild goose chase.
Judy couldn't hold it back anymore when she saw Ms. Swinton leaving and went to confront Ruby. Dawn called out to her, but she couldn't be stopped.
"Ruby." Judy proclaimed in a hard tone.
The other bunny's eyes widen when seeing her old comrade.
"It was you. You were the one who vandalized my school and All-Boys'."
Ruby put on a smug look, "So… you figured it out."
"It didn't occur to me until I got here and spotted you in that uniform. Menagerie Prep is the biggest competitor to All-Girls' and All-Boys', who else would say in big black letters that we don't stand a chance! So how long have been doing the school's dirty work?"
"Just last semester. I wasn't even a student yet, in fact, I was about to enter the school when I was offered the job of putting graffiti on the wall of your schools. That way, in case I somehow got caught I would have no connections to the school." she shrugged, "But since I didn't, I got in this semester."
Judy gnashed her teeth, "Do you have an idea how much fright you've caused? My classmates, my teachers, and every parent that had sent their daughter to the school were scared out of their wits! Including me! I was afraid my headmistress would've had to shut down the school!"
Ruby motioned, "The plan was for me to gain your trust, that's why I gave you that clue the motorcycle was at the scene mainly because I used it. I also dropped that paint can for you to find. They were little things, enough to make you trust me but not enough to solve the mystery. It was that simple."
Judy just gave a hard glance before saying, "You're really something else. It was bad enough that you were my best friend during that beating but this?" she shook her head.
"So now what are you going to do? Turn me in? You don't have any proof and even if you tell someone what I told you it would just be my word against yours." Ruby replied smugly.
Judy scowled, knowing how true that statement was and she was cursing herself for not bringing the carrot recorder pen Nick got for her on Clawsmas. Being the emotional bunny that she was she kept it safe in her room but it would have come in handy when Ruby practically confessed to her.
Ruby said, "I'm sorry it had to come to this. I was planning on giving you more clues for you to figure out but instead you come straight here and discover the truth. Why exactly are you here?"
"It doesn't matter. Especially now that I know who you truly are, Ruby Leapson. And I recall a certain promise was made and I expect you to uphold that promise. That you will never seek or speak to me again, and that you'll be gone from my life forever." on that final note, she left.
Once Judy and Dawn were back on the bus, was when she couldn't hold it in anymore and released her tears.
Nick was walking with his pals as they talked about the competition since not only would they have to go against Bogo and Leodore's group but Bobby Clawson and quite few other groups and soloists as well. They would really have to wow the judges and audience in the first round in order to make it to the next round and eventually the finals.
Ben said in worry, "I sure hope we can make it to the end."
Gideon pat the cheetah's arm, "Of course we will, we just have to keep practicing every afternoon from here on out."
They made their way outside as they kept talking when Nick noticed a certain bunny and sheep were heading back into their school and was looking pretty upset. In fact, it looked like Dawn had to support Judy from falling down. This got the fox feeling concern and called from over the wall.
"Carrots!"
Upon seeing him, Judy's face seem to brighten before she started crying again and rushed to him, "Oh, Nick!"
Nick climbed over the wall, landed on his feet and holded out his arms as she went into them and kept on crying.
"What happen?" he asked.
"I-I-I-w-w-was-a-a-at…"
He gave an apologetic smile, "I can't understand you, sweetheart…"
Dawn sighed, "She and I went over to check out the competition over at Menagerie Prep when she came across an old friend, three guesses who…"
Nick's eyes narrowed, "Ruby…"
Dawn nodded, "Apparently she was working with MP to get in and by doing that she was the one that wrote that horrible message on our wall."
His eyes widen, "How in the world do you know that?"
"She told Judy who told me on our way back here."
"She actually made a confession?" he asked Judy as she faced him.
Judy's tears were lessening but she still shuttered, "Y-yes… B-but I didn't have the pen with me so I couldn't record what she said. I h-have no way of bringing her to justice now…" she sniffled.
Nick stoked her ears as he softly said, "Hey, hey, we'll find some way of catching her. You have my vow."
That brought a tiny smile on her lips then she turned to see Finnick, Ben, and Gideon looking over the wall with Ben looking very happy at them. Nick saw them and frowned, "Do you mind? This is a personal moment."
Ben blushed and was repeatedly apologizing, Gideon just apologized and quickly left, while Finnick just rolled his eyes and went.
Nick told her, "Sorry about that, they just get bored easily."
Judy shook her head, "Its fine." she turned to Dawn and nodded her head.
Dawn started going, "I'll see you upstairs, Judy."
Once they were sure they were alone, they leaned in for a longing kiss before sitting on the ground with her back against his chest and his arms wrapped around her.
She let out a sigh, "What a day…"
He set his head on top of hers, "You said it. Though I'm pretty sure you had it worst then me…"
"Probably. How did it go by the way?"
"It wasn't the first round yet, the headmaster just wanted a run-through of all the acts. Next week is the first round."
"Are spectators allowed to come and watch?"
"Think you can make it?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world…" she touched his cheek affectionately.
He touched her paw in the same way feeling pure bliss at the moment. He wished that it would never end.
But unbeknownst to them was a rabbit watching and gnashing his teeth at the sight.