Hey guys, this chapter (probably the next chapter or two as well) will be the 3,000 view special, so enjoy!
Chapter 13 Sheriff Wilde and Lady Hopps
The train steamed into the station of the town of Zootopia, it was June of 1878, and the town had recently been founded.
The small rabbit smiled at the sight of the town, as it was the most socially advanced place in the world, hence the name. Stepping off of the train, she walked towards the nearest shop.
"Excuse me, sir, but would you know where the sheriff's office is?"
The wolf looked over the counter at her, "Why certainly, miss, once you go out the door, take a right, he is a few buildings down, you can't miss him."
She smiled, "Thank you Mr…"
The wolf responded, "Papyrus."
Judy looked about the building, "What do you make Mr. Papyrus?"
The wolf grinned, "Spaghetti, It's my specialty."
The bunny looked up at the wolf, "I shall come and try some soon, but for now, I must say farewell."
The wolf looked at her with his head cocked, "You know you don't have to talk so uppity, we don't mind around here."
The rabbit hummed in acknowledgement as she left to find the sheriff. Nicholas Wilde was written on the door to the sheriff's office.
"Drat, I've missed him."
The bunny was then distracted by snoring coming from her left. A fox in chaps, boots, a vest and an old hat was sleeping in a chair on the porch.
"E-excuse me sir, but do you know where the sheriff is?" No response. "SIR!?"
The vulpine fell out of his chair, but almost as quickly as he hit the floor, he rebounded with his pistol drawn.
"Oh, sorry to have startled you."
The fox eased greatly, holstering his peacemaker.
"It's no problem, miss, I'm just a jumpy, gun-slinging sheriff."
The bunny's eyes widened as she hadn't missed her chance to talk to him.
"I-I was wondering about the room you had for rent."
Nick thought it over, "No charge, miss."
The small rabbit protested, "I couldn't possibly be such a burden on you."
The sheriff smirked, "Okay, the price will be you telling me your name."
The small mammal protested, "That is a ridiculous request, what will my name help you with financially?"
Nick retorted, "Name, or no room."
She finally gave in. "J-Judith Laverne Hopps."
Nick's smile broadened, "A pleasure to meet you, Judy, I am Nicholas Piberius Wilde, the sheriff."
Judy giggled as he bowed in a showy manner. "Quite the charmer you are, Mr. Wilde."
Nick cocked his head, "Please, call me Nick." Putting his hat back on his head he asked, "Is there any baggage I can help you with?"
She nodded and lead him to two bunny sized chests with clothes and personal effects in them.
"I would be happy to help you with them." Nick scooped both trunks onto his shoulders and proceeded to his house. "Come along, I will give you the grand tour of the place."
The duo walked merrily back to his house. Judy marveled at the two-story house, it was well crafted, and the attention to detail was amazing.
"I built it over the few years I've been here, just finished it two months ago."
Judy ran her hand along the porch railing, feeling how smooth it was from his meticulous work. "It's beautiful, I wish I had a house like this."
Nick looked over his shoulder with a sincere look, "I'm sure you will be big, enough so to buy five houses like mine."
Nick showed her every part of the house, even the plumbing that his friend had put in, as he liked the inventor's idea of running water.
"What is a cute little rabbit such as yourself doing in these parts, if I may ask?"
Judy blushed, "I was hoping to…well…join the law enforcement system." She braced for laughter, but heard none.
"Well I have been looking for a deputy, and you seem willing and able, but is that the whole reason?"
Judy was dumbfounded, as female rights were not as high as male rights, and that included jobs, yet this fox was prepared to deputize her.
"Well, my mother and father were not fully supportive of my whims, and I thought it best to distance myself a bit, as to keep from being smothered with their constant visits with "possible suitors" as they put it."
Nick gave a haughty laugh, "Now that would drive anyone away, and I can see why you came here, even though the nation hasn't caught on, this town is on the up and up with mammal's rights, especially female."
Judy was happy to hear this, "How far have you gotten with the equality movement?"
Nick thought it over, "Voting and land ownership are done, but we're getting the paperwork for females to be able to take up certain jobs that are deemed a male's job, these bosses are tough people to crack, but we are working towards a better town."
Nick glanced at Judy's dress, "Did you only pack dresses, or is that the only thing that you could obtain?"
The bunny blushed, "The latter."
Nick gave a small grin, "If you'll excuse me for a minute." Judy nodded and Nick proceeded into his room, rummaging through his items. "Now, Judith Laverne Hopps, Place your right paw in my left."
Judy did as she was told, and felt his paw was unnaturally cold.
"Do you, Judith Laverne Hopps, swear to uphold the duties that come with this station and to protect all citizens no matter what species?"
Judy threw her arms around Nick's neck, "Yes I do, I swear on my life."
Nick reluctantly pried the bunny off, blushing slightly, "I hereby deputize you."
Judy saw a small six-point deputy star in his paw. Nick slowly advanced, looking Judy in the eye, as he pinned her star on her dress.
"Now, let's eat." Nick made a few dishes of protein rich vegetables, and set a pie out for dessert.
"We will get you better suited clothes for law enforcement tomorrow, and I'll get you a pistol, we have a few gun-slingers that come by every now and then, but they're all six feet under."
Judy looked a bit disheartened to hear that he had to duel.
"If I may ask, why do they come?"
Nick sighed, "You ever hear of the dead-eye deputy?"
Judy's face lit up, "Yes, the legendary deputy, who could out duel and out shoot any crook at any distance, why?" Nick stood up and motioned up and down at himself, and it dawned on her.
"Goodness, who would think that I would be in the same room as the dead-eye deputy, I'M HIS DEPUTY."
Nick looked upset as he began to turn away. "Wait, what's wrong? Is it something I said?"
Nick gave a halfhearted smirk, "No, Judy, you just get sick of dueling after a while, every few weeks at noon a poor sap that could have been something grabs his gun, trying to prove he's deadlier and scarier than anyone else."
Judy cocked her head, "Why noon?"
Nick breathed a chuckle, "The sun, it's not in either person's eyes at noon, I believe in a fair fight, even if they are trying to kill me."
Judy marveled at the honor in his ways, "Can you teach me how to shoot?"
Nick thought it over, "Fine, but you gotta promise to let me do all the dueling, these gunfighters aren't just anyone, and they will kill you." Judy nodded. "Good, I don't want a dead deputy just because you were trying to prove yourself to me."
Judy noticed a scar on his neck as he turned to go wash up for bed, and almost telepathically he pointed to it, "That was when my sheriff was killed in front of me, they shot me in the neck, but missed everything, and in a rage I killed them all, every one of those poor bastards. I still have nightmares."
Judy wished she could help him, but there was something more, almost as if she felt a bit more for him.
Nick went to bed, and was aware of a dusty crossroads. Looking around, he saw an old wolf with a sheriff's badge.
"Sheriff Danny, get up, fight, do something!"
The wolf looked at Nick solemnly, "It's up to you, son."
The wolf closed his eyes as the badger behind him fired three rounds into the back of his head.
"YOU SON'S OF VIXENS I'M GOING TO SEE YOU HANGED!" The weasel behind him laughed and shot nick once in the neck.
Nick came to after all the bandits had cleared out, but checking himself, found that they had yet to strip him of his gun.
"I will see them beg for mercy." Nick looked at the saloon, and sure enough, one of the bandits passed the window. Nick wrapped his bandanna around his face, heading for the saloon. The bandits didn't have time to react when Nick pushed through the saloon doors, wielding two pistols, as he shot all of them.
Nick looked down to see the badger that shot his sheriff crawling towards the door, and in rage, grabbed his fur on his head, pulling it back as he placed his barrel to the badger's neck.
"Mercy, please, mercy."
Nick growled, "I have run out of mercy." Nick shot three holes in the badger's throat, watching as he bled out on the floor.
Nick came to his senses an hour after he was one rampaging, and he immediately ran outside, emptying his stomach on the dusty road.
The bartender walked out, "First time killing, huh?" Nick responded with more retching. "You'll get used to it, not right now, but you will. You did good today, now go wash off and take a rest, we need to get a new sheriff, and you need to attend a funeral."
Nick was suddenly aware of a paw on his chest, he was in his house. Quickly his hand went for his gun, but he was stopped when he heard a voice.
"I-I heard you whimpering, w-were you having another nightmare?"
Nick was hesitant, but he didn't want to keep secrets, "Yes." Judy's paw made him feel secure.
"W-would you like for me to sleep in here tonight?"
Nick's face grew red and his heart pounded, "W-well I d-don't think t-that would be a g-good idea."
Judy's hand started to pull away, and with his night vision, he could see her face fall, quickly he pulled her close to him, "I'm terrified, I remembered everything so clearly."
Judy hugged the shaking vulpine closer, "N-Nick, I think I might lo…" She was cut off by a kiss.
"Oh, um, I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me…Judy?"
Judy simply hugged him tighter, "It's okay, I feel the same way, but won't we be outcasts?"
Nick breathed a small chuckle. "We live in the town of Zootopia, this is the safe haven for outcasts."
Nick and Judy laid in their bed, holding each other close until sleep finally took them.