Here we are at chapter 6. Really making progress with this story. So, last time, Nick and Judy meet each other again and then left each other. Even after having a concussion, Judy tried to leave town by bus. Meanwhile, Nick visited Nick's voodoo priestess of an aunt who gave him a spiritual brew to bathe in. Now, both Nick and Judy are having lucid dreams and are facing each other's younger selves. What's gonna happen next? Let's find out, shall we?

Light is to Darkness what love is to fear, in the presence of one the other disappears.

There Judy was. In an old street basketball court in as the skies were completely light. In front of her was a young Nick with a basketball dribbling it in front of her. Judy was just beyond confused. Why was the world so bright? Why was she facing Nick as a kid? As weird as it was, Judy tried asking the little tod.

"Umm... do you know what going on here?" Judy asked the young fox. "Where the heck is everyone?"

Young Nick didn't respond he just turned around to the basketball rim. He tried to take a shot but the ball missed.

"Nick, is that you?" Judy asked hoping to get a response this time. Stilll nothing.

As Judy thought Nick was the only one here and he wasn't listening to him, someone else came in.

"Yo!" A boy's voice said.

Then, out came a tall teenage fox boy with a grey long sleeve shirt and blue jeans. It was Nick's friend David. Relieved to see another person, Judy tried speaking to him.

"Hey. Do you know what in the world is going on here?" Judy asked David. David didn't respond to Judy either. Just Nick.

"So, little man wearing my hoodie again thinks he can ball, huh?" David asked Nick with a smirk.

"Better than you, dude and I'm only half your height." Nick said confidently.

Judy then started putting things together. Bright world. Young Nick. No one talking to her. It was her powers again. It was allowing her to see what she guessed to be a memory of Nick's with David. She was just a spectator.

"Alright. Bet ya 5 bucks you can't make the next shot." David said.

"Bet ya 5 bucks I can." Nick said.

"Okay. You're on. But little advice, you come at the king, you best not miss." David said with a grin.

Nick dribbled the ball two times and made the shot. The ball goes right through the hoop.

"*whistles* Well, well. Guess you do got game." David said impressed.

"And now, I got 5 bucks out of your pocket." Nick said with a sly grin.

Judy was curious about this older fox. She thought that maybe he was Nick's older brother or something. Cause he sure acted like it. Then 2 more foxes came around. A male black fox wearing a jean jacket and red cap, and a male grey fox wearing a blue hoodie with the hood over his head. They were around the same age as David. These were David's two friends.

"What's going on, bros?" David said lifting his head up to his friend.

"We found him." The grey fox said.

"Found who?" David asked.

"The asshole who stole our car stereo." The grey fox said.

"Watch the language, man." David said still Nick's a young kid who shouldn't be hearing that kind of language.

"My bad." The grey fox said apologizing.

During this point, Nick just passing the ball around to the black fox.

"We found his car and we're gonna take back our radio." The grey fox said to David.

"You coming, man?" The black fox asked.

Nick watched and wondered what David answered would be. David wanted to get their car radio. But he liked doing the right thing more and breaking into a car wasn't the right thing. Besides, he tried to be a good example to Nick.

"Nah. I'm just gonna stay with Nicky here." David says as he takes the basketball.

Nick was happy. While he was much younger David and his friends, he was glad that David still wanted to hang out with him. David's friends shrugged and understood.

"Alright, man." The grey fox said.

"See ya, little man." The black fox said while patting Nick's head.

The two foxes then lefted. Leaving Nick and David alone... with Judy still watching.

"David, you didn't have to stay." Nick said.

"You're right. I didn't have to. I want to." David said smiling at Nick. "Besides, I own you this."

David digged into his pocket and took out a 5 dollar bill and gave it to Nick. Keeping his promise after Nick made the shot.

"Deal's a deal." David said.

"Wow! Thanks, David." Nick said happily.

"No problem, Nicky." David said patting Nick on the back.

"Double or nothing." Nick said with a sly grin.

"Oh. It's on now." David said with a smirk.

As the two play some more basketball, Judy couldn't help but actually smile a little. It was actually a warm sight to see. It said that Nick had a pretty good childhood. Something that she uses to have long ago. As she saw Nick try to make another shot, something happened. A big white flash. The next thing Judy knew, she was sent somewhere else. This time, she was in some forest as the basketball bounces by a table by a big tree's branches. Judy was now even more confused than before.

"Where am I now? What the hell is going on here?" Judy asked herself.

Judy's attention goes to the table in front of her. She sees candles, a bowl of fruit, flowers, and three different items. A sword, some rope, and a flintlock gun. From behind the tree, came out Nick at his normal age and in a white waistcoat.

"Nick?" Judy said. "Nick, can you hear me?"

Like before, Nick didn't respond. It was like before. But this time... it felt different. Not like a memory. More like his hopes. At least that what it seems like. Nick walked to the table and stopped near the gun.

"What is this?" Judy said confused by what was going on.

Nick picked out the flintlock which made Judy really concerned.

"What are doing, Nick?" Judy asked starting to feel chills.

Nick walked as he faced two adult foxes. It's was his parents, John and Francine. They smiled and seemed pretty proud of their son.

"Is that... Nick's parents?" Judy thought.

Nick then turned around and face a wolf in a cop uniform. It was the wolf that killed David. Nick pointed the gun at him ready to shoot.

"Nick, no. Whatever you're about to do, don't..." Judy said not wanting Nick to shoot someone.

Her words didn't get to Nick. He fired the gun and shot a bullet right through the wolf's chest. He then fell to the ground. Killed by the shot. This made Judy gasped. She felt that this meant Nick wanted to actually kill someone. She freaked out after she thought she almost killed someone. Yet, Nick did it so calmly. As he did, Nick held two 5 dollar bills in his paws. But on the side of them... were blood. As Nick turned to his parents, their smiles faded and they both fell to the ground. It was like they were killed too. Judy was gasping more from this site. Then sirens could be heard. It was the police and Nick looked scared. As officers with riot shields and bats come to the fox, Nick quickly runs away. Judy was scared by this too. It basically said, if Nick was to kill someone, the police would be after him.

Then another white flash happened. Once again, Judy was facing the table and Nick came from behind the tree. It looked like he was about to choose something else from the table.

"No. No. Not this again." Judy said not wanting to see anymore.

This time, Nick picked up the rope. The rope was tied into a Hangman's Noose. A knot is known for hanging someone and... suicide.

"Nick, don't. Whatever you're planning, it won't work." Judy pleaded.

As Nick held the rope he looked... lost... and hopeless. Then once again, they heard sirens. It was officers in riot uniforms again. Banging their riot shields with their bats chasing Nick. Once again, Nick makes a run for it. As the police chase Nick, Judy follows. The police switch from having bats to torches as they circled around Nick. As it looked like there was no way out, Nick looked and saw the rope hanging. If he was going to go out, he was going to go on on his own terms. He runs to the rope and... well... anyone could guess the rest. Judy covered her mouth and tears started to flow through her eyes after seeing that.

Then, once again, there was another white flash and Judy was facing the table again. Nick came behind the tree and was about to pick the sword from the table.

"NO!" Judy shouted out having enough. She still had tears in her eyes. "Nick, listen to me. You can't keep doing the same thing over and over again. The endgame will always be the same." While it didn't seem that Nick heard her, he did stop. "Please Nick, try something else. Anything else."

For the first time in her life, Judy felt that she wanted to help someone. She felt that she had to do something to help Nick. Then she started feeling something in her left paw. It was her dagger.

"My... dagger?" Judy thought. "What good will my dagger..."

She didn't know why, but it was like her powers were telling her to put the dagger on the table. So she walks up to the table and put the dagger down on it and then she stepped back. Nick then notices the dagger and reaches out to it. As he picks it up, it turns from a dagger of light to opened handcuffs. Nick then walked to the wolf with a scar on his face and put the handcuffs on him. The police came in again, but this time, they took the wolf away. It seems that this choice was the right choice. Judy took a deep breath, placed he paws where her heart was and looked relieved.

"Thank goodness." Judy said as she closed her eyes and was okay with this choice. As she opened her eyes again... Nick was gone. So was the table. "Hello? Nick, are you there? Anyone?"

Seems like Judy was alone again.

Meanwhile, having a similar situation, Nick was on the rooftop of the Roxxon Building in the dark with a young Judy. Nick never knew what Judy looked like as a kid, so she didn't recognize her.

"Umm... hello, little bunny. Do you... know what's going on?" Nick asked the little doe.

Young Judy didn't respond, but there was another voice that spoke.

"Judith, focus." A female voice went. "Stand straight."

"Yes, ma'am." Judy said standing up straight.

"Judith? Wait, Judy?" Nick said looking surprised.

He didn't realize that little bunny was Judy until he got a good look at her. He then looked down at her feet and realized that she was missing a shoe. Once he saw that, he knew it really was her.

"First position, plie, then pirouette." The voice went.

Judy stood, bent her knees, twirled around. She then repeated the process a second time, but slipped up after the second pirouette and fell down. Nick was caught off-guard and was concern about the little bunny.

"Darn it! Again. I'll get it right for sure." Judy said. She then got up with a determined look on her face. "No matter what, I'll keep work hard till I get it right."

Judy then dances some more, trying to get it all right. Nick wasn't really into ballet, but like seeing the young bunny dance and look so determined.

"Hmm. So I guess Carrots liked ballot. She was quite a cute little bunny." Nick thought.

As Judy dance, Nick saw some sparks coming from the neon sign. He also saw loose wires near a puddle of water. A puddle Judy was near. Since water conducts electricity, if Judy touches the water, she could get electrocuted.

"Hey! Watch out for the water! You'll get shocked!" Nick shouted out.

Judy didn't listen. Instead, she still just danced. A bit too close to the puddle. Nick quickly ran to the young Judy to save her.

"Watch out! Watch out! Watch out!" Nick shouted out hurrying to the little bunny.

As sparks start to light up from the wires, Nick used himself as a shield to cover Judy from getting hurt. A few sparks went off and the next thing Nick knew, his power activated and took him somewhere else. As the black mist around his body fades, he finds himself in a dark forest. The young Judy didn't seem to be with him. As Nick stood back up, he looked around to see where he was. He then spots something in the distance. A big glass box with guys in suits sitting by a table. Outside the box was a grey bunny in a black dress with her ears drooped down. It was Judy in her normal age. Nick walks over and stands by Judy, a bit curious about the glass box.

"Who are they?" Nick asked expecting to get an answer from Judy. But no response.

Nick then looked to the right end of the table and saw a male rabbit. The rabbit was Judy's dad, Stu. But... he was strapped to his chair.

"Who's that? Is that... is that your dad?" Nick asked.

Whatever the businessmen were talking about, they seem to reject whatever Stu had giving him. The ones with thumbs were given thumbs down. Then one of them picked up a water pitcher. As he does, two other mammals held Stu down as the one holding him, they covered his mouth with a sheet of paper and poured water on him. This was a form of torture that can suffocate a person. Nick was shocked by this. This was savage behavior in one form or the other.

"Hey! HEY!" Nick shouted out as he dashed to the glass box. He then starts banging out it. "STOP IT! YOU CAN'T DO THAT! YOU'LL KILL HIM!" Nick then turns to Judy. "Judy, why are you just standing there? He's your dad, right? Do something!"

Judy's nose twitched, but she didn't respond. She just took a few steps back and ran away.

"Judy? Judy, wait!" Nick shouted out before running after her.

This felt really familiar. The first time it was to chase Judy to get back his wallet. Now he was chasing her through the forest to stop her from running away from her problems.

"Judy, why are you running?" Nick shouted out. Judy didn't listen, she still just ran. "Judy! JUDY, STOP!"

As Nick continued to chase Judy, a big flash happened. Next thing Nick knew, his was in front of the glass box again. This time, Judy's mom, Bonnie, was inside too. She wasn't tied up but it did seem like she was arguing with the other businessmen. It seemed like she was defending her husband.

"Is that... Judy's mom?" Nick thought. As Nick looked back at Judy, he saw that Judy already starting to make a run for it again. "She running again?! This bunny..."

Once again, Nick chased Judy down. As Judy tried to run as fast as she could, she fell into a mud pit. Even with her sinking more and more, she still desperately tried to move forward. As if it was the only way.

"Judy, why do you keep running? What do you think will be there for you on the other side? Cause I'm telling you, there will be nothing for you." Nick asked the sinking bunny.

Judy tried using a branch to get out, but it broke and Judy completely sunk into the mud. Then, it happened again. A big flash and Nick showed up in front of the glass box again. This time, he sees young Judy inside. She was screaming, shouting, and trying to free Stu.

"DADDY! DADDY! LET HIM GO!" The young Judy shouted out as she tried releasing her father. Two bigger mammals then pulled her away. Little Judy made a fuss. "NO! NOOO!"

As they put Judy down in a corner, one on the mammals picked up a pitcher again. But time, the picture was red. Most likely, blood. Still, they were going to do the same form of torture on Stu again. Nick's paws were holding the sides of his head. He couldn't bear to see that again. Once again, he tried to break the glass. This time, he used his claws. But he wasn't even leaving a scratch.

"BREAK! BREAK, DAMNIT!" Nick shouted out. He then turned to Judy once more. "Judy, do you not see what's going on? Judy, what aren't you helping? Judy?! JUDY?!"

Once again, Judy stepped back and was about to run away again. But Nick... he had enough of it.

"STOP!" Nick shouted out. As he did, a black mist from his right paw came out and surrounded Judy, preventing her from running away. A power that was new to Nick, but he didn't care enough to look into it. As he stopped Judy, everything else seems to stop too. "NO MORE! NO MORE RUNNING AWAY!" Nick then started to look tearfully. "Please? Please don't run away from what's in front of you. You have to try something else. Anything else. Just don't run."

This time, it seems like Nick's words were heard by Judy. Judy then summons her dagger. Nick's black mist then starts to disappear around Judy. This time, instead of moving back, Judy moved forward. Nick stepped back as she carried the dagger. It was also the first he saw Judy's power. As she faced the glass she used her dagger to cut the glass opened.

When she did, once again, there was another big flash. But it was different this time. Everyone else, except for Nick, disappeared. Nick looked left and right and realized no one else was here.

"Hello? Judy? Are you still here? Anyone?" Nick asked anyone who could hear him.

Nick was alone in the dark forest.

Both Nick and Judy walked through the forests they were in. Both hoping to either find a way out or find something. They both stopped walking when they saw two things. For Nick, he saw a white door with a young Judy, wearing a white robe, in front of it. For Judy, she saw a black door with a young Nick, wearing a black robe, in front of it. This day was getting weird and weird for the two of them.

"Hello, little Nick." Judy said trying to talk to the little Nick. "You probably don't hear me, tho."

Nick didn't say anything but he did move out the way of the door and pointed at the door's knob.

"You... want me to open the door?" Judy asked.

Nick simply nodded his head. Judy was a bit surprised that it wasn't like before and Nick didn't seem to notice her.

"Okay..." Judy said.

She walked to the door and opened it up. On the other side was what looked like a nice-looking church. The walls were painted white and there was a lot of benches. It was way different from the church she called home.

"What's all this?" Judy asked.

Young Nick then tugged at Judy's arm.

"What is it, little Nicky?" Judy asked the young tod.

Nick then walked forward and pointed as if he wanted to show Judy something.

"What do you want to show me?" Judy asked. Nick didn't say anything. He just kept pointing and wanting Judy to follow. "Okay. Okay. I'll follow you."

As Judy followed little Nick, real Nick was still in front of young Judy.

"Umm... hey there, Mini-Carrots." Nick greeting the little bunny awkwardly.

Young Judy then stepped away from the door and pointed at the knob of the door.

"I'm guessing you want me to open that door." Nick said.

The little bunny happily nodded. This day was already weird enough. So Nick thought he might as well open the door and venture into the unknown. As he opens the door, he finds himself into the inside of an abandon and beatdown church. But not just anyway church. The church Judy calls home.

"Yeesh! This place has seen better days." Nick said as he looks at the beat-up church.

Young Judy then holds Nick's paw and tries to get him to follow her.

"What? Do you want to take me somewhere?" Nick asked Judy. Judy nodded. "Okay, little bunny. Lead the way."

Young Judy still held Nick's paw and led him to a stained glass window. Nick was confused on why the little bunny took him to this.

"This is what you wanted me to see?" Nick asked young Judy. She just simply nodded. He looks at the stained glass again. Nothing really seemed special about it. "Why... exactly did you..." As Nick turns around, Judy was gone. She just disappeared... again. "Carrots? Little Judy?"

Meanwhile, Judy was led to a stained glass window that looked exactly like the one Nick was facing.

"You wanted to show me this?" Judy asked the little fox. Little Nick just nodded. "It's... pretty and reminds me of the ones in my church but I don't see why..." The second Judy looked away from Nick, he was gone... again. "Nick? Nicky?"

While little Nick did vanish, Judy did notice something about the stained glass. It looked like she could see a figure from the other side. Her left paw then started to light up. Nick, from his side, also noticed a figure from the other side of the glass and his right paw started to emit his black mist. It was like someone from the other side was calling out to them. Each other. Both Nick and Judy reached out to the glass as their powers emit more and more energy. Then... they woke up.

Judy woke up being back on the bus she got on while Nick woke up being back in the tub. They were out of their inner mind experiences and back in the real world.

As Judy is still on the bus, the black bear bus driver says "Alright, we're about to start our long drive. Everyone in their seats?"

The bus was about to leave for a town outside of the city of Zootopia. Judy was about to get what she wanted. Except, she didn't really want to anymore.

"WAIT!" Judy shouted out getting out of her seat and walking over to the front. "I need to get off this bus."

"Really? You don't want to leave?" The bear asked.

"Yes. I changed my mind." Judy said to the driver.

She then got out of the bus. As she got out of the bus, she got out her phone and texted her mother for something.

Meanwhile, Nick drained the bathtub, dried himself, then wrapped a towel around his waist. He then looked at his reflection in the mirror.

"Man, that was all so weird. All that stuff... and Judy." Nick thought what was with all that. "What did it all mean?"

Nick really had a lot to think about after his bath. Meanwhile, Officer Fangmeyer was out on night patrol. She was currently on a stakeout. Then she got a call on her phone. Since she had nothing else going on, she picked up the phone.

"Hello?" Fangmeyer said to her caller.

"Officer Fangmeyer, this is Judy Hopps." The caller said sounding a bit frightened.

Once Fangmeyer heard the name, her attention was peaked.

"I... got your number from my mom. If... if you're really serious about helping me, if you meant what you said, then I might consider meeting with you." Judy said.

"Okay." Fangmeyer said.

"Is tomorrow okay with you?" Judy asked.

"Tomorrow is fine. Just give me the time and place." Fangmeyer said.

"Alright." Judy said still sounding scared.

After telling Fangmeyer the time and location, Judy hanged up the phone. Fangmeyer laid back on her car seat after hearing from Judy. The way Judy sound on the phone, she must have used all the courage she had just to call her.

The next day, in the middle of the afternoon, school had ended and Nick was walking with his friends, Finnick and Ben.

"Finn, I should thank your auntie." Nick said.

"You seem better." Finnick said.

"I feel better. In a way, at least." Nick said.

"We never asked. Did the bath work?" Ben asked sounding curious how things went.

"It... kinda did." Nick told him. As he said that, they passed an old church. For some reason, Nick eyeballed quite a bit.

"Did it gave you the answers you needed to hear?" Finnick asked.

"Honestly, no. I think it was for someone else." Nick stated.

"Someone else?" Finnick asked. "What did you see, man?"

"I don't think I should say." Nick replied.

"Come on, Nick. Tell us." Ben said wanting to know.

"No can do. Gonna keep it to myself." Nick said.

"Fine. Your journey is yours. Just know, we are willing to tag along if you let us." Finnick said.

"Thanks, guys." Nick said with a smile.

Meanwhile, back at Malagoo's shop, she was up to something. She was working on a small black plastic craving. After she was finished, it was a small black figurine of a fox. The weird thing is... the fox looked exactly like Nick. She then places the figurine on a countertop beside a bunch of other dolls and figurines. It seems that she had an interest in Nick and the powers he had.

"Now... where's your other half?" Malaloo said to herself.

Later that night, Nick was laying on his bed and looking at his ceiling. He kept thinking about Judy, that spiritual bath, and the church. He felt that he knew he could get some answers now. So he opened up his room's window and snuck out of the house.

Meanwhile, Judy was in a police car, talking with Officer Fangmeyer. She actually opened up and told her everything. Not just about her attack, but even her minor crimes of thievery. That didn't really seem to bother Fangmeyer. She just felt bad for Judy

"And that's... everything." Judy said with her ears drooped down.

"You poor girl..." Fangmeyer said. "Well, as I thought, your attack really was self-defense. As for taking his wallet, do you have it with you?"

"Right here." Judy said handing over Nolan's wallet. "I didn't use any of the money or his cards. It's all there. I swear."

"If that's the case, I got all I need." Fangmeyer said. "You can go now."

Judy was stunned to hear Fangmeyer say that. Even after telling the truth, she still expects to be taking in.

"That's it?" Judy asked still in disbelief.

"That's it." Fangmeyer said. "Listen, I... read your files and know about your father. You had a rough life and you have been in a living hell. I'm not about to be someone who adds on to that. However, know this. Other officers, they aren't as nice as I am and they wouldn't hesitate in putting a rabbit in jail. I'm not gonna tell you how to live your life. But I am gonna ask you this. Change your ways... even just a little bit."

"I'll... take that to heart." Judy said.

"Oh... and for what's it worth, I'm sorry." Fangmeyer said apologetically.

"Thanks..." Judy said to Fangmeyer.

After that, she got out of the car and made her way back to her church. As Fangmeyer watched Judy leave, she still couldn't help but feel bad for her. No one should have it as bad as Judy does.

As Judy made it back to her church sanctuary, she was deep in her thoughts. Was it time to change her ways? Was she given a second chance to do things right? Should she stop being a pickpocket? It was all a lot to take in. Especially since was still taking in that dream she had yesterday about Nick and everything.

As she walks to her drawer, she realized... she wasn't alone.

"Carrots..."

Judy turns around and is stunned by who it was. It was Nick. Somehow, Nick was able to find out where Judy was.

"I think... we have a lot we need to talk about." Nick said.

End of Chapter 6