The train arrived on time. It was half past five in the morning when Stuart and Bonnie Hopps stood in warm clothes on the platform and saw their beloved daughter Judy walking paw-in-paw with her beloved Nicholas Wilde. And behind them, walking arm-in-arm, were the funniest couple the Hoppses had ever seen. A small, chubby, bespectacled opossum in overalls and a fuzzy sweater, very mismatched, and a slender and beautiful young coyote lady, also wearing spectacles, sporting a lovely trench coat and pink scarf, and a pink beret that matched her scarf. They were all carrying suitcases.
"Hello everyone!" said Judy as she hugged her mother and father.
"So glad you arrived safely!" said the parents as they hugged Judy and then Nick.
Then they turned to the newcomers.
"Hail, well met, dear Hoppses," said Amber.
"Greetings and salutations, honoured Hopps family!" said Garth.
Stu smiled. What a funny little guy, he thought.
"You must be Garth O' Possum, the computer genius that helped crack the case of the carnival hypnotist," he said.
"The same," said Garth, shaking Stu's paw and gallantly kissing Bonnie's paw. "And this is my lovely patch of heaven on Earth, the light of my life and flame of my heart, Miss Amber Beverly Latrans."
"Mr Hopps, so very enchanted to meet you," said Amber, allowing Stu to kiss her paw. "And Mrs Hopps, so lovely to be here in your wonderful hometown," said Amber as she hugged and kissed Bonnie.
"We are so glad you decided to come and help our humble little town in this time of great need," said Bonnie. "Do come with us, you must come and share breakfast with our family."
"It would be our pleasure, dear Mrs Hopps," said Amber.
"Let's just leave our suitcases at the inn and…"
"The inn? Oh, surely you're joking, Mr O' Possum!" said Stu, patting his back jovially. "You'll both be staying with us! You are our guests for as long as you like!"
"Oh, Mr Hopps, that is very generous of you," said Amber. "We do not wish to impose…"
"It would be an honour to have you in our humble home," said Bonnie. "A friend of Judy and Nick's is a friend of ours. We'll be all together like one big happy family."
It was the warmth and hospitality of the peaceful folk like the Hoppses that reminded city folk like Nick, Garth and Amber that kindness existed in the world. And that as long as there was kindness in the world, no matter how small, there was hope.
To say that the Hopps children were fond of their new houseguests would be an understatement. They were enthralled!
Garth had asked permission to install his computer working station in the loft of the barn, and Stu was only too happy to comply. There was no harvest to store in the barn, so it felt good to have someone in there with a cheery fire burning in a metal keg to warm up the place. Amber had installed her lab in the barn as well, so she could be in a large airy space and close to her sweetheart.
The children loved to watch them work. Garth was so funny when he jumped about up on the loft, latching his long prehensile tail on the rafters and swinging dangerously around with all the skill of a trapeze artist. And Auntie Amber, as the kids had named her, was the most beautifully feminine and dainty figure they had ever seen. The girls were fascinated by her giggles, lady-like demeanour and her soft, sweet voice. She was like a porcelain figure, so slender and perfect. Even Kevin, who would normally dismiss all girly things as 'sissy stuff', couldn't help feeling a little thump in his seven-year old chest when Amber kissed his cheek and introduced herself upon her arrival at the Hopps farm.
Penny was perhaps the most fascinated by Amber's work. She helped the coyote girl with everything, being very careful and imitating every move the lovely chemist did, even to the point of walking like her and swaying her hips ever so slightly.
"I'd love to be a chemist when I finish school, Auntie Amber," said Penny on that lovely Saturday afternoon as they worked with samples of soil taken from all the farms that had been affected, which were now eight. "I'd be able to help so many people, just like you."
"I know the dean of the university personally, she and my mother went to school together and she's the godmother of my eldest brother," said Amber. "I can certainly talk to her about a scholarship, any eager young minds who wish to study and follow their dreams should be encouraged."
Penny hugged Amber very tight and buried her face into her lab coat. She smelt divine, like perfume and kindness. Amber hugged Penny back, feeling that she had found more than just a friend: she had found a little sister and a future colleague.
"You and I will be the best of friends forever and ever, Penny, darling," said Amber.
Penny could only hug her and breathe in her lovely scent.
Kevin was equally fascinated by Garth's work. He spent the afternoon asking a million questions, all of which Garth answered happily. It was quite like two children playing computer scientists, only with real computers and with actual high-tech computation skills.
"When I grow up, I'm gonna be a hacker just like you, Uncle Garth!"
"Kevin, dear," said Bonnie Hopps, flushing lightly as she overheard.
"Oh, that's alright, Mrs Hopps. Call a spade a spade, I always say," said Garth. "So, you wanna learn the tools of the trade, Kev? Stick with your Uncle Garth, he'll show you the ropes!"
Judy looked upon the scene with a smile of absolute joy on her face. They were truly like one big family, working together to solve this case and make those who would harm the good folk of Bunny Burrow and the other farming communities pay for their crimes.
"It's the little things like this that make one proud to serve and protect," said Nick as he and Judy stood in the doorway of the barn, watching their two friends work away with their little assistants.
Suddenly, Nick felt a small paw tugging at his sleeve. He turned around, smiled and knelt down to be closer to the sweet little bunny who was tugging for his attention.
"Uncle Nick?" said Bianca. "My teacher says we have to find three different kinds of leaves for our homework. And I wanna make my leaves extra special. Can you help me find some really nice leaves?"
"Of course, little ace," said Nick.
"Judy, can you come too?"
"Of course, sweetheart," said Judy, rubbing her dear sister's cheeks with her warm paws.
"Daddy said we can look over there, near the clearing just after our apple orchard," said Bianca.
"Well, hop on board, little ace, and let's fly away to the quest for the homework leaves!" said Nick, putting her on his shoulders and walking across the empty carrot fields towards the orchard.
Judy giggled as she followed, watching with joy as Bianca and Nick bonded. Even in the midst of a crisis and under the shadow of uncertainty, she knew that they would always find a way to pull through, with hope and affection, and love. Always with love.
Nick and Bianca walked side-by-side, Bianca holding Nick's paw, as they searched for interesting-looking leaves in the clearing. Judy scanned the nearby branches to see if there were any leaves that would make for a good homework project.
"Lookit that one, Uncle Nick!" said Bianca, pointing at one close to the middle of the clearing "It looks like a star."
"Yes!" said Nick. "I bet Teacher will love that one."
He knelt down and looked at the little bunny.
"Betcha you can't go and get it and come back in ten seconds," said Nick playfully.
"Betcha I can!" said Bianca excitedly.
"Well, then…ready…set…go!"
Bianca giggled happily as she ran off towards the middle of the clearing and Nick counted.
"Ten….nine…eight…"
Bianca stopped and picked up the leaf.
"Got it, Uncle Nick!
And then a whooshing sound…and the ground opened beneath her!
"AAH!"
"BIANCA!"
Nick felt the world move in slow motion as he ran towards her. Not long ago he'd had a nightmare like this, and it had just come true. A large, yawning round hole had appeared where the middle of the clearing had been. And hanging on a root jutting out on the side of the hole was…
"HELP!"
Bianca was holding on for dear life, dangling over a black pit!
"Bianca! Hold still!" said Nick, kneeling down and reaching for her.
"UNCLE NICK! HEELLPP…!"
And the root broke. Bianca plummeted down for all of a tenth of a second…before a strong paw grabbed her paw firmly and pulled her up out of the dreadful pit.
Judy came running and arrived just in time to see Nick pulling her little sister away from the hole and hugging her tightly to his chest, kissing her little head comfortingly.
"It's okay, sweetheart. You're safe now. I've got you."
Bianca's frightened sobs were muffled by Nick's warm embrace.
"Uncle Nick…" she sobbed. "I was so scared…"
"I've got you now, little ace," said Nick reassuringly. "You're safe. Uncle Nick has you."
Judy hugged the two of them, adding her warmth and comfort to Nick's. Bianca's sobs soon subsided and she calmed down and stopped trembling.
"Come on, little ace," said Nick. "Let's get you home. I bet Auntie Amber will be glad to make you a cup of hot chocolate."
He wiped her tears with her finger and kissed her forehead as he and Judy carried her back to the house.
Bianca was feeling better. Her Auntie Amber had made her a cup of warm chocolate and was now sitting beside her on the sofa in the living room, hugging her and giving her lots of nuzzles. Her Uncle Nick was beside her too, with his fluffy tail wrapped around her like a warm scarf. Her mother and father were sitting on the floor in front of the sofa, grateful and teary-eyed, comforting their littlest daughter.
The whole family was sitting in the living room, gathered around the sofa. Bianca felt secure in the bosom of her family. Big sister Judy sat beside Uncle Nick, and funny Uncle Garth sat beside Auntie Amber, his kind face making her smile and feel that she would never be in any danger ever again.
"Thank you, Uncle Nick," said Bianca, looking up adoringly at the fox and hugging his waist with her little arms. "You're my hero."
Everyone concurred in silence. Nick had once again saved the family from what would have been a devastating event. Nobody wanted to imagine what they'd be going through if Nick had not been there to save Bianca from a deadly fall.
And in the silence of the living room, they suddenly heard an amazing baritone voice singing. It took them a few seconds to realise it was Garth!
"Here he comes, that Mighty Fox! Coming to vanquish the foe, with mighty blow!"
"Aww, c'mon, Garth," said Nick.
And a beautiful, melodious soprano voice answered, like the singing of an angel.
"So don't be afraid anymore! For things won't be like they've been before!"
"You too, Amber?" said Nick. "I give up. What am I gonna do with you two?"
Everyone giggled, including little Bianca. Garth and Amber stood up and walked to the middle of the room, posing dramatically and gesticulating to the lyrics of their song.
"Here he comes to save the day! Thank goodness Mighty Fox in on his way!"
The children were enthralled. And so were the grown-ups, for that matter.
"Just like a bolt from the blue, with a heart that's true!" sung Amber.
"Aw, shucks, you guys," said Nick. Everyone giggled and laughed.
"Fighting evil, fighting crime!"
"And always there in the nick of time!"
They winked upon the word 'nick'. Everyone got their wordplay and applauded.
"Mighty Fox is on his way! And he will prove that crime will never pay!"
Judy looked up at Nick and noticed his lip trembling and his eyes becoming damp.
"So let the trumpet players plaaay…"
"..for Mighty Fox is here todaaaayy!"
Everyone applauded delighted at the amazing song! Garth and Amber held paws and bowed before their audience.
Judy saw Nick's face, streaming with mirthful tears. Bianca noticed too.
"Aww, don't cry, Uncle Nick," said the little bunny and hugged her uncle tightly.
Nick couldn't hold back a sniffle. Two tears rolled down his cheeks as he let it out.
"Awww, honey bun," said Judy.
She hugged him snugly together with her little sister. He must have cried more this past week than he had in twenty years, and she knew that it had done him well to be surrounded by her loving family and such wonderful friends as Garth and Amber.
"You guys…are the best," said Nick, taking a deep breath and wiping his eyes with his handkerchief.
"You're a hero, Nick," said Garth. "Cape and theme song and all. Bianca's drawing on the fridge is proof!"
Everyone laughed happily. After a long while, Bonnie went to the kitchen to get supper ready, and Amber took Bianca in her arms and turned to all the younger bunnies.
"Who wants Auntie Amber to read you a story?" she asked sweetly.
All the bunnies said 'Me!', even the older ones like Penny and Peter.
Amber and Garth walked to the girls' room followed by all the children, Amber carrying Bianca. As they disappeared down the corridor, Judy and Nick stood side-by-side and looked at each other.
"Looks like we have some investigating to do," said Nick.
"That we do, Mighty Fox," said Judy.
The sun was low when Judy and Nick approached the gaping hole in the ground in the middle of the clearing. Upon closer inspection, they noticed that it had once been covered with a thin carpet of leaves and twigs. When Bianca stood on the fake ground, her weight made it collapse.
"Okay," said Judy, taking her supplies out of her bag. "Just a quick look. We don't know what's down there."
"Right," said Nick.
Judy took a headlamp out of her bag and put it on her head. Then she offered one to Nick. Nick smiled.
"Thanks, but I can manage without."
Judy had forgotten, for the second time in a year, that he could see in the dark. For a fleeting moment she envied his natural ability.
"Alright," said Judy, stashing the headlamp and taking out the bungee cable she had brought from old Cosgrove's former warehouse. "Let's tie a stone to the end and see how far down it goes."
They did. Carefully, they lowered the bungee cable into the hole until it touched the bottom. They pulled the cable back up and measured the depth of the pit.
"Not as deep as I thought," said Judy. "Nine metres, and some change."
"Still a dangerous drop," said Nick. "And you say this wasn't here before?"
"No, we used to play in this clearing all the time. This hole is new," said Judy.
"I'll bet you a cup of Amber's hot chocolate and a plate of your mother's currant cookies that this is connected to Terra Firma and the murdered crops," said Nick.
"My thoughts exactly," said Judy as she took a metal stake and hammered it firmly into the ground beside the hole, attaching the bungee cable to it securely. "Let me go first."
Judy switched on her headlamp and descended slowly along the bungee cable into the hole. It was clean and dug with precision. Definitely not natural.
She touched the ground at the bottom and surveyed the area with her headlamp. There was a tunnel that went almost horizontally towards the farm. She shone light into the tunnel but it was too long to see the end.
Judy tugged on the rope three times, and shortly Nick descended and was beside her.
"Check it out, Nick," said Judy. "Someone's been tunnelling under the farm. Let's see how far it goes."
They followed the tunnel cautiously, taking it slow and checking all around them.
It seemed to go on forever, until…
"A fork," said Nick.
"Yes, and one goes south, towards the Benteen farm across the road," said Judy. "Dad told me they were the next to have their crops fail."
"Hey…what's that?"
Judy turned around, and her headlamp shone on something metallic.
They walked closer and inspected it. It was a machine.
It was difficult to describe. It was like a cross between a drill and a bulldozer, yellow and with danger lines around the mobile parts. White letters on its side read Burr-O-Matic 9000.
And then, like a flame in his mind, Nick remembered something.
"That sound!" said Nick.
"Huh?" said Judy.
"Remember last Saturday? When I woke up in the middle of the night and heard a rumbling sound?"
"Yes…ah! Of course!"
Judy realised it immediately.
"They were burrowing under the ground with this machine!" said Judy. "That's what you heard! It was too low for us to hear, but your ears could pick it up!"
"Exactly!" said Nick. "And who better to burrow beneath the farms than a mole!"
Judy remembered! She had seen the mole at the Bunny Burrow Railway Station on Wednesday, the same day Nick left for Zootopia.
"That mole, George Jenkins!" said Judy. "He must have tunnelled under the farm on Saturday night and every night afterwards! And who knows how many nights before!"
"Moles know the earth better than anyone! It's in their blood," said Nick. "So he must be the one killing the crops somehow! And I'll just bet…"
Nick walked closer to the machine and, sure enough, he saw a spraying mechanism. It was very much like an irrigation machine, but instead of water, the translucent tank was filled with…
"Bingo!" said Nick as he showed Judy the viscous, orange liquid inside the tank.
"This is it!" said Judy. "We have enough here, Nick! We can definitely use this as evidence!"
"Yes…only…"
Nick paused for a moment then continued.
"We still have no way of proving that Jenkins was the one using this machine," said Nick. "They could deny it completely and their lawyers could cook up some roundabout alibi and we'd be back to square one, if not worse."
"Oh, right," said Judy, nodding and thinking about it. "But if we were to catch him in the act…"
"…then we'd be able to show that he's the one destroying the crops," said Nick.
Judy nodded. Quickly, she took out her phone and took pictures of everything. The machine, the tunnel, and especially the chemical spraying mechanism.
"We should tell the others," said Nick. "Maybe they can help us think of a way we can tie all this to Terra Firma."
"Right," said Judy, pocketing her phone. "Come on, slick. I'm getting a little claustrophobic in here."
It was dark when Judy and Nick finally emerged from the hole. It felt good to breathe the night air and feel the moonlight shining on them. They walked back to the house, shaking off any loose dirt that got onto their clothes.
It was already bedtime for the younger Hopps children. Judy and Nick walked quietly down the corridor, heading towards their respective rooms to get clean clothes. They stopped, however, when they suddenly heard voices in the girls' room.
"Will you and Uncle Garth get married, Auntie Amber?" asked the voice of Bianca as Amber tucked her into bed.
"Yes we will, angel," said Amber.
"And will you have lots of little kids like us?" asked Maggie from her bed.
"Yes indeed," said Amber giggling.
"And will they come and play with us?" asked Isabelle from the lower bunk beneath Bianca.
"That's a D and an E and an 'efinitely," said Amber, making all the girls giggle.
Judy beckoned with her head for Nick to follow. They stood against the wall outside the room, listening to the adorable conversation.
"And will Judy and Uncle Nick get married?" asked Bianca.
Judy and Nick both felt their hearts skip. They felt warm inside.
"I'm positive they will, honey," said Amber. "And we'll all be there on their wedding day, and we'll dance and eat yummy wedding cake and sing songs for them."
"I want Judy to marry Uncle Nick," said Bianca. "I want him to come live with us and be our uncle forever and ever."
"Well, why don't you all put your paws together and make a wish at the same time?" said Amber lovingly. "Just put your paws together and say 'I wish for Judy and Uncle Nick to get married' three times. And it will come true!"
Judy and Nick listened, holding paws, as all the little voices wished together with Amber's.
"I wish for Judy and Uncle Nick to get married."
"I wish for Judy and Uncle Nick to get married."
"I wish for Judy and Uncle Nick to get married."
"Very good, girls!" said Amber delightedly. "Now, let Auntie sing you all a song. Close your eyes and listen, and you will go off to dreamland, where wishes come from."
A brief silence, and then Amber sung a sweet lullaby in a voice so tender and melodious that it immediately made Judy and Nick feel tears welling in their eyes.
The sun will come out tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow
There'll be sun
Just thinkin' about tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow
'til there's none
Judy and Nick hugged each other tight as they listened to the voice of their friend, so full of tenderness as she sung her lovely lullaby.
When I'm stuck with a day that's grey and lonely
I just stick up my chin and grin and say oh
The sun will come out tomorrow
So you got to hang on 'til tomorrow, come what may!
Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow
You're always a day away.
Amber's song ended. The girls were fast asleep, with looks of serenity and content on their little faces.
Amber slowly and very gently kissed each of them goodnight.
"Sweet dreams," whispered Amber.
Like an angel walking on air, she walked quietly out of the room. Then she noticed them. They were huddled together, and there were tears in their eyes.
"Oh…" said Amber.
And that was all that was said. The three of them hugged tight, sharing their warmth and affection.
If something was true of the Hopps family home, it was that there would never be a shortage of love beneath their roof.
Nick and Judy sat down with Garth, Amber, Stu and Bonnie at the kitchen table. They told them everything they had found underground.
"So that's how they were spreading the pan-dimonium acetate into the soil," said Amber. "They're using a vaporising machine to make it seep upwards through the soil. That's why all my samples had such a low concentration. They're going from the bottom upwards."
"We have to have a look at that machine," said Garth. "If we allow them to keep at it, the whole valley will be barren."
"Yes, putting the digging machine out of commission will slow down their plans," said Amber.
Garth looked at Amber with his trademark grin.
"We have to find the machine's weak spot, and…"
…destroy the Core!" finished Amber.
They laughed and high-fived. Nobody else understood their joke, but they were glad to see them so jolly.
"What about the operator?" asked Judy. "We need to show evidence that someone from Terra Firma is using that machine to destroy the crops."
"I can set up a surveillance camera," said Garth. "Wireless surveillance cameras connected to my computer in the loft. Then we can monitor the place and catch anybody going in on video."
"That would be just what we need," said Nick.
"What will we do when we find out who is operating the machine, though?" asked Bonnie. "Do we show it to the police?"
"This issue is beyond the reach of the regular police," said Amber. "I'm afraid we'll have to call the EPC."
"EPC?" asked Stu.
"Environmental Protection Corps," said Amber. "They were founded in the late 1970's as a law enforcement agency that deals with environmental crimes, exactly like this one."
"Wait a minute! The EPC!" said Nick. "Why didn't I think of it before!? I know someone who works there!"
"You do?!" asked everyone.
"Yes!" said Nick. "This will work out perfectly!"
"Tell me something, Mr Wilde," said Judy with a teasing smirk. "Is there any place where you don't have at least one somebody that you know?"
Nick smiled.
"It's my charming personality, sunshine," he said, giving her a wink. "Which you have first-paw experience with."
Judy giggled, holding his paw under the table.
"Well, I'll get busy preparing the surveillance cameras," said Garth, getting up from the table.
"And I'll call my contact at the EPC," said Nick.
"And I'll heat you both some tasty stew," said Bonnie, looking teasingly at Judy and Nick. "You might have forgotten, but I certainly didn't. You two missed supper."
And like an answer to her statement, Nick's tummy grumbled.
"Oops, hehe…looks like someone else remembers as well."
Everyone chuckled.
It was very early on Sunday morning when the train stopped at Bunny Burrow Railway Station. Judy and Nick stood there waiting. Nick's contact from the EPC was coming on the train.
"There!" said Nick.
"Where?" Judy looked, but did not distinguish anyone among the seven descending passengers.
"Come on, Carrots," said Nick, walking towards the descending passengers who were now walking away and going about their way.
Judy followed, and realised that one of the passengers was standing on the platform, holding a valise. The passenger's eyes were green, fur was red and russet, lighter under the chin. And a large bushy tail could be seen swaying slightly in the wind of the departing train.
And then Judy realised it.
"Bea!" yelled Nick, opening his arms.
"Nick!" said the passenger, a beautiful and slender young vixen. "Long time no see, you old rapscallion, you!"
"Thanks for coming on such short notice!"
Nick hugged the vixen and she hugged him back affectionately, laughing and nuzzling warmly.
Then Judy felt it. She didn't want to, but feelings are inevitable. A little pang, like a tiny needle pricking her, not with physical pain, but something deeper.
"Don't be silly, Judy," she said to herself in her mind, but she couldn't help feeling it. Especially as she saw the vixen hugging Nick, putting her paws all over him, rubbing his cheeks and giggling like a schoolgirl.
As Nick and the vixen walked towards her, arm in arm, Judy did her best to compose herself and smile.
"Bea, allow me to introduce you to my partner, mentor and little piece of paradise on earth, Judy Hopps," said Nick with an adoring look.
"I am so thrilled to meet you, Officer Hopps," said the vixen with a smooth and charming voice. "I've read so much about you and how you set an example to all young ladies with big expectations, myself included. I want you to know that you are my heroine. Beatrice Lorena Wilde, at your service."
Judy's ears perked up. Then it hit her. She looked into the vixen's big green eyes, and she saw something familiar. Very familiar. That look…
"Beatrice…Wilde?"
"Yes indeed. It's my maiden name, but I hope to change that pretty soon."
"Don't hold your breath, sunshine," said Nick with a sideways smirk.
"You cad!" laughed Bea, fake-punching him on the arm. "You haven't changed a bit, you rascal."
Nick just chuckled and gave her his trademark smirk.
"So when are you gonna get hitched and stop being such a rogue, Nick?" asked Bea.
"Oh, I'm not the one to ask," said Nick, jerking his head towards Judy teasingly, watching triumphant as his beloved bunny blushed profusely.
"It's always the doe who has to reel in the young buck, isn't it?" giggled Bea.
"Has it ever been otherwise?" said Nick.
"Not in this universe," said Bea.
They laughed.
"Do you mind if I go to the ladies' room for just a moment? Need to touch up my eye-shadow," said Bea.
"And lose some extra weight," said Nick mischievously.
"Oh, you are the worst, Nicholas Wilde!" giggled Bea, slapping his arm playfully.
"We'll get your stuff in the truck," said Nick, picking up her valise.
"Alrighty," said Bea, walking over to the ladies' room at the side of the station building.
As soon as Bea disappeared inside the ladies' room, Nick turned to Judy.
"False alarm, baby carrot cakes," said Nick with a knowing grin. "You can put your pitchfork down now."
"Huh?" asked Judy. "Whu…whaddaya mean…?"
"Oh please, don't play the dumb bunny with me, sweetheart. I can smell your jelly from a mile away, my little green-eyed imp," said Nick.
Nick leaned closer to Judy with a snarky smirk to end all smirks.
"You can untwist your knickers now, baby face," said Nick. "She's my cousin."
It was very early, but Gideon Gray was working away inside his bakery, getting everything ready, baking breads and pies and arranging the freshly baked rolls and loaves in woven baskets sitting on wooden shelves. He looked out the window of his bakery and noticed a truck parking outside. It belonged to the Hopps farm. From it emerged three figures: Judy Hopps, Nicholas Wilde, and a third he had never seen before…
"Morning, Gideon!" said Judy as she walked into the bakery and held the door open for Bea and Nick.
"Morning, Judy," said Gideon. "Officer Wilde, good morning."
"Morning!" said Nick and he tugged Bea towards the counter. "I'd like you to meet my cousin, Beatrice Wilde. Bea, meet Gideon Gray, the best bloomin' baker born in Bunny Burrow. And that's alliteration for you."
Bea giggled and extended her paw. Gideon smiled and extended his paw over the counter.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Wilde," said Gideon.
"Likewise, Mr Gray," said Bea. "I'd like to buy some delicious freshly-baked rolls for the Hopps family, they invited me to have breakfast with them. I am told your currant rolls are simply to die for."
"Oh, well," said Gideon shyly. "They do sell out pretty fast, so I am constantly baking more."
"Well, I shall have to taste these delicious rolls myself, then," said Bea, walking to the counter and taking a paper bag.
"Oh yes, by all means," said Gideon. "Right over there, in that basket, by the rye bread."
Bea and Judy walked over to the bread shelves to choose their purchases. Nick walked up to the counter and leaned on it, his face mischievous.
"Hey cousin," whispered Nick. "What do you think?"
"Um…about what, Officer Wilde?" asked Gideon in a low voice.
"Oh, don't play dumb fox with me, sport," said Nick. "She's quite a dish, ain't she?"
"Ah…um…well…" Gideon stumbled with his words.
"I thought so," said Nick triumphantly, leaning closer to him over the counter. "She's slowly climbing the career ladder."
"I am happy for her," said Gideon.
"She's a really fun-loving kind of gal," said Nick, "an excellent cook, and she's veeery single."
He gave Gideon a hearty wink.
"Oh, Mr Wilde, surely a lady of that stature…"
"…would go totally head-over-heels for a small town baker boy just…like…you," said Nick, jabbing his finger on Gideon's apron. "Go on, sport. You'll never know until you try."
Bea and Judy returned to the counter with their bags of bread. They paid for their purchases and thanked Gideon.
Gideon hesitated, but then mustered up the courage.
"Um…Miss Wilde?"
"Yes?" asked Bea, looking at Gideon with her arresting eyes.
"Um…I'd like to welcome you to Bunny Burrow…and give you a token of my admiration…eh, hospitality…um, a little present."
Gideon fumbled a bit, but he took a pastry box and put into it a cute little cupcake decorated like a pink bunny. He held it out for Bea, who smiled delightedly and accepted it.
"How very kind of you, Mr Gray!" said Bea. "I do hope to see you again before I return to the city."
"Um…coff…cofff…."
"I beg your pardon?" asked Bea.
"Co…coffee!" blurted Gideon. "Coffee, and pie. Pumpkin pie, it's in season and I am baking them."
Before he realised it, he had invited her to have coffee and pie. Bea's face lit up.
"I would be delighted, Mr Gray!" said Bea. "This afternoon, perhaps? At five?"
"Yes!" said Gideon.
"Then so it shall be," said Bea. "I shall see you later, Mr Gray!"
"Yes," said Gideon. "Have a very nice morning, Miss Wilde!"
As Bea and Judy exited the bakery, Nick walked behind them. Before he walked out the door, he turned to Gideon and gave him a sly wink, then did the bow-and-arrow sign with his paws.
Gideon stood there stunned, looking into empty space as the Hopps farm truck drove away.
Breakfast was a cheerful affair! Everybody was around the table enjoying the hot warm treats. Garth and Kevin had been working on assembling cameras in the loft. Garth showed Kevin how to disassemble a laptop computer and take the camera out, when assemble a wireless camera that would transmit the feed directly to his computer in the loft. Kevin had learned a great deal with his Uncle Garth and was very enthusiastic about learning more about computers.
Penny had been helping her Auntie Amber prepare a solution of sodium chloride in the right proportion to neutralise the pan-dimonium acetate and prevent the lands from suffering further damage. They tested their solution on a sample of soil from the Benteen farm, and it worked. The results were looking good.
Beatrice Lorena Wilde became immediately loved by the children. They were enthralled to have so many new uncles and aunts, all of them so nice and funny. Bea was every bit as charming and gracious as their Uncle Nick, only in female form.
"So this is what we've uncovered so far, Bea," said Judy as they sipped their coffee, showing her all the evidence they had gathered.
"This is indeed very serious," said Bea in a grave voice. "The perpetrators are certainly looking at a lifetime sentence. This is a heinous crime."
"We haven't been able to get hard evidence of them actually doing it, though," said Nick. "Our computer expert and his assistant, Garth and Kevin over there, are working on it."
Garth and Kevin waved from across the table.
"That would be just what you'd need," said Bea. "If you can catch them in the act, that will definitely bring them down. Their lawyers won't be able to do any of their legal mumbo-jumbo hocus-pocus if you catch them dead to rights."
She took a portable flash drive from her purse and gave it to Judy.
"Copy everything you have and I will show it to the head of my department tomorrow," said Bea. "We will initiate an investigation and we'll get to the bottom of this."
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Stu went to answer the door. It was Uncle Terry.
"Morning, Stu," said Uncle Terry. "I'm passing down the news. Emergency meeting at the town hall. We need to talk about the crisis and agree on what to do, before winter kicks in."
Uncle Terry gave Stu all the details of the meeting. Stu nodded.
"Thanks, Terry," said Stu. "We'll be there as soon as possible."
As Uncle Terry left, Stu called Penny and Peter and the other older siblings.
"Kids, you're responsible for the house while we're gone," said Stu. "You know what to do."
"Yes, daddy," said Penny.
"Sure, pa," said Peter.
"This meeting is for all the grown-ups," said Stu. "Take care of your little siblings while we're gone."
"We will, pa."
Stu ruffled his children's heads and went to tell everyone else the news.
Meanwhile, two hundred and eleven miles away, in a high-rise penthouse high above Zootopia, Preston Keyes, President of Terra Firma Incorporated, was sipping a cocktail and standing before a large glass window that occupied an entire wall. Behind him, a large door opened and two bodyguards stepped in. And after the bodyguards, a small mole wearing thick glasses and a business suit.
"Y-you asked to s-see me, Mr President, sir?" asked the mole, George Jenkins.
"Yes, Jenkins," said the rabbit. "Have you gotten any answers from the Bunny Burrow farms yet?"
"N-No, none at all, sir," said Jenkins. "Not one of them responded to our offers."
"Most unusual," said President Keyes, sipping his drink. "None of the other farms wasted any time in selling. Their signed agreements were on your desk the following day. Why is Bunny Burrow taking so long?"
"S-Sir, Bunny Burrow is one of the oldest farming towns, sir. I believe they might be reluctant to selling and changing their ways," said Jenkins.
"Charming, but futile," said President Keyes. "Change is inevitable. The strong and bold bring about change, weeding out the unfit from society. We are the future, Jenkins. We must take the rudder and make this boat sail towards progress."
"Of course, sir," said Jenkins.
"Perhaps a little…persuasion…is in order," said President Keyes.
"P-Persuasion, sir?"
"Yes. A mere public relations move, nothing serious. Something to dissipate the doubts and convince those retrograde country bumpkins that it is time to move on," said President Keyes. "You will contact the mayor over there at Bunny Burrow, and organise a conference. I shall personally present myself and speak to the people. After all, when one wishes to be influential and powerful, one must know how to deal with the plebeians."
"Y-Yes, sir," said Jenkins. "It shall be done."
"Good," said President Keyes. "That will be all, Jenkins."
"Yes..." said Jenkins, and hesitated before speaking again. "Um, sir…if I may ask…would it be acceptable…that is to say…"
"Speak up, Jenkins, my time is precious," said President Keyes, sipping his drink.
"Well…do you think I could…just for a few minutes…speak to my family? Just to reassure them that I'm alright."
"Patience, Jenkins," said President Keyes. "Patience is a quality that will help you immensely in life. Do as I told you, organise the conference at Bunny Burrow, and I will let you spend a day with your family."
"A…day?" stammered Jenkins. "A whole day, sir?"
"Yes, under supervision, naturally," said President Keyes with a nasty expression on his face. "And within limits."
"Of course, sir! Of course," said Jenkins. "I shall carry out your wishes immediately."
"Good. There's a good boy," said President Keyes as he swished his drink around in the glass, looking at the city below him. "Now run along. Call me when all the arrangements have been made."
"Yes, sir," said Jenkins, and he quickly left the room.
As the door closed again, President Keyes took his phone and dialled a number.
"Yes, Herb? Move the Jenkinses to my summer home," said President Keyes. "That's right. No, no, no need to let him know. I'll tell him myself when the time is right. Yes. Let me know when it's done."
And he hung up.