Hello to our loyal readers, we've missed ya!
Nyxy: I think everyone here deserves an explanation for our vanishing act. This crazy hiatus thing was mostly my fault, unfortunately. I've been doing all my writing on my phone for the last two or so years, which can be pretty awkward but never really let me down. Well, I finally got my own computer, so I decided to write on that. Big mistake, as most of my stuff got accidentally deleted by my mom... Yeah. That happened. Anyway, combine that with the stress of getting our house ready to sell and you've got a recipe for writing disaster. I am sorry, and probably cursed. Literally everyone I know is having computer issues... Hopefully I didn't jinx y'all by saying that.
Steffi: Everything she said is true though I wish we hadn't fallen so far behind! I miss writing! Anyway, thanks for reading another chapter! Really it means a ton to us, and of course shoutouts to everyone who faved, followed and reviewed :D
Nyxy: Now, parts of this chapter are a little darker, though it has its more lighthearted moments, as well as pushing the plot forward and revealing some important information. As always, replies and A/N at the end of the chapter. We hope you enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: We own absolutely zip, zero, nada of everything featured below!
Friday Evening...
Late-day light flickered erratically through the bus windows, illuminating a diverse and lively set of passengers. Judy usually enjoyed watching the citizens of Zootopia and their endearingly quirky behavior, but at the moment she was too busy reading a sheet of case-related facts to really notice what they were doing.
She and her partner hadn't made much headway towards solving the mysterious amnesia incidents, but the optimistic bunny wasn't about to let it dampen her spirits. She'd left work late today after apprehending a wily purse thief, and returning some irreplaceable photos to a kindly grandmother had been beyond rewarding. Much like Mrs. Otterton, the misty-eyed mammal had given Judy a grateful hug and thanked her personally. Remembering the event brought a smile to the officer's face, papers momentarily forgotten on her lap.
It was then that the bus hit a particularly large pothole and jolted harshly, sending a fair number of standing passengers tumbling towards seats or the ground. The animal in front of Judy had been no exception, nearly careening into her and then landing rather clumsily amid a mess of files and whatever else he'd been carrying.
Judy hadn't paid much attention to him until he'd practically taken her out, but found herself somewhat confused by the animal struggling to organize and return her papers. He most closely resembled a wolf in her opinion, but the canine's dusty gold fur and foxlike size made that unlikely. Judy knew it wasn't polite to stare and tried to be discreet, but she had always been terribly curious. Luckily, he hadn't seemed to notice.
"I uhm, I'm really sorry, ma'am. I'll help you pick everything up, please don't be mad at me," he stuttered apologetically, lowering his head and pawing a few of the scattered files back to her. She reached out to help, which immediately made him flinch as though he were expecting to be hit.
Smiling reassuringly at the nervous youth, Judy tucked the documents under her leg for safekeeping and leaned down to help him gather his own stuff.
"Why would I be mad," she asked in a surprised tone, "it was an accident, and no harm done anyway. I've dropped plenty of papers before." Judy smiled again at the other passenger, hoping a mention of her own mistakes would take the edge off their situation and ease any tensions. She didn't understand why he was so fearful, but it was in her nature to try and help others.
Looking her up and down with large, almost glowing hazel eyes, the mammal relaxed slightly.
"I'm sorry, I must sound totally crazy, right? Thank you for helping me, though. You didn't have to."
"Oh, nonsense. It's the least I can do," Judy said, balancing precariously on the edge of her seat while she grabbed at a strangely futuristic flashlight that had rolled just out of reach. It took her a minute, but the determined bunny succeeded at retrieving it.
It was only when she sat up to return the item that she realized the younger animal was reading one of the now-exposed pages of her file.
"The amnesia mystery," he mumbled, staring at the page as though transfixed by its contents. "I didn't think anyone else remembered."
"What do you mean remembered?" Judy blurted, ears pricked and eager for any potential information the canine might share.
"You know, the Feralheights amnesia incidents. They happened years ago, right before the disaster. A lot of mammals at the time claimed they were related. I don't think so, though. At least, not in the way they implied."
So there had been similar occurrences before, only in Feralheights? Maybe she should've paid more attention to that bizarre site she'd stumbled upon. Mind whirling with half-formed ideas and theories, Judy had all but forgotten the Tropicool and her plans for later.
"What can you tell me about them?" The bunny asked in what she hoped was a professional tone, quickly pulling out her notebook and trusty carrot pen.
"Nothing you can't find online, sadly. I was just a pup when it happened, but I remember the crowds and how everything was covered by black smoke. Wish I could help more, but Feralheight's basically a closed case anyway. I really hope you solve it, though. There are a lot of mammals still seeking closure, and maybe it would help to know who or what caused everything to go so wrong." His voice was calm, but at the same time had an almost mournful quality.
With an unreadable shrug, he pulled the hood of his jacket over his shimmering eyes and glanced nervously at the surrounding animals.
Nodding thoughtfully, Judy scribbled down the few details he'd shared and made sure to set aside an hour or two for research. It seemed outlandish and rather fantastic to think the two cases could be in any way related, but the bunny had learned that things were almost always more complex than they first appeared.
Before she could ask any more questions, the bus slowed to a crawl once again.
"This is my stop," the canine stated as he turned to leave, "good luck with the amnesia thing, Judy. I really hope you figure everything out. We're counting on it."
Now that was just plain odd.
How had he known her name? Granted, she had been in the paper a lot last year, and it was possible that he knew her from there. Likely, even. Still, the encounter was slightly unnerving. It didn't help that she'd seen the same unnaturally vibrant eyes before on a completely different animal, one who had also been linked to both Feralheights and her case...
She'd have to question Wynter more thoroughly about the fallen city, and maybe even a few supposed conspiracies. The vixen had been quite pleasant and open with her before, and she figured if she could keep Nick away long enough, the witness might willingly share whatever she knew.
It's not like the bunny had much to lose, anyway. Information relating to unexplained amnesia was starting to pile up, but for now it was just a jumble of random events, mammals and crimes interwoven by what appeared to be unrelated forces. Judy was anxious to talk things over with Nick, who was usually excellent at picking out details she'd glossed over in a rush to unearth the bigger picture, among other things.
She doubted her partner would enjoy spending a portion of his night off discussing theories on seemingly useless cold cases from distant cities, but that's exactly what the bunny cop intended to do. Unlikely or not, there was no way she was letting a shred of potentially valuable evidence escape. The ZPD was going to have this case solved before anything truly horrible could happen, and that was a promise.
Stepping off the bus with unsteady legs, Ezra tried in vain to calm his racing heart as he approached the penthouse apartment he'd been staying in. If he got caught, the game was already over.
Tipping off Judy had been an incredibly difficult balancing act, but he'd had to do it. Hopefully, she'd take the bait and start revealing Feralheights' many demented truths and secrets on her own before it was too late. The coywolf knew Darkin had leaked plenty of genuine classified material for iSANiTY's fear-mongering tactics, and he could only hope it would backfire epically and lead to their downfall. If his plan failed, he'd have to accidentally bump into the bunny again without arousing suspicions, which was far easier said than done when your target was both intelligent and observant.
For now however, he would turn his attention to anonymously contacting BlackIce. Conversing with what were supposed to be his sworn enemies was far from anything the mammal wanted to do, but at this point he had no choice. Though he disagreed with many of their core beliefs and felt more than a twinge of betrayal, it was ultimately for the best.
The things iSANiTY had planned were beyond horrifying, but Ezra had to admit they were brilliantly twisted in the worst way. Using the failure of another extremist as a cover for their own agenda was ingenious, almost terrifyingly so. Law enforcement would be too busy hunting down any mammals related to the previous case to realize what was really taking place, giving them time to concoct an elaborate cover. By the time someone caught on, iSANiTY's brainwashed Changelings would've done enough damage to give them more than a fair chance at success.
BlackIce would of course fight back anyways, but he doubted they could make a difference. At best, they might buy Zootopia a bit of precious time. He'd seen leader after leader of the controversial group lowered into an early grave, and had no doubt the arctic fox with the yellow eyes would be next, followed closely by thousands of civilians unfortunate enough to be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It was a horrible cycle, but a cycle nonetheless. Ezra had seen it twice before in Feralheights, and it looked as though he would witness the same story play out again on a far grander scale. Unless, of course, the cycle could be broken.
After all, it wasn't only heroes that could be heroic.
Okay, okay, so he'd stolen that line from one of his favorite movies. That didn't make it any less true.
"I still can't believe I'm not helping Diesel and Otto decode that message. What's the point of this anyway? You want me undercover or something?" Wynter asked rather harshly, gesturing to the deer who was currently brushing her fur with a serene smile.
"You're going on stage tonight, Lexi," Jane answered simply, slowing down when she felt a tangle in the vixen's snowy coat.
Wynter crossed her legs and stared at a faintly illuminated digital clock with narrowed and impatient eyes. iSANiTY hadn't made so much as a single move since Monday, and she should be with the rest of BlackIce trying to figure out exactly why that was. Should be. Instead, she was stuck being primped and preened by an oddly enthusiastic Doe, who was putting her experience working as a personal stylist to good use.
"Yeah, at the Tropicool," she said sarcastically. "Stripeton wouldn't care if I was wearing a trash bag as long as I sang a few sappy covers for his charming patrons."
Fluffing the vixen's tail with a flick of her hoof, Jane studied her friend momentarily before retrieving a tube of expensive-looking mascara.
"Maybe it's not about Stripeton," she said coyly, glancing over her shoulder as though she feared someone was listening in on them. Considering Otto could bug the intercom in his sleep if he so desired, it likely wasn't much reassurance.
This only earned a groan from Wynter. "I'm sure the rest of the Tropicool is equally indifferent to whatever their budget performer looks like, and that's if they're even sober enough to notice. Trust me there, Doe."
Jane sighed, sounding somewhat disillusioned.
"If you want to catch the attention of that cutie who interviewed you, then you've got to dress the part. Now open your eyes as wide as you can for me, and don't move," the deer instructed.
Wynter's vivid yellow eyes did get quite round, but not because of Doe's instructions.
"Why on earth would Judy Hopps care what I was wearing? That makes absolutely zero sense," the vixen said incredulously, "and don't call bunnies cute. It's rude and they don't appreciate it. I thought you would know that."
Applying a thin coat of mascara with practiced hooves, the deer smiled mischievously.
"I'm not talking about Judy, and I think you know that. I mean, it's not like you were subtle about your interest. He wasn't either, so I'd say it's mutual."
Her teasing tone didn't go over well with Wynter, who looked about ready to punch her eternally stylish friend in the face.
"If you're implying I have anything other than bitter indifference towards Wilde, then you better paw over those weapons right now because I won't have anyone that far off the mark operating firearms. We clear?" Her voice was trembling with poorly-concealed rage, but to the vixen's credit, she didn't snap.
Doe just giggled, warm brown eyes alight with an impish glow.
"Come on Lexi, it's so obvious. The arguing, the one-liners, that three-second stare... Just like the beginning of every romantic comedy ever."
Gritting her teeth, Wynter tried to recall breathing exercises from some anger management documentary she'd watched a month or two ago. So far, they weren't helping much.
"I hate romantic comedies with a passion, and I'm not in love. Not even close."
Putting away the mascara and nodding in satisfaction at her work, Jane shrugged.
"I'm not saying you are. That'd be beyond ridiculous. Love takes time, and a lot of work. You could be eventually, though." She fluttered her perfectly-curled lashes, and the vixen cringed.
"Yeah, like I haven't heard all that saccharine idiocy before. And putting aside the fact that Wilde is my ex, which you already know, and that I strongly dislike him, there's more than a few glaring flaws in your little plan."
The deer raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"First of all, there's the tiny detail of us being wanted for causing Zootopia's amnesia issues, as well as how I pretty much lied straight to everyone's faces. I would consider that a notable problem, Doe. Nothing compared to the Natural Evolution Management Organization, however. Remember what happened last time someone got on NEMO's bad side? Pain. Pain for days."
Wynter tried to stay deadpan, but the ridiculousness of Jane's "idea" made it difficult to keep a serious face. Dating Wilde? She probably couldn't have come up with a more horrendous proposition if she'd tried. Not only would it compromise everything BlackIce had spent years working towards, it was just plain stupid. The vixen valued her ability to view everything with cold and detached logic, but simply being in the same room as that fox messed with her mind and made it nearly impossible for Wynter to control her already fragile temper.
"It's all because of them, isn't it," Doe pouted, "I mean, a rule like no meaningful relationships with Naturals? What even is that?" She sounded more than a touch distressed, something which made the vixen feel rather guilty. Jane was the type of mammal who thrived on relationships, and yet their line of work made such frivolous things impossible.
"It's sensible, Jane. We might look similar, but Changelings themselves are an oddity that truly don't belong anywhere. NEMO created us, and they know what we're capable of. Can't blame them for wanting to cover their tails, especially with iSANiTY on the prowl. I hate it, but I see their point. Probably for the best our world never touches theirs."
The vixen's ears lowered ever so slightly as she spoke, the reality of their risky lifestyle sinking in. Tomorrow was never promised, especially not when you were fighting against something like iSANiTY. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to lighten up and let everyone have a bit of fun, even if just for tonight.
"I guess you're right," the deer said, recovering her usual poise. "I was acting a bit immature back there. Saving lives is obviously more important than having a love life, and it's partly the dedication that makes BlackIce so rewarding." She smiled a bit and neatly packed up her bag of makeup, but the vixen wasn't fooled so easily.
Running a paw through her fur, Wynter sighed thoughtfully.
"All very true, but I want you to enjoy your time as well. I'm more than happy never going on another date in my life, but that's not the norm. Why don't you come with me to the Tropicool and live it up a little? I know it's a crappy scene, but it's gotta beat sitting at the HQ panicking over iSANiTY's next move."
The animal's eyes practically glistened with newfound hope.
"Thank you! What about Otto though? He's got dibs on time off tonight and he's already going with you."
"I'm sure Diesel can hold the place down for a few hours as long as she's got her games and a phone charger. It's my treat, I guess. Go act like a Natural if that's what you want, and be assured I'll keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Now, I'm gonna go help with the decoding because that's what I should have been doing all along."
With a flick of her fluffy tail, the vixen stood and began making her way to the cramped computer room, where she could hear Otto and Diesel clicking away and occasionally groaning in frustration.
"Can't you do that after I find you something to wear?" Jane called, causing Wynter to roll her eyes in apathetic distaste. That deer would do well to get over her obsession with all things fashionable.
"No, because I'm already dressed." She continued toward her destination, but a determined Doe was not something easily discouraged.
"You can't seriously be considering wearing that oversized mess to a nightclub," the fashionista half-whispered dramatically, staring at the retreating figure with a look of what could only be described as faux-pas induced horror.
Unfortunately for her friend, the arctic mammal was quickly losing whatever patience she had left.
"It's clean, and I can fight in it if I have to. Good enough for me."
Wynter expected some form of dramatic response, but the other animal stayed eerily calm.
"Alrighty then. If you're more interested in breaking codes than breaking hearts, it should work just fine."
The way Jane phrased it made her ridiculous proposition sound almost tempting. Wynter had never been the type to string others along, but there was one heart she wouldn't mind messing with... a break for a break was fair, wasn't it? One night of living normally couldn't really hurt anyone... or could it?
Decisions, decisions.
Nyxy: Another chapter done! Steffi's really proud because she wrote the end paragraphs all on her own. She wanted to end things on a less foreboding aspect, and I figured hey, why not? So Wynter's out to get even with someone... Let us all wish her luck as it's unlikely to go as planned. Lots of foreshadowing in this chapter, and things are beginning to take a darker and more serious turn. The next chapter is gonna be a bit more upbeat and filled with snarky banter, so I wouldn't worry TOO much yet...
Steffi: Oh you should be worried... that you might be 100 before you see another update! Lol kidding, I'm kidding! We're leaving that issue behind don't worry :D
Nyxy: And now, for our review responses:
DirtKid123: Because we're evil MWAHAHA! Lol, but things are getting crazy, huh? Thanks for the review :D
BoomBoom: Well hello new reviewer! Your review made my day! 8D It was Nyxy's idea to mix Zootopia and dark sci-fi, and it does seem to work. Thanks for all the compliments on everything, especially our OCs. It legit means a ton to both of us :3 Lol I don't think it's weird that you have a crush on Wynter , I think it's super sweet ;) I think we all hate Vivian, she's just really hateable... But if you think she's bad now, oh boy you're in for a treat XD Anyway, thanks again! Seriously, YOU are amazazing! :3
PurrfecrlyWordy: Thanks for reading, and of course reviewing. I'm glad you think we kept everyone in character, that's excellent to hear. Hah, I guess there is a bit of a similarity between Wynter and her predecessor, though I hope Wynter is more believable. Ezra will indeed continue to play a role, and I'll never judge you, my friend. PS - Your last review literally made me grin!
Snoring Dragon Productions: Aww, thanks so much! Ezra is an interesting character for sure... and he's started on the long road to redemption :3 I hope you like this chapter and look forward to sharing more of them with you and everyone else :D We may post a few oneshots based off this or with our OCs so if anyone's interested in that, let us know!
Nyxy: Well, that's that I guess! Back to procrastinating, er, writing.
Steffi: Oh, and before you go, it'd be super awesome if you'd check out the poll we've got up on our profile. You can vote for your favorite iSANiTY: Cold Hearts OCs and let us know who you'd like to see more of down the road! Cool, right? :D
Thanks again for reading! Of course, faves, follows and kind words are always appreciated :D This is ZeroFoxGiven signing off, and we'll be back with more in around 7-14 days :3 Stay awesome!