"I will remember…"

I soothing voice started to wake me up. It was a woman's voice, one that I was unfamiliar with. I don't know how long I had been sleeping, but I remembered everything that happened last night. Nate was… he was both gentle and forceful. It actually felt nice when he took the lead, even if he didn't realize it at the time.

"All our good days."

I felt something in my paws, something big and fluffy. Once my eyes finally adjusted I realized I was holding Nate's tail like a pillow. I slowly released my paws and shifted so I could hear where the voice was coming from. Nate was laying on the bed with his Pip-Boar resting on the pillow next to him.

"Nate?"

"Did I wake you?"

"No, it's… where's that voice coming from?"

"Oh, it's… my mother."

My eyes widened once I fully registered what he said. "Y-your… mother?"

"It's, the only thing I have left of her. She recorded this when Mark and I were very young. I… I can turn it off if…"

"No, I… like it." I moved around enough to let my head rest on his chest. Out of everything, my favorite feeling was simply listening to his heart beat as his chest moved up and down with each breath. "Could you… start it over?"

One of his paws rested gently on my shoulder as the voice started again.

"I will remember

All our good days.

I will remember

All our good times.

No matter how far

We may go, I'll remember you."

"Sleeping soundly

In your bed.

Laughing Loudly

With your friends.

I shall cherish

All that we've been through."

"That was beautiful. How come I never heard you play it before?"

"I… I never really thought about it. I usually listen to it when I'm not myself, but this time, I think I needed a reminder that she was right, that while I never thought she could be proud of me, I know she would be proud of us."

I found myself starting to hum the song. Beside it being a rather sweet melody, the voice of Nate's mom made it sound almost… enchanting. I wish that I had a recording, any recording of my own mother. I didn't even have a picture. Even after all these years I was able to clearly see her in my head, and despite everything that happened with that one place and it's illusionary chemicals, seeing her, even if it wasn't real, helped remind me of her. I needed to cling onto those moments, that image of her for as long as I could. I saw Nate smiling at me as I sat there humming the tune. Now I have more moments to cherish.

"Now don't share this message too soon sweetie…"

The voice that had been singing was now talking. I didn't think too much of it, but the look on Nate's face told me that it wasn't something that he knew about. He almost seemed frozen in place as we both listened.

"… but you and your brother were the greatest gift your father ever gave me and I hope you'll always be the sweetest boys you can be. The world we live in may not always be the best, but it's up to us to make it better, little by little every day! That's what life is about after all. If we can't make it better one day, then we'll just have to try harder the next. So be my little triers, both of you! Your mother loves you both so much, I'm so proud of you already and when that time comes, when you've both done great things. I hope you'll spare a thought to your mother."

I could see Nate starting to cry. I moved so that I was sitting on his lap, facing him. "You miss her, don't you?"

"I-I… I didn't know this was here…"

"What do you mean? I thought you said you've played it before."

"I never… I never let it play this long. I thought… I always stopped it thinking it was the end."

"It sounded like she loved you and your brother more than anything." I kissed him and held him close while I started to hum again. It seemed to sooth him a bit as he held me as well.

A sudden knock on the door interrupted our little bonding. "Uh, are you two decent?"

"Just a moment Mark!" I kissed Nate again before jumping out of bed and tossing on my shirt and pants. I didn't even bother with underwear since I was hoping to get a nice shower in a bit anyways. I nearly tripped over my bag as I got the door.

"Sorry, what's up?"

"Wanted to see if you two were doing okay, and if you were hungry. Apparently Jasmine hasn't eaten for a few days and now Holly wants me to throw together a smorgasbord like the other day. What is it with women and their appetites? Uh, no offense Olivia."

"None taken. I wanna get a quick shower, but yeah I can definitely eat. Worked up a bit of an appetite myself."

"Yeah, we heard…"

I was just about to question Mark when I realized what he meant. I let out a small squeak and slammed the door in Mark's face. I really didn't mean to do that. "Sorry!"

I finished up my shower, making sure to pay extra attention to certain areas after last night. For a shy, bumbling fox, he seemed like an entirely different person once we became more… intimate. Despite all my worries, and my hesitation to even doing that with him, despite it being my idea, I felt really good. I don't just mean in just a pleasurable way, although I do admit it was very much so, but it felt good to be able to work myself past that mental and physical block that Baird put on me. I didn't know anything about relationships past what I've learned from Holly, Mark, and my own experiences, but I was afraid that if Nate and I weren't able to be as close as we just were, that it may have never felt like a 'real' relationship. It sounds kinda crazy thinking about it that way now, but it really did scare me before.

Holly had cleaned my old clothing, so I decided to wear them again. Having clean clothing to wear everyday was one of the few things I missed about living in the Burrow. Now that I think of it, that list is readily shrinking now. Everything that I felt was a luxury in the Burrow was slowly being replaced by what my friends and family have given me. I never regretted leaving the Burrow, although at times I wondered if it was a mistake, but now, there is no doubt in my mind that this was ever a mistake. I didn't know it at the time, but leaving the Burrow was the best decision I ever made.

I returned to the room and saw Nate getting dressed. I smiled as he looked towards me. Well, second best decision I ever made.

"What?"

"Just thinking about something. Nothing bad, the opposite actually." I leaned up and kissed him as he had a perplexed look in his face.

I think he was about to say something when I heard a scream. It was a female, and it wasn't Holly. Fuck. I grabbed my gun out of my belt that was still on the floor and rushed out the door towards where the scream came from, Mark and Holly's room. I entered and the first thing I saw was the large orange and brown spotted Jasmine laying on the ground between the beds, curled up against her own body. I heard her softly crying and muttering to herself. Holly and Mark were leaning over her.

"What the fuck is going on?"

"I don't know! Mark turned on the stove to cook and she just started freaking out!"

Jasmine was much too large to try to calm her down like I would with the others, so I simply tried to get as close to her head as possible. I placed my paw on her neck and felt it tense up.

"What's going on Jasmine?"

"I-I… it…" She seemed to have trouble forming a cohesive sentence so instead pointed her wavering hoof towards the back of the room.

"What? All I see is…" I looked over to where she was pointing and just saw scattered food lying on the ground and counter. It wasn't until I heard the rhythmic sound of gas that I noticed it. The fire. The stove had been lit and there were flames licking the bottom of a pan. "Is it the… fire?"

I felt her neck tense up even more.

"Mark! Shut off the stove."

"The stove? What does that…"

"Just do it!"

Mark ran over and turned it off, the flames dying down. I told her that it was okay, that the fire was gone. She slowly moved her long neck up from her chest and looked towards the back. She didn't get up just yet, but I could feel her tensing muscles starting to calm as her voice seemed to return to her.

"I-I'm sorry. I d-didn't mean to react that way…"

"Shh, it's okay. I don't think they realized. I don't think I realized. You… you're afraid of fire, aren't you?"

"I-I… yes."

"But you were a Red-Neck, how can you be afraid of fire, especially a flame as small as on a stove top?"

"I-I… I've always b-been afraid of fire. Ever since…" She moved her hoof across the scars on her neck. "T-they made me burn things, and if I d-didn't, they… hurt me. I-I was more afraid of t-them doing this to me again, that I c-couldn't show them my fear."

"But now that they're not here, it's harder to hide it, isn't it?"

She simply nodded.

"We won't hurt you, I promise. I won't tell you to just stop being afraid. I know well enough that some fears are not that easily controlled, but we will try to help you as best as possible. I promise you that."

"Y-you… why did you save me?"

"It's what I do. I heard your scream, I saw you were in trouble, and I just… there are some things that happened to me that bring back memories, memories of things that I would not bare to see happen to another. You were in trouble, I had the willingness to help you. I'm not sure what you want right now, but if you need anything, anything at all we will be here to help."

"B-but I'm a Red-Neck…"

"You were a Red-Neck. I can tell you don't like fire and honestly, you don't seem like them. I can see it in your eyes."

"I… hate them."

"Then why were you with them?"

"They… bought me. When I was a child. My… mother and I were slaves. We were on our way to Wild Times to be put into auction when some Red-Necks saw us and offered them more than they could have gotten elsewhere. The Red-Necks… they don't just breed among themselves, they… buy any giraffe, turn them into one of them. I… I was forced to be one of them and I hated every moment of it."

"What about your mother? You hesitated when you mentioned her. Is she…"

"She's alive, but… she said she loved me, but she was so happy to no longer be a slave, she simply did everything she was told. The worst part of it, the thing that made me hate them even more was the fact that she enjoyed being a Red-Neck. She said we were free, she said we were safe. I…" She started to rub her hoof along her neck scars again. "When I was punished. When they did this to me, she didn't cry. She didn't ask them for forgiveness, instead she… she scolded me. I was in the worst pain of my life, and she told me that it was my fault, that I was to blame for this happening to me. She said she loved me, but I think she loved them more."

"Oh you poor thing. How could… how could someone do that to their own child?" Holly seemed very taken aback by what Jasmine just told us.

Her words felt honest, and I don't think someone could make up something like that. I knew she wasn't going to be a problem for us, but before I wasn't sure about the others. Now, after hearing that, I hope that they all felt the way I did.

"I promise you, we won't let them hurt you ever again."

"That's… I'm a traitor now. A traitor to the Red-Necks can never go unpunished. They will be looking for me, and if they find me…"

"We will make sure that never happens, even if we have to kill everyone of them to keep that promise."

"'Livi!"

"Don't worry Holly, I'm not about to do something stupid. While I would love nothing more to walk up to their door and make them pay for both Jasmine and Beaverton, I've come to realize that there are things more important. Like the safety of family… and friends." I gave a large smile to Jasmine as I wiped away the tears that had formed while she was telling us her story.

"You… you really… even with who I am?"

"Who you were, and yes. Hell, I befriended a deathwing, a Red-Neck… isn't…"

"Olivia?" I felt Nate's paw touch my shoulder. I don't know why, but somehow I know it's him, even if I don't see him.

"Drake, and… Blanche…"

I felt my own sadness take hold. I had forgotten them. Drake still had to be alive but Blanche… she…

"I'm sure Drake is fine Buns. I was actually thinking about… Blanche… I think we should, mourn her passing." Nate sounded as if he wasn't sure fully of what he was saying.

"Y-you… really?"

"I know we've all had… disagreements with her in the past, but despite that she was one of us, and to let her… leave us like that, without at least honoring her life. I didn't care too much for her, but I know you did, and she would have wanted this."

"W-wanted what? What did you h-have in mind?" I felt borderline wanting to cry and wanting to try to wipe this emotion away. Jasmine didn't know her, and I didn't want to push an emotional obligation of someone she didn't know onto her, when she had issues of her own. I think someone without any mental or emotional issues would stick out like a sore paw with this group.

"Well, I have some… special bourbon I was saving for a special event, and I think having a toast with it in her honor would… it would suit her."

"That's, really nice of you. I… yeah, I think you're right. After we eat, I think we should. Jasmine would you…"

With what had just happened I didn't notice until now, but Jasmine must have fallen out of bed when she saw the fire, taking a very large blanket with her. Two of the beds had been pushed together for her. What I just noticed was that under her blanket that she had dragged to the ground with her, she was naked…

"Uh, Mark? Where are her clothes?"

"Her clothes? What do you mean… oh…" Mark seemed confused before my question finally hit him.

"My clothes? What do you… eep!"

I don't think Jasmine knew she was laying there naked. She tried to hastily wrap the blanket around her more and get up, but with her long legs I think it made it a difficult action. She ended up hitting her head on one of the beds, forcing her to plop down onto the ground again.

"Marki! What're you doing undressing another woman in our own home!" Holly had a teasing tone entwined with a somewhat shocked one.

"I had to see if any of those scars were recent! I wasn't… I didn't… it was just her top, I swear!"

"Oh… wait… now I remember. I woke up feeling very hot, I think I took them off…" Jasmine seemed to be a bit embarrassed as she finally remembered why she was naked.

"Holly, you think you have anything her size in the storage?"

"Not sure, Mark is usually the one who keeps it organized. Marki? Do you?"

"I… I might?"

"Helpful. Okay Mark, you stay here and cook while Holly and I take Jasmine to the other room. Nate, would you be a dear and help Mark? I think we need a little… girl time together."

"Yeah. There was something else I needed to do as well."

"Okay it's settled. Holly, help me get Jasmine up. Now watch your head, don't want you giving yourself a concussion."

Despite both of the rooms being the same size, the one Nate and I were staying in seemed much larger without all the extra stuff. Holly and I pushed two of the beds together for Jasmine before she went off to look through the storage for something. That left just me and Jasmine together.

"Thank you." Jasmine seemed a bit nervous to say that.

"For what?"

"Saving me. Being kind to me. I think… well I know most mammals wouldn't try to give a Red-Neck a second chance. I think most mammals would have just left me to… to die."

"Ask anyone, I'm not like most mammals. I could care less about who you were, it's who you are and who you will be that matters. Sure, if found out you were some mass murdering rapist, I probably would have just killed you before you got tortured, but I could tell that's not who you were." Jasmine looked a bit nervous when I said that. Maybe it wasn't the right choice of words, but there was something bothering me that I had to ask her. "You… were you at… Beaverton?"

"Beaverton? Oh. No. NO! I wasn't. I swear on it. I… heard about it. Some of the others were talking up a storm about it. I just felt… sick. I know what it's like to be burned alive, but even for me the pain stopped. To imagine what they thought when it wouldn't stop? I… I think I would rather kill myself than have to be responsible for that much pain."

"It still haunts me. I was there after it happened. The smoke, the ash, the… smell. I know how it is to shut down around something. After Beaverton when I smell… burning flesh, I freeze up and start to cry. Something happened to me at Wild Times too, something that until recently haunted me. Honestly I don't think I'm completely over it, but I've learned to accept it, and that has helped leaps and bounds on the way to my own recovery."

"I'm not sure how, or if, I can accept what they did, what they will do if they ever find me."

"Is it really that big of a deal to them? Can't they just leave you be?"

"No. Our Chief, he believes that if a single traitor to the Red-Neck cause is left to be free, that it will cause others to leave on their own accord. He doesn't care about a family, he just wants to control everyone. That's why he made the Reclaimers."

"Reclaimers?"

"A special squad of the most loyal Red-Necks. They have two jobs and only two jobs. Hunt down any traitor or escaped slave and return them to the Tribunal for their punishment."

I pointed to her neck. "Like that?"

"No. I was 15 I think when I decided that it was better for me to leave than stay. I tried to get my mother to come with me, to run away from that place together. She said she would, but then turned around and reported me to the Chief. My own mother turned me in! They should have killed me, but she convinced them to just punish me. She said it was out of her 'love' for me. No, this time there is no possibility for a reduced punishment. If the Reclaimers catch me, I'll be killed in the worst way imaginable."

"No, don't tell me…"

"Burned alive."

"That's horrible."

"That's not the entirety of it either. They don't just burn a traitor alive. They burn them to the inch of their life then put it out long enough to feel the pain fade before starting it again. I heard that once a giraffe lasted nearly three hours before he finally died. This burn only lasted for a minute. I can't imagine the pain of anything longer. That's why they can't find me, that's why I need to hide."

"We will protect you, I promise."

"A promise from Olivia means a lot Jasmine, trust me, I know."

Holly returned with a large box that she set down on the bed next to Jasmine.

"What's that?" Jasmine craned her neck down to look at the box.

"Something for you, surprisingly."

"What do you mean 'surprisingly'?" I was confused at how she said the word.

"Well you see, this place was a military bunker during the war. I don't know when or why it was abandoned, but they must have left in a hurry because when we found this place, most of their gear and supplies were still here. Took Mark months to sort it all, but there were a few things he put aside for trade purposes but never got around to. I found a few larger uniforms that Nate said he will be happy to modify to fit you, but in the mean time… I think it must have been a gift for a soldier's wife or girlfriend."

Holly waved her paw towards Jasmine to open the box. She reached down and pulled back the lid and reached one of her hooves in. Out of the box Jasmine pulled a bluish violet colored fabric. She stood up, the blanket still wrapped around her, and held it up. It was a dress, a very lovely looking one.

"It's… beautiful. I've never worn anything like this before. I've only ever worn jumpsuits or overalls. It's… you're giving it to me?"

"Well none of us can wear it. It's yours. I didn't find any underwear unfortunately, so we'll have to wash yours later. I can do it if you want." Holly seemed very willing to help Jasmine now.

"No, I can do that. You don't have to…" she was staring at the dress the entire time.

"Well, try it on already!" I don't know why, but part of me wanted to see it on her. The same part that kept picturing me wearing something like that around Nate. What the hell did that fox do to me?

Jasmine turned around and slowly took off the blanket. There were no burns on her back, so it must have just been on her neck. I had seen some of it above her jumpsuit as well. How badly did they hurt her? As Jasmine was slipping into the dress Holly elbowed me.

"Don't worry, your butt is nicer."

"Holly!"

That rabbit was back to her old tricks again, and I think Jasmine heard her because she tripped and fell down while trying to put her arms trough the dress. I jumped up to see if she was all right. That's when I noticed her burns. Her dress had slipped down to her waist as she fell, showing the true extent to her 'punishment'. The burns covered her chest nearly down to her hips. They were spotted in places, but they all showed the signs of her torment.

"Holly, you think Mark could heal them?"

"I don't think so." Holly probably would have been teasing Jasmine being half naked, but I think she was caught up in her burns like I was.

"I'm sorry they did this to you Jasmine."

"It's… just something I have to live with. I'm more afraid of what this," she pointed to her lower jaw, "will represent to others."

I had kept it to myself, trying to not focus on it, trying to see her as the mammal she is, not the Red-Neck she was, but now that Jasmine was pointing it out, I had to ask.

"What, is that?"

Her lower jaw wasn't comprised of bone, muscle, and skin like a typical mammal, instead it was solid metal. Despite some of the haphazardly forged metal that I have seen in the wasteland, this looked to have been done at a surgical level. It was clean and smooth. Even the metal teeth on her lower jaw looked like they were simply real teeth made to look like metal. Minus a few bolts and connection ports, it almost looked as if it was simply part of her.

"This is what they do to every Red-Neck. They couldn't just use hoof held weapons like the other mammals, they wanted their 'soldiers' to be hard to disarm, and to be able to attack at any height or angle. That's why they did this. They remove your entire bottom jaw and have it casted into a metal one before attaching the weapon to the jaw. It's to prevent your mouth from burning during use. It takes months to heal, but when it does, well let's just say it's been this way for long enough that I even forget about it. They won't though. Even if I were to hide my burns, even if I were to hide my identity, I can't hide this. No other mammal has a metal jaw like this, let alone a giraffe. If a Red-Neck, even if it isn't a Reclaimer, sees this jaw, it will be reported. There are even non giraffes that would be willing to report my location to make a few caps."

"Can't you wear a mask or something?"

"I could, but I don't think I can always wear one."

"We'll think of something, I promise. In the mean time remember, you're safe with us, no matter where we go."

"Thank you."

"So, who's hungry? I think some food will do us all some good."

Mark didn't make nearly as much as last time. I think he realized how overboard he went. I didn't blame him though, it's not often someone drops by with more fresh food than someone knows what to do with. The food was still just as wonderful. Now if only everyone had better table matters.

"You have a very, long, tongue." I was mesmerized watching Jasmine's long tongue shoot in and out of her mouth, scooping up food with every pass.

"Calm down girl! You wanna choke on that?" Holly didn't sound as amused by it as I was.

"Sorry. I don't get to eat often. The others… I think they knew I didn't belong and always tried to take my food. I learned I needed to eat it fast because of that."

"Well none of us are gonna take it, slow down a little before you make Nate jealous."

"What are you talking about Holly?" Nate sounded confused.

"Your girl keeps staring at Jasmine's tongue like someone watching a porno."

Jasmine started to cough, spitting out some food as I felt my face and ears heat up.

"What! I wasn't! It's just so… long…"

"Is that what you said to Nate last night? During your… 'mandatory cuddling'? I've got a fox of my own too 'livi."

"HOLLY!" Jasmine better hide because I think my face was about to catch on fire.

"Hoolllyyyy! That's not funny! C-c'mon we…"

"See? Even he admits it!"

Nate jumped up and stormed out of the garage where we were all eating.

"What? Was it something I said?" Holly couldn't resist herself, could she?

"Sweetie? Grab my gun while you're at it."

"Help Marki!" Holly jumped up and pretended to cower behind Mark as he was just sitting there shaking his head with a smirk on his face.

"You dug this hole Holly, now you gotta sleep in it."

Holly smacked the top of his head. "Some boyfriend you are."

Nate returned a few minutes later with two bottles of bourbon, and sadly no guns.

"Since we're all here I wanted to… make a toast." He set down seven glasses and filled five of them, handing them to each of us. Holly, Mark, and Jasmine looked confused. Jasmine sniffed the drink and crinkled her nose at it but didn't say anything.

"What's this for Nate?" Mark was the first to ask.

"I… I promised Olivia that we would honor the fallen." He picked up his glass and held it high. "I may not have gotten along with Blanche, but she was a friend of Olivia, so in turn, a friend of mine. I don't know where Drake is, but I hope he knows that he is always welcome here, that this is his home as much as it is ours. I figured, the best way to honor fallen friends is with a drink. I think Blanche would have appreciated the gesture."

I held up my glass as well. "To friends, both close and gone."

Everyone else, including Jasmine repeated 'to friends' before we all knocked back the drink. I don't think Jasmine knew what was going on, but I wonder if Mark had filled her in on it due to the fact that she went along with it without any hesitations. That warming feeling of the bourbon filled me up. To think the first time I had this I hated it, now it just feels comforting. Mark and Holly both downed the drink very hesitantly, coughing as if they'd just drank poison. I knew they didn't like it, I just didn't think they would react so violently after drinking it. Jasmine reacted much differently.

"This is… good. What is it?"

"You've never had alcohol before?" Despite the fact I never had it before Nate introduced it to me, I figured it was just due to my secluded upbringing. Figured someone who was born and grew up in the wasteland would have at least tried it by now.

"No. They… usually used it as fuel. I didn't think you could drink it, I… can I have another?"

I looked at Nate and he shrugged as he poured her another shot. Jasmine downed it in an instant and asked for another. Nate just chuckled and handed her the rest of the bottle. Then, instead of pouring another shot for herself, she started to down the whole bottle like someone nearly dying of thirst getting their first drink of water.

"Jasmine!" I jumped onto the table and rebounded up to her, grabbing the bottle from her hoof. "This stuff might be good, but it's not water! You gotta drink it slowly, or else you might just throw up, pass out or worse! Just… savor it, please?"

"I-I'm… sorry. I don't have to have any more."

"Don't be like that, if Nate gave it to you, then it's yours. I just…"

"You just, what?"

"I'm just remembering. That's how Blanche drank, and she was fine. A psychotic little bitch at times, but she was still a friend."

"Doc told me about what happened. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Now let's just get back to… wait, Doc?"

"Uh, yeah. I keep telling her my name is Mark, but she insists on calling me that."

"Heh, it suits you." That made me chuckle for some reason. I think my mind needed a reason to change emotional gears.

"I'll let her get away with it, but it's Mark to the rest of you!"

"I don't know Marki, maybe one of these days I'll need a little medical help and be like, 'what's up Doc?'"

"Don't you start. Hasn't your teasing done enough damage for one day?"

"Bah, you're no fun. Fine."

I knew that I wouldn't be able to get Blanche's death off of my mind, but I knew I had to go on, for her sake. I met her trying to find the Legionaries, and I will find them, and when I do, I will make sure they remember the little mouse that was too good for them. I will make sure they remember her, not as a mercenary, but as a friend. They may know my name, but they will never forget Blanche Tailoway, just like we will never forget her.

I just wish I knew where Drake was.

Fallout: Zootopia After Show

Featuring:

'Stripes in the Morning'

[Stripes]

"Good morning Zootopian wasteland! This is Stripes with Stripes in the Morning! Now before today's episode starts, I just want to address something that may come up from some of you about today's chapter. Blanche's death was so very recent, but to some it may seem like a bit too much of a lighthearted chapter for an event like that. Now, keep in mind, Olivia has the tendency to hide her emotions, despite being told how bad of an idea it is to do so. She's hurting, but is afraid of letting it take over and 'ruin' everyone else's emotions. Plus, while everyone else is still a bit… uncertain about Olivia taking on a former Red-Neck so easily, Olivia is afraid she will push away her new friend with her emotions, so she keeps them at bay for now. Unfortunately, one can only suppress their emotions for so long, but that's best saved for another chapter.

"So onto the show! Today's guest is someone who is muuuuch easier to track down, Mayor Jessabell Swift! Good day Mayor, how are you doing?"

[Mayor Swift]

"Didn't I tell you not to come back and bother us again?"

[Stripes]

"Your exact words were: 'Don't come back anytime soon'. It's not soon, it's much later than soon, so later that soon is in the past and later is now. So here I am."

[Mayor Swift]

"You make my head hurt. Well, hurry up with it, I have things to do."

[Stripes]

"I tend to get that reaction from mammals for some reason. I promise I will keep it short and sweet. So, the first burning question is this. How is the progress on assuring your citizens that certain mammals, such a pair of foxes we both know, are no danger to this town and don't live up to the stereotype that has befallen them?"

[Mayor Swift]

"It's still a long road ahead, but I have turned a few heads. Breaking thousands of years of hatred towards certain species is very hard, and to be honest, I am not expecting everyone to change. It's the future generations that I am worried about the most. That's how hate works. Parents teach their kids how to hate, even if it is indirect, and that instills a natural intolerance within their mind that then gets passed on to their own children. While we have small educational areas, one thing I am working on is to have a singular school to teach the next generation of mammals in an intolerance free zone."

[Stripes]

"That's actually a brilliant idea. It also sounds like quite the endeavor. I, for one, have a plethora of knowledge of the past, so maybe once you get it going and find yourself short on teachers…?"

[Mayor Swift]

"I am trying to raise the collective IQ, not diminish it."

[Stripes]

"Ouch, that hurt! You don't pull any punches, do you? Are all zebras this tormented?"

[Mayor Swift]

"No. Just one. Though I do admit, it is actually hard to find teachers who not only know enough to educate, but genuinely care about all species. From listening to your show, I can tell you are at least the latter."

[Stripes]

"Ah-ha! You just admitted you're a fan! Anywho, when do you expect to get this school up and running?"

[Mayor Swift]

"I wouldn't call myself a fan, it's just your show is the only thing that plays at three in the morning. As for the school? I have no idea. It's a pipe dream right now, but we simply do not have the room for it. I also would need the consent of the parents, which I am certain many will reject. In truth, I would like this to be not just for the citizens of Hope, but for the entire Wasteland as a community."

[Stripes]

"That's a shame. Maybe when Olivia Springs is finished with her little adventure, she can think of a way to expand the town? I do admit it seems rather cramped at times."

[Mayor Swift]

"I am looking forward to that day. This place needs her skills."

[Stripes]

"While we are on the subject of Miss Springs, do you ever worry that she may not come back, for one reason or another?"

[Mayor Swift]

"More than you can imagine. Every time I heard some report about a crazy rabbit, I wonder what trouble she got into, and if she is okay. Ever since… that place… I have also been worried about her mental state. Both Holly and Chief Lazlo check in with me from time to time, and they seemed concerned about it as well, how she has been keeping her emotions inside. One of these days she will burst from all that pressure and I fear for what will become of her."

[Stripes]

"I know what you mean. That's why I tend to release my woes into a bottle."

[Mayor Swift]

"That's not very healthy either. You sound like Blanche talking like that."

[Stripes]

"Yeah… it's a damn shame."

[Mayor Swift]

"A shame about what? Did something happen?"

[Stripes]

"Umm… it's a damn shame I have no cider on me at the moment. Yeah, that's what I meant. Sooo… I have been meaning to ask you something. You happened to set up Max with a date… you by chance know anyone else who's single? Like, I don't know, a cute little giraffe?"

[Mayor Swift]

"Even if I did, I wouldn't want that poor girl to suffer."

[Stripes]

"Yikes, they're right, words do hurt more than bullets. Although, speaking of giraffes, I have noticed I rarely ever see any here unless they're a trader, and even then it's a rare sight."

[Mayor Swift]

"Unfortunately, the Red-Necks have put a bit of a stigmata on all giraffes. Many of our residents are wary of them, even more so than foxes it seems. Every time we have giraffe traders come to town, most of them vanish, and it ends up being myself, Petunia, and a hoof full of other residents who deal with them, despite time after time me telling them that not every giraffe is a Red-Neck. Now if someone waltzed in here with a metal jaw? I can understand that uneasiness a little more, but that is an entirely different story."

[Stripes]

"Boy, you're going to have one hell of a time next chapter…"

[Mayor Swift]

"Come again?"

[Stripes]

"Never mind, forget I said anything. Well, I see your a busy women, so I will leave you to your business, although I will need to make a pit-stop by Petunia's before leaving. Gotta do a little… research for the next After Show.

"Now before I go, I got a little request for all of you. I am wrapping up the final chapter, or rather the epilogue, and while I still need to get them to Max to be edited and make a few adjustments here and there at a few places, I will be starting to work on the After Show's so that I can get a nice backlog of them in order to increase the posting rate. Now folks, what I need from you is suggestions on After Show topics. While I have ideas for some of your suggestions from the past, I would like more. People you want to see interviewed, history of people, places, things, or anything you might think of. Send them to me through PM's, reviews, or comments, or even on my new Tumblr! Now, I will say this. I may not use everyone's suggestions due to a few factors such as multiple people asking for the same thing, potential spoilers or other things that will be covered later in the story, and limitations on the number of After Shows. I will, however, do my very best to address as much as I can, and inform people if their suggestions will already be covered later on, but don't be afraid to ask! While there is a lot of history I have created already, there are even some things that I may not have thought of, so don't be afraid to make a suggestion. So until next time folks, this is Stripes signing off!"