A party was being held at Zootopia City Hall, a Christmas party by the new Mayor. Edward Swift-Hoof, in an elevator two rabbits in in heavy winter coats were ascending to where the party itself was being held.
"Davies? Are you nervous?" Anna Blackpaw asked.
"Yeah… I'm going to be honest. I'm not really a people person… don't get me wrong. I'm flattered that you brought me along as your plus one. But…"
"You'll do fine Davies. Besides, it was either you or Josephus as my plus one. And… well let's just say that if I brought him along, the party would quickly turn into pandemonium." Anna said.
"…why is it even called pandemonium? I mean, out of all the species of bear. Pandas are typically the most docile." Davies blurted out, Anna giggled.
"And your wit, much more then Josephus ever could… really he'd be ranting about disjointed conspiracies about flowers. Not Night Howlers mind you, just any other flower, EXCEPT for the ones that can literally drive you crazy from eating them." Anna said.
"I think a hat rack would be a better party guests then Josephus… seriously. What is that guys deal? Was he just born that nutty? Or did something REALLY bad happen to him, and he just has an obnoxiously extraverted coping mechanism?" Davies asked unaware that both Anna and Josephus were actually ancient Vampires.
"Ah… I wouldn't really know. Josephus doesn't really talk about his past much." Anna said as she and Davies reached the floor, and turned in their coats to the coat check. It was beautifully decorated for the party. With tinsel, lights, and all the other holiday fixings.
"Pretty… not as pretty as you of course Ms. Blackpaw, quite a show isn't it?" Davies said, awe struck by both the decorations, and Anna in a red dress.
"Come now Davies, I believe we've known each other long enough to be on a first name basis." Anna said, and then Chief Bogo arrived wearing a tuxedo.
"Hopps, where's Nick?" Bogo asked in his usual stern tone.
"No idea, aren't Judy and Nick here?" Davies said.
"Oh… you're Davies… where are those two? They should have been here by now." Bogo said in embarrassment.
"And have you called them?" Anna asked.
"… I am not on my game tonight, and of course I just had to forget my phone!" Bogo admitted.
"Well, lucky for you I brought my phone." Davies said as he dialed up his sister on his smartphone.
"Davies… it's good to get a call from you, but this isn't really a good time." Judy said through clenched teeth.
"Let me guess, you and Red both forgot a very important date didn't you?" Davies asked.
"It's a long story! Suffice it to say, it was a mess getting Miss Carrot-Cop a dress she liked, AND we spent most of the night trying to find our invitations back at her apartment!" Nick cried.
"And that's why I insisted that you give ME the invitations, and that you both join me and Anna in getting formal wear for me tonight. You'd both probably be here by now." Davies said.
"Look, we're on our way, but it'll be awhile… the streets are icy and- WHOA!" Judy said in surprise as the car made a loud screech.
"And this car does NOT handle well on ice! I think we narrowly missed a mail box on that last turn." Nick chimed.
"Look, just don't rush you two, better late than dead." Davies said.
"Right… no idea when we'll actually be there. But we'll see you there!" Judy said.
"And please! If there are any blueberry treats in the buffet, save them for me!" Nick chimed.
"You'll be here in a few, and save the blueberries. See you then, bye sis." Davies said as he hung up.
"Well, now that that bit of confusion is out of the way, shall we mingle?" Anna said to Davies.
"Yes my dear lady… after raiding the buffet of course!" Davies said.
"Oh come on! We had a big dinner before coming here!" Anna said pleadingly.
"Yes… but high class parties always have high class snacks of some kind!" Davies said.
"Then you might want to hurry… Clawhauser is already there." Bogo said, pointing to a rotund cheetah in an ill-fitting tuxedo.
"VIVA LA FREE FOOD!" Davies cried out as he ran towards the buffet. "Darn it, the tables too high up for me to see anything!" Davies said the table in question got to just over his head but not his ears.
"Jessica! Get this bunny a stool!" A voice said, and then a stool was deposited next to Davies. "Good evening, I'm Edward Swift-Hoof. Mayor of this magnificent city of Zootpoia, and you must be Officer Judy-"
"Twin brother actually, why does everyone think I'm Judy this evening?" Davies said.
"Oh… Jessica, is he on the list?" Edward asked of a cougar.
"I think he's Ms. Blackpaws plus one sir, he's an author of children's books." Jessica said.
"And I'm going to branch into novels after the holidays!" Davies said.
"Oh… sorry for the mix up, the fact that fox partner of hers isn't here should have tipped me off." Edward admitted.
"Well I'm not her, thanks for the stool by the way. But unless you've got pressing business-"
"Son, this is a party, the only pressing business is making sure things go smoothly, and that everyone is having fun." Edward said.
"It's just mammals standing around while Christmas music plays, a gathering maybe, a large group certainly, but a party? Aside from the snacks I'd think I'd be better off at home. Let's just say I have a weird talent for procrastination." Davies said as he filled up a plate with chocolate holiday themed pastries.
"Agreed, I wanted more for the start of the party. But Assistant Mayor Jessica told me that the entertainment would have cost extra and have gone over budget… that and they all cancelled last week." Edward said.
"Thankfully they didn't see any money before they bailed on us." Jessica said.
"But we do have a few special things for the end of the party. You see… there might be a few gifts given out tonight." Edward said excitedly.
"Bags, wrapped boxes, or gift cards that I hope can be returned for a cash refund at the places they were bought?" Davies asked.
"Yes." Jessica said.
"That… that doesn't actually answer my question." Davies said.
"Look, just stick around, maybe bond a little with Ms. Blackpaw. Just enjoy the night… and maybe try not to overdo it on snacks. These ones are for mammals larger then bunnies." Edward said.
"True… but I don't really care. I got a sweet tooth the size of an elephant, and I REALLY like chocolate!" Davies said as he dug into the large brownies.
Then without warning, the room shook as wolves in kevlar armor burst into the room, quickly tranquilizing the ZPD officers sans Clawhauser.
"Alright, your all officially hostages. Nobody do anything stupid, and I'm certain that you'll all have a very merry Christmas to look forward to." The lead wolf said with a German accent as the tree tilted over, catching fire on a candle. "Oh um himmels willen, will one of you oafs get a fire extinguisher! Barley a minute and we're already screwing up!" The lead wolf said.
Davies was on the floor hyperventilating in panic. "Davies… Davies it's going to be alright." Anna said, trying to reassure the anxious and terrified bunny.
"RUT ME SIDEWAYS!" Davies shrieked.
"Finally… I thought we'd never get here." Judy said as Nick drove there police cruiser towards city hall… and found more police cars, fire trucks, a few news vans.
"I knew that official parties could get out of hand. But this looks nuts." Nick noted as he and Judy got out of the cruiser.
"McHorn, what is happening?" Judy asked of the rhino cop.
"There's been a terrorist attack. Wolves have taken the entire top floor; we're still trying to figure out how they got inside in the first place. What's worse is they have hostages, and we haven't heard a word from Bogo." McHorn said.
"Oh no…" Judy said to herself, concerned for her twin brother.
"Have they made any demands yet?" Nick asked.
"Well, that's where this gets especially tricky. We've got the name of their leader. He's a wolf by the name of Hans Grubhund, but… well his demands so far have been pretty vague. He wants money, but he won't say how much." McHorn explained.
"I see, Fluff you're the book worm, you know anything about Hans- JUDY!" Nick said, as he noticed that Judy had run into the building, shattering one of the locked glass doors.
"Not again… it's like the Little Rodentia incident all over again." McHorn said in resignation.
"HOW?! No seriously! How is THIS even remotely like chasing a weasel into the rodent district over some stolen Night Howler bulbs?" Nick said in concern for his partner.
"Rushing blindly into a situation?" McHorn said.
Inside, Judy hastily discarded her heavy winter jacket, revealing her black dress. "Nobody and I mean nobody takes a Hopps hostage and gets away with it." Judy said with contempt as she opened her purse. Inside, she had somehow managed to fit in a belt and a pair of bandoliers, at least two dozen or so tranq-darts, and her dart pistol. She donned the belt and bandoliers, placed the ammunition into the holes, and loaded her pistol. She then called Davies phone.
"Judy… its Anna, Davies… well I don't know if you know-"
"Parties been crashed by wolf terrorists. That sound about right? Or are there more than just wolves?" Judy said curtly.
"Well, so far it looks to be just wolves. Davies… well Davies is extremely anxious, and as I'm sure you can hear, hyperventilating." Anna said.
"Just hug him, and he'll usually calm down. Now about Bogo, what's his status?" Judy said as she eyed a ventilation shaft.
"He and a number of other ZPD officers were tranqed the moment they broke in. They were moved shortly after the wolves accidentally set the tree on fire, and put it out. I think the only exception was the ZPD receptionist, a Benjamin Clawhauser I believe." Anna explained.
"Well, to be fair he's probably the most harmless mammal in the force. Have they tried to kill anyone?" Judy asked as she began to build a rudimentary stairway up to a vent.
"No, strangely enough there Alpha is keeping his pack from taking action. So far, I think the worse that's happened is that his Beta pistol whipped Edward." Anna explained.
"Well sit tight, I'll be up there eventually." Judy said as she used her makeshift stairway to get to the vent.
"Okay… wait… is Officer Wilde with you?" Anna asked.
"Judy...! The door wasn't even locked! Also, why did you bring weaponry to a Christmas party?" Nick said as he threw aside his coat, revealing his pure white tuxedo.
"Look, my brother, and a whole mess of innocent mammals are in danger! As for why and how I brought all this ammo to a Christmas party… well a party at city hall. Don't you remember what happened the last time the Mayor held a party here?" Judy asked.
"Yeah, but really that was a freak accident. I mean, how could Swift-Hoof not remember that he didn't order a cake? One big enough for an oryx to fit inside and-"
"Nick? Are you going to help me or not?" Judy asked in irritation.
"Look Judy, I get where you're coming from. But we need more then to just blindly charge in guns blazing!" Nick said, trying to get his partner to think clearly.
"And the more time we spend arguing, the more time-"
"Uh Judy? You never hung up. I'm still here." Anna said.
"What? Sorry, yes Nick is with me… and… oh cheese and crackers. Please tell me you two are out of sight of the terrorists." Judy said.
"Yes they were, in fact they were hiding underneath a table- KARL! NO! What did I say when you pistol whipped the mayor?! Well of course the lemming is whizzing on you, YOU HAVE A GUN BARREL IN HIS MOUTH! Sorry about that, my Beta Karl enjoys his work a LITTLE TOO much. Specifically anything involving the violence, now to whom am I speaking to?" Hans asked.
"Listen, I know EXACTLY who you are. Hans Grubhund, wanted for terrorism. Now I don't know what you're looking to get out of this. But you made a very, VERY, big mistake; do you want to know what that mistake is? You thought that you could pull this stunt in MY, city, while Judy Hopps is on the job. What's more, you dragged family into this. Not my entire family, but my brother means the world to me. So go ahead, send every wolf you brought with you after me and my partner. All they'll do is delay us, and I promise you. Even if you somehow escape me tonight, I'll look for you… I will find you… and I will kill you. So the real question is this Mr. Grubhund, are we going to do this the easy way? Or are we going to have to do this the hard way?" Judy said threateningly into the phone.
"Carrots… please tell me the easy way doesn't involve wadding through gun totting wolves." Nick said in fear.
"Uh… oh boy, in hindsight I should have spent more time studying the guest list. KARL!" Hans said as the phone call was ended.
"Easy way it is, Nick into the vent!" Judy said.
"Huh… fine! But why do I have to go first?" Nick asked.
"I think you already know Nicky." Judy said coyly.
"…fair enough. But… well has Anna used her Vampire powers?" Nick asked as he climbed up to the vent.
"Well it's pretty obvious. There's a crowd of terrified mammals, and she'd turn into a terrifying supernatural monster." Judy said as she followed after Nick.
"Then why even have powers like that if you can't actually use them when you need them?" Nick asked.
"Nick, up until I met her, I didn't even know that Vampires were real. How should know how her mind works?" Judy said.
The evening went on, with Judy and Nick sneaking their way through the ventilation shafts towards the top floor. As they got higher and higher, they encountered wolves patrolling the hallways. This did not deter our intrepid heroes… more specifically. Judy was undaunted in the face of the rogue wolves, while Nick was just trying to keep his partner from getting herself killed.
"I don't believe this… we haven't even gotten all the bonds yet, and that bunny is picking off our men like… like she's harvesting carrots!" Hans said in disbelief from a security room, watching as Judy shot darts into the wolf terrorists.
"She and her companion will not get far. They are only two, and the police outside haven't even put up any major effort to get inside. We'll be gone before they get here." Karl said.
"Regardless, I think we should get to work on plan B. You remember that one right? Our client requested a blood sample from one of the party guests? And we'd get a massive bonus even if we don't get all the bank bonds and… everything else of value in this building." Hans said.
"Fair enough, he only wants blood from on little bunny. This will be easier than taking candy from a kitten." Karl said as he left the room with a syringe in paw.
"Just make sure you don't KILL the kitten. I know she survived, but really. Killing children for candy... you're on thin ice as it is Mister!" Hans said.
Inside the party hall, Karl approached Anna and a still panicking Davies. "Stay away from him dog!" Anna said angrily.
"Just hold out your arm fraulein, and your… boyfriend need not come to harm." Karl said as he held out the syringe.
"… Fine, just be grateful that there's a captive audience. Or you and the rest of your pack-brothers would all be dead and worse by now." Anna said bitterly as she held out her arm, Karl then drew blood from her arm.
"You bunnies are at your cutest when you believe yourselves to be powerful." Karl said condescendingly as he took the blood sample.
Nick and Judy reached a supply closet, and inside Chief Bogo and a number of other ZPD Officers were bound in heavy chains. "Hopps, Wilde. Please tell me you're not the only officers in the building." Bogo said in resignation.
"Yeah… not sure why McHorn didn't follow us in, I mean he's the only one who's not in formal wear… whose name I can really remember from work." Nick said.
"It's a long story Nick, suffice it to say he nearly got kicked off the force altogether for that mistake." Fangmeyer said.
"So, any ideas on how to get you out, what floor are we on anyway?" Judy asked.
"Party floor, and there should be a lock by Wolford." Francine said. Judy wasted no time in finding a wrench, and bashing the lock off.
"Now I only brought one tranq-pistol. But you all have physical superiority regardless of firearms, so you'll have to do all the heavy lifting. Nick and I will try to arrest Hans, but not… well, we'll write him off as acceptable losses." Judy said coldly as she glanced out the door.
"She's angry that Davies is being held hostage. I think she actually scarred the big bad wolf over the phone earlier." Nick said as Bogo and the other officers got out of the chains… to reveal a second layer of chains underneath. "Judy… get the wrench again!" Nick said, Judy merely rolled her eyes in resignation.
"HANS GRUBHUND! I'M CALLING YOU OUT!" Judy shouted as she, Nick, Bogo and the other officers burst out of the supply closet, only to find an empty hallway.
"To be fair, we were out and we didn't see where we were specifically taken to." Bogo admitted.
Several false starts latter, the officers burst into the room where the party was being held.
"HANS GRUBHUND... Are you even in here?! Seriously, it's getting annoying how much of a spineless whelp you apparently are!" Judy said with her tranq-pistol drawn.
"Ouch...! I'm serious, that actually hurt me. But no matter, we didn't get to do plan A. But plan B… me and my boys will make out like bandits Miss Hopps. Now Karl, if you'll be so kind as to serve as dart-sponge while I and Gary get away!?" Hans said as he ran out to a helicopter parked outside.
"What? Why take the Omega?!" Karl said in outrage as Hans and Gary boarded the helicopter.
"Well he's not crazy as you for a start. Seriously, he's a far more stable Beta then you ever tried to be, also, you really should have kept the blood as a bargaining chip, instead of giving it to me in the first place. Good luck at surviving the angry rabbit. Auf weidersan!" Hans said as the helicopter flew away.
"No… NO!" Karl snarled in rage, followed by Judy doing a leaping kick into his face, knocking out most of his teeth.
"Ouch… that looked like it really hurt." Gary said sympathetically.
"Yah… loosing teeth like that tends to hurt. But really, he deserves it, been meaning to cut him loose for years actually." Hans said.
"Karl Wolfski, you're under arrest for terrorism, attempt at theft, holding the mayor of Zootopia hostage, as well as holding other important figures hostage, and for traumatizing my brother." Judy said as Karl was led out of the building, cuffed and muzzled.
"This is far from over little bunny. I will get out, and I will hunt you and eat like in the days of old." Karl growled.
"You will do no such thing." Anna said as she, Mayor Swift-Hoof and Jessica approached the wolf.
"Edward? What exactly is going on here?" Bogo asked.
"Short version, Anna promised a whole lot of money, if she could interrogate the captured wolf." Swift-Hoof said.
"Hmm, and what? Is the bunny going to cry if I don't answer her pleadings for- AH!" Karl howled as Anna gave a swift punch to the gonads.
"Even rabbits have teeth mongrel. A lesson, I hope that sticks with you." Anna said.
"Sir, with all due respect, a civilian cannot interrogate a wanted criminal! Not only is it against regulations, but it's overall a terrible idea!" Bogo protested.
"True, but like Officer Hopps, I'm far from the typical bunny. I can assure you… I'll get what's needed out of him, and then some. Moreover, I would like to extend an invitation for Officers Hopps and Wilde… to watch." Anna said. Bogo just rolled his eyes.
"Fine… but if he's dead when you're done with him, I will arrest you for murder." Bogo said.
Latter on at the Blackpaw mansion, Karl was bound into chair. "So… why exactly are you interested in interrogating this guy specifically?" Judy asked warily.
"He was the only wolf left of Grubhunds pack worth knowing anything, his Beta in fact. Furthermore he wanted my blood… and he had the gall to call me 'cute' to my face." Anna said with contempt.
"And why would they take your blood? What would Vampire blood even do?" Judy asked.
"Potentially anything, but I intend to find out what he knows." Anna said as she jumped onto the table before Karl. "Now Karl… are you going to cooperate with me, or will I have to show you something scary?" Anna said condescendingly.
"Oh please, I've done things far scarier than your rabbit-hole." Karl said bitterly.
"Well… there's the civilized approach out the window. The kit gloves come off," Anna said as she turned into her Vampire form. "Now… THE PAIN SHALL COMPEL THE TRUTH!" Anna shouted, creating ribbons of blood.
"Should we even let this happen Fluff?" Nick asked of Judy.
"Most likely not… but he and his friends traumatized my brother, and made it personal. So I'm going to let this slide, on the grounds of catharsis." Judy said bitterly.
"GAH... a client asked for us to rob City Hall of its… of its money. Any valuables inside were fair game. The… the client also requested for your… your blood… by name." Karl said, terrified of the sight before him, and of the pain coursing through his body.
"And who was this client…? ANSWER ME YOU MANGY HOUND!" Anna shrieked.
"I DON'T KNOW! WE DIDN'T GET A NAME… we… we only got an… an alias of some kind. Long-Fang, that's all I know I swear!" Karl shrieked, then a look of confusion and fear spread over Anna's face.
"No… Long-Fang… that can't be, he's long dead!" Anna said in concern.
"He… looked fine when we met him. A little long in the tooth perhaps… but he didn't look dead to me at least." Karl said, Anna now had a look of dread about her face.
"I… no… I killed him myself!" Anna said.
"Well you obviously didn't do the job bunny-"
"MY NAME IS ANNA! Now here's a bit of a reality check pup. I'm a one-thousand year old Vampire… and while I'm a monster in my own right. I will NEVER willingly be as horrid a beast as you are runt." Anna said venomously as she used her magic to throw Karl into a wall.
"And… who is Long-Fang?" Nick asked nervously.
"Remember how I told you both when I first revealed to you I was a Vampire? A wolf that had a craving for rabbit meat…? That was Draco Long-Fang, a monster in every sense of the word. You ever heard stories about a rabbit maiden striking down a wicked wolf baron?" Anna said.
"Oh yeah, of course I do! That was one of the few bunny folk-lore stories I ever really liked as a kit… wait. Are you telling me that you're THAT Annabeth the Vengeful?" Judy asked.
"Yes… a bunny that willingly became Vampire to avenge her family. Do they still tell it as a morality tale about why revenge is bad, and will leave one feeling empty?" Anna asked regretfully.
"Yeah, fox here. I have no idea what you ladies are talking about." Nick said.
"Short version, Long-Fang burned my village to the ground because he didn't get his 'rabbit tax'. My brother Jonathan and I were the only survivors, then after that we were taken in by a Vampire that pitied our plight, by the name of Sir Scath. Jonathan was just happy to be alive… but I was too angry to be grateful. I wanted revenge; I wanted that accursed mutt-lord to suffer as he made us suffer! As the years passed, Jonathan became a blacksmith, specializing in swords and spears, and I spent every waking moment to train in the way of combat… but I felt it wasn't enough. Not enough to take on a wolf. So I pressured our caretaker to… turn me into a Vampire." Anna explained.
"Ah… so a gritty fantasy version of Judy's childhood, think that was the plot to a gritty version Houndsel and Gretel but with witches." Nick said.
"I swear Slick, if I learn that you've been torturing Davies with your terrible sense of humor-"
"Oh don't worry… he threatens to shave my tail every evening when I come home for that exact thing." Nick said.
"Regardless, Jonathan made a silver sword. Now those only really work for monsters… but we both figured that it'd work for Long-Fang. And… and I tried to ambush Long-Fang when I thought he was at his most vulnerable, but it backfired. I nearly died that night… but Sir Scath turned me, so that I could live to fight another day. Before long, I took the fight to his castle directly… I left nothing behind of Castle Long-Fang but cinders and ashes. And after I burned his to the ground as he did mine. I tracked him down, drove the Blackpaw sword… this blade here through his black heart, and threw his carcass down a steep cliff." Anna said as she produced the sword in question.
"You know, you probably should have cut off his head. I mean you keep those separate long enough-"
"Was your opinion asked for Nickolas…? With the benefit of hindsight, your right but you opinion was not asked for. At any rate, my revenge was complete… but it left me feeling hollow. The enemy that I was willing, and had sacrificed my mortality to defeat was gone… but it didn't satisfy my anger as I thought it would. But more the point, Long-Fang has somehow cheated death. What his plans are, I couldn't guess at." Anna said.
"Well… we only have Karl's word about his client. It could just as well be any wolf that could use the name Long-Fang as an alias." Judy said.
"Perhaps… but we must be vigilant, regardless of the truth of the matter." Anna said.
"So… how does the story deviate from the actual history?" Nick asked.
"Annabeth sacrificed everything, including her brother's life to defeat the Dragon Wolf. And then she just… sort of faded away, remembered only for the terrible vengeance that she wrought." Judy said.
"Aye… but let us not dwell upon a battle-scarred past. It's the Christmas season, and after this night we all deserve a proper celebration. Come, I believe Josephus and Davies are watching Christmas specials on Netflocks." Anna said.
"… Fair enough, we've been so busy with work that we couldn't even really do THAT. Quite a shame we didn't get to strut our stuff properly at the party." Nick said.
"I can assure you both, that you would been the talk of the party had Hans and his cohorts not crashed the party." Anna said as the three left the room.