Small Scene Smorgasbord: Volume 2
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AN: Some more mini-scenes for you all, and even some linked music over on A03.
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Moving into the operations room, Bogo sat down, adjusting his glasses as Detective Hornstadter shuffled his papers. The Nubian ibex had called them him in for his briefing on what had become one of the most scandalous, and heated, cases in ZPD history.
The Nightclub Nighthowler.
Nobody even knew what species he or she was, or what their goals were. Indeed, there were plenty of rumours that it wasn't even the same mammal, more copycat mammals doing it to themselves. A chemical test on the roughly distilled nighthowler concentrate had suggested otherwise, a few unusual elements equally present in all cases, suggesting a common source. One that this mammal used to create his low-effect howler serum. Not potent enough to cause the effects that Doug's serum had, not by a long shot, but enough that, when mixed with plenty of drinks and the mammals dancing to the max, you got very nasty effects regardless.
"We've been letting the rumours that this is a set of copycat attacks spread," the detective explained, "luring him into a false sense of security."
"I wouldn't count on it," came a third voice. Judy Hopps, she and her partner recruited here for what the detective said was a potential sting, along with a few others.
"Hey, no harm in trying," Nick added, smiling.
"Indeed," Hornstadter explained, "every little helps. Now, looking at the timing of the attacks, it seems that they line up with a mammal on an eight-four schedule. Common in many large factories, so it doesn't narrow the suspect count down, but given that it's always on Fridays and Sundays, and the line up suggests it's always the former that is preferred and the latter a back up… The next attack is coming in three days time. As for where, I have a pet theory and have narrowed it down to three potential sites. "First off, the Ice-Box, techno club in Glacier falls. Snarlaby and Kameroff," the polar bear and reindeer stood up and nodded. "Next, Wolford and Packson, you'll cover Frizzes…"
"-Aw hell no!" All eyes turned to Wolford, crossing his paws. "I'm not going to the gay club. I have a wife and three pups, and…"
"-I don't care," Bogo waved off, Wolford sulking back… As Packson playfully elbowed him, something not appreciated.
"And finally, Nick and Judy. Twisted Tails sound good?"
Judy shrugged, "Sure."
"We can pull that off."
"Okay then," the detective said, pausing as he saw Bogo huff, arms crossing. He paused, expecting something… But instead, the Cape Buffalo made a rolling motion with his hoof.
The rest of the explanations came, everything moving on, and soon the groups were dismissed.
"A word in private, detective?"
The ibex paused, turning around. "Anything the matter Chief?"
He lowered his glasses down his snout. "As a matter of fact, yes. Wilde and Hopps at Twisted Tails."
He smiled. "I mean, you approved Wolford and Packson at Frizzes."
"And so Wilde and Hopps at the interspecies, etcetera, etcetera, the concept is good. But the timing is not."
The detective paused. "I mean, if you want to see my tables, it's by far the most…"
"The timing is right," Bogo said, leaning over. "Right for him, and also right for you."
Hornstadter paused, folding his hoofs in front of him. "I don't know what you mean sir."
"Oh, don't you?" he asked, eyes narrowing. "Then how come on the WildeHopps betting pool did a sudden new wager appear for the day after this mission two days ago."
The ibex raised up a hoof, and then lowered it, crossing his hooves. "All's fair in love and war."
"Including insider trading?" The buffalo smiled, leaning down. "There are certain laws about that. And the police should lead by example."
The detective scoffed. "You wouldn't…"
"Do you know how much I've got riding on this?"
"You…"
The Chief smiled. "All's fair in love and war."
"Well what do you suggest?"
"Wait for me to schedule mine for the same day."
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They looked at each other. "Deal."
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"Hey Smellwether!"
Not bothering to look up as she was put into her stocks and had her muzzle wrapped on her, Bellwether ignored the annoying fox as he sauntered up next to her at the start of the day. A right old regular he was.
"Hard to think, one year already!"
She grumbled, muted 'baaaaa…' sounds coming out.
"Hey, do you remember the hail!" He laughed.
She did, glaring down and not even bothering to give him the time of the day.
Only for the sound of something getting knocked into the ground next to her to make her eyes widen. She looked over and… "Baaaaaaaaa!?"
Another set of stocks were hammered in, and into them went that fox. She'd almost be happy about the deliciousness of it, only… He looked happy!
He was also naked!?
-Wait, no… Green speedos, so almost naked. And was that a fur brush being hung up on the side?
What was that for?
Well, there was one use she could imagine that would make her happy, but unless this fox was even more sick in the head than she thought, his happiness ruled that out.
Locked in, he tested the restraints and smiled, before looking over as a sign was hammered in next to him. Annoyingly out of view.
Bellwether grumbled, before spelling it out for him. "Okay, what's the deal?"
Which of course came out as "Ba-ba! Baaaa baa baaa!?"
He shrugged. "My partner wanted me to do something for charity, so…"
He went silent as a pig girl walked up, placed two dollars in his collection bin, and then grabbed the brush, went around, and then… "It's sooooo flufffyyyy…."
The fox purred as his tail was brushed, Bellwether's eyes narrowing.
"You know," he smiled, looking over as the pig girl paid up and started touching Bellwether's wool. "I should do this more often!"
"Baa?"
"Yes?"
"Ba Baaa Baaa-baaa!'
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"Okay, come on Jay, eat the carrots! Eat the carrots!" A few pushes forward of the orange loaded spoon were heavily resisted by the long-eared red and grey furred bunny-fox hybrid.
Nick, doing his best to get him to eat it, frowned and tried again. Warm wide amber-brown eyes looked at the loaded-up orange babyfood, up at his father, and quickly decided on the best course of action.
Something that would be the literal culmination of a life's work.
Fourteen months of hard and tireless practice in the daunting frontier of motion control came together as up a paw went, intercepting the spoon and then smushing it and its contents down on the bottom of his short stubby baby muzzle.
He laughed, confident in the belief he'd damn well earned it.
Nick though, narrowing his eyes, sighed. "I mean, it's not me who's going to get hungry, is it muck-pup?" he asked.
The young Jason WildeHopps showed that he had all the food he could possibly want, and showed it off by sticking his paw into his mouth.
"Is it really that tasty?" Nick asked, sighing before pulling out a wet wipe and cleaning off the gunk. A little whine came out, the kit did not like them (far preferring tongue cleaning, but like heck Nick was going to reward him for being awkward).
Putting it down, the older fox crossed his paws and gave his son a pouting look that could put the kit to shame. "I mean, come on. At least half of you must like carrots. And the other half doesn't mind them. That's a positive average, isn't it?"
"Ba…"
"Fine then," Nick huffed. "I guess daddy will have your num-nums." He got the spoon, dug into the bowl and stuck some of the orange stuff straight into his mouth.
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"Having any trouble Slick?" Judy smiled as she walked in, only to pause as Nick swallowed, stood up, and walked off. "Uh, Nick?"
"Excuse me, I think I'm just going to report us for kit services for child abuse."
Looking over, Judy rolled her eyes and took the pot, getting her own to eat. "Don't be so melodramatic Slick. Besides, I was the one who bought this perfectly fine baby food. Which…"
She took a bite, just as Nick walked back in. "Okay, I'll report you then. And… Fluff?"
Swallowing it down, Judy turned to their son and collapsed down on the floor, crying out to him. "OH GOD! I'M SORRY! HOW COULD I EVER DO THAT TO YOU!?"
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"Ah, seems like we're getting off early today," Nick smiled, as they filed their paperwork.
"Only half an hour."
"Well, that makes it all the harder for someone to find something for us to fill it in with. Doesn't it?"
There was a loud creak, the pair looking over to see a smiling Chief Bogo standing in the door. "We had another visit by Mrs Wilberfox today."
Nick shrugged. "Fair enough. I heard it rained in the Rainforest District."
Bogo held up a small black umbrella. "She left this, again."
Nick and Judy looked at each other, the bunny groaning. "Ughhh, you jinxed it."
"Fine," he groaned, "though I for one find her sweet."
Bogo tossed him the umbrella. "She is sweet. She's a sweet dottery old vixen, who tries to make the world right and takes up an inordinate amount of our time with whatever tall tale she has this time. Enjoy!"
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Mrs Wilberfox's house was only ten minutes away, perched above the portal to one of the tunnels from Zootopia Central. Framed at the end of the street, the old building tiled to one side, and was bent in all sorts of others, and rattled with each train going in and out underneath it. The whole sight gave Judy a slight pause when it came to using the door-knock, but doing it anyway she and her partner were quickly met as the wizened old vixen opened up the door. "Good morning Mrs Wilberfox," Nick greeted, as she saw the umbrella and rolled her eyes.
"Oh, thank you Officer Wilde," she said, taking it back. "You really shouldn't have. I mean, I'm always dropping it here and there, but it should have been me who went back and got it. I didn't want to interrupt any of your important business and all that, same goes for your partner there."
"It was nothing," Judy smiled.
"Oh, don't say that," she said opening the door. "Come in, come in. I can get some tea for you."
Judy waved off. "Thank you very much Mrs Wilberfox, but we're good."
"Ah, okay then. Well, I hope you all have a wonderful day. Oh, and if you do see that goat I saw climbing up and doing graffiti up on that building, I don't want anyone to go on him too much. He's just a young kid being a bit silly, as they are. Just needs a stern telling to, maybe some time made to spend cleaning up the messes. Nothing too serious, I hope you understand."
"We do," they said, together.
"I just want to help keep this city clean and all, and I wouldn't want him making a mistake up there and falling and hurting himself. I hope you understand."
"We do," they said, together.
"And I've probably impeded on you for too long already. I'll let you be on your way."
"Thank you Mrs Wilberfox," they said together, as she smiled and closed the door.
They turned away together, Nick counting down on his fingers. "Three, two, one…"
The door opened, Mrs Wilberfox looking out. "W-when I said if you wanted tea. It isn't just tea I have. I have coffee…"
"We're good," they said, together.
"Ah… Okay then, I'll let you get on with your day. I do hope you enjoy it. Young mammals like you, with lots of opportunities and all that. Well, see you around Officers."
"See you around Mrs Wilberfox," they said, as she closed the door.
Nick nodded, looking to Judy. "Any bets she's going to make it a hat…"
The door opened. "I… I also made that carrot cake you really liked at the charity bake sale, Officer Hopps. You're free to have some."
"We're…" Nick began, before blinking at the lack of synchronicity from Judy. Looking where she had been, he found an empty space, and then looking over at the door he saw a bunny bouncing on her toes. "Having cake then."
Inside the living room the two sat down on the soft chairs, likely older than even Mrs Wilberfox, and enjoyed their tea and carrot cake as some classical music, playing out from somewhere, floated down into the room. The old vixen, busied for a second with one of her parrots, sat down and was nattering like a swallow about something, the pair smiling and nodding on. It was all good, until an idle comment about a crack in the wall came up.
"Well, this old thing's been here half as long as I have. I think I'll be a little sad to see it go."
"You're getting it repaired then," Judy nodded.
"Oh yes, with the money from the lodgers," she smiled, sitting down.
That perked Nick's ears. "Lodgers."
"Oh yes," she said, "Professor Wolfus and his delightful non-mammal friends."
Nick blinked, looking at Judy, who shared the look.
"-They came in a few weeks ago, wanting somewhere to stay and to practice their music. I mean, they say they're an amateur quintet, but I think they're being very humble. I mean, listen to them now!" She smiled, looking up into the air as the music of Bocchyeni's String Quintette number 5 filled the room. "Oh Professer Wolfus really is such a good boy, this music has been wonderful. It takes me back," she reminisced, settling down. "Dear old Mr Wilberfox, I remember dancing at a gala with him to that song one summer night. It was a ball out for those who worked at the sailing port, I worked on sewing sails at the time for the yachts. And he, well he manned the lifeboat and he came up looking all prim and handsome. You, Officer Wilde, you remind me very much of him."
He smiled, "thank you. Uh, do you mind if I pop out for a minute."
"Oh no, no, I don't want to impede on you or anything," she said, as the fox got up. "Of course, that song was also playing when the news came out that there was a large ship out there struggling in the big storm of… Oh when was it… But of course brave as he was he suited up, I gave him a kiss asking him to be back for our third anniversary, and that was the last I ever saw of him. I got the news about his body a few days later, washed up…"
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Finding the door in question, Nick stuck his ear to it, before pulling out a paperclip and quickly undoing the cheap internal lock. He saw the five instruments standing there, and the five players sitting across the room, busy looking through what looked like the plans for the bank annex to the station.
Quietly closing the door behind him, Nick walked over to a spinning record player at turned it off, the music going quiet.
The five gathered around the plans paused and looked up to see a very annoyed looking red fox. "Fancy seeing you here Mr Wolf."
"Ahem, " he coughed. "That's Dr…"
"Mr Shark."
The big fish blinked. "Uh guys, he saw through my disguise. We're boned."
"Mr Piranha."
"No we're not! He's just one fox!"
"Mr Snake… -I mean, how could you even play a string instrument!?"
Adjusting his Panama hat, his eyes narrowed. "With great difficulty." He then turned to Mr Wolf. "I asked you about that, but you said 'No…. She won't make the connection. Besides, we need her as part of the plan.'"
Nick's frown only increased. "And Miss Tarantula."
"Hey! How annoyed is your cybercrimes expert this time? Got his bushy tail in a twist over my last virus?"
"It's not Lt Tufts you should be worried about, it's me," he growled. "Listen, I know you're the bad guys, but taking advantage of Mrs Wilberfox!? That's a new low."
Standing up, Mr Wolf shrugged. "What can I say, it's been a delight. Especially as I think she's mentioned us like a dozen times…"
"Two dozen," Mrs Tarantula corrected.
"-To Chief Bogo," he broke down laughing. "And he's just waved it off as ol' Mrs Wilberfox each time. Haha, you gotta laugh Wilde."
The fox did smile. "Ha, ha." And then got serious. "Okay, but the joke is now over. Now, keeping in mind we're in a crooked house over the main rail-line into Zootopia Central… We can do this the easy way, or the hard way."
The bad guys looked at each other, Mr Piranha marching out, rolling up his sleeves. "Okay then. I think I've made our pick for all of us."
The bad guys nodded, Nick raising his eyebrow.
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"Nick, where have you been. It's been like, ten minutes or so."
"Oh nothing," Nick smiled, pausing as he saw Mrs Wilberfox sleeping in her chain. "Come on Judy."
"Huh?"
"I'll explain on the way back."
"Explain what."
"The thing that'll make you laugh when Bogo gets to deal with an especially concerned Mrs Wilberfox tomorrow."
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AN: Got there first guys. Hahahaha. But like the original Professor and his gang… No criminal can stand up to an indominable little old lady like Mrs Wilberfox.
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With a ding, Nick walked over to the oven, opening it up and binging out the roasting tray. Still sizzling in the cooking oil, out came the roasted carrots, vivid red and with splotches of crispy brown all over. The fox's nose sniffed up. "Mmmmmm, even I really want this."
"If there's any left," Judy said, as she took it over to the food processor. In they went, before the lid went on and it whizzed up. Pausing as she went, Judy added a few little sprinkles of different herbs and so forth, tasting as she went.
Something Nick did too, nodding in approval.
Roasted and seasoned with salt and pepper, along with some canine safe garlic salts (Nick's stomach could generally handle any garlic added in where the recipe wasn't specifically 'Garlic:X', but a teaspoon for him was a serving spoon for a certain someone), a few herbs went into the processer along with a dash of balsamic vinegar.
A few tastes, some nods, and they poured it out into a bowl, taking it over to the ultimate challenge.
"Pffffffffffffhhhhhh….."
"I think he's saying he wants raspberries Fluff."
"Well, maybe if you're good Jay-Jay," she leant forward and bumped her nose into her son's, before pulling back. "Look what we got."
Nick got out his spoon and dug in, moaning with delight.
Judy thought it overkill, until her whole body buckled and tastegasmed as she ate some.
A few more tries each, and up they came with Jay's spoon, the bunny-fox sniffing it slightly.
"Okay, open mouth. Open…" Nick began, before just that happened. In it went, and out it went, clean. "Good boy!"
"Well done!" Judy said, patting his head as his tail wagged.
And a look of disgust grew on his face as a wet orangey mush dribbled right out of his mouth and into his bib.
Nick and Judy looked at each other, the bunny crossing her fingers as she moved another spoonful up.
The kit would not entertain it.
"Come on, come on," she muttered, her foot beginning to thump. "Out of all the things I've made you spit out, can't you at least…"
He reached up, swiped the carrot puree with his paw, and threw it down hard onto his highchair table. "Ba!" Paws crossed, he even managed a half decent attempt at a growl as Judy tried a third time.
"I don't believe this," she grumbled. "Why is he being this awkward?"
Sighing, and taking his own spoon to the food, Nick shrugged. "Maybe he just doesn't like carrots."
Judy looked over at him. "Well, which part of us does that come from?"
Looking on, Jay leant forward, and grabbed Judy's paw right in his muzzle, beginning to chew and nom on it. The bunny was not amused. "Seriously? You don't like to eat carrots, but…" She broke off, ears jumping up. "What's so funny Nick?"
The giggling fox snorted a little. "It seems he does like to eat Carrots. And that part defo comes from me!"
Nick's grin was immediately splattered with orange, at which point his spoon shot back into action.
Jay could only look on and laugh, banging his paws on his table until an errant shot from the food fight landed right in his muzzle. By the look on his face and the gunge quickly spewed into his bib, he was not a happy Bunny-Fox at that.
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"What do you mean he's protected by a law. Which law!?" Right now, Chief Bogo was fuming. Something that probably ninety-percent of the population would be sooner rather than later. "We caught that damned fox in the most galling, blatant, ridiculous breaking of the Collar Act ever! So tell me, where in that law does it say that the mandatory sentences for collar removal are themselves removed when you're removing them in a theme park!" He slammed his hooves on the table, blowing enough steam from his nostrils to clean up the fox's lawyer for the next few years.
For his part, the weasel's (because of course it would be one) collar only went to orange, below flicking down to his papers. "Well actually it's…"
Bogo hoof-palmed. "Let me guess. He's going to claim that his quack medical degree allows him to remove those things for 'stress relief' or something." He supposed that must be it. Wilde's original cover for getting the collar key was becoming a 'doctor' of sorts, and he probably expected it to cover for all his actions. Well, hopefully they could still get him on malpractice or something… Though he doubted it. "I guess we'll take solace in that we can at least shut that Wild Times place down after all of this with a law change."
"Well… No sir. You can't. You can't change this law. Not without international negotiations."
He blinked. "What…?"
"Indeed," the weasel chuckled. "The way I've heard it you've started a genuine international incident…"
"With who?"
"Zoograd."
Chief Bogo blinked. A hundred years ago, Zoograd and Zootopia had been firm allies. Heck, some in Zootopia even looked down on the laws they had against predators, bringing in the collars as a civilized alternative. Of course, the Zoogradians chose to put in place the collars on top of everything else… At which point, the predators went crazy.
Literally.
The revolution was bloody, brutal, and only succeeded due to sheer dumb luck, bad tactics, and the natural ferocity of the ten-percent minority who imposed their will on the other ninety. While the hostilities had faded, somewhat, they were still enemies in a cold war. Eternal rivals, destructive opposites, and now… A very annoying spanner in his police work. "Okay, entertain me."
The weasel smiled. "Before the revolution, the Tsar negotiated the trade and borders bill with Zootopia, both parties bound by its laws. This included trading posts in Zootopia harbour, long since vanished, which were technically and legally Zoogradian exclaves."
Bogo scratched his hoof before his eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding me."
"No…" the weasel smiled.
"You're telling me that Wild Times is in Zoograd territory!?"
Sniggering, he nodded up and down. "Long forgotten about by the last few tenants, especially the ones who built a pier over it. But the Wild Times site is legally in Zoograd! Heh, your forces invaded them! Nice war mongering, peaceful prey."
Slamming his hooves on the table, Bogo stood up and began pacing. "Okay, but he also invaded too…"
"The law states civilians can freely come and go."
"-Planning! Where was his planning permission."
"I'm sure if he asks he can get it retroactively from the Zoograd board of trade," the weasel smiled. "And until then… Well, if they want to send the bailiffs in to evict him, that's what's gonna happen!" He leant down and smiled. "But, just like the old Cowloon Walled City back in the day, I don't think it is."
Strolling about, Bogo huffed. "Okay. But we can still blockade it…"
"Uh, the treaty says no. 'No Zootopian mammal is to be denied the right to visit and trade with at least some part of the site, with a minimum but proportional service to be offered to all regardless of species and type.' And do you know what the best part is. That was demanded by the Zootopians on behalf of us preds!"
The cape buffalo could only groan.
"Now, if you let my client go…"
A few minutes later and Nick Wilde walked out of the ZPD free, looking very pleased for himself.
"-WAIT!"
All eyes turned to see Bogo march up. "You thought you played it out the best you could, fox! But he who lives by the rulebook dies by the rulebook." Standing up tall, he looked down at the fox. "We do have the right to close you down, if you refuse to serve certain groups of mammals. In this case, prey!"
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"I mean, they can come," Nick said.
Bogo blinked.
"They could always do that."
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"Okay, next for the collar check," Finnick began, waving the line along. Only for his eyes to widen as a group of mammals who very much didn't need it came up. A whole crowd of massive prey mammals, in bomb suits… Because of course.
"Tickets please," Bogo said, behind his helmet.
What at first seemed like good business quickly became not good business, as the deliberately rowdy and uncooperative prey mammals made life a total hell for staff and customers alike. The howl-a-long couldn't hold a tune and the otter slide collapsed from the weight of an elephant trying to climb up it. Queues were clogged and food stands knocked over. There was even a group of sloths placed onto the cheetah run, hoarding it for the entire night.
By the time it was over, the prey mammals went off cheering and the preds grumbling.
Back in his office, Nick huffed as he thought about what to do.
"Well THAT was a busted night," Honey grumbled.
"No crap Honeybun!" Finnick snarled. "And they're gonna do it again and again! That's it! Dreams over."
"Or…" Clawhauser suggested, finger up. "We could just… ban them?"
"And don't you think they'll just say it's discrimination?" Honey asked.
"Yeah, and what? It's not like we can deal with them and push them out!" Finnick snarled.
"I… Sorry," Clawhauser said, only for Nick to cut him off.
"Don't be. Honestly, I'd do it too… Only it's too easy." All eyes were on him as he began reading through the old trade text they had, even getting a magnifying glass out to help.
"Too easy?" Finnick asked. "Okay, let's make it hard then! We all want that!"
Honey and Clawhauser nodded along, only for Nick to cut them off. "I mean, it's too easy for them. I want them to regret this. I want them… Haha!"
"What you found?" Honey asked, walking over.
"The very same clause they used to get in," Nick smiled. "We have to let them in, but we don't need to give them equal access, just some token or something…"
"What?" Finnick asked, sniggering. "We give them one of those crappy slow 'pred safe' rides?"
"I," Nick began, before a very big grin began to grow on his muzzle. Rubbing his paws together he sniggered. "Yeah… In fact, let's give them the greatest Pred safe ride ever built!"
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To a variety of reactions, Wild Times was 'closed for renovations' for the next three months. In that time, Zoograd very much gave them the thumbs up while the ZPD volunteers waited for their next chance to throw a spanner in Wilde's works. Annoyingly the fox and his friends lives were so well documented now by them that it wasn't like they could find something convenient to try and pin on them… And support from the preds so high he easily got the supplies he needed. Both to repair, and build…
A lot…
He had something BIG planned, with intelligence noting literal miles worth of track being shipped in.
Eventually though, a new opening was announced, and all waited for the big day.
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"Ah, hold it!"
"What's the matter, we're not allowed in there?" Bogo asked in his suit. "You're open thanks to a very specific treaty. It'd be a shame if you were to break it."
"Yup," Finnick agreed. "Why is why based on this clause," he said, pointing at a print out. "You get to go to the prey section."
They all looked at each other, annoyed at this outcome.
"Well, we can work the heck out of that area," Bogo announced, leading them on.
Indeed, it was at least a fair bit more than a token. A few drink stalls to bash into, some cheap very slow pred-safe rides to play rough with. Some staff to annoy. But still, an hour or so in and things were getting a bit boring. There wasn't much left for them to do. "Right, new plan needed," Bogo said. "We're not going to tie them up this way."
"Yeah, and I'm bored… Couldn't we get them on not having enough rides for us?"
A murmur spread among the crowd, only for a tinny announcement to call out over the speakers. "How can you say that when you haven't been on the star attraction?"
With Nick's announcement, a flash of lights lit up around a rollercoaster start area, a set of roller coaster cars waiting there, dressed up in skeleton decorations and murals.
Bogo snorted. "It's not going to gunge us, right?"
"No! No gunge, no lethal G-forces, just the ultimate pred ride. Completely collar safe and all."
The prey officers looked at each other and shrugged. "You know what," Bogo said. "Fine. On we go!" He marched up and got in the front, pausing as he saw only half his mammals behind him. "That is an order!"
Groaning, up they went, all getting in. And with that, at a smooth and leisurely pace, off they went. Turning a corner, and slowing right down. Practically to a crawl in a nicely lit corridor, paintings of smiling and dancing pred skeletons all around.
Five minutes later, they crawled around a corner and their eyes went wide.
Track. Miles and miles of track.
In huge complex loops stacked up on each other in some cases, or touring around the main hall of Wild times in others.
Their eyes widened at the sight of the 'roller coaster' ahead, knowing just how long their last tiny leg had taken, and thus how long this would.
But most of all, they saw the big flashing sign right in front of them. Nick Wilde, holding up a top hat and smiling, with the name of the ride on proud display.
'Mr Wilde's Bone Ride.'
Together, they gulped, as Bogo said what they were all thinking. "I want to get off Mr Wilde's Bone Ride.'"
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Relaxing down by the lake, Gideon smiled as he cast out his line. A lot of mammals didn't like this place, not least because he had his back to the largest railyard in the Tri-Burrows region.
But the truth was, he liked the sounds of the trains going past.
Indeed, right now one of the big coal trains was pulling up, freshly empty on its return from Zootopia. The locomotive long past, there was a hiss and clack as the long line of cars came to a stop.
Gideon smiled, letting himself relax, and watching for any bites.
A loud crash to one side broke off his attention, and the following four had his interest.
Looking over, he watched on as a very strange crew of animals stood up after jumping out of the rail cars. All of them, the tarantula, the snake, the piranha, the shark and the wolf groaned and moaned as they stood up, wiping the coal dust off of themselves.
"Uh…" he began, pausing as he noticed a very nasty lump on the wolf's head. "What… Happened?"
Scowling, the snake pointed at the piranha. "He chose 'the hard way'."
Gideon said no more as they slunk off, the wolf looking a bit alarm as the fox's rod dipped from angled up down to on the level.