Author's Note: Hey there, readers! :)
Time for another one of those promised AU stories that I've been planning on sharing for awhile. I've been meaning to write something that involved the concept of a bakery for some time now, and after writing out a couple of ideas this was the one that I came up with. This one, I believe, had the best possibility of becoming a complete story with multiple chapters by itself, but I decided to trim it to just a one-shot with all the other stories I already have going on at the moment.
I also threw in two references somewhere in this story as well that I'm sure y'all will be able to spot.
Anywho, I hope you all enjoy this little story of mine. As always, let me know what your thoughts are on this. Your feedback, whether good or bad, is gladly appreciated.
Enjoy! :)
When it came what bakeries had the best treats, one that stood a short drive away from the center of downtown Zootopia was the one the greatest reputation. The praise it received from the mammals that reviewed it was pretty much universal, having nothing but positive things to say about the delicious desserts the place created.
The bakery went by the name of Wilde and Grey's Baked Goods, and even though the building was smaller than other places, it was the taste of the sweet treats and the friendliness of the two foxes that ran it, who both were good friends and started the business together, that had the local customers coming back. The inside of the place, when it came to its decor, had a cozy yet simplistic feel, and didn't have some of the extravagant embellishments that the fancier and much-pricier eating establishments around the area possessed. And when it came to the menu, new things were always being made, providing the few customers that came by with something different to look forward to.
The business, however, didn't have as many mammals coming in like it once did. It was about an hour after noon on the fine day in Zootopia, but nobody stopped in to purchase something for lunchtime. Judy and her ovine friend Sharla noticed this as they made their way over to the building.
They walked into the quiet establishment, the silence broken by the welcoming twinkle of the bell that chimed above the entrance. The smells of the freshly baked pies and muffins were the first things to greet them as they made their way over to the empty table that sat by the nearby window.
"We're back," Sharla said to the two foxes that were restocking some of the baked goods in the front display case.
Nick Wilde and Gideon Grey stopped what they were working on and made their way over to where their friends were seated. The two shared equally heavy sighs as they pulled themselves out a seat and sat down.
"Anyone else come in this afternoon?" Judy asked them.
"Someone came over and order two dozen of the new cookies Gideon came up with," Nick informed. "Other than that, though, there hasn't been a lot of customers."
"Just one order ain't gonna put a dent in what we oughta make, though," Gideon added, rubbing a paw over his head in a concerned manner. "Haven't been makin' the money we used t', and I'm thinkin' our doors 're gonna have t' close purty soon if it don't change."
The thought of her and Judy's friends having to close the bakery was a very dismal concept for Sharla to imagine. "Things are going to get better," she replied optimistically. "I just know they will. They can only get better."
"You can't just give up," Judy chimed in compellingly. "Not after you've owned the place for so long."
Nick shrugged his shoulder glumly. "Yeah," he said, "I don't wanna have to do that either, but we've been losing business. That Jack's Baking Emporium that opened up across from us is where everybody's flocking to."
"He's takin' all our ol' customers from us," Gideon pointed out. Looking over to the ovine sitting across from him, he asked, "Speakin' of, y'all manage t' get some of that guy's desserts?"
"As a matter of fact, we did," the lagomorph across the table answered. "Well, Sharla was the one that got them. Didn't want him suspect that we were snooping around your competition, so I had her go in and make the order with a different name."
Sharla placed her sunglasses over her eyes once again. "I went as Shauna, blogger and connoisseur for all things sweet," she said, jokingly putting on the different voice for them that she actually used when she went over to the place. After she said this, she let out a short giggle at her antics.
"So what was that jackrabbit that runs the place like?" Nick asked.
"He was the definition of a total jerk," Sharla responded. "You know how some mammals just put off a vibe that they're like that? Well, he was doing exactly that. He was pretty sure his baked goods were the greatest thing since sliced bread."
"We'll see 'bout that," Gideon said.
The black sheep set a brown paper bag from the other bakery on the table and pulled out a decorative box from out of it. "Here we are," she said, tapping a hood against the top of the to-go box. "In here's their lemon cake with strawberry buttercream. Wasn't easy gettin' my hooves on it, though. The line was pretty long in there."
"Gotta figure out what that buck runnin' the place's doin' that's so special t' be gettin' all the attention," Gideon said as he flipped the box open and looked at the two slices of cake that was inside of it.
The portly fox went and grabbed a small plate to serve himself the one slice of cake, cutting into it with the nearby fork on the table and taking a good size of bite of the dessert.
"What's the verdict?" Judy inquired.
After a moment of silence, Gideon set the fork down and grabbed a nearby napkin to wipe his muzzle. "It's alright," he responded. A few seconds passed before he was completely honest with everyone. "Shucks, who am I kiddin'? Our stuff ain't gonna be able t' combat taste like that. As soon as some of our regulars get their paws on that..."
"Oh, I just remembered something else," the gray-furred leporine said. "Sharla says she overheard that buck saying something else while she was waiting to order," Judy remembered. "She told him that he was talking about entering Zootopia's Baking Championship."
"Zootopia's Baking Championship?" Nick repeated. He was very familiar with the show that ran annually on the one food channel he liked to watch from time to time.
"Yeah," Sharla said with confirmation, nodding her head. "He was telling the guy workin' with him that he was hoping to win the cash prize so he can get himself an even larger building for his bakery. He said it would help him get some large building on Wallaby Way, and that he would then have the greatest bakery in the city."
Gideon grunted under his breath. "I think I know which 'un he's talkin' 'bout. I drove passed it a couple times. Ain't that far from Gusteau's Restaurant, if I'm right."
With the topic still in discussion, a brilliant idea suddenly hatched in Judy's mind. "I think I have our solution!" she exclaimed as soon as the lightbulb went off in her brain. Looking over at Nick, she asked, "Why don't you and Gideon enter Zootopia's Baking Championship?"
"I dunno, Carrots," Nick responded doubtfully. "I've seen episodes of that show before, and the judges they have on there are very serious."
"As soon as they have a taste of the recipes you guys have made here, they'll know that you're both there to win," Sharla remarked, attempting to supply her and Judy's friends with some much-needed motivation.
"And at least one of those judges isn't that buffalo chef on TV that goes on around to revive failing restaurants," Judy added. "You know, the one that gets shouty and curses a bunch on that one show?"
This response managed to get a good chuckle out of Nick. "Yeah, I know who ya mean."
"But seriously," the doe continued, "I think you should really think about entering. Not only will you be able to show that Jack guy that you're the better baker, but you could win the prize and save the business."
Sharla pointed a hoof over to Gideon after Judy finished mentioning the positives that could come along with the opportunity. "And you could make your blueberry pie recipe," she suggested. "It was your father's recipe and it has a story behind it."
"Y'know, Sharla," the fox replied, "I'm actually thinkin' this idea of you and Judy's sounds purty swell. I think we oughta give it a go."
Judy started to smile from where she sat, feeling happy that this proposal to enter the show, as big of a leap as it was, was being seriously considered. "You guys both know what Gazelle would say you have to do," she remarked.
Nick rolled his eyes jokingly. "Yeah, I know," he said with a small laugh. As many times as the radio channels around Zootopia played that particular song, the words to it unofficially became a motto since they were engraved into his mind. Looking back over at her, he said, "Carrots?"
"Yeah?" the lagomorph replied.
The vulpine cheerfully smiled in her direction. "Thanks. Really needed some optimism right now and you delivered just what the doctor ordered."
"That's what I'm here for," Judy responded. "I believe this bakery's recipes are gonna be the winners of that competition. Sharla and I both do."