A young and now hopeless rabbit was declined from entering the ZPA, the rabbit was called Judith Hopps. She was always optimistic and hopeful but today all that changed, she wanted revenge but knew that that was a bad idea. Now the issue was money, she had no job and wanted to live in Zootopia, maybe she could check some local job centres to find a temporary job or worse a permanent job. She didn't want all of her dreams to go asunder but sometimes they need to as the world hates you. The world will chew you up , then spit you out with nothing left but your own body and what you do afterwards shows if you are strong or weak. If you do nothing and accept defeat, you are weak and any challenge is too great for you to overcome, you are doomed to fail and do nothing with your worthless miserable existence but if you manage to climb out of your pit of sorrow and despair and try to claw your life back with your own two hands , that's what makes you strong. If you don't care what the world thinks and do what you believe is right or do what you must to become a better mammal, then you are strong. Judy knew this and she needed a new plan, one where her current skills would be directly transferable and she could use everything she learned up to this point to excel in her now destroyed life, pick up the pieces and build something new. She limply walked to her current accommodation ,which could very well be temporary even at its low rent costs. Midway through ,the worst possible thing happened, it was raining. Droplets fell and harassed the depressed bunny, who just wanted to rest in her small uncomfortable bed. The droplets only helped to make the doe more upset and hurt inside. She slumped over forwards while walking and carried on, there was a hope somewhere, she only needed to find it. Easier said than done, she had no work experience and only decent grades from her education, she could always be a farmer but, she hated the idea. It always caused her to feel angry inside, feeling that there truly was no trying to forge your own path, fate and destiny always brought you back to the place that you were meant to be, in Judy's case, back home with all 300 of her siblings , tilling the fields hours on end , doing nothing to help the society they are in. She couldn't live like that , no she mustn't live like that. She would any such notion to return and admit defeat to those that told her that it would happen. She hated to think what the result of her admitting defeat would cause her family to do. She refused to find out. At least for now, if she needed to she would return to the embrace of her childhood home. It all hit her all of a sudden all of the stress and the realisation she has wasted her life, her precious childhood was only a monotonous regime to make sure she was good enough and they didn't even give her a chance to see how good she was. She collapsed in a park between her home and the place she refused to name for the time being. She stayed on her knees and remained crying , crying to wish she had gotten all that time back, crying to get another chance to get into the ZPA and into the ZPD, crying to let her wish be granted. But crying didn't help anyone ever. She didn't care , she needed to let it all out, her life was going to be a living hell from that point on. "FUCK YOU ALL." She yelled out into the empty surroundings, what few mammals heard , didn't care and continued with what they were doing at that moment. "KICK ME DOWN FURTHER SEE IF I CARE." And as if the eternal cosmos has heard that cry, a weasel ran past and pickpocket her. She felt the grubby slippery hands travel through all her pockets and whatever little possessions she had, she just lost. She even just lost her house keys and was locked out of her own house. There was no point lower than this, she had literally nothing. She hit rock-bottom. Fortunately , it could only go up from here. And that it did, the weasel slowly inched towards the distraught bunny still kneeling on the floor.

"H-Hey, s-sor-rry th-that I took y-your stuff." The weasel choked out.

"What? … Had a change... of heart?" She tried saying while still crying horribly in public.

"Yeeeaah, I did." The weasel answered , clearly showing he didn't but something happened within the few seconds that the weasel ran off and then came back. The weasel slowly and reluctantly returned all of the stolen items, between each item he stared off into the distance, looking at some unknown thing in the distance. It was unknown to Judy but the weasel knew very well what lurked in the shadows. "Well, now that you have everything back, m-maybe I can make it up to you by b-buying you a nice hot meal for your troubles?" the unnamed weasel suggested.

Judy wanted to decline the offer but was too hungry to say no. "Yeah, I think that could work. But a meal for me or you?"

"I know a place that caters to both preds and prey flopsy so don't worry about that."

"Flopsy? Do you really take this seriously?" Judy asked curiously and genuinely

The weasel looked behind him. "Yes, I do, you're right. I'm Duke, Duke Weaselton. What is your name?" There was a hint of fear in his voice. Just enough to know it was there but just little enough to know that he was trying to hide it.

"Judy, Judy Hopps." The doe answered with slight suspicions.

"W-well, maybe we should go now to leave the rain?"

"That sounds like a plan." Judy felt a bit better even if he was forced or coerced into doing this or even if it was to take advantage of her later. What mattered was the here and now and right here, right now Judy was desperate and willing to follow this plan if it got her a nice meal. What surprised Judy was that they actually went to a restaurant , even if it was a cheap fast food one, to get food.

"Order whatever you would like and I will pay for it." Duke sighed out. He really didn't want to do this and Judy could tell. She didn't feel right , taking food from him even if he offered , if he wasn't truly willing. This was on par to stealing and an officer wouldn't steal. But she wasn't an officer and she needed the food. Her petty feelings took a backseat for instinctual desires that had led her from the moment she left and found out her application was declined. Her own thoughts and ideas ceased to exist for the moment as it was unimportant to easing her fears of survival.

"Thank you, Duke, that is very kind of you." She selected a veggie burger and a bottle of water. The water was cheap but the burger wasn't as cheap. Duke then added a Bugburga and a bottle of cowke.

The total cost was lower than expected, it was $12.72. This place really was a cheap place for food but she knew how much one could spend if they kept buying here and it would've been more efficient to buy from a supermarket instead.

"So, Judy was it? What were ya doin' just sitting on the floor in the park?"

"Oh you know the usual, dreams were crushed, job declined me, on the verge of homelessness and no hope anymore except swallowing my pride , admitting defeat and returning to BunnyBurrow to be ridiculed by everyone and laughed at for trying and it backfiring miserably." She said that so straight faced, that it surprised the weasel.

"Ya dealt wit' this kinda thing before?"

"No, first time, but they say there is a first time for everything . What were you doing there?" Judy wanted to flip the question, she started feeling uncomfortable revealing so much about herself to a stranger that just robbed her.

"Well, first as you know, I was there to rob ya. No offence but it was an easy target to steal from."

"Yeah, but I meant after that, why did you come back?" Judy asked with a burning curiosity visible in her eyes.

The weasel looked out of the window they sat next to, "I don't feel comfortable answering, sorry flopsy."

"Don't call me that."Judy became a bit agitated by the poor nickname provided for her by the weasel before her. "Why are you a pickpocket?"

"Because the world hates us, weasels. Sure , we don't have it the worst but it is still pretty terrible. I have no choice but to steal to survive."

"But then, this would be very bad for you. So why do it?"

"I told ya , I don't feel comfortable answering that but if you insist I'll say this: Survival." The last word shocked the rabbit, she wasn't expecting the weasel to be forced into this situation on a matter of life and death. Intimidation, sure, blackmail, not out of the question, but a death threat. Judy didn't feel comfortable about that. "See, I said too much already."

"You said barely anything."

"But your already scared and worried. Think I didn't notice then think again. You instantly reacted, it's the types of things you need to learn to survive." Just then a deer employee brought over their ordered food. "Just eat and don't worry about anything. It's all okay." The weasel smiled weakly, showing that it wasn't okay but it was actually still a lot of trouble and a lot of problems still circulating the weasel right now. The weasel exhaled sharply then inhaled slowly then took a bite of his Bugburga. Judy followed suit and took a bite out of her burger, then drank some of her water. Before anyone realised, Judy scoffed the burger down and finished the bottle of water. She was clearly more hungry than she let on and realised herself. Duke just stared, "Already done? I'm only halfway finished. Maybe calm down, eating so quickly can cause issues."

"I'll be fine, see. I won't drop dead from one measly burger." Judy smiled , trying to hide the pain she was currently enduring. Duke understood the pain on a fundamental level, he had to live through it himself after all. He also knew this is the part where you make a choice and sacrifice a piece of yourself to let the rest live. There will always be regret in that decision but you can't go back from it. It will always follow you until the moment you die.

"What will you do now?" Weaselton asked with sincerity and curiosity. The question took Judy by surprise, what was she meant to answer. Did he mean right now? Or generally? "I mean about you not having a job."

"Oooh, I will find a job that will keep me afloat until I can climb up the career ladder, and rebuild my life."

"Yeah, well good luck with that."

"Thanks, I think I will need it."Judy let her hand go to shake the weasels hand. The weasel reciprocated the gesture and felt happy about meeting her.

"Hey flopsy, thanks for not running away." His tone and voice was sincere, Judy knew , he was genuine with what he was saying.

"I told you not to call me that, didn't I?" Judy sighed "The pleasure was all mine. You're not as bad as mammals think you are and I think that is a shame that they don't see the real you."

"I think you're being too modest now. Mammals like me are like rats, we will do anything to survive, because we are already at the bottom so it can't get any worse." Judy nodded, she liked the weasel she just met , even if he was trying to steal all her belongings at first. Judy left the cheap greasy restaurant and just as she did , a russet fox in a three-piece suit entered, he wore extremely tinted sunglasses that were designed for nocturnal mammals to counteract the strong rays of the sun. They also worked to conceal the eyes of the mammal wearing them, making them seem less like a mammal and more like a machine. It removed individuality from the wearer but sometimes that was a good thing. And sometimes , just sometimes it was a horrible thing. She left not knowing, who that was. As she walked away , she turned back to wave goodbye to the weasel. The weasel waved back but the fox was also there,there where she sat. He stared at her and just smiled. There was no emotion in that smile, maybe he really was a machine. No matter it really unsettled Judy, and thus she walked away.

Back inside.

"Hello, sir, I did exactly as you asked, gave back everything I took a-and gave her food to eat. Please , I haven't disobeyed you. Please don't kill me."

The fox turned back to the weasel. "Duke, Duke, Duke. What will I do with you now? I understand that you need to steal but that isn't what this is about now, nor is it about the bunny. I have a job, one I know you are aware of, so I think you know where this is going. How about this, we walk and talk and discuss why maybe I shouldn't complete my contract."

"Y-yes, I th-think th-that would be a very good i-idea ,s-sir." Duke was really uncomfortable, he knew what was coming but was hoping against everything that it wasn't going to happen. The issue was no-one has ever convinced him to rip up a contract, after all , it was his job. Not a desire, or a tendency but his career.

"Come on Duke, you know me well enough, we are friends, right?" The fox asked nonchalantly, almost as if he was genuinely just wanting to be the weasel's friend. But the weasel knew one thing about the fox that he would repeat. 'Never mix business and friends, doesn't end up pretty.'

"Y-yeah, of course , we're friends, we always have been."

"Then you can call me by my name."

"S-sorry, I didn't know spectre. I thought we were trying to be polite." The weasel was trying to remove all possibility that he made a mistake, one false move and poof he is gone. Forgotten forever. Unloved,unknown and now clearly unwanted. He was used to feeling like that but it didn't make it easier to accept the fact, it still hurt like hell inside. Nothing could stop that, and the isolation made it always hurt more and more until it would come like a flood of pain. Sometimes though, these abstract concepts had physical forms. Unfortunately for Duke, it was in the form of a russet fox hitmammal no-one knew the real name of. Duke was panicking the entire time, as he spoke to the individual before him. He tried to hide it to have a casual conversation with his personal hellish tormentor. "How much?" he finally decided , he wont make it out alive and so he wanted to know his value.

"Heh, that is something for you to ponder and me to know. But maybe it isn't worth it for me, you don't know. All you have to do is convince me. Come on , slippy, let's take a walk. It'll be good for you." The two started to leave the establishment. "How about we just walk about the city until we come to a conclusion doesn't that sound nice? The rain cools you off and it helps you think more straight so you don't make a rushed decision. After all you would hate to be the thing that gets you killed, the literal nail in the coffin." The fox chuckled at that, the weasel did not. The weasel gulped after hearing that. "Sorry about that, just like to talk, don't you? Talking is so pleasant, it can prevent many terrible things if you know what to say."

"Yeah, I agree, talking is nice. I spoke to that rabbit, Judy she said her name was. She was very inspirational, I guess one could say. Even when desperate, kicked to the curb, made fun of and one foot in the grave, she still fights to rebuild her life. She reignited something in me, something that was dormant for a long time. Hope. That one thing , no matter how bad things ,seem to be can help any situation. She is so optimistic and trustworthy, I can just tell from that short conversation."

"Or she was hiding it to not make you worry. It is something most mammals do, simply to not hurt another's confidence. But don't you like that, you could've reignited her hope maybe. A hope that she does belong here." The fox responded. Duke looked at him confused. When he looked at him, he saw all the raindrops just slide down his suit, none of it stuck and none of it soaked through. The suit was designed to prevent all liquids from soaking in. His hands are always clean because of the gloves he was wearing. "Like the attire, you could buy one and maybe more people would trust you then. Just a playful thought."

"No-one belongs here. This place is a lie and a fucking mess. A facade to bring more mammals to help the rich get richer, and the poor be held down."

"A-fucking-men, we actually agree on something for once. Maybe we should speak more." The fox smiled at the weasel. The weasel smiled back , maybe he would be spared. Maybe he would be the first. "So, what were you planning on doing?"

"Well, I was going to go home , maybe reheat some leftovers, maybe then sell some bootleg DVDs." The weasel answered , unsure where the conversation was heading.

"Well, that's a shame." They just walked by an alleyway, where the fox used the opportunity to push the weasel in so no-one sees what is about to happen.

Bush road, Savannah Central

Judy was finally returning home, she felt happier, as if some shred of hope still remained. After all it did, she was alive and willing to keep it that way, no matter the cost. Will it remain like that always, will she regret her decisions? She was thinking what she should do right now. Was going home the right idea? Maybe she should go to the job centre and find a job to stay afloat for now. She was about to check the time when she realised that she couldn't find her phone. In a panic she ran back, hoping that Duke was still in or near the restaurant at which they ate. She needed her phone or her parents were going to worry about her too much. She couldn't let that happen, her parents would kill her. Or at least just be extremely annoyed at her for not answering until they realise that she just didn't have her phone. She had to find it and get it back. As she was running back , she bumped into a white fox. "Sorry, I didn't notice you there."

"Oh it's fine, what's the rush? You should just slow down."

"Sorry , I just lost my phone and I really need it back." Judy was in quite a rush.

"Stop panicking, hey , look at me. It will be fine, we can go to the place where you left it last and then you can use my phone to call it, how does that sound?" Judy nodded, she was close to crying, another person wanted to help. Just then someone else came, a suited jackrabbit, one with black stripes on his face and the same thing going down his back.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Oh, she's just asking for help, she lost her phone and I agreed to help."

"Fine, but remember we don't have much time."

"Of course of course, we have to stick to the schedule, I get it. But it will be quick, she seems to be in a rush herself."

"Then hurry up."

"Just come with us Jack, it will be easier that way." The rabbit known as Jack rolled his eyes then nodded in compliance. He walked up to Judy and gestured to shake her paw.

"Jack Savage, nice to meet you." He smiled widely to be as friendly as possible, countering the formal aura he gave off with the suit he was wearing.

"Judy Hopps, nice to meet you too."

"Skye Frost." Judy responded with a nod. "Okay so we are all in a rush, then lets hurry." Everyone complied and Judy ran ,leading the way. She surprised the two mammals with her speed and long distance endurance.

An unknown dirty alleyway.

"Woah, I thought you wanted to talk more, right?"

"Well, I lied. Or I didn't but just changed my mind. Sorry, Mr. Weaselton, it's simple business. Goodbye." The suited fox pulled out a suppressed pistol. The weasel stood up and tried to flee but the only way out was through the fox, it was a dead end otherwise. He charged at the fox hoping that he was fast enough. "How thoughtful, make the bullet more likely to hit, thank you Mr. Weaselton. Your co-operation is greatly appreciated." The weasel was shocked by that statement, he didn't expect the fox to still be talking like that. He was still running but then heard something like a BB gun being shot. His abdomen started to ache, a stinging sensation started spreading rapidly through his body. He felt his stomach and saw the blood cover his paw. The crimson fluid dripped down to the floor. "Ugh, you're making a mess." He froze,tears started to form.

"The-there's no hope anymore, is there?" The fox smirked and shook his head left and right. "Well then fuck you , the devil will wait for you in the darkest pit of hell. And I assure you , I will watch you suffer in that pit."

"Can't wait, but right now I have a few appointments, think he could fit it around my schedule?" The barrel of the gun was raised. "It was a pleasure knowing you, Duke. I hope you understand why I do this." All the weasel saw was a white flash emit from the suppressor. Then nothing. The body went limp and dropped to the floor. There was chunks of skull scattered around the alleyway behind the weasel. Blood dripped and formed a puddle. Where his eye was meant to be was just a red caved in hole that showed the other side. Jagged skull fragments poked through the open hole, as if it was a danger that tried to prevent any unwanted trespassers. The fox looked at the body, with a completely emotionless expression on his face. He didn't care about what has happened, it was just another day at the office. He just finished a job and had to prove it. He pulled out his phone and took pictures of the body. Then he searched the body for anything useful. He found a wallet, Duke's wallet with his identification. He pocketed the money and the Identification. Just then something started ringing.

The restaurant.

Judy ran in and barged through the doors, she was still distressed about not having her phone. She searched the place and couldn't find it nor the 'friendly weasel' who had it. "It's not here."

"Well, I can call it, just tell me the number." Skye said, trying to genuinely help the panicking rabbit.

Judy didn't calm down at all even after hearing that. "Listen, Judy, was it? Look, it is only a phone, it isn't cause to panic and besides we can call it." Jack declared righteously while grabbing the poor doe's shoulders. She stopped panicking and cleared her mind. "Is it okay now?"

"Yeah, yeah , I think so. It's just so much has happened so far. I was rejected from my dream job," she felt ashamed to say what it was. "I was pickpocketed, then the pickpocket gave back my belongings, seemingly except my phone. Now he disappeared."

"Wait a pickpocket, was it a weasel named Duke Weaselton?" Judy nodded.

"He's nice if you get to know him but no-one wants to."

"Or he was tricking you." The jackrabbit added maliciously. Judy felt uncomfortable as she didn't truly know him well.

"Maybe he dropped it?" Skye added reassuringly. "Let's try calling it now."

"Y-yeah, I'll write my number down." Judy finished, trying to regain composure.

The phone started connecting to the other phone. Eventually it rang out, no-one picked up. "No-one picked up, sorry Ms. Hopps."

"It's okay Ms. Frost, you tried to help, I shouldn't hold you back anymore, I remember you are busy, both of you so you should go and do what you need to." The two mammals nodded and waved, while leaving the fast food restaurant. Judy fell to the floor and sobbed again. She has lost her phone and was lied to. The weasel just played her. She had to find him. Unless, that fox, maybe he knows where the weasel is. She got up and made a mental note to ask if she saw that fox. It was a start but right now, she just wanted to crash at her house and stay in her bed. Today was too depressing for her already.

She decided that going home was the best course of action, then finding a new job somehow most likely in person, then buy a new phone. Or give up, admit this was pointless and return to her parents. Then be mocked for trying to do something and failing. She would be just as successful as everyone else there, except no because there were rabbits that weren't farmers. She would be just one of many, a mindless drone repeating the same mundane tasks day by day. No blaze of glory just an untold story. She hobbled back home, avoiding every mammal. No mammal helped her and all left her to her own devices. No-one wanted to talk to a sulking rabbit that just wondered the streets aimlessly. After about 20 minutes, she finally reached her apartment block and went to the 4th floor, where her room laid just next to the end of the corridor, just beside those loud neighbours of hers Bucky and Pronk. Hopefully they would just shut up for the day, she wasn't willing to deal with their bullshit. Not today. She headed down the bleak monotone corridor that laid the path to her room. The size would not allow it to be called a flat. But she couldn't afford anything better. And now, she couldn't afford this place with what was starting to be debt. She just hoped some miracle would occur. She unlocked her door and pushed it open. Inside to her surprise was a calm suited fox just sitting on the only chair in the room. "Hello, I've been expecting you Ms. Hopps. Don't worry, I assure you I am friendly."

"How do you know my name?"

"I know everyone, and you haven't been discrete today have you." The fox smiled and stood up. He walked over to the bunny. He pushed the door closed, "I believe this belongs to you." He pulled out a phone with a little carrot charm attached to it. The phone was just as she left it ,except there was a little bit of red on the top left back corner. Judy noticed it and instantly dropped the phone.

"What was that?"

"Oh dear, I must have not wiped it, I apologise. I do like my ketch-up with my burgers."

"Then how come you are not dirty, if the phone is so dirty, so should you."

"Good eye, but I'm more careful with the suit then the table. I simply found it there, as if someone left it there."

"Oh now I feel really stupid."

"Why would that be?"

"I blamed that weasel, I thought he stole it and didn't give it back." In reality , he didn't give it back.

"Well, no-one is perfect. We all make mistakes."

"Now how did you enter my apartment?"

"You can't be serious. You call this an apartment? This is just a room with a window."

"Well, I need to live here so please leave."

"Very well, I shall leave." He crouches down to the rabbits eye level and pulls his paw out of his pocket to shake the doe's paw. "It was a pleasure to speak to you Ms. Hopps."

"What is your name?"

"Call me spectral showman or spectre for short." The fox smirked. Judy accepted the paw and then felt something laminated in her grip. "Goodbye, maybe we will meet again." Judy opened her paw and saw a taped up stack of cash. Her eyes opened up wide, she couldn't accept that, at least not without thanking the fox. She ran out of her room and chased the fox.

A/N: So new story and it is an AU woah, unexpected but it should've been. Yesterday I did mention I was working on this and well here it is, a new concept. I assume you know who the fox is but I refuse to say his name until he says it first.

Also Jack and Skye, what are they doing here? Well, every story needs a good comparison, a kind of best case scenario. That is all I'll say for now.

Overall, Spectre is meant to be more morbid in nature disdaining his safety but is he truly like that , who knows, I guess you'll just have to read this story.

Anyways, I'm already rambling on for too long and I'm writing shit for my more developed story.

So Good luck to everyone, have a good one and goodbye. Til next we meet.