Alister's perspective

Starting our newly reformed band, we went on in search of any of our other members.

"Wait," Duke said, "what was that other guy's name? The moose?"

"Uhhhh…"

"PALMER!" I quickly remembered, "Palmer Dewlap!"

"Oh yeah!" Revi said, "I remember him, I'm pretty sure he works at the Foxhole now as a stagehand."

"Oh shit!" Lizzy said, "him working in the new best venue in the city now."

"Well," I said, "I guess it's just around the corner from here so let's try to find him."

We approached the door to the basement club and knocked on it.

"Hello!" popped out a vulpine face, "Vixy Wilde, owner of Foxy's restaurant and the Foxhole, do you need something?"

"Well," I replied, "we're currently looking for someone."

"Is Palmer Dewlap in?" Revi asked.

"Uh," Vixy replied, "I'll go check and see real quick."

Before we knew it, a familiar looking bull Moose popped out of the door, having to duck.

"Uh," he said, "what is it that you need?"

"Hey Alister!" Duke shouted, "do that magic shit."

I began my singing.

"Holy shit!" Palmer said, "it really is you. It really is us. We were the biggest band in the world! We were on top, and then Angus had to leave and everything fell apart."

"Right on," I said, "I had a vision, one that we were needed once again, and knew I had to reform this."

"And now," Revi said, "that makes five of us, just one more to go."

"Oh yeah," Lizzy said, "Winston Trundleby, that wombat dude. Last I knew he owned a record shop on Outback Island, haven't talked to him in a while though."

"Okay then," Palmer said, sort of nervously, "I guess we need to go find him."

"To the Z-Train!"

We hopped aboard a Z-Train headed to Outback Island. Zootopia has an extremely complex transit system with trains, trams, buses, and even monorails and skyrides. At the front is the Zootopia Subway, which connects the six inner districts of the city-state (Savanna Central, Tundratown, Rainforest District, Canal District, Sahara Square, and Little Rodentia which has it's own). However, the entire city is connected by the ginormous Z-Train, which goes out to the outer districts (Temperate Territory, Scrublands, Meadowlands, Outback Island, Mountain Outpost, and the Nocturnal District). The Metro goes up to about 60 mph, but the Z-train goes up to 100 mph. Both are owned together under the greater "Zootopia Metro" Our rail network is the largest urban one in the world, and also has easy connections to our main airport (it's the biggest and busiest in the world. The massive rail connection the city has means we only need one). Soon, after a quick ride under the Strait Of Zootopia, we arrived at Outback Island, which was where this line terminated.

"Alright," Lizzy said, "I'm pretty sure his record shop is called Southern Star Records."

"In fact," Duke said, "it is right here."

We popped into the very small record store, playing muffled music, and immediately went up to the counter.

"Winston," Palmer said, "Winston Trundleby".

"Yeah that's me," the Wombat at the counter said, "and who the hell are you?"

I began singing to work my trick.

"Remember us?" I said, "we were the biggest band in the world!"

Instead, Winston gave us a very stern look.

"Uh," Revi said, "what's going on?"

"Oh yes," Winston said, "I do remember you. The ones who fucked me over."

"What!" I said, "we never…"

"Oh yes you did!" Winston said, "You all scammed me over with this little band of yours, claiming you needed me. I was the least valuable member."

"C'mon," Lizzy said, "Rhythm guitar is still quite valuable, it means a better sound with no live backing-"

"Oh I was the bottom of the fame hierarchy," he said.

"But we supported eachother."

"But," Winston said, "then that split came."

"Yeah," I said, "We never intended for it to happen. I mean, with Angus being banished from Zootopia and our image eventually stained, it kind of became our only choice."

"So you say," Winston said, "I don;t remember being notified. I nust remember showing up to the studio and no one was there. And then I saw the news."

"Well," Palmer said, "I thought it was pretty clear that we were doing it. I never knew that you thought this way. I thought the two of us were getting along together quite well, especially in that relationship."

"I thought we did too," Winston said, "Until OI saw you hooking uop with that buck in Temperate Territory."

"Oh we're just friends," Palmer said.

"You all are the reason why I don't want to ever be in your band again. I thought I was succeeding and that my dreams were coming true, but it all fell apart all because of you," Winston paused for a second, "I never want to see you again. Good riddance!"

We left the store, unsure about what to do with our band.

"So," I said as we slowly got back onto the Z-Train headed for Tundratown, "what do we do now? We don't have a rhythm guitarist."

"I guess," Duke said, "we continue on as a five piece."

"I can't believe that jævel," Revi said, "I thought he had gotten over all of that. I know the breakup was hard for all of us, and it nearly sent me to rock bottom, but I had assumed we had gave him a way out of that with the band reformation."

"Maybe," Lizzy said, "find a new rhythm guitarist."

"One that's just as good," Palmer said, "If not better."

"AND THAT WOULD BE ME!"

We looked behind us, trying to find the mystery voice.

"That would be me," said an African Painted Dog, coming our ways in a wheelchair, and a slightly wagging tail.

"Oh, you know us?" I asked.

"Yes," said the Canid, "I heard you singing earlier today nand immediately remembered your band. I think I may have been your biggestb fan. I was front row to all of your concerts, and even made the money as a concert youtuber to pay for all of it."

"Alright," Revi said, "As you can see, our rhythm guitarist refused to rejoin our band due to personal issues, but you totally could."

"Well," they said, "consider this. Here's my playing on 'Goddess Of The Mountains'".

Soon, we were subjected to this dog's guitar playing, which nearly matched that of our own band.

"Holy shit," Duke said, "you're in."

"OH HOLY SHIT!" said the canid, "I can't believe it. I am finally playing with my idols. I AM PLAYING WITH PELS RASERI!"

"Welcome to the band," I said, "what is your name?"

"Oh, I'm Dani Inkentshane, They/them, resident of Savanna Central but lover of Tundratown Metal, and MASSIVE Pels Raseri fan."

"Glad to meet you Dani!" We said, "and welcome to the biggest band in the world!"

"Oh, I can't wait!" they exclaimed excitedly, their tail wagging behind their wheelchair.

"This calls for some celebration. We finally got most of the band back together."

I smiled one of the biggest smiles I ever had.

This chapter is dedicated to Ryan Siew