Sweat poured down Judy's damp light brown fur, the sound of the roaring crowd drowned by the rhythmic, thump thump thump, as she bounced the basketball in her hand. She was trapped, to her left, right and center were defenders, eyeing the ball hungrily. She teetered by the edges of the white line, her mind raced with possible outcomes.
'There!' She screamed in her mind before sliding the ball under the middle defenders legs, she danced between the left and center defenders, her uniform tickling their bare arms. Panting she swiped the ball, the other team's fingers tickling the ball.
Looking to her teammate Lola she threw the ball in a feint to one of her teammates, watching in smug delight as the others flocked to that member like the seagulls from Nemo. The ball slid through the air falling snugly into Lola's awaiting hands. With a 'hup!' and jump she slammed the ball down into the hoop just as the buzzer screamed through the air.
The stadium grew deathly silent as their eyes zeroed in on the scoreboard, and in a beat they were roaring to life.
Space Jam: 56
Goon squad: 55
Judy screamed in joy as she pumped her fist in the air, before bunny bouncing to her friend Lola. The two chest bumped as they howled like cavemen at their victory, before squealing in laughter as the team hoisted them up, chanting their names in unison. The stadium joined the mantra as they screamed Lola, and Judy's names. The two members grinned at each other as they were hoisted into the air three times.
"Good work out their Hopps, Bunny, I expect you two not to slack though. Don't let these last few wins this season go to your head. Oh, Hopps, don't forget to study for your UA mock tests ok?" The coach lectured the girls, before softening slightly as she encouraged the younger bunny.
"Yeah, I got a pretty cool lil' sis don't I," Lola said casually as she threw a hand over the smaller sister's tiny shoulders, causing the young girl to giggle.
It was no secret how close the two girls were, they may not have been biological siblings, but they acted all the same. Of course in their small city bunnies and rabbits were extremely common thanks to their…Multiplying capabilities.
The city they lived in was one of pure bliss, not entirely cut off from the entire world, but not exactly welcoming either. The mayor, Lionheart, had fought tooth and nail with the government to create a safe haven for people born with mutant quirks. So,begrudgingly and with a weeping pride the government created the hidden state known as Zootopia. The state was quick to become the most popular place to live in for the mutant type people who flocked to get away from the discrimination, and disgusted looks sent their ways. Life became beautiful for them, and they no longer had to leave their houses in shame of how they were created.
Judy had always been an extremely strong hearted individual who always lent a helping hand in need, and always fought back against the bullies that came skulking around. She remembered vividly as a young bunny when her friends and her were in a play of the creation of Zootopia. The kids voiced who they wanted to be, and Judy exclaimed she had wanted to be a hero. Of course a fox-like child at the front snorted at her dream, calling it the dumbest thing he'd ever heard.
She grazed the lighter scar like fur at the memory of what happened after that play all those years ago. Something that made her flame blow even brighter than before, wanting, no needing to become a hero.
"I want you to have this as a reminder that you'll always be nothing more than a carrot farming dumb bunny!" The fox had exclaimed his claws extended as he held her face down with the other, and with one swift motion gave her three long claw-like gashes.
So in defense she kicked her hind legs out sending him bouncing across the dirt gravel. His pride being hurt more than he'd like he exclaimed, 'You just don't know when to quit', and he sent her head cracking to the ground before leaving. Snarling at her two friends who cowered away.
Her two friends had worried for months after that incident, even after her fur had grown over her scars. Everyone had assumed she'd be meek and afraid of the boy after, nope, she stood toe to toe with him constantly. It always infuriated him every time, and of course she'd gotten a couple more scars on her body, but it never affected her.
Standing alongside her fellow animal companions she listened to the UA mock tester explain each test they'd go through. Her heart pummeled her chest as she listened in anticipation and excitement.
Of course, life is going to ruthlessly knock you around the ringer, and make you work for your dreams. So when she failed the mock tests the first week she dragged herself to the temporary dorm rooms. The others who failed had scampered home, but for Judy it was going to take more than a screaming teacher who pushed them hard, and failing a couple times to give up.
She stayed up late into the nights as she worked her core muscles in sit ups, each time she went up she tried to stay in a lying position in the air, reading her notes. She grunted and panted as she felt sweat dampen her fur with each set. But she powered through, because Judy was not a quitter.
She rose with the sun the second day pushing her body to unimaginable lengths, running hard and fast to best her current sprinting record. Every time she began to slow or start to give up, the words, and faces of those who discouraged her from her dream, it sent her pushing harder.
"I really think you should stick with us on the farm sweetie."
.
"There's never been a bunny hero, never."
.
"You'll never be anything but a stupid carrot farming dumb bunny!"
.
She sprinted forward jumping and using her larger companions as steps as she flew over the giant wall of ice. She never saw the immensely proud look on the mock tester's face.
She swung along the building rooftops as the fake rain pelted against her harshly, leaving the others behind as she pushed her body to reach the fake victim. She screamed in victory as her body slammed to a rolling stop at the victim. She didn't see how proud the teacher was.
Dodging each punch sent her way by the enormous criminal she jumped towards the edge of the building, pushing herself off and flipping halfway slamming her feet into the fist of the criminal forcing it to swing back on him. He swirled spit flying from his mouth as he slammed into the ground, an instant, KO.
Her companion's jaws dropped to the floor as she instantly KOed the huge fake villain.
Judy positively beamed in pride as she was handed a medal for the top performer in the mock tests, and she felt her throat clench as her best friend sister Lola was screaming her name amongst the crowd. She had done it, and she passed to go for greater lengths. Ones that had her wanting to sprint faster to see what was in store for her.
"Ms. Hopps, I am immensely proud of you. One of the first people of Zootopia to pass the mock tests, you have ten months to train and get ready to depart to Japan my girl. You are an inspiration to us all," Lionheart boomed as he gestured to the roaring sea of people.
A timid sheep woman pushed between the two taking Judy's hands in her hands, "You really are amazing Judy, and might I add an inspiration to us mammal mutants," The assistant cooed. Judy thanked her with a hug, never noticing the sinister smile the assistant made behind her back.
.
.
For the next ten months Judy trained her fuzzy little floof off, and when she wasn't training she was studying, or slam dunking in basketball. She hung around Lola every chance she got, happy but a bit sad to be leaving her best friend behind. The two were like two peas in a pod, they'd been inseparable since they were five.
.
Judy let out a watery chuckle as she stood at the airport. Of course her parents were there and yes she was going to miss them, but they weren't all too close. They didn't exactly support her dream of being a hero, and at any chance tried to discourage her, causing a bit of a drift between them.
Her watery violet green eyes were for Lola, the one who stood opposite her. Calm and relaxed but she saw the glossy sheen of her bright pink eyes. The two hugged each other tightly as they tried to soak up each other's warmth one last time. Pulling back reluctantly Lola pulled up a gift bag to Judy, who carefully opened it.
"Y-you're lucky jersey and basketball. Bugs gave you this Lola, are you sure?" She choked, as her tears began to slide down her fur.
"My baby bugs might not be with us anymore doll, but I know he would have wanted you to have it," Lola said through a clenching heart.
Bugs had been a touchy subject for the two, their third best friend who was both energetic and reserved at the same time. Lola and bugs had a bright flame between the two, and they shared a kiss as he passed in Lola's arms. Lola hadn't been the same for the past year after that.
So with a watery goodbye she bid her parents a heartfelt goodbye as well before turning and boarding the private UA plane.
Judy put her headphones in relaxing into her seat as, Try everything by Zelle, thrummed through her body. She thumped her paw against the floor to the beat as she hummed along under her breath. She read through the entrance exam line out as she bobbed her head.
This seemed almost too easy.
Judy pressed her blunt claws into the leather seat as her driver sped across the busy highway to get her to the UA entrance exam. She bolted to the entrance shouting for the ticket person to wait, waving her late pass and ticket in the air.
She apologized profusely as she handed the two to the disgruntled lady, and hopped off into the awaiting stadium. She quickly plopped down in the dark as she arrived halfway through Present mic's introduction of what they'd be doing.
Her ears twitched against her back, the elastic holding her ears together snugly in a mock ponytail. Her large brown ears flopped down to the middle of her back barely grazing her round poofy white tail. She didn't notice the lazy tired purple eyes that trailed her form in interest, nor the nervous green eyes that flitted to her nervously.
Judy hopped out of the testing room to the changing rooms giddily, not paying attention as the same purple eyed boy's eyes lapped up her figure in hunger. She disappeared into the changing room, giving the purple boy relief as he felt his heart race against his chest.
Judy's nose wiggled as she held Lola's lucky jersey in her hands, nibbling her bottom lip she quickly slid into the jersey. She sighed in happiness at the familiar smell of Lola, and she felt her nerves soothe as she felt a ghost of Lola's presence.
Judy stilled herself as she walked out of the changing room, confidence rolling off of her in waves. Not noticing the purple eyes that widened before glowing as they trailed her more disposed figure, nor did she notice the red eyed boy that squirmed beside his squealing pink friend as they watched Judy sashay her way to the gate she was located at.
She began to do her stretches, groaning lightly as she felt her muscles strain and stretch. Judy hopped on her fuzzy hind feet feeling her blood pump through her vein, and the nervous shuffling of the others drifted away to a buzz.
She was ready, she would pass these exams, because Judy,
Judy was not a quitter.