Here is the 81st installment. More forward movement, stopping in here and there to check in with mammals as they go about their lives. Hope you enjoy it.

Additional notes live at the end of the chapter, when they exist, so here is the obligatory, on with the show.

Sadly, I do not own and thus can claim no rights to Zootopia or its characters. They belong to Disney.

It continues…. Enjoy.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Gazelle Residence - 2 months after the task force was in full swing. A Saturday. Kits are just over 4 months old.

"Juuuudy! Please!" The gazelle in question leaned forward, trying to make her eyes as big as possible, tears pooling, as she begged the rabbit across from her to give in.

Judy looked up at the clear blue sky beyond the umbrella they were currently seated under with a roll of her eyes. "NO! Absolutely not! Nick and I are already obligated to sing at the concert, we are now on dozens of songs across a three album special. I mean, we are one of the three albums all by ourselves, and that is only because you…" Pointing a finger at Maria as she returned her attention to her. "... were forced to cut back. So no. Maria. We love you. We do. But no! Besides, are you not pregnant and in need of some downtime yourself?"

Jarvis laughed from the other side of the table. "Oh, come on, J. You should know her better than that."

Swimming up to the side of the pool next to the table the other mammals were sitting at, Nick crossed his arms on the side of the pool, resting his muzzle on his arms. "Maria. Jarvis. We all love you guys. We love that we get to spend so much more time with you now, in no small part because of the comics venture and the albums. The foundation and the trust now makes our lives both simpler and harder at the same time. We have easy access to the money represented by the foundation and trust, but… We have to spend it carefully so we don't overspend and land ourselves in hot water with the ZPDs limits.

We bought new cars and the condo, but we got away with that because ALL of our assets got tied into the trust and foundation leaving us effectively penniless as far as that calculation goes and our paychecks go into those accounts for the same reason. It reduces our exposure. The recent promotions help there too by upping our limit. That does not mean that we can just spend willy nilly. We have to plan out any major purchases, and what kind of income we have. That includes the use of the money, or the income from what you are asking. Beyond that, all four of us still have our actual day jobs, which we love doing. We are making the world a better place. We have freed… I don't know how many unjustly convicted mammals now."

Judy spoke up. 'Forty five as of this past Tuesday. Jailed in their stead the actual perpetrators of the crime in question when we were able to determine that, eighteen times with investigation working on the rest. We have also routed dozens of corrupt mammals from the halls of power."

Nick smiled, blowing Judy a kiss. "Exactly. Thanks, Fluff. Knew I could count on you. We cannot do that and be on tour with you at the same time. And… as Judy pointed out, you need to be taking it easy. With the help of Von, you have three healthy foals in the oven. The world is not going to think less of you for taking a break. If anything, you should do a press conference about the fact that you are pregnant. People are starting to wonder why you are out of the camera's eye, and there is only so much Ben and Adrian can do."

Maria looked down, caressing her very pregnant belly. "I know. There is the Awards show coming up at the end of this month. I was planning on just…" Waving a hoof in the air. "Showing up. You know how much I love causing a stir."

Judy chuckled, but Lizz spoke. "Oh my gods! You just show up, looking so pregnant you could be about to burst and everyone will freak out. I love it."

Maria grinned. "Yes, well. About that. You four, as well as all the others that sang on the album are going to attend. I mean you and Mike will be because of the Wolford sponsorship, and then the fact that you are also on the albums."

Mike groaned from a nearby lounge chair. "I am just glad that the Wolford sponsorship of the awards predates all this by years. There are already rumors that there are going to be awards handed out to us and the album."

Judy nodded. "And since we are also surprise performers during the show."

Maria groaned as she deflated in her chair. "It's just… I'm so bored! I've written dozens of songs. Jarvis won't let me anywhere near my workshop so I can't work with my hooves. The foals don't like the loud music. Don't get me wrong, they like music, just not when I'm trying to create because it isn't a complete song. My gods, Judy. I have learned to cook!"

Jarvis flinched. "Well… She has gotten a lot better."

Judy laughed even harder, much to Maria's clear frustration. "Oh, you poor tiger. I can only imagine the horrors she has subjected you to."

Shaking his head, Jarvis smiled. "Not as bad as that one attempt. She has Rachel Stingray doing private lessons." Glancing to Maria. "Speaking of which, isn't she supposed to be here for a lesson today?"

A new voice from a canine with a smooth brown coloration, large floppy ears, and a blocky muzzle that carried a seemingly eternal smile joined them. "I was, but I'm guessing that isn't going to be the case today. Hello everyone."

Lizz, suddenly nervous, offered a paw. "Oh, hi. I'm…"

"Lizz Fangmeyer-Wolford. It is a pleasure to meet the Regent in person. I'm actually Wolford pack adjacent. My line had some issues in the distant past and well, you get what I look like."

Mike chuckled. "It was a long time ago. If I am not totally failing my history, a good thousand years ago, maybe fifteen hundred? A eugenics program of sorts started by a mad wolf convinced he could make a better warrior. He wasn't all the way wrong, but when you accentuate certain characteristics, other things happen too. Genetics as we are all very aware are interconnected. Take Rachel here for example, she is probably three times as strong as I am, and almost as fast as Nick or Judy, but…"

Rachel nodded. "You can get unexpected side-effects." Pointing to her blocky muzzle and then picking up the floppy ears on each side of her head and holding them out like the wings of a plane. (Rhodesian Ridgeback) "Which is how wolves like me that don't look like wolves but our own type of canine come into existence. We were ostensibly meant to be able to go one on one with a lion or other large feline. The history is fascinating really. Selective breeding, things like that. But part of a long and different discussion. Anyway, I brought my suit as always. Do you mind if Johnny and I enjoy the pool?"

Maria shook her head. "Not at all. You are more than welcome. You have earned that and then some by getting me to the point where I'm at least not at risk of poisoning my mate."

Nick chuckled as he floated. "Hey, at least you are not a fox, Maria. You'd be disowned by the species if you couldn't cook."

Rachel nodded knowingly. "It was a fox that taught me. I'm still amazed that most mammals do not realize just how good a chef just your average everyday fox is."

Fin walked out of the house and gave Rachel a nod clearly recognizing her. "Hey, Rache. How ya been?"

Rachel spun in shock at the voice she knew so well. "FIN!" She quickly snatched the fox up in a crushing hug. "FIN! Oh my gods! Of all the mammals! What are you doing here?"

Clara stepped up. "He's here with me. Would you mind terribly putting my mate down?" Giving Fin a glare once on his paws.

Rachel laughed. "I knew you would end up with someone bigger than you, by a lot. Mate?" Putting out a paw with a bright, Judy worthy grin. "Rachel Stingray, former student of your mate. He is the reason I am where I am today. Without him, I'd be about as good a cook as Maria was when we started." Glancing at Fin, who is the rabbit I smell? It isn't Misses HoppsWilde, but it is similar."

Amy popped out of the pool. "That'd be because I'm her sister. So, Fin… you didn't tell Clara and I that you were the teacher to any famous chefs."

Rachel waved her paws. "Oh, I'm no chef. I'm just a home cook who got lucky. If anyone should have their own show, it's Fin. I saw your win against Bobby Flayer. That was awesome."

Fin nodded. "Thanks. The show has really helped business at Therus, I'm going to be on Guy's Grocery Games soon, and then on Diner's, Drive-In's, and Dives. So yeah, a lot of things going. Execs say that if I an do well on those, there is a good chance to make it onto something like Chopped, or better yet, Zootopia versus Alex. Anyway. That reminds me. Nick. Judy. You two are coming with me to a taping of Beat Bobby Flayer next week. We get to the be judges and all that."

Nick frowned. "Judges how? Like at the end, or the host type."

"Host type. I already taped the one where I got to be part of the final judging."

Judy groaned. "Oh my gods!"

Nick just laughed. "It is a good thing we are in charge of the task force and not just the rank and file. Good to see you again, Rachel."

Looking over to the fox with a smile. "You too, Nick. Judy."

Pulling himself out of the pool, Nick plopped down next to Judy, soaking her. "NICK!"

Grinning and wrapping an arm around her. "So, awards ceremony. This is what, the fifth year where they are all combined into a single thing?"

Maria sighed with a nod. "Yeah, and I don't think that is ever going to change. However… Nick. Fin." Giving them both a very evil look that had both foxes suddenly very worried. "You two are going to be giving an extra special performance at the show. Since you now have the legal stuff fixed, and gave me rights to remix it. You're going to be doing a performance of Mr. Fox."

Nick physically recoiled and fell off the bench, then backed away almost falling back into the pool. "No! No way in any version of hell!"

Maria grinned wider. "Oh, yes. With Judy playing the part of the bunny in the video. Ain't that right, SweetBuns?"

Judy groaned and put her head down on the table. "Oh gods. Will it get you to take it easy and stop with the touring nonsense?"

"Only if I get to choreograph it!"

Judy looked back at Nick and his horrified face. "Fluff. No. Please…" His ears folding flat to his head. "Oh gods. There's no getting out of this, is there?"

Amy almost screeched. "NO WAY! NICK IS MISTER FOX!" She then froze and turned to Fin. "Wait… If Nick is Mister Fox, then that means…"

Fin was backing away. "Nope!"

He turned to run and didn't get more than a step before being snatched up by Clara. "Not so fast, little fox. That makes you the fox in the second video that didn't get as much press."

Fin deflated and just hung there. "Yeah."

Clara lowered him though not setting him on his feet as Amy sashayed towards him with far more hip sway than was necessary. "I loved Mister Fox, but the second song. Foxy. Was my all time favorite because I just found something about that smaller fox… His big ears…" Stroking Fin's ears causing him to shiver. "That tail and how it whipped and swished with his breakdancing moves." Stroking Fin's tail causing him to shiver and groan. She nibbled on the base of his ears and caused him to moan despite himself. "And to think, I actually caught me that very fox. Oh, the things I am going to do to you tonight as punishment for not telling me."

Clara laughed, pawing Fin to Amy. "You and me, both, sister. Nick was sexy, but there was something about that other fox that was just… Mmmmm"

With the inside of Fin's ears turning red. Laughter, a late lunch cooked as a group, everyone, even Maria, participating, and lots of conversation was had until late in the evening. Mike and Lizz leaving early to attend a pack function, Nick and Judy as Firsts actually bared. Rachel and her husband headed home after dinner, leaving the rest to roast some marshmallows and indulge. The kits were staying the night with Nick's aunt, mother, and Judy's siblings.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

2 weeks later - A Thursday

The combined awards show for all things music related was still searching for a name. The various awards shows had been merged during the Nighthowler events, and had tried to go back to being individual shows once that was all resolved. However, the popularity of only one show, while longer, but all of the various genre based shows combined, from Country to R , Pop, metal, video-music awards, and everything else, seemed to be a better draw for the public. Add to that some of the unique collaborations that came from having so many diverse artists under one roof, and the various awards groups decided to return to that format. Simply celebrating all music at the same time. The collection of TV, Movie, Play, etc… awards shows followed suit, especially since it was not unheard of for a mammal to have a part in an award winning play also be receiving best actor for a film.

The organization of the combined show fell under a committee where each sponsoring awards group provided members. The order they got to present was determined by lot. The awards themselves remained separate, from the EweTube awards to the Rammy's, and everything in between. It was a massive gala requiring a massive venue. Because of that massive venue, it was also the big ticket concert of the season drawing mammals from all over the world and televised internationally.

To support it, there were three red carpets. One for the elite that were attending. Politicians such as the Mayor, and other rich and powerful mammals like Bill and Carry. Along with mammals like Erik and Jeff who got dragged to the show and down that very red carpet by Bill and Carry.

The next was for members of the entertainment industry from actors and producers, to any musicians that were not up for awards and not performing that year. The last, and the one where the majority of the attention was focused, was for those who had been nominated, and/or were performing. Although many of those slipped in via the second red carpet in order to dodge the attention.

While plenty of attention was focused on the other two to see the who's who that was attending. Even the general entrances were watched, as more than a few celebrities tried to slip into the venue that way as well. It was however that third red carpet, down which those that had been nominated for an award as well as performing, would enter, that pulled the majority of the attention. Of course, Maria's publicist had let slip that she was attending, and that had the rumor mill buzzing like no one's business as she had not been seen since before the Von reveal.

A plain, average, run of the mill, large mammal limo pulled up to that third red carpet, and from it exited a dozen mammals that no one in the press recognized. The oddity expanded as they moved to the staging area and… waited as if waiting for something. When a second run of the mill limo pulled up and another dozen unknowns stepped out the press were very confused. As the nearly two dozen mammals began to move down the walkway a reporter finally had to ask a question.

"Excuse me. I'm Harvey Lapin with HMZ. Who are you?"

A coyote with a ZFD pin on his tux smiled and stepped forward. "Hello. Herron Beech, ZFD." Pointing to the pin. "We're the performers on the charity albums that Gazelle has been nominated for producing. I did the rendition of, Time in a Bottle." Reaching back and pulling a very bashful female coyote in an evening dress forward to his side. "This is my mate, Sarah. It was always our song, or rather, my song to her because of my job."

"Oh Herr, stop. I'm sure they don't…"

Harvey's eyes went wide with a grin. "Wait! That was you! My gods, you have a great voice! Your rendition was so moving. A real challenge to the original."

Herron blushed as his wife beamed and responded. "Thank you for saying that. Me and the pups are so proud of him for performing on that album, and just in general. It has done so much good. The money raised has already helped out several of my friends who lost their mates to the job. The ZFD, ZPD, and all the other services. They do a hard, risky job, and they need all our support. Especially when the worst happens."

Harvey's full attention switched to Sarah. "Missus Beech."

"Please. Call me Sarah and you'd make my year."

Harvey grinned, being a large Jackrabbit, that showed off his well groomed incisors. "I'd be happy to call you Sarah. So, Sarah, what do you do when not I'm sure worrying about your mate, given his job."

Sarah blushed. "I… I actually work with one of the charities that the album helped support. The ZFF or Zootopia Firefighters Foundation, which is closely aligned to the ZPF and ZESF. Those being the Zootopia Police Foundation and the overarching Zootopia Emergency Services Foundation, which does the work to make sure all emergency responders and their families get the support they need. The ZESF also coordinates between the various charities to put on the charity ball and other events to raise money.

The work they do is so important to every mammal, but it is also so risky. We never know if our mates are going to fail to come home after the next shift. Be that someone like Herron or a ZPD officer. It is scary, but at the same time, we are so proud of them. We help get mates who have lost theirs to the job, as well as to the stresses of the job, to get help, pay bills when an income is suddenly gone and the insurance hasn't figured itself out yet. We help them get counseling, job training, and anything else they might need. It's amazing what impact simple kit care can have on a mammal who has lost their mate. We also make sure that the members themselves have all the resources they need, especially after a big event."

Sarah was clearly in a zone as she continued. "You see. A lot of mammals don't know, but nearly a third of our mammas lose their lives to suicide, be they ZFD, ZPD, and even more in the Forces. It is a terrible thing, but the stresses are such that they don't always feel the ability to share when they are struggling, even with each other. They keep things bottled up. Many feel that they don't have the right to feel the way they do, and that's just destructive."

Herron nodded. "It's true. It's what got Sarah into working with them. I was spiraling after a big fire where a bunch of kits died. We didn't know they were in there until just before the building started to collapse. One of the mothers showed up from her late shift at her third job. I tried to hold her back, but I'm just a coyote and she was a tigress. From what I learned later, she had been exiled from her family because of who her mate had been. I've learned through the MMSF that Nick and Judy WildeHopps started just how prevalent that is. Sadly this was before the MMSF. She broke my jaw as she struggled to get free and then ran into the building. It collapsed completely a few moments later."

Herron looked away, a sad, distant look in his eyes before he brought himself back to the present as a paw squeeze of his mate. "There was nothing any of us could do. We found her…" Tears welled in his eyes and Sarah hugged him from behind. "Sorry. The guilt still eats at you, even when it is beyond your control. I can talk about it now, but at the time, it was all about, what else could I have done? Why wasn't I strong enough? We should have found the kits, then it wouldn't have happened. The fact that it was Tigress vs Coyote, doesn't enter into that mental math. That we couldn't even enter the building to sweep it because it was that far gone before we even got there due to shoddy construction that got the builder put in prison. None of that matters to you. We do this job because we want to help. Sometimes we can't, and that can be hard to come to terms with. Thankfully Sarah had a friend who lost her mate to a different fire, saving dozens of lives before the structure he was holding up all by himself, gave out. She got Sarah in touch with the ZFD Support Fund, and they got me the help I needed."

Harvey looked on in shock. "Wow."

Herron nodded. "It's okay. I'm okay. A lot more of us get help because of the charities like the ZFF, ZPF, and the MMSF. When the chance to perform on the charity album came up, given all the support I received. Support that saved my life and my marriage, I leapt at the chance to give back in a more tangible way than just a paycheck deduction every month."

Harvey nodded. "Thank you. Thank you for your service. Thank you for sharing that. I think maybe we should all consider this point and remember all the good that mammals such as yourself do so selflessly and help support you through things like the ZFF. If I may, the other mammal you mentioned. Who were they, if you can say."

Herron smiled sadly but nodded. "Sergeant Gregory Foxenly. He was a Horay Fox. He held that beam up for nearly ten minutes. I don't know how. It took three elephants to pick it up off him once the fire was out. He was the only life lost, but because of his own actions, more than thirty mammals made it to safety."

Harvey, frowned. "Another example of foxes proving their stereotype wrong, if just given a chance. I'm willing to bet that there was no news coverage, or if there was, it would mention the lives saved, but not who made it possible."

Herron nodded. "Yep. I know his chief mentioned him in an interview, and that part got cut." Giving scare quotes. "For time."

Harvey nodded. "I think those of us in the press need to get better about that. Thank you so much for talking to me and sharing. I'll let you get inside. Herron, Sarah. It was a pleasure meeting you."

Sarah beamed. "Thank you. It was a pleasure meeting you as well."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Once the rest of the press figured out who the mammals were, they were quickly all drawn into similar conversations, with similar stories passed around. There was the one about the EMT that lost a paw to frostbite in order to pull a kit from a frozen river. The ZPD officer who happened to be in the right place to stop a gang shooting, but was shot themself. As well as so many other stories and the help the various charities gave those officers, their mates, and those being interviewed. All expressing just as Herron had, how they jumped at the chance to help support what had saved many of their lives.

After they had moved on, the next limo appeared, producing all of Gazelle's Tigers but Jarvis. They were given a few questions, but as always declined to be interviewed. The next limo was one that had everyone's attention, being recognized as a Wolford pack limo. Once it stopped, the door opened and Mike, Lizz, Nick and Judy stepped out. They waited, which confused the press for a moment. Confusion quickly washed away as Gazelle's distinctive limo arrived.

When Jarvis stepped out, no one blinked, they were used to him escorting her. The camera flashes started going off in earnest as he reached a paw in and everyone saw her hoof. Him helping her wasn't out of the ordinary. The happy grin on his muzzle and the kiss he planted on her cheek however, was. Her physical appearance and state of pregnancy caused a momentary wash of silence to cascade through the press before the shouted questions began.

Maria, flanked by Jarvis, as well as Nick, Judy, Mike and Lizz, moved away from the vehicle area to where the actual press was staged for interviews. The camera's never left her. At the interview area, Harvey managed to be the one to get her attention. "Gazelle! I hope I'm not being too forward, but who is the father? Last we heard, you and Kelton had gone your separate ways."

Maria grinned. "Hi, Harvey. How have you been? Good I hope. So I'm going to reveal something, break more than a few hearts and probably win a lot of mammals a bet or two. Firstly, Kelton and I were never together, nor were any of the other mammals everyone thinks I was with. Friends, all of them, but I have only ever had eyes for one mammal. That would be my Jarvis." Holding onto his arm as he smiled a bit bashfully for the cameras. "And he would be the father of our foals, or cubs. We know that they are healthy, but have chosen to not get images of them so what they look like is a surprise.

Unlike my friends Nick and Judy, or Mike and Lizz." Indicating the pairs talking to different reporters. "Jarvis and I had a lot longer odds of getting pregnant with viable offspring. However, with the help of some fantastic and dedicated doctors in Von, and a touch of IVF, well… We will be welcoming our first offspring soon."

Harvey nodded with a grin. "I knew it! You're right about the bets. I just won a big pot back at the office. Congratulations to the both of you. Will you be getting officially married?"

"We already are. Have been since long before I got famous. Long before I lost touch with my best friend. The mammal that helped Jarvis and I realize our feelings for each other and get past the Predator/Prey things and just see each other as mammals. You can obviously understand my stance on interspecies relations.

The fact that Jarvis and I can have foals, that are ours at all, even if the odds are longer. The help of those doctors from Von is only in an IVF capacity, identifying the viable and implanting those. Saving us the heartbreak of dozens of miscarriages. Something those very same doctors have advised we have probably had many times since we have been together.

Yes, our odds are longer. Yet, even with those longer odds even mammals like Jarvis and I can have viable offspring. It just proves that those mammals claiming we are all so different do not know what they are talking about.

Jarvis is the love of my life, and I have my best friend to thank for forcing us to get over ourselves and get together. I'm just so very glad that she finally found her own happiness. Now, I know I have been nominated for the charity album as the producer, but it isn't about me. It is about supporting the ever so very worthy charities that all the money went to. I want to thank the studio mammals that gave their time for free, the sound engineers that did the work on the album while refusing to be paid.

I want to also thank all the artists who allowed their music to be re-recorded by the fantastically talented mammals I believe you have already met. We made sure they got here first so you could get a chance to meet and talk with them. You did do that, didn't you?"

Harvey nodded with a grin. "We did at that. Some excellent mammals who do some amazing work that we should all be far more grateful for."

"That is so true. I got a chance to meet and work with all of them, and they are just some of the best mammals. Now, if you will forgive me. I've found that being this pregnant takes a lot more out of a lady than I expected." A sudden lump appeared on her dress shaped like a paw, causing Gazelle to frown and gently rub said paw until it retracted. "Hey now. Behave in there." Glancing up at Harvey with a slightly embarrassed smile. "They are quite active, but to your next question. Because they are hybrids, the doctors cannot give a definitive due date. The answer is always. They'll be ready when they are ready.

Finally, and if I win or not, I want to thank all the fans. All the mammals out there that bought just one song, or the entire collection, because every purchase went to support those very deserving charities." With that, Gazelle drew Nick, Judy, Lizz, and Mike away from the press and into the venue.

The performances were a spectacle all their own, and the remixed version of Mister Fox that bled into a redux of Foxy featuring Nick, Judy, Amy, and Fin nearly brought the house down. Amy, Clair, and Fin sneaking in unmolested via the First VIP red carpet and all but unnoticed. Fin recognized due to his win against Bobby Flayer.

Gazelle won several awards for her own work, and the charity album won several as well.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Maria, with Jarvis and all the mammals on the charity album behind her stood behind the microphone. "Thank you!" Wiping away a tear as a Moose EMT held the award high above them all. "You all know I'm not normally so emotional, but the outpouring of support for all the wonderful charities this album supports is truly amazing. I may have produced it, but it is these mammals behind me, and all their colleagues at home throughout the city that do the very hard and dangerous work every day. It is the charities that support these mammals that this album set supports that truly deserve the praise. So please. Join me in a round of applause for all these mammals, and every first responder out there that gives so readily of themselves to make sure the rest of us are safe." She stepped to the side clapping. The standing ovation went on for nearly ten minutes and delayed the next section of the show by twenty minutes. No one complained, other than the next presenter making the obligatory joke about having to follow… that…

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N

Remember to share the love. Review and Fav. It is the life blood of every writer to know you are enjoying their work. I also want to thank everyone who has Fav'd, followed, and reviewed this little project. I know that isn't much, but to me, it's huge. Even as a writer of original fiction, that you enjoy this means a lot to me as an author. You can check out my original work and link to my Blog, Scribblings, where a lot of it lives by hopping over to dcballard . com ( Direct: ascensionnovel . / scribblings (remove the spaces) because the forwarding is misbehaving.)

If you enjoy this, and you are not also reading my original Log Entries series over on my Blog. Why aren't you? (takes a Nick-esk pose of hurt) Also. I am now posting them on AO3, so you have even less excuse. It's free, ORIGINAL fiction. "An original story told through the log entries of the pilot and captain of an experimental star ship."

You should really be checking out my bestest bud, Bear678, and his story What Foxes May Come.

So keep those reviews and comments coming. And also remember, if you see issues, misspellings, etc... Let me know in PM, I'm under no illusion of being perfect and want to fix those things I miss.