Hello my good readers. As some of you may be aware, my muse is oft charitably referred to as a cactus. This is one of those reasons. Not as bad as some, but there are a couple doozies on deck to be posted soon, along with the next chapter of AFH, so you at least have that to look forward to.

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

With that out of the way… On with the show.

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Nick and Judy were walking through the fields of the Hopps family farms. They were both Senior ZPD officers at this point. Nick himself was a Deputy Chief working under Wolford in P1, while Judy was a District Chief with Lizz working under her in the same position Nick did for Mike. They were there for a funeral and the reading of the will of one Bonnie MarieAnn Hopps.

Stu had died ten years prior and Bonnie had managed to step in as the Matron of the Hopps clan and keep everything running. She had delegated much, and with her kits abilities with technology, and some smart investments in the same, as well as some smart general investments thanks to some of Nick's connections, the farm ran perhaps better than ever and was no longer running right at the margin between solvent and bankruptcy. In fact, the farms coffers were full enough they could weather a three year non-growing drought without going bankrupt and without federal assistance. However, even with all that, the stress and the loss of her mate took its toll and Bonnie herself had finally passed on as well.

Now it was time to see what the former leaders of Clan Hopps wanted the future and direction of the clan after their deaths to take and look like. Usually the transition to new heads of the clan happened before the current heads passed on so they could provide guidance and council. However, this time, there was no clear line of succession, so things had moved into the reading of a Will and Order. It would give direction and orders on how their personal possessions would be distributed and who they wanted to take over as clan head.

The last time things had gone to a Will and Order reading was nearly a thousand years prior and had caused a break in the clan. No one wanted that, but no one knew what the Will and Order contained, and so Hopps from across the country had returned to the home burrow.

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Nick paused on the hill overlooking the back of the burrow, kits from a hundred far flung Hopps clan members taking over the play area and beyond, differentiated by the different colored shirts they were given to wear. There were almost ten thousand rabbits there. Surprisingly there were almost two hundred non-rabbits including Nick himself, and of those, at least sixty were predators.

Judy stopped, sensing her mate no longer next to her and turned to face him. "Hey, Slick. What's up?"

Nick pulled his thoughtful gaze down to her with a smile. "Still as beautiful as the first day I saw you." Reaching out and cupping her cheek, his thumb rubbing over the scars hidden there under the fur. Nick's expression falling. "I just…"

Judy pressed her cheek into his paw. "What is it, Nick?"

Taking a deep breath. "I… I wish I could undo the pain these caused you."

Judy smiled brightly up at him. "Oh, Nick. I know you do, and I love you so much for it. It's part of what makes you the best possible mate a doe could ever hope for. But without these scars." Reaching up and pressing his paw tight to her cheek with her own. "Without these, I don't think our interactions would have gone the way they did. I wouldn't have seen a reason to follow you into Jumbeaux's. Without doing that, I wouldn't have recognized you in the photo of Emmet getting a pawpcicle from you. That assumes I would have even made it to being a cop at all. It's all a lot of what-if. I know you want to protect me, even retroactively if you could. But don't focus on it."

Nick nodded and sat down, pulling her down into his lap. "Okay. Just. Seeing everyone here is amazing. I'm surprised how many non-rabbit mates are here. How many were brave enough to show up with their non-rabbit, even predator, mate. Though your dad, and mom after she took full control… Not that she ever really wasn't always in actual control. But they really pushed changes in that vein."

Judy nodded and leaned back into his chest, sighing contentedly as he rested his muzzle between her ears in a habit that predated their being together. "Yeah. A lot of others that had found love outside a rabbit had the bravery to come out and be open about that. Then it made it so others were willing to even consider it. If anything, it has increased the strength of the clan because other clans had to step up to the plate or a Hopps would look elsewhere. We have always demanded more. We demand that our mates treat us right, just as we demand of ourselves the same.

Just think about Anna, Gherrets mate. How she was so shocked about how she got treated. They're both rabbits. Yet, as a doe from a clan on the other side of the country, the way he treated her, how the family treated her, was like a revelation. Now we have a dozen of her siblings who have married into the clan, leaving their birth clan for that reason."

"True. I can see that. So… We got that letter."

Judy groaned. "I knew you were going to want to talk about that."

"We can't do that from Zootopia."

"I know. I… I don't know."

"You know that I will support you in any decision. I think you should."

"Nick, that applied to both of us, you know. You're sure?"

Nick chuckled. "I am. It's how we can continue to make the world a better place."

"But our jobs?"

"Judy. We have both progressed as far as we are going to. We'll be retired before we could move to Chief of Police or Commissioner. There is zero chance, save an untimely death, that Mike, or Eric will vacate those positions and you know it. The only real option at this point is for you to finally run for office. With things set up the way they are now for the clan and the farm more specifically, as long as we support that, continue it… the weight will not be what it once was."

Judy nodded. "You're right. You know how much I hate it when you are right."

"Yeah, but you know you love me."

Judy laughed at the long suffering joke between them. "Gods above and below, I do. Despite yourself. I do."

They stayed there on the side of the hill until the announcement was made to gather in the main common room, the largest room in the burrow. In truth, there were too many there, so there was a localized video conference set up, with speaking rights divided out according to position in the clan. Only a select set got to be in the common room itself. Heads of large burrows across the country, and a large lottery for seats. Nick and Judy were on that very short list compared to the number of mammals present. Much to their nervousness, they were right up front, though they knew the reason.

One of the things few knew about a Will and Order reading, due to how rare they were, was that certain attendees would receive a letter ahead of time, as part of their summons to be present. In fact, that's what it was. A summons that ignoring would result in ejection from the clan. The letter gives some details on what to expect and goes out to those who are included in the Order section and will be assigned positions within the clan.

Nick and Judy got just such a letter and had been discussing it around the edges since then. They were concerned about it, because of the ask revealed in that letter. The direction that would be revealed, and the answer they would have to give when that section of the Order was read, would have to be given there in the moment. It would force a massive change in their lives. Their kits would have their lives upended. It would be a life change for both of them and would likely cause shockwaves through the entire clan and possibly cause a split.

The reading of the Will was first, and the distribution of most things went as expected. Most of their possessions were ceded to the burrow and the clan to be issued by those named as clan heads and heads of the burrow to those in need. Things like Stu's weapons were assigned to those that would occupy and make the office they were stored within their own. There were a few surprises. A few vehicles were given over to a kit that needed it but was clearly not expecting to get anything. A few small sections of land were sliced off the edges for some to start their own burrows. Nothing really out of the ordinary. All things that happened from time to time within the burrow and clan in general.

The Order section however pulled every mammal's attention as it would determine the direction the clan overall and the burrow more specifically would go. The lower level portion was exactly as expected. Various kits that had been already in charge of things were given formal confirmation of those assignments. Jacob would remain in charge of HFF Meats, Jessica Lynn would remain in charge of the clan and burrow medical oversight, etc…

Finally it came to the part everyone wanted to know the answer to. Who was going to be taking on the job of leader of the clan and burrow, and by extension, would be running the Hopps ancestral farm.

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Every ear and eye focused on the clan lawyer as he stepped back up to the podium, setting a sealed envelope on the podium as he stood behind it. The podium was on a small dias set up at the apex of the room to ensure everyone in the room could see and hear them, as well as making it easier for those watching via the video call meeting to see as well. There were mammals across the globe that were tuned into that meeting to learn the direction of the now deceased Hopps Clan elders.

Though in truth, there were other clan elders, they formed a semi-formal council to provide suggestions to, and help enact policy within the clan. It was the designated doe and buck, who Stu and Bonnie had been, that held the actual power. That the clan was having the Will and Order was a testament to their rejection of the suggestions of that council as to who should take over. It would be on whoever was designated to form a new elders council.

Clearing his throat, he opened the envelope and removed the single piece of paper and a flash drive. An eyebrow and ear twitch accompanying that. "It… It would appear that Bonnie and Stu expected this to the point that they recorded a video so that we can hear what they chose in their own voice."

After some quick manipulations, one of the lawyers assistants had a laptop set up and the video output going to the multiple large projection screens in the room as well as out to the video call.

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Bonnie and Stu appeared on the screen sitting in their personal study next to each other. It was clear that this was near the end for Stu as he looked truly exhausted. Stu coughed and then spoke. "Hey, kits. If you are watching this, both Bonnie and I have moved on to the next world. More to the point, despite our urging to the council to give us some options for clan heads that we felt comfortable with and who would help lead the clan into the future. They have." Stu coughed again, hard, into a handkerchief before continuing. "They have failed, or refused to do so. So far, they have proposed only rabbits like themselves. Rabbits who would take us as a clan backwards. Rabbits who embrace fear, division, and dare I say, even hate of anyone not a rabbit. Bon and I have lived our own lives far too long like that, and just as the last few years have shown, the clan is so much stronger when we embrace at least a little change."

Bonne nodded as Stu clearly flagged. "I got this, love." She took a moment to make sure he was laying comfortably on the couch before turning back to the camera. "As Stu said. The current council has been regressive and antagonistic to the direction we wish to take the clan in. It is for that reason and the fact that the new clan heads will get to name their own council, that we have hope. We have ensured this outcome in both the direction we know those we have chosen will take the clan, and the creation of a new council that will not be a purely regressive force, by forcing things to a Will and Order.

Don't get me wrong. As I record this, I maintain hope that the council will come to their senses, but neither Stu nor I have the energy left to force through the formation of a new council so we can get some proper candidate suggestions. It is almost funny that this is the exact same reason the last Will and Order came to pass. It is a way to force the replacement of the council without all the pain and suffering associated with forming a new council. The old Council members NEVER go willingly."

Taking a deep breath to clearly collect herself and quickly check on Stu. "Okay. First things first. The first order is the vacating of the current council. You are all. Every single one of you. Out of touch with reality and the state of the world. You act as if things are still as they were before the last species reformation and the predator rights movements. It isn't. That is no longer that world. Heck, most of you don't even really understand the simple technology used to create this recording. Not one of you has a smart phone, and of those that have a cell phone at all, you struggle with it to even manage to make phone calls.

Second. Given Stu's state of health. There are likely to be a few cuts in this video. As I will have to record other sections of the Order separately. This includes the fact that we are giving our first choice of clan heads the option to accept or turn it down, and their decision will determine which follow up section will be played."

The video clearly cut out and then it showed Bonnie on the couch by herself and clearly emotionally devastated. After taking a large, deep breath and letting it out slowly, she focused on the camera. "So… if you are watching this. The council has failed to come through a final time with a viable, intelligent, even remotely reasonable suggestion. Stu has passed, and I still need to get some of this done. I'll take care of things like Medical head and such through normal readings. It is through this video that I am going to ask Stu and my preferred replacement, and then if needed, our alternative selection for clan heads to take on that job.

In all cases, it will require sacrifices on your parts, no matter who takes on the role. I'd suggest to whoever takes the clan head job, that you designate the alternates as at least part of your elder council. The clan lawyers have a list without any rankings." There was a crashing, some screaming and unintelligible yelling. Bonnie clearly collapsed in on herself slightly for a moment with a deep sigh. The video cut out again.

The video started again and Bonnie looked into the camera, this time from her favorite rocking chair. She looked better. Still sad, but not as totally destroyed as the previous section. "Okay… Here goes nothing. I know this is a controversial pick, at least it will be for the more conservative parts that would support the astonishingly unqualified suggestions of the council. I mean, a few of them had the unmitigated audacity to nominate themselves. I mean, they are older then PopPop was when he died. Just proof that the current council is unfit."

This had the members of the council glaring and frowning, while the rest in the room and watching beyond chuckled as Bonnie continued. "What many don't know, because a Will and Order happens so rarely, is that those that are selected get a letter letting them know, and they will be sitting right up front in positions of honor. There should be four couples, at least as I prepare this part of the video, sitting there."

Every eye along with the camera switched to scan over the four couples sitting in the front row. Janice and her hare mate Edward. Mikael and his lop eared rabbit doe from Europaw. Greggory and his mate Nikola. Then finally, in the first and central position, Judy with her fox mate, Nick.

The video started back up and Bonnie smiled. "I know there are a lot of you that will be forced to watch on a video call, so there were instructions to pause and show on the call those in that position. Yes, that means that you. Judy and Nick, if you are willing to make the sacrifice. Stu and I know you have never been big on farming, but being the head of the clan and burrow doesn't require you to be as Stu was and run the farm specifically. You could delegate that to Greg and Nikola. Heck, I'd suggest it. They know what they are doing.

It is our hope that you will step in and take the reigns of the clan. I know this may cause a fission within the clan, but it is for the best. Just as happened the last time there was a fission, the part that broke off in protest failed. I expect this to be the same if that happens. I also know that, if you accept, you will be beyond fair and reasonable in how that goes down. I know that, if you take this on, you will have to quit your jobs. You might be able to take on work with the tri-burrows sheriff's office. I asked and he seemed open to the idea, though he might not realize the seniority you hold in the ZPD.

I… I have to say how proud we are of you, Judy. Your choice of Nick was, in the hindsight of an old doe, the best possible mate you could have chosen. He was more supportive than any buck would have been." Glaring out of the video a moment. "Don't get your shorts in a bunch, boys. It just means that you need to up your game more. Nick has proven himself to be everything a doe could ever dream of as a mate. Strong enough to keep you safe. Smart enough to know when to let you fall, even when it hurts him to do so. An equal partner in life and not the demanding you be some subservient extension of himself, like so many bucks tend to expect.

You're a good boy, Nick, and I'm proud to have been able to call you son. I'm just sorry we didn't see your worth right out the gate. We were blinded by centuries… millennia of taught hate and fear. While that might have once had a basis in reality, it has not for centuries again. If you take the position or not, know we loved you both and are proud of you. That the clan needs to continue to learn and look beyond species, to who a mammal is."

After a pause to collect herself, Bonnie smiled. "Sorry, got off track there for a second. All that said. The choice is yours, but there is no going back on it. So here is where the video is going to stop. If you accept, stand and speak. If not, speak that as well."

The room and the video were silent. It was as if even the wind was holding its breath as everyone watched Judy and Nick share a look that clearly to everyone carried a full conversation. Nick giving Judy a smile and nod. They stood and Nick spoke. "Many know at this point, and for those that do not. Fox relationships are full partnerships, but it is the vixen, or in this case, the doe, that is the head of the family." Putting a paw on Judy's shoulder. "Judy and I are both, however, not typical examples of our species, as at least most of you know of Judy. It took a lot of work and effort for us to get to where we are, but we did.

We discussed the letter we received. We talked around the issue, and in the end, I support her decision without question or reservation. Judy."

Judy smiled up at him with a nod. "Yes. It has been an adventure. As Nick states. We have talked around the issue and the question. Would we accept the station as heads of the clan? We chewed at it, nibbled the edges until we got down to the core of it and came to an agreement. We will accept the position of clan heads. We will constitute a council that will reflect both the vision my parents had, and we will seek to continue, in order to lead the clan into the future. We will also seek to include voices of the other sort, that they may help reign in the efforts that they not be pushed too quickly.

It is with that in mind that we ask those that might consider splitting from the clan to wait. To have a moment of patience as we take the reigns of the clan, get our paws under us and get this ship back on course. That we are here in a Will and Order indicates that the last clan heads had lost faith and trust in the previous council. It is our hope that we will never find ourselves in that position with the new council that we will put together."

There was some furious clicking by the assistant before Bonnie came back on. "Well, look at that. I had hoped. I truly had hoped, but lets be honest, Judy. It was never something you saw yourself becoming. Thank you, Judy. Nick. Stu and I discussed this at length and we truly believe that you two can lead the clan into a brilliant future. This doesn't mean that we had any less faith in any of the others, only that when it came down to it. The unique perspective Judy and Nick bring will, we believe, be the best for the clan in the long run."

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The video ended and Nick and Judy were standing up on the dias with the lawyer doing paperwork. The room, and the video call was silent for several more long seconds before exploding in a tsunami of voices.

After everything, Judy and Nick turned to the room and the cameras. Sharing a look with Nick, Judy spoke. "This is a shock, I am sure to everyone. It was without question when Nick and I received the letter explaining why our presence was required. It is not, however, without precedent in the history of Clan Hopps. We will be publishing some histories discovered a few years ago and translated from the most ancient Lapin.

These histories describe and explain why we, clan Hopps, as rabbits, raise chicken, fish, build our burrows so large and tunnels so high, and why most Hopps born rabbits are able to eat meat. It explains why those of us that have taken predators as mates are able to conceive and bare healthy kits with them.

It will reveal a lot, and since the family historians have worked with several other species and families with equally deep histories. The narratives have been verified with accounts from the Wilde clan of foxes, the Wolford wolves, and others. As such, we ask that those who are inclined to split from the clan we will now head, wait. See where we go. See those histories. Before you make such a significant and rarely successful leap."

Nick nodded and picked up from there. "Yes. Though a clear and obvious step is the recognition of all non-rabbit mates as full members of the clan." Looking at Greg and Nikola. Are you, as mother Bonnie suggested, open to running the farm itself? You have the skill and talents for that Judy and I simply do not have."

Someone in the crowd piped up. "What about your kits?"

Judy grinned as Nick shook his head with a smile. "This was a family decision. We have discussed moving out to the country in the past, and while we could do the job from Zootopia, it wouldn't be right. The kits are happy to move to the burrow.

They'll miss some of their friends, but they will make more, and it isn't as if they can't keep up with most of them via social media. But then you know that, Jacob WildeHopps."

A chuckle ran through everyone as the very bunny looking box groaned and sank into his chair. Nick exhibiting his trademark smirk continued. "That aside. We welcome the mates of all clan members, so long as it is consensual, loving, and truly makes you happy."

Judy stepped in again. "More will come as we put our council together. Watch clan-net for updates and the histories. It'll be published to clan-net once it comes back from peer review. It rewrites enough of early mammal history that it requires not just peer review, but will force the rewriting of every history book."

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Over the next year Nick and Judy settled into their position as clan head. The histories were released and then added to as other species and families dug into their oldest archives. Many refused to accept it, especially some prey, as it repainted in a far less flattering color palette, the actions of their ancestors.

Just as many were willing to accept it, acknowledging that perhaps their species wasn't quite as good as once thought. That wasn't them, and most were willing to not hold someone separated by centuries from those realities, responsible for them. Sadly there were those also willing to embrace such inglorious legacies. They were thankfully in the minority.

A group did split from the Hopps clan. The most openly and venomously specist rabbits, claiming the old name of Hop. The clan had been accidentally renamed Hopps due to a typo, or just a misunderstanding of a federal registrar several centuries prior. The clan simply had never bothered to put in the effort to correct it, and after a generation or so, no one cared.

Those that broke off claimed a full section of land and tried to build their own clan and burrow. Their positions made it hard for them to sell their crops once it became clear what those positions were. Prey supremacists were not popular.

Their kits found it hard to find mates, and within a decade, between bad farming practice and basing their entire existence on hate. Clan Hop collapsed, the Hopps reclaiming the land and absorbing all but the worst rabbits. Not that they'd have been found dead joining a clan who accepted non-rabbits.