Hello everyone, well obviously I am not. Dizzie Ham. if you have read while we're still young and while we're still young: endless summer. I notice he/she has not updated in a few years. I'm sad that it stop at chapter 17 in 2021. and I wrote this one in 2025. I read it and it seemed like he/she wanted to continue the story. but like i said it has been a while, so i wanted to continue it.
Just think of this as an AU of Dizzie's AU. if he/she does come back that would be awesome. and will stop wring this and read his/hers story. please no hate, and just enjoy my take.
oh and please read the first 2 before reading this. this one continues right after chapter 17 in Endless summer. This one will be a 2 to three part-er .I took inspiration to for this chapter from show "the rookie" season 2 Episode 13 I believe. If you know you know. don't spoil it yourself.
no with out a further a due.
Chapter 18: amusement pawrk
"Uuuuugh. Why is the line so long?" Judy groaned, waving her paws in exasperation. The group stood in a seemingly endless queue that snaked along metal railings, inching slowly toward the much-anticipated grand opening of Zootopia's newest attraction: ZooPawrk, a sprawling amusement park perched on the city's outskirts.
"Now, now, Carrots," Nick said smoothly, resting his chin atop Judy's head from behind. His tone was soothing, but his sly grin hinted at amusement. "It's the grand opening. Of course, the line's going to be long."
Darson leaned out of the line, squinting toward the front. "I can't even see the entrance. Nick, you should've bought the tickets in advance."
"You think I'm made of money?" Nick shot back, raising an eyebrow. "Last time, it was movie tickets for The Hood premiere. This time, it's an amusement park. Tickets are expensive. Really expensive. I checked."
"Yeah, too expensive," Finnick muttered under his breath, arms crossed.
The group collectively sighed, shoulders slumping, resigned to the wait. The heat from the pavement radiated upward, and the distant shrieks from rides only made the anticipation worse.
Finally, after nearly an hour of creeping forward, the group crossed through the park gates. Their frustration instantly melted into awe.
Towering roller coasters curled through the sky like steel serpents, some plunging down in daring drops, others twisting in wild loops. Bright banners fluttered overhead, and the air was thick with the smell of buttery popcorn, sweet cotton candy, and sizzling fried treats. Carnival games chimed and buzzed with activity, while children squealed in delight around them. A costumed mascot—a lion clad in a green shirt bearing the bold 'ZOOPAWRK' logo and a pair of blue jeans—stood near the entrance, waving enthusiastically at the incoming guests.
"Wooooah," everyone gasped in unison, with Flash's elongated "Wooooaaaah" trailing just behind.
"This place is awesome!" Ronnie exclaimed, practically vibrating with energy. She grabbed Audran's shoulders and shook him excitedly.
"You can stop shaking me now, eh?" Audran mumbled, eyes slightly spinning.
"Oh, sorry," Ronnie said, quickly letting go with a sheepish grin.
"Where should we go first?" Falisha asked, her eyes wide as they darted from ride to ride.
"Let's… go… to… that… rollercoaster… that… goes… fast," Flash said, pointing ever so slowly at a ride entrance marked with a flashing neon lightning bolt and the bold letters: Zoom 'n' Doom
"Of course, he would want to go on the fastest ride," Finnick deadpanned.
Flash smirked, then took a minute. "What can I say? Speed is my thing."
"You're a sloth, buddy... but then again, you do surprise us on multiple occasions," Darson remarked with a chuckle, recalling Flash's uncanny bursts of speed.
"Anyway, what do you guys say? Shall we go with Flash's suggestion?" Nick asked, tilting his head toward the towering coaster.
"Sure," Ronnie, Audran, and Mervin agreed in unison.
"Okay," Mimi and Falisha chimed in.
"I don't see why not," Darson added, with Camila nodding beside him.
"Looks fun enough," Finnick shrugged.
Judy hesitated, ears twitching slightly. "Y-yeah, I'm okay with it."
With their decision made, Nick, Judy, Falisha, Ben, Finnick, Mervin, Darson, Ronnie, Audran, Mimi, Flash, and Camila made their way to the Zoom 'n' Doom line. Though the line was long, this time no one complained. Anticipation hung in the air, electric and contagious—part excitement, part fear—as the rumble of the coaster echoed above them.
As they neared the front of the line, a familiar sign came into view, perched beside the entrance gate: "You must be this tall to ride."
Nick smirked and nudged Finnick with an elbow. "Hey Finn, I don't think you can ride this one."
Mervin chuckled, gesturing toward the kiddie ride section a few paces away. "Hahaha, I think those would be more your size."
The group burst into laughter, except for Finnick, who crossed his arms and huffed. "Har har, funny."
One by one, they boarded the roller coaster, pairing off in the two-seat cars: Nick and Judy, Falisha and Mimi, Mervin and Ben, Audran and Ronnie, Flash and Darson. Camila and Finnick ended up seated next to random parkgoers.
Finnick glanced sideways at his unexpected seatmate—a young fox with a mask shaped like the park's mascot. The masked fox looked oddly familiar, and for a fleeting moment, the fox's features bore a striking resemblance to Nick's. Finnick blinked and shook his head. Probably just nerves, he thought.
Meanwhile, Judy sat next to Nick, her paws fumbling with her seatbelt.
"Judy, you okay?" Nick asked, buckling himself in as the restraints locked into place with a metallic click.
She didn't respond, too focused on adjusting the harness around her.
"Juuudy… Caaaarrots. You there?" Nick waved a paw in front of her face.
"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine," she replied quickly, her nose twitching as she tugged on the seatbelt for the fifth time.
Nick gently took her paw. "Hun-bun, your nose is twitching—and you've checked your seatbelt five times."
Judy sighed, ears drooping slightly. "Well, there were no roller coasters in Bunnyburrow. I'm a bit scared."
Nick smiled warmly, locking eyes with her. "Don't worry, I'm right beside you. Just think of it like the train you take every day."
"Yeah, minus the drop," Finnick called from the back.
"Or the speed," Flash added, deadpan.
"And the sharp turns and loops," Falisha chimed in helpfully.
"And don't forget it goes upside down," Camila said, grinning.
"Guys, not helping," Judy muttered, clearly unamused.
"Don't worry," Darson offered reassuringly. "Once we go down the drop, everything will be fine. More like fun. Plus, if you want to be a cop, this should be nothing compared to the big mammals you're going to face in the future."
Judy managed a small smile and relaxed slightly, still holding tightly onto Nick's paw as the coaster lurched forward, beginning its slow climb up the first hill.
"EEEEEEEEK!" Mimi screamed in excitement.
"Mimi, save the screaming for the drop. We're not at the top yet," Nick called out over his shoulder.
"Sorry! I'm SUPER excited right now!" Mimi replied, bouncing in her seat. "It's just… this is the first time I've gotten to be with a bunch of friends on a ride. It's my first time on any ride!"
"Okay…" Falisha said awkwardly beside her. "Me too… on a roller coaster, at least."
Near the back, Mervin peeked over the edge—a decision he instantly regretted. "Why do I keep looking down? This is way higher than when I jumped off the diving board at the pool…"
Higher and higher the coaster climbed, each clack-clack-clack of the chain adding to the tension. Then, with a shudder and a brief pause, the cars crested the summit.
They were met with a breathtaking view: the entire park stretched below like a colorful patchwork quilt. Beyond that, the gleaming skyline of Zootopia shimmered in the golden afternoon light.
"I can see Tundratown from here!" Nick shouted, shielding his eyes from the sun.
From the back, Finnick's voice rang out with excitement. "Hey, I think I can see my house from here!"
"Me too!" Camila chimed in, awestruck.
Beside Finnick, the masked fox groaned, clutching his stomach. "Ohhh, I think I'm going to be sick. I shouldn't have eaten that many slices of pizza before the ride…"
Finnick scooted an inch away. "Great, just grea—AAAAAAAAAAH!"
His complaint was cut short as the coaster plunged forward with a sudden, stomach-dropping whoosh.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" The group's collective scream filled the air, a chorus of terror, thrill, and sheer adrenaline.
The drop came without warning—a sheer, nearly vertical plummet that yanked every rider forward with breathtaking force. For a split second, time seemed to freeze. Hearts jumped into throats, paws gripped safety bars in white-knuckled desperation, and the world tilted beyond control.
Then gravity reclaimed them.
The coaster rocketed downward like a missile, slicing through the air with a deafening roar. Wind blasted against their faces, pulling ears and fur back as their stomachs somersaulted somewhere above them. The track blurred beneath them in a streak of steel and speed, and Judy let out a shriek that merged with a dozen others behind and ahead.
Just as suddenly, the train leveled out with a spine-jarring jolt before whipping into a sharp left bank, then violently veering right. The shift flung riders side to side, bodies slamming lightly into their harnesses as the momentum tossed them like ragdolls.
Then came the loops.
Two colossal steel rings loomed ahead, and the train didn't hesitate. It launched straight into the first loop, flipping the world completely upside down. Paw pads flailed against the pull of G-forces, and for a brief, surreal moment, everyone dangled above the sky.
A collective gasp followed, but before anyone could recover, the second loop hit—faster and tighter than the first. Blood rushed to their heads as the train completed the circuit, straightening out for only a breath before twisting again.
Next were the corkscrews—three of them, rapid-fire and unforgiving. The coaster spun in tight, disorienting spirals, blurring vision and stealing breath. The world became a kaleidoscope of sky, track, fur, and shrieking voices.
Without pause, the train snapped into another inversion, flipping the group upside down one final time before jerking back into a straightaway. The track didn't let up—it hurled them into a final gauntlet of sudden, jagged turns that hurled riders left and right. Harnesses creaked. Seats rattled. Laughter, screams, and gasps melded into a single, breathless chorus.
Finally, the ride began to slow. The rails smoothed out, and the coaster glided gracefully back into the station, brakes hissing as it came to a halt.
They disembarked from the ride, laughter still echoing in their throats, and wandered over to the nearby photo booth to see their on-ride snapshots.
The screen displayed a collection of frozen moments mid-scream and mid-spin:
Judy clung tightly to Nick's arm, eyes shut and ears flattened, her fur bristling with leftover adrenaline. In contrast, Nick sported a wide, triumphant grin, one paw raised like a champion… though his half-lidded eyes hinted he was fighting to keep them open.
Falisha and Mimi held each other's paws, their expressions caught between terror and awe—mouths agape, eyes wide, both looking like they had just survived a meteor strike.
Ben and Mervin mirrored them in the next row, gripping paws tightly and staring ahead in frozen horror.
Ronnie had wrapped both arms around Audran mid-drop, his face buried in Audran's shoulder. Audran looked half-stunned, half-amused, clearly not expecting to be used as a teddy bear during the ride.
Camila, meanwhile, had her paws thrown in the air like a pro, beaming with uninhibited joy.
Then there was Finnick. Or more accurately, Finnick leaning away as far as he physically could from the fox beside him—who was mid-gag, paws clamped over his muzzle through the ZooPawrk lion mascot mask, his face a sickly shade of green.
As the group gathered around, the sight sent them into a fit of laughter.
"Bwahaha! Oh nooo," Nick wheezed, pointing at the photo. "I feel bad for Finn."
Finnick scowled, crossing his arms. "Shut up… The fox next to me said he had like... a few slices of pizza—"
He stopped.
His eyes narrowed. Just beyond the booth, a red-furred figure was darting toward the restroom. Not just any figure—this one wore the same lion mascot mask… and looked exactly like Nick.
Finnick's eyes snapped to Nick, who was right there, laughing and chatting with Judy and the others.
"Uuuh, Finnick? You okay there?" Darson asked, tilting his head.
"You look like you saw a ghost," Camila said, her tone shifting from playful to concerned.
Finn's gaze flicked between Nick and the bathroom. His fur bristled slightly. "I saw... Nick," he said slowly.
"Uh… Finn, Slick's been standing right here the whole time," Judy replied, gesturing to Nick, who looked equally confused.
The group traded puzzled glances.
"Sì, maybe you're still a bit dizzy from the coaster," Camila offered gently, resting a paw on Finnick's shoulder.
"Yeah, maybe you're just seeing things, eh?" Audran added with a light chuckle.
But Finnick wasn't laughing. His eyes returned to Nick—then back to the bathroom.
He leaned closer to the fox in question, his voice barely a whisper. "Nick, I swear I saw you run into that bathroom just now. Same height. Same walk. Same fur colour—okay, maybe just a bit off—but it was you."
Nick raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading. He glanced toward the bathroom entrance, thoughtful. "Everyone says I've been here the whole time," he said finally, giving Judy a gentle nudge. "Carrots as my witness."
Then, with a clap of his paws, he tried to lighten the mood. "Alright, how about we take a break? Find a bite to eat, rehydrate, breathe a little."
Everyone agreed, even Finnick—though his ears remained perked and his gaze lingered on the restroom doors until they disappeared from view.
They made their way across the park and into a bright retro-style diner tucked beside a faux boardwalk. Neon lights glowed above chrome frames. Checkerboard floors glistened beneath their paws, and the air was thick with the scent of fries, grilled veggie patties, and toasted buns.
The group took over two large booths, chattering animatedly as they placed their orders: veggie burgers, sweet potato fries, fizzy sodas in paper cups with striped straws.
Nick, Judy, Falisha, Flash, Mimi, Darson, Camila, Ben, and Ronnie were deep in conversation between bites, the earlier rush now softened into warm, post-ride energy.
But Finnick sat at the edge of the second booth, picking at the bun of his burger.
"I saw what I saw," he muttered to himself, ears twitching. "Sure, I was dizzy after the ride—but that passed. That fox… same build. Same face. Even the way he moved…"
He sipped his soda distractedly, gaze distant, thoughts swirling like the loops they'd just endured.
Judy, seated near him, noticed his silence and nudged Nick gently. "He's still thinking about it."
Nick turned toward Finnick, concern replacing his usual sarcasm. "Hey, Finn. You alright? You've barely touched your food."
Finnick blinked, pulled from his spiral. "Hmm?" He glanced down at his barely-eaten burger. "Oh. Just… not hungry, I guess."
"You sure?" Judy asked, her ears tipping forward slightly.
"Yeah," Finnick replied, voice quiet. "I'll just take it to go."
A hush fell over the table. The group exchanged glances—some concerned, others uncertain.
"Maybe some fresh air will help," Camila offered gently.
"Yeah, let's take a walk," Darson added, trying to lighten the mood.
The others nodded. They all sensed something had changed—something small, maybe, but important. They stood up to leave to and the doubt refused to leave Finn's eyes.
The group decided to take a leisurely stroll around the park to let their food settle before hopping onto another ride. They passed a variety of attractions: a towering rocket ship ride that launched skyward before plunging back down, a swaying pirate ship that made creaking sounds with each swing, and a spinning teacup ride that made everyone dizzy just watching.
The group laughed and chatted, their spirits lifted once again, until Audran suddenly paused.
"Guys, I need to hit the washroom. Wait for me, eh?" he called, already veering off toward the facilities before anyone could respond.
Inside the restroom, Audran took care of business and washed his hooves. As he exited, he spotted Nick approaching.
"Gonna use the washroom too?" Audran asked casually.
"Uh, yeah... that's why I'm headed this way," the fox replied, sounding a bit uncertain.
Audran glanced around. "Where's the rest of the group? I don't see them around."
The fox hesitated. Up close, something felt... off.
"Wait a sec," Audran said, narrowing his eyes. "Since when do you wear glasses?"
The fox blinked, then adjusted his sleek black frames. "Hmm? If I recall, I've always worn glasses."
Audran chuckled, tilting his head. "Come on, Nick. I've known you long enough to know that's not true. I'd have noticed."
"Who's Nick?" the fox asked flatly.
Audran's eyes widened, taking in more details: slightly redder fur, a tidier posture, khaki slacks, a white short-sleeved dress shirt neatly tucked in, and a black sweater vest layered on top.
"…You didn't happen to change clothes, did you?" Audran asked carefully.
"Nope," the fox replied, calm and matter-of-fact. "Been wearing this the whole time."
"WHAT?!" Audran stepped back. "You're not Nick?!"
"Nope," the fox said again, nonchalantly. "I was not born a 'Nick,' nor will I ever be a 'Nick.'"
Audran gawked, trying to piece it together. "Sorry, I—I thought you were my friend. He looks exactly like you."
The fox smiled faintly. "I doubt that. I'm one of a kind."
"No, seriously! You look like him," Audran insisted. "Matter of fact—stay here. I'll go get him. You gotta see for yourself."
Before the fox could respond, Audran spun around and bolted toward the rest of the group.
The group had gathered near a large water fountain, resting on benches and soaking in the mellow ambiance. The breeze carried the sound of kids laughing and rides whirring in the background.
"There you are, Audran," Ronnie said, spotting the moose barreling toward them.
"Took you lo—" Ben began, but Audran interrupted, nearly tripping over his own words.
"GUYS!NICK LOOK-ALIKE!COMEQUICK!FINNWAS RIGHT!"
The group blinked in stunned silence.
"…What?" Falisha, Nick, Judy, Ben, Mervin, Darson, Finnick, Flash, and Camila said in chaotic unison.
Mimi stepped in as translator. "I believe he said: 'Guys, Nick look-alike, come quick, Finn was right.'"
Finnick's ears perked up. "Wait. I was right?"
"YES! Come on, hurry!" Audran waved frantically, already heading back the way he came. The others scrambled after him, their curiosity fully piqued.
But when they arrived at the restrooms… the mysterious fox was gone.
"He was just here!" Audran exclaimed, scanning the area in disbelief. "I talked to him! Told him to stay put so you guys could see—he was right here!"
Nick raised a brow, arms crossed. "I think you might've imagined it."
"You sure you saw someone that looked like Slick?" Judy asked gently, a mix of concern and curiosity in her voice.
"Yeah, we talked," Audran repeated firmly. "He looked exactly like nick—except for the outfit and the glasses. Redder fur, too. Finn, you believe me, right?"
Finnick scratched his head awkwardly. "Honestly? I'm still not totally sure what I saw earlier…"
"Guys, enough with the look-alike stuff," Darson huffed, shaking his head. "I, for one, am glad we only have one Nick. Well, excluding Nick's brother, sister, and Mr. Wilde."
Nick gave him a playful smack on the back of the head.
"OW! You know I'm right," Darson muttered.
Nick gave a smug grin, tapping his chest. "Darson's right—about there being only one me. There's no one out there who's as charming, clever, and good-looking as me. So how about we stop chasing ghosts and enjoy the rest of the day?"
Judy rolled her eyes with a smile. "There's that wild modesty again."
Nick leaned in with a wink. "Admit it, Carrots—you know there's no fox like me."
Judy smirked and laced her paw into his. "Do I?"
"Yes. You do," they said in unison.
"Awwww," Ben and Mimi cooed at the same time.
After the group's lighthearted moment, they continued to explore the amusement park. They enjoyed a variety of attractions—testing their skills at carnival games, browsing quirky souvenir shops, and sampling tasty snacks from the walkway stands. Eventually, they found themselves in line for the Ferris wheel.
The Ferris wheel towered above them, its white framework gleaming under the golden afternoon sun. Designed to accommodate mammals of all sizes, each cabin was mostly glass, offering stunning panoramic views, with solid flooring and secure doors for safety. From its peak, one could see the entire amusement park—and on a clear day, even a glimpse of Zootopia beyond the horizon.
As the group reached the loading platform, Judy and Nick stepped into an empty cabin. Noticing no one else following them in, Judy turned around with a teasing smirk.
"You guys not coming?"
Finnick grinned. "Nah, this one's got too much of that romance vibe."
Darson added, "Yeah, we don't wanna catch whatever's in the air between you two."
Camila chimed in, "The Ferris wheel is troppo romantica for us to share a cabin with you lovebirds."
Flash, true to form, said slowly, "We'll... take... the... next... one."
Judy rolled her eyes affectionately as she and Nick exchanged amused glances, cheeks tinged pink. Their friends waved as the cabin doors slid shut and the Ferris wheel began to rise.
As the cabin ascended, Nick and Judy settled into the bench seat, the park unfolding beneath them in a mosaic of color and movement. The gentle creaking of the wheel and the distant laughter below faded into peaceful quiet, leaving only the occasional rustle of wind against glass.
Nick leaned back, casting a glance Judy's way. A sly smile played on his lips. "So, Carrots—alone at last. Think the others were trying to set the mood?"
Judy let out a soft laugh and nudged him with her elbow. "Maybe they just didn't want to be third wheels. On a Ferris wheel."
They laughed together as the cabin reached its peak. From this height, the amusement park looked like a vibrant miniature world, and beyond it, Zootopia shimmered in the sun—a bustling city that somehow looked peaceful from up here.
Nick's gaze lingered on the skyline. "Y'know… moments like this make all the chaos worth it."
Judy nodded, her voice quieter now. "Yeah. It's nice to pause... and really see everything."
After a thoughtful silence, Judy turned toward him. "Nick, do you ever think about what it'll be like when we're real cops?"
"All the time," he replied without hesitation. "I imagine chasing bad guys, cracking cases—making a difference."
"Like what we're already doing… kind of." She hesitated, her ears drooping slightly. "But… what if it's not what we expect? What if it's harder?"
Nick looked at her with soft eyes. "It probably will be harder. But we've faced tough stuff before. Remember taking on those jerks? Darson, the ex-scouts, even Gid?"
Judy smiled faintly. "Yeah… we didn't back down."
"Exactly. Being a cop won't be easy. But we've got grit, and more importantly—we've got each other."
Her smile grew, more sure this time. "You're right. As long as we're together, we can handle anything."
They shared a steady, confident look—less about puppy love and more about the strong partnership they'd built.
"So, Officer Hopps…" Nick smirked, raising an eyebrow, "ready to take on the world?"
Judy slid her paw into his. "With you by my side, Officer Wilde? Always."
As the Ferris wheel began its slow descent, the city lights flickered to life below—casting a soft glow over the park, and over two future officers sitting quietly, ready to take on the world together.
After everyone had their fill of the Ferris wheel, the group began strolling toward the park's exit, chatting and laughing about the day's adventures. Nick, ever the jokester, started walking backward, waving his paws dramatically as he recounted a particularly funny moment from earlier.
"And then she looks me dead in the eye and says, 'Sir, that is not a corn dog!'" Nick grinned, enjoying the group's laughter—until he bumped hard into someone.
"Oof—whoa, sorry about that!" Nick spun around, hands up apologetically.
The fox he'd bumped into adjusted his glasses and offered a polite, if surprised, smile. He wore neatly pressed khakis, a white dress shirt tucked perfectly beneath a black sweater vest. His fur was slightly redder than Nick's, and his posture gave off a very studious vibe.
"No worries," the fox replied casually, glancing over at the group. "Looks like you've got quite the crew."
Nick tilted his head slightly, intrigued. "Heh. Yeah, they're definitely something. Never a dull moment."
The fox extended a paw. "Name's Ashton. Most folks just call me Ash."
Nick blinked. "Ash-ton, huh? Sounds a little fancy for park-wandering."
Ash chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Just then, Judy stepped up beside Nick, ears perked and alert. "Everything good over here?"
Nick gestured toward Ash. "Yeah, no drama. Just collided with a fellow fox who's got more of a... teacher-on-a-field-trip vibe. Judy, meet Ashton."
Ash gave a polite nod. "Nice to meet you, Judy.
Nick squinted at him. "Wait... have we met before? You look kinda familiar."
Ash paused ever so slightly before replying, "Nope. Don't think so."
Nick shrugged. "Well, nice meet—"
"THAT'S HIM!" Finnick and Audran shouted in unison, cutting him off.
"Him?" Camila asked, blinking.
Audran pointed directly at Ash. "Told you I wasn't losing it! That's the guy! I saw him lurking by the bathrooms earlier—said he wasn't Nick!"
"That's the same fox I saw by the photo booth," Finn added, stepping forward. "I thought it was Nick messing around!"
Mervin leaned in, studying Ash with a squint. "Same height. Same build. Definitely the same guy... but with glasses. And that vest."
Finnick's ears shot straight up as realization hit. He jabbed a paw at Ash. "I knew it! That's the fox who sat next to me on the coaster! I was not hallucinating!"
Flash turned slowly toward Judy. "they... weren't... seeing... things... after... all."
The rest of the group—Clawhauser, Darson, Falisha, Mimi, even Ronnie—began circling around like a herd of curious meerkats. The mood shifted from playful to intrigued tension.
Ash chuckled nervously, taking a step back. "Uh... your friends kinda have no concept of personal space."
Nick waved his paws. "Okay, okay—guys, take a step back. He's not a suspect in a mystery novel." He turned to Ash. "No offense."
"None taken," Ash replied, clearly uncomfortable.
"And seriously," Nick added, glancing around, "he doesn't even look like me."
"Hey Mimi," Darson suddenly said, "mind if I borrow your glasses for a sec?"
"Sure," she replied, handing them over. "Just don't scratch them."
Darson popped them onto Nick's face with dramatic flair. "Alright, moment of truth!"
Everyone leaned in—and collectively gasped.
Judy's jaw dropped slightly. "No way... Slick, you two are like doppelgängers!"
"What?" Nick and Ash said in perfect sync, blinking at each other.
Ash pushed his own glasses up and looked more closely. "Okay... with the glasses on... yeah. I kinda see it."
He removed his glasses as Nick took Mimi's off and handed them back. The two foxes stared at each other, now clearly aware of the striking resemblance. Identical height, similar build, nearly matching facial features—save for the slight red tint in Ash's fur.
Then, at the exact same moment, they both smirked.
"Hey, what's up, good looking?" they said together, each giving identical finger guns.
A loud groan of collective facepawing followed.
"Okay, seriously now," Judy said, raising a brow. "Why do you look like Nick?"
"Yeah," Darson echoed. "Someone's got some explaining to do."
Ash looked around at the expectant faces and raised his paws. "Look, I don't know! I'm just as surprised as you are."
Nick scratched the back of his neck. "Okay, let's slow this down. No need to interrogate the guy like he's a criminal."
"Let's at least do this the normal way," Judy added, stepping in diplomatically. "Ash, meet the crew. That's Darson, Ben, Ronnie, Audran, Mervin, Falisha, Flash, Mimi, Finnick, Camila, and Clawhauser."
The others nodded or gave little waves as they were introduced.
Ash nodded back, still clearly overwhelmed. "Wow, big group. Uh... nice to meet all of you. This is definitely the weirdest thing that's happened to me today."
"Weird's kind of our brand," Mervin said with a shrug.
"But real talk," Flash added slowly, "do... you... know... why... you... look... like... Nick?"
Ash shook his head. "Not a clue. I didn't even notice until you all pointed it out."
"What's your full name, if you don't mind me asking?" Mervin inquired. Ash hesitated briefly.
"It's... Ashton Leslie Wilde."
There was a long pause. A few mouths dropped.
"Leslie?" Finnick snorted before Darson smacked him in the back of the head. "OW!"
"Dude!" Darson hissed.
Ash chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, that's why I usually just go by Ash. 'Ashton Leslie' doesn't exactly scream cool."
"No, it's not that," Camila said slowly. "It's your last name."
Nick stepped forward, his expression turning serious. "My last name... is Wilde."
Ash blinked. "Wait—what? You're messing with me."
Nick held up both paws. "Not even a little. Full name? Nicholas Piberius Wilde."
Ash looked visibly shaken. "That's... that's impossible."
Before anyone could dig deeper, Ash's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen.
Judy stepped beside him. "Looks like things just got a whole lot more interesting."
"Sorry, I gotta go. But... uh, we should definitely keep in touch. This whole 'Wilde mystery' thing? Kinda wild."
Nick smirked. "You have no idea."
He exchanged contact info with Nick and gave the group one last bewildered look before jogging off, leaving behind a circle of stunned mammals.
"Catch you later," Ash said with a nod, then jogged off down the path, vanishing into the crowd.
Nick just stood there, still trying to wrap his head around it. "What the fluff...?".
The group stood in stunned silence.
Nick turned to Judy, ears twitching. "What... just happened?"
Judy stared after Ash. "I think... your things just got a lot more complicated."
who is this Ash Leslie Wilde? well I know because I wrote it. but you guys don't and you'll have to wait at least a week to 3 weeks.
well that is for this chapter. on to the next.