Zootopia: A City of Mystery and Romance

Zootopia: A City of Mystery and Romance is a fanfic by PrinceBalto.

## Premise

In a city of anthropomorphic mammals, a beautiful bunny cop, recently appointed to the force, gets 48 hours to solve what turns out to be a city-wide case. Along the way, she gets the assistance of a handsome Red fox private detective, and they fall in love along the way.

## Chapter 1- Judy gets the case

Judy was thankful that Bellwether had sent that text to Mayor Lionheart that she was going to take the case of finding Mr. Otterton. Now, she looked at Chief Bogo, who obviously was not pleased with any of this. He looked like he was only barely keeping his feelings in check. Honestly, he looked like he wanted to explode due to the chaos she had already caused in Little Rodentia while pursuing the crook named Duke Weaselton. This was just making everything worse.

"I will give you forty-eight hours to find Mr. Otterton, That's two days. If you fail, you resign. Am I clear?" he said sternly.

The time that he was giving disappointed Judy greatly. How did he expect her to find someone who had been missing for ten days? However, Judy did not voice this.

"Deal, though that is a very tight deadline, sir. I will do my best," she said, not knowing what else to say.

Chief Bogo frowned.

"Forty-eight hours. No more, no less. Now, get your investigation started. Clawhauser will give you the case file. As for what you're supposed to do in working on it, there is somewhere you can turn," he said.

Bogo went to a drawer in his desk and pulled out a stack of business cards. Approaching Judy once again, he offered one to her. Judy wondered what he could be giving her that would help her.

"What is this, sir?" she asked as she took it.

Bogo looked straight at her. He and his officers had to use the services offered by the business card at least once before the missing mammal case had begun.

"This is a business card for the Foxwood Detective Agency. It is run by a fox detective named Nick Wilde and is located in an office building next door to Jumbeaux's Cafe. He is the best private detective in all of Zootopia. We had to use him recently to track down some stolen jewelry from the city's biggest jewelry store. If anyone can help you, it's him. When you leave the station, give the agency a call. Now, you are dismissed. Get to work," he said.

Judy finally smiled.

"Thank you, Chief. I won't let you or the ZPD down!" she exclaimed.

Bogo snorted a bit. He wasn't used to bubbly, cheerful exclamations of this kind. Putting that aside, he turned away from Judy to go back to his desk. Judy said nothing further as she got her equipment, such as her gun, ammo, handcuffs, taser, carrot pen and notepad, and headed over to Clawhauser's desk.

"Hey Clawhauser. Chief Bogo just assigned me to find Emmett Otterton, and he said that you had the case file," she said.

Clawhauser turned from looking at a photo of his lovely wife Rebekah and pretty teenage daughter Fuli and looked down at the beautiful, lithe-bodied, curvaciously-hipped female bunny. He brushed donut sprinkles away from his uniform and cheerfully smiled.

"Ah, yes, let me get it out for you," he said.

Judy waited as he made a call to the ZPD's record administrator, a beautiful female jaguar named Esperanza Furwald. All the while, she was wondering about Nick Wilde. In her mind, she pictured a fox at least her father's age or so. Little she know that the reality was going to be very different. Finally, Clawhauser got the file in question from Esperanza. He turned back toward Judy.

"Whoa! This is the smallest case file I have ever seen. No witnesses or leads. In addition, you haven't been put in the system yet, so you have no resources. Man, I hope you didn't stake your career on this!" he said with a chuckle.

Judy took the file and opened it. At first, the photo seemed regular enough, just a snapshot of daily life on the streets of Zootopia. There was a building with the sign "Savanna Central Office Works", which was a tall office building housing various offices of many groups from dental offices to lawyers and other businesses. Next door was Jumbeaux's Cafe, an ice cream parlor. Judy picked up a magnifying glass from Clawhauser's desk and she suddenly saw the picture had Emmett Otterton in it, leaving Jumbeaux's Cafe and eating a frozen treat called a pawpsicle. Nearby, a figure in a trench coat and hat entered the office building. A fox tail could be seen peeking out of the coat's end. Otterton looked as if he was putting down his hand after waving. Judy smiled as Clawhauser gave her the address.

"All right, I have it! See you all in forty-eight hours! I have to go and meet with Nick Wilde first, but then it's on to the real police work!" she said, cheerfully bounding away with the case file.

Nearby, two officers, a Grizzly bear and a wolf, both males, snickered. They did not like the idea of a bunny being on the force, and were more than eager to take her down a peg for thinking that she could be one of them.

"The dumb bunny needs the help of a fox!" the bear said.

The wolf laughed, not even bothering to hide his contempt.

"No wonder, she should have just stayed on the carrot farm, like all other bunnies!" he replied.

Judy ignored them, although she hated what they were saying about her. She headed out to her meter maid cart, then took out her cell phone. She dialed the number on the business card. A few moments later, a female voice answered the phone.

"Hello, Foxwood Detective Agency. To whom am I speaking?" the cheerful voice asked.

Judy smiled and prepared to say what she had to say.

"Yes, this is Officer Judy Hopps of the ZPD. I am working on a missing mammal case, and I was referred to Mr. Wilde by Chief Bogo. Is it possible to get a meeting with him today? I really need to see him," she said.

A moment later, the voice answered.

"Yes, he is in. He is not working on anything at the moment, so I will tell him that you are coming. We are located at Savanna Central Office Works, on the third floor, office 3416" it said.

Judy was more than pleased. She sighed a bit.

"Thank you, I will be there shortly," she said.

The female voice speaking on the phone hung up, as did Judy. Getting into her cart, she turned it over and took off toward Savanna Central Office Works. The moment she arrived, she noticed a very nice white Furcedes-Benz luxury car parked in front of the building. It had four leather seats inside. Judy wondered for a moment who it belonged to as she got out of the cart and grabbed the case file. Putting that aside, she entered the building. Going into the elevator, she headed up to the right floor, then headed down the hallway. At the end of the hall, she saw a door with a sign next to it that read "Foxwood Detective Agency". This was it. She opened the door and entered the waiting room. On the rear wall was the agency's name and logo, a large fox head. To the right of the door was the opening of the reception desk, covered by a foggy sliding glass window. She went up to the desk and rang the bell. An instant later, the window slid open, revealing a very beautiful young adult vixen who was no more than twenty-eight years of age.

"Hello, I'm Vixey Wilde. May I help you?" she said.

Judy recognized the vixen's voice from the phone. She smiled and looked her in the eyes. She was still thinking about Mr. Wilde and what he would look like, though.

"Yes, I am Officer Judy Hopps. I made the call a little while ago. Is it possible to see Mr. Wilde now?" she asked.

Vixey nodded.

"Yes, come through the door to the left and follow me," she said.

Judy did so. When she entered, she saw the agency's operations. Ahead of her, there were three doors. The center one was marked "Nicholas Wilde", so that was clearly Mr. Wilde's office. The next one read "conference room", which needed no explanation, and then an unmarked door. When Vixey saw the bunny looking at it, she explained that it was just an empty office. At the same large desk that Vixey had been at, a little Fennec fox was busy organizing files. Judy said hello to him.

"That's Finnick, the one responsible for all our files. He's also my boyfriend. Say hello to Officer Hopps, Finnick," Vixey said.

Finnick looked up for a moment.

"Hello," he said in an unusually deep voice for such a small mammal.

He then went back to work. Vixey took Judy up to the door of Mr. Wilde's office. She was ready to meet this mysterious fox detective face to face and enlist his help. Vixey knocked on the door.

"Nick, your appointment is here," she said.

Judy waited.

"Send her in," a muffled voice said.

Vixey opened the door. Inside, Nick Wilde, the greatest detective in all of Zootopia and its twelve districts, from Savanna Central to Tundratown to the Nocturnal District and everywhere in between, sat at his desk.

## Chapter 2- Nick joins the case

The moment Nick saw the gorgeous bunny with the attractive body, beautiful eyes, and wondrous hips and butt, he was smitten. He had nver seen a lovlier female before.

"Ah, so you are Officer Judy Hopps. I have been expecting you," he said in a charming voice.

To Judy's shock, Nick was not the age of her father. Rather, he was barely a bit older than her, in his late twenties, about the same age as Vixey. He was breathtakingly handsome, with emerald green eyes. He had a nicely decorated office, containing his official certificates and such. There were also various art pieces. On a coat rack hung a trench coat and hat. Judy was smitten by the fox, much to her surprise.

"So, you are the famed Mr. Wilde. Chief Bogo spoke highly of you. Also, I thought you'd be a bit older. It's amazing that someone as young as you can accomplish all of this," she said.

Nick nodded and went to shake her hand. Judy's heart was beating quickly.

"Please, just call me Nick," the fox said to her.

Judy nodded as the handshake ended. Nick walked back to his desk. He kept his eyes focused on the beautiful young bunny. For a moment, he wondered how a bunny had made it to the ZPD, but put it out of his mind.

"Please, have a seat," he said, gesturing to one of his office chairs.

Judy did so and sat in one of the chairs. Nick looked her in the eyes, preparing his mind for talking with her about whatever case she had come to him for.

"Wow...she's really cute," he thought to himself.

Judy was also noticing Nick's looks, but was trying her hardest not to let it show. She had a job to do, after all. She simply pulled out the case file and set on the desk, opening it.

"I am looking for Mr. Emmett Otterton. He is one of the mammals that has gone missing lately. I can see him in this photo from one of the traffic cams. Have you ever spoken to him by any chance, or had any sort of contact with him?" she asked.

Nick smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I have. I spoke to him recently, and he said that he was headed to the Mystic Springs Oasis in Sahara Square to do some yoga. I just happen to know the owner, Yax the yak. He is very sharp, and he might help us quickly get some information. Also, I will help you with this. I assume that the ZPD will pay my fee?" he said.

Judy nodded.

"Yes, Nick. Now, I have my traffic cart outside. Can we go now? The ZPD isn't being exactly fair to me, and they gave me only forty-eight hours to solve this case. It's obvious that they really don't like having me on the force because I am a bunny," she said.

Nick was saddened to hear this. He was determined even more to help her. From listening to her, he could tell that the ZPD was setting Judy up to fail all because of her species. Some past bad memories, very unpleasant ones where something similar happened to him on account of his species, began to surface. He very quickly pushed them away. He didn't need that now. That was the past, and the dislike of foxes had mostly vanished. He smiled.

"Sure, let me just get my equipment. However, let's use my Furcedes-Benz. It's better for getting us around Zootopia than your cart," He finally said.

Judy nodded and watched as Nick stood up, went to the coat rack, put on the trench coat and hat, then opened a drawer and slipped a good-sized gun into a holster on his belt. He also got a brown messenger bag, which contained his ammo and detective equipment, and slung the strap over his shoulder. He was now ready.

"All right, time to go," he said as he started heading for the door.

Judy followed, but she was curious as she picked up and closed the case file.

"I am sorry, Nick, but, as a cop, I have to ask. Are you licensed, and is your gun registered?" she asked.

Nick nodded and opened his wallet to show all of his licenses.

"I am fully licensed by the city, and my gun is registered. Now, let's get on the road. Also, a word of warning, this place that we're going to can be a bit shocking," he said.

Judy laughed him off.

"I am a ZPD officer. I am ready for anything," she said.

Nick opened the door. He was more than eager to spend time with the gorgeous bunny doe.

"Good. Let's go," he said.

Leaving the office, Nick said goodbye to Vixey and Finnick, and then headed down to his car with Judy. Taking his keys out of his pocket, he unlocked the car and then opened the passenger door for Judy.

"After you, Officer Hopps. Don't worry, I will bring you back for your cart. No one would dare steal that vehicle. This is a fairly decent area of town," he said.

Judy sighed and got into the car. Nick closed that door, then got in himself. Closing his own door, he activated the car, turned on the air conditioner due to the hot climate they were going to be driving into, locked the doors, although the doors actually would have locked on their own when he started driving, and took off. As they began their trip, Nick smiled at his new client.

"So, just out of curiosity, how does a bunny like you end up with the ZPD?" he asked.

Judy smiled, so happy to have someone be legitimately interested in her job and not just in mocking her for her decision to become an officer of the ZPD.

"It was a dream of mine since I was a little girl," she said cheerfully.

Nick smiled.

"Well, I am amazed by your determination," he said.

Judy nodded and then looked up at Nick. She was curious about him. How did he become such a prominent detective with his own office at such a young age? Who was his family? Such questions rolled around in her head.

"So, how about you? What made you become a private detective?" she asked.

Nick sighed as all the memories leading up to this moment returned to him.

"It's a long story, but, as a kid, I wanted to help other mammals. However, I wasn't ready to join the ZPD, and I knew that my parents would never approve of me going that route. Then, one night, I happened upon my parents watching old detective movies. They were more focused on one another, but I was interested. Later, when I was older and the internet and Zoogle came into existence, I looked it up and did what I needed to do. I also underwent firearms training for additional protection. I also took karate as a kid," he said.

Judy nodded as she considered everything that had been said to her. She was trying to fight it, trying to return her mind to the case, and she was successful, to a point. However, she noticed so many things that caught her eyes about the fox: his looks, his kindness to her regarding her career...oh how he made her feel good inside! Then, at least for awhile, she managed to get it under control. He was a fox, and she had no idea why she was thinking like this about him. For Nick, it was the same. He didn't know many bunnies, neither now or in the past. Putting that aside, he tried to begin discussing the case.

"So, do you have an idea of what might have happened to Mr. Otterton?" he asked.

Judy could only shrug. She remembered Clawhauser's words about how this was the smallest case file that he had ever seen, and that she didn't have any resources. No, not entirely, she corrected herself. She had a fox, a mammal that was very cunning and clever. She smiled at Nick as he expertly navigated through the Zootopia traffic toward Sahara Square. The Mystic Springs Oasis had her interested. She wondered what it was all about. However, she didn't disturb him as he drove. Finally, they entered Sahara Square. The rest of the car ride was silent as Nick remembered how to get to their destination. Finally, they pulled into the parking lot and Nick parked the car up in front of the building. Judy was amazed. It looked like one of the beautiful oriental palaces she had seen in the movies. She half expected to find golden genie lamps and bellydancers inside. Nick spoke finally, breaking her out of the imagination.

"Just a warning, Officer Hopps. This isn't exactly the place for a bunny. It can be a bit shocking for a first time visitor," he said.

Judy sighed and chuckled.

"Nick, I am a ZPD officer. I am ready for anything. It's my job to visit shocking places," she said.

Nick shrugged.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," he said.

Judy wondered what he could possibly mean as they entered. Inside, the main lobby was dimly lit, and smelled of a very strong incense. At the desk at the back center of the room, a yak sat, chanting by some candles. He wore a beaded necklace. Nick smiled, as he knew that this was Yax, the yak they had come to see. Nick allowed Judy to step forward.

"Uh, hello?" she began in an attempt to get his attention.

Yax continued his chanting, oblivious to the bunny.

"Hello?" she said again

That got his attention. He looked at her.

"Hey, I am going to push the pause button right there, little bunny, because we're fully stocked up on Bunny Scout cookies," he said.

Judy sighed. She hoped that other mammals would take her seriously one day. She looked at Nick for confidence, and then turned back to Yax. She wasn't upset with him, though.

"Actually, I am Judy Hopps and I am an officer with the ZPD. I am looking for Mr. Emmett Otterton, who has been missing for ten days. Nick here says that he comes here for yoga, and that he was here recently," she said.

Nick entered the conversation.

"If you have anything, Yax, please tell this fine bunny cop, as she is in a bit of a hurry," he added as Judy handed Yax the photo from the case file.

Suddenly, Yax's eyes went wide.

"Ah, yes, Emmett. I haven't seen him recently, but I should take you back to see Nangi. She's an elephant, so she'll definitely remember!" he said cheerfully.

Judy smiled.

"Oh thank you!" she said.

Yax walked out from behind the counter, and Judy had a realization that manifested itself in a small, adorable yelp.

"Sweet cheese and crackers! You are naked!" she exclaimed, shielding her eyes.

Yax looked down for a moment. He was completely nude. In fact, the only thing on him at all was his necklace. He then turned to Judy, who tried to avoid looking at him. Yax smiled.

"For sure, we're a naturalist club!" he said.

He then went to open the two huge wooden doors. Judy looked up as the sunlight peeked into the dark room. She was even more shocked by what she saw next. She saw numerous naked mammals of numerous species and both genders, having fun, swimming, sunbathing, playing volleyball, talking, drinking fruit smoothies and more. Judy had never been more uncomfortable in her life. For this moment, the innocent country girl from Bunnyburrow was eclipsing the tough cop who had bravely come to serve the city of Zootopia. Nick could sense her discomfort, and tried to fix it.

"It's all right, Officer Hopps. Once we have what we need, we're out of here," he said.

Judy just simply tried to avoid looking at the mammals around her. She had never felt more uncomfortable in her life. She tried to calm herself, but it was difficult, especially when she saw a giraffe bend over for a drink of water at one of the water fountains. Finally, they reached Nangi, who was busy teaching a yoga class. Yax walked in front of her.

"Hey, Nangi! We need some help. Do you remember Emmett Otterton?" he asked.

Nangi went on with her poses, not having any memory of Otterton. She was of no help at all. Judy was frustrated. There was a small thought coming to her, one that said to give it up, resign and do something else. She tried to quell that thought as best she could. Nick was busy admiring her beauty as he listened to the goings-on. She was easily more beautiful than any female he had spent time around, even outshining such beauties as famed Thomson's gazelle pop star Kira Hornston, known to all by the stage name of Gazelle. Judy decided to ask Yax some more questions.

"Do you remember anything else about Mr. Otterton?" she asked.

Yax nodded, as if a recent memory had returned to him. He smiled and began to speak as Judy meticulously began to write down his words with her carrot pen.

"I brought him out and saw him get into this big white car with silver trim," he said.

Judy finally smiled. Here was a lead!

"Did you happen to see the license plate number?" she asked.

Yax nodded.

"Sure I did. It was 29THD03," he said.

Judy was feeling so happy right now. She wanted to hug Nick in her excitement, but restrained herself. She had to present the image of a ZPD officer. Rather, she turned to him as they turned to leave the Mystic Springs Oasis. They said nothing to each other. However, the moment they exited the building, Judy crashed back to reality with an enormous thud. She realized something, something that dragged her down.

"Oh no! I just remembered. I am not in the system yet. I can't run the plate!" she said in utter dispair.

Nick smiled compassionately. He knew what to do.

"Officer Hopps, I have a friend at the DMV. He can help you out in this case, and he just happens to be the fastest worker there. We will back on track before you know it," he told her.

Judy smiled again.

"Thank you, sir. I will always remember the kindness you showed me," she said.

They got back in the car and headed back toward the Savanna Central area. As they drove, Judy began to look at and admire Nick's good looks. He was easily the most handsome male she had ever seen in her life. Sure, plenty of bucks back home in Bunnyburrow had asked her out, but she had turned all of them down. She had never had a romantic relationship in her life, had never even been kissed by a male. However, she was attracted to him, and he was a fox. Judy's eyes took in his features: vibrant, emerald-green eyes, handsome face and so on. She also noticed that he was quite fit. Obviously, his karate training, all the exercise he got from it, played a role in it. Trying to focus, she kept reading and reciting the license plate number. After a long while, they pulled into the DMV parking lot. Nick parked the car, then turned to her.

"Just a warning, this place can be a bit frustrating," he said.

Judy blew it off.

"Nick, there are lines in there, I know. We has something like that back home in my hometown of Bunnyburrow. I am fully aware of it. I had to stand in a line to get my driver's license," she said.

Nick shook his head playfully as they got out of the car and he locked it up.

"Trust me. You haven't seen a frustrating line until you have seen the ones here at Zootopia's branch of the Department of Mammal Vehicles," he said.

Judy wondered what he could possibly mean as they began to walk toward the front door. Once they were inside, she discovered the answer...the employees were all sloths! The lines were long, full of highly ticked off Zootopians of many mammal species who wished they could be anywhere else. The sloths took forever to do the simplest tasks, such as taking pictures for licenses, stamping and stapling paperwork and even drinking coffee. Nick smiled at Judy.

"See what I meant? However, if it makes you feel any better, cheetahs give the driving tests," he said.

Judy sighed as they walked toward the desk of Flash. Nick smiled as he saw his old friend and sped up his walk. He had met Flash sometime back, and they had gotten along.

"Flash, Flash, hundred yard dash! How are you doing, buddy?" he said, getting the sloth's attention.

Flash very slowly looked at his good friend.

"Hi...Nick...I...am...do...ing...fi...ne...." he said.

Judy groaned to herself. She had a feeling that this was going to take forever.

"We need some help, sir. We are in a really big hurry," she said.

Flash nodded, very slowly.

"Wh...a...t...can....I....do....for...y...o...u...to...d...a...y?" he asked.

Judy was still ready to give him a chance.

"We need you to run a license plate number," she said.

Flash prepared himself to work.

"What...is...the...plate...number?" he asked.

Judy gave him the plate number. What followed was a slow, infuriating experience. Finally, a long time later, Flash finished. His printer spat out the needed information. Judy very quickly grabbed it and walked away toward the door.

"Come on, Nick! It's registered to Tundratown Limo Service. That means the limo that took Otterton is in Tundratown. Let's go. If we head out now, we can beat the rush hour traffic," she said.

Nick said goodbye to Flash and followed her. The rabbit was very excited, but her excitement died the very moment she stepped outside. She saw that it was now dark outside. It was night. It had been hours since they had entered the building. Judy's doubt began to manifest again. She worried about failing the case.

"IT'S NIGHT?! What are we going to do now?" Judy said in shock.

Nick smiled at her compassionately.

"You can't give up now, Officer Hopps. You still have another day in order to crack the case. I will still be with you all the way," he said, momentarily thinking of his feelings for her.

As they walked to the car, he reflected on his attraction to her. If he admitted them soon, he wondered if she would be willing to admit romantic feelings to a fox. Putting that aside, he got into the car with her, and they sped off toward Tundratown. Back in the neighborhood they had grown up in, Vixey slept uneasily. She was honestly worried about Nick out there.

"Be safe, my dear cousin," she was thinking in her sleep.

Finally, they arrived in Tundratown, at the address on the printout.

## Chapter 3- Meeting Mr. Big

Nick parked the car and put some money in the parking meter for a short time. However, due to it being night, the business was locked up tight. Nick sighed. He debated what to do.

"Come on, Nick, I see a limo. That must be it. We just need to climb the fence," she said.

Nick was absolutely stunned at what she, a cop, was suggesting. He was familiar with the ZPD rules and regulations due to having worked with them, and he wasn't shy about revealing this.

"Don't we need probable cause for that?" he asked.

Judy turned to him.

"Look, we have a missing otter who was in that limo. I believe that counts as probable cause," she said.

Nick nodded. He admired her tenacity.

"That's the spirit," he said.

The two of them then began to climb the fence. Nick honestly felt guilty for doing this, but at least he was getting paid for his trouble. Judy was a very swift climber, and so was Nick. Moments later, they were on the ground on the other side. They approached the limo. Oddly, it was unlocked.

"All right, let's get down to business," Judy said.

She then brushed the snow away from the rear license plate, revealing it to match the number that Flash had given her. She was delighted.

"This is it, Nick! Time for us to combine talents and do our thing," she said as she opened the door and got in.

Nick followed her in. They got to work immediately. Judy picked up clumps of white-colored fur with tweezers and put them in a bag, while Nick looked around at the seats. They were absolutely shredded. He sighed.

"Well, Officer Hopps, Mr. Otterton certainly had a terrible time," he said.

As he observed the claw marks, Judy looked down. She saw a wallet. Picking it up, she saw Mr. Otterton's driver's license inside. Nick just happened to look into the limo bar and pick up one of the cups. It was etched with a large letter "B". Having seen something similar before, he knew who this car belonged to, much to his horror.

"Officer Hopps, we have to leave, now," he said.

Judy turned to him. She didn't want to give up.

"But this is a crime scene," she said.

Nick put his hands up.

"No, you don't understand. This car belongs to the second biggest crime boss in Zootopia. They call him Mr. Big, and he will not be merciful with us if he catches us," he said.

Judy shook her head. She couldn't go yet.

"Nick, please...we're getting closer!" she said in protest.

Nick ignored her and turned to the door. Two massive Polar bears stood there. Nick's eyes went wide.

"We're in trouble," he said.

Judy turned to see them. She didn't have any time to say a word before the bears grabbed her and Nick and stuffed them into their car. They had been sent to inspect Mr. Big's property. During the car ride, Judy nervously looked at Nick.

"Hey, are you feeling ok?" she whispered to him.

Nick shook his head. He knew the stories, and he knew some stuff about Mr. Big, he had studied him a bit. He was part of a larger Zootopian crime organization known simply as "The Syndicate". There was a boss in each area of the city: Shere Khan the tiger, the leader of the Syndicate and the most powerful of them all, in the downtown/Savanna Central area, Mr. Big in Tundratown, Rico Le Claw, a jaguar, in the Rainforest district, Omri Curvehorn, an ibex, in Sahara Square, James Snowpaws, a Snow leopard, in Mountaintown, Jason Ringtail, a raccoon, in the Nocturnal District, Darien Howlington, a wolf, in the Forest District, and so on. Though in the same group, these powerful crime lords usually spent more time fighting against each other than they did uniting. Finally, they arrived at the gate of a fine mansion. Nick sighed.

"Well, it was good knowing you...Judy," he said, using her first name for the first time in a casual comment.

Judy smiled slightly. Whatever happened tonight, it would be in the name of the fight to bring Emmett Otterton home to his wife and children. In her mind, she believed that Mr. Big had to be one of the large Polar bears. The bears forced the two of them into a large room. For a moment, they waited. Polar bears filed in. Judy continued to think that one of them had to be Mr. Big. Then one of them brought in a small shrew in a suit. He looked at them angrily.

"Greetings. I am Mr. Big. I ask, why did you decide to trespass on my property, on the day of my daughter's wedding of all days?" he said by way of introduction.

Judy's eyes went wide. That was Mr. Big. She wanted to laugh, but had the good sense not to. Nick tried his hardest to get his nerves under control. He then decided what he would say.

"Mr. Big, please. I don't know you, obviously, but I have heard of you and how powerful you are. We weren't trying to break into your business. Judy here is a ZPD officer, and she is investigating a disappearance," he said.

Mr. Big looked at him skeptically. That was when Judy entered the talk.

"Mr. Big, I am with the ZPD, and I am looking for Emmett Otterton. If you have done anything to him, I swear that I will bring you and your operation down!" she said.

Nick was stunned that she had dared to speak to him that way. The shrew was furious, and began looking at the Polar bears, who began to get into position.

"Then I have only one thing to say: Say hello to Grand-Mama for me," he said.

He then turned to the Polar bears.

"Ice them!" he said.

The bears picked Nick and Judy up. Another pulled a rug off a trap door and opened the door, revealing an icy pool of water. However, before the bears could throw them in, a high-pitched female voice could be heard.

"Daddy! It's almost time for our dan...What did I say?! No icing anyone at my wedding!" said a young adult female shrew.

Mr. Big turned toward her. Her name was Fru Fru, and she was his daughter by his late wife. Now, she was getting married herself, to the son of a fellow shrew and associate of her father. She had been dating him for some time now. Mr. Big sighed.

"I have to, honey. Daddy has to," he replied.

It was then that Fru Fru noticed Judy. A smile came to her face.

"Daddy, that's the bunny that saved me from the giant donut in Little Rodentia!" she said.

Mr. Big looked at her.

"Is this true?" he asked.

Judy nodded sincerely. Mr. Big ordered the bears to set them free. Judy looked at Fru Fru.

"Love your dress," she said.

Fru Fru smiled.

"Thank you!" she said cheerfully.

Mr. Big fixed his gaze on them one more time, particularly Judy.

"You saved my daughter's life. Therefore, I will pay it forward. What do you have to ask?" he asked.

Judy was glad that she had saved Mr. Otterton's driver's license. She held it up.

"Can you tell me anything about him?" she asked.

Mr. Big sighed. He knew that what Judy had done for Fru Fru had to be repaid. He also knew the truth of what had happened to Otterton. He was ready to say it.

"Let us go to the party. Your companion can come too. Over cake, I will tell you everything," he said.

Nick and Judy warily followed the Polar bears as they picked up Mr. Big and Fru Fru and returned them to the wedding party. There was music, and it was full of other shrews, probably friends and family members of Mr. Big. Judy wanted to know what he had to say, but she did not dare risk angering him by talking first. She waited for him.

"Now, about Otterton. He is my florist, practically part of the family. He had important things to discuss with me about the flower arrangements for Fru Fru's wedding. I sent that car to pick him up. However, he never arrived," he said.

Judy and Nick both listened intently, processing each bit of information as Mr. Big spoke to them. Meanwhile, Nick realized that they had been here awhile, longer than he had put money in the meter for. That meant that he was probably going to have a parking ticket when he got back. He sighed as he turned his attention to Mr. Big again.

"Because he got attacked?" he asked.

Mr. Big shook his head in agitation.

"No, because HE attacked...he went crazy, ripped up the car, attacked the driver and fled off into the night," he explained to them.

Judy was stunned. She had never heard of such a thing before.

"But he was a sweet little otter," she managed to say.

Mr. Big looked at her.

"Dear bunny, we may have become sentient, but deep down, we are still animals. Now, if you want to find Otterton, talk to the driver of the car...one Esteban Manchas. He lives in the Rainforest District. He can tell you more. My men will take you back to where they took you, and you can then get to the Rainforest District. Goodbye, and good luck in solving this matter," he said.

## Chapter 4- Terror in the Rainforest District

Nick and Judy said their goodbyes after Mr. Big gave them the address, and then were taken back to where they had been seized. Nick then noticed that his car was missing. He was horrified. That car was a prized possession of his. He checked the meter. He was overdue. Judy then checked the meter herself, knowing what to look for.

"Yep, probably towed because it was left here so long. It is probably at the ZPD impound lot. Come on. It will be morning before you know it. Let's get on the train. We can see Mr. Manchas, then go back to downtown. I promise, the first thing I will do is take you to the impound lot and help you get your car back," she said.

Nick smiled sweetly.

"Bless you, Judy," he replied.

The two of them headed to the Tundratown branch of the Zootopia train station. Using the large amount of money that Nick carried with him at all times, he got them two tickets to the Rainforest District. From there, they headed for the residential areas and found the place they were looking for. Judy walked toward the door and knocked.

"Mr. Manchas? I am Judy Hopps of the ZPD. We just want to know what happened to Emmett Otterton," she said.

Nick stood back, waiting to protect her should something go wrong. Manchas, having just finished a phone call to his girlfriend, the famous Snow leopard ZNN reporter and anchor Fabeinne Growley, opened the door a little bit, obviously nervous about talking about this.

"You should be asking what he did to me," the jaguar said.

As Nick and Judy got a moment to wonder what he meant by that, he fully opened the door, revealing the truth. The jaguar was wounded all over his face, shoulders and arms. Nick and Judy were shocked and took a step back.

"Whoa. An otter did all that?" Nick asked.

Manchas nodded. He wished they would just leave, but didn't say so.

"Please, sir, tell us what happened," Judy told him.

Manchas sighed. He hated reliving it, but if the ZPD was asking, he would do so.

"I was driving him when, all of a sudden, he attacked me from behind. It was out of nowhere. He was a savage! Kept going on and on about night howlers before he fled into the darkness," he said.

Judy gave him a curious look.

"Night howlers?" she asked.

Nick was just as perplexed.

"Good. Night howlers are what we are here to talk about," he said, not knowing what else he could say.

Judy took over.

"So, please, just open the door and tell us what you know, ok?" she said in a kind tone, as if she was talking to a child who was scared to try something new.

Manchas sighed.

"Very well," he said.

The jaguar began to unlock the deadbolts on his door. Judy looked at Nick with a very impressed look on her face. Her control on the way she had begun to think about Nick was slipping by the minute. It was the same for Nick. Suddenly, there was a commotion inside, followed by the sound of a scream. Now that the door had been fully opened, Nick and Judy slowly entered. They saw Mr. Manchas hunched over on the ground, groaning and growling. Suddenly, he turned. His eyes had dialated, meaning he was now savage!

"RUN!" Nick exclaimed.

Nick and Judy both fled, with Manchas pursuing them. They jumped to lower branches of the trees and into a log. Judy grabbed her police radio. Back at the station, Clawhauser was way too busy playing with the Gazelle app on his phone to notice the blinking radio light. However, he did eventually notice it and picked up.

"Yes, Officer Hopps?" he said, recognizing her radio signal.

Judy was frantic.

"Clawhauser, please, send help. We have a savage jaguar in the Rainforest District, Vine and Tajunga!" she shouted.

Clawhauser could hear the fear in her voice.

"Ok, we're sending backup!" he said.

Manchas tried to get to Nick. However, there was a sudden click sound. Judy had cuffed Manchas' back left leg to a light post. Nick smiled, glad to have had such a beautiful female save his life. However, the jaguar thrashed violently, causing Nick and Judy to fall off the platform into a tangle of vines, which wrapped around them and their feet on the way down. Now they were stuck hanging upside down, back to back. Nick smiled at Judy.

"You saved my life," he told her.

Judy smiled too.

"That's what we do at the ZPD," she said.

Suddenly, they heard police sirens approaching. They parked, and out stepped Chief Bogo and various other officers. He saw Nick and Judy hanging there from the tree.

"Well, this ought to be good," Bogo said as two officers moved to cut them down.

## Chapter 5- Newfound Romance

One officer was a tigress named Alicia Fangmeyer, while the other was Paul McHorn, a rhino. Once they were down, Judy cautiously approached Chief Bogo.

"Sir, you need to see this," she said.

She and Nick lead them back up to where they had chained up Manchas. All along the way, Judy was telling them everything that had happened. There were some officers who were just hoping that she was making all this up so she would get fired.

"I thought this was just a missing mammal case, but it is way bigger. Mr. Otterton didn't just disappear. He and the jaguar went savage," she said.

Fangmeyer and the other officers all laughed at this statment. Chief Bogo merely scoffed.

"Officer Hopps, this is not the stone age. Mammals don't just go savage," he stated.

Judy nodded in acknowledgement. However, she had to show them. She took them around the corner to where Manchas was chained, or to where he had been chained. He was gone, as if he had never even been there at all. The other officers were looking mockingly at Judy, and there were a few calls of "dumb bunny" and even "looney bunny". Judy looked back up at Bogo.

"He was right here! I cuffed him!" she said.

Chief Bogo had had enough of her, but Nick stepped forward.

"Please, sir, it's all true! You have to believe her!" he said.

Chief Bogo turned to him with a snort.

"Stay out of this, Detective Wilde. This is ZPD business," he said.

Nick remained silent for the moment as Bogo stepped toward Judy. He was clearly furious, and did not want this bunny on his force anymore. This was the last straw.

"Hopps, I gave you two days to find the otter. That was the deal. You failed, badly, and made yourself look like a fool in the process. You are fired. Now, hand over your badge," he said, extending his arm, the palm of his hand up.

Judy sighed as the other officers began to laugh a bit.

"But, sir..." she protested.

Bogo was having none of it.

"BADGE!" he shouted.

With tears beginning to form in her eyes, Judy reached to her badge to unpin it and give it to Bogo. However, a furious Nick stepped in. He was going to solve this.

"Uh, no," he said.

Bogo turned to the fox with shock.

"What did you say, Detective Wilde?" he asked.

Nick crossed his arms over his chest, his ears back. He was not happy.

"Sorry, what I said was "no". She will not give you that badge. I can't believe it. You all haven't been able to crack this case in two weeks, and then give her only two days to do the same? You obviously weren't going to help her. You were just setting her up to fail so that you could fire her! You should all be ashamed. You know what? I waive my fee for all of this. I make good money from this business, and I am simply going to help her because she deserves to be the one who solves this, not you. We still have ten hours left, and we have a lead, so now we are going to go and crack the case," he said.

Chief Bogo and the other cops were left stunned at his words. Nick guided Judy into one of the sky ride gondolas and it began to take off toward Zootopia. Judy hadn't cried, but her eyes were still teary. He smiled compassionately at her.

"Thank you for standing up for me," Judy said finally.

He then looked forward.

"Never let them see that they got to you," he said.

Judy turned.

"Has anyone ever got to you?" she asked.

Nick turned to her with a sigh. Memories of the past began to flood back to him, memories that he had spent the last twenty years trying to obliterate from his mind.

"When I was eight years old, I wanted nothing more to join the Junior Ranger Scouts. My parents loved the idea and got me the uniform. That night, they took me to the building. It didn't matter that I was a fox or the only predator in the troop. However, when I was taking the oath in the basement of one of the local churches, something horrible happened. The other scouts revealed that they didn't want a fox in the group. They all grabbed me, pulled down to the floor, ripped my uniform to shreds, and put a muzzle on me. I managed to get away and run to my parents, who were nearby at an outdoor cafe. I was in tears. My parents were horrified and quickly got the muzzle off. Mom comforted me in the car, while Dad went in to confront the buck scoutmaster, who had done nothing to stop the attack. After that, we went home. The very next day, my parents enrolled me in karate lessons with a local lion master so that I would know how to defend myself and this would never happen again. I also decided to become a detective, motivated by those old movies as well, so that I could help locate the criminals and turn them over to the ZPD. I would help mammals who couldn't defend themselves in that way. If I had my way, no mammal would ever go through what I had to," he said.

Judy's heart was beating hard. The morning sun was rising over Zootopia, bathing the city in light. Judy remembered what had happened to her, and decided to tell him.

"When I was nine, I announced my desire to be a cop to my parents and others at Bunnyburrow's Carrot Days Festival. In that time, there was a mean fox boy named Gideon Grey. He belittled me too. However, it got worse when he stole some festival tickets from a friend of mine, a sheep ewe. I tried to get them back for her, but he knocked me down and punched me hard in the face. From then, I resolved to prove him wrong. That's why I never gave up my dream," she said.

Nick smiled as he pushed away those horrible memories. He knew it for sure now: he had fallen madly in love with Judy Hopps, despite her being a bunny. Only four years earlier, he had a vixen girlfriend, Skye Furston, but she had been more excited about the romance than he had and it fell apart after she kept asking him about marriage. He loved Judy far more than he had been romantically attached to Skye. Skye had been beautiful, but Judy was drop dead gorgeous. They also had great chemistry. He would have to tell her. He admired Judy's beauty: her shining eyes, her lovely body, her nice butt, her curvacious hips...the list went on. Judy had never been romantically involved with a male in her life, but she realized that she had fallen head over heels in love with Nick Wilde. Oh, she loved his handsome looks, nice body, vibrant green eyes, everything. She knew that she would have to tell him. Judy placed a hand on his arm. Nick felt a wonderful feeling shoot up his spine as he felt her hand touch him. They said nothing else for a moment. Judy suddenly figured out that the traffic cams probably picked up what happened to Manchas, but, as a rookie, she wasn't in the system yet. However, she knew that Assistant Mayor Bellwether might be able to help them see the traffic cams. Before long, they were coming into the city.

"Come on, let's get your car back and head to City Hall. I know someone there who could help us," she said.

Nick smiled and nodded. He couldn't wait to soon admit his feelings for her, even if she didn't feel the same way. However, such thoughts were for the near future. The two were still pondering their feelings when the gondola arrived at the station. Judy smiled at Nick.

"All right, Nick, let's go and get your car back!" she said.

Nick nodded and followed the bunny that he loved. After a brief walk, they arrived back at the ZPD station. Judy took him to the impound lot. Nick's car was there. He was thankful that, when he fell into the vines, he had the sense to keep his wallet, phone and car keys in his detective bag, where they were safe. Going up to the desk, Judy could hear some officers in the back talking about her moment with the "savage jaguar" last night, but she just ignored them as Nick filled out the paperwork. When that was done, they headed back out to the car and got in.

"All right, to City Hall," Judy said.

Nick nodded and they were off. As they drove the fairly short distance between the ZPD and City Hall, a thought that hadn't crossed Judy's mind before came in.

"Nick, can I ask you something?" she began

Nick smiled.

"Sure, Judy. What is it?" he asked.

Judy sighed. She had to know this before she admitted her feelings for him.

"Do you have a girlfriend? I am just curious, that's all," she asked, keeping her romantic feelings for him still hidden.

Nick kept his eyes on the road, but was nevertheless surprised.

"No, but, Judy, if you are in love with me, just tell me. I am single, and I don't mind that you are a bunny. I mean, I once had a celebrity crush on Gazelle when I was a teenager, so the interspecies business isn't a problem," he said.

Judy's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped. How had he figured out her feelings so quickly? Right, he was a detective, the best one in Zootopia. Now that he was on to her, she might as well just come out and say it.

"Wow, you are brilliant. Yes, Nick, I have feelings for you, romantic ones. I have never had a boyfriend in my life, and you are one handsome specimen of a tod," she said.

Nick chuckled sweetly.

"And what a beautiful doe you are. Well, I am more than pleased to say to you that I have romantic feelings for you too. I have been attracted to you since I met you," he told her.

Judy was pleasantly surprised.

"Really?" she asked.

Nick nodded.

"Really," he responded.

Judy's heart was beating with excitement as they finally pulled into City Hall and went through the security gate. Nick headed for a parking spot, but not before asking one more thing.

"Judy, since we both feel the same way about each other, will you...be my girlfriend?" he said in a flirtatious, hopeful tone.

Judy smiled cheekily.

"It's a bit early for that, isn't it? I mean, we have only known one another for a short time, almost two days," she said.

As he parked, Nick waved her off, feeling playful.

"Oh, don't worry about that, Judy. I mean, why say no when it feels so good to say yes?" he replied.

Judy laughed.

"Very well, Nick. I'd love to be the girlfriend of a handsome fox like you," she said.

Nick and Judy were very pleased with this new arrangement. Little did they know, however, what would soon come between them. They got out of the car and began walking up the steps. All around them, all the important mammals that kept the city running went to their offices to begin performing their duties. An instant later, they saw Mayor Leodore Lionheart walking toward a door. Behind him, Assistant Mayor Bellwether walked, carrying an enormous stack of binders and attempting to get his attention.

"Sir, you have a big meeting with Herds and Grazing today!" she said.

Lionheart turned.

"Yes, I know, but I have a lunch date with my wife and daughter as well. Just take care of it, and cancel any other meetings," he said.

Nick shook his head in disgust. He hated seeing mammals, especially small ones, mistreated. He hated what had been happening to Judy, and he hated what he saw here. Bellwether gave a small smile.

"Yes, sir," she said.

Satisfied, Lionheart walked through the door, not seeing Bellwether trying to walk after him, allowing the door to shut. It crashed into the sheep, knocking over all the binders and scattering them all over the floor.

"Oh, mutton chops," Bellwether said in utter irritation.

Nick and Judy were both shocked by the fact that no one around her had the thought to come and help her up, and help her pick up the binders. For a long moment, Bellwether reflected on how she was unappreciated by Lionheart, and then back to an incident when she was a lamb in which some mean predator kids at school held her down, took shears and sheared off all her wool. Her life had been a rough existence, as sheep were thought of as meek, gentle mammals who weren't particularly bright. Nick and Judy rushed up.

"Let us help," Nick said.

He and Judy began helping pick up the binders. As Judy helped her up, Bellwether smiled as she recognized Judy. She put aside certain thoughts that she was having and looked at her.

"Officer Hopps! Good to see you again! Who is this fine gentleman of a fox with you?" she asked.

Judy gestured to Nick proudly.

"Assistant Mayor Bellwether, meet Detective Nick Wilde, the best detective in all of Zootopia, perhaps even in all of the Kingdom of Mammalia, and...my boyfriend," she said with a delighted smile.

Bellwether was legitimately surprised to hear this, both that she had found a romantic companion so quickly and that he was a fox. She nodded in acknowledgement.

"Wow...that didn't take you long. Well, what can I do for you today?" she asked.

Judy smiled.

"Assistant Mayor Bellwether, we need your help in checking the city traffic cams," she said.

Bellwether motioned for them to follow her. They did so. Before long, they were at her office. However, Nick and Judy immediately picked up on the fact that this was, in reality, not an office at all, but an old janitor's closet! Nick shared a look with Judy, the boyfriend/girlfriend duo both thinking the same thing: why was Mayor Lionheart so inconsiderate of her? Bellwether smiled at them.

"Before you say anything, yes, my office is an old janitor's closet. However, on the plus side, the bleach fumes keep my wool super white," she said with a small chuckle.

Nick and Judy just followed her as she opened the door and led them in.

"Just give me a moment to access the traffic cams. Where do you need it from?" Bellwether asked.

Judy looked at Bellwether's computer, hoping that this would be what she needed to figure out what happened to Mr. Manchas.

"The Rainforest District, Vine and Tajunga," Judy replied.

Bellwether got to work. As they waited, Nick was thinking about his girlfriend's treatment by the rest of the ZPD. Just hearing Chief Bogo's words toward her, and the taunting from the other officers, had made him angry. He would talk to her about all this, try to show her that she didn't have to take that kind of bullying. Nick then had to resist the urge to touch the puff of wool atop Bellwether's head until, finally, she lifted her head up.

"There you go, the traffic cam footage for the Rainforest District. Oh, this is so exciting! I never get to do anything this exciting!" she said.

Suddenly, Lionheart's voice came thought the speaker phone.

"Smellwether! I thought you already cancelled my afternoon!" he said.

Bellwether cringed at the use of that stupid nickname, but otherwise said nothing as Nick and Judy just waited. She turned back and looked at them. She knew that it was time for her to go.

"Well, I have to go. Let me know if you find anything!" she said.

Lionheart grew impatient.

"While we're young, Smellwether!" he said.

Bellwether left the office in a rush. Getting to work, Nick and Judy began searching for the traffic footage they sought. Finally, they came across it. In that instant, they discovered what happened to Manchas: he was taken by a team of wolves armed with a net gun. They had emerged from a black van with no name on it. Nick chuckled as Judy wrote down the details in her notebook.

"Wolves. Watch, I bet that one of them is going to howl," he said.

Sure enough, one of them did so, causing Nick to laugh aloud and Judy to look at him.

"Called it. What is it with wolves and howling?" he said.

Suddenly, Judy made a connection in her mind. She was ever closer to cracking the case. Oh, how she hoped that she could do it in the short time that she had left.

"Howl! Night howlers! Night howlers are wolves! That's what Manchas meant! That's what he was afraid of! If they took him, they likely took Otterton too!" she said.

Nick was so happy to see her succeeding. In his mind, he was mocking the horrible attitudes of her fellow officers. She was the farthest thing from a dumb bunny or a looney bunny as one could get. Trying to get more on where they were going, they continued to watch the cams, eventually learning where they were headed. After finishing, they took off, not seeing Bellwether again. They got into the car. Their plan was to go get something to eat, as both had eaten little since last night, except for some crackers that Judy had on her that she had kindly shared with Nick, and then get back on the case. After getting out on the road, Nick was ready to speak to Judy.

"Judy, can I talk to you about something?" he asked.

Judy turned.

"What, Nick?" she asked.

Nick sighed, preparing himself for what he was about to say to his girlfriend. However, it had to be said. The torment she had been enduring by her fellow cops was abhorent to him. He hated it.

"Why do you put up with all that your fellow officers are saying about you? All that mean, horrible stuff. You are far from dumb or looney. Public servants shouldn't be treating their own like that," he said.

Judy hadn't expected Nick to speak like that.

"Nick, I will just have to deal with it. I resigned myself to the fact that I would have detractors. I have more than I anticipated, but I will endure the storm," she stated.

Nick sighed and shook his head.

"Listen to me. You are a beautiful bunny with a brilliant mind. You are better than all of them put together. They don't deserve to have you on the force if they are going to treat you that way. Your mind is best used elsewhere. You should consider taking it somewhere else," he said.

This statement actually caused Judy to gasp. Her heart was beating, and all manner of thoughts came upon her. Nick really did care about her. He hated seeing her be verbally attacked. She sighed.

"But where would I go? What would I do?" she asked.

Nick gave a dramatic smile. The sunlight caught his eyes, really showing how vibrantly green his eyes were. Judy was falling even more in love with him by each passing second. Nick knew what he would say.

"Perhaps the Foxwood Detective Agency? We could use someone like you, and you and I can be partners in both love and detective work here in Zootopia, the city of mystery and romance," he said proudly.

Judy was silent for a long moment.

"Uh...welll...I need to think about it, Nick. It sounds great though," she said, the seeds of doubt about her ZPD career now planted.

Their drive continued on. In her mind, she thought about what Nick had just said. For a moment, she had to remind herself that he was only twenty-eight years old. He seemed older than that, however. Judy's thoughts were on how he had accomplished such a goal, how had he managed to snag an office that someone twice his age or so would have. She turned.

"Nick, can I ask you about your detective career? I know that you wanted to help mammals who couldn't defend themselves, but what happened that you got that nice office at such a young age?" she asked.

Nick sighed happily.

"My parents' business contacts. You see, my parents are Robin and Marian Wilde, the famed businessfoxes and owners of Zuber. They even sponsored Gazelle's first concert twenty years ago, and she is a family friend of theirs. I met her when I was eight years old. Anyway, after I graduated from Zootopia University and went through detective and firearms training, they helped me get the office. I then hired Vixey and Finnick to assist me," he said.

Judy nodded.

"If I may ask, just what is your relationship with Vixey? She has the last name as you. Is she your sister?" she asked.

Nick shook his head.

"She is actually my paternal cousin, the daughter of my father's brother. However, she could kind of be considered a sister figure to me as well, since she was both my childhood best friend and next door neighbor. We were very close growing up. She was one of those who came to comfort me after the Junior Ranger Scouts incident. As for Finnick, well, he was our good friend in school," he said.

Judy nodded.

"Well, I am the firstborn child of my family. I have 275 younger brothers and sisters," she said.

That got Nick's attention.

"Wow, that's one big family," he said.

Judy laughed.

"Well, we bunnies are good at multiplying. In fact, we are far from the dumb little mammals that many Zootopians think that we are. We were the ones who gave Zootopia much of the commonly used mathematics that are taught in schools. That fact has mostly been forgotten," she said.

They talked more as they parked in the lot of Ruby's Cafeteria, a restaurant that was an icon in Savanna Central. In there, mammals could choose from a variety of items, as, by the royal law of the Kingdom of Mammalia, of which Zootopia was the capital, restaurants both large and small were required to serve both predators and prey. They got their food and drinks and sat down to plan their next move. They knew that they would be following the path of the van, and they knew that they would be going in the evening.

"I will be at your side, Judy," Nick said.

Judy was pleased to hear this. She loved that her first boyfriend was so loyal.

"And I will be at your side, Nick," she said.

Nick was equally pleased. When evening came, they headed out on the van's path.

## Chapter 6- The case is solved...or is it?

Parking a short distance away, Nick looked through his binoculars at the guard station. As expected, it was guarded by wolves. Nick shook his head as he and Judy began moving into position. Nick signaled that he was going to move ahead first. However, one of the wolves sniffed the air and seemed suddenly alert, as if he had smelled the fox. Nick turned, but, suddenly, a howl sounded. It was Judy, cupping her mouth with her hands to make it seem distant. The wolf guard fell for it and began to howl. Another tried to stop him, but fell for it too. As the two howled, Nick and Judy headed for the door. Along the way, Nick briefly got a great look at Judy's butt as she ran in front of him. He smiled, an idea for a romantic pet name for her taking shape in his head.

"Soon, but not yet," he thought to himself, knowing that it wasn't a good time to reveal it to her yet.

Slipping past the guards, Nick and Judy headed for the door and managed to get inside. Once there, they were walking through a dark corridor full of open rooms. Shining the flashlight of her phone in the rooms, she and Nick could see old, rusted, antique medical equipment strewn around.

"Was this a hospital at one time?" Judy asked.

Nick shrugged.

"Looks like it, my dear bunny," he said.

Ahead of them, they saw a windowed metal door that had a blue glow from within. Nick and Judy instantly became suspicious and approached the door. Nick reached out a hand and opened the door. To their shock, they saw modern medical equipment. All around were scans of brains on the wall.

"All of the equipment is new, Nick. Something is going on," she said.

Just then, Nick looked down at the floor. There were claw marks everywhere. He sighed, then looked at Judy.

"Judy, look, claw marks. Big ones," he said.

Judy looked down to examine them. No sooner did she do so did a large, savage tiger behind an acrylic wall leap out of the darkness of his cage at Nick, only to strike the wall. Nick jumped back. Judy shined her light down the hall. She saw many reflective eyes. Nick and Judy walked down the corridor of cages. They found both Otterton and Manchas. Both were indeed feral and savage, moving about on all fours, snarling and growling, just like all the others. Judy began counting aloud, causing Nick to turn.

"What?" he asked.

Judy smiled.

"...12...13...14...Chief Bogo handed out fourteen missing mammal cases! They are all here, including Otterton! I did it! I beat the clock! Come on, let's get pictures and videos as evidence and get back to Chief Bogo," she said.

Nick and Judy began doing exactly that. When they were wrapping up, they prepared to leave quickly. However, suddenly, the door opened, revealing a female Honey badger in medical scrubs and none other than Mayor Lionheart. Suddenly, it all clicked in Nick and Judy's heads: Mayor Lionheart was behind all of this. Nick and Judy hid in a nearby alcove. Lionheart frowned at the badger. Judy pulled out her phone again and began video taping them.

"Enough! Dr. Honey Badger, I don't want excuses, but answers!" he said, his voice raised.

Nick was surprised.

"That's Dr. Madge Honey Badger!" he whispered so as not to mask the conversation.

Judy turned.

"You know her?" she asked in whisper.

Nick nodded.

"She's my family and I's doctor. I never suspected she's be involved in something like this," he said.

The exchange between Mayor Lionheart and Dr. Honey Badger continued on.

"Sir, it might be time to consider their biology," she said to him.

Mayor Lionheart frowned.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

Dr. Honey Badger sighed sadly.

"Listen to me, sir. The only mammals that are going savage are predators. Before long, everyone is going to find this out. We cannot keep it a secret. We must come forward with the truth," she said.

Lionheart frowned. He hated that idea.

"Hmmm...what a great idea! Inform the public! And how do you think they will feel about their king, queen, crown prince and mayor, who are lions?! The Lionheart dynasty will be ruined!" he shouted.

Dr. Honey Badger's heart was beating harder. A new issue came to her.

"Well, what does Chief Bogo say?" she asked.

Mayor Lionheart suddenly became frightened. If there was one mammal that he didn't want getting involved in this, it was Chief Bogo. The huge Cape buffalo certainly wouldn't be pleased to hear any of it. He sighed.

"Chief Bogo doesn't know, and we are going to keep it that way!" he said.

Just as he finished talking, Judy finished filming. Now having all the evidence, she turned to Nick, beautiful purple eyes shining with utter delight. She hugged him.

"Come on, let's get this back to Chief Bogo," she said as she let him go.

Suddenly, Judy's phone rang. It was her parents. She tried to silence it, but it was already too late.

"Somone is here!" Lionheart said.

Dr. Honey Badger got on her radio as she pushed a button and set off the alarms. The savage mammals all began to roar, growl and snarl in fear and fury.

"Security, we have intruders! Find them and turn them over to the ZPD!" she said.

The two vanished, and armed wolf guards filled the room, their searchlights finding Nick and Judy. The two of them ran.

"Come on, run for the door!" Judy said.

Nick followed. An instant later, Judy felt Nick swoop her off her feet and into his arms. Now, he was running while carrying her in his arms, just like the heroes of action movies carrying their love interests. She looked at him.

"What are you doing?! I am a bunny. I can run swiftly!" she said.

Nick smiled.

"Honestly, I have always wanted to feel like a hero by doing this with some female. I have just never gotten the chance until now," he said.

Judy sighed and didn't protest further. Evading the guards, they made their way out of the building and got back in the car. Setting Judy in the passenger seat, they took off.

"Now, to get this evidence to Chief Bogo," she said.

She took out her radio and called up Clawhauser.

"Clawhauser on the line, what is going on?" the cheetah asked.

Judy smiled.

"Clawhauser, I did it! I found all the missing mammals! Nick and I are on our way. Could you tell Chief Bogo. I have video and photographic evidence to show him," she said.

Clawhauser was stunned, but agreed. In his office, Chief Bogo was busy playing with the Gazelle app on his phone. He thought it was all private, right up until Clawhauser burst in.

"Chief Bogo!" he exclaimed.

Bogo looked embarrassed, not saying a word.

"Wow! You are one hot dancer, Chief Bogo!" said the voice of Gazelle on the app.

Clawhauser smiled. He realized what was going on.

"OM Goodness...you have the Gazelle app too?! Oh man!" he said in utter glee.

Bogo snorted.

"Clawhauser, can't you see that I am working on the missing mammal case?!" he shouted.

Clawhauser stopped. He remembered Judy's message.

"Yes, sir. This message is from Officer Hopps. She just called. She found all of them. She even has video and photographic evidence. She is on her way right now," he said.

Bogo's eyes went wide.

"Wow, I am impressed!" Gazelle's voice said from the app.

Regaining his voice, Bogo looked at him.

"When she gets here, send her in. I want to see this evidence for myself," he said.

Clawhauser went back to his desk to await Judy's return. Nick drove her back to the ZPD, and she walked in with pride, clutching her phone in her hand. Alicia Fangmeyer and another officer were there as she entered the door.

"Look, Looney Bunny is back," Alicia said.

Judy ignored that remark and just moved on ahead to Clawhauser's desk.

"Congratulations on your success, Officer Hopps. Chief Bogo is waiting for you in his office," he said to her.

Judy nodded and she and Nick headed through the doors into the bullpen and knocked on Bogo's door. The Cape buffalo momentarily looked at a photo of his fiancee, Gazelle, and then responded.

"Come in," he said.

Nick opened the door. Judy walked up to Bogo's desk and began to find the photos and videos on her phone. She showed her boss the evidence. Bogo was in a state of shock. He had given her that case in order to get rid of her, and yet, here she was, victorious. She had solved it in just under forty-eight hours. He had seen it for himself through her pictures and video. It was all true. He stood up.

"Come on, Officer Hopps. It's time to get to work. We have an arrest to make. I will summon everyone else. Detective Wilde, you may come along, but don't get in the way," he said.

Nick nodded and followed them. Bogo summoned a large group of officers. Nick drove Judy in his car, while Bogo and the others all came in their squad cars. Alicia Fangmeyer and others protested, not believing it when Bogo said what Judy had told him, but they obeyed nonetheless. Traveling to the asylum, the cops all burst in. Judy stood front and center. Another team, wearing special armor and using special gear, went to get the savage predators to transfer them to a fleet of waiting trucks.

"Mayor Leodore Lionheart, Dr. Madge Honey Badger, you are both under arrest," she said.

Nick, standing nearby, looked on in pride as his girlfriend worked with the other officers in order to cuff their suspects. As they walked out, Lionheart began making excuses.

"You don't understand! We still don't know why this is happening! It could destroy Zootopia! I was trying to save the city!" he said.

Judy frowned.

"You were trying to save your job!" she said.

She then began going through his rights and other standard police procedure. Lionheart and Honey Badger were soon loaded into Bogo's squad car. Nick smiled as he led her back to his car.

"So, my gorgeous heroine, let's get back to the station," he said, hugging her tightly.

Judy returned the hug with unrestrained fervor. For a moment, she looked up at his face, wondering when they would officially seal their relationship with the first kiss. However, as they headed back to the ZPD station, little did she know that those dreams were about to be squashed, at least for now.

## Chapter 7- Romance in shambles

On the way back, Chief Bogo called ZNN and asked for the press to come. Judy would be speaking at the press conference. At the station, Bogo told Judy this.

"Ok, I will try my best," she said.

Bogo nodded. Before long, a stage and screen had been set up and the whole ZPD lobby was crawling with members of the press. Bogo was speaking first, saying that all fourteen mammals had been found by Officer Judy Hopps, the ZPD's newest recruit, and that she would be speaking shortly. Judy's heart beat. She was nervous, and she turned to Nick for comfort.

"I'm nervous, Nick," she said, hugging him.

Nick hugged his girlfriend back and smiled at her. He put his hand under her chin, forcing her to look up at him and into his eyes. His eyes of green met her eyes of purple.

"Oh, Nick, I am hoping that this goes well," Judy said.

Nick chuckled.

"All right, beautiful, press conference 101. You want to look smart? First, answer their question with your own question and then answer that question. It's easy," he said.

He then imitated it for her in order to give her an idea of what to do. Judy sighed.

"Please, go up there with me, Nick. We did this together. I would be honored to have my boyfriend at my side," she said.

Nick shook his head.

"You're a big girl, Judy. You can handle this. Come on. I will be right up front supporting you," he said.

Judy was about to reply when Chief Bogo called her up and Bellwether, now the new mayor of Zootopia, motioned her up on stage. Judy let go of Nick and headed up on the stage. Behind her, pictures of all the mammals, muzzled, were now showing. Judy stood next to Bogo.

"And now, here is Officer Judith Laverne Hopps with all the specific details of the case," he said as he stepped away.

Judy then stepped up to the podium. Katrina Antlerton was the first to begin asking questions.

"Officer Hopps, what can you tell us about the animals that went savage?" she asked.

Judy's heart was pounding like hammer strikes in her chest. She saw Nick and began trying to do what he had told her.

"Well, are the animals in question all different species? Yes, yes they are," she said.

Nick gave her a thumbs up as the press continued to bombard her with questions.

"So, what is the connection?" asked a tigress reporter.

Judy was trying to give a good answer.

"They are all members of the predator family," she said.

Nick's ears went back. He didn't like where this was headed. It was then that he saw a ram reporter push his way forward. Something was off about him, and Nick noticed it.

"So, predators are the only ones going savage?" he asked.

Little did Judy know what the consequences of what she was about to say.

"Yes, that is true. We don't know why exactly it is happening, though. We believe it may have something to do with a biological component, something in their DNA," she said, nervously repeating what she had heard Dr. Madge Honey Badger say.

The reporters continued to press further. Judy went on, describing how, thousands of years ago, predators lived by their hunting instincts, having to be quite savage in order to survive. As Judy spoke, Nick looked at the posters of the muzzled animals. Traumatic memories of the Junior Ranger Scouts incident flooded back to him. Finally, Judy finished speaking, but the damage was done. Nick was now furious. As she walked off the stage, Chief Bogo returned to the podium to end the question and answer session. Judy headed back to Nick, oblivious to what she had done in bringing back those horrible memories. She smiled.

"Wow, that was crazy. How did I do?" she asked.

Nick frowned at her.

"Oh, you said a lot," he said angrily.

Judy then noticed his demeanor.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Nick narrowed his eyes.

"There is a biological reason for all of this? Are you serious?!" he asked.

Judy put up a hand to calm him.

"Nick, my handsome fox, I just stated the facts of the case. I mean, it's not like a bunny could go savage," she said.

She was clearly making things worse. Nick was on the verge of screaming at her.

"Right, but a fox could, huh?" he replied.

Judy was trying to keep calm.

"Nick, you're not like them. You're not that kind of predator!" she said.

Nick moved closer.

"What kind of predator? The kind that needs to be muzzled? Well, let me ask you something, Judy. Are you afraid of me? Do you think that I might go savage and tear your face off when I kiss you for the first time? Do you think that I might try to EAT YOU?!" he said in a loud voice.

He then lunged at her, as if attacking her, but stopping short of actually making contact with her. Judy flinched and cowered, making Nick even more angry than before. He turned to go.

"I knew it. Just when I thought I had a girl to call my own, one who loved me for who I was and didn't care that I was a fox. I am leaving. It's probably best that you don't have a predator as a boyfriend," he said.

He then began to walk for the door. Judy tried to stop him.

"Nick, where are you going?!" she said tearfully.

Nick growled.

"Where else? Back to my office, alone and without a romantic companion," he said.

Nick then exited the building and began walking away toward his office. The reporters went over to Judy again. They had seen the whole thing, and wanted answers.

"Officer Hopps, were you just threatened by that fox?!" one of them said.

Judy shook her head.

"No, he's my boyfriend!" she said.

Another reporter, a female kangaroo, was alarmed.

"We can't even trust our friends, and you can't trust your boyfriend?!" she said.

Chief Bogo saw all of this and began asking them to leave her alone. In the chaos, with photo cameras flashing and news cameras watching, she, in her shame, went into the offices to get away from it all. Back outside, Nick, his anger having given way to deep sadness, approached Savanna Central Office Works and went through the doors. Taking the elevator, he headed for the Foxwood Detective Agency. Inside, Finnick and Vixey were wondering when he would be back. A moment later, Nick entered. Both his cousin and his best friend were excited and rushed to hug him.

"Nick! You're back!" she said.

Nick sighed sadly.

"Hi, Vixey," he replied sadly.

Vixey frowned.

"Nick, what's wrong?" she asked.

Finnick approached. He was familiar with the different tones in his friend's voice, and he had a feeling that something was up. He began thinking hard.

"Let me guess, you met a girl during the case and she broke your heart," he said.

Then, everything clicked in Vixey's mind.

"Nick, did you fall in love with Officer Hopps, only to be turned down?" she asked.

Nick pulled away and turned.

"I don't want to talk about it," he said.

Vixey grabbed his hand. She wanted to help him.

"Nick, please, let me help you," she answered.

Nick pulled away again.

"I don't want to talk about it!" he said and headed into his office, putting up his equipment when he was in.

Finnick allowed Vixey to pick him up, an act which, from anyone else, he hated and wouldn't allow them to do. However, he was fine with Vixey doing it, as it was often the only way for him to kiss or hug her.

"Yep, definitely a girl problem," he said.

Nick stayed in his office until it was time to go home.

## Chapter 8- Back to Bunnyburrow

Meanwhile, at this same time, Judy went with Bogo to see Mayor Bellwether, where the bunny, still reeling from what had happened earlier, learned that Bellwether and Bogo both wanted her to be the public face of the ZPD. They showed her the new brochure. However, seeing it made her think about what happened with Nick. She shook her head.

"I don't understand. Why me?" she asked.

Bellwether smiled sweetly.

"Judy, our city is 90% percent prey. They need a hero they can look up to, someone like them. I have a feeling that things are going to get very bad. Judy, please..." she said.

Judy shook her head.

"I...I can't. I was hired to protect and serve the city, but I did the opposite. I offended someone dear to me, and once that report hits the news, it will surely get bad, like you say," she said.

She then turned to Chief Bogo.

"Sir, I don't deserve this badge. As of today, I resign from the ZPD," she said, handing Bogo the badge after she unpinned it.

Bogo and Bellwether were speechless. Finally, it was Bellwether who spoke.

"Judy, you've wanted this since you were a kid. Please, don't go..." she said.

However, Judy would not be swayed.

"I am going back home to my family. Right now, I am going to return my equipment and go home. Thank you for the opportunity," she said, then took off.

As Judy walked back to the ZPD, the news was already hitting the airwaves. Along the streets, she could see prey move quickly away from predators and begin hurling vile insults at them. Her heart beat hard as she continued on. She walked quickly to avoid any potential harrassment from predators over what she had done. Moving inside, she went up to Clawhauser's desk and began taking off her upper body armor and equipment.

"Uh...what are you doing? Where is your badge?" Clawhauser asked.

Judy sighed sadly.

"I resigned, Clawhauser. Please, make sure this gets back to the equipment department," she said.

Clawhauser was stunned, but decided not to say anything. Even Alicia Fangmeyer and other officers who were nearby said nothing, despite their past feelings about her. Judy, now sans her equipment, began the trip home, stopping to eat dinner at Ruby's Cafeteria, though it was a bit early for dinner. When she arrived at home, she immediately went to her landlady to begin putting her apartment up for sale. That done, she went up to call her parents to tell them the news. Little did she know how bad things were going to get tomorrow.  Meanwhile, Nick was on the way back to the home he shared with his parents. It was dinner time, and so Robin Wilde was heading to Ruby's to pick up dinner. However, he and Marian stopped when they saw Nick walk in.

"There he is, the handsomest detective in Zootopia!" Marian said.

Nick hugged her and his father.

"Hey, Dad and Mom," he said as he headed upstairs to change and relax before dinner got there.

Robin went to get the food after getting the orders of his wife and son, but Marian turned to Nick. She had noticed his face and demeanor. He seemed sad.

"Nick, is something wrong?" she asked.

Nick sighed.

"I will tell you later," he said.

Marian watched him go up the stairs after saying that she would call him. Finally, Nick arrived in his bedroom. He had slept here since age fifteen. Undressing and switching to a black t-shirt and soft black workout shorts, his typical relaxation attire, Nick laid down on his bed, and turned on the TV. However, Judy was still on his mind and wouldn't leave. Regret began to creep in.

"Oh Judy...I wish I hadn't said those things," he said.

Meanwhile, Marian was wondering what was up with her son. Not long after that, Robin returned home with the food.

"Nick, the food is here," Marian called out.

Nick got up and headed down. All three foxes ate some form of chicken dish, each with a form of potato as a side. It was a fairly quiet dinner, but Marian was determined to get answers. She looked at Nick.

"Nick, if you are feeling down, which I can see that you are, please tell me. Mama can help you, and so can your father," she said.

Nick shook his head. His mom was still talking as if he was a kit. He didn't mind that. He was happy to have a mother who cared.

"Later," he said.

Marian sighed.

"Very well, Nick. We will go upstairs at bedtime and talk this out. I will also stay with you until you fall asleep," she said.

Nick had to smile. That was exactly what she had done on the night of the Junior Ranger Scouts incident. Meanwhile, back at her own little apartment, Judy was busy gathering her stuff to go back to Bunnyburrow tomorrow. She was currently packing up her collection of stuffed animals. It was then that she picked up a stuffed fox. Her heart began to beat as she noticed how the toy looked like Nick. On the toy was the "Junior ZPD officer" badge sticker that she had gotten on a school field to the ZPD. She had put it on there, and had often slept with that particular toy growing up. If that wasn't foreshadowing, she didn't know what was. She sighed. She had originally merely called the toy "Foxy", but she decided on a different name now.

"I think I will re-name him Nick," she said, unable to get the real Nick out of her mind as she put the stuffed fox in the box.

After that, Judy sat down on the bed to think and reflect. Her stuff was packed. The moving truck would be here for it early in the morning. She sighed.

"I wonder if Nick had a stuffed grey bunny toy when he was growing up," she said aloud.

In the city, things were getting worse. Some prey mammals were suggesting that all predators, even the non-savage ones, should be legally made to wear shock collars. Before long, night fell, and many Zootopians were getting ready for bed. Nick began heading upstairs, Marian close behind him.

"Remember, Nick, I expect you to tell me everything," she said.

Nick chuckled.

"Don't worry, Mom. You will know it all," he said.

Marian smiled.

"Remember, you may now be twenty-eight years old and the city's most famous detective, but you are still my son first and foremost," she said to him.

They arrived upstairs. Marian looked at it as Nick switched on the TV to his preferred bedtime programming on this day, the hidden camera comedy reality series Impractical Mammals. He then took off his shirt and set it down nearby, as he slept shirtless, and then laid down, covering himself with his blanket. The lovely vixen then joined her son on the bed.

"I am going to hold you until you fall asleep," she said.

Nick did not protest at all as his mother put her arms around him, holding him close. Far from it. He was thankful to be in his mother's comforting embrace during this troubled time.

"Now, Nick, tell me, what is troubling you?" she said.

Nick kissed her cheek. He loved his mother, and would do anything for her.

"Well, a day or two ago, I got a case from the ZPD in order to help them find a missing otter. The officer I worked with was a beauty of a bunny. She had grey and white fur, and beautiful purple eyes," he said.

Marian chuckled as a kithood memory of Nick came back to her.

"Sounds like the stuffed bunny you had growing up," she said.

Nick nodded. He continued to tell the story, getting to how he had fallen in love with Judy, and how the press conference had gone. Marian didn't know wether to be upset with this bunny or to be happy that Nick had someone he cared about. Rather, she continued holding him.

"I knew that it was going to be a girl problem. Honestly, it wouldn't be the first time you have shown an attraction to a prey mammal. I still remember when you had a crush on Gazelle," she said.

Nick took a deep breath, but said nothing. Marian smiled.

"Forget your troubles and sleep," she said.

Marian began humming some of the old lullabies that she used to sing to Nick when he was a small kit. Whether it was exhaustion, the sound of his mother's voice, or a mix of both, Nick soon shut his eyes and fell asleep. When she was sure that he was ok, Marian got up, turned the volume of the TV to zero, and went back downstairs. However, all night long, dreams of Judy came to Nick. It was the same for Judy. She kept dreaming of Nick. Eventually, the morning sun dawned. Nick got up early, as did Judy. Both of them showered, ate and got dressed. While Nick said goodbye to Robin and Marian and then headed for the office, Judy waited until the movers came. Once they loaded her stuff, Judy headed for the train station. She sighed as she arrived and boarded the train for Bunnyburrow..

"Goodbye, Zootopia," she said quietly.

Once she was seated, it didn't take long for the train to take off. The train went through the various districts of Zootopia that it had gone through when she first came here the other day. In Bunnyburrow, her parents and brothers and sisters awaited her arrival. During the train ride, Judy kept to herself, not really interacting with her fellow passengers. She was full of so much regret, and her ears were droopy.

"I don't even care about being a cop anymore, I want Nick back," she was thinking in her mind.

Eventually, the train arrived at Bunnyburrow. When it stopped, she grabbed her suitcase and headed off. As she knew, her family was there. Stu and Bonnie, her loving parents, rushed to her.

"Oh, there's my brave little girl!" Stu exclaimed as he hugged her.

Judy hugged him back. At the same time, Bonnie hugged her daughter as well. However, she saw the look of sadness on Judy's face, and the fact that her ears were still droopy.

"Is everything all right, carrot cake?" she asked, using the nickname that she had used for Judy ever since she was a baby.

Judy sighed.

"Can we talk about this tonight, Mom? Just you and I? It's a private matter that I need to talk to you about, doe to doe," she said.

Bonnie nodded.

"Of course, carrot cake. How about right before bed?" she asked.

Judy liked this. However, somehow, the eldest of Judy's sisters, a pretty, tan-colored doe named Kelly, who was about the same age as her, having been born in the same litter, was picking up on something.

"Did you have some trouble with a guy?" she asked.

Judy sighed and turned to speak, but was cut off by the other siblings.

"Oh, Judy found a buck!" said another female littermate.

Judy's eyes narrowed.

"Fine, I met a guy, but he is a fox, OK?! Now, come on! The moving truck will be arriving at the house soon," she said in a huff.

The part about the male Judy had found being a fox had caught Stu's attention, but, strangely, he wasn't having the same horrified reaction that he would have before. Rather, it was more like that he was...ok with it. The same went for Bonnie.  Judy headed home with her family. She entered the house, helping to take her boxes in and then to her room. That done, she began unpacking in her room. Taking the box with her stuffed toys, she opened it, finding her stuffed fox right on top where she had put it. She picked it up and hugged it.

"I think that I will hold you tonight," she whispered to the toy.

As the day wore on back in Zootopia, things were getting bad. Outright protests had erupted. some protesting against predators walking free without shock collars to control them, and the predators arguing against it. The predators knew that King Mufasa Lionheart and Queen Sarabi Lionheart would never listen to such ideas, what with them and their family all being predators themselves. For safety, the majority of predator parents took their cubs, kits and pups out of school for safety. This was the case for Rebekah Clawhauser, who kept Fuli at home, bringing her schoolwork for her to do there. Robin and Marian, taking Vixey's parents Levi and Lotta with them, spent the day in the Foxwood Detective agency alongside Nick, Vixey and Finnick, having pizza delivered for lunch and keeping up with the goings-on through the TV's kept at the office by Nick. Marian frowned.

"Oh, I can't believe Mayor Lionheart! What did he think would happen when he did all this? Ths is unbecoming of a member of the royal family!" she said.

Nick smiled and put a hand on her shoulder, trying to help his mother calm down. At the protests, Gazelle was trying to give a peace speech, but it was barely working. The ZPD officers on the scene had their paws and hooves full. Numerous innocent mammals wished for a return to peace. That night, at bed time, Bonnie went to see Judy in her room. She knocked on the door.

"Come in," said Judy, her voice muffled by the door.

Bonnie opened the door and entered the room. On her bed, Judy was laying down. She was clad in a lovely purple nightgown. In her hands was her stuffed fox. Bonnie smiled as she sat on her firstborn daughter's bed.

"Are you ready to talk, carrot cake?" she asked.

Judy nodded and looked at her mother.

"Yes. Oh Mom, what I did to the fox I fell in love with was horrible," she said.

Bonnie looked at her daughter with her eyes wide in surprise.

"What happened?" she asked.

Judy briefly looked down at her stuffed fox, and then back at her mother. She knew that she had to reveal these uncomfortable details so that Bonnie could help her.

"I was assigned to the case of a missing otter by the chief. He gave me only forty-eight hours. However, he also gave me the business card of the Foxwood Detective Agency in Zootopia, telling me that a detective named Nick Wilde ran it, and that he was a fox. I went to meet with him, expecting someone about Dad's age or so. Rather, I met someone who was about twenty-eight. He was so handsome. We worked together, and I, despite only knowing him a short time, agreed to be his girlfriend. Then, I gave my first press conference and everything got bad," she said.

Bonnie hugged Judy.

"What happened at that conference?" she asked.

Judy took a deep breath.

"I offended him and other predators. He became angry and left," she said.

Bonnie held Judy close and tried to give as much comfort as possible. Three weeks passed. Nick and Judy were still thinking about one another. In Zootopia, things continued to get worse. The news was only reporting on that topic. Judy saw it every day, making her feel worse. That day, in Bunnyburrow, Judy was helping work the family fruit and vegetable stand. She bagged some carrots for a mother and daughter rabbit duo.

"A dozen carrots. Thank you for choosing Hopps Family Farm," she said in a bland voice, her ears drooping.

Stu smiled at his firstborn daughter.

"Hey sweetie, are you all right?" he asked.

Judy sighed.

"I'm fine," she said in the same voice.

Bonnie looked at her.

"You are not fine. Your ears are droopy. You have always gotten that way when you were sad," she said.

Judy finally looked up.

"Why did I think I could make a difference? I made things worse for so many innocent predators!" she replied.

Stu put a hand on her shoulder.

"Look, sweetie. I know that this is also about what your mother told me about. I can see it in your eyes. If you want to date a fox, then you go right ahead and date a fox. We're fine with it. You and your little exploit have opened your mother and I's minds. In fact..." he said, but was cut off in the end by the sounds of a car horn.

The Hopps family looked up to see a delivery van pull up. On the side it read Gideon Grey's Good Baked Stuff...With Produce from Hopps Family Farm. Judy's eyes went wide and her heart began to beat.

"Is that...Gideon Grey?" she asked, momentarily remembering what had happened the last time they met.

Bonnie noticed her apprehension and went to calm her.

"Don't worry, carrot cake. He's changed his ways. He's now the nicest guy. He opened up his own bakery, and he is our business partner. He also married a lovely vixen," she said.

Stu nodded.

"If it wasn't for you, sweetie, we never would have done that. Gid's become one of the top bakers in the tri-burrows," he added.

Gideon Grey turned off his truck and got out. Out of the passenger seat got a beautiful vixen. This was Belle Grey, Gideon's wife. Since they became a couple and married, she had helped him keep his life on track.

"Well, hello, Mr. and Mrs Hopps. I have that order of pies you placed," Gideon said.

Judy took a few cautious steps forward. Gideon did seem like a nicer person than he was as a kit, but she was still wary. She wondered for a long moment if he was conning her parents. She smiled.

"Well, if it isn't Gideon Grey," she said politely.

Gideon turned and smiled.

"Judy. It's been a long time. I have changed. I'm even married now," he said, gesturing at Belle.

Judy smiled at the vixen.

"Hello. I'm Judy," the lovely bunny said.

Belle returned the smile and shook the doe's hand.

"Hello, Judy. I am Belle," she replied.

Gideon sighed and turned his sights on Judy.

"Well, Judy, now that you're here, I have to apologize to you for what I did to you as a child. It was reflective of my personal problems that I had at the time, such as my parents' divorce, my mother's depression and my father's alcoholism. Will you forgive me?" he said.

Judy smiled.

"Yes, Gideon, I forgive you, and I am glad that you were able to turn your life around and make something out of yourself," she said.

Gideon smiled and took this statement as he went to his truck to get the pies. They were in their covered tins, ready to be sold. Nearby, some of Judy's younger siblings, who had been playing in the field, saw the pies and came running to see them. Suddenly, Stu stopped his sons and daughters from proceeding.

"Whoa, kids, stay out of the midnicampum holicithias!" he shouted.

Judy held up a hand to make sure that her little brothers and sisters did what their father said. Upon hearing this term, Gideon chuckled and looked at Stu.

"Now, there's a four letter word, Mr. Hopps. My family always just called them night howlers," he said.

That got Judy's attention.

"What was that?" she asked.

Stu turned.

"He means those blue flowers, Judy. I use them to keep the bugs off the crops, but I don't want your little brothers and sisters getting near them or deciding to taste them on account of what happened to your Uncle Terry," he said.

Bonnie nodded and explained how her brother Terry had, when she, he and Stu were all kids, eaten a night howler. The result was that he had gone absolutely wild and attacked her, causing Bonnie to have to be taken to the local doctor. Stu and Bonnie were discussing it as Gideon and Belle just stood there for a moment. Gideon then looked at Stu.

"Hey, we have to go. I have to make some phone calls about my new bakery in Zootopia. See you soon," he said as he and Belle smiled and headed for the truck.

Stu and Bonnie wished them well. However, Judy was now putting everything together.

"A bunny can go savage. Night howlers aren't wolves! They're flowers! Someone is using the flowers to make the predators go savage! I have it!. Dad, Mom, I need to return to Zootopia immediately and find Nick. If I can crack the case with his help, it can be brought to an end! I might not be back home tonight, since it is the afternoon, so I am going to run in, grab some stuff, and then take off. Bye, Dad! Bye, Mom!" she said.

Stu and Bonnie owned several cars, and one of them was the one Judy had been using since her return three weeks ago. She had been carrying the keys with her in the pocket of her work jeans since then. Since the farm stand was in front of the farm, Judy rushed inside the house, grabbed her phone, wallet and carrot pen, putting them in her pocket, then stuffed her nightgown, several changes of underwear, a few changes of clothes, her phone charger and her stuffed fox into a bag and headed for the car she had been using. She took off for Zootopia. Stu smiled.

"There goes my heroine of a daughter," Stu said with pride.

He looked like he might shed a tear. Bonnie put a hand on his shoulder.

"I am proud of her too, Stu," she replied.

Judy drove and drove, not stopping once. Finally, she arrived in Zootopia. Immeditately, she headed for the Foxwood Detective Agency. Parking, she got her bag and headed inside.

## Chapter 9- A Happy Ending in Zootopia

As she rode the elevator up, she was thinking about Nick, hoping that he would talk to her again. If he didn't, well, then it would be time for her to return to Bunnyburrow for good. She entered the Foxwood office. Vixey and Finnick turned as the door opened up. She went to them.

"Finnick, Vixey, is Nick in his office? I need to speak with him," she asked.

Vixey sighed.

"Yes, he is there," she said.

Judy nodded.

"Thank you. If he won't talk to me, I promise that I will leave right away," she replied,

Vixey accepted this. Judy then headed for Nick's office door and knocked.

"Nick, it's Judy. I know that I am probably the last mammal in the world that you want to talk to right now, and I don't blame you. I made a horrible mistake, but it has been three weeks and I need to speak with you," she stated.

"Come in," came the muffled response.

Judy slowly opened the door. Nick was at his desk, looking at files. He slowly looked up at the beautiful bunny. He didn't fix her with an angry look, but a neutral one. Judy took this as a good sign as she began to speak.

"Nick, I have the case almost cracked. I learned that night howlers aren't wolves. They're flowers! Someone is using the night howlers to cause the predators to go savage. Please, I need your help one more time," she said.

Nick just sighed. He was no longer interested in the case. Judy, somehow, could tell and switched to apologizing for what happened three weeks ago, and to their romance.

"Nick, I am sorry for what I did. I panicked and began repeating what I heard Dr. Honey Badger saying. I need help in making this right. I will understand if you have lost your feelings for me, and I wouldn't blame you if that were the case. I was a lousy girlfriend and I deserved what I got. But, Nick, I have thought of nothing but you for the last three weeks. I came back not just to crack the case once and for all, but to see if we could rekindle our relationship. You are the love of my life. I guess that I really am a dumb and looney bunny. I am sorry!" she said, beginning to tear up.

At the sound of the final words, Nick looked up. Judy watched as he stood up and began walking toward up. When he got to her, he finally smiled.

"That's what I wanted to hear, Judy. You are not a dumb and looney bunny. I am sorry for what I said, Judy. I haven't been able to get you out of my my mind either. I love you too. I'd love to be your boyfriend again, if you'll be my girlfriend," he said.

Judy nodded.

"Yes, Nick, I will! Nothing would make me happier than to be loved by you," she said.

Nick sighed in contentment.

"Then let it be so. As of this moment, you, Judy Hopps, are my girlfriend once more," he said.

Judy chuckled at his dramatic statment.

"And you, Nick Wilde, are my boyfriend once more," she replied.

The two looked deeply into one another's eyes and moved closer until, finally, their lips pressed together and they shared their first kiss. For Nick, it was wonderful, giving him great joy. For Judy, it was wonderful, her very first kiss. It went on a moment, then they broke it. In that instant, Nick knew what nickname he would use for her.

"That was wonderful...honeybuns," he said with a playful, flirty smile.

Judy smiled and gave him a look.

"Oh, you foxy flirt...are you seriously nicknaming me after what I think you are?" she asked in an equally playful voice.

Nick nodded proudly.

"It fits. You are as sweet as honey, and you have a great butt, and such greatness must be appreciated," he said in the manner of a rich mammal examining fine art and sculpture.

This caused Judy to laugh before she got serious again.

"Well, then, you need a nickname too...sparky," she said, choosing that name because of the romantic "spark" Nick currently had in his eyes on account of his love for her.

Nick liked it. Now, the status of their relationship cleared up, Nick got down to business.

"Now, how did you find out about the night howlers being flowers?" he asked.

Judy began to explain this to him, then, remembering the one incident that had brought her on this path, she knew what she had to do in order to bring this crisis to an end.

"Do you know of a weasel named Duke Wesealton?" she asked.

Nick nodded.

"Yes. Honestly, I know everyone. He plies his criminal trade on the street corners. He shouldn't be difficult to find," he said.

Judy told him about the incident with Duke in Little Rodentia. She then set her bag down on Nick's chair.

"Do you mind letting me leave this here and then bringing me back to get it? It's my spare clothes and things, and I don't want to risk losing it," she replied, thinking of the stuffed fox that she had inside with her clothing.

Nick looked at her.

"Sure. I promise that I will bring you back to get it. Also, before we leave, I want to tell you something," he stated as he wrote a "DO NOT TOUCH OR OPEN" note on a post it note and stuck it to her bag.

Judy gave him a curious look.

"What, Nick?" she asked.

Nick smiled.

"You're just so beautiful," he said.

Judy's eyes took on a flirtatious look.

"You really are a charmer of a fox," she asked.

Nick posed dramatically.

"As I said, beauty of the level you possess must be appreciated," he stated.

Judy was surprised.

"Well, I think you're the handsomest male I have ever seen," she told him.

Nick nodded his his head. They needed to get going.

"Come on. Time is short. Let's go find that weasel and see what he knows. My car is outside as usual," he said.

Judy shook her head.

"No. You drove me around the first time. Now it's my turn. I came here in my own car," she said.

Nick simply smiled.

"All right. However, I get to take you out to dinner tonight, just so we can have a proper date. After all, what a crazy first date we had three weeks ago," he said referring to the initial work on the case as he collected his equipment and put on his hat and trench coat.

Judy smiled as she thought all about it.

"Sure we did, if you can call working a difficult case and nearly dying several times in the process a date," she said in response as they began walking to the door

Both she and Nick had a good laugh about this as they exited his office. Nick told Finnick and Vixey where he was going, and then they left the office, heading out for Judy's car. Getting in, starting up the car and taking off, Judy and Nick continued to talk.

"So, where have you been these last three weeks?" Nick asked.

Judy smiled and sighed.

"In Bunnyburrow, working for my parents. I have thought about you a lot all this time. I have even been dreaming about you," she told him.

Nick turned upon hearing that.

"Hmm, I have been having dreams about you too," he told her.

Judy was really thinking about it now. To her, it was just interesting that both she and her boyfriend, in the three weeks that they spent apart, had been dreaming dreams about one another.

"Well, if that isn't a sign that we were made for each other, I don't know what is," she said.

A small laugh rose up from both of them. It was then that Nick looked out the window and saw Duke at a table selling illegal merchandise on the street side. He smiled.

"Ok, I found him!" he said.

Judy stopped the car and the two got out. Approaching Duke's table, they could see what the weasal criminal was selling: bootlegs of films by Walt Disneigh Animation Studios that were currently in the theater, such as Meowana. Nick took a step forward.

"Hey, Duke. What illegal, one step short of prison items do you have today?" he said teasingly.

Duke frowned as Judy stood next to Nick.

"Shouldn't you be out searching for something, and if it isn't flopsy the copsy," he said by way of insulting them both.

Nick and Judy didn't respond, but then got down to business.

"Look, Duke, we know that you were stealing those flower bulbs, and that they were night howlers. I discovered that night howlers are causing the predators to go savage. I need to know who you were planning on giving those bulbs to," Judy said.

Duke frowned.

"I'm not talking!" he said.

Nick and Judy both looked at each other, then back at Duke.

"Oh, gee, I hope that Mr. Big never finds out that you were responsible for the near-death of his daughter," Judy stated.

Duke's eyes filled with fear.

"Please, don't let him know where I am, or take me to him! He doesn't like me, on account of me giving him that very expensive rug that turned out to be made from the fur of a skunk's butt. He said that he'd ice me if he ever saw me again," he said.

Judy shook her head in disgust.

"All right, Duke, come with us. If you're not going to talk to us, maybe you will talk to Mr. Big," she told him.

Duke tried to run, but he was caught and stuffed in the back of Judy's car, restrained by the seat belts. They drove to Tundratown and went to Mr. Big's house. Outside, the Polar bear guard looked at them.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

Judy smiled.

"We found the weasel who nearly killed Fru Fru," she said.

Before long, Duke found himself before Mr. Big, held over the icing pit. Mr. Big, now knowing that it was Duke who had nearly caused Fru Fru's death in Little Rodentia, was loathe to be merciful. Duke began pleading.

"Mr. Big, please! I am sorry about the rug! I can replace it!" he said.

Mr. Big sighed.

"You are back here again, even after what you caused to happen with my daughter. I have no choice. Either tell them what they want to know, or I will ice you!" he stated.

Duke frowned.

"Why are you helping them?! She's a cop, and he's a detective working for the cops! You're crazy, old shrew!" he said.

Judy shook her head.

"Ex cop. I left the force," she said.

Mr. Big nodded to Fru Fru, who had recently learned that she was pregnant.

"They are also the godparents to my unborn grandchild," he added.

Fru Fru was glowing with joy.

"If it's a boy, I am going to name him Nick, and if it is a girl, I am going to name her Judy!" she said excitedly.

That made Judy smile.

"Aww," she said.

Mr. Big had had enough.

"It's enough that I have to suffer your presence, weasel. Now, tell Nick and Judy what you know, or you will be iced, and nothing will save you this time!" he said.

Duke knew that he had lost.

"Fine. I'll talk. When the bunny caught me, I was taking those bulbs to a ram named Doug. We have a dropoff point at the old subway station entrance in Savanna Central. He takes them and does something to them, I don't know what. Just a warning, though. Doug isn't friendly. He's the opposite of friendly. He's unfriendly!" he said.

Nick and Judy had had enough of the weasel. They turned to leave.

"Thank you, sir. Congratulations on the baby, Fru Fru," Judy said.

After that, Nick and Judy took off for Savanna Central. As they drove, Nick was feeling an old, basic instinct: the urge to protect one's mate. Despite the fact that they were only dating, they had a relationship stronger than most couples did, based as it was on their shared experiences three weeks ago. Nick looked at her.

"Honeybuns, remember, I will protect you with everything I have," he told her.

Judy smiled.

"I can look out for myself, but thank you," she said, so in love with him.

Nick shook his head.

"Very well, but, remember, I want to feel like a hero too sometimes," he replied.

Finally, after a long while, they arrived at the entrance. Going down the stairs, they saw an old train car. Cautiously, they entered the car. Inside, they found a hydroponic lab where the flowers were being grown. All around that was equipment, probably used to make stuff from the flowers. Nick and Judy began to look around. Nick found a case containing a gun.

"Well, this must be how they are doing it," Nick said.

Judy nodded. However, the door suddenly opened and a large ram in a yellow chemist's suit entered. Upon seeing him, she knew that this must be Doug, and, more terrifyingly, that he was the reporter that had asked her the question that started all the chaos and protests. His question had been loaded. She had been set up! They watched as he began using one of the flowers to produce a small, paint ball like pellet and loading it into a gun similar to the one in the case. Suddenly, his phone rang. He picked it up.

"Hello?" he asked.

A conversation began in which whoever was one the other end ordered Doug to go and shoot the pellet at a cheetah in Sahara Square. When the unkown caller expressed doubt, Doug mentioned that he had hit an otter through the window of a moving car. For Judy, everything suddenly clicked. Doug had shot both Otterton and Manchas. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Doug! Open up! We have your latte!" a male voice said.

Doug turned around, still on the phone.

"All right, I have to go. Woolter and Jesse are back. I will call you when I get the job done," he said before hanging on.

Judy decided that they needed to get out. She saw that one of the other rams, now inside, was very close to spotting her and Nick, so she slipped out and gave him a sudden, hard kick to the back. He flew into the other rams, spilling Doug's latte. Judy then locked the train door, sealing them all inside.

"Nick, grab the case. We need to get this to the ZPD, all of it!" she said.

As the rams began to come to, Judy began fiddling with the train machinery and controls. Without warning, it began to move. By now, the rams had noticed them, and tried to attack them. Nick drew his gun.

"Keep your filthy hooves off my girlfriend!" he shouted, firing it, the bullet taking out a window.

What ensued was a huge chase: the rams attempting to grab hold of them, Nick and Judy getting away and so on. However, it finally came to an end when the train began to catch fire from derailing. The night howlers began to burn. Nick and Judy dove out of it, as did the rams, who fled, as the train exploded violently. Judy was horrified.

"It's gone, no!" she said.

Nick brought out the case.

"No, it's not," he replied.

Judy hugged him. They then took off running.

"Oh, Nick! Come on, let's get this to the ZPD. Cut through the Natural History Museum!" she said.

The two of them did exactly that. Heading for a back exit, the ZPD was just right there. However, they were stopped in their tracks by a female voice. They turned to see Bellwether standing there.

"Judy! Oh, you did such a great job!" she said.

Judy smiled.

"Mayor Bellwether! We found out what is happening. Someone is turning...." she began.

Suddenly, Doug and the other rams appeared. Only then did things begin to click in both Nick and Judy's minds: Bellwether was the mastermind behind this entire thing! Judy looked at her fox boyfriend.

"Run! Get the case to Bogo! She is behind all this!" she said.

Nick and Judy both ran toward the doors, the rams pursuing them. All the while, Bellwether tried to convince Judy to join her side. The bunny refused, making Bellwether all the angrier. The rams began to catch up. Nick turned and demonstrated the extent of his karate skills, leaving each of the rams laying beaten and bruised on the hard marble floor of the museum. Judy and Nick saw the door ahead. They bolted for it. However, Judy ran a tad too fast and tripped, sending her painfully to the ground. Nick rushed to her side and held her protectively. Bellwether approached.

"Impressive. You figured out that I was the mastermind behind this. Well, I have more to confess," she said with a wicked smile.

Judy took out her carrot pen, held it out of view, and began recording. Bellwether began to admit an even bigger surprise.

"I am one of the leaders for the Syndicate crime organization, the head of the Meadowlands chapter. Yet, they still disrespect me, so I thought I'd get into power in the city, cause a crisis, and take over all of Zootopia. The savage thing was a step to doing all of that. If I have to, I will dart every predator in Zootopia to stay where I am!" she said.

Judy gave a playful smile as she stopped recording. She then played the recording back, holding up the pen, shocking and angering Bellwether. Bellwether then got an idea, something truly horrible.

"Ah, Judy. Now you know too much. I can't have you giving all this information to Chief Bogo," she said.

Judy narrowed her eyes as that sneaky sheep took the gun from the case and cocked it.

"What are you going to do, kill me?" she asked.

Bellwether laughed again as she raised the gun.

"No, don't be silly. He is!" she said and fired.

The pellet struck Nick's neck. He flopped over and began to shake. When he finally lifted up his head, he was snarling viciously. He was now savage. However, one thing remained dominant in his mind when he looked at Judy for a moment: protect my mate. Nick got up onto all fours. However, instead of killing Judy like he was supposed to, he turned his attention onto Bellwether. He began moving forward, snarling with predatory ferocity. Bellwether became legitimately afraid as Nick continued his pursuit of her. Judy called the ZPD, asking for them to get Chief Bogo to come and explaining to say that she had found the suspect and gotten a confession. Nick continued to pursue Bellwether, with the sheep whimpering and pleading. One wouldn't suspect that she was a powerful crime boss right now. Just when she thought that the fox was going to pounce and kill her, he suddenly stopped, smiled and stood up. Bellwether was shocked. Nick had faked going savage. He laughed at her as she frowned.

"What happened?!" she demanded.

Nick sighed and held up the night howler pellet.

"Ah, are you looking for this? Well, what you have in the gun are blueberries from my snack pack. You shot me with fruit. How pathetic," he said, holding her wrists to keep her from escaping.

Bellwether knew that she was beaten

"Oh, mutton chops," she said.

Just then, Bogo and his officers entered the museum. Judy played the recording for them. Bogo turned to Bellwether.

"Ok, miss Syndicate boss, you are under arrest," he said, putting her in handcuffs as the other cops arrested the rams, who Nick pointed out and explained.

They then began to drag her out. Bogo looked at Judy as he passed.

"Come. We have much to discuss," he said to her.

Judy nodded as he left. Judy then turned to Nick.

"Well, my magnificent, sexy hunk of a fox, we won the day!" she said.

Nick nodded and then dipped Judy and gave her the deepest, most passionate kiss he could muster. The two, for just an instant, even lapped at each other's lips with their tongues, making it even more enjoyable. When it was over, Nick smiled.

"Judy, may I carry you back to the police station? I would love to do it when we're not in a life or death struggle," he said.

Judy nodded.

"Go ahead, sparky," she said.

Nick picked up Judy and carried her back to the police station, where Chief Bogo awaited them. With him was Katrina Antlerton and her news crew. He smiled, one of the few times she had ever seen him do it.

"Well done, Judy. You overcame all those challenges and helped put an end to our crisis. On behalf of the ZPD, I would like to offer you a place on the force once again," he said.

Judy sighed. Her mind was made up.

"With all due respect, sir, I have decided not to come back. Rather, I am going to go with my handsome boyfriend, Nick, or as I also now like to call him, the great fox detective, and become his assistant. I am going to join him at Foxwood Detective Agency," she said.

Bogo was surprised, but understood. Judy gave a small interview with Katrina for the nightly news, which would be, of course, anchored by Peter Moosebridge and Fabienne Growley, and then they left. Nick first took Nick to get her bag, and then to retreive her car. However, Judy realized that she needed to handle her living situation. She no longer had her apartment. Nick called up his parents, who invited him and her to discuss it. Nick gave her directions to his home. She used her phone GPS to find it. Once there, after some talking with Robin and Marian, as well as Levi and Lotta, who were present at the time with Vixey, it was decided that Judy would be Vixey's roommate at Levi and Lotta's house, with Judy paying her rent through helping around the house. Vixey was excited to make a new friend, and Robin and Marian were thrilled to know that Nick had someone to call his own. Judy called her parents that first night, and they were happy and excited to meet Nick. They also agreed to send the rest of Judy's clothes and things. Vixey was thrilled.

"We're going to get along great," she said to the doe.

By the next day, thanks to Peter, Fabienne and Katrina's news casts, Nick and Judy were the heroes of Zootopia, and everything began to go back to normal, with everyone living side by side again. The savage mammals were cured and returned to their families. Days after that, King Mufasa judged the case of Bellwether and Lionheart, with Bellwether getting life without the possiblity of parole, while Lionheart got a year in prison. As well, King Mufasa decreed that Night howlers were illegal to posess or grow in every part of the kingdom due to this incident. Mammals could be fined severely if they were caught with them. Months began to pass as Nick and Judy dated, and the chaos in Zootopia ended. Judy began her training in the detective arts, donning a black, tight-fitting, leather catsuit, similar to the one Marian had worn in her detective days, as her primary outfit. Nick loved it. It showed the beauty of her body. One day, once Judy had officially begun, she went to him to remind him of a matter.

"Don't forget, handsome, that we have a big engagement tonight," she said with a flirty look.

Nick nodded.

"Gazelle's concert. I wouldn't forget it for the all the riches in Zootopia," he said.

Judy batted her eyes, then headed for the door. Along the way, she wiggled her little tail to draw attention to her hips and butt. It worked. Nick was smiling in delight.

"Oh...honeybuns," he said.

The concert that Gazelle threw that night was the biggest of her career. When she came out on stage, she did one thing first.

"Good evening, Zootopia! Put your paws and hooves up! But, first, I want to give a shout out to the two heroes in our midst, Nick Wilde and his bunny girlfriend Judy Hopps!" she shouted into the microphone.

As all of Zootopia cheered, Gazelle began to sing the song that had made her famous, Try Everything, as she performed her equally famous bellydancing. Nick and Judy danced together along with others, including Robin and Marian, Bogo, Clawhauser and Rebekah, Kion and Fuli, and many others.

"I'd love to learn to dance like her," Judy said.

Nick loved the idea.

"Well, I do know her. Let's try to ask her after the show," he said.

Nick then kissed Judy proudly. Feeling inspired, Robin did the same to Marian, followed in short order by the other couples. After the show, Nick and Judy took pictures with Gazelle, and Gazelle agreed to teach bellydancing to Judy. On December 10th that year, Nick proposed to Judy, and she said yes. Wedding plans were made. Then, on May 19th the following year, it was time. Nick and Judy's wedding day came. It was a beautiful affair held at Zootopia's biggest, most beautiful and historical church. They said their vows and kissed. Nick wore a very handsome black tux, while Judy wore a gorgeous white dress and a crown of red flowers on her head along with her veil. At the reception, Nick and Judy's wedding cake had been made by Gideon Grey, who was there with Belle. Bogo and other ZPD officers, even the ones who had mocked Judy, had been invited. Gazelle sang at the party. Nick and Judy had their first dance. Stu and Bonnie, who had now moved to Zootopia with the rest of their children, got emotional. The first predator/prey marriage was off to a great start.

"I love you, honeybuns," Nick said.

Judy hugged him.

"I love you too, sparky," she replied.

When the party wound down, Nick and Judy left for their honeymoon at Wild Times Resort. When they returned, they would be moving into a large new apartment in the Savanna Heights complex. Little did they know that new challenges and dangers awaited them soon. For now, however, they just enjoyed being the first couple of their kind in Zootopia, a city of mystery and romance.