To A New Future
Several months later...
Nick settled in on his newly bought couch that resided in his newly bought house. It resided in a predominant prey neighborhood but that didn't matter now. Within their first week of moving in, they'd been greeted with a welcome basket. Nick would go out and get the paper in the morning and wave to Bert, the giraffe, who lived next door. On more than a few occasions, he'd been called next door to help Mrs. Waterson, the elderly beaver, move some heavy boxes.
Life was certainly better than it was. Mr. Bart made good on his promise, when he died, Nick inherited a lot of money. The fox didn't keep it all, though, he kept just enough to buy a house and furnish it. The rest of it was divided up between his friends. With the true purpose of Wilde Times being exposed, it was no longer needed. Nick gave it to his friend Hexter Boggs, who now ran it as a business for both prey and predators who wanted to let their inner cub come out to play.
When he looked over at his wife, he saw their baby feverishly sucking at a nipple. The small thing took after him more than his mother. A little undersized at birth but healthy all the same. The muddled amber fur was lost to splotches of gray. Large rounded ears, much to big for her head, flapped around, still unable to control them very well. The fox tail was unmistakable, big and luxurious just like his.
“Take a picture, it'll last longer.”
Nick looked up, noticing that Honey had caught him staring. “Sorry, I was just thinking, I'll have what Molly's having there.”
“Maybe later, if your good, Daddy.”
Nick's tail bristled. “You're too good to me, babe.”
“...today is the press conference being held by Mayors Bellwether and Lionheart. They will be addressing Zootopian with a purposed plan to help integrate predators into higher stake careers. Most companies have already adopted this but now it will be made mandatory to give predators a fair chance at equal employment.” The goat new caster bleated.
“Also coming up on the hour, Zootopia's resident hero. Officer Judy Hopps is taking an extended leave of absence from the ZPD. She wasn't inclined to comment but in recent days, she's been seen around town sporting a very lovely engagement ring. Is that wedding bells I hear?” The female deer giggled, flapping her ears around as if she were listening for the imaginary bells.
“Dr. Bartrand Bouncer is slated to appeal to the city council to establish a new hospital. The hospital will be for low-income families of both prey and predator upbringings. That's really sweet of him. I for one wouldn't mind voting a big old yes on that.” The goat flipped a few papers around. “Alright, we're going to send you over to our very own Greg Fangmeyer, with sports. Let it be known that this is the first time a predator has been selected to be part of our news team and boy we couldn't be happier. Greg!”
“Thank you so much, Devon. I couldn't be happier to be a part of the family. Big news for the all bunny team Borough Beserkers, their coach Walter Rabbiton has signed a three-year deal with Eli Finnick, the first all pro predator baseball player. Finnick really showed his stuff during the pre-season practice session leading to him being signed. Walter had this to say...”
An older looking bunny gentleman smooth down his whiskers. “Eli's a good kid and we're really excited to see what he can do out there. He's a natural, fast on his feet, and to see him swing that bat, it was like he was born with it in his hands. That fox shows a lot of heart out there, he'll be a good addition to my team.”
When Eli Showed up on the screen, Nick clapped and pointed excitedly. “Well,” Finnick's deep voice rumbled. “It's always been a dream of mine to play baseball. Lord knows that it's about time it happened too. Other mammals ask me if I'm upset about playing on an all bunny team. I tell no because these guys are some of the best ballplayers I've ever seen. I'm proud to stand with them. Can I say just one more thing? I love you, mama, I made it!”
“Eli Finnick, it's good to see you out there sporting orange. I'm Greg Fangmeyer and this was the sports.” Fangmeyer smiled widely before it cut back to the goat who was chewing on the corner of his stack of papers.
“Sorry folks had something in my teeth. We're going to send you over to Renee Sparkles with the weather report while I take care of this.”
The sweet looking Shetland pony stood by, adjusting her pink skirt. “Oh Zootopian, you're in for a treat today. The weather outside is gorgeous. We're looking at a nice seventy-eight-degree weather with highs of eighty-one and the lows of seventy. Sunny with only a slight breeze, if you're not outside then you're missing out. Unfortu-”
Honey pushed the power button on the remote and turned to look at Nick. “We should take Molly to the park. It's so beautiful out. It would be nice to get some sun before it rains all weekend.”
Honey was lightly patting her baby on the back bringing out a loud burp that caused Nick to chuckle. “She takes after me.”
“Nah, that was a mama burp, if I ever heard one.”
Nick got up from the couch stretching to his full length before scratching at the white fur on his tummy. “Man, they weren't kidding. It sure is a pretty day.”
“Yep. Here take your daughter, so I can put this misshapen thing I call a boob away.”
Nick swept in and took the small cub in his arms. “What? No, they look beautiful.”
“You have to say that if you ever want to play with them again.”
Nick leaned close planting a kiss on the top of her head. “I would say it, even if you told me I could never see them again.”
“That's sweet of you.”
“Of course, if that were the case, I might have to get a side female to help me through the dry spell.”
Honey giggled. “That was less sweet of you.”
“I know, I spoil you.” Nick gave her a playful wink, before helping her to her feet.
***
The park was full of mammals, both preds, and prey alike. They seemed to exist together like it was natural. Honey walked hand in hand with Nick, little Molly swaddled tightly in a chest harness, sleeping under her big brimmed hat. It was magical seeing everything unfold around them. A large tiger helping an old bunny get comfortable on a bench. A cheetah climbing a tree to free a goat's kite from its branches. A wolf diving for a Frisbee thrown by a gazelle. Everyone existing in harmony.
Not that it was perfect, though, there were still the looks. The ones that were blatant and couldn't be missed and the ones that were so slight they could be easily be dismissed. Whispers of how scandalous it was to have a pred without a collar. Or how against the great order it was to see a sheep playing with a wolf. When that thought became too much for Nick, he would lift the small pink hat and look at the tiny sleeping cub nestled between Honey's breasts. So warm and peaceful, Molly was one of the true reason why things were they way they were.
“It'll never be perfect...” Honey said as if she were reading his mind.
“Nope, but it's already better than it was. Ain't that right, baby girl?”
Molly's only response was a wide muzzled yawn that made both Nick and Honey laugh. Their cub settled back in for a little more sleep. Nick let that hat slip down over her head so she could get some peace and quiet.
“One day, this will all be behind us and Zootopia will be a much better place.” Honey smiled up at Nick.
“I think it already is. See, look over there...”
Nick pointed across the park to where Judy was sitting on a red gingham blanket. Gideon lay out with his head on her thigh while she ran her fingers back between his ears. Judy leaned down to plant a soft peck on the fox's lips. The sight brought a smile to Nick's face.
Honey gasped putting on a fake debutante voice. “The gall of that prey...hooking up with a predator, well I never.”
“The audacity...” Nick grumbled in his best upper-class tone.
“Nah, you guys. I think it's kinda cute.” Benny walked past them, arm in arm with the rather large cape buffalo, Nick remember him from the rally, but couldn't quite place his name.
“Seems like you nabbed yourself a bit of prey.” Nick laughed.
The cape buffalo stopped and glared at Nick. “Let me make on thing perfectly clear, fox...I hunted him.” Then he turned and sauntered off to catch up to the heavy-set cheetah.
“Huh? Who'd thunk it?” Nick rubbed the back of his neck.
“I don't know, but who do you think the top is.”
“What? Ew....I mean it would be gross to think that Benny could top anything.”
Honey giggled and rested her head on Nick's shoulder as they continued their walk. When they came around the hill, they saw Finnick walking hand in hand with his mother, a very old Fennec fox who'd seen some pretty terrible things. She wore a pretty purple scarf to cover up the fact that the fur on her neck still hadn't grown back yet. Nick doubted it ever would since she'd been wearing the collar for so long. Behind the pair were twenty smaller Fennec's, all younger than Finnick but the resemblance was uncanny. Nick knew that Finnick had three brothers and two sisters. It must have been Finnick's day to babysit all of his sibling's kids. Not far from the flock of Fennec foxes, lounging in the grass was Lavender and Pearl. They were sharing a drink and talking to one another.
“Are you crying?” Honey asked.
Nick whipped around to look at her before wiping his eyes. “No...what? You now I...it's just allergies.”
It was at that moment, Nick realized, there were tears in his eyes. They were running down his cheeks, falling onto his yellow flowery shirt. Despite the tears, he had a smile on his face. Things had never been this good before. It almost seemed like a dream, it was beautiful.
“Foxes...you're so emotional.” Honey pressed a kiss to his cheek as they walked over to a nice patch of grass to hunker down and relax in the sun.
