I’m taking a short break from ‘Chaos Lord’ to present something in keeping with the upcoming season.  This story takes place 25 years after the Zootopia movie but is not a sequel to my ‘Shadow War’ stories.  Completely different universe.  It has nothing at all to do with Jorus, Elisa or any other super-powers (ghosts don’t count).  For those of you who are familiar with Borba’s ‘I will survive’ fan comic, yes, this story was inspired by that series.  I call it A Zootopia Carol, part 7.  Previously we found out that Judy Hopps has become police chief and has become rotten.  Then, last night, she was haunted by the ghosts of Bogo, Lionheart, Bellwether and her mother, who showed her the past, present and future.

(The scene opens in the ZPD reception area.  A nearby calendar indicates the day as December 22.  Judy enters the area and walks up to a thin, young cheetah in uniform.)

JUDY:  Clawhauser, I need you to put together a press conference for 11 AM.

CLAWHAUSER:  Yes, Ma’am.  Oh, the officers at the Glade wanted to give you a status report.

JUDY:  Tell them I’ll talk to them this afternoon.  (Walks away.  Mutters to herself.)  Oh, my, this afternoon will be too late.  Sorry, Julian, I guess it slipped my mind.

(Judy then walks into her office and logs into her computer.  She works on it for a bit, then prints something out.  We then see her bring up the police information search database.  She enters the name Nicholas P. Wilde and hits ‘search’.  The database comes back with a link to ‘Wilde Private Detective Agency’.  Judy is stunned for a moment, then does a bit more work to find Nick’s e-mail address.  She brings up the ‘new e-mail message’ screen.  In the subject she types ‘You were right’.  She keeps typing for a while, then mutters ‘…and…send!’ and clicks something.  Then she hears a tapping on her door.)

JUDY:  Come in!

BOB:  (Enters the office, looks nervous)  Excuse me, ma’am, I really hate to bring this up-(Judy takes the paper she printed out before, hops over to Bob and hands it to him)…Uhhh…what’s this?

JUDY:  Your new schedule.

BOB:  (Takes the paper and looks at it)  You’re giving me Christmas and Christmas Eve off!?

JUDY:  Merry Christmas, Bob.

BOB:  But you said-

JUDY:  Pfft!  What do I know?  I’m just a dumb bunnie!  (Pause.  Puts her hand on Bob’s shoulder)  Go, Bob.  Spend Christmas with your wife.  Do it for those of us who wish we still had someone special to spend the holiday with (Gives him a very sad look).

BOB:  …Yes, Ma’am (Confused but leaves with the paper.)

(Next we Judy, without her stars, walking past the big screen outside the train station.)

ANNOUNCER:  The big news today is the surprise resignation of Chief Hopps of the ZPD.  At the press conference announcing her resignation Hopps accepted responsibility for the recent worsening of predator-prey relations, saying the recent hard line taken by police on accused predators was largely to blame and urging a softer approach.  (The picture shifts and we see Judy at the conference.)

JUDY (on the screen):  I forgot that predators are a part of our community too, and put the department’s needs ahead of theirs.  My officers noticed and treated them worse than prey suspects, sometimes even fabricating evidence against them to make the department look good.  That’s my fault, not theirs.

ANNOUNCER:  The city council has been taken by surprise, and some are calling on them to not accept Hopps’ resignation.

(Judy passes the screen into a park, sits on a bench and looks around neutrally.  Bob comes up to her.)

JUDY:  Hello, Bob.  What can I do for you?

BOB:  …I’m curious, Ma’am…what did I say to change your mind?

JUDY:  Nothing.

BOB:  But at the press conference you said-

JUDY:  I said that to help you out with your wife.  I don’t want her thinking you were a part of everything that was going on.  (Notices Bob looking at her strangely.  Sighs)  I was once a lot like you.  Then I got ambitious.  It blinded me.  Made me forget about keeping the people I love.  Forget about being a good officer.  Forget about all the things that are really important.  Don’t make the same mistakes I made.  In the end, earning stars on your uniform just isn’t that important.

(Bob salutes Judy and leaves.  Judy sits alone once more.  Then we hear a honking.  Judy looks over to find a limo with a tiger holding open a door.  Inside, Gazelle, looking very well preserved, is waving at her.  Judy’s eyes grow wide, then she walks into the limo.  The tiger gets in, closes the door and the limo drives away.  The scene shifts inside the limo.)

GAZELLE:  Please don’t leave your post.  Zootopia needs good people like you in charge.  I know you said you made mistakes, but you’re trying to make up for them.

JUDY:  If my replacement is the right person it will send a much more powerful signal for change to the ZPD than anything I could do if I stayed.  No matter what I say, they’re used to me being a certain way.  And being police chief wasn’t good for me.  Made me something I don’t want to be, and I don’t mean prejudiced.  Also…I have connections.  A conflict of interest.  Something that a police chief REALLY shouldn’t have in their background.

GAZELLE:  …What will you do?

JUDY:  …I don’t know…I have to find someplace where I can do some good.

OTTER:  Then maybe you should come work for me.

JUDY:  (Just now notices the otter in the limo with them.  She takes a close look.)  Emmet?

OTTER:  (Chuckles)  No.  I’m his son, Quincy.  I’m twenty-three years old, Miss Judy.  Which means, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here.  (Smiles at Judy.)  We can use someone who knows how to deal with the city government.  Someone whose heart is in the right place.  Someone who wants to improve predator-prey relations.  (Hands Judy a card.)  Think about it.

JUDY:  (Takes the card.  Looks at it.  Looks at Quincy.)  Thank you.

(Next we see the limo drop Judy off in front of her townhouse.  Judy walks up to her door, starts to open it, frowns, then opens it.  Walking into her living room she’s surprised to see Nick Wilde, looking old, wearing a grey private eye overcoat.)

JUDY:  Nick?!?  How did you get in here?!?

NICK:  (Produces a set of keys)  You never changed the locks to this place.  (Pause.)  I saw your message.  I saw you at the press conference and thought…do you want me to leave?

JUDY:  No!!  Stay…

(Nick moves towards Judy.  Judy shrinks back slightly.)

NICK:  (Stops)  I’m getting mixed signals here.

JUDY:  I know.  I’m sorry.  It’s just…I miss you, Nick.  I want…but I’ve said things.  I’ve done things you can’t forgive me for.

NICK:  That wasn’t you, you dumb bunnie.  That was someone else.  You’re Judy Hopps and you’ve been gone a long time.  Welcome back.

(Judy looks at Nick and breaks down in laughter and tears.  Judy walks up and embraces Nick.  Nick returns the embrace.  Then we hear knocking on her door.  Judy answers it to see Fred on her doorstep.)

FRED:  Hello, Jude…I saw you on the TV and…(tries to appear forceful, fails) look here, you need to be with family right now, so you’re coming back with me to the christmas party and that’s that!  (Looks scared.)

JUDY:  …Can I bring a guest?

FRED:  (Relieved)  Why, sure!  Always room for one more!

(The three of them leave.)