The Cankered Carrot Caper

A Zootopia Story

Judy Hopps inhaled the wonderful aroma of her mother's delicious chunky carrot stew. She held her spoon halfway between her plate and her mouth, savouring the scent with anticipation before finally taking a spoonful of rich homemade food.

Suppertime was always a happy occasion for the Hopps family. It was a brisk autumn evening in mid-October. There was a sharp nip in the air, the pumpkins were ripe and fat and apples weighed down the branches of their trees. Everyone was warm and cosy inside their lovely home, enjoying mother's hearty meal after a long day working on the farm.

"You've really outdone yourself, mom," said Judy, beaming at her mother from across the table as she took another spoonful of stew.

"You're too kind, sweetheart," said Bonnie Hopps with a motherly smile.

"So, how are things in the big ol' city, Jude?" asked Judy's father, Stuart Hopps.

"Same old same old, it's been quiet for the most part," said Judy. "We have a new friend in the Forensics Department. The coyote girl that we helped in August, remember?"

"Oh yes, during that incident with that crazy hypnotist and her cohort," said Bonnie.

"Yup," said Judy. "Her name is Amber. She's very sweet. And she's a total Nick Wilde fangirl," she added giggling. "I wouldn't be surprised if she owned his body pillow."

"What's a body pillow?" asked Stu.

"Oh, um... er..." Judy hesitated awkwardly.

"Mommy, can I have seconds?" piped up Judy's little sister, Bianca.

"Sure, honey," said Bonnie, taking her daughter's plate.

"That's my little girl," said Stu, giving Bianca a pat on the head. "A healthy appetite will give you lots of strength to help mommy and daddy on the farm."

"And if you have any doubts, just look at daddy," said Bonnie, giving her husband a playful smile.

Judy smiled, feeling a surge of love towards her dear family.

"So, what's a body pillow, Jude?" asked Stu, turning to her.

"Oh... ermmm..."

RIIIINNG! Their doorbell rang all of a sudden.

"I'll get it," said Stu, getting up from the table.

"Whew!" thought Judy. "Saved by the bell."

As Stu went to answer the door, Judy enjoyed the rest of her supper.

"So, I bet Nick is just tingling to come over for Christmas, isn't he, dear?" asked Bonnie, returning with Bianca's plate.

"Oh, he won't talk about anything else during break time," said Judy giggling. "He's getting a ten day leave, starting this Saturday and ending next Monday. Fortunately, it will coincide with the last week of mine. Then we're back on duty on the 31st, for the Halloween patrol."

"Your father is counting the hours, dear," said Bonnie. "He can't wait until Saturday to pick up Nick and tell him all about his cribbage night with the old boys."

"Oh, pops," said Judy with a fond smile. "If someone had told me a year ago that he'd be chumming with a fox like they'd been friends all their lives, I'd tell them to lay off the strong cheese."

Bonnie giggled as she sipped some of her homemade carrot juice.

"Bucks," she said. "They're just overgrown kittens, all of them."

Suddenly, Judy's phone rang. And the ringtone couldn't have been more telling of who was calling.

"Oh where o where can my baaaby beee...!"

"And speaking of overgrown kits," said Bonnie with a knowing smile.

"Uh, sorry. I gotta take this call," said Judy, blushing pink.

"I'm sure you do," said Bonnie with a teasing smile and wink.

"Excuse me for a sec," said Judy, getting up.

"Tee-hee," said Maggie, one of Judy's little sisters, "Judy's boyfwiend is calling her! Smoochie, smoochie! Mwah mwah mwaah!"

All her little sisters giggled. Judy smiled and giggled along as she got up from the table and answered.

"Hey there, handsome!" she said.

"How's my little carrot muffin?" said Nick's voice.

"Great! We're just finishing supper. How's things on your end?" asked Judy as she walked into the hallway and to the living room.

"Just fine. Tomorrow is normal routine, and then Saturday is the day."

"That it is," said Judy excitedly. "Oh, sweetheart, I can't wait! And neither can anybody else, for that matter. Mother's had the guest room prepared for a week, and goes in every day to touch up some little details. I hope you like petunias, by the way."

"Love 'em."

"And Dad's just itching to play cards with you. It'll be so great! A weekend of family fun and relaxation."

"That it will be, my love," said Nick.

Judy walked into the living room, but realised it was occupied. Stu was sitting on the sofa talking with Judy's uncle, Terry. His face was grave.

"Sorry," mouthed Judy as she walked out and went to her room instead.

"So Wolford and Fangmeyer have this new thing going on," said Nick's voice. "And apparently I'm a part of it too. It's kinda hard to explain over the phone, you'll have to see it in person. And Clawhauser thinks we should make it into the official victory chant of the department. I needn't tell you what Bogo thinks."

"I imagine it's something along the lines of 'Grow up, the lot of you' or something to that effect," laughed Judy.

She listened to Nick laughing on the other end. Her dear fox's laughter was music to her ears. It made her smile happily as she imagined him sitting in his living room in joggers and a t-shirt, relaxing and enjoying the conversation.

"Well, Carrots, I should get some grub in my gizzard and hit the keyboard. Gotta get a report finished for tomorrow before I hit the hay," said Nick's voice.

"Okay, sweetheart," said Judy. "You have a good day tomorrow, you hear?"

"Will do," said Nick. "And I'll have an even better day after tomorrow."

"I bet you will," cooed Judy. "Kiss kiss. Mwah!"

"Mwah!"

And they hung up.

Judy walked back to the living room to say hello to her uncle, but suddenly, she heard him talking and stopped in the corridor, listening.

"...I had everything tied in this year's crops," said her uncle in a low voice. "I don't know what I'm gonna tell Daisy..."

"You're not gonna tell her anything she doesn't need to know, Terry," said Stu. "Now go ahead, take it. Just pay your debt and we'll figure something out."

"Much obliged, Stu," said Uncle Terry. "I don't know what I'd do..."

"Now, don't you mention it, Terry. That's what family is for. Say hello to Daisy and the kids for us."

"I will," said Uncle Terry. "Thank you, thank you so much."

Judy walked into the room, pretending she didn't hear anything, smiling.

"Hi Uncle Terry!" said Judy happily.

"Hiya Judy!" said her uncle, his face unreadable. "Um, say hello to Bonnie for me."

"I will," said Judy, wondering why he didn't say hello to her himself.

"Uncle Terry was just leaving," said Stu. "Come on, I'll walk you to the door."

As the door closed and Stu returned to the living room, Judy looked puzzled.

"What's wrong with Uncle Terry?"

"Black rot. Ruined the whole crop," said Stu gravely. "He had everything tied in this year's harvest, and he couldn't pay the bank. So I lent him the money."

"Awww, daddy, that's so nice of you," said Judy, putting her arm around Stu's shoulder.

"Well, it's the right good thing to do, I reckon," said Stu. "But I've never heard of selective black rot before. Usually it wipes out the whole valley when it comes around, like it did in '67."

"Yeah," said Judy, thinking of it. "Yeah, that is weird."

"PUT THE CHILD DOWN!" shouted the voice of Chief Bogo into the megaphone. "TAKING A HOSTAGE WILL ONLY MAKE THINGS WORSE FOR YOU."

The patrol cars were all parked in front of the building, forming a corral. All the officers had stun guns in their paws, but the safety on them was switched on. Against the wall of the building, a large warehouse, a bespectacled goat was holding a small leopard child in his arm and pointing a taser at her head. The child was crying for her mother, who was behind the police barrier, beside herself with desperation.

"PLEASE! DON'T HURT MY BABY!" cried the mother leopard with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"MR CAPRI, YOU ARE SURROUNDED!" shouted Bogo. "LET THE CHILD GO AND TURN YOURSELF IN."

"I ain't letting go of anything, copper!" shouted the goat. "Not until Cosgrove let's go of some checks!"

"MR CAPRI, WE KNOW YOU ARE UPSET YOU WERE LAID OFF," said Bogo, trying to sound understanding. "BUT WE CAN SOLVE THIS IN A PEACEFUL WAY. VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER."

"You think I'm joking, copper?!" shouted the goat, turning the safety off on his stun gun. It made the familiar whirring sound of charging and everyone gasped.

"ALRIGHT, MR CAPRI," said Bogo and put down the megaphone. "You don't have to do this. We can talk this out."

"Drop the weapons, all of

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