The Incredible, Vettable Bunny

The Incredible, Vettable Bunny

Chapter 1: Worker Bunny

They needed a vacation. It wasn't like Officer Judy Hopps to think that way. She loved her job, and she took it very seriously; she didn't feel it was right to take off unless there was a good reason for it. Like holidays, or sick days (but only for something severe, like the flu). Still, she couldn't deny it was time.

As it was, Nick had been begging for her (or, more accurately, them) to take one for months. His pleas had ranged from the guilt-trip worthy (“All I want is to spend some quality time with my favorite bunny...is that too much to ask?!”) to kit-like petulance (“Pleeeeeeease, Carrots?!”) until finally she relented, agreeing to at least ask Chief Bogo if he would consider granting them time off.

Judy had been pleasantly surprised when Bogo green-lighted the request. Moreover, she'd been secretly excited, by the thought of a break...In fact, more so than she cared to admit.

Many a morning Clawhauser would come into work bragging about his daily hobnobbing at L&P. If there was one thing about her job that annoyed Judy (besides parking duty, of course), it was the lack of time to spend with her friends. Now that vacation was finally here, she was more than ready to remedy that.

Chapter 2: Friends of a Fluffle

Sitting around a table at L&P, with Nick on her left, Sam on her right, and Herb and Hannah rounding out the group, Judy knew she'd made the right decision. At the moment, Hannah had the floor. “I'm really glad you decided to do this, Judy. You earned it.”

“Ouch.” Hannah laughed.

“You, too, Nick. C'mon, this is me you're talking to. The ZPD saved my tail!” The hare didn't discuss her accident often, but when she did, it was always with reverence for the officers who rescued her.

“Do you remember their names? Anyone we know?” Nick's playful expression was replaced with genuine curiosity and caring. Hannah shook her head.

“I don't,” she answered sadly. “Just that there was a leopard, and a...deer, I think. A moose, maybe?” Frustration marred her features; at length she sighed in defeat. “Hold that thought, huh? It might come back to me.” Herb smiled in understanding.

“That was obviously a tough day for you—being so overwhelmed, it's no wonder you can't remember it all.”

As conversation around her resumed, Hannah considered the case Herb had made in an effort to console her. It was true...she'd been devastated that day, and although she'd long since grown accustomed to her wheels, she'd made quick work of forgetting the event itself.

It was so sweet of Herb to soothe her like that. She hadn't known she needed comfort until Herb reached out; he had a knack for doing just that, exactly when she needed it. Sometimes, it felt like she'd known him her whole life…

Chapter 3: Rabbit on the Rebound

Hannah's account had jogged Judy's own memory. “About—three months, I guess—into Herb's tenure as chief, we had an evacuation drill.”

“Oh, yeah…!” Nick interjected. “That was one crazy day.”

“You should talk, Slick! Anyway...I'd sprained my ankle during a takedown the week before. I took the elevator to the second floor for—something—and then the drill starts up. As far as I knew, I was the only one up there. Meanwhile, my partner was out on a Snarlbucks run. The alarm was starting to give me a headache. To be honest, I panicked a little.”

“Then I see Herb and Grizzoli show up with the emergency medical chair. I tried to get in it myself, but I was a little shaky, so Herb gave me a boost. Then they hefted me up and out of there. My eyes were closed the whole time. When we got outside, Nick was there, Snarlbucks and all. He had the decency to look worried, but I think he was just jealous.”

Upon hearing of Nick's reaction, Hannah laughed out loud. Nick wasted no time retaliating.

“Are you part seal?” Hoping she'd shut her muzzle at that, he wasn't expecting a retort.

“1/4 on my father's side.” She said it with a 'so there' smile.

“So your laugh is actually your 'seal' of approval?” Hannah groaned at the joke, and Nick decided he'd be better off saving face with someone else. “At least I brought you coffee, Carrots.”

“That's true.” She smiled adoringly at him. “And you were happy to see me. Maybe Grizzoli was having a bad day, but when I thanked him and he said 'don't mention it', I'm pretty sure he meant literally.”

“What did Herb say?” Hannah wanted to know.

“He said, 'Always ready at your service, madam'!” As the two does rhapsodized about the honorable horse and his rescue mission, Sam only scoffed.

“Typical.” But everyone knew that her display of derision was really delight in disguise.

Chapter 4: Horsing Around

“Why bother with the risky stuff, Herb? I mean, that was just a drill, but why join the ZPD in the first place?” The Mayor regarded him quizzically.

“Why did you join, Nicholas?”

“Way to play the authority card, buddy.” But his voice quickly lost its usual sarcastic edge. “For me, it's an extension of the Scouts. That, and...I would follow this bunny anywhere.” He reached out to lovingly caress the fur between Judy's ears. She hummed happily, leaning into his touch.

“Good answer.” So saying, Herb stole a sidelong glance at Sam, who smiled in return. “I've always felt that I could be of more use to the city by being out in it, not stuck behind a desk somewhere. But in the aftermath of the nighthowler debacle, I wondered if I might be wrong. As you know, I do as much community outreach as I can. There, I'm in my element.”

“That, my friend, is my 'official' answer. Unofficially, it's—to quote a favorite song of mine-- “'Try Everything'.” Nick's jaw dropped.

“You like bunnygum pop?!” Hannah piped up, eager to put in her two cents.

“I know how you feel. Gazelle really gets on my nerves, but...bunnygum pop isn't just for bunnies, you know.” Nick nodded numbly; the shock had yet to fade from his face. Herb sat calmly, watching this exchange, his expression devoid of judgment.

“For what it's worth, I was referring mostly to the message, though the music's not bad. Either way, Hannah has an excellent point.”

The hare could hardly contain her happiness. As she basked in the compliment, a memory suddenly struck her. Practically bouncing in her seat, she beamed at Herb.

“It was you!” At this pronouncement, all eyes were on her. “Even before we officially met on my first day, I had a feeling I knew you from somewhere. You've been so good to me. L&P is definitely one of my favorite gigs ever...I owe a lot of that to you.” Following the flurry of words and emotions, Hannah paused to gather her thoughts.

After the initial shock wore off, Hannah noted that neither Judy and Nick nor Sam seemed surprised in the least. The same couldn't be said of Herb, who appeared astonished. No one said a word for several minutes. At length, Herb spoke; his voice broke as he implored, “It's coming back to me now, b-but I'm s-so s-sorry…!”

“What for?!” Hannah blurted, baffled.

“That I d-didn't recognize you,” he sniffed.

“That doesn't matter! I have one of those faces...” she shrugged, smiling in self-deprecation. With a sigh, Herb composed himself.

“I remember that day well. I retired about a month after that, but I thought about you often and wondered how you were holding up.”

“Don't that beat all!” Nick joked, but Judy was sure she'd heard his breath hitch.

“Are you crying?” she asked him, her tone equal parts compassion and disbelief.

“Nope. Just—got something in my eye.” He swiped at it hastily with the back of his paw. Judy sighed, exasperated.

“You foxy fibber, you!” Everyone laughed—even Nick.

Chapter 5: A Good Sam-aritan

“I'm so glad we got to do this today!” Hannah smiled as she looked around the table at her friends. But her gaze kept going back to Herb. Then, without taking her eyes off him, her next words were spoken with shy deliberation. “Could I have a hug?”

“Of course you can.” Never one to squander sentiments, Hannah didn't hesitate.

“You guys just gave me a great idea.” Sam told the group. “Who here of the family Leporidae thinks Herb should be an honorary bunny?” She herself was the first to put up a paw. Judy was next.

“I agree.” For the second time that day, Hannah couldn't sit still.

“Me, too!”

“It's unanimous, then.” Dashing over to a display of baguettes, freshly baked and wrapped that morning, she soon returned, wielding one as though it were a sword. “It's about time I contribute to this city. I've been biding my time, waiting for the right project to come along; I think I've found it.” She whispered something to Herb, who then joined her beside the table, kneeling, as the others looked on, puzzled. Sam kept going.

“Rabbits and their ancestors have long been viewed as weak, effusive creatures unworthy of fair treatment. But we are merely aware of our own vulnerability, cognizant of the vast array of thoughts and emotions experienced by each and every one of our compatriots, regardless of their species.” Hannah and Judy cheered Sam's impromptu speech, while Nick offered a short but sincere glove clap.

“In conclusion, as my first official solo act as First Lady of Zootopia, I hereby award Mayor Herb H. Horse the distinction of inaugural Honorary Bunny.” Briefly holding the baguette aloft above each of Herb's shoulders in turn, as though to knight him, Sam's mind wandered, back to their first meeting in an elevator all those years ago. He was now, in a way, a knight after all, and she was proud to be the one to do the honors.

Chapter 6: Everybunny Has a Story

Once all the fanfare was finished, Sam found herself eager to work out the details. “I'll start an intiative,” she declared, and set about plucking a pen from her apron pocket and scribbling on a napkin. “I'll call it...Everybunny Has a Story.”

“Catchy,” Nick commended.

“That's not all, Slick!” Judy chided him. “Yes, it will give bunnies a platform, but it will also highlight what everyone has in common. What was once pejorative will become a source of strength...for all of us.” Nick marveled, as he often did, at her poise and eloquence.

But Nick was still Nick. “What about me?!” he whined. Judy just shook her head in irritation, ignoring him.

“Your time will come, I'm sure.” Herb smiled encouragingly. “I don't doubt that you're more than capable of earning it.”

“Listen to the premier Honorary Bunny,” Hannah advised, grinning. Looking up from her blueprints, Sam laughed.

“Actually, I just made an addendum especially for you, Nick.” His ears perked up.

“You don't say?” he pressed, though he knew she was trying to hustle him.

“Yes, sir. Article 1.2. You have to marry one before you can be considered.” Nick's smile, smug at first, gradually grew more exultant as he contemplated his answer.

“I'm getting there,” he winked.