Chapter 1: Beginning of the End
Chapter Text
In less than 24 hours, the city of Zootopia will have never existed. None will remember its towering skyscrapers or flowing aqueducts, vast diverse ecosystems and monumental civic projects. In less than 24 hours, an empty landmass that could have been something great will remain, but nothing else.
Despite this, today was not going to be an exceptional day for many Zootopians. Fears of savage predator attacks or the plots of scheming mayors had all dissipated, leaving room for everyday concerns about being late to work or failing that big exam.
The sky split open as rays of yellow and pink burst through the towering skyscrapers, bouncing from window to window and cascading down into the upper residential zones. Fleets of painted garbage trucks rumbled down the asphalt-paved streets, picked up colored bins from the concrete sidewalk, and dumped them into an oversized compactor. Train and trolley operators clocked in for a day of ferrying city-goers from place to place along the spiderweb of interlocking steel tracks. Watching this civic dance are nocturnal mammals that shuffled home at the end of their night shift like sluggish vampires fleeing the morning sun.
Rows of apartment complexes were stacked in neat rows—some small enough to fit inside elephant-sized microwaves—with address numbers engraved on metal sheets or painted on curbs. Earth-colored bricks and cement walls adorned with rusted fire escapes and dripping rain gutters. One building among dozens in the city center, home to one small unit. A beam of morning light crossed the windowsill to land on a lump in the bed within. A paw slithered free to check the bedside alarm clock moments before it went off.
5:30 AM
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEE-
A waking finger tapped the alarm button, the small mammal leapt out from beneath the covers. A coat hanger drooping under the weight of a ZPD uniform relieved of duty, and a bronze badge placed above the heart. A small tag pinned to the opposite breast reads...
Chapter 2: Hit the Grounds Running
Notes:
Don't worry! I'm not dead! Just excited for Z2 to finally come out!
I hope you enjoy reading this half as much as I enjoy writing it. Last chapter was mainly about setting and characterization, but this one is all about stakes! As always, the link at the end takes you to the entirety of both chapter 1 AND chapter 2! I've made some minor grammar fixes in the previous chapter, along with some additional dialogue.Like always, I am always open to feedback when it comes to grammar or continuity errors, because this fan(game?) fiction deals with branching and converging storylines a lot, so don't hesitate to leave a comment! I just ask that people be respectful, as this is my first attempt at storytelling like this.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Nick twisted the ZPD walkie-talkie’s switch, listening to the static for a moment before hooking it into his belt. A pair of small pawcuffs followed, and after checking his tranq pistol, he holstered it.
Another day I hope to never use th-OW! He recoiled as his partner shone a flashlight at him.
“Okay, that was uncalled for. What’s the play, Carrots?” Nick said, blinking the spots out of his eyes.
Judy bounced from paw to paw, giving a few cross punches to an invisible opponent.
“We investigate.” She said. “We find out what’s causing those noise complaints. We do such a good job that Bogo puts us on the Baghimand case, and we both get promoted to detective within the week.”
“Of course you’ve planned the whole week out,” Nick said. “Let’s focus on what to do right now, hm?”
“If we split up, we could cover more ground, or I could drag your fuzzy tail around with me.” She said.
“I’ll do the tail dragging for both of us, thank you very much.”
The nervousness melted between them as they shared a laugh, but it was quickly replaced by discomfort. Their eyes landed on the “Nighthowler Response Kit” in the trunk. Neither of them had reason to use it yet, but they had been reminded once today that anything could happen when Nighthowlers were involved. They shared a look, an understanding, a nod, and shut the trunk without taking the kit. They could always return to the cruiser if things got out of hand.
Notes:
See you all post Zootopia 2!
AceFalle on Chapter 1 Mon 06 Oct 2025 01:57PM UTC
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DreadRedDragon on Chapter 1 Mon 06 Oct 2025 02:15PM UTC
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AceFalle on Chapter 1 Mon 06 Oct 2025 04:33PM UTC
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