Disclaimer: I do not own Zootopia or its related characters. All is the property of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Clark Spencer, and Byron Howard. I'm just borrowing them for some non-profit entertainment.

There Can Be Only...

Chapter Seven: Do you Believe in Magic?

A phone rang.

Its LED screen lighting up the table set between the two uncomfortable hotel beds. The bunny reached for it, but the bed was to large for him, and the room's other occupant, a brown bear, had longer arms and got to it first.

"This is Cloudkicker." The bear yawned into the receiver. "Go ahead."

The bunny raised one ear in an attempt to hear the Mammal on the other end. It sounded like one of those recordings they gave when you were being called from a prison phone or similar line that the callie had to give approval of the contact before the call would actually go through. The bear accepted the call.

"Skip, its me." John's voice came across, sounding abrupt and impatient -so, basically, his normal self.

"John?" Skip sat up, turning on a light. "Are you calling from a prison?"

"No. Just holding." The fox informed him. "Are you and Jack done over there? I might need a little back-up. Nicky's being difficult."

At that statement, the bear gave a short, humorless laugh. "And you're surprised by that? You and Nicky haven't gotten along since he was fifteen."

There was a growl of frustration from the other end and John snapped, "Put Jack on the phone!"

The old tod, apparently, didn't have the patience to be reminded that he had trouble relating to his son and their relationship suffered for it. It was easier when Marian was still alive. She could act as a buffer between John and their kit so that Nick didn't realize how emotionally stinted and affectionately distant his father was, and John didn't have to be troubled by the less appealing aspects of parenthood.

All that changed, however, when Nick was twelve and Marian was killed.

Jack crawled to the edge of the bed. The mattress was meant for a Mammal as large as a bear and was easily twelve sizes to large for the bunny buck. He reached a paw out for Skip to pass him the phone. "John, what's going on? What's this about you being in lockup?"

"Not lockup, just holding." Insisted the fox. "Listen, while I'm in here I can't protect Nicky. He's got his friends on him right now, but they don't know what's going on and-" a pause "-I'd also like it if he had a chaperone."

"Chaperone?" The bunny blinked, sure he must have mis-heard. Jack sat up in the over-sized bed, smoothing a paw over his sleep matted stripes. "Someone's trying to kill him and you're worried about him making it to third base with some vixen? Priorities, John."

He might have argued on that point, but phone calls from holding were given only limited time, so instead John said. "I need one of you to keep an eye on Nicky and the other to get me out of here."

Jack groaned, pinching the bridge of his snout. "Skip, what's the earliest you can fly us out? We'll be heading for Zootopia."

"If you don't mind using the Seaduck we can leave as soon as we're packed." The bear supplied. "If you want something faster, it will have to wait until tomorrow. I know a sky-pirate who owes me a favor, but he's not an early riser."

"Alright, John. We're on our way." Jack promised. "Please try and stay out of trouble until we get there."

The bunny hung up.

…

"I'm sorry, Wild thinks he's a fairy now?" Delgato stood next to the chief's desk and crossed his arms over his chest, raising one skeptical eyebrow under his main.

As the investigating officers on the case, they stood in with the chief as Judy gave her oral report -and it was an oral report, no paperwork. Out of respect for her partner, the bunny hadn't written down any part of his statement, and after hearing what the fox had to say, both Delgato and Wolford silently agreed that no paperwork was probably for the best. They didn't need written proof that the ZPD's first fox officer was an embarrassment to the uniform and everyone who wore it.

"No." Judy huffed in exasperation, standing up in the single guest chair to be at a closer level with the lion -she was still a far cry shorter than him anyway. "I'm saying that whoever is trying to kill Nick thinks he's descended from a faerie and that's why they're trying to kill him."

The lion opened his mouth to say something else -most likely another disparaging comment on Nick or about fox spiritual beliefs. But Bogo cut him off before even a word could escape his lips.

"All Mammals have their own spiritual beliefs." The cape buffalo reminded the room. "I grew up hearing tales of Apis, the Bull that served as an intermediary between mortal-Mammals and the all-powerful gods Ptah, Osiris, and Atum. Hopps here has already reminded us of the lore that bunnies are supposedly descended from the moon." Bogo looked up from his desk at Wolford. "Malcolm, I seem to remember you having a bit to much to drink at the Police Ball last year and boring everyone to death about the legend of Fenrisúlfr, the monster wolf that's supposed to bring about Ragnarok. And Delgato-" this time the cape buffalo stood as he glared at the cat "-don't you have a poster of the Nemean Lion in your cubicle?"

The feline officer averted his eyes and muttered under his breath. "Its actually the constellation Leo."

"I don't care if its mother-yiffing Aslan of Narnia!" Bogo roared. "We are a civil institution and as such, we don't get to have an opinion on what other Mammals believe. The only opinion we get to have is how they act on those beliefs. Our perp has chosen attempted murder -that's what I want my officers to focus on."

"Yes, sir." Both wolf and lion straightened.

"Now, on the subject of Wilde's father..." The cape buffalo sighed, sitting down at his desk. He pulled the older fox's file to him. A very thin red folder that contained literally just the paperwork from when he was process and a receipt for all his many and varied knives (if he was ever allowed to retrieve them from the evidence locker). "Wilde arrested him for obstruction on both this case and his mother's cold case. Has he said anything about either case since he was arrested?"

"No." Delgato answered. "And when I did ask a question, he tol me to stick my thumb -somewhere inappropriate- and cry for my mommy."

Bogo groaned again, pinching the bridge of his snout. He was probably wondering just how similar the father was to the son and trying to calculate just how much of a headache it would be trying to get anything useful out of the older tod. "Alright. Wolford, Delgato, stay on the weapon. Wilde said its a crossbow arrow, not a bow arrow. Confirm with the lab and then look into any places that might have sold them within the last six months. Hopps, you have a way with stubborn and obnoxious foxes. See if you can get anything useful out of Wilde's father. Dismissed."

Wolford and Delgato filed out. Judy hopped down from the guest chair she was standing on.

"Just a minute, Hopps." Bogo made her pause. He waited until the door had closed again behind the wolf and lion. "Contrary to what you seem to believe, I don't like surprises, Hopps, and you have a habit of out right shocking me. So I'm going to ask you this outright and I expect a similarly frank and clear answer."

"Chief?" The bunny blinked at him, climbing back into the chair she'd just vacated.

"I've got a fae to deal with. I don't need any other surprises." The buffalo reminded her. But when he said 'fae' he said it in a way that made one think he honestly believe that faerie were real and he wasn't about to doubt Nick's claim of being descended from one. "So, are you a Lunar Rabbit?"

"What?" Judy blinked at him. "Of course not. Lunar Rabbits don't exist. Its just a stupid story."

Bogo held her gaze for a moment longer. My gosh! He was serious! Then the buffalo straightened, clearing his throat as if doing so could clear the awkwardness that had just settled between them. O M Goodness, Chief Bogo believed in faeries, and moon bunnies, and who knew what else.

"Very well, Hopps. Carry on."

"Yes, sir." For a second time she hopped out of the chair and this time left the office for real.

Judy decided not to dwell much on how weird that last question from the chief was. As he just finished telling Wolford and Delgato, they were civil servants. It wasn't her place to have an opinion on what another Mammal believed, just on how they acted on those beliefs. As far as she could tell, Chief Bogo's views did not interfere with him doing his job, she wouldn't let them interfere with her doing hers either.

She went down to holding to find John.

He was in the cell, right where Nick and Delgato left him. Sitting on a cot arguing with the raccoon, Clank, over the spelling of 'through'. One of them insisted it was spelled T-H-R-U, the other was sure it was T-H-R-O-U-G-H. Judy always thought both her correct, just one was worth more points in Scrabble. She coughed conspicuously to get their attention.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I need to speak to this Wilde." She unlocked the gate and motioned for John to come out.

"Its way to early for me to be bailed out." The fox stood, but didn't move to exit the holding cell.

For the first time since he appeared in Nick's apartment the previous night, she actually paid attention to how he moved and the way he distributed his weight when he stood. It wasn't all that different from how she was taught to carry her weight at the police academy -during combat training. Keeping on the balls of your feel, keeping your movements light and fluid. He was always wearing fatigue-style pants under his hooded vest, but she just assumed it was a style. Now Judy was beginning to wonder just what kind of Mammal John really was.

"Its just a few more questions." She assured the fox.

John sat back down. "I have nothing to say until my friends come to bail me out."

Of course he wouldn't talk. From what Nick had told her, a sort of 'secret society' had formed around Robin Hood's descendants and his father was a member of that society. There was no way he was going to tell her anything she didn't already know since she wasn't also a member of the secret. So, she put a patient smile on her face and instead offered. "How about just a few minutes out of this cell?"

"Get out of this cell and, what? Sit in an interrogation room instead?" The old fox did not seem impressed.

Judy debated with herself. Standard ZPD training taught not to share personal information with persons of interest in a case. Empathize with them, yes. But actually share with them, no. However, the ZPD also taught to build trust and Judy was pretty sure there was no way should could build trust with this older and moodier version of Nick unless she shared something of herself. So, the bunny offered John her paw. "Fine then. No questions. How about we just talk. I'll tell you about Nick? Aren't you interested to know how he became a cop?"

John did not have as good a poker face as his son did. He did want to know how Nick became a police officer. A flash of interest streaked across his face. The fox looked back at his cell mate. Clank certainly wasn't very interesting conversation. Might as well learn a bit more about his estranged son.

"Fine, bunny." He growled. "But you're also going to tell me exactly why you marked my son and what your intensions are to him."

She inwardly cringed. Nick asked her -more of less- the same question (though with far less accusation in his tone). Judy imagined that it was question Mammals would continue to ask her until she finally gave a clear and definitive answer. Thankfully, Bogo (her and Nick's supervisor) hadn't asked her about it yet. But then, he was probably practicing off the same order of priorities that she was. Case first, personal relationship between officers later.

Either answer it now or answer it later after the case. One way or another, Judy would have to answer the question of why she marked Nick and what she wanted from him.

Heaving another sigh, the bunny locked the cell back after John and lead the fox down the corridor back to the interrogation rooms.

John sauntered into the room as if he owned it and took the officer's seat, back to the two-way mirror.

Suppressing a sigh, Judy shrugged, closing the door behind them and took the seat meant for the perp. She put a pleasant smile on her face. "What would you like to know, Mr. Wilde?"

He didn't dance around topics for mince words. John just dove right in. "I will not allow you to marry my son." He announced. "In case you didn't know, foxes mate for life and Nick needs to take a mate who can continue his bloodline."

"That would be the Robin Hood bloodline." Judy concluded. "The one you believe to be descended from a fae lord."

The fox was genuinely surprised by that. His green eyes went wide and he blinked across the table at the bunny. "He told you about that? He doesn't tell anyone about that."

Admittedly, Nick only told her any of that because she didn't give him much of a choice. After getting shot right in front of your partner, she's owned some kind of explanation. Never mind the fact that his job may or may not also depend on his cooperation in her questioning. So... yeah. Nick didn't tell her that some believed he was descended from a faerie because he wanted to, he told her because he had to.

But Judy wasn't going to tell John that. "Yes. Nick told me."

The shock and disbelief on the fox's face quickly morphed into concern. Legitimate worry. He glared across the interrogation table at the bunny. "How close are you and Nicky already? He hasn't marked you."

If felt like there was a silent 'yet' after that. It hung in the air between them awkwardly.

Judy coughed.

John lifted an eyebrow at the bunny's clear discomfort. He didn't know which part it was that bothered her more, the fact that Nicky didn't mark her back, or the fact that John was demanding details on the nature of their relationship. The the old tod was disturbed to realize that both filled him with equal worry. Nicky could not mate with a bunny. John wouldn't allow it.

Judy cleared her throat.

"Um, when was the last time you and Nick talked?" She got the distinct impression that they hadn't spoken in a very long time.

John gave her a tight lipped glare.

She rested an elbow on the table, leaning in, one ear flopping over in front of her face. "Mr. Wilde, if you want me to answer any of your questions you have to answer some of mine. When was the last time you and Nick spoke?"

The fox growled. Then, reluctantly, admitted. "We parted ways when Nicky was eighteen. He was legally an adult and didn't want my help anymore. I wrote him a couple letters after that but we really haven't talked since then."

"So then, you don't even know how Nick saved the city." Judy decided to lead with that. Make his son out to be the hero and play on John's pride and vanity. It seemed to work, he looked at her with interest. As she noted before, John's pokerface was no where near as good as Nick's. She could see quite clearly exactly when and how she got to him. "Its actually how he and I met. Would you like to hear the story?"

That look of interest quickly shifted to suspicion. "And what do I have to do for this information you're so ready to volunteer?"

"Who's trying to kill Nick?" The bunny asked outright.

"An archer." The fox answered -it was technically the truth, even if it wasn't the answer the bunny wanted.

"I don't supposed I'm lucky enough that 'Archer' is his name." Judy muttered.

"No. It's not." John agreed. "My turn. How did my Nicky save the city?"

"He and I exposed a conspiracy that was dividing the city." Judy supplied, then without pause pressed on. "Nick says the Mammal who's trying to kill him is doing so because he thinks Nick is part fae, but why would they want to kill a fae."

"You wouldn't understand even if I told you." John assured her.

"Try me." The bunny challenged.

The fox glared at her from across the table. Green eyes hard and skeptical. But he accepted the challenge anyway. "He doesn't want to kill Nicky because Nicky's a fae. He wants to kill Nicky because he wants to become a fae. How did Nicky expose this conspiracy?"

"We tricked the boss into confessing on tape -and in the room full of cops. How will killing Nick turn this other Mammal into a fae?"

John seemed to ignore her question. "That seems awfully lucky, managing to trick the leader of a city-wide conspiracy into just up and confessing their plan. One might even say, uncommonly lucky."

"Well, sure, I guess." Judy shrugged.

Come to think of it, a lot of that last misadventure with the Night Howlers hinged on sheer dumb luck. Just happening to have an established friendship with a crime lord that could coerce Weaselton into talking them what they needed to know, kicking the three rams out of the lab, the disused subway car the lab was in actually being functional, making that turn instead of smacking headlong into the other on-coming train -even if they still did jump the track- Nick managing to save the case with the gun so that not all of the evidence was destroyed, Bogo and the rest of Precent One being drawn by the commotion of the train crash and showing up just in time to hear Bellweather's confession... Yes, it was all very lucky. Absurdly lucky.

Judy liked to think of herself as a mostly rational Mammal. But with all this talk of faerie, and magic, and the paranormal, she just might be willing to be talked into thinking it was some kind of supernatural 'fairy luck' that was helping them the whole time. It was a silly idea and Judy knew it. But with Mammals claiming Nick was some kind of fae prince, it made a strange kind of sense. Judy wasn't about to admit that out loud, of course. She liked having her peers and other Mammals respected her and her opinions.

"Now, how will killing Nick turn this other Mammal into a fae?"

"He thinks the magic will be transferred to him." John finally answered. "Has Nick displayed any other examples of unbelievable luck -or other uncommon talents?"

"Magic? What magic? Nick doesn't have magic." Magic didn't exist -right? For some reason, Judy wasn't quite so sure anymore.

"That's not how we agreed this would work, darlin'." John shook his head. "I already answered your question. Now its my turn. Have there been any other instances of Nick having uncommon luck or impossible talents?"

Judy paused thinking. Now that he put the idea in her head, she was looking back on their adventures together and seriously examining them. She did seem to have an uncommon number of luck breaks when she was with Nick. Most memorable of which was in the Rainforest District and being stopped from falling to their deaths not once, not twice, but three times within the space of two minutes. Conveniently placed vines to swing into from the platform, optimally placed leaved large enough to catch them and slow their fall, and then yet more vines to wined around them and finally halt their fall before they could splat on the pavement. All very lucky.

And that made another thought occur to her. "Hey, Mr. Wilde, Robin Hood is supposed to be Puck, right?"

"You still haven't answered my question, little missy." John growled, beginning to sound annoyed.

"Bear with me for a sec, okay." Judy insisted. "Puck is also called the 'Lord of the Greenwood', right?"

"Yeah..." The fox confirmed slowly.

Now that Judy was seriously thinking about it, that instance in the Rainforest District really was just to damn lucky. What were the chances of Mammals as small as them being caught and their lives saved by foliage, never mind more than once, never mind three times? And wasn't there a thing about threes in faerie mythology too? Judy could barely believe the next words that came out of her mouth, but she was completely serious when she met John's eyes and said, "Actually, I think Nick might have magic. He just doesn't know he has magic."

…