Reborn: Zootopia Mini-series

Hi everyone, my name is Matt. No not Matthew, just Matt. It isn't my real name, but my online friends have called me that so many times it stuck. Anyways, I'm 17, my birthday is in August, and I live in Concord, North Carolina. I was originally raised in Greensboro, South Carolina, but recent situations caused us to move up here. I actually like it. Nice neighborhood, nice town, everything a high school could dream of. Oh, and I also have a car. Its a Subaru Impreza I got from my mom's boyfriend's ex-wife that is manual shift, and handles like a dream. Now, you may be wondering why I'm telling you this. Well, all that was taken away from me in a mere 2 seconds on a fateful Sunday.

I was headed home from my girlfriend's house around 6:30 in the evening on March 5th, 2017. We had been hanging around Uptown Charlotte for the day, and I had just dropped her off at her house. On my way back, I noticed I needed some gas for the car. So, I pulled off I-485 at the exit before mine to get some gas at a Shell station. As I pulled up, I noticed the winter/spring sky started becoming mega-cloudy. I had better hurry. Don't want to get home during a rainstorm. As I stepped out of the car, I immediately felt unsafe. The wind was blowing harder than it had earlier, and my gut was telling me that something bad was going to happen, but I ignored it. It felt strange that I was the only one at the pumps right now, but I needed gas for the car so I just ignored it as well. What happened next was something no one could've seen coming.

As I started pumping gas, I heard yelling coming from inside the shop of the station. I thought it was just an angry employee, so again I ignored it. Foolish move on my part. The next thing I know, a large shock-wave erupted from the shop. It happened in slow motion, and there was nothing I could do. The blast was from an overpowered pipe bomb someone had exploded. The shock-wave blew out horizontally, flipping everything in it's path, including my car. When the blast hit my car, I had been right next to it. The force of the blast flipped my car on top of me and the connected gas pump, and everything went black. Soon after, the whole gas station exploded, and the plot of area for the station was filled on fire. I learned that last part from the being I met next, since the car landed on my chest and skull killing me instantly.

The next thing I saw, well didn't see, was pitch black. Huh, so this is what death looks and feels like. If I was dead, then I literally lost everything. Then, like a wrecking ball to the feels, everything hit me. I fell to the 'ground' crying, and just overall blubbering. My girlfriend, my mom, my brother, everyone/everything I knew and loved was just taken away from me. I was an emotional wreck, and never noticed the figure standing 2 feet in front of me. "Child, please, stand up and dry your eyes." I was so startled, I think I let out a bit of a girly yelp. But per his request, I eventually stood up and by now was sniffling. I looked at the being in front of my, but did not speak. "Ah, I see. You have been taught some well manners. What is your name? It would be improper of me to keep calling you Child." I looked at it's face and said "M-my name is Matt, sir." I hadn't meant to use that name, but when it came out of my mouth it felt more natural than my birth name. He chuckled, then said "Well then Matt, I know of what happened to you. You were killed by a domestic terrorist, and as much as I want, the next events in your world cannot be stopped. To this extent, you were killed unfairly before your time. I would like to offer you a new life to live in a new world." I was shaken. Not only had someone from my own country bombed a gas station, but from what he said, things in my old life were about to get really bad. Shakily, I asked, "Could...um...you show me the aftermath please?" He sighed, but nodded an agreement. Suddenly, a blue glow emanated from his hand, showing what the gas station looked like after the explosion.

I finally had enough. "I'll take the deal." He smiled, or at least I think he did, and nodded. "Alright then. Before you go, I must ask you two things. What is your spirit animal? Also, what would you like to keep from your world?" I thought for a bit, then said, "My animal is an arctic fox, and I would like to keep my phone and earbuds with all my music." After a moment, he nodded. "Well then, I hope you make your life the most in this world." With a blinding flash, he disappeared and left me in darkness again. Not long after, I felt unconsciousness seeping through my body, and soon I was out cold. It was time to start my new life.

The next sensations I noticed were pleasant. I heard birds chirping elegant songs, felt warming sun rays on face, as well as grass poking me. I opened my eyes and was immediately blinded by the sunlight. Okay, maybe not the best idea. I rolled over on my side, then opened my eyes again, this time without blinding myself. I took a moment to analyze my surroundings, and give myself time to adjust to the sunlight. I suddenly remembered what I had asked for, and began searching my pockets. I looked down at what I was wearing, and realized a few things. One, I was wearing the same clothes I had on when I died which was a red t-shirt, blue jeans, and a gray hoodie. Two, I had snow white fur with the exception of my paws, which were light red. Three, I had no clue where I was. The first two points didn't unnerve me since I had just been talking with, I think, Death. Finally finding my phone, the left pocket of my blue jeans, and took it out. The brand had changed. It was now an L.P. G4 and not an L.G. G4. Turning it on, I noticed nothing visually different. The lock screen and background were the same, but upon investigating further, I found that most of my contacts were gone. Well, all except one, which I decided to test.

It didn't go through, because as soon as my phone connected to the proper signals, the phone said "We're sorry. The number you have dialed has been disconnected. Please try again later. Goodbye." Okay, so maybe that one was supposed to be deleted, but wasn't for some reason. I decided to put it behind me and investigate where I was. I seemed to wake up on a thin patch of moss in some weird clearing. I hadn't noticed, but I was surrounded by trees. So to pass the time, I decided to put on some of my music. Spotify had changed to Songify, as well as a lot of the artist's names. Skrillex, Twenty One Pilots, and Keys 'n Krates hadn't changed either, but everything else changed. Still, the music itself only had minor lyric changes. I was so absorbed in my music and looking around, I didn't hear the extremely loud grandfather clock sound. Suddenly, it started raining, and it was freezing cold. The cold water stunned me for a bit, but I eventually made it to a platform. It was still raining when I noticed what looked a gondola coming toward the platform, and as soon as it got here I hopped on.

During the ride, I checked to see where I was. Apparently I woke up in the Rainforest District. The ride itself took about 20 minutes, but I finally arrived in the main district: Savannah Central. I arrived at Zootopia Central Station, the main train station in all of Zootopia. I saw Zootopia before I died, so I knew what was what and where everything from the movie was relative to certain places from the movie. Opening the Zootopia version of Instagram and pointed it at myself, back to the trains and tracks underneath. I snapped a quick photo and moved to get in the city, while posting that photo.

As I left the station, I took a left, hoping to find some food. I remembered that foxes were omnivores, so took out my wallet, which was in my right pants pocket, and counted $12. The currency was different here as well. It was zoollars instead of dollars. Anyways, it was enough for a small basket of strawberries from the farmers market at the next corner. As I approached the corner, still listening to music, I bumped into a mammal. She seemed in a rush, and since we were both on the floor she must've been running. "Oh no, I'm so sorry ma'am. I wasn't paying attention. I could've moved if I wasn't so absorbed." She was a gazelle, and looked like she was nervous. "Oh, it's okay. I just had a small hiccup today," He voice seemed familiar, but I couldn't place it. "I didn't mean to run into you, I just..um.." It finally click, I knew who she was. "Um, you wouldn't happen to be Gazelle would you?" I asked in a calm voice. I could tell she trying to have a calm day out on the town. Nothing flashy, like in the movie, but plain clothes. The only give away was her accent, and the tigers hanging back a few yards looking directly at me. Her eyes widened in horror, and I quickly tried to recover. "Oh no, it's okay. I won't tell anyone you were here. I promise." I continued in a low voice, "It must be hard to enjoy a simple day out on the town without anyone noticing you." She calmed down slightly and nodded. I sighed, and said "I will tell no one I saw you here. You have my word, because even a pop star needs some time away from show biz." I went to leave, but she grabbed my arm. "Thank you. Um, could I maybe get your number? It would be nice to have someone to talk to." I was surprised. Not even 4 hours into this world, and I was getting a girl's number. I just hoped my phone number from Earth still worked. "Yeah, sure. It's 704-355-2188. I know, weird number, but it should work. Oh, and my name is Matt. Matt Growler" I could see her hooves move as she added my number and send a test message to me. My phone lit up with a notification, and confirmed my suspicions about my phone number. I immediately saved her contact info, then gave her a small nod of farewell, and as I left I subtly said to the waiting tigers, "You guys are doing a great job." It might've seemed weird, or creepy, but I mean't it in a good way.

I still had a few hours of daylight, and I finally made my way to the farmer's market. I walked around the stalls, looking at everything the local farms had to offer. I was always vigilant for a booth that had fresh strawberries, but after a couple of hours I could find none, so I left in a hurry. As I exited the lot, I was grabbed on my right shoulder by a pair of hooves. The hooves forced my behind a small concrete barrier, before I felt something metal hit me at the base of my skull, knocking me out.

When I came to, I had to use my night vision to see where I was. At once, I wished I didn't. I was in the trunk of a car, and I've seen enough movies to know that waking up in the back of a car means death in the near future. I tried moving, only to find my paws tied up. I groaned, which received a chuckle from the back seat, and someone saying "Hey, looks like he's up. Just in time too." After a minute or two, the ride gets allot bumpier. I guess they were pulling off the road. I hear the engine cut, and I knew it meant trouble for me. I heard doors open then close and pawsteps getting louder as they went to the trunk to get me. Suddenly, the trunk is thrown open, blinding me with the sunlight, and before I can get used to the light they drag me out of the car.

I was thrown on the ground, which seemed to be harder than dirt, probably clay, and it took a minute for my eyes to adjust to the light. Once I was able to see the mammals who kitnapped me, I felt confident enough to speak, trying my hand at being Nick, even though I had never met him. "So, what brings you boys out here to see me? Or are you just gonna leave an oddly colored arctic fox like me alone?" Their only reaction to that was a kick to my stomach, while the other's laughed at my pain. "Okay, I see how it's gonna be. What do you guys want?" I realized that I had to remain confident, because all of the mammals around me were prey, and the one who kicked me was a young bull. Finally, one of them spoke up. "You think you're so smug. Foxes are nothing but trouble. We all saw what you did to that gazelle. You probably stole something from her." No I understood why they abducted me. They were just speciesist towards foxes, only because of their past ancestors. "Okay, let me straighten out two thing. I was distracted when she ran into me, and I apologized like a good mammal would. I also never touched her. Now that that is settled, what is your plan to do with me, since I don't think you teens want to be arrested for murder." I looked at the porcupine to my right, who seemed to waiver the the mention of jail and murder. The bull to my left still remained firmly confident, but so was I. Until he laughed and motioned to the deer buck next to him, who then produced a small syringe of blue liquid. I didn't know what it was, but if it was blue, then I had a guess it was Nighthowler related. I was trying not to break my face, but I guess I did because as the buck got closer to me, the bull started laughing and pointing at me. I couldn't get away from them, I was bound fore and rear paws by zip ties, and I'm pretty sure that stuff in the needle was Nighthowler. The deer was now right next to me, crouching next my left arm, and with a sudden movement jabbed the needle into my arm, releasing it's contents into my bloodstream.

Once the vial was empty, the bull pulled out his cellphone and started dialing a number, but I couldn't understand what he said after, because my body failed at fighting the Nighthowler serum. Within minutes, I lost all higher thought process, and went completely savage. During those minutes, the 4 mammals piled back into the car and were already gone. Nothing looked right, the color of life was gone, replaced by gray and white monochrome color, and any movement caused a black ring around said mammal. I heard police sirens in the background, but couldn't pinpoint it. As it got louder, I found myself heading towards similar sound: Tires. I was near the highway, but I would only learn that later. When I finally got to the road, so did the police sirens. Suddenly, I was scared. I turned tail back the way I came, a bunny and fox chasing after me. After a long cat and mouse game of me running from the mammals chasing me, I finally tired and stopped. Bad idea, because soon those same mammals were upon me. I snarled slightly, and I could hear them talking, but couldn't decipher what was being said. Suddenly, the fox lifts a side arm, and fires something at me. I start feeling heavy, my limbs refuse to move, and my eyes grow heavy. I soon succumb to slumber. Third time today I've seen darkness.

A/N: Yes, I'm starting one of these stories. I hope you all like the first chapter. Little info note: This will be a weekend write. I know I have two other stories and I don't have time for a 3rd, but I thought "Why not have a story like this?" a couple of days ago. Anyways, have a great weekend everyone.

~1's-n-0's