"International Relations: A Zootopia Fanfic" Chapter 1
Zootopia fanfic
Hi everybody! This is the first story I've ever done, and I'm excited to share it with all of you! This Zootopia fanfic takes place in a sort of alternate version of the Earth we all live in, with the city of Zootopia being located in North America (I don't believe they ever really explain the name of the world the movie takes place in, nor did they share the names of any continents and such). This is a project I've been passionate about, so please give any feedback that may help me bring a better story for chapter 2. So enjoy, and thank you for reading!
Prologue
It had been about a year since the news had come. Every news station around the world was covering the story about the mysterious new continent found south-east of Asia and the odd species that lived there called "humans." The introduction to this new land which the humans called "Australia" was a relatively smooth affair, with great curiousity being displayed by both sides about everything from religion, philosophy and government to technology, art and entertainment. But while the dicovery of a new continent was more of a novelty to the animal world, for the humans and the rest of Australia, it was an introduction to a massive world they had never dreamed of. And while many people were anxious or even fearful to learn of their new animal neighbors, some met the news with an enthusiasm that went beyond curiousity.
Chapter 1: Contact
"Eric? Where is your mind right now?"
"Eh? Oh... Sorry, Samuel. I was spacing out there," I sighed, slumping into the couch. "What were you saying?"
"I was asking how your week went." He reminded, twidling with his pen.
"Right, right..." I said while stroking my beard. "It was the same ol' same ol', really. Playing games on my phone, watching old movies, yadda yadda yadda."
Samuel began skimming his clipboard of notes as he sipped coffee from the same old mug he'd had since our first counseling session. "And what about the exercise you had started? You were jogging at the local park, eh?"
"Not as much as I was. Haven't felt like it for the most part."
"Depression can really drain you of energy," he said understandingly. "But one of the best ways of improving your mood and generating energy is by getting out and being active, counter-intuitive as that sounds. Your brain will start producing endorphins that-"
"You're such a cliché therapist," I interupted with mock annoyance.
"I try," he grinned. "But why don't you tell me what's really on your mind? Is it about the foxes?"
"I'm sure you're tired of hearing about it at this point." I groaned while pushing myself upright.
"Not at all," he assured me.
"Well, did you see the fox they interviewed on the channel 4 news last night? That journalist just... Had a conversation with him. It was like... I dunno, I just wish it was normal for that kind of exchange... Just a conversation... Like it was the most natural, routine thing in the world. Part of everyday life... I mean, maybe it's like that now, since the immigrations started, but..." I trailed off, unsure of how to articulate my thoughts.
"What would you say if you had the chance to talk with one?" Asked Samuel while leaning forward in his chair. "Pretend that you're meeting a fox for the first time. What's the first thing that you'd want to express?"
I hesitated, not sure if I trusted him with my innermost feelings. It frustrated me not being able to be free about the whole subject. "I don't know. I couldn't say what I really wanted to say. He'd think I was a freak, just like the rest of humanity. Not like I could just explain that I was obsessed with foxes and was interested in... You know..."
"Sex?"
"Not just sex!" I corrected defensively. "A relationship. He'd get weirded out and then not only would I be alone, but I'd also have to deal with rejection. That's too painful to think about."
"But you're in pain already." He observed with a note of concern in his voice. He was right, of course. Maybe it really was time to do something about it.
We sat in silence for what seemed like a solid minute before Samuel spoke up. "You know, it occurs to me that you might not be the only one dealing with this."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, what if there's a fox that feels this way about humans?"
Was that possible? Could there really be a fox out there like that? And if there was, how in the world could I possibly find one? It's not like a human can just walk up to a fox and ask if he's attracted to humans.
"How on earth would I find a fox like that?"
"Well, I have an online network of therapists that can get in touch with each other and make queries. Maybe there's a fox talking about the same thing with a therapist overseas. Or even over here in one of the animal neighborhoods. And now that we're connected to the rest of the world I could cast a pretty big net."
It was like someone set a firecracker off in my brain. "Y-yeah! That's a great idea! Please do that. I mean, that would be just... I mean, what if... That could change my life... I just..." I broke off mid-stammer as Samuel started laughing. "What are you laughing at?" I asked indignantly.
When he composed himself he explained "I'm sorry, it's just that it couldn't be more obvious that we have a plan. I haven't seen you so animated before."
"Hell yes it's a plan," I laughed. "Don't forget," I pointed in playful sternness.
"Deal. Now, I want you to get back to jogging as your homework," he said as we both rose to our feet.
"I can do that," I agreed.
"Good. I'll see you next week, Eric," he said jovially as he shook my hand.
"You too, and thank you for doing this, really," I said as I made my way out the door.
Just 4 days later I woke up to find a voicemail from the counseling office. "Eric, it's Samuel. I'm calling to let you know that I got a hit from the online network I was telling you about. Call me when you get the chance and I'll get back with you on my lunch break."
We got in touch later in the day and arranged a counseling meeting in which we would have a video chat in Samuel's office with a fox named Nicholas Wilde and his counselor. I was disappointed to learn that Nicholas lived in North America, but the odds that he lived here, I reminded myself, were very low. His species wasn't native to Australia, after all.
After getting off the phone I immediately called my best friend, Calvin, to tell him the news. Pacing quickly throughout my apartment, I blurted my excitement and nervousness about the impending virtual meeting.
"What do I even say to him, man? Can this be anything but awkward?" I asked, knowing that Calvin probably had less of a clue about the answer than I did.
"Alright, let's just calm down for a second. You're (naturally) going to be nervous about this because it's something you've wanted for so long. And I know you want it to go well. But you have, if you don't mind me saying so, a tendency to...let's say 'overthink' these things," he said in an obviously delicate way.
"I'll concede to that," I said with a laugh.
"So just calm down and gather your thoughts, but don't stress about it. Nicholas is probably just as nervous about this as you are, so you're on even footing here."
I sighed as I booted up my computer, lost in thought. It was hard to imagine a fox being uneasy about anything. Every one of them that I had seen absolutely radiated self confidence. It was a trait I envied, and at the same time found maddening. How could anyone be so amazingly secure in themselves?
"Eric?"
I jumped as the deep thought I had fallen into was interrupted, knocking a cup full of pencils and pens off my computer desk.
"Calvin! Shit, I forgot you were there..."
"Are you okay? What was that?"
"Yeah, yeah... I just dropped something. As for whether I'm okay... I'll let you know after the talk with Nicholas," I said while gathering the mess I'd made back into the cup.
"Alright spaz, I'm gonna let you go before you break something. Give me a call if you need to talk more. You know I'm here for you."
"Thanks, man. Seeya soon."
I hung up with a greater easiness in my heart about the whole matter, and decided to kill some time watching silly internet videos and playing games on my phone until late in the night. And as I brushed my teeth and climbed into bed, I decided that things were going to work out, one way or the other.
All in all, it had been a very good day.