Zootopia: Tragic Miracle

Shards Awakening

    It’s about one in the afternoon, and I’ve just come from a series of tests meant to check for anything that could cause problems after I leave the hospital. A few of the tests are probably going to take a few hours to come back, so I’m just supposed to wait until the doctors arrive to give me the news.

    On the way back to my room, I asked one of the nurses if they had any books that could make the time past quicker, and now I’m shifting through a cart of fantasy novels that they brought up into my room. I’ll admit it in a heartbeat that I’m a fantasy nut, so I look through to see if anything’s familiar. Nothing much looks like it’ll be great, but I didn’t really expect to find much. I wonder where the library is in this city, because once I’m moved into the Facility I would really enjoy making a visit.

    Since there’s nothing that really screams “READ ME!” I just pick up a random novel and start reading. The writing’s not too bad, actually. It’s not entirely to my taste, but it’s enough to keep me interested for a decent amount of time. I read books like a fire burns through wood soaked with gasoline, so pretty soon I’m looking for the second in the series. Since it’s not on the cart, I decide to just turn on the news and see what’s going on. It would be better, after all, to be kept up with the current information in the city.

    “Another strange accident has occurred today, just after the former director of the Department of Mammal Transportation stepped down due to numerous operating incidents in the city’s subway system. So far, no one has been critically injured, due to the actions of a few Wanderers who where on board the trains at the time, but authorities are warning against the use of the subway system until the cause of the incidents has been discovered. In the meantime, substitute methods suggested are walking, carpooling, and utilizing the city’s bus system,” the leopard female reporter states.

The other, moose reporter continues, “In related news, the conductor involved in the incident claims to have no memories of the events leading up to the accident, telling police that he blacked out around one minute before the incident took place. This is similar to the other recent subway accidents that have been occurring of late.”

The news shifts to a different section, and I turn off the TV. Strange accidents, huh? Weird.

It’s not long until the nurse enters the room, bringing news of the test results as well as a wheelchair. “Well, you seem to be in good health. We’ve already called the ZPD, and they’re sending a pair of officers to pick you up right now. Now remember, stay off that leg until the cast is off. Are you ready to go?”

I nod, and she helps me into the wheelchair. It takes about 10 minutes for us to travel through the hospital, and out into the cold air of Tundra Town, where a familiar pair of officers are standing by a modified sedan with ZPD printed on its side. It’s not a squad car, so that’s a good sign.

I am relieved that it's these two, rather than other officers. Despite their status as main protagonists in the movie, the personalities they displayed make me much less nervous than the personalities displayed by the other cops. Regardless, I’m still shy.

“H-hi.” I say as the nurse wheels me up to the car. My cheeks are red, partly from my introvert instinct and partly from the cold.

“Hello. So you’re Cody? It’s nice to meet you. I’m Officer Judy Hopps, and this is my partner.” Judy greets me, extending a paw. I shake her hand gently, a shy smile on my face.

Nick shakes my hand as well, “I’m Nicholas Wilde. Are you ready to go?”

I nod, and they get into the car as the nurse helps me in, placing a collapsible wheelchair and  passing a pair of crutches into the seat next to me.. The pair get into their seats, Judy taking the wheel just like in the movie. The sedan is pretty normal on the inside, aside from the police radio mounted on the dash. It’s clearly designed for non-police work, and the seat I’m in is comfortable enough.

“The chief told me you were in a bad accident before you came here,” Nick says as we pull out of the Hospital. “How’re you feeling?”

“Pretty okay. My leg’s sore, but it seems to be doing better than yesterday,” I say. I’m still hurting about what happened, but I don’t show it, at least not verbally.

“I’m sorry about what you went through. Just know that the ZPD is here to help you,” Judy says, picking up on my restrained tone.

I don’t say anything, but thank her in my head.

“Anyways, big guy, we should probably give you a small tour on the way back to the precinct.” Nick says, changing the subject, as well as making me blush. I’m not fat, but I have been told that I look like I could be a football player, which I don’t. “Right now, we’re in Tundra Town. There’s a lot to do here if you’re looking for something snow related, and it’s cold all year long. One of the most popular restaurants around here is Clark Halibuts. They have a buffet every Thursday…”

Nick and Judy take turns talking about the city, until we pass through the tunnel onto the Bridge into Savanna Central. I can see downtown ahead, and it’s breathtaking, the movie didn’t do it justice. But as I look at the city, there’s a massive noise from behind us.

Nick looks in the mirror, and his ears fall behind his head. “Judy, stop the car.”

“I see it!” Judy says, looking back towards what just happened. She pulls over.

I twist my head, and a lump forms in my stomach, as I realize what I’m seeing. A schoolbus has just crashed into the side of the bridge, and is now teetering dangerously towards the water below. Already, larger mammals are getting out of their cars. Two rhinos have their hooves holding the bus, but it’s obvious that the bus is going to fall sooner than later. I can see another mammal helping the children on the bus out, but the rhinos holding the bus are straining just to keep it from falling. With every child that jumps out, they are finding it more and more difficult to hold on, as the bus begins slipping.

As Judy is talking into her police radio, explaining the situation, the lump in my stomach becomes heavier. “It’s not gonna make it.” I interject.

I undo my seatbelt and open the door, grabbing the crutches and opening the car door. “What do you think you’re doing- there’s nothing you can do!” Nick calls to me.

“Hurry up and get back- it’s gonna fall!” I shout. But I’m too late.

The bus creaks, and then slips out of their hands as one of the kids is about to jump out. I hear a scream- and suddenly my crutches are on the ground, and I’m on my knees. My hand is extended towards the bus, and I can feel a tug in my gut, as well as a sense of… something, all around. There’s a bright white light shining all around me.

I look up towards the bus, which is dipped directly towards the water far below. But I can feel them… the kids in the bus. They’re suspended in the air, and none of them are injured. I can’t explain how, but I know. The busdriver is suspended too, but he’s unconscious.

What… is this?

    “Everyone, get back!” I shout, louder this time. The tugging sensation gets stronger as I gently put the kids back in their seats. “I’m going to bring it up back onto the bridge…”

    I think…

    I imagine the bus moving slowly up, angling itself so that it smoothly places itself onto the damaged bridge. To my surprise, and apparently to the other people as well, the bus moves in exactly the way I imagined. Instinctively, I imagine releasing it, and the bus gently lowers itself onto the pavement.

    As I release, I can feel the tugging sensation disappear, and my leg, which was screaming during the whole affair, suddenly dulls. But now my vision is going dark, and it feels like I just stood up too fast.

    “That was awesome, big guy. You Ok?” I hear Nick asking me. I nod, and as I do, I can hear another voice.

    “Thou art I, and I art thou.

    You, who wishes for the power to move the world.

    I, the Shard of Movement, shall grant you the power that exists within thine soul.

    When you have need of the power that slumbers within you,

    Call my name, Motus, and together we shall move mountains.”

    With that, I feel myself slump against the pavement, and I go unconscious.