In the Depths of Despair
Zeerox is no longer a threat to the Zootopians thanks to a small genius. He is flying back to Gryphonia as a different kind of animal whose mind has been set free from control and now he has one last task to undertake before his fate is decided.
Blake's last phone call with his love Regina made her anxious about her dear fox and for that a series of desperate events will be triggered. She is still in the hospital with her sons, currently having a difficult conversation with them, especially with Rudolph who is now awake and is on his way to recovery fast.
They are sitting next to his bed...
Rudolph: Mom, you promised you'd stay with me here for as long as necessary. Why is it that hard to keep a promise to your son? Just tell me what happened. I am ready to hear it. Why do you need to leave so abruptly?
Regina: Something happened to your dad. I have to check up on him. I know I said I would stay here with you for as long as possible, my little napkin, but your dad might be in serious danger and he needs my help.
Rudolph: What?! Please, just tell me I am just under the effects of anesthesia and perceiving this situation badly. I am just delirious, right? RIGHT?!
Cosmo: Bro, they didn't put you asleep and operate you. This is the real world. Your senses are working properly.
Rudolph: You knew about this?
Cosmo: She told me about what happened to dad outside while the docs were examining you.
Regina: Forgive me Rud, who would have thought this would unfold all of a sudden...
Rudolph: Why can't we be just like other families. This is...not fair.
He tears up...
Regina: No no no! Don't cry sunshine! I know this is a heavy cross to bear, but what really matters the most is that our family knows no hatred, only love. And for that we always fight....
Cosmo: Oh don't you weep like that because your crying makes you look twice as cute. Oh and...mom is right! We fight for our family, we fight for our happiness because there's always something to live for, it's not always about misery. We have to have high hopes for our future and I believe this is easily achievable when we are together.
Regina: Cosmo you said that marvelously!
Cosmo: My heart speaks solemnly mom.
Regina: I can see that!
Rudolph: Will I ever see you two again?
Regina: Who? Me and dad? OF COURSE! As you may know, me and your dad have been through hell together before. This is nothing new for us. Hey...look in my eyes....I am going to set things right for us all! Should I fall into danger, I will fight like a beast because I got someone endearing and beautiful to live for.
Cosmo: There's nothing more important than family.
Regina: Truer words have never been spoken!
Rudolph: Do your absolute best mom!
Regina: I am going to move heaven and earth to be back with your father!
And then, the door opens and Regina's sister, Claire walks in. She has curly hair and wears a big smile on her face, happy to see her nephews.
Cosmo: Here comes mom's cue to go and look for your dad now.
Claire: There are my little cuddly cute nephews! Awww...Rudie! How are you feeling?
Rudolph: Anxious, just...anxious!
Claire: Why is that? Is it because I just came to take care of you two little cookies?!
Cosmo: Claire, we are not little anymore, okay maybe my bro is to some extent...
Rudolph: HEY!
Claire: I am sorry that I still labor under the delusion of you being little. You're just so irresistibly cute and you'll forever be my little nephews no matter how old you are.
Regina: Sis....you know what your new responsibility is right? I called you because you are the only dependable person and my sister whom I will always have faith in. Take care of my boys while I am gone.
Claire: You now I never disappoint! I am going to get my divine broadsword and wings to turn myself into a guardian angel!
Cosmo: Your precious imaginary broadsword and wings?
Claire: Hah, Cosmo knows my idiosyncratic games...
Rudolph: She will always be a kid inside. I like her.
Claire: Awww!!!
Regina: Claire please...don't be so excessively comical, not now. There's something serious going on right now somewhere out there. Act your age and look after my kids in a serious manner okay?!
Claire: What do you think I am here for? To let my immature sense of humor freely flow? Definitely not sis....you go do what needs to be done. Blake's sudden disappearance is quite worrying....
Regina: Cosmo...Rud....see you soon!
Cosmo: Stay strong mom and good luck!
Rudolph: I'll be waiting for you at home whenever they finally release me from this woeful place.
Regina stops for a moment to give Claire a warning....
Regina: Claire, do not under any circumstances take them home. It's not safe there.
Claire: I am not stupid. I will give them the comfort and safety they need at my house.
Regina: That's the sister I need. You do want to have your own children too after all. Now you can experience being a mother yourself.
Claire: This babysitting process will be a cakewalk.
Cosmo: C'mon now, babysitting? I can't fathom you at all. You are the craziest aunt in the world....
Claire: You mean, your only auntie?
Rudolph: I am itching to go to Aunt Claire's house for the best cookies!
Claire: Awww, you see Regina, these two jellybeans love me. They are in great care!
Regina: Hmmm....there's no way in hell your cookies are better than mine.
Claire: We can throw a cookie making competition one day together.
Regina: Funny. Is that a challenge? I have to leave now. Blake needs me...
Claire: Sis....shouldn't we call the police?
Regina: No....we must not involve the police. They will not be able to help me with this. I am afraid this is more than just your casual kidnaper and there's more than just one person behind it. I'll have to tackle this myself...
Claire: Just don't die okay?
Rudolph: Aunt Claire, death is not her answer to this troubling situation...
Claire: I know Rudie....I am just perturbed for real now. I still get nightmares about Operation Thunderbolt....but I know your mommy more than anyone else in the world, she will not give in and do everything she can to bring whoever is responsible for this to justice.
Regina: I'll be back with dad in no time. Love you all!
She proceeds to kiss their sons, hug her sister and then she goes for the door, once she steps outside Cosmo runs after her....
Cosmo: Mom, wait!!!
Regina: Yes hun?
Cosmo: Mom, be extremely careful. I know you don't want me to come with you in order to make certain I won't get hurt. But just remember we all need you and I can't imagine losing you and....
She pets his head to comfort him....
Regina: I'll return, alive and with your dad. I promise! Stay with your brother at all times and be obedient okay?
Cosmo: I will, you got my word mom!
She gets a strong hug from him. She wraps her arms around him tight as well rubbing his back softly before releasing him and walking away down the hallway. She leaves the hospital and goes to her car. Before she enters her car, she overhears a group of teenagers talk about the recent shocking events that occurred at one of Zootopia's foundries. Then she decides to gather some info about it.
Regina: Guys! I apologize for interrupting your conversation but may I know what happened at the foundry?
Antelope Teen: Come and have a look! This is so much fun!
He shows Regina a viral video uploaded to PawTube where someone captured a raw video of Zack and Zeerox amidst their battle.
Regina: I have to stick my oar in and say this isn't NOT fun or compelling in any way.
She instantly recognized Zack in the video. She doesn't comment about it though...
Porcupine Teen: Did he hurt your feelings with that? You don't know what fun is like!
Weasel Teen: That red fox in the background is probably no longer someone who would live the other day after that.
Blake is visible in the background, trying to help Zack....
Regina: BLAKE!!!
Weasel Teen: Yo, you recognize him?
Antelope Teen: Guys, what if this is only a video someone made for our entertainment?
Everybody supports the antelope's idea as they all start to believe that this is all unreal and it was only created by a professional PawTuber.
Porcupine Teen: Yeah, this is far too good to be real. Whoever made this video has some really nice video editing skills!
Weasel Teen: Let's like his content and post supportive comments under his video then! This is nuts!!!
Regina: You think this is fake and those animals in it all are actors of fictitious characters? You should all stop being so gullible and naive and start living in reality. End of conversation!!!!
She walks away from the group both fed up and sad at the same time. She gets in her car and takes some time to think about her next move....
Regina: Stupid kids, they take everything so lightly. What am I going to do now?
She pulls out her phone and checks her phone call history. She tries to call Blake again....
Regina: Please...answer me.
There's only beeping sounds heard, no real answer from her fox. Then she gives up trying to call him....
Regina: This is not going to work....unless.....
She's holding her phone in her shaky paws as she navigates to an app which was created by Gyzmoo himself. The app serves for tracking down mobile phones with extreme precision. She types in Blake's phone number and lets the app locate Blake's phone. In just a few short seconds, she gets a positive result as the map on the screen shows that Blake's phone is located at their home.
Regina: He...got back home? Why isn't he answering me? He must have escaped and returned back home. I'm coming Blake!
She starts her car and heads home hoping to find his love.
About thirty minutes later. She arrives home and the first thing she sees is the missing entrance door, an opened garage and a quite big mess inside.
Regina: Oh no...
She hurries inside with extreme caution....
Regina: Blake? What happened here?
She looks around the living room scared stiff....
Regina: This is just what I feared about....
Then she finds Blake's phone on the kitchen counter which has mysteriously made its way back here. She picks it up....
Regina: Where are you Blake?
She grabs a kitchen knife in case she gets attacked...
Regina: Please....if anyone is in this house, say something!
She starts walking around the living room, stepping over various items and furniture...
Regina: This is going to take ages to clean. Enough of this silence! If anyone unbidden is still present in this house, just show yourself and let's get this over with!
Upon investigating the ground floor and finding nobody, she walks upstairs slowly, holding the knife in her paw firmly as her heart pounds hard in her chest. She checks the rooms upstairs, opening every door, searching for any signs of her love and possible threats. The last door she opens is her sons' room. Everything upstairs remained untouched including Rudolph and Cosmo's room....
Regina: Oh boys...I really miss seeing you here....
After searching every room in the house, her hope of finding Blake fades. She comes downstairs and sits on the couch which is one of the few things that are still intact in the living room. Regina's heart becomes cold and empty because of losing track of her fox....
Regina: What am I going to do now? He's gone....I have failed him...
She leans forward and puts her paws on her face, ending up in tears....
Troublesome times for the Thunder family. Is it even possible to make things right at this point? Regina has become a weak, despairing mother and partner, lost in a sea of mixed emotions.