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Chapter 6 - Judy's Training

Two days had passed since Alex met with Madam Lutra. It was a Saturday morning, and Alex had stayed up till around 2 a.m. He was running around so much lately he didn't have time to play the new games that were released this week. Slumbering peacefully under the covers of his bed, he was finally able to get a restful sleep after this hectic week, or so he thought. A loud knocking soon echoed throughout his apartment. Was someone knocking on his door? The loud noise stirred Alex awake as he checked the time. It was around 7 a.m., way too early to get up on a Saturday, though it was strange for someone to knock on his door. In a sleepy haze, Alex rolled out of bed onto the floor in nothing but his boxers and his black collar, which he was too lazy to take off from yesterday. His fur was a total mess from sleeping. "Coming..." he yawned out loud as he slowly made his way to the door, trying to pry his eyes open. Unlocking the door and wiping his eyes, he looked at his unknown visitor.

"Good morning, Alex!" A happy voice rang out in an over-enthusiastic way.

"G...good morning...wait. That voice... Judy!?" Alex said in shock as he looked down and saw Judy in plain clothes. It looked like she was wearing running gear for some reason, a green tank top and blue sweatpants, along with a water bottle in her paw. The wolf hadn't been this embarrassed in a while. He was nearly naked right in front of someone he was just getting to know. Letting out a small yell, he slammed the door and quickly put on some clothes. A simple black t-shirt and brown shorts were selected from the pile of clothes he lazily kept in the middle of his apartment. He quickly put them on and walked back to the door that he so rudely closed in haste and opened it.

"J-Judy, w-what are you doing here?" Alex stammered, still drenched in embarrassment.

Judy smiled as she giggled a bit at Alex's embarrassment. She half expected something like this to happen, but it wasn't a big deal to her. "Hey Alex, I thought I would surprise you and get you out for some exercise! I couldn't help but notice you were very out of shape when we were in that other world. I was thinking that I can help you out with your stamina!"

"You're logic is sound, and I can't argue with those points, but why so early? And on a Saturday?" Alex replied. He didn't expect Judy to take it upon herself to care so much about him and do something so kind for him. On the other hand, some bunny just woke him up on a Saturday to do something he hated doing. Flashbacks of years of elementary, middle, and high school gym classes kept flooding back, the laughing and taunting from other kids calling him a failure as a wolf. Shaking these thoughts out of his head, he focused back on Judy.

"Early is really the best time for this kind of stuff. Come on! It will be fun!" Judy said while smiling innocently. For some reason, Alex felt this statement to be false in regards to his own definition of fun. He didn't know Judy well enough, but he might have imagined she finds this kind of stuff entertaining. He went to grab his glasses, wallet, phone, and other things and proceeded to leave the apartment building with Judy.

This bunny is pure evil...the wolf kept repeating to himself in his head. First she made him jog all the way to the park in the center of the city, as well as other varieties of cardiovascular activities such as jumping jacks. He was given breaks in between, but it was all he could do to catch his breath and stop himself from collapsing from exhaustion. His clothes were covered in sweat, a sight he rarely if ever saw.

"Sorry, Judy. I need like another 5-10 minutes...I can't move. Please!" he said, still breathing heavily. He scanned the surroundings of the park. There were other joggers, some children already playing, and other animals of various ages and species enjoying the warm day. The wolf couldn't find any escape routes, and even if he did, the rabbit would easily catch up, and she knew where he lived.

Judy was jogging in place, looking like it was nothing. She reluctantly gave in to the wolf. "Ok... ok, no need to beg. I remember doing this with Nick before he went to the police academy for training. My training helped him graduate as one of the top members of the class! I'm sure I can do the same for you."

"That's great and all, Judy, but I'm not a police officer, I have no intention of becoming one, and I live a sedentary lifestyle. Maybe we can make that goal a little smaller... you know, something I could probably accomplish in my lifetime," Alex quipped.

Judy was ever the optimist and couldn't really see Alex's slightly pessimistic point of view on the situation. "That's no way to think! Think positively! Anyway, break time's over! Now drop and give me twenty push-ups!" She sounded like a drill sergeant and was getting way too into that role.

"T-twenty!? My record in high school was zero...but maybe I have improved..." Alex said negatively, his attitude towards himself getting worse as the exercise regiment from hell continued. Alex got on the ground and tried to do a push-up, but his arms shook wildly as he tried to push himself off the ground. He collapsed and fell back with a thud. Repetition of this action only made it worse.

Judy started to have a worried look on her face as she saw the futility of her command to do push-ups. "Err... maybe we should call it a day. You seem pretty tired. Let's cool down and walk to that bench over there."

Struggling but finally getting up, he walked slowly to the bench, recovering from the exercise. When he finally reached it and sat down, the relief on his face was palpable. Judy hopped on the bench and sat next to the wolf as well. A gently blowing breeze offered more relief for the wolf.

"Sorry Judy, but I don't think I'm cut out for exercise. I've been bad at it ever since I was a pup. You know how kids can be...their name-calling and teasing kinda scarred me. But I was kinda happy when you surprised me this morning. I never really considered doing this as an adult, despite it being good for my health. Thanks for not laughing at me and helping a bad case like me," he said sincerely.

"Don't worry about it Alex. All that stuff is in the past. I know that kids can be cruel...but you can move past it, I'm sure! Also, everyone starts somewhere! Little by little you will improve and get stronger! It just takes time!" Judy said, encouraging him.

"Well well well... if it isn't the Omega..." a familiar voice said as it approached Alex and Judy.

"Speaking of cruel kids..." Alex mumbled under his breath, instantly recognizing the voice.

It was Jake Hunter, his high school tormentor. This black-furred wolf was tall, strong, and tough, the total opposite of young Alex. He was dressed in his police uniform, so one could assume he was on duty in the park. "You look like you've been exercising. Haha! Like that would even improve anything about you. Just accept your role in life, Omega. Go back to your video games and waste your life like the loser you are meant to be!"

Alex sat there just taking the abuse. He was too tired to argue back or walk away, but Judy spoke up for him.

"Listen, Jake! That is no way to treat someone as an officer, especially since you knew each other in school! I hope you don't talk to other citizens this way..."

"Pfft...I'm just teasing him, fluffers. We go way back...Alex and I. I just wanted to remind him who the top wolf is and will always be. I've got to get back anyway. Later, loser!" the cocky wolf shouted as he walked away, laughing to himself.

"Ugh, what a jerk... how did you even know a guy like that?" Judy asked once the wolf was out of sight.

"Actually..." Alex said to himself, reminiscing. "Actually...what he said was correct, we do go way back. In fact, we used to be best friends. When I first came to Zootopia, it was after I lost both my parents. My aunt and uncle eventually became my legal guardians, and they enrolled me in one of Zootopia's elementary schools. I didn't know anyone. I was scared and alone until I met Jake. He was the total opposite of me: confident, outgoing, but he started talking to me my first day and we just hit it off. We were inseparable; we played together all the time, and I can't remember a happier moment in my childhood. But then as we got older, something changed. We eventually drifted apart." He paused for a moment, grabbing his collar once again. Judy remembered Nick mentioning that Alex's tell for hiding something was grabbing his collar. She wondered if there was more to the story than what Alex was letting on, but she let Alex continue without interruption.

"Then, on that day in high school, he betrayed me. He ended our friendship publicly and proceeded to humiliate me in front of the entire school. I sank deep into the depths of depression. The thought of my former best friend doing that to me, doing something so cruel... I couldn't forgive him. I can't stand up against him, but all I want is for him to be out of my life. I guess I can't escape my past, as fate cruelly brought him back into the picture recently, on the day I met you and Nick," Alex said, trying not to tear up and cry.

Judy frowned and patted the wolf's leg to comfort him, saying, "Hey, c'mon, don't be sad. You don't have to say anything else. I'll make sure he doesn't bother you, and if he ever threatens or hurts you, let me know and I'll throw his tail into a jail cell!"

"Thanks, Judy!" the wolf said, feeling better.

"I've got an idea!" Judy said. "Why don't you, me, and Nick go to an amusement park tomorrow? The one called Wild Times! It's a place for animals to embrace their wild side and have fun. That should cheer you up!"

"That does sound like fun. I've never been there before. Count me in!" Alex said happily.

Alex and Judy chatted a bit more afterwards to get to know each other, and eventually they parted ways. Judy went to go meet with Nick for lunch, while Alex had a date with his bed to have a well-earned nap.