Zootropolis

Duke’s heart dropped. A surge of fear and dread bolted through him. He leapt off the animal’s lap and ran to Destiny. “W-What? Again? Destiny, how? The results said you were clear!” Destiny sighed and ran a paw down her face. “Look, I didn’t wanna tell ya. I didn’t want ya to worry. Same reason why I didn’t tell the rest of the family. I remember everythin’ you all went through last time I was sick.” Duke grabbed his little sister’s shoulders. “Dest! We love you! Yeah, we went through a lot, but we love you!” “You had to watch me lose my mind more and more, me being muzzled and tied down in my hospital bed so I would stop tryin’ to attack whoever was around! I’ve seen what my Mad Weasel Disease did to you, Duke!” “Did to me?” Duke loosened his grip. Destiny lowered her voice. “I know you started stealin’ when I needed money for treatment. I didn’t know then, but I figured it out when I got older. I don’t want anyone else’s lives to be ruined because of my disease.” Duke opened his mouth, but failed to come up with a response. Destiny held her phone back up. “Please, just be in the video, then I can get money, be cured quickly, then it’ll be like I never had it to begin with. The only symptoms I have right now are occasional bouts of rage and some extra shedding. I need this taken care of before it gets more obvious, and the family possibly finds out.” Duke sighed. “Okay. I’ll do this for all of us. Wish there was some other way, but I wanna do something other than stealin’ this time.” He hung his head and walked back to the couch. “Duke, wait!” Leilani held her paw up. “Destiny! I have a better idea!” “What?” Destiny smirked. “This oughta be good.” “How much money do you need for your treatment?” “Uh…it would be around a thousand bucks for a round of treatment, and like, forty-five thousand for four rounds. I don’t know how much I’d need. Likely two, since it hasn’t progressed too mu—“ Destiny coughed into her elbow as a few hairs fell off her cheek. “You know who Gazelle is?” Destiny scoffed. “Who doesn’t?” Leilani took a step closer to Destiny. “Well, she’s really connected to Zootopia, since she was born and raised here. Also, Duke?” Leilani looked at Duke. “Maybe we could tell the press our story, then use our platform to try to get a fundraiser going for Mad Weasel Disease? Gazelle would probably see it, since she’s from Zootopia and lives here! In short: Gazelle fundraiser concert!” All traces of attitude melted away from Destiny’s face. Relieved, hopeful warmth filled Duke’s body. Destiny flinched. “Wait…your story? What do you mean, Lilly?” Duke approached the two. “It’s ’Leilani,’ and our story is that, well, we ended up gettin’ sprayed by your altered plants, and we woke up married. You got another sister-in-law!” “Oh! OH!” Destiny touched her forehead. “When did ya both get sprayed?” “A few days ago,” Leilani awkwardly shrugged. “And…you’re stayin’ together?” “Yeah.” Duke grabbed Leilani’s paw and smiled at his sister. Destiny plopped herself down on the couch. “Whoa. I’m sorry, but I’m happy for ya both. This is a weird feelin’.” “So, are you okay with the news and Gazelle idea? I sure am!” Duke folded his paws and nodded. Destiny nodded. “I hope ya can get me on TV.” She extended her paw. Duke shook her paw and pulled her in for a hug. Destiny sniffed. “Thank you.”