The years after Larry Wilde-Hopps' graduation had come fast and hard for Nick and Judy Wilde-Hopps. Once Chief Bogo stepped down as the head of precinct one, the new Chief, a hippo named Hugh Mongus, cultivated an almost eerie interest in Judy's career path. She found herself promoted very quickly over the next couple of years and before she knew it, she became a Chief of a precinct in the Rainforest District.

Just like that, Nick and Judy were no longer professional partners.

Even though the mammals at her Rainforest District precinct were on average smaller than the ones at precinct one, Judy still felt like she'd have a bit of a hard time engendering respect as Chief. She adopted a tough persona and quickly got a reputation as being pretty terrifying, for a bunny. Some of the rookies even called her "Chief Hardbuns", which she often overheard with her ears, and had to fight not to smile when she did. It didn't take too long before she had the respect of her officers at her precinct. She was always sure to praise outstanding behavior and to try to never underestimate any mammal based on their appearance or personality. Judy made some risky calls and decisions at times, but more often than not, they tended to bear fruit.

Back at precinct one, Nick's new partner was a kit fox; a vulpes macrotis. He wasn't a "kit", though he was quite a newbie compared to Nick. Though Nick was glad enough to see a fellow fox on the force, he just didn't mesh well with him. Also, Nick had become increasingly agitated by the tensions that were steadily rising between predator and prey. Vince Mousawitz, a member of the new-age mammal party, had stepped down as mayor and was replaced by a pig, Pearline Swinton, who was decidedly traditionalist. She was campaigning hard to put a stop to inter-species marriage, and with Leodore Lionheart no longer in the legislative branch of City Hall, it looked like she would eventually get her way. His hand forced, Larry Wilde-Hopps, a squirrel, married his girlfriend, Kara, a ferret, before it was too late. Their wedding was nice enough, but Judy couldn't help but wonder if it would have been nicer if it weren't rushed.

There were protests and rallies, but Nick had decided he had enough of just watching from inside the ZPD. He turned in his badge.

Nick became a pro-pred/prey activist, using his charisma and his way with words in what he hoped would improve Zootopia and cultivate understanding. He felt that Zootopia that had given him so much, and was in danger of falling back into fear again, the same fear it had decades ago. Of course, his suddenly outspoken position instantly made him all sorts of enemies, from the petty to the powerful. But, Zootopia had given Nick a small army of friends over the years, as well. With his mother in a hospice and her time left uncertain, Nick decided he had only one course of action to better Zootopia and to defeat Swinton. He would have to run for mayor in the upcoming election.

From the ZPD, Nick could count on large numbers of security support at his speeches. Chief Wilde-Hopps was always sure to nearly over-deploy, not wanting to take any chances with her husband.

From the ZIA, several crooked cops and other rogues from assorted government departments seeking Nick's downfall were taken care of. Nick rarely ever saw her, but he knew his fruit bat friend, Viridia Sonaire, was looking out for him. He recognized her psuedo-sonar clicking from the darkness even he could barely see into.

From the ZBI, another agent who seemed to have a mysterious, vested interest in Nick's success had taken down a few extremist operations that targeted Nick. Of course, it was a bunny, a white bunny with almost tiger-like black stripes and cyan eyes, and his name was Jack Savage.

From the shadows, the Big family also had his back, though they tried not to help in any way that could be directly tied to him. Little Miss Big still felt a debt to the husband of her godmother, and protected Nick in any way she thought she could get away with.

Nick took off his coat, hat, and tie as he got into his home, which used to be his mother's old Rainforest District house. He smiled as he saw Judy cheering at the television over one of Larry's races.

"Ooh, second, so close!" Judy laughed, then looked at Nick. "You look tired. Long day on the campaign trail?"

"Mhm," Nick said, going over and kissing Judy softly.

"Nick, do you resent me for staying with the ZPD?" Judy tilted her head.

"No way, that's your dream, Judy," Nick shook his head, "and someone has to keep the ZPD pure while I'm trying to oust that vile swine."

"You're calling me a pure cop?" Judy smirked, then shrugged flippantly. "Okay, fair enough." But then, her expression fell. "Nick, every day you put up with several times the hatred and animosity than you ever did when we were both beat cops. How do you keep going?"

"You're going to call me a cheese ball if I tell you," Nick smirked.

"Aw, c'mon, cheese ball!" Judy grinned widely.

"Okay, if you're going to be like that," Nick flicked one of her ears. "I'm doing it out of love. Love for you, the bunny who's been my constant companion and pulled me out of the blackness of despair. Love for my son, who shouldn't be afraid to show that he loves his wife in public. Love for Zootopia, the city who's given me everything I have, though we did have to ask it really nicely. And... love for my mother, who always believed in me and was proud of me, no matter what. Who knows how much time she has left? I gotta keep going."

"Aw, Nick, that is really sweet," Judy smiled, and then her eyes half-lid. "But you know, there's never been a fox mayor in Zootopia. Ever."

"Guess I'll just have to be the first, then," Nick grinned smugly, retrieving an acoustic guitar from the closet.

"Ooh, are you going to croon at me, you handsome fox?" Judy turned around in the couch and stood up, folding her arms across the back of the couch. Nick came around and sat next to her, and she sat down too.

"Thought I could just try singing a song I know from growing up," Nick said, tuning the guitar.

"Is it one of Gazelle's?" Judy asked hopefully.

"Before her, actually, one of the very first celebrity pred/prey activists," Nick reminisced. "He was a bit of a goofball, a dingo that called himself Powerline. You may have heard me singing this in the shower a few times." Nick started to strum the introduction.

"Oh yeah!" Judy snapped her fingers. "You hum and sing this so often in the shower that I think even I know the words by now."

"Why don't we sing it together, then?" Nick chuckled. "I'll go first."

Nick began singing:
"Got myself a notion,
one I know that you'll understand,
to set the world in motion,
by reaching out for each others hand."

Judy smiled, continuing:
"Maybe we'll discover
what we should've known all along,
one way or another,
together's where we both belong."

They joined their voices together for the chorus:
"If we listen to each others heart,
we'll find we're never too far apart,
and maybe love is the reason why,
for the first time ever we're seeing it eye to eye."

"Oh, I have to sing the next part!" Judy quickly insisted, and Nick just smirked as she sang:
"If a wall should come between us,
too high to climb, too hard to break through,
I know that love will lead us,
and find a way to bring me to you."

Nick followed up:
"So don't be in a hurry,
think before you count us out,
You don't have to worry,
I won't ever let you down."

The two tried to start the chorus up again, but they began laughing as if they were kits again, even though their eyes were misting up a bit. Nick set the guitar aside, and Judy climbed into his lap, facing him.

"If you're ever lonely," Judy said gently in a pleasant, though non-singing voice, "Stop. You don't need to be. Because Nick, you'll never need to be lonely. I'll always be your partner."

Judy gave her fox a soft, lingering kiss. Nick returned it, wrapping his arms around his bunny.

The bunny was also correct. She and the fox were, indeed, always partners.