Well, here we are everyone: the last chapter of the first installment of my Zootopia series, the end of The Road to Recovery. It's weird; it literally feels like it was just yesterday I started to bring this story to you all. And every step of the way, the response has been astronomical as far as my experiences are concerned. I want to sincerely thank you all for all your supportive reviews and loyal following of this story and myself so you can continue to follow me into the future of this series. Your silent and written support has made this road so much more pleasant to go down, and I hope to keep you all enthralled, entertained and invested in the future of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde I have in store for you all.

So without further ado, let us continue down the final stretch of this road before we step out into the next leg of our journey. Don't be afraid to follow me afterwards. You all deserve to see where this will all go just as much as everyone else.

Zootopia and its characters belong to Disney, not me.

"I'm telling you, Carrots, it was a real thing of beauty. I wish I had a camera to save the moment. I'd say it was downright 'frame on the living room wall' worthy," Nick recollected happily with Judy as he lay splayed out on his bed with the most satisfied if not ecstatic grin on his face.

Since Bucky Beaverkowicz had been taken away and Nick had been given leave to retire to his dorm, he'd wasted no time contacting Judy to let her know how everything went. When she'd answered, it was no secret nor surprise that seeing the fox the way she'd seen him last had left her in tears for a good long time. That's what made seeing the light practically explode back into her eyes when she saw him again (this time without a muzzle or a gaze of despair) make this moment so much more dear for him.

Yes it felt indescribable to know he'd finally beaten the mammal most responsible for ruining his life, but he wasn't about to forget that if it hadn't been for Judy being so dependable to reach, he'd probably still be cuffed to his bed with a muzzle on his snout, slowly going insane from the panic. But thankfully that wasn't the case anymore, and he knew he really owed it to the bunny staring at him gleefully through his phone right now.

"I'm so happy for you, Nick. I just wish I could've been there," Judy said happily as Nick instinctively chuckled at how bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, figuratively speaking at least, she was right now. Sometimes he couldn't help but wonder if she perhaps knew her enthusiasm had come to be so contagious towards him by this point, hence why she always looked as joyous as a kit on their birthday whenever they talked.

"I know; that's why I wish I could've taken a picture. I know at least I'LL never forget that look on his face, but I just wish there was a way I could show it to you, too," Nick lamented sarcastically as Judy's gaze drifted downward, as though she were struggling to think of what to say next.

"No, I mean…I wish I could've been there to actually help you. If I was there, maybe I could've been able to prevent all this happening to you in the first place. I never meant for this to happen, and—"Judy began to explain; her words hanging heavy with regret. No matter how much she wanted to, she couldn't shake that image of a muzzled Nick out of her head. Out of all the things she'd gone through, the pain she'd suffered through to press onward, seeing her best friend looking that helpless and afraid was without a doubt one of the worst things she'd ever experienced.

It shattered the poor bunny's heart so badly to see him so vulnerable and scared, to the point it felt almost as though his physical and emotional pain was her very own. And now being in such a more positive place forced her to finally realize what a truly close call this had been; and now all those emotions, both new and long-withheld, towards Nick were catching up with her all at once. She'd never felt as terribly for him as she did in that moment, and at the same time she'd never felt so happy to be sharing a moment with him as she was right now. Even the most experienced psychologists would've most likely been unable to pin down just what was going through Judy's head at this time.

"Carrots don't even start thinking about beating yourself up. There's no reason to, understand? I know you bunnies get so emotional so easily, but please don't start crying now. We won again, and it's because of what you said: partners look out for each other. We won because I knew you were there; and I hope you realize I fully intend to return the favor someday, whether you like it or not," Nick attempted to reassure her while still expressing his gratitude for her support the only way he could. Judy's violet eyes seemed to practically light up to hear his comforting words as she and Nick both unknowingly glanced away from each other, as if they were both mutually nervous about making eye contact now that these heavier sentiments were being shared.

"I don't doubt it for a second, brave fox. I feel safer already," Judy humored him as he gave her an appreciative smile that left her silently feeling warm in the cheeks again.

"In all seriousness though, Carrots: thank you for being here through all this. It's…it has been hard, and…well, I really don't know what I would've done tonight if it weren't for you," Nick then said with some undeniable doubt evident in his words as his own gaze sank while Judy felt a breath catch in her throat, not even wanting to think of that horrible possibility; although she couldn't begin to imagine what must've been going through his head at that time either.

"Please, don't bring yourself down thinking about that, Nick. We all need help from others sometimes; that's just a fact. You only just said so: we're partners, and partners always have each other's backs," Judy tried to reassure him as Nick still couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes again.

"That's not it, Carrots. I meant…if I'd tried desperately enough, I might've been able to get out…but I'm not sure if I would've been able to control myself afterwards," Nick finally admitted as Judy fell deathly silent while Nick looked to be struggling with what to say next.

"You must've seen it in my eyes earlier, right? How scared I was? Well, that was nothing compared to what was going on inside me, alright? I couldn't think straight. I was barely even able to think to try and contact you for help. I was panicking, and I was angry; for everything he'd done to me tonight and before. Halfway through, I could only see red, and all I could think about was getting out, finding him and…a-and—"Nick continued on as he could feel that horrible fire still smoldering in the pit of his stomach. He'd never felt this way before, and it was a very scary feeling. It wasn't like any kind of regular anger. The closest thing he could even think to compare it to was like some kind of violent PTSD where someone would snap and try to hurt another mammal either indiscriminately, or one specifically connected to them.

Outside of what semblance of rational thoughts he could've hoped to have in that moment, the longer he'd been stuck wearing that muzzle, the more he felt his blood boiling, and all his fear giving way to an almost…SAVAGE anger that drove nearly every fiber of his being to escaping, finding Bucky and putting a permanent end to him…only the way a PREDATOR could. And the thought of that kind of animalistic primal urge festering inside him terrified Nick like nothing else ever had before.

"Nick, please…please stop—" Judy pleaded in a nearly mute whisper as Nick was struggling to take deep breaths to compose himself; especially when he saw the deeply emotional depth in Judy's eyes the more she looked at how scared he was at this moment of himself.

"I'd never felt that way before, Carrots. Not ever. Yes, I wanted to make him pay…but not like THAT. Even now, all I can think of is what I would've done and what would've happened to me then…if it hadn't been for you," Nick finally admitted as the dorm was now left in a heavy silence as neither of them knew what to possibly say to each other now.

Typical, what had to start as a fantastic evening had to be ruined once again by Nick's seemingly endless fears and doubts about himself. Guess Bucky's handiwork had penetrated more deeply than even Nick thought it did.

"Nick, please look at me," Judy said firmly as Nick steeled himself as he looked into her penetrating gaze again; being met with a look of silent compassion and understanding, almost like what one would expect to receive from their own mother.

"Nick, I can't imagine how scary all of this must've been. But, if you had felt this strongly…then why DIDN'T you just try to break free and go after him?" she asked softly; picking her words very carefully, knowing just how easy it was for Nick to jump to conclusions when in vulnerable spots like this.

For several seconds, that unbearable silence was all she was met with as Nick looked to be struggling to figure out that answer for himself. But when that look of realization shimmered in his eyes, it was almost as if the fox had been completely enlightened as his ears slowly raised back up.

"Because I didn't want to prove him right. I didn't want to prove any of them right; not him or Smellwether either. This all started because he'd told me no one would ever trust me for being a fox. I allowed myself to prove him right with that already. When he cuffed me tonight, he said that me and any other predators didn't belong; that we all deserved to be locked away. And he even said if I tried anything, all it would've done was prove him right. And then not to mention what you told me Smellwether said to you back when you visited her in jail.

"Carrots, you helped me to remember the kind of mammal I really was, even after all the years I'd convinced myself otherwise. I've stuck to it up to this point because I not only wanted to…well, make you proud, but because I wanted to finally convince myself that I wasn't just some shifty, silver-tongued fox anymore. Even in spite of all that anger I felt; something kept telling me that if I allowed myself to lash out, not only would I've proven both of those little monsters right…but I would've let us both down as well."

Judy was left speechless as Nick bowed his head in shame. Something about all this just didn't add up for her. Nick had never once expressed concerns like this before, and even in spite of what he'd just gone through, there shouldn't have been a reason for him to be fretting over it anymore. This couldn't possibly have come from his previous worries about not being able to protect her; but regardless, she was determined to find out what had brought this all about.

"Nick, I wish you knew by now you could never let me down, no matter what were to happen. And I couldn't begin to tell you how proud I already am to call you my friend and partner. Please, tell me where this all came from, Nick. I know this can't have just come up over the last few hours, so please…tell me everything," Judy softly pleaded as Nick let out a defeated sigh. He could never hope to refuse her when she was being both this heartfelt and this persistent.

"I remember that scared look you had back at the Natural History Museum. I know it was all an act, but…well; you're a really convincing actress, Carrots. When this happened…I-I not only remembered that, but also how scared you looked when I got mad at you after that conference. More than letting you down, I was afraid that you'd be scared of me, legitimately this time, if I let myself go like that. After all this time counting on myself, I hated the idea of scaring away the only mammal who actually cared. I don't know if I could ever go back to being alone again after all this, Carrots. I don't care what anyone else thinks, but…but I just couldn't live with thinking you of all people would be scared of me too."

Judy nearly felt her heart break as Nick had laid it all out on the table for her. To think even just the brief moments where her old fear of foxes had shown itself in her eyes had affected him so deeply; it really must've been a testament to how much he'd learned to keep his emotions from really showing themselves. But even then, to think that even despite his constant cool, calm and collected demeanor, that even her pretending to be scared of him had hit him so hard, she couldn't even begin to think of how to respond to that.

It was idiotic to let her deeper yet dormant feelings for Nick be brought back up to know he felt this strongly about her approval; yet she couldn't deny that she felt touched to know the exact same thing and how strongly it had affected his actions. But nevertheless, it killed her just as much as it did the previous times to see Nick so down.

"Nick, no matter what you might think, I'll always trust you, remember? And in spite of things that happened, I could never be truly scared of you, either. Yes, I was afraid of foxes at one point, but don't you know just how many things you've helped me wake up to see since we first met? You helped me to see just how nonsensical my fears were, and helped me see how we all stand as individuals, instead of as entire species.

"I understand where you're coming from, really; but you shouldn't weigh yourself down with so much doubt. You're the most trustworthy mammal I know, and I'll always be at your side through thick and thin. After all, that's not just what partners do; it's what friends do as well. So please, don't ever think that anything you do could ever drive me away from you, alright, Nick? I'm not THAT easy to get rid of," Judy said with such emotion, it couldn't help but make Nick's fur stand on end. He honestly couldn't tell if she was speaking from tired aggravation that even after all this progress he still doubted the strength of their friendship; or if she was speaking from a much deeper, personal place, as if it really did break her heart to see him so vulnerable and afraid of her disappearing from his life. Either way, the effect was the same.

"You know, Carrots…you've really gotta look into alternate careers if you're this good at knowing how to talk to mammals and knowing what they need to hear. Maybe you'd make a fortune as a therapist," Nick suddenly said with a tired mutter; his tone progressively picking up that welcomed familiar sarcasm that Judy had so desperately wanted to hear from him again. Now THIS was the Nick Wilde she knew and loved; the one that always assured her everything would be alright with a sly grin and a terrible attempt at a joke. After so many times of seeing him actually lower his defenses and showing just how truly vulnerable and damaged he really was, it felt like years since last she'd seen that re-invigorated fire return to his eyes.

"Keep dreaming, sly fox. Years of working and studying for one career is enough for me. And hopefully it'll be enough for you," she shot back to humor him as they both felt a great weight lifted off their shoulders now that the worst of Nick's fears had once more been swept aside and all seemed right in the world again.

"You know it will be. You already said you can't think of having anyone else for a partner, and you better believe the feelings' mutual. You're stuck with me, Carrots; one way or another," the grinning fox reassured her as Judy's smile only seemed to brighten more to see just how visibly ready he was once more to take on the world just so they could work together for the years to come.

"Wouldn't want it any other way, Nick. I just hope you're ready. All this craziness must've made these last two months feel like they came to a grinding halt. Well I hope you're ready for it all to pick back up, cause you've still got another seven months ahead of you before graduation," Judy informed him with an almost devious little smirk while Nick looked to be visibly surprised that so little time had actually passed. But thankfully, his expression too seemed to turn into an expectant grin, as though he actually welcomed the challenge.

"Oh, is that all? I thought it would be a whole year. And are you sure Chief Buffalo Butt is really gonna keep you from working with a partner for THAT long?" he asked as Judy couldn't help but give an adorable and embarrassed little grin.

"Yeah, I guess you could say I was very…well, convincing for him to see how much I wanted you as my partner. He agreed to keep me on paperwork and…*sigh* parking duty until you graduated," she finally admitted; and the speed at which Nick's eyes lit up as he looked about ready to give her the payload of jokes at her expense of a lifetime.

"Go ahead and laugh it up, funny fox. Don't forget I can convince them to put YOU on parking duty when you start too," she warned with that confident smirk once more adorning her grey fuzzy face, as if silently daring him to utter one more syllable. Thankfully, he looked to recollect himself and keep his snout shut as she gave him a victorious little knowing grin, as if she knew she had the real advantage over him; not that he actually minded.

"Well, if there's one thing I know, it's that time really does fly for those who have fun. Same goes for the ones with something to look forward to, too; so I say let them give me their worst, Carrots. That'll just make being in your fur 24/7 all the more worth it. Just promise me one thing," Nick stated proudly before letting his bravado die down a little so he could at least let her know he was being more serious once it came to his request.

"Promise you'll still be here at night. Helping to save me aside, I still think it's times like THIS that really make everything else worth it," Nick finally asked; and with all the emotional upheaval of minutes past, Judy felt her ears go burning hot to hear him being so sincere about how much he really treasured their nighttime chats.

"You don't even have to ask, Nick. You just make sure you don't let yourself forget, or I'll remind you personally," she said with mock warning as the two instinctively chuckled once more at how freakishly well their thoughts and words bounced off of each other. Neither of them could honestly of any other two mammals they knew that seemed so naturally in sync.

"Don't get your hopes up, Carrots. Besides, it's just another seven months before we're officially badge buddies. How long could that possibly be?"

Seven Months Later…

All things considered, not too long at all. Now that he no longer had the likes of Bucky to worry about every waking moment, Nick felt like a whole new mammal; light as a feather and ready to take on the world and all of its challenges. Just the very idea of further proving himself to the world and himself drove him every waking moment of every day for the last seven months. Yes, the aches and pains from a hard days' training still persisted, but he carried his soreness with a newfound sense of pride; as if Judy's confidence and support for him had lit an inextinguishable fire deep inside that drove him like nothing had before.

He fought through every challenge each day brought him, from every obstacle course to nearly every opponent in the self-defense course. Yes, there were days where he fell and fell hard, but this time nothing was able to keep him down. This for him was the homestretch, and he was beyond determined to reach it; to be able to finally look at the world and stand confident and proud, to finally show all those that doubted and denounced him that he was more than what the world had been led to believe foxes were.

He was no longer just some average sly, untrustworthy fox. He was Nicholas P. Wilde, and after nine months of non-stop training and pushing himself to his physical, mental and emotional limits, he was here to help make the world a better place.

And at no moment did that enlightening and bolstering truth make itself apparent than it did right now: Graduation Day. The bright afternoon sun made the entire landscape in front of the ZPA Academy bask in the brilliant springtime heat, but he didn't care one bit. Even if he didn't have his sunglasses, the blinding light wouldn't have bothered him at all. Right now he was too busy relishing in the overwhelming realization that he'd finally made it, just as he promised Judy and himself he would.

And of course he was nervous as one mammal could possibly be standing alongside all his fellow cadets-turned-graduates. Sure, he was nervous with the fact that he was about to be officially made into the ZPD's very first fox officer; but he was especially nervous with who'd been announced as a guest speaker for the ceremony.

He couldn't have been happier at first when he heard that the City Council wanted Judy Hopps to speak at the graduation, since it was yet another year with some first time mammals joining the force; but that elation came with its own share of stress as well. Yes, he had missed that little bunny more and more each day, but their nightly talks had really helped stem the emotional tide. But it was now knowing that for the first time in a staggering nine months they were finally going to be reunited face to face, it nearly left him feeling like a tongue-tied teenager about to talk to a female for the first time ever.

Judy had been such a tremendous supportive force during his time here. He wasn't afraid to admit to himself that even before Bucky, there'd been moments he felt so close to just breaking under all the weight that had been forced onto him that he just wanted to call it quits; even in spite of what a letdown it would've been for them both. But bless her heart, she never gave up on him or lost any confidence in him. She was always there to pick him right back up and reinvigorate him with just the mere knowledge that she believed in him like no one ever had before. She made all the pain worth it, sometimes even more than the drive to prove it to himself did.

And now, after all this time of only being able to talk to her through a cellphone screen, he was about to be face-to-face with the most precious mammal he had in his life, his Carrots, and even now it made him feel like his heart was nearly about to give out; especially when the ceremony had officially begun and an elephant in a suit not unlike any other politicians stepped up to the microphone as he looked over all the graduates, ZPA officials and most of the graduates' families.

"Today is a very proud one, not just for the ZPD, but for all of Zootopia. Today marks the beginning of a new era of acceptance and unity in our proud city and our loyal police force. After the turbulent period of fear and distrust our populace had been thrown into, it has made it all too clear to all of us, prey and predator alike, that now is a time for us to join together and stand proudly to face the future in the hopes that we can all help bring about a world where we can truly say we no longer live in that same distrust or fear; where we can look at our fair city and all the world and know that we all helped make it a truly better place for all of us, our friends, our loved ones and our children. Thanks to our absent Mayor Leodore Lionheart's Mammal Inclusion Initiative, we have gathered here today to officially induct a new graduating class into the honorable folds of the ZPD; once more with some first ever mammals stepping forward into the line of duty. But first, I would like to welcome as a guest speaker, the ZPD's first ever rabbit officer and city hero, Valedictorian of the previous year, Officer Judy Hopps."

Nick felt a tremor go through his entire body once the elephant stepped back from the podium and was soon replaced by the long-awaited familiar tiny grey fuzzy head with her ears standing proudly upright as she looked out over the entire audience with an unquestionable air of responsibility and pride above all else.

And the instant he felt her violet eyes meet his green ones; it was like a spark had shot through them both, before she straightened herself, took a deep breath, and spoke.

"Ladies and gentlemammals, it is a great honor to be here today to welcome our future comrades in the worthy cause of upholding the law that makes our society what it is. You know, it's kind of funny, there are days where it still feels like it was only yesterday I stood where they do now; eager to do my best to serve and protect the public trust, and to help make the world a better place for all. But since that day, I've learned many things that I realize I wasn't prepared for. And it is now that I wish to share that experience with all of you so that you may go out into the world with a more open mind than I did, so that we can all TRULY do our very best in upholding our sworn duty while still doing what we as individuals know to be the right thing.

"When I was a kid, I thought Zootopia was this perfect place where everyone got along, and anyone can be anything. Turns out, real life is a little more complicated than a slogan on a bumper sticker. Real life is messy. We ALL have limitations, we ALL make mistakes. Which means, hey, glass half full, we all have a lot in common. And the more we try to understand one another, the more exceptional each of us will be. But we have to try. So no matter what type of animal you are, from the biggest elephant to our first fox—"

At that instant, Nick felt a nearly instantaneous swell of emotion build in his chest; but determined to stand proud and grateful, he instead lowered his sunglasses to give his bunny, his friend, his unknowing savior, his Carrots, a single knowing wink; instantly earning a bright smile of unmistakable happiness and heartfelt pride from Judy as she managed to continue, all while Nick kept looking up at her with a grateful smile while feeling the trace beginnings of what felt like tears beginning to build.

"I implore you, TRY. Try to make the world a better place. Look inside yourself, and recognize that change starts with you. It starts with me. It starts with ALL of us."

In that instant, the City Council, the graduates and the entire audience gave an immense round of applause as Judy gracefully stepped down from the podium as the familiar hulking stature of their polar bear instructor came up to take her place.

"The official ceremony of the ZPA's latest graduating class shall now begin. Many brave and inspired mammals stepped forward and have proven themselves to be the most outstanding individuals this academy has come to offer. As their teacher, I am proud to call them official officers of the ZPD. Much like Officer Hopps before, I would like to begin the honorary badging with one exemplary recruit who too has proven themselves as the first of their species to join our ranks in Zootopia's history. The ZPD's very first fox officer, Nicholas Piberius Wilde."

Nick nearly felt like his heart was going to burst from over-excitement and anxiety as he stepped forward onto the stage; his steps nearly feeling heavy as cinderblocks as the sound of the applause didn't even register. Right now, all he could feel was the sensation as though he were about to burst from the maelstrom of pure emotion surging through him while also hearing his heart hammering from inside his chest as he stood tall and dignified before the rest as Judy stepped up to him with a single small black velvet box cradled in her paws.

Before his very eyes, as if time seemed to come to a standstill, she opened the box to reveal none other than a brilliant, glimmering golden badge with an honorary plaque nestled underneath it. It was no dream, no cruel delusion. Here, for him to behold, was chiseled onto that plaque beneath that badge that officially marked him as a real police officer: NICHOLAS P. WILDE.

He couldn't recall ever smiling as genuinely as he did in this unforgettable moment as Judy carefully took the badge from its place in that box and pinned it to the chest of his uniform with an almost loving care as she took a single step back for them to finally gaze upon each other as more than just friends, more than just equals, but officially as partners, for now and for all time.

The sheer glow of happiness and countless other emotions in her beautiful violet eyes couldn't have made Nick feel any more joyous than he was right now as the mutual smiles of respect, pride, and true connection they shared seemed to speak bounds of the things they wished they could have said right now; as neither of them felt words could adequately express such things. Nine grueling months apart, with so many things they both had long wished to say in the time they'd spent alone thinking of each other, and now both of them without words to do them justice.

Instead, the two once more seemed to naturally communicate everything they felt in this moment with a single powerful and all-expressing salute of mutual respect; earning a round of wild applause and thrown officer caps into the air from the on-looking crowd upon this finally formed and unbreakable union.

The Next Morning…

Yes, it felt great to finally proclaim that he was back home after what had come to feel like a lifetime.

Yes, it felt fantastic to finally be able to lie down in the bed he knew beyond question to be his.

And yes, it felt amazing to finally be in the most familiar of surroundings once again, bringing with it a real feeling of security and comfort.

But none of those feelings even hoped to measure up to just how good it felt to finally put the academy behind him and accept that at long last, he and Judy were together side by side once more; like an all-powerful dynamic duo that had lost its spark in each other's absence that could only be restored once they were reunited.

And the full impact of how incredible it felt to have her to tease and hold in the fur instead of on a bright little screen fully registered to him as he stood before his closet mirror with what had to be the most childlike grin on his face as Judy insistently went over the finer touches of his brand new uniform, as if he were a child about to go on his first day of elementary school.

Of course, the resemblance was certainly not lost in him as he watched the little grey bunny work so diligently to see to it her new official partner was looking as presentable as she managed to every single day. As much as he wanted to thank her, none of the words seemed to sound right in his head once she seemed to be fully satisfied with how the red fox looked in his personal dress blues.

As Nick returned his gaze to the mirror; for a fraction of a second, he could've sworn his stare was being returned by a smaller fox of 8 or 9 years old in a spick and span new green Junior Ranger Scouts uniform; standing firm and resolute with an undeniably silly look of bravery on his tiny face; while all the hope and happiness in the world reflected in his eyes.

But just as quickly as it was there, Nick quickly found himself staring at the adult fox in a perfectly fitted police uniform adorned with a glistening golden badge that proved to him in his heart that this was no illusion. This was the new Nick Wilde looking back at him, and that badge among many other things was irrefutable proof of just how far he'd come. And in the end, he owed it all to that irreplaceable bunny standing proudly at his side, as if she were fully checking out just how perfect they looked together.

Neither of them wanted to potentially ruin this unforgettable moment with words as they both seemed to feel an incredible surge of excitement and contentment to know this was now where their lives were; and they both could tell the other felt the same just from the glowing smiles on their faces reflected in the mirror.

"Can you feel that, Nick?" Judy soon asked as he had to struggle to take a breath, as if he were still struggling to accept that this was all really real.

"I think I can, Carrots. This…this is the first day of the rest of our lives," he managed to reply as the words seemed to hit right at home as Judy looked so incredibly happy, just as much as he did. For a second, just looking at her, he wouldn't have been surprised if she'd take this moment to pull him down to hug him. In fact, that probably would've made this the perfect start for what had to be the best day of his life so far.

"Wouldn't want it any other way. So, you ready to make the world a better place, partner?" she asked as she turned her full attention to her partner in an attempt to psyche him up for their first official day on the force together as he immediately returned her professional stance with that never-fading sly grin.

"As ready as you are, partner. Just don't give yourself a heart attack from the excitement BEFORE we get to the station. I don't think my legs have lost enough soreness for me to carry you back to the hospital," he answered as Judy gave him a clearly amused smirk as they immediately proceeded to head out the door side-by-side; heading out to give Zootopia its first taste of the ZPD's most unique and unstoppable duo.

But not before Nick swiped out a small pair of tickets he'd craftily stuck behind the pantry near the door while Judy hadn't been looking the previous night and stuck them firmly into his back pocket.

What better way to compliment the beginning to a perfect day than with the perfect ending?

And that, my beloved fans and traversing readers, was 'I: The Road to Recovery', the first installment of my Zootopia story series. I want to sincerely thank every last one of you from the bottom of my heart for all your continuous support over these last several weeks of writing this story for you all. You make everything I work through to make this story the best it could possibly be ALL worth it, and I hope to keep living up to your expectations and my own for a good long time to come.

If you all want to see where Nick and Judy will go from here as far as what I have planned is concerned, I highly encourage you all to Follow me so you can know first thing when the first chapter for the sequel is up. I'm sure a good lot of you are greatly looking forward to it, but might as well. You all deserve to see the future I have in store just as much as everyone else.

Once again, thank you ALL for your love and support. We've followed Judy and Nick down their respective Roads To Recovery…but one cannot truly be able to step forward selflessly into the unknown of the future without first LEAVING THE PAST.