A/N so yeah the first 2 chapters are kinda short but I needed to get this set up in a way that made sense to me. Next up why does Nick know Judy? Why is a grassland rabbit in the desert? Yes, it's a flashback chapter! Thanks to Ghostwolf88 for pointing out that the Carrots nickname is overused.

Disclaimer: I know 2 foxes one male one female I once confused one for the other. I bet Bluelighthouse got a good laugh at my expense that day. Oh and since I don't own Disney I don't own Zootopia.

Chapter 3

Ten years ago…

Lord General Bogo, a huge water buffalo in charge of the many adventuring paladins and clerics of the Order of Light, introduced the naive young rabbit to a fox a bit older than herself.

"Hopps, this is our best Stalker Nicholas Wilde. The two of you will be working together to infiltrate and destroy the Mage Dawn Bellwether's cult of the Goddess Nyx."

The buffalo left them to get acquainted trusting Nick to fill the bunny in on their operation.

"Well you don't disappoint do you, bunny?" The tod said smiling. "I asked for a warrior who could easily blend in with any crowd that had an innocent look about them and they send me a wide eyed beautiful new recruit who would be just at home in a dress as in armor." He continued as he circled her armored form looking pleased.

"Thank you, sir. I haven't exactly been told I was perfect for anything here before." She said blushing at his compliment. "So what did he mean when he said you were a Stalker?"

"None of that sir crap with me, Hopps. The names Nick. What's yours?"

"Judith but I prefer Judy."

"A Stalker is a deep cover operative. We typically work in teams of two with an Inquisitor, but my old partner got over-zealous and started killing people for minor indiscretions. I was forced to put Jack down. Hardest thing I've ever done." He said with a far away look filled with sadness. "Damn that hare."

"Inquisitor Savage was your partner? I'm so sorry. We were told about him during training." she said feeling his pain. "I'm no Inquisitor but I'm sure you will be proud to have Judith Laverne Hopps as your partner one day."

"Well Dame Hopps let's bust up some cultists."

After finding a goat suspected of being a cultist Nick had Judy, dressed as an innocent farm girl, follow him while Nick followed her from the rooftops. The goat slipped into a sewer tunnel with Judy not far behind. She let the goat get a small lead while she waited for Nick to catch up with her gear.

"Alright Daggers," greeted Nick with a smirk, "get your stuff on while I scout ahead."

"Daggers?" she asked.

"Small, hard, sharp and deadly. Just like you." he said as he vanished in the darkness.

Her breath caught in her throat as he said that. She blushed to the tip of her ears then tore away the dress revealing the padding she always wore under her armor. Judy quickly donned a shirt of scalemail, a helmet, bracers and greaves then took up her sword and shield and set off after him.

Nick, meanwhile was blushing as he ran silently grateful for the darkness. At the first intersection of tunnels he removed one of his many matching throwing knives from his bandoliers. He tapped the small emerald in the pommel causing it to glow faintly with magic. The small bit of light let him see goat tracks in the muck down the left tunnel. He carefully left the knife pointing to the left and continued on knowing he would be followed soon.

Three pointing knives later Judy caught up with Nick. He had his black cloak covering the two bandoliers over his shoulders and the one at his waist. He was watching figures in torchlight in a large chamber ahead. He pointed out the banners and robes of those gathered. The symbols of Nyx Goddess of primordial night covered them all. "These fools are messing with necromancy." he said as quietly as possible. Without her large ears she never would have heard him. "Magic like that has wiped whole cities from the map." He drew three knives with each paw and stalked silently, out of range of the torches, ever closer to his targets. Judy, however being more of a close range fighter marched forward confidant that, with her distraction, Nick would be unnoticed as he eliminated one after another.

"I am a Paladin of the Order of Light," she bellowed as loudly as she could. "Surrender now and you may be spared." The cultists were neither impressed or intimidated as they froze the charged once they realized she looked alone. As they brandished their weapons and began to move towards her two near the middle suddenly screamed and fell as daggers sprouted from legs, arms and torso. Judy saw this but didn't allow it to register for she had her own plan to put into motion. "Sacred animals of Apollo give me strength!" She said as she suddenly shot forward ten feet closing the distance between her and her closest foe. She rammed her shield into his face with all the force her body and power could muster launching the goat cultist into three others and sending them all sliding five feet more. The rabbit was easily as strong as the sacred cows of Apollo. A shadow suddenly moved amongst the floored cultists pinning them all to the floor with knives. Nick looked up at her with a grin. "Dang Daggers, remind me not to piss you off."

Nine years ago…

After the disappearance of Dawn Bellwether following the destruction of her cult Judy and Nick worked markets aiding local guardsmammals to capture thieves.

"Okay Daggers, you'll be in the market dressed as a noble." Nick informed her of his plan. "We'll have weapons hidden here and here in case you need to grab them quick." He said as he pointed at a rough map they had made. Then he looked up into her amethyst eyes and realized that if anything happened to her he'd die. "Hey, uh Judy… I just realized I love you."

"Took you long enough, Slick." She said as she launched herself into his arms kissing him with a passion usually reserved for the priestesses of Aphrodite. "I love you too."

Eight years ago…

"Dancing or theater before dinner?" He asked knowing that whatever she decided he was ready with the ring.

Seven years ago…

"I, Nicholas Piberius Wilde, take Judith Laverne Hopps to be my wife."

"I, Judith Laverne Hopps, take Nicholas Piberius Wilde to be my husband."

Less than a week after the wedding...

"Bogo gave me a deep cover op," Nick said with a depressed face. "I can't even take you with me on this one. He said I have to go alone. I don't know how long this is going to take but I will come home to you. I swear it by all the gods of Olympus."

"Where is he sending you can you tell me that at least?"

"No he's completely classified it. I'm sorry to leave you so soon, but he just doesn't care what we want." Then his face got a dark look to it as his mind shifted to anger. "He's always had it out for me and the other foxes in the Order. I'll send you something to point the way when it's safe to. Goodbye, my love."