You can assume it's been just over a month since the protest started fully. Okay. Onwards!
"I am so nervous. I've never been this nervous before. It feels like the whole world is watching us! What if you mess up? My paw is trembling. Is that bad? What if you forget your words? What if you drop the cue cards? What if –"
"Relax, Carrots. I've got this. Calm down. Be cool. It's fine. And if they ask anything, I know what to do." Nick straightened his tie and brushed back his fur. He straightened Judy's hat and dusted off her uniform.
"It's time," a runner told them, and ducked away.
Nick began to walk towards the podium, but stopped. He turned around. "You should be up there with me."
Judy smiled. "I didn't do anything."
"Without you, none of this would've happened. C'mon." He extended a paw, and Judy took it.
As soon as they walked on to the podium, Nick's entire posture changed. He went from tired to suave in a rabbit's heartbeat, shoulders straight, chin up. Judy had to admit; now she understood why all the females at the precinct loved him.
The microphone crackled and sent a burst of static through the crowd. There: she saw through the façade and for just a moment, that ever-present doubt showed through.
He cleared his throat, looked down at the cue card, and up again. A huge crowd had gathered for the event, many of them carrying signs. Reporters and journalists crowded the front, and cameras flashed nonstop.
"Citizens of Zootopia, my name is Nick Wilde," He began. "Recently, a new movement has begun. It is with great happiness – No. No. I can't do this." He burst out laughing. He looked down at the cue card again, then proceeded to tear it up.
"I brought a speech with me today, but there's really no point in reading it, right?"
Shocked and confused whispers came from the crowd. He grinned and hooked his arm over Judy's shoulders, pulling her closer.
"Sure, we were all given a script. From birth. We were told to act, think, and behave one way, to never deviate. Well, isn't that what we've all been fighting?
Consider our biology.
Sure, we have limits.
Sure, we weren't all created equally.
We may be small, big, timid or bold, but at the end of the day, we're all mammals.
We all make mistakes.
No one ever gets it on their first run.
I'm not here to preach about equality. That's a job for Officer Hopps here. No, I'm here to tell you that –" He paused, searching for the right word, "that you are yourself. I'm not the villain, not because of this protest, not because I'm a fox. Stereotypes are.
This protest has shown you, that if we all behave exactly how we're expected to, the city won't and can't function.
Consider our biology.
Sure, sloths run the DMV, beavers do construction, and lemmings are bankers, but what about everyone else?"
He gestured towards a little section that's been roped off for smaller animals. "Remember, when that elephant came trampling in to Little Rodentia?"
Whispers, snickers and one embarrassed trumpet came from the audience.
"Yeah. Yeah. She's a great friend of mice, but since elephants are supposed to be scared of mice, she should be too, right?
Problem is, she potentially endangered an entire town and incited a scurry.
Now, imagine this happening ten-fold, all across Zootopia. How would we live? How can we survive in this city?"
He finished triumphantly and passed the microphone to Judy. Her ears flew up in surprise, but she still took it. She took a deep breath and began.
"Hi. I'm Officer Hopps, ZPD. I, um, I didn't do much, to tell you the truth. I only caught on to this halfway through.
For the first few days, I was so frustrated. There was crime everywhere, my co-workers were unbearably annoying, and of course, I was back to being a dumb bunny.
But, I joined. And I embraced it. And I knew, then, that mammals around me, no longer see just a dumb bunny. They see me as a police officer, someone that can help, and make the world a better place.
I hope that this time, you saw all your friends and family in a new light, and to stop judging everyone, just because of how they look, and what species they are!"
Nick swiped the microphone from her. "Hey!" She shouted, and raised a paw for the microphone back. He held it just out of her reach.
"This is what you call timid, people," He remarked.
She grumbled and crossed her arms, but realized that he wasn't done talking yet.
"Dumb bunny, valedictorian of her class," He announced, and pulled Judy's police badge out of his pocket.
Her paw flew up to her chest, but it wasn't there anymore.
Stepping over, he pinned the badge to her shirt, the shiny metal glinting in the morning light.
Shyly, Judy took out a badge too. Not just any badge, but Nick's.
"Sly fox, good cop through and through," She said, and pinned it to his chest.
His tail fluffed up in pride, and he stood up tall. He and Judy linked paws and held them high in the air.
"Consider our biology! We are mammals. We are strong. And together, we are Zootopia!" They shouted.
There was a brief pause, and then the crowd repeated their cry and cheered.
Shakily, Judy dragged Nick off the stage by the tie, listening to the roar of the crowd.
"That went great! But did you really memorize the speech and rip up the cue cards just to add that script bit?"
He shrugged. "It worked, didn't it?"
She laughed and smoothed out her ears. She was still shaking from nervousness. "I should've known. I should've considered your biology."
"What can I say? Sly fox, aren't I?" He held up her badge again.
"Hey!" She snatched it back. She realized that her hat was gone.
Nick began walking away, twirling it on his finger.
"NICK!"