Set after the end of the Zootopia: Partners canon
Pearline Swinton took the podium, giving a rehearsed smile; though warm enough. Election season had come and it was time for her to secure her place as the mayor of Zootopia for another term. She was a middle-aged, fairly attractive pig. She wore a nice red dress and navy blue jacket and had charm to spare; her honeyed words had captivated Zootopia in it's time of prosperity. Her main running opponent was Nick Wilde, a grizzled, handsome old fox who was pushing sixty. She didn't dare underestimate him; she wasn't in the business of doing that. Pearline hoped her speech would bury him in the eye of the voter.
"Greetings Zootopians!" Pearline Swinton began. Her voice was clear, practiced, but professional. "Thank you for coming out to see me today, and for those of you watching at home. You know that under my ticket, Zootopia has enjoyed prosperity. Lives have been improved, crime rates lowered, taxes lowered. But there is a threat to Zootopia, and it comes from outside. Now, you may be wondering what this threat is, and rest assured I will tell you. It is the outsider."
There was a small bit of murmuring before Swinton moved her arm subtly to disperse the discussion. "I don't mean the outsider from other cities in our fine country no, but what of the other animals from other countries? For too long our immigration laws have been lax. We have several hundred reptiles in this country now! Before you say, 'Oh Swinton, you speciesist old pig, what's wrong with reptiles?" let me tell you that I know many reptiles; they can be good people. But they did not found Zootopia. We did, mammals. Not birds, not reptiles. The more animals we brazenly let into Zootopia, the more the things that make our nation special are diluted."
Swinton turned her head subtly and gave a sweet, almost pitying smile to her listeners. "A similarly sized reptile uses more electricity than a similarly-sized mammal. It's true! Reptiles need specialized heaters to function in our modern world. Now, I don't say we should evict reptiles from our city, far from it! Instead though, we need to tighten up our immigration laws. If you've had trouble getting a job in our city, who really is to blame? There's plenty of work for all to do! But in recent decades we've had bunnies moving from Bunnyburrow to become police officers, reptiles coming over and snapping up jobs in their snouts, some birds from the coast. I say we need to focus on mammal. Predator and prey! The harmony between us!"
There was some cheering. Swinton smiled and closed her eyes briefly, letting it wash over her. "A job for every mammal, that's what I can offer you. Zootopia-born Zootopians need Zootopian jobs! But, of course, my opponent does not feel this way. The fox, Nicholas Wilde. You may have heard of him. Far be it from me to say that a fox, a predator couldn't run our city and do a fine job, oh no!" Swinton held up her hand and shook her head as if taking an oath. "But this fox? Do we know his history? I do. Every single thing he wants to accomplish as a mayor, he is doing for his own self-interest."
Swinton put on a grim face and nodded. "Harsh accusations? Yes. But let's think about it. A fox with a bunny wife that wants to make sure the definition of marriage stays extremely broad and doesn't reward our same-species couples who give us new Zootopians, our future? A fox who would raise our taxes, increasing the money flow of the government, and for what, so his sickly mother can get some extra treatment at your expense?" Swinton shook her head and sighed. "And let's not forget that he wasn't quite a criminal, back in his sordid youth, where he might have hustled you out of some pocket change like a common beggar. I won't say he's reinforced the fox stereotype, but the facts speak for themselves. He's sneaky and untrustworthy, and only looking out for himself."
Some jeers erupted and Swinton put on a pleased smile. "This is the type of mammal who thinks he can lead our fair city?" Swinton shook her head subtly. "Stick with me, Zootopians. I will do you right. I'm a proven name and I have a proven record." She gave a humble nod. "Thank you for your time!" Swinton took her leave of the stage to loud applause, a confident smile on her face the whole way.
"Ooh...! I am so nervous...!" A koala in her late twenties said. She was smartly arranged in a navy coat and matching skirt, and a white blouse. She looked at the empty podium set up and took a deep breath, letting it slowly out.
"It's a good thing you're not giving the speech then, Carrie," Nick said, adjusting his red tie. He was wearing a slick navy blue suit, and though he was starting to appear a little grizzled and grayish around the edges, he still fancied himself as quite a handsome fox.
"Oh, speaking of!" Carrie Walla fumbled around with some papers, her voice almost trembling. She wasn't raised in Outback Island, so she lacked the accent. "Would you like to take up the transcript, sir? Perhaps at least the outline?"
"Carrie, we've been over this," Nick rolled his eyes, though he smiled, "please don't call me 'sir'. We're friends. You'll be Assistant Mayor if I make Mayor. You're not my secretary, so put all those papers away."
"But, sir!" Carrie started, then caught herself. "Sorry, not sir. Mister Wilde. Nick, sir. Egh! It's a bad habit, sorry. I have a lot of bad habits." She put a paw to her mouth and then jerked it away before she could start chewing on her claws. "To be honest, I'm not sure why you chose me for your running partner. A lot of the others who offered seemed more... capable."
"Hmhm," Nick looked over her, tilting his muzzle up and smiling. "Carrie, I didn't choose you because you were 'capable'. I chose you because you were driven. You share my ideals and have a warm personality. I'd trust Zootopia in your paws before any of the others I looked into. Just didn't get good vibes from them."
"'Vibes', sir?" Carrie looked skeptical.
Nick chuckled again, winking. "Let's just say I underestimated a small gray prey once. Won't make that mistake again. We all need a chance, Carrie. I just wanted to see if I could give you yours." Carrie looked a bit embarrassed, but shuffled at her folder she was holding.
"Not even your outline...?" Carrie wagged a paper at him, her eyes squinting.
"I've practiced this speech so many times, my wife said I woke her up by reciting it in my sleep," Nick adjusted his coat. "I got this. And if I don't got this, you come out on stage and hand me it, and I'll introduce you and say how my running mate has more smarts than the arrogant old fox trying to be mayor."
"Okay, Sir Mister Nick Wilde," Carrie clicked her teeth, looking a bit calmer. She shook her head, looking at the floor. "Swinton really laid into you."
"I knew it was coming," Nick sighed. "Can't hide from my past. Knew she'd play dirty." Nick shot her an airy look. "She's a pig, after all."
"Nick...!" Carrie's brown eyes widened.
"Ah, there we go," Nick winked. "Just need to lose some of your respect to get you to call me by my first name."
"You really do keep calm under pressure, don't you?" Carrie scratched at one of her large ears.
"It's a tenant I've lived by for a long time, Carrie," Nick smirked. "Never let anyone see that they get to you."
"So... are you actually nervous?" Carrie wondered.
"Oh yeah," Nick said, not seeming like this at all. "Be waiting for me in the wings in case I screw up, little eucalyptus-muncher. And if I do screw up, I owe you and your mate a fancy dinner."
"Okay then," Carrie put on a challenging smile, narrowing her brow. "Go get them then, Nick."
Nick took the podium, having the same air of charisma that had served him well over his several decades of life, now also seasoned with experience and the dignity that an older age could bring. Running his hands along the empty lectern, he let the words he had practiced so many times flow through him.
"Zootopians, good to see you," Nick said. "I'm Nicholas Piberius Wilde. Perhaps you've heard of me? This old upstart politician that's been rallying for marriage rights. Been a police officer for two and a half decades, too, and yes, two of my decades were also misspent in this city, being a petty hustler. I've tasted everything this city has to offer, both good and bad. I've been a scared kit, disgruntled teenager, maladjusted young adult, police officer, husband, father, and, if the people of Zootopia will it, I might even be a mayor."
Nick took a deep breath. "But, unlike what Miss Swinton would have you believe, this is not all about me. It's about us. I'm not going to resort to mud-slinging, I'll leave that to her." There were some chuckles. "Now, now, that's just a figure of speech. Do I have a squirrel son? Yes. Do I have a bunny wife? I do. An ailing mother? Unfortunately. But what do the laws that Swinton is trying to pass mean for you? They mean that a zebra and a horse will no longer be able to get married, no matter how much they might love each other. They mean that it would become much more difficult for even a gopher to adopt a mouse, because they are in a different size classification. They are cold, hard rules that deny what makes us strong, our hearts and our ability to adapt." Nick placed a fist to his chest. Maybe that had been a little hokey. He heard a cough from the audience.
"We've all heard Zootopias slogan," Nick continued, his fears still stamped into oblivion deep within him. "Anyone can be anything? That's been true for a lot of us, but for some, it has not. These rules Swinton is going to apply to us, what do they accomplish other than just limiting what we can be? Reptiles, birds, mammals from other cities, other countries. What does it matter what draws them here? They are drawn to us because of what Zootopia stands for. We're stronger because we've come to accept our differences, and with effort, move past them."
Nick gave a brief glance to Carrie, who seemed entranced, but held up up his script if he needed it. Nick gave a very subtle shake of his head. "It's a matter of record that I haven't always been the model citizen of our city. I've spent nearly as much of my life trying to worm my way into its crevices as I have earnestly serving it and protecting it. But I was given a chance one day, a chance to be a better animal. It took some doing, but I eventually took that chance, and that is why I even stand here before you today. Zootopia needs chances, it needs diversity to grow and continue to be the beacon that it was built for. By banding together and keeping our laws on love and parenting broad, we send this message to the rest of the world: we are ready to make it a better place. Thank you."
Nick hesitated before leaving the podium. There was applause, and a few animals even started a standing ovation, which others joined in on. Nick nodded and smiled, and headed offstage.
"Gosh, my heart was pounding out of my chest," Carrie said, giggling a little, looking almost giddy. "I think you killed it, sir!"
"What, my chances of being Mayor?" Nick chuckled, folding his arms as he walked with the koala.
"No no, I kinda think they might have bought it?" Carrie laughed.
"You think I sold them a hustle?" Nick returned the laugh.
"Ah Nick, I think you'll be a good Mayor," Carrie sighed.
"I need those votes first," Nick shrugged. "And the campaign trail is still fresh. Anyway, I'm feeling good enough about this. C'mon, you call your mate and I'll call mine and we'll do dinner, my treat."
"Huh? But you didn't need the speech," Carrie cocked her head.
"I've altered the terms of the deal," Nick wiggled his eyebrows.
"Sneaky fox," Carrie looked at him sidelong. "You'll make a good politician."
Nick chuckled, taking out his phone to get his wife onto it. "I think that's a contradiction in terms. But..." Nick sighed. "I hope so."