Zootopia is a big city, full of tough and adaptable mammals. Once a problem has been addressed, its people are quick to adapt and overcome anything that comes their way. This proved to be just as true with the Rammstein Scandal as it had with every other crisis that had once threatened the majestic city.

With Dawn's help, the Rammsteins were pulled out by the roots, completely and utterly culled from every organization and government body they'd attempted to infiltrate. Over the next several days, multiple police raids were launched, and dozens of rams and sheep from the PDs, Fire Departments, all levels of municipal government, even hospitals and corporations were rounded up and arrested. Only a few were eventually released, their connections too tangential or circumstantial to place. Only as the trials began and the evidence started becoming accounted for did the depth of the conspiracy truly become known.

Dawn Bellweather, the ringleader and would-be dictator of Zootopia, took a plea deal. In exchange for providing everything she knew about the organization and their connections, she would end up avoiding jailtime. Probably for the best - the sheer number of Preds she helped put behind bars over the years (whether they deserved it or not) that wanted to kill her meant she wouldn't last a day in the general population. Instead, she'd be sentenced to house arrest for eighteen months, followed by five years probation, as well as a $100'000 fine. Though none of this stung as much losing her relationship with Rocket. For all the good times they had, for all that they understood they'd used each other, her heart broke as she knew what they had was gone. Her best hope now was to simply fade away into the background, hope that mammals forgot about her, and hold onto the memories of what were and could've been (with him).

Though that is not to say that everyone else had a bummer ending, far from it. Bogo was cleared of wrongdoing, and his position as Chief of the Central District was restored. Rumors abound that Rocket pulled some strings to help make this happen, but that was never confirmed nor denied. What was confirmed, however, was that Bogo brought Clawhauser back behind the front desk, much to the rejoicing of everyone else in the department. The officers held a party in their honor, happy to have one of their own brought back into the fold.

With the old mayor and the deputy mayor both gone amid scandals, the position of leadership fell to Head Treasurer Yax - the yak who also ran the Oasis Nudist Club. An unorthodox mammal, to be sure, but what's a "flower child" running an exotic naturalist club compared to a kidnapper and a terrorist? He had no secrets to hide (besides the ones that anyone with a pair of braincells to rub together could guess), and unlike all other politicians, seemed incapable of lying. Better still, he had a knack of picking replacements for the lost rams, seemingly at random and yet always perfectly suited for the job. Rocket met with him a couple of times, and both came to a mutual understanding regarding the future usage of drones within the city.

With the Berserker situation dealt with, and tensions between the species finally starting to simmer down, there was less of a need for combat/pacifying-models. Instead, Rocket presented the Mayor with new models, more focused on civilian use and infrastructure repair. Some of these were even large enough to transport large mammals, replacing buses and taxis alike. Yax liked that, and put in an order for 300 units. At the same time, the PD/Combat models were placed in storage, being consigned to "emergency measures" and "martial law-level situations". There was no need for the average Zootopian to be afraid of a robot cracking down on them.

As it turned out, Hopps' termination had never been completed, meaning that she never stopped being a police officer. For her hard work and commitment to peace and justice, Judy received a number of awards and commendations, and was promoted to detective. No more parking ticket duty for her, thank god.

Groot, meanwhile, in recognition of his efforts in thwarting the attack on the Peace and Love Concert, was granted personhood and citizenship within Zootopia and beyond. No more would he have to hide within a warehouse or a high-end lab - now he could walk the streets like anyone else, and be welcomed and treated as a hero and a celebrity (even if nobody could understand what he was saying).

Following the events of the Peace and Love Concert, Gazelle and Finnick officially announced that they were dating. While some were skeptical and confused as to why a famous musician would want to shack up with a male only a quarter of her height (if we're being generous), the issue wasn't going to be a financial one. With Rocket's help, Finnick used his shares in the cyborg's corporation to start his own businesses, starting up multiple autoshops and car dealerships. Soon, he became the biggest in the Zootopian auto-business, becoming a multimillionaire by the end of the year.

As for Nick and Rocket? Well...


"Why couldn't we do this indoors?" Rocket whispered to Nick, tugging on his collar. "I'm sweating like a Tuskaviran in this outfit."

"I don't know what that is," Nick whispered back, his sunglasses reflecting the bright summer sunlight away from his sensitive eyes, "But I didn't know raccoons could sweat."

"This one does," He replied, adjusting his black uniform, "I've worked next to fusion reactors in full protective gear, and I haven't felt this hot. I should redesign them and make them out of a material that breathes, for the Celestials' sake."

"I dunno, I think we look pretty slick in these," Nick brushed the sleeves of his black uniform.

"Guess we'll have to find out once we get outta 'ere," Rocket smirked, "You an' me, we head to a bar - you in dat, me in my gear. We'll see how many chicks we have wit' us at the end o' the night."

"I don't know how fair that is. Everyone knows who you are. How many mammals know me?"

Rocket was about to respond, when he spotted a familiar bunny taking the podium atop the stage. As Hopps started doing her speech, he thought about the last couple months. Judy had finally convinced Nick to give up working the streets, and become an example for foxes by joining law enforcement. Wilde didn't intend on going alone, however. He asked Rocket if he could join him in the academy. To everyone's surprise, Rocket accepted. Sure, there was the reasons he stated before (about wanting to graduate early just to prove how easy it was, as well as doing his part to be a registered superhero). But there was another, arguably more important reason for him: He wanted an excuse to hang out with his friends.

What was the point in being a do-gooder if you weren't doing it with your buds?

"When I was a kid," Judy began, "I thought Zootopia was this perfect place, where everyone got along and anyone could be anything. Turns out, real life is a little bit 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, 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."

The bunny looked at them as she spoke, offering a gentle smile. Nick lifted his shades and winked, and Rocky smiled and nodded. Her speech was filled with the positive, kumbaya nonsense that would've made his eyes roll into his skull not so long ago. But now, as she handed them their badges, he believed her. He could believe that together, they could make this city, this world, a better place. Together, he believed there was nothing they couldn't do.

Because he was Rocket Raccoon, and they were the Guardians of Zootopia.

The End