A/N: Before reading this chapter, if you haven't already, I highly suggest going back and re-reading the previous chapters, as I've done a lot of revising and adding small elements that are called upon in this chapter. If you really don't feel like going back and reading through all of them, just read the new start to chapter 3.

Everything was definitely not ok. Next week came far too quickly, and every night Daniel was plagued with the same nightmare, over and over again. The lack of any proper sleep had left him exhausted, and he was grossly unprepared for the first day at the Academy. Even though he already had personal experience with a similar course, he still found himself struggling to keep up.

Daniel finally tracked down his cot before collapsing on the firm mattress. He couldn't care less how hard or soft the bed was, he just wanted to sleep. And yet, despite the overwhelming weariness that begged him to drift off, the lingering adrenaline from the day alongside the fear of having another nightmare kept him rooted in reality. He eventually found his mind going over the few highs and innumerous lows he had dealt with over the last few hours.

He scored above average on the written exams and the firearms course, finding both to be just as familiar as before. In fact, he probably would have aced the written if it wasn't for the small discrepancies between Zootopia's ordinances and the ones from the past. Firearms were another matter entirely, as it took him awhile to get used to the tranquilizer's travel time when trying to hit moving targets.

Sparring had been surprisingly difficult for him, if only because he had immediately been paired up with a hippo that was well over twice his size. No matter what blows he was able to sneak in, his opponent just shrugged them off and kept chugging along. The match eventually ended in a draw, as the hippo was never able to make contact and Daniel was never able to make any meaningful contact.

However, the obstacle course was another matter entirely. The drill sergeant had declared him 'dead' so many times that he began to wonder if he was actually a reanimated corpse. He passed the urban section without much trouble, albeit not as quickly as some of the other mammals due to his exhaustion. It wasn't until he encountered the more exotic environments that he began to have immense difficulty even completing the course, much less keeping up with the other recruits. Even Nick was doing better, even if it was only marginal at times.

One of the biggest problems was that, he was only human. When it came to trudging through the various biomes, his body wasn't specialized like some of the other mammals. He was slower in the constant downpour of a rainforest, colder in the freezing air of a tundra, and weaker in the blazing heat of a desert. It was disheartening to see just how average his abilities were, and for a moment he almost felt as though he should give up. Almost.

Memories of police training back home slowly resurfaced. How awful it had been, how much he had wanted to quit after the first day. But I didn't quit, did I? I thought about everyone I'd let down if I did. My friends, my family, all of the countless people I could save. It's still the same thing. I can do this, I have to. He felt rejuvenated, the hopelessness from before having been replaced with confidence. However, he was still grossly fatigued, and he finally opted to try to fall asleep in hopes of getting ready for the next day of training.

The sound of approaching footsteps kept him awake, however, prompting him to lazily sit up from the cot. Nick didn't look much better than him, the fox practically drooping from how tired he was. "I can't believe I actually thought Carrots wasn't a real cop," he groaned while rolling into the cot beside Daniel. "This is torture."

Daniel could only grunt in agreement. "I thought that I was ready for this kind of stuff after going through the course back home, but this is another beast entirely." He laid down on his back and stared up at the ceiling, his eyelids threatening to close once again.

"How did you do it?" Nick asked incredulously.

"Well… the only way I made it through each day was by reminding myself of why I was going through all of it. My parents played a big part, don't get me wrong, but they weren't the real reason why I decided to join. No, it was all of the innocent people that would never be able to defend themselves, all of the criminals that would inevitably get away. I felt that maybe, just maybe, me being in the force would ensure that a few more people would get the justice they deserve. And I still do.

Nick let out a tired chuckle. "You know, you remind me of Carrots. Always striving to make the world a better place."

"You could say that, but I think I'm far less ambitious." Daniel gave Nick a quizzical expression. "So what's your motivation?"

Nick stared up at the ceiling in thought. "I guess I do it to protect all of the little things in my life. I've seen what this city can do to some people, and I don't want to see that happen to the ones I care about.

"But more than anything… I do it for Judy. She only saw me as another sly fox at first, but then she began to look past that. She didn't care about what I was, or what I could do for her, but about who Iam. And she believed in me, believed that I could become something better."

Daniel nodded absentmindedly. He didn't know Nick very well, but it was obvious the fox had already been through a lot in a short amount of time. And yet, it was oddly inspiring to think that such a small bunny could have such a huge impact on his life. I get the feeling that Judy means a lot to him, more than he realizes. He just needs some time to mull things over, and the academy just might give it to him.

Daniel continued to stare at the ceiling until his eyes finally shut of their own accord, and drifted off. He didn't have nightmares that night.

The following months were grueling, to put it lightly. This was nothing like the police academy back home, and Danny's lackluster performance through the initial weeks showed just how out of shape he was. Still, he was doing significantly better than the rest of the recruits, including Nick, who could barely keep up with the training regimen.

Still, as the weeks dragged on, everyone slowly began to get better. However, no one improved themselves as fast as Nick did. There were bound to be some recruits who thought he was cheating the system, but eventually everyone knew the truth behind his exponential growth.

Danny trained with Nick every day, while Nick texted Judy and asked her for the 'latest and greatest tips and tricks to acing the academy,' although Danny suspected they were talking about anything but. Still, they made an excellent team, and Nick liked partnering up with Danny almost as much as he did with Judy. Almost.

There were still challenges, however, one of the most prominent being Danny's recurring nightmares. Despite their predictability, he still felt the same rush of anger and sorrow in each and every dream, just as strong as the one before. He figured that it was the result of some sort of survivor's guilt, but he couldn't convince himself to let it go. Instead, he buried it under a mountain of resolve and toughed out the sleepless nights.

Tonight was one of those nights. He bolted awake for the third time that night, the vision of the faceless thing still fresh in his mind. He dragged his hands down his face before sitting up and looking around the dimly lit barracks. It was completely pitch black, except for one small source of light from his right. Nick's phone illuminated his muzzle as he lazily browsed away.

"Didn't expect to see you up," Danny whispered, causing Nick to jump.

"Same goes for you Danny. At least I have an excuse."

Danny shrugged. "Yeah, you're right. I guess I'm just not really tired."

Nick didn't buy it, giving him a skeptical look before shaking his head. "Look, I didn't think it was my place to ask but… what's been going on lately? You keep bolting awake every other night, but you never brought it up, so I didn't ask."

Danny let out a long sigh before collapsing back onto his bed and staring up at the ceiling. "I've been having the exact same nightmare since I first got out of cryo. I'm back inside one of the pods, begging for someone to let me out. Then this faceless… husk stands in front of the window before leaving me to die."

"So, what do you think it means?"

Danny paused in thought. "I'm pretty sure that faceless thing… is me. An insignificant nobody who just got lucky and didn't bother to try to save anyone else."

"Now hold on a minute. Just because you're one among billions doesn't mean you aren't important. Everyone has their own thoughts, their own personalities, their own desires, everything that makes you you."

Nick gave him a smirk. "Personally, I'm glad that you made it out. I don't know if I could've made it through this course without you, and even if I could it wouldn't be the same without you."

Danny looked over at the fox, a grin creeping up on his face. "Thanks, I needed that." He looked back up at the ceiling, his brows furrowing in thought. I never thought in a million years that I would be friends would be a fox, but I'm lucky to have him.

After mulling over his thoughts, Danny turned to Nick and asked, "So, what's been keeping you up?"

Nick's smile faltered. "It's… a long story."

"Hey, I'll be here all night."

Nick stifled a laugh before putting his phone down. "I've been thinking about my mom lately. Never knew my dad, although Mom always said that Anthonio was one hell of a charmer. Apparently I have his eyes, but I wouldn't know."

He let out a frustrated sigh before continuing. "We barely got by; I was practically all she had. Eventually I tried to get into cub scouts to make her proud but… that didn't exactly work out." Nick anxiously shifted around his bed before continuing.

"After that, I met Finnick. Maybe he felt sorry for me, or maybe he just wanted another cute face to make his life easier, but he agreed to help my mom if I did some jobs with him. One thing led to another, and soon we were raking in serious cash."

"And your mom never knew?" Danny interjected.

Nick chuckled dryly. "Oh no, she knew almost immediately, and there wasn't a day where she didn't remind me that what I was doing was wrong. But, we needed the money… so I kept going.

"Every hustle was better than the last, and soon I was making more than Finnick had ever made alone. I just can't shake the feeling that it was never worth it… Every time she looked at me, I could feel her disappointment cutting through me like a knife. And yet, I thought I was doing the right thing.

"Then I just… left. I didn't say goodbye, didn't even write a note. I just left the cash from my latest hustle and left. I still send relief funds to her address, but I haven't seen or talked to her since."

Danny lay motionless as he processed the information. "That's rough," he stated lamely. "Look," he began after a long pause, "I think it's time to find your mom again. Whether she was ever disappointed in you or not, I think she'd be proud to see where you are today."

Nick scoffed. "After all these years? After what I did to her? She won't even look at me," he whispered harshly.

"I seriously doubt that. Look, if fox parents are anything like human parents, then I'm positive that your mom does not hate you in the slightest. No matter what I got myself into, no matter how far I dug myself into a hole, my parents were always there to support me. I'm sure your mom feels the same way."

Nick scratched his muzzle in thought. "Yeah, maybe you're right."

"Maybe? You mean I am right."

The fox shook his head, grinning. "I wouldn't go that far."

"I think you'll be pleasantly surprised." They shared a hushed laugh before saying goodnight and falling back asleep. For the first night since he started in the academy, Daniel didn't have any nightmares that night.

Today was the day. He hadn't felt this excited in a long time, maybe even in his entire life. All the recruits recently learned that they had passed the final exams, and today was graduation. Of course, Daniel was ecstatic. It only took about twenty centuries and the apocalypse to pass the Academy, but I did it right?... That's a depressing thought. Daniel shrugged to himself before climbing out of bed.

Nick was already preparing for the big day, shrugging on the top of his dress blues. The fox uttered a quick "Morning" before continuing to button up the uniform with deft hands… paws. Even though I've been around these animals for over a year, I don't think I'll get quite used to it.

Daniel nodded in return before making his way over to shower. By the time he finished, most of the recruits were prepped and ready to go, with Nick sitting on his cot waiting for Daniel.

"Why's everyone in such a rush? Graduation isn't for another four hours," Daniel asked as he slipped his left arm into the sleeve of his uniform top.

"Everyone's trying to get their last-minute arrangements sorted out. Family, friends, that special someone who convinced them to join up with the ZPD because they just love a man in uniform." The last one earned a grin from Daniel.

"So, why are you up so early?" he quipped.

Nick scratched the back of his neck before answering, "That… is a great question."

"It's your mom isn't it?"

Nick paused for a moment before letting out a defeated sigh. "Am I really that easy to read?"

Daniel shook his head. "If it was anyone else, they wouldn't be able to tell the difference."

"I dunno, Carrots could probably give you a run for your money."

"Obviously."

"Nothing gets past her, ever. I'm telling you it's those carrots, they give her supervision." They shared a brief chuckle before Danny continued.

"So really, what's going on?"

Nick scratched the back of his head as he answered, "I called Mom a couple days ago, got left on voicemail. Tried again this morning, same thing."

"You think she changed her phone number? It's been a long time."

"Nah, she still has the same voicemail."

Danny rubbed his chin in thought. "Well, just hold tight for now alright? I'm still willing to bet money that she's gonna be there."

"I'll hold you to that," Nick joked. It was obvious that it was still bothering him, but not nearly as much as before. I just hope to God that I'm right.

Time seemed to fly by as they waited for the ceremony, at least for Daniel. He could only imagine how grueling it must have been for Nick, but he never let his façade down. The beginning was rather mundane, with everyone trying to get into position on stage as the spectators rolled in.

The acting mayor was one of the first to arrive, a rather average looking deer in a navy-blue suit, followed by a few family members of some of the younger recruits. Eventually, the rest of the crowd began to turn out: a few officers, some siblings, a lot of parents, even a couple of reporters.

Danny scanned over the turnout as he waited for the ceremony to begin, looking for any fox other than Nick. He smirked to himself when he caught sight of Judy, mentally noting that he guessed right, but never saw any signs of who he was really looking for.

Just as the graduation was getting underway, he spotted a glimpse of red fur in the back row. He had no idea when or how they got there without him noticing, but he had a feeling about who it was. Still, he didn't know for sure and decided to let it go for the time being.

It killed him to not be able to give Nick some hope, but he figured it would be a lot worse if he told him about the figure in the back only to turn out to be wrong. The graduation was painfully slow, the knowledge of the figure festering in the back of his mind. To make matters worse, the ceremony itself was predictably boring with niceties and honors from people he didn't care about, and the crowd soon became fixated on the new human recruit.

The only thing that stood out from the whole thing was Judy's speech. There was just something about the message, that everyone had the potential to become their own mammal and better themselves and those around them, that resonated deeply within him. It was much more meaningful than the cookie-cutter speech the mayor gave, and from a script no less.

Daniel thanked every god he could think of when the graduation was over. He nudged Nick and motioned for him to follow before making his way off the stage and towards the figure in the back row. The mammals parted like the Red Sea as they saw the human approaching, revealing a graying vixen standing behind the row of chairs.

Nick beamed when he recognized who it was. "Hey mom," he said meekly.

The other fox looked up at Nick, barely wasting a moment before enveloping him in a hug. "Nicholas Piberius Wilde, you ought to know by now when I can and can't answer the phone," she scolded playfully

"Yeah well, maybe I forgot," he replied sarcastically.

"Some things never change," she noted with a chuckle. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks mom. Sorry for being such a disappointment for so long… I just didn't know what else to do."

Nick's mom scoffed. "Nonsense, I was never disappointed in you. I didn't approve of your line of work, true, but I was more worried that you'd get yourself into trouble that you wouldn't be able to talk your way out of. If anything, I was disappointed in myself because I couldn't care for myself, let alone you too."

"You did the best you could mom. It wasn't your fault."

"Come on Nick, let me be sad for once," she said jokingly, giving her son another squeeze before letting him go.

The two foxes sat down and continued talking about anything and everything that had happened since Nick left, while Danny and Judy watched from a respectable distance. "I haven't seen Nick this happy since I found him under the bridge a couple months ago," Judy noted happily.

"Finding his mom again meant a lot to him. He stayed up countless nights dreading the idea that his mom would never seem as anything other than a con."

"He mentioned that it was bothering him, but he never said it was that bad…"

Eventually the two foxes stood up from the long-since vacated back row and walked over to Danny and Judy. "So, you two must be Judy and Danny. I just wanted to say, thank you bringing my son back to me."

"To be fair, all I did was make sure he didn't lose his cool in the academy; Judy did the hard work," Danny said sarcastically, earning an elbow from Judy.

"To be honest Mrs. Wilde. I only convinced him to join the academy, the rest was all Nick," Judy said sincerely.

The vixen skeptically raised her eyebrow. "When mammals learn to accept a compliment, it'll be the end of days," she joked, earning an abashed smile from Danny and Judy. "And please, call me Marianne. 'Mrs. Wilde' makes me feel old."

The group talked for a little while longer at the deserted graduation grounds before deciding to head to a diner Marianne had suggested. Now this is something worth celebrating.

A/N: First of all, I'd like to apologize for taking so long on this. I don't really have a good excuse as to why such a short chapter took so long, but all I can say is that, for as simple as it is, this was probably the hardest to write thus far. I'm awful at writing emotional stuff, primarily because I have no personal experience with stuff like this. I challenged myself to write something I liked, and I didn't like any of it, so I put the story down for a while. Now I'm back, and I promise I will try to be more timely with updates in the future.

M: The Way Home - Magic Sword; So Far Away - Lazerhawk
N (most recent): Human Error - STRNGR; anything by Danger