Here is the 82nd installment. Not much else to say.

Additional notes live at the end of the chapter, when they exist, so here is the obligatory, on with the show.

Sadly, I do not own and thus can claim no rights to Zootopia or its characters. They belong to Disney.

It continues…. Enjoy.

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The Monday morning after the awards ceremony, Nick and Judy walked into the offices of the taskforce. They both looked around at the suspiciously quietly working mammals. Nick spoke up. "Alright. What gives?"

His ears folded flat to his head, tail bristling and jaw clenching as the remixed version of Mister Fox that had hit number one on the charts over the weekend after the awards show started playing. Judy all but fell over laughing as did the rest of the mammals. Nick just stood there, crossing his arms while trying to not smile and took it.

Once the song ended, a voice from somewhere in the room Nick was pretty sure was Delgato sounded out. "Who knew our resident fox was a closet pop-star?"

Mike didn't even bother trying to hide. "You've been holding out on us, Nick."

Laughter echoed through the room as Nick tried to put on his best Bogo, though it was spoiled by the grinning and snickering rabbit next to him and the smirk on his own muzzle. "Alright. You have had your fun. Yes, that was me, a very long time ago. Now get to actual work you bunch of mangy beasts!"

While Nick generally took the ribbing well, he still had to put up with screen shots from the original video or the Award performance occasionally printed out and taped to his office door with things like, Hey Foxy, fox, and similar printed on them. The song would just randomly start playing from someone's computer, even if they were not at said computer. It took a good three weeks before they got it out of their system. Even then, with the popularity of the song's redux thanks to Gazelle, it would be months before he was fully free of it. Even Bogo managed to get in a few jabs during the bi-weekly Task Force status meetings.

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The task force, officially named the ZPD Special Investigations Division or ZSID, hunted down most of the financial backers of the old conspiracies. There was still at least one that was hidden behind so many layers of shell companies, trusts, sketchy charities and donations to the same, and cash gifts, that they were not hopeful of being able to determine who they were without additional information. Whoever they were knew how to hide their tracks within layers of financial obscurity to make them nearly untraceable. They also took down dozens of mammals who had participated in all manner of terrible things. They got a tip about a restaurant using actual mammal flesh in their recipes, the meat sourced from homeless mammals that no one would miss. They took down a contractor who was working with the restaurant owner to dispose of the unused body parts, as well as murdering interspecies couples in the foundation of the homes they were building.

Jack and Skye moved to the ZSID offices as the official ZBI liaisons. Once there, and with Nick and Judy's help, established an actual home they shared, were able to be more open and finally got past the issues caused by the needs of being field agents. They were both happier for it. They were actually living in one of the one bedroom units at the apartment complex with plans to purchase one of the condo's once built.

Mike met with the complex manager, Jacob. The documents that had been left for review were a purchase, construction, and management agreement for the neighboring three lots around the complex. The lot directly Rainforest side of the apartment complex was being sold to him, as long as he agreed to keep it minimally developed, and any development he did do needed to be vetted. The other two lots, that being the neighboring one he had wanted to purchase and the rainforest side lot, would not be sold to him. Instead, Jacob, via his company, Misty Cliffs Property Management, would be in partnership with Wolford Pack. MCPM would develop and plan the construction of the condo building and would then manage it. The same rules applied for the Rainforest side lot, development would be limited so as to not ruin the view. Mike and Lizz were made responsible for the project and overseeing the Pack's portion of things, including the Pack's portion of the financing and ensuring that they came out with a profit.

Having the original badges of Alpha in their possession, Lizz's status as Regent was affirmed and unquestioned. They walked into a council meeting wearing them, and once the initial shock wore off, and some explanations later, along with verification of the badges. There was no fight or argument left in even the most ardent opponents to Lizz and Mike. The only requirement demanded was an official Wolf wedding; minus the absurd requirement to validate the tie and other such intrusive requirements that had been brandished about before.

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Kit's are just over 6 months old

Wolford Pack ancestral reserve

Location: Taking up what most think of as an unincorporated area on the outskirts between Bunnyburrow, Podunk, and Foxenburg.

Nick looked up at Mike, standing and shifting nervously from paw to paw as they stood in the center of the traditional Wolford pack circle. There seemed to be nothing but wolves, but as he looked, he'd noticed that there were others. There were not many, but they were there. "Mike. Calm down. It isn't as if you are not already married. This is just a formality for you at this point. Now that she is fully recognized, you just have to do this to close the loop. So do us both a favor and take a breath."

Mike did just that with a nod, taking a slow, deliberate breath, holding it a moment and then letting it out. "I know, Nick. I just can't help it. I haven't seen her in a week. I miss her, and I don't want to screw this up because of that. Plus, I'm naked here."

Nick nodded with a smile and a light chuckle. "We're both naked, and she is going to be too. She has missed you just as much, and you know that."

Mike glared down at Nick. "Yes, and I still don't understand how you and Judy have managed to keep us from speaking."

Nick smirked. "Skills, my wolf. Skills you have yet to learn. You'll get there. You both will. Now calm down. You can hear mammals getting into position on the other side of the partition just as I can. So let's get into position so this doesn't have to last longer than needed."

A few moments later, Nick and Mike standing on their marks with their backs to the partition heard it moved aside. Mike manages to not turn, though he could not stop his tail from wagging in anticipation and joy as Lizz's scent hit him. A very old and grizzled wolf stepped to where one end of the partition had been. He slowly made his way in a full circle, examining the mammals who stood there, backs to each other. His critical eye took in the fact that there was only one wolf amongst the four mammals.

Once back to the place he started he began to speak with a much stronger voice than his aged appearance would suggest. "Wolves… and others. This is truly something this old wolf never thought he would see, but I look and I see many non-wolves in attendance. I see a wolf holding true to himself against stacked odds and violent opposition. A testament to the bravery these two mammals that have come here to be joined in the sight of Luna have shown. We are gathered on this full moon to join these two mammals in the sight of Luna and the pack, that their union be blessed and acknowledged as true and accepted by all.

For those that are not wolves, or have not studied the ancient traditions. This ceremony is very simple. The Alphas of the mammals to be joined will attest to their permission for them to be joined. Their Firsts will then turn and affirm that the mammals present are in fact the intended. Then, at the behest and verification of their Firsts, they will speak their hearts to the other mammal without turning. Once they have both spoken, they will accept or reject the other. If they accept, they will turn, if they reject, they will walk out without turning. If both accept, then I will complete the binding. With that explanation given, let us begin."

Holding his arms high to the sky and the full moon filling the circle with light. "Oh great Luna, giver of light on the darkest of nights. We ask that you bring your blessings to us on this night, as these mammals are tested and bound." Lowering his arms he spoke. "Alphas, step forward."

Victoria stepped up to the small inner circle, facing Mike, and giving him a reassuring smile. "I am Alpha of Wolford Pack Zootopia. I stand to attest as requested."

On the other side, Madeline, Lizz's mother stepped up the same as Victoria, facing LIzz with a proud grin on her muzzle. "I am Alpha of Fangmeyer troop. I stand to attest as requested."

The old wolf nodded. "Alpha's. Do you attest that these mammals are under your care and that they are the ones so designated and agreed upon to be bound this night?"

Victoria smiled. "I so attest that this mammal is under my care as Alpha, and is the mammal agreed upon to be bound. I attest that this is his First, recognized and acknowledged as such, who as stood by him in all things Pack, and even acted in defense of his life."

With a similar smile Madeline nodded. "I so attest that this mammal is under my care as Alpha, and is the mammal agreed upon to be bound. I attest that this is her first, recognized and acknowledged as such and who has stood with her in all things. Whose strength of character and wisdom has saved their lives and the lives of their pups."

"Do either of you have misgivings about this union? Speak them now, or for all time keep thine silence."

Victoria and Madeline spoke in unison. "I do not."

Smiling himself, the old wolf nodded and continued. "Very well. As the Alpha's have attested and agreed. Firsts. Turn and evaluate the mammal opposite your charges."

Nick and Judy turned slowly and stepped past each other, Nick giving Lizz and Judy giving Mike a careful evaluation. Once finished, they moved back to their side and stopped between the Alpha on their side and their charge, turning to face Mike/Lizz. The old wolf then spoke. "How say you, Firsts?"

Judy spoke first. "I confirm that this is the mammal known to me as my charges betrothed. They are in good health and I have no misgivings about them, nor their own First."

Nick then spoke. "I confirm that this is the mammal that is my charges betrothed. They are in good health and will bring many healthy pups to the pack. I have no misgivings of them or their First."

The old wolf managed to just suppress a grin and looked to Victoria. "Alpha of Wolford Pack. Do you again affirm and freely release this male to be bound to this female?"

Victoria didn't even try to suppress her grin. "I give this male freely to this female, that they may be bound. That their joining will strengthen the entire pack."

Turning to face Madeline. "Alpha of Fangmeyer troop. Do you again affirm and freely release this female to be bound to this male?"

Madeline also didn't try to suppress her joyous grin. "I give this female to this male with joy and hope, knowing this joining strengthens the troop."

The old wolf gave up on not grinning himself. "Then with these mammals given freely to the other. Speak your hearts, that your betrothed may know it."

Mike took a deep breath. "Elizabeth Violetta Fangmeyer. I loved you from the moment I saw you. I loved you more the moment I scented you. My soul is incomplete without you. I promise to love you, care for you, protect you, and do my duties as your mate in all ways. I will defer to you when that is right, and I will stand before you as your sword and shield when needed. We are equals in my heart and so shall be in this life and beyond."

Lizz took a moment to collect herself. "Michael Arron Wolford. I know now that I loved you from the first, even if I did not know what it was at the start. All you do, the person I know you to be, makes me love you all the more every day. I shall let you be my shield and my sword in turn when it is right to do so, as I will be your sword and shield. We are equals in my heart. So too shall we be in this life and whatever comes next."

The old wolf grinned as he continued. "Then as the senior priest of Luna, and with the attestation of your Alphas and Firsts. I am prepared to bind you for now and all time as mates. The final decision is now yours. Do you accept this mammal as your mate for now and all time? If so, turn and face them. If not, walk away now and turn thee back not."

Mike and Lizz turned slowly to face each other, both clearly terrified, for no reason, that the other would be walking away. When their eyes fell on each other, their fear vanished in an explosion of love for the other. Both clearly only just holding themselves back.

The old wolf stepped forward, taking their paws and binding them with a silver cord. "With this cord, I do bind you as mates in this life, the next, and all that may come after. May Luna smile upon you and bless you with many pups, and may those pups be strong." Once done tying the cord. "You may kiss your mate."

Mike and Lizz fell into each other and shared a deep kiss, pulling apart with a grin and holding up their bound paws to the cheers of the mammals in attendance. The ceremony over, Mike and Lizz tied a loin cloth around each other's waists before turning to the old wolf.

Mike smiled and pulled the old wolf into a hug. "Thank you. It means a lot that you would do this for us."

The old wolf chuckled. "I'm just glad I was still around to be here for this at all. When your mother asked if I would do it… To say I was surprised, even shocked, would be an understatement. It took me a long time. Longer than it should have to warm up to her and recognize her for the strong, smart Alpha we needed. I wasn't exactly welcoming at the beginning and it hurt the pack and my relationship with my son. It didn't help that I was so deeply entrenched in a lot of the old pack mentalities. Traditions she has somehow managed to uphold while completely ignoring. A true skill and one I truly hope you learned. You've flaunted enough of them, but I honestly couldn't be prouder."

Mike nodded with a bright smile. "Mom knows best." Turning to Lizz and drawing her forward. "Lizz, I want you to meet my great grandfather. Grandfather, please meet my mate."

Lizz smiled and gave an accurately deep bow for his station and position within the family. "It is my deepest honor, Grandfather, to meet you."

Chuckling he took his cane from Nick appreciatively and rested against it, then paused and looked at it again. "It's my pleasure, and such formality is not needed. Also, where did the fox find my personal cane?"

Nick smirked and stood with Judy to one side, neither yet dressed beyond a loin cloth. Mike just shook his head. "Likely, from wherever you left it. Locked room. Sealed safe. Not barriers to either of those two." Indicating Nick and Judy who just grinned back. "They are our friends, our Firsts, and if truth be told, the reason we are where we are right now."

"I see. Well, given your mothers shrewd and calculating nature, and the fact that she so readily acknowledges them as your Firsts. I guess they must be something special indeed."

Mike nodded, the grin on his muzzle unable to be removed. "They are indeed, Grandfather. They are indeed."

Turning to Lizz the old wolf, with the help of his cane, bowed slightly. "Elizabeth, please. Call me Jacob. Grandpa Jake if you feel up to it and we're not in one of Victoria's formal dinners. Still, something for the history books. A formal pack binding where only one mammal present was a wolf. I'm honestly quite impressed with you both. A tigress like yourself managing to catch the eye of Michael."

Lizz blushed. "I'll happily call you Grandpa Jake. We were partners, and now, we are partners in all things. I could never see another mammal I would want to be with. Not after knowing Mike. He completes my heart."

Mike grinned and leaned into Lizz. "And she completes mine."

Grandpa Jake nodded with a grin. "That is clear to everyone that can see or smell. I believe you will make truly great Alpha's, and I begin to wonder. Perhaps…" Glancing over to Victoria chatting with Madeline. "Michael, did I ever tell you that your Grandmother was disapproved of by my own Alpha? I had to fight so hard to be with her. It almost cost us our status, but then the canine flu epidemic hit the pack. We survived because she had brow beaten so many of the pack to get the vaccine. She understood the power of such things and that it did not make us weak." Glancing up at Lizz. "I see the same strength in you. The same strength I failed to notice in Victoria when Aaron chose her. But I think that is also good. If you can weather that storm, it makes you stronger and a better Alpha." Mike and Lizz could only smile and nod. They felt it too. The trials, the struggles past and future, would definitely shape and hone them.

A full reception was held, quite similar to the one that Nick and Judy had arranged so many months prior. While this more traditional binding ceremony wasn't the talk of the social circles of the city. That it happened and marked the full and official recognition of a tigress as Regent and future alpha of Wolford pack, had much talk filling late night news programs and opinion columns.

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Several hours later as the sky warmed with the pending sunrise. Nick, Judy, Lizz, and Mike were sitting on the top of a hill that looked out over untilled fields and forest that bordered Bunnyburrow to their left and Foxenburg to their right. In the winter, they would be able to just make out the road from Bunnyburrow to Foxenburg. Judy shook her head with a chuckle. "We were always told that there were some wolf lands near the border. Few believed it. It's crazy to think that not only is it true, but it is a pack of wolves that once and will again hold a pact with my clan. I mean, I've seen this very hill when hiking the outer border of the farm." pointing towards the forest on the left. "Heck, you can kinda make out the fence. This is all the land on the other side of the tracks. The river and ravine goes through that part or our land. We don't develop it because it's rockier. We could farm it, but it's not worth it."

Nick nodded with a sigh as they leaned together, the four of them. Judy leaning into him, Nick leaning against Mike, with Mike and Lizz leaning into each other. "I have to wonder. Some of those stories we found in Von. The history it spoke of. Given the distances. How you describe the land on this side. It certainly matches some of those descriptions. If we had an old map from back then we could be more certain."

Mike chuckled. "You're thinking that the fox tree is here in our lands somewhere?"

Nick shrugged. "Yeah. That, or the undeveloped part of the Hopps land that borders yours. Just as crazy as finding the original pre-break up borrow or the original Wilde ancestor stone."

Lizz shook her head. "Guys. Given everything else that has happened. The chances of that are pretty high, given everything. But for now. I'm tired and need my mate and then my kits. I know our mothers have been taking good care of them, but still…"

With a groan they all stood, Mike cracking his neck. "Still. We had wolves, but also had rabbits in attendance, and I don't mean you, Judy. The world is changing. I just hope it can withstand the changes the pact will bring."

With a silent nod of agreement and a collective final look as the sunrise started to color the sky, they headed down towards the small cabin set aside for them. They needed some sleep as they all had work in a few days.

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A/N

Remember to share the love. Review and Fav. It is the life blood of every writer to know you are enjoying their work. I also want to thank everyone who has Fav'd, followed, and reviewed this little project. I know that isn't much, but to me, it's huge. Even as a writer of original fiction, that you enjoy this means a lot to me as an author. You can check out my original work and link to my Blog, Scribblings, where a lot of it lives by hopping over to dcballard . com ( Direct: ascensionnovel . / scribblings (remove the spaces) because the forwarding is misbehaving.)

If you enjoy this, and you are not also reading my original Log Entries series over on my Blog. Why aren't you? (takes a Nick-esk pose of hurt) Also. I am now posting them on AO3, so you have even less excuse. It's free, ORIGINAL fiction. "An original story told through the log entries of the pilot and captain of an experimental star ship."

You should really be checking out my bestest bud, Bear678, and his story What Foxes May Come.

So keep those reviews and comments coming. And also remember, if you see issues, misspellings, etc... Let me know in PM, I'm under no illusion of being perfect and want to fix those things I miss.