Whew! After that last chapter, I think we all need a fluffy breather. So here's a happier chapter! :D
NOTE: "Human Again"/ "Mammals Again" has a few noticeable lyric changes to better fit the characters singing.
Also, I'm going to give 2 hints in this chapter for my third crossover. Let's see how many of you can guess what it'll be :)
**HINT #1: It's not based on a movie. There are film adaptations of it, but I'm not basing it on any of them. Not 100% anyway...maybe a few tidbits from one of them ;) **
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Chapter 7: Bunny and the Beast
By the stairway near the castle's main entrance, Finnick gathers all the servants in the castle for a meeting. The small clock stands atop a rolling tea cart with a pointer stick in his brass paw. His posture firm like a general leading his troops into battle, "Alright! Listen up ever'body! We got exactly twelve hours, thirty-six minutes, and fifteen seconds to pull off the most magical, spontaneous, romantic atmosphere known to mammal or beast!" He chuckles at his own joke, "Hehehe. Get it? 'Cause Master Nicholas is a...beast? ...Anybody?" He frowns when he sees all he's succeeded in is confusing the other servants. "Yeesh! Tough crowd," he clears his throat, "Anyway, let me remind ya'll…" a sentient table moves next to him carrying the wilting rose in the glass case. Finnick strikes the rose's glass casing with the pointer stick as he speaks. "...that if. the. last. petal. falls. from. this. rose..." With each new word, he strikes the rose harder, pushing it one step closer toward the edge of the table. His fellow servants gasp, panicking beyond belief, "...the. spell. will. never. be….BROKEN!" Finnick gives one last hard swing, tossing the pointer stick! Luckily for them, the table anticipated his actions and scurried away before the fennec clock could accidentally knock the rose clean off.
PHEW! Clawhauser and the others take a relieved breath. That was a close one.
Finnick composes himself and continues, "Right! So ya'll know your assignments. Half of ya to the West Wing. Half of ya to the East Wing. The rest o' you, come with me!"
Given the near heart attack he almost gave them, all the servants rush off to either the West Wing or the East Wing, leaving Finnick alone in the hall atop the rolling cart - that is - until the cart also decides to wheel off and drops Finnick hard on the ground. "Aah! Oomph!" A little sprocket pops out of Finnick as he sits up in pain, massaging his head with a groan.
Clawhauser, Mrs. Otterton, and Manchas come back. "Lighten up Finnick. And let nature take its course," Clawhauser says with a good natured chuckle as he picks up and cleans the sprocket Finnick dropped.
"Yes, no need to get so worked up, dear." A soothing Mrs. Otterton adds in, "It's obvious there's a spark between them."
"Yeah, yeah. Give me that!" Finnick swipes his fallen sprocket from Clawhauser, giving the cheetah-candelabra a dirty look. "I'm just takin' all precautions into consideration." He stuffs the sprocket back into his small compartment. "We don't got room to be makin' mistakes anymore," Finnick leads them into the other room, "Master Nicholas and Judith hafta fall in love tonight, if we ever expect to be mammals again." The mere mention of the word 'mammals', strikes a wondrous chord with Clawhauser and Mrs. Otterton.
Clawhauser sighs as if he can see it now, "Ah, mammals again."
"Mammals again," Mrs. Otterton repeats with a dreamy sigh.
"Yeah," Clawhauser, still dizzy in his cloud of hope, plays with the hands on Finnick's face, "Think what that means…" Finnick's alarm chimes, causing the small clock to tremble with each ding, while a budding song overwhelms Clawhauser into a swaying dance,
I'll be cooking again
Making plum pudding again
With a side of garlic bread covered in parm
Clawhauser rubs his tummy and licks his lips, "Mmm!" practically tasting the food in his mouth already!
When I'm a mammal again,
Only a mammal again
He puffs up his cheeks with his candle-paws, imagining the feel of soft fur instead of the viscous feel of wax.
Fuzzy with fur
And sporting spots in each arm,
I'll be purring again
Cheeks full and gorging again,
Mrs. Otterton:
Which should cause Gideon some alarm!
"Ha! Ha!" Clawhauser laughs wholeheartedly just picturing the red fox chef throwing a fit and firing him out of the kitchen for eating all his culinary art.
I'll hop down off the shelf
And tout suite be myself
Clawhauser takes Mrs. Otterton in his arms and spins around with her, dancing jovially as the two sing together.
I can't wait to be a mammal again!
The makeup items in Judith's bedroom begin singing and dancing as well. Reveling in the same desire to become mammals once more:
When we're mammals again
Only mammals again
We'll be knick-knacks and whatnots
No more!
When we're mammals again
Good and mammals again
Fru-Fru leans over the dressing table causing the makeup items to hop off and run for their lives! The shrew-dresser sings her heart out like an operatic diva. Fantasizing about the future and becoming a shrew once more,
Ah cherie!
Won't it all be top-drawer?
I'll wear lipstick and rouge
She applies lipstick and a bit of blush to her cheeks,
And I won't be so huge
Why, I'll easily fit through that hole!
Fru-Fru points to a small hole in the wall, then hops on over by the curtains, wrapping herself dramatically in the drapes,
I'll exude savoir-faire
I'll wear gowns!
I'll have hair!
She pushes her head up against a small potted palm tree at the corner, using it to reimagine her former updo hairstyle.
It's my prayer
To be a mammal again
Fru-Fru runs off, breaking the curtain pole straight off from the wall and bringing down bits of debris along with it.
Elsewhere, Finnick and Mrs. Otterton stand on a fence by the carriage stables in a pose reminiscent to Grant Wood's American Gothic portrait, complete with Finnick holding a pitchfork in his brass paw,
When we're mammals again
Only mammals again
When the world once more starts making sense
The pitchfork Finnick holds, turns out to be a sentient pitchfork and runs off with the small clock still attached to the handle. The pitchforks impales its pointed end down on the ground, catapulting Finnick forward and throwing him into a hanging bucket full of soapy water.
I'll unwind for a change
Finnick grumbles, dizzy and not at all pleased.
Philippe, along with Clawhauser, wash the carriage he and Judith came in on when they arrived at the castle. The two turn to Finnick in the bucket when he splashes in. Clawhauser releases his brush to offer Finnick a paw. Philippe's eyes widen when he witnesses the sentient brush continuing to move on its own. The uneasy horse decides to wash the other side of the cart...away from the self-moving brush.
Clawhauser pulls out the clock from the bucket and sets the agitated Finnick down beside him, teasing him about his previous comment about 'unwinding':
Really?
That'd be strange!
Finnick's eye twitches in anger, his small fists clenching,
Can I help it if I'm t-t-tense?
The small fennec-clock, manages to calm down. Remembering that the curse may in fact be very close to being broken. He thinks about his future plans, taking solace in them,
In a shack by the sea,
I'll sit back sippin' tea
Let my early retirement commence!
Finnick grabs a nearby cloth to dry himself, then turns to Clawhauser with a face that just reads, 'good riddance!'
Far from fools made o' wax
Finnick carelessly drapes the cloth over Clawhauser, desiring his leisure days to come soon, so he'll be far away from the cheetah-candelabra's cheerfully annoying presence.
An unhappy Clawhauser takes the cloth and rolls it up while a distracted Finnick continues to sing,
I'll get down to brass tacks
And rela-AAHX!
WHAM! Clawhauser whips Finnick on his rear with the cloth, sending him jumping back into the bucket.
Meanwhile, the other house servants join in on the song's chorus. All of them working hard to clean up themselves and the entire house.
When I'm a mammal agaaaain!
So sweep the dust from the floor!
Let's let some light in the room!
I can feel,
I can tell,
Someone might break the spell
Any day now!
They sweep up all the rooms, shine up every door handle, clean up every cobweb in the house, tear off all the old tattered curtains and replace them with new ones. Doing anything and everything to prepare for Nicholas and Judith's big night:
Shine up the brass on the door!
Alert the dust pail and broom!
If it all goes as planned
Our time may be at hand
Any day noooow!
A female choir of feather dusters open up the balcony shutters to let the sun shine in:
Open the shutters
And let in some air
Mrs. Otterton meanwhile, guides the other servants as they perform their duties. She directs a chair carrying pillows and a plate tray carrying china dishes:
Put these here,
And put those over there
Brooms pass by lifting dust off from the ground as they sweep past Mrs. Otterton. The chorus takes over the singing:
Sweep up the years
Of sadness and tears
And throw them awayyyyyy!
The brooms sweep up the heavy collection of dust out onto the balcony, then shove the dust off from there. Below the balcony, Finnick lines up the snow shovels as if they were to be soldiers in formation. "Ahem!" He straightens up a slouching shovel when -
SPLAT!
"Gak!" The dust lands on Finnick, burying the little fennec-clock underneath the mound of dirt. The snow shovels scoot him away along with the dust, making way for a peek inside the window behind them - revealing the ballroom.
Inside, the chorus picks up the tempo as a legion of well choreographed and synchronized, waltzing mops wipe the dance floor clean:
We'll…...
Be…...
Mammals again!
Only mammals again!
When the bunny finally sets us all free!
Furs a-bloomin' again!
We're assumin' again!
We'll resume our long lost joie de vivre!
The castle's metallic guards shine and polish their armored bodies, making themselves look presentable.
We'll be playin' again
Holidayin' again
And we're prayin' it's ASAP!
A dizzy and filthy Finnick wanders into the ballroom, massaging his head and leaving a trail of dusty footprints on the recently cleaned floor. The mops take notice.
Little push
Little shove
They could
Woosh!
Fall in love
The outraged mops chase the screaming clock out of the ballroom, "Aaaaah!"
And we'll finally be mammals again...
While the rest of the house works hard preparing everything for tonight, Nicholas and Judith read together in one of the castle's many rooms.
"For never was a story of more woe," Judith reads, "than this of Juliet and her Romeo." Judith closes the book and hugs it - her favorite work by William Shakesbeare.
Nicholas sits at the table beside her, resting his paws and his head on the table, fully relaxed at the gentle coo of her voice. He sighs happily, with a light wag of his tail, "That was beautiful...except for the whole tragic ending bit. That part was kind of a downer."
Judith hums, "Still a great story though."
Nicholas nods in agreement, "Could you read it again?"
"Well here, why don't you read it to me this time?" Judith suggests, placing the book in front of him.
Nicholas' ears immediately drop, as if terrified of the book before him, "U-Uh...alright…uh...uh-" He struggles. Squinting his eyes and scrunching his face, making himself look like he were to be in some sort of physical pain.
Judith eyes him with concern, "Are you okay? Your face is contorting. Is it your back again?"
"Uh, a little bit," he lies, taking advantage of the excuse Judith has provided, "Guess I took a nastier fall...or two, this morning than I thought. But don't worry, it's nothing a little stretch can't fi-" He stretches his back, a slight cracking noise resonates from it. His face flinches in reaction to the painful crack.
"Oh!" Judith eeps at the noise, "Here, let me go get you some ice and a pillow for that. And you better explain to me again, how exactly it is you fell several times in the kitchen doing...what was it again? Moving flour sacks with Clawhauser at the break of dawn?" she questions with a suspicious brow.
"Hehe," he chuckles nervously, "What can I say? I like getting my chores done in the early hours of the day. Plus those flour sacks were much heavier than you think, Carrots," he adds innocently in an attempt to keep Judith from learning about his secret bipedal walking lessons...and his many tumbles that have gone along with it.
Judith's suspicion remains, but for his sake decides not to question him further about it. "Well, regardless, I'll go get you something for the pain. You on the other paw, should probably go lie down and rest," she frowns suddenly, as if disappointed, "And if necessary, I'll go tell your servants that we'll probably have to cancel our dinner and dance tonight, seeing how you're in so much pain."
Nicholas' eyes widen in fear at the thought of having to cancel everything, especially after having tortured his body in his attempts to impress her, "No, Judith wait!" Nicholas calls to her desperately, stopping Judith before she could hop off her chair. "We don't have to cancel dinner or the dance! Trust me, I'm fine. My back has some mild pain, but believe me it has nothing to do with why I was contorting my face all weird."
"Then why were you scrunching your face like that?"
Nicholas appears to blush in embarrassment. He lowers in head, looking like a sad, shame filled puppy, "I...I can't read."
"What?" Judith utters in shock, "You mean you never learned?"
"I learned!" he attempts to defend, "...a little. It's just been...so long. Plus, ever since I became feral, it feels like my ability to recognize words kinda dumbed down."
Judith gives him a sympathetic look, "Well here, I'll help you." She flips back a few pages, pointing to the paragraph at the top of the page, "Let's start here."
"Here?" Nicholas utters nervously. He eyes the first word reluctantly until he looks back up at Judith's reassuring smile. Nicholas feels a little skip in his heartbeat and a sense of confidence build inside him. "Okay." He smiles, then turns to eye the first word again, "Uh...T-Tw-oe?"
"Two." Judith corrects him.
"Two. I knew that," he replies with a playfully cocky grin.
Judith rolls her eyes, feeling happy deep down that she managed to build his confidence again.
Nicholas continues reading as he slowly starts to recognize the words the more he goes on, "Two h-households…"
Judith sighs happily, relaxing in her seat as Nicholas soothes her with his deep yet calming voice.
As they read, two sponges clean the exterior of the window where they're at. The two sponges meet at the center, forming a heart around the two would-be lovers. All around the castle, the chorus of house servants resume their singing and their cleaning:
We'll…...
Be…...
Dancing again!
We'll be twirling again
We'll be whirling around
With such ease!
Finnick directs traffic as various wheelbarrows pushing flowers and other gardening supplies race toward the main intersection of the garden. One of the wheelbarrows doesn't hear Finnick's whistle and runs over the poor clock, "Aagh!" With tire tracks branded on his back, he manages to lift his woozy head up. He shakes off the dizziness to shake a vengeful paw, "Wheelbarrow driver!"
When we're mammals again
Only mammals again
We'll go waltzing
Those old
One-two-threes!
One of the wheelbarrows carries three red flowers and launches them into the air, causing them to land one by one in awaiting dirt plots. Elsewhere, several potted shrubs are trimmed into landscape sculptures - more specifically a rabbit, a heart, and a fox.
We'll be floating again!
We'll be gliding again!
Step and striding as wide as you please!
Scythes and rakes clear a section of tall grass to give Finnick leeway to place a 'keep off the grass' sign. Meanwhile Clawhauser turns on the water to the garden's large decorative fountain.
The crystal clear water from the showering fountain adds the much needed finishing touch to give the castle a livelier look - almost restoring it back to it's former glory prior to the curse.
Clawhauser, Mrs. Otterton, Finnick, and Manchas regroup before the fountain, celebrating their work and singing their hearts out along with the rest of the servants from the garden as they reach the grand finale of their song:
Like a real mammal does
I'll be all that I was!
On that glorious morn
When we're finally reborn
And we're all of us mammals…...
Fru-Fru, dressed in a pink and blue swimsuit and matching pink swim cap, pops out from the balcony high up above the large fountain. She sings the last word as if she were to be the star soprano in an opera and cannonballs way down toward the fountain's large body of water.
Agaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!
Clawhauser, Finnick, Mrs. Otterton, and Manchas all panic at the sight of the fast falling dresser and run around desperately trying to seek cover. Manchas and Mrs. Otterton manage to get away, but Clawhauser and Finnick crash into each other, knocking one another to the ground.
They try to get up and run just as Fru-Fru reaches the fountain and...
SPLASH!
She sweeps them both away with the splashing water.
.
SPLASH!
Another splash of water, but this time it's from water being poured onto Nicholas. He's in the bathroom being given a bath by Manchas who very roughly scrubs his face with a couple of brushes. Nicholas groans, annoyed at the rough strokes.
"Apologies Master Nicholas, but I have to scrub hard if I'm going to properly clean your fur. You want to look presentable for Judith, no?"
"Yeah," Nicholas replies with a slight strain, "Just go a little easy on my back. It's still a bit sore from this morning."
"Of course, sir." Manchas continues to scrub him, while an eager Clawhauser hops onto a nearby stool to run him him through the evening's plans.
"Tonight is the night!" announces the cheery candelabra, "Are you ready to sweep your lady bunny off her feet?"
Manchas splashes another bucket full of water on the large fox. Nicholas sputters and shakes off a little of the water, "I-I'm not sure I can do this," he replies with an insecure tone.
"You don't have time to be timid, Master," the cheetah-candelabra points to the wilting rose across the room to emphasize his point, "Besides, we got a lot accomplished this morning, so you have nothing to worry about!"
"Yeah, but what if something goes wrong?" Nicholas stands in the tub, gently shaking his fur dry, "What if I accidentally step on her while we're dancing? Or what if I accidentally scratch her?" As his fear builds, he shakes more and more violently, tossing water everywhere and even knocking Clawhauser off the stool, "Or what if I trip and fall on her and crush her? Or what if-!" he gasps horrified! Seizing his shakes while his fur fluffs and ruffles, "What if I accidently cut her in half?! Or-"
"Master Nicholas! Don't get ahead of yourself!" Clawhauser reproaches him, "You're only thinking about the negatives. Try thinking about the positives! Think, what if everything goes great? What if Judith actually falls in love with you tonight? What if you kiss her and POOF! The spell is broken! ...Eh? Now isn't that better than thinking what if something goes wrong, Mister Negative?"
Nicholas appears to calm down, taking in everything the candelabra just said, "D-Do you really think all that could happen?" He steps out of the tub, heading toward the vanity mirror to have his fur dry and groomed by Manchas.
"Of course! And don't worry, you're not alone on this. We'll all be doing our own part to help you give Judith the absolute most, romantic evening of her life!" Clawhauser hops onto the table to continue speaking face to face with Nicholas. Manchas, meanwhile dries the large fox with a towel. "There will be music, romantic candle light!" Clawhauser lights himself up again, "Provided by me! And when the moment is right, you confess your love!"
Nicholas puffs out his chest, feeling brave, "Yeah, I confe…" his bravery fades, "...I-I-I..N-No! I can't…"
"Why not? You care for Judith, don't you?"
Nicholas growls while Manchas tugs at his fur to comb and trim it, "More than anything."
"Well then, what's the worry? Just tell her how you feel."
Nicholas sighs, "I don't know Claw. Ow!" he brings a paw to his head, glaring at Manchas.
"Sorry. The comb tangled," the jaguar coat-rack resumes trimming and grooming the fox's fur.
Nicholas turns back to Clawhauser, "I know I shouldn't think of the negative, but there is a genuine chance that I could accidently hurt her. I mean this morning when you had me practice dancing with those small flour sacks, don't forget that I stepped on two, ripped seven, and fell on five of them."
"Yeah, I know. Gideon was not happy about that. But don't worry, Judith may be fragile compared to you, but I doubt she's as delicate as a bag of flour. And in any case, you think Manchas and I didn't think ahead?" Clawhauser directs Nicholas' attention to Manchas.
The jaguar coat-rack holds what appears to be a pair of black gloves and black gauntlets.
Nicholas blinks in surprise, "Are those...are those for me?"
Manchas nods, "While everyone else was cleaning, I made these so you wouldn't have to worry about harming Judith. See," he points to inside one of the glove's fingers, "I attached large corks inside and even hollowed them out, so you can easily slip your claws in. May I?" Nicholas nods, allowing Manchas to slip one of the gloves onto his large paw. It fits quite snuggly. Nicholas observes the black glove on his paw with intrigue. "I shaped the corks like your claws, with blunt tips, of course. This way it will look like you've just slipped on some very elegant looking gloves without bringing too much attention to yourself."
Nicholas gently rubs his gloved paw on his cheek, eyes closed, almost purring at the feel, "It's soft."
"Of course! I used only the finest and smoothest velvet we had! And! As an added bonus," Manchas shows off one of the gauntlets. Much like the gloves, they're meant to cover all the way to the tips of Nicholas' claws, but unlike the gloves, they have leather padding added to them. "I've added leather pads, identical to your own paw pads to prevent you from slipping and to help you keep a better balance."
Nicholas takes the gauntlet, holding it in both paws, staring quietly at the pads, "Manchas...guys...this is…" he's at a loss for words. He manages a happy, breathy chuckle, "Thank you."
Manchas and Clawhauser smile proudly at one another, then back at Nicholas, "You're welcome, sir."
"Ahem," a deep voice at the door interrupts them, "Sorry to interrupt, but your lady's almost ready. And I gotta say, the way she's lookin', you're one lucky fox Master!" Finnick winks and heads back out the door.
"Oooh! Did you hear that Master?" Clawhauser playfully nudges at Nicholas' side, "Judith's getting all dolled up just for you."
Nicholas blushes, "Hehe, yeah I...I guess she is," he replies with a small bashful smile.
Clawhauser claps his candle-paws, "Come on Manchas! Chop, chop! You heard Finnick. We've got to get Master Nicholas ready."
Manchas salutes like a soldier, "Roger that!" The jaguar coat-rack, returns to styling Nicholas' fur.
"Make sure to make him look nice and pretty. We want him to impress Judith just as much as she will him."
"How's this?" Manchas asks, wanting Clawhauser's opinion.
Clawhauser smiles wide with sparkling eyes, "Oh! That looks so-! So…" the sparkle in the cheetah candelabra's eyes dies while his smile slowly deteriorates the more he realizes that Nicholas looks…
"Stupid," Nicholas finishes the sentence for him. A noticeably annoyed scowl on his face as he views his reflection in the mirror, "Hey Manchas, while you're at it why don't you give me some rosy cheeks? They'll go great with my Goldilock curls and baby blue ribbons."
Manchas frowns, "There's no need to be sarcastic, sire."
"Don't blame him Master. It's not his fault. Maybe 'pretty' wasn't the best word to use. How about you take a little more off the top, Manchas?" Manchas dissolves the feminine curls and cuts off the top ribbon he had placed over Nicholas' head. Restyling his fur from scratch.
.
Meanwhile, in Judith's boudoir…
Fru-Fru adds some very light touches of blush on Judith's cheeks, "Just a little more and...ah! Perfect!" Judith turns to the vanity mirror to view her reflection, "Oh! Honey you look absolutely go'gous!"
Judith smiles at her reflection, incapable of believing that the beautiful young rabbit she's seeing is really herself. "Do you, really think so?" she asks modestly.
"Oh, honey of course! Master Nicholas is gonna flip when he sees you!"
Judith giggles, "Well, I don't know about that."
"Don't be so modest, dear. You look great! But…" Fru-Fru eyes her, examining her thoroughly, "It feels like somethin's missing. Hmm? You got the golden trims, the gloves, but what else…" she gasps! An idea popping in her head, "Oh my Gawd! I got just the thing!" Fru-Fru rushes off to the other end of the bedroom, rummaging through an old chest.
Judith meanwhile continues viewing her reflection. She stands on the stool, to take a better look at her dress in full. It's a gorgeous yellow gown with golden trimmings at at the bottom of the ruffled skirt. At the top, the sleeves rest just below her shoulders, giving a modest view of the top of her chest. On her arms, she wears long matching yellow gloves that reach up to the middle of her upper arms. Judith lifts the bottom tips of her yellow gown, turning this way and that way. She just simply can't believe that she, a poor peasant farm girl, is really dressed in a dress worthy of a true lady. Or more! Why, if she didn't know better, she might even assume that Fru-Fru is trying to make her look like a princ-
"Here we are!" Judith's taken from her thoughts and turns to Fru-Fru. "Ta-da!" Judith's eyes widen, when she sees that Fru-Fru holds two unexpected and lavish items. On one door, she holds a small golden tiara decorated with various diamonds and small amethyst roses. On the other, she holds a golden necklace decorated with white pearls, a round amethyst jewel at the center, and another teardrop shaped amethyst jewel hanging down the middle. Judith remains stunned at the two items. "These used to belong to Nicholas' mother when she was first engaged to his father. But since she passed on, they've just been in that old chest collectin' dust. Turn around, so I can put 'em on ya! See how they fit!"
"But...Fru-Fru, I can't wear that! I'm not a princess. Nor am I any sort of royalty to put them on. Not to mention, they were Nicholas' mother's. Won't he mind?"
"Oh, don't be silly. He won't mind. Like I said, they've just been put away for years collectin' dust. Better to have somebody use 'em, right?"
"But…" Judith eyes the beautiful jewelry. She extends a shy, hesitant paw toward them, "Are you sure he won't mind?"
"Sure! I'm sure! And I can bet bet ya he'd be honored for you to wear them!" Though still a bit unsure, Judith takes the necklace and turns back to face the mirror to put it on. Fru-Fru meanwhile places the tiara over her ears and moves it down until it settles evenly on her head. The shrew-dresser squeaks in delight at the sight, "Eee! .Gawd! Look at you! You look so beautiful! I knew that necklace and tiara would just complete the look! They match your dress and eyes so perfectly!"
Judith blushes modestly, instinctively pushing her ears down and brushing one of them with her paws. Fru-Fru gasps, "Oh, honey! Keep the ears down, you look so much better that way!"
Judith giggles, "You think so?"
"I don't think. I know so!"
Judith smiles happily, swaying the tips of her yellow dress side to side, admiring the full ensemble on her.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Finnick opens the door, "Is she ready Fru?"
"Yup! We're all set here!" the shrew-dresser answers happily. "You better get goin', honey."
Judith nods and hugs the dresser, "Thanks for everything, Fru."
"You're welcome, hon."
The happy bunny holds the skirt of her dress and hops off the stool. She keeps her paws at the helm of her dress as she makes her way out the door and onto the stairs. One paw remains on her skirt, while the other slides down the polished mahogany railing of the stairway. She reaches the bottom where the two stairways connecting the East and West wings meet.
At the top of the opposite stairway, directly across from her, stands Nicholas. He stands on two legs, one paw cupping the lapel of his coat to give him the appearance of a true gentlemammal. He's dressed to the nines in a fancy blue coat with a yellow lapel, a brown vest with a cream colored blouse and ascot, black pants, and of course, his black gloves and gauntlets. As a finishing touch he wears a blue ribbon to tie the long fur at the back of his neck.
From his position, he looks down at Judith, taking in the sight of her in her yellow gown. He's completely and utterly stunned at the sight of her, "Wow…" he breathes in awe.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Go get her!" Clawhauser whispers supportively from behind.
Nicholas nods. He clears his throat and adjust his coat a bit. Well...here goes…
He cautiously steps down the stairs, careful not to lose his balance. He successfully manages to make it down without much problem. The sight of Judith's lovely awaiting smile and sparkling amethyst eyes, serving as his source of inspiration to help him eliminate any fears or feelings of pain on his hips and back.
Judith approaches him and curtsies, "Nicholas."
Nicholas beams and bows in return, "Judith." Nicholas lifts his gaze up to her head and neck, noticing the tiara and necklace. "Are those? Those are my mother's aren't they?"
Judith blushes a bit embarrassed, "Oh! Yeah...I'm sorry, Fru-Fru said you wouldn't mind, but I understand if you do."
"I don't mind. They look good on you," Nicholas responds with a good natured smile.
Judith looks up to him with her own smile, "Really?"
The sight of her like that, causes Nicholas' heart to beat rapidly in his chest as he looks on at her lavender eyes, "Yeah. They make you look so...beautiful."
Judith blushes modestly, "Thank you." She raises her brow in a playful manner, "You don't look half-bad yourself either."
Nicholas gives his best charming, yet playful grin in an attempt to hide the flushed feeling the comment created inside of him, "Took you this long to notice?" Judith giggles, while Nicholas follows with his own lighthearted chuckle. He offers her his arm, "Shall we?"
Judith tip-toes, making herself at least an inch or two taller to reach his arm better. She locks her small arm to his larger one, "Let's." The act is enough to make Nicholas' tail wag. She never ceases to amaze him on how much she takes his comfort into consideration.
The two begin making their way down the adjacent stairway. At the bottom of the stairs, Mrs. Otterton sits on a tea cart, accompanied by her sons. She begins to serenade Nicholas and Judith as they make their way down - reflecting through song how two very different yet very similar, lonely souls have come together - the bunny, the prey mammal that was promised to break the spell and the cursed fox, the once prey hating predator, the beast that has come to accept a prey mammal at last:
Tale as old as time,
True as it can be,
On her way down, Judith spots Philippe standing behind the tea cart where Mrs. Otterton is at. She waves at him, while he gives her an approving nod as if he were to be her father giving her and Nicholas his blessing.
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends…
...Unexpectedly…
Nicholas and Judith make it to the foot of the steps, never taking their eyes off one another as they head toward the dining room together.
In the dining room, the two eat at separate ends of the long table. A couple of romantically dimmed candelabras light the dinner table, including Clawhauser, who stands at Nicholas' end. Nicholas gently laps at his soup, cautious not to dirty his ascot or his face. Clawhauser looks on proud at how clean his Master can eat.
Just a little change,
On the other end of the table, Judith utilizes a spoon to take a sip of her soup. Behind her, Manchas pops out to serenade the two - playing the violin over their candle-lit dinner. The romantic music is enough to excite Judith off her seat and rush over to Nicholas' side. She grabs the stunned fox by his arms to drag him onto the dance floor.
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Judith and Nicholas make their way into the brightly lit ballroom with their arms interlocked.
Neither one prepared
Bunny and the Beast,
This is it…, thinks a deathly nervous Nicholas to himself. He feel his knees begin to buckle under the pressure. His mind draws a blank. He has absolutely no idea what to do! Can he really do this? What if something goes wrong? What if he-
He's suddenly taken from his fear ridden thoughts when he feels Judith's tiny paw take his enormous paw and locates it as best she can on her small waist. She tip-toes to better grasp his other paw in hers. Nicholas gulps, completely terrified as he sees his long covered claws wrapped around her fragile frame. She smiles comfortingly up at him as if reading his thoughts. Letting him know that she's unhurt and not the least bit afraid or uncomfortable. He smiles sheepishly as she takes the lead to initiate the dance.
Nicholas moves clumsily, struggling to keep his body and insecure mind up to speed with Judith's pace.
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before-
Finnick and Clawhauser look on over by the piano, practically biting their figurative finger claws over the tension of seeing the fox struggle.
Despite his claws being covered, Nicholas' stomach drops like an anvil when he sees his clumsy foot almost step over Judith's. Not wanting to hurt her, Nicholas pulls back and tumbles, falling right on his rear.
Finnick and Clawhauser look away, while Mrs. Otterton's voice derails at the sight. An unnerving silence fills the room.
Nicholas' ears fall back, wanting to bury themselves deep inside his skull, he's so embarrassed. His sad green eyes look up to Judith's equally saddened eyes. He drops his gaze in shame. Why did he even bother? He should've known this wasn't going to work.
His pity party only lasts a second however, as he suddenly feels those soft paws grip his own again. Nicholas looks at her completely staggered as she improvises, continuing the dance for the both of them. Still gripping his paws, she sways to the right. Then to the left. She hovers one of the large, stunned fox's paws above her and twirls beneath it.
Clawhauser elbows Finnick, as if telling him, 'Hey! Look!'. Finnick looks up, a smile returning to his face. Mrs. Otterton looks back up as well, a rejuvenated hope building back up.
Judith grips both of Nicholas' paws again, and pulls back. She then hovers Nicholas' other paw above her and twirls once beneath it. She re-cups both his paws, only to release them again as she twirls around him, her dress spinning around her in an almost hypnotic manner. Tempting him, inviting him, to share this dance with her. Nicholas can't help but stare at her with awe stricken eyes as she continues to twirl around him with an unrestrained, gleaming smile. A smile that makes her shine just as bright as the yellow of her dress under the warm, radiant glow of the chandelier above them.
A joyous smile overwhelms Nicholas. A near breathless chuckle escapes him. Judith stops in front of him once noticing his smile. She takes his large paws and pushes forward towards him, nearly touching noses with him. With that, Judith pulls back, cupping one of his paws and allowing Nicholas himself to place his paw back at her waist.
Mrs. Otterton realizes what Judith's intentions are and resumes her singing. Aiding the bunny in encouraging Nicholas to continue.
Ever just as sure
Nicholas takes a deep breath, puffing out his chest. He rises back up to his feet, and leads Judith into round two of their dance.
Mrs. Otterton picks up the tempo, celebrating Nicholas' new found courage:
As the sun will rise!
A now confident Nicholas waltzes with Judith, twirling around the ballroom without a care in the world. Above them, the painted angels in the ceiling watch over the odd pair - smiling curiously at them - almost as if heaven itself were blessing their union.
Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change,
Learning you were wrong
Nicholas surprises the bubbly bunny when he lifts her up to his chest level and spins with her in his arms. Judith squeals and giggles.
Certain as the sun,
Rising in the East
The two look at one another, their eyes warm. Judith sighs happily and nestles her head comfortably on Nicholas' chest, causing the fox to flinch. However, seeing her rest on his chest, looking so relaxed and unafraid, Nicholas can't help but smile from ear to ear.
Over by the piano, Clawhauser squeals like a giddy school girl, while Finnick gives Nicholas a thumbs up.
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme,
Bunny and the Beast,
A tear of joy runs down Mrs. Otterton's cheek, overwhelmed by the romantic atmosphere and of at last seeing Nicholas, whom she's grown to view almost as a son, be so happy. Her own sons cuddle up to her, also happy for Nicholas, and happy for Judith as well. Clawhauser dims the lights, setting a softer mood for Nicholas and Judith as they reach the end of their dance.
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Bunny and...the Beast...
Nicholas gently sets Judith down in the distance. He cups her paws as best he can, before walking out with her toward the balcony. Paw in paw.
Mrs. Otterton nuzzles her sons with her spout, "Off to the cupboard with you boys. It's past your bedtime." The mother teapot gives them each a kiss on the cheek, "Goodnight babies." The two little tea cups do as they're told and slide off the tea cart, heading toward the open door leading to the kitchen. But before they go off to bed, the two curious otter-cups take one last peek inside the ballroom. This is certainly one joyous night, they'll never forget.
.
Outside at the balcony, Nicholas and Judith reach the balcony railing. Being the gentlemammal that he now is, Nicholas gently lifts Judith, helping her sit on it. He on the other paw, sits down on his hind legs before her. At last being able to relax in a position that is comfortable for his feral frame.
Both sit quietly for a moment, as if suddenly shy to speak to one another. To give him space, Judith plays with the skirt of her dress. Nicholas meanwhile fidgets with his paws a bit, curling his tail beside him, desperately wanting to end the somewhat awkward silence between them. He clears his throat, deciding to ask her what's on his mind, "Judith?" he starts timidly, "Are you...happy here with me?"
"Why yes," Judith responds with a tender smile. She looks up at the starry sky and sighs, "I can't remember the last time I had such a wonderful evening like tonight. Surrounded by such sweet and caring mammals like you and your servants."
"Really?" Nicholas replies softly, her comment being more tender than he expected.
She nods, "Back home, I've always felt like a stranger. Like I never belonged. But...being here with you and everyone else...I don't know it's strange. But I feel like I truly belong here."
"You do?" Nicholas asks, happy - but a bit confused.
Judith nods, "Yeah. Is that a strange thing to say?"
"Well, I wouldn't call it strange. Maybe a bit silly. I mean don't get me wrong, you don't know how happy I am to know that you're happy here. But, I admit I find it hard to believe that someone like you feels she doesn't belong around more...normal mammals."
"That's because other mammals don't consider me a normal mammal. Everyone back home, except for my parents of course, thinks I'm a freak."
Nicholas jaw drops in disbelief, "You! A freak?!" Nicholas snorts with a playful grin, "Have they looked at me?"
Judith giggles lightly at his attempt at humor, "Nicholas don't say that. You're not a freak."
"And neither are you."
Judith pauses. His words striking her out of a left field. No one, outside of her family, has ever told her so simply what she's always wanted to hear. It makes her heart beat strong and full of a warm appreciation for the beastly fox. She smiles at him, though doubt still hovers in her eyes, "Thank you Nicholas. That's such a sweet thing to say. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I am a bit of an oddball for a bunny."
"Why? Because a bunch of idiot mammals say so?" Nicholas scolds, feeling insulted that Judith's village would have the gall to call someone as kind as her the same horrid word he and others have called him for years.
"No, it's because I don't behave like an ordinary bunny. I don't like farming, I haven't married yet or have had kits, and I like to read a lot. Most desireable does are illiterate. They say it's improper for a female bunny to read, because it takes their mind off having kits."
"And with that you just proved your town is full of morons," Nicholas replies casually. Judith raises a confused brow, unsure of what he means. "I can see you're confused, so let me explain," he clears his throat, "Okay, so you don't like farming? Big deal! It's boring! Plus, I'm sure it's no surprise that there's a surplus of bunnies out there to take care of that. What does it matter if one bunny doesn't want to tend to the fields? No one ever believed untrustworthy animals like foxes could be royalty, but look at me. Second, you like to read. Again, so what? It's fun! And it's not like you still can't have kids. If anything, kids often times turn out smarter when their mothers read to them. Mothers like Mrs. Otterton who has two really smart and great kids and who I know will turn out as smart as you, Judith. You're one of the smartest mammals I've ever known and I don't doubt that's because you love to read. And if a buck can't appreciate that, then maybe...maybe you just haven't found the right buck...or other male mammal," He blushes a bit at that, secretly hoping she gets his meaning. "B-But anyway, my point is...you're not a freak Judith. You wanna know what you are? You are the sweetest, bravest, smartest, flat out greatest mammal I've ever met! And if your town can't see that, then they're the freaks! Not you!"
Judith smiles tenderly at him, "Nicholas…" A few tears of joy form at the brim of her eyes. She wipes at them and hops off the balcony railing to hug Nicholas' neck, causing the surprised fox to flinch and blush hard. Judith tightens her grip and sniffles happily, caressing her wet cheeks onto his coarse fur. Nicholas' ears fall softly on his skull, taking in the tender moment, as he gently caresses his cheek against hers in return. After a very short moment, much shorter than Nicholas would like, Judith pulls away to look up at him, "Thank you, Nicholas. You don't know how much it means to me to hear you say that."
Judith wipes at another stray tear that runs down her cheek. Nicholas' paw flinches, desperately wanting to wipe the tears away from those soft cheeks of hers with his thumb. He restrains himself from doing so, however, fearful that his claws, though covered, may still hurt her by mistake.
Uncertain of how else to comfort her, he attempts a bit of humor to cheer her up. He chuckles lightly, pressing his nose against her forehead as she continues to wipe tears away, "You bunnies, so emotional."
Judith giggles in response to his joke and the tickle against her forehead, "H-Hey, don't call me emotional. That's my father." She wipes away the last few straggling tears.
"Oh yeah? Does he look as cute as you when you're crying?"
Judith scoffs playfully, "Don't ever call a bunny cute, Nicholas."
"Why not? It made you smile, didn't it?" he replies with a charming smirk. Judith pretends to pout angrily, only to have a smile overpower it. They smile softly at one another, until Judith's gaze falls to the ground, suddenly upset about something, "What is it?" Nicholas asks concerned.
"It's just, talking about my father..." Judith looks toward the distance, "I can't help but wonder if he made it home okay. Or if he's recovered from his cold. I just wish I could see him again. Even if only for a moment. I miss him so much."
Nicholas' gaze drops, sympathetically and uncertain over what he should do. Perhaps he should grant Judith her request and allow her to go home to see her father. After all, it is his fault that her father became ill in the first place. But then again, he can't afford to let her go now, not when he's so close to breaking the spell. And not when such a choice would mean losing her forever. Nicholas takes a moment to think when suddenly his ears erect - a solution popping in his head. "There is a way. Come with me."
They head back inside.
.
Nicholas leads her into his bedroom, officially inviting her in there for the first time. As Nicholas heads over to the small table where the enchanted rose is at, Judith stands in the middle of the room, taking notice that despite the clean-up job the house servants performed all over the castle, Nicholas' bedroom is the only one that has remained in its dismal state.
Nicholas returns to her carrying the magic mirror in his mouth. He hands it to her, "This mirror will show you anything. Anything you wish to see."
Judith stares curiously into the glass at her reflection, "I-I'd like to see my father, please?" Judith turns her gaze away as the mirror suddenly shines with a blinding green glow. She looks back to it, seeing a new image in the mirror's glass. In it, she sees her father fall to the ground, crawling, struggling to move through the harsh winds and snowy terrain. All the while he battles with a horrid cough. "Dad?! Oh no!" Judith gasps in horror. A curious Nicholas moves by her side to see into the mirror, witnessing for himself the older rabbit's grave state. "He's sick! He may be dying, a-and he's all alone!" Judith cries, holding the mirror tightly to her chest, as if attempting to hold her father close through it.
Nicholas feels a heavy weight in his heart seeing the bunny look so distraught. He wishes to help her but…
He turns to the wilting rose. It, much like Judith's father also appears to be close to death's door. Nicholas takes a moment to stare at its anemic state. He's so close to ending the nightmare that is his curse, but…...what will it matter? If the one creature responsible for getting him so far will lose something far more precious than he will. It's a tough call to make, but it's one he has to take, "Then...you-you must go to him."
"What did you say?" Judith asks incredulously, wondering if she heard him right.
"I release you. You're no longer my prisoner."
"You mean, I'm free?"
"Yes," Nicholas responds glumly.
"Oh, thank you!" Judith gasps happily. She turns back to the mirror, "Don't worry Dad. I'm on my way!" Judith makes to leave, but not before remembering to return the mirror to Nicholas.
Nicholas takes a step back, refusing to take it back. "Take it with you. So you'll always have a way to look back...and remember me."
Judith smiles tenderly at him. His words warming her heart, "Thank you for understanding how much he needs me." Nicholas lowers his head, closing his sad eyes. Judith gently places her paw on his cheek in an attempt to comfort him, while he gives her paw a gentle lick in return. Though Judith gives him a sympathetic smile, it immediately vanishes. Their departure proving to also be a difficult experience for her as well.
Judith turns to leave, but is stopped in her tracks by the sound of Nicholas' cracking voice, "Judith?"
"Yes?"
Nicholas feels compelled to express his true feelings for her, but given the timing and all that's happened he finds himself unable to utter those three words that burn at his heart, "I…" A single tear runs down his cheek as his voice breaks, "I'm sorry…"
Judith's eyes widen, unable to believe what she just heard. An actual apology from him? But why? It takes her a second, but she realizes that he must be referring to his imprisoning her and her father. Judith smiles softly and rushes to him. She hugs him tight and releases him to caress the fur of his neck, "There's nothing to forgive." With one last tender smile, Judith races out of the room, running past Finnick by the door.
Unaware of what's going on, Finnick enters the room with a cheeky smirk, "You sly fox. I knew you had it in you, your Majesty! You really took the whole gentlemammal into overdrive, didn't you? Swooning her to point of gettin' her to rest her head on your chest. That was beautiful!"
"I let her go," Nicholas utters somberly, his back turned to Finnick.
"I know right? Wasn't it grea-" Finnick stops, allowing Nicholas' words to register, "Wait. What?! Wha- How? H-How could you do that?!"
"I had to," Nicholas responds simply.
Finnick's jaw hangs in disbelief, "Ye-Yeah, okay. B-But. But. But. Why?!"
"Because….I love her."
.
"HE DID WHAT?!"
The other servants cry in unison, once Finnick informs them of Nicholas' decision.
"Yeah, I'm afraid i's true," replies a glum Finnick.
"She's going away?" cries a sad Elliot, almost on the verge of tears that his new friend is gone.
"But he was so close…" whimpers Clawhauser with a trembling lip.
"After all this time, he's finally learned to love," says an equally saddened Mrs. Otterton.
"That's it then! That should break the spell!" chirps Clawhauser, wanting to hang on to whatever little hope is left.
"But it's not enough," replies Mrs. Otterton, "She has to love him in return."
Hearing the adults speak in such a defeated manner, River, not wanting to give up hope, thinks of a plan to help. He nudges at his younger brother and the two sneak away. Allowing the adults to continue wallowing in the terrible news.
"Now it's too late," Finnick broods in response to Mrs. Otterton's words.
.
At his balcony, Nicholas watches his beloved Judith, still in her yellow dress, ride away in her cart with Philippe at the helm. Overwhelmed with sadness, Nicholas howls. Pouring out his emotions in one heavy, haunting, glass shattering roar.
Once his roar dies out, he releases little feral whimpers, feeling his heart shattering into bits and pieces. He heads back inside his room with his head held low, stopping before the equally wilting rose. The broken-hearted fox stares at it for a second, before turning his attention to the rest of his bedroom, taking in every bit of destroyed furniture, glass and once cherished family portraits that litter his dark, depressing room. He returns his attention back to the waning rose just as another petal drops. He sucks in a trembling breath, reminiscing on his past mistakes and regrets:
I was the one who had it all…
He delves further into the darker recesses of his bedroom, taking a walk down a not so pleasant memory lane,
I was the Master of my fate…
He walks past the portrait Judith had seen earlier when she first entered his room. The one depicting him as a young boy with his face scratched off and standing between his royal parents.
I never needed anybody in my life,
Nicholas turns back around, noticing the portrait. He stares at it as he comes to realize his greatest folly: never appreciating those he's loved and has come to love, when he should have...
I learned the truth too late…
I'll never shake away the pain,
His mind wanders to his most recent love. The bunny that has changed his life for the better, but has now left his life forever. He tries to shut her away by shutting his eyes, but it's no use - her smile, the gray of her fur, those gentle amethyst pools, it all keeps coming back to him:
I close my eyes,
But she's still there…
I let her steal into my melancholy heart
He opens his eyes, turning his gaze to the open shutters and balcony. It's a long way out to the castle's main gate. Maybe...Just maybe he can still catch one more glimpse of her! Just one more...
It's more than I can baaaaaare…
He races out to the balcony, catching her just in time. She still has a few feet left to go before she reaches the main gate. Nicholas watches her, gripping the balcony railing tightly as if it were her he was physically gripping, and not ever wanting to let her go:
Now I know,
She'll never leave me
Even as she runs awaaaay!
Judith reaches the main gate and turns the corner, disappearing from immediate sight.
She will still torment me,
Calm me,
Hurt me,
Move me,
Come what may!
Nicholas turns back to face the roofing over his balcony.
Wasting in my lonely tower,
Nicholas lowers his gaze toward his open bedroom door in the distance. The warm yellow glow emanating from the hallway fills him with a false hope that Judith hasn't really gone, but that she will in fact enter and remain by his side for the rest of his days:
Waiting by an open door,
I'll fool myself she'll walk right in…
And be with me,
Forevermore…
Nicholas looks back over his shoulder. He can no longer see her from the balcony, but - he looks up at the roofing over his balcony, then back at the main gate, then back again at the roofing. Yes! If he wants to continue viewing Judith for a little longer, then he must get to higher ground. He climbs up the balcony roofing and moves even higher than that.
I rage against the trials of love,
I curse the fading of the light,
He gets to the castle's roof. From this height he can still see the glow of her yellow dress beaming brightly beyond the castle's walls. The only source of light shining against the gloomy darkness that he's become all too familiar with. It's quite the poetic sight, really. Not only has she shed light into his own dark heart, but even now she literally puts the moon's pale light to shame.
Though she's already flown
So far beyond my reach,
She's never out of siiiiiiiiight!
Nicholas dashes over to a higher tower to continue keeping an ever watchful eye on the slowly vanishing yellow glow in the distance that is Judith.
Now I know,
She'll never leave me!
Even as she fades from view!
She will still inspire me!
Be a paaaart
Of everything I do!
Judith at last disappears from sight, as she and Philippe rush toward an area surrounded by thick pine trees in the far off distance.
Wasting in my lonely tower,
Having reached the highest nearby tower and no longer being able to see Judith in the distance, Nicholas heads back down toward his balcony,
Waiting by an open door…
Arriving back at the balcony, he sadly looks toward his open bedroom door in the distance. Despite having just witnessed Judith leave for good, he can't help but still feel a false, lingering sense of hope that she will come back to him,
I'll fool myself she'll walk right in,
Nicholas turns to face the round, pale moon above him:
And as the long, long nights begin...
A lone tear swells and runs down his cheek, while a weak, yet still gloriously happy smile forms at the edge of his mouth as the white of the moon causes him to picture Judith in a white wedding gown:
I'll think of all that might have been…
His smile vanishes, while his flowing tears grow stronger. Remembering that such a beautiful vision will never be. For his only hope for the curse, his only love, his only happiness, has gone away for good. Very likely to never return again.
Regardless of it all however, Nicholas will not allow her kind lessons to have been in vain. Though it all may be a false hope, Nicholas would rather hold onto that - he will allow himself to believe that he will see her again...even if it is after an eternity or in the afterlife.
He grips the balcony railing hard, howling the last few lines with every ounce of breath his lungs have, hoping it somehow will reach Judith's ears and heart, despite her being so far away,
Waiting here,
For...e...ver...mooooooooooooooore!
In the far distance, Judith and Philippe continue racing to her father's rescue. Though she can't hear Nicholas anymore given their current position, she can still feel his aching heart in hers. She places a paw to her chest and looks back, wanting to cheer him up if he really is indeed suffering.
But...she returns her gaze forward, remembering her mission. Perhaps she will return to the castle one day, but not yet. Not before rescuing her father and nursing him back to health.
That is...if she's not too late…
.
Hooray! Chapters 6.5 and 7 are checked off! Only a few more to go! Get ready cuz we're heading toward the story's climax now! Hope you guys have enjoyed this crossover so far and I hope you keep enjoying it as we're reaching the end. At the moment I don't know when I'll post chapter 8, I'll start it as soon as I can. If I delay however, please bear with me and don't worry. As I said before I won't do updates anymore. If I am 100% sure of when I'll post though, I'll probably update you guys either through the comments section or my profile page. Whichever works better.
For "Evermore" I mainly wrote it listening to Josh Groban's version and did my own take on it, but feel free to listen to Dan Steven's version if that works better for you.
By the way, if you guys are as big as WildeHopps shippers as I am and you haven't seen this video yet, then I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it. We have no official news yet if Nick and Judy will become a couple if a sequel happens, but this video makes you wonder if maybe Disney is all for the idea ;)
watch?v=F_QGH5Byrrw (If the link didn't attach, then just type "Only Nick can kiss Judy!" on the search bar. The video is by a user named Rick Russell.
Oh yeah! Before I forget, a couple more things...
Here's the inspiration for (let me know if you can't see the links):
Judy's necklace:
cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=143743043
Judy's tiara:
.
**HINT #2: Nick and Judy are reading it in this chapter.