OceRydia and Ziegelzeig notes : Thank you to everyone who followed this project and shared this adventure along us. This epilogue was written by the very talented Cimar-WildeHopps, author of many successful fanfictions of Zootopia, which we strongly recommend you to read (like REALLY). Thank you so much for taking the time to write this funny and romantic conclusion, Cimar!


The Epilogue

Six Months Later...

Chop...

Chop...

Chop...

The cracking and groaning of wood filled the woods as the heavy oak slowly toppled to the forest floor, shaking the ground as it landed.

"I think we're good for helping out Mr Shepherdson today, Samael."

The massive black wolf nodded, placing down the axe and looking at it curiously. "I still find it amusing you have me use this axe when my claws would do quite nicely by themselves, Thomas."

The white lynx shrugged, smiling up at the larger predator. "You wanted to regain your mind fully, correct? Then having to learn focus with each swing will help you accomplish that bit by bit."

"Or just make him your personal woodcutting pet..."

The wolf and lynx looked back towards the Sphinx sitting against a tree nearby. Umbra tugged at the leash around her neck. "I mean, you already have one pet, so why not two?"

The two enemies-turned-friends in Samael and Thomas looked at each other and nodded, speaking wordlessly as they've learned to do around each other. Samael went to the fallen tree and began tying chains around it, preparing it to take to a local farmer for firewood in the coming winter, while Thomas walked over to Umbra, kneeling in front of her. The pair stared at one another for a time, until Umbra turned her head and averted her gaze.

"You know there is more to life than just your own wants and desires, Umbra?"

She snorted. "Any desires I had died off when this," she jingled the magic leash and collar, "was chained to me."

"You know how to have that removed," Thomas submitted. "Why are you being so stubborn about this? Why can't you decide to be good? Samael and I have been trying for months now to get you to see the good in life and how helping others can elevate your soul."

The lynx turned and waved towards Samael, who had finished chaining the log and stood by, watching with a smile as several butterflies danced in the air around him. "We've both come a long ways in six months. From enemies to friends, and have decided we both need to help each other to become better. For him to regain his memories and kindess..."

Thomas turned and, upon spotting a rose nearby, plucked the flower and showed it to Umbra. "...and for me to realize that there is a balance in everything, and not to be so stubborn on what I think. Just like this rose, it is neither good nor bad. Sure its thorns can harm, or allergies in some mammals cause them annoyance from its existence, but that doesn't mean it is bad."

He frowned when he saw a grimace upon the sphinx's face. Sighing, he offered the red flower to the large feline. "You may have chosen evil before, but that doesn't mean you can't change your ways, Umbra."

The larger cat slapped the offered rose away, the flower losing several petals as it tumbled across the ground. Thomas lowered his head, the lynx slowly standing without losing his gaze on the other feline. "I know one day you will change."

The lynx turned and grabbed the end of the magical leash that kept Umbra's drained powers from showing and began walking back towards the village. Yet unbeknownst to the white lynx, Umbra quickly reached out and snatched up the rose, placing it over her heart as she bowed her head.

"I know you want me to be good," she whispered so low that even her mind and heart had trouble hearing her. "But if I do become good, then maybe I won't be able to spend so much time around you. And I've come to realize that is a worse fate than any I could have supposed before..."

She felt a tug on the leash. Her eyes darting up, she spotted the emotionless faces of Samael and Catro looking at her, waiting for her to follow them. Hiding the rose in her palm, she followed after the demon wolf and lynx hunter, her eyes never leaving the sight of Catro's swishing tail as they walked.


"Alright mammals! Now remember, what is the most important thing about being a hunter!"

The assembled mammals internally groaned, yet stayed silent as the pure black wolf walked past them, nearly tripping over his own tail. "Anyone? Fine. The first rule of being a hunter, is to always patrol near a good toilet, so that way you don't have to go out in the woods. It is much better that way, and besides, the villains you hunt won't want to be far from a good toilet either, so you must stay close by one at all times!"

Luckyz continued his speech to the newest recruited hunters, the rest of the Redcounty Hunters watching their leader with amusement as he went on about proper toilet etiquette. Especially watching the faces of the new recruits as the wolf described, in detail, the horrors of going in the woods without anything to wipe with after. The speech lasted another few minutes, before Luckyz welcomed the recruits and sent them off to their drill instructor, a massive buffalo named Behe.

"Ah, that was fun." Luckyz sauntered past his troops, the hunters under him giving him crisp salutes. Lyckyz returned it, only to stumble and nearly fall again. Yet he stayed on his paws and made his way to his captain's quarters. It had been a few months since his promotion, and he greatly enjoyed the added luxuries his position afforded him...

...such as the private loo for only his use.

That, and as he closed the door, he thought of the other part he enjoyed, being next to the kitchen. The wolf quickly went to the mess hall, grabbed a meal to go, a juicy turkey sandwich, before returning to his quarters.

He leaned back in his chair, looking at a map above his desk. "Now where would you be hiding..." he mused, leaning back a tad further than he should. The chair creaked, then slid on the wooden floor, tossing him uncomfortably onto the floor with a crash.

"I'm okay! I'm okay!" he shouted as the rush of paws sounded from outside, his door flinging open as several hunters appeared.

"Are you okay, Luckyz?"

"Are you good, boss?"

Luckyz nodded and grinned, waving off his fellow hunters who, once again, asked him to be more careful. Setting his chair back up, and nearly falling over it once more, he finally sat back down to finish the sandwich and stare at the map before him.

He'd been following the trail of the latest demon; one who would corrupt the pure spirits of mammals and create demonic dopplegangers of them. He'd had the displeasure of fighting several such dopplegangers, only catching the briefest glimpse of the demonic mammal behind the bewitchings.

"Those poor mammals..." Luckyz said, a pout growing across his muzzle. "I wish that I can keep any more from being possessed like this. I imagine it isn't very nice to go to the toilet while possessed..."


Aliya was nervous. It wasn't a battle she was facing, or a new demonic foe...but something far greater. Something you anticipate with growing dread, hoping it will only go one way, though every other scenario flashes through your mind constantly with a pulling weight that only wracks your nerves to an ever higher level.

A paw reached out to hold hers, and her fears assuaged some. They were still there, but, Siljan's paw holding her own provided the comfort she needed to get through this next event...

Introducing her fiancé to the mammal she viewed as a father, Joseph Reynart.

"It will be okay," Silljan whispered, squeezing her paw. "Besides, I'm not going anywhere, nor leaving your side, so even if he doesn't like me, he'll have to accept that I will never be leaving your side."

Aliya blushed heavily, even more so as Siljan placed a light kiss against her cheek. The orange furred fox smiled, just being next to his fiance after so long bringing him a warmth and happiness he hadn't felt since she'd left the Eastern continent. Aliya snuggled into his embrace, letting one paw slid across his shirt, feeling his toned chest beneath it. Siljan smiled, leading Aliya's muzzle upwards towards his until they met with a kiss. "I didn't traverse the deadliest continent on the planet, fighting off brigands and the weather, then sail an ocean which filled with storms and pirates, just to have our love divided any longer."

"I know..." Aliya whispered back. "Though if we ever see any of them again, I will let them know how I feel about them attacking my fiancé!" The slight growl coming from the smaller corsac vixen.

Siljan chuckled. "You won't have to worry about them. As I said, nobody could keep me from being by your side. They are all either still laying where they fell, or the sea has claimed them. You have nothing to fear, my love."

"Ahem."

The two younger mammals flinched. Turning around slowly, they saw agrizzled brown furred fox standing behind them with arms folded across his chest. Light sparks flashed from his fingertips, gaining a nervous gulp from Siljan.

"Master Reynart..."

Siljan stood, and even though his height was uncommon for a fox, he found himself staring up into the eyes of Aliya's mentor and father figure.

Joseph grunted. "I think you do have at least one thing to fear. Myself."

"Aliya groaned. "Master, are you going to treat my fiance like all the other males that approached me."

He nodded. "Do you think I'd let any scruffy furred varmit come close to my daughter?" He unfolded his arms and took a step towards Siljan, who surprisingly stood firm, facing down the much more powerful, and right now, downright angry, looking fox. "Look here you punk. I'm not letting anyone near my daughter who doesn't automatically think of her as the holiest relic to have ever graced this continent."

"Master..."

Reynart poked Siljan in the chest, shocking the young mammal, who jumped at the sudden electricity hitting him. "And so far, you've only been treating her like a princess from a lowly barony..."

"Father..."

"...so right now. All I'm seeing is some random mammal who doesn't have the decency or knowledge to know when he is in the presence of the holiest of all of God's creations..."

"Joseph Reynart!"

The larger fox halted his tirade, his finger still poking the chest of Siljan, who was leaning back as Reynart towered over him. Aliya stood with her arms at her sides, a paw clenched while her right paw was pointed towards Reynart. "Siljan treats me with nothing but respect and love, to such a degree that I have never once felt uncherished by him in any means or ways. He has been nothing but kind and thoughtful towards me since I've met him, or have you forgotten that this is the same fox who rescued me, when I was injured, from that hoard of bandits by fighting all of them off until he tottered back to me barely alive?!"

Aliya took a step forward, actually causing her mentor to turn to face her and blink in uncertainty. "Aliya..."

"Don't you start right now," the vixen began, taking several more steps towards Reynart and poked him in the chest. "You better start treating Siljan with respect, or heaven's help me I'll go back to hunting demons with one topping the list!"

Reynart nodded slowly, glad to see that the happy expression returned to his adopted daughter's face. He turned, focusing his attention back on Siljan, who was smiling warmly at Aliya, and only broke his gaze when he felt Reynart staring him down.

"Sir," Siljan began quietly, with his voice picking up as he went along. "I know you care deeply for your daughter, as do I. She is precious to me above all the diamonds of the world. More beautiful than the fairest nymph of the Golden Woods, purer than freshly fallen snow, and the one vixen who has taken my heart, and dare would I want to hurt her by even thinking a passing thought of asking it back." Siljan saw Joseph giving him his full attention, so he continued, his voice becoming even stronger. "But also know that I will do anything to make sure she is treated above the greatest of royalty on this earth, or of any others that could be out among the stars. I will make sure she is cared for, loved, and always knows she is appreciated. And if you don't approve of us being together, for any reason..."

Siljan took a step forward, eyeing up the larger fox, a cold steel in his gaze. "Then I will fight whoever tries to make her unhappy, go any distance to find what would bring a smile to her muzzle, and do whatever is necessary to make sure she is treated like a goddess...even if it means I have to stand against you to do so."

There was a thick silence and tension in the air as the two male foxes stared each other down, Aliya watching on nervously as her father figure unfolded his arms and cracked his knuckles.

"You would fight me, to win my daughter and give her the happiness she deserves?"

Siljan's reply was immediate.

"I would fight a thousand of you if it meant I could be near her to make her happy like she wishes."

The smaller red fox only turned his gaze from Reynart to look upon the face of Aliya, who was smiling warmly at him while wiping a tear from her eyes. Siljan, shocked, abandoned his place before her mentor and rushed to her side, pulling out a pawkerchief as he did and dabbed at her tears.

"Don't be sad, my beloved," he whispered. "Whatever it is you wish to make you happy, I will do so."

Aliya let out a hiccuping laugh. "That's you, you dumb dumb."

"While I hate to interrupt..."

The two lovebirds turned to see Reynart approaching them, a blank expression on his face. "However, I believe I have a meeting at the pub to attend to, and Siljan will be coming with me."

Both Siljan's and Aliya's ears perked up. "R...really?" Siljan began. "What for?"

Reynart grinned. "To make sure you mean everything you said if you want to truly marry my daughter."

Siljan nodded, placed one last kiss upon Aliya's paw before walking after Joseph, hope filling all three mammals.


"This sandstorm isn't natural!"

"Of course it isn't! It's that little devil at work again! Keep your supplies close to you and hope he doesn't find us!"

The travelers crossing the desert pushed forward against the biting winds and blistering sand pelting them from seemingly all directions. The storm had came from nowhere, surprising them all, not allowing any to get ready for the rush of sand and pain. A hippo, the leader of the group, attempted to shield several from the scorching sand, yet with how the winds whipped it around from all directions, it only brought more misery upon the larger mammal.

"Eeeehehehehehehehehe!"

The traveler's ears perked up as the soft toned cackling laughter echoed around them.

"It's the demon!" the hippo yelled. "Be prepared for anything!"

The cackling laughter quickened as the storm did, the group shielding their eyes, with most falling to the ground to prevent the splitting desert sands from stinging their eyes and fur.

Then in a moment, the storm abated, and for the briefest of moments, the sand whipping about them hung in the air as if suspended in time. Several in the party, at the cessation of noise and wind and pain bravely blinked their eyes, only to be enthralled by the sight. Just as quickly as the storm stopped, the sand rained down, showering them in a light storm before all that was above them was clear, blue skies…

...and a cackling imp.

"Oh, that was beautiful! Did you see what I did with the sand? Did you? Did you?"

The leader of the group drew his sword. "I saw what you did, you nearly killed us you-"

"I wasn't talking to you, geez. Sebastian, did you see what I did? Huh? Huh?"

The entire group was left blinking in surprise when a silver blue wolf strode up next to the floating imp. "I did see, and that was quite impressive to be able to do that. And beautiful as well." The wolf withdrew a packaged sweet from his pocket and tossed it to the demon, who tore into it voraciously while the former hunter approached the now surprised, and wary, group.

"Friends, we apologize for not arriving sooner to free you from this storm. There are so many plaguing the area, and we can only move so fast." It was then Sebastian noticed the lack of gear among the group, as well as canteens that only clacked, and didn't slosh with filled water. "I see you are without supplies. Come, there is an oasis not far from here where we can supply you with food and drink."

"And sweets!" Michael added. "The toll is one sweet per traveler."

Sebastian's chuckle filled the desert air, before grabbing the imp by his vest. "Michael, you'll ruin your dinner if you have any more, and I've heard that Reader has prepared quite a feast..and desserts, for us when we return."

"Oh! Then we must hurry!" Michael whipped out his flute. "I shall play a song to push us along at a quicker beat!" The imp quickly began to play a marching tune, floating along in the air with a smile while Sebastian motioned the group to follow. Looking at their empty canteens, and with a promise of food and drink awaiting them, the group followed the former hunter and demon into the desert.


"Where are we?"

Ake'cheta smiled, bringing his wife, Roxxie, closer to her as they travelled deeper into the forests within the Dark Valley. The pair had travelled deep into the woods to a sheltered glade, one not visited often by those who dwelt within the Dark Valley itself. "The abode of a friend," the coyote mystic replied. "The one who watches over our forests and see's all."

The female skunk's eyes widened. "You don't mean…?"

He nodded.

Glee overtook Roxxie, as she excitedly looked around. "So, where is this hunking lizard I keep hearing everyone talking about?"

Ake'cheta chuckled, then pointed towards the entrance of a large, ominous cave behind a rapidly falling waterfall. "He's in there, though I wouldn't call him a 'lizard' if I were you.

Roxxie just smirked before gently tapping the side of Ake'cheta's muzzle. "Oh, whatever nickname a woman decides for a man, it becomes part of who he is, so good ole Dagonn will just have to accept what the women of the woods call him, just like you have to accept what I refer to you as when I'm with friends.

Ake'cheta blinked as Roxxie strolled towards the cave, her tail flicking back and forth. Starting from his shock, he strode forward after his mate. "Wait...what do you call me before the others?"

"How long is this cave?" she answered.

"Fairly long…it will take a while to get through to where The Diviner resides."

Roxxie smiled coyly. "There's your answer…"

Ake'cheta's head turned to the side, his steps halting while his wife walked on. "I don't get it…?"

The ethereal temple they walked through delighted Roxxie, who marvelled at the beauty of its construct as they purposefully strode through its hallowed cavern. It wasn't until they arrived at a massive archway did Ake'cheta's paw find Roxxie's shoulder, bringing the smaller mammal to a halt.

"We've arrived."

Roxxie looked around. "So, uh...where is he? Will he make a grand entrance or something? Fly down from the ceiling? Sneak up behind us like how I did to you last week?"

Ake'cheta glowered. "I thought we agreed to not bring such topics up before others?"

"I don't see any others here," Roxxie shot back. "All I see is that large scroll jabbed into that gnarled tree with a big ole' knife."

"Wait...what?" Ake'cheta walked, then strode, then as he neared the central tree, dashed forward until he came to the paper, ripping it from the knife's clutches. Roxxie strode up behind him.

"So, what does it say? Has he gone on a vacation to get a tan as this cave doesn't seem the best place for anyone to get some well needed sun."

Ake'cheta frowned as he finished the note. "Lord Dagonn is travelling throughout the land of Hallows to understand more about the corrupted magic which allowed the Dread Puppet House to be made."

"So...we won't see him today then."

He shook his head. "No, and not only that, but he left the valley's care to...me."

"To you?"

Both mammals stood there for a moment, the slight trickling of water into an underground pool the only sound around them. The quiet allowed them to think about the revelation of Lord Dagonn leaving his abode for the first time in centuries. It was at least the first time they had heard of it happening throughout their tribes' history.

Roxxie was the one to finally break the silence. "Well, this was a waste of time…"

Ake'cheta blinked and turned to his wife. Before he could utter a statement though, she grasped his muzzle gently and guided it down. Before he knew it, he was face to face with a grinning skunkette, whose sultry gaze quickened his heart. "Though I can think of a way to make it a success."


"Now remember, love can conquer all! And be kind to others!"

The kangaroo demon waved to the couples leaving his newly refurbished chapel. Sighing happily to himself and a spring in his hop, Ramic moved back inside, out of the biting chill that permeated the Deadly North regions. Looking around the chapel, now within the town limits, Ramic couldn't help but keep a smile from spreading across his muzzle. The new laws allowing marriages of love, along with other rules put into place had greatly helped young couples find mates.

"Oh, love and kindness are in the very fabric of the air!"

A loud scoff rang from the opposite end of the chapel. Ramic shook his head. "Oh come now, certainly you will come to your senses and see that love is so much better than killing! You can't have love when dead, you know, and love is so exquisite!"

"You are so annoying…" the lynx growled, glaring at the kangaroo. "Why was I summoned back to this world, only to escape from the south to wind up with such a hideously happy mammal."

"Why thank you!" Ramic replied. "And you, I know, have a soul of goodness somewhere deep, deep...deep inside you, Arten. And I'm just the mammal to help you find it!"

"Come on…" Ramic drawled, heading towards the lynx who took a step back while extending his claws. "I know that deep down inside of you that you have a propensity for love! I mean...look at this couple!"

The kangaroo hopped over to a painting on the wall. Taking it lovingly in his paws, he turned it around for Judge Arten to see. "See?" Ramic said. "Isn't this such a beautiful couple?"

Even though the lynx prepared himself to shred the portrait to oblivion, as he knew he'd enjoy seeing the crestfallen look from the kangaroo, the feline couldn't help but look at the happy couple in the painting, looking at each other with such fondness. The grey bunny with black ear tips and amethyst eyes had such an appraising look of love as she stared up at the red fox with green eyes staring longingly down at her. The matching blue tunics seemed to show them both in the same profession, but it was that look of absolute adoration that filled their eyes….

Something stirred within his chest.

Arten hissed and stepped back, turning away from the painting, grabbing at his chest as he shook his head. No...I will not give in to such...goodness!

He was barely aware of the other demon poking his head next to his own. "Awww….I knew that painting would get to that stony heart of yours."

"Shut it!"

Arten turned faster than a blink of an eye and slashed at the kangaroo. Ramic let out a yelp and jumped back onto his tail, holding the painting high while avoiding the snarling feline.

"Oh good, the painting I call 'Absolute Love' is safe!" Ramic gently came back upon his feet, hopping over to the wall and placing it back upon the stonework facade. "Don't worry, Arten. I'm sure that with enough lessons and talk about true love you will come around."

Arten just growled.


Ned sighed as the mound of paperwork before him only seemed to have grown in the past several hours. Leaning back, he stretched his arms and smiled at the popping sounds from his shoulders, before stretching them to release the built up tension from staring at papers for so long.

Being the new leader of the Order of the Hunters wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

"Paperwork..the bane of any organization," he grumbled as he decided a break was in order. He moved around the desk, only to be surprised when his shirt was grabbed and he found himself in the arms of his lover, her lips pressed against his own.

The kiss parted far too quickly for the spluttering and stupified bunny. "How...when...how did you get in here without me noticing?"

Nadine laughed, the cream furred doe pointing to the mountains of paper and scrolls upon Ned's desk. "You've been sitting there for about five hours now. I've been in and out of the room about seven times already without you noticing. I even ate a carrot as loudly as possible behind you and you didn't bat an ear."

"You...did?"

She nodded. "Uh huh. And I'm starting to feel a little bit left out that you'd chose this paperwork over me…" Her paw tapped against the frying pan holstered on her belt. Ned eyed the weapon, as well as the armor his bunny wore, a new addition as she decided, after the fight against Sire Potence and Umbra, that she should be well equipped to protect those she loved.

Ned stared blankly for a few moments. "But the paperwork on the new mission needs completion by sundown, and the supplies for-"

Nadine groaned loudly, her shoulders slumping before she threw her paws to the sky in exasperation. "Oh for the love of...males! Why are you so dense! It's always work, work, work!"

"But…"

Nadine grabbed him by his cloak and pulled him away from his desk. "Ned, we are going to have a nice long discussion about what needs and priorities are in your life."

"I enjoy a good philosophical discussion."

Nadine groaned again. "Males…"


The fox and bunny stood together, idly watching the storm outside diminishing in its ferocity. The storm itself had sent the pair running into their barely built home, laughing as the winds and rains pelted their fur, the knowledge that such rain would once again bring life to the barren landscape they had settled in.

The Ashes Lands were beginning to have life come to it once more, albeit, at a slow and cumbersome pace to the couple. Six months earlier they had returned to the lands together, Oce humbled and distraught over the destruction she and her hunters had been responsible for.

Yet Zieg hadn't blameed her. He'd only dried her tears, gave her a gentle kiss, and told her that everything would be alright. Together the pair had worked studiously to repair the distraught lands. Just like their relationship had healed, so too, would their home.

Zieg hadn't expected the reaction of saying, 'their home', would have on Oce. The doe sniffled, launched herself at Zieg, knocking him to the ground within a circle of flowers, and the pair didn't leave that spot for hours.

Don't mind a bit about that...Zieg thought as he stared out over the lands outside their burrow. Many of their friends had helped in constructing their den. Samael had helped dig out the earth while Thomas worked with Zieg on placing the wooden beams within their new home. Oce worked with Aliya and Moon Moon on decorating the inside, turning the hole in the ground into a beautiful home. Ramic had blessed their home with much happiness, and in his words, 'fluff, love, fluff, more fluff, and even more love...oh, and kits. Lots of kits to show your love!'

"That was unexpected."

Oce's words shook Zieg from his memories, and he placed a paw upon her shoulder as they stared out over the fields that only now had become speckled with green as grass, shrubs and trees began to reclaim the barren wastelands. He nodded in agreement. "Though this parched land will need all the nourishment it can get to recover."

The bunny doe's ears wilted, only for Zieg to pull them back up straight.

"Hey!" She swatted at his paw, laughing as he let go of her ear. "You can't just go and touch my ears like that!"

Zieg smirked. "Is it because I know how riled up you get when you have your ears rubbed?"

Oce blushed. "Jerk."

"Your jerk," Zieg countered. "And your jerk has a present for you."

"Oh?" The cream doe looked to her mate with interest.

"Close your eyes…"

Oce did as instructed, though it only increased her agitation as her foot thumped against the floorboards. It felt as if Zeig was purposefully elongating the time before giving her whatever it was he had.

"Zeig…" she said with a warning tone. "Can I open them?"

"Yes, my darling Oce," Her blush deepened with the reverence in which he spoke her name. "You can open you cute little eyes."

Amber eyes opened with a slight glare, to see Zieg snickering. She was about to swat at him, when she saw a crown of cream colored flowers laying in his paws.

"For you," Zieg began, watching as her eyes widened in astonishment. "These flowers are ones that I specifically created to cover this land, as I wanted whoever passed through to know of the beauty that they are based upon."

Zieg gingerly raised the crown over Oce's ears. Her own paws gently touched the flowers, one paw touching the flowers while her metallic paw covered her mouth as tears began streaming down her cheeks.

"Oh, Zieg!"

"Here it comes," Zieg chuckled. He let out a grunt as a bunny missile impacted his chest. "Guess you like the gift? They're the first flowers to bloom across this la-"

His words were cut off with a withering kiss of unfathomable proportions. Arms found themselves quickly wrapped around one another, exploring each other's bodies as the kiss finally ended, both mammals panting slightly. "I guess that is a yes?"

"What was my answer to your proposal to me?" Oce countered.

Zieg chuckled, then leaned in for another kiss.

~Fin~