2.02 pm. Monday, May 3, 2021
Kaylee Crane took her seat by the table and watched the microphone before her a bit dreadfully. The journalist sitting on the opposite side, a gazelle named Helen Santiago, offered the rabbit a cup of water and smiled encouragingly.
"Thank you for accepting our invitation. First time on the radio?" She asked.
"Yes, it is," Kaylee confirmed, looking around the recording room. The wall behind her was covered in Station 2's logo, the rest had sound-muffling palette's and a big glass window where technicians sat. It felt almost like questioning rooms back at the station.
"Stressed?"
"A bit," bunny nodded. "It's my first time after all. And I sometimes curse like sailor when I'm nervous," she admitted awkwardly and the reporter chuckled.
"There's nothing to worry about. I don't bite," promised the gazelle with a smile which Kaylee returned. Gradually, the room was filling with music and the journalist glanced at the technician behind the glass. "We'll be live in a minute."
"OK, then, let's do it," Kaylee took a breath and listened to the quiet countdown. The gazelle sipped some water, cleared her throat and then, they heard the opening music motive of her audition and she started.
"Good afternoon, everyone! It is Helen Santiago in Two By Two! Our today's guest is Technical Officer Kaylee Crane from Zootopia Police Department and co-founder of Reynolds Reperation Fund. Good afternoon, Officer Crane!"
"Good afternoon," the bunny replied a bit nervously.
"Last several months have been tough for all the brave folks of ZPD. Since murder of Thomas Reynolds and revealing plot of mischievous Spencer Young, passed eight months. The city and the institution of its protectors, trembled in their foundations. Most of Tundratown police's old guard were fired, sometimes even pressed charges against. But as it befits the protectors of this city, ZPD raised from his knees. Slowly, the situation has returned to normal, hasn't it?" The gazelle asked her guest.
"I don't think that we can speak of returning here. Just like the Nighthowlers, Young's Manifesto did change the city and its mammals. No one touched left the fray unchanged."
"Not even you?" Asked the gazelle. "Our listeners might not remember, but when his plan was beginning to crumble, you were the one whom Spencer Young kidnapped in order to force Detectives Wilde and Hopps into turning in."
"Indeed."
"How did it feel, to be kidnapped?" She asked politely. The gazelle had made sure beforehand that Kaylee would have no problem touching the subject, which bunny really appreciated.
"I guess I should say that I was scared…" Kaylee chuckled nervously. "At first, I was trying to escape, but it failed. At the morning of the trade I was surprisingly cool until I learnt that Scarlet Calveit betrayed Spencer. He was really the only mammal insisting on not killing me, so… Yeah…"
"But in the end, everything turned out just fine," concluded the gazelle. Suddenly, a sight of Spencer Young trying to kill her fiancé only to massacre Gerard Greymane with furious cry and tears in his eyes echoed in the rabbit's head.
"I was saved. All the perpetrators were either dead or arrested. Wilde was cleared of any charges. And then, Spencer Young revealed his real intentions; to reveal the truth behind Zootopia," she concluded.
"Ah, yes. The infamous press conference, after which Detectives Wilde and Hopps vanished for nearly two months," the journalist said with note of blame.
"Was it really this surprising?" Kaylee asked with just as subtle tone of blame, but pointed in the quite opposite direction. "It took the city a week to proclaim Wilde all the things he was not. It wasn't Spencer Young that was trying to break him; it was the city and ZPD. His own mammals. And no one except for Chief Bogo dared to apologize officially. Wilde needed time to find his place again after all of it," she argued. "It's hard to admit, but Spencer Young did win that day, for he was right."
"But he paid the highest price," recalled Mrs. Santiago. "Even though ZPD found no body, the case has been officially shut down. According to Chief Bogo, there is no proof of the fox making it out of there."
"Indeed," Kaylee confirmed, even though she still couldn't believe it. But then, Spencer whom she remembered from high school was a different mammal than the one that she faced after Reynolds' murder.
"It was a bad time for ZPD, was it not? The corruption of Tundratown was revealed and the paragons of Wilde and Hopps vanished temporarily," the journalist pointed out.
"A lot of bad things occurred… but lots of good ones as well, eventually. ZPD faced hard time, but we dealt with all the corruption and accusations. We did the justice we are meant to and a lot of good mammals worked toward this success, recently promoted Detectives Wilde and Hopps eventually included," Kaylee assured.
"And we should not forget of the hero that was born that day, Detective Maximilian Reynolds. Such a colorful character, isn't he? Son of the millionaire, a millionaire himself until recently, young ZPD Officer who during the fateful August events saved you and Detectives Wilde and Hopps, for which he was nominated to a Detective and awarded with Medal of Valor. The main funder of the Reynolds Reparation Fund and, last but certainly not least, your fiancé. Or is it husband now?" The gazelle asked and Kaylee giggled.
"Fiancé and very, very soon, a husband," she clarified dreamily. "Max…" she sighed deeply. "I don't really know where to start. It was tough time for him, but he did what he could. He lost his father, then he nearly lost me. And when he had me back, he learnt of truth behind his father. Such burden would overwhelm someone weaker, but Max… it only gives him strength to fight on."
"It is admirable, given how much he suffered. After atrocities of his father were revealed, he decided to give all of his fortune to those at harm immediately. And even though some doubted, he did deliver, didn't he?" Mrs. Santiago asked with respect.
"He did. According to recent investigations, approximately ninety-eight percent of Reynolds' fortune will have been spent on reparations to the victims by the end of next year. The city even agreed for all the reparations to be tax-free. But on the other hand, they got quite a chunk too, so I guess it doesn't matter in the end," she chuckled.
"And what happened with the other two percent?" Wondered the journalist.
"All sorts of the costs on the way; funding everyone that helped us to get to everyone and pay them respectably. There was… there are a lot of mammals involved, lots of good, devoted mammals that went beyond measures to seek truth. We provided them funds for it to be possible. And also, Max decided to keep a small chunk of money for us. A single pro mille for the sake of our future family and guaranteeing our financial safety," Kaylee explained.
"Oh, it's only reasonable," agreed Mrs. Santiago. "Everyone deserves fair living, you included. And besides, it's been long since Max Reynolds has been the only funder. His noble actions were inspiration to many," she pointed out.
"Yes, it has inspired many, Mayor Ketchikan, Mr. Lester Rouge, Lady Jennifer Tompkins or mammals from Reynolds Industries to only name the few. Mammals approached us carefully at first, not sure if it was really happening. But when they trusted us… It was an avalanche of kindness and good will. Some helped us with money, the others with good advice and guidance. It made me believe in the city once again," Kaylee smiled and the journalist returned it.
"And not only you, Officer. The Fund has done plenty of good in just few months. But tell me, what are your future plans?" The journalist wanted to know.
"The initial sum that we operated seemed tremendous for itself, but thanks to all the kind souls believing in our ideas, we have nearly doubled it eventually. Initially we believed we'd spend it all to repair all the harms caused by Thomas Reynolds. Now we know it is impossible; the amount of money gathered over last year is simply too much. We are still working on the idea, consulting it with the main benefactors but… but we hoped we could invest the money in the parts of the city that need it. Modernize hospitals, renovate orphanages, fund scholarships for the most talented students and so on. With all the money spent, the Fund shall be eventually shut down and I and Max will return to our normal life," Kaylee explained.
"Could such an extraordinary couple have a normal life?" Asked Mrs. Santiago half-jokingly.
"That's what I'm hoping for," the bunny replied.
"And the entire Zootopia hopes for you just as well. Thank you for your time, Officer Crane. Or is it Officer Reynolds already?" Both of them chuckled.
"Soon. Very, very soon."
1.23 pm. Saturday, May 15, 2021
"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear…" Kaylee was pacing the floor of her bedroom nervously, with her heart hammering and paws trembling. The mask of calmness had shattered, only panic remained. When her best maid, Judy Hopps, came back to the room, Kaylee fell in her arms almost knocking a hot cup out of her paws.
"Where have you been?!" She asked with relief. Judy watched her carefully, dressed in her simple yet wonderful, snow-white wedding gown, shaking like a leaf. Hopps put paws on her shoulders gently.
"Sit down, Kaylee," she suggested and the two rabbits sat down on the bed. Judy handed Kaylee a cup of some warm drink and the bunny accepted it hesitantly.
"What's that?"
"Tisane from Max to calm your frayed nerves," Judy explained and watched her carefully as she was emptying the cup. The bunny was trembling and nearly crying, clearly unable to handle all the pressure.
"Oh gosh, I can't do it, I just…" Kaylee paused, feeling Judy's arm wrapping around her and glanced at her best friend and best maid.
"Everything's going to be alright," promised Judy. "You've gone so far together. This is just another step. And the most wonderful and the happiest step you've taken this far to that," she was trying to encourage her. "I think, I have never been married myself," Judy added and Kaylee chuckled nervously.
"Yet," she managed to joke and then, she shivered. "I'm freaking out. I really, really, am," she confessed fearfully. "There's so many things that could go wrong! We haven't practiced the whole ceremony and…" She was starting to enumerate, when Judy put a finger on her lips silencing her.
"You love him," she stated.
"I do," Kaylee confirmed firmly.
"And so does he love you."
"He does."
"And this is all you need today. Let me and Nick take care of the rest, OK?" Judy pleased and the bride muttered something hesitantly.
"Mhm."
"Come over here," Hopps hugged her best friend. "Everything is going to be alright. Today is supposed to be the most wonderful day of your life and I'm going to make sure it really is. So take a deep breath, wipe those tears, blow your nose and smile. You're getting married," she encouraged her. Kaylee took a deep, slow breath and shivered gently. Warmth of Judy's body was slowly bringing her peace.
"Thank you," Kaylee managed to smile, probably for the first time today. "I… How are the boys doing?" She worried.
"Um… good?" Judy lied.
2.25 pm. Saturday, May 15, 2021
"Seriously, what is this thing?! Why can't I…" Max was brushing his chest intensively, trying to remove the remaining blue paw marks covering his chest. Nick was just standing in the back, trying his best not to laugh.
"Hey, it's already gone from the face. The suit will cover the rest," the fox was trying to lift his spirit up.
"Yeah, sure. Seriously, though, what the hell is this?!" The wolf continued to brush angrily.
"Don't you remember? It's war paint," Wilde informed him amusingly.
"What?!"
"A war paint. Warriors would get these…"
"How did I get a war paint at a stag-party?!" Reynolds protested at the absurd of the situation.
"Yeah, you might not remember," Nick admitted. "Do you remember how you started arguing with Wolford about your inheritance? Like you both claimed you came from ancient royal lines and you couldn't agree on which one was the nobler one?"
"Yeah, I remember?" Max was watching his best man suspiciously.
"And you figured you'd solve it with a drinking tournament?" The fox asked again.
"I… think I remember? The start at least? Who won?"
"Well, ten rounds later both of you were standing, so you called it a draw and decided to solve it in one truly manly way. A duel," Nick paused and, enjoying horror in groom's eyes.
"Like a sword fight?" He stuttered.
"So you do remember!" Nick grinned and Max hesitated and then, shook his head slowly.
"Did we have swords?" He asked suspiciously.
"Of course not, that would be dangerous!" Nick protested. "But we did give you broomsticks. Wolford took his suit off and you dropped your shirt and then, you demanded that you wanted a war paint like a true Nord. So we found the paint…"
"What paint?" Max managed to ask, but the fox only shrugged.
"It washes off," he looked at the bright side. "Anyways, you made the war paint and dueled. You struggled for five minutes or so, until you smacked Wolford in nose. You shed the blood first and thus, you won," he concluded with the story.
"And in meanwhile, you, my best man, just stepped back and watched everything from safe distance?" The wolf asked with blame. He was hoping for the fox to prevail exactly this kind of situation.
"Oh, I did try to stop you despite the popular opinion, but you said that a Nord shall not be ordered around by anyone, not even his own chronicler," Nick said in his defense. "So I stepped back and filled a humble chronicler's duty."
"Did you?" Max tilted his head, unsure whether to be afraid or happy.
"I took photos," Nick clarified with a smirk.
"No! No freaking way!" He protested and then, lightened up. "You have them here?"
"Of course I do," the fox waved his phone.
"Show them!" He dropped the towel excitedly walking over to Nick. The fox didn't hesitate only he had already made a backup on his laptop back home. He found said photos and handed the cell to the groom. Reynolds started swiping, browsing the photos, from the war paint ritual, to the duel and Max's triumph. The fox even caught the exact moment when Max smacked Wolford in face.
"Oh, that's pure gold. You've got to send them to me," Max pleased.
"I will. You'd better dress up, we don't have much time left," the fox warned.
"Yeah, yeah… the paint's gone, isn't it?" The wolf asked and Nick watched him carefully.
"It will pass," he decided finally.
"OK, I need to… crap, I left my tie in the bedroom. Be right back," Reynolds ran out of the bathroom and charged upstairs. He knocked and opened the door to the bedroom, when a well-aimed cushion smacked him right in the face and forced to pull back.
"No peeking! You're only seeing her at the ceremony!" Warned Judy, echoed by Kaylee's giggle.
"Um… right. Could you hand me my tie? It should be hanging on the chair," he pleased, sticking a paw out. A few seconds later, he felt Judy handing it to him.
"How are you doing?" She asked.
"I'll be ready in five minutes and we're going," Max promised and felt the doubtful sight Judy must have been giving the half-dressed wolf. "Really."
"So… see you at the place?" The bunny guessed.
"See you at the place," he agreed.
4.00 pm. Saturday, May 15, 2021
The sun shone as brightly as rarely in Meadowlands while the warm wind blew in Max's face. Standing by the altar, he was feeling as hot as ever and yet, he could hardly stop the shivering. He glanced at Nick, Jason Wolford and an old friend, Alex Fakes, his groomsmen, all dressed in black suits and smirking confidently. On the other side of the altar stood the two bridesmaids Kaylee decided to have: Judy Hopps, cheerful as ever, and Ashley Crane, with whom Kaylee was getting along better and better over the months. Just behind them, by the altar, stood the officiant of the ceremony; no one else than Chief Bogo himself, surprisingly dressed in suit like everyone else. Max chuckled while glancing at the water buffalo. He still remembered the look on his face when they asked him to take the role. It'd be first and probably the last time in their lives when they saw Chief actually abashed. The wolf turned his sight away to the mammals sitting in front of them. Everyone was there: almost entire ZPD Precinct 1, Max's close family in person of Anastasia Reynolds and distant one represented by several his aunts, uncles and cousins and all the other friends of the young couple. The only mammals that were lacking was Kaylee's family, whom she did not invite eventually. They never shared her sorrows, why should they share her joys?
"It will not rain on my parade," Kaylee's words from just two days earlier crossed his mind, brightening the wolf's mood immediately. It was their day and everyone came to celebrate it. They all were here. All except for the one…
"There she goes," whispered Nick suddenly and Max searched for her with sight. And then, he saw her stepping carefully through the grassy aisle, guided by the only parental figure she had ever had in her life; Mrs. Sylvia Wilde. Dressed in her pure-white dress with wonderful veil, Kaylee looked like a scarred and yet, most beautiful angel. She was slowly walking down the aisle, nearing them.
"This is not happening, is it?" Crossed wolf's mind. "Crap, it really is happening. And dear Lord, isn't she beautiful? How did I wind up this lucky? It feels like cheating… Is Mrs. Wilde crying? No, there's no way. And I do hope those are tears of joy… Bogo's staring at me. Now that he's the officiant, he'll break my neck if I ever treat her wrong. Never thought of it, lucklily. OMG, she's already here… Now cool. Play it cool, damn it!" The wolf cursed himself in mind and then, smiled nervously to Kaylee who had just stood by him in front of the altar.
"Dearly beloved, we have come together…" Chief Bogo began the ceremony, but Max could hardly focus on his words, watching his beloved bunny just few steps from her. How wonderful she looked, how joyous she felt, glancing at him stealthily every now and then…
"Into this union Maximilan and Kaylee now come to be joined," continued the Chief. Max realized suddenly that whatever interesting he had had to say at the start, it was gone now for eternity. Still, just gazing at her was completely worth it.
"If any of you can show just cause why they may not be lawfully wed, speak now, or else forever hold your peace," demanded Chief Bogo so threateningly that if anyone really had such cause, they'd speak right away just under the pressure of his. Max noticed how Kaylee watched the guests a bit sacredly and realized immediately what she feared; her family coming and ruining the day. But no one appeared, no one said a word. Only months later would Max learn that Chase Crane, who meant to disturb the ceremony, had three of his tires slashed so that he wouldn't make it in time; a wedding gift from the Duchess. Nick Wilde tried to crack a joke, but Wolford elbowed him right between the ribs prophylactically. Chief Bogo, satisfied with the continuing silence, turned to the bride and resumed.
"Kaylee, will you have this wolf to be your husband; to live together with him in covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him and keep him, in sickness in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto him as long as you both shall live?" Asked Bogo, his voice soft as velvet. Kaylee eyed Max and smiled weakly.
"I will," she promised firmly. Bogo turned to the groom.
"Maximilian, will you have this rabbit to be your wife; to live together with her in covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, be faithful unto her as long as you both shall live?" He asked. Max shivered, he felt how his eyes were growing awfully watery.
"I will. Of course, I will," he somehow kept his voice from shaking. Chief Bogo nodded and turned to the congregation.
"Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?" He asked.
"We will," the joyful, firm declaration of nearly two hundred souls almost brought Max to tears. So many mammals rooting for them, enjoying their happiness… He was so touched that he nearly forgot that it was the time for the vows. He took Kaylee's right paw in his and, gazing her in the eyes, he spoke:
"In the name of God, I, Maximilian Theodore Reynolds, take you, Kaylee Crane, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow," he declared with a tear flowing down his cheek. So he did cry in the end. Kaylee's paw slipped out of his and then, she took his paw again. With a blissful smile and voice trembling, she made her declaration.
"In the name of God, I, Kaylee Crane, take you, Maximilan Theodore Reynolds, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow," she promised smiling. Max wanted to howl with joy and only be fierce power of will did he stop himself from doing so. His heart pummeled like a blacksmith's hammer, blood rushed through his head like a wild river. As if through the mist he remembered how, with his paws trembling, he put a finger on his beloved's finger and then, how she did the same for him. The rest of ceremony passed in mere seconds to him. And then, Chief Bogo made the final declaration.
"Kaylee and Maximilian, having witnessed your vows of love to one another, it is my joy to present you to all gathered here as husband and wife," he spoke and turned to Max with a weak smile. "You may now kiss the bride."
Max reached toward Kaylee, kissed her passionately and, as she squeaked joyfully, he lifted her in the air. The witnesses stood up suddenly and began to applause. Max whispered to Kaylee something lost to the mist of excitement and she giggled back. If this wasn't happiness, then he had no idea what happiness was.
5.03 pm. Saturday, May 15, 2021
After the festive luncheon on the fresh air, just before the band began to play, Nick Wilde took his glass of champagne in paw and knocked on it with the spoon loudly, bringing everyone's attention. Given the signal, the service began to offer full glasses of champagne to all the guests, while they watched the fox.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the first time I met Max was when Kaylee was spilling coffee all over his uniform and telling him to get lost. Accidentally, it was also their first time ever meeting… so you can only imagine what sort of first impression Max made on her," Nick smirked and heard numerous laughs across the audience. "But tell you what, when you make this kind of first impression and the girl still talks to you afterwards, then she's either going to be your death… or she's going to be your life," he paused glancing at the newlyweds and then, very shortly, on Judy. "And despite world's best attempts, Max and Kaylee stand here together. The said first meeting of our lovebirds took place almost two years ago. Just two years, one could say, but… but those were long, hard two years, for them especially. Those two years ago, both Max and Kaylee… Max especially…" Nick smirked at the wolf. "…Were just kids. Finishing their schools, venturing on their first adult life adventure in Police Academy and then, in ZPD itself. Both of them came here with their own sets of beliefs and fears, big and small. And then, life hit both of them like a truck, first separately, then together. It made them question everything they knew. It trialed them for a thousand times. The world tried to twist them, break them, kill them even at times… but they came out victorious and they came out together," Nick Wilde acclaimed proudly. He slowly raised his glass high in the air. "I want to raise a toast for this victory of theirs. For that whatever came in their path, they overcame it. I want to raise a toast for that to never change. For them to never give up. For them to live happily ever after. To Max and Kaylee!"
"To Max and Kaylee!" Everyone raised their glasses high and exclaimed cheerfully. Nick sighed down with sigh of relief and at the same moment, the music began to play. Max stood up, asked Kaylee if she'd want to dance. She took his paw, hopped off the chair and the two of them walked to the center. There, they danced their first dance in the rhythm of the joyful melody they had chosen months ago. Nick watched them enchanted, wondering how much dedication it took a wolf and bunny, given the difference of sizes, to learn dancing so smoothly and without a single slip. Soon he realized that everyone were watching the two of them just as bewitched as he did.
It lasted only couple minutes and afterwards, the music band's singer invited all the other couples to the dances. Without a second thought, Nick invited Judy and they joined the newlyweds along with dozen other couples. Sometime around the second, he exchanged smirks with Max, sometime around the fifth, he switched partners and got to dance with the bride. And then he did so again, again and again, until he found Judy yet again to not give her away anymore. The joyous time was passing quickly.
8.14 pm. Saturday, May 15, 2021
"It's a silly, superstitious…" Judy tried to protest, but Kaylee already reached for her paw and was dragging her to the rest of the single ladies, waiting for the bride to toss the bouquet.
"Oh, are you afraid? Do it for the bride," Kaylee pleased with a giggle. "And if you protest any harder, Nick might be offended," she pointed out.
"Just throw it high, will you? Not straight into my paws," Judy pleased, agreeing reluctantly. Knowing Kaylee, she'd do everything to have those flowers end up straight in her paws…
"Throwing it to someone would be cheating! The fate shall decide!" Kaylee exclaimed joyfully, putting her with the rest of single ladies present, mostly ZPD officers or Max's distant cousins. Judy stood in the front so that she wouldn't disappear in the crowd of tall and glanced at Nick; he was barely containing a laugh. She rolled her eyes theatrically and suddenly, she heard couple girls around her squeaking. Before she even noticed, the bouquet was already in the air, flying high above their heads. Judy didn't even try to jump up, as the flowers were heading straight for Fangmeyer's paws, but then, they hit her in the forearm, slipped away from her and fell straight in surprised Judy's arms. The bunny stared at the colorful bouquet in her paws trying to contain the information among the cameras flashing and the cheerful clapping all around. Kaylee fell into her arms joyfully, almost knocking her out.
"I told you! And you didn't believe me!"
"It was an accident…" Judy tried to protest awkwardly, but the bride would not listen to any of her arguments.
"I threw it high! It was no accident, Judy, it was fate!" She exclaimed joyfully and then leaned forward to her to whisper something in her ear. "So, this is the part where you go to Nick and…"
"Now you're pushing your luck," Judy muttered awkwardly and glanced at the best man's seat. He was nowhere to be found. And then, she heard his voice right behind her.
"Ladies," he said and the two rabbits turned at him. Nick Wilde bowed theatrically in front of them, extending his paw to Judy. "Judith Laverne Hopps, would you like to dance with me?" He asked. Kaylee squeaked joyfully and Judy accepted his paw right away.
"But of course," she assured and he spun her, bringing her close. The fox began to guide her, gently and following the rhythm of melody. The music… Nick had ordered one of the few songs both of them really liked… the only one fit for dancing, actually… Before she even noticed, they were dancing all alone with everyone watching them. She blushed with embarrassment at first, but with the first glance into his eyes and subtle, joyful smile, these feelings were dispelled at once. That was what she wanted, wasn't it? For him to be happy. For them to be happy…
"Well, it is Kaylee's great night, isn't it? We surely cannot let her down," he eyed at the bouquet, barely containing a grin.
"I suppose…" Judy agreed and suddenly, her ears perked up. "Did you just…"
"Shhh… It is her great night," the fox smirked and she gazed into his deep green eyes for quite a moment.
"Dumb fox," she muttered with a chuckle. And so, they danced in silence.
6.47 am. Sunday, May 16, 2021
"Hey, hey, hey, till the break of the day!" Kaylee ran between the tables, dancing joyfully. She bounced off the floor onto a chair and then, the table, just between the plates. "La, la, la, la, la, la…" drunk with happiness, she passed between the cutlery, platters, cups and glasses, spinning and turning. "Hey, hey, hey!" She jumped above paws of one of the servants and with dexterous move snatched a candleholder. "Dance the whole night through..." She spun with the candles still burning and hopped down back on another chair. "Nothing gets between the dancer and the moon!" She laughed joyfully, as Max caught her in the midair, put on the ground gently and spun her one time more.
"Not even do I?" He asked with a smirk.
"Oh, you are my moon. And my sun and my entire world…" She put the candlestick back gently. "Oh my, I'm so tired…" She yawned and glanced at the horizon; it was already dawning. Most of the guests were already gone, last couple ones had left just minutes earlier. It was just the two of them now. Or four, for the matter of speaking.
"Do you know where's my best man?" Max wondered, looking around.
"With my best maid!" Giggled Kaylee, guiding her newlywed husband. They found Nick and Judy in some distance, sitting on a bench just under an old oak. Judy was drowsing with her head lying on Nick's shoulder, while he was watching the dawn. Max and Kaylee sat by them, waking the tired bunny up.
"Long night, isn't it?" Kaylee smiled to Judy and she nodded weakly.
"Long, wonderful night… And incredibly tiring one, too," she agreed. "Is the party over?"
"So it seems. It's dawning already," Max agreed and yawned along with Kaylee. The excitement had carried them through last twenty-four hours without a single nap, but now the effect was slowly wearing off. "What a wedding."
"What a wedding indeed. Congratulations," Judy smiled. "So, what are you planning now?"
"The honeymoon. Not moon technically, merely three weeks, but…" Kaylee giggled. "We're going to see quite a chunk of the world."
"Yes, we are, starting on Tuesday," Max confirmed with a nod. "And then, back to Zootopia. How about you?"
"Oh, not much to say," Nick shrugged. "Old good ZPD."
"We've got that new case on our heads. The car thefts," Judy added.
"Oh, right. I sorta lost track of ZPD stuff in last few days," Max admitted shamefully.
"Oh, I wonder why," Kaylee giggled, as she hugged her husband's arm and closed her eyes.
"Yeah, I can't even imagine," agreed Judy watching Kaylee with a smile. She looked so blissful, so fulfilled, so… cute. Like she had finally found her place in the world. "I am so happy for the two of you. Really, I am."
"So am I," agreed Nick. "You came a long way to here."
"It wouldn't be possible without you," Kaylee muttered.
"Exactly. And I can't even express how happy we are for the two of you being here too. I thought for a moment that we lost the two of you," Max admitted.
"I told you that they'd come back eventually," Kaylee opened her eyes and gazed in Judy's. "It would take more than that to break the two of them," she said and both Nick and Judy chuckled, glancing at each other and then, they turned at the sun dawning at the horizon in front of them.
And they knew that it would take more than last year's events to break Nick and Judy. It would take more than whole the city disbelieving and slandering them. If they only could count on each other, they were going to prevail over perils far greater than the ones Spencer Young schemed. For even in the darkest, most hopeless of nights, they'd seek for moonlight of hope to guide them. And even if they'd found not even a ray, they'd wait out the dark, vicious storm and greet the dawn together. For even after the longest of nights, the sun always rises.
THE END OF BOOK 2.
AFTERWORD
What a ride, wasn't it? I want to thank all of you for your support and words of encouragement. To see that you've enjoyed the story is the most uplifting thing I've felt in quite a time!
I must say, I was initially reluctant to write the second book, claimed that I wouldn't write any and that one had to know when to let go... And then, silly me, I started creating in my mind a character of Spencer Young; someone that could have become like Nick, only if given a chance. My silly head conceived a concept, which conceived a plot, which conceived this very book. And even if I'm not trying to count the hours I've spent on it in last nine months, I certainly do not regret it :)
And this time, I'll be making no declarations of "I'm done already! Expect no more!" Quite the oppositely, I've been working on the third, the final book for nearly a month now. This time, though, it really will be the final book. I've created some (in my humble opinion) likeable and interesting characters; Max, Kaylee, Barnes, Mrs. Wilde, Duchess, Spencer Young... For many of them I could have just closed the book and said: the story's told. But it really is not, at least not just yet. There's so much more that I could say for Nick and Judy. There's so many untold stories, scrapped motives and conversations... So, I will give myself one more book to bring these Zootopia fanfics of mine to a conclusion they deserve. And even if I know that it will not close all of them... that's how life goes, right? You can't just conclude all plots, great and small, at once, right?
At first, it was a painting theft with a serial murderer motive, then I presented to you a framing story with a political twist. Now, it'll be something different too. Something hopefully just as original as the previous ones. I'll introduce some new characters, develop the old ones, conclude the plots I've failed to in "No Second Chances" or "Moonlight".
So... this is the official announcement:
The third and final Zootopia fanfiction from Sable1456/Icey1456/Aleksander Nowak (or whatever another you know me by :D )will be titled...
"The City of Change"
The first chapter will be appearing tomorrow. Maybe even today, if I'm not dead tired by the time I publish the last chapter on all three websites :). To give myself time to write the following chapters, they will be appearing, for a start, on weekly basis, each chapter on Saturday or Sunday (the 2nd on 02.12.2017). I hope I'll make it in time with this pace for at least a couple of months. If not, I will be warning in advance.
So... I guess that'll be all. Thank you for being here, everyone. It really means a lot to me.
Peace!
Aleksander Nowak