It had been several months since the Battle of Forrestvale, and Nick and Judy were on a double date with Judy's twin brother Davies, and his girlfriend. The formally Vampiric rabbit, Anna Blackpaw.
"So, how have things been going with you? Your no longer undead and the Night Dragons are pretty much gone." Judy asked.
"It... well it's been a bit of an adjustment, to say the least," Anna said anxiously.
"And guess whose had to handle the brunt of her 'adjustment'?" Davies said. "Do you have any idea what it's like to teach a grown doe how to use the bathroom?"
"It wasn't that!... I neglected to brush my teeth. I only ever used them when I accidentally ate food." Anna explained. "But apart from embarrassments like that, it's been... magical. Being mortal again."
"I'll bet," Nick said. "But... you haven't been ODing anything? I mean... a thousand years of not being able to taste foods I'd definitely try to-"
"No... well at first. I did... overindulge. But Davies helped me to overcome my cravings." Anna admitted.
"She had Josephus make her carrot soup." Davies clarified. "And it was always out of the giant cookery... and guess who kept eating that soup like a starved elephant?"
"I thought I could handle that much soup!" Anna said defensively. "But Davies got me a diet... I'm not happy with it but I've taken a liking to his protein shakes."
"Well somebody likes them," Judy said, teasingly to Nick.
"What can I say? Buck's better at making food than you." Nick said, Judy's face then went sad. "Don't try to pull that on me again Carrots." Judy pouted in defeat. "So... any plans for New Years'?"
"Your kidding right?" Anna said in disbelief. "I host a New Years' gala at Blackpaw Manor every year, you were there last year."
Judy, Nick, and Davies exchanged looks. "We know... but didn't that whole thing hinge on your Vampire magic?" Nick pointed out.
Anna looked downcast. "Oh... right... up until then I only ever invited Vampires. Well, there's certainly something we could do right?"
"How about we put a pin on that subject?" Davies said. "New Years' is still a ways away. We can think of something by then."
XXXX
Anna was beside herself with anxiety, as a month had passed and still she couldn't think of a substitute for her gala. "Anna... calm. Down." Davies said. "I know that you're upset that you can't do what you want for New Years'. But to be fair, everything you suggested is kind of dependent on being an undead horror of the night that drinks blood."
"I just want to do something special! Anything to celebrate my first year as a mortal! But the only things I can think of are things that I freely did when I was a Vampire!" Anna ranted.
"Look, it doesn't have to be anything grand. It can just be something small... something personal." Davies said.
Anna just growled in frustration. "I knew this would be a transition... but this was NOT what I expected."
"You know... I do have an idea." Davies said.
"When don't you have an idea love?" Anna asked.
XXXX
On New Year's Eve., Davies and Anna were watching Christmas specials. "You know, I honestly had my doubts about this. But this has actually been fun."
"Told you," Davies said, he checked his phone. "And... we've got about five minutes to midnight."
"Really? Time really does pass when you're having fun." Anna noted. The rabbit couple smiled at each other warmly as the seconds ticked away. They didn't even notice when midnight did hit. "I've got a present for you, Davies."
"I got one for you too." Davies reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small box. "Anna Blackpaw-"
"Davies Hopps," Anna said as she took out a similarly shaped box.
"Will you marry me?" They said in unison, as they opened their boxes. The two rabbits were flabbergasted that they both got each other engagement rings.
Then Josephus wandered into the room using a push broom. "I told you'd get each other the same gift. But no, you thought I was talking about the matching Christmas Tree ornaments you got each other."
Anna and Davies didn't say anything, they just gave each other their respective engagement rings, and kissed each other. They fell asleep on the couch. "Would the masters of the house like their food to be brought to them today, or would you be alright shlepping to the kitchen?"
The couple was exhausted. "Given your track record... we'll go to the kitchen and make ourselves breakfast," Davies said.
"A wise choice..." Anna agreed. "This year... I can feel that it will be a good one."
XXXX
Meanwhile at the International Defence League headquarters. Nick and Judy's future counterparts were looking over a number of computer monitors. "Yeesh, I know the New Years' party was wild, but this..." Future Nick said as he saw security footage of IDL personnel passed out.
"We've still got plenty of time." Future Judy said. "Demiurge the Tyrant is coming." She then brought up a hologram of the alien warlord in question. It was lizard-like, had wide-set eyes, a hump, and was about seven feet tall. "That monster trashed the Earth when he invaded... thankfully it should only be another ten years before he invades. Pandora was about ten when he invaded right?"
"Actually... I think she was around fourteen when Demiurge invaded." Nick said. "But yeah, it should be a long... LONG while before we have to deal with that piece of work."
"And in the meantime, we have to prepare. Pull every string that we can in order to ensure that Mammalkind can survive his coming." Future Judy said as she turned off the giant hologram.
"So we've got about fifteen years to make Earth ready for an alien invasion that, from what I remember... ended only when half the planet was laid to ruin, and another quarter was under siege, and the last quarter was tearing itself apart from declining resources, and everyone just being on edge. And that only ended AFTER you tore out Demiurge's eyes with his own omni-knife."
"Yes, that was a crazy year. But hopefully, we have at least a decade and a half to prepare." Future Judy said.
XXXX
Unknown to anyone, on the other side of the galaxy from Earth. A seven-foot-tall lizard-like alien, with wide-set eyes, a hump, and about seven feet tall. Emerged from some manner of stasis pod. "L-Lord Demirurge!... you have awoken." An attendant said fearfully.
"Yes... I have sensed that a new era of conquest has begun." The deep-voiced warlord said. "I have sensed that somehow, the grip the Vampires have on Earth against is waning ever so slightly... enough that I might finally visit retribution on those miserable Mammals for the humiliation they had heaped on me long ago."
"My Lord, I must warn that Earth has advanced significantly in the last five thousand years." The attendant said.
"No doubt under the tutilage of the First One's disciples, and their inheritors. No matter... there will be wealth to grasp, meat to devour, and blood to stain the void without end." Demirurge said with a smile on his lips.