But inside the Hopps family household, everything was joy and cheer.

The living room was changed. All the chairs and armchairs and the sofa were arranged in a row, and the end of the room was cleared out. A large cardboard stage was set, curtains and all, and Kevin was standing at one side of the stage, with a notebook in his paws.

"The evil bunny Breton Keese held the will in his paws, waving it before the poor damsel," he read out loud.

Garth O' Possum appeared from behind the curtain. He was wearing a classic villain suit, complete with cape and fake moustache.

"Bwahahaa!" laughed Garth. "Soon, the Ranch of Riches shall be mine! And so will the lovely heiress Daisy Mae Beverly!" he said theatrically, swishing his cape around his face.

The Hoppses were all sitting down on the chairs and sofa and armchairs and rug, watching the play that the kids had put together with their uncles and aunts and older siblings. Stu was recording everything with his camcorder.

"But what's that?!" said Beatrice Wilde, with the other part of the script in her paws. "Flying through the air like a hurricane! It's those champions of justice! Mighty Fox and his sidekick Little Ace!"

Nick appeared from the kitchen, pretending to soar around the room. He had Bianca on his shoulder. Both were dressed in hero capes and masks.

"Can our heroes arrive on time to save poor Daisy Mae Beverly from the clutches of the eeevil villain?" Kevin read out dramatically.

The curtains opened and Amber was lying on the carpet behind, tied with string to a cardboard train track.

"Bwahahahaaa!" laughed Garth, twirling his fake moustache. "I have tied the fair lady, heiress to the Ranch of Riches, to the train tracks! And unless she agrees to marry me and sign the will, she shall perish at noon when the train rushes through!"

"Oh me, oh my!" said Amber theatrically. "Will someone save me?!"

"Marry me, oh fair lady, and make me master of your ranch and all your riches, and you shall be spared!"

"No, no, a thousand times no!"

"Then I'm afraid you shall catch a train, my dear, for the last time in your life! Bwaahahaaa!"

"If only someone would save me from this wicked villain!"

"Haahaa! Nobody will save you, my dear!"

"Hark! What do I hear!" said Kevin.

"That poor maiden is in trouble, Little Ace!" said Nick dramatically.

"We must save her, Mighty Fox!" responded Bianca.

"That we shall, Little Ace!"

"Here we come to save the day!"

"Mighty Fox and Little Ace! Flying through the air at a flashing pace!" they chanted

They moved to the scene and Nick and Garth pretended to have a scuffle. Bianca untied Amber and pulled her away from the tracks.

"Fear not, fair lady! For saved you are!" said Bianca.

Garth fell to the floor, defeated, his fake moustache tousled and his cape tangled.

"I have been thwarted by the odious duo, Mighty Fox and Little Ace!" said Garth, frowning for the audience.

"Off to jail you shall go, you villain!" said Nick, posing heroically.

"Oh, Mighty Fox and Little Ace! Thank you! You are my heroes!" said Amber, giving them both kisses on their cheeks.

"All in a day's work, dear Miss Beverly!" said Bianca proudly.

"And so, another day is saved!" said Kevin.

"But evil shall never rest," said Bea. "And where evil plots, it will always be opposed by…"

"Mighty Fox and Little Ace!" exclaimed all of them. And they bowed for the audience.

The Hoppses applauded and cheered. The smaller Hoppses threw little paper flowers that Auntie Bea had helped them make onto the cardboard stage.

Judy applauded from the sofa, looking happily at her family and friends, all together and enjoying themselves on this lovely autumn evening. Nick was right: It was these little things in life that made them proud to serve and protect. And she would continue to proudly serve and protect, doing her very best, beside her dear partner Nicholas Wilde, and her dear friends Garth and Amber and Bea.

All together: Hoppses, Wildes, O' Possum and Latrans…this was the way to be.

Together.

Like one big loving family.

The music was joyful and the dancing merry. Everyone was enjoying themselves in the town hall, dancing and laughing and tapping their feet to the music. Paper streamers and balloons made the hall looks cheerful and festive. Sheriff Donovan Shepard sat on the stage and played the fiddle, Old Ben played the banjo and Barkins made some impressive notes with a trumpet. Nana Bernardine played the piano and everyone on the dance floor showed their excellent moves.

Everyone was wearing their best. The party was a total success. Bunny Burrow had accumulated more than enough funds to meet everyone's needs for that winter. Stuart Hopps had donated all the money left over that Nick had given to him, which was a generous amount even after Stu had paid off his loan. Stu had donated it in Nick's name, and the whole town thanked the gallant Officer Wilde and praised him and told him that he and his cousin Bea would always be welcome in Bunny Burrow.

Amber, Garth and Bea had made a campaign to raise awareness in Zootopia of the plights of all the towns affected by Terra Firma's ambitions. Amber was especially persuasive, making use of her excellent skills and charm. The very next day after Amber had implored all the people on national television to please show solidarity towards the farming towns affected by the pan-dimonium acetate, the numbers of donations ascended into the hundreds of thousands. Bunny Burrow was in their debt and they did their best to demonstrate their gratitude to the wonderful city folk who had come to their aid when they needed it most.

Cletus Hareington was ecstatic. As he sat with Stu and the other old boys and Nick in a circle at the party, he couldn't stop praising Nick for all he had done for Bunny Burrow and for saving his life.

"They say it takes a great bunny to admit he's wrong! So I must be a great bunny, 'cause I admit I was wrong about you, sonny," said Cletus. "You're a fine gent, Officer Wilde. And just to make it all right, I'd like to welcome you into our community as is proper."

And with that, he produced a brown jug capped with a cork. He pulled the cork and offered it to Nick. The smell of whatever was inside the jug was strong enough to unclog an elephant's sinuses.

"Here you go, Officer!" said Cletus. "It's my new batch. And I want you to take the inaugural swig."

Nick accepted. Before he drank, though, he lifted the jug and looked at all the old boys.

"To Bunny Burrow, to its wonderful residents, and to the many years of friendship ahead of us."

"Cheers!"

"Well said!"

"I second that!"

"Hear, hear!"

All the old boys showed their approval.

"Bottoms up now, pardner!" said Old Papa McCotton.

Nick took a swig. At first, he felt nothing. Then suddenly…

"Yow!"

The fiery liquid made him cough and he felt like his eyes would pop out of their sockets. Stu Hopps patted him on the back, chuckling paternally.

Finally, when Nick could speak again, he turned to Cletus.

"Whoa," said Nick, his eyes watering and his throat still feeling like he had just swallowed hot coals. "Whatever it is you got in there…Cletus...sure packs a wallop!"

They all roared with laughter and Cletus slapped Nick's back jovially.

"Atta boy!" said Cletus.

And right then, Judy, dressed in lovely purple and with a yellow ribbon around her left ear, came skipping towards them and took Nick's arm.

"Mind if I borrow this handsome buck for a moment?" asked Judy.

"Go right ahead, little lady," said Cletus. "He's all yours."

All the old boys applauded and cheered as Judy whisked away the fox, taking him to the middle of the dancing floor, just as the music began.

Judy and Nick danced gracefully to the lively piece. Everyone clapped to the rhythm and tapped their feet, enjoying the music and the joy among the neighbours and friends of Bunny Burrow.

Judy glanced to her left. She saw Garth and Amber dancing like a pair of lovebirds. Not far from them, Penny Hopps and Charlie McCotton were dancing happily together, blushed and ecstatic.

Judy looked to her right and saw Bea sitting beside Bonnie and the older Hopps girls, clapping happily and laughing.

Then Judy caught sight of Gideon Gray, taking a deep breath and walking shyly up to Bea.

"M…Miss Wilde," stammered Gideon. "Would you concede me…the honour of…this dance?"

Bea's smile could have pulverised diamond.

"I thought you'd never ask!" said Bea delightedly, getting up and taking his paws and tugging him to the dance floor. "Come on, Gid, let's tear it up!"

Judy giggled happily as her eyes turned back to her handsome partner. Nick gazed back at her as they danced.

The music changed. It became a slower, more romantic tune. The couples of Bunny Burrow and Zootopia swayed together, sharing their feelings as they moved to the compass of the lovely notes.

Judy and Nick danced close to each other. Their noses almost touching, their eyes fixed on each other's gazes.

"Well, what do you think, Nick?" whispered Judy after a long while.

"Nice old-fashion fun evening in a quaint, rural town, surrounded by family and friends," said Nick. "What can I say? I could definitely get used to this.

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