Chapter 21

Back within the casino, everyone that had turned savage began to return back to their normal selves as they all looked around the room in confusion. Judy let out a groan as she rubbed the side of her head to clear a headache.

"What just happened?" Judy asked as she looked around the ruined remains of the casino "And... what happened to Kayley?"

"Carrots!" Nick shouted as he and Ella entered the casino and ran towards her.

"Nick, what-" Judy was cut off when Nick suddenly wrapped his arms around his friend and partner.

"Oh what a relief, you're okay." Nick said as he pulled back to look at his partner and best friend straight in the eye.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Judy said before she frowned and asked "Where's Kayley?"

Nick was about to answer when he suddenly sensed someone coming up towards them. He, Judy and Ella quickly turned their heads towards the person and Nick's eyes widen in surprise. John was standing completely still as he stared at his now grown up son, whom he hadn't seen in years, in amazement. Nick slowly got up from the floor and stared hard at John for a while as he studied the fox in front of him before recognition came over his face.

"Dad?" Nick asked in a hopeful voice.

John let a sad smile spread over his face as he nodded at his son's question.

"You've really grown up Nick." John said.

A large smile appeared on Nick's face before he ran towards his lost but found father and wrapped his arms around him tightly, with John hugging his son right back just as tight. Ella and Judy watched this tender scene for a while before they heard a few groans behind them. The two turned around and saw Finnick, Orlando, Montel and all of Ella's friends sitting on the ground and looking around in confusion, not able to remember what had happened as Montel frowned and said "What happened? The last thing I remember was running from a monster before blacking out."

"Yeah, you were also screaming like a little girl as you ran away." Susan said before she snickered at Montel.

"I do not scream like a girl." Montel denied.

"You do!" All of Ella's friends said at once in union.

"Ugh, did anyone besides me have the same dream about a monster looming over us?" Finnick asked before he turned to Orlando, who was sitting by his side.

"If you did, then we both have the same dream." Orlando said.

Brooke, Gomda and Apulia were not too far away and they were recovering from being turned into savages themselves along with the other humans and animals as they looked around in confusion, wondering what had happened. Ella was glad everyone was okay as she turned to her aunt Judy before telling her what happened; Kayley had turned into a monster, tried to turn the modern world into a second stone age and was killed when she and Nick destroyed her necklace and the other one along with the pendants evaporated into thin air. Judy was shocked and surprised by what she heard before she sighed and rubbed her head in exhaustion.

"Oh boy, Chief Bogo is not going to believe any of this when we tell him." Judy said

"Well, who says we have to tell him the whole truth?" Nick asked with a wink and a smile.

Judy stared at her partner and friend in confusion before she realized what he was talking about and smiled. John and Ella already knew what Nick was implying before they turned to each other with knowing smiles on their faces.

Soon the ZPD had surrounded the remains of the casino and had it shut down due to it being unrepairable beyond compare and sent everyone back home, including the abducted humans and animals Kayley had kidnapped and forced to work in her casino as well as in the mine back home, bidding Orlando, Piper, Kara, Brooke, Gomda and Apulia farewell before they were sent back home. Judy and Nick told them that Kayley had them work and search for a lost treasure but when Chief Bogo asked why Kayley wasn't with them both rabbit and fox told a white lie saying that she had died in a freak explosion accident while evading the police and the treasure was buried along with her. At first Bogo was a little skeptical but he let it slide so that he could focus on getting the other victims of Kayley's crimes back home.

John went back inside the building to retrieve something and returned in time to hop into the police cruiser with Nick, Judy and Ella while Orlando and the kids hopped into Finnick's van and they drove all the way back home to Zootopia. The trip back to Zootopia was a long one but they passed the time by telling stories, listening to music and playing games. It was early in the morning by the time they finally made it back to Zootopia and Nick and Finnick parted ways, once again good friends and Nick allowed Finnick to come to his home and visit whenever he had time on his hands, maybe even agree to babysit his kids when he was too busy to handle them and Finnick agreed before he took the kids in his van back home.

Nick was sitting on the stairs outside of the ZPD with his dad to watch the sun rise and talk with each other before heading over to Nick's home. For a while it was silent between the two before John finally decided to speak.

"This city sure has changed since I was gone." the old fox said as he leaned his arms against his legs while he stared out into the city before him.

"Yeah, it has." Nick said with a nod before he turned his head to look at his father "Ever since you vanished my life has been one big rollercoaster ride with one surprise turn and twist around every corner. But through it all, it turned out pretty great. I've got a rabbit cop as my best friend and partner, an amazing human girl for my daughter and I got married to the most beautiful vixen in the whole world who gave me two wonderful babies of my own."

John let a sad smile spread on his face as he stared at his son for a moment before looking down at the wrapped present he had in his hands and said "I guess you've found a bigger dream to fallow then being a Junior Ranger Scout, huh?"

Nick smiled as he chuckled a little before looking at the present his father had and said "I'm guessing that's the present you were going to give me on my seventh birthday party, right?"

John nodded as he ran his paw across it before giving it to his son "Yes, but you're too big to fit into it now."

Nick looked at his dad in confusion before he slowly undid the wrapping. Nick's eyes widened in surprise before a small smile spread over his face. In the wrapping was a Junior Ranger Scouts uniform, and his dad was right, it was too small for him to fit in. Nick looked at his father, who shrugged his shoulders and Nick couldn't help but feel touched that his father never forgot his dream.

"Thanks dad." Nick said.

"Oh Nick." John said as he placed his hand on Nick's shoulder "I know I will never be able to make up the years that I had been away from you and your mother, but I want to start over with you and be apart of your family... if you'll let me."

Nick pretended to think about before he smirked and playfully said "Well Dad, just so you know you're grandkids are quite a handful. I hope you're up to the challenge of being a grandfather."

John stared at Nick in surprise before he burst out laughing along with Nick. While they laughed they were unaware that Judy and Ella were watching them with smiles on their faces as they continued to stare at the heartwarming scene in front of them. Ella was happy that her dad's dad had finally come home and was staying with them. Judy was happy that her friend found his father too and was glad this means that they would have extra paws around to help take care of baby Johnny and Grace while she and Nick worked at the ZPD. The sun shined down on the entire city as it promised a bright future for Ella's whole family and everyone else in the entire city.

The End!