...until they opened their eyes. In front of them was something resembling outer space, but it was full of other mammals. And they were standing on clouds

"Woah, is this the Afterlife? Are we... are we dead? Cool! Hey Nick! Watch this!" Judy called. Then she jumped up and did two somersaults before landing.

"Calm down, Carrots. We're dead, remember?"

"Oh, lighten up, Slick. It's not like there's anyone left to miss us." Then a sudden realization slammed her like a train carrying a load of fully loaded cement trucks.

"There's not anyone left to miss us," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "Oh, Nick, what if we're forgotten?" she asked, the tears now running down her cheeks. Then she fell to her knees and doubled over, weeping.

Nick ran over to her and pulled her close, trying to comfort her. "Judy," he said, "look at all these mammals. They remember you."

"But they're dead. I wanted to go down in history as the first bunny cop to join the ZPD. I wanted to be remembered for generations to come. But, Mammalkind is now extinct and the reptiles won't put us in the history books because they don't like us. They'll probably omit mammals from history. There'll be no trace of us left," Judy said sadly.

"Who cares what the living does? Let them forget mammals! They'll be missing out on learning about the kindest, most caring, most beautiful creature in the world, you!" Nick said.

"Oh, Nick, you're just saying that," Judy said bashfully. At that, Nick kissed her.

"L-let's just go find our parents," Judy stammered, stunned by the kiss.

"Oh my god, that's right! My parents are up here! Wow! I can't wait to see them again! It's been what? Twenty-four years now?" Nick asked.

"I think so, judging by what you said," Judy said, "Let's go find them." Nick swept Judy up in his arms, prompting a giggle from her, and they started their search. They found both of their parents chatting it up with each other not five minutes later. What came next was a lot of hugging, happy sobbing, and joy.

"We're sorry we weren't there for you, son," Nick's father, John, said.

"Dad," Nick said, "there's no need to apologize. It was not your fault. It was Kang's fault, and I made him pay dearly for it," Nick answered. "By the way, Black Mamba meat is delicious! You should try some!"

"You ate him, didn't you?" Nick's mother, Marion, asked.

"Yup! Ate him alive, too!" Nick answered proudly.

"That's my boy!" John exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Judy was having her own heart-to-heart with her own parents.

"Mom, Dad, I'm really sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry I was too late. I mean- I shouldn't've left. I failed. I couldn't make the world a better place. If I can't do that, then who am I? What was my purpose in life?" Judy wondered.

"Oh, Judy, there's no need to apologize! There was nothing you could do," Bonnie told her. "And as for your purpose, if mammalkind did not go extinct, you would have inspired tons of mammals to be better," Bonnie said.

"If mammalkind did not go extinct," Judy said. "Those are the keywords. Now, I can't make the world a better place... but I could make the afterlife a better place."

"And how do you suppose you'll do that?" Stu asked.

"Therapy. I'll just talk to the mammals and help them cope with death," Judy answered.

"Good call," Bonnie answered.

And that's how she mostly spent the rest of eternity. I say mostly because even the dead need a break from hearing about others' troubles. And Judy wanted to spend some quality time with Nick and both hers and his families.

fin