A/N Hey guys, sorry for the long wait for the next chapter. School has been taking its toll. I hope you enjoy the chapter! See you next chapter

Judy sat. Head down and ears limp on her back. She softly fiddled with her grey paws that lay on her lap. Like everyone else in the room, she was wearing a black dress. Nick sat next to her, quiet and still like a statue, wearing a black tunic and pants, void of his blue scarf. He looked solemn as well as he softly tried comforting Judy by slowly rubbing her back. The room was filled with soft weeping and pain. The air heavy with sorrow and loss. Two figures lay at the end of the room. An old plump brown rabbit laying next to a small brown doe sleeping eternally sleeping together, both unmoving and covering in their best clothes. Judy cried softly as it all came back, the events of the night.

King Hopps was found dead behind the band with an unmarked dagger protruding from his back. The band was questioned but later found they hadn't done it. Then later that night Queen Hopps was found in her bed, who had died in her sleep. Today the nobles of the castle and the offspring of the two royals all sat in the large church, all wearing black clothing. There were also all the personal slaves in there as well, all comforting their masters/mistress' any way they could. Then a figure in white shuffled up onto the platform, standing behind a podium in front of the deceased royals. The greyed and old rabbit buck looked slowly around the room, sadness in his eyes. Then he spoke.

"Yesterday, we lost something more than our monarch. We lost our friend, our lover and our family. We've lost one of the longest reigning royals this kingdom has ever seen, and the greatest. Let them rest in forever peace." The pope bowed his head down and everyone in the room the following suit.

The burial was nothing special. Like all previous monarchs to have fallen they were placed into a grand white marble mausoleum, with their flag flapping slighting in the wind on either side of the door. A long line of mammals made a line going from the sides of the mausoleum, where the casket will be carried down. The kings of The Kingdom of The Royal Badger and Geri both stood at the entrance, in more sombre clothing and the wolf looking less drunk, both looking down in sadness. Then the coffin came, carried down the rows of mammals by two of the strongest Hopps children. As the coffin went down the row, each mammal placed a flower onto the dark wood. Judy gripped a lavender stalk from her room, while Nick softly held a crimson red poppy in his dark paw. In myth and tradition poppies were used as an offering to the dead in Nicks old kingdom. Something he failed to do with his parents, something that weighed heavily on him. Gripping the poppy harder Nick looked up at the coffin that was hovering closer and closer. Judy softly placed her lavender on the coffin, breaking into tears once more. Letting the poppy float onto the coffin Nick then passed her a square of material, which she used to wipe away her tears, sobbing slightly into it. Looking around carefully Nick then slowly and tenderly wrapped his tail around her legs, comforting her slightly. Then slowly, they coffin slid into the mausoleum, the two rabbits that carried their parents closing the door and locking it, laying down a golden wealth at the door. They both stood back then both bowed heavily. And as if an unspoken message rang across the silent cemetery all the mammals started walking slowly off, some crying into comforting arms while others walked alone, heads down. The two different mammals stood, russet tail wrapped around the grey legs and dark velvet on her shoulder. Then when they were the last ones in the dead land, all emotions held back in Judy suddenly erupted out. And she sobbed into the fox, gripping onto his tunic, tears soaking his side. Nick wrapped his other arm around her and hugged her close as she cried. She cried until no more tears came out and it was all dry sobbing, Nick lightly rubbing her back. She then pulled away, dabbed at her eyes and sniffed. She looked up at Nick and with red puffy eyes, she nodded and walked slowly towards the castle, with Nick behind her. His leg brace on his left foot groaning slightly in the silent wind.

The week was chaotic, older buck rabbits often fought over who would get the throne, the castles food imports were getting lower with nobody in charge. It was utter mayhem and all Nick could do was sit in the tower room with Judy. She had stopped crying by now, but she was curled up by the fox's side, his tail twirling around her. He understood her pain, his parents were dead as well. And even though he knew what she was feeling, he had no idea on what to do. It's as if all train of thought had escaped his grip and now all his brain was telling him is to curl up with the bunny next to him. The mid-day sun burned down onto the tower, the warmth of the sun making the cold room heat up. The emotionally exhausting day, the sleepless night and the warm sun made both mammals woozy with sleep. Eyes feeling like lead, Judy slowly laid onto the bed. Unintelligible words slurred out of Nicks' mouth, as he two uncontrollably laid down, his eyes already closing. The last thoughts being.

Grey

Purple

As he let his tail curl around Judy, as they both weaved into the endless void of sleep.

=-.-=

"ATTENTION EVERYONE!" The voice shouted. The assembled crowd turned to the voice, the buzz of conversation drifting away. There stood the oldest male Hopp. Johnathan Hopps, a large black buck with a large scar down his muzzle; who had taken King Regent for the moment. The regent stood and looked over his crowd.

"Today is a dark day for many, as we have not just lost our King and Queen, but also our parents. And in these dark times it comes with anger and guilt I must tell you. Bad news has spread across the land. The new Ghost Seer Commander, Commander Savage will speak with you all now on the news." The black buck said, stepping backwards and letting a white and black cloaked figure glide over the stage onto the front. Murmers picked up in the crowd, then settled down. Icy blue eyes stared from under the cowl of the cloak.

"Thank you, King Johnathan, I have some bad news. As some of you know, King Stewart was killed by a knife to the back. With thorough investigation and some news spreading across the land. I have come to a conclusion. That it was the Ranger's who have murdered the prior King-" A collected gasp sprung from the crowd, with some mammals yelling insults at the name 'Ranger's'

"-And I must tell you. That their numbers are greater than what we previously thought. Rumour has it, they have the army size of nearly our entire force. We must act now if we are to avenge our King and Queen! So stand with me! Let the Ranger's fall for what they have done!" Jack finished his speech in an uproar. All the present mammals yelled in support as the stripped jackrabbit stood there, eyes gleaming.

=-.-=

In fox culture, poppies represented death. A poppy would be given as a offering to the dead to guide them to the underworld. It was also a symbol of eternal sleep. So it was quite a shock to Nick when he opened his eyes. He was in standing in a open field, hills in the distance.

The crimson red poppies covering the whole stretch of land.

Nick whipped around, red covering his entire vision until… Looking up Nick saw twin moons, lazily hanging in the sky. But the moons were not yellow or white, instead of a strong lavender purple, contrasted in the grey sky. Nick gaped at the moons, the poppies softly brushing against his legs in the weak wind. Then a black wisp of material zoomed past his view and off past the rolling hills. Turning, Nick saw another figure in the red field. A large mammal in black tattered clothing, stripes of cloth flapping widely, with the absence of wind. Nick recognized the figure immediately, being brought up with cold tales of him.

Stepping back in fear, Nick muttered. "Pluto." The figures head turned to the fox, in recognition of the name. Black paws brought up to the head of the figure, flinging the hood off.

Nick was expecting lots of things. Bone, decayed flesh, maggots crawling everywhere. Even blood. But instead, the handsome face of a fox smiled at him.

"Prince Nicholas." A velvet voice called out, smoothing over the fields. The black fox stepped closer, Nick taking another step back.

"You must be confused. But do not worry. I am not here for you, not yet anyway. I've come to chat." The figure explained, smiling warmly, however, no warmth seemed to radiate from the cold figure. The god of death looked up at the sky.

"Interesting… twin purple moons against a grey sky. If Venus was here I bet she would be screaming in joy." Pluto mused the last sentence to himself. His dark gaze going back to Nick, who flinched.

"I'm here, Nicholas because something bad is about to happen. Something against the wishes of my brother. A war is coming. A great war that even Mars want's to prevent. You were born to be a king, but you are destined to be greater." The god finished, sitting down in the crimson flowers and lazily twirling one in its fingers. Nick tried to digest all this.

"But… Why me?" Nick asked, his brain feeling hazy. The god responding with another smile.

"Because the fates will it. Because you're destined for great things. Now I understand you have had certain… mishaps in the prior months." The old god indicated to Nick's left leg, still in a brace even in… whatever this was. Nick tried to wriggle his toes but to no avail.

"A gift from Apollo." The black fox stood and opened it's paw, a bright warm yellow light curling and twirling, seeming to cringe away from the cold god's hand. Then the god let it float towards the russet fox. The light seemed to attract towards Nick, as it then flew into his chest, sending the fox a few steps back in surprise.

"This will help with future events and your wounds. Fast healing I believe. Apollo always talks in riddles." The god explained. Feeling returned back into his numb leg, warmth flowing through as a smile broke out on Nicks' face. As he tested his newly healed leg, walking across the poppy field. His walk turning into a run, and teh run turning into a sprint. Nick felt wind splash into his face as he ran. Eyes closed and smile on the muzzle, he ran and ran. Until he stopped and looked. Looked in shock. In front of him was a castle. An old castle, decayed and broken. Rubble spraying the ground. Nick recognized it. His castle. Where he would eat, watch his parents dance and steal from the baker across the road.

"Now I think it's about time to wake up, we wouldn't want you to get into any more trouble." A voice whispered from behind him. Nick spun around and the black fox was in his face, a knowing smile on his face.

"Best of luck, my king."

His eyes snapped open. He was in the tower room, light streaming into the room. A grey bunny in his arms. Nick smiled and all dismissed his dream as simply that. A silly dream. Right now he was in his own dream. Judy, in his arms asleep. Nick hugged her sleeping form tighter as he dug his snout into the spot on her head and inhaling heavily, relishing in her scent. He was about to close his eyes again until.

BANG BANG BANG BANG

Four heavy knocks clattered on the door. And Nick jolted from the bed, making Judy mumble and place a pillow over her ears. Another four knocks and Nick stood up. On both legs. Nick looked down in shock, feeling in his left leg. And a realization hit Nick hard.

That wasn't a dream.

Then a heavy voice shouted behind the door.
"Open the door! William Smith, you are under arrest! Come out now or we will use force!"