Chapter Seven: Arrested Development

A/N: This story should be finished by the next chapter. I will say that writing fan fiction is very interesting. You start with a basic story structure. A beginning, a middle, and an end. You have scenes you want in place at a certain spot. But along the way, you're filling in holes in the story and making up stuff as you go. Sometimes, this can add a new subplot or change your plans altogether. For instance, Harriet Humpston.

She didn't exist when I was first writing the story. I just needed for Dawn to see that Duke was struggling against oppression and showing how the world was unfair against him. That's when I came up with HERPES. I just added the names of the women later and made Harriet the leader.

I will say, looking back, I REALLY wish I had given Harriet a different name. Harriet Humpston sounds a bit too much like Harriet Tubman and that was never my intention. The good news is that in this chapter, we find out Harriet is just one of her aliases.

I always had some questions about Dawn that I decided to answer myself in this story. For instance...

Why do ewes have the same eyes as when they were lambs, but rams do not? Contacts and good, old vanity.

Why is Dawn about the size of Judy? Simple. It's her species of ewe and she's naturally very short compared to other ewes.

Dawn and Duke woke up in bed together. They showered together. They brushed their teeth together. They put on clean clothes together. They helped each other fix breakfast. They then sat down and talked. Dawn spoke up first. "Duke you're still my hired housekeeper, so I expect you to trim the hedges and mow the lawn this morning."

Duke was disappointed. "Aww, man! Can't we go back 'ta screwin'?! 'Dat was 'da best last night!"

"It really was, and I doubt we'll be able to top it. But this house needs cleaning if we're going to have a celebrity interview tomorrow morning. So, I'll tell you what? For every chore you do, we'll have sex."

Duke's ears perked up. "Really?!"

"Really."

"Every time?!"

"Every time that I'm willing and able."

"What if it's just a small chore? Like takin' out 'da trash?"

"Blowjob."

"Hot damn! 'Dat works fer me! I can't wait 'ta get at 'dat lawn now!"

"Hee-Hee! Other couples should try this arrangement."

"What are you gonna do?"

"I'm gonna clean up the kitchen later. But first, I'm going to do some revisions to my book. I'm not the same woman I was when I started writing it. I tried to make myself look like the victim of my story, but actually, I was the villain. I need to come to terms with that."

Duke quickly gobbled down his waffles. "Time 'ta go 'ta work!"

"Remember. Treat that grass and hedges like you treated my wool last night!"

"Okay, Honey! I'm glad yer keeping those contacts off."

"I'm glad you made me see the beauty I had all along."

As he was about to head off to the garage, Duke stopped and gave Dawn a quick kiss on the lips. "I love you, Lambchop."

"I love you too, Slinky."

Dawn finished her breakfast and coffee and got out her laptop. She opened up her document folder. "My Side" It read. She decided to delete it all. Twenty pages of material were deleted in an instant. She then started it up again with a new title.

My Fault

A one-sided, single-minded war on my own biases

By Dawn Bellwether

The villain in this story is me. I have no one to blame for my own actions five years ago. To be honest, readers, I was originally going to portray myself as the victim, but I am not. Far from it. I know many of you will never forgive me for the actions I took in making Zootopia fear predators and I cannot blame you, for I will never forgive myself. I'm going to go into great detail on all the wrongdoings I've made. Not to make you feel uncomfortable, but to confess and punish myself by reliving my own crimes.

I will say this, I am not the woman I was five years ago. I am not even the woman I was just two days ago. Much like mammals, people do evolve over time. We learn from our mistakes and grow. I am now in love with a predator. A weasel. A man whom I did wrong, who was willing to look past my flaws and see the beauty within. I tried to find his flaws and was shocked to find he had few. Sure, like me, he had a crooked past. He was a thief willing to do anything to make a fast buck, and frankly, he's a bit unkempt. But when given the chance he needed, he turned his own life around. He's a hard worker who's underpaid, feeds the homeless, a great lover, and the best shearer I've ever come across. He completely changed my opinion not only on weasels but on predators in general. I just fear that when he reads this book and learns about me, he may no longer feel the same.

Dawn's typing was interrupted when she heard police sirens. "Oh, no!"

She looked outside and saw two local police officers slamming Duke onto the hood of their trunk. "Ow!" Duke shouted. "Hot! Hot! Hot! Careful! It's sunny outside! 'Dis trunk is burnin' my fur!"

Dawn ran outside in a hurry. "Officers! What's going on?!"

"Stand back, Ma'am! This perp was seen scowling around the outside of your house with a pair of loppers! He could have come into your home to attack you! Good thing your neighbor called."

Dawn peered across the street to see Harriet looking through the window. She gave the camel a mean glare.

Harriet caught it from across the street. "Hoo-Hoo! That's right, Bellwether! Welcome to MY neighborhood."

Harriet's cow friend, Clara was concerned. "Are you sure we should be upsetting her like this?"

"She can't do a blasted thing! She's under house arrest. We have to be firm Clara! She has to know that we don't approve and the weasel must leave! This neighborhood will… be….pure!"

"Oooh! I'm still not sure about this."

"Get a backbone, sow! Oh! She's arguing with the cops. What the hell is up with her eyes?"

Dawn pleaded with the policeman. "Please don't take him! He did nothing wrong! He's my housekeeper! He was trimming the bushes!"

"'Dat's right!" Duke shouted.

"Are you sure?" the policeman asked. "He looks suspicious."

Dawn crossed her arms. "I'm absolutely sure. Also, WHY does he look suspicious?!"

"Oh! Well, y'know. Tanktop. Being a weasel and all."

"So a weasel can't earn a living doing gardening?!"

"That's not what meant! I-I'm sorry. We better get going. What's with your eyes, by the way?"

"They're my natural eyes."

"Oh. Weird." He looked at the weasel. "You just watch yourself! We want no funny business out of you!"

"I didn't even do anyth-"

"Quiet! Or we'll take you in for… something. Let's go, Frank!"

Dawn and Duke watched as the pair of officers drove away. Duke was confused. "Can you believe 'dat?! I can't even garden while being a weasel."

With a dark glare in her eyes, Dawn started to cross the street, only to be stopped by Duke. "Hold it! Where 'da hell do you think you're going?!"

"I'm gonna kick Harriet's ass! Wait. I need my purse first."

She headed back to the house to get her purse and Duke followed. "Whoa! Hold it! You can't go over 'dere!"

Dawn was enraged. "Try and stop me!"

"Yer under house arrest! Ya got one strike already! Remember?! You go across 'da street to confront her, yer anklet will go off! 'Dat makes strike two! She could report 'da cops on ya! 'Dat's strike three!"

"I'm willing to take that risk. Nobody calls the cops on my Duke!"

Dawn was storming out the door, but Duke was holding on to her leg. "Please, Lambchop! I ain't worth it!"

Dawn pulled him off the ground and kissed him on the lips. "Duke Weaselton. You're worth a million of her. Stay here! I'll handle this."

She pulled him off of her and proceeded to storm off across the street with her purse. "Dawn! Stop!" Duke pleaded.

It was too late. She set foot onto the street and her anklet started to beep.

Meanwhile…

Nick was hanging out at Clawhauser's desk and having a chat. "So, have you heard anything yet?" Clawhauser asked.

"It's probably too early yet. Knowing her, she's taking the test every hour, but it may take a full day to show results." Nick replied.

"Bet you two had a wild, passionate night, last night."

"Yup. In the back of a limo."

"Oooh! Fancy! I hear it counts as marriage if there's a witness. Did anybody..."

"No witnesses! None!"

"Okay! Okay! Sheesh!"

Just then, Nick's beeper went off. "Oh, great! Not again!"

"Is it Bellwether?"

"Yup. She's not even at the market. Just across the street from her house. Better go get her. See you later, Ben."

"Later, Nick! Hope you get the good news today!"

Meanwhile…

Harriet was having a meeting with a few of her friends from HERPES when the doorbell went off. Ding-Dong!

"Ooh! That must be Mary! She opened the door and looked down to see Dawn holding a taser she pulled out of her purse. "Hello, Harriet!"

She jabbed the camel hard in the stomach and held down the tasing button, electrocuting Harriet's abdomen and forcing her to her knees. "UUUURGH!" Harriet screamed. The electrocution caused her to lose control of her lower extremities. She made a mess on the floor.

Dawn stopped tasing her and got out a switchblade. She grabbed Harriet by the snout and jabbed the blade halfway up the camel's nose. I fucking TOLD you, Duke is my responsibility! But you had to just push it, didn't you?! You couldn't just mind your own damn business and now you fucked around and found out!"

Harriet was begging for forgiveness. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"Oh, sure. NOW you are! Who the hell do you think you're messing with?! I just got out on attempted murder, you dumb Camel! Look into my eyes! These are my real, ewe eyes. If you ever, EVER mess with me or Duke again, they will be the last eyes you see! Now, pick yourself up, mop up the puddle you just made and take the manure you plopped in your panties and use it to fertilize your dry-ass lawn!"

Dawn looked over Harriet's shoulder and saw the stuttering ewe from yesterday. "Oh, hi Millie!"

"Baa-aa-aah!" the frightened ewe bleated.

"It's okay! I'm not mad at you. I just wanted to let you know, if you ever need a good shearing, my Duke's a pro!"

She let go of Harriet who fell to the floor in a slump and then she lifted her shirt to expose her belly and breasts. "See? You should see what he did downstairs."

Millie was impressed. "Oooh! Th-that really is n-n-nice!"

"Anyway, I better head back. Bye, everyone! Harriet? You've been warned!"

She closed the door and left. The other two ladies started leaving as well. "Where are you going?!" Harriet asked.

"Home," Millie replied. "M-My boyfriend ne-eeds a good sh-shearing, so I want to tell hi-i-im about that weasel."

"You can't fraternize with Dawn! Clara! Stop her!"

"I'm leaving too," Clara replied. "I told you messing with her was a bad idea. Also, I'm out of the group."

"What?!"

"I just don't want to be associated with HERPES anymore. We're making our lovely neighborhood a hostile environment. Also, you smell something awful."

With that, the two left Harriet. "Don't leave me! Damn you, Dawn Bellwether!"

As Dawn was crossing the street, she could see Nick's cop car far into the distance. She ran back into her house as quickly as she could.

Nick pulled into her driveway. He saw Duke doing his best to push a large lawnmower over the tall grass. The poor weasel was grunting and pushing with all of his strength to cut the tall grass. It didn't help that the mower was bigger than him.

Nick knocked on the door and Dawn answered. "Nick!" she said while covering her anklet over her leg. "What brings you over here?"

"C'mon now, Dawn, we… What's with your eyes?"

"These are my natural God-given eyes. I was wearing contacts before."

"Ewes wear contacts?!"

"All of them do. We like the way our eyes looked as children. It's a vanity thing."

"Oh… Good for you! Always be true to yourself. Anyway, you know why I'm here. I can hear the beeping."

Dawn feigned ignorance as she looked at her ankle. "It's gone off?! Fancy that! It must have happened when I, um... Got the mail and tripped."

"Yes, you tripped all the way over to your neighbors across the street. That anklet tracks your every move, y'know?"

Dawn was getting very nervous and starting to break down. "Well…. I… ummm…." She started to cry. "She called the police on Duke for no reason! All h-he was doing was gardening! GARDENING! She's a horrible woman who thinks she owns the neighborhood and won't mind her own business! I don't care! I don't care if I'm down to one strike left, I'll defend my Duke no matter…"

"Two."

Dawn wiped away some tears. "SNIFF! Wh-What?"

"You're down to two strikes. Bogo forgave the first as you did believe your life was in danger. That, and he doesn't want to deal with your mom's lawyers."

She was relieved. "Oh, thank God! Thank God! That damn, Harriet Humpston! Why can't she mind her own business?!"

Nick was pondering. "Humpston. Humpston. Why does that name sound familiar? Anyway, let me get this straight. You were willing to go to prison for Duke Weaselton of all people?!"

"He's a wonderful man once you get to know him."

Just then, Duke came around the corner, covered from head to toe in grass and dirt. " 'Da lawn's mowed. Let's fuck."

"Duke! Show some manners! We got company!"

"Oh. Hey, Nick."

"Hey, Duke. Dawn really seems to love you, hunh?"

"Yeah. I dunno what 'da hell she sees in me."

"Maybe she sees a good man deep inside this gruff, smelly exterior. Speaking of smells…" Nick sniffed around both Duke and Dawn. "Oh, wow! You two are nasty!"

"I-I can explain!" Dawn said nervously.

Nick laughed. "No need to explain. It's your life. If you want to get freaky, get freaky."

"Duke didn't understand what marking meant!"

"I don't…. Oh! Instead of biting your neck and rubbing you to leave his scent, he…"

"I whizzed in her face," Duke replied.

Dawn was upset. "Duke!"

"What?! Ya got revenge in 'da shower! 'Dat's when we got REAL kinky!"

Nick agreed. "Yeah. I can smell hints of it."

Dawn just buried her face. "Can we please change the subject?!"

"Well, you two tinkle tasters, I can't take off the first strike this time. Dawn, you went over to confront your neighbor of your own accord. That said, just be careful and you'll be fine. On a personal note, I'm very proud of you. You've made so much progress in such a short time. You keep this up, I may actually forgive you."

Dawn couldn't believe it. "Oh, Nick! Thank you!"

Dawn presented her arms and Nick picked her up for a hug. While they were in an embrace. Dawn looked across the way at Harriet who was peeking fearfully through her window. She looked at the camel with an evil grin.

"Oh no!" said Harriet. "The city police are on her side! I'm doomed!"

There was a new problem for Dawn and Duke. As Nick set the ewe down, a ram was storming towards the couple. "Duke Weaselton!" the ram shouted. "I wanna have a word with you!"

Duke looked over in great fear. "Oh no! It's Doug!"

Nick looked at the burly, mangy ram. "Wow. He's fallen out since his Nickelodeon days."

"Not 'dat Doug! Doug! 'Da un-friendly! 'Da guy I ratted out on! 'Da guy whose ex-girlfriend I'm sleepin' with!"

Nick unholstered his gun. "The ram whose train full of drugs I stole and destroyed."

Doug stormed over to Duke aggressively." I only got one question for you, weasel! ONE QUESTION!"

Dawn stood in front of Duke to protect him. Nick had his paw on his gun.

"Can you give me a shearing? Cuz my regular shearer has been sick for ages and my wool is just so unkempt! I mean, look at it!"

"Y-You're not here to kill me?"

"Wha? No! Dawn's free to date whoever she wants! My girlfriend recommended you. She said that Dawn says you're the best."

Millie the sheep peeked over Doug's large frame. "Hi, D-Dawn!"

Nick took a deep sigh of relief and re-holstered his gun.

Dawn was delighted. "Millie! You came to see me! Oh, I'm so happy!"

Dawn ran over and hugged Millie. Nick was surprised to see the size difference. Millie was almost twice Dawn's size. "Wow. Dawn really is small compared to other ewes!"

Everyone went inside the house and sat down around the kitchen table. Dawn got everyone drinks while Doug took his shirt off and laid on the coffee table. Duke stood above him and was applying the shears.

Doug was happy. "Aww, Duke! This is just what I needed. Yer a miracle worker!"

"Thanks! I nevah even knew I had 'dis talent."

"Hey. If yer gonna give me a full shearing, I gotta take my pants off. You mind?"

"Of course not! Yer Dawn's ex, so I'm sure she's seen yer package. Speaking of, you want 'da full trim?"

"If you don't mind shearing my boys."

"No problem-o, pal!"

Duke was now shearing below the belt. Wool was flying everywhere. Nick observed the whole thing. "It's like a traffic accident or one of those pimple-popping videos. It's disgusting, I want to look away, but I can't!"

Dawn handed Millie some coffee. "So how long have you two been dating?"

"Oh, just t-two years. He's s-s-still on probation from helping you."

"Two years?! I hate to tell you, but he gave me a conjugal visit just last year!"

"Oh, I-I know."

"You know?!"

"Me and D-D-Dougy believe in free love. He's a-a-a-allowed to visit whoever he wants and s-s-so am I."

"Oh… Okay."

Nick then got a cell phone call coming in. "That's probably Bogo wondering why I haven't left yet. Wait, it's Jack! He never calls while I'm on duty. Jack! What's up?"

"Nick. I… I'm afraid I've got terrible news. It's about Skye."

Nick looked devastated. "Oh my God!... What happened?! Is she okay?"

"She… She got impregnated… by an ugly, red fox."

"Jackson Randy Savage!"

"And his mommy watched."

"Why is she telling people?! Dude! I almost had a heart attack!"

"Ha-Ha! Sorry. I found out before you did, so now we're even! Congratulations. We're both going to be fathers."

"Thanks. This is wonderful news! Is she doing okay?"

"She closed up the auto shop early for today and is practically dancing on the ceiling. She and your mother are out shopping for puppy items."

"Those two are so close. She hasn't had her parents around since she was very young. She's closer to my mom than her own."

"I know. What are you up to currently?"

"Oh, I'm just hanging out with two people who once tried to kill me, and a guy I almost got killed."

"If I wasn't an FBI agent, I'd question that. But I can actually relate. I'll leave you to your affairs."

"Oh, before you go. I heard a name that sounds familiar. Humpston. Harriet Humpston. Do you know her?"

"Humpston?! Oh… my… word! That's one of her aliases!"

"Who?"

"The one we've been searching for! Where is this Harriet woman right now?!"

"Across the street from where I'm visiting. Let me look at the address. 1337 Graze avenue in Herdville."

Dawn looked over at Nick. "Mr. Wilde? What's going on?"

Nick just shrugged his shoulders. "Jack. What's the big deal?"

Jack was busy talking to other FBI agents, "Yes! Judging by the patterns, she's the one! Get our men over there now!"

"Who? Me?"

"No, I'm talking to some other men. I was in my office when I called. Nick, Harriet Humpston is one of many aliases this lady goes by. It's Moo!"

"Moo?! Moo who?"

"From Moo-Anon! She's been sending false information to build up predator hate among citizens and influence our government! She's been using VPN's for a while. We could only track what services she used as she went from state to state, but she's settled down at one spot for a few years now and we couldn't track it any further. Your own police force has been investigating her as well."

"...That's where I remember the name!"

"Right! We contacted the VPN service and they're giving us her browsing info… She's been saying such horrible things! It's definitely her! My men are almost there! I have to go, Nick. Thank you for this vital info."

"Actually, it's Dawn Bellwether you should thank. She told me about her."

"Really?! Okay, but the press isn't going to like that. Goodbye, Nick. Oh, and one other thing."

"What's that?"

"No matter what happens to you or me, the legacy we leave our children now will remain with them as adults. Your children will grow up well, Nick. I promise you that."

Although Jack could not see it, Nick smiled. "Thanks, Stripes. I'll see you later."

Nick hung up and Dawn asked the obvious. "Nick, what was that all about? Why should I be thanked?"

Nick got up. "Just come to the window and watch the fireworks."

Dawn, Nick and the rest watched through the window as several cop cars, unmarked cars, and black vans surrounded Harriet's house. One of the officers got on the bullhorn. "Harriet Humpston! This is the FBI! We know you're Moo! We have your house surrounded! Please come out peacefully!"

"I'm getting changed!" Harriet yelled from inside the house. "Please give me a moment!"

"She's stalling! We're breaking in!"

Suddenly, Harriet jumped out of her back window. Shattering it to pieces. She then ran down the street with her lower half exposed. "Get away from me!"

"She really was changing!" Nick said.

"Get the taser!" One officer yelled.

Harriet was running past Dawn and Duke's front lawn. "No! Not the taser! Please! It makes me…" An agent shot her with the taser gun in her lower back. "AAAH! NOO!" PBBBRRRT!

Dawn laughed as Harriet lost control again. "HA-Hahahahaaa! She's chipping everywhere!"

"What's chipping?" Nick asked.

"Pooping basically. Us hooved mammals poop chips or biscuit shapes. Also known as 'patties' or 'pies'. That agent got her good. She chipped all over my front lawn!"

Duke shrugged his shoulders. "Well, at least it will be well fertilized,"

"I guess you can call it a 'manure maneuver'. Now they're dragging her back! This is the best day ever!"

Harriet was struggling with the two agents who had her by her arms and ankles. "Let me go! Let me go! Dawn you, Dawn Bellwether! You robbed me of my dignity! You robbed me of my friends! You'll pay for this! Get the hell off of me, you filthy pigs!"

"She's still resisting." said one officer. "Give her the mace!"

"Let me go, you bastards! Let me…" They sprayed the mace in her eyes. "AAAAH! You can't do this to me! I'm an upstanding citizen! I want my attorney! I want your badges! I want my mommy!"

Dawn, Doug, and Duke were still laughing as they threw Harriet in the van and drove away. Millie said nothing. "Are you okay?" Nick asked her.

"I c-c-can't laugh at her misfortune. Sh-She was my friend… kinda."

"What do you mean, 'kinda'?"

"Well… N-None of us really liked her much. We m-m-mostly stayed in her club as a reason for us all to gather together and chat. A s-social activity. Sh-She was a f-friend, b-b-but sometimes, she went t-t-too far. All of us were too s-s-s-scared to speak out. I feel like n-n-none of this would have happened if I had s-s-stood up to her sooner."

"It's not your fault, Millie. People like her are too hard-headed in their own bigotry to ever change."

"Oh, really?" said Dawn.

Nick chuckled. "Well, I guess there are some exceptions."

A still-naked Doug looked over at Duke. "You did a great job on my shearing, pal. A true artist. But my skin is burning."

"No prob! I'll just apply the lotion."

"Great! Say, um… would you be willing to give me a 'happy ending'?"

Duke looked over at Dawn. "I'm into it. Is that okay, honey?"

"Sure!" Dawn replied. "If Millie doesn't mind."

"Oh, I'd l-l-love to watch!" Millie replied.

Nick was a bit disturbed. "O-KAAY! That's my queue to leave. I'll give Bogo my report on what happened. Dawn, Millie, I might come back with a witness report for you to fill since you have information on Moo or Harriet or whatever her name is. I'm glad to see how much you're improving. Good luck with the interview tomorrow!"

"Thanks, Nick!" Dawn replied.

Nick got into his squad car and left. He headed back towards the station. "I gotta see Skye soon and tell her how happy I am about the puppies. Maybe Bogo can give me the day off since I helped with the arrest of Moo? Boy, I'm glad I got out of Dawn's place when I did. They're free to do what they want of course, but I don't want any part of whatever freaky thing they're about to do."

Moments later, in Dawn's house…

Duke was finishing applying the lotion as Dawn was reading from a storybook. "So the prince and the peasant girl rode off into the sunset and they lived happily ever after. The end."

Doug shed a tear. "SNIFF! I love a happy ending!"