Chapter 4

Written by Toonsgirl

Edited by BeecroftA

Nick and Sir Bogo panted as they raced through the dungeons, Mickey holding tightly onto the fox's shoulder. The King could barely believe his ears at what he had just heard.

"Lady Bellwether sent them out to kill you and Judy!?" He turned to Nick's head as the latter and Bogo ran out of the dungeons and toward the throne room. "Nick, why would she do that?"

"I don't know!" The fox replied back, also looking scared. "But let's find Judy quick before something bad happens!"

Suddenly, the boys heard a scream of fright!

"What was that?" Mickey cried.

"Judy!?" Nick called, running to her room. Much to his horror, she was not in her bedroom. "No, I thought I told her to stay here for safety! Now she's in trouble!"

"Where could Judy be?" Mickey wondered. "Nick, Judy's scream came from upstairs. You go and find Judy! Bogo and I will keep the servants safe!" And he hopped off Nick's shoulder onto Bogo's hoof.

"Right!" Nick nodded. "But any idea where Lady Bellwether could be?"

"Try her secret room," Bogo answered. "An ivory door three floors above us! She is always in there!"

Nick thanked him, and the group split up. As he raced through the corridor, Nick hoped against hope that he wasn't too late.

The fight was a struggle. No matter how many times Judy kicked and punched Jesse and Woolter in the muzzle, they always grabbed her again as soon as she was free. This went on until Woolter and Jesse finally pulled out ropes and wrapped up the princess.

"Let go of me, you ruffians!" Judy demanded. She became even angrier when the rams ignored her. They just tightened her up more, hurting her fur. "Didn't you hear me? I said LET GO!"

"Ooo, she's very scary!" Woolter mocked.

"I shiver in my bones!" Jesse laughed. "Hahahaha!"

"Didn't anyone tell you to respect a lady?" the royal lapine snapped.

"Didn't anyone tell you that it is rude to poke your nose in animals' businesses?" Bellwether sneered. "Now that I have you, I can kill you just like I killed Lionheart! Boys, hand me the knife!"

"But if we let go of the rabbit, she'll run!" Woolter protested.

"And we don't know where the knife is," Jesse added. Remember?"

"Then go to the kitchen and get a new one you imbeciles!" the female sheep spat.

The boys dropped Judy and ran out of the room, closing the door behind them. Bellwether walked past Judy as if she were a parasite and looked down at a piece of parchment she was holding.

"Why are you doing this?" The rabbit glared at the treacherous noblewoman. "What have Nick and I done to you?"

"Besides snooping your noses in my business, not much really," Bellwether said carelessly, reading her parchment. It was a simple checklist of her plan which read:

1) Kill Oswald, King Oscar and Queen Joanne.

2) Kill Lionheart.

3) Train Mickey to make bad decisions.

4) Hire Rams to kill Mickey (or squash him myself when I get the chance).

5) Rule Happy Valley!

"As a prey, you should be happy that I have murdered King Lionheart of Zootopia," she scoffed. "The old fool wanted to make a truce between Zootopia and Happy Valley, but I wouldn't allow it!"

"Why not?"

"Because it gives predators a chance to hunt prey!" Bellwether shouted. "Just like what that fox did to that poor bunny decades ago!"

"It wasn't a fox that killed her!" Judy yelled. "It was a snake! The fox just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time!"

"Ha!" Bellwether laughed bitterly. "A likely story!" She rolled up her parchment and turned to the rabbit. Her eyes looked so dark and deranged that it gave Judy the shivers. "Besides, I can't have predators ruin my plans for domination! It's bad enough that these stupid prey were already doing it! I wanted to rule Happy Valley because I have the leadership skills for it! Unlike Prince Oswald who gave up everything for a commoner! I tricked him and Ortensia into going on a broken boat so that they would be killed by a storm! And the same thing with the parents! Just as I was going to become Queen, Mickey, an adopted commoner, took my throne! When I slew Lionheart, I was hoping that Zootopia would declare war on Mickey and kill him! Then you had to stop it by begging for mercy and by having Nick play detective with you! Well then!" She walked up to the princess and glared into her eyes. "Now that you know who did it, I will destroy you, the fox, and the mouse!"

"You won't get away with this!" Judy spat. "I'm not afraid of you!" She struggled with all her might, unable to free herself from her bonds.

"Maybe you don't take my death threat seriously…" the sheep said in a nasty voice, "But just wait until my boys come back with my knife!"

Just then, the door opened and Woolter reentered the room. He looked shorter than usual, and a little furrier..

"Why Woolter!" Bellwether smiled maniacally. "That was fast! Where's Jesse?"

"Off duty!" Woolter answered, throwing off his wool coat. It was Nick!

"Nick!" Judy was very relieved to see him! "I knew you would come!"

When Bellwether demanded to know what became of her rams, Nick casually responded that after seeing them come out of Bellweather's study, he knocked them out with a mallet, sheared Woolter's wool off, and put it on himself.

Swiftly, Nick knocked Bellwether aside, picked up Judy and dashed out of the study room. He had to get her away from that psycho sheep as far as possible!

Livid with rage, Bellwether went to a nearby cabinet and opened a box, which contained a spray bottle of a strange-looking blue potion.

"Nick, where's Mickey?" Judy asked, while being carried by her fox. "We need to warn him about-"

"I know!" the fox replied. "He already knows about how Bellwether tried to hurt you and how she assassinated Lionheart!"

"That's not all!" Judy added. "She also has more plans up her sleeve!"

They finally reached to the main gate outside where Mickey and Bogo were keeping the servants safe.

"Oh boy!" Mickey smiled wide. "Judy! Nick! Thank goodness you two are all right!" He was very relieved to see them safe and sound, but his smile was replaced with a frown when he noticed the distressed looks on their muzzles. "What other bad news do you have?"

"Mickey," Judy said hesitantly. "I don't know how to say this, but Bellwether killed your family."

"She wants to hurt you too," Nick added gravely. "Just to have your crown!"

At first, Mickey was stunned. Then, he became angry.

"How could Lady Bellwether betray me?" He seethed. "I thought she was my friend! I WANT REVENGE!"

"And you will get your revenge," the Duke assured him. "By execution! Remember our deal?"

Suddenly Bellwether burst onto the scene, clutching a blue spray bottle in her hoof.

"Hello, King Mickey!" She cackled. "I got something for you here! For ALL of you!"

Seeing the poison bottle spray in her hoof, Mickey grew frightened. The bottle was so big, how could he defend anyone from that?

Just when Bellwether was about to spray the blue potion at Judy and Nick, the mouse acted fast. He drew out his sword and heaved it toward the sheep, throwing it into her eye! Bellweather dropped the bottle and grabbed her face, screaming in pain.

Judy took this opportunity to scoop up Bellwether's spray bottle and throw it into nearby moat.

Bogo and Nick both seized Bellwether, arresting her.

"Take her to the guillotine!" Mickey announced. "She is far too dangerous for our kingdom!"

Before long, Lady Bellwether was beheaded for the murder of Oscar, Joanne, Oswald, Ortensia, and Lionheart and attempted murder of Mickey, Judy, and Nick. Everybody was shocked that Bellwether could commit such crimes. They also could not believe that it was she that kept preventing peace from coming between the kingdoms. Her henchmen, Woolter, Jesse, Doug, and Weasel, were also executed for their involvement.

After the trial was finished, King Mickey shook paws with Duke Nick, as a sign for gratitude and peace. They promised to be allies for many generations to come as long as nobody interfered with their new Treaty of Peace.

Now that Mickey was finally adapting well into his role as King, it was time for Judy to go back to Bunnyburrow, and for Nick to go back to Zootopia.

The princess sighed sadly as she packed her belongings. She didn't want to go because that meant leaving her dear friends behind...especially Nick. Too tired and sad to pack, the princess decided to take a walk in the courtyard for fresh air.

As Judy stepped outside, she bumped into somebody familiar with red russet fur and emerald eyes.

"Judy?" Nick asked surprised. "What are you doing out here?"

"Just talking a break from packing," Judy said as she smoothed down her dress. "What about you?"

"Same thing," Nick shrugged, sheepishly. He invited her to walk with him and she accepted his offer by taking his arm. They strolled peacefully through the gardens.

"So, how are you feeling?" he asked.

"I'm all right," she answered. She absently tugged one of her ears that had drooped behind her head. "You know...I'm going to miss you."

Although her voice was soft, the Duke heard her with his sharp hearing.

"Aye," he replied, his voice full of nervousness. "I will miss you too." The fox wanted to say something more-something that would make her stay with him.

"Judy?"

"Yes?" Judy's eyes shone with eager excitement.

"I..I...I um...I give you permission to always come to my castle whenever you want!" the fox mentally kicked himself for holding back what he really wanted to tell her.

"Oh," Judy said, her voice hinting disappointment. "Thank you." She was hoping that the Duke would ask her something...like courtship. But was that possible? What if the Duke doesn't reciprocate her feelings? "Nick?"

"Yes?" the fox said, his voice full of hope.

"I um...I..also invite you to come to my home whenever you want!" Judy stammered. She mentally scolded herself for being so dumb! Why did she get so tongue-tied?

"Oh," Nick's ears fell flat. He had hoped that Judy would ask him to court her. Does she reciprocate his feelings? "Thank you."

"OH I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

Suddenly, the fox and bunny couple jumped at the sound of a certain high falsetto voice. The voice hopped down from a nearby tree and landed on Nick's head. He had been eating peaches from the tree when he heard his cousin and new ally talking. He knew about their secret love and had been dying for them to just confess already! Because they seemed to be having some difficulty, he decided to offer his help.

"Okay, let me clear up this love mystery!" Mickey sassed as he faced his cousin. "Judy, this fox wants to court you! Would you accept his proposal?"

Judy's mouth made a shape of an 'O'. The Duke wanted to court her!?

The mouse turned to the fox.

"And Nick, Judy loves you and she will be yours, if you ask her nicely!"

The princess came closer to the Duke.

"Nick, is this true?" she questioned softly, her eyes full of hope.

"Would I lie about this?" Mickey asked, annoyed.

"Y-Yes," the royal vulpine gulped. "I have developed feelings for you and I like to court you-if you'll have me."

At first Judy pinched herself, wondering if she was dreaming. To her luck and happiness, she wasn't! Smiling, the rabbit pulled the fox's collar and met his lips.

Mickey had to hang onto Nick's head so he wouldn't fall off!

At first, Nick's eyes widened, then his eyes closed, feeling the warmth and love radiating from Judy. He pulled her closer to him and held her, enjoying the kiss.

After full two minutes, the couple let go so they could get some air. They smiled at each other and stayed in each other's embrace.

Mickey also smiled, feeling happy that he finally gotten the couple together. It seemed like wedding bells would be ringing for them soon! Sure, his uncle need time to get used to having a fox for an in-law but he knew his aunt would accept Nick! Either way, the mouse knew that they would be happy knowing that their daughter had finally found a husband!

'I know what new law to make!' Mickey thought, an idea hitting him. 'A law that mammals are free to marry outside of their species! That way, no one shall separate Judy and Nick, as long as I am King!'

The adventure in the P.I.X.A.R. Machine came to a full stop. The fox and his wife hopped out of their chairs, eager to stand and stretch their limbs.

"Well Nick," Judy said, stretching her arms. "Did you like the experience?"

"Yeah!" Nick smiled. "It wasn't so bad after all!"

"I told you so!" Judy smirked.

"Come on, Princess Judy," Nick replied jokingly, as he gathered his wife in his arms. "Let's go home for dinner!"

"Okay, Duke of Zootopia!" the bunny joked back.

THE END

AN: Everbody give a hand to Toonsgirl27 on DA for writing this fun adventure for our favorite fox and bunny. She also goes by the name Toons-Girl here on FF so please check out her stories and support her! :)