A/N: I think the summary of the story is woefully inadequate now. Not sure how to change it.

Chapter 34: Inconceivable: Cataclysm's Penance


They are going to transfer me to Zootopia's prison system. I guess I should be thankful. Chief Bogo might also believe my tale then I can get out of this mess. I am being driven to Zootopia escorted by the Bunnyburrow police department.

I am taken to precinct one. Chief Bogo lets the Bunnyburrow police known that he'll take it from here and they leave. Chief Bogo guides me to his office. Chief Bogo exhales, "What have you done now, Hopps?"

I reply, "I am under arrest for the murder of Nick Wilde. I am innocent because he's immortal. He's also my partner. Bunnyburrow wouldn't believe me and the Prime lied to the police and said Nick wasn't immortal. Thus, I got arrested."

"I was unsupportive on your first case. I do believe you Judy. How long would it take Nick to be reborn?"

He believes me. I'm happy. "I figure it would be within two weeks. I did what I had to do. It was the best possible outcome out of everything."

"Well then, this isn't Bunnyburrow. You're being set free. Do not return to Bunnyburrow until after Nick is back. He better be back within two weeks. I am placing my trust in you."

"You won't regret it sir."

"I would like you to use your new-found powers to solve the problem of nighthowlers in Zootopia."

"Can I go to my apartment to make myself look presentable?"

"You have one hour."

I guess I'm thankful that my life returns to some semblance of normalcy. I stumble upon Clawhauser while leaving Bogo's office. He's carrying a fresh box of donuts. He must have returned from shopping. He says, "How could you kill Nick? My plan was for you to get together. Not to kill each other."

Oh, right the bet and why Nick agreed to go camping in the first place. I inform him, "You owe me ten thousand dollars. Nick spent a month with me and more. You owe it to me for all I have been through. Your plan worked. We are indeed together now."

"But, you just killed him."

"I set him free, he's immortal like I am. I'm not sure what you've heard. Bogo decided to trust me. I am working as a cop again."

Overjoyed at my newfound freedom. I set off for the apartment hopping along the way. My wings show and vanish as I land. I arrived back at the apartment. I showered and put on my ZPD uniform ready to make the world a better place once again. Unfortunately, jumping about causes the uniform to tear. Oh well, this is the first time in a long time I've even bothered to wear a shirt.

I went back to precinct one. I met with Bogo, "I am ready to start working again sir."

Bogo replies, "Why is your uniform torn?"

"That's why I haven't worn a shirt in a long time. Whenever we jump, it tears due to our wings. It's your choice."

"Can't you control these wings?"

"No sir, it's a permanent condition."

"Alright, here's what I would like you to do. You are going to be partnered with Kate Fangmeyer who just finished a round of parking duty. You are to scout around the city making notes of where nighthowlers are. Do not apprehend anyone. Do not blow anything up. Do not set anything on fire. Do not make a scene. Am I clear?"

"Crystal."

Kate and I got into a police cruiser. Kate drives. She says, "I've always looked up to you. Now, I get to work with you! This is so exciting. You were my idol you know."

I reply, "You believe me then?"

"Of course. You and Nick have been partners on the force for a year and given what we've seen I think I'm ready to believe anything."

"Let's drive to a tall building. I think I can sense things better at great heights or maybe pinpoint where I think nighthowlers are likely to be."

We drove to a tall building. We parked our cruiser and entered the building to reach the roof. The roof gives a magnificent view of the city. I admired the city's splendor. It's been a long time since I gazed upon Zootopia. I closed my eyes and try to sense nighthowlers.

To free myself of all thoughts. It was easier to feel desire's embrace around me when I was enraged. It's less noticeable when I'm calm. I don't know how long I stood standing on the roof. I opened my eyes. Kate was gone, Cataclysm is here instead. His body is full of bruises.


Before Judy's Arrest

My mate Azure – a Ewe beats me and shocks me. I've apologized countless times. I'm sorry about the lives I took. She says, "Burning everything you can. Don't you care for them at all?"

I reply, "I do, it was the right choice."

"You had fun doing it. I can see it in your eyes and because of you, one of our own is injured."

"I'm sorry, okay? It's not my fault."

"It IS your fault. You're supposed to lead them. Nick gets hurt under YOUR watch by our own powers." She shocks me again. I could use my remote to shock her but it doesn't feel right.

"The Prime was okay with what I did."

"Just because he's okay with it, it doesn't mean that I am. You gambled with all their lives, you killed everyone in the chasm just for a chance that they would leave. What if they stayed? What then?" She punches me few times leaving bruises.

"It was the best plan that I had, okay? What do you want from me?"

"Did you not think that we would come back for you? I am your mate after all."

She's caught me in a trap. If I say no, then she would be enraged more than she already is. If I say yes, it wouldn't excuse my actions at all. "I'm sorry, okay? What do you want from me? What can I do to make this right?" She shocks me some more. I'm crying at this point, "Please stop. What do you want? Do you want to kill me is that it?"

"Oh no, we are immortal after all. What good would that do you?"

"Then what do you want?"

"You will feel pain every single day until I feel you have suffered enough. What you did was inexcusable and you didn't think it through either. Do not resist."

"Can we go home first?"

"Fine."

Finally, out of the public eye. She's living with a family of sheep. There's also a rabbit and tiger couple from the order that's living with them as well. They gave us a private room. The first thing I notice about the house is that it's made of wood, how easy would it be to set it on fire? Very. It's rather comforting.

She spends the next few hours torturing me and inflicting pain upon me. I suppose, this in our long lifetimes is a fairly infrequent occurrence. We've been alive for several centuries and were one of the first to join the order. When I have a serious grievance with her, she lets me do whatever I want to her and now, I let her do whatever she wants to me. It's how our relationship works. It's a shame our offspring aren't immortal and don't have the powers that we do. The coven was their home and that's why I would sacrifice anything for them.

At the end of the session, I'm begging, "Please stop. I can't take this anymore."

Azure replies, "Oh, but you can. I know your limits. You're not even close to reaching them."

"Mercy please. There must be something else that you want." Something rings. "What is that?"

"Those are replacements for the crystals we used to have. It lets us talk to each other. They call it a cell phone." I'm glad for the reprieve from the suffering. She looks at that device and puts it away.

"Do we all get one?"

"You should. These let us talk to each other while being apart. It's far more effective compared to the crystals we used to have. It's a shame desire's embrace can't easily bend to our will here compared to before. The Prime isn't rescuing Comet and Jale as a reminder to us all. That even while immortal, we can still be taken and we're still vulnerable."

"Comet and Jale have been captured?"

"Yes, they've posted some videos. You should see them."

I am thankful for the reprieve from her torture. "Lead the way." I follow Azure to what she calls a 'computer'. The screen flickers on. These new technologies are interesting. I wonder if they can be used to start a fire?

The screen is now playing Comet and Jale being tortured. First video – they're just being whipped. The second video, Comet is now missing a paw. The third video, their being shocked. I wonder if that's going to be my fate. I beg, "Please Azure, don't do that to me. I will be good from now on. Please." Is she determined to go through with it? If she wants, I feel compelled to let her since that's how our relationship worked.

She responds, "Don't worry, my dear wolf. I am not that cruel."

"But you spent the past few hours torturing me."

"You deserve far worse." I still disagree with that. It was the best outcome possible. "Now then, Judy has been arrested and is going to be sent to something called a prison tomorrow. Apparently, that's how they deal with problems here. Since, you're begging for a reprieve from my version of justice. Let's try theirs. I want you to spend a few days in prison, to see what it's like."

"How do I go to prison then?"

"Figure it out for yourself. I'm giving you two days to get into one. If you fail, we can always have more fun. I think it'll be interesting to see how Zootopia deals with problems. I know your limits. I will test every single one of them if you fail. Count yourself lucky, you get two days off."

I spend the night together with her. I missed her, it's been so long. It's been forever since we've slept in the same bed. Her wool is rather comfortable.

In the morning, she reminds me. I have one day. I counter, "But that day was almost over. Surely, you meant two days from today."

Azure replies, "One day, not my fault you chose to waste yesterday. Go to prison, tell me what it's like. If you don't want to, we can always have more fun."

Well, I guess I have to beg Judy for directions on how to go to prison. I felt her presence leaving though. I've been told that Judy's likely going to Zootopia and way I can get there is by something called a train. They gave me money to pay for the train.

Purchasing the ticket has been somewhat difficult. It's been a few centuries since I handled currency. It was used in the chasm but then I preferred the order's system so much better. I guess I should be thankful that they gave me money to pay for the ticket. I have to go to prison today somehow, to experience it for a few days else I'll be facing Azure's wrath.

The lesser beings didn't really bother me. They are unmarked, they aren't even chosen by one of us. It would be delightful if I could set them on fire but then Azure would be mad. Judy and Nick would likely be furious as well. That wouldn't be the best course of action.

I arrive in Zootopia. This city's flooded with desire's embrace. I guess using my powers here will be easy. I hope I get to incinerate something soon. I have to find Judy else Azure is going to be furious. She knows my limits and I really don't want to feel that again. I remember these sessions even though it's been more than a century ago.

I suppose I should finally pay attention to the lesser beings for once. I might hear something useful. Some of them are questioning my bruises. What do they know? They do not understand what it means to be an immortal or to be bonded to a rather sometimes sadistic mate. I don't need to explain it to them at all.

I tune them out once more, they do not matter. In a city awash with desire's embrace where would Judy be? Hmm. I see one of the lesser beings shooting another with desire's embrace. Reckless, misuse of what's sacred to us. That infidel must be punished. I wonder if another like us will be born but regardless, this doesn't look like the rite I know at all. I have witnessed the birth of nearly every pair.

I raced to the top of the building. The shooter must not escape my vengeance. Odd, it's a species I don't recognize. I gladly ripped him in half and threw his head away. It was there I saw her, I saw Judy. My search is over. I leapt from building to building until I reach Judy.

I found her alone. She must be focusing on something. I wait for her to leave her trance and then I say, "Judy, help me please. I need to know how to go to prison."

She looks at me as if I've gone crazy. "Why would you want to go to prison?"

"I need a reprieve from Azure's torture. She's really not happy about what I did. I don't see anything wrong with it. It was the best choice we had at that time."

She takes a deep breath, "Well, you commit a crime then get arrested and sent there eventually if it's serious enough –"

A crime is all I need to commit. In many of the chasm settlements I've visited. There's something called arson which involves setting things on fire. My favorite, a chance to use my powers at last. Fulfilling Azure's wishes nonetheless. I use my powers. There's a few buildings nearby with desire's embrace in the basement. I gave the desire to anything that would crave destruction. We can't manifest our powers as easily here. It's not like back then where I could easily create a wave of fire with minimal effort. The buildings are set on fire. "Finally, now I can go to prison for arson then I can report back to Azure in a week."

She's suddenly enraged and her wings flare up. She shouts, "WHO TOLD YOU THAT PRISON WAS ONLY FOR A WEEK?"

"How long is it then?"

"Try a few years. Can you not set something on fire for once?"

"Yea, I can't do that Azure would be furious if that happened." I see a tigress join us on the roof. "Judy did this, I was the one sent to stop her." It's a lie, a weak one but the lesser beings shouldn't be able to tell the difference.

"LIAR!" She savagely attacks me. Her hits feel even worse than Azure's punches. Suddenly, I'm getting very sleepy.

I wake up to see a demon with horns, am I dead again? Judy and I can't use our hands, it's bound together by metal. The Demon talks to Judy, "What did I tell you? Don't set anything on fire? Don't make a scene?"

Judy replies, "But sir, it was all Cataclysm's doing" She points to me. "He came to me and asked me on how to go to prison."

"You're telling me that this beaten-up wolf came to you and asked you for directions on how to go to prison? That contradicts his statement of being sent to stop you."

"Kate was supposed to be with me during all this. Where was she?"

"She saw a robbery in progress. You were unresponsive using your powers. She phoned it in. I gave her permission to chase. After the suspect is secured, she went back to you just in time to see several buildings on fire. I gave you a chance. You just betrayed my trust."

"But sir, it's the truth. I'm being framed."

The demon turns to me, "What's your story? Is she telling the truth?"

I say, "I was sent to stop her. She does have powers over fire just like I do. Who would willingly believe that someone would want to go to prison?" She acted with disbelief when I first said it. It might fool the demon as well. "As you can see on my body, she is rather dangerous."

Judy reacts, "Liar. You deserve everything Azure has done to you and more. How dare you insinuate that was MY doing?"

The demon speaks, "In lack of credible witnesses of what truly happened. Both of you are going to prison. Hopps, your tale that the wolf is trying to go to prison sounds like a fantasy at best."

"But for how long?"

"You are under arrest for murder, something which I chose to overlook because Nick is immortal or so you claimed but now buildings are set on fire. Speaking of which, can Cataclysm confirm or deny if Nick if immortal?"

Myths aid us in every form. It would be folly to confirm such a statement. I reply, "Nick is not immortal despite what she has told you. The Prime only confirmed she is."

The demon exhales, "Hopps, your tale gets more and more fantastical every single time. Nothing with you is ever simple. I am sending both of you to prison until at least Nick 'returns'. Do not set anything else on fire."

Judy responds, "I didn't do that in the first place! It's Cataclysm that did it."

"Yes, yes but how can we prove it?"

"Trust in me?"

"What makes you more credible than him? You've murdered Nick then as Kate reported, you were beating up a wolf savagely. What I believe is that both of you have powers since you both have marks. It would be fortunate that no one got injured in the fire you started."

I ask, "Does that mean I'm free to go? Azure is going to be mad if I don't get back."

"Oh no, you're just as guilty. We can't determine the truth and I don't want to risk anymore things being set on fire."

Judy says, "Cataclysm, I'm going to make sure Azure makes you suffer for what you attempted to do today." She looks at me with hate and I shiver. "Don't think that you will have any joy once this is over. You deserve everything she did to you for burning thousands alive."

"Alright, both of you are going to prison together."

I complain, "Azure's going to be furious. I have to get back today. Look at what she did to me already."

"And, I thought all of that was her doing?"

"Oh no, some of it is her doing. Most of it is Azure's. I have to get back to my mate. She will be enraged if I don't."

"Is there anything else I conveniently misunderstood?"

"No."

"Very well, I sentence both of you to prison. We can't verify the truth of anyone's tale right now. I'm picking a rather happy prison for the both of you since I'm not sure which one is guilty but both of you are dangerous and can be imprisoned for previous acts anyhow. Judy, you've burned Nick and much more. Cataclysm, you admitted to burning thousands alive during our first meeting."

Judy says, "For how long sir?"

"At very least, until Nick comes back or when we can finally determine who's telling the truth."

I complain, "Look at my body. I don't think I can survive Azure's wrath. I have to get back."

"Do you want to charge Azure with domestic abuse? She can join you in there perhaps."

That would be even worse. "No, I do not."

"Do you two want to be in a cell together or separate? I'll grant you two this choice."

Judy replies, "Together. I don't trust him not to set anyone on fire."

I reply, "Together, I have to keep her in check."

The demon escorts us to a contraption. It takes us to a building. We are herded inside. The demon talks to an animal something pink. He then removes our handcuffs. He leaves. The pink animal puts a collar on both of us. Now, we're wearing two collars. He gives us an orange jumpsuit. I go to a changing room to put it on. Judy does as well. I'm going to miss my old pair of pants. We are led into a cell and he leaves us. Judy says, "I only got set free today and you ruined everything! I'm supposed to be the one sending animals here, not the one in here." Judy gets shocked a few times but keeps talking regardless.

Intrigued. I ask, "So, what actually goes on in these places? This is your world after all."

"I actually don't know all the specifics."

"Who's that demon that you were talking to?"

"He's a Buffalo. His name is Bogo. He's my boss in Zootopia."

"How do we get out?"

"We don't until we're set free."


A/N: Judy is now in prison with Cataclysm and they've chosen to share a cell. I wonder if it's normal for police not to know what life in prison is like.

I hope this story is unpredictable and interesting for everyone still reading it. As always, suggestions welcome. Let me know if there's something I can improve or if there's something you would like to see.