J Shute's Oneshots, Drabbles and Commissions

by J Shute

A collection of my smaller stories and misc oneshots. Includes fluff files done for Cimar's collection, Patreon stories and other random plot bunnies.

42. Fire Instinct Blue Concept Outline: S2

Fire Instinct Blue outline.

Series 2: Guardian Blue.

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AN: So, welcome back! And don't worry, nowhere as big of an opening authors notes this time.

Before we go in, a bit of background to how I planned this out. Originally, it was just a straight merge between Fire Triangle, Guardian Blue and some of my stuff. The GB stuff is roughly the rest of season 1, but also included some investigative work from season 3, which I felt worked better here and would otherwise get cut as by that point we'd be moving on to the rest of the Fire Triangle stuff (and don't worry, the other non-police stuff from GB series 3 will still be occurring later, just alongside Fire Triangle police stuff). For the GB stuff, I also added a large sequence on Outback Island to pad the running time and really round things out… All good.

THEN I added in some of Merc's pre-zoot stuff as it fitted perfectly. It didn't interrupt the main plot, it gave characters like Conor and Erin something fun to do in the meantime, it set up some important things moving on AND, as a last bonus, it practically screamed to take place on Outback Island… Which meant it could have a neat little tie in with the rest of the stuff planned for there.

And then I tried to see if I could bring in the WIF stuff. Not all of it, I was focussing on the Nocturnal mob, Vlad and Lucy… And the early stuff in the arc was easy enough to set up… well it wasn't, it actually took a bit of inspiration from Berserker88's Born to be Wilde to make it all click and mesh together with the GB stuff. But it worked with no big impact on what was planned before. But, this all ended up moving the large Outback Island sequence I added for GB to the nocturnal district, cutting that tie and leaving the Conor and Erin stuff on there alone… Still standing strong as it can work independently, just a bit… isolated.

Eh, nothing is perfect. But, this whole season is probably the most complex/ source varied and mixed up. And now you know why.

So, spoilers and inspiration for this section.

Guardian Blue Season 1 (Alps Sarsis): Chapters 11-26 (basically the entire rest of S1).

Guardian Blue Season 3 (Alps Sarsis): Chapters 1-12 and 16 (note, takes the main trail of some detective work, but doesn't touch any of the character/development stuff, nor does it reveal the final end of that case, steering off at an eventful midpoint. I wouldn't say there are many big spoilers therefor).

Born to be Wilde (Berserker88, Mindjack): Chapter 27-32 (note, just takes a setting and an idea from there, but mostly does its own thing with them. More the origin of an idea than any copy, so no real spoiler issue).

Bloodlines (Upplet, Berserker88, Mindjack): Chapter 1 (Bloodlines was the Lucy Sang prequel, chapter 1 was her 'first crime' and that's mentioned here a few times. It's stated several times in WIF and so on in the text anyhow, so arguably very, very light spoilers).

When Instinct Falls (Upplet): Chapter 15-23 and spoilers for chapter 35 (The main Nocturnal mob arc, and a certain reveal from later (though if you're familiar with stuff from later in the saga, you're very likely already spoiled on that one)).

Fire Triangle (Merc_Marten): Chapter 51 to 59, adapted backstory, and though much of the middle and the end is different you'll get the general idea from it, the notes will go into it and the changes made from the original…

Merc's pre-Zoot furaffinity stories: Bay Park – Today is the day (small parts of). Marlette Middle School – Music Hath Charms (all parts of, but it's only a few chapters long). 461 Bulevar Del Ocean – A happening night (all parts of, and it's a biggun). Northeast Los Gatos – The morning after (all parts of, though it's only a small epilogue/wrap up of 'A happening').

My stories: Fantastic Foxes of Zootopia: Acting out (bits of), Spanners and Stripes (all of), So we're inters now (first two chapters).

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And so, we resume. Carrot days saved from a chemical attack, a few mammals who helped set it up but were talked out of it getting a bad karma reward out of the blue in terms a cheque signed by 'Darmaw' for 'services to chaos' and Nick and Judy on the train back, their feelings growing and the fox revealing a picture of Skye to her. Someone, a long time ago, he was just an hour or so away from marrying.

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Following on from before, Nick retells the story of him and Skye. First meeting her in preschool (cutting back to him meeting and playing with a young Skye in blue overalls) they knew each other growing up and were kithood friends. He always figured she was a bit different (I was thinking that she could be portrayed as having (mild) aspergers, she processes things very logically, likes solving problems, loves mechanics as a result but has trouble connecting/ understanding others, has zoomies when she's excited. It's much more pronounced as a kit, as an adult she tends to have worked things out, though it still influences her personality) but she was an early best friend, though when he started hustling they drifted apart.

After meeting up again by chance as adults, he saved her from a drinks spiker and they got together, beginning to date. However, she didn't approve of his lifestyle, was completely unable to get his post ranger scouts logic and kept on saying that if he tried to be honest things would be good. Finally, mid-way through a romantic evening, she blurts out that if he doesn't clean up his act she won't return his vows.

At this point Nick steps back and explains how (red) fox marriages work (or at least the red fox culture he's a part of), (using the vow words from Guardian Blue) and how they mate for life. Judy questions this (are all foxes meant to mate for life). Nick rebukes it (are all mammals meant to not do murder).

Back to the story, Nick tried cleaning up, but only got some miserable dead-end jobs (he maintained it was speciesism, she argued that she was paid well as a mechanic as she had experience, he didn't). He struggled in the jobs, finding them mindnumbing, boring, and the pay far less than his hustle earnings. Finally, he asks if he can do some hustling on the side, mentioning the brick hustle (taking old bricks from building sites, cutting off the mortar, selling them as recycled bricks). Skye asks what's so hustly about it, as long as his paperwork's right that's a legit business. It turns out to make the economics work, Nick kinda of has to do it on edge, and it could not be scaled up (presently he remarks he still has the stockpile, but is slowly selling them off as 'high value vintage good for the environment' bricks). Getting the idea for his own business, Nick jokes about a dumb thing they did when they were little… designing their own themepark on paper, before revealing he refined the concept. When he was around 11, he created plans for his own predators themepark: 'Wild Times'.

Skye's onboard, to his surprise, and there are some compromises. She does some research and decides that instead of rollercoasters (though she really wants one) they could do cheaper stuff like vertical drop slides (trust me, they're just as intimidating as big coasters). However, basing on this level of tech, they begin having fun brainstorming ideas. Heck, Skye gets zoomies thinking of new attractions, and on a few occasions woke Nick up in the middle of the night after working out how to make one work. They grow closer, even though big differences arise (Skye begins pitching things for prey mammals, such as a 'butt of war' for sheep, cliff climb for goats, or mega hurdles for antelope. Nick argues that these defeat the entire purpose of a predator amusement park. Skye argues that it could be a 'let your instincts free' park, and it makes no sense to exclude 90% of mammals. Nick argues that preds want their own space, Skye says she's fine, Nick saying she's not like most preds… It's a bad argument, but they compromise by making the pred section a separate world).

While Nick does enjoy it, he begins to feel that his kithood dream is in another mammals paws, but he soon relights his fire by striking deals with mammals. For the loans (going to Mr Big). For the land, workers, investment. He hits a big one with a bunch of mammals who run garbage disposal, their investment letting him buy a real rollercoaster from a funfare, which they can build stuff around (Nemesis style) to make it seem much faster (Skye has mega zoomies). However, Nick has always had problems with maths (maybe he later finds out he has moderate dyscalculia) and so Skye, who likes doing the accounts, handles them.

It opens, but rumours that it's a den of depravity where savage instincts are encouraged begin to grow, a protest group camping outside the gates on the opening night. Skye tries to reason with them logically, almost melting down when they won't listen to reason, but Nick hustles them away and Wild times is a big success.

They soon pay off their debts (many to Mr Big), everything is going great, and they grow closer and closer, working together to add more and more. Nick even admits that she was right, he was wrong, and looks upon the world in a new light. And so he plans to propose/ say his vows, setting up a meal at home.

Only Skye never comes. He instead gets a call of her crying and, driving out, finds the place burning to ashes in front of them.

Time passes, and as she tries to sort out the insurance Skye begins to get confused. Where's all their money gone? What are all these new expenses the bank is reporting. Nick goes to Mr Big (awaiting trial in jail atm) and asks him, the shrew telling him that they're being set up as fall mammals. Nick races back, fearing that he's going to be arrested at any second…

Only, he never handled the accounts.

He gets off to see Skye crying, being arrested, yelling that she didn't do anything. He screams at her not to tell them anything, to wait for a lawyer, and she turns to face him, the movement being misinterpreted as a bite attempt. She's muzzled in front of him, and all his new optimism is shattered. He's escorted back to the station, and answers questions with a lawyer (though never mirandized, so never actually arrested. He put maybe on his zpd application form to make sure though). He eventually finds Skye okay, but scared, awaiting trial on a variety of charges. They want dirt on Mr Big, that Skye doesn't have and Nick knows not to tell.

Nick asks Big if he can spare his best lawyer, Vern Rodenburg, a rat who served 25 years of a life sentence and gained 4 law degrees inside, eventually proving his innocence so well that he was officially ruled as innocent. However Vern is busy with Mr Big, so Nick is stuck with a regular lawyer, and has to pay for him together with Skye's parents. So, Mr Big has hustling positions offered for him. Nick keeps it a secret from Skye, as he begins hustling to fund her defence. It's too little though, as she finds herself up against an expert prosecutor (maybe the same one who they met at the end of the last season) and a biased judge.

She's found guilty and given a harsh sentence, which just makes Nick angrier, especially as she still maintains that it was bad luck. She rocked the boat and was hit with a big wave. It could happen to any mammal… Nick though is convinced that it's because she's a fox, mammals hate foxes, they saw her rising above her station so cut her down, and she's just naïve… So he carries on hustling, and begins enjoying it more and more and more. Meanwhile, on his visits, he sees Skye getting worse and worse and worse… To the point where she starts biting herself. He has one thing on his mind, funding a new investigation and her appeal. Things get a bit better when 'one of her bullies' is 'dealt with' but Nick is not giving up.

Finally, out of the blue, he gets a phonecall from Skye, crying tears of joy. They caught who did it, she's getting out. It's revealed that the waste company he got involved was infiltrated by a bunch of fraudster arsonists who'd steal money, burn the place and frame the owners. Caught in an undercover operation, Skye wasn't the only mammal released… But Nick did note that she had one of the longest sentences (she says because she always maintained her innocence). He gets her back but she's different, immediately saying that she's not ready yet for any vows… She just wants to settle a bit. Moreover, they won't be doing Wild times again. He can, if he wants, but she's going to use her welding qualifications and get a normal job somewhere and not rock the boat.

Nick though is deep into his hustles and, were he to see them through, he'd be rich. He carries on, telling himself it's for Skye, to pay for getting in the waste company, for them… Only she found out, they got into an argument, Nick ranted about how naïve and stupid she was, how she couldn't see how other mammals treated her because of her species…

She splits up, going back to her parents, and Nick is broken. He sinks into a depression, he has the rift with his mother and he begins working more and more for Mr Big, drowning himself in it with no regard for his life. Indeed, he'd almost welcome getting killed on a hit.

Finally, Big gave him the offer of a lifetime to do something truly criminal. As a non-made mammal, he'd be offered a fortune and a new life to do a job: burn down Castle Fangpyre, the home base of his biggest rival: Vladzotz Fangpyre the third, ruler of the nocturnal mob.

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"And then, Fluff, I got a call from Mr Big. He wanted me for a special job, one that he chose me, a none made mammal, specifically for. He'd provide me with a new identity, a new life, a fortune, if I burned down Castle Fangpyre. Seat of power of Vladzotz Fangpyre, vampire bat ruler of the Nocturnal mod..."

"Wait, what!? I... I mean I know he's a crime boss, but this... but you..."

"I know too Fluff! I was more shocked than you were, given that I knew him as old school Cosa Nostra. Oath of Omerta over all else, honour and an eye for an eye. To be fair, Mr Big knew it too, so he laid it out for me."

"I see you are surprised Nicky. Why would an honourable member of the Cosa Nostra like me do something so brutish? There are three reasons. For a start, Fangpyre is not Cosa Nostra. Though on the surface we may seem like dear friends, he has long held himself apart from us and the Sahara square mob, running to a different tune. And even if he asked, his deeds preclude him. Drugs, bootleg pharma, there are rumours of mammal trafficking. He deals in things no true family would dare touch. I fear he looks not to the families of old, but to mobsters like the McCrodon's of Fenholt. He has even invested heavily in computers, seemingly following those sea minks in their expansion into cyber crime." (Shows recon pics)

"I know you're not a fan of computers sir, but this still seems disproportionate. Is he really such a threat?"

"Nicky, out of the three great mobs of this city. Tundratown, Sahara Square, nocturnal, the nocturnal rule the poorest and smallest of the districts. And yet they are large than their surface rivals combined. Their wider range of enterprise helps, but more importantly they control the underground tunnels beneath this city. Old mine works and service tunnels, expanding far beyond the inhabited areas. Their men can turn up anywhere, they can smuggle from one side of the city to the next..."

"They copied the Ho Chi Mink textbook word for word."

"Ho Chi Mink would be green with Envy. And in five, ten years of his strength growing... The two surface mobs could fall like Tigon. So, we strike now. Not to kill, the bats can just fly away, but to remove their seat of power. Their labs, their records, their new computers and stockpiles. We set them back years, while we work to map the tunnels and lock them down. And, if the mission fails, a non-made mammal doesn't provoke their wrath."

"I... It's a big offer. I mean, new life and all, nothing going for my old one. I..."

"You are hesitant Nicky. But I chose you, and only you for this, for the third reason. I wished to lend you Rodenberg to defend Skye, but could not."

"You were awaiting trial."

"And I needed him. Brought down a twelve year sentence to six months, half already served. But why was I facing it. Our informants say a bat eye witness from the nocturnal district ratted me out. A low level member of their mob... Snitching on me, the most grievous insult."

"And that led... which meant... Skye."

"So go. Bring them justice. Show them what it is like to see your dreams burn and smoulder into ash in front of your very eyes. Make them feel the pain you felt. She felt. You see, it isn't just my revenge, it isn't just that rat of a bat. I did some research into who burnt down Wild Times, and it seems Vladzotz knows them very well indeed." (throws down pictures showing the arson crew, some of them picture with vladzotz. Maybe it's Russ and Sprock)

Nick looks on, teeth gritting, growl forming. "For her."

"For her."

"When do we start."

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He claims that the intention isn't complete destruction and that the vampire bats could flee just fine. Nick got there but during reconnaissance saw what he realised were children inside, so in horror at himself he dumped the fuel (maybe even on himself, almost lighting it before coming to his senses) and backed out.

Mr Big berates him as a weak mammal, the reason Skye left him, and orders him to leave. Later, after spending a night drinking, Nick finds out that the castle was burnt down, taking Vladzotz's wife and children with it. Nick ticks over, finally giving up on life and hating Mr Big. So, when Mr Big asks for a wool rug, he brings a skunk butt one, knowing full well it would get him iced. Insulting Mr Big and suicide by mob boss, two birds one stone. Finnick was able to explain everything and convince Mr Big to let Nick go, but they stayed apart after that. Big warns though he'll regret what he did one day.

Back in the present, Judy asks if the Fangpyre's know. Nick clarifies, Fangpyre, and says no. The mob is still alive and well, if far weaker than before, and the news would spark off a gang war that could tear Zootopia apart. Hundreds could die, not least Fru Fru and little Judy. He refused to risk the lives of two innocent children, he isn't going to do the same now.

Judy says it wasn't fair and asks how Skye is. Nick doesn't know.

Getting off at the station, Judy begins looking her up, finding that she does odd jobs for hire but not much else… She's shaken out of this though when she finds her apartment (grand pangolin) closed down and condemned. Bucky and Pronk are decamping, angry. Little do they know, La Peigne set it up with his contacts, planning to swoop in and offer Judy his place. Before he can, though, none other than Craig Blackfoot tries to swipe a valuable from B&P's box. Judy gives chase, and gets hit by a bus.

She wakes up in hospital with Nick there, and he ends up offering his place for her to stay, where (influenced by their confessions the series before) they begin bonding, hard. Something that carries on throughout the series and beyond. Lots of fluff from GB, plus stuff we all expect (Nick looking hot (foxxer in his boxers), Judy in one of his shirts, etc.)

La Peigne is not happy.

Meanwhile, after picking up a travel case of cash at some public lockers, Conor settles down in his loft (The Company's Zootopia safe house). There's a meet up with his hacker confident, Guild, online, and Conor double checks his accounts on excel. Noting that with this repayment he's got rid of '75% of the bad benji's', he makes sure a drop off for 'a new client' is set up, portioning out some money (a chunk from the case he picked up in the first story) and (after readjusting his accounts) settles down to relax.

Although happy at first, talking to his small circle of friends and bantering (No Jason, my Celt subculture is a real thing… -I'm just an early adopter! I missed out on Barkcoin, I'm not missing out on this.), he's saddened as he remembers Danny and Keiran (maybe sees a clip-out newspaper he has showing them getting a 25-life sentence). As time goes on he sees himself getting drawn back to his experience at the Hopps place, and by chance bumps into Erin on discord (dischord). They get talking, she joking about having an annoying new 'admirer', Max March, who just won't get the message and keeps trying to woo him with his silverbun cousin (same sort of colour morph as Conor) as a wingmammal. She mentions that she really wants to visit the city, and he jumps at the chance of giving her a tour.

Back at work, the dynamic duo are called in to find Jack Savage arrested, caught with Nighthowler pellets. However, it's pretty clear it was a set-up, especially as someone wrote 'for chaos' on the bag. Reasoning that someone might have wanted to get at La Peigne (or even mistake Jack for La Peigne), they think it might be connected to Dawmaw, they follow Jack back to ZAPA, which is quietening down for the summer. The hare gives them an intro to the place (it being the old Dr G Lionheart's estate from 200 years ago, how his design for it was influenced by his albinism, things like the tunnels and connection to the old trolley network (which Nick used to explore along as a kit). They also rub the tail of the new statue of Dr Lionheart for good luck. (You could also have Nick and Judy spot a photograph of Conor playing at a performance, Jack noting that though he doesn't really know him (he really just sticks to his close group of friends) he's an excellent musician.)

Reaching his performance hall, where he's running a one night only production of one of his (dream) plays with a financier, they find he's struggling with the guy, an irritating micro-manager who's penny pinching his production. Not helping is the fact that the whole stage set is kaput. Seeing this, Judy has an idea, calling Skye in and seeing if she can repair it. Nick clocks on just who she called as she arrives, pointing out that she, a victim of a miscarriage of justice and his lying, really might not take him now being a cop well. There's a coolness between them, especially when she sees 'Jack Savage'. Thinking it's a prank and he's a bunny with fur dye, she tries to lick his stripes off… Only to be mortified when she learns it's the real deal.

Judy ends up consoling her, apologising and having a heart to heart, before Skye asks for one thing. Coming out together, Judy states that she's found a new and improved lover fox, before she and Skye kiss. Nick's jaw hits the floor, up until they say 'got you', Skye getting him for earlier. He's relieved, and explains to a very confused Jack that it means she's forgiven him, to which she replies that they can be friends, but not lovers again. Also, does he want to 'get' Judy for calling her out of the blue. Jack also wants to tag along too, Nick joking that his lips are right here.

Judy and Nick then discuss the case. Deciding that someone with ZAPA access must have got in, they decide to catch up with Conor, asking him if he's seen anything.

After dropping off the new money case in a locker, Conor goes to a live music open mic venue with some of his friends: Jason M'beke (painted dog) and his girlfriend Dana (Coyote), along with Mike (vietnemese black rat). All are very well received (much to Conor's joy), and he (after spotting them and getting really interested) gets a pat on the back by some watchers who are in his 'celtic' subculture (See Jason, I told you it's a thing), including skunks Jimmy and Johnny Carlisle. Looking on, Nick and Judy are impressed, and ask him about anything he saw. He simply states that he doesn't do anything with the theatre wing and even if he did he's no snitch, but in private his rat friend Mike catches up with them. He's very nervous, not a fan of cops, but he's here as he thinks someone is in serious trouble. A student was acting odd before leaving not long before Jack was framed and, giving her at times erratic behaviour (seems like she's bipolar, and being forced into it) he's worried for her. Giving the details, he remarks that she was trying to flog him 'merchandise' and there was a place he saw her going to.

Conor, taking a break, checks to see the money he'd dropped off gone (as planned). He rests behind the toilets and hears a girl singing and plays along… only for her (leader of a bunch of mean girls) to come over and accuse him of perving. Back playing, she gets one of her girls to start a music battle with her (mean girls) karaoke machine. Conor plays his response to tick her off (1952 Vincent Black lightning (makes sense in the context)), at which point she lashes back with a super offensive song (throw the fox down the well?) that's shut down by the organisers, confiscating the machine. The head mean girl tries to get on Conor's case and almost does, only for him not to rise. Instead she promises her highschool boyfriend, Craig, will get him. Conor says that then that's what will happen, and there are two rules. Don't mess with him, always remember rule one.

After she leaves, he's applauded by both his new friends and schoolmates. Dana realises that Craig was her old boyfriend, who dumped her for the much younger mean girl, ghosted her and has a bunch of pictures. The skunks meanwhile invite him to a weekend 'the parents are out' party at their place on Outback island and he, Jason and Dana agree to come.

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"G'day foxxy, good to see another Celt out here. And one who can really play."

"Ah, you know what they say. It's easy when it's for a good purpose."

"Ha. Nice definition of good purpose. Hey, listen, you're ZAPA, right?"

"Me and my pals, yeah."

"Brill. I play a mean bass. My brother and I both want to apply too, but our folks want us to do

"Ha, I follow what you're bringing out."

"Jimmy Carlisle by the way."

"Conor Lewis."

"Cool. Anyway, my parents are out of town for the weekend after next... So, mega Celt house party at our place? Outback Island. Literally all musicians invited."

"Y-Yeah! Though... What about... Nah."

"Oh?"

"Nothing."

"Come on."

"Well... I happen to know another bass player wanting to get into ZAPA. And it's always a bit rude to outshadow the host."

"Oh, now I definitely want that mammal here, so I can slap their bass."

"And there it is. The only joke bass players know."

"Quality over Quantity."

"You say that... and Outback Island? Well that explains the accent."

"Yeah, but we're celt through and through like you."

"Huh, so how did you end up on Outback Island?"

"Oh the usual way for a celt. Have some great great grandparents who were a bit... naughty."

"(chuckling). Ah, I follow what you're bringing out. Ticket one way to Bilby Bay?"

"Oh no. They served time in Van-Devil's Land."

"Ooooh, nasty."

"Yeah. Living in fear and under the constant eye of brutal screaming savage uncivilized monsters, always waiting for weakness before beating you to a pulp. The natives were pretty chill though."

(Conor chuckles)

"Ah, but things worked out pretty well for us."

"Yeah. Cool. Real cool."

"Say, wanna hang out here with the cool kids before hitting the pier and arcades?"

"You know, I was going to ask you the exact same thing."

"Put it there, fox?"

"My pleasure, skunk."

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Having been chatting to Erin who's been bugging about coming over to see the city, he mentions it (really eager) but she feels that she'd only be able to stay with Judy. She bugs her sister for a sleepover, Conor promising to meet her then.

Nick and Judy follow the lead back to a spare storage unit for lack of anything better, where they find that the merchandise is in fact bootleg 'celebrity cheese' (cheese supposedly from a celebrity. Something that's especially dubious given that, after a historic case where a group of fromagarist goats were kidnapped, all official milk donations have to be anonymous). The dubiousness is only increased with the discovery of 'Judy Hopps' Hoppin' cheddar'. They then find a link to a trendy restaurant in Little Rodentia. A witness also remarks on seeing a bat, a wolf, and the member of the missing students species at the place. Before they can react though, they hear news that the flower shop from the movie has been having their nighthowler bulbs swapped out for fakes. Investigating, they find a burrowed entrance and checking cameras outside, they realise a bat was smuggling them, and hypothesise about a connection between the two.

Meanwhile, Jack complains and has arguments with his manager over the budget and the changes being imposed on his production. Skye, overhearing it, is not happy at the meddler, and talks about ways of getting his own back/ creative freedom returned. One includes a hustle involving some antiques and/or paintings being auctioned off… Jack buys one low, someone claiming to be an expert then notes that it's worth a fortune, and Jack then offers to sell it back in return for what he wants. Skye laughs it off, but Jack does it with Gazelle, horrifying Skye when he returns (that's different to a 'getting'. My idea there was like those angry emails you write but never send!) Calming down on hearing that Gazelle did it, she begins to see the funny side, and the two begin chatting and joking, unintentionally talking themselves into a date.

With permission, Nick and Judy pull in a rat reporter they have a good rapport with from the previous season (could use Mike, but using a kid just feels…) and send her in undercover with an app operated wire, microphone, camera and tracker (in case someone tries to take her). They find some of the cheese being bet on in a poker game. The owner initially refuses to divulge where he got it from but, after seeing him cheating and some clever hustling they learn that the student, a bat, and a certain wolf (Cherry) were involved. Checking the stats, they realise the wolf has a list of mental issues, hasn't been checking in for a while, and is the listed girlfriend of the guy they arrested at the start of thanks for the fox… who has missed his last few probation meetings. They chose to check her place, in the nocturnal district, first.

Judy, on hearing Erin's request to come over, says it depends on the case, but she'd be open to it.

Jack takes Skye to a meetup of 'Outsiders With Outsiders', an Inter Support group that he's a patron of, for her first date. Skye initially doesn't like the idea, though she likes the fun and games and, on having a drawing taken with Jack on her lap, she realises that she adores cuddling and petting him (he jokes he's her emotional support bunny). However she gets very bored / tired (she's very introverted) when Jack meets up with his friends and does some networking, wandering off. Jack finds her, asking what's wrong, and she raises her issues. At first Jack can't understand, given that these are interesting mammals and they're helping inters like themselves. Skye says that she doesn't see herself as an inter. She's her. And her whole life mammals have tried to tell her that she's one thing and has to act that way, and she has to be part of a group, or 'be normal' and they say she has to be more 'normal' and don't leave her alone when she wants to be alone…

Jack asks her if she wants to be, and she says she's fine. He apologises for not considering that it was their date, and getting sidetracked with his good work too. Skye though questions if it's good… She has nothing against it (and admits that things like the adoption, surrogacy and general relationship advice can be useful), she just feels it's very self congratulatory and asks about what their plans are for helping certain areas, going into quite mechanical detail. Jack isn't really able to answer, and says that he's still doing good stuff and it's about sending a message. She thinks it's just a bit circle jerky, and it's not like he's making major sacrifices for the change. Jack questions if you need to make major sacrifices, Skye saying that you don't, but she feels that that's when you can pat yourself on the back like that…

Regardless of their disagreements, they have a good time with the games and food, Skye mellowing on seeing a clossetted mammal really benefit from it (even if she herself doesn't get it). Jack also realises there's something perfect for Skye, and takes her to a talk from the Honeywell Genetic counselling centre (from the fic lost causes and broken dreams), which OWO supports, laying down the harsh realistic truth of hybrids and the progress they've made in certain areas (e.g. ivf solutions to let sterile hybrids have children). Eventually they go to a 'Thinkers about Inters' thing, sort of reciting facts about inter relationships while also having different couples (e.g. the Fanghanels) give funny 'inter errors' to break the ice. However, during this, it moves onto a bit about the most controversial set of relationships, pred/prey (OWO is firmly pro). It's mentioned that lots of preds adore their traditional prey as the whole hunting circuit of their brain (already close to the cute circuit, hence why people say they can just eat up babies) has become so close to the cute circuit after evolution that they're almost one and the same. Jack thinks the fact funny, but Skye backs off, apologising to Jack and ending their relationship.

Going to the nocturnal district house in question, Nick and Judy find it torn and broken, the wolf inside watching repeat after repeat of the deer Darmaw, his sermons and Disney like villain song playing out (And I mean you could do full on Disney style villain song and performance in universe). The wolf begins talking about how Darmaw freed her from the pills and opened her eyes to the future… the great stompening, where chaos shall destroy the evil order. She says the pills masked how her boyfriend starved her pups, and for her work Darmaw gave her new medicines. When Judy asks about her pups being starved, the wolf reveals her two wolf plushies, before saying that Darmaw sent him to the Belfry for his crimes. She puts in another recording, showing a dark net tv channel hosted by the bat, the wolf cooking and gorging on food while her boyfriend, tied up, is starved next to her. Playing one of Darmaws sermons once again, Nick and Judy go in to arrest her, only to find all their stuff gone.

Shocked, they find it's been pickpocketed/stolen throughout by the (vampire) bat, Lucy Sang, who laughs at them. On asked if she's in with Darmaw too, she explains she's a freelancer for hire, and Darmaw pays nice, and gives mammals for the Belfry (her little hobby). Judy demands to know where it is, Lucy says the pair should be aware where they are, the group surrounded by a bunch of mammals led by Russ and Sprock (a badger and raccoon). Lucy reveals they're not part of Darmaws gang, they're Fangpyre's, and hearing that a Nick and Judy would be on their case, she knew someone who was very interested in them and pays even better. Nick, playing it down, says they'll come, but tries to beg the she-wolf to forgive her boyfriend and let him go. She just says she's going back there to punish him some more, Nick and Judy led out.

The next day, things are quiet at work between Skye and Jack. Jack is broken off by La Peigne arriving, here to check on his brother. They bond and have a great time, but La Peigne also brought Sarah, who sniffs something. She finds Skye, and pins her to the wall, the fox terrified (maybe even wetting herself). Sarah angrily shouts at her, saying that one of them still had a debt they needed to pay and deserved to be behind bars. Amongst the slurring, Jack hears in, and imitates his brother, making her let go. He leads Skye out, finding a safe place and letting her cry into him.

Nick begins to worry as they're taken to the half-burnt castle Fangpyre, meeting Vladzotz, who begins telling how the vampire bats were offered sanctuary here, only for a new 'puritan' government to ban blood… starving most of them before the rules were reversed. Castle Fangpyre survived through all of this, but was almost burnt to the ground a number of years ago, taking his wife and pups with it. Fangpyre gets aggressive, and begins talking about a certain fox, pictured there on the night. Nick's eyes widen… He stays quiet, before grabbing Judy and leaping out to escape. They get out, Judy asking why he didn't tell him the truth, he thinks he killed his family, he's in serious danger. Nick says he'll not risk a mob war. She says his life isn't worthless. He says she'd do the same thing. She says they'll have to do something about the imprisoned wolf, he agrees. She plans to go up to the surface, but he says they need to get to the nocturnal precinct for backup and then straight to the Belfry. Judy says they have no clue where that is, only for him to bring out his phone, pinging the exact location.

During his begging, he slipped the microphone and tracker from the undercover mission earlier into one of the wolf plushies. They listen on though as the pair get there, Sang saying she's gonna get ready to stream.

Skye reveals her past to Jack and how, when sent to prison, she struggled hard. She recounts about being bussed to jail with a tearful vampire bat, Lucy Sang, caged next to her on the bus. The bat claimed she was framed by a friend for murdering her brother, all for a scholarship, before they're sent to separate blocks. The place was old, decrepit, dirty and badly run, to the point that prisoners needs weren't met (e.g. heat-away/ the chill pill not being supplied, something most girls could endure (like you do a cold) but something that brutally affected a ferret). While it would be hard on anyone (the unfairness, bullying, awful food and maybe even having a kitmas behind bars), not being neurotypical, she especially struggles with the noise and the various unwritten rules, trying to manage and exhausting herself mentally as a result. However, she struggles and tries to push through, for instance using her skills to make ear muffs and so forth.

With a number of guards keeping an eye on her, and many fellow inmates wanting her to use her 'sneakiness' to help them along, her resolve to stay honest and not resort to the stereotypes and give them a win is tested hard, though she manages to keep her head above the water… at the start.

Her cell block was ruled by two mammals, Danielle and Sarah (at that time with no white paw). Both were ex military and Sarah despised Danielle and did everything she could to hurt her, while Danielle was the only one who could hold her own against her. Skye tried to keep out of it while trying and struggling to keep her integrity, Danielle feeling sympathy and secretly trying to guide her along and help her, only for it to backfire. Sarah found out, and in no uncertain terms said that she was going to make Skye's life hell, and Skye would be her slave unless she wanted things to get worse, not due to any hatred of her, but simply as a means of hurting Danielle. While she implied (as much as you can) sexual abuse for Skye if she didn't comply (e.g. grabbing her by her scruff, pulling her tail, and telling her how much worse she was going to do as a bar of soap falls), if she or Danielle tried to tell the guards, Skye would be mutilated/ ripped apart limb by limb.

Skye at first tried to stand up straight, only to be quickly and brutally broken down.

Skye's life became true hell, the vixen breaking down more and more, the help by Danielle and one of the guards who took pity on her and treated her with kindness (Swinton) not helping enough.

Maybe, during this, Skye breaks so much she ends up trying (and succeeding) in sleeping with Danny, desperate for something just to hold onto. It's only a one time thing (Danny herself not really swinging that way, so not caring that much), Skye quickly regretting her betrayal of Nick and despising herself for it (she quickly confessed to him on getting out, and he forgave her, though has a lot of animosity towards Danielle as a result, that carries on into later seasons).

Things get really bad when Danielle got a chance to get out (her guilt was debatable, and a mafia from far away was offering to fund an expert legal challenge, the deal with the devil being that she'd now work for them). Furious, Sarah ramped up Skye's abuse more and more, telling Danielle that if she left, it would only get worse.

Skye, working at the loading docks, occasionally dealt with cryogenic canisters for drug tests (mainly rodent prisoners, though all could volunteer to get a reduced sentence, despite Danielle's warnings Skye planned to, given that hurting them was a major taboo). With Danielle considering turning her deal down, Skye out of desperation gives in and decides to 'become just another sneaky dishonest fox that belongs here' and tricks Sarah into dunking her paw into the cryogenic liquid, where it stuck. The commotion attracted a bunch of guards, who witnessed Sarah promising to mutilate Skye for this. Breaking loose, several guards were chucked at her, and she barely escaped being caught by the mad wolverine, Swinton jumping in to save her. Sarah was eventually subdued by the guards and, after a talk with the warden, transferred to higher security. The fur on her paw eventually grew back white, earning her the new name, Whitepaugh. Skye was safe, but shaken, never wanting to be a sneaky fox again and fearing the things said and felt in that last moment. After she was given the news of her conviction being overturned and on being released she promised herself that she'd stay honest again and never rock the boat again, and live a simple safe life, never taking the precious basics for granted…

In the present, Jack realised that that was why she backed out of the relationship, she felt the pred-instinct thing was 'rocking the boat'. He consoles her, calms her down, and lets her pet him. She reveals she likes this, but is scared, and he promises to protect her, dealing with Sarah for a start. He asks if she's still okay for the planned thing, and she thinks so. They begin to bond again, Skye showing Jack the muscle car she purchased and restored after her release and taking him for a ride.

After meeting with the hippo chief of the nocturnal district, who quickly starts organising a SWAT team, Nick and Judy update Bogo, who introduces them to Chief of Cybercrimes, Albert Tufts, who's long been trying to get a fix on the place for ages. The Kaibab squirrel (as Judy correctly predicted) is quick to remind them it was pure dumb luck that let them find it. He explains though that it's a forced escape room that kitnapped mammals are put through, for the benefit of dark net streamers. They generally take in thugs and low level scum, putting them through humiliating games before finally darting them and dumping them somewhere. Sometimes far worser mammals are brought in and given much more dangerous games. Those who survive get released in the same way, those who don't survive… don't survive.

Regardless, with backup (the hippo chief at least, though if Bogo joined in, not wanting to miss the chance to take the place down, that would be great), the pair arrive at the belfry. The boyfriend is in another japanese gameshow style game (e.g. currently swaddled, forced to hop on his toes to try and eat hanging food and avoid obstacles being controlled by streamers twitch plays pokemon style.) Lucy is there with her 'best friend' Martina, a mouse who almost appears lobotomized (reportedly actually hypnotised in the fic she came from… Not sure if hypnosis could be worked in here, but maybe Lucy once (as shown in S3) snuck into LP's company and saw Morningmew being developed, snagging a big dose for eventual use on the one who killed her brother and framed her). Regardless, Lucy, Martina and the wolf are muzzletiming Darmaw, who is angry at the heat he's under. He blames Lucy for not framing Jack herself and forcing them to recruit the student.

Lucy angrily retorts that she's been framed before, it's one thing she won't do. Darmaw asks if he'll take the girl he used instead for her games, she's faltering away from 'the truth' and if she fails her last task, she is useless to him. Lucy, losing her patience, also says no, saying that though evil she has standards. The Belfry, her hobby, only takes 'uber jerks, mega snitches and those who deserve it'. Darmaw gets cross but Lucy says she's a free mammal, she does what she wants, and he should remember that she brought down the best thief guild in the city from the inside when she learnt how they crossed her. She didn't backstab first, but she learnt that she'd always be the one who did it last.

The deer, angry, says that their funds are strong and it's almost time for the stompening to begin, for chaos to reign. Doug isn't needed anymore, does she want him? Lucy is shocked (Wait, the Doug? You'd waste that genius here…? I mean, I'm cool with that, he's mega evil so he can get the deadly stuff. I can't imagine how high the stream would be with angry preds watching.) Darmaw signs off, the police coming in to take them into custody.

A fight ensues, not helped when they seem completely immune to tranquilisers and Lucy brings out Grunt, her gasmasked elephant muscle… Things quickly split up, the hippo chief (and Bogo) trying to deal with Grunt, Nick trying to free the wolf and deal with the mad girlfriend, and Judy chasing Lucy. While there's a lot of crossover (e.g. Grunt smashing through a wall and racing through the room where Nick is trying to save the boyfriend), Judy vs Lucy especially tours through a bunch of her game rooms, ending in a showdown in a mirror maze. While Judy is confused and lost, attacks seeming to come from every direction, the vampire bat uses her echolocation to easily navigate and ambush Judy, whittling down her strength bit by bit (until Judy works out how to fight back). Through all this, Lucy (not really caring) defends herself from the bunnies accusations, even justifying what she's doing to the wolf.

.

Judy, leaping out of a pool of water right as a robot sharp snaps at where she was, looks up glaring.

Lucy: "Whooops, looks like you just met Dave the robo shark. Careful, he has a taste for blood, just like me."

"How many mammals, Sang!?"

"Oh him? Just the one, but trust me, he deserved it."

"Like that Wolf!?"

Shrugs. "I'm doing him a favour."

Judy angrily screams and jumps after her, the argument carrying on as the chase through a variety of games rooms.

"No seriously. Try thinking about it, dumb bunny. Cherry's so off her top, she'd make she he pays for starving Fluffy and Stuffy, and would easily do it all by herself. Meanwhile, after indulging her a bit, I get to fake his death and sneak him out."

"Oh really? Somehow I don't believe that."

"Fine, suit yourself."

"And even if you didn't kill your brother, what you did here is far worse!"

"You really think I care?"

"You are going back to jail and never getting out."

"Sorry Bun, I don't think so!"

"Well I don't know when to quit. I've taken the Belfry down, now it's your turn."

"Eh-Ehhhh... I think you'll find it's your turn Hopps. I put a lot of effort into this place, and you shutting it down has officially put you on my guano list. Let's see how you deal with hardcore mode."

Pushing a switch, Judy suddenly finds herself on a conveyor of death, running for her life.

"Smile for the camera!"

.

Regardless, she and the elephant retreat, bringing down the tunnel behind them as Nick and Judy struggle with the wolf, who seems immune to the tranqs, heavily overdosing her to get her down. They bring her back to the underground precinct, the medic horrified at the amount put in and forcing the antidote to be administered, resulting in round two. Nick and Judy finally getting back up to the surface. They realise that Darmaw has Doug, Bellwether's fugitive chemist, and that it's crucial to capture him. Bogo, debriefing them, tells them to take some time off, Judy relaxing and feeling confident enough to give to go-ahead for Erin to stay over.

She tells Conor, who's excited.

Back at Nick's place, Judy is confused to see Finnick there acting like a baby (done up with brown and red fur dye). Jack and Skye then arrive, asking if he's their son and why they never told them. Judy is mortified, trying to explain it, not helped by Finnick calling her mama… She eventually clocks it as their revenge getting and a laugh is had but, before they can act, the door is barged in. The missing student is there, others behind her. She's scared, and the mammals try and force her to kill everyone there. She doesn't want to though, and the gang are able to talk her out of it. The two others though plan to kill them all, but are cut off when Finnick ambushes them. A brawl begins and ends, the bad guys defeated.

The wolf, now back on her meds in mental hospital, remembers nothing (though a tumour causing her behaviour is found and removed, both curing her and destroying any case against her due to legit insanity). The student was always at paws length away from anything, just in the lower levels (probably groomed as access to Jack). The other two refuse to speak. There are seemingly no leads, except for the fact that, on being bumped into one, Skye remembered a scent from somewhere. From somewhere in the nocturnal district. She once did rallies across the districts, including the many uninhabited parts. She's nervous about going so far away and into danger, but Jack promises to support her.

Judy meanwhile says she'll have to cancel Erin's sleepover. Erin tells Conor, who suggests she use it to get her to stay with them, the pair together going to the party. A bit of back and forth and they agree.

Meanwhile, Jack tries to talk about Sarah to La Peigne, but he refuses to listen, eventually becoming aggressive and accusing Jack of betrayal. He's shaken that his brother could say that.

At the ZPD lab, they're also worried. They feel the anti-tranq stuff is the work of Doug, though note that it seems to have lost its potency, no longer granting any affect. La Peigne also works this out, and orders Sarah to go in and retrieve him, getting revenge against Darmaw as a bonus. He also has a word with her. They've both let their emotions get the better of them in the past, they've both done stupid and reckless things because of it. They need each other to keep themselves in check, but on this mission he has to trust her. He wants revenge, but he's happy to let Darmaw go if it means getting Doug.

In the same vein of revenge though, he orders his contacts in the legal system to make sure that the student didn't get off like Travis did. The contact is revealed to be a judge: the same woodchuck that muzzled Nick and moved away from Conor on the plane. He asks what's in it, the going rate?

Meanwhile, Conor is unsure about a student campaign to fund the students legal defence, given his experience with psycho's in the past. Still, it's time for the party and he picks up Erin (who had to deal with an attempt by Max march to hit on her at the station, with help from his silverbun cousin and wingmammal Zack) before heading off with his friends to Outback Island. After a little encounter with the acrimonious local branch at the ZPD (commonly labelled with the reputation of jerks). The party turns out to be at a mansion (say that the brothers' father is the skunk in skunkworks aviation, but he wants his kits to have a firm experience in the public system, transferring them over to ZAPA for their final years) is a blast, and Conor (in between playing a bunch of sets) meets a bunch of friends (including Billy Mackenna, a thylacine who quickly gains an older brother (brother Taz) like relationship with Conor (Brother fox)), and a Tasmanian devil gal who flirts with a younger (by a fair bit) Conor, much to Erin's chagrin).

.

"Ya, Pulingina Handsome,"

Conor, looking up, sees a Tasmanian devil walk up to him smiling, in just swimming bottom or with a mostly unbuttoned top, an ice cream in paw. Erin also sees her, bunny nose twitching.

"Hey there, you with Billy, or..."

"Oh, I'm a free spirit. Carrie," she introduces, paw slipping down to her bellybutton like pouch.

"Conor," His eyes trailing down as her paw makes its way into her pouch and begins circling/ playing around, stretching it a bit.

"Now there's a sweet name for a fox like you," she said, pouch play increasing, his head beginning to tilt in confusion, even as his tail starts wagging. Erin, foot drumming, angrily begins to make her way over. Only to be cut off as Carrie, leaning in, gets a bunch of icecream on a now very confused Conor's nose. "Ooops, lemme fix that for you." Erin's mouth hits the floor as she licks it off, Conor left speechless. She pauses for a second or two, before winking. "See you around, if you like."

Conor is left visibly confused as Erin marches up next to him, stomping her feet and throwing her paws out at the devil, finally bringing Conor out of his stupor.

"You have it too?"

"Huh?"

"This strange feeling I had when she was next to me... What she was doing was really weird, but it sort of feels like I really wanted her to keep on doing it, and I don't know why?"

"... YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING, RIGHT!?"

"N-No... And now I keep thinking of her paw in her pouch, even though I don't want to. It's almost like my mind does for some reason."

"Conor this isn't funny..."

"I know it's not. I mean... woah..."

"What?"

"Nothing..."

"What did your mind think of this time."

"You doing the icecream thing." Her eyes widen in shock. "I know too," he shrugs. "I just don't know where it's coming from. I never had this before..."

Erin face and ear paws. "Oh god, you're really that clueless."

"Yeah! That's what I've been trying to tell you. If you know what this is..."

"You're 14! Work it out."

"Will you help if I tell you that you doing the icecream is it up to 11!"

"ARGHH!"

.

(Sidenote: it wasn't in the original stories, but I wanna see them all play 'You don't have to be in the army to fight in the war' by Mungo Jerry as a big ending set piece, maybe for the final set, just like demons in their dancing shoes is for the first… Plz))

Things are suddenly interrupted by mean girl and her boyfriend, the latter trying to smash Conor's guitar, the former being exposed but claiming it wasn't her idea. Both Dana and Conor lay it into them, the latter at first wanting to get the inevitable fight over and done with (while its on his home turf, the boyfriend can't bring in goons, and Conor has the element of surprise, as he explains to Erin later). In the end though, he manipulates it so it seems that mean girl did set her bf to do it, so she knows what it's like after manipulating others into doing her dirty work before. They are forced out (swearing revenge), but not before Conor is able to have a quick look at her phone, noting an internet link to her desktop. He holds back with it a bit, but when in the car and they're demanding it he hands it back.

The party settles down, most kids (including Dana and Jason) leave but some remain for a sleepover, including Conor and Erin.

Nick, Judy, Jack and Skye go back down into the nocturnal district with backup, Nick reassuring Judy he's sent the message and proof of his innocence to Fangpyre through the channels/ Mr Big, the bat even sending back an 'I believe you'.. On their way, Judy mentions Lucy, remarking she's listed as escaping prison in a mass breakout. Skye recognises the name, but says it's nothing like the bat she briefly met… she must have been lying, really was a murderer. Judy recounts how she claimed she was framed to Darmaw. Behind, Whitepaw is tracking them.

The gang of four get kidnapped in through a secret tunnel, seeing the bad guys preparing to move out. Darmaw confronts them, showing himself as quite mad, explaining that 'the stompening' is the judgement on mammal kind. To make them confront the reality of having to take lives to save them. They're put in a cell with Doug, who warns Darmaw that a dangerous mammal (whitepaugh) is coming.

The deer ignores this, tries to call Lucy (who says she's busy right now) and then runs a rally to his followers. He sings his disney villain song again, but all the 'behind the curtain' stuff is seen, shown to be the charade it is all while Whitepaugh comes in and defeats his troops Judge Dredd/John Wick style. The deer is almost caught, the wolverine saying that she's not showing mercy by not killing him, rather the nameless mooks she killed were shown a mercy he will beg for.

.

"Nice to meet you, Darmaw."

Grunting, gun in mouth or paw around neck, he tries to get out 'Mercy'.

"Mercy?" she asked. "Have you ever been frustrated by that trope in movies and video games, where the hero ends up showing the ultimate bad guy mercy... Learning that killing isn't the answer. Never minding the hundreds of nameless mooks they slaughtered to get here? Darmaw, I've just killed a lot of nameless mooks. But, I think I'm going to spare you."

"Oh thank y..." he begins, only for her grip to tightened.

"Don't mistake this for me learning the importance of mercy, oh no. I've already shown mercy, to all those dead mammals back there. They were the ones to feel my mercy, not you, you're getting none of that. And believe me, it was a mercy, one that you will soon be begging for."

.

He's only saved when Lucy dives in and distracts the wolverine for long enough for Darmaw to escape.

At the party a bunch of the subculture kids take Conor in to join their 'sworn brotherhood'. They also meet a starving artist deer kid here, raising money for his friend, the student from the cult. Conor at first unsure of helping, reflecting on his sympathy, but also her being a crazy. The tarrot card scene could be included and extended, with Erin getting her own reading, including some Zootopia specific cards (e.g. the Lure: A vixen, at first seen as a temptress, seducing mammals to those outside their own species. Nowadays though many regard her as a symbol of interspecies love, and a guide to help mammals embrace their true selves, despite their fears. Good or bad, she's about taking a leap to embrace something about yourself you'd rather deny. Naturally, Erin denies having anything with Conor.) Regardless, all things are great, until he and a bunch of others, suddenly panicking, look outside.

As the rest of the force raid the place, Darmaw forces his five captives on (Grunt smashing the tunnel behind them), Lucy saying she knows a safe way to the surface through these tunnels, after all, they once belonged to the Felidae Infernum. Skye recognises Lucy, and after a second Lucy does too, asking if the fox is on a 'help the cops, get out' deal. She says that no, they found who did it, she was out after just a few months, she's now here helping to track down the evil deer. Lucy, taken aback, remarks that 'oh well, that's cool! As you can see, I didn't get that luck, so instead I busted out myself and embraced the dark side, it's super fun, thank you cops here. She doesn't need her innocence to be proven, etc... Skye, seeing through her, says she's sorry… sorry that the hurt innocent bat from long ago didn't get that chance, and instead became what she is today. She hopes she gets the chance to come back down again in the future. Lucy seems slightly shaken by this, so projects out, saying that she's strong now, and not weak like Skye is, having to rely on others to prop her up. Lucy says that when her life is in risk, when mammals come after her, she can stand up and stare them in the face, laughing. Skye should do that too, standing up against the fear and fighting, from now until the end.

On they go, only for the six of them to be surrounded by Russ, Sprock and their gang again.

The party meanwhile is revealed to be staked out by the local branch of the ZPD. Figuring out that mean girl called on the party, the older skunk brother tries to take charge. Taking advice from Conor, he refuses to give the cops access and stands up for their rights. It's also reported that the outback force have a real bad rep, including reports of planting evidence (a piano used at the concert was 'borrowed' from the school system, causing a lot of concern). A bunch of kids want to leave (including Erin to begin with, but C convinces her to stay), Conor and the owner making sure their car and them is filmed being turned over before, and cameras inside are on and streaming. As soon as they are out, the force halts them and 'discovers' narcotics and a firearm, hauling them off and saying their warrant is as good as given in the morning.

Lucy just smiles at the captured mammals: 'works every time' she says, grabbing her payment from Russ. The four mammals plus Darmaw and Doug are to be taken to castle Fangpyre, Lucy flying off while Grunt will pop by 'for that thing for the belfry 2-point-0.' Whitepaw, recognising the bat and mobsters from his files, updates La Peigne. The mission changes, protect Jack, even if it means destroying the Fangpyres and losing Doug. 'The Fire Triangle can be altered. We use the red pig, or if that doesn't work move to a new city. I can't alter a dead brother'.

Erin is terrified, her parents will kill her if she's arrested here. Conor notes it won't be his parents… He then forwards the evidence to Vern Rodenburg, as the older skunk brother choses to call his parents and take the heat. His younger brother, supposedly over at a friends, choses to take the heat with him. Billy begins planning an escape convoy along the beach when the tide is out.

At castle Fangpyre, Vlad holds them again, Nick offering his phone but the bat interrupting. Says he knows, he accepts, but he suspects Nick does know who. He thinks Nick was ordered to do it but had a spark of conscious to stop. He offers him a bargain. If he says who gave the order, he's released with his friends plus Darmaw and Doug. If not, the two go free, they don't. Nick questions how he'll know Vlad is being honest… He can do whatever he wants after Nick tells him, and surely any mob would love to have Doug Ramses on their team. Vlad agrees… But says Nick has no choice. He also states that he's heard of a fellow vampire bat who his subordinates have had good business with, who could have a lot of fun with the both of them.

Nick ends up saying that it was Jim McCrodon who did it. He wanted in on the arms and drugs trade in the city, planned to cut the head off of the Fangpyre's and move in. The bat nods, remarking that sounded about right for the mammal… It all made sense. Except, why was Nick so scared about revealing it to be a long dead mobster. Vlad warns Nick not to play him for a fool, he believes that as much as he'd believe it if Nick said his good and honourable friend Mr Big was behind it. Skye butts in, saying that she owed her life to Danny (if doing the brief relationship, she loved her), Nick was scared of a revenge attack against her in (or when she got out) of prison. Vlad still says this is false.

Fangpyre decides that he needs less carrot, more stick, and seeing as the fox was willing to risk his own life for others, he'd have to try something different. He hauls Jack, Judy and Skye off to be burnt at the stake, two girls and a boy burning like his old family, giving Nick one last chance. Skye at first is terrified, asking for Jack to hold her paw. Split from him, she swallows down her fear, stands up, and looks at Vlad, demanding he look at her, even while she's burning. Look into her eyes and she looks into his.

It causes Vlad to pause, stating that he admires her for her bravery, but her life is in Nick's paws (the red fox trying to work out how to convince him that it was Mr Big).

He's cut off though by an explosion and fire in the kitchen, followed by more. It's the (masked) wolverine, smashing through Vlad's goons and finishing the destruction of the castle. The three free themselves, Nick and Skye working together, the latter pushing through some fire to save Jack or Judy, before they try to escape the growing inferno (Vlad seemingly not as lucky, presumably killed). Sarah manages to grab Doug, while the others race out, the rest of the mob pursuing them. Nick's old escape route cut off, Skye sees Grunt's vehicle, key in ignition, and they jump into the elephant sized truck, having to work with each other to drive it.

Meanwhile at the party, the younger kids are piled into offroader cars to get them out when the tide is out, the older skunk tricking the younger one into one so he doesn't get into trouble, kitlocking him in. The instruments go in a van with the hot piano, that most mammals are worried about, Billy getting Conor (for his night vision) and Erin, (at first sure it can't work, and giving a list of techniques from the farm they're not doing, that are then incorporated) in with him, everyone making a tense midnight escape… Shown from the perspective of nightvisionless Erin, it's a scary, confusing trip through the dark.

All while the car escape from the nocturnal mob is going on, mad max style through the back tunnels, Skye in charge given her rallying experience (eventually finding an old rally track she knows well). Complete with boarding parties, vehicles smashing and getting crushed, intermingling with Whitepaw as she evacs out Doug on a motorbike (the wolverine having a risky chance to kill Skye, but letting it go), and ending in a roadwarrior style final crash.

Darmaw, emerging from the rubble of castle Fangpyre, asks a lonely Grunt for a lift, buying him off with an offer of peanuts.

The morning after, Conor and Erin wake up at a house and are checking things over as those arrested come back… With Vern on their tail, the cops let them go. Hearing about this, and seeing the cult on tv, the deer kid talks about how his (effective) sister must feel… This is what makes Conor choose to bring Vern for her case. They return back, Erin picked up by Nick and Judy after their debriefing. At the students arraignment, Vern meets the young deer and Conor, who explains that he'd asked his number from those he got out of the juvie. The rat warns that while Rodenberg Law does lots of pro-bono, he doesn't. Someone has to earn the rent to fund that. Still, he's taking this on and Conor, giving the deer kid the honor, lets him walk into court, the rat in his antlers, staring down the judge. The student is ruled as not fit to stand trial, infuriating the judge and La Peigne by proxy. Believing the deer to be behind it, a request is given to do it to him, revenge in proxy.

Skye ends up invited to Jack's place and dozes off on a spare bed, but is racked by nightmares, tearfully saying that she wanted it to be over after today. She thought she'd conquered it, but it came back. Jack's there for her, assuring her that she did good. One day she shall, and she's made a lot of big steps to that.

The ZPD work out that the anti-tranq stuff the wolf took and Darmaw was making decays in warmth, and needs to be delivered cold. They then realise that he plans to hit the elephant pride parade (set up throughout the season), and work out it's via tainted icecream. They manage to stop this, Skye ploughing her beloved car into the stand from which Darmaw planned to fire his night howlers. Nick and Judy chase him down into the city drainage systems (in what I think could be built out into a whole third man homaging sewer chase) to a gantry over a meltwater river, at which point he holds a wolf pup hostage. Nick manages to save her but falls in with him. Dawmaw is soon found dead, but Nick is missing for days, ruled as dead.

La Peigne and Sarah (the bunny reassuring her that he is not mad, the outcome though grim for his long term plans turned out far more successful than he hoped, him resigning himself to just Jack being saved) talk with a captive Doug, asking him to work for him and explaining that he has no real option. In return he gets a luxurious prison, all the ewes he wants, and he offers something else. At least, in part, revenge.

Judy is distraught, but given hope that she can at least recover his body from a chance meeting with Duke, who explains that there's a deep sealed boiler room far below the city. Known as 'Hell on earth.' La Peigne's company runs the security and maintenance, and Jack goes to ask. La Peigne continually tries to explain that there's no point, Jack at least asking him to give her a chance. They end angrily (really not helped by La Peigne sacrificing his long arranged plans for Jack), Jack pausing, taking a breath in and out, steals some info from him.

Jack, and a fearful Skye, help Judy trespass and break into the system using it. She finds the place, and is overjoyed to find Nick weak but alive, but injures herself as she starts to drag him out.

Back in the rubble of castle fangpyre, scavengers are looting the remains. Lucy is scavenging on them, for blood, happily telling herself that it's great to be bad, that vixen can go have her boring goody two-shoes life, she can live hers. As she does so she hears something, and tracking the noise she finds Vladzotz Fangpyre, badly injured and very weak but alive. Initially going to leave him, looking at his locket, she sees a picture of his old family and, stood over him, she gets a flashback to her brother dying in her wings, his last words being Martina did it, and Lucy… Cutting back as the sound of doors being kicked in and shouts of get down flash back, she grabs Vlad and flies off, promising to keep him safe.

Meanwhile, Nick's funeral is going on. Skye is attending, Jack couldn't make it, Conor and his band mates are playing a tribute elsewhere (spirit in the sky?) (Erin joining in online) while the deer friend paints a mural 'The Guardian Blue' on the end of Conor's guitar shop (where he's an apprentice). All is interrupted as Judy breaks through a road, carrying Nick out… Though there's some trouble at the hospital (they put on a medical muzzle without realising his issues) he's okay (though he doesn't want Judy to leave him, 'it was lonely in hell'), he just needs a day of no speaking to rest his voice. Jack and Skye meanwhile are celebrating, and end up sleeping together, confessing their love. At the precinct, Bogo shows Judy the memorial wall, talking about his regret over the mammals whose names he had to put there. But, thanks to her, he gets to take one off. He removes Nick's nametag and hands it to Judy, who wears it as a necklace. Watching the news Doug confronts La Peigne, and it's revealed that he knew Nick was alive down there but covered it up, planning to let him die and take Judy for his own. However, he still says his other points still stand, and Doug is in.

It's revealed that La Peigne had been working on a super serum derived from the Nighthowlers. Doug scoffs at the idea, he looked at it. You'd need to experiment on a mammal and get it going before working out how to temper the loss of brain control. Then work out how to generalise it for all mammals.

La Peigne explains that they did the first two of those. His company runs prisons across the world, and in one he found a particularly worthless urchin of a pelt to work with. It was all going so well, but he made one terrible flaw. He also tested it on his friend, a member of the family behind 'The Company', Fenholt's largest mob. Their hackers tried to bust them out. They didn't get the one they wanted, but they got the one he needed, a worthless pelt called Dylan Yates. It's taken years to do what should have taken months but, with Doug's expertise, he can finish this. After all, with the hit the nocturnal mob took, it might be some time, if never, that he can use it for his long intended plan. He needs two strong mafias, after all. He's curious about who will lead the nocturnal districts crime scene, if anyone, now that the last Fangpyre is dead.

Vlad is shown being nursed back to health by Lucy. Russ and Sprock given temporary command, they note that while their headquarters is no more, their distributed resources held up well. The mob is still strong, and will wait for its leader to return. Vlad nods, all while having the first feelings for Lucy.

The sheep agrees to La Peigne's plan, the bunny calling the rise of a new nocturnal mob boss inevitable just like Nick and Judy splitting apart. It's wrong that one of such a bad species could dare try and take an exemplar of his own. One he wanted for himself… Their partnership would break, sooner or later. You can't trust him to keep his promises.

Finally, Nick's enforced silence is ended and, in front of a shocked Judy and her oblivious parents, he speaks his half of the fox marriage vows, binding his soul to hers and hers only for the rest of his life, and the one beyond.

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Note:

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Takes Nick's backstory from FT, adjusts it, adds in a bit of WIF and then leads in.

Originally backstory involved Nick with an OC vixen, and he was the one arrested, which felt a bit too out there (to the point in FT itself Judy had to call it out). Adjusted to give Skye a deep backstory (originally in GB she was just the handymammal in Nick's building, she really didn't like him) and a complex relationship with Nick. By linking the burning down of Wilde Times to the nocturnal mob from WIF gives Nick a powerful, almost poetic reason, to agree to the arson job. However, I always felt like it was too far for Nick to actually go through. Even if in his character, it still pulls him over a point of no return. Him pulling back at the last moment keeps him intact, gives him a powerful thing to say at the end of series 1 to convince Travis and Amanda to abandon their plan, and allows Vlad more dramatic range and leverage in trying to extort the truth behind the successful attack.

Nick's honest skunk butt mistake in FT is replaced with his attempted suicide by mob boss from GB. The cause feels more realistic for Nick to do such a thing, especially with his bad mental state and being ticked over the edge due to the death of the Fangpyres. It all also makes Big's reaction make more sense than in FT.

La Peigne being responsible for the evictions from GB improve his villain cred, while Judy ending up at Nick's place is satisfying karmic payback. He's then shown caring for his brother, wanting revenge for him, and then working out that Doug Ramses is out there, sending Sarah out to retrieve him.

Jack gives an early tour of ZAPA, helping to set it up for Conor's much later midnight scouting mission while on the lamb.

Skye licking Jack comes from GB, the SkyeHopps (and WildeSavage) kissing is added simply to fuel dem shippers, but her and Jack's relationship start are based off of some of my fics. In GB, they and their relationship was admittedly mostly off screen, here they're full focus. Skye being the one to Ice Whitepaw's paw (not Danny, off screen) gives a much bigger connection between Sarah and the main cast.

If Danny is kept as a swift fox, it could be revealed that, at her lowest in prison, Skye sought comfort from her and (maybe under the influence of some bootleg booze) ended up sleeping with her one time. (Again, fuel dem shippers).

In GB season 1, 'the case' was admittedly very weak, most focus on WildeHopps fluff. Darmaw had few, if any, scenes (was less developed than the Guildfords in the first part of FT), and much of the investigating was being in the right place at the right time. Integrating the interesting 'cheese case' from GB season 3 here gives it a better place to fit in, and gives some strong detective work to this scene. Indeed, the whole 'tranq immune wolf of doom' is perfect for setting up Darmaw's tranq cancelling drug.

Conor's scene at the live music venue, and dealing with the mean girl posse, is taken from Merc's pre-zoot stories, as are the skunks and the plot point with mean girls boyfriend. Jason, Dana and Mike are his Fire Triangle friends, filling in roles of different characters from the pre-zoot stuff.

One slight thing that was kind of alluded to with Fire Triangle, but I feel could have a ton of potential if expanded on (as a through thread through season 2 and 3, not just here), is if Conor is shown to have doubts/ apprehension/ real worries about being able to compose his own songs. Sure, he's a brilliant player, and if he's in a song he can improvise and spin it off and off… But actually finding his own spark, growing something from seed to full grown song, that isn't someone elses (If George Hareison could accidentally copy someones tune, so could I). THAT is a real source of doubt for him, especially if it's shown that his friends have much more success at it. Having this doubt/ worry would be another good thing to focus on, humanising him some more. And slowly he begins picking up confidence… e.g. finding a riff all of his own that he loves, (and wakes up Erin at midnight to show it off). Also working over different sets of lyrics, trying to find what it'll be about. Naturally, this song is eventually revealed in full to be 'And Then What?').

The 'deer kid' was a (initially) no name one note character from some very powerful chapters in Fire Triangle. Here, there's the opportunity to follow him far closer, introduce him way before and show him as part of Conor's group… I won't spoil much, but it will make one of the already most powerful scenes in Fire Triangle way, way, more impactful.

It was tricky to fit in Lucy Sang here. Given her villain status, she couldn't simply be the bat they talked to in GB. Instead, she's full in with the crazy wolf, which required some reworking of the order of the GB stuff. The belfry was her 'hobby' from Born to be Wilde, and was an ideal place to have the wolf boyfriend being kept. It has been toned down a bit, clarified that Lucy only does her things (toned down for most people) on 'actual bad guys and snitches', to avoid her going too dark here. We also first see Darmaw as a charlie manson/jim jones style cult leader.

It could later be revealed that Darmaw set his base up in the remains of the Felidae Infernum's base, Lucy's old employers.

Things take a break for Vlad's first meeting, with the escape (maybe via pickpocketing Russ' car keys). Nick putting the tracker into the plushes was my idea, and allows them to go straight to the Belfry (with an apt intro space for Albert Tufts too). Merc's hippo chief for the nocturnal district is a great fit, and if we can fit Bogo getting in on the action, that's always cool. Grunt is included, as is Martina (might be tricking working in her condition… Could be a way of first teasing morningmew, Lucy sneaking in to LP's labs and seeing it being tested during her time as a thief in the Felidae Infernum, taking some for herself), in a much bigger battle.

Both bunny fox pairs come together for the apartment fight scene, slightly adjusted from GB (originally, IIRC, it was Judy's parents Nick and Finn tried to prank).

The happening/house party arc is played through from Merc's pre-zoot stories, with Erin put in allowing more time for her and Conor to interact, their relationship developing. Originally (pre integrating WIF) I had Darmaw's base in Outback island, allowing a rough connection with the house party by putting it there. After pulling Darmaw's base down into the nocturnal district, putting it closer to Vlad, the outback island setting can stay to give the district a show. (Maybe Fangs and Boomer became the cops in this universe)

Darmaw gets a full intro here, and Sarah's skills are shown in extremis, showing how much of a single pawed physical threat she is, in addition to being a skilled ground commander from the prequel. Lucy also turns up again, tricking them into going into Vlad's claws, where the bat tries to force Nick to reveal the truth (the fox knowing the damage it could cause).

After her intro, Skye gets a bunch of development, and is able to learn to stand up to her fears. Lucy and Skye seeing each other after so long, both so different from their brief meeting years before, lets them reflect on each other, both learning stuff that tips their character development in the future.

For a whole bunch of new spectacle, I had planned a mad max style car chase with three competing factions and the good guys working together to operate a large mammal vehicle. Now it gets to take place underground, and with Grunt there's a solid reason for the oversized vehicle.

The glorious ending from GB is kept, though for ultimate villain cred La Peigne is shown trying to off Nick in part of it. Jack and Skye both get a complete character arc with it (from loving his brother to going straight against him, knowing something's bad about him, and she going from being terrified of 'rocking the boat' to actively breaking the law to help someone she cares for).

Conor gets a few 'ticking over scenes' to show he's still doing stuff, and can include scenes of him just talking with Erin online. His development from the end of the first season carries on, and he helps the brainwashed student in court by bringing in Vern, also giving him a fun intro. It also shows La Peigne's influence in the justice system.

Finally, Lucy (influenced by her past and Skye, while still taking a big leap) is shown rescuing Vlad, starting their relationship.

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Note: Given the density of the plot points, I feel a ten part series (if doing the same episode length as season 1) wouldn't work. Guestimate 16 episodes as below, but could be pulled down to 14 or maybe lower in reality, who knows.

Alternatively, season 2 could be split into two blocks (I'd prefer to label them as season 2 part 1 and 2, but might end up as season 2 and season 3). Regardless, the first part would end with Skye telling her story, Jack promising to stand by her (maybe her revealing her muscle car, the pair taking it for a spin), and Cherry's recovery being shown. This gives a 3 act structure for them (meeting, first date, Skye opening up) and Nick and Judy (investigating Jack, following the cheese and ending up escaping from Vlad, then the Belfry battle). If doing this, I like the idea of naming the first episode 'Nick's story' and the last one 'Skye's story'. Bookends, yay! As for Conor, his story is left a bit truncated, the first concert acting as a 2nd act following the intro to his pad, or a solid end to the 1st act. Maybe the mean girls or their backup could make a return later, when Conor and the gang are enjoying a night at the promenade and/or beach. Maybe things are shifted around a bit, the mean girls making their return later at a different place, Conor's guitar getting confiscated too (unfairly) and he having to negotiate or sneak it out (bit similar to what happened in the original story). Maybe Conor gets caught in a bike chase and has to use his skills to get out. Maybe the mean girls try and manipulate a bunch of tough teens (Tu-Roc Jackson the jaguar and his gang from the earlier stories) to white knight for them, stealing Conor's (supposedly nudes holding) laptop out from the arcade, Conor fighting for it back and in doing so gaining their respect.. Regardless, Conor is where a lot of required padding could be injected.

Note: After thinking back on it for a while, I've come up with what could be a solid full arc/ story for Conor and co for a season 2 part 1. As it's edited in long after everything else, I've slung it in right at the end of the chapter. So if you're curious, read on and you'll get to it.

Season 2 Part 2 would resume with things going normal and a short first act, with updates and ramifications on the belfry raid and anti-tranq stuff becoming clear, ending with the attack on Nick, Judy, Jack and Skye. The house party, and raid on Darmaw's base would be the long second act, with both escapes the third. More padding could be built into the house party via gratuitous full song sets, and maybe showing more of Vern's backstory.

Regardless, here is the 16 episode full season titles:

Wild Times:

On the way back to the city, Nick reveals much of his past to Judy, from past businesses to past loves, and how he once fell from his highest peak to his lowest point.

Foxes dens:

With Judy shaken and in need of a place to stay, Nick is all too happy to step in. But just how well will a bunny slip into a foxes den, especially when she's in love with the fox. Conor returns home to his safehouse, and reconnects with someone on the internet.

Jack Savage:

A new case beckons for the dynamic duo, featuring a world famous actor in a sticky situation. Judy also tries mending another one of Nick's broken relationships, without thinking it all through.

(Not) what you bargained for:

Conor and his pals play music, find friends and make enemies. Jack gets inspired by Skye to hustle his way out of some frustrations of his. Nick and Judy sniff out some disturbing merchandise.

So we're inters now:

Nick and Judy pull in their little friend for an undercover operation. Jack introduces Skye to the wonders of OWO.

Going Downtown:

With a mammal in potential danger, Nick and Judy race off to the nocturnal district to investigate, only to receive far more than they bargained for.

The Belfry:

A full out assault on the evil escape room is spearheaded by the dynamic duo.

Skye's story:

As Nick and Judy recover from the night before, a monster from Skye's past returns to haunt her. The vixen reveals the most painful parts of her past to Jack.

Junior:

With their case stuck, the group get unexpected news about Cherry. Nick, Judy, Jack and Skye reunite, with some unexpected additions to their party. Erin and Conor try and figure out a way they can still meet up for theirs.

A Happening:

Conor and Erin reach Outback Island for their house party, the fox meeting a bunch of new friends. With a new lead in the case sniffed out, the bunnies and foxes venture once more into the depths below the city. La Peigne entrusts Sarah with a vital mission.

Darmaw:

Conor comes face to face with some old enemies, while Nick, Judy, Jack and Skye come face to face with the cultist they've been chasing. Both underground and over, certain mammals plan to end the fun in its tracks.

The wrath of god:

Face to face with the leader of the nocturnal mob, Nick's conscience and skills are put to the ultimate test. Conor, Erin and the rest of the partygoers are backed into a corner by a bunch of mammals who are all too happy to break every vow they should hold sacred.

Escape:

Conor and Erin join the rest of the partygoers in a tense midnight escape, sneaking out in vehicles. Down in the nocturnal district, all subtlety is lost as Nick, Judy, Jack and Skye have to rally though abandoned caves to escape a pursuing horde.

The morning after:

The party escapees takes stock of everything, La Peigne talks to his new employee and the ZPD realises with horror what Darmaws plan is and races off to stop him.

Hell on earth:

With all seemingly lost, Judy gets a ray of hope from an unexpected source. For his friend's sake, Jack has a request for his brother. Little does anyone realise just how little the bunny cop knows when to quit.

And Death Backed away slowly:

As the bunny and fox cops recover in hospital, the city comes to terms with what just happened. Jack and Skye grow closer. Nick has a proposition for his partner.

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Note: And this was the really complex one! So yeah, a mix of two different bits of GB, a bunch of other stories, and all that. Probably a bit too much to thin down to ten episodes. Particularly given how, if it was yours truly directing, things like the concert sets would have full length songs… And the two big actions scenes would be gloriously gratuitous. Maybe two seasons, the first ending after the Belfry raid and Skye telling her story. Who knows? Anyway, hope you all enjoyed.

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Additional: Potential Conor story for season 2 part 1 if splitting the series into two:

A key aspect of this is that at this stage, Conor and his stories work the absolute best when it's his want to enjoy this new life of his that he thrives in, butting up against his need to keep a low profile and keep safe lest he be discovered.

Anyhow… Given that I have his best friend, Mike Daehan, being the one to tip Nick and Judy off about the missing student from the school… That could be a great source of conflict. Especially as in Fire Triangle Mike is actually pretty scared of cops. Thus in my version, his fear that this student was in trouble, off her meds, was at risk was so great, he worked up the bravery to talk to said cops. But of course, with his experience, Conor has zero respect for snitches. So let's say he finds out. Maybe one of the mean girl's posse mentions it somehow, or it comes up in conversation. And so Conor confronts Mike, who gives the truth. He even asks some hard questions of Conor.

Conor: You told them that she was struggling, didn't you?

Mike: Yes, I thought…

Conor: You tattled on her.

Mike: T-tattle? Listen, I know her, I know that she's spiralling down and…

Conor: So you called the cops on her.

Mike: Listen, I was only trying to do the right thing… And I mean, I didn't like doing it! My family have enough stories of the secret police to make me pull my whiskers out.

Conor: Yeah, I know that story. I also know the one where your grandparents stowed away in a boat's anchor-chain hold to escape being all sent to 're-education' too. Of course, that wouldn't have been necessary if some concerned citizen hadn't told them where those admin workers for the old regime were, would it?

Mike: C'conor… You're scaring me. You're all like this, after being so chummy with those cops. I… Well I don't even know how you can be that friendly to them! But I thought it meant they were good police. But now you're all the police are bad?"

Conor: There's police, and the police. And it's like the ocean, you can swim in it just fine or get dragged by a riptide or swallowed by a storm. And you… (pinches muzzle) You might have just thrown her in the deep end!

Mike: Please. She's probably there already, she was going wild at the end. And if she wasn't one of those crazies I've heard you say need to be locked up then, she might be soon. I've checked on social media and she's blacking out…

Conor: So you'd call the cops on anyone who went away from a bit, who you got scared that you didn't know what they were doing…

Mike: I'd file a missing mammal report. Of course I'd do that. I'd file one on you vanished for a bit. Why wouldn't I? You're my best friend, I care about you!

Conor: You'd file a report on me…

Mike: Yes, and even if she ends up in a prison cell for something… Surely that's better than getting herself killed, right! Right!? You'd want that too. I don't, I just don't…

Conor: No, you don't. Just… Excuse me.

Anyway, Conor would then go and have to weigh up the fact that he cares so much for Mike as a friend… But at the same time, he fears he's a liability who could inadvertently destroy the life he's worked so hard to build for himself. I'd imagine Conor would then try and work out a good cover story/ lie, about why it's such a sore point. A likely choice would likely be about an abusive mother, and how after trying to fend her off some concerned neighbours saw the fight from afar and naturally called the cops on his Dad, thinking he was beating them. They took his father away, saying they were safe now, even when he told them it wasn't him, it was her. They said they'd look into it, but furious and with no-one to stop her, she went too far.

Whatever the good intentions, it can always backfire. He's been burnt once, he refuses to be burnt again. He asks Mike to promise not to risk it, the rat seemingly a little unconvinced but agreeing.

I'd then have the gang going to the arcade (with the skunks for a bit, before they have to leave, looking forward to the party), having a good time… But in the meantime, humiliated, mean girl decides to recruit a few local youths (including T-Roc Jackson, a jaguar from the original stories), telling a sob story about Conor's gang taking pictures of them and storing them on his laptop. They accept, and plan to stand up for her (even if scared by Jason being there… You mess with one Painted Dog, you mess with the whole pack!)

Mike, somehow seeing the tail end of this, goes up to set things right… Only for the gang, thinking he was how the pictures were taken, trap him, debating whether to hand it to her or use him as an exchange for the laptop.

One talks to Conor, laying it out, the fox acting cold and unreadable. "So you're admitting you've kitnapped my friend. Try something. You're only making it worse for yourself when the ZPD find out. Say sayonara to your futures. Or tell your boss I don't negotiate." (Hey, you're talking pretty chill there. But what happens if your friend gets hurt real bad). "Then that's what's gonna happen."

Conor's other friends are naturally shocked by this, but he then tells Dana to keep his laptop safe, Jason to follow their scent trail, and he'll deal with it. He fills up his shirt and clothes with paper for padding, then takes off on his bike, after them, finally cornering them and challenging their leader to a fight.

Taking a beating, but pulling out of it and swiping Mike (in a jar) from them, the whole thing is broken off as cop sirens sound. Both groups flee, Conor even giving the jaguars group help in avoiding them. At the end of it, Conor's group are reunited, though they are concerned at the beating the fox took, and Mike is just… confused. It ends up almost burning into a heated argument about the 'tattle' issue again, only for Conor to break it off. "Let's talk when we've got cooler heads." He goes back to his loft, taking out his frustrations on his punching bag, angry about how things got messed up. (He calms down though, with a talk with Erin helping sooth his mood). He brainstorms what to do next, how to have his cake and eat it, even though he feels he can't.

The next day, he and Mike meet at a neutral location. Particularly important as the jaguar and his crew arrive (Mike terrified). Conor though opens a truce, to talk things over, one that T-Roc accepts, having a respect for the fox. In one aspect of life. He berates him though for how he treats the ladies, Conor then asking for the phone number of the girl. (Using some logic to get it out). He then calls her, acting panicked, and she gleefully confessing to having set him up for snubbing her. Taking the onlooking group she'd led on by shock. Conor signs off with his 'Rule one: don't mess with me. Rule two: always remember rule one.' Before handing it over to the jaguar to confront her. The group leave, leaving Conor with Mike.

Conor begins to go into a long talk about how he learnt you have to fight your own fights, how whatever they say it isn't the way, they're wrong. He doesn't want other mammals to get hurt, especially in his name, and that he saved everyone a lot of fuss… And this is important to him… Mike though cuts him off, to tell his own story. About how, in his grandparents refugee camp, there was one really kind mammal there. Always helped, always nice. And one day, they learnt he was the son of a feared general, a tyrant the rebels and his own people were both scared of. They all knew that this mammal was nothing like his father. That he was trying to escape and build an honest life like the rest of them. It didn't matter though, as once the news came out, it didn't take long for someone to get revenge by proxy. Mike goes on to say that he worked out that Conor is hiding stuff in his past, he's running from something, and that however brave and scary he is, it scares him. He's scared he could tumble back down, but he doesn't deserve to pay for the sins of the father. His secret, whatever it is, is safe with them.

With that, they reconcile and Conor leaves, only for the jaguar to confront him. He says thanks, and that the fox won't get any more trouble out of him or his crew. And he asks Conor where he served time. And what for. The fox waves it off, but the jaguar reveals that the paper stuffing is an old Juvie technique he's heard of… And that mammals only get Conor's kind of grit from being milled through the system. Don't they know it. They ask if there's anything they can do to repay him. He tells them to stay out of trouble and carry on living in the free would. They joke that they'll try their best at the former, but with the cops and judges in this city you sometimes can't do the latter. With that, Conor departs, rejoining his friends as they arrive for a day out at an amusement park or water park. Mike asks if everything's okay. What next. Conor says everything is sorted, and he'll carry on living in the free world.