It was a quiet morning on Baker Street, Judy had finished her case with the missing emerald ring the night before and she was so playing a card game of Go Fish with Dr. Wilde and her former archenemy, Professor Dick Dastardly.
And of course... Muttley and Blazey were keeping score.
"Got any fours?" asked Dastardly.
"Go fish" Wilde replied. "And wasn't there something that I warned you about cheating?"
Dastardly grumbled under his breath as he picked another card from the deck.
"Drat, drat and double drat."
Muttley snickered behind his master's back.
Judy shook her head. She knew that Dastardly and Wilde haven't gotten along since the Big Ben brawl. She knew that Dastardly hurt her, but Wilde still wasn't taking it too well.
The card game was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Who could that be?" frowned Wilde.
Judy hopped to the door and opened it to a manticore.
"Hey, Miss Hopps" greeted the Manticore. "Can I speak with ya for a minute? It's important."
"Oh, yes, Corey" Judy replied. "Come in, come in. Just watch your tail."
We fade to later with Corey the Manticore sitting in Judy's chair and the rabbit detective, Wilde and Dastardly listening.
"Once you helped me against the curse, Miss Hopps" she said nervously. "Now, I need your help again."
Wilde and Blazey were confused. What was this manticore talking about?
"Um, Carrots...?" Wilde began. "I don't remember you telling me about that case."
"I never brought it up" Judy replied, her ears lowered.
"That was my first case as a kid and the day Dastardly betrayed our fond friendship. Long before I met you, or Elinor and Merida."
Dastardly shook his head in agreement. "Yes, it's true. And it happened exactly fifteen years ago if memory serves."
"Yeah, that's right."
Blazey roared worriedly and nudges against Judy.
"The curse is about to be fulfilled" continued Corey. "And from inside, somethin' is gonna emerge and start spreadin' chaos everywhere and harm everyone."
Judy and Dastardly gasped, their eyes narrowed with fear.
Mrs. Otterton couldn't help but overhear as she offered tea to Corey.
"I always knew that Miss Judy took this case" she trembled. "But I've always wondered what this curse is."
"This kind of curse is said that if you get bit by a giant beast, the darkest aspects of your personality would come runnin' to the surface" Corey explained. "And under the moonlight, that dark personality and the bite have your body go under a hideous transformation and you'll become a screaming, maniacal, demonic, raging, blood-lusting animal!"
Blazey and Muttley whimpered and hid behind the sofa.
"That sounds mean" Wilde replied fearfully.
Judy rolled her eyes in annoyance as if to say 'seriously?', then takes another sip of tea.
"Unfortunately, my heart is still dark to the world" Dastardly grumbled as he struggled to sit up on the sofa. "All except Muttley."
Mrs. Otterton helped him straighten up as Muttley jumped up to sit by his master.
"Dick, stop it" hissed Judy.
Judy knew that whatever caused this evil curse must be stopped, then she noticed Wilde's confused look at Corey.
"What does this have to do with you and Dastardly, Carrots?" he asked. "How do you guys know this bear-snake lady?"
"Manticore" corrected Corey.
Judy was reluctant to tell the story to Wilde until Dastardly gently placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her the okay.
"Well, I remember it like it was exactly fifteen years ago from today" Judy began. "I was only nine years old..."
The setting now becomes a flashback. In the heart of London, a local orphanage was abandoned. A group of children stand near, begging if not crying out to passerby people.
"The only orphanage in all London was closed down" Judy continued. "Protecting the poor orphans was Sylvester Sneekly. He seemed kind at first, but..."
An middle-aged man wearing an olive green formal suit pushed a nervous child off the street.
"Keep walking, child" Sneekly ordered.
"But that man was rubbish" Dastardly added. "Absolutely poppycock."
"Richard Milhous Dastardly!" Judy shouted.
"Alright, Judith. But the real deal was a small puppy with mix breed of bloodhound, Airdale, pointer and hunting dog. My soon to be partner and criminal co-conspirator, Muttley."
The puppy Muttley sniffed around for food instead of begging to the people passing by, but found nothing.
Soon, he noticed a small gray/white bunny hopping down the sidewalk with her friends, a teenage Dick Dastardly and a fox cub named Gideon Grey.
"I can't believe you graduated from detective school!" smiled Gideon. "Aren't you even a little scared of what could harm you?"
"Nope" said Judy excitedly. "And I'm the first rabbit to be a detective."
"That's amazing, Judy" exclaimed Dastardly. "Maybe Sherlock Holmes should hire you."
"Oh, stop!"
The group of friends laughed as they passed by the orphanage.
"Excuse us" Judy said politely.
Muttley whimpered and batted Dastardly.
"Judy, cut it out" warned Dastardly. "You know I'm not your type."
"But, Dick, that wasn't me!" Judy protested.
Dastardly suddenly felt pain in his leg.
"Ow!" complained Dastardly. "Drat, something bit me!"
Judy and Gideon looked down to see Muttley biting Dastardly's leg.
"Look, it's a puppy" Gideon gasped. "Where did he come from?"
Judy chuckled at Muttley's cuteness and tried to pull him away from Dastardly's leg.
"Teeth off my leg, puppy!" Dastardly growled.
"Hey, hands off the puppy, street rats!" threatened a voice. "Or you'll have no hands to scurry with."
The trio gasped and turned to see Sneekly approaching them, enraged.
"Jerk alert!" growled Gideon.
"Is that a threat I fear or is that your breath I smell?" Dastardly laughed mockingly.
Judy was so worried, she didn't like it when Dastardly used his former bully antics to get people into a vicious fight with him.
"Gideon, you better..." she began.
"Get help" finished Gideon, then he ran off.
Sneekly growled and picked up Dastardly by the collar.
"Did your parents teach you any manners at all, boy?" asked Sneekly.
"Not really, did yours?"
"Oooh!" groaned all the orphans.
"Oh, snap!" said one.
Judy covered her mouth to hide her cracking smile, but then realized that Muttley didn't have a collar on.
Annoyed, she hopped toward Sneekly, fearlessly and glared at him.
"How can that innocent puppy be yours if he doesn't have a collar or a license?" demanded Judy. "If you don't put a collar and license on him, the dogcatcher will have to take him to the pound and be put down."
Muttley whimpered and hid behind a lamppost and his legs shook.
Sneekly threw Dastardly to the ground and snatched Judy by the ears, lifting her high into the air.
"Do you think I care about that?" he snarled. "I don't care about children or animals, I care about money and money only!"
"You monster!" Judy cried. "Wait until the police hear about this!"
Before Sneekly could harm Judy, a hand stopped him. It was a police man.
"Sylvester Sneekly, you're under arrest for lying, kidnapping and dog abuse!" the officer shouted.
Just as Sneekly was cuffed, the officer smiled at Judy.
"Great job, Miss Hopps" he said. "If it weren't for you or your pals here, we wouldn't found out why the orphanage closed down."
Giedon helped Judy up, then Dastardly picked up the dog.
"Isn't he cute?" chuckled Judy.
"Not to me" grumbled Dastardly.
Muttley then nipped his hand.
"Ow!" complained Dastardly. "You bit me again, you mutt!"
Gideon then got an idea.
"That's it!" he cried.
"What's it?" frowned Dastardly.
"We'll call him Muttley."
"Mutt...ly?"
Hearing his new name, Muttley snickered and licked Dastardly's face, making him smile a little.
"Okay, Muttley, it is."
The three friends laughed as their new friend continued licked Dastardly's face.
Back in the present...
"Wait a minute!" Wilde interrupted. "What does the orphanage have to do with-"
"Whether it was a detective case or not" Dastardly said, his eyes narrowing, "I would have never met Muttley or adopted him."
Judy shook her head. "Technically, it was never a case, we just happened to bump into a mystery that didn't want to be solved."
"So, what happened then, Carrots?" Wilde asked nervously.
"Well, Dick and Gideon Grey and I were rivals to the core in our school days until I saved them from a near death experience. We've been friends ever since, but my friendship with Dick was about to fall apart if it weren't for the events that happened the very next day..."
In a flashback, Judy was excited as she hugged her parents.
"I don't believe it" cried her father, Stu. "Our little Judy is a detective."
"Oh, Stu" cooed Bonnie, his wife.
We hear the adult Judy narrate in the background.
"I was offered a new place on Baker Street and I couldn't wait to escape the craziness of my family. We bunnies take up so much space in a small house."
Judy soon waved goodbye to her family as she left for Baker Street, where she was greeted by Mrs. Otterton.
"Luckily, Mrs. Otterton was there to meet me there and she helped me with my stuff" continued Judy. "But that's when..."
Once unpacked, Judy was outside, reading a book and settling in when Dastardly and Muttley appeared at the door step.
"Hi, Dick" Judy greeted. "How was- - Uh-oh."
Dastardly held up a newspaper that read 'Dastardly mother jailed for child abuse' and he had his hand around his stomach.
"Your mom hurt you?" Judy gasped.
"Yes, and all because I brought Muttley home" Dastardly replied. "I wouldn't been neglected if you were there to help me!"
"Dick, I couldn't help you. I had to leave my family, because- -"
"What? Because you're the new famous hero? I thought we were friends."
Judy's feelings were hurt and she ran off into the apartment, crying.
Dastardly was enraged, but then he realized he made a mistake. Was a mistake? Or was it his feelings mixing up his mind?
Annoyed with his mixed feelings, Dastardly kicked a pebble off the street and walked away with Muttley beside him.
Inside the house, Judy drank some tea and sat in her chair.
Mrs. Otterton approached the young rabbit, concerned for her.
"Are you alright, Miss Hopps?" she asked softly.
"No" sniffled Judy. "My best friend broke up with me."
"The young Dastardly boy?"
Judy sadly nodded her head. "I should have helped him. I should have stopped his mother before- -"
She whimpered, her eyes filled with guilt and sorrow.
The otter held Judy in a very warm embrace. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Mrs. Otterton answered the door and there stood Marcy Kappel.
"I'm looking for Judy Hopps" she said, sternly.
Hearing her name, Judy came bonding toward the door.
"I am Judy Hopps" answered the little rabbit.
Marcy could tell that Judy was still upset, so she knelt down to the ground and lifted Judy's chin up.
"It will be alright, I promise" said Marcy in a gentle voice. "I just need to ask you some questions. Were you with a Dick Dastardly earlier?"
"Yes, ma'am" answered Judy.
"Where did you see him last?"
"On the porch. After we had our disagreement, I ran into the house and he walked away with his dog, Muttley."
Then the whole situation hit Judy. Dastardly has gone missing.
"I have to find him!" Judy cried, "I've got a mystery in my paws!"
"No, Judy, it's too dangerous!" Marcy protested.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. But I'm a detective and I've gotta find my friend. He may not forgive me, but I have to do this."
In a black carriage drawn by horses with Marcy and her assistants, Eyes and Ears, Judy was taking notes of clues. It read 'a hat without an owner, pieces of torn and tattered fabric and muddy paw prints.'
The adult Judy continued her story off screen.
"Later that evening, I joined Marcy Kappel and her team to find Dastardly and Muttley. But something wasn't right to me, someone or something monstrous had taken them and there was no trail to be followed."
Just then, Eyes found a trail of blood in Kensington Garden. It looked like there had been a hunt. Or a fight...
Judy examined the blood, sniffing it, then noticed a foul stench in the blood.
"It seems to be a wolf or a bear of some sort" Judy said, though nervous of the blood. "Dick and Muttley were here alright. They got scared but the creature must have took them with it."
But before she could find a way to test the blood sample, a loud howl broke the silence.
Judy stood in silence and saw a large, bulky animal standing on a hill.
It howled toward the moon, then ran off.
"It's headin' to the graveyard!" shouted Marcy. "Follow it!"
They raced through the garden, entered the woods and found themselves in a dark, foggy, bone infested graveyard.
"I better go ahead" Judy insisted. "I'll alert you to take down the creature."
"Judy!" Marcy called out. "Be careful."
The young rabbit agreed and promised to take caution.
As soon as she walked through the graveyard, Judy looked high and low, calling out to Dastardly and Muttley from time to time:
"Dick! Muttley! Where are you?"
It wasn't until Judy stumbled across a skeleton rib cage that held Dastardly and Muttley hostage.
"Guys!" Judy cried out with tears of joy.
"Judy?" Dastardly gasped. "Is it really you?"
"Yeah, I'm so glad you're okay. I thought- -"
"SHH!" said a voice. "Keep quiet. He'll hear ya both."
Judy turned to see the Manticore hiding in the shadows, carrying an egg.
"Who are you?" asked the rabbit, trying to be brave.
"I am Corey. Corey the Manticore" proclaimed the Manticore. "I came on a mission to stop the black dog, but I brought an egg with me by accident."
"You know of this black dog?"
"Oh, yeah. Big, hairy fella. One bite and you'll be cursed."
Judy gasped and tried to check to see if Dastardly got bitten, but he turned away still angry at her.
"I'd rather die from this curse than to see you again" he said proudly, though truthfully he was thankful to be rescued.
"Dick, please" Judy pleaded with comfort in her voice. "I'm sorry I didn't help you stop your mother, but please let me help you rescue whatever trapped you here."
Dastardly thought it over and slowly reached out to Judy's outstretched paw.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over the rib cage.
"Drat" whimpered Dastardly.
The shadow soon grew larger, towering over not only the cage but over a tree too!
"Double drat."
Judy looked up and saw the sight of...
A bear sized black dog!
It looked like a hound of Baskerville, but more wolf than dog. It had black fur with a scarred eye and a back filled with arrows and bullet holes.
Judy and Muttley were terrified, their jaws dropped.
"Triple drat!" squeaked Dastardly.
Scarred, Judy and Dastardly made a run for it, screaming!
"AAAAAHHHHHHH!"
Muttley tried to follow, but his new collar got caught in a rib, just as the black dog slowly approached the young pup.
"Rastardly!" yelped Muttley. "Ro something!"
Judy and Dastardly stopped in their tracks, seeing that Muttley was caught.
Seeing that Dastardly was too frightened to move, Judy bounded toward the black dog and kicked it in the face.
The black dog growled and chased Judy, away from the rib cage.
Dastardly took the moment to unhook Muttley's collar from his neck and bolted away from the rib cage, only to trip and fall to the ground.
Judy led the black dog toward a rock wall.
"Now!" shouted Judy.
Marcy and her team charged at the black dog and aimed their weapons at it.
"Steady now" Marcy ordered with caution. "Wait for my signal."
Judy hopped away and watched from behind a tree.
Unfortunately for Judy, Dastardly and Muttley were running past the beast and the fog was so thick that Marcy's squad couldn't see.
Gasping, Judy bolted toward Marcy, who had her hand up to signal her men.
"NO!"
BANG!
Eyes and Ears flashed flashlights (or torches) and all was the black dog, laying dead and Dastardly held a trembling Muttley in his arms.
"Dick!" Judy gasped with fear. "Dick, are you okay?"
"I'm alright" Dastardly replied, rather annoyed than in pain.
But Judy could tell that Dastardly was limping... and he was hiding a gash on his stomach.
Soon, the Manticore approached Judy, nearly jumping the daylights out of her.
"You have done well" she smiled. "Now, everything is save from that wretched beast!"
They watched as Marcy and her team pulled the black dog into a large cart.
"That dog destroyed everything in my village, stealing food and harming animals like this poor baby dragon."
Judy's ears perked up. A baby dragon?
Soon, the egg started to crack and a little green head popped out, panting happily at Judy.
The Manticore could tell that the dragon has imprinted with Judy.
"I think it's save to say that Blazey here will be save from danger" the Manticore said with a chuckle.
The dragon excitedly jumped out of the egg shell and licked Judy to death.
Back in the present...
"So the black dog was real, okay, great" Wilde said nervous but sarcastically. "But what about the curse?"
The Manticore shook her head. "We never found out who had the curse."
Judy was confused. Someone must have had the curse for fifteen years, but who? Then, she had an idea.
"Corey, what are we to look for if the black dog bit you?" she asked.
"Oh, you'll know when you see it" the Manticore replied nervously. "It would be a black bruise-like mark on where you've been bitten or clawed."
Having to have the information, Judy had Wilde and Mrs. Otterton check for bites on her and Muttley.
"Nothing on you, Judy" announced Mrs. Otterton.
"Nope, no bites" Wilde said after checking Muttley.
"Uh-uh, uh-uh!" Muttley grunted with agreement.
Dastardly was about to get up for another cup of tea when he winced in pain and fell to the floor.
"Dick, what's wrong?" Judy asked, her voice filled with concern.
Dastardly was unable to answer, but he pulled his shirt up to reveal the mark of the black dog spreading from underneath the bandage.
Everyone gasped on horror.
Mrs. Otterton took the time to remove the bandage before it got worse.
Unfortunately, Judy took a moment to notice that Dastardly's ears have grown while she told her story. They have grown so long that they seemed pointy like the ends of a pencil.
Sensing Judy's shock, Dastardly took Mrs. Otterton's empty tray and what he saw reflected what he certainly would never have wished to see. He saw his head embellished with monstrous ears.
Dastardly screamed and dropped the tray, stumbling backwards toward the fireplace. He was afraid of himself.
He began to growl and beat his head against the floor, but the more he screamed, the longer the ears grew. Annoyed, he seized his two ears and started to pull and tear them furiously as if they had been some one else's.
"How did this happen?" Mrs. Otterton asked him.
"After Judy and I fought, the black dog found me and Muttley" Dastardly replied fearfully. "He wanted Muttley, but I wouldn't let him. So he clawed me and dragged us both the graveyard."
The Manticore reassured the group that the curse was not contagious if bandaged like Dastardly's wound was.
"But I never saw Dastardly change at night at all!" Judy cried. "I was there day and night and he was fine!"
"Sometimes it takes uncontrollable rage to make the curse go on a full effect" the Manticore.
Panic built up inside of Dastardly and he tried again to yank them off, but it was no use.
"Oh, no" Dastardly moaned, his eyes starting to well up with tears. "It's hopeless and it's all my fault."
Judy realized that since she fought Dastardly in Big Ben, the curse was starting to take affect two nights after. Her eyes were wide as saucers and her ears drooped down.
Oh, dear. What have I done? Judy thought to herself.
TO BE CONTINUED...