A/N-

Hello my good readers. Welcome to part 2 of A Little Something Darker. I do hope you have enjoyed part 1, so without too much further ado about nothing, let me just say this.

This part of the story is where things get ugly and where the M rating would come into play. It isn't super graphic, but it ain't nice either. There is what might be called some body horror and mind control as well.

As always, I do not own Zootopia. If I did, I'd be doing more with it than Disney is. Then again, I think just about any of us would be. :)

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A Little Something Darker—Part 2

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From the safe-house, Nick stopped in an information center of sorts. It was in the same building, protected by multiple additional layers of security, and disguised as another apartment, down to the appearance on thermal imaging of being occupied, it reflected the occupants of the apartment next door, with theirs appearing to be vacant. That way, when they left, you could track that on thermal and see the mammal leaving. Thus making the actual content of the actual apartment functionally invisible. Pretty much every contingency was covered.

Checking cameras and data streams, Nick could see mammals assembling and preparing throughout the city. This put a grim but somehow satisfied smile on his muzzle. It was happening. Now he just needed to do his part.

Confirming Dawn's location, he secured and left the info center, making his way to what was once the mayoral compound. Slipping inside through the building's original emergency escape route, the security system and cameras having been carefully disabled or otherwise compromised months prior. Nick still took his time. He had thirty minutes until dawn and rushing could do no good but ruin the surprise for Dawn with the coming dawn.

Entering the bedroom through the hidden door, Nick quickly verified Dawn and her mate, Doug, were in fact present. He moved about silently, booby trapping the door. He carefully opened the curtains of the east windows, then opened them slowly, so the change in sound didn't disturb the two mammals sleeping in the bed. Lastly, he set up a small explosive on the headboard of the bed between the two sleeping mammals. Nothing dangerous, just loud. Essentially a firecracker, while also disabling the pistols and removing the knives stashed in easy reach.

Everything ready, he took up residence in one of the chairs next to the Northern wall that would be fully in shadow once the sun broke the horizon. Two minutes before dawn, Nick pulled up the commands and activated the auto-guns. They would open fire on the compound with pepper balls. They would hurt, as he had the speed dialed way up, and the confusion of being apparently shot at from multiple positions, as well as the pain from the cloud of pepper dust created as the ball hit and exploded, should create some delicious chaos as the compound's guards tried to respond.

There were also several with lethal rounds, those were set up in place so that their fire would only hit things like the barracks of Dawns private security force. None of which were in Nick's careful consideration of using lethal force, redeemable. The rank and file guards, they were also not worthy of their lives in his opinion, but there were too many innocents potentially in harms way. Predator slaves and prey dissidents, also forced to wear collars, and in place to basically be meat shields for the guards. Thus the pepper balls on the weapons that would potentially hit them. They'll end up bruised, badly, eyes and noses burned from the pepper dust, but nothing lethal. All treatable injuries.

All of that should also give him some extra time with Dawn and Doug. Watching, Nick smiled darkly behind his mask as the sun broke free of the horizon. Triggering first an explosive planted weeks prior in the mayoral office, the explosion heard a moment later as a distant boom, and acting as the signal for the massing mammals to start their attacks. He then set off the auto-guns and the explosive on the headboard.

XXX

The loud bang woke both mammals, Dawn screaming in fear as Doug reached for the pistol Nick had already unloaded, adding a blank to it. Dawn, holding her chest. "Doug? What was that? Why is the window open?"

"I don't know." The sound of weapons fire and mammals yelling coming in through the window. "It sounds like we're under attack. Get dressed."

Nick, throwing his voice to sound like he was by the southern windows, chuckled. Doug swung the pistol and fired.

Snickering, his voice still coming from the south. "Bad luck, Doug. You missed. As to your question, Dawn. I opened the window so you may see one last dawn before you die. It seemed fitting and poetic. The dawn bringing the hope of a new day to the mammals of this city. As we speak, an army of mammals is moving against you."

Dawn's voice was hard, the innocent ewe nowhere to be found. "Show yourself and I'll be merciful."

Nick laughed, no longer throwing his voice. "You don't recognize me, Dawn? After everything you've done. The carefully crafted torture you set before me. I should be insulted." Yanking the cord he had run to the curtains covering the southern windows, they pulled aside illuminating him. Though both Doug and Dawn's heads snapped to the opening curtains.

"Truly, I'm hurt. But then again, you never understood who I actually am."

Doug and Dawn looked to where Nick sat, lounging in the chair and seemingly relaxed without a care in the world. Doug tried shooting him, finding the weapon to be empty. He tried to reload and found his spare magazines missing. Nick shook his head. "Tsk tsk, Doug. This is not going to be a fair fight. It won't really be a fight at all."

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Nick continued. "You broke me, Dawn. Credit where credit is due. You succeeded in breaking me. That said, you will regret doing so, for however long I choose to let you live." Nick ignored Dawn hitting the panic button, as he'd already disabled it. "You brought me to breaking a promise. One I made to my mother, and to myself. One could argue that her spirit visited me and released me from that promise. But even if that is true, that doesn't relieve me of the same promise to myself."

Doug leapt at Nick, only to have Nick meet him at the edge of the bed. Doug found himself flying through the air, smashing through the chair Nick had been sitting in. Nick was on him immediately, picked him up by the Neck, holding Doug off the ground. Nick glanced over to Dawn. "I'll be right with you, so don't go anywhere."

Nick turned his focus on Doug. "Calm yourself, Doug. Your death comes soon enough, but not just yet." With that, Nick dropped him in a heap and struck him repeatedly. He then posed Doug as if he were a wire cored model, placing him in a very embarrassing position. Bent over, hooves on his knees, head up, and back arched. "There we go."

Dawn saw this and whimpered. "What have you done to him?"

"Nothing special. It's called a mammalquin. I'm sure you've seen one before in a department store, showing off clothes and such. Only in this case, it's a real mammal, Doug, instead of plastic. Basically I have paralyzed him. You might not know this, but in ancient times it really was a mammal, usually a slave given something to make them like Doug is now. Paralyzed but pose-able.

Now to you, Dawn. That promise I made, I will be breaking. I swore I would never kill in anger. I'm going to break that promise, for you, and Doug. For Woolter, and the rest of your lieutenants. All of which is your fault, because you did succeed in breaking me, just as you hoped. I am angry, Dawn. In point of fact, as of now, I have killed dozens or more of your guards and private security forces as they slept in their barracks. Automated guns riddling the buildings with 50 caliber explosive rounds, flechette rounds, and just standard steel jacket.

Actually… Enraged is an insufficient word. You hurt me, Dawn. You have hurt this city. You've arranged the murder of innocent mammals. Who became the victims of your drug to further your drive for power and the enslavement and genocide of every predator on this planet. There is a ZPD officer out there that put down a twelve year old kit because the law required it. A law you enacted. They are not one of your toadies, but a damn good officer who, despite everything, feels bad for having done it, all the while thinking it was a mercy. Can you imagine the guilt they're going to feel once the truth about the collars comes out? The fact that you always had a cure? They're a damn good officer, and when the truth comes out, I know they'll stand on my side of things. I pray they get help once this is all over, before they do something drastic.

It is for this reason and many others that you will die, and it will be by my direct action. You are going to suffer, before you die. You are going to suffer in ways that modern mammals have never heard of, much less seen in their wildest nightmares. You are going to suffer as much as I can make you. It can in no way make up for the evil you have done, or has been done in your name. I can only pray that there is an actual hell, so that demons can finish the job I start. Because no matter what I do to you, it will be woefully inadequate recompense to what you have done."

Dawn jumped off the bed and made a run for the bathroom, but Nick beat her there. Lifting her off her feet by the poof of wool on her head. She screamed "Guards!"

Nick grinned and chuckled darkly, "Well, most of them are a bit busy, but the few that are likely to hear you won't be able to do much. In fact, my dear Dawny-poo, you just killed them." He turned her to face the doors still hanging by her poof as they started to open, only for an explosive shaped charge to obliterate the doors, turning them into shrapnel that rocketed down the hallway. "Oh, I do hope there were no innocent mammals that way. Let's go see, shall we?"

Dawn had a hold of his wrist, trying to hold herself up. "You're hurting me!"

Nick poked her several times, setting her on her feet, just as frozen as Doug. He then ripped his mask off and got right in her face, the rage clear in his eyes as he screamed in her face. "GOOD! IT IS ONLY THE FUCKING START!" Shaking himself and regaining his composure, Nick continued, "Very soon, you're going to wish and pray for such insignificant pain." Poking her again. "Now follow me, Dawn. You can speak, even scream if you want, but you will do as I tell you. Oh and you'll find it quite impossible not to." Looking over to where Doug was posed. "You too, Doug. Come along but keep that ass up. Show off those assssets as we walk, won't you.."

Doug bleated in rage as his body refused to do as he told it, and instead straightened up and walked over to Nick. "How are you doing this!" Doug practically shouted.

"As I was telling Dawn. There is much about me that she didn't know. Didn't care to know or even learn." Nick shrugged casually. "Simply because I'm just some worthless pelt. Someone for you to torture and toy with. Your reign of terror is now at an end." Woolter and Jesse suddenly appeared from a side hallway, and seeing Nick, charged. With a grin, Nick leapt forward and moments later had both of them in lock step with Dawn and Doug. Nick clapped his paws together, "Oh, this is going to be so much fun! I've got the four of you already in paw. Oh, and just so you know. Even if someone were to snipe me right now, none of you would live past the next dawn. Lovely little side effect of what I have done to you. It puts a bit of a strain on your system and your heart will give out. Ensures that, no matter what happens, you will die. And I assure you, it will be unpleasant in the most absolutely delicious of ways."

Dawn whimpered. "Can you at least let us put on some clothes?"

Cocking his head to the side, Nick snorted. "No. In fact… Jesse, Woolter, strip." The two sheep bleated in anger and embarrassment, yet did as instructed. "Oh, and Dawn, I do have the ability to release you. I won't, but I could. Just like you had the cure the entire time, but instead got laws passed to conscript the ZPD to murder your victims for you. So, let us continue. I know the perfect place for us to have a wonderful view of things, while I complete what it is I'm going to do to you."

They walked for several minutes through the compound. Mammals running in various directions, weapons firing out into the city, with return fire as well. They were moving through a courtyard when a goat fell in front of them, hole in his chest. Nick looked down at him with disdain. "Oh, that's too bad. I was hoping we would run into him still alive. Oh well. He was just one of your more violent enforcers." Reaching down, Nick easily snapped the goats horns off and drove them into his own eyes.

Dawn screamed in horror. "ERIC! How could you? He had done nothing to you!"

Nick turned to face them all. "It isn't just about what you did to me. Hell, if you had only done this to me, we wouldn't be here. But we'll get into the specifics soon enough. Though I'm still kinda sad you don't recognize me. I mean, I did take off the mask."

Dawn screamed now in rage. "You worthless pelt! I'll use your hide as my rug! Your tail will adorn my walls!"

Nick smiled sadly at Dawn. "Oh, Dawny-poo … You realize that I let you speak not because I can't prevent you from doing so, right? Just look at Jesse and Woolter." Dawn turned. "All they can do is bleat like the beasts they are. I could even stop them doing that, just as I could silence you. But go ahead and keep making threats. It entertains me, knowing that no matter what happens, if I die in the next second, you are as good as dead yourself."

Dawn fumed for a second, then screamed at Nick. "I will cut her throat in front of you before I kill you. That way you can watch her die again!"

Nick raised an eyebrow, but otherwise ignored it. "You know, I took off the mask because there wasn't a need for it, and no one really needs to know that a Hellketta master assassin is the one doing this to you."

Doug laughed. "The Hellketta were destroyed, along with all those other groups. There were no survivors."

Giving a wicked smirk, Nick nodded. "Well, they were destroyed, true, but you and your friends did not succeed in killing us all. Just as you managed to destroy most of the data you sought to capture. What little you did get was incomplete at best. Just think of how long it took you to put together the Night Howler compound, and yet, even that you screwed up. What you created is actually the combination of several things. A bastardized creation with strange side effects. Consider me. Should I have been able to lift you up, Doug?"

"No. How were you able to do that?"

"Because of what you dosed me with. You probably assumed that it was just because we were savage that we were stronger. No, it's what you gave us. Not that it'll matter to you soon. Because, you are not allowed to reveal that information, nor act on it." Doug visibly twitched causing Nick to snicker wickedly. "Oh, that can't have felt good." Nick grinned evilly. "Come along. I'm hoping to collect a few others before we start this."

They exited the courtyard shortly thereafter and collected a few more mammals along the way. Some other lieutenants and others. All following lock step behind Nick, and all but Dawn and Doug unable to do more than grunt in anger, fear, and frustration. Dawn and Doug wisely remained silent. Dawn finally spoke as they stepped out onto a large upper terrace that overlooked the city. Fires could be seen burning, sirens blaring, and in clear view on the street were several ZPD cruisers, the officers on one side in an apparent firefight with other ZPD officers. One side being bolstered by a dozen predators. Dawn gasped as what appeared to be a wolf picked up and threw an elephant sized dumpster at the opposing side, destroying one of the cruisers. "How… How is that possible?"

Nick stood behind the group of mammals. "That wolf has been given a dose of one of the completed compounds that you based your drug off of. It won't last, and he's going to be sore in the morning after doing that, but yeah. He is going to be able to do stuff like that for many hours. It essentially unlocks the absolute peak potential of a mammal. A short term super soldier serum, if you will. Now, turn around, all of you face me in a single line."

The group did as they were told. Hateful glares pointed in his direction. Doug yelling, "Why don't you just kill us and get it over with? Why play with us like some twisted puppeteer?"

Nick smiled, though there was no warmth to it. "You need to ask? You are all going to have a wonderful view of the day, the night, which is scheduled to be a comfortably warm one, and then the dawn. It will likely be the last thing you see. At least, for those of you that survive. You and Dawn however will be gotten to last. First, let me address some of the others." Nick turned and faced an antelope who glared down at him. "You may speak your name."

The antelope gasped. "George Willow."

Nick nodded and paced around him. "Hello George. I'm Nick. That's all you need to know. I know you, George. You actually helped write the bill that required ZPD officers to put down any mammal, specifically predators, that went savage. Tell me, George. Were you aware that the reason predators were going savage was due to a drug in their collars?"

"No, not that it matters. Any beast that can be driven to such insanity with just a drug is no better than the beast they become."

"I see. Strip. Then go for a walk. Walk through the predator areas." Nick poked him in the back of the neck. "There, that will prevent your heart from exploding in the morning. If you make it until dawn tomorrow, report to Precinct One. Tell Bogo, or whomever Bogo instructs you to tell. Tell them all the things you have done under Dawn's rule, and for her. Once that is done, you are free." George began to strip. "Oh, and George. You may speak, but are not allowed to tell anyone what has happened here today, or why you are doing what you are doing. And one last question. Have you ever mated with Dawn?"

"I have not. You will pay for this, pelt! I will make sure of it!"

Nick shrugged with a dark chuckle. "On your way, Georgie." George then walked away, cursing and making threats, and attempting to fight his current state the whole time. He went through five other mammals the same way, sending them on their way for a long walk, and then report to Bogo if they survived.

Dawn screamed at him. "You have murdered them!"

"Have I?" Nick leaned over looking at dawn, then towards the last retreating mammal. Smirking, he looked back at Dawn, "If the predators in the city are as you claim, then I suppose I have. That said, it would be far less than they deserve. Though, you won't live long enough I expect, to find out what happens to them. Now…" Turning to a pig. "You are Swinton, correct."

The pig answered, hate in her eyes. "I am."

Nick nodded at the confirmation. "You are one of Dawn's closest advisors, correct?"

"I am."

Dawn yelled. "Clair, don't tell him anything."

Nick laughed. "The only person she can even hear right now is me, Dawn. Again, You and Doug are special cases. Clair, was it? Can you hear anyone but me?"

"No."

"You helped design the collars current state, didn't you?"

"I did."

"The injector, was your idea?"

"It was. And if you were wearing a collar, I'd order it to kill you."

Nick nodded. "I expected as much." Glancing at Dawn. "I'm actually rather surprised I haven't killed anyone directly yet. I suppose my promise still holds some sway with me. Still, I think you can be my first. Pop my cherry, as it were."

"What?"

"Oh, didn't you know Clair? You, and everyone else here is going to die. Some directly by my paw. You get the honor of being the first. However, it can't be a simple death. It needs to be a good bit longer. Painful. Lasting. Lingering, even. You seem rather well fed. You enjoy your food, don't you?"

"I do." Terror clearly evident in Clair's voice.

Nick grinned. "Oh, that's quite perfect then. I guess you won't get to be my first, but your death will likely be very long and painful."

"What are you going to do?"

"First, you can now look around and see and hear the others. Now then. You will find that all good, delicious food, tastes of the foulest garbage. It will taste rotten and as ash in your mouth. If you do manage to swallow some of it, you will throw it up. You can however eat one thing, and it will taste as the finest ambrosia. Eat enough, and it will be outright orgasmic for you. That item is…" Leaning over to whisper in her ear so that only she can hear. "Rotten fruit and vegetables. Rotten protein, like chicken and bugs, will give you an orgasm."

She screamed in horror. "NO!"

Still whispering in her ear. "Yes, and a full belly of the most rancid, molded, slimy garbage will also make you cum. However, you will not remember this. You will have to figure this out on your own." Snapping his fingers, as tears ran down her face. "So that you, and Dawn are aware, or reminded I suppose. You had my own mother come and see me savage, accused of having murdered Judy. Then, once you had the collars with the drug injector in them, and the law to have them mammals so afflicted put down in place. Do you remember what you did?"

Clair, tears streaming from her eyes spoke in a terrified voice. "No."

"No?" Glancing at Dawn and seeing her own confusion. "You used my mother as the first victim. You set off her collar while she was grocery shopping. One of your willing ZPD officers being the one to respond and per the law, put her down. Only, he was a crappy shot, unfamiliar with lethal firearms, and didn't get an instant kill. No, he just wounded her, and after shooting her nearly a dozen times, just stood there as she bled out. So… Clair, given that. You by your creation of the collars and helping get that law passed, then used my mother as the first test of the system, murdered her. Report to Bogo and tell him all that you have done. Everything. Good luck in figuring out what it is you will still be able to eat."

Crying, Clair turned. "Dawny! I'm sorry. I love you!"

Dawn was crying as well. "Clair!" Her enraged glare turned on Nick. "That's beyond cruel! You are the evil one here!"

"Says the mammal that was trying to commit genocide against literally thousands of different species! Did you not just hear what you did, TO MY MOTHER‽" Nick snapped, screaming in her face at the end. He shook himself out and addressed the three mammals still there, other than Doug, Jesse, Dawn, and Woolter. Another deer doe, a pygmy nanny goat, and a bull ox. The doe, being pregnant, was sent directly to Precinct one. She wasn't guilty of much other than being in on it. The goat however left Nick in a rage.

Nick focused on the goat. "Let me get this straight. Your job was as the overseer for all the orphaned predators created by their parents going savage and being put down? You would then sell off these children, no matter the age, as basically livestock. And you also maintained a brothel for some of the older ones?" The rage leaving him, replaced with absolute horrified shock.

"I did. They're nothing but beasts anyway. What does it matter what happened to them? It lets them live longer than they would have abandoned on the streets."

The rage returning, Nick grabbed her right arm and commenced to crush the bones in her hoof, and up her arm, pondering his work as she screamed, until he got to the shoulder. He then repeated the process with her other arm. Once done, he gave her a dose of something from his coat. Once done, he snapped off her horns and drove the points into her shoulders.

"You will report to Precinct One and tell them everything you have done. You will then find a way to break your legs. What I have given you is called The Withering. It will cause your body to begin doing just that, but slowly, one small piece at a time." Pulling each horn, dropping something on the tip and then driving it back into her shoulder. "That process will start at dawn, the day after your horns are removed from your shoulders. You are free to tell anyone who will listen to you this fact. If you can keep them from removing the horns, and keep them from falling out, you'll live. But the moment they come out, the process starts, and I'm told it is extremely painful. On your way. You're free once you've told them everything at the Precinct, but do remember, it must be recorded. And do be honest, it's for posterity after all."

She walked away screaming the foulest obscenities. Turning to the bull, Nick looked him up and down. "You're just a murderous thug who took great pleasure in torturing and beating predators, or anyone that didn't agree, stood against, or spoke against Dawn. I'll bet you were even one of the mammals she fucked."

"I was. I loved how she would squeal and beg as I rammed my cock into her. I also enjoyed watching her as she mated with the predators. One last gift before their deaths."

Nick nodded, revulsion and anger on his muzzle. Pulling a blade, he sliced into the bull, severing his hamstrings and dropping him closer to Nick's level. He then slowly carved into the bull as he screamed. Removing fingers, toes, then his feet and hands, quickly cauterizing the wounds as he went. He broke off the bulls horns, heated them till they were smoking, then drove them into the sides of his shoulders, deep into the joint.

Nick chuckled as the Bull screamed. "You know, I always loved that movie. The threat. To the pain. Princess Bride. I had wondered what it would actually look like, and now here you are. I must say, it is quite effective. I wonder why they never taught us this one. I suppose it isn't subtle enough for a clan of assassins. It is rather up in your face, given how it leaves the subject. That said, we can't have you being able to enjoy anything, now can we?" Nick was fondling the bulls balls, scratching at the sensitive skin with his claws causing the bull to get hard despite his screams and protests."

Pulling a blade, which he again heated. Nick very slowly cut the bulls shaft from his body at the base, shoving the still hard member down the bulls throat after making dawn lick it clean. "One last treat for your eyes. Getting to see Dawn lick you clean one last time. Too bad you couldn't feel it. Hopefully the memory will keep you going. "Nick then cut out both eyes and fed them to him as well, before removing the bulls tongue. Tears raining from the bulls now empty eye-sockets.

Lastly, scratching the bulls balls gently. "Lastly, I think we need to do something about these. Using the same heated blade, he castrated the bull. Using a needle, he quickly stitched them to the bulls nose so that they hung in front of it, forcing any inhale to be over his own balls. "There we go. I think you are done. You are free, once you make it out of the compound, or at dawn tomorrow. Be on your way." The bull, whimpering and crying, making begging sounds as he tried to speak, began to crawl away. Running into Woolter and knocking him over, running into the wall, and then using that to guide himself away.

Dawn looked on, utterly aghast and horrified. "My gods. You are a monster."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "A monster? You… Dawn Bellwether… Are calling me a monster? Oh, now that is rich coming from you. You truly have no shame over what you've done. That just complicates how I meter out my punishment. Then again, maybe I'm overthinking it and should just slit your throat? We'll see if we get there." Laughing heartily for a moment and turning to Doug once he calmed down. "Doug, my friend. Do you love Dawn?"

Doug smiled at Dawn warmly. "With all my heart and soul. I would give anything for her. She is my mate."

"I see. Good to know. Dawn, do you feel the same? Is Doug your mate? Do you love him? Would you give your life for him?"

A clear struggle took place in Dawn, showing clearly on her muzzle as she tried to hold back her answer as fear took over Doug's as he watched. "I… I do love him, but not like that. He is a good mate, and any ewe would be lucky to have him. He's so attentive and loving. But… I need more than one mammal." A pleading look taking over his face. "Please. You already murdered Eric. Take back what you did to Clair. I… I'll do anything."

Nick smiled. "Too late. She's already gone, and beyond your reach. She will likely starve to death, slowly, over the next many weeks. Trying desperately to figure out what it is that she can eat. I may even tell you what that is. But first. Doug…" Seeing the hurt in his eyes. "Oh, you didn't know. I thought maybe you knew that Dawn wasn't a one mammal ewe. Although I would dispute the idea that you are a good mate. A good mate would have stopped her from becoming the monster that she is. Did you know she used to fuck Lionheart? Back when she was just the lowly assistant mayor?"

Doug let out an enraged gasping bleat. "No! She wouldn't! Not with a predator."

Nick nodded. "Oh, she very much did. You enjoyed that feline cock too, didn't you, Dawn. You loved it when Leodore slipped his big kitty dick into you, didn't you?"

Tears streamed down her face. "Yes! But I swear, it was all part of the plan. I had to do it to get behind his defenses." Doug looked at her, unadulterated disgust in his eyes as tears streamed down his muzzle. Dawn cried out in anguish. "You have to believe me, baby! It didn't mean anything."

Doug yelled. "Shut up! Was he the only one? Who else have you been with? Did I ever mean anything to you?"

Nick grinned. "Well, there was the bull that just left for one. Go ahead. Tell him, Dawn. I didn't let him hear or see quite everything that has happened thus far. I was kind, that way. Tell him everything. Who else has there been, and what did you like about them? How many times did you go back to them? What made them so good that you kept going back?"

Sobbing, Dawn looked up at Doug. "I'm sorry. Eric was one of the first. He caught me in college. We were both drunk, and we, you and I, were on that first break. I was hurting and lost because you walked out on me. I wanted to think it didn't mean anything, but the way he goes at me, it's almost savage. And he has the horns… I love hanging onto them as he pounds into me." A lustful look coming over her before she remembered that he was dead back in the courtyard, a hole in his chest and his own horns driven through his eyes.

Doug was now sobbing, as Nick spoke to both Jesse and Woolter quietly. Letting them both be able to see and hear everything. "You swore that me not having horns didn't matter."

Dawn cried harder. "It doesn't matter! I love you for you, lack of horns and all. But it is one of the things that I enjoyed about Eric. Lionheart's cock was small for a lion, it was something he was especially self conscious about, but to me it was huge. I loved the way it felt, he was so much bigger than me. He said he loved me and would have done anything for me. He was always so gentle, despite his size."

"Who else?" Doug asked, his voice a mix of rage and pleading to know the truth.

"Clair. I truly love her. I don't know how it happened, but it's why I brought her in, an omnivore. She was strictly a vegetarian, and she was so amazing. She just seemed to know exactly what I needed and when. We shared Eric and many others. Lionheart was one that we shared many times. His tongue was amazing. He was so much larger, it could reach so deep." Dawn continued to describe other mammals and lovers she had until she finally exhausted the list of mammals she knew the names of.

Doug asked, almost quietly, desperately. "Who else?"

"I don't know their names. They were preds that we brought in as slaves. Once I tired of them, I'd send them away and then trigger their collars. A few I would kill just as they came. They cum so much harder as they die. Especially the canines. Their knot is the best thing ever created around sex, and they just keep cumming for minutes, even when you've killed them, their bodies just keep going."

Nick recoiled. "That is, I think, quite enough of that… Damn, Dawn. You're one fucked up mammal. I take it there are more, Dawn?"

"Yes."

"What about you, Doug. Any secrets in your sexual closet?"

Doug laughed. "Dawn, I loved you. I truly did. Do… But right now, I hate you more. Jesse and I have been an item since before we met. I called it off when I met you. We have gotten together a few times a year just to work out some issues. Although once he and Jesse got together, even that stopped, and I didn't care, because I had you. I was with you. You were my everything. Eric tried to get with me, and I shot him down, because I was with you. Jesse and Woolter tried to tell me, tried to bring me in with them, but I refused to believe it. I was a fool. I let you use me!" Doug was now very angry. "You used me. You used me to take out the likes of the Hellketta by planting evidence of them planning a coup of the government and assassination of the president. And I let you! All to get to the knowledge we used to create the serum. I let you turn me into a monster I can't stand to look at in the mirror, but so long as I had you, it was worth it… Only…" Sobs taking over for a few moments. "I never actually had you, did I ?"

Dawn had no reply as Nick nodded. "Love will do that to you. So that's it?"

Doug sighed. The wool around his face was stained and wet. "It is. Those times that I was with Jesse were during those early days when we would break up. So even then, I wasn't cheating on you. I've never cheated on you. Yet you… You sullied yourself with not just other species, but predators? Nick, please end this already. I can't take this anymore."

Nick nodded and smirked. "Sorry buddy." Patting him on the shoulder. "But you still have a part to play in this. As you stated, you let her use you, twist you. You've made this bed, now, you get to lay in it. Or to borrow something Judy might have said. You planted this field, watered it, watched it grow and flourish, and now it is time that you reap what you have sown."

Doug nodded in resignation but said nothing more, so Nick continued. "All these admissions have given me a wonderful idea. Firstly, none of you may leave this terrace, or force one of the others to do so. If you do, you will die screaming. You will tell anyone who tries to remove you this fact. This terrace is where you will stay until you die. That means no throwing each other over the side, pushing each other down the stairs, etc… Once I tell you, you will be free to move about on this terrace. You also cannot attack each other or any mammal that sets foot up here, order a mammal to injure each other, save to keep yourselves here on this terrace.

Now. Dawn. Here is how you can extend your life. You can have sex. Every time your partner cums, if they are a prey mammal, will add an hour to your life. If it is a predator, it'll add a day." Nick was pulling things out of his pockets, dozens of vials, powders, and such. Lining them up along the railing of the terrace. "You have to tell this mammal why and what happens if they don't. If you do convince a predator to do you, you can abstain for the rest of the day, your clock starting again at dawn and going until dawn. However, you cannot tell anyone this fact, and any further sex you have does not extend your time until that next dawn and the clock starts again. You'll want to be having sex within that first hour of dawn, or you will start dying, and if you don't get laid, the mammal cuming inside you by that following dawn. Well, lets just say it won't be pleasant and will take until the next dawn with no way to end the suffering until you are dead.

Now here's the fun part. This sex. It will be excruciating. It will be the worst pain you have ever felt, every time, but you can only moan and call out as if in ecstasy, and you cannot tell anyone that it is in fact agony that you are experiencing. This however is different for three mammals. If you can convince Jesse or Woolter to willingly fuck you, you'll get a week. If you can convince Doug, you will be freed from this.

That means your life will no longer be at risk, but you cannot tell anyone that. Also, that sex with Jesse and Woolter, it'll just be sex. With Doug, it'll be the best sex you have ever had in your life. But again, any partner must cum for you to get the benefits." Nick turned to Doug. "For you, Doug, Jesse, Woolter. You guys only need to have sex once a day, before dawn to get an extension for that following day, rinse and repeat. It can even be with each other.

Though with each other, you'll only get a few hours extension each time, and it doesn't stack past that first hour of the following dawn. Get yourselves a predator, and you get a week, but just like Dawn, you have to tell them why. And Doug, if you do give in and have sex with Dawn, it will also be the best sex you have ever had, but once you start, you cannot stop, and that will be the last time you do it, as that will be the last thing you do. Have sex with her, you release her, and you die.

So there is your true dilemma. If you, Dawn, can convince Doug to fuck you by dawn tomorrow, you will live. If not, you will die first thing in the morning as the sun breaks. Convince Jesse or Woolter, and Doug gets to actually watch you cheat on him in order to save your own life. And Doug, when she dies, you are released, as are you, Jesse and Woolter. I think that just about does it. Any questions?"

Doug sighed. "So, I can fuck her one last time, it releases her from dying, but I'll die. If Jesse, Woolter, and I get busy, and wait till morning, I get to watch her die, I assume in agony. I am then free to go."

"You will not die anymore, but you will live the rest of your days here, on this terrace."

"But I would be free otherwise?"

Nick nodded. "You would be. So the question is, did you truly mean it when you said you would do anything for her? Or are you like the Beatlelloaf song, "You'l do anything for love, but you won't do that?"

Jesse and Woolter groaned. Doug looked to Dawn. "I have to think about this. When I said it earlier, I believed it, because I didn't know. Now that it is out there. I can feel my heart breaking. I truly would have given you everything, including my life. Now… If I wait, I will die as well, in agony I assume?"

Nick nodded. "Most assuredly. Now is when I give you all an alternative. Instead of death. I can lock you inside your bodies, much as you are now, but you will get exactly two minutes every morning as the dawn breaks, to move. You will essentially be living statues. How does that sound?"

Doug blinked. "That is no better. Maybe even worse."

Nick chuckled. "I would have thought it would be clear by now that none of my options are going to be great. Truth be told, I'm tempted to just freeze all of you and leave you that way. I've played with so many options. I could also just leave you frozen, able to talk to each other, just inches from each other. If you can pull it off, if you can get to each other, you'd be able to save each other. But never being able to move. I could reverse all sensations. Pleasure is pain. Pain is pleasure. Heat is cold. Etc… I could just march you all out into the crowds and see what happens. But I promised myself that you two, and you specifically Dawn, will die by my paw."

Nick looked down and sighed. "In the end, I don't think I can bring myself to do any of the twisted things I've thought up thus far. As much as you all deserve it, but most especially you, Doug, and you, Dawn." Sweeping everything he had laid out back into his pockets. "In the end, me killing you would satisfy my personal need for vengeance, but it wouldn't fix anything. I know what Judy would want. So that is what I will do, and hope that satisfies her spirit."

Jesse started making bleating noises and groans. Nick rolled his eyes, but Dawn beat him to it. "Shut up, Jesse!"

This caused Nick's eyebrow to raise. "Hmm… Go ahead. Jesse, Woolter, you are free to speak."

Jesse gasped. "She's not dead!"

Dawn screamed back at him. "She might as well be!"

Nick's fur stood on end at the implication. "What?! Explain yourself!"

Jesse bleated in fear. "We don't understand it. She should have died, but she didn't. Something kept her alive, but the lack of oxygen to her brain. It was like a reset. She healed, completely, except her mind. She was a blank slate. Like one of those bad movie amnesia things. She could talk, do basic things, take instruction, but the part that was her, the memories. Gone. No one was ever able to figure it out."

Nick dropped to his knees, then was instantly on his feet, Dawn lifted by her throat. "Is that true? She is alive?"

"Just her body, and if I had known, I'd have had her brought here and slit her throat in front of you."

Turning to Doug. "What of you? Do I kill her?"

Doug refused to look up. "Do what you want."

Nick dropped Dawn, threw his head back and fox screamed. "Do any of you know where she is?"

Jesse spoke. "Last I checked, her parents checked her out of the hospital and had taken her home."

Nick nodded, suddenly cold. "Very well. All of you, follow me. You will remain silent unless I speak to you. All that stuff from before. The sex to live, forget it. No, we're going to do what Judy would want. We're going to see Bogo, and I will let the city's justice system deal with you. What you will not ever do is try to escape."

With that, Nick led them outside the compound where the ZPD and Predators were mopping things up. Wolford stepped up. "I'm kinda surprised they're not dead. Although the blood spots on her neck suggest it was close."

"Closer than you realize. Please load us all up into a cruiser and get us to the precinct. I'm turning them over, then I have a new mission far from the city."

"So they told you."

Nick growled and rolled his eyes. "So everyone knew?"

Wolford shook his head. "No. Just those at the top. It was not a well kept secret, but since the Hopps didn't want the publicity and all that, they let the belief that she died stand."

Nick nodded. "Makes sense."

"So, not going to kill or torture them?"

"Oh, I'm still tempted. I want to, but that would be to spit on Judy's memory. No. I need to turn them over to Bogo, and then I will go to Bunnyburrow."

Wolford nodded. "This way then."

Nick ordered the four sheep into the cruiser, riding shotgun as Wolford drove. A bare ten minutes later, they were exiting the cruiser at Precinct One. The four sheep were placed in an isolated holding cell, which was a converted interview room. Nick was then led to Bogo.

XXX

As they entered Bogo's office, he looked over Wolford. "You look good, Mike. I hope you'll consider rejoining once everything is said and done."

"I'll consider it, as will Kathy. But that's a later conversation. Nick brought in Dawn, Doug, and two other sheep, mostly intact. I'll leave you to it. I need to get back out there."

Bogo nodded and turned his attention to the fox. "So. Couldn't do it?"

Nick shook his head. "I was close. Setting them all up with the Harlot's Yoke with a few modifications. I couldn't do it. I'll need to release them or alter the hold on them soon, or the damage will be permanent. As it is, they'll tell you anything you want to know and cannot, not, answer and it'll always be the truth.

Bogo frowned. "It would have been better if you had simply killed them. The justice system is not up to the task, and too many mammals with questionable loyalties are still in place and will remain in place. It truly would be simpler. We all hoped you would just do it."

"It isn't what Judy would want. In the end, that is what made the decision. I will still have my pound of flesh, but not like that. It isn't sufficient. They need to suffer and I haven't figured out how yet."

Bogo nodded. "I understand. You mother, Judy. Yeah, I know what happened. I'm sorry."

Nick nodded grimly in return. " Let's finish this."

Bogo followed Nick and stood to one side as he looked over the four sheep. Nick paced for a few moments. Stopping, he faced them. "I really want to end all four of you. What I proposed… It's called the Harlot's Yoke. It was used to control slaves and ensure compliance. Their purpose as slaves obvious, given the rules. Although I was going to modify it some." They were then led to a large mammal interview room, giving plenty of room. Nick paced in front of them some more as they sat as ordered at a table. "So here is what you're going to do. You are going to write down everything. Plans. Passwords. Names. Everything." Bogo set a collection of pens and a stack of paper. "Like in school, name at the top of each page, and number them in order. Get to work. Do not speak to each other unless it is to clarify something. It must be the one hundred percent truth as you know it."

Hours later, Jesse and Woolter finished. Nick led them out of the room. Handing them each a pill and ordering them to take it. Woolter swallowed. "What was that?"

Nick grinned. "It was something similar to the Harlot's Yoke. It is called the Prisoners' Penance." Poking both of them several times. " Once it hits your bloodstream in a high enough quantity you will revert. You will behave as a tame, compliant, savage. Your mind will still be there, awake, but imprisoned behind the simple, docile, savage. Much like the Harlot's Yoke, your freedom is dependent on sex.

You have fewer restrictions than I was suggesting back on the terrace. Someone has sex with you, even if that is each other, and you'll return to your current state for a day. The antidote can be administered at any time. I'll be providing that to Bogo. Though don't count on him giving it to you anytime soon. Also, the antidote only take the place of having sex for a week, it is a not cure, there is no actual cure, just temporary relief. Also note, that mammal has to cum in you, or you in them for it to count."

Once in a holding cell, Nick grinned. "You are both released. Enjoy the next hour or so. The penance will kick in soon, and the sex will only work if it starts after the penance kicks in. So if you feel like it, get one last fuck in, before you become tied to it." Adding a lock of his own to the door, he left. Woolter and Jesse holding each other. In the interview room, Dawn and Doug continued to write. Nick looked over their work. "So… How much more do you have?"

Doug glanced up. "I've got a bit more. After Dawn secured power, I didn't have a need to do much like before. With the collars in place, I was able to focus and dedicate myself to Dawn. I knew she had a lot going on, but I was okay with that. When I thought all those late nights was her actually working."

Dawn wiped a tear. "I'm sorry, Doug. It was unfair to you. I do love you, but I needed more. I have a few more hours yet."

Nick nodded. "Good. Keep at it. I'll be back." Finding his way to Bogo, he turned over Jesse and Woolters documents.

Bogo flipped through the stacks of paper. "So what now?"

"Jesse and Woolter are in a holding cell and have been given the Prisoners' Penance. They'll be compliant savages shortly. If you need them to talk, just get someone to fuck them. They'll be able to speak and seem normal until the following dawn before reverting." Setting a bottle of green pills on the desk." This is the cure, sort of. They have to be given one per week or they'll revert." Placing a bottle of red pills. "This is the Prisoners' Penance itself. Give it to anyone you want to punish accordingly. They'll be calm, compliant savages, but their mind will still be there, active, able to feel, hear, and see everything, just unable to do anything. Feel free to have more created. There is no permanent cure."

"Why sex?"

"There are special chemicals released during sex and specifically an orgasm that acts to block the effects of the Prisoners' Penance. Nice thing is, any offspring are unaffected by the penance."

Bogo frowned. "That's a disturbingly specific detail."

Nick shrugged. "The original use was the control of slaves. In modern times, it provides a real easy control over criminals like Jesse and Woolter. While incarcerated, they're easy to literally corral. Even if you are issuing the antidote, what happens if they escape? The antidote is unstable. Only lasts a few days before it changes and becomes useless. You just have to keep the formula safe."

Bogo groaned. "Meaning you are giving it to me and no one else."

Grinning as he headed for the door. "Yep!" Returning to the interview room, Nick found Doug finished. "Good. Here, take this." Handing Doug a red pill.

Swallowing it without thinking, Doug sighed. "At this point, would it be too much to hope that that was poison?"

Nick shook his head. "Nope. Not that lucky. Come on. I'll explain it on the way. Unlocking the holding cell, Doug entered, finding Jesse and Woolter on all fours wandering the cell. They did not react to either of them immediately. After Nick locked the door, Jesse came over to Doug, rubbing against him. "Seems he still likes you. The instincts that drive him, and soon you, in this state are core to a mammals being. They are softer, docile, compliant, but still a reflection of the truth of the mammal. So, Doug, Jesse still cares about you. If you want to talk, you know what you need to do."

Doug sighed and walked over to one of the bunks and laid down. "I've got an hour or two."

Nick had already left, returning to Dawn. At nearly midnight, Dawn finished. "Done, you piece of dung, pelt."

Giving a wide yawn, Nick stretched. "Now Dawn. No need to be like that. You still have a few hours before dawn and I decide if I'm going to let you live as a beast, or end your life."

Anger and hatred clear in her voice. "What do you mean, live as a beast? You already threatened worse!"

"I did more than threaten. I was going to inflict a modification of the Harlot's Yoke on you, but I decided that wasn't something Judy could allow, and that is what saved you from it. I've already applied the prisoner's penance to Jesse, Woolter, and Doug. By now, they're all nice, docile beasts, their minds still there and awake, but locked behind their baser instincts. Able to see, hear, and feel everything, but unable to act upon it. Like the Harlot's Yoke, sex would release you from it for a few hours, but there is no other cure. The reality is, with the Harlot's Yoke, if you have enough sex, like a true marathon, every hole filed with no rest, you can break it. A true, world record breaking marathon that no mammal would ever seek to challenge, gang bang, with you as the sole recipient. However, I don't really think either of those is enough for you."

Dawn looked at him in horror. "That's sick!"

Nick shrugged as he made sure all the paper was in order and placed them in a folder for Bogo. "Hey, I didn't come up with it. They were originally created centuries ago to control slaves, depending on the role of said slave. Something I figured you would appreciate, given what you were turning the predators of this city into. Don't think I didn't see the bit about a breeding program. The Harlot's Yoke actually prevented pregnancy as part of its function.

Still, not sure what I'm going to do. I mean, the instinctive need for vengeance for my mate and mother would have me simply ripping your throat out. However, the more refined part of me knows that just is woefully inadequate. Although I think I've mentioned that a few times now. Anyway, to the options. There is the Withering." Setting a black pill on the table, a small vial of clear liquid next to it. "It's a rather terrible way to go. Every morning at dawn, a small piece of you would die. A finger tip on one paw, or hoof in your case, then another, a toe the next time, slowly working its way up, no more than an inch at a time. The body parts just wither over the course of the day, blackening and rotting. From what I understand, the nerves are the last part to die, so it is rather exquisitely painful, and slow. The best part of it, it keeps you alive even as it slowly eats away your internal organs. It could be rather fascinating, because no one was quite sure when the last written about subject actually died, as the process doesn't stop until the entire body is reduced to dust.

They did note that even though the only part of them left was their head, the jaw continued to move as if screaming, the eyes wild with pain and fear, until the jaw was gone, the eyes rotted out. So not really sure when they expired, fully. I mean, it was two centuries ago. But now… with modern technology, we'd be able to monitor your brain and find out just how long you live."

The fear that Dawn looked at the vial and pill with was palpable. "You wouldn't."

Nick shrugged again, cocking his head from side to side with a shrug. "I might. Decisions. Decisions." Tapping his teeth with a claw. "There are others. The Prisoner's Agony. That turns you into something similar to the Harlot's Yoke, but worse, honestly. You become a beast. Well, not a beast, more of a primitive. Your mind is still there, kinda like a cave mammal, you can express yourself to some extent, but you are still just an animal otherwise. There is the Harlot's Curse, which, well… You become quite literally insatiable." Placing a red pill and a vial of green liquid on the table in turn "You are unable to truly enjoy the sex you cannot stop having. An orgasm is almost permanently barred from you, thus the vial. You'll be able to cum, every morning at dawn, if you happen to be having sex at that moment. To be freed, you have to cum a thousand times in a row, so about two and three quarters years. Miss a morning, and the clock starts over. Think you could pull that off?"

Dawn's face took on a look of horror, though she had no response. Nick continued, placing a purple pill on the table and an orange vial. "Then there are the twins. Pleasures Agony and Pleasures Curse. Two related items. I mean, the ancient Hellketta were sick bastards to come up with this stuff, I tell you. Curse turns anything that feels good into pain, and pain into pleasure. I am considering the use of it in combination with other things. All of these can be combined, by the way. Agony on the other hand, well… It turns every touch, every breath, the slightest breeze, touch of fabric, movement of fur against skin, into almost orgasmic pleasure. A paw running down your arm would be multiple orgasms. Basically, you will cum, until your heart gives out. The very act of breathing too hard can cause an orgasm.

The longest a mammal lasted under Agony is recorded as three days, and they were begging to be simply killed. One sick bastard actually combined the two on a mammal. Can you imagine that? Every breath is nearly orgasmic pleasure, but because of the curse, it's actual agony. The mammal threw itself off a cliff in a bare few hours. Sadly, with the way the agony works, turning every sensation into pleasure, that was a terrible fall."

Dawn could only look at the items on the table in horror and fear. "Dear gods, what madness."

Nick shook his head. "Madness, Dawn? You wrote up your plans for a breeding program to domesticate predators, and turn them into docile slaves. Basically selective breeding to turn them into what the Prisoner's Agony does, but not just affecting specific individuals, but entire species. That, my dear ewe, is madness, and evil on a scale that the Hellketta, and all the things they did and came up with, cannot dare compare to.

Speaking of slaves, I can do that with the Slaves Kiss." Placing a black vial on the table. "This would turn you into what you describe happened to Judy, only your mind would still be there. You still have control over your mouth, but similar to how you have to respond to me, which is a temporary derivation of it using a deep knowledge of mammal anatomy and used for interrogations, the Slaves Kiss is permanent. There is no freedom from it, no cure for it. You feel everything. You can beg, cry, scream, but can do nothing to resist whatever you are told to do. Hmm… Oh, I like that. Especially as it can be combined with other things. Hmm…"

Nick put the rest away except the black pill and clear vial of the withering, and the black vial of the Slaves Kiss. He then placed a yellow vial, with a red swirl in it, next to the black one. Dawn looked at the items still on the table in terror. "What. What are you going to do?"

Nick didn't look up at her, simply staring at the vials in front of him. "It's funny. I mentioned it to Bogo earlier when he asked. All these things have sex and pleasure as the key to unlocking them, to releasing the subject, even if temporarily, from the effects. Or as a direct function of the effects. It's because of the endorphins and chemicals the body and brain releases during sex and specifically orgasm. But for what I'm thinking, we will need a new name. Something appropriate. Something to do with dawn. And given it's first subject will be you, Dawn, it's only the more fitting.

We'll combine the Slaves Kiss with this lovely thing. It has had a few names, none of which stuck, but it's effects are very deeply sex related. I refer to it as Love's Lament. Too much of it is in fact a bad thing. One might call it a love potion, but it isn't that, not really. It just makes sex extra good, and between two mammals who already have feelings for each other, it can cement the love between them. But when mixed with other things, it acts as a pressure release valve if you will. It provides a temporary cure. Meaning, depending on how much I add into the mix, you'll get a short reprieve and regain control over your body every time you get your rocks off, or someone gets theirs off, in you."

Nick then placed a gray vial on the table, sliding it over next to the Withering. "This is something that changes the effects of the Withering when first administered. It is often used with the withering, in a very small dose, to modify the Harlot's Yoke and Harlot's Curse. It will make sure you are able to accept all comers, pun intended, but also very much quite literally. It slows the progression of the Withering as well. With this in place, along with this, if you have some withering, because you haven't gotten any in a day, all you have to do is make up for it, and you'll heal." Adding a small bag of blue powder next to the Withering. "I mean, that seems more than fair. Doesn't it, Dawn?"

Nick's voice became vicious. "You get a short bit of freedom every time you cum, or someone cums in you." Tapping the vial he called Love's Lament. "You are protected from the Withering as long as you get laid and cum or get cummed in, once a day." Tapping the gray vial. "You get the chance to counter the Withering, …" Tapping the Withering, gray vial, and blue powder. "...as long as you can get a few extra mammals to pump you full. And yes, to counter the Withering, you have to get a mammal to fill you up. All of this resetting at dawn every morning."

Tapping a claw against his teeth, Nick looked up at the ceiling. "Should we add anything else? Or is that enough? … Oh! Rules. Yes, you'll need some rules." Grinning joyfully. "During your free moments, you are not able to attempt suicide or any other form of self harm. That includes asking someone to do you in." Plucking a few hairs from his cheek and setting them next to the vials. "Prey mammals are worth one cycle of Withering when trying to recover. Predators are worth two, so otters, skunks, etc… Large predators, lions, tigers, and bears, oh my… are worth 5 days of withering reversal. All of that however is only if they are the second mammal to blow their load in you that day.." Placing three bags of powder next to everything else. A green powder, yellow like sulfur, and silver.

Shifting things around so that the hairs from his cheek were last. "As a note. None of these stack. Do a lion today, you get 5 days free of the Withering, and 5 hours free from the slaves kiss. However, a second lion before those 5 days are up, only gets you the 5 hours. If you can convince a fox to not just fuck you, but to knot you, it will reverse any Withering, even if that takes a few days, and you will gain your freedom from the kiss, and everything else, for a whole week. Isn't that generous?" Setting a larger clear vial that is a quarter full of a clear though viscous liquid, into which he put two drops of a green liquid. "However, sex with a fox will be the most excruciating pain you have ever felt, for anyone of a vulpine species, you are subjected to the combined Pleasure's Agony and Curse. There is however a benefit to enduring that. Just cumming in you gets you two days, you need to get them to knot you to get the week." Dropping his fur into the large vial with the green liquid where it quickly dissolved. He then added portions of the rest, putting things away as he went, leaving only the Love's Lament vial and the now sickly green liquid, shot through with other colors that seemed to swirl and shift of its own accord as if alive.

Taping that final vial with a claw, he looked up at Dawn who was watching him in pure horror. "I'm so very glad I have your attention, Dawn." Reaching in and pulling out a small pouch of silver gray hairs, dropping them in as well. "Also, the same rule for vulpines applies for anyone of the Lapine variety, though they'll need to cum twice since they can't knot you. By the time you might need it, every rabbit, jackrabbit, pika, etc… on the planet, will know that they were next on your list. Just as every fox on the planet will know what your plan was. I wonder, Dawn. Other than fucking Doug, Jesse, and Woolter, how long do you think you will last?" His ears flicked as he pulled out another vial, adding two drops. "Just a bit of The Harlot's Yoke, so you don't get pregnant. Wouldn't be far to the little one.

Now… We do have one final item. The matter of your freedom and how long it will last. What do you think?" Holding up the vial of Love's Lament. "It's about an hour per drop, though that isn't precise, since each drop is different. I guess you should get at least one hour. But again, to earn that hour, you have to cum, or have someone cum in you. They can't just have sex with you and not finish." Dripping a single drop into the vial. "What say you, Dawn?"

Looking up at Nick with abject terror in her eyes. "Please." A begging tone entered her terrified voice. "Give me more than just one hour."

"But Dawn. You get an hour each time someone cums in you. Or you cum, although masturbation with your hoof doesn't count. Unless someone has ordered you to do it, but you can't ask for that either. More if you can convince a predator to do it. Oh, and it needs to be raw, no condoms. Your body needs the seed for it to have the effect, especially the countering of the Withering."

Whimpering, Dawn looked up at Nick with a combination of begging eyes and fear. "Please, Nick. I beg you. Give me more than just one hour."

Nick sealed the Love's Lament vial and put it away. "I think one hour is more than you deserve, if we're being honest here. The sad truth is, Dawn. You. Me. Judy. We could have been friends. Even good friends. I don't know what broke you in your life, but you are the one that brought yourself to this place." Sealing it, he gave the final vial a slow mix, the contents slowly merging into a silver gray liquid shot through with streaks of red, yellow, and orange, giving it almost a cloudy sunset or sunrise appearance.

"Now, we just have to figure out what to call this." Holding up the vial to the light, as it seemed to move on its own. Dawn gave up on fear and focused on rage. "How about we call it. Fuck you! You'll never be able to subject me to that! You disgust me. You and every predator should be killed. I'll never let another mammal touch me like that. Especially not to satisfy your disgusting revenge."

Nick smirked. "Oh, Dawn. It is almost dawn. So let's go for a walk. Do stay quiet now."

Dawn followed Nick silently, pure hate in her eyes. Nick led her to the roof, the sky already lit by the pre-dawn and very much resembling the contents of the vial. Once in a spot where they could see the sun crest the distant horizon, Nick grabbed her by the neck, holding her up so she was facing the rising sun. She screamed, but otherwise dangled there. Five minutes before the sun actually broke the horizon. "Dawn Bellwether, I release you." Poking her with his free paw. Suddenly free, she screamed, threatened, kicked, and struggled, but found herself held tight. "Careful, you'll hurt yourself, and no amount of sex will fix it."

Glancing over his shoulder, Nick could see the sun just about to break the horizon. "Dawn Bellwether. For the crimes you have committed against all mammal kind, predator and prey alike. The murder of countless innocents at your order and by your own hoof. The murder of my mother at your order, and my mate by your own hoof. I, Nicholas Piberious Wilde, condemn you to the Breaking Dawn. You know the rules, life, or death, slow and agonizing, is at your control." At that moment, the sun broke the horizon illuminating her face in golden light, Dawn clamping her mouth shut, hooves over her muzzle to hold it closed. Nick just grinned in her face. "It's easier if you swallow it, but you don't have to."

With that, Nick snapped his muzzle forward, biting into her ear viciously. Dawn screamed, as Nick took advantage, dropping three drops and a larger fourth drop of the liquid on her tongue. The drops were almost instantly absorbed, the extra, he hadn't intended to give her that high a dose, caused by Dawn's struggling. Coughing, she struggled more as Nick dropped her. Dawn began to writhe, sounds of both pain and pleasure escaping her.

Nick chuckled as he watched her.. "That does not look like it feels good." Putting away the vial. "It only needed to be one or two drops, it doesn't take much, but you got more, so you're going to be ready to go soon. It usually takes a day. I'm not really sure how long it'll take to fully take effect with how much you got."

Bogo stepped up onto the roof and approached Nick, looking down at the writhing form of Dawn. "I take it I was too late to stop you from doing that to her? I had to make an emergency bathroom break and hoped I wouldn't be late. It seems that the street vendor I got the wrap from this morning should be visited by the health department."

Nick gave Bogo a look and rolled his eyes. They watched Dawn as the sun began to rise. After almost an hour, she finally stopped, only twitching occasionally. Her eyes fluttered open. 'What have you done? I can't move!"

Nick laughed. "Sure you can, Dawn. You just can't under your own will. Stand up!" She stood. "Face me." She turned to face him. "See, you can move just fine, you just can't do so under your own will unless you earn your freedom. One hour-ish at a time. You'll need to get laid the first time to find out just how long that freedom is going to actually last." Reaching up, he passed a paw down her arm and she screamed, but otherwise didn't move. "Lovely. Might want to avoid foxes and rabbits, just a simple touch hurts, an extended one, well, you felt what that simple stroke did. Imagine how much it'll hurt if you have to have sex with one to earn the healing from the Withering. Lucky for you, you have a full day and night to find at least one mammal to fuck you each day."

Nick turned to Bogo. "I'd just put her in with Doug and friends. That'll keep her intact until the truth comes out. Then, just release her. Everyone will know what she is guilty of. Maybe put her on supervised arrest in Happy Town. The key is to put her somewhere that she has the opportunity to convince mammals to fuck her, and give her the reprieve, but not where there are a lot of mammals that were sympathizers or supporters. Make her work for it, and if mammals see her begin to wither, maybe one will take pity on her. Or maybe not, and she will get to die slowly, and in agony, knowing that she could be saved if mammals gave her just the barest bit more compassion than she showed.

Or even better. Knowing that she continues to live, and have her hours of freedom, because mammals are doing just that. Then again, you could probably charge admission to watch, and others pay to get to fuck her. She gets what she needs, and contributes to the city by earning money that helps the city repair itself after what she has done to it."

Bogo nodded, both ignoring her cursing and screaming. "Interesting idea. I like the idea of her having to beg the mammals of the city to take pity on her and save her from the agony by fucking her. It's a twisted irony. Given what I have read in her document so far, I think she will find it hard to find a mammal willing to take that pity on her very quickly." Bogo looked down at Dawn. "Your death is going to be very slow, and very painful. Follow me."

Dawn did as she was instructed, following Bogo, still cursing. Once at the holding cell, she entered when ordered. Bogo looked to Nick, "Will the pill for the other three work for her?"

Nick nodded. "It will, though it will only effect the Slave's Kiss, and only for twelve hours, or dawn of the following day, whichever comes first. The Slave's Kiss is a bit more restrictive."

Doug and Jesse looked up, in mid-rut, Woolter laying on one of the bunks. Doug spoke through panting breaths. "Don't need the pill. If Dawn thinks we'll fuck her, she's in for a rude surprise."

Bogo nodded. "I leave that to her to try and convince you and why she needs it. Her reasons are much stronger than I expect yours will be. Dawn, hold out your hoof." Bogo placed one of the antidote pills in her hoof and then smirked. "If you want to take that, you'll need to get one of them to tell you to." Laughing wickedly, Bogo and Nick walked away after locking the cell.

As they walked back into the lobby, a cheetah came running into the building. Seeing Bogo, he sprinted across the floor, almost knocking Bogo over. Nick was about to intervene when he noticed the tears and grins on both their faces, and then the passionate kiss they shared. A few moments later, a buffalo cow came running in as well, wrapping both Bogo and Ben in a hug, kisses shared between the three of them.

Wolford stepped up next to Nick from the side. "Always knew there was something else going on. Ben used to be the dispatcher."

Nick nodded. "I remember. Just before things went to hell."

"I brought your bike. It's parked in the garage by the door."

Nick nodded. "Thank you. I appreciate it." Nick smiled sadly. "There are not going to be enough reunions like that. Too many have been lost over the past few years."

Wolford nodded in agreement. "Very true. I'm just lucky Kathy and I had each other through it all, and neither of us got hit."

"You and the tigress? Well, good on you." Nick spoke up. "Bogo… Adrian, I'm heading out. There is nothing else for me to do here. I have somewhere else I need to be."

Bogo waved a hoof in acknowledgment, but refused to otherwise let go of the two mammals in his arms as they held each other. Giving Wolford a nod, Nick walked away. He located the garage, and on his bike a few minutes later, returned to the warehouse. After changing, removing most of the compounds and such and placing them back in the vault, Nick rechecked himself, and then was back on his bike.

XXX

I considered being evil and cutting it here, making you wait for a third installment.

Bow before my benevolence, and enjoy the conclusion of, A Little Something Darker.

Several hours later, Nick entered the town of Bunnyburrow. Stopping at a diner, he had a meal and took the time to work up his courage. His first stop brought him to the Hopps section of the massive cemetery. It didn't take long to locate the headstone he was after. Standing before it, Nick felt his heart in his throat.

Judith Laverne Hopps

Beloved Daughter

First Rabbit ZPD Officer

Taken from the world

before her time while

trying to make the world

a better place.

We miss you.

There was no date, just as there were no dates on any of the gravestones. There were so many, most were cremated, only special members of the family got actual burials, and while he now knew her body did not lay there, he still felt the need to stop. Staring at the grave stone for some time, Nick finally laid the flowers he had picked up at the shop next to the cemetery on the grave, a dozen ruby red roses, lilies, two yellow roses, and baby's breath.

"Judy. I'm sorry I failed to protect you. I'm sorry I wasn't able to stop Dawn, to keep her from inflicting the horrors she has upon this world. I did finally stop her, and she will pay for the evil she has inflicted in the most horrific way I could come up with. I just hope you accept what I did and can forgive me. I wish I were as strong as I know you were."

Turning, he saw several rabbits staring at him as he wiped tears from his eyes and left the cemetery. Back on his bike, he worked his way down the dirt road that led to the Hopps burrow. Stopping at the edge of the clearing, coming out of tall rows of corn that hid the building which backed up against a large hill. Windows and even what appeared to be a few balconies jutting out of the sides of the hill at all levels. Nick was shocked by the size. It was huge, but he knew that she had a large number of siblings, it was just daunting to see the real thing. Zoogle maps didn't do it justice.

Continuing, he stopped in front of the building and looked up the steps at the large entry door as he got off his bike. Wondering silently to himself if he had the courage to go through with it. Did he even have the right to ask about her? To ask to see her. It was only her body, her mind gone. Erased by the lack of oxygen while the drugs that were in his body and passed into her from the bullet that went through his shoulder and into her did the work they were actually meant to do.

His tail dropped to the dirt as he stood next to his bike, Nick looked down and shook his head. "I failed her. I have no right."

An angry voice sounded from behind him as he felt a pitch fork poke his back. "You're damn right you have no right, fox. What the hell do you think you are doing here?"

Nick looked back, recognizing the rabbit. "Stewart Hopps. Father. Current patriarch of the Hopps clan. I came here to apologize to Judy, even if it is only her body. To apologize for my failure. But as I stood here, I realized that I didn't deserve to even ask for that forgiveness."

Bonnie stepped out on the porch. "What's going on here?"

Nick looked up and blinked in shock at how similar she was to Judy. Stu speaking. "Nothing. This fox was just leaving."

Nick nodded. "Yes. As I was telling your husband Mrs. Hopps. I came to beg Judy's forgiveness for failing her, even if I finally ended Dawn's rain of terror. However, I realized that I haven't earned that right. She is in the state I'm told she is in, because of my failure. I wasn't able to protect her like I should have."

Bonnie gasped, dropping the dish towel she had in paw, paws flying to her mouth. "You're Nick‽ Stu! Put that pitchfork down! But you were supposed to be savage?"

Nick nodded. "I was. But Dawn had a cure, always had one. She gave it to me and released me into the city to torture me. I'm not one to just stand there and be tortured, so I arranged her overthrow. That's done now. So I came to beg Judy's forgiveness, or at least that of her spirit." Looking down as tears started to fall. "I know I don't deserve it, but I still wanted to ask. I wanted to see her, even though I know it isn't her anymore."

Bonnie smiled sadly. "You may not believe you deserve it, but that isn't for you to decide, now, is it? Come inside, and we will call Judy in from the fields."

Stu balked. "Bon? Are you sure?"

Bonnie nodded. "I am." Motioning for Nick to follow her, which he did, if reluctantly. Entering the burrow, Nick marveled at the mud room that took up the entire front of the building. Following Bonnie further into the burrow, she led him to the front living room. Standing in the doorway, Nick took in the huge room, currently illuminated by natural light streaming in from a massive skylight and dozens of what he realized were solar tubes and not actual lamps.. "Bonnie. This is amazing. There is so much room."

"Thank you, Nicholas. You need the room when you've got several hundred kits running around." Indicating a table with a few larger chairs." Please, have a seat. Would you like some lemonade?"

Nick smiled, careful to not show teeth. "I would love some. Although I am sure you'll ruin me for anything else."

Bonnie smiled brightly. "Careful, Nicholas. Talk like that will get you pie."

"If that pie is made from the blueberries your family grows, and Judy had with her when she found me under my bridge. Well, if it was those blueberries, I might just ask you to adopt me."

Bonnie nodded as she set a large glass of lemonade and a slice of blueberry pie in front of him. "Nicholas. We know so little of what happened. Chief Bogo gave us a copy a recording to help us understand, and I think he hoped it would help us understand and not blame you. What we don't understand is what actually happened or how you got there. What happened in the moment. The recording doesn't really tell us much. We can hear growling, which I assume was you. We can hear Bellwether, and she is clearly the one that is at fault. I want to understand what happened to my daughter."

Nick nodded, taking a drink with a sigh. "I'll tell you all I can." Taking a bite of the pie, Nick moaned. "By the gods. Pure ambrosia." Setting it aside so as to not be distracted by it and sipping his lemonade, Nick leaned back. "Okay. Let's see…" Nick then laid out what happened up through where Judy found him under the bridge.

"We discussed what she had learned, and in the process the discussion landed on what happened at the press conference and after. We expressed our feelings for each other. That we knew what we wanted, but that we both also wanted to at least date a few times before doing more. Although I will admit. That kiss she started…"

Blushing Nick pulled at his shirt collar and took another drink. Bonnie had conscripted one of the many teenage bunnies around to refill it. "Anyway… Given what we now knew, I didn't want to go with her. I felt it was too much of a risk. I was going to offer to connect her with one of the few prey friends I had and trusted, other than her, but before I could… She told me I was the one being dumb.

She proposed that we mark each other. Not a full on thing, just the top of the head. Something so that, if one of us got dosed, we would hopefully see the other as their mate. I balked at that, but she let me know that she knew it was more significant for foxes. Which was why she was suggesting it. That she understood what it would mean to my instincts. That she was already committed, and the dating was more of a formality for both of us. I agreed. As she said. I knew my heart and my instincts were absolutely ecstatic at the idea.

From there we tracked down the lab, stole the lab, it was in an old subway car still on the tracks, crashed and blew up the lab, and then made a run for Precinct One. However, as we made our way through the Natural History Museum, we ran into Dawn. I was happy. I'm many things and can read most mammals with ease, even those with the best masks. Dawn didn't have a mask, or if she does, it is literally perfect. I didn't realize that something was off. It was Judy that realized something was wrong.

As soon as Dawn recognized that we weren't going to hand over the evidence, she ordered her hench-rams to take us. That evidence was a small case holding a modified paintball gun and several of the drug-filled balls that they were using to drug random predators and make them go savage. They upped their game once the collars were in place and added a drug delivery system to every collar that they could trigger remotely, they would also go off after a random number of triggers of the shock function."

Taking another sip of lemonade, Nick continued, "So, she ordered her hench-rams to go after us and we ran for our lives. Judy hurt her leg on part of some display that was still in pieces. Don't even really remember what it was. While we hid, I wrapped her leg with my paw-kerchief from my very short attempt to be a scout. They muzzled me. Said they'd never trust a fox." Shaking himself. "Sorry, old memories."

Nick wasn't looking, being fully inside his own head as he told the story, otherwise he'd have noticed the entire room was nearly full and completely silent, or the tears in Bonnie's eyes. "She wanted me to leave her. She'd distract them while I could get the evidence, the gun and Night Howler based drug filled paint balls to Bogo. I refused. I might make it to Bogo, but Judy wouldn't have lived. I don't think I could have left her if I wanted to. We'd marked each other. As far as my instincts were concerned, she was my mate. My heart agrees even now. So I carried her and we ran. One of Dawn's rams caught up with us and knocked us into the pit.

I had the paint balls on me, we had put blueberries in the case, just in case. I was supposed to act savage if it came down to that. Only Dawn figured it out and had her own supply of the drug. Shot me with the real thing. So yeah, I was savage, but the mark, as you can hear, did its job. It protected her because I recognized her as my mate. Then Dawn happened again. Took the gun from one of the rams. Tried to shoot me, but in my savage state, I put my body over Judy. The round went through my shoulder, and … and … " Nick wiped away a tear. "And through her. That was the yelp you hear right after the shot. I didn't know the rest until Dawn gave me the cure and set me free in the city, thinking she was torturing me. That kinda backfired on her. When I woke, and she told me what happened, well, I have a memory of a dream of me standing over Judy on all fours. She has a hole in her chest and I'm bleeding into it, then I wake up screaming."

Sniffing and wiping her eyes, Bonnie took a moment to steady herself. "I have one other question. There at the end. Judy says something that none of us have been able to figure out. When I asked our business partner, Gideon, he refused to say, just cried. I don't understand what she was saying."

Nick gave a watery laugh. "It is the simple words to one of the most ancient vulpine, and specifically red fox, marriage ceremonies. Mammals dislike foxes in general. Would go out of their way to disrupt a wedding. Happens even now if a fox manages to have enough money and tries to hold a larger wedding. Something closer to what most mammals think of as a wedding.

In the past, some mammals would even go so far as to kill the bride, groom, and guests. So foxes, weasels, skunks, raccoon's, etc… All us small omnivores. Yes, we're predators, but we're omnivores, and were in ancient times also prey to larger predators. I need more protein than you, but it doesn't really matter where I get it, only that I do. So, we small guys. We gave up on the big weddings.

There are no dresses that cost a year's salary. No expensive rings, as we can rarely afford such things anyway. We have a simple ceremony, family and maybe a friend or two. We don't have big families. So maybe ten mammals. Fifteen would be a huge wedding. Usually held in the home of the couple, or at a park. You've probably seen one and just thought it was a small group of foxes having a barbecue.

We say our vows. Then, in private, we say a second set of vows that are just between us, mark each other while mating, and then there is a claiming bite. The vixen leads, or doe in her case, so she would be the one to initiate things. It was those second set of vows that Judy was saying her part of. The bite may seem barbaric to you, but the meaning is powerful. It is something of and from your mate that you carry with you. Something that can never be stolen or lost.

Because of how our culture had to change, our instincts did too. We mate for life. Divorce happens in maybe one in ten thousand fox marriages. Even rarer for red foxes. We don't commit until we've bonded. We call it imprinting.

So basically. We did a bit from rabbit culture. The marking being more of an engagement, and in her dying breath, she committed to me as my mate, and I hers. When I heard the recording for the first time, I said my lines. Save actually mating, Judy was at that point my mate to my heart, my instincts, my mind, and my soul. I am hers and she is mine, in this life and the next. I'd…" Shaking his head. "I am sure you never expected to have a fox as an in-law and that's okay. I know you won't recognize me as her mate. I just wanted to see her, scent her, one last time. Then I will go."

"What will you do?" Bonnie asked.

Nick shrugged, his focus on his glass, oblivious to the tears of the rabbits around him. "I don't know. We never mated, so I am broken. She is my mate, and I will never be able to see another mammal that way. But, because the bond was interrupted, incomplete, I hurt, but now, even without the revenge that was driving me, I don't feel the pull, the void of her loss like I should if the bond were complete. It's there, but not overpowering.

I am kinda hoping that seeing her as described will hurt enough to kill. Literally in my case. Otherwise I will wander. There is nothing more for me here after I see her, If you'll let me."

Stu sobbed and wrapped Nick in a hug, quickly joined by Bonnie and more. "Son. You are acknowledged as her mate. We accept you. We always knew that if Judy ever found a mate, they'd be something we didn't expect. If anything, you're right in line with what we did expect."

After the hug, Nick is given a meal which he enjoys immensely. Complementing Bonnie, for the excellent food. As he finishes, Nick noticed Bonnie sitting with Stu next to her, watching him. Nick feels his heart drop. Glancing around, he sees the number of rabbits around, all watching him. Carefully controlling his voice, Nick sighs internally. To him, it was clear they were not going to let him see her. Giving his best smile. "The food was absolutely amazing, but I have imposed myself upon your hospitality far too long. I should therefore be going."

A voice from one of the many rabbits in the room, followed by affirmative grunts did him in. "Told you he wasn't serious. Just a tall tale to pull at our heart strings. Probably just wanted to finish the job."

Nick closed his eyes, a single tear falling before he got control. He missed the look of pain and rage that crossed both Bonnie and Stu's face. "I'll… I'll go. I'm sorry to have bothered you. Thank you for your hospitality. It is more than I deserved."

Standing Nick made to leave, only to be stopped by several layers of rabbits standing between him and the exit. Looking back towards Bonnie and Stu worriedly, the anger he sees only worries him more. Bonnie sighed. "You must think the worst of us. Jacob Harlan Hopps, you are grounded. That is not the way we behave, especially around guests and your sister's mate."

The voice echoed back. "But even he states that he isn't her mate, not really."

Nick glanced between the two directions. Sighing heavily, he faced Bonnie. "Bonnie…" Stopping himself, Nick stood straight and gave a deep bow, holding it as he spoke. "Mister and Missus Hopps. I appreciate you welcoming me into your home, sharing your food with me, and allowing me to rest after a long journey. However, your son is correct. While she may be my mate in my heart, and as far as my instincts are concerned. She is not otherwise. While there may be precedent, based on what you have heard on that recording, I will not press that issue. In the end. I failed as her mate. I failed to protect her. Because while her body may live, you yourselves have confirmed that her mind did not survive. For that loss to you I am deeply sorry. If you will please allow me to take my leave, I will never bother you again. There are some legal matters to which I must attend to in the city."

Bonnie shook her head, dabbing a few tears as Nick stood up. "Nicholas, please. Sit back down. It's time we tell you a story. We were not trying to withhold her from you. Just trying to figure out how to explain what we have seen." With a tired sigh Bonnie looked to Stu who nodded. "You see. When we first found out, Dawn claimed you had bitten her, and the wound was drastic. We were initially only shown photos, the reason we later learned was that she was still alive, and was healing. What Dawn doesn't know is that Stu and I have seen many types of wounds living here on the farm, and that includes gunshot wounds. We have multiple kits who are doctors, three that are ER doctors, and one trauma surgeon. All of which have dealt with gun shot wounds, bite wounds, etc…

That was no bite wound, but we're not stupid rabbits. There was a clear agenda, so we went along with it fearing that if we didn't, that we might be targeted, or any one of our other kits. We played the dumb country rabbits who just accepted what we were being told because we didn't know any better.

A few months later it was revealed that she hadn't actually died, so we brought her home. Once it was clear that any trace of who she once was, was gone, Dawn paid us no more mind. After hearing the recording, we know why. She was worried that, if Judy herself returned, she could expose Dawn for what she did and who she was.

However… There are a few things that we never told Dawn or the doctors she sent to examine Judy as she recovered, and especially once she was fully healed. Though I'm sure they would have noticed at some point, they also never had any predators near her, only Dawns carefully selected prey doctors. All sheep.

You see, Judy doesn't sleep but maybe an hour or two a day. And her body is just as restless as she ever was, so we have family that keeps an eye on her and keeps her occupied. While Judy isn't there, it is almost as if she is. Whenever she wakes up, she says one word as a question, looking around. When she asks that question, it's like she is almost there again, but when she doesn't find the answer to that question, she goes away again.

She does what she is told, will respond to direct questions, but otherwise, it's like she's a robot. Except in the first moment of waking up. When asked about what happened in the Museum, she just cocks her head to the side, more like a canine than rabbit, but doesn't answer. This has happened another time as well, that question and as if she is almost trying to claw her way back. Our business partner, Gideon, who is a red fox."

Nick nodded. "Judy mentioned him. He's the one that gave her the clue, though I doubt he realized it. He was also the bully who clawed her face. I'd beat his tail for that, but she made me promise not to. That he's a changed mammal, and well… She gave me a second chance, I'd be very hypocritical if I didn't do the same when she herself had forgiven him."

Bonnie nodded. "It's true. Every time she sees him, the life returns to her eyes for just a moment, and again she asks the question. When she doesn't get a response, it's like she leaves again and she asks her question. Gideon was a bully as a kit as you say, and even hurt Judy, but he's a different mammal now, and seeing what his presence did hurt him badly. He's asked that we keep her away when he is visiting. He's really almost family at this point."

A voice from the back sounded out. "Mom, he'll be family as soon as he proposes. Now that that evil ewe has been taken care of, he doesn't have any more excuses, and if he doesn't propose to Sharla and me by the end of the week, we're going to strangle him."

Nick chuckled. "If he is a red fox, he's waiting on you. The vixen leads the relationship. You just need to make it clear that you expect him to do that, and I promise you, he'll plan out something and get it done very quickly."

The voice sounded back happily. "Good to know! I need to make a call." A moment later. "Sharla, we need to have a conversation with Gid. Yeah…" The conversation trailed off as the rabbit in question left the room.

Stu chuckled. "Good job son. If that's true, then it makes more sense what is going on with him."

Bonnie nodded. "Nicholas. That question she always asks. It is one word, spoken with almost pure desperation. That one word is your name. Nick. Only, over the past few months, it has seemed almost despondent in its tone. As if she were trapped in there somewhere and about to give up. So you see. You may just want closure, but I… We are hoping for so much more."

Nick nodded, barely holding himself together. His mind racing with possibilities. "You don't really think she is still in there, trapped, do you?"

Bonnie shook her head. "I think it's worse than being trapped. I think her last true memory was of you savage and both of you having been shot. I think she thinks she is trapped in some kind of hell loop or purgatory. She just turns off when she doesn't find you."

Nick looked over the rabbits there. "Okay. I don't want to get my hopes up. I think that would kill me. Then again, it's kinda what I was hoping for. But if she really is searching for me, even if it is as a vengeful spirit to end me, I accept that fate."

"I truly don't believe that is the case." Bonnie turned towards the kitchen door. "Judy dear, come in here please." The rabbits parted like a sea as the door to the kitchen opened. Out stepped a rabbit, actually taller than those around her. "She has gotten stronger, and grown three inches."

The voice was almost mechanical as it responded, but clearly hers, then froze. Her eyes locking on Nick. "Yes, mom. Wha…." It was as if a light turned on in her eyes, it was dim, and full of fear, despair, and also hope. "Nick?"

Nick looked at her in shock, he stood shakily and took a step forward. "Judy? Carrots?" His voice soft, almost terrified that if he spoke too loudly, she'd vanish.

Judy took a tentative step forward as well. Tears welling in her eyes as the light got brighter. "Nick… Is that really you?"

Nick fell to his knees a few steps from her. He couldn't stop the tears from falling. "I'm sorry Judy. I wasn't able to protect you. I left you to get through this alone." His eyes closed and chin fell to his chest, unable to look at her anymore. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I know I don't deserve it."

Judy padded forward silently, her entire appearance changing. No longer just a shade, a shadow of the person she was, but as if she was fully there once more. She wrapped Nick in a crushing hug. "It's not your fault. You did all you could, and you are here, now."

Nick couldn't stop it. His arms reached up and gripped her to him desperately, tail wrapping around her as he sobbed. Relief washing through him. "Judy." Taking in her scent and feeling complete. "Oh Judy. Please tell me this isn't a dream, a nightmare. Please tell me you are here, all the way here."

Judy squeezed tighter. "Dumb fox. Yes I'm here. I just needed you to help me find my way home." Whispering in his ear. "Your mom is really nice by the way and she's very proud of you."

Nick chuckled, whispering back. "So that was you."

"Yeah. A lot for us to talk about, Master Wilde."

"Hey. I told him there was a lot."

"You did."

"Sly bunny."

"Dumb fox." Judy spoke in an even quieter whisper directly in his ear. "From me too. I trained under the Cheth, but we can talk about that later."

Nick chuckled. "Yeah. A lot to talk about."

They pulled apart and shared a kiss that went on for several moments before the sound of a rabbit fainting and hitting the ground, along with a matronly cough. Nick and Judy pulled apart looking embarrassed. Bonnie gave a glance down at the unconscious Stu, then looked them over with a grin and tear. "Judy? Is that you, bun bun?"

Judy nodded. "It is, mom. I'm here. I'm not leaving. At least not without him." Leaning against Nick. "Mom. This is Nick. My mate."

Bonnie wrapped Judy in a tearful, sobbing, wet laughing hug. "I know. We've met. Oh, bun bun. I've missed you. Where did you go?"

Judy laughed wryly. "Not sure, exactly, mom. Been looking for my fox. But it seems you found him for me."

"He found us, and therefore you. Do we at least get to hold a small wedding?"

Nick laughed. "I want to at least take her on one date before we get there."

Releasing her mom, Judy turned back to Nick. "I'd like that, Slick. Maybe you can give me a proper proposal while you are at it."

Grinning, Nick nodded. "I can make that happen. Although I'll need to get your ring size, and have you give me a day or two to get it worked out. The city is in a bit of turmoil at the moment."

"Sure, Slick. But you're going to need to do that at least within sight of me for a while. I'm barely holding on here. It seems like yet another nightmare dream. That last thing I remember was kissing you and telling you the words I found in an ancient vulpine book."

Pulling Judy to him and into a short kiss. "Words I reciprocated in my heart in the moment, and spoke when I first heard the recording. Still, if you were serious about those. We need to do it right."

"We'll do it, us. Because what's right for us is clearly going to be weird to everyone else. Now, I'll let you get to making those arrangements later. Right now, I need to snuggle with my fox." Seeing her mothers look. "Just on the couch, mom. Geez."

Bonnie laughed. "You just came back to us after being mentally gone for years. The cure being the fox you seem physically incapable of not being in physical contact with. I couldn't hold that against you if I tried, because he brought you back to us."

Nick smiled. "Just no marking, Fluff. I know me, and right now. I wouldn't be able to restrain myself."

Giving Nick a sultry look. "Is that so?" Grinning as Nick swallowed weakly. "But we have several long, weird conversations that need to take place before that happens. So for now, let's just find a quiet reading corner, so we can talk." Pausing as Nick stands and glancing up to him. "Part of that being, why you are shorter."

Bonnie laughed. "He's not shorter, dear. You got taller from part of whatever it was that kept you from dying when Bellwether shot you both."

Judy nodded. "I see. Well, that's interesting. You wouldn't happen to know why that is, Nick?"

"I have a few ideas." Smiling down at Judy. "I kinda like it though." Scooping her up into a princess carry and getting an eep that made him grin and Bonnie laugh. "You navigate, I'll drive. Where to?" His tail unwinding from her only because she was now in his arms, that same tail wagging rapidly.

XXX

Nick and Judy talked for hours and then ate with the family. Most were shocked to see life returned to their sister, despite the burrow rumor mill claiming she had come back to life. To see it, and see her attached to a fox who seemed to be the reason, was different than hearing it from a sister/brother/cousin who heard it from a sister/brother/cousin/niece/nephew, who heard it from a sister/brother/cousin/niece/nephew, who overheard a sister/brother/cousin/niece/nephew, saying they saw/heard something.

After dinner, and wading through the throng of family that wanted to see for themselves that Judy was actually back to being herself, as well as the fox that was the cause. Judy and Nick managed to get away from the house, knowing that there was no way they were going to get any peace, or privacy, in the burrow.

They talked more. Laid all of their backgrounds bare for the other, laughed as they both learned the other knew about Maria's other life. Many self recriminations were made and relieved by the other. Many, many tears were shed, and they ended up falling asleep in the grass watching the stars, curled around each other.

The following day, they were able to separate from each other for short periods, as long as they could see the other. This allowed Nick to make a few phone calls. Arranging the date, a ring, having gotten her new size, and the proposal planned for the end of the night. They also learned that Bonnie already had the wedding plan well in paw for the coming weekend, which made both of them laugh.

Fin arrived the following morning with Jannet tied up and raging in the back seat of a metallic fleck purple with emerald green highlights, Shelby Cobra GT (think Eleanor). Skye following in his van. A white hare with black stripes on his ears and cheeks in the passenger side. He never got out of the van, but neither did Skye. They simply waved and drove away with Fin taking over the driving duties.

Handing Judy the keys, Nick grinned at the shocked look. "It's yours, Fluff. Everything that is mine, is yours. We know all of each other's secrets. All of each other's pain. Yet, you still seem to love me and want to be with me. There are only two formalities. Completing a full fox ceremony, and the bunny wedding your mom already has planned for this weekend. The question you have to answer is this. When? Although it does need to be after tomorrow, since that is when our date is scheduled for."

Judy wrapped Nick in a tearful hug before pulling him down for a very passionate kiss. "You dumb fox. I'll let you know. You can be assured of that. Though you might make sure you have a hotel arranged for tomorrow night and the next few night after. Just to be safe, of course."

Nick grinned. "Is that so? Kicking me to the curb already?"

Judy returned the mischievous grin. "Maybe. Best be safe and have a place to hide, just in case you screw up tomorrow."

"Fluff. I'm not sure that is possible. I, Nicholas Wilde, have prepared the perfect date. One that will encapsulate an entire month of dates, and ensure that no matter what, by the end of the night, you will be inescapably mine."

Pulling Nick down for a quick kiss, she pressed her forehead to his. "Good. Because I'm already lost, and then found again. All I need now is you."

Bonnie coughed as she stepped onto the porch. "Enough of that. I need you two in the kitchen. Taste testing time."

Both mammals groaned, but followed Bonnie back into the borrow and to the kitchen. She had been trying to learn to cook meat and specifically chicken, given that she would have two foxes as members of the family soon. Nick and Judy being the unfortunate victims of her attempts, being the only meat eaters around.

All endings are but the beginning of new stories, but for this story. This is the end.