The night was cold. Cold enough to chill even the bones of a polar bear. The fear they felt as they looked out into the blizzard that had overtaken the entirety of Zootopia only made it worse.

The Big compound had been in lock down for days. No one in. No one out. Big himself huddled with the phone in his study, becoming more and more desperate. Crime family after gang after syndicate going silent across Zootopia. No one knew how it was happening. Only three dead, all from panic firing by their own members. The rest delivered to the ZPD, paralyzed by some drug and desperate to tell all their deeds for protection. All of them terrified of a ghost.

Big himself suspected the truth. So he had reached out to Bogo. In that call he'd learned the terrible truth.

She knew.

Outside the compound a small mammal, covered from head to toe claws in white, watched. The rage that burned in their heart helping to keep them warm against the howling blizzard. Still, they did not act on that hot rage, instead letting the cold hone it to a razor edge.

Dialing a number, they waited.

"Hello?" The voice sounded old. Brittle. Scared. This made them smile.

"Antonio. Send Fru and Judy away. They, Skye, and Franci can leave safely. Make your peace. I am coming."

"Judy. Please…"

"NO!" The shout echoing across the snow as well as the call making those watching the gate flinch. That they heard it told them the source of their fear was close, hidden in the snow. "You knew better! Yet you did it anyway. It's over. You swore, and yet you still did it. You made a promise. You promised us. You promised me…"

"I did" Mister Big sounding suddenly tired. "Can I at least ask you to try and understand?"

"What is there to understand? Hmm? You allowed yourself to be used. You killed him, for no reason. Unlike the last time you tried. You succeeded. This time, you had and used our trust in you. You used your promise to lure him in. Now he is dead. By your order. By your own paw. Send them away. Accept your fate. Don't drag yet more down with you."

"Okay. I will."

"You have until dawn."

The call ended. The mammal hidden in the snow. Silent. Watching. Big looked up at his daughter who looked back at him in a mix of horror and anger as she stood on the paw of his oldest friend and Lieutenant. Her own bear and his granddaughter in the actual residence preparing to leave.

FruFru's squeaky voice was tinged with anger as she glared at her father. "Daddy. What did you do? Why did she Sound so… so… so cold? That was Judy, but it wasn't."

Looking away, Antonio Biggleski sighed heavily. "I was shown evidence. Evidence I now know to being false. Not just false, but actively faked to play on my emotions. I acted on it. Now the entire city suffers the consequences."

"Evidence of what?"

"That Nicky was going to move against us. That he was going to use the trust we had rebuilt and take us out, taking power for himself. I realize now that, as she said, I was used. I realize how silly the idea of him making such a move is. I allowed myself to be used. Now I must face the consequences."

Fru's paws flew to her muzzle. "No… You didn't." Tearing up as Big nodded. "You iced him?"

"I did." Looking away to the frozen fireplace. "I did. He seemed genuinely confused when I accused him. Begged me to reconsider. Now… Now I've unleashed her on the city. On myself and all those who remain here." Looking up as Franci and Skye entered. "You need to leave." His gaze hardened as he addressed the fox and she-bear. "My final order to you. Take them to safety. Protect them. Return here under no circumstances. Go. Now."

FruFru's Protests were ignored as she was bodily, if gently, taken from the paw of Kozlov. Twenty minutes later a limo driven by a she-bear and containing a hare buck, an arctic vixen, and three shrews, left the compound unmolested. All previous attempts had been instantly disabled by high caliber ammunition. The limo had to dodge several of those previous attempts.

Inside the compound Big looked down forlorn at the bits of ruddy orange fur stuck in the ice from the last mammal to be lowered, slowly into the icy water. They'd removed the trap door and he'd noticed it. They'd done it so very slowly. Slower than normal, but Nick was a special mammal. They had to be sure with him. Now what he understood. Who he should have recognized as his mate was coming for him. Big didn't bother to look up as she entered.

"I would try and apologize. To find a way to fix this, and I am truly sorry. I also know that there is nothing I can say or do. Nothing I can give. Not even my own life can make up for what has already been done." As he spoke he had moved to the edge of the large mammal desk. "I've considered diving in after him as some pathetic attempt at penance. The best I can do is accept your vengeance and hope hell isn't as bad as I know it is going to be."

Judy glared down at the small mob boss, then up at Kozlov. "I should push you both in. That wouldn't be enough though, as you said. I've thought long and hard on what is going to happen. What I could demand of you. You used the word penance. That is an appropriate word. You. Both of you, along with Kevin and Raymond, and whoever else you think of…

No. While Killing you might feel good in the moment. It doesn't bring him back, and therefore serves no purpose. And I think he'd be disappointed in me if I only killed you. No… Instead. You will use all those funds you set aside as part of your escape fund. You are going to help. You're going to help the marginalized. The abused. The ostracized and rejected.

You will take that money and help. Legal Aide. Commercials to combat stereotypes. When the world is truly a better place, for all mammals… Especially foxes! Then, and only then will I let you die."

Kozlov frowned deeply. "Miss Judy. We understand your rage. You do not have right to demand or order us."

Big nodded. "You are but one rabbit, dear. You are much, but there are things even beyond you."

Judy laughed darkly, both Big and Kozlov feeling ice and fear run up their spines. It wasn't the laugh itself. It was how it echoed somehow. How her amethyst eyes so many claimed to glow, actually were glowing. However, there was nothing joyful in that glow. It was cold. Harsh. Dangerous and deadly.

As she continued to speak, her voice filled the small room, making it feel claustrophobicly small. "You knew more than most, Antonio. Only Nick knew all. Even now, you will only know that it was I who bade you to this task. Though not how. That it is only I who control your fate." They could not look away, here eyes glowing brighter and seeming to fill the room. "That it is only I that will let you die when I see fit. That it is only I through whom your very life continues at my whim.

I have resigned from the ZPD. I have accepted my final birthright. Your souls are forfeit and belong to me. I will return them to you upon your death so you may die and descend to whatever reward you have earned.

Know this too. You will do this all knowing you stole my kit's father from them! You are cursed. Cursed to walk this world undying until I release you."

She spoke further, but neither mammal could remember more. Then suddenly they were in the room alone, and it was late morning.

Kozlov looked to Big. "What… What happened?"

Big shivered, looking down to what should be icy water, but seeing a thousand baleful eyes looking back at him from its depths. "I do not know my friend. I do not know. I fear that I may know, but it is something old. Something no longer of our world. Something it is unwise to speak of. … I suppose we have our direction. We will need to hire some mammals. I know not how one does, PR."

Kozlov nodded. "Yes. I will Send Kevin to retrieve Fin. He will know who we can contact. He knows nearly as many as Nick did."

"We will need a name for this effort."

"We will ask Fin. He was always good at that."