Well, this is my second fanfic for Zootopia (Primal: A Zootopia Fanfiction being the first), and all I can say is that I love it. I love this fandom. I love the stories, the people, the fanart. God damn, I love it all!

Hope you enjoy the prologue to A Fox in Shining Armor!

King Hopps stood in front of a massive golden-trimmed mirror, gazing over himself with a weary gaze. His regal red and gold doublet hung heavy from his fat frame. His thick golden crown sat proudly atop his head for what would be the last time. His hazel eyes looked deep into themselves, finding no comfort in the thought of meeting his maker. Yet that decision would not be his to decide.

A gentle paw rested on his shoulder, and his gaze turned from the mirror. A youthful, beautiful smile painted onto an equally brilliant face made him grin.

"Judith," He lightly greeted, turning towards the figure. "Why has my beautiful daughter joined me in my bedroom?"

Her smile only grew at his question and her paw cupped the side of his face in a show of compassion.

"I need no reason to see you on this day of all days, father."

Both rabbits gazed into each other's eyes. For just a moment, their love for one another overpowered the dark days which were to come.

"Your mother would be so proud of you," He said with comfort, his grin becoming melancholy. All she did was nod back.

"I know, father."

Without prior warning a startling smashing sound echoed across the wide room as the wooden door at its head collided with the stone brick wall. Judith's paw retracted from his face as they both turned to look at the sudden commotion. Two young prince-like rabbits stormed through the doorway, their own uniquely colored regal doublets illuminated by the early sunrise light pouring in through the small window carved into the wall across from them.

"My sons," King Hopps joyfully addressed, his eyes flicking between the two newcomers. "It is good to see you one last time."

"Father," One rabbit bearing a blue cross on his white sleeve quickly said as he stepped away from the doorway, his paw placed eagerly against his sword sheath, notably lacking its sword. "We do not have much time. The Emperor has allowed us a final meeting with you, so we must plan your retreat before his guards take you away."

The other son, this time bearing a black sun over the red cloth on his chest, stepped forth to stand with his brother.

"We have come to rescue you, father," He hurriedly announced, raising out a clenched fist as dedication poured into his expression. "We will hold off the others while you escape through the catacombs."

King Hopps shook his head, much to the dismay of the two rabbits.

"Father, flee to the Northern Burrow!" The one in white begged, taking another step towards him. "There are many untapped sources of mammalpower there, and if we are to win the war-"

"We will not win the war, Prince Lucas, because it is already lost," He sternly interrupted. His sons shut their mouths and stared at him, dumbfounded.

"It was lost long before we took the field at Mamchester," He dolefully admitted.

Silently, he gave one last loving look at Judith before he strode to stand in front of the two speechless rabbits.

"Look at the fine young mammals you two have become," He warmly commented, one paw on each of their shoulders and a proud beam on his face. "I am proud you bear the Hopps name, and I am proud to call you my sons."

Shock, sadness, and fury radiated out of both of their sets of eyes. King Hopps's smile only grew at the sight.

They are stubborn, even for rabbits. He jovially thought. One day that may be to their own benefit, if they can contain such passion.

The piercing cling of metal hitting stone drew the attention of all the rabbits to the open doorway for a second time. A single red fox stood there, the fire from the torch he carried eerily reflecting off his chainmail hauberk. His flat, green eyes bore into Kings Hopps's.

"Time," The red fox awkwardly exclaimed, his voice more like a rasp, and King Hopps nodded in understanding.

"Just a moment," He politely responded to the soldier who most likely knew very little of the universal tongue. The fox nodded back and turned, the light from the torch fading into the darkness as he descended down the windy stairs.

King Hopps sighed and pushed through his sons, following his warden. He cast one final glance back as he stood in the doorway. The Princess stood between the two Princes with a smile, her eyes full of tears and her ears limply hanging against the back of her lapis blue dress. Her paws clasped one another in an attempt to comfort herself. Both his sons continued to stand defiantly, their clenched paws and jaws accompanied by infuriated glares.

"Prince Gregory, Prince Lucas, do not become vengeful at my passing. Enough pain has been kept in the hearts of our subjects," He commanded, a content smile coming onto his face. "Promise me that you two will be kind and compassionate, and will father kits of the same nature. And promise me that you will not abandon your sister."

His gaze flicked to the Princess.

"As for you, Judith, never lose your optimism or your free spirit - regardless of how many ears you ruffle."

The emotions his children bore did not change at his words - they only strengthened. With a deep, calming breath he began his descent down the stairs. Every part of his life was now complete. Was he content with its outcome?

Not in the slightest. He had lost the war his forefathers fought generations upon generations past. He had failed his sons and the soldiers who perished defending their country. He had doomed his kingdom to oppression and violence by a force greater than himself. No, he was not pleased at all with the condition he would leave the world in. But he was a king, and a chivalrous one at that, so he would march to the ax of his enemies with vigor.

Guards wearing the same armor as his warden surrounded him at the final step, guiding him down the hallways he knew all too well. Only some few weeks ago these would have been his halls, with his valuables hanging from his walls, all within his palace. But now they were no longer his halls - they were the hallways of the Emperor.

As he continued to turn and twist through the incredibly familiar courtyards and passages the frozen seed of solemn peace held within him finally sprouted. Eventually the variety of colored foxes around him held their place behind as a huge, open doorway loomed before him. Inside was his reckoning...

He didn't have to be spurred on by his captors; he willingly entered the throne room, his eyes focused on the figure sitting atop the gilded chair many meters in front of him.

King Hopps kept his ears upright to take in every sound, yet only the sweet embrace of silence hung in the air. Out of the corners of his eyes he saw noble foxes of all kinds sitting on benches against the room's walls, their backs pressed against brilliant tapestries which had existed for millennia. His feet became motionless as he arrived at his final destination; a bright red spot of stone on the ground, made that way because of the early morning sunshine pouring in through an elaborate stained glass window above the throne, mere feet above the fox sitting where he once did.

For several seconds King Hopps studied his conqueror while his conqueror studied him back. Unlike rabbits, foxes were always dressed in some branch of military attire. This was not true solely for nobles, whose armor he could see glinting in the corners of his vision, for the Emperor himself powerfully sat in the stone throne with his signature plate armor, his simple band-style polished iron crown, and his huge, menacing metal spear with the blade of a sword at its hilt - the very weapon which in minutes would take his life.

And how did the Emperor and his entourage perceive him? Probably as a lowly rabbit, a disgraced king whose only salvation would be in the afterlife. Not even the smallest hope of survival stirred under his thin grey fur. He had shown no mercy to any fox during the war, and he expected none in return.

A young grey fox wearing a leather tunic slowly walked from the group of well-dressed bureaucrats standing to the throne's side, who made up the Emperor's court, and stood in front of King Hopps chin held high. After several moments, the announcer spoke.

"Do you, Steward Hopps, King of the three burrows, surrender all the forces and lands under your crown to Emperor Canus Caesar of the Empire?" He arrogantly asked.

King Hopps gave a gentle nod.

"I do," He politely replied.

"And do you, Steward Hopps, King of the three burrows, declare defeat in the conflict which has plagued our great society for the past four hundred and thirty three years?"

"I do," He replied again, his unprovoked and neutral voice visibly getting under the fox's fur.

"And do you, Steward Hopps, King of the three burrows, relinquish your crown and title to Emperor Canus Caesar of the Empire?"

The announcer held his paw out expectantly.

"I do."

Slowly, his paws lifted his crown up and over his ears and handed it to the announcer. With it went his title. He was now only Steward Hopps, a prisoner of war, about to be executed by his captor who was none other than Canus Caesar.

The announcer spun on his toes and walked to the throne. He threw the crown at the feet of the Emperor, yet the iron-clad fox ignored the ringing the piece of jewelry made as it spun in circles. His eyes continued to bore into Steward's. The announcer spoke one last time, still facing the Emperor.

"And do you, Steward Hopps, have any last requests?"

Steward stood there for a moment, keeping his gaze locked with the Emperor's and allowing a deathly quiet silence to take control of the room.

"I wish for the destruction of the burrows and the killing of the mammals who call them home to be stopped," He stoically began. "I wish for both my sons and my daughter to be safe in this chaotic time. I wish for a proper burial for all those who have fallen on the fields battle. But above all, I wish for peace between our two realms."

The announcer walked back to the foxes at the throne's side, the stare between the Emperor and Steward not yet broken. He had told the absolute truth to the gigantic fox. Those were his truest wishes, but he hadn't a hope that the regal fox would accept them.

The Emperor stood slowly, his frighteningly huge spear rising with him. His paw snatched up the crown at his feet and a frown became carved into his previously neutral expression. Steward had prepared himself for what would come next over the past several days of his captivity - the swift strike of a blade through his chest.

Yet no blow came from Emperor Canus. At least, no physical blow - sometimes words have a much more dangerous effect than actions.

"Granted."

Steward could feel his heart stop and his eyes grow huge at that single word. All around the room shouts of protest rang out, some in the common tongue while others in the language of foxes. Nobles stood and began to point and make empty threats toward their leader, some revealing their predatory teeth through snarls. Though this time it would be their voices who would fall on the deaf ears of the Emperor. Steward paid no mind to them as well - he was completely distraught at his conqueror's words. Or, more correctly, word.

Emperor Canus raised and slammed the butt of his spear into the ground, the sharp sound ending the treasonous shouts and signaling for privacy. His servants and advisers departed first, streaming around Steward, and were soon followed by the guards stationed around the room and the unsettled nobles, who still cast murderous glares at their Emperor and spoke in violent whispers as the doors to the hall slammed shut.

Steward's mouth moved yet no sound came out of it. He was supposed to die on this day - his kingdom was supposed to be put to the torch, reduced to nothing but ashes. Why had his conqueror showed mercy to a species which deserved none?

"Why do you spare us, Canus?" He asked shakily. "Why do you show mercy to a kingdom who showed none to yours?"

The Emperor smiled and walked to stand directly in front of him, his gaze focused on the ground as he used his spear as a cane. Despite his physical prowess, he appeared weary alone before him and his eyes were filled with loss as they moved up to look at him.

"I spare your land, Hopps, because I wish to stop the shattering of our world," He answered, throwing his spear against the wall without turning away from the rabbit. "For my entire life I have witnessed death, famine, and disease plague not just my mammals, but all mammals of this world. War weakens all. If we do not abandon the resentment we have had for each other for so long then our children and our children's children will be cursed to walk the same bloodied path we have."

Emperor Canus's gaze became soft and filled with pain.

"Tell me, Hopps, how many sons did you lose in the war?"

A smile filled with sad memories emerged onto Steward's face.

"Too many, Canus."

The Emperor grinned, reflecting the same miserable feelings he felt.

"I can say no number more appropriate."

Both his velvet paws raised, clutching the golden crown.

"So join me, Hopps! The wars waged in the south and east are fueled by hate and fire, but if we could set an example for them so that they may turn to us and say, 'Look at those two rivals, of whom are now the best of friends!' then maybe we can begin the ebbing of hate between predator and prey. So I ask you, as one monarch to another, will you join me, King Hopps."

Steward's smile grew. He could see the strongest form of passion raging underneath the armor and orange fur of his counterpart, and hope began to move underneath his own. The Emperor had spared his family and his lands from destruction, had treated him with the utmost respect, and now offered him his crown and kingdom in return for peace. As quickly as his paw could move he took the crown the Emperor offered him and returned it to the rightful place atop his head.

"I shall join you, Emperor Canus," He proudly told him. "Together we can end the suffering our mammals have experienced and hope to change the world for the better."

Emperor Canus smiled and placed his paw on King Hopps' shoulder.

"Let us not let our sons have died for nothing," He resolutely said.

"I completely agree," He responded.

After several long moments of a shared smile, Emperor Canus slowly turned and began to walk along the perimeter of the room, his eyes studying the tapestries as he went past them. King Hopps followed beside him, studying his face.

"Tell me of your mammals, King Hopps. What do they expect from our kind?" The Emperor eventually inquired.

"No mercy, in simple terms," He answered, his tone half-humorous. "They believe you are the rapture, here to destroy their livelihood as long as the infinite fire within you continues to burn."

"So how will they react to an alliance between our two kingdoms?"

"Many of the lower classes will be open to the idea, along with the merchants and guilds. They have little and lost much during the war - if you show them kindness then they will be as loyal to you as your own subjects."

"That is good to hear, King Hopps. What of your nobility? And your armies? Are they open to such a change?"

"The lords will take convincing, but they are loyal to their King and his judgement. And as for armies, we have none left, Emperor Canus."

The Emperor raised an eyebrow as he reached the halfway mark of his personal tour of the tapestries.

"That is not a good projection of strength, King Hopps. You may have open rebellion if your armies are nonexistent in the keeps and towns of disloyal lords."

Emperor Canus slowed his pace, his eyes still taking in every image sewn onto the hanging cloths as they passed by.

"Grand Marshal Paratus will remain here with eighteen thousand of my most loyal soldiers. For now, and as long as your armies are void, they will be your mammals to move and garrison as you command."

King Hopps nodded, staring at his new ally.

"That is very kind of you, Emperor Canus. Thank you."

"There is no need for thanks, King Hopps. Consider it a gift from a newfound friend."

Emperor Canus smiled as his walk ended and he and King Hopps ended up where they began, at the steps leading up to the throne. The ironclad fox collapsed back into the throne with a heavy sigh.

"I have fears for our mammals yet, King Hopps," He pondered. "As long as we both live, the alliance between us will continue, yet you approach your sixties while I have nearly finished mine. If you pass, your sons may terminate our friendship. I have seen how they speak of foxes. Yet If I pass, the best all residing in our realms could hope for would be a war which lasts only half as long as ours did."

Emperor Canus' armored paw came up to his face and massaged his eyelids, and when it came down his emeralds were filled with a thousand emotions ranging from worry to strength.

"The electors shall elect one who wishes for the destruction of the burrows. You have seen how opposed the nobility are to mercy - they want revenge for your campaigns in Smittenburg and Foxfort. They wish for the blood of rabbits to run through all streams and rivers, turning the grass red as it washes into the sea."

The Emperor leaned forward, a sly smile upon his muzzle.

"But there is a way we can prevent this destruction. One part will be mine to complete, and the other will be your children's."

"Tell me, Emperor Canus, what do you intend to do?" King Hopps pushed, intrigued.

"To unite the empire, King Hopps," The Emperor explained. "Long has the power of the electors been waning. Their armies no longer look to them as the rulers of their lives but to me in their stead. Many dream of a united empire, free from city states and regional powers allied only for their shared hate of a common foe. They wish for a single ruler, free from the petty squabbles of local nobles and so-called lords. And they shall soon have it - the war has let me consolidate power across the lands of the Empire, and I intended to use that power to establish an imperial dynasty."

"So what is my children's role in securing peace?" King Hopps curiously asked.

"When the dynasty is established, we shall be a King and an Emperor in an alliance," Emperor Canus continued, raising an eyebrow along with his paw. "What better way to set an example for the world than to become two once warring kingdoms bound in a personal union?"

King Hopps felt his eyes grow tenfold at the proposition. A personal union? Had anything along those lines ever been done between two different species? It would certainly be progressive. Yet that was not the largest problem, for if the Emperor was openly speaking of uniting their dynasties together, then that would require marriage between...

"Emperor Canus, while I am in support of an alliance between our two kingdoms, I am uncomfortable with the thought of a royal marriage between our bloodlines," He sternly asserted. "My daughter could not be convinced to marry a mammal nearly three times her age. Even if she could I will stand between any relationship you two would have or would hope to share."

Emperor Canus only stared at the unwavering discontent on his face and ears bent back in hostility for several moments before he let out a string of hardy laughs, his eyes squeezed shut and head thrown back. The outrage continued to grow on King Hopps' face until an angry scowl formed. Eventually Emperor Canus stopped, his paw wiping an amused tear from his eye.

"King Hopps, you have no reason to worry!" He reassured with a huge grin. "I do not intend to marry Princess Hopps! My life is nearly spent - marrying your daughter would only be a vain attempt at uniting our kingdoms before my death."

"You wish to instill your dynasty onto the throne of the empire and unite our households, yet you have no blood remaining. You are the last of your bloodline! Who would you have marry my daughter?" King Hopps demanded, very little of the outrage in his voice diminished. He would not let his daughter be married off to some peasant fox!

Emperor Canus only leaned even further out of the throne.

"It is true that I am the last of the true Caesars, King Hopps," He began, his eyes becoming clouded with memory. "Both of my sons perished at Wien. My brother Vulpis fell at Ostach, and his son, Tacitus, at Main. My Queen died of the Black Plague brought on by the war."

"I am sorry to hear that," King Hopps solemnly apologized, his ears now hanging behind his head in sorrow. Yet as soon as it had come the memory faded from Emperor Canus's eyes.

"Spare me your pity, King Hopps," He politely ordered. "We all have lost loved ones in the war. Now it is time to rebuild and unite. Luckily for Princess Hopps there is still one fox who carries my blood within him."

King Hopps' eyes lit up. The Emperor was right. The best hope for peace would be a royal marriage, if that was a possibility. And he was surely making it sound like it was.

"Who is this mammal you speak of, Emperor Canus?" He inquired, marginally tilting his head. The Emperor took a moment to plan out his words as best he could.

"My brother Vulpis had a single son, Tacitus," He recounted. "Tacitus was not as wealthy or powerful as his father, so to you and your spies he would've been obscure. Tacitus fathered a single son, Piberius, until he himself was killed in battle. By that time all others who shared my blood were deceased, so I took Piberius in as my own. Since then he has become one of the most chivalrous and respectable mammals in the Empire. He has served in many noble courts, fought alongside me in countless battles, and trained hundreds of my personal guards. Books are his passion, among many others, and he can charm any young female he wishes. A great many vixens in the towns and keeps of foxkind have fallen head over heels for him - yet he still manages to father no bastards. Above all he is a respectful, steady and romantic fox - a perfect match for your daughter."

King Hopps nodded slowly. This Piberius sounded like a good enough sort. The Emperor wasn't lying when he said he and Judith would form a perfect marriage - his daughter was quite reserved despite her adventurous attitude. Maybe all she needed was an outside push to spark something great. After he and Emperor Canus joined their wives in eternal peace he could see the two having the power to continue the fragile peace which now stood. But the thought of giving up his only daughter was a thought which unsettled him. Piberius had to be perfect, not good enough, for her, and any military career in the war so recently ended was a worry.

"He sounds like a nice enough mammal, Emperor Canus, but can you elaborate on his time with the sword?" He politely requested, his nose beginning to twitch. "I do not wish for my daughter to be married to a butcher."

The Emperor nodded, visibly unworried by his request.

"Of course, King Hopps, but I can assure you that your daughter will marry someone far from being a war criminal. Marshal Piberius has accompanied me on many campaigns for the past decade, and throughout all of them I have never seen him take a life. Some of the more critical electors have called him nicknames such as 'Wilde the Coward' and 'Wilde the Weak-Handed', yet I think it is very noble of him to never end something most take for granted nowadays."

At the mention of the name 'Wilde' the interest and excitement in King Hopps's eyes grew ten times over.

"You mean to tell me you wish to marry my daughter to Nicholas Wilde?" He exclaimed, the remaining suspicion in his voice now gone and replaced with surprise and awe. Emperor Canus's head tilted his head at this, this time his eyes the ones filled with interest.

"So you know of Piberius?" He asked, but King Hopps shook his head.

"No, we know of Wilde the Merciful, a hero to our mammals," He answered. "He refused to end the lives of Lord Mathis, Lord Henry, and Lord Younce at Cornhill. He released almost four thousand prisoners after the Battle of Rosecheeks. He allowed the citizens of Berby to leave the city when he besieged it! My daughter could only dream of marrying such a chivalrous mammal in her most spectacular romance novels!"

Emperor Canus sent his counterpart a large grin at his outburst.

"Luckily she will have the chance of living one of her novels, then," He commented, grinning. "I see you already know of Piberius's alias. He has used the name from his mother's side since he came into my service. Only a scattered few know the name his father bestowed upon him."

King Hopps' shock slowly began to ebb, and he soon found himself with his paw outstretched and an animated smile.

"It is decided, then," He enthusiastically concluded.

"It is decided," Emperor Canus confirmed with an even more radiant beam, standing up from the throne and walking to grip his outstretched forearm with his own paw. "Judith Hopps shall marry Nicholas Wilde."

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Rewritten 6/22/17