[b][u]All The King’s Women[/b][/u]
 
It had only been a few weeks since Mercurio had been crowned King of Armello, but he had already done so much during his time on the throne. It hadn’t been easy, of course. Deals had to be made and broken, backs had to be stabbed and tails trodden on. But all that intrigue and cloak-and-dagger nonsense was quintessential to Rat Clan culture, it came to him as naturally as breathing. And now he was on top, the Rat who made all of the rules.
 
Well, dictated the rules at least. He hadn’t made a personal royal decree since his first day on the throne, all the rest had come as orders from the Nine Families; a shadowy group of higher-ups that ruled the Rat Clan with an iron fist… and, now that Mercurio was in charge, all of Armello too. It wasn’t all bad though; after a morning of writing royal decrees and putting them into place he would get to enjoy the life of royal luxury and decadence he had fought so hard to obtain. As he entered the throne room and greeted his shriveled advisor Sargon with a nod he could tell today would lean more heavily on the luxury side of being King rather than the ‘being a puppet’ part.
 
“What’s on the agenda today, Sargon?” He asked as he hopped up onto the throne, one leg crossed over the other and his arms behind his head. “Royal banquet followed by trade agreements with the foreign nations? Maybe a little beheading?” he curled his hand, looking at his claws. “I should probably start doing those at some point, I’ve got to have some way to make sure people know who’s in charge, right?”
 
“Your highness, I have dire news!” Sargon began, his shaking hands gripping his torch for dear life. “I have seen it in the Veil,” he spoke urgently, his wide eyes staring at Mercurio, “you will be assassinated this day!”
 
“Sargon, mate, we talked about this,” Mercurio shook his head as he raised a dismissive hand and took a long sip from his goblet of wine. “Always start with the good news, otherwise you lose me right away.”
 
“G-good news?” the shriveled rat squeaked, “Sire, your life is in danger!”
 
“Sargon, I’m a Rat Clan Bastard, and a damn good one at that.” Mercurio reminded him as he counted off on his fingers, “I’ve developed resistance to most poisons, I’m crafty as a fox, I can hold my breath for ten minutes…” he spun his hand, “Not to mention we’ll just revive at the Clangrounds if we die, right?”
 
“Be that as it may, if you are defeated you will lose your right to rule Armello!” Sargon reminded him as he nervously tapped his torch on the ground. “He who wears the crown is King; if it can be taken from you, by law you are no longer the one who holds the throne! If the Nine Families find out we’ve lost our hold on the Capital–”
 
“Sargon, the good news.” Mercurio prompted as he adjusted the large crown on his head. “Maybe I’ll demote you to Wine-bringer if you don’t give me something to smile about soon.”
 
“Heed the warnings of the Veil, Mercurio!” Sargon warned him with a flail of his torch. Mercurio took another sip of his wine, then spread his legs wider so he could scratch his balls. Sargon grimaced behind his mask and turned away. “The Clans have sent the, err…” his voice dropped to a mutter as he leaned closer to Mercurio’s ear. “ ‘resources’ you requested. From your first decree as King.”
 
“Topless Tuesdays?” Mercurio tilted his head. “You could have let me know sooner, now I’m going to have to wait a whole week to enjoy that.” He sneered, “I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s good news, but–”
 
“No, sire, the other decree,” Sargon replied as he unfurled a scroll and began to read it out loud. “In honour of the Rat King’s victory, all Clans must send their finest women to join his personal harem in the castle, where they will remain as his servants for no less than a decade.” He rolled up the scroll and bowed his head humbly, “They’ve all been outfitted with silks as you requested; Dressed in their clan colours with gold chains.”
 
A smile spread across Mercurio’s face, and he raised his goblet to the old rat. “Now [i]that[/i] is good news, if you had started with that I’d have given you a reward.” He took a long sip to finish his drink before pushing himself into an upright sitting position. After trying out a few poses he finally settled on the perfect one; casual, but dignified. “Alright, send them in.”
 
“Sire, I must warn you again of the vision I received from the veil.” Sargon reminded him urgently.
 
“The only veils I’m interested in today are the ones my gorgeous ladies are going to be wearing,” Mercurio replied with a grin, his legs spread slightly wider as he sat back on the throne. He gestured for his servants to open the heavy wooden doors on the far side of the throne room, the same doors he had charged through to run his rapier through the old fool who ruled before him. [i]’You were missing out, mate.’[/i] he thought, anticipation building in his chest as he watched the doors open. [i]’Sitting in the dark muttering about the Rot. You could’ve at least had some entertainment to keep you company while you went mad…’[/i]
 
The first to enter was the gorgeous orange vixen from the Bandit Clan, dressed in black and walking with the confidence of a well-practiced stripper. She moved across the red carpet, one hand on her hips as they swayed, her thick fluffy tail swishing behind her with each step she took. She had lost a lot of weight since the Rat had taken the throne; less heroes and guards to devour, if he had to guess, but Scarlet still had plenty of curves to show off. She winked at him as she stopped and looked over her shoulder for the next member of the harem to enter.
 
Next came River of Wolf Clan; a brown she-wolf dressed in blue silks. She walked with her arms crossing over her chest, her ears tucked back and her tail between her legs. There was a scowl on her face; which Mercurio only took to mean it would be more fun to make her dance for him. He gave her a wink as she approached, and he could tell from the look in her eyes it was taking all her resolve not to spit at his feet. She stood by Scarlet’s side; close at first, and then taking one step away to set the distance the others would stand apart from each other. Scarlet gave her a reassuring flick with her tail, and River flicked her’s in return as she crossed her arms and stared at the floor.
 
Zosha entered next, dressed in Rat Clan red silks. Mercurio smiled condescendingly as she made eye-contact with him; their bitter rivalry over who would take the crown for their clan was finally resolved. At least she’d get to live in the castle, and her skills as an assassin may come in useful for routing out the killer in his new harem. He knew it wasn’t her; she was far too loyal to her Clan to betray them by replacing him as King. He had made himself too perfect a puppet to replace, and so all Zosha could do was glare daggers at him as she moved to stand by the other two women.
 
The rest trailed in after the first three, but Mercurio hardly gave them a second glance. The white rabbit Amber from Rabbit Clan would make a fine companion, certainly, but she wasn’t as satisfying to look at as the beautiful Bandit King. He was relieved that Bear Clan had sent Sana and not the old hag who lived in their territory’s swamp. The seer would make a fine addition to his harem; and might eventually be useful to rid the kingdom of the Rot, if he felt like it… plus he had always had a bit of a thing for big women.
 
He turned to the last; a strange creature from a species he had seldom seen before. She was an Iguana, dressed in ill-fitting purple silks. No breasts, but she had hips that made up for it… still, he couldn’t quite place what Clan such a curious creature would be from. “Sorry, one on the far right, who sent you?” he finally asked, “I don’t recognise your clan colours.”
 
“Dragon Clan sends its regards, your highness.” She replied with a begrudging bow. “I am Oxana; High Priest Volodar hopes that our Clans may live in peace and harmony, and that during my time here I can be…” she bowed her head deeper, “...’useful’ to you.”
 
“I do like a bit of harmony, and I’m sure you’ll get to show me your usefulness in no time.” Mercurio teased with a wink. Amber let out a giggling chuckle, like a school girl trying to impress her crush. “Well ladies, welcome to the capital. This castle is where you’ll be spending most of your time, mostly tending to my every want and need.” The rat flexed his tail as he leaned back on the throne. “I expect you to be in uniform while you’re around here. Of course, if you want to wear less, by all means. We [i]are[/i] working on instating Topless Tuesdays after all.”
 
“You have Bandit Clan’s support on that one,” Scarlet replied with a sultry smile, her hand resting on her hips as her eyes drifted down between his legs. “You know, my liege, I am actually the leader of my clan. When the call went out to send pretty girls your way, I couldn’t help but nominate myself.” She winked. “I’ve heard so many tales of your adventures, I hoped to meet you and find out if they were true.”
 
“I thought I saw some eagerness in your eyes when you walked in.” Mercurio put on his own sultry smile, matching the vixen as he leaned forward to get a better look down the black silk top cladding her breasts. Scarlet leaned forward, her arms behind her back as she showed off her chest to the King. Mercurio smiled approvingly, “I get the sense you and I will be spending a lot of time together during your stay.”
 
“Mercurio, the omen,” Sargon warned him in a whisper.
 
“Right, right, I suppose we should get that out of the way before we continue.” Mercurio sighed as he gestured to the ladies. “Alright, point out the one you saw in your vision and I’ll send them to the dungeon.”
 
The women gasped and looked among each other, suspicious mutters of ‘vision? What vision?’ falling from their muzzles. Amber seemed to be glaring directly at Scarlet, who only smiled and waved at the bunny before River leaned forward to catch Amber’s eyeline.
 
“That is not how my visions work,” Sargon shook his head to the king. “I saw an omen that you would be betrayed and assassinated this day, and your harem has arrived from clans you defeated to secure the throne. I simply assumed those two events would be connected.”
 
“Rabbit Clan has no plans to assassinate anyone,” Amber spoke up quickly, her hand placed on her heart, just above her light yellow silk top. “While we are upset that our clan did not achieve our goals, we are in full support of you as King, just as we were in support of your predecessor.”
 
“I have no reason to want to harm you, you are not corrupted with the Rot,” Sana nodded in agreement as she tugged her green silk loincloth back up. “I do not believe any of my Clan even wishes to rule, we simply want to rid the corruption from this land.” She bowed her head, “As is the will of the Wyld.”
 
“Conversely, Dragon Clan only wishes to ensure the Wyrm’s order is restored to this land, and that these Bears and their druids are kept from killing any more innocents.” Oxana added in, glaring at the bear standing next to her. “Your forest-dwelling shamans want to rid this world of Rot, but it is the only thing that can defeat the Druids, just as the Druids are the only thing that can defeat the Rot.”
 
“The Rot is far more dangerous than the Druids will ever be,” Sana raised her voice, catching everyone off guard. The bear was usually so timid; but it was clear she was passionate about her plight. “The Rot harms innocents and destroys lives, the Druids only seek to keep the Wyld’s balance and allow things to grow–”
 
“Oh Wyld, stop, just… stop.” Mercurio groaned into his hands, causing the bear to quickly cover her mouth, her fur fluffing out as she noticed everyone was looking at her. Mercurio waved his hand dismissively, “I brought you all here to be sexy, not to talk politics. I’ve got a whole other panel of imbeciles to do that,” he shook his head. “You know what? I’m rolling the dice. Whoever puts on the best show for me gets to be Head Girl. She’ll be the head of the harem and get free roam of the castle and be allowed to boss the other girls around.”
 
“Sire, that is a [i]very[/i] dangerous move!” Sargon gasped.
 
“Maybe, but my track record for gambles has been pretty good so far.” Mercurio shrugged before leaning back and patting his lap. “So, who wants to come up first and show me what they’ve got?”
 
The women looked at each other, each waiting for someone else to make the first move. Amber’s previous eagerness had shifted into bashfulness, her ears drooping either side of her face. Zosha seemed like she was itching to get closer but too shy to ‘perform’ in front of the other clans. River was continuing to glare, her arms covering her breasts as her tail twitched behind her.
 
“Fuck it, I’m in,” Scarlet finally said as she stepped forward, “I mean…” she corrected herself, slowing her pace and adjusting her stance. She began to walk sensually, a mischievous glint in her orange eyes as her tail swayed high behind her, revealing her curves. “Allow me to show you my skills, my King. I hope they are to your taste.”
 
“Oh, you certainly are…” Mercurio let out a lust-filled growl as the vixen approached. She leaned forward, jiggling her breasts with her hands briefly before turning on the spot so he could get a better look at her luscious curves. His heart pounded in his chest and his shaft began to perk up, poking at the underside of his tunic. She gazed deeply into his eyes; silent promises of what they would do to each other flew back and forth between them as they grew closer together.
 
“WAIT!” Sargon shouted as he swung his torch as Scarlet reached for the throne, leaving her pulling her hand back in surprise. “I know this vixen; she is infamous for devouring those she faces in combat!” The seer spoke hurriedly as he pointed accusingly at the vixen. “There was darkness in my vision, a shifting darkness that seemed to surround you as it drew you into it. That is what it is! She plans to ingest you, your highness! You must remove her from the castle at once!”
 
“Remove her from the castle?” Mercurio repeated incredulously; he hadn’t even felt her fur yet! He turned back to the Bandit King, though she was doing well to maintain her composure under the accusation. Finally he turned to the others. “Who among you can testify in favour of this claim?”
 
“I can,” ” Zosha snarled as she pointed accusingly at the fox. ”She once ate me after I had been tied up and captured!”
 
“She devoured me as well, she cannot be trusted to be close to you without a muzzle.” Oxana agreed, narrowing her eyes at the vixen. “And probably something to plug up her other orifices as well, while you’re at it.”
 
Scarlet raised an amused eyebrow, a quiet murr rumbling in her throat at the suggestion, just loud enough for Mercurio to hear. She wiggled her eyebrow at him [i]‘Would you like that? Putting me in a muzzle?’[/i] she seemed to silently ask. Mercurio smiled at her and ran his tongue along his teeth. The vixen smiled back, her tail curling up to tempt him into ignoring the accusations and just focus on her beautiful orange curves.
 
“The wolf is just as dangerous!” Amber called out as she pointed over at River, catching the she-wolf off guard as all eyes suddenly fell on her. “She and Scarlet were in cahoots from the start! The king and this kingdom will not be safe until they are both in the stocks.”
 
“Stocks, hm?” A devious grin crossed Scarlet’s muzzle as she swished her tail excitedly, clearly riled up from all the talk of muzzles and bindings. “I mean, I wouldn’t say no, always wondered what it’d be like to do some court-mandated exhibitionism.” She smiled playfully over her shoulder at Mercurio. “Think we could schedule that for next Tuesday? If your decree is put in place by then.”
 
“Behind bars then, you harlot, in the darkest dungeon with no visitors to lift your tail for!” Amber sneered at her. The rabbit then turned to Sana, her gaze softening and her eyes pleading with the bear to be the voice of reason. “You know how dangerous River is too, don’t you? She fell you in battle and–”
 
“Th-there’s no need to bring that up, it was a long time ago,” Sana’s voice cracked as she rapidly shook her paws in front of her. “A-and honestly, that isn’t a fair example. She was under the Rot’s corruption, and I helped cure it…” she cleared her throat, “In a manner of speaking… and then she went on to return the favour by felling Dragon Clan when they arrived in the forest.”
 
"So it was you who sent them!" Oxana snarled up at the bear. "If I had my whip right now–!"
 
“Perhaps you should consider how lucky you are I don’t take advantage of the fact you don’t,” Sana replied lowly, the closest she had ever gotten to growling by Mercurio’s guess. He’d need to keep those two in separate rooms for sure.
 
“I am eternally grateful for your help ridding me of its influence,” River interrupted her with a low bow to Sana, only to gulp bashfully as she blushed under her fur. “...And eternally apologetic for the method by which we did it.”
 
“The Wyld does live to serve, doesn’t it, Bear?” Oxana chuckled as she watched the Forest Sister turn crimson under her dark brown fur. “Cleanse the rot by any means necessary, no matter how humiliating a fate.”
 
“Regardless of whether Sana forgives her, River still bound her up and devoured her,” Amber surmised for the King. “They should both be locked up immediately, before this can continue any further.”
 
“It seems like the two of you have a lot of accusations against you,” Mercurio noted, his eyebrow raised as he looked at Scarlet, and then over her shoulder at the Wolf standing nervously in the line up. His two hottest ladies were known scoundrels; truly, a King's worst nightmare. He considered the vision as he stared into the Bandit King's eyes, his gaze gradually trailing down to her midsection. He imagined himself in the shifting darkness within, being consumed by the beautiful vixen before him… eating heroes out on the field was one thing, but would she really be bold enough to do it to royalty?
 
"Do you have anything to say in your defense, Scarlet?" Mercurio finally asked as he rested his back against his throne.
 
"My King, if it would make you feel safer, I would gladly wear a muzzle… but then you wouldn't be able to hear me sing your praises," Scarlet replied, her soft fluffy tail swaying sensually through the air behind her. She bent forward, allowing him to see down the silks that concealed her breasts, one hand earnestly on her chest. "I only wish to demonstrate my skills and earn my place as your Head Girl… a lapdance; my muzzle won't even come close to you." She winked, "Unless of course, you want it to?"
 
"And why would I want that, knowing your history of eating people?" Mercurio asked, an eyebrow raised as he leaned on the arm of his throne. To most it looked like he was deep in thought, but he really just wanted a better look of the vixen's voluptuous ass.
 
"I heard you liked to live in danger, rolling the dice in the pursuit of pleasure. Doesn’t the fact that it’s a gamble just make it more alluring?" Scarlet answered, her hips wiggling as if they knew they were being watched. She brought her hands behind her head and stretched, exposing her heavy breasts to the royal rat before turning and lifting her tail so he could finally take in the full beauty of her bountiful backside. "Will you let me perform for you, your majesty?"
 
Mercurio looked hopefully towards Sargon as he braced himself on the throne, his fingers digging into the armrests to will his rock hard shaft back into its sheath. The furless rat shook his head desperately at him, fear in his pupiless eyes; [i]No, no, absolutely not. Do. Not. Do. This! Not in a thousand moons! No![/i]
 
"Very well, you may proceed." Mercurio announced with a royal flourish of his hand, ending with an approving pat to the vixen's rear. His hand sunk into her fur, his fingers disappearing into the fat. Sargon and Zosha to let out a unified groan, and Amber covered her face with her ears. The king looked over at Sargon as Scarlet prepared herself to start, giving him an eager thumbs up. "Don't worry, I've got a plan," he whispered, "Let's just see where this goes."
 
"I've already seen it," The withered rat grimaced. "Let me know when you want me to call the guards."
 
“Oh please, can’t the kingslayer look after himself?” Scarlet teased as she wrapped her large fluffy tail around Mercurio’s shoulders and gradually stepped backward toward him, her hips swaying with each step she took. He took a deep breath of her autumn fur, her warm fiery scent filling him with arousal. The vixen let out a rumbling murr of approval as the warmth radiating off her ass reached the rat’s cock, leaving it twitching and throbbing as she lightly brushed it with her fur. “My my, the rumours about Rat Clan men are true after all~” she teased, only to look disdainfully at Sargon as she grinded her ass against the king’s scepter. “Well, [i]some[/i] Rat Clan men anyway…”
 
“Mmh, the balls didn’t give it away?” Mercurio teased her back as he reached down to adjust his shaft and angle the dripping tip towards the vixen’s tailhole. She moved it out of the way in a fluid motion, her cheeks lifted higher as her tail curled over her shoulder. She petted it seductively, her eyes locked onto Mercurio as she pressed her wide ass against him, pinning him to the back of the throne.
 
“You’re going to have to make me the head of your harem if you want that privilege, your majesty. Don’t forget I’m a king too among my clansmen,” The vixen warned him with a playful glint in her eyes, her cheeks sandwiching the grinning rat between them. “But don’t worry, I still have plenty of tricks that’ll leave you satisfied if you really want to get inside me~”
 
“Y-your majesty! She admitted it! She’s going to… to..!” Sargon stammered as if he were unable to believe the words coming out of his mouth. He flailed his hand wildly to something out of view, Mercurio’s field of view was nothing but orange and cream fur right now. The voluptuous vixen continued to grind against his body, her tail curling behind him to push his head against her ass. “Th-that story about the Wolf and the Bear from earlier; it’ll be that, but with you!”
 
“You think she’s going to try to shove me in [i]there?[/i]” Mercurio asked, his hands raised to push back against the plush vixen booty even as the tail tried to force him forward. He was close enough to feel Scarlet’s heart beating faster, though his own was outpacing it even without the constant throbs from his aching cock. Her butt was so big and doughy, and her fur so hypnotically soft. “Not going to lie, that actually sounds kind of hot… try anything once, right?”
 
“S-Sire!” Zargon’s squeak went up another octave, his already cracking voice breaking. “Y-you’d willing feed yourself to this assassin?! And in such a disgusting way?”
 
“I’m King, aren’t I? I can do whatever I want with the power,” [i]‘as long as I keep the Nine Families happy,’[/i] he added bitterly in his mind. How often would he get the chance to experience something so impossible? So bizarrely erotic? He had been to the seediest bars in Armello and never once encountered anything like it. But there she was, a beautiful vixen with a tush ready to swallow him whole, grinding up and down his body as if it was trying to claim the throne by scent alone. “Besides, like I said before I’ve got a plan,” Mercurio added as he moved his snout towards the vixen’s hole. “So you can look away if you want, but I’m doing this one way or the other.”
 
“Perhaps you could retire to your bedchambers, your majesty,” Amber suggested, barely holding herself back from gagging at the sight before her.
 
“My throne room, my rules. Maybe the rest of you ought to start thinking about what you’ll do for your auditions for Head Girl,” Mercurio replied as he felt the vixen’s tailhole squishing against his muzzle, its inner warmth drawing him in as Scarlet placed one hand on each of her cheeks to spread them wide open. [i]’Better be bloody impressive if this is the opening act…’[/i]
 
Scarlet let out a quiet huff of pleasure, gyrating her hips to lead the rat’s snout caught in her tailhole. Occasionally it would clench on his nose, coaxing him forward a little more as her thick cheeks squished either side of his face. She let out a chuckle of amusement as she pushed back, her tailhole parting wider to engulf the first few inches of his muzzle, preventing him from opening his mouth. “May I have your permission to sit on the royal throne, your majesty?” She asked, “I guarantee you will remain on it throughout my performance,” she wiggled her hips invitingly. “Spank twice for yes, if you’d like~”
 
She didn’t tell him how to say ‘no’, but she didn’t need to. Whatever this sensation was, Mercurio needed it like another glass of fine wine! He got his hand out from under her and smacked her cheek, feeling it bounce against his palm with each strike. Scarlet lifted herself up, almost standing on the throne as her ass finally released his snout in order to hover over his crown. “Don’t suppose you’d take it off for a moment?” she asked, her cheeks pressing into the pointed tips of the golden crown. She let out a murr of arousal, [i]’You like pain, eh? Where’ve you been all my life.’[/i] Mercurio thought with a little grin.
 
“Sorry, the crown stays on,” Mercurio replied. “You could always just sit on my face and be done with your performance though,” he offered with a greedy squeeze of the vixen’s ass, his fingers sinking beneath the fur and fat. “Mmm, I can already tell you’ll be getting top marks… and maybe some bottom marks, if you’d like~”
 
“Oh please, I’ve never been one to quit, that’s why I have so many hangovers.” Scarlet said with a foxy grin as she widened her stance. Mercurio admired her determination and commitment to her craft; she’d be the perfect head for his harem. He wouldn’t tell her that just yet though, not when she was about to give him the ride of his life. She spread her cheeks with her hands once again, pulling her tailstar wide as she lowered herself onto the Rat King’s head, taking in the crown with a quiet grunt. “Mmmh, how’d’you like your new crown?” she panted.
 
“I always thought I looked great in orange,” Mercurio teased back, one hand on his cock while the other continued to grope the vixen’s ass as it hovered over him, doing his best to keep her steady in her precarious position. Now that it was out of his face he could see the other women; Amber and Sana were covering their faces with their hands, and Zosha was standing with her arms crossed glaring daggers at him. Oxana was trying to look anywhere but the throne, and River… River was just staring at him, a mixture of lust and jealousy in her eyes. He knew [i]exactly[/i] who he’d get to perform next. [i]’If this is what a lowly bandit can do, imagine getting crushed between those wolf hips.’[/i] He thought, his eyes trailing down River’s body to her thighs.
 
Suddenly his vision went back as the vixen let out a passionate moan, her tailhole tightening around his upper head. He tried to look up, but she quickly moved her hands to hold him still, her hips grinding back and forth as she started to coat his muzzle in the slick, sweet juices of her pussy. They dripped down the sides of his snout, allowing him to taste them as the vixen began to bounce up and down, training her hole for its next target. Finally she pulled herself the whole way off his head, and as Mercurio looked up to check on her he found the tailhole plunging back down towards him.
 
The warm-up had done wonders for the vixen’s flexibility; she engulfed his whole head in a single fluid motion. She let out a yelp of pleasure, her left hand moving to touch herself while her right hand steadied herself against the throne. “Uughh, W-wyld, why?!” he could hear Zosha complaining, but he didn’t care. It was his throne room, he had fought for the right to rule; and this was his reward whether she liked it or not. Scarlet finally caught her breath and began to bounce her ass on his shoulders, panting and murring. Her thick fluffy tail trailed down his body, gently guiding his arms to his sides. Mercurio kept them in position; he couldn’t imagine how difficult this would be if he squirmed. Best to just sit tight and enjoy the ride while the professional did all the work.
 
“Oo-oh my King, mhh.. Y-your fur is so soft and smooth, so.. Mhh.. p-perfect for this…” Scarlet whispered, her hands moving up her body to grope her chest. He could feel her heart beating around her as she pulled him in; the light pink walls of her lower intestine warming his fur as it held him snuggly in its embrace. Her tail squeezed his shoulders, compressing his body as tightly as it could. The vixen took a deep breath, relaxing the walls around him.
 
[i]Scccchhlooorp![/i] His slender chest disappeared as the vixen lowered herself down his body, using him like a sex toy. She started to bounce against him again, her cheeks slapping the arms of the throne as her tail curled up behind her to cushion her back. “D-does this please you, your majesty? Is this experience everything you hoped?” She whimpered in bliss as she continued to bring inch after inch of his royal fine clothing into her tight, humid tailhole.
 
“Wyld, y-yes, it’s… it’s…” Mercurio was at a loss for words; how could he describe what he was experiencing? The darkness only made him focus on his other senses; the warm, slick walls around him as they massaged and caressed him, the sounds of her heartbeat and moans of passion. The vixen’s excitement was infectious, he desperately reached for his twitching cock, pre spurting from the tip and splattering against the tile floors. In some ways it was one last insult to the old king; to do something so wretched and repulsive on the throne he had sat and ruled for decades. [i]’This one’s for you, you rot-addled old bastard.’[/i] Mercurio thought, a smirk crossing his muzzle as he started to jerk himself like his life depended on it. [i]’Bet the Nine Families are going to have a fun time keeping this from getting out…’[/i]
 
“Hfff, this is where most of the men I do this to like to stop, but I can tell you’re a special case. You want to go deeper, don’t you? You want to go all the way,” Scarlet panted, her hands trailing over the bulge his upper body made in her stomach as she licked her lips. “Mmffh, just say the word, your majesty. I’ll serve you however you desire,” she promised in a passionate whisper that echoed through the walls around him. “Make me yours, by letting me take you the rest of the way in.”
 
“Mmhh, such a… loyal servant,” Mercurio muttered, noting the change in the vixen’s heartbeat. It was starting to slow, like she wasn’t getting enough out of him. A little wiggle upwards was enough to get it racing again, along with a high-pitched ecstatic moan. How could he deny the vixen such pleasure? How could he deny [i]himself[/i] it? His cock throbbing he pushed himself in deeper, and Scarlet began to push down against him. Together they’d bring him inside her snug guts; and then he could finally reveal his cunning plan.
 
Scarlet readjusted her stance again, her hands holding her up as she dangled her legs off the end of the throne until her feet finally touched the ground again. She raised her tail high behind her, the walls squeezing the rat tightly as she ran her tongue over her teeth. “Might want to get your hands on your dick, they’re going to be stuck in place for a while.” She warned him as she gradually put more and more of her weight on his body, leaving her tailhole [i]schlooorrping[/i] its way over the rat’s gut en route to his hips.
 
Mercurio quickly moved both hands to his cock, making sure he could reach it with both just before his lower arms were pinned to his sides. A sudden clench caused him to let out an unintentional squeak, only to moan as they began to massage him up and down again, coaxing him to fall back into their hypnotic embrace. He started to stroke harder and faster, his heart racing along with the vixen’s as they neared their climax; and the climax of Scarlet’s audition. She clenched again, dragging his cock into the tight ring of her hole just as Mercurio lost his focus; orgasming and spraying the wall in front of him with hot, sticky seed. The wall immediately began to rub back against him, lubricating his dick with the load and leaving it twitching for another.
 
“Mmh, a fine orgasm, your majesty…” Scarlet panted words of teasing encouragement, smirking at the other women with victorious pride. She started to finger herself faster, plunging two at a time into her wet pussy. There was no hiding what she was doing; the silks showed everything to the other girls, despite hers being the darkest of the harem. Mercurio could imagine their reactions to the display; Amber and Sana turning away, Oxana and Zosha trying not to look, and River… well, it was hard to say. The Ranger had plenty of mysteries he’d have to get to the bottom of during his time as her king.
 
He could feel Scarlet starting to slow down as she took another few inches of him into her, focusing on her breathing as she panted and moan. She was edging, waiting for the perfect moment to climax… and as she spread her legs wide Mercurio knew the exact moment she had in mind. The vixen dropped her full body weight onto him, taking her hand off the arm rest to let gravity take over. Her ass plunged around him, engulfing his waist, his and ass in an instant. Scarlet moaned out in bliss, her back against the throne as she bucked her hips at the air, each thrust accentuated with a clench of her hole to pull the rat in bit by bit, until finally only his feet remained outside.He could feel her juices dripping down over his toes, as well as the soaked seat of the throne beneath them. “Mmhh… going to have to get a cleaner for that…” Scarlet panted, “Hey ‘royal advisor’, you might want to get a mop…” she panted. “Th-thank you, your majesty…”
 
Mercurio tried to kick his feet free, but he found himself stunned by the situation he was in; he was entirely inside another mammal, inside a beautiful woman with his fur drenched in sweat and his cock dripping with jizz. The path was tight and narrow around him, dragging him ever upwards until the cool air of the throne room vanished behind the sweltering heat of the fox’s innards. She could feel her tailhole close around his toes, the final sigh as he vanished from sight; her hands caressing the bulge he made in her midsection. They rubbed gently but with purpose, gradually guiding him along the path as the vixen panted and licked her lips. “Mmhh… A-all mine…” she drooled, worn out from her experience despite Mercurio still having quite a ways to go before his came to an end.
 
Finally he reached another tight sphincter and found himself being pushed through it; the acrid smell of digesting mead filled his throat. [i]’I’m in her stomach,’[/i] he thought, his eyes wide in the dark as he was gradually pushed upwards into the sac, her hands guiding him all the way. What seemed at first like a more spacious spot soon became as cramped as the vixen’s bowels; he was forced to curl over himself, his tail flicking at his nose. He could feel her giving him a condescending pat. “Comfortable, your majesty?” she asked as she cradled her gut in her hands.
 
“I’ve been better,” Mercurio replied as he tried to reposition himself, only to slip on the slick walls and roll over himself, landing upside down in the gut. He gradually slid back down until he was laying on his back, the stomach juices bubbling and blorping around him as the [i]grrrrggglles~[/i] and [i]Grrrrns[/i] started to get increasingly more noticeable. “Better not overstay my welcome though, sounds like your stomach thinks I’m food.”
 
“I wonder where it got that idea,” Scarlet replied in a low chuckle, her voice lilting effortlessly between teasing and threatening. The rat pushed against the walls with his hands, though as stomach juices oozed down his fingers he immediately regretted the decision. He pushed out with his feet instead, only to feel the vixen’s hands pushing him from the other side. “Mmmh, careful your majesty, squirming only makes it act faster.”
 
“Alright love, you’ve had your fun but I think it’s time one of the other girls showed me what they can do,” [i]After I have a long bath…[/i] Mercurio added in his head. How was it possible the vixen’s stomach was more intolerable than her bowels? Maybe it was the constant smell of ale in the air, or the realisation the rest of his harem was currently watching the bulges of his hands, feet and head as they appeared and disappeared from view in Scarlet’s bloated midsection. “Cough me back up and get back in line, I’m sure you’re as excited as I am to see how River performs.”
 
“Oh, she won’t be performing for you, your highness. None of the other girls will,” Scarlet replied, a clear smirk in her voice as she buried both of her hands in her gut, stealing the little squirming room the rat had left and causing her gut to let out an ominous [i]Grrrgggggglllee…[/i] “Surely you knew the risks when you let me keep going after your advisor told you not to? You’ve got from a king to a meal fit for one~” Scarlet licked her lips pointedly, “A Bandit King,” she finished with a hard slap to her gut.
 
“Sounds like someone’s going to be spending the rest of her life in the dungeons,” Mercurio grunted at the slap, responding with his own forceful kick. The vixen only let out a titter of amusement at his weak attempt at defiance, but she wouldn’t be laughing for long. “Do you think eating me makes you the king?” he asked.
 
“Isn’t that how you became king? Defeating the previous one?” Scarlet replied as she leaned back, causing the throne’s arm-rests to squeeze her gut from either side. The walls tightened either side of the rat as a result, pinning his arms in place and leaving his hands locked to his dick. Okay, not the best scenario; but he was [i]still[/i] in control! [i]And there are less comfortable ways to be stuck while a hot vixen digests you,[/i] Mercurio thought optimistically.
 
“Actually, I wasn’t the King until I had recovered the crown from him. He who wears the crown is King,” Mercurio reminded her with a grin. He could hear her heart start to race again, a panicked beat of alarm. He tilted his head just enough to look up at the golden rim of his crown, still sparkling and shining despite being coated in stomach juices, sweat and saliva. “And since the crown is stuck in here with me where you can’t reach it, I think you’ll find I’ll be king for a while longer.” He smirked, “Long enough for the guards to arrive and get me out of here anyway. Sargon! Now!”
 
“Yes, your majesty,” Sargon’s reply was almost too muffled by the stomach walls to hear, but Mercurio could feel the vibrations of his feet as he rapidly scurried away. The old rat could move quickly when he had somewhere to be. Now he just had to last long enough for the guards to rescue him from the vixen’s growling belly.
 
Scarlet fell silent, her heart skipping a beat as he revealed his plan. This was the moment he had been waiting for; the vixen had no idea what to do or say! Surely now there was only one way out of this, one way she might be spared a life in prison. Mercurio sat back smugly and waited, giving his shaft a few tugs as he awaited the Bandit’s decision; the only decision she could make in this scenario, really.
 
“Yeah, I guess getting my fat ass lodged in your throne doesn’t really count, does it?” Scarlet finally said, her hips jiggling as she tried to pull herself free with a wiggle. “I guess I’m not the real king without the crown.”
 
“You’re not,” Mercurio replied with a sagely nod.
 
“Shame I don’t have any skills I could use to quickly take your valuable possessions,” Scarlet replied, her voice gradually returning to its previous low teasing tone as she placed both her palms against her belly. Mercurio could feel the air pressure starting to change, building up tight and gradually rising to the top of the gut. “Y’know, skills that a [i]Bandit[/i] would have.”
 
“D-don’t be ridiculous…” Mercurio panted, starting to sweat as the heat rose in the vixen’s humid insides. Her hands began to rub in circles either side of him, pushing the stomach walls tighter and tighter as they picked up the pace. “Y-you can’t pickpocket me from in here, the crown’s completely safe!”
 
“Oh, the crown’s safe alright…” Scarlet ran her tongue across her lips, noisily enough for the whole throne room to hear as she pushed her hands forcefully into her belly, smushing Mercurio against the back wall. “But you’re not!”
 
“UURRAAAAAAAAAHHHP!” The vixen let out the most unladylike belch Mercurio had ever heard; and he had been to Ox taverns! The stomach tightened to a perfectly sealed bag of hot slime-covered fleshy walls, constantly rolling over the rat as the belch continued. They overpowered every sense the rat had; all he could smell was digestion, all he could see and feel were the flesh walls, and all he could hear were the powerful guts groaning and roaring, answering Scarlet’s call to action as she continued to belch.
 
Finally it came to an end, and the rat collapsed back against the stomach walls. He felt like he had been digested already; too tired to move a muscle and covered in the previous contents of the vixen’s stomach, as well as whatever had been working away at them. He took a few deep breaths, though the vixen had removed what little air there was before. “Mmmh… st-still alive… hff… spit me… out…” he panted, “I… order you… as king…”
 
“Really?” Scarlet replied, “I thought whoever wore the crown was king.”
 
Mercurio reached up and patted the short fur on his head; the crown was gone! He moved with newfound energy as he searched the tight gut around him, flicking his tail in various directions behind him while his hands splashed through the juices steadily rising around his rear and between his legs. Finally he felt a familiar weight pressing down from him outside the stomach; the prongs of the crown. “H-How?!” he demanded as he reached up to touch it, as though he could somehow pull it through the walls of fat and fur between them.
 
“It came up with the belch; I guess you skimped on getting it refitted,” Scarlet replied as she lifted the crown off of him. The weight of the crown vanished, disappearing as quickly as it arrived; the perfect allegory for his time as king, really. “I don’t think I could’ve mustered that kind of power up without your squirms and kicks though, so really half the praise goes to you.” Scarlet acknowledged as she placed the crown on her head. “Sounds like the guards are arriving; I’ll give them their new orders… escorting all these lovely ladies home,” she paused, “Except you, River. You can stay if you want.”
 
He’d have to take her word that the guards were arriving, all he could hear was the low [i]Grrrrrrnnnn.[/i] of the vixen’s stomach as the juices continued to rise around him. He watched as his tunic started to dissolve, and grimaced at the thought of the same happening to his fur. He could feel the River’s hands join Scarlet’s efforts in rubbing him down, pushing at his face and gradually forcing him in a ball. They whispered to each other in hurried excitement. “I can’t believe you did that”’ River said, her voice equal parts excited and flustered. “Sshh, he can still hear you, wait until he’s done digesting and we can talk!” Scarlet replied eagerly.
 
The two were talking about him like a piece of meat, though it wouldn’t be long until that was accurate. Had it really been worth it? His time as king was so swiftly cut short, his harem disbanded before he got to even enjoy them… Had he really been right in risking all those things just to get one bizarre sexual experience from a beautiful woman?
 
His cock throbbed its answer.
 
“Fine,” he grunted, his head spinning as he started to stroke himself again. “Might as well get one more in; last royal nut before I’m back to being a regular rat.”
 
At least it would be a memorable one.
 
 
[center] * * * [/center]
 
River awoke from the most refreshing night’s rest she had ever had. The beds were different than what she was used to, sleeping under the stars may have been pretty but it didn’t exactly do wonders for her back. Her heart skipped a beat as an arm wrapped around her, though as it pulled her back into the loving embrace of her girlfriend’s chest she breathed out a sigh of relief. “Good morning, your highness.” she murred.
 
“Good morning, [i]my[/i] highness~” Scarlet replied with a playful nibble on River’s ear, leaving the ranger squirming in place. “Think you’ll get used to sleeping in a bed this big?”
 
“It’s a lot easier knowing you take up half of it,” River replied as she rolled over to face her. There she was, bathed in the dawn’s early light that made her orange fur glow like fire. Hazel eyes that drew her in and the cutest snout she had ever had the pleasure of kissing. She smiled and nuzzled up to Scarlet, inhaling her scent. “I’m so happy…” she whispered.
 
“Me too. I know this isn’t how you planned to take the throne but…” The vixen held her close, letting the wolf’s head sink into the warm fluffy fur of her breasts. “I’m glad we’re here together. I’d have never gotten this far without you. We’re going to right so many wrongs.” She leaned her muzzle close to the Wolf’s ear, “and maybe do some wrongs that feel right~”
 
“I’d love to hear about some of the wrongs you’ve got in mind,” River replied with a playful smile, her yellow eyes glinting with mischief as she looked up at her from her position nuzzled between her breasts.
 
“Well for starters, my first decree is making it so pretty wolves can’t wear panties,” Scarlet teased with a playful lick of the brown fur between River’s ears. “Actually, let’s make this more interesting. No bottoms of any kind; bare booties for everyone.”
 
“Day one on the throne and the power’s already gone to your head,” River shook her head with a chuckle as she nuzzled up at Scarlet, sneaking in an affectionate kiss to her cheek as she sank into the newly formed fat layering the Bandit King’s body.
 
“Must have been something I ate,” Scarlet replied with a playful squeeze to her backside. River tilted her head up to see over Scarlet’s wide chest; the rat had added a lot more than she would have expected from such a small man. The vixen had reclaimed her vast predatory curves, her buttocks bulging out either side of her as if Mercurio had decided to stay there after his experiencing sliding between those tan and orange cheeks.
 
Her breasts had grown considerably too. While she had kept them at a decent size during Mercurio’s rule they seemed to have returned to their former size thanks to the rat’s contributions. They were warm and soft as River rested her head on them, even softer than the royal pillows they had been sleeping on all night. She almost found herself falling asleep just being so close to them.
 
As she opened her eye a crack she caught a glimpse of the vixen’s belly, the least affected by the Rat King’s occupation but certainly not untouched. It bulged out slightly, still burbling and groaning as it sorted the last of the royal slop the rat had become overnight. River blushed bashfully as she recalled the night before, the way she could still feel the bulge of his form while she and Scarlet were ‘celebrating’ their victory by breaking in the royal bed. She hoped he wasn’t conscious to hear any of that, but knowing Scarlet she knew the vixen made sure he heard every moan the queens made for each other.
 
“He really filled you out again, didn’t he?” River finally spoke as her hand trailed over the soft fur on Scarlet’s hip. She only needed to give it a little push to watch it jiggle and bounce, leaving the vixen chuckling in amusement. “He may not have been king for long, but his contributions were many…”
 
“He added a lot to me, alright… including… nngh…” Scarlet grunted as she held her forehead. River looked up in alarm at the vixen. “Hfff.. the corruption… of power… aaah, I can feel it’s call…! I must be an evil king like those before me…!” the vixen groaned dramatically as she held River by her shoulders, her tongue drooling. River squirmed playfully in her grip, letting out little giggles as the vixen continued her charade. “Mmmhh… I… crave…” her voice dropped to a lustful growl as drool dripped from her jaws, “Wolf Pussy!”
 
River laughed as the vixen disappeared under the covers, tickling her on the way down to keep her occupied while her snout left little pecks and kisses over her body as it passed down her. First to her chest, then belly, and finally she found her mark under the sheets. The Ranger’s laughter turned into huffs and moans as the vixen’s whiskers teased her nethers, her warm tongue slurping over her lower lips. “Hfff.. S-Scarlet, Mhh…” her thick tail beat against the mattress, “D-didn’t you get enough last night?”
 
The vixen continued to ‘feast’ and the Ranger finally submitted, one hand resting behind her head while the other played with Scarlet’s ears as the bulge of the vixen’s form rose and fell under the duvet. She let out a murr as the vixen found the perfect speed and technique, allowing her just enough relief from the sensation to speak. “You know, if you get too corrupted I might have to take the crown for myself,” River teased, her fluffy tail curling under the covers to run over Scarlet’s nipples. “I could sit on the throne and bend you over my knees, give you ten spanks for each ‘wrong’ decree you’ve made…”
 
Scarlet immediately stopped what she was doing and poked her head out from under the sheets. “Can we make the guards watch?” Her eyes sparkled in delight as her tail wagged under the covers.
 
“They’d need to know there’s been a change of leadership, won’t they?” River winked at her as she wrapped her arms around the vixen, allowing her to rest her head on her breasts like a pillow. Her hands wandered over Scarlet’s back, gently rubbing up and down as they rested together. Today would be a new dawn for Armello, once the two queens decided to get out of bed.
 
If either of them was going to make that move, it was going to be River. She kissed Scarlet gently to let her know it was time to get up and shuffled out from under her. The vixen reluctantly got up, her tail-tip brushing over River’s sensitive pussy as she did so, and made her way towards the wardrobe on the far side of the room. She opened it up and began to sort through it while River watched from the bed. “We’ve got… lion sized clothes and rat sized clothes; both in mens.”
 
“That’s all?” River blinked in disbelief as Scarlet took out a cloak that felt more like a spare duvet, and some trousers that wouldn’t fit her even if she devoured the entire Bear Clan. She then took out one of Mercurio’s vests and tried it on, though it was clear by the time it was at her shoulders that it would never fit over her chest. The Wolf shook her head in dismay, “We had to leave our old clothes at our Clangrounds when we traveled here to join Mercurio’s harem, what are we going to wear?”
 
“Welllllll…” Scarlet turned slowly and canted her head towards the foot of the bed. River crawled to the end of the bed and looked down at the mixed blue and black harem silks; bras and loincloths that would barely hide anything held together with golden chains. She looked back up at Scarlet to find the vixen grinning at her, her fluffy tail swishing back and forth behind her. “Unless you’d rather I make my first decree that pretty wolves have to go around naked?”
 
River blushed at the alternative and reached down to grab the set of blue silks. “Fine,” she mumbled, “But only for today.”
 
“Of course, my queen,” Scarlet replied as she walked over to take the black silks. “After this, the silks are for bedroom use only.”
 
River looked up at the vixen, her ears lopsided.
 
“What?” Scarlet smiled as she wrapped her arms around her lover. “I want to see what your performance would’ve been like.” The vixen pulled her into a kiss before she could reply, and the two soon found themselves falling back onto the bed, held in each other’s arms with their snouts locked firmly together.
 
The queens had some more celebrating to do, and the new dawn of Armello would have to wait another thirty minutes.
 
 
[center] * * * [/center]
 
 
Mercurio watched the sun rising over the castle from the shade of the forest, his arms crossed as he leaned against the old oak tree. He stared at the highest tower, which he had once called his bedroom. Was the vixen waking up there this morning? What plans did she have for the realm, now that it was under her rule?
 
“Are you done brooding yet?” Zosha asked with a snear, “We need to get on the road back home.”
 
“There’s just so much I regret,” Mercurio sighed as he turned to face her. He would have thought she would be more pleased to be in her old armour, though she had been glaring at him ever since he had reformed in the secret resurrection circle he had set up in the ancient glade. He stepped past her, his arms behind his back formally as he shook his head. “I mean, I could have chosen my first pick from the harem better. When am I going to get a chance to see Sana’s rump up close again?”
 
“That’s what you regret about all this? Who you nutted to?” Zosha snarled. Mercurio was suddenly glad she at least didn’t have her weapon with her, but he assumed she could’ve killed him with two twigs and a pebble if she wanted to. Assassins were nothing if not resourceful.
 
“Zosha’s right, you’ve lost the crown for the Rat Clan,” Sargon agreed, playing peacekeeper as always as he put himself between Mercurio and the angry assassin. “I know I’m not your advisor anymore, but you might not want to go back to the Clangrounds just yet. When the Nine Families find out…”
 
“Word travels fast, I get that. There’s no doubt they’re going to find out I got kicked off the throne and replaced with someone else,” Mercurio acknowledged with a dismissive wave of his hand. “But you don’t need to worry about me, what do you think would happen if I got executed for losing the throne?”
 
“It’d send a pretty powerful message,” Zosha shrugged. “Failure means death.”
 
“And what happens when they want someone else to take the throne?” Mercurio asked. The two rats paused, glancing at each other for the answer. Mercurio smiled and shrugged, “No one would step forward; who would take on such a dangerous mission, even in Rat Clan you’ve got to look after your own tail first. No one’s going to do their bidding if there’s a chance they’ll just kill them anyway.”
 
“So what,” Zosha let out a disgruntled sniff. “You think you’re not going to get punished at all? You lost the Nine Families the most powerful position in all of Armello!”
 
“Armello’s not the only kingdom they’ve got their paws on, Zosha. They’ll recover and start plotting again right away,” Mercurio told her with a flick of his tail as he hopped over an overturned log blocking the path. “As for me; they’re never going to trust me with that kind of responsibility again. I played puppet for them for a bit, enacted some of the laws they wanted… I’d say my part in all this is done.”
 
“Are you saying your plan was to get dethroned from the start?” Zosha blinked up at him.
 
“No, not from the start, just when I realised being the Rat King is mostly just sitting on your arse and following orders from a secret shadow organisation.” Mercurio explained as he kicked the log with his foot. “It might’ve looked like I was in control, but I was a puppet. I’m not really keen on spending my days withering away in a castle, that’s no way to live your life.” He spread his arms, “So when Scarlet dethroned me, [i]that[/i] was my real plan all along! Ta-da.” He bowed with a flourish of his hand.
 
“You are absolutely getting executed if that gets to the Nine Families” Sargon frowned under his hood.
 
“But it won’t, will it?” Mercurio spoke up as he pointed to Sargon and then Zosha. “Because neither of you snatched up the crown when Scarlet belched it out, or fought to protect me while I was getting digested inside her.”
 
“You can’t rope us into this that easily!” Zosha snarled.
 
“Can’t I?” Mercurio raised an eyebrow. The assassin fell silent, her teeth gritted as she fumed. Oh yes, he could.
 
“Even so, the Nine Families aren’t going to let you get away untouched,” Sargon reiterated as he tried to climb over the log, only to fumble and scramble with his feet to try to push himself the rest of the way up. “What do you think they’ll have in store for you when you return, if not death?”
 
“Having my name faded into obscurity, probably. They’re not going to let it out that there was a Rat Clan King who lost it all to get his dick wet, especially with [i]how[/i] I got taken out.” Mercurio replied as he reached over the log to help Sargon up. “The sooner they erase me from history the better; all my past deeds, my legends and renown, that’s all out the window now.”
 
“Sounds to me like they’re still planning to kill you in that scenario,” Zosha said, hopping effortlessly over the log and landing on the other side. Mercurio and Sargon climbed down and the once rat king took the lead once again. “If they want to erase you from history, surely that starts with erasing you, right?”
 
“I can call in some favours, reduce the punishment. I’ve got a lot of dirt on those rats, stuff they wouldn’t want to get out.” Mercurio replied, his hand resting on his rapier. “Failing that, I could see if Bandit Clan will have me. I imagine Scarlet would love making me a lowly mercenary after what happened in the throne room.”
 
“You’d go back to being a nameless cur,” Sargon furrowed his brow under his mask. “Are you… certain that you are okay with that, Mercurio?”
 
Mercurio shrugged. “I’d rather be a nameless cur who gets to roam free than the most well-known rat in all of Armello trapped in a gilded cage.”
 
Zosha slowed her pace, her ears twitching at his words. “For all your reckless dick-led plans, the Rat Clan would be foolish to let you go, or to kill you.” Zosha acknowledged as she quickened her pace to walk alongside her clanmates again. “I hope you don’t get exiled, or executed.”
 
It was the nicest thing Zosha had ever said to him. The two had had their differences in the past, but at least she could understand why he had given up the crown. Just yesterday he had been waking up in a royal bedroom, dressing in finery and eating expensive food. Tonight he would rest on soft grass under the stars with his two companions, eating whatever they managed to scavenge and roast on a small campfire.
 
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
 
The End.