Ch.2: Nightmare World

"Uh" said Skipper, waking up in drowsy state, rubbing the side of his head with his flipper " what happened to me?"

Suddenly all the memories began returning to him like a flash flood. His team, the obstacle course, Marlene, the unexpected flight. At least that was as good as he could think off being perched ontop of the zoo clock tower.

"I'm lucky I didn't wind up dead" said Skipper, looking at the depression he had left on the bell " well, at least Marlene is safe,"

With that thought settled, Skipper approached the edge of the clock tower to jump back down into the zoo, when a shocking sight caused him to stop in his tracks.

"Gran Cooly Dam!" shouted Skipper " what happened to the zoo?"

The whole zoo looked like it had just imploded. Dark, black ash layed everywhere, and all the habitats were in ruins. Not a sign of animal life could be seen for miles around.

Worried instantly about his team, Skipper quickly scaled down the clock tower, and slid over to the exposed penguin habitat. There was barely anything left standing, and his team was no where in sight.

"What happened?" said Skipper, taking a peek in Kolwaski's lab " did one of Kolwaski's inventions finally go overboard?"

No, thought Skipper, that couldn't be it. Kolwaski was a mad genius, but even he wasn't capable of creating something destructive on purpose. In Skipper's mind, there was only one solution, one of his enemey's had come back for revenge.

"Good theory" thought Skipper to himself " but which villian could it be? I already have tons of arch enemies,"

While wondering, Skipper headed out into Central Park, following the dim light of the moon as it shone overhead. Looking around, Skipper could tell that the park had changed as well.

Thorn bushes, narled trees, and a spooky senstation could be felt all around him. Whatever had happened to his home, he sure didn't like it.

"Revisting your old stomping grounds General?" asked a fiery colored falcon, landing on nearby narled branch.

"Kitka" said Skipper, surprised " what are you doing here?"

"Nightly patrol as always my Lord" said Kitka " wouldn't want the Resistance forces sneaking up on you,"

"Resistance? What are you talking about?" asked Skipper " and what happened to the zoo?"

"Don't you remember Sir" said Kitka " you were the one who destroyed it,"

"No, no" said Skipper, looking down at the ground " it couldn't have been me. You're lying! You're a liar!"

With that said Skipper slid off towards the city, leaving a confused Kitka behind. There was no way he could've destroyed the Central Park Zoo. It was his home. Where all his friends and family lived.

She had to be lying. She just had to!

However, as he reached the city, another shocking sight caused him to stop in his tracks. Humans were being beaten up by animals, crimes were commiteed everywhere you looked, and Skipper's face was posted everywhere.

"What happened to New York?" asked Skipper, staring at all the chaos.

This place could have been Hoboken with all the crime running around. But why was his face plastered to every building in town.

"Listen up deadbeats!" shouted a familiar voice from the television in town's square " this is your dictator speaking,"

"No it can't be," said Skipper, sliding towards town square. However when he looked up at the television screen it was just who he feared.

Broadcasting over the television waves was none other than Skipper. Although the one on the TV looked way different than the one standing outside.

The TV Skipper's eyes were a harsh glowing red, and two scars decorated his body. One across his chest, and another on the right side of his beak. Outside, the real Skipper couldn't believe what he was seeing. Could this dark reflection really be him?

" Tonights executions have been moved from 8:00pm to 10:00pm" said the Evil Skipper " crime waves are high like always, and your hope dwindles away every day. It's useless to fight againist my rule,"

With that said, the TV message ended and Skipper was left confused. This had to be somekind of nightmare right? There was no way this could really be happening.

Taking a flipper, Skipper pinched himself and let out a loud yelp, but the nightmare world didn't disappear.

"No, no, this can't be true!" said Skipper, slamming his flippers on the ground " somebody please wake me up!"

As if in answer to his plea, a hatchway under the fountian opened, releasing wires that instantly wrapped themselves around the penguin's body. Skipper tried to resist the wires pull, but it was to late. And he got dragged into the underground, the latch closing behind him.