Chapter 21
During his stay in the Dragon's lair, Nick had heard noises which could drive any weak-minded animal insane. But the crazed bellows which resounded within the underground halls that day, made even Ra and the great monitor himself stiffen, gazing toward the curtain at the entrance to the chamber, awaiting what was about to emerge from beyond it.
Having witnessed monstrosities too many to recount, the fox had become numb and passive. In spite of that, what he saw then made him sober up again, a cold dread completely taking over his heart.
The curtain was violently ripped open by what seemed to be a shapeless body mass at first, screaming in utter rage. Nick had to strain his eyes to recognize what it actually was.
And it was a large alligator, carrying the dead corpse of another one, just as big as him. As soon as the beast walked in, he roared ferociously, and threw the bloodied carcass on the ground.
But that was not what frightened the fox the most. No, the most terrifying thing was that he recognized the furious alligator- as before him stood councilor Allastor LaCoste, no longer wearing his green suit, and much more emotional than he had been back at his ambassador's office.
Nick cringed, hiding in the farthest corner of the chamber…
"What has happened?" the Dragon asked his fellow reptile, standing up in concern.
Allastor's voice had in it no sorrow whatsoever, only unbridled fury.
"Quetzel's dead!" he screamed, stretching his arms over the corpse of the other alligator.
Nick noticed that the dead creature was bleeding profusely from a wound in his throat. It seemed to be a gunshot wound, and the bullet must have exited through the back of the animal's skull, slaying him instantly.
"Who did this?" the monitor, who apparently was Allastor's master as well, said much more calmly than his underling.
In response, the alligator growled, and then turned back toward the curtain.
"Sentinel!" he hissed, summoning the crocodile who must have been waiting outside.
Gnarlathotep also entered the chamber… and what he was carrying was even more terrible than the carcass which Allastor dragged in.
No… oh God, no…! Nick yelped silently.
True, he had indeed wished that he could see her again… but not like this. Not like this.
The Sentinel marched into the room, carrying a gun in one paw, and the weapon's owner in the other. The fox quivering by the wall almost screamed when the reptile lifted up the body of officer Judy Hopps, in uniform, holding her by her long ears, and presented his prey before the Dragon like a trophy.
"Ah, the Butcher's doom. And in such frail flesh…" said the monitor, examining the rabbit. "Quetzel's sacrifice was not for nothing, it seems."
"That coprophagous harelip shot my brother!" Allastor bellowed at him, immediately confronting his master. "I demand to see her bleed!"
The Dragon, however, was unfazed.
"Leave the rabbit be, Grand Lizard. Her time has not yet come. Bring Quetzel's body to the slaughterhouse…"
This scene, though it completely petrified him, made Nick realize a few things. First of all, Judy apparently killed Allastor's brother. Second, Scaledonia's ambassador seemed to be of high rank also within the structures of the draconists. And all of the above was bad news, as it turned out that…
Officer Hopps was still alive. When Gnarlathotep cast her on the ground, she regained her consciousness, and began to groan painfully, attempting to figure out what was going on around her. Now, her bloodthirsty captors could take their vengeance on her. And do to her things which were worse than death.
"I demand justice!" the furious alligator, defying the order he received, continued to yell, causing the Dragon stand before him.
"My friend, have I ever disappointed you?" he said softly. "I understand your grief, but please, do not be rash in your actions. Behold! Our beloved guest is awake!"
That was true. As soon as the rabbit was able to open her eyes, and realized where she was and who was surrounding her, gasping in total horror, she instinctively hopped back, curling up against the nearest wall, shivering all over.
"Hello, Judith," the Dragon addressed her in his smooth voice, astonishing her with the fact that this incomprehensibly terrifying beast actually knew her name. "Do you realize that you are the greatest carnivore hunter in all of Zootopia? As well as, probably, the first herbivore to have ever slain a reptile…"
Judy did not even pay attention to what he was saying, however. Her nose twitching, she constantly moved her eyes from one nightmarish sight to the other- the huge reptiles before her, the bones scattered all over the chamber floor, the bloody writings on the walls…
There was but one thing she saw that gave her any sort of relief, even if noticing it came with a fair amount of shock. It was the naked, trembling sliver fox, who hid in the opposite corner of the room.
But when Nick saw her setting her sight at him, he flinched.
Don't speak to me… Please, don't say my real name! he begged her soundlessly, knowing full well that if she did so, both of them would soon meet a gruesome end.
Judy didn't even have to say anything, though. All of the reptiles eventually noticed the way she gazed at the fox. And then, they all looked his way themselves.
"I know you, suckling…" hissed Allastor, making Nick turn his way with a yelp as the alligator approached him. "So you truly are a carnivore, Mr. Gekker."
The poor fox was so frightened he couldn't even answer. The alligator then turned toward his master.
"Have this whelp devour the rabbit!" he demanded. "They are natural enemies, after all!"
A ring of iron suddenly constricted Nick's guts… The situation became desperate. When he directed his eyes at the female who had once been his partner, he saw her sob, tears wetting the grey fur of her cheeks.
For the past days, he'd observed the slaughter of innocents without saying a word. He had to, or else he himself would have been instantly put to death. The success of his plan depended on it, if he ever was to walk out of these tunnels alive, and tell the world of the monsters that lived here…
But in order to do that, he himself needed to kill. He himself needed to become a monster.
He noticed Ra, his tutor, slithering up to his side.
"Well? What does the foxsss say?" the snake whispered to him.
He knew what had to be done. This nightmare, which had begun back in Butcher's Den, had lasted long enough.
Using all the strength he had left in him, he strained his muscles. Standing on his hind legs, he glared at the reptiles gathered around him, and stammered:
"M-my name is not Robin Gekker. I'm officer Nick Wilde. And I will not let you harm that rabbit!"
It was his death sentence. And he signed it happily. Him and Judy shared a look which, though desperate, was one of friendship.
At once, he felt the python by his side attack, wrapping him in the coils of his massive body, immobilizing him completely. Nick didn't even resist, as there was no use for that anymore.
He then heard a sound that surprised him. Namely, the Dragon began to laugh mockingly, although the fox had thought that, in his case, it was impossible. The herp began to speak with a twisted, warped voice, which was very unlike the one he usually used.
"Hahaha! Catch us the little foxes that destroy the vines, for our vineyard hath flourished! You are not Robin Gekker, indeed! Nicholas Piberius Wilde, former lieutenant, and the closest accomplice of Judith Laverne Hopps in the undoing of both Butcher's Den, and the carnivores' existence in all of Zootopia!"
The monitor then ran up to the helpless prisoner, making him quiver.
"Did you think you were on to us? You fool! In truth, we were always one step ahead. Everyone knows how much of a trickster you are, Nicholas. But we are an ancient race, older than you furry milk-suckers. And more clever than you think. After all, in the beginning, it was the serpent who was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made, not the fox!"
Now all the reptiles were sneering at him, proving to the hopeless mammal that, all this time, he'd indeed been a fool… His grand plan, the sacrifices he made… it was all for nothing. The herps must have been observing both him and Judy for a long time, just as Mathilda had suggested.
The Dragon, rapt in triumphant exultation, then addressed both of his prisoners.
"Can't you remember what Butcher told you before he died? You have won nothing. And now, you will lose everything!"
He confronted Allastor next.
"Grand Lizard, I agree to your assessment that your brother's unfortunate death demands retaliation. However, you do know that we have other plans for Judith. Still, spilt blood does cry out for vengeance, doesn't it? These two sucklings are close friends. The predator even stood up to defend the prey animal, which to me is an almost unfathomable sacrifice. But after all, he is a Catholic. The idea of sacrifice must be very familiar to him."
Both reptiles then turned to look at Nick. Also the gaze he received from Ra, who was still holding him tightly, sent a shiver down his spine…
"Therefore, let the fox's blood be the sacrifice offered as substitute for that of the rabbit!" ordered the Dragon.
"NO!" Judy jumped up from the corner in an attempt to stop them, but was immediately intercepted by Gnarlathotep. The Sentinel threw her against the wall, and then started beating her with powerful swings of his huge paws, again and again, until the rabbit couldn't move anymore.
"What is your bidding, Master?" Allastor then asked the Dragon.
Nick looked at both of them, shuddering helplessly… but all he received in response were scowls of complete disdain.
The great monitor raised his scaly arm, pointing at the captive fox with a curved talon.
"Bite this one's tail off."
After that cruel command was issued, cries of horror and pain quickly filled the chamber up to the very ceiling. The alligator crept forward with a low rumble...
"Oh, what wonders we have to show you!" continued the Dragon, mocking both of his mammal prisoners, his voice drunk with bloodlust. "This trinket of sensation you feel now will be a delight compared to the onslaught of agony that awaits you here!"
AN: Ouch!
There are animated foxes with plenty of tails (Vulpix), two tails (Miles Prower), or just one (Fox McCloud). Nick, because he wanted to stand up for Judy, is going to be the first one with no tail.
But are the two mammal cops, now finally re-united, gonna survive this scaly captivity at all?