Chapter 25

Jesus was carried into the Zootropolis Police Station, being left on a bench near the door to the courtyard. He leaned against the wall and wheezed in pain, as blood leaked profusely from everywhere on his body. Fortunately, the wall that the White Lion was leaning against was smooth and cold, so it provided some cooling for his aching body.

But things weren't going to get any better for the White Lion, as four black-armored guards came towards him. One was a water buffalo, another was a boar, one was a leopard, and one was a polar bear. The water buffalo and boar carried wooden rods, while the polar bear carried a large spool of barbed-wire that had been fashioned to look like a crown. And, they were all laughing with mocking and cruel tones.

"For you, your majesty." The polar bear said mockingly, shoving the barbed-wire crown on Jesus' head.

"Doesn't that look nice?" The water buffalo sneered, as he and boar used the wooden rods to press the barb-wire crown into the White Lion's skull.

A large trickle of blood started pouring from the side of Jesus' head, and he groaned in pain as the barbs went into his head.

"Look at him! He's the king of worms!" The boar said mockingly, before kneeling and bowing in a patronizing way. "Hail, the king of worms!"

The leopard then draped a rough, dark red blanket over the White Lion. It felt sandpaper against the White Lion's wounds, and he wheezed in pain when it touched him.

"A color fit for a king." The leopard jeered, before moving back and laughing cruelly.

The water buffalo then struck the White Lion in the head, hitting the barbed-wire crown and causing it to dig in more. The only thing the White Lion could do was groan and wheeze in pain, as the four guards continued to humiliate and beat him. The boar then smacked the White Lion, sending him careening to the ground.

"Oh great and wonderful king, tell us… who hit you?!" The boar sneered, causing his fellow soldiers to begin laughing.

"He looks a little thirsty!" The polar bear mocked, before drinking some water from a water bottle and then spitting it on the White Lion. "Drinks on me!"

The guards continued laughing and mocking, but soon became bored and left the White Lion. Slowly and weakly, Jesus pulled himself back onto the bench and leaned against the wall again. He looked terrible, now with a barbed wire crown on his head and covered with a dark red, scratchy-looking blanket. Not to mention he looked like five-hundred lawn-mowers just ran over him.

"There he is!" A female voice spoke, though it was faint. "Jesus!"

Jesus turned his head slowly and saw Judy and Nick coming down the hallway towards him, both with worried looks on their faces. Upon coming up to him, the two became shocked and saddened by seeing him in such a beaten state.

"Officer Hopps and Officer Wilde…" The White Lion wheezed, his tone polite.

"Oh no." Judy spoke, her tone saddened. "How could they do such a thing to you?"

"They don't… know… what they're… doing."

"Everything's going to be okay now; we're here to rescue you!" said Nick.

"No…" Jesus replied. "No… I must… see this through."

"See what through?" Nick asked, his tone confused.

"The son… of God… must be lifted up. So that… everyone who believes… will be redeemed."

"But look what they did to you!" said Judy, her tone in disbelief. "They… they beat you to where you can't even see straight! Why?! Why are you allowing this to happen?!"

"I… am… the sacrifice." Jesus continued weakly. "I must… die… in the… place… of… a sinner. So that… all those… who have no hope… will find hope."

"But you can't die! You can't!" Judy spoke, tears welling up in her eyes. "You have your friends, your mother, Nick and I as well! Don't you get it, we want you to live! We want you to stay!"

"And I… want you… to live. Which… is why… I am… doing this."

"Please…" Judy broke, beginning to sob. "Please… don't go… I love you…"

Even Nick had tears welling up in his eyes, and he turned his head away in embarrassment. As for the White Lion, he was silent for a few seconds. He then, very weakly, placed his paw in front of Judy.

"Judy…" said the White Lion. "Place… your paw… in mine."

Judy sniffed and obeyed, placing her small paw in the palm of the White Lion's. His paw closed weakly around her's and, despite his pain, a smile formed over his bloody lips.

"I love you." the White Lion spoke, fighting through his pain to speak clearly. "And I love Nick… and my friends… and my mother… and even those… who have done… this to… me. I love them… so much… that I am willing… to die for them… and for you. That is why… I have to… go through with… this. I must die… so that you… and Nick… and everyone else… will live. It is God's plan… and it is not my will… to change it. For I… am… the sacrifice."

It was then that Judy knew; there would be no convincing the White Lion. Sobbing, she moved forward and hugged the White Lion, burying her small head into his shoulder and not caring how bloody he was. Jesus responded by weakly returning the embrace, putting a gentle paw around her.

"I love you…" Judy cried. "I love you…"

Jesus smiled weakly, and then he let Judy go. She had a small bit of his blood on her head, but she didn't care. She sniffed, wiped her nose with her paw, and tried her hardest to regain her composure.

Nick then approached the White Lion and, trying to keep his composure, said, "I don't know what to say. You've been so nice to me and Judy, and you definitely are the Son of God. I just hope that one day, I'll be able to see you again. And you won't be beaten and scarred up, or have a crown of barbed-wire on your head."

"Nick…" Jesus replied, continuing to fight through his pain to speak clearly. "Love those… who have hated you. Bless those… who had cursed you. Pray for those… who had mistreated you. Forgive… and show mercy… to those who have… hurt you… in the past."

"I… I will."

Jesus then weakly held his paw out, and Nick knew what he was trying to do. He then put his paw up, and they both shook hands.

"You're a good, good lion. Thank you for healing Judy, and giving us hope." said Nick, still holding the White Lion's paw.

The White Lion nodded, and let go of Nick's paw. Nick and Judy looked at each other sadly, and then looked back at the White Lion.

"We will… see each other… again." said Jesus. "Now… go… before they… find you here."

Judy and Nick obeyed, and they began leaving. Slowly and stealthily, they began making their way out of the Zootropolis Police Station. After they got out, Nick, for the first time in a long time, wept bitterly. And all Judy could do was hug her friend, both knowing that this was the end of the White Lion.


An hour passed, and The White Lion was brought back to the reception area, where Pilate was waiting for him. Upon seeing the bloody and beaten lion, now wearing a dark red blanket and a crown of barbed-wire, a shocked look came across Pilate's face.

"What happened to him?" Pilate asked, looking at Wolfenstein. "I wanted the punishment severe, but not 'that' severe."

"You wanted it severe, this is what you get." Wolfenstein replied. "Sheesh, wait till the crowd sees him like this."

Pilate then moved forward, and gently took the White Lion's arm. He then led him out to the top of the steps. Upon seeing him, the crowd began reacting in horror. But then, their horror was replaced by loud yells of angry threats.

"Behold, the White Lion!" Pilate called out.

"Crucify him!" Caiaphas, who was standing in the front of crowd, yelled out.

The crowd followed in yelling out for the White Lion to be crucified, and Pilate sighed tiredly.

"Isn't this enough? Look at this lion!" Pilate replied angrily. "He looks like he fell in a meat grinder! Hadn't you all had enough bloodshed?!"

"Crucify him!" Caiaphas yelled out again.

The crowd continued yelling death threats against the White Lion, and Pilate turned and whispered to him, "Say something. I have the power to either kill you, or either let you go free."

The White Lion turned his head weakly, and replied, "You… have no power… over me. Except… what is given to you… from above. Therefore, it is he who delivered me to you… who has greater sin."

Suddenly, Caiaphas called out, "If you free him, Pilate, you are no friend of the people! You must have him crucified!"

The crowds started yelling death threats and getting violent again, to which Pilate sighed defeatedly. He then whispered to Jesus, "So this is how it is? Well, its your own funeral."

Pilate then motioned for one of the black-armored guards, a wolf with brown fur, to come forward. He whispered something, and the wolf disappeared into the building. A few seconds passed, and the wolf returned with a bowl of water and a towel. Pilate raised his hands, put them in the bowl of the water, and then pulled them out and made a washing motion with them.

"I wash my hands of this lion!" Pilate announced. "I am innocent of his blood! Do what you want with him!"

"Crucify him!" Caiaphas called out, followed by the crowd, who looked rabid as they yelled for the White Lion to be killed.

Upon hearing that, Pilate turned to Wolfenstein and said, "Wolfenstein, do what they want; have the White Lion crucified."

"Yes sir." Wolfenstein replied.

Wolfenstein then took Jesus by the arm and led him away. The crowd continued to get violent, and all Pilate could do was watch, as his black-armored soldiers moved in to do crowd control.


In a safe part of the street, away from the violent crowds, Judy, Nick, Finnick, Jethro, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Jesus watched as the riot unfolded.

"It's done." Jethro said sadly. "Pilate's giving them what they want."

Judy, her voice filled with fear, said, "But that means-"

"Jesus is gonna get crucified." Finnick finished sadly.

"Jethro, what does that mean?" Nick asked.

"You've never heard of crucifixion, Nick?" Jethro replied with a question.

"No, I haven't. What is it?"

"It's a horrible way of executing someone, that's what it is. They put the victim on a wooden cross, which is a large stake with a crossbeam added to it. The victim is then nailed to it, and then the cross is hoisted up and held upward. At that point, the victim starts to choke to death, as their limbs are being stretched farther than they can go. Sometimes, the victim can use his legs to push himself up and breathe easier. But then again, they often break the legs of the victims, so that they'll die quicker."

"Oh my lord." Judy spoke, putting a hand over her mouth in shock. "What do we do?"

"We can do nothing." Mary the mother of Jesus replied, her tone saddened. "Except, be with him when he goes."

"After the flogging, I don't think my stomach could take any more of this…" said Finnick. "But… let us go to him."

After he said that, Finnick began walking with the crowds, who were heading back to the Zootropolis Police Station. Judy and Nick followed, along with Jethro, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Jesus. No matter what, they would be with the White Lion… even if they were to witness his death…

Author's Notes: No words can be said for what is going to happen. All I can say is that we've come this far, and while most of it has been good, we're now entering to the sad. Just be prepared, for this what Jesus has done for us.

R&R,

Heroboy005