A/N:

WARNING: This story is rated M, for descriptions of murder, violence and some language.

PLEASE NOTE: Though the majority of the fic will follow Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, it will also take some very minor elements/songs from ALW's Love Never Dies, the 1925 Phantom of the Opera film with Lon Chaney, and a couple of very minor details from Gaston Leroux's original novel, Le Fantôme de l'Opéra - and of course, a good chunk of it will also be my own original changes. HOPE YOU ENJOY! ;)

.

Author's Introduction:

Fic 005, ladies and gentlemen. Some of you may recall the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera, a mystery never fully explained. We're told ladies and gentlemen that this is the crossover many have been waiting for...a crossover between Phantom of the Opera and Zootopia! In making this crossover, perhaps we can frighten away the ghost of so many years ago with a little read. Gentlemen…? - cue "Phantom of the Opera" theme -

...

The Fox Phantom of the Opera

Prologue:

Zootopia, circa 1859

A smile came upon the young fox kit's face as he stood at the wings of the stage in the dimly lit opera house. Young Nick Wilde, the juvenile fox in question, found the art of opera quite invigorating. It was as if angels themselves had come to lift his young spirit into the other worldly serendipity that was their heavenly voices. To him, there was no greater gift in this world save for the beauty that was opera music - more so in particular on this day, his sixth birthday. And truly, what greater gift could he receive? But to watch up close as his mother, Amelia Wilde, took center stage to sing the soprano solo number of his father's latest musical masterpiece, Hannibal.

The gentle piano melody of the song, "Think of Me" began to play down from the orchestra pit. The harmonious melody was being played by none other than Nick's own father, Jonathan Wilde.

Think of me,

Think of me fondly

When we've said goodbye

Being the child of opera lovers, he had come to know many divine voices in his short lifetime, but truly...none could ever match up to the angelic voice that was his mother's - the star and prima donna of his parent's illustriously growing opera house, Le Palais du Renard.

Remember me, once in a while

Please promise me you'll try

Her voice was truly a heavenly spectacle all on its own. More so, when it was she who performed the awe inspiring music penned by his father - an incredibly talented musical playwright, a pianist, entrepreneur, as well as his mother's duet partner from time to time.

When you find that once again you long

To take your heart back and be free

If you ever find a moment

The gorgeous red vixen on stage turned her gaze toward the wing on the right and spotted her young son standing there with a joyful, unwavering grin. The vixen's emerald eyes glowed as bright as her son's own equally emerald eyes as she caught his gaze with a loving smile. A smile filled with all the love a mother could give her "handsome boy" - as she would so lovingly call her dear little son.

Spare a thought for me

As Nick stood there, the music began to escalate for his mother as the rest of the orchestra joined in.

We never said,

Our love was evergreen,

Or as the unchanging sea,

Nick turned his attention to the audience. He could see it in all their eyes. A sight he never thought would ever be so present in the eyes of other mammals for a fox or a vixen - awe. Though yes he himself was too young to notice these things, he often times overheard his parents worry about how they feared their opera house would never be a success given how low other mammal's expectations were of foxes.

But this...what he was witnessing now, completely contradicted those fears. If such prejudice lied in their hearts...then how? How could they work themselves to come and watch a vixen take center stage and move them beyond comprehension?

For Nick, he believed he knew the answer and it was the very thing his father often times said, If there is one thing that brings all mammals together, it is music.

But if you can still remember,

Stop and think of me

The red vixen's gaze turned toward her husband's down in the orchestra pit. She smiled at him just as she sang her last line, and he in turn smiled fondly back at her with a puff of his chest - his heart swelling with an undeniable love for her.

Think of all the things we've shared and seen,

Don't think about the way things might have been

Think of me,

Think of me waking

Silent and resigned

Imagine me,

Trying too hard

To put you from my mind

Quite a few mammals of all shapes and sizes from the audience sniffled at the beauty of her voice. They wiped their tears, while others simply sighed, overwhelmed by the grace in her voice. None of them had ever heard anything quite like her. A true wonder of nature. A true angel of music.

Recall those days,

Look back on all those times,

Think of the things we'll never do,

There will never be a day,

When I won't think of youuu!

Despite the overwhelming love and positivity from the audience, there was one dark cloud among the crowd...

Up on balcony five - better known as the best seat in the house at Le Palais du Renard, sat the Bellwether family. Patriarch, Beau Bellwether sat with a gruff look on his face as did his three ram associates, Woolter, Jessie, and Mathiewe Woolquet. Beside Beau sat his wife, Aurora Bellwether, and their seven-year old daughter Dawn Bellwether.

The Bellwethers were no fools. They could see the audience's love for the vixen on stage radiating throughout the entirety of the opera house. Though none more than Aurora Bellwether, who steamed at the sight of the vixen. The sheep threw a sharp glare at her husband, who returned her gaze with fear. With a single flare of her nostrils, she couldn't take another lyric from the vixen. So she stood and snatched her young daughter by the hoof and pulled her away with her from the balcony and into the corridor.

"Aurora!" called her husband after her, meanwhile the other rams stared at him awkwardly. Beau noticed their stares, causing them to clear their throats and cease their staring. Beau growled in frustration and ran after his wife and child. "Aurora!"

Beau caught up with her, seizing her by the arm, "Aurora! Aurora please. What is this abou-?"

Aurora pulled her arm away from his grip. "Don't you question me what this is about! You know damn well what this is about!" She paused, releasing some of her anger in huffs of breaths, "You told me that the only reason you funded that ridiculous fox's opera house was to have a place where I would be the star! Me! Not his wife! Not that-that vixen filth on stage!"

"But dear, you were the one that said you didn't want to be a part of his-"

"I don't care what I said! That fox doesn't understand my art! And what of our daughter?! You promised you'd make stars of both of us and where are we now?! Is that us being loved and adored on stage?! Or is it that vixen bitch?!" Beau's mouth gaped to answer, only to have his wife quickly interrupt him once more. "You paid for this place! This should be your opera house! Not his! And if you're too much of a coward to make that happen, then let the wolves take you! Or in this case, let the foxes have you!" Aurora tugged at her daughter's arm and continued storming off.

"Aurora? Where are you going?!" called her husband - concerned, angry, and heartbroken.

"It's over Beau! Have fun with your fox den of an opera house!" She stormed off for good this time, dragging her daughter in tow. Beau Bellwether meanwhile just stood there, paralyzed and unable to believe that his already faltering marriage had truly fallen apart for good this time. After another moment of self pity, he growled and hit a hard fist against the wall.

He angrily marched back to his seat on the balcony.

His ram associates lightly stared at him when he walked back in, noticing that his wife and daughter did not come back with him.

After a moment of awkward silence, Woolter at last spoke to him, "Master Bellwether? Are you okay?" Beau said nothing, he merely looked back down to the performance on stage where Amelia Wilde continued to sing and be adored by the crowd around her.

Flowers fade,

The fruits of summer fade

They have their seasons,

So do we,

But please promise me,

That sometimes you will think…

O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-O-o-O-o-o-o...

O-OOOOOOOf MEEEEE!

All around the vixen, mammals of all shapes and sizes stood to applaud and cheer for her - for her heavenly and unique voice. "Bravo!" "Encore!" They cheered between whistles. Nick too applauded for his mother from the wings. "Bravo Mother!"

It was all so contagious that even Woolter, Jessie and Mathiewe found themselves applauding and whistling for the vixen. "Yeah!" "Encore!"

Beau quickly shot them a death glare that caused Mathiewe to flinch in fear. He immediately elbowed his friends to make them take notice. They too, took one look at Bellwether's face and quickly stopped. "Uh, we mean, boo?"

Beau shook his head at their stupidity. He returned his gaze back down to the stage when the musical came to an end. The cast took their places behind Amelia and they all bowed in unison.

Jonathan Wilde clapped eagerly with a bouquet of roses tucked underneath his arm. He jogged on stage and lifted his wife from the waist, twirling her and causing Amelia to release a squealing giggle. They shared a soft kiss and he awarded her with the bouquet of roses.

The audience cheered the tender act of affection - all except for Beau and his rams. To Beau the act just filled him with an unmitigated rage.

Things only got worse for the jealous ram when both Amelia and Jonathan called their young son over to take a bow with them. Nick all too happily rushed on stage to stand beside his parents as they and the rest of the cast took another bow together.

Beau took one final look at the happy family on stage. He snorted in anger as he stood from his seat. "Boss?" Jessie asked, "Where are you going?"

Beau turned to them, ominously. "We're going to have a little chat with our dear friend Mr. Wilde." The three rams nodded, knowingly and followed him out of the balcony.

The audience roared and cheered as the curtain fell, closing the show. Backstage nearly everyone patted Jonathan on the back and gave Amelia a congratulatory kiss on the cheek. "Congratulations you two! I think this was our best show yet!"

Once his parents were free from their praise, Nick dashed back to his mother to give her a great big hug! "You were great Mother!"

"Aww! Why thank you sweetheart," she gave him a kiss on his cheek, "So did my handsome boy enjoy the show?"

"Yeah! Best birthday present ever, if you ask me!"

"Well, let's just hope you haven't had enough of presents, because your mother and I have something else for you."

"Really?" the fox kit's eyes lit up.

"You bet!" Jonathan tussled the fur at the top of his son's head. "Come on, let's head over to your mother's dressing room so you can see it."

"Can we have cake too?" the kit asked eagerly as his father lifted on his shoulders.

"Of course! It's your birthday after all!" Jonathan chuckled as he and his family headed towards his wife's dressing room.

In the shadows, the four rams watched the happy family of foxes head in the opposite direction. Mathiewe took a step forward, ready to get down to business when Beau held him back. "Not yet," he scanned the backstage area, realizing that there were still too many witnesses around. "They're not leaving any time soon. We'll wait 'till everyone else clears out."

.

Moments later…

The Wilde's gathered round a table inside Amelia's dressing room as Nick blew out a candle from his cake. "Yay!" His mother cheered and clapped alongside her husband. "Mwhua!" she gave Nick a kiss on his cheek, "So what did my handsome boy wish for?"

"Was it for another present?" Jonathan asked, "Because something tells me your wish is about to be granted." From behind his back, Jonathan brought forth a small present.

Nick's eyes lit up like emerald gems at the sight of it and he eagerly took the present from his father's paws. He removed the bow and lid from it and pulled out a papier-mache music box in the shape of a barrel organ. On top of it, sat a little toy rabbit dressed in Persian robes, playing the cymbals. Nick set it on the table and turned the little handle on the side of it. The toy rabbit played the cymbals as a soft and beautiful little melody played from the music box itself - one that truly resonated with Nick. "Wow!" he exclaimed in awe. When the melody stopped. Nick happily threw his arms around both his father and mother in a hug, "Thanks Mother! Thanks Father! This is the best present ever!"

Jonathan chuckled with joy, "I knew you'd like it! You're a born musician. Just like your old tod."

"Don't forget a gifted singer like his mother," Amelia added with a nuzzle to her son's cheek.

"Mom," Nick groaned yet giggled with embarrassment at her affection.

"That's true," Jonathan agreed, "Which is why for my next musical, I've decided to-"

Knock, knock, knock!

The three foxes turned to face the door. "Huh? Wonder who that could be? I'm sure most of the cast and crew have already gone home by now," Jonathan said as he stood up to open the door. On the other side of the door stood the four sheep. "Monsieur Bellwether?" Jonathan stated a bit confused, "What are you doing here so late?"

"I could ask the same as you," Beau replied casually with an eerily calm and friendly smile. "Working late?"

"No, we were just celebrating my son's birthday. As well as my lovely Amelia's performance, of course."

"Yes, of course," Beau nodded with a forced smile. He turned his attention to Amelia and Nick. "Madame Wilde. Nicky, happy birthday."

"Thank you," Nick replied politely, yet slightly intimidated by the ram.

"Did you enjoy the show, Monsieur Bellwether?" Amelia asked politely.

"It was sublime Madame," he said while once again forcing a smile. "It's no wonder you're prima donna of this illustrious opera house." He replied, turning his attention back to Jonathan, hoping he noticed his dive.

"Where are Aurora and Dawn?" Jonathan asked curiously, finally noticing that neither of the two sheep was present. "We reserved the best seats in the house for you and your family."

"Yes well, my wife and daughter weren't feeling well, so they left prematurely." The ram replied, attempting to, but ultimately failing to hide his spite.

His tone did not go unnoticed by Jonathan. The red fox was no fool, he knew there was more to this late night 'friendly' visit and he figured it had something to do with Aurora Bellwether. Jonathan nodded with a lowered gaze and awkwardly cleared his throat, "Monsieur Bellwether, would you and your uh... associates, care to speak with me in my office? I mean, it is my son's birthday and I'd really hate to, you know, bore him with theater politics." Jonathan forced a small light-hearted chuckle to ease the hidden tension in the room.

"Yes of course. I fully understand. Please excuse us," Beau told Amelia and Nick before leaving the room.

"I'll be right back," Jonathan said to his family. But before he could close the door behind him, Amelia immediately raced to him.

"John," she said quietly and concerned. Her husband turned to her. "If this is what I think it's about, then shouldn't I go with you? I mean, perhaps this is my fault and-"

Jonathan lifted a paw gently hushed her, "No my dear. You did nothing wrong. I made a choice despite knowing what could happen. Don't worry about a thing," he assured her with a gentle caress at her cheek, "I've dealt with Beau before. We'll work something out as we always do. Now you just stay here with Nick and have some cake. I'll come join you both shortly after." He kissed her to calm her nerves.

But Amelia still couldn't help but feel something off about this meeting as she watched her husband walk away with the rams. "Mother?" Nick asked quietly behind her. She knew that he felt concerned as well, given the worry in his tone. "Is everything alright?" He asked innocently of her.

She smiled calmly at the kit, "Of course sweetheart. Your father just needs to discuss some things with Monsieur Bellwether." She closed the door and escorted her son back inside the room, "Now come, why don't we eat some cake while we wait for your father?"

"But, I wanted to wait for father," protested Nick.

"Very well then, how about we…oh!" Amelia turned her attention to the organ inside her dressing room, "Why don't we prepare a little song for your father while we wait for him, hmm? Really show him just how beautiful of a voice you have?"

"Okay!" Nick eagerly sat beside his mother on the cushioned bench, "What should we play?" he asked.

Amelia giggled at her son's enthusiasm. "Whatever you want sweetheart. Something that'll really show your father that you would be able to sing alongside me for his next musical."

Nick's eyes widened and practically sparkled at the thought of being able to sing up on stage alongside his mother, "Really? You think father would include me in one of his musicals?!"

"Well, I might've heard a little rumor," his mother teased, "So why don't we show him that you've got what it takes," she said with a wink.

Nick nodded eagerly and quickly began playing a tune he had long had in his head. Amelia giggled at how much her husband was right regarding their son's love of music. He truly was a music lover if she had ever seen one - and a naturally gifted one at that! A true child prodigy of music. There was no doubt in her mind that one day her handsome boy would be revered as a talented musical playwright and singer in his own right. And who knows? Perhaps he would also one day marry a beautiful soprano to match his own love of music.

As Nick played, he began to sing. His voice was light and beautiful - an early sign that his voice would eventually develop into a strong, masculine baritone or tenor.

Mother, isn't it beautiful?

Isn't the music beautiful?

His mother joined in:

I can hear it, the music

It's wonderful,

It's so very beautiful…

Nick:

Sing,

Sing for me mother,

Amelia:

Aahhh

Aaahhhh

Nick:

Sing!

Amelia

Aahhh

Aaahhhh

Amelia playfully began to tickle her son's belly to which Nick stopped playing and giggled in response. They giggled together and Amelia gave him a little kiss on top of his head - she was so proud of her handsome boy.

.

Elsewhere...

Jonathan entered his office alongside the four rams. "Would any of you boys care for a drink?" Jonathan asked, pulling out a bottle of scotch.

"No thanks," responded Beau. Jonathan looked to the three rams. They said nothing, they merely snorted aggressively towards him.

"I take it that's a no," responded the red fox. "Don't mind me, I'll just have one." He poured himself a drink. Secretly intimidated, Jonathan gulped it down in one sip. He poured himself another one, though took his time this time, merely swiveling it around the glass in his paw.

He turned to face them. The rams just watched him in silence. Jonathan could feel the awkward tension in the air. He swiveled his glass once more and took a quick sip, clearing his throat right after as he made the move to speak first. "Listen Beau, I understand you're visibly upset. But your wife-"

"Yes, my wife," the ram cut in. "What of her?"

Jonathan set his glass down, "Yes, she uh...well, I'm sure you must know that she did not get the lead part-"

"And who's fault was that Wilde?!" yelled the ram, practically hounding over Jonathan.

"Look Beau, I don't know what to tell you," replied the fox in an attempt to calm the ram down, "But your wife stormed off stage and claimed that she wanted absolutely nothing to do with me or my work. You saw her yourself during rehearsals."

"Are you saying this is my wife's fault?" the ram spat.

"No! All I'm saying is that I tried working with her to the best of my abilities. I even changed certain story elements to my libretto just to satisfy her needs. But no matter what I did nothing was good enough for her. The story was butchered and I tried to patiently explain this to her, but she didn't care to listen."

"And why should she?!" asked Beau, just as his associates also loomed over Jonathan. "Nobody cares about story in an opera! They come only to hear my darling wife's voice. I paid for this opera house! Not you! Yet you put your own wife in the lead role, rather than mine! Even though that's what we agreed to when I first decided to fund your stupid-or rather my opera house!" Beau clasped his hoof against Jonathan's throat. "What kind of nepotism is that Wilde? Do you take me for a fool?!"

"N-No!" Jonathan strained, "I g-gave your wife the title role, but...what was I supposed to do? Tickets were sold out...I had to place my wife as a replacement…"

"You had to? Had to?" the furious Beau launched the fox across the room, tossing him against a wall.

CRASH!

The crash of the fox's body caused all of the hanging frames on the wall to come crashing down.

.

Back in Amelia's dressing room,

Amelia and Nick continued to play happily until they heard the crash from a distance. "What was that?" Nick asked.

Amelia immediately stood from the bench without a word, her ears pressed tightly against her skull. She knew all too well that crash came from her husband's office - this could not be good. Not at all.

"Mother?" Nick asked again, his ears falling with worry.

"Listen darling, I want you to stay here and wait for me and your father, alright? Here," Amelia picked him up from the bench and sat him back at the table. She cut him a slice of his birthday cake, "Eat a piece of your cake and play with your present, okay?"

"But I wanted to wait for you and father," Nick repeated as before.

"I know sweetheart, I know. But tell you what, why don't you just go ahead and have a slice now and then when your father and I come back you can have a second one. I won't tell," she winked at him, forcing a playful smile behind her worry.

"Okay! Yeah!" Nick innocently agreed, completely forgetting about the crash he and his mother heard only a moment ago.

"Okay, now you just stay here and don't open the door for anyone. Do you hear me?" she begged.

"What? Why?" Nick asked, a tremble of fear in his voice.

"Just promise me. Please?" she begged once more.

"O-Okay, I won't," Nick promised at last.

His mother gave him a kiss on his forehead before heading out the door. "Be good Nicky, your father and I will be back soon." She closed the door behind her.

Nick sat there in silence. He didn't know why, but for some reason he felt a horrible shiver run down his spine. But what could there be to fear? His father was a smart fox and has dealt with Monsieur Bellwether before. What was there to worry about? He figured.

Nick shrugged the terrible feeling off and took a fork to dig into his cake. He ate a piece of it and turned the handle of his music box again. He smiled happily as the little bunny played and he took another bite of his cake.

.

Back in Jonathan's office...

The red fox rose to his elbows, wiping a paw to his bloody nose. He gasped quietly, unable to believe that his business partner had really just tossed him to a wall and injured him. He had seen Beau angry and annoyed with him before, but this time...was he really trying to kill him?

Jonathan shakily rose to his feet, holding an arm and leaning against the wall behind him for support. "B-Beau, why...why are you doing this?" he asked weakly and terrified of the ram.

"Why?" Beau approached him, "Why?!" Beau slammed his hoof to Jonathan's throat, pinning him against the wall. "Are you really that stupid to not have guessed at this point?! For as long as I've been in business with you, you've done nothing but make a fool of me! You foxes think you're so cunning, promising me that you would make my wife a star! Yet you clearly haven't tried hard enough with her! Even when she has headlined, you never hear crowds go crazy for her the way they have for your wife! So that tells me that you've been holding out on my wife, but not yours!"

"T-That's not true, I did try...I-I d-don't know why they cheer more for Amelia...they just do," Jonathan strained. Though in truth, he knew full well why they cheered more for his wife and not Aurora Bellwether. He was telling the truth in that he did try to make Aurora a star, but not only did Aurora lack the natural charisma that his wife had, but she was simply not as good a singer as his wife. But of course given his current position, it would be foolish to admit the truth to the currently unstable ram.

Beau tightened his grip a bit more, causing Jonathan to grunt in pain. "Do you think I'm stupid Wilde?! Animals don't just cheer more for no reason! There has to be something you're doing right with your wife and not mine!"

"I-I'm not," Jonathan squeaked in a struggling voice, "P-Please calm down...i-if I've offended you...I'm sorry...Just please s-stop this…"

"I won't stop. Not this time! You've embarrassed my wife for the last time! Not to mention my daughter as well! Where is her stardom?! Huh?! You haven't put her in a single one of your musicals! Why is that?! Tell me!"

Beau loosened his grip to hear Jonathan's answer, but before the fox could answer, Mathiewe interrupted, "Boss, look at this!" The hornless brown ram handed Beau what appeared to be a libretto. Beau shoved Jonathan back. Jonathan fell back on the floor, gripping his throat in pain as Beau skimmed through the libretto.

With each new turn of the page, Beau grew more and more furious. He crouched down and harshly grabbed Jonathan by the collar of his shirt. "Is my family just one big joke to you Wilde? What is this?!" He bleated furiously, waving the open libretto to the fox's face. "What is this? Is this supposed to be your latest work? Your next masterpiece?! Huh?! If it is, then tell me why there are several pages of dialogue and songs listed for a little boy character, yet less than half for a little girl character?! Was this your sneaky fox way of making your son a star but not my precious Dawn?!"

"I-It's not...finished…" Jonathan replied weakly.

Beau went back a few pages, "The little boy's introduction, 'an adorable and beautiful boy with an eye for mischief'." Beau skips a page, "Now the little girl, 'an ugly and malformed little lamb'!" Beau forced Jonathan up by his throat against the wall, "Is that what you really think about my little Dawn?! Is this why you never cast her in anything?!"

"N-No of course not…" Jonathan rasped against the pressure to his throat. "T-That's only...for the story…i-it's about finding...the beauty...under-"

"Liar!" Beau shouted, forbidding him from finishing his statement.

Just as Beau shouted, Amelia found her way to Jonathan's office. She slowly approached, peering into the one available window beside the door of his office. She gasped the minute she spotted her husband pinned against the wall and his throat beneath Beau's grasp.

Without a second to waste, Amelia pushed open the door and rushed inside, "Jonathan!" The rams turned to her, as she ran to her husband, tugging at Beau's arm to release him. "Beau! What are you doing?! Let him go!" she screamed hysterically at the ram.

Woolter quickly grabbed her by the waist and pulled her away from her husband and Beau. "No! NO! JONATHAN!" The vixen screamed.

.

Back in Amelia's dressing room…

Little Nick dropped his fork just as he was about to take another bite of his cake. "M-Mother…?" he said in fear, his ears having fallen back against his little skull.

He took his music box in his paws and ran to the door, placing his small paw on the knob. He paused briefly, remembering that his mother had asked him to stay there and not open the door for anyone except his parents.

But...should he really listen and stay there? His mother sounded like she was in trouble! But maybe he'll get in trouble if he disobeys her? But then again, she never said anything about him leaving the room, so it should be okay, right?

Nick took the risk and opened the door, leaving the room with his precious music box in tow.

.

Back inside Jonathan's office...

Woolter and Jessie restrained Amelia by her arms, "Jonathan!" she shouted helplessly.

"Amelia!" Jonathan shouted, extending a helpless arm towards his wife. He wrestled in Beau's grasp, attempting to break free, "Tell them to let her go!"

"Why should they?" Beau tightened his grip on Jonathan, this time using both his hooves to choke him and lift his feet clean off the ground. Jonathan released a harsh squeal in pain as the ram dragged him up the wall.

"Jonathan!" Amelia screamed at the sight. "Please! Why are you doing this to my husband?! He's done nothing to deserve this!" she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Just outside the office, Nick cautiously approached the small open creak of the door, seeking comfort from the music box in his arms. He peered inside to witness his mother being restrained by the rams that normally accompanied his father's business partner, Beau Bellwether. At the wall, he saw said business partner choking his father against the wall. The little fox took a step back in fear, hiding in the shadows that the light of the fire in the coal stove from his father's office provided against the door.

"Nothing?!" Beau shouted in response, "Nothing you say? And you my dear? You think yourself innocent too? When it is you who are the biggest offender here!"

"Me? What?" Amelia questioned with a tremble of fear in her voice. "W-What have I done?"

"You stole my wife's love and admiration! That is what you've done! You scene stealing bitch!" Mathiewe whipped out a knife from beneath his coat's lapel and hovered it in front of Amelia's throat. She whimpered at the sight of it.

"No!" Jonathan cried helplessly, his voice evidently trembling in desperation. "B-Beau, please...I'll do anything...anything! I'll write in whatever you and your wife want! I-I'll let you dictate every word and put your daughter in! My family will take no part in future musicals! Just...please...don't hurt my wife...please…"

Beau took Jonathan's pleas into consideration for a moment. Given how desperate the fox sounded, he knew he would be true to his word. The ram glanced at both Jonathan and Amelia, it was evident from their mutual concern and fear that there was a clear bond of love between the two. A love that he no longer had the privilege to share with his own wife, for she had left him…

Left him...all because of her...! That vixen and her traitorous husband!

It was all because of them! They took his family! They took everything away from him!

But no more, his wife would see that she had made a terrible mistake by leaving him. He is a ram that gets things done! And he will be certain that no one ever makes a fool of him or ever stands in a Bellwether's way ever again!

"I'm sorry Jonathan," the ram said simply and decidedly with a frighteningly malicious expression, "But you and your wife have made it all too clear that there is only one way to ensure that no one stands in my precious Aurora's way."

"No!" Jonathan grunted and wrestled desperately in Beau's tight grasp, "You can't-!"

"I can! And I will!" the ram smirked wickedly. Beau nodded to Mathiewe.

"Jonathan…?" Amelia whimpered to her husband before Mathiewe slit her throat with the knife in one fell swoop. Jonathan and Nick both gasped, the shock making it near impossible to hear the air escape from either of them.

Woolter and Jessie released Amelia as her now free paws flew to her throat. She coughed and gagged as she fell to her knees. Jonathan watched on in horror as his wife fell completely to the floor in front of him, desperately gasping for air and slowly dying helplessly in a pool of her own blood.

"AMELIA!" Jonathan shouted in heart-wrenching despair.

"Looks like she won't be able to sing anytime soon, isn't that right Bellwether?" Jessie said with a chuckle. A chuckle soon accompanied by the laughter of Woolter, Mathiewe, and Beau.

As they joked and mocked the dying vixen, the tears couldn't stop flowing from Jonathan's eyes. He felt as if his heart were literally ripped right out of his chest and ripped to a million pieces. "YOU BASTARDS!" he cried, "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" he shouted as he writhed and wrestled to break free from Beau's grasp. The heartbroken Jonathan sunk his claws into Beau's arms, causing the ram to almost release him, but the equally furious ram fought through the pain. Using his own anger to further fuel his own adrenaline and lifted the fox even higher up than he already was.

"Agh-aghhh…" Jonathan's voice nearly all but vanished with the increased pressure from Beau's hooves.

It was clear that Beau would no longer hold back as Jonathan's eyes looked as if they were going to pop right out of his sockets and his red fur was turning purple. "I warned you Wilde, not to make a fool of me! Palais du Renard, is now mine!" Beau pitted his thumbs deep against Jonathan's throat and pressed with all his might.

Before long, Nick could only witness as he heard a hard...

CRACK!

After that, his father's legs stopped their violent kicking, and the paws that were gripped against Beau's arms, slid and slumped to his father's sides. He was completely limp and still as he dangled in Beau's grip.

His father was dead.

Nick's little jaw gaped in horror as he took another step back, dropping his little music box in the process. The music box began to play it's melody and the toy bunny played the cymbals alongside it.

"What was that?" Nick overheard one of the ram's declare.

The young kit quickly picked up his music box, hoping it wasn't damaged and that it would cease its playing...but it was too late. Before Nick knew it, the door was pulled open the rest of the way. Before him, stood the four rams, their hellish gazes were all on him. Down between their feet, he could see both of his parents' motionless bodies lying on the ground.

A disturbing silence filled the air until Beau smiled - a very unsettling smile, despite how friendly he tried to disguise it, "Nicky," he said, "What are you doing here?"

The kit couldn't answer, he merely trembled and whimpered in their presence and held his music box tightly against his chest. Beau took notice of the tears that filled his eyes.

"I take it you saw everything?" he asked.

Nick still said nothing, the frightened kit was at a loss for words. His terrified eyes could only wander until they landed on his parents' bodies once more.

Beau's eyes followed the kit's, "I'm sorry it had to come to this, but your parents gave me no choice Nicky." Nick continued to whimper and cry in silence. "Nothing to say?" There was a pause, until Beau stepped forward. Nick took a step back. The ram placed a hurt hoof over his chest, "Why Nicky I'm hurt, don't you trust your Uncle Bellwether anymore? I know things look bad, but you know I would never hurt you," Beau wrapped an arm around Nick's small shoulders, leading the petrified kit into his father's office. "You're my dear little Dawn's friend after all, aren't you?"

Nick slowly nodded in agreement, but more due to fear than any other reason. In truth, he didn't really like Dawn all that much. She was far too sensitive and found something wrong with every game they ever played together.

"Good," Beau said pleased, "Then a sweet and adorable boy like you, doesn't think that she's ugly or malformed do you?" Nick shook his head, not wanting to disagree with anything the ram said. "Good, it's good that you think that way," Beau picked up Jonathan's libretto from the floor, "Then I trust you had nothing to do with your father calling my daughter "ugly and malformed" in his libretto?" Nick quickly shook his head in response. "You think she's beautiful then right?" Nick began shaking his head 'no', until he remembered that being honest wasn't a good idea and quickly nodded 'yes'.

"You said no? So you do think my little girl is ugly then?!" Beau huffed in anger.

Nick once again shook his head no as more tears streamed down his already wet face. Beau clenched the little fox's face with a harsh hoof, causing the little kit to drop his music box on the floor once more.

"I knew it!" Beau sneered furiously, "I knew all you foxes were all alike! You and your father and mother are all the same trash! Thinking you're better than everyone else! Calling you an adorable and handsome boy, while my daughter is called ugly and malformed! And you only confirmed that you think just like your father! Well, we'll just see who's child is the ugliest after I'm through with you!"

Beau kept clenching at Nick's cheeks and placed another hoof at the scruff of his neck, lifting him off the ground and carrying him over to the coal stove at the corner of the room. "Woolter!" Beau called to his associate, "Grab a shovel full of coal and set it on the table!"

Without a word or hesitation, Woolter obliged. Jessie opened the stove's door while Woolter took a shovel and scooped up a shovel full of red hot burning coals. He set it on the table and held the handle to keep it still for Beau.

Poor little Nick could only see the red coals on the table, as he was being carried over to them. He was so traumatized that he could barely utter a word, releasing only a series of whimpering, "N-N-N!"

The next thing the little kit heard was the sound of sizzling, followed by an unbearable heat against the right side of his face.

.

Outside of the opera house, a male marble fox and male wolf approached the back door. They were the opera house's night watchmammals, there to protect the theater from any unwanted intruders. The marble fox carried the ring of keys and began unlocking the door.

"Just hope Monsieur Wilde doesn't mind if we're a little late."

"Well we might've been on time if you hadn't made us go out for a drink first," replied the wolf.

"Hey, I work better with alcohol in my system, I've told you that bef-" the marble fox had just barely managed to get the door open when both he and the wolf heard a high-pitched blood curdling scream echoe from inside.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

The marble fox dropped the keys in fear. "What was that?" he asked as the screaming did not stop. They looked at one another and quickly rushed in.

.

Back inside Jonathan's office…

Nick ceased his screaming as he lost consciousness from the horrid pain he had just suffered through. Beau turned him over to get a good look at his face. "Oogh!" he uttered in disgust, "It's really no question who's child is the ugliest now. Don't you think so boys?"

Beau turned him over so the other rams could also see the damage. Their disgust was beyond evident in their faces as they even gagged a little at the sight.

"Looks like you're not a handsome boy anymore, huh?" Beau asked the unconscious kit with a devilish smile, proud of his work.

"Who's in here?" a random voice asked out loud, frightening the four rams. In his shock, Beau released Nick from his grip and dropped the unconscious kit, but not before the kit fell against the handle of the shovel and flung the searing hot coal all over Jonathan's office. A few of them landed on top of Jonathan's libretto and on a pile of costumes that were lying in his office. Before long a fire surged and began to quickly spread around the office.

"Oh crap! Who was that?!" Jessie asked in a panic.

"Must be the nightwatch!" Beau responded.

"What do we do? The fire's spreading?!" a panicking Mathiewe called out.

"We get out of here before they catch us is what we do!" Beau responded, heading out toward the door and dodging the quickly growing flames.

The four rams ran to the door, until Woolter turned to glance back. "What about the kid? Is he still alive? What if he talks?"

"He won't talk," Beau responded confidently, "The flames will get him before he wakes!" The flames began spreading out toward the door, "Come on! Let's go before the fire spreads everywhere!" The four rams ran clean out the door just as the growing flames completely blocked any chance of entry or exit from the door.

As soon as they were gone, the marble fox and wolf finally caught up to Jonathan's office, "Whoa!" the marble fox cried out once he saw the large fire that was quickly starting to spread even outside of Jonathan's office.

"What happened here?!" The wolf shouted in shock just as the flames spread up and onto the theater's large curtains dangling just outside Jonathan's office.

"You don't think Monsieur Wilde was in there do you?" the fox asked. "Monsieur Wilde?!" he called in a panic with no response, save for the roar of the crackling fire as it destroyed a rope holding on to one of the fly rails. It fell only halfway, but enough to scare the fox and wolf.

"We have to get out of here before this whole place collapses!" The wolf shouted.

"What about Monsieur Wilde?!" the marble fox shouted back.

The fly rail collapsed even further down. The wolf looked over to the office, the door was completely covered with fire. "I don't think he could live through that if he were inside! We have to go! We have to go!" The two run away back out the back door.

Meanwhile back inside Jonathan's office, Nick began to stir. The harsh shadows that the fire cast on the right side of his face hid the searing and ungodly painful damage that the rams had caused him. The little kit whimpered and cried at the pain as even his tears burned his wounds. He desperately wanted his parents to comfort him, but he knew that wouldn't be happening this time. He could still see his father laying there on the ground, same with his mother. But now there was also fire! Little Nick hyperventilated, and grabbed his music box before the fire could get at it.

He stood and looked all around him. What was he supposed to do?! There was fire everywhere!

"Nicky…" he heard an extremely fragile voice whisper. He turned to see that it was his mother. Her gaze was unfocused, but she was somehow still alive. Nick immediately crouched down beside her and began shaking her.

"Mother?" he finally croaked in an equally fragile voice, "Mother! Mother please get up! Get up!" he cried desperately to her.

"N-Nicky...Nicky…" it was all she could say until her gaze appeared to somewhat focus on the kit, "Nicky…" she smiled gently.

"Mother…" Nick said crying. He managed a slight smile, happy that she had recognized him.

Just as fast as her smile appeared it immediately vanished. A frown decorated her face as a new image came to her head, one not of her son, but of the last face she saw before her throat was cut. "...monster…"

Nick gasped in horror, believing the word - and the hate behind it - were directed at him, since his mother's fragile gaze never left him.

"...monster...stay away...stay...a-way…." her gaze fell from her son and remained still - perfectly still.

She was gone for good this time.

Her last words to her son, had left him paralyzed and in despair. Nick remained frozen as her words repeated over and over again in his head.

Nick could no longer feel the pain on his face, because his mother's words had hurt him far more than any physical pain ever could.

He was only snapped back into reality once he heard a piece of wood collapse and break the lone window of his father's office. The fire was spreading to his side of the room. He needed to find a way out! And he needed to find it now!

Nick stood, staring at his mother with sadness and resentment as new tears began to swell at his eyes. He then ran toward the open hole on the window and glanced back one last time at his dead parents and the fire that slowly approached them. His tears fell and he crawled out the window with his music box tucked under his arm.

Things weren't any better outside of his father's office. The fire was everywhere now.

The little kit didn't know what to do. He looked back hoping this was all one big nightmare and that his parents would come and rescue him, but that wasn't the case. It was all too real and his father's office was now completely engulfed in flames! Nick slowly stepped away, while his eyes remained glued on the sight. He shook his head in denial, the fire still casting a harsh shadow on the right side of his face.

He kept stepping backwards until he couldn't take the sight anymore, so he turned and ran toward the stage. He ran clean across it and stepped down from it. Nick ran toward the front row of seats when he stopped short as he heard something loud and heavy coming loose right above him. It was an immensely large decorative chandelier that's base was swarmed with fire. Nick stood there, frozen in horror as he watched it slowly come off bit by bit, until it finally snapped off the ceiling and came crashing down right above him. He was so petrified, that he found himself unable to do anything except stand there and watch it come down at him.

Before long, there was nothing but darkness and dead silence...

The following morning, there was nothing left of the opera house as it had completely burned to the ground. Even after hours of searching, the inspectors found nothing - not a trace of life or death. Le Palais du Renard and everyone and anything that may have once occupied its walls during the fire...was no more...

…

A/N: Wow this was a dark chapter...but then again do keep in mind that this is Phantom of the Opera. Some violence and murder will be expected.

Keep in mind, I absolutely do NOT condone child violence, which is why I tried to avoid going into too much detail regarding that one scene, but it is necessary to the story so please understand.

Don't know when the next chapter will be up but I'll try to get it out as soon as I can. I'm currently really invested and excited about this project! :D

Trivia/Spoilers: In the actual Phantom of the Opera, Erik (the phantom) was actually born with his disfigured condition. I went with a different approach here, but I hope you'll enjoy the changes this one big change will bring about to the rest of the story :)