Chapter 22: Water Under The Bridge/Alex Shows His Scary Side


Alex and Judy blazed through the streets, the wolf grinning as he felt the wind rippling through his fur. "WOO-HOO-HOO! Man, it's been a while since I rode this motorcycle!" Alex cheered as he accelerated, making sure to stay just barely within the speed limit. Judy, on the other paw, was a bit disheartened with the severe lack of traffic. The streets were a lot more barren: few cars were driving around or parked on the side of the street.

Eventually, the two cops made it to the small little bridge that Nick occasionally called sanctuary. "Nick? Nick?" Judy called out, jumping off the motorcycle once it was parked and running on the bridge, before peering over the edge of one of the walls and seeing something that made her face light up. "Nick!" Judy exclaimed, confirming Alex's suspicion. Alex followed her voice and found her standing and looking at their fox friend, who was wearing shades and drinking from a coffee mug.

"Oh, Nick! Night howlers aren't wolves, they're toxic flowers! I think someone is targeting predators on purpose and making them go savage!" Judy exclaimed.

"Wow, isn't that interesting?" Nick said in a deadpan, monotone voice. He put down the cup and stood up before walking underneath the bridge.

Alex wanted to speak up, but he knew Nick wouldn't be swayed by anything Alex said. This was something Judy had to do on her own. "Wait! Uh, wait, listen! I-I know you'll never forgive me, and I don't blame you - I wouldn't forgive me either." Judy suddenly blurted out. Nick's walking halted, but the fox still didn't look at the bunny. "I was ignorant, and irresponsible, and small-minded. But predators shouldn't suffer because of my mistakes. I have to fix this. But I can't do it without you. And… And after we're done, you can hate me…" Judy continued, beginning to sob.

"And… and that'll be fine, because I was a HORRIBLE friend, and I hurt you, and you… and you can walk away, knowing that you were right all along: I really AM just a dumb bunny." Judy finished, fully in tears by this point. Everything was silent for a moment. Alex hoped Nick would accept the apology.

"I really AM just a dumb bunny." Judy's voice spoke. Judy looked at Nick, tears streaming down her face.

Then the 'dumb bunny' line played again, and Nick held out the recorder carrot pen. He stopped the message and turned around to face Judy with his usual sly smirk on his face. "Don't worry, Carrots. I'll let you erase it… in 48 hours." Nick smugly said.

Judy inhaled and her tears turned from sadness to joy, running forwards and hugging Nick with all her might. "Okay, oh, you bunnies, you're so emotional. There we go, deep breath. Are you- are you just trying to steal the pen? Is that what this is?" Nick teased. Playfully, Judy made an attempt to grab the pen, though it was all in good fun. "You are standing on my tail though… off, off, off, off." Nick murmured, wincing as Judy let him remove his tail from underneath her feet.

"Sorry!" Judy apologized, blushing.

"Well, Nick, glad you accepted her apology. Why're you living beneath a bridge?" Alex asked as he stepped out of the darkness.

"Not now, Alex. You said the predators were going savage from some flower?" Nick asked.

"Yeah, they've weaponized a flower called the Night Howler into a serum that reverts the biological structure of an animal to their primal state." Alex explained.

Judy's ears perked up as she realized something. "Weaselton! That weasel we caught for stealing! The bag he stole was filled with night howlers!" Judy exclaimed. She then turned to Nick. "Do you know where Duke Weaselton is?" Judy asked Nick.

The fox smiled slyly. "Are you kidding, carrots? I know everyone!" Nick chuckled.

"Then you can take us to him!" Alex confidently said.

Nick swished his tail back and forth in a triumphant manner. "Of course I can, Alex. Let's go save the city!" Nick declared as he led the way to the weasel who was their lead.

On a shady street corner near an alleyway, there was a banner and Weaselton was selling movies such as "Wreck-It Rhino", "Pig Hero 6", "Wrangled", and "Meowana". It was sickening. "Well well, look who it is. The Duke of Bootleg." Nick snarked at the weasel.

"What's it to you, Wilde? Shouldn't you be melting down a popsicle or something? And if it ain't Flopsy the Copsy and her little obedient pup!" Weaselton shot back.

"We all know that those weren't moldy onions that I caught you stealing. What were you going to do with those Night Howlers, Weselton?" Judy huffed, crossing her arms.

"It's WEASELTON! DUKE WEASELTON! And I ain't talking, rabbit. There ain't nothin you can do to make me!" The weasel smirked confidently.

"Should we have Mr. Big ice him?" Judy suggested. Alex considered that for a minute. "Hm. That idea does sound enticing. But I have a more efficient way to extract information from him. However, in order to operate at maximum efficiency, I require… privacy." Alex remarked.

Nick's eyes widened as he realized what was about to go down. "Hey, Carrots, let's go wait in the car." Nick hurriedly said.

"What?!" Judy protested as Nick grabbed her arm and started dragging her there. "Trust me, you do not want to see this." Nick whispered ominously.

Once Nick and Judy were out of sight, Alex grabbed Duke by the tail and hoisted him into the air. "How would you like to die, Mister Weaselton?" Alex snarled.

The weasel's eyes flew open and were filled with fear. "Uh, I beg your pardon?" Duke nervously asked. "It's a simple question. How do you want me to kill you?" Alex mused as he stared Weaselton in the eyes. The crook stayed silent. "Oh, there are so, SO many spectacular ways I could send you to your demise! I could rip your tail out and stick it so far up your ass it protrudes into your stomach…" Alex chuckled.

With a single claw, he traced his way across the weasel's neck. "I could slice your neck open and let you bleed to death, but where's the fun in that? Oh, I know! How about I toss you in that dumpster and shut it on you, so that you suffocate to death surrounded by the filth like you are?" Alex suggested.

"OKAY, OKAY, I'LL TALK!" Weaselton squealed, tears streaming from his eyes. Alex smiled, thankful that he didn't have to act this way any longer. "Excellent choice! I knew you would choose to resolve this the nonviolent way. Now. Tell me who you sell the Night Howlers to." Alex demanded.

"A ram named Doug. We got a drop spot underground. Just be careful- Doug's the opposite of friendly. He's unfriendly ." Weaselton warned.