Duu floated towards the large vat of Thinner. It was still rising up steadily. It was getting close to overflowing. Duu smiled at this. That would take care of the others. Perhaps things were still going in his favor after all.
He hovered above the vat directly. He held out Yakko away from him, letting him dangle like a doll above the green liquid. Yakko gulped as he stared down. He could feel Duu's fingers loosen ever so slightly. He felt his scruff begin to slip through his fingers. Yakko desperately clung onto Duu's hand.
Duu bit down, sinking his teeth into his hand. Yakko flinched sharply and removed his hand. He stared at the blood seeping from the puncture wounds that formed. He glared up at Duu momentarily before looking down at the vat below him.
Why hadn't he dropped him yet? Why was he taking his time? Why did he even need to ask that? Duu must want to prolong the suffering. Why else would he do this? To draw out the torment, the anticipation of knowing he was going to die at any moment.
As Duu's grip loosened even more, Yakko closed his eyes and waited...only for nothing to happen. Perplexed, he looked at Duu. He had a different expression this time. Contemplating, but with what his eyes reflected, it wasn't about regret.
"On second thought..." Duu said. He looked down at the other Animaniacs. Most of them were busy trying to stop the Thinner from overflowing, which made sense; they'd all die if they didn't. Only Dot was trying to get at him.
"You're going to set me free?" Yakko asked sarcastically, a hint of hope in his voice.
Duu laughed and shook Yakko back and forth. "Oh my, you are something!" He brought Yakko close to him. "No!" He looked down and watched Dot try in vain to get at them. "No, I have something...else in mind..." He chuckled lowly.
Yakko's ears dropped down. "No...no...you couldn't be thinking of..."
Duu ignored him. He reached out with his free hand. He grabbed Dot and raised her up to his level. The girl wasn't struggling, which surprised him. He loved the look she was giving him. One of hatred. Yes, he loved that look. Because he knew behind it was fear, and fear was what he wanted those unworthy of his paradise to show him.
He moved her closer. He was careful not to let her get too close, lest he get hit by one of her feet. Yakko tried to reach out towards his sister. He couldn't reach and could only watch helplessly as his little sister was dangled in front of Duu, vulnerable to whatever he wanted.
"Hello, my dear." Duu said in a polite voice. Dot snarled at him. "So nice of you to...join us. I was about to take care of Yakko. But perhaps...you'd rather be first?" He moved his glowing hand closer to her.
"If you lay one hand on me, you will be counting your fingers as you pick them off the ground." Dot threatened through clenched teeth.
Duu pulled his hand back in an instant. "You nasty little girl..." He stared at her face. If Dot were a ray gun, she'd be spraying him with the deadliest of radiation at him right now. He had to admit, though, he liked the way she looked for more than just her anger. "They were right about you, Dot." A sly grin spread across his face. "You are cute. Especially when you are angry."
Yakko didn't like where this was going. He grabbing onto Duu's arm and tried to pull himself up. "You leave my sister alone, you..!"
Duu slammed him against the side of a shelf. The blow was enough to daze Yakko. "Shut it, you. I was talking." He turned his attention to Dot. "So..." The tone of his voice changed completely. It was enough to send chills down her spine. "What do you say, my dear? Do you want to go first?"
Dot scowled at this. She hated being helpless. There was nothing she could do from here. She folded her arms and gave him a sideways glance. "Put a cork in it."
Duu hissed softly. "Hold your tongue if you are going to use such harsh language." The eerie smile returned to his face. "A lady should not use harsh language."
"A lady can use whatever she wants." If there was ever a time Dot wanted looks to kill, this would be one of those times. "And right now, I'm thinking of ripping off your tail and using it to choke you."
Surprised by this description of violence coming from a little girl, Duu pulled his head back and laughed loudly. Perhaps Dot should be kept around for something else. Yes, he needed that kind of violence. Someone like Dot could keep things in line. She had the right look. Welcoming and kind. Yet she had the aggression needed to uphold the law.
He would make her see things his way. It wouldn't be hard. Anyone can be pushed in the right direction with a little...encouragement.
The panicked cries from the Animaniacs were getting to be such a distraction. Duu, growing tired of it all, swooped around and kicked a few cans of Thinner down. Remembering what happened to Wakko, the other Animaniacs were forced to move back. Thinner started to fill the room.
The Animaniacs managed to get away in time and the Thinner didn't rise up anymore. But now they were trapped at the edge of the room, unable to get in. Thinner flooded part of the room, concentrated around the entrance. Though the Goodfeathers could get in, they had left for some reason. But what, he chose not to dwell on. Duu then flew down and, using his tail, he kicked the door closed, locking them out. It wasn't going to last, but it would be enough time for him to get onto business.
He went on top of the shelf closest to the Thinner. He pushed Yakko against his stomach. Using his telekinesis, he pulled the boy's arms behind his back and tied them with rope. He forced the boy into a seated position and sat down in front of him.
Then he pulled Dot around and set her in front of him. She tried to reach Yakko, but she was pulled back towards Duu. He closed his hand around her wrist and twisted it tightly.
"This is going to be really easy." He put a finger under her chin, pulling away as she tried to bite him. Tormenting the two at the same time was going to be fun. "Once I am done with you..." He traced a finger gently along her cheek. "You will be begging on your hands and knees..."
"Here zey are!"
Yakko and Dot's eyes widened. It couldn't be, could it?
A net came out of nowhere and engulged Duu's body. The shock of it caused him to release Dot. "What the?!"
"Duh, I got 'im!"
Yakko was never more relieved to see Ralph. Although he stood on the other shelf, he did not question how he got there. When filled with enough determination, he could get up anywhere. In his hand, the man held a long net, which he had used to successfully catch Duu.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the Goodfeathers flying away. They must have been the ones to get help. And he was certain they were going to find more help. He couldn't help but smile.
Then another voice caught his attention.
"Good work! Make sure he doesn't escape!"
Yakko couldn't believe it. It was Plotz. What was he doing here? How did he find him? Plotz stood at the bottom of the shelf Ralph was on. Being human, he wasn't effected by the Thinner splashing all around him. The worse that was happening is some of his pants were losing their color ever so slightly.
Nonetheless, this provided them with the distraction they needed. Dot ran over to her brother and untied his bonds. She helped him up as Duu began to rip away at the net.
"Boss, he's gunna get out!" Ralph cried. He applied more pressure on the net in vain hope that it would be enough.
"I'm not having him loose around here!" Plotz shouted. "Keep him down!"
But it wasn't enough. Ralph was tossed back as Duu broke free. He roared at the officer, now on his back down below, Plotz crushed underneath him. His hatred for humans began to take hold. He forgot about the Warners standing behind him and prepared to strike.
Yakko jumped onto his back and grabbed him in a headlock. The two began to wrestle. Dot jumped onto the next shelf so she wouldn't get caught in the mess. She watched as her brother bravely fought against the same person who caused him so much pain and misery.
At this point, Duu was too lost in a rage to use his powers. He fought with Yakko tooth and nail. Fur was flying literally as they tore at each other's skin and fur. The snarls and growls that began to fill the room sent a shudder down Dot's spine. Never before had she seen her brother act so...feral. Even his eyes looked like they lost the spark of intelligence.
The two rolled across the shelf. Yakko pushed Duu onto his back and pulled a fist back to punch him. He was kicked away and almost fell over the edge. Duu lunged onto him and grabbed his fist. He dug his claws deep into them, causing Yakko to whimper in pain.
Yakko wasn't going down that easily. He lifted up a foot and kicked Duu in the chest. This knocked the wind out of the madman, or toon in this case, and got him onto his back. Yakko grabbed his tail and threw him across the shelves.
As Duu fell down, Yakko couldn't dismiss the feeling of disappointment as he landed away from the Thinner. He had to mentally slap himself for thinking that. He couldn't sink that low. No, he woudn't get some sick gratification from Duu's demise. All he wanted know was for Duu to go away.
With Dot following close behind, Yakko jumped from shelf to shelf. Duu was getting up already. Yakko moved as quickly as he could. He was like a mountain lion running across a range of mountains. His focused eyes stared intently on his 'prey', Duu.
Now in the right position, Yakko jumped down and knocked Duu onto the ground. As Duu started to get up, Yakko grabbed him by his neck and punched him in the face. The evil toon tumbled backwards and hit his back against the room's smallest, but heaviest, shelf. Duu's hands started to glow and he was about to make a move when something heavy landed on top of him.
As he tumbled backwards, Yakko and Dot looked up and saw Katie staring down at them. Perched on her shoulders were the Goodfeathers. Katie had pushed one of the objects, a couple heavy books, off the shelf and onto Duu's head.
Duu managed to sit up. His head wobbled back and forth. A couple teeth were missing and one was cracked. His tongue hung out. His eyes rolled all over the place, unable to focus. He spaced out for a moment before shaking his head and snapping back to his senses.
He looked up and hissed under his breath. "What is with all these cameos?!"
Katie climbed down and looked at Yakko and Dot, ignoring Duu. "Are you two okay?"
The Warners rarely spoke to Katie. Anyone who knew her couldn't blame them. But nonetheless, they were still on good speaking terms and had no ill will towards each other. Katie didn't get along entirely well with most of the Animaniacs for her vile temper. But she had a soft spot for the Warners because they were one of the few brave enough to get close to her off set.
"We're fine." Dot said as Katie approached them.
"Thanks." Yakko said.
Katie looked behind her. She blinked in confusion at the black furred toon climbing to his feet. "Is that a new Warner?"
"No, he isn't!" Pesto said, poofing up his feathers. "That's the scoundrel I told you about!"
"He hurt Wakko!" Dot said, her voice lower than it usually is.
At this, Katie's eyes went wide. "Wh-What?"
Sensing this wasn't going to end well, the Goodfeathers flew off.
"We should...keep our distance..." They perched far away from Katie and waited for the fireworks.
"Wakko was trying to save us." Yakko pointed at Duu. "He burned his feet...then hit him with his own mallet..." His body was trembling in anger. The memories of Wakko's screams were fresh on his mind. "He..he..."
Katie stared at the two Warners in shock. She turned around and saw Duu climb to his feet. Now recovered, he grinned evilly at the two remaining Warners.
"And I will do the same to you...now hold still.." Duu said as he raised his hand.
"You...hurt Wakko?" Katie's trembling voice came.
Duu rolled his eyes. "Yes, that's exactly what those imbeciles said, wasn't it? Now get out of the way before I decide to fry you, too, you freakish hybrid of a human and toon..or whatever you are..." With that, Duu's hand started to glow.
"You..hurt..Wakko!" Katie repeated this as her voice grew deeper, her body growing every second.
Duu watched in horror as Katie transformed into a large monster. His body trembled. His tail tucked between his legs. His ears flattened against his head. He didn't have the courage to speak as the monster woman toon stormed up to him, her voice growning more and more menacing in each second.
"You. Will. Pay!" Katie let out a roar.
The force of the roar knocked Duu back across the floor. He looked up at her, let out a scream, and jumped away as she struck her hand down, missing him by an inch. Katie chased after him, smashing any property in her sight.
If there was ever a time Duu came close to becoming a living...fountain, this would be it.