Horatio Withers arrived at Cliffside Asylum. The horse scholar was laden with dozens of suitcases. The disgruntled professor entered the abandoned asylum. "Um... hello? Is anyone in here?"
"Follow..." Said the voice of Dawn Bellwether. Horatio followed the voice, through the ruined corridors of the abandoned asylum. It took roughly an hour of walking, he found the passageway to the temple. He was terrified of the darkness down below, but he forged ahead until he caught up with the source of the voice. "Professor Withers." Dawn greeted. "Welcome to Zootopia... and the temple of Cthulu-" Dawn was interrupted as Horatio reacted to this site like an over-excited school girl.
Several minutes passed as Horatio looked over the cyclopean architecture. "SWEAT AZATHOTH! THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!"
"He certainly doesn't lack enthusiasm," Cthulu said within his totem.
Horatio screamed with delight. "This is better than I could've dreamed! Cthulu himself!"
Dawn grabbed Horatio by the neck with her tentacles. "Okay. Here's what's happening." She said sternly to the over-excited equine. "You're going to help me access my ancestor's grimoire, so we can free Cthulu. Do you understand?"
"Y-Yes I can help," Horatio said. "I'm an expert at the languages of the Old Ones."
"Good. Now take a look through my great-great-great grandfather's grimoire." She then placed Horatio in front of the grimoire. "Find anything that can lead us to free Cthulu. The sooner he's free, the sooner I can get my revenge on Zootopia, and everyone else who has stood in my way."
Horatio looked at Dawn. "I see... we seem to have more in common than I assumed. I was bullied my whole life... I sought the Old Ones for revenge. To take back what I lost."
"Preds?" Dawn asked.
"Oh yes, one in particular," Horatio said. "In High School, a fox conned me... every. Single. Day. If it wasn't for my lunch money, it was for hard labor, some other scam, or to do something dangerous to impress his girlfriend- the point is. He was a jerk!"
Dawn pondered the meaning of this. "This fox... do you remember his name?"
XXXX
Nick and Judy were on a double date with Ester Foxgerald. "I can't believe my Glamor failed..." Ester lamented as a rabbit buck ran out of the Robins Roost.
"I am so, so sorry," Judy said empathetically.
"And while kissing him... that had to sting," Nick said to his ex-girlfriend.
Ester still bore the burns scars she suffered from Idunn's curse. While Loki gave the vixen district attorney magic to conceal the worst of it. It wasn't flawless, but for her social life, it was literally a godsend. "Three months... I really hope that Josh doesn't throw away three months of dating. Because I look like a burnt corpse... what does Radost have that I don't?"
"Tact, for one thing," Judy said sardonically. "But the point is, I'm sure Josh'll understand. You both do work together in the Justice Department. I'm honestly surprised that he didn't know about you're... condition."
"And if it's not meant to be, we'll there's plenty of fish in the sea," Nick said.
"I only ever really loved one man." Ester glared at Nick. "And he's married to quite possibly the best, and craziest cop this city has ever seen."
Judy clung to Nick. "Can I please have a proper say in this... pretty please?"
XXXX
Horatio was looking over the grimoire. "Well... the good news is, I've found something that can free lord Cthulu. But there's a catch."
"Of course, there is," Dawn grumbled. "What, do we need?"
"Some components. Rare materials that mortal Mammals can't make. I'll write you a list." Horatio said as he looked over the grimoire, and wrote down what was needed.
Dawn took the list. "Anything look familiar?"
Cthulu looked over the list from within his totem. "Yes... yes, these are rare. Fortunately, there all within Zootopia itself."
"There within Blackpaw Manor, aren't they?" Dawn asked. "In the same sub-basement where I got the dagger that allowed me to open the grimoire in the first place?"
"I'm afraid so, among other locations... and after your last break-in. Blackpaw has like doubled, even tripled security. It will take time. But that nut will crack." Cthulu said.
"In the meantime, I'll look through the grimoire for anything we can use," Horatio said as he looked through the ancient spell book.
XXXX
Over the next month, Zootopia was rocked to its core by a cult. The Scions of R'lyeh. Worshipers of Cthulu, their purpose was to gather the materials needed to free Cthulu from his prison.
Ester Foxgerald was fuming, as in addition to Joshua the rabbit going out of his way to avoid her. She had this rampant crime wave to keep her so busy she could barely get a moment to herself. "I. Owe. Myself. A. Vacation. After. This." She seethed as she looked over the paperwork of the fifth case of Scions of R'lyeh causing havoc in the city, on that Monday morning alone. Ester downed her tenth cup of coffee as her secretary was taking another call from the mayor's office.
"Please take me with you." Ester's secretary whispered.
Ester then noticed that one of her calls was from Nick, she wasted no time in answering. "Nick. I'm glad to hear from you... but I'm swamped, and I'm sure that you're in even worse shape. So please, keep it short."
"We have a lead on the Scions of R'lyeh," Nick said. "Near as we've been able to figure, there at the Cliffside Asylum."
"I'll get an arrest warrant to you within the week. Get everyone, every officer, every superhero in the ZVRP, everyone who can fight in there. Bring whoever's leading this cult to justice, and end this crime wave. Afterward... I'm going on the longest vacation I can manage."
"Might I recommend a little place in Forrestvale? It's not much, but it's relaxing enough... assuming Loki doesn't cause any of his trademark mayhem." Nick said.
"Just arrest the Scions first, then we'll talk vacations. Crimson out." Ester hung up the phone.
XXXX
"Yes... yes! We almost have everything we need to free Cthulu." Dawn said as she looked over the supplies her Scions had stolen.
"Correction Ms. Bellweather," Horatio said as he looked over the latest stolen item. "We have everything! Summon the Adepts! We begin the ritual now!"
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Can't even spare decent manners." She muttered to herself. "Adepts! We're ready to start the ritual! Get into position, and put the items in the center with the Cthulu totem!"
The adepts assembled, gathering together around Cthulu's totem. "Yes... I have waited over two hundred years for this! CALL UPON YOG-SAGOTH! RIP OPEN THE VEIL!"
XXXX
The ZPD arrived at Cliffside Asylum en mass. Nick and Judy were the first ones inside, along with officers Carrotson, Otocyon, Usagi, and Isle. "Someone explain why the rookies are here? Harry said.
"With something like this, we need every officer. As for why Usagi and Isle are coming in with us... Robert, why are you and Pinku here?" Nick said.
"I volunteered," Pinku said.
"And I'm tagging along so she doesn't die," Robert said. "Now I've got a question... why do Harry and Sawa smell like formaldehyde? It's been bugging us for months."
Harry and Sawa didn't want to tell them they were Vampires. That the smell was a result of their sunscreen that prevented them from turning into burned corpses in broad daylight. "All you need to know is that we have special needs. And a consequence of that is that we reek of embalming fluids." Sawa said.
"I'm just embarrassed that we didn't think to look here sooner," Judy said. "I mean we found Bellweather here in the first place. Why didn't anyone think to double-check this place after that?"
Robert smelled something foul. "The heck- that ain't old hospital stink!" He said with disgust.
"Yeah... I smell it too." Nick said. "Is... is that rotting fish?"
"Yes, and all kinds of other seafood," Sawa said. "Follow my lead, I've got a better scent than you do."
The officers slowly made their way through the asylum, until they found the concealed entrance to the Temple of Cthulu. Inside the Temple itself, Horatio seethed as he looked over the security cameras that showed the officers. "Dawn... your plan better work. If they somehow disrupt the ceremony... no blessing of the Great Old Ones will stop me."
"Hopps to Bogo. I think we've found the passage to the main cult complex." Judy said over her radio. "We've encountered no resistance from the Scions. I recommend sending in TUSK first, followed by regular officers."
"Understood. Wait for reinforcements before going in. There's telling what might be down there." Bogo answered.
"Just a little longer... and you'll get everything you deserve for treating me so poorly, Nicholas Piberius Wilde.
XXXX
Eventually, ZPD officers spread across the asylum. Allowing Judy, Nick, Sawa, Harry, Pinku, and Robert to enter the temple itself. They could clearly hear the eldritch chanting from deep within. "Dios mio... how long do you think this was here?" Robot asked.
"Not as old as it looks," Harry said. "Sawa and I... did a little research. Apparently, the guy who built this place. Jebediah Bellweather I. Was into some very messed up stuff, occult road apples and such." He explained, omitting where he and Sawa did their research.
"It still blows my mind how so much has happened in this country," Pinku said in awe.
"You should've seen the last Hopps family reunion," Nick said. "...actually, now that I think about it. Be glad that you didn't. It was really awkward."
Eventually, the six of them found the central chamber of the temple. "Bogo... are you seeing this?" Judy asked.
"Yes... I almost wish you didn't have your equipment this time." Bogo said over the com channel.
"Yeah, we almost never use this stuff... not in our regular work at least. Anyway, any ideas on how to proceed?" Nick asked over the com channel.
"That totem in the middle of the chamber... it might be too late to stop the ritual altogether. But if you remove that, Cthulu won't be able to fully enter our reality." Bogo said.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Robert said as he took out his gun, and charged at the cultists. This display of bravado was short-lived, as a tentacle grabbed him.
Something in Pinku snapped, and she opened fire. Howling and screaming in Japanese as more tentacles took hold of the team.
"Now... I think I know Bogo well enough to know, that this isn't what he had in mind." Nick said sardonically.
"Honestly, that's about what we did in the first place," Bogo replied. "Tentacles are new though."
Dawn couldn't keep herself from laughing. "Oh... how long has it been Jude the Dude?" The mutated sheep gloated.
"Not long enough Bellweather!" Judy said.
"Oh stop it... you're making me blush." Dawn said mockingly. "Though I'm disappointed that you didn't think to look-"
"-Here first," Nick said. "Yeah, we were talking about that earlier. Now, how'd you even find this place?!"
Dawn just shrugged. "Well... after the Battle of Zootopia I didn't really have anywhere to go. My family disowned me... probably to avoid public embarrassment more than because they disagreed with my methods. I was pretty much living in the gutter with not even a dollar to my name... taking whatever work I had to. Just to have the privilege live in a cardboard box in Happy Town." She seethed angrily. "Then... right as I was considering taking the other way out. Cthulu showed me the truth."
"What truth?!" Judy demanded.
"I'd tell you in full... but that could drive you insane. The short version. My great-great-grandfather, Jebediah Bellweather, was a disciple of his. Built this entire temple, and the asylum that covers it. Apparently trying to take over this city and make it into a Prey utopia is a family trait... who'd a thought?"
"I'm not even surprised at this point," Nick admitted. "That might actually be responsible for some of the weird stuff that goes on around town."
"A valid hypothesis... but no Wilde, it's just Zootopia being Zootopia. It's got nothing to do with this temple." Dawn said. "So after I found this place, Cthulu gave me his blessing. Hence the tentacles." She rubbed her tentacles on Pinku's face. The Japanese rabbit screamed in terror. "I think I'm touching a nerve here... anyway, after that whole thing with the Scapesons, or whatever they're called, I moved on to trying to access my grandfather's grimoire. After that, I contacted Horatio to help translate the Old One's script. After that, it was a hop, a skip, and a jump. To creating the Scions of R'yleh."
"But he'll kill us all!" Judy shouted.
Dawn chuckled. "Only those who try to rebel against the madness... those who answered the call of Cthulu of their own volition will be sparred. And through me... Cthulu will rule over all. The Great Old Ones will return to our universe. And at long last... I'll have my revenge, on a world that's only ever abused me.
Before anyone could say anything else. Thor Ulricson barged into the chamber. "CTHULU! YOU! SHALL NOT! PASS!" He roared.
"Ulricson... of course, you'd interfere," Cthulu said as a rip in the fabric of reality appeared. "Yes... just a little more, and the barrier will break!"
"We'll see." Thor zapped the tentacles that were restraining the rabbit and fox police officers. "Arise! And strike down this evil!"
Nick, Judy, Harry, Sawa, Robert, and Pinku ducked into cover as Thor knocked out cultists with his lightning. "We have to displace that totem!" Judy shouted over the chaos.
"There's too many of them!" Nick shouted. "I can't get a clear shot! At the totem."
Pinku took several deep breaths as the tear in the fabric of reality, grew bigger. "Pinky! Whatever you're going to do Chika! Do it now!" Robert shouted.
Pinku steeled herself, jumped out of cover and jumped on the heads of the taller cultists. Making her way toward Horatio. Dodging tentacles and spells from the cultists, the young cop eventually kicked Horatio off of his perch. Disrupting the ritual. "Thus falls the mad horse. I stand up, against my old woes. The stupid squid has lost."
"This is not defeat... only delay. Be it tomorrow, or ten thousand years, I will break free!" Cthulu bellowed defiantly.
"You're ambitions die here archfiend!" Thor bellowed as he knocked out the cultists with his thunderbolts.
"No... a storm is coming. You can't seal me away... only one other had the guts to offer his life to keep me at bay. A willing sacrifice is the only way to seal me back up." Cthulu said.
"You're highness," Mimir whispered from Thor's belt. "We may have need of him."
"What?!" Thor said in disbelief. "Mimir, what could justify not sealing him up again!?"
Mimir cleared his throat. "The Emiurgeday... remember?"
While this conversation was going on, the rabbit and fox cops were looking over the carnage. "Well... this has been an eventful evening," Nick said sardonically.
"How... Usagi, whatever you did was amazing!" Judy said earnestly.
"Well, when one grows up in Tokyo, you learn skills that make you're life easier. Or you end up in the gutter." Pinku said grimly. "Well... who wants to do what?"
XXXX
The following day, Nick, Judy, Sawa, Harry, Robert, and Pinku arrived in Forestvale. "Ah... some R&R at long last," Harry said contentedly.
"Ruined only by the smell of formaldehyde," Robert commented.
"No, it was ruined when you kept complaining about the odd smell," Pinku said. "Now direct me to a large soft bed... and I'm going to rest there until it's time to eat."
XXXX
During the chaos of the battle. Nobody noticed that where once there was only one Dawn Bellwether, there were two. "Well... this is a stroke of fortune," Cthulu noted as both Dawns came to. One Dawn looked identical to how the ewe looked before she entered Cthulu's service. The other was covered in chthonic corruption, tentacles, and eyes covering most of her body.
"Wha-What happened?!" The uncorrupted Dawn said in shock.
"The powers... the disrupted ritual... logic is irrelevant." The chthonic Bellwether said, her voice distorted by her mutations.
"Well, this is simple enough to understand. You are Bellwethers conscious, her mammality restored. And you... are Bellwethers cruelty, her malice, and her will to dominate brought to form." Cthulu said, gesturing to the respective Dawns.
"I... what happens now?!" The uncorrupted Dawn said as she looked guilt-ridden.
"We begin again... as we always have." The corrupted Dawn said. "What would you have us do?"
"Hmm... I must have time to think. Get some rest, you two deserve that more than most." Cthulu said.