Collaborative Effort
Collaborative Effort


It took plenty of doing to get a proper meeting between the three of them going, but after what just happened it was no surprise Shere Khan and Xanatos wanted to talk after what just happened.

It's not often a King is arrested after all...

"I trust there were no complications on your part gentlemen?" Shere Khan asked the other two as they gathered around the table. "We can't let there be any loose ends connecting it to us."

"None whatsoever Khan," Xanatos assured the large tiger. "I've ensured the information is safe in the hands of those outside of Bellwether's reach, she's as good as declared guilty."

"And my work on the Night Howlers is ahead of schedule," Dr. Doofenshmirtz told them. "We'll be in the beginning stages bringing the feral predators out of it before the month is out. Are you sure you don't want to be involved David? This is as much your work as ours."

"No, better to be a collaborative effort between the two of you to save her victims." Xanatos responded. "As far as the public is concerned I had no involvement in this whatsoever."

"And both the Doctor and I get the good press from saving all of those poor victims of hers." Shere Khan added. "So what do you get out of it Mr. Xanatos?"

"Let's just say I've already gotten everything I wanted and leave it at that." And with that Xanatos raised a glass. "A toast, to a plan well executed."

After the toast they discussed their cover stories, they needed to make sure they didn't say anything to draw suspicion after all. It was quite the undertaking, and an unusual combination for the three of them to work on getting rid the the Mayor of Zootopia. However when Doof stumbled across information proving that she was going to make a move on Shere Kahn due to all of the predators moving to his territory the plot had begun. Xanatos joined in, after something in the sheep's possession, and provided them in push they needed to pull their plan off without a hitch.

Together they've managed to expose her entire operation to the public, all without leaving any clue to their involvement for the other Kings to stumble across, they made quite the team it seems.

"Now that that's out of the way there is one more thing..."

"Oh come now Doctor," Shere Khan told Doof. "You've been trying to get us to do that with you for half a year now, why would we now that the job's done?"

"Because my Musical-Inator is under the table."

"..."

"Damnit."

"Oh just humor him Khan," Xanatos said before the Inator went off. "Just roll with it, it's easier that way."

As the device activated music began to play as the three men fell under its effects, they reclined dramatically in their chairs as they looked over the information of their plot.

We are friends, are we not?
And our interests are the same

This was a different kind of song then Doofenshmirtz has sung in a long time... A proper villain's song, even if they were technically the good guys in this situation. The music was strong and dramatic as the pictures and documents swirled dramatically, revealing all kinds of things that had occured.

We collaborate
And trust in fate
To parcel out the blame

The lights darkened as Xanatos and Shere Khan joined in, the shadows grow longer as truly vicious and predatory looks overcame their faces.

There are ends we've all got that can justify the means
We negotiate
Then fabricate the facts behind the scenes

The scene shifts as their shadows seem to fall over the city of Zootopia, and the gathered angry crowds demanding Dawn Bellwether's blood for what she did. As far as they were concerned an old parcel of evidence left abandoned after the death of one officer Judy Hopps was located, a carrot shaped recorder containing her confession.

Keeping all the details vague and secrets hidden
Safe in the balanced sheet of those you trust
Because history is a story told by the winners of the fight

It shifts to show an OWCA agent plant the recorder where it would be found by a bull named Bogo, a police chief and one of the few non corrupt officers left in the city. Along with more information that hasn't been revealed to the public thanks to Xanatos's efforts.

You imply a little
Lie a little
Testify and try a little mayor

Several animals that could testify against Bellwether are shown being smuggled out of the city to Shere Khan's territory where they'll be safe until the trap is sprung.

Who's gonna question what goes on
in the middle of the night?

Small operations were performed to weakon Bellwether's defences as some of the drugged predators were spirited away to DEI for research and treatment.

Not a tinker
Not a tailor
Not prey or predator
Or a jailer

The police are shown again, this time being led by Bogo and attacking the recently revealed drug lab where the Night Howlers were prepared.

So we all are agreed
Let's be vigilant and wise

New of the true source of the feral predators were broadcasted that night to a shocked public along with the confession Officer Hopps was able to record before she was killed.

We must all pretend our hateful friend
Was caught in her own lies

The next thing shown was Bellwether being led out by police though a large and angry crowd of animals. Led to a police cruiser and taken into custody.

For our plan to go far
one belief then we must guard
Dawn Bellwether stays and ends her days
Inside St. Canard

The next thing it showed was Bellwether in a small cell, not far from where many of the predators she had arrested on false charges were watching her with hate in their eyes.

Where the softest things she'll touch are stones and darkness
Deep in a craggy isle in dungeon's keep

Back to the hidden meeting room as Doofenshmirtz suddenly leapt up onto the table in front of him, sending many of the papers flying.

Because history's a story told by the men who make the laws
We supply a little lie
To help the gullible to buy a little fable

Doof sat back down as they began to pour everyone another round of drinks to celebrate, which both Shere Khan and Xanatos accepted and stood up before continuing.

What will become of the righteous men who fashions Bellwether's flaws?
The rich
And well respected
Are no more to be rejected at our table

Doofenshmirtz steps closer to the table and raises his glass for a moment.

I'll be a comfort in their time of grief and anguish
I'll be their ever faithful acolyte
Every night

Both of the others raised their glasses to finish their little toast.

And part of me wishes Dawn didn't have to languish
But I can see it's her or me
Let her sit there and rot until she's forgot
Let her rot!

It cuts once more to the trio's shadows falling over Zootopia, converging on the small cell where Bellwether is being held before her trial.

History's a story told by the people who survive
Let me sign and then initial
It's the truth if it's officially the story

The darkness completely consumes Bellwether before it lifts to show the three of them surrounding her with predatory grins on their faces within an empty black abyss.

What if it costs us one young lamb so three more men can survive?
She's a price we have to pay
To live and fight another day for love and glory

They begin to grow as Bellwether sinks deeper and deeper into the abyss, totally defeated and alone, and awaiting a fate she fears will be worse than death.

She was standing in the way
A threat to justice in our day

Doofenshmirtz once more raises his glass.

So goes the story!
Xanatos raises his.

Stick to the story!
Shere Khan raises his and they all grin one last time.

Here ends the story!

They down their drinks and vanish from the darkness, it returns to Bellwether in her cell and falls silent. Lingering on her for a few silent moments.

And then fades to white...​



The song in question is A Story Told from The Count of Monte Cristo, I just needed to use it in some capacity in a setting where behind the scenes plots are such an important thing, and figured Bellwether would be the most likely target of a plot like that if her plans were learned by any of the other Kings.
 
The song in question is A Story Told from The Count of Monte Cristo, I just needed to use it in some capacity in a setting where behind the scenes plots are such an important thing, and figured Bellwether would be the most likely target of a plot like that if her plans were learned by any of the other Kings.

Huh. Never heard of that Musical. Weird. I usually know every musical that plays on Broadway. Catchy. Where'd you hear about it?

That...that was wonderful! I actually caught myself singing along out loud towards the end. I think Doof's musical-inator was a little overpowered. :D

Yeah, Makes me wanna do another Musical ep myself.
 
I'm trying to get good at naming plans.

[] Plan: Money for Bonker's Lawyer
-[] National Actions:
--[] Upgrade Normbots to current standard (Wendy Wower) (56% w/ XP)
--[] Form a Research Agreement with Xanatos: Tron (Goofy) (72% w/ XP)
--[] Reach out to Magical New York (Kitsune) (64% w/ XP)*
--[] Dinosaur Entertainment (Roddy Blair, King of Lairs) (99% w/ XP)
--[] Collaborate with Smarty Mart (Wasabi) (95% w/ XP)
--[] Investigate the Death of Alonso Hawk (Agent Russ) (76% w/ XP)
--[] Spy on your employees (Tobe and the Vagabond Ninja) (46% w/ XP)**
--[] Research superpowers (Janus Lee) (84% w/ XP)***
--[] Research Extradimensional Tech (Ludivine von Drake) (99% w/ XP)
--[] Study Dance Magic (Juniper+Malf)****
--[] Research exotic vehicles (L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N.) (76% w/ XP)
-[] Personal Actions:
--[] Doof:
---[]Personal Attention
----[] Investigate the Death of Alonso Hawk
---[] Placeholder
--[] Major Francis Monogram (Reorganize OWCA (150/250))
--[] Hego (Manage Bueno Nacho)
--[] TECHNOR (Build giant robot arms)
--[] Max (Go to see a Powerline concert)
--[] Mirage (Reinforce Kronos Corp contacts)
--[] Vanessa (Get involved at school)
--[] Janna Ordonia (Study magic with Feldrake)
--[] Dr. Jumba Jookiba (Study odd scrolls)
--[] Alan Bradley (???)
--[] Tom Lucitor (Search for Star)
-[] Item Assignments:
--[] Amur: Kitsune
--[] Potion of Fire Breath: Genghis Khan
-[] Quests:
--[] Continue the Feldrake World Tour (Some place in Norway) (Martial: 106, Diplomacy: 44, Stewardship: 54, Intrigue: 51, Learning: 56, Occult: 27)
---[] Quest Leader: Marco Diaz
---[] Norm Prime
---[] Dennis the Duck
---[] Queen Lizzie
---[] Genghis Khan
-[] Miscellaneous:
--[] Don't Overclock TECHNOR
--[] Activate an Inator

*Hoping amur and Kitsune's reputation helps

**I'm betting the DC is going to lower on account of overly smug Kat

***Let Janus and Jumba have some fun
 
So I have a question. Would anyone be interested in doing the sequence crop genes action? Not next turn of course, we havr far more important stuff to focus on, but maybe in 2 or 3? If we do wind up failing completely on the digital front, further working on the food situation seems like a good way to get more revenue and acclaim. After all, while the problem of famine is dealt with, a more varied diet seems like something people would be very grateful for.
 
I'm surprised by how heavily invested Doof has become in food. Dino meat, crickets and algae. Crop diversification, more dinosaurs, and more food options, plus a collab with Smarty Mart, might well see us become the USA's leading food producer and distributer. Buying out Hopper Food would just be the gravy - so to speak.
 
The Terror of Canard
The Terror of Canard

Warning: This Omake may be upsetting to some.
Let us take a moment to consider another place left abandoned and broken in the wake of the paradoxes that have ravaged the United States. The once proud city of St. Canard, now a broken prison sitting across from Duckburg, a city gone mad.

Where once was a functioning society is now a disconnected group of criminal groups and those unlucky enough to still be in the city when it was sealed off. The criminals who remain in control now that Negaduck has left maintain an iron hold on the city's people. Anyone who attempts to break the status quo is quickly taken care of, left as a bloody display for all to see.

Let us see what it is like to be inside of this city, as a crowd gathers in front of the City Hall.


I know the gutter and I know the stink of the street!
Kicked like a dog, I have spat out the bile of defeat!
All you beauties who towered above me
You who gave me the smack of your rod!

Another rebel, someone who was traped when the city was sealed off, has been captured and is being paraded in front of the crowd, people who were once his friends and neighbors, before he is put to death.

Now I give you the gutter!
I give you the judgement of God!

The crazed crowd cheers as he is brought out, no longer caring about who is brought forth, only that it's someone else and not themselves.

Vengeance victorious! These are the glorious days!
Women of Canard come gather your bloody bouquets!

Met with cheers the executioner comes out to prepare, the rebel screams and wanted to escape but it's no use the crowd would tear him apart if he did.

Now gaze on our goddess of justice
With her shimmering glimmering blade!
As she kisses these traitors
She sings them a last serenade!

The rebel is forced to the ground and whipped repeatedly by the criminal who is running the show. The villain known as Paddywack, who feeds off of the fear the captive feels before he was executed.

Sing! Swing! Savor the sting!
As she severs you - Madame Guillotine!
Slice! Come, Paradise!
You'll be smitten with Madame Guillotine!

Cut to another part of the city where people fight over basic supplies in the remains of a burned out building.

The world may be ugly
But each man must do what he must!

A man is knocked to the ground and repeatedly struck with a metal pipe by a desperate duck until he stops moving.

Give in, pretty dear!
In a year you will be pretty dust!

He is stabbed in the back by a woman who takes the food and runs, pursued by yet more scavengers.

Now come let our lady possess you!
In her breathtaking, hair-raising bed!
She will tingle your spine
As she captures your heart and your head!

Cut back to the square where the execution is happening, the crowd has lost control and some fights have begun to break out, several items in the vicinity have been lit on fire as Paddywack straps the rebel in beneath the guillotine's blade, smiling widely.

Sing! Swing! Savor the sting!
As she severs you - Madame Guillotine!
Slice! Come, Paradise!
Our Delilah will shave you razor clean!

Watching in horror is another rebel from a nearby rooftop, a duck by the name of Herbert 'Honker' Muddlefoot, neighbor and former friend of the late Darkwing Duck's daughter Goslyn.

God, when did man lose his reason?
Save us, my God, if you're there!
God, can you not feel the terror
Like a fire in the air?

The rebel struggles against his binding as Paddywack grins even wider and possesses the guillotine, bringing the blade down. The crowd cheers louder.

Flash! Slash! Glisten and gash!
She will ravish you - Madame Guillotine!
Slit! Madame just bit!
Give her more to bite! She's a hungry queen!

The rebel's head is severed cleanly in a spray of blood and it tumbled from the platform and the crowd devolved entirely, more would die this night, this crowd was out for blood.

Sing! Savor the sting!
As she severs you - Madame Guillotine!
Slice! Come, Paradise!
Hail, Her Majesty!
Madame Guillotine!

Just another day in St. Canard.



The song is Madame Guillotine from The Scarlet Pimpernel, St. Canard is a very bad place to be.
 
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I'm surprised by how heavily invested Doof has become in food. Dino meat, crickets and algae. Crop diversification, more dinosaurs, and more food options, plus a collab with Smarty Mart, might well see us become the USA's leading food producer and distributer. Buying out Hopper Food would just be the gravy - so to speak.
It made a lot of sense. The Wasteland hit crop production hard, meaning our people were starving and we'd lose loyalty fast if we didn't fix it. So we fixed it. After that our people weren't starving, but demand for food outside the tri-state area still significantly exceeded supply so there was a lot of money to be made by expanding on what we'd begun.
 
I just realized something. MINA LOVEBERRY MUST NEVER MEET THE HUNTSCLAN. If they get ahold of her they shoot up to a king level threat. Hell, they may even reach bill level danger if they manage to get the knights set up
 
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Would the Huntsclan consider her to be sufficiently human?
She is basically human. She has access to powerful magic due to being Mewman and having been turned into a mindless monster killing machine in the past, and her one non human trait would be potentially a pair of small wings on her back. If the mewman's are just humans that wound up on mewni a long time ago like I think is implied by the toffee interlude from a long time ago they would likely not care, and their mutual hatred of monsters might convince them to put aside their bias temporarily due to how rediculously op she is
 
A Doof-corrupted Warp. Khorne and the others have no chance. screams internally.

"
A Space Marine?... Perry the Space Marine?!?!?"

"This is my Text-to-Speech-inator! Now we can finally understand the voice of the Emperor, and he will be so grateful that he'll grant me command of the Tri-Sector Area!"

-a while after Doof!Techpriest installed the TTTS-Inator-

Emps: "Thank fuck! I got so much dumb shit to complain about..."

Doof-corrupted Chaos would just be Janna's friends. Lord of Change Feldrake, bloodletter Tom, probably-some-Slaaneshi-demon-or-other Kitsune, and does the Ant Queen qualify for anything under Nurgle?

Well, Lizzy is kinda apathetic, so that´s that.
 
Notes from the Dracon Mob
Notes from the Dracon Mob

Tony Dracon stood amidst the ruins of the Warehouse that David Xanatos had "Borrowed" from him. The fight had thoroughly wrecked the place, just like the businessman had promised. Xanatos had delivered on every single promise, as usual, and they'd even stopped an apocalypse together, which.... It wasn't that Tony wanted the Apocalypse to go through, but somehow Xanatos seems to have gotten all the glory of it and he got stuck with the losses, again. Only the fact that Xanatos was there in person with them fighting was enough to mitigate his rage at once again coming out the worse off from an encounter with the man. He got everything he wanted, but the stakes were so high for what he risked that it felt like a pittance, especially compared to Xanatos' gains, and the terrifying abilities of the "Contractors" that Xanatos had brought in.

It wasn't worth thinking too hard on. Xanatos was on another level, and Dracon had his own problems to deal with. His mob were mostly good, god-fearing Catholics of Sicilian decent, and there was a lot to take in for those few who had understood what had happened.

Proof that their beliefs were right, that they could be twisted like that... He'd already lost a few upright men to this new Huntsclan, but that was fine. The Huntsclan weren't honing in on his interests, yet, and if his men felt like they needed to do more to stop this sort of thing from happening again in the future? Well.... They were afraid, and Tony couldn't blame them.

The problem was with the rest of his men. They were nervous. Scared. They wanted to know that he was in control. That he had a plan. That he had this. They wanted to be more afraid of him than they were of the world, and... They couldn't be. Tony was many things but regardless of how scary he was, he wasn't that scary.

Controlling a mob wasn't easy. You needed to be available. You needed to be public, and more importantly you needed to be there in case of trouble. People needed to know he could handle things, and he could; for street crime. For this? Tony wasn't sure if anyone could handle this, even Xanatos.

Of course it was even worse than that. Because for all that Tony had chosen wisely when he sided with Xanatos, and Humanity; his grandfather did not choose as wisely.

In the aftermath of the Christmas massacre, as some of his guys were calling it, Tony had been called to identify a body, a body with distinctive marks around his forehead that Tony would never forget the appearance of. Dominic Dracon, his grandfather, was dead, and the wounds around his head? The Crown of Thorns.

He couldn't have been searching on his own. Searching for The Crown of Thorns, he would have asked for help from his family; from him. And if he wasn't working on his own then...

Tony winced as the truth became undeniable. His Grandfather had worked with Demona, and had a hand in almost ending the world. That wasn't what they were about.

Tony couldn't help but recall his first lessons from his grandfather in running the mob. He was making friends, networking, building connections, using his natural charm when his grandfather pulled him aside and told him to knock it off.

He'd told Tony about his favorite philosopher:

"Nicky Machiavelli; let me tell you what he said: You wanna use the reigns of power? First you gotta use your head. Nicky knew all the angles. Nicky laid it out real clear. You gotta choose fear or love, kid. You gotta choose love or fear."

The lessons came in parts and pieces as he struggled to be the sort of man worthy of succeeding his grandfather. Every question was tied back, every action attributed to the teachings of Niccolo Machiavelli, even why his Grandfather hung out outside the barbershop on the corner, playing chess and talking all day..

"Nicky's number one secret was availability. That's why I'm here on this corner; right where all the world can see. All my friends they sleep easy knowing that I'm always near. My enemies know it too though. It ain't about love it's fear."

Love and Fear. It was much easier in the old days. There weren't monsters in the sky. Christianity was real, but it wasn't tangible. It wasn't something that could wipe out humanity. What sort of kind and loving God left behind something like that? And now Xanatos probably had them. That was a thought to cause shivers down his spine. Xanatos called in his friends to help with things, and that's the only reason the day was saved. His teenage and monster friends.

The teenagers worked for Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated. They weren't professionals, they weren't soldiers, but somehow they were more effective than all his Caporegime and their soldiers.

Friends. Tony Snorted. He wasn't aware that those in power could have friends. His grandfather had disabused him of that notion early on.

"And as far as those friends go? Nick said just a real short leash. Treat 'em well, but eh not too well... Keep 'em in your debt, capiche? Give 'em too much they won't need ya. Give too little and they'll sneer. You wanna know what to give em? The answer ain't love... it's fear."

The speech had shocked him. His grandfather had tons of friends. He was the most popular guy in the neighborhood! But that wasn't how it really was.

"Franky, Tony and Jojo; Look at how it is with them. Sure you think those fella love me? Think again, says Nicky M. I make a joke they start laughing. Hell! They nearly stand and cheer! I'm funny, but I ain't that funny. That laughter ain't love it's fear."

Fear and friendship weren't good bedfellows. But Fear was essential for power. At least... that's what he thought. Except... He feared Xanatos, but it was pretty clear that none of his friends did. That girl with the Goose staff. The demon with the pink skin and horns. Even the Gargoyles seemed to respect him even if they didn't like him. Xanatos wasn't using fear to move the world. He was using something else.

"So then which one is better? Me? I take my cues from Nick. Kindness looks a lot like weakness, even when you spread it thick. Money can't buy you friendship. Love can always disappear... But fear is cash in the bank, kid. Fear puts gas in your tank, kid. And now you got Nicky to thank, kid. Forget about love, choose fear."

But... clearly that wasn't the only answer. There was something else. Something... Something else.

Xanatos was an impenetrable maze. The Gargoyles were just coming out into the spotlight. But there was one person whose troops responded to the call. A person who had managed to recruit teenagers and make them able to not only stop an apocalypse, but who was powerful enough and well regarded enough that they felt that they could sass and joke with Xanatos; because they could.

That was power. Xanatos clearly didn't see the minions as an equal. But there was enough respect for their master to treat them with respect as well. that wasn't something he'd ever paid towards Tony. It was power, and Tony wanted it.

"Listen now what I tell ya. This advice is you-know-who's. Love or fear... It's up to you kid; but you live with what you choose. Nicky told me his secret. I owe the guy my whole career. So now I think it's up to you kid. You're gonna choose love; or fear?"

When he was young, Tony had listened to his Grandfather. But now? Fear wasn't the answer. Fear was a stick that only held use until someone above you was worth fearing more. That was what had gotten his grandfather, he was certain of that.

Tony wasn't about to let it happen to him.

Fear had gotten him this far, but it wasn't enough. There was something out there, something greater. Xanatos saw people as tools. He held nothing sacred. Tony was sure of that much. Xanatos wouldn't respect those kids or their master if it were just down to their skills. There was something more than that. It wasn't fear, either. Tony knew what fear looked like. This was something different. It was the answer to his problem.

In the crisp January air of New York City, Tony smiled. Love. Love was stronger than fear, and Dr. Doofenshmirtz had learned to harness it for true power.

It was time to choose another path. Niccolo Machiavelli was a dead philosopher for an age long past. It was time to discard his teachings. Tony had a new teacher.

It was time to follow the lead of Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.

So, Dracon is actually dead in the canonical timeline. That means that this is Apocrypha (or maybe a side story?) no matter what. WereDrago2 mentioned I could use glasses as the protagonist instead, but I think I actually like Tony as the protagonist here and I like the idea of this as a "What If?"

I put a lot of thought into what DoofQuest character worked best for the song, and I still think Tony's the best fit. Maybe the QMs will take elements of characterization for Glasses though. Who knows?

The Song is Nicky Machiavelli from A Bronx Tale. Which is a good (non-musical) movie and an Excellent (non-movie) musical. I recommend it to anyone who likes mob stories, period pieces, coming of age stories, or doomed and tragic romances.
 
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She is basically human. She has access to powerful magic due to being Mewman and having been turned into a mindless monster killing machine in the past, and her one non human trait would be potentially a pair of small wings on her back. If the mewman's are just humans that wound up on mewni a long time ago like I think is implied by the toffee interlude from a long time ago they would likely not care, and their mutual hatred of monsters might convince them to put aside their bias temporarily due to how rediculously op she is
They are. We actually see that in the show: A bunch of colonists (implied to be from colonial America) fell through a portal, into a river of magic, and were mutated by it, becoming the first Mewmans. Glosyarick, embodiment of all magic, proceeded to play a nice game of eenie-meenie-minie-moe, and bestow a wand upon the woman who would become the first Queen of Mewni.
 
Three Sides
Three Sides


The scene begins with David Xanatos sitting at his desk, looking over reports on the aftermath of the Twelfth Night, and attempting to come up with a plan using his new information from Dr. Doofenshmirtz. To think the man could break probability for a time, without magic. He needed a break, he leaned back into his chair, looking to the side at a picture of him and Fox for a moment and standing. He steps out to look out the large window in his office, looking down upon New York, pondering just what to do. Not for the first time he ruminated on the nature of the little game he's been playing, and the ghosts that seem to haunt his dreams because of it.

He didn't even notice the music that slowly sink in, or when his thoughts were put to lyrics and sung aloud.

See the moon slink down in the sky, darling.
Let your fantasies fly, darling.
Life is cold, and the game is old.

In another part of the city was the cause of the Twelfth Night, a Gargoyle woman named Demona, as she once more thought on her situation, how she has been betrayed by everyone she thought she could trust, never reaching the real conclusion, that she was the cause of her own problems. She too joined the song.

Just see how virtue repays you -
you turn, and someone betrays you.
Betray him first, and the game's reversed!

Then they are joined in a strange duet, framed as if they had their backs to each other as they sung on, outside a storm began to brew.

For we all are caught in the middle
of one long, treacherous riddle.
Can I trust you? Should you trust me, too?

The both of them no longer seem to be alone, ghosts of those they've wronged seem to materialize within the room, watching as they sing.

We shamble on through this hell,
taking on more secrets to sell

They both turn their backs and face the phantoms, only for them to vanish a moment later, a simple figment of guilty consciences.

'til there comes a day
when we sell our souls away!

The scene shifts now to yet another scene in the city, as a large Gargoyle clone known to most as Alexander Thailog, he to looked over the city as he plotted. However instead of guilt he felt only joy at the prospect of his actions, a grin forming on his face as he joined in the song.

Through the mist, your lover is beckoning ...
comes that moment of reckoning.
Faces change, even smiles grow strange.

Now the three of them are joined together, shown as if facing each other.

And we all have so many faces,
the real self often erases.
Enticing lies flicker through our eyes!

Outside the storm rages into full force, lightning crashes and the streets begin to flood.

Feel the terror draw ever nearer
the more you stare in the mirror,
but hold your own, face the wind alone.

Then it cuts once more to Xanatos in his office as he sits down in his chair and looks once more at the picture of him and Fox.

Reel on, love! Toughen your scars!
Year by year, we're falling like stars

He stands again to face the window, a fire in his eyes once more as the storm grows even worse.

'til there comes a day
when we sell our souls away!

Thailog grins even wider as the storm rages on, plans on how to finally kill his remaining fathers running though his mind.

Can I run to you?
Are you true to me?

Xanatos is now fully standing in front of the window as an image of his son lashes though his mind, then his eyes grow even more determined.

I'll do unto you
as you do to me!

Demona looks up to the storm, as the rain falls upon her her eyes shift once more to uncontrollable hatred as the lightning flashes again.

And we slowly learn
someone has to burn -

Then it cuts to black, before a bright light erupts from flames within a black abyss, the three of them now standing amongst the flames facing each other.

Better you than me!
The three of them slowly walk towards each other, anger growing more and more as the fire grows higher and higher.

Oh, ev'ry Judas once loved a Jesus!
But finally, treason will seize us!
And only fools follow golden rules!

Then as quickly as it arrived the scene is gone, and the tree of them are back where they were before, but now all seeming to look directly at each other despite the distance.

We all are caught in the middle
of one long treacherous riddle
of who trusts who ...
maybe I'll trust you ...
but can you trust me?

It zooms in on Xanatos in his office, but from an outside perspective though the window as a large grin slowly forms, a plan finally forming.

Wait and see!


The song is The Riddle from The Scarlet Pimpernel, I just thought it fit Xanatos pretty well and decided to make an omake about him with it. I didn't even need to change any lyrics to make it work. As for the title it's a play on of the saying two sides of the same coin.
 
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Poaching Eggheads
Poaching Eggheads
L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N had finally suffered the final indignity at the hands of their hated enemy, Doctor Doofenshmirtz. The indignity of being used for such menial tasks as company buyouts and upgrading his stupid robots was bad enough, but the company retreat to Drusselstein was a clear declaration of his disdain and jealousy for their superior intellect. Many among them would never get over the horrors of traditional drusselstein cooking.

So, L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N was left with only one remaining option. Kill Doctor Doofenshmirtz with their superior intellect and mad science capabilities!

It was for this reason that they had met up in their secret lair, the deli cafe of the local Betsy Ross Stop & Shop, the only dining establishment in all of Danville that had yet to ban them for life.

Their scheming was going brilliantly, they already had a genius plan to bring about the downfall of their most hated enemy. First they would clear the building of Doofenshmirtz' loyalists through temptation that no being, man or god could resist, one hundred free tokens at Funzo's Funzone! After that they would place a male platypus in the middle of their lab, where Doofenshmirtz would see it and immediately pick it up and hug it due to his obvious love for the animals. Then, the platypus would be startled by Professor Bloodpudding's machine that makes loud sounds while also creating bright flashes. This would cause the platypus to inject its venom into Doofenshmirtz, leaving him plaralyzed on the floor with pain long enough for Rodney's living glacier to crush the hateful little man to death against the wall. Truly this plan was fool-proof. The only flaw preventing this brilliant plan from going into motion this very second was that they were all banned from Funzo's Funzone and their staff was canny enough to see through their brilliant disguises.

Rodney approached the counter wearing a fake mustache and a giant pair of glasses.

"Yes, hello. I would like to purchase-"

The bored teenager looked up at Rodney and hate burned in her eyes. "Oh no! You creeps are not getting back in here! Not after what you did to the ball pit!" She shuddered in revulsion and ran to the back.

"Um, no! You must be thinking of someone el-"

The teenager returned wielding a broom which she repeated to beat Rodney with. "Out! Out!"


Rodney shuddered at the thought of the teenager's power. Clearly L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N would have to take vengeance on Funzo's following the death of Doofenshmirtz, but in the meantime they had to come up with a better disguise. The discussion of how exactly they would develop this disguise had been ongoing for the better part of two hours, when it was interrupted by the sound of an approaching segway.

The group of mad scientists turned and saw a grey parrot approaching them, whilst jamming out to the song playing through his ear buds.

He arrived at their table and exclaimed, "Hey! Wassup, you guys L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N, the brilliant scientists?"

Rodney smiled at the group being recognized for its brilliance. "Of course we are!"

"Cooool! What's this some awesome science junk?" The parrot said picking up the table napkin they had scribbled their evil plans on.

"Yes! It is our plan to destroy the hateful Doctor Doofenshmirtz and assume control of his empire ourselves!" Doctor Diminutive exclaimed to the entire supermarket.

Rodney cringed. Even he had enough awareness to realize that loudly broadcasting one's assassination plans was not conducive to those plans suceeding.

Instead of the bird fleeing in terror, he asked, "Oh? And why would you want to destroy Doctor D? Everyone seems to love him."

"Bah! He refuses to respect our superior intellect and keeps giving up simple drudgery even a child could handle! We could do so much better than him!"

"Hmm. You know what? You're right! You could do so much better than him! In fact I am that better than him!"

"What?" Rodney asked. This was usually the part of the rant where people backed away slowly. He wasn't really sure how to proceed now that someone had stayed.

The parrot handed Rodney his business card and said, "I'm the founder of a cool little tech startup and I need some big brainy guys on my team. How about it?"

Rodney looked at the card, Mark Beaks, Beak Enterprises, it said alongside a phone number on the bottom.

"And would we be doing important work at Beak Enterprises?" He asked.

"Pshh, yeah! Robots, lasers, aeroplanes, awesome stuff like that. So how's five million a person sound, we got a deal?"

Rodney smiled, finally someone smart enough to appreciate their brilliance. "We'll keep in touch."
 
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