Ch.8: Change - The Meteor Strikes

The time had come at last. Breathing in deep, Lexi stepped up nervously as her name was called, ready to face the judgement of the three people sitting before her, to see if she was truly worthy of joining the cheerleading squad.

It didn't help much that one of the three judges assigned to assess her was one of the most popular girls in school. Katy, a mean-spirited, but beautiful, blonde-haired teen that held herself high on the pedestal of perfection, and considered everything and everyone else as a mere smug on her heel.

Impressing her would be very hard. Still, maybe after she witnessed Lexi's performance routine, the head cheerleader would have to admit that she had no choice but to realize that the anthro rabbit was a perfect match for their team.

The music started, and Lexi let her arms and legs swing, grooving to the beat of the flow. Pompoms swaying, Lexi let herself get lost in the joy of the moment as she danced, breathing heavily as she flipped backward and landed in a full split to end the routine.

The first two judges were very impressed, erupting with shouts and applause, but Katy, as predicted, was bitter, especially after one of the judges stated that Lexi had performed better than Katy could ever dare dream.

"That was really cute Lexi" snarked Katy, glaring the rabbit down " but I'm afraid you just don't have what it takes,"

Gasps lit up the room, as Lexi slumped down to the floor, depressed. Her heart broke, even though it seemed like a majority was on her side.

Despite that though, she knew that the others would never be able to change Katy's tune. Lexi's life would still be stuck in the rut of being hated and ignored. Nothing would ever change.

Then, the ground shook, planks collapsed, a white light consumed them all.


"Whew," Rev breathed, as he waited for Cookie to get done preparing the next order so he could go out and deliver it to the customer before the time limit ends.

This order was running very late already, and the thirty minute time limit had just about five more minutes to go before it closed. Other deliveries today had gone smoothly, but a cranky stove made this one very, very slow.

Finally, a bag slapped down on the counter, and Rev jumped up quickly to retrieve it so he could zip away.

"Our slogan is 'Less than thirty minutes or you eat it for free' " said Cookie to Rev, glaring at the road runner before he had a chance to leave " you've got less than three minutes to get it there or I take it out of your pay."

"No problem Cookie, I got it," said Rev, taking the bag and quickly rocketed away.

Blades going on full blast, Rev lightninged his way through the alleys and streets, zigzagging rapidly, ignoring any cars he bumped and frightened bystanders that he passed. The other side of town was his destination, and with the improvement he had made to his rocket blades, Rev was confident that his speed would be able to make the delivery in time.

Spotting the office building that had the customer waiting outside it, Rev slowed down, breathing heavily as he stopped, starting to go through his delivery speech when the customer interrupted his process.

"For free. My watch says it's one minute past three. You're late."

"Well your watch must be fast because…," Rev started before the customer snatched the bag out of his hand.

"Better move faster next time,"

"But…but I won't get paid," Rev thought in his mind.

Surely nothing could be worse right now.

Then, a falling meteor caught his eye. The ground shook, and a bright, white light consumed everything he could see.


"This way Mr. President," said Tech to his teacher, directing the stern professor towards his Acme University lab.

"This had better be good Coyote" stated the man " I've given up my lunch period for this. What you've got to show me had better be worth a passing grade."

"You'd better believe it is Sir" said Tech, pointing to his machine as they entered the lab " Behold, the future of space travel as we know it!"

Not a word was said as the professor could barely comment on what the machine was. Frowning as he knew that there was a demonstration to be in order, Tech walked over to initiate the demo he programmed when the president's impatience overrided any safety precautions he had on hand.

"Oh, just let me do it!" said the president, pushing the coyote aside.

"Careful!" said Tech " I installed the self-destruct button for extra credit!"

The warning came to late however, as the president's fingers brushed past the switch, making the whole machine light up and explode.

Although pretty big, the blast was small, more smoke than force, allowing both the president and Tech escape the damaged building alive.

Tech was devastated that a whole, three months of work had been lost, while the president was furious, and banned the coyote to ever return.

Kicked out of college, just days before his graduation. Surely, nothing today could happen to him that could be any worse than this.

A few seconds later, fate proved him wrong as a streak of fire sailed through the sky, followed by a collision of earth-shattering force, and a bright, white light that spread and consumed all.


Yells and shouts reigned from the stands as the championship match for Acmetropolis's Pro-Wrestling League began, introducing the two combatants who would battle in the ring for the prized gold, and diamond-studded championship belt.

Slam glared at his opponent as the announcer introduced him into the ring. The current champion, in which he, the dumb animal, was supposed to take the fall.

Slam was tired of being picked on and underestimated. This time the Tasmanian devil would come out on top, and the whole world would see that he was the champ he had always dreamed to be.

The opponent didn't make it easy though. As soon as the bell rang, strength and insults came flying at his head, reminding him that he had to lose, or else punishment would come and strike him at the end.

Slam ignored the jabs, and fought until he was one strike away from dealing the final blow.

Then, screams echoed from the stands, and Slam looked up, just in time to see a bright, white light consume them all.


"Aahh!" a woman screamed.

Things looked grim as she found herself splayed on the ground, injured, cornered in a dirty alley, with a giant, deadly robot that lurked above her, arming its weapons, preparing for the kill.

Was there no hero who could save her in time, from the grim threat that loomed over her head?

"Don't worry" said a dark-colored man stepping bravely into the scene "I've got this bucket of bolts."

After that sentence, the robot lunged, until the director shouted "Cut!" and Ace Bunny was ordered to come out and complete the scene.

Dressed, fully clothed in human garb, except for the mask, Ace approached the set with an exciting thought lingering in the back on his mind. So far he would say that the film was pretty good, but this scene right here could use a little more pizazz. Inspired, he approached the director with his train of thought.

"Hey Doc" said Ace " I know what I'm supposed to do for this scene, but what I add a few kung fu moves in? Could make this film a lot better."

"I'm sorry" the director glared " is this your movie? Might I remind you my friend that I am the director here. That means you go out there and shoot the scene the way I tell you to shoot the scene. Next time you any opinions, keep them to yourself. Conversation over rabbit. Action!"

"Ugh," Ace grumbled, moving to put his mask on, but before he could finish, he was picked up by the giant robot, and tossed around, beaten and bruised on the stage.

The torture only stopped when everyone gasped, and Ace looked up to see a flaming meteor hurl itself through the sky. Out of sight, the meteor crashed, the ground, and a giant, bright, white light spread out to consume them all.


The lifeguard was gone. Duck knew this was his only chance. Hopping up into the high chair, Duck put on sunglasses and gazed down at the pool below, like he was the hero hopeless victims wished would save them frown drowning in the torturous depths.

Of course, it was close to closing time now, so there weren't many hopeless victims to be seen, but Duck would take any excuse to distract him from his pool boy duties for a moment.

Staring into the stunning horizon of Acmetropolis's nearby coast was both wonderful and relaxing, reminding Duck that there was more out there for him in life if he could convince others just to dare give him the chance.

Interrupting his moment of peace and reflection, the lifeguard stormed back into the pool area, harshly pulling Duck away from his throne. He glared and ordered the black-feathered mallard to do one last sweep of the pool, thrusting the net into his hands with so much force Duck nearly fell backwards on his feet.

Grumbling, Duck did do one last sweep, discovering another 'treasure' that had been accidentally left.

"Uh, just put me out my misery," said Duck, looking towards the sky.

A second later, he saw a flaming meteor streak for ocean impact just a few miles offshore.

"I was kidding! I was kidding!" said Duck, putting the net over his face, while missing he could run.

A terrified scream was the last thing to come from his beak as a bright, white light spread out and consumed, along with Acmetropolis as a whole.