Arc 3- A Big Ol' Storm of Chaos: Part 4- Cloudburst
The Harmony Concert was set to begin in less than an hour, and the energy outside the venue was electric. Fans gathered in droves, their excitement buzzing through the cool evening air. Bright neon screens flashed images of Gazelle, accompanied by uplifting messages about unity and perseverance. The city needed hope now more than ever, and tonight, this concert was supposed to be a beacon of it.
As Nick and Judy strode toward the entrance, the tension was undeniable. Officers were stationed at every major entry point, scanning the crowd with sharp eyes. Bogo had ordered a near full-force deployment of the ZPD, and while it gave the illusion of security, Nick couldn't shake the feeling that they were all waiting for a jack-in-the-box to spring, or perhaps a sheep-in-the-box.
"Y'know, Carrots," Nick said, adjusting his belt, "for a Harmony Concert, I can't help but feel like this is the least harmonious I've ever been."
Judy glanced up at him, her ears twitching as she sighed. "Cheese and crackers, it's like we're just waiting for something to go wrong."
"Murphy is in charge here, tonight," Nick quipped, "Something is going to go wrong. Let's just hope it isn't everything."
Judy frowned but couldn't disagree. Even with all the added security, the knowledge that Bellwether had evaded them so effortlessly left a sour taste in her mouth.
As they neared the entrance, they caught sight of a familiar, cheerful face in line to enter. It was Clawhauser, practically bouncing in place as he waved at them. Standing beside him was Mrs. Otterton, her paws folded together as she smiled warmly despite the lingering sorrow in her eyes.
"Nick! Judy!" Clawhauser beamed, waving them over, "I got Mrs. Otterton a front row ticket! Right next to me! Pretty great, huh?"
Judy's ears perked up as she approached. "Mrs. Otterton! It's so good to see you."
The kind otter nodded, "Hello, Officers. I'm… trying to take things one day at a time."
Nick shuffled his feet awkwardly, "Yeah, uh, we know about Emmitt."
Mrs. Otterton's smile faltered just a little, "The doctors are doing everything they can, but with the antidote not working on him or the others. . ." Her voice wavered slightly, but she took a steadying breath, "I—I know my Emmitt. He would want me to keep going. To keep living and hold onto hope."
Nick and Judy exchanged a glance. They had seen firsthand how badly the Nighthowler toxin had affected its victims, but there was something particularly cruel about Emmitt's case. He had been the one who led them to the truth about Bellwether's original scheme a few years back. And now, he was right back in the grip of Nighthowler.
Judy reached out and gently squeezed Mrs. Otterton's paw. "You're right. And I know he'd want you to enjoy yourself tonight."
Mrs. Otterton nodded, her smile returning. "Thank you, dear."
Clawhauser clasped his paws together, practically vibrating with excitement. "And what better way to keep spirits up than front row seats to Gazelle?!" His tail flicked excitedly.
Nick smirked. "Well, Clawhauser, let's hope being so close to her doesn't cause her number-one fan to start sending her a two hundreds tweets a day instead of a hundred tweets a day."
Clawhauser gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "I do not tweet at her a hundred times a day!"
Nick's smirk got even wider as he raised a brow.
Clawhauser coughed. "Okay, maybe twenty times a day. But that's perfectly reasonable when you—."
Nick held up a paw. "Yeah, yeah, we get it. Enjoy the show, you two. We'll be patrolling the venue, not enjoying the show, in case you were wondering."
Judy gave Nick a quick punch in the shoulder, and then gave Clawhauser and Mrs. Otterton a reassuring nod. "Alright then. If you see anything suspicious, anything at all, no matter how small, don't hesitate to call it in."
Mrs. Otterton gave a grateful nod, and Clawhauser did an enthusiastic thumbs-up before turning back toward the concert entrance, positively giddy about what was to come.
Once they were out of earshot, Nick let out a sigh and tugged at his tie. "Welp. That was the happiest conversation we're probably gonna have all night."
Judy gave him a withering look, "Let's not jinx it."
Nick glanced at her with a half-smirk. "C'mon, Carrots. You know Bellwether's gonna strike here. It's too perfect. Massive public event? Cameras everywhere? The biggest symbol of unity and peace putting on a concert after the city just went through a crisis?" He scoffed. "It's basically a villain's dream scenario."
Judy waved a paw, gesturing to the venue, "I know. But I also know this concert has some of the best security we could possibly get. Bellwether might be smart, but she can't get past all of it."
Nick arched a brow. "Fluff, security means nothing to that sheep." Nick leaned over and put a paw on his chest, "I know I've been making jokes about her having magical powers. But I've also been wracking my brain, and nearly everything she has done is - just - impossible." Nick poked his forehead repeatedly for emphasis.
Judy huffed, and her foot thumped wildly, "I know, I know, I know, and I HATE IT! You don't just walk out of an interrogation room with no one seeing you. It makes no sense!"
"And ever since Tundratown, she's been off the radar. Not a good sign," Nick said as he stood back up, "Supervillain 101. Keeping quiet for any length of time means she's planning something big."
Judy's ears twitched as she exhaled sharply. "Then we'll have to do better."
Nick gave her a sideways look before shaking his head with a chuckle. "You always do that."
"Do what?"
"Set the bar just ridiculously high." He smirked. "You do know we're just two officers, right? We're not superheroes."
Judy gave him a determined look. "Maybe not, but we can make a difference. A positive one. And the ability to make a positive impact in the world is a magic stronger than whatever Bellwether can do."
Nick sighed, "Well, if worst comes to worst, at least Bogo gave us all gas masks. Nevermind the fact that Nighthowler serum works on contact, but whatever. . ."
The crowd roared as the lights dimmed, the energy in the air thick with excitement. Gazelle stepped onto the grand stage, dazzling under the spotlights in her flowing, gem-encrusted outfit. The screens around the venue lit up with her image, her radiant smile spreading warmth and hope. Her four tiger backup dancers, clad in matching outfits, stood behind her, poised and ready for the performance of a lifetime.
She held a hoof to her heart and took a deep breath before addressing the thousands before her.
"Zootopia," she began, her voice smooth and heartfelt, "we have been through so much together. But through all the fear, all the pain, we have stood strong. We are one city, one community, and tonight, we celebrate that unity with music and dance! No matter what may come, we stand together in harmony!"
The audience erupted into cheers, stomping and clapping as she raised a hoof triumphantly. Behind her, the stage crew activated the smoke machines and confetti cannons, ready to kick the concert off with a spectacular display.
That's when everything went very wrong.
The moment the machines fired, the air was filled not with harmless smoke and colorful paper, but with a thick, ominous purple mist. The audience's cheers turned into panicked gasps. Gazelle spun around fast and stepped back, her eyes widening as realization struck. Nighthowler gas.
The tigers were all standing right inside the cloud of gas. All four of them dropped into feral crouches, their bodies twitching, eyes dilating, fangs bared in a primal rage.
The crowd exploded into pandemonium.
Mammals screamed, pushing and shoving as they ran in all directions. Some leaped over barriers, others trampled over seats. Officers on patrol struggled to maintain order, but the sheer mass of terrified civilians made it impossible.
Nick and Judy, stationed near the stage, immediately snapped into action.
"Nick!" Judy shouted, ears pinning back against the noise.
"I know!" Nick shot back, eyes locking onto the stage where the four massive tigers lunged toward Gazelle.
Gazelle's heartbeat thundered in her chest as she took several steps back. She should've been terrified. She should have run. But she didn't. She had made a promise to herself that she wouldn't be helpless.
Her hooves dug into the stage as she inhaled deeply, bringing her arms up and shifting her stance. Her body swayed, hooves light and balanced.
A Capoeira stance.
The first tiger lunged, slashing wildly. Gazelle pivoted sharply to the side, twisting her body and narrowly avoiding the razor-sharp claws. With fluid grace, she spun, her leg whipping upward in a powerful martelo kick, her hoof slamming into the tiger's jaw. The impact sent the beast stumbling sideways.
The second tiger came at her immediately, roaring as he swiped downward. Gazelle bent back, her body folding into a bridge as the claws sliced through empty air above her. Using the momentum, she pushed off her hooves and spun into a meia lua de compasso, her legs cutting through the air as she delivered a powerful sweeping kick. Her hoof cracked against the tiger's ribs, sending him crashing into the stage floor.
The third and fourth tigers circled her, their breaths ragged and filled with rage.
Gazelle exhaled through her nose, adjusting her stance, her body rolling in a steady, rhythmic motion. She had to keep moving—had to flow with the fight.
The third tiger lunged low, jaws snapping at her leg. She leaped, performing a macaco, flipping backward just in time to evade the attack. The moment her hooves touched the ground, she launched forward, delivering a spinning armada kick to the side of his head. The force sent him sprawling.
The fourth tiger roared and charged straight at her. Gazelle shifted her weight and dropped into a rolê, rolling effortlessly to the side. As she came up, she transitioned into a queda de rins, balancing on one forehoof while her legs shot up in a scissor-like motion. Her hooves connected with the tiger's face, snapping his head back as he tumbled to the floor.
The tigers struggled to rise, their bodies twitching with unchecked aggression. But the moment they staggered back to their feet, the ZPD officers swarmed the stage.
Judy was the first to leap in, expertly maneuvering past a panicked stage crew member as she fired a tranquilizer dart into one of the tigers' shoulders. Nick followed, tossing a snare around another's neck, helping to wrestle it to the ground. More officers piled in, using reinforced restraints to subdue the frenzied dancers.
Gazelle stood in the center of the stage, breathing hard. The battle had only lasted moments, but it felt like a lifetime. She stared down at the fallen tigers, her chest tightening. They were her friends. Her dancers. And she had been forced to fight them.
She shut her eyes and turned away, regret washing over her.
The concert hall was still in chaos. Mammals ran screaming in every direction, struggling to find loved ones in the stampede. The stage lights flickered, the last remnants of the concert's spectacle dimming beneath the weight of what had just transpired. Wolford and McHorn, both wearing gas masks, quickly finished sucking up the residual Nighthowler gas using the vacuum cleaners strapped on their backs for just such an emergency. And then, the once-thriving venue was now eerily silent, save for the distant sounds of sirens and panicked mammals flooding the streets.
And then—slow clapping.
A rhythmic, smugly measured sound echoed across the emptying hall. The police turned, eyes narrowing at the small figure confidently striding onto the stage, hooves clicking against the floor in deliberate steps.
Bellwether.
The diminutive sheep sauntered forward, her old mayoral dress from her brief time in office pristine, and her expression dripping with self-satisfaction. "Well, well, well," she mused, continuing her slow clap. "Would you look at that? A packed house, and I managed to clear the whole thing in record time. Truly, I outdo myself."
She came to a stop near the center of the stage, standing right where Gazelle's dancers had fallen. The ZPD officers—Bogo, Judy, Nick, and several others—moved in, closing in on her. Clawhauser, still gripping Mrs. Otterton in a protective hold, remained near the front row, his normally cheerful face stricken with worry.
Chief Bogo stepped forward, his towering form casting a long shadow over the much smaller ewe. His nostrils flared, and his fists were clenched. He was done with her games.
"You little menace," he growled. "I swear to that I will personally hogtie you and drag you straight to a max-security cell if that's what it will take to make you stay put!"
Bellwether smiled and waved him off as if he was no great concern, "Oh, Chief, I'd love to see you try."
Gazelle, still catching her breath from the battle with her own dancers, wiped a strand of hair from her face and stepped forward. "I think I would like to do the honors," she said, her voice low but firm. "After what she just did, I'd love to return the favor."
Bellwether let out a quiet, almost pitying chuckle and shook her head. "You still don't get it, do you?" she mused. "It's too late."
Judy's ears flattened. She did not like whatever Bellwether was implying. "Too late for what?"
Bellwether turned her gaze on her, smiling in that infuriatingly condescending way that made Judy's blood boil.
"All of Zootopia saw what just happened," Bellwether said, gesturing grandly to the now-empty stadium. "A beloved icon—nearly eaten alive. Panic spreading like wildfire. The entire city is in chaos right now. And finally, finally, the chaos levels have reached critical mass."
Nick squinted. "Uh-huh. And that means what, exactly?"
Bellwether's smirk widened. "It means," she said, "that he can finally arrive."
The air around them seemed to grow heavier. A strange static filled the space, tingling in their fur and bristling against their skin.
Bogo's eyes narrowed. "Who's 'he'? An accomplice? Someone who's been helping you slip in and out of things so easily? Spit it out!"
The absolute glee on Bellwether's face was indescribable. "Oh, you have no idea!"
Bellwether lifted both hooves into the air, throwing her head back as if basking in an unseen force.
"The moment has finally arrived. The event I've been working towards has finally come to pass. You took the power I had away, but now it's coming back in a big way. The fear, the chaos, all of it. Power over this city will be mind once again!" she declared.
Then, she called out in a triumphant voice that echoed across the empty stadium:
"DISCORD!"
A pulse of energy burst from the stage, sending a ripple through the floorboards. The air around Bellwether shuddered unnaturally, and her very shadow began to stretch and writhe.
Nick's ears flattened against his skull. "Uh, what the heck—?"
The shadow beneath Bellwether rose. It twisted, curled, took shape—a shape that shouldn't be possible. Two glowing eyes flickered open within the inky darkness, their eerie yellow irises narrowing with amusement. A grin spread across the darkness, set with one mischievous tooth.
Then, the laugh.
A deep, rolling chuckle that vibrated through the walls, through their bones. It built into something wild and unrestrained, until it filled every inch of the space.
Then—BOOM.
A crack of lightning split the sky outside, illuminating the stadium in a flash of white-hot energy. The very fabric of reality seemed to bend as the writhing darkness on the stage erupted into its full form—
And there he stood.
A chimera of chaos, towering above them all, his long, serpentine body mismatched in the most absurd ways. A lion's paw. An eagle's talon. A dragon's tail flicking lazily behind him. His twisted, goat-like face wore an impossibly wide grin, and his eyes gleamed with mischief.
Discord had arrived.
Nick took a slow step back. "What," he said flatly, "the actual heck is that?"
"Cheese and crackers, Nick was right about Bellwether using magic," Judy said as her body went numb.
"Am I going insane?!" Bogo bellowed, refusing to believe his eyes, "What is this madness?!"
Discord's grin widened. He clapped his hands together, a literal crack of energy sparking between his digits.
"Oh, Nicholas, Judith, Bogo, and my dear Gazelle," he purred, his voice smooth and taunting, "You all look so serious! Lighten up! For you see, it's just about time for this fair city to experience a big ol' storm of chaos!"
Lightning cracked once more.
And all of Zootopia was about to be plunged into madness.