Arc 3- A Big Ol' Storm of Chaos: Part 5- Downpour
A crack of thunder echoed through the abandoned concert venue, the lightning flashing behind Discord's towering, mismatched form. The draconequus grinned, stretching languidly as if waking from a long nap. His long, serpentine tail curled and flicked like a lazy cat's, his talons and claws flexing with excitement.
"Ah, now this is the kind of welcome I was hoping for," he crooned, floating effortlessly above the stage. "You know, it's not every day that a city invites me in with such glorious chaos! The fear, the panic, the absolute mayhem! Why, it's like Hearth's Warming Eve came early this year—oh, wait, wrong world."
Judy stared blankly up at the bizarre creature. "You mean to tell me... that Bellwether was using a demon's magic this whole time?"
Discord gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. "Demon?! How dare you! That's such a harsh word. I am a Draconequus. The Lord of Chaos, King of Pandemonium, Sultan of Bedlam—ooh, Master of Mirth! That one has a nice ring to it, don't you think Mr. Wilde?" He waggled his eyebrows at Nick, who looked less amused and more disturbed.
"I wish I was wrong. For the first time in my life, I hate being right," Nick stammered out with wide eyes.
Discord stroked his beard and said, "Oh, and here's something else you're wrong about, Miss Hopps." His smirk vanished in an instant, his tone becoming darker as he said, "Nobody uses me."
Discord snapped his talons, and suddenly, a loud whoosh filled the air as Officers Wolford, McHorn, and the others, who had been standing on the sidelines, suddenly rocketed straight into the sky. Their vacuums—meant for containing any lingering Nighthowler gas—had transformed into jetpacks.
"AWWWOOOOOOO!" Wolford howled in terror as he spun uncontrollably through the air.
McHorn flailed, his hooves grasping at nothing as he bellowed, "WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?"
Discord cupped his chin, watching all of the officers disappear into the sky. "Ooooh, I do love a dramatic exit." Then he clapped his hands together. "But enough about them—let's talk about me!"
With another snap of his fingers, the stadium rumbled.
The seats in the venue suddenly sprouted arms, legs, and—most disturbingly—faces. Their backs arched, their cushions puffing up as they came to life. The entire stadium erupted into cheers of "DISCORD! DISCORD! DISCORD!" as the seats chanted his name like an adoring crowd.
Mrs Otterton shrieked in terror and jumped out her now living chair, right into Clawhauser's arms. The cheetah was similarly freaked out and stammered out, "That's not funny, that's not funny, that's not funny. Not funny!"
Even Bellwether took a startled step back. "What—what is this?!"
"Why, it's called showmanship, darling!" Discord declared, basking in the adoration of the sentient chairs. He turned to the remaining mammals on stage, his grin growing ever wider. "Now then, where were we? Oh yes!" He clapped his hands, and the seats quieted instantly. "As the new rightful ruler of this delightful city, I am pleased to announce that Zootopia will soon become my Chaos Capital of the World!"
He spread his arms wide, eyes gleaming with excitement. "We'll start with a torrential downpour of chocolate milk rain—always a classic! Then we'll move on to sidewalks made of gelato—every step will be an icy cold and delicious adventure! And then, oh-ho, I think I'll have the streetlights dance the flamenco! Won't that be fun?"
Bellwether's face contorted in outrage. "What?! This wasn't the plan! We were supposed to divide prey and predator-."
"OF COURSE!" Discord shouted as he turned around fast wearing a black and red military cap, "In a world of eternal chaos, everyone is divided! Hats off to you, my little sheep!" He then tossed the hat behind him, and it exploded into a mushroom cloud that sprouted actual mushrooms all over the stage.
"I'm the only reason you're here! You owe me!" Bellwether insisted.
Discord put a lion paw on his chest and laughed, "Oh, Bellwether, Bellwether, Bellwether—your services are no longer required."
He snapped his talons.
Bellwether yelped as her wool suddenly inflated, her small frame swelling into a massive, fluffy ball. She flailed her hooves helplessly, her face scrunched in fury.
"What are you doing?! Stop—!"
Discord produced a small, golden pin, and then jabbed it into her wool.
With a loud, echoing pop, Bellwether was launched into the air like the deflating balloon Discord turned her into. "YOU CAN'T DO THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS—!" Her voice faded into the distance as she shot out of the stadium, disappearing into the night.
Bogo's eye twitched violently. His breathing was heavy, his nostrils flaring. He was gripping the bridge of his nose so tightly his fingers were shaking. "What. Even. Is. This?" Bogo huffed out.
Nick gulped, and he glanced at Judy. "He's really holding it together, huh? Can't say I blame him."
Gazelle for her part kept her eyes on Discord. She gently stroked the side of her head below her horn, telling herself, "Be calm. There is always the possibility that this is all a nightmare."
Discord teleported inches away from Gazelle's face and said with a wickedly gleeful grin, "One you're never waking up from!"
Discord then teleported into the big projector screen behind the stage and laughed so loud that the entire venue shook.
Judy, fighting the absolute terror coursing through her veins, straightened her shoulders and stepped forward. "This city isn't yours, Discord," she declared, "You apparently have . . . powers. But you couldn't be big enoough to take on the millions of mammals who live here. Zootopia will fight you!"
Discord rolled his eyes and casually stepped out of the screen, "Ugh, Bellwether told me how annoying you are. The standard goody-goody routine. Can't you be more original?" He snapped his claws, and a swirling portal opened beside him. From it, a very familiar lion in an orange jumpsuit fell forward.
"Lionheart?!" Judy gasped.
Lionheart groaned, shaking his mane as he tried to stand—only to let out a hiss of pain. His body suddenly twisted, muscles stretching unnaturally. His paws darkened, claws elongating into razor-sharp talons. A long, segmented tail erupted from his back, its tip curving into a deadly stinger. Large, bat-like wings unfurled from his shoulders, their dark, leathery expanse casting eerie shadows over the stage.
He lifted his head. His pupils had become thin slits. He let out a roar, but it was deeper now—more guttural, more monstrous.
Judy barely had time to react before he launched himself at her.
"JUDY!" Nick yelled as the massive, newly-transformed manticore snatched her up in his claws. Lionheart was already beating his massive wings, lifting off the stage.
Judy was so utterly caught off guard by so many impossible things happening at once that all she could do was scream. In response, the beast merely let out a snarl, tightening his grip as he flew off into the city.
Nick tore towards the exit, ears flattened and eyes filled with panic as his only thoughts were to catch up, get to Judy, and save her.
Bogo, forcing down his growing migraine, shouted, "FINE THEN! I GUESS THIS IS MY REALITY NOW! I'M NOT LOSING ANOTHER OFFICER IF I CAN HELP IT!" Bogo then took off after Nick, his hooves pounding the ground.
Gazelle glared at Discord and shouted, "You won't get away with this! Your kind never does!" She then sprinted after Bogo, determined to help.
Mrs. Otterton nudged Clawhauser and said urgently, "We need to help them!"
Clawhauser looked down at her in confusion, "What? Mrs. Otterton, it's dangerous. I should get you home where its safe."
"I don't think that will matter if that. . . thing really can do anything," Mrs. Otterton said with distress, "I refuse to sit and hide after losing my Emmitt twice! We need to try and do something. Please! We need to at least help Judy!"
Discord stretched out on a newly conjured throne and waved them off, "Oh, by all means, go on ahead! I do love a good bit of drama."
Clawhauser growled at Discord, "You're a hard guy, Discord." He then placed Mrs. Otterton on his shoulder and said, "Alright then. Let's go save Judy!" Then off the chubby cheetah ran.
Discord smirked as pink cotton candy clouds filled the sky.
"Well then. . . Let's see how this plays out, shall we?"