Chapter Text
The prison cell was a cold, barren cube of stone, metal, and regret. Dawn Bellwether sat on the edge of her hard cot, her small hooves folded primly in her lap, though her mind was anything but calm. Her sharp, calculating thoughts spun webs of blame and self-pity. It wasn’t her fault that she was small and had to go to extreme measures to get what she was owed. The world was just too blind to see her genius. And yet here she was, condemned for trying to put the preds in their place.
The silence of the prison was deafening at night. Only the faint drip of water somewhere in the building and the occasional shuffle of a guard’s paws or hooves broke the monotony. But tonight, something changed.
It started as a chuckle—a deep, reverberating sound that didn’t belong in the cold, lifeless corridors. Bellwether’s ears perked up, and her glasses slipped slightly down her nose. The chuckle grew louder, swelling into full-bodied laughter that filled her small cell and seemed to press against the walls.
“Who’s there?” she demanded, standing abruptly. Her heart pounded, but she steeled herself, her voice cold and clipped. “Show yourself!”
The laughter ceased, but the cell didn’t return to silence. Instead, a voice, smooth and mocking, echoed around her. “Oh, Dawn Bellwether. My dear, devious little sheep. Such fire, such cunning. It’s almost... inspiring.”
Bellwether whipped her head around, searching for the source of the voice. Her heart raced, but she forced her expression into one of irate composure. “Who are you? Where are you? I demand that you show your face!”
The shadows in her cell began to twist and writhe, pooling together unnaturally at her feet. Her own shadow stretched across the wall, elongating and warping. Slowly, the dark mass took shape, sprouting mismatched limbs, a snake-like tail, and a bizarre, equine face with mismatched horns. It was unlike anything Bellwether had ever seen: part predator, part prey, and all... chaos.
“I,” the figure declared with a theatrical bow, “am Discord. Spirit of Chaos. Lord of Disharmony. And you, my dear sheep, have caught my attention.”
Bellwether adjusted her glasses, keeping her breathing even. “Discord? Spirit of Chaos?” She raised an eyebrow, skepticism lacing her voice. "Well then, assuming this is even real and not the result of my mind breaking under the weight of my failure and humiliation. . ."
Bellwether's voice trailed off as the sting of failure returned. The smugness on Nick and Judy's faces kept haunting her. Being tricked by blueberries. Having her confession recorded on a carrot pen. It certainly was enough to drive a brilliant mind like hers insane.
"Tut-tut-tut, Miss Bellwether," Discord said as his body bent down so that his head was closer to her level, "I understand how it feels to be defeated by those who you know are inferior to you. I've been there. Twice, believe it or not. Don't let it get ya down!"
Bellwether bit her lip, and she stared at him and asked, "What are you doing here and what do you want with me?”
Discord’s shadowy form smirked, his single fang glinting even in his insubstantial state. “Ah, you see, I’m not entirely... here. My body, back in my world—Equestria—is currently imprisoned in stone. A rather unfortunate turn of events. Like I said, we both know what failure feels like. Anywho, I found a way to project my essence into this charming little world of yours. And what did I find?” He leaned closer, his eyes suddenly gleaming red and yellow, “You.”
Bellwether taped her hoof-hands together nervously, attempting to hide the chill crawling up her spine. “But why me?”
Discord chuckled, his voice dripping with amusement. “Oh, come now, don’t play coy. Your little Nighthowler scheme? Brilliant." Discord's serpentine body swam across the walls, forcing Bellwether to spin around to keep him in her line of sight. "Turning predator against prey, sewing distrust and disharmony? That’s chaos in its purest form. I love it!”
Bellwether’s mind churned, her thoughts racing. This supernatural thing appeared to like her, and it would be in her best interests to keep it that way. She forced herself to smile and be gracious and cheery, tapping into her acting experience from when she was working under Lionheart. She tilted her head modestly and said, “Well, it took a lot of work to pull off, and a lot of coordination. But... thank you, oh Spirit of Chaos,” She paused, carefully observing him. “And what exactly do you want from me?”
Discord grinned wider, the shadows around him rippling like liquid. “Let’s just say I despise harmony as much as you do. This happy little world of yours, where predator and prey hold hooves and paws and sing kumbaya—it’s sickening. I want to help you finish what you started. Together, we can topple this fragile peace. I can even help you escape this dreary little cell, and keep any of those pesky guards from even noticing you're gone. Well, not indefinitely, but long enough so that when they do notice, it will be far too late.”
Bellwether nodded slowly, “Well, I would certainly like that." Bellwether bounced on her hooves and said eagerly, "Ooh! You'd probably want me to do something for you, is that right?”
Discord’s grin turned sharp. “Clever. . . Very clever. Aren't you sharp! But don't you worry. All I need is just a little assistance. I need a foothold in this world to fully manifest, to escape the limitations of this shadowy projection. But it turns out that breaking this little utopia, something you already wanted, is the key to doing just that. Ergo: you help me, and I’ll help you.”
Bellwether's distrust flared immediately. The creature was clearly dangerous, his every word dripping with manipulation. For all she knew, Discord would get rid of her the moment he is able to "manifest" in Zootopia. But Bellwether was nothing if not pragmatic. She was at rock bottom, locked away with no allies, no resources, and no hope of freedom. What did she have to lose? Surely, she could figure out a way to double-cross him eventually.
Feigning humility, Bellwether allowed a small smile to creep across her face. “You flatter me, Discord. And I’d be a fool to turn down your offer. I accept.”
Discord clapped his mismatched hands together, his expression gleeful. “Excellent! I knew you were a sheep of great vision. Now, let’s seal the deal.”
The shadow of Discord extended a clawed lion paw toward her. Bellwether hesitated, her stomach churning at the sight of the paw of a pred. But she steeled herself, adjusting her glasses one final time, and reached out. Her small hoof met the paw, and their handshake solidified the pact.
The room exploded with light, and when it faded, the cell was empty, its occupant vanished into the night.
All that remained was a faint echo of Discord's laughter, fading into the cold prison walls.