A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHAOS
by GeodesicDragon
Version 2.0
"The last time I was here in town," Zecora said to herself. "It wasn't exactly upside down."
She looked out over Ponyville as the chocolate rain fell from the sky, rabbits ran past on elongated legs, buffalo wearing tutus did ballet in the town square, and several ponies seemed to be under the impression that they were moles — digging holes in one place and reappearing in another.
"Such a mess," she muttered. "Who could have done this?"
"That would have been me," a malevolent voice said.
Zecora turned to the voice and was shocked by what she saw. A creature with the body of a snake, mixed with the parts of several other creatures. "What manner of evil are you?" she asked. "And why do you look like a zoo?"
The creature gave Zecora a deadpan look and held out his hand. "I am Discord," he replied. "I am the Lord of Chaos and new ruler of all of Equestria. Now, whom might you be?"
"Zecora is my name," she replied. "And potions are my fame."
Discord sighed. "What's with the rhyming?" he groaned. "Do you really talk like that, or are you just playing games?"
"I talk in rhyme," Zecora said with a sly grin. "All of the time."
Discord ran a hand down his face. "Well it just so happens that I can fix that," he grinned.
He reached his hand out and held it above Zecora's head. She stood rooted to the spot, though she didn't know whether it was because of intrigue or fear.
As Discord touched a finger to her forehead, she gasped as the digit made contact and her entire body turned grey.
"What did you do to me?" she asked weakly, as her ears suddenly perked up. "Wait, why am I not rhyming?!"
Discord clapped his hands together. "Because I've made sure of it," he said gleefully. "I have removed everything that makes you you from your psyche. Basically, I've turned you into your opposite." Zecora glared at him for a moment before she broke into laughter. He glared back. "How is that funny?" he demanded. "I've made you a shadow of your former self! You should be sad!"
Zecora stopped laughing, wiping a tear from her eye. "You said yourself that you have turned me into my opposite," she replied. "I'm not sure if you know this — but I live in the Everfree Forest, where I spend all day making potions. It wasn't the most exciting life, but it was mine. But now, to be free of all that?"
She started laughing again, much louder than before, and fell to the ground clutching her sides.
Discord clenched his fists as he watched the zebra roll around on the grass. Over time, a smile began working its way across his face, and he too began laughing. "I guess I should be thankful when somepony appreciates my work," he said between snorts.
The two of them stopped laughing and Zecora stood up. She held out a forehoof, and Discord shook it. "Thank you, Discord," she said. "Thank you for freeing me from the shackles of my old life."
Discord grinned. "You're welcome," he replied. "You know, the Elements of Harmony weren't too happy with me when I freed them from their lives."
Zecora raised an eyebrow. "The Elements of Harmony?" she mused. "You corrupted them too?"
Discord nodded eagerly. "But of course," he said. "Thanks to me, Fluttershy is now the meanest pony this side of Equestria, Rarity is greedy and selfish, Rainbow Dash has abandoned her friends, Pinkie Pie is all emotional, Applejack is a fine liar, and Twilight Sparkle doesn't feel like casting any spells."
Zecora giggled. "My, my," she said. "Such fine work." She walked up to Discord and nuzzled him, causing him to back away in alarm.
"What in Tartarus are you doing?!" he spat.
Zecora grinned. "I like a man who has power," she said with half-lidded eyes. "And who isn't afraid to use it."
Discord sighed. "Chaos is not a power," he groaned. "It is the very essence of life itself. Without chaos, life would be dull and boring." Zecora didn't reply, continuing to walk towards him. Discord's eyes grew wide in shock as he began taking steps backward. "Get away from me," he warned, grabbing a nearby cotton candy cloud. "Because I'll set this on you if you don't."
"Fine by me," Zecora replied. "I love cotton candy."
Discord tugged at his neck and tossed the cloud aside, which exploded upon hitting the ground. "Don't fight it, Lord of Chaos," Zecora cooed. "We can be great together, you and I."
"I'm sorry," Discord grunted. "But there is only room for one Lord of Chaos, and that's me."
"Then let me be your Lady of Chaos!" Zecora cried. She leapt forward, wrapping herself around Discord's body.
"Ugh, get it off!" he cried, flailing around aimlessly as Zecora began climbing up his body. She soon brought her face to his and she gazed into his eyes, watching as the beads of sweat forming on his brow grew legs and parachuted off. "I think you've been your opposite for long enough." Discord said.
He tapped Zecora's forehead with a finger. She groaned as her body returned to its normal black and white colouring. She stared at him for a moment, but eventually slid down his body and jumped back to the ground. She looked up at the Lord of Chaos, who had a smile on his face. Zecora gave him a smile of her own.
"Thank you for letting me rhyme," she said. "It's all I've wanted, this entire time."
Discord's smile vanished. "What?" he asked, dumbfounded.
"Rhyming is who I am," Zecora grinned. "So in order to get it back, I had to formulate a plan."
Discord covered his ears. "Argh, stop it!" he shouted.
"Change me back if you so desire," Zecora replied. "For it is the only way you'll steal my fire."
Discord looked around frantically as Zecora continued her rhyming. In the distance, he saw six ponies walking through the chaos-ravaged town of Ponyville.
It was Twilight Sparkle and her friends, all of whom had been returned to her normal colours, and each of them wielding her respective Element of Harmony. Still covering his ears, Discord ran towards them, the Elements going into a defensive stance. As they watched, Discord threw himself at Twilight's hooves. "You win, I give up!" he said. "Just... turn me back into a statue, I beg you!"
The Elements looked at him, and then at each other, with varying degrees of confusion. "I can't take any more of that!" Discord yelled, pointing towards Zecora. "Her rhyming is just a load of tat!" He covered his mouth with his hands. "Oh, great, now I'm doing it!" He wrapped his arms around Twilight. "DO IT ALREADY!"
Twilight looked perplexed. "Is this a trick?" she asked.
"No, I'm being serious," Discord said flatly. "Now hurry up, before that zebra's inane rhyming sends me insane!" Twilight raised an eyebrow and he sighed. "Okay, more insane than usual."
Shrugging, all six ponies engaged their respective Element. The resulting rainbow engulfed Discord, and as his body was sealed in stone he let out one final sigh.
A sigh of relief.
Author's Note
Writing dialogue for Zecora is such a chore, using this character makes me want to snore.
SEE WHAT I DID THERE?
VERSION HISTORY
Version 2.0: Updated to match my current standard of grammar. Also changed a few things.
Version 1.0: Original Version.
