A/N: I have two things to say:

1) I got about a lot of OCs I need to get through. I'm posting this chapter up just to get it out of the way so I can start focusing on the other characters and how they're dealing under the canons' iron fist rule. But fret not, I'm trying my hardest to get everyone's OC. I've just ran out of ideas for this chapter so I'm making it a continuation of the last chapter.

2) Alright, I'm gonna say this now before anymore people bring it up, no OCs that are related to canons. Pine and someone else's OC are the only ones that are gonna be related to a canon, alright? It's nothing personal, it's just I rather keep the discriminatory environment that this story was made for, and OC-Canon relations would ruin it. Sorry, but that's how it is.


Up in Arms

Chapter 3

Ding!

The moment he heard the timer on the oven go off, Sapphire hurried over. He took a peek inside to see a pan of four cupcakes, golden brown tops. It made his mouth water at the sight; he thought about taking one, but he lived by a personal code: as long as he was helping a friend, he would never do anything that would possibly hurt their chances. "Alright, the last of the cupcakes are done! It's time to take them out."

He opened the oven and reached inside—

"Sapphire . . ." Megan walked over and held out a pair of oven mitts. "Don't forget to put these on this time," she said.

The blue rabbit glanced at his hands, which were bandaged after suffering from third-degree burns. It wasn't his fault. How was he supposed to know when to use oven mitts when baking?

After donning the mitts, he reached inside and took the pan out, and set it on the counter. "Looks good," Samiee said. "This is sure to make Disco's waistline increase by at least two sizes. Or more, if that's even possible."

"All that's left is the frosting," said Muffin. She picked an icing dispenser up off the counter and spread blue frosting on the cupcakes. She finished with a satisfied smile. "We're done: ten cupcakes for Disco Bear."

She looked around; they were all covered in flour and batter after working on the recipe. Leif snickered at bit, from a feeling of accomplishment. It was the first thing he saw though that hadn't gone completely horrible. "That was much easier than I thought. And no one got hurt."

Nina nodded. "Yeah, except Sapphire."

"Tell me how I was supposed to know when to put oven mitts on," the blue rabbit rebutted.

"You're pulling muffins out of a scolding hot oven. How would you not know when to put them on—?"

"Guys!" Muffin stopped their fighting. "We shouldn't be arguing right now."

Megan agreed with her, "She's totally right. An opportunity like this comes once in an OC's lifetime. Let's just enjoy this!"

They let the silence linger over them, cementing their gleeful mood that had set upon the room, before it was broken when the bell of the door jingled as Disco Bear walked in. Muffin, Megan, and Nina still cast the bear looks of indifference; although even though it was hard to trust him this time, even at this moment, they couldn't help but feel that they might have been overreacting earlier.

"You girls got my cupcakes ready?"

"Right here!" Muffin placed the order of cupcakes inside a plastic container and handed them over to Disco Bear.

He looked at the delicious pastries in delight. "These look amazing!" He opened the container, took one out, and bit into it. Initially his eyes were glazed over after taking the first bite, but then he began to eye the confection in suspicion.

"Is there anything wrong?" asked Nina.

"I think there is," he said. He reached into his mouth and pulled out what looked like a rat leg. "Is this some type of new ingredient you're using?"

"Yeah, it is," said Sapphire, "It's called: 'What the hell are you talking about?' We have no idea how that got in there."

"Well pretty funny how when I took a bite, this thing suddenly got in my mouth. I know it didn't just fly in there, did it?"

Megan shrugged. "How should we know? Trash is usually the only thing you can get close without it running away in fear." Her statement earned a couple of giggles from the other bakers.

Disco scoffed, arrogantly, "Make jokes all you want, babe. But I can report this to the hearth inspector—"

"You mean the dork anteater with glasses?" asked Leif.

"Yes, him, and he can put this entire place on lockdown for health violations."

"In that case, this place should have shut down a long time ago. You're a walking health violation," Samiee retorted.

Muffin ignored the comment from him, opting to try and use reasoning. The last thing she wanted to do at the moment was get on the bear's bad side. "Please, Disco. You can't shut this place down. You just can't!"

"And why shouldn't I?"

"Think of how much common decency you'll earn," said Sapphire, "It's something that you could really, really use."

Disco shot back, "Oh, like you have any decency yourself, OC."

It took combined strengths from Nina, Bailey, and Samiee to keep the rabbit from jumping at the retro-stuck bear. Disco tapped his chin. "On the other hand, I can agree to keep my mouth shut . . . for a fee, at least."

Muffin stammered, nervously, "How . . . How much?"

Disco Bear looked around for any type of compensation he could use, until he laid his eyes on a jar that was placed on the counter. "How about whatever's in there?"

Muffin's jaw dropped. "My . . . savings jar? But I'm using that to help pay off taxes for the store!"

"It's either that, or I can call the health inspector and you can deal with him. But I figure we both know whose side he'll take." Disco Bear's face contorted into a sneer after he gave Muffin the ultimatum.

In the silence, Sapphire started snickering. "Alright, joke's over Disco Bear."

"What're you talking about?"

"We're all being punk'd, aren't we? Come on, where are the cameras. I know they must be around here somewhere."

Disco Bear shook his head. "No cameras. This . . . is real life."

The fox had no idea what to do. Even though she didn't want to admit it, the bear was all too right. Canons had little regard for OCs anyway, so a Health Inspector would be absolute horror to her. Sighing, she walked over, opened the jar, took out the money, and handed it over to Disco Bear.

The others were giving deathly glares at him. Disco Bear shrugged it off. "Oh, will you all just stop with those looks? I'm just looking out for my health and for the health of others."

Leif scoffed, "Your health? That's a laugh."

Shrugging off the deer's words, Disco Bear left the building with the container of cupcakes still in his hands. Before they could say anything, Disco popped back into the bakery. He had a mischievous grin on his face. "Oh, and one more thing. This…" he held up the "rat leg" for them, "is paper-mache. Thanks for the free cupcakes, y'all!"

He left, leaving the entire bakery in a state of disbelief. "That son of a bitch stole from us!" said Sapphire, "Bastard; I hope someone bakes him into a cupcake."

Muffin was taking the news worst of all; without that money, she wouldn't be able to pay off taxes towards the bakery, and her bakery was one of the few things Lumpy had not been able to takeover. But now, that guarantee was quickly fading.


Well I got out this done. Now I can focus on other OCs. And I hope you all have or have had a Merry Happy Christmas or Hanukkah or celebration in the month of December because . . . well, I hope you just do.