Nightmare in Whisker Haven

Pumpkin paced back and forth, keeping an eye on the pawlace. She stopped and cocked her head from side to side, sniffing the air. Not smelling anything odd she kept going. A rustling sound boomed through the halls.

Huh? What was that?

Pumpkin paused, but forced herself to go towards the sound. "W-who's there?" The rattling continued. "H-hello?"

She froze nervously.

"Greetings fluffy pup."

Pumpkin gasped. "Who's there?"

Kunak slithered out of the shadows, grinning.

"Oh, just a friend." He chuckled, getting closer.

"Wait, you're Kunak, aren't you?" Pumpkin growled.

"You're very bright fluffy pup."

"Ms Featherbon warned us about you." Pumpkin snarled.

He chuckled. "Oh, you know Ms Featherbon?" Kunak got close to her face. "I'm surprised she'd talk to an indirect murderer like you…"

"W-what are you talking about?"

"How you got your mother killed."

"I don't understand." She took a step back.

He put his tail under her chin. "You just had to be born in a dogfighting ring and just had to anger another dogfighter."

"Dogfighter?" She mumbled to herself, thinking it over. The darkness, thunder, spiders…..She froze. "O-oh no..I.."

"That was her last fight. Your siblings weren't as lucky as you." He hissed.

"D-did they...they…"

"Three dogs died that day, that's all I'm gonna say."

Pumpkin shivered and whimpered. Her knees buckled and the sound of armour rang through the halls. "N-no I...I didn't know..I d-didn't mean, I-"

Kunak smirked. "What you meant doesn't matter, the consequences however do. You, fluffy pup, are a murderer, and you cannot change that."

Howls and barks of pain went through Pumpkin's mind. "N-no..No!" All four knees buckled as he fell to the ground with a loud clang. She shook and whimpered as she grabbed onto her head, trying to get the barking to stop.

Kunak laughed as he slithered off, knowing she'd eventually call for Ms Featherbon

….

"What room is this?" Kuzco asked, eyeing the place curiously.

"The...library?"

"Oh." He looked around. "I haven't seen this room before. Did you add it Blue Jay?"

"No dear, it's been here for a long time."

"Let's just get started Blue Jay."

Ms Featherbon cleared her throat. "Here's your first lesson. Squeaker squeak squeak squeaker squeaking squak squak."

"Aaaaaand that means?"

"It's your name dear."

This piqued Kuzco's interest. "Oh, we're talking about me?"

"Of course. I figured this would this would be the best way to teach you. Now try repeating it."

"Uh, Squeaker squeak squeak...uh….squeaker squeaking...squak squak?"

"Yes! You're doing great dear! I'm sure you'll get extra credit if you write your name in squirrel squeak."

"Right. Now teach me more me words!" He said excitedly.

Ms Featherbon chuckled, but stopped because of a splitting headache followed by the sound of frantic barking. An amour bound puppy ran into the room, tripping over her own paws in her frantic state. "Pumpkin?"

Kuzco sat there in confusion as Ms Featherbon spoke French to a barking dog. "Uh, Blue Jay?"

She turned towards him. "Oui? ñuqa sut'i, ari?"

"What are you doing?"

"Um, Pumpkin needs help."

"Pumpkin?" He looked at the puppy. "You mean her?"

"Yes." She paused to listen to more of Pumpkin's barks. "Listen, I know this is inconvenient, but I really need to deal with something."

Kuzco huffed. "Yeah, yeah Blue Jay, I get it. You've got 'Head of Royal Affairs' business to deal with, that's waaaay more important than helping me, a royal."

Ms Featherbon frowned deeply. "N-no Kuzco it's not like that...I swear I'll help you. I-it's just that-"

He put up his hand. "I get it!" He mumbled under his breath, "It's not like anybody liked me...Only Raymi cared when I was gone."

Ms Featherbon swallowed hard. "I-I'll be back dear, I promise."

"Sure you will." Kuzco said, looking away.

"...Come along Pumpkin." Ms Featherbon said, switching back to French. Despite her better judgement she left a small picture book on the table before heading off with Pumpkin.

Kuzco looked at it, not interested at first. Then he noticed the title: Kuzco der große Kaiser

He only recognized his name, but that was enough for him to take a look at it. From the pictures he could make out it was his life story, starting with his childhood. He noticed some pages (most notably when he was a llama) was covered by some kind of magical censorship so Kuzco specifically couldn't see it. He flipped through a large chunk of censored pages that he assumed was his life after school. Everything was censored, expect for the last page, which had a drawing of kids eagerly learning in school.

This time Ms Featherbon had left a translation in Quechuan: Emperor Kuzco's story of becoming a kind leader isn't the only inspiration he gives to the future rulers. Learning that he too went to school makes the princesses and princes more eager to learn. Kuzco truly is a great emperor.

Curious he flipped to the front of the book and read the only thing he could read, the author: Ms Featherbon