Meena navigated her way up the stairs, with a cake tucked under her arm in a safe, sealed container. Every Sunday, she baked Buster a cake or some other baked goods for him to ha e during the week. This week, she baked his favorite, butter cookies, a recipe Buster gave her. They were the same kind his father used to bake for him when Buster was younger.

Politely, she knocked on the door and watched as it creaked open, where she shyly stuck her head in. She smiled as she saw Buster busily typing away. "Mr. Moon?"

The showman paused and smiled, beckoning her in. "Morning, Meena! Wow, that smells great!" The koala cried.

"Thanks, it's your favorite."

Buster smiled at the kind gesture as he moved items on his desk so that she may set the cookie platter down down.

"So, I heard Johnny accompanied you and your family this morning to church?"

"Yeah, it was his mom's birthday. We're going out to eat too, do you want to come?"

Buster waved a disappointing paw. "I'd love to, Meena, but I really must finish this script. I'll be announcing it tomorrow to the cast."

Meena pricked her giant ears up. "Oh, what kind of play, Mr. Moon?"

"A mystery!"

Meena nervously shuffled her feet. "Oh, sorry. Guess I'll find out tomorrow?"

Buster laughed. "No, no! It's a musical mystery show! Gunter came up with the idea."

"Oh, wow! I don't think we've ever done a mystery show before." Meena said.

"Nope! I'm already working on the cast. You okay with being a cook?"

Meena nodded to her platter of cookies and smiled. "I think I can make it work." She smiled. But her smile faltered a bit and Buster looked at her in concern. "What's wrong, kid?"

"Um... it's a little embarrassing, Mr. Moon."

Buster pushed his computer screen back, giving the young elephant his full attention.

Meena took a deep breath. "I'm being bullied."

Buster's ears shot up. Anger began to boil his blood as he leapt on his desk, startling Meena a bit, a look of fury in his eyes. "By who?!" He growled.

Meena shrunk back. "It's just been on a few occasions. A mean note or snide remark."

Buster paced on his desk. "Do you know who they are?"

"No-"

"Maybe I should get Marcus and the gang."

"Mr. Moon-"

"I'll set up an escort. Maybe I should have Nana set up a security system. The one we have needs to be updated anyway."

"Mr. Moon!"

Buster turned and Meena winced. "I'm sorry." She whispered.

"No, no. Meena. You have NOTHING to apologize for. I just... I just can't believe why you, of all people are getting bullied."

Meena reached into her pocket and pulled out a few crumpled pieces of paper and gave them to Buster who opened them and read. Most of them were hate speech, claiming Meena to be a "pick me girl". Buster wasn't all the way up with the latest trends and slang, so he tilted his head in confusion before Meena explained to him. "They're saying I'm acting shy so others will pity me." She said.

Buster felt the fur on his neck raise in anger. But instead of snapping, he took a deep breath and turned to the young elephant, taking her enormous hoof in his paw and gave her a comforting smile. "Meena, don't listen to these idiots. I know it'll sound cliché, but they're jealous. Jealous that you were able to overcome your shyness and become something greater. These are simple-minded beings, too caught up in making others feel bad because they can't gather the courage to make something of themselves. That's why they're trying to bring you down. Because you did something amazing. You overcame your fear. Yes, you still get stage fright, but I don't expect you to overcome that fear over night. You got guts, sweetheart. You have more courage in the tip of your trunk then these bullies have in their whole body."

Meena smiled, tearfully as she nodded. "You don't think I'm too much of a 'a pick me girl'?" She asked.

Buster smiled back. "No, kid. Never. You're one of my star cast members. Remember, Meena, it was YOU who gave me the inspiration to try again."

Meena thought back to where Buster had first heard her sing, in the crumpled ruins of the demolished theater, where she agreed to sing Buster regained his passion for theater.

"You snapped me out of my depression. You helped me get back on me feet and back on stage." Buster explained. "And when you got out there, you blew the roof of the stage! Literally!"

Meena laughed as she remembered.

"And I was so proud of you, kid. I still am! You continue to make me proud, sweetheart."

Meena wiped a tear and smiled. "Back in Zootopia, when I said you were the only dad I knew?"

Buster nodded. "Yeah?"

"I meant it." Meena said. "I wouldn't be here performing on stage if it weren't for you, Mr. Moon."

The koala bowed, dramatically. "I feel the same way, kid. But if you don't mind my asking, what happened to your dad."

Meena frowned. "He was a soldier. He passed away during a tour."

Buster winced. "Oh, wow. I'm sorry, Meena."

"It's okay. I was really little when it happened. Mama said that when he was through with his service, he wanted to open a bake shop. She and him loved baking, just like me."

Buster's ears dropped a bit as she continued.

"He was a really great guy. I don't remember much, but I know he made the best chocolate cake." She then glanced at a picture of Buster's father on his desk. "What was your dad like?" She asked.

A sad smile formed on Buster's face. "Amazing. Hard-working. Caring. I could go on. He was the one who took me to my first theater show. Epiphany. Then he worked as a car washer for 30 years, just so I could fulfill my theater dream."

The showman sighed. "He passed just a few months before I put on that singing competition. I really wish you guys had met him.

"Well, if he was anything like you, I'm sure we all would have loved him."

Buster glanced at the young performer and smiled.

Meena then stood and wrapped her arms around the showman, nearly burying him in her embrace. "I love you, Mr. Moon."

"Love you, kid."

The young elephant then stood and wiped another tear. "Are you sure you don't want to come eat with us?"

Buster waved a paw. "I appreciate it, Meena, but I have work to do here. I want to get this script and perhaps a few props ready for tomorrow's rehearsal."

Meena nodded and smiled. "Enjoy the cookies, Mr. Moon. I used a touch of cinnamon this time."

"That sounds amazing! Thank you, Meena. I'll let you know how they are. But if you baked them, I'm sure they'll be as amazing as always."

Meena blushed before waving good bye and slipping out of the office. Buster smiled as pulled the coolie platter closer and snagged a cookie for himself. One bite and he was instantly hit with nostalgia and a hint of grief. He remembered when his father used to bake these for him. Not often as they were not always handy on cash, but when he did, they tasted amazing. Meena had just gotten downstairs when she bumped into Porsha.

Literally.

Meena winced as she began to apologize. "I'm sorry, Porsha. I didn't know you were going to be in town today!"

The young wolf waved a paw. "It's no problem, Meena. And this is kind of a surprise visit. I didn't know I was comin' either."

"So what are you doing here?"

Porsha sighed. "It's embarrassing, but you know that term 'poor little rich kid?'"

Meena nodded.

"I got a case of that. It got kinda lonely in the mansion. Suki is handling a lot of the estate right now until all the shares pass to me. We're still battling my dad for it and that's just turning into a gigantic mess. So... I just needed away from Red Shore for a bit and Mr. Moon said I was welcome here any time..."

Meena smiled. "Yep, you're part of the crew, now."

Porsha returned the smile.

"Me, Johnny and my family were just going out to eat. Do you want to come?"

Porsha's smile widened. "Really?"

"Yeah, I'm sure my family won't mind."

"Mind what?"

The two taller animals turned and saw Ash walking up, a black duffle bag slung over one shoulder and a bag of donuts clenched in the other fist.

"I was asking Porsha to join us for lunch. Do you want to come?" Meena asked.

Ash shrugged. "Sounds good to me. Have you asked Buster?"

"He said he has too much to get done." Meena said.

Ash rolled her eyes. "Figures. Okay, sounds good. Let me go put this stuff up and tell Buster where I'm gonna be. Be right back!"

And with that, she was up the stairs.

Porsha rubbed her arm. "Would you... mind waiting for me? I gotta talk with Mr. Moon and I don't know my way around this town yet."

"Sure, no problem." Meena said. "Ash, you're nearly a grown woman, you don't need my permission to go out."

The young rockstar shrugged. "I figured since I'm under your roof, I'd let you know."

"I'm sure you can handle yourself. You have a key and I trust you to come home at a reasonable time." Buster replied. Then he raised an eyebrow. "Be back by 10pm."

"Eleven?"

"Ten thirty."

"Done."

Ash jumped up by his desk and gave him a quick hug before racing back out the door. "See ya, later, Dad. Make sure to eat those donuts. Amd don't work too hard!"

"Do I ever?" Buster called.

Ash returned and glared at him.

Buster raised his paws, chuckling sheepishly as Ash pointed two fingers at her eyes and then to him before disappearing down the stairs.

Buster then turned back to his work before he accidentally knocked over his coffee cup that fell to the floor with a shatter. Quietly, cursing to himself, he hopped off his chair and began to pick up the pieces. As he was cleaning up, he heard the door creak open and shadow formed on the floor in the shape of a wolf. Buster felt his breath quicken and his heart race as unpleasant memories suddenly swarmed in his mind.

"Mr. Moon?"

Honestly the Meena hate going around to me is stupid and childish. Sorry, but I'm a Meena fan.