Sequel to Chapter 116: Kissed. Set in the Partners: Revisited timeline.
It was a warm day in late spring at Squeakendale High School. The classes had let out for the day and extracurricular activities began. SHS was the smallest high school in Downtown Zootopia; not in terms of population, but in physical size.
The students of Squeakendale were rodents, mustelids, and other small mammals who were just a bit too big to be stationed comfortably in Little Rodentia.
Even as specific of a school as Squeakendale was, within were the usual cliques and social groups that were found in all other schools throughout Zootopia. The most famous of these was the Musteladies.
On this particular day, four mustelids all headed out toward the school parking lot, which was sparse that afternoon.
"Okay, so you want to join the Musteladies," a fashionable least weasel started to declare. She looked up at a slightly larger otter girl who returned the gaze.
"Yeah," the otter smiled brightly.
"And why wouldn't you?" The weasel spun on her heel and started marching around the grass near the parking lot. "We Musteladies have our paw on the pulse of all the fashion trends, social happenings, and we- we basically run this school!" The weasel laughed.
"Yeah!" The otter was enthusiastic. "I'm tired of basically being-"
"But!" The weasel interrupted her. "We can't just let anyone into the Musteladies. You understand?"
"Right," the otter nodded, starting to feel nervous.
"You're a mustelid," the weasel said. "You're a lady. That's two check marks. Now we have to test your loyalty, your willingness to follow direction."
"Of course," the otter managed a nervous smile.
"You'll stand on the asphalt here in the parking lot for one hour," the weasel pointed at the parking lot.
The otter immediately moved to standing on the parking lot. Almost as immediately, she felt pain from the heat of the surface begin to sear her feet.
"One hour, that will be all," the weasel offered a mischievous smile, looking back to her two mustelid cohorts. "But! We'll be watching you the whole time. And if you once vocalize your displeasure at this arrangement, you'll be out. You got it, Laura?"
"Gh-got it," Laura nodded.
Barely a minute in and it was already really starting to hurt the otter's feet. But she could do this, Laura convinced herself. Just one hour of pain and she'd be into the most powerful clique in Squeakendale. And then...
There were a few assorted cheers as the least weasel entered the classroom she'd been permitted to use.
"Make way for Princess Weaselton!" The least weasel bombastically introduced herself with her paws held out wide. The classroom was full of female mustelids, though it also had a squirrel and a couple of other rodents, and even a meerkat. The Musteladies cheered at the sight of their leader as she casually sat at the desk of the classroom and put her feet up. "Ahh. Welcome to the weekly meeting of the Musteladies. I'm your host: Weaselton. Princess Weaselton. And how are my subjects today?"
There was cheering and clapping and a din of noise. Princess held her paws up with her eyes closed haughtily to simmer everyone down.
"So! First order of business: new members!" Princess looked through her phone. "There are no new members." She chuckled. "Second order of business: juicy gossip with one of our veteran members!"
A glasses-wearing honey-and-white colored ferret slunk back in her chair, wincing.
"That's right, I'm talking about you, Kara," Princess beckoned with her claws. "Get on up here."
Kara reluctantly obeyed, coming closer to the desk and standing at the head of the class.
"Now, as many of you already probably know," Princess stroked her own chin. "Kara has found herself a little boyfriend...!"
There was a joyful "ooh!" from the Musteladies as Kara held a paw over her eyes in embarrassment.
"That's right!" Princess smiled. "His name is Larry Wilde-Hopps. Yes, that perfectly plain little eastern gray squirrel." There was a small bit of laughter from among a few of the mustelids, to which Kara started to look indignant. "Hey hey, no making fun of the ferret. Only teasing. So! On the subject of Larry, Heather and I scoped out the little puffball. He is so cute!" Princess cackled wildly, causing Kara to sigh in mild annoyance. "Yeah, I think he's a good match for our prime ferret, what do you say, Heather?"
A white stoat sitting near the front slowly held up her paw in a fist, then gradually displayed a thumbs up, along with a smirk. There was more cheering.
"Princess, please don't, this is so embarrassing..." Kara cringed.
"C'mon Kara," Princess flicked her hand outward. "This is for your own good. Now that the Musteladies know Larry's with you, our more scandalous members know he's off limits, isn't that right, ladies?" Princess glared hard at a couple of standard color ferrets that looked like sisters. They nodded with guilty smiles. "Right then."
"Now, on a related note, it's time for your daily dose of 'aww'," Princess grinned. Kara's olive-green eyes darted over to Princess worriedly. "I'm sending it right now." The Musteladies all checked their phones, and those that didn't have their own shared phones with their neighbors.
Kara gasped. "Princess, no!"
The classroom erupted into an extended chorus of "aww...!"
The picture they were all looking at was taken at a restaurant and contained the squirrel in question talking enthusiastically to a shyly giggling Kara.
"It's a good picture of you two," Heather stated with a smirk.
"Princess...!" Kara protested.
"I'd like to thank our favorite shutterbug ninja for procuring this photograph oh-so-surreptitiously," Princess explained in an amused voice. "She shall, as always, go unnamed."
An orange-furred marten with a white face dramatically brought two fingers of her dark-colored paw up in front of her face and smirked. She was shoved affectionately in a few directions by her fellow Musteladies.
"This is so humiliating..." Kara grumbled, taking in a difficult breath.
"No no, Kara, it's okay," Princess shook her head, leaping over the desk and going to the slightly taller ferret, putting her paw on her shoulder. "This happens when any of us gets a special someone. Kinda like an initiation for their significant other, all right? We're not making fun of you."
"You n' Larry are just so cute!" A black-colored mink agreed.
"So you kissed a squirrel, huh..." one of the ferret twins mused.
"And you liked it?" The other one finished her thought.
"Hey, does anyone have the pic Kunoichi got of them at the dance? That one was so sweet!" One of the squirrels said.
"Hey, Princess said not to name her!" The other squirrel berated.
"Everyone knows that's not her real name," the first squirrel shot back, while the orange marten chuckled.
"Okay okay, hush," Princess made a slicing motion with one paw. "Now, Larry's not that- hm, what's the word... cool of a squirrel..." Kara scoffed. "But! As he is a lover of one of the Musteladies, we will be treating him with the utmost respect-slash-teasing we can offer. You got that, Star?"
Princess gazed over the crowd, then narrowed her eyes. "Wait, where's Star Nivalis?"
"She's not here," one of the squirrels noted.
"I said this was a mandatory meeting!" Princess was beginning to lose patience. "Wh-... Marie and Jetta are missing too?" Two more vacant seats, belonging to a ferret and a small otter. Princess flashed a sneer. "They better be dead or dying if they're not here! Did anyone see where they went!?"
"Ah..." the lone meerkat slowly raised her hand among loud murmurs from the rest of the Musteladies.
"Nancy, go!" Princess pointed at her. She began to speak, but was easily drowned out. Princess growled. "That means the rest of you be quiet! Nancy has a soft voice!" The other Musteladies hushed up.
"I said I thought I saw Star, Marie, and Jetta going to the parking lot," Nancy said meekly.
"What the...?" Princess sneered. "Okay girls, short meeting today, but we're going to dismiss early." She snapped and pointed. "Kara, Heather, you're with me. I want to get to the bottom of this. See the rest of you next week. Musteladies, out!"
"It's been twenty-five minutes, are you sure you're not ready to give up?"
Laura's eyes were starting to water. She could barely stand to be on the hot asphalt anymore, trying to shift her weight in a way that would lessen the pain, but it wasn't working. She looked down at the least weasel, determined.
"I'm fine," the otter lied.
"Star!" A ferret frantically poked the least weasel on the shoulder. "It's Princess!"
"Let her come," Star said, the weasel smirking. "You two can go, if you-" the ferret and the otter quickly made themselves scarce. "Well now."
Princess, Heather, and Kara walked side by side, closing in on Star, who had a placid look on her face. Princess looked incredulously at the otter.
"What is going on here!?" Princess demanded, her eyes squinted. "Nivalis...!?" Star shrugged.
"You're... what... Laura Lutraski?" Princess pursued, to which the otter nodded, biting her lip. "Get off the asphalt." The otter shook her head. "Oh, for the love of-!" Princess suddenly lunged out and grabbed the larger mammal by both wrists and yanked hard.
"Aaagh!" Laura winced as her feet touched the much cooler grass. "Ow... ow... ow!" Her eyes began to brim with tears from both pain and confusion. "Wh-what did I do wrong...? Did I fail?"
Princess let loose an angry chattering sound. "Just stay there- Kara!" Kara nodded in concern. "See if you can find a janitor's bucket or something; fill it with water and bring it here!"
"You got it," Kara said, making herself scarce.
"Here, get on your back, Laura," Princess set about helping her. "Heather, help me ease her down." Heather nodded and helped Princess. "Keep your feet off the ground for now. Does it hurt?"
"Nh-no," Laura claimed. Princess looked at the otter with a look of tired exasperation. "...Yeah."
Princess waited until Laura was on her back to shoot up and storm over to Star in a slinky, smooth movement. She shrieked in rage.
"Just checking to see if this new recruit I scouted had what it took," Star said airily.
"What were you thinking?" Princess rushed forward and grabbed Star by her top. "We do not haze our recruits!"
"Back off," Star removed Princess' paws from her. "I'm doing you a favor."
"Excuse me!?" Princess growled. "In case you forgot, I'm the leader of the Musteladies! I say how we-"
"You've let just about anyone get into the Musteladies," Star interrupted with a lax voice. "Pretty soon half of the school's gonna be in it at your rate. I thought we should be a bit more selective. Only let the best in."
"You don't make that call," Princess enunciated coldly. "You're not even one of my Leading Ladies."
"I should be," Star frowned. She sneered, nodding over to Kara, who was hastily coming back with a small bucket of cool water. "Not her."
Princess briefly looked. "Kara's smarter than you'll ever be."
Kara looked at Star with a measure of anger as she helped Laura's feet into the bucket.
"Ow! Ow... ah," Laura sucked in a breath through her teeth.
"Is that any better...?" Kara winced. Laura nodded slightly.
"She's my brains," Princess explained. "And Heather's my brawn. It's a classic combo. What I don't need is-"
"She's got the social skills of a waste paper basket!" Star shouted. Kara flinched, but her face became even angrier. "Sure, that's a great quality for a leader to have! The Musteladies is filling up with air-headed goody-two-shoes girl scouts that are way too nice."
"Listen up, Star Nivalis," Princess jabbed her finger into Star's chest. "I can be friendly, it's true. I can also be the opposite of friendly. I can be unfriendly." She poked Star twice more. "I'll admit I've made some mistakes in leading the Musteladies. I'm pointing at my biggest one. I have no need for a sadistic, sneaky weasel in my organization-"
Star suddenly shoved Princess with both hands and she went down onto her rump on the asphalt.
"Augh!" Princess exclaimed. Sneering, she got up in a flash and shoved Star in return. Ready for this, Star managed to stay on her feet and backhanded Princess, snapping her head to the side. "Ngh! Why you...! Heather! Little help?"
Heather came forward smoothly and held both least weasels by the shoulders.
"I don't need you to hold me back, Heather! Lay her out on her tail!" Princess spat.
"Princess, this doesn't- it doesn't have to end in violence," Heather said lowly.
"Yeah, maybe not, but it's gonna," Princess thrust her head forward. "Let me go, Heather."
Star smirked. "I'd say you made more mistakes than you thought in the administration of the Musteladies."
"Heather...?" Princess' eyes widened as Heather looked away from her. "But you're..."
"So loyal?" Star grinned. "You're a naive idiot. You can't lead efficiently if you don't give the people what they want." Heather's eyes widened slightly.
Kara's eyes moved quickly between the three Musteladies. She saw a measure of shame in Heather's face, disbelief in Princess', and utter confidence in Star's.
"Heather, what's wrong?" Princess asked earnestly. "I- you- you don't have to hit Star. Why are you still holding me back?"
"I think it's time for a change of leadership, hm?" Star grinned. "Heather and I will be able to whip the Musteladies into a much more focused group without you and Kara in the way."
"Heather, say something!" Princess demanded in a frantic voice.
"I'm... Star, I'm not going to betray Princess; I can't," Heather grit her teeth.
"Really now?" Star didn't seem bothered, her eyes barely open and a sure smile on her face. "That much-touted sense of loyalty you have?"
"Just- don't," Heather shook her head firmly. "Don't do this."
"What has this daughter of a common crook ever given you?" Star's smile faded, and she looked at Heather coldly.
"Hey, don't bring Daddy into this!" Princess sneered.
"Don't go down this road," Heather said weakly. It almost sounded pleading. "Please, Star."
"She hasn't given you anything but a cushy chair and a list of people to rough up and scare," Star swept her free arm out.
"Oh yeah?" Princess grit her teeth. "And what do you think you bring to the table that I couldn't!?"
At this Star's face became a triumphant, malevolent smile. "I've given her something you'd never give her."
"No, Star...!" Heather's voice cracked.
"No...?" Star's smile sweetened up. "That's the exact opposite of what you were crying out a few night's ago-"
Before Star knew it, a fist had struck across her face and she fell over to the side.
"You... you jill!" Heather pushed Princess away and towered over Star. "You jill! You said you wouldn't tell anyone!"
Star grunted, rubbing her face. "Gh... Heather!? Why'd you hit me?"
"You said you wouldn't tell anyone!" Heather shouted savagely. She rushed onto Star, grabbed her by the collar, and reached back with her other paw, angling her claws. Kara and Laura both took in a sharp gasp.
Though she knew better, Princess rushed behind Heather and placed both hands on the stoat's raised wrist so she couldn't slash Star.
"C'mon, no, you're right, don't make this any worse, Heather," Princess said with an even firmness. Only by holding on with all of her might was she able to stay Heather's paw, which started to weaken.
"She- she- I trusted her!" Heather's resolve faltered a little; this allowed Princess to pull her gently away from Star while the latter cowered, panting. Heather stared off into the distance, her breaths heaves, then suddenly, she broke down into tears, choking and sobbing.
"You're okay, Heather, you're okay," Princess dusted off Heather's shoulders as she hiccuped and rubbed her eyes.
"I'm not- I'm not a lesbian," Heather insisted, tears brimming in her eyes. "I'm jh- I'm just bi-curious..." She let out a heave and took in a shuddering breath.
"Hey, hey, either way, it's fine, Heather," Princess nodded. "It's okay. You're fine."
"I'm sorry I never told you," Heather sniffled. "You know how much I care about honesty and yet I never-"
"Shh..." Princess hugged Heather briefly, to which the latter could only stand there, emotions rocking her. "Just calm down, okay?" She turned an icy, hateful gaze to Star. "As for you. How dare you. Not only preying on Heather's sexual curiosity, but trying to make her compromise the standard she cares most about, her truthfulness?"
"Please!" Star spat derisively. "Do you think we're on an episode of that magical pony show? You're a naive, brainless idiot who just so happened to-"
"Watch your mouth," Princess shouted darkly. "The only reason your blood isn't staining Heather's claws is because it's unworthy of being there. But I'll slash you myself if I have to, so stay down." Star quieted up.
"Ggh... I feel awful," Heather mumbled as Princess brought her a few steps away from the reclining Star. "I'm so sorry..."
"It's all right," Princess grinned. "A heck of a right cross, though." Heather let loose a tearful chuckle. Princess walked over to Laura. The otter had withdrawn her feet from the now-lukewarm water and was wiggling her toes. "Are you okay, Laura? Do we need to call for an ambulance or anything?"
"I'm okay, really," Laura nodded, slowly getting up, gingerly balancing on the sides of her feet. "Honestly."
"I'll help walk her to wherever she needs to go," Heather offered automatically. Princess nodded at this.
"Um, let me just start out by saying that the Musteladies aren't usually like this?" Princess winced apologetically. "Usually, there's a lot less drama. Anyway, if you still want to join..." Princess glowered at Star. "A position's opened up."
Star belted out a furious shriek and started to lunge forward on all fours towards Princess.
"Aaaugh!" Star sputtered as she found herself drenched in lukewarm water that otter feet had been soaking in.
"I will not forgive you for what you did to Heather!" Kara angrily shouted at the doused weasel, throwing the empty bucket decisively at Star's back. Star slumped back to the ground and groaned, sputtering. Kara glared from behind her glasses, her mouth twisted into an indignant frown. "Oh, how even the brightest star shall dim."
"Oops, I guess Kara can be unfriendly too," Princess mocked the fallen weasel, leaning over and tilting her head. She straightened up and leaned her head back to look at the otter. "What do you say, Laura? You want to get a hit in too? Press one of those scorched feet in her face?"
"I better not..." Laura giggled nervously. "I mean, I don't want to make any extra enemies..."
"Well, either way, if you're gonna be a Mustelady, we'll protect you, huh?" Princess winked. Kara nodded vehemently and Heather gave a diagonally, tentative nod.
"Well..." a smile played out on the otter's face.
Star's eyes barely had any time to widen before she saw an otter foot flying toward her face.