Other Fan Fiction ❯ Stargirl Humiliation ❯ Chapter 1

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

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AltUniverseTheater

Sep 8, 2023

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LITERATURE

Stargirl: The Queen's Privilege (Fight Version)

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               Lying in her bed, in her pajamas, in the middle of the afternoon on a school day. For Courtney Whitmore, those should have been the ingredients for an amazing Friday, but instead she’d never been more frustrated in all of her young life. She never would have thought she would rather be at school.

 

               Propped up against half a dozen colorful pillows, she hunched over her phone and typed furiously. Using her bandaged fingers hurt, and her scowl made her feel every cut and bruise on her face. They weren’t her only injuries, and not even the most painful; her “car accident” cover story was easy to believe.

 

               Only a few people were privy to the real reason why Courtney hadn’t gone to school today. That reason, and the revelations surrounding it, were why the young blonde was desperate to be up and about. She needed to know what was going on.

 

               After having sent yet another message to her friends, Courtney slapped the phone down beside her and glared at it.

 

               Ever since she’d come to Blue Valley and become Stargirl, Courtney had been trying to expose the Injustice Society. She knew they were here, but had no idea what their plan was or how they intended to do it. In fact, she didn’t have any solid evidence to prove to anyone else that the society existed.

 

               Last night had been a turning point in more ways than one. Searching the school afterhours, she’d found a secret door in the principal’s office that led to a labyrinth of secret tunnels. The tunnel system was massive, a network of chambers and passageways that covered a broader area than Blue Valley itself. It explained how the members of the Injustice Society could appear all over town, with no one seeing them coming or going!

 

               After her discovery, Stargirl had even gone head-to-head with one of its members, codenamed Shiv. With her staff and all her powers, she’d fought the super villainess and been badly beaten. It was the first time she’d been defeated as a superheroine and every mark, ache, cut, and scrape was a reminder of how poorly she’d fared. She honestly didn’t know why she was still alive; the last thing she remembered was being knocked down, hitting her head, then she’d woken up in the hospital.

 

               But the biggest bombshell was who Shiv was.

 

               Unlike Courtney, the villainess apparently didn’t wear a mask when she did her super stuff. She didn’t care if she was recognized and Courtney had known her immediately.

 

               Cindy Burman.

 

               Courtney still couldn’t believe it.

 

Crossing her arms across her breasts, she huffed and continued to glare at her phone, demanding it receive a message.

 

               The day she’d arrived at Blue Valley high, Cindy Burman had been a tyrant and bully of the worst kind. She was the definition of the queen bee; head cheerleader, student council president, able to make anyone at school a pariah with the right rumor. Everyone was afraid of her and when Courtney had shown up on the scene, the new girl, unintimidated and defiant, Cindy had done everything she could to ruin her.

 

               Actually, thinking about it, it wasn’t that surprising she was a super villainess. She’d been evil from the very beginning.

 

               Now that Courtney knew Cindy was involved with the Injustice Society, her friends knew too. They’d been at school with one of the Injustice Society members all day.

 

               And no one would tell her what happened!

 

               In vain hope, Courtney tapped the screen of her phone to wake it back up.

 

               All the screen offered her was the time. No new messages.

 

               “Come on…!”

 

               She banged her fist on her thigh and immediately regretted it. About half of her body was an ache and she’d found a particularly tender spot.

 

               Pretty features screwing up, she bit her lip until the urge to cry out in pain had passed.

 

               “Ow…” she released a groan, rubbing at her tender thigh.

 

               “Courtney? Are you awake?”

 

               It was her mom’s voice, from downstairs.

 

               “Yes, mom!” she called back.

 

               “Okay, sweetie!” her mom’s voice returned, “I’m leaving for work, but one of your friends from school is here!”

 

               Courtney perked up at that.

 

               “Are you up to having a visitor?” her mom continued, “Are you about to take a nap?”

 

               “NO!” Courtney yelped, “I mean, yes! I mean, I’m up for a visitor! Yes! I’m okay!”

 

               There was a pause.

 

               Courtney’s heart was in her throat. She had the sudden thought that her mom would think she was too overwrought and decide her friend would have to leave so she could rest.

 

               “Okay, then!” Courtney’s mom called, “If you’re sure! I’m going to go; you girls have fun! Don’t destroy anything, okay?”

 

               “We won’t, mom!”

 

               The front door closed, indicating her mom had left for work. A moment later, footsteps began tromping up the stairs.

 

               News was inbound.

 

               Unable to lie still any longer, Courtney began to clamber out of bed, only to freeze with a hiss of pain. She’d tried to sit up too quickly and one of her injuries protested, pain shooting up her ribs. She waited for it to pass, clutching her side, then more carefully began to drag herself out from under the covers.

 

               This must be why her friends hadn’t contacted her via text; they were coming to her. It was smarter, now that she thought about it. The Injustice Society definitely had the ability to hack phones and if bad guys were listening, Court and her friends would have just given themselves away. Better to come over and tell her face to face.

 

               Plopping down onto the floor, she had to pause, steady herself against the bed before limping to her door.

 

               The footsteps were coming down the hallway.

 

               Courtney knew it was Yolanda. Beth wouldn’t have been jabbering nonstop and Rick, being a boy, wouldn’t have been allowed alone into the house. Not to mention Yolanda was her best friend, and if someone would be coming to tell Courtney what was going on, she would be the obvious choice.

 

               She took the doorknob, about to throw open her door and rush into the hall.

 

               She stopped.

 

               Something nagged at her. Courtney stayed where she was, doorknob in hand. A frown gradually knitted her brow.

 

               Her mom had said ‘a friend from school’ was here to see her. That didn’t make sense. Her mom knew Yolanda, so why would she say ‘a friend’ instead of calling Yolanda by name? It would be like her referring to Pat as a “a stepfather”.

 

               Courtney chewed on a bruised lip, careful not to tongue the part that was still raw.

 

               It couldn’t be Yolanda. It couldn’t be Beth either as her mom knew her too. Those were all her friends from school; thanks to Cindy, no one else would dare say hello to her, much less be seen as her friend.

 

               So, then which “friend” was striding down the hallway towards her room?

 

               Wary, but more curious than cautious, Courtney opened the door, just as her visitor reached it.

 

               “Hi, new girl.” her visitor purred.

 

               Courtney stiffened, sucking in a hissed breath. Transfixed, she stared with big blue eyes, mouth ajar.

 

               Just outside her doorway was a southeast Asian girl with a prominent silver streak in her dark hair. She was bundled with get-well presents, including balloons, a shopping bag, and a box of chocolates, but her superior posture and lack of any warmth made them into props. Dressed in a smart green v-neck, a sweater draped over her shoulders, she was outwardly just a rich girl slumming it, dressing casually to fit in with the commoners. She was a queen, beautiful, powerful, and amused by the little people that scurried around in her world.

 

               She appeared to just be a snooty, spoiled teenaged girl, but Courtney knew that underneath that was something much worse.

 

               It was Cindy Burman.

 

               Courtney held her breath. Fear gripped her, coming close to panic.

 

               What was Cindy doing here?! Why was she here?!

 

               Did she… know?

 

               Blue Valley’s queen bee smiled with excruciating sweetness, showing her cute dimples in a well-practiced display of magnanimity. Like the girl herself, it was perfect but fake, never touching her eyes, which glittered at the startled blonde with all the empathy of a praying mantis.

 

               “I heard you had a car accident yesterday,” she said lightly, “So, I decided to see how you’re doing. See how bad it was. You know. And check that you’re okay.”

 

               Cindy narrowed her eyes slightly.

 

               “Must have been pretty bad.”

 

               Heart pounding, Courtney gaped dumbly in the doorway, scrambling to come up with a response.

 

               “U-uhh…” she stammered, “Yeah…”

 

               “Here!” Cindy thrust the balloons at her, “These are for you! Is this your room?”

 

               “Uh…”

 

               Taking the balloons, Courtney was too stunned to stop the other girl as she brushed past. The next thing she knew, Cindy was taking a stroll through her room, eyeing the decorations.

 

               “Hmm!” the secret super villainess grunted with surprise, “It’s cute, actually!”

 

               Courtney could only watch, still unable to come up with a response. But gradually, as the shock faded, an unease began fluttering in the base of her stomach.

 

               Her room was her private sanctuary. It was where she kept keepsakes from childhood, stuffed animals she still cuddled with, pictures of her friends, along with all her gymnastics trophies. It was where she was most safe, but also the most vulnerable, where she slept and did anything she didn’t want anyone to see.

 

               Now her worst enemy was perusing like it was a shop at the mall. Seeing Cindy’s sharp eyes noting details and grinning to herself made it feel like the girl was inspecting her life and flipping through her secrets like a book. And barefoot, in a baggy t shirt and pajama pants, her curly locks a stringy mess from lying in bed all day, she felt even more defenseless.

 

               “It’s very bargain store chic,” Cindy admitted, eyeing a picture of a younger Courtney at a gymnastics meet, “It’s kind of impressive what you were able to do with… well, what you had to work with. And this picture! You look just adorable in spandex…”

 

               Courtney found a blush coming to her cheeks and she winced with discomfort.

 

               She glanced towards the door. Her staff and belt were downstairs, in the basement. She really wished she’d kept them in her room.

 

               “Thanks…” she said warily, “And, uh, thanks for stopping by.”

 

               Cindy turned to her with another charming, empty smile.

 

               “Oh, it’s nothing,” she crooned, “Honestly, I felt a little bit guilty about all this. It’s my fault, after all.”

 

               Courtney stiffened, having the sudden urge to run. Knowing that would give her away if she hadn’t already, she forced herself to stay where she was, trying to keep her expression neutral.

 

               “Y-your fault?” she swallowed, “Why is it your fault?”

 

               At the question, Cindy rolled her eyes and sighed. She looked away, seemingly embarrassed, then collected herself.

 

               “Ever since you came here, I’ve been…” she shrugged, “Well, a little standoffish to you. You know?”

 

               Courtney stared at her.

 

               A little standoffish?

 

               Cindy strode towards her, sighing again.

 

               “I guess, maybe I saw you as a threat,” Cindy admitted, “I didn’t even give you a chance. Instead of taking you under my wing, I made you run off, make the wrong friends. And now here you are, get mixed up in things you shouldn’t have.”

 

               She stopped beside Courtney’s bed.

 

               “So, I’m here to make amends and start over,” she placed the presents on the mattress, “Designer chocolates from Switzerland and a little something I think would look great on you. An olive branch. From now on, you are going to be my number one bff!”

 

               Courtney felt her nose wrinkle incredulously as she looked at the chocolate box and designer shopping bag.

 

               “Uh,” she blinked several times, “What?”

 

               Like she thought Courtney was being annoyingly slow, Cindy sighed and rolled her eyes again.

 

               “Best friends forever, Courtney,” she huffed, “Duh?”

 

               Courtney squinted. Was Cindy being serious?! Was she actually trying to be nice and this is the best she could do? Or was this some elaborate taunt?

 

               “After your accident, I was sitting there thinking,” Cindy continued, “We’re not that different. If things were reversed, I might have been in your shoes. Oh, don’t look at me that way, you know what I mean! Just… on the outskirts of the social world, let’s say. With the burnouts and pariahs.”

 

               The more the young villainess talked, the more annoyed Courtney became. Knowing who and what Cindy actually was, she knew there was some kind of trick being played here, but didn’t understand it at all. Was this Cindy Burman, the queen bitch of Blue Valley high, trying to trick Courtney Whitmore somehow? Or was this Shiv, trying to smoke out Stargirl?

 

               At the same time she tried to unravel that conundrum, the aspersions being cast at her friends nettled her. She wanted to tell Cindy to shut up and get out of her room. If she were positive the girl wasn’t trying her level best to be kind in her utterly self-absorbed, conceited way, she would have done so.

 

               Instead, she paused to consider her words.

 

               “Listen, Cindy…” she started to say.

 

               “Ah, ah, ah!” the girl cut her off, “Not done talking yet! You’re going to have to learn to listen better, if we’re going to be friends!”

 

               Cindy laughed and reached out to squeeze Courtney’s shoulder.

 

               However, Courtney frowned at her, and shrugged away from the touch.

 

               “Oh, did I touch a nerve?” Cindy grinned, “Sorry, I’m just being honest with you, Courtney. You’re not exactly blowing up the social scene at school.”

 

               “I’m doing fine, thanks,” Courtney narrowed her eyes, “And honestly, I’m really tired.”

 

               “Hm,” the other girl considered this for a moment, “Okay, you can lie down if you want. As long as you can pay attention.”

 

               Courtney sighed and strode to her door.

 

               “No, I mean…”

 

               She pulled the door open for her unwanted guest.

 

               “I need to rest,” she turned back to offer a forced smile, “Thanks for coming. It really means a lot.”

 

               With no choice but to acknowledge the overt message, Cindy pursed her lips and regarded the door thoughtfully. She said nothing and didn’t move, eyeing the blonde girl’s gesture like a surprising chess move. Her expression inscrutable, she seemed to be considering her own move in response.

 

               For a moment, Courtney feared the queen bee would get angry. Invariably, any time she was thwarted, Cindy’s response was a cold glare and a thinly veiled threat delivered in a low, vicious tone. She braced herself for it, swallowing, preparing to steel her spine.

 

               However, this time Cindy surprised her. Instead of narrowing her eyes and marching forward to stare Courtney down, the domineering teenage super villainess lowered her eyes and nodded slowly. Clasping her purse, she trudged towards the door, keeping her eyes down, disappointed.

 

               The look of resignation on the other girl’s face made Courtney wince. Cindy could be a bit of… well, a total, heinous bitch, and evil, but Courtney believed there was good in everyone. If Cindy really did want to be her friend, she hated to hurt her feelings.

 

               “Um, it’s… I’m just really tired,” she chirped.

 

               Cindy nodded again, stopping beside her.

 

               “I’ll see you at school, okay?” Courtney offered, “I… just…”

 

               “You’re tired,” Cindy finished for her, reaching into her purse, “I heard you.”

 

               She pulled out her phone. Still standing in the doorway, she keyed in her passcode then began dashing her finger across the screen, swiping through various menus.

 

               Not sure what the other girl was doing, but seeing she wasn’t leaving, Courtney blinked.

 

               “Uh, yeah,” she frowned at the phone, “So… if you wouldn’t mind, you know…”

 

               Staring at her “guest” with emphatic blue eyes, she gestured repeatedly down the hallway.

 

               Cindy merely shook her head again. She continued to search her phone for something specific.

 

               “Oh, Courtney,” she clicked her tongue against her teeth, “I really didn’t want to do it this way. It’s so… crass.”

 

               Courtney squinted at her, crinkling her button nose.

 

               “Do what, what way?” she glanced down at the phone again.

 

               She couldn’t see what Cindy was doing, but it didn’t matter. In another second, the villainess had found what she was looking for.

 

               “Oh, you know,” Cindy met her gaze, “This way…”

 

               Turning in place, she pressed shoulder to shoulder with her blonde host, holding the phone out so they could both see the screen.

 

               What Courtney saw made her heart freeze in her chest.

 

               On the phone was a picture of Stargirl—herself—sprawled on her back with arms splayed out on either side. The staff lay to one side, and her head was turned, masked face pillowed in her curly blonde hair, soft and unconscious. She’d just been beaten and the photo was taken by someone standing directly over her, pointing the camera downwards.

 

               Courtney’s eyes slowly widened.

 

               She recognized the lighting and the floor pattern from the gym the night before, but she didn’t remember this. She remembered fighting Shiv/Cindy, that it wasn’t going well, she had been getting hit a lot…

 

               Cindy flicked a sideways glance towards Courtney. Her lips turned up slightly as she saw the girl’s wide-eyed gape.

 

               “Isn’t that crazy,” she said, her tone making it clear it was not a question, “Stargirl. In our gym.” She narrowed her eyes, “Doesn’t look like she’s having a very good night, does it?”

 

               She swiped the screen with her thumb, flipping to the next picture.

 

               The screen displayed a picture that was taken from much closer. Stargirl’s face was turned towards the camera now, her head propped up, cupped by a hand that had reached down from outside the frame. The close up of her slack face left no doubt that she was entirely unconscious, her lashes lowered, mouth ajar, cute features pink with fresh bruises and swelling.

 

               Everything was still. Vision crystal sharp, Courtney stared transfixed at the screen. Her heart was pounding in her ears, her mouth going dry.

 

               Cindy had beaten her completely. She’d beaten her senseless. She’d knocked her out cold and even stuck around to play with her, making a little photoshoot out of it.

 

               “Enough of a challenge to be fun, but not really a threat,” Cindy said softly, “Cute face, though. Those round, baby cheeks, big blue eyes. Good body too. Don’t you think she looks familiar?”

 

The realization of her complete defeat in itself was humiliating beyond words, but Courtney’s heart was too far in her throat to notice that sting. She was terrified of something else…

 

In the next instant, her worst fears came true.

 

Cindy grinned now. She swiped the screen again, moving to the next picture.

 

“And there it is…” she said.

 

Courtney’s heart froze.

 

On the screen, she saw her own unconscious face. Her whole face, bruised pink and helpless, with her blue mask pushed up over her forehead. Her head was still held up, presented like a deer in a hunting photo, but she was exposed in the worst way possible for a superhero.

 

Courtney wished she’d been sitting down. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. Her legs grew weak, threatening to buckle, and the world spun, like it had gone mad.

 

Cindy knew who she was. Cindy knew who she was. The thought rang out over and over, too horrible to real.

 

“She really DOES look familiar,” Cindy purred, “Gosh, where have I seen that pretty face before? I just don’t know… maybe this next one will give us a hint.”

 

She flipped to the next picture. This one was of Courtney’s face turned to the side, more of a profile shot. Cindy’s hand could be seen pinching the unconscious girl’s chin, holding it in place.

 

In her own mind, Courtney was whimpering.

 

Cindy knew she was Stargirl. No, she didn’t only know, she had proof. No one could see those pictures and not know Courtney Whitmore was Stargirl. Those photos could be handed over to anyone and it wouldn’t be long before someone came for her and her family.

 

And Cindy had them. Cindy, the girl who would do anything to humiliate and ruin Courtney Whitmore, but also Shiv, the super villainess who wanted to literally kill Stargirl.

 

Her body was locked tight with shock. She tried to speak, but only managed a few unintelligible gasps.

 

“Ah…” she fluttered her lashes, “Ahm… uh…”

 

Lips pinched in a tart smirk, Cindy flipped through several more pictures, one after the other, giving the stunned heroine time to see them all.

 

The next one was a selfie, Cindy pouting her lips and striking a beauty pose, with the unmasked Courtney sprawled out just behind her. In the next one, she was lying down beside the unconscious superheroine, grinning smugly. In the next, she was wearing Courtney’s blue mask, playing with her staff…

 

“This one’s cute…” Cindy commented as she flipped through the pictures, “Look at that little booty she’s got… there I am making her do a duck face…”

 

Even through her shock and horror, Courtney’s cheeks began to pinken with shame. She couldn’t think of anything more mortifying. Her school bully, rival, and arch nemesis was giving her a slide show of her own debasement after kicking her ass. She’d never felt so completely exposed.

 

“Hm, I think this is my favorite,” Cindy flipped to the next picture.

 

In this picture, Courtney had been sat up right next to a smirking Cindy. The villainess’s arm hugged her around the shoulders, squeezing her, while her head had flopped to the side, resting on Cindy’s shoulder, jaw loose and eyes peacefully closed.

 

Courtney gulped. That picture made them look like the best of friends, her cuddled up and napping, maybe drunk, while Cindy smiled and gave her a shoulder to rest on. If you ignored the costumes, along with the fresh cuts and bruises, there was no reason not to think that was exactly what was happening.

 

As she stared, Cindy’s arm slithered around her shoulders. She was so numb with shock that she didn’t notice at first. It looped around her back to her opposite shoulder, the touch light and careful.

 

“See?” Cindy’s voice had the low purr of predator, “Best friends.”

 

She gradually pulled Courtney closer, hugging her, just like in the picture.

 

“Friends help each other, they keep each other’s secrets,” she whispered.

 

Courtney felt a thumb stroking her shoulder. She looked down, saw Cindy’s hand there, felt the arm squeezing her in a warm embrace. Still stunned, she blinked dizzily, not fully understanding what was happening.

 

“You are going to be MY best friend. Forever.” Cindy said, “You’re going to support me, help me, listen… always. Without question. You’re going to be there for me whenever I call and do whatever I want.”

 

Eyes wide as saucers, Courtney turned her head to meet the other girl’s gaze.

 

Cindy was very close to her, wearing a viper’s smile. She looked back at the dumbfounded blonde with eyes lidded, smug and sultry.

 

“And you’re going to want to be my friend, Stargirl,” the villainess purred, “Because if I’m not, then I won’t keep your secrets. I won’t protect you.”

 

Courtney realized what was happening with a start. She gasped, stiffening in Cindy’s grasp.

 

“And then…” Cindy shrugged, “Well. You… your family… your friends…”

 

“Get away from me!”

 

Before Courtney even realized what she was about to do, she shouted and shoved the other girl away with all her might.

 

Even without the strength that came from her cosmic belt, Courtney was a lifelong gymnast and much stronger than she looked. She shoved Cindy several paces back and the queen bee staggered, almost dropping her phone.

 

Cindy caught her balance quickly but was still taken aback by the outburst. Eyebrows raised, she stared at Courtney with a wide smile, both surprised and amused.

 

“Well,” she said after a moment, sounding like she was trying not to laugh, “I guess I should have expected that. You always do the impulsive, screaming thing. I think I’m going to call that ‘Courtneying’ from now on.”

 

Calmly, like nothing exciting had happened, Cindy turned off her phone, then tucked it back into her purse. Closing the delicate clasp with a soft click, she then looked back up at the excitable blonde. Her expression was even, cool, except for a slight upturn of her lips.

 

“So. Have you got all the Courtneying out of your system now?” she cooed, “Are you ready to face the facts?”

 

Heart pounding, breathing heavily, Courtney trembled with adrenaline. Her wild eyes met Cindy’s, but kept darting away on instinct, looking for an escape, like a cornered bunny.

 

She was as surprised by the shove as Cindy had been, but now she didn’t know what to do. This girl—this super villainess—was in her house— in her room! She knew Courtney was Stargirl! She’d made her threat clear, and there was no doubt that it was genuine!

 

What could she do?! What was she going to do?!

 

Trying to force down her panic, she chewed on her lip. Her eyes were beginning to shine with tears, and she fluttered her lashes, desperate not to cry.

 

Cindy watched the cute blonde’s panic with a knowing gaze. She let the girl freak out for a few more seconds, then took a small step forward.

 

“The game’s over, new girl,” she said, her tone bored, “You lost. And the losers… lose something. That’s just the way it is.”

 

Courtney gulped loudly, staring as the villainess drew closer.

 

She couldn’t run. Even if she escaped, Cindy would be waiting for her, at school or at home. Or worse, waiting for her mom when she got home.

 

She could fight. But her staff and belt were downstairs in the basement, which meant they might as well be on the moon, with the villainess standing in front of her. And even with her super powered weapons, Cindy had beaten her badly, less than 24 hours ago, when she’d been fresh and ready. Now she was just in her pajamas, bruised, sore, and tired.

 

Tears started to fall and Courtney hurriedly wiped them away with a sniffle.

 

It was hopeless. Scared and despairing, she wanted to curl up in a ball and vanish. Or even better, wake up from this nightmare.

 

“This is kind of your fault anyway,” Cindy shrugged, coming closer, “I tried to do this nicely. You had to be rude. Now I have to be more blunt.”

 

She stopped a pace away, putting her hands on her hips. Tilting her head, she looked the frightened heroine up and down. It looked like she was considering Courtney’s outfit.

 

“For a start, I think it would be best if you… you know…” she twirled a finger in the direction of the floor, “Got a TEENSY bit down on your knees.”

 

Courtney blinked, looking at the floor, then back up at Cindy. She wasn’t sure if she’d heard right.

 

Did the girl actually want her to… to get down on the floor like…?

 

“Just a LITTLE bit of prostrating yourself,” Cindy held up thumb and forefinger, demonstrating a pinch, “Just an ITTY BITTY bit. Then I’ll know you’re ready to be besties.”

 

She smiled innocently, batting her eyelashes, waiting for the heroine to comply.

 

For a moment, Courtney simply gaped, unable to believe what the other girl was asking. Cindy wanted her to actually bow down before her? Degrade herself for the queen bee’s entertainment? In her own room?

 

When it finally sank in, Courtney’s heart blazed with anger. A glare lowered her brow. Her blue eyes, still shining with tears, hardened.

 

It did seem hopeless. She was injured, powerless, unarmed, trapped, ambushed in her own home. Cindy had the upper hand and all the cards, on the precipice of attaining complete victory.

 

But Courtney wasn’t just some teenager caught in her pj’s. She was Stargirl. She was a superhero. And superheroes didn’t give up.

 

She balled her fists, tightening her bottom lip. Her wide-eyed, baby-faced features weren’t the best for glaring, but they screwed up in the fiercest scowl they could muster. It still looked cute and pouty rather than intimidating, but it wasn’t a reflection on the fighting spirit beneath.

 

Stargirl fought super villains. She wasn’t going to run or give up; she was going to beat this villainess and protect her family. It looked bad, but when things were at their worst, heroes showed their true colors.

 

As the heroic inner struggle played out before her, Cindy simply stared, waiting for the girl to obey her. The seconds ticked by, and she raised an eyebrow, tapping her foot. Patience was not one of her virtues, particularly when she thought someone was being stubborn or deliberately stupid.

 

As far she was concerned, this was already a done deal. What was taking the cutesy blonde so long to figure it out?

 

Finally, her temper bubbled over. Scoffing loudly, she rolled her eyes, then fixed Courtney with an incredulous stare.

 

“KNEEL!” she stabbed her finger at the floor, “God! Do I have to--?!”

 

“No!” Courtney shouted back.

 

Then, her courage plucked up, knowing what she had to do, the young superheroine lunged. She threw herself into a haymaker punch, aimed right at Cindy’s face.

 

Cindy was taken completely by surprise. To her this was checkmate, and she couldn’t conceive of someone continuing to fight when they’d so clearly been outmaneuvered. She was still pointing at the floor, expecting to be obeyed, as the other girl’s fist flew at her face.

 

However, the fact remained that Cindy was extensively trained in combat. Courtney, for all her enthusiasm and athleticism, was not.

 

Without thinking about it, or even realizing what she was doing, Cindy moved like she’d practiced so many times. Just as the punch would have struck her, she leaned away then stepped to the side. The fist whizzed by, slapping at a strand of dark hair, but missing her cheek entirely.

 

Having been sure the blow would land, Courtney was thrown off balance when she hit nothing but air. She staggered past her intended target with a gasp of surprise, barely keeping from falling on her face. After catching her balance, she whirled back around, fists raised and expression determined, ready for whatever the villainess would throw at her.

 

But Cindy wasn’t attacking. When Courtney turned to face her again, Blue Valley’s head cheerleader still had her hands on her hips, her head tilted curiously to one side. Blinking slowly, she stared at the blonde girl, upper lip curled in bemusement.

 

“Uh…” she blinked again, “What are you doing?” her brow lowered, “Did you just try to hit me?”

 

               Courtney jutted out her chin, forcing herself not to be intimidated by how easily the dark-haired girl had avoided her. Telling herself it had been a fluke, that the villainess wouldn’t get so lucky a second time, she wiped her blonde locks out of her face and prepared to attack once more.

 

               She wasn’t going to let Cindy just lean away this time. Head lowered, she charged at the villainess’s waist, intending on tackling her to the floor.

 

               This time, Cindy wasn’t even surprised. When her attacked reached her, she stepped to the side, caught the girl’s shoulders, then kicked her legs out from under her.

 

               Courtney barely had time to squeal in surprise before she flew through the air and crashed back first into her own nightstand. The impact knocked her lamp off the small table and it fell against the wall, while Courtney herself dropped onto her head. She crumpled awkwardly against the nightstand, legs overhead.

 

               Cindy wasn’t known for her sense of humor, but she couldn’t help barking a quick, surprised laugh.

 

               “Oh my god, you did!” she laughed again, “You’re seriously trying to fight me!”

 

               Courtney struggled to get up. She was lying on her head and shoulders, upside down, back folded like an accordion and trapped against the nightstand. With no room to fall flat, she kicked her legs and squirmed to escape the uncomfortable position.

 

               “You are SO ridiculous,” Cindy shook her head, in both disdain and wonder, “We both know I’m way better than you. I already beat you last night when you had your little toys!”

 

               Blushing, Courtney bucked and thrashed to free herself. Her butt was in the air, the thin cotton of her pajama pants pulled both tight across and into its peachy shape. It usually stood out, rounded with athleticism, but now it was impossible to ignore, and her kicking only made the two shapes bounce, attracting more attention.

 

               “Nf… grnh!” she grunted with frustration.

 

               Finally, she managed to buck until she fell onto her side, then scrambled up to her feet. Red-faced, both from being upside down and sheer embarrassment, she glared daggers at her opponent.

 

               “So graceful,” Cindy remarked, lips turned up in a wry smirk.

 

               “I don’t care!” Courtney snapped back, “I’m not going to let you win!”

 

               She threw another punch that Cindy leaned away from, never losing her smirk.

 

               “I’m not going to let you and the ISA take over this town!” she glared, “I’m going to stop you! No matter what it takes!”

 

               At that, Cindy rolled her eyes again.

 

               “Oh god…” she groaned, “Seriously…”

 

               Thinking she had an opening, Courtney lunged once more. She threw a looping overhand blow with her whole body behind it.

 

               Rather than landing, she was clotheslined.

 

               “Olf…!” Courtney landed on her back, legs flying up over her head.

 

               When the rest of her body flopped to the carpet, she lay there, gaping up at her ceiling, stunned.

 

               She didn’t fully understand what had just happened. The blow to her jaw had left her fuzzy and she’d banged her head when she hit the floor, but even if she hadn’t, she’d still have been confused. To her, it seemed like she’d been just about to shut the villainess up, when instead she missed, was hit, and was suddenly on the floor.

 

               Blinking, she tried to lift her head, but found that made the room spin. Her head plopped back to the floor and she cringed in pain as her senses returned. Now that the shock was gone, she felt not only all the aches from last night, but the fresh ones she’d picked up getting knocked flat a few seconds before.

 

               As the unarmed superheroine squirmed in misery, trying to recover, Cindy loomed over her. She bent down, her features blocking Courtney’s view of the ceiling, staring at the fallen girl with cold interest.

 

               “You still don’t get it,” she said, “Still. Even now.”

 

               Reaching down, she grabbed two handfuls of t-shirt that stood out more than the rest, the parts that were stretched tight across Courtney’s perky breasts. With those handholds, she stood straight, yanking the blonde girl up with her.

 

               “Unf…” Courtney’s eyes widened as she found herself jerked up to her feet. Not ready to stand yet, her legs buckled and she stumbled, clasping clumsily at Cindy to support herself.

 

               Holding the blonde upright by her tiny t-shirt, pulling it up to reveal the girl’s belly button, Cindy stared at her with lips pursed, unamused.

 

               “You’re right, though,” her voice was deceptively soft, “It’s better this way. I was being WAY too easy on you.”

 

               Courtney grabbed at Cindy’s arms, attempting to either pry herself away or push herself free, but she was still too dizzy to support herself. Her head spinning, she could only fumble and gasp awkwardly, staring at the other girl with growing trepidation.

 

               “After all the trouble you caused me? At school and in your little costume?” Cindy said, “Well. I think we should have a little talk about that. And just in case you don’t get it: I’ll be talking. You’ll be… receiving.”

 

               Then she yanked Courtney forward, right into a knee that stabbed into the girl’s unprotected tummy.

 

               “WULF--!” her blue eyes flew wide as all the air in her lungs burst from her mouth in a rush.

 

               But that was just the first blow. Still gripping Courtney’s shirt, Cindy shoved the blonde girl away, then yanked her back to drive another knee into her gut.

 

               “UFF!” Courtney croaked, helpless to protect herself.

 

               “Little miss,” Cindy rammed another knee into the girl’s belly button, “Big city. Showing up in MY town,” another knee, “Acting like the perfect little princess.”

 

               Knee after knee punched into the heroine’s trim abs, softening them like a meat tenderizer. Courtney sagged and coughed, trying to double over, but was held upright by the sadistic villainess. All she could do was hold on and try to withstand the ride as blows hammered into her stomach in a mechanical rhythm.

 

               “Did you think you were a big deal, with all your gymnastics medals?” Cindy cooed sweetly, “Did you think you were going to stand up to me? Be the one that saved the school from queen bitch Cindy?”

 

               Wheezing, Courtney was barely able to breathe, much less respond. She groped feebly at her tormentor’s grip, desperate, with no plan in mind other than protecting her stomach.

 

               When Cindy yanked her forward, then tripped her up, flipping her to the ground, she could do nothing but take a spectacular fall. Her limbs flailed helplessly before she slammed into the carpet, any wind she’d managed to regain knocked out of her with a pained gasp.

 

               “There’s a reason I’m queen, new girl,” Cindy said with a cool grin, “It’s because I take what I want.”

 

               Lying on her stomach, Courtney coughed feebly, trying to regain her breath. Before she could even try to get up, Cindy’s boot planted against the side of her head, digging her cheek into the carpet.

 

               “And anyone that’s in my way,” Cindy cooed, “I find their weaknesses and bide my time. Before they even know I was after them, I squish them. Just like a bug.”

 

               To demonstrate, the villainess ground the point of her heel into her victim’s head.

 

               Unable to get up, barely able to breathe, Courtney groaned in misery.

 

               “You have no idea the discipline and strength it takes to be me,” Cindy narrowed her eyes, “Nobody does. It takes more than you can imagine in that pretty little head of yours.”

 

               Cringing as her face was mashed into the floor, Courtney grabbed clumsily at the other girl’s shoe. Having recovered a bit and galvanized by her torment, she began to kick and squirm, her bottom bouncing in the seat of her pj’s.

 

               But Cindy didn’t intend to keep her down for much longer anyway. Seeing her rival was starting to come back to life, she removed her foot and reached down to grab a fistful of curly blonde hair.

 

               “Get up, Courtney,” her voice dripped with disdain, “We’re just getting started.”

 

               “Ahh-ahh…” Courtney gasped as she was dragged up to her feet.

 

               Still dizzy, legs weak, she stumbled up, mostly pulled by the grip in her hair rather than her own power. The tugging at her scalp hurt, bringing tears to her eyes, and it was all she could do to grab at the girl’s hand to try to support herself.

 

               But even through all the pain, her heart burned with shame.  Dazed and gripped by her own hair, she was completely under Cindy’s control, a helpless puppet. She not only wasn’t threatening to stop the villainess, she was being utterly humiliated.

 

               “Let g—AH!”

 

               Just as she cried out in frustration, Cindy shoved her forward. Not ready, she careened towards the wall, legs buckling and clumsy. She was out of control, tripping and skipping, barely able to keep from falling flat on her face.

 

               Unable to stop herself, she crashed into her vanity mirror with a grunt, knocking several of her gymnastics trophies to the floor and causing pictures to flutter down. The impact knocked her back, but she grabbed the vanity’s tabletop to keep from falling down. In fact, she held onto it desperately as her weak legs crumbled underneath her, it being the only thing that kept her from toppling to the floor.

 

               Slowly, using the vanity for support, she pushed herself back upright, her head spinning.

 

               Cindy swaggered towards her, swaying her hips, wearing a pinched, tart little smirk.

 

               “And then I guess you became a superhero, huh?” she drawled, “Found a magic belt and staff in the closet? Maybe saw them for a good price on ebay?”

 

               Courtney dragged herself up and still having to lean on the vanity for support, turned to face the incoming villainess. Panting with exertion, she swayed, pressing her hips to the small table, almost sitting on it, to keep herself upright. With wide eyes, shocked at how badly this was going, she watched the villainess stalking towards her.

 

               “Lucky you,” Cindy drawled, “I trained for this since I could walk. I didn’t just find my powers at a flea market.”

 

               Courtney swallowed, girding herself once more.

 

               She had to turn this around somehow! She might not be as good a fighter as her rival, but she could still win! She HAD to win! Superheroes were outmatched all the time, and they found a way to come out on top! She would find a way too!

 

               Shaking off her doe-eyed, fearful look, she lowered her brow and glared.

 

               When Cindy reached her, Courtney threw another looping punch. Even if it didn’t land, she hoped it would keep the villainess back long enough for her to recover. At least buy her another second so she could come up with a plan!

 

               Unfortunately, her punch missed and she was immediately hit in return. There was a flash of pain, her head snapped back, and for an instant the world went topsy turvy.

 

               “I earned. All of this.” Cindy glared, “It’s mine. My work. My time.”

 

               Courtney shook away her daze, blinking her eyes rapidly. Seeing the villainess was still standing in front of her, she swung her fist again, a wild, instinctual blow.

 

               The blow was stopped by Cindy’s forearm and in the same second, Courtney was hit again, even harder this time.

 

               “UNH!” the blonde’s head smacked into the mirror, shaking the whole vanity and knocking a gymnastics medal off its tack. The medal plopped to the floor and a few more pictures fluttered down to join it.

 

               “And my father,” Cindy hit her again, “Won’t even,” another punch, “Let me in the game!”

 

               Each blow knocked Courtney’s head back into the mirror, jarring loose more of the girl’s trophies and pictures, along with her wits. At first, she raised her hands, trying to defend herself, but every smack that made her posture droop. Her shoulders slowly sagged, arms lowering, expression growing dopey.

 

               Grabbing her by her shirt, keeping her from falling down, Cindy hit her again and again.

 

               “He punished me for not killing you,” she snapped, “Did you know that?”

 

               SMACK!

 

               Courtney’s head whipped back, then rocked forward again, looking surprised.

 

               “Then I come here to give you an out,” Cindy complained, “And YOU don’t even have the courtesy to be GRATEFUL!”

 

               CRACK!

 

               Courtney’s head smacked into the mirror and then flopped back towards her chest, her gaze far away, uncomprehending.

 

               “You still seem to think you’re my equal,” Cindy sneered, “Like you’re my goody-goody counterpart or something!”

 

               WHAP!

 

               Courtney’s head cracked the mirror this time. When it flopped forwards again, her eyes were crossed, her lips parted in wonder, as if she was seeing something marvelous that she couldn’t understand. Really, all she was seeing were stars.

 

               Cindy pulled back her fist again and stopped. Seeing the punch-drunk, stupid look on Courtney’s face drew a smile of satisfaction.

 

               “Hm. Yeah,” the girl lowered her fist, “Now you’re starting to get it.”

 

               Letting go of Courtney’s shirt, she stepped out of the heroine’s way. The gesture was almost like a butler, holding a door open for someone and standing aside, inviting them over the threshold.

 

               Knocked completely silly, Courtney accepted the invitation. She slowly tilted, then fell forward toward the bit of carpet Cindy had vacated for her. Her blue eyes remained fixed on her nose all the way down.

 

               “Unf…!” she flopped onto her face. Her feet kicked up behind her then flopped to the floor as well, ending up pointed inwards, pigeon-toed.

 

               Cindy smirked at the way the other girl had bounced on impact, her limbs flopping loosely, making no attempt to catch herself.

 

               “See, that’s better,” the queen bee said, “That’s where you belong.”

 

               Courtney moaned faintly, her face buried in the carpet.

 

               Looking her over, Cindy couldn’t miss the perky bottom that swelled up beneath the pajama pants. The thin cotton draped across round shapes and fell between them, seeming to poke up insolently by the blonde’s position on her stomach. Cindy wouldn’t have hated Courtney so much if the girl hadn’t been a possible rival, pretty, nice, and with a cute little butt that drew eyes.

 

               Except now little miss perfect had just gotten that sweet little ass of hers kicked. That thought filled Cindy with satisfaction.

 

               This little bitch thought she could stand up to the queen, huh?

 

               Cindy planted her foot on Courtney’s hip and gave it a shove, making those cute bubbles of hers jiggle beneath the seat of cotton.

 

               “Hmph. You stay down there now,” she narrowed her eyes, “You dumb little nobody. Stay right there, face in the dirt, like you deserve.”

 

               With that, she made her way back towards the bed, making sure to step on Courtney on the way.

 

               “Nff…” the young heroine grunted as Cindy’s weight mashed her chest into the carpet.

 

               Although lying still on the floor of her bedroom, Courtney’s consciousness was orbiting the moon. She was aware of everything spinning but was outside her own body, different sensations coming to her in a confusing mess. For several seconds, she didn’t know where she was or even who she was, completely bewildered.

 

               As Cindy reached the bed and began opening the gift bag she’d brought, Courtney gradually began to return to herself, and found herself wallowing in misery. Everything ached and throbbed, injuries taken the night before made worse and joined by new ones. Her head was pounding, every rasping breath hurt, and she had so many bruises that they coalesced into one big ache, indistinguishable from each other.

 

               She coughed and that hurt too, drawing a miserable groan immediately afterwards.

 

               But the pains of her body weren’t even the worst of it. As her senses returned, shame and despair tore at her already weary heart.

 

               She wasn’t just not winning this fight, she had just been humiliated and punished with laughable ease. Instead of finding a way to triumph against the odds, like a hero, Cindy had done whatever she’d wanted and left her sprawled on the floor. Her attempt to save the day was a joke, farcical, and the desperate hope she’d clung to was giving way to a bitter truth.

 

               She was no match for Cindy. Cindy had already beaten her yesterday when she’d knocked her senseless and unmasked her. The game was over. The good guys had… lost.

 

               Having popped open the gift bag she’d brought for her reluctant new bestie, Cindy picked through the tissue paper used to stuff it until she found a velvet sack. She plucked it out, undid the sack’s golden draw string, upended it and shook the contents into her palm.

 

               “I’m actually proud of this,” she explained, “I made it myself.”

 

               From the sack, a little bracelet fell into her palm. It was simple, a band strung with small charms, and a golden clasp that was as yet undone.

 

               “It will go with everything you wear,” Cindy shrugged, “And it’s all kinds of cutesy and trite. Nobody will think you didn’t pick it out yourself.”

 

               She picked it up from her palm and let it dangle, pinched between thumb and forefinger. The center most charms were engraved with letters, lined up so they read “CINDY’S_BESTIE”.

 

               Courtney tried to shake away her hopeless thoughts.

 

               She couldn’t beat Cindy in a straight up fist fight but maybe… maybe if she could get to her staff… her belt. Maybe it would be different this time. It had to be. She had to win this time, but she needed to get to her weapons first. She had to get up.

 

               Cringing in pain, gritting her teeth, she started to push up from the floor.

 

Her arms shook, the room still spinning, and the effort only made drums bang in her head, but she had to get up. Her body begged her to lie still, to rest until the pain went away; she fought through it, continuing to strain.

 

Cindy noted the heroine’s effort with a smirk.

 

“Well, look at you,” she cooed, “Still trying to fight the good fight. How inspiring.”

 

But the villainess’s amusement quickly fled. Her eyes narrowed, suddenly icy.

 

“I told you,” she purred in a deceptively sweet tone, “To stay down.”

 

Courtney gasped and whimpered as she struggled to rise, ignoring her body’s protests and the other girl’s threatening tone. Clinging to a single desperate hope, that of rising and getting to her super powered implements, she pushed everything else away.

 

She just had to get off the floor. Once she was off the floor, she’d… think of something, but first she had to stand.

 

With a monumental effort, she began to rise from the floor, pushing herself up.

 

Tucking the bracelet in the pocket of her skirt, Cindy watched the blonde with tight, disapproving lips and eyes that simmered with cold wrath. Circling like a stern schoolteacher, she made her way behind the struggling heroine, each step firm and deliberate.

 

“You’re not a good listener, are you?” she growled, the pretense of kindness evaporating, “Or you’re even stupider than I thought. Stay. Down.”

 

With a low groan, Courtney pushed herself up until her arms were straight and dragged her knees underneath her. She wobbled and was forced to space her knees further apart, arms wider for better stability, but she managed it.

 

There she stopped to gasp for breath. Getting to all fours had been an exhaustive task in her current condition, and actually standing seemed insurmountable. Yet she had to get to her staff. She had to win. To do that, she had to stand, so she would. She would get up.

 

First, she had to catch her breath, though. Just for a second.

 

Seeing Courtney on all fours, backside directed towards her, Cindy slowly shook her head.

 

“Some people just always, always have to learn EVERYTHING the hard way,” she said.

 

After continuing to shake her head for another second, marveling at the heroine’s foolishness, Cindy decided to act.

 

“Fine, then,” she rolled her eyes, “The hard way it is.”

 

She struck. With a hopping step, she drew back one leg, then kicked it out and up. Her foot cut a straight path between Courtney’s thighs, then thudded into the place where they met with enough force that it lifted the blonde’s knees off the ground. The sound was like someone hitting a laundry bag with a baseball bat.

 

“AA—AACK--!”

 

Courtney’s high-pitched scream was choked off as her throat constricted on her vocal cords. Complete shock locked her body up in a rictus. For a second, which felt like an eternity, she was frozen in a strained, horrified pose.

 

Her head had jerked up, her mouth gaping in a silent scream while her eyes bulged, the color draining from her face. Her back arched like she was trying to rear up from the floor, her round backside turned up on one end, while her chest thrust out at the other. Her thighs instinctively clamped together, too late to protect the vulnerable mound between them, but squeezing no less fervently for that. It was all an instinctual reaction, her body reacting to a pain so invasive and intense that it simply overwhelmed her senses.

 

In some ways, it would have been better if she’d stayed in that stunned, uncomprehending limbo. When the shock faded, a deep, strangling pain blossomed between her legs, dwarfing every other ache or bruise. The pain rose into her stomach, gripping her insides and sucking any remaining strength from her body. As the anguish of her most tender place filled her, she crumpled, sinking to the floor.

 

With a whimper, Courtney tilted over, then flopped onto her side, both hands clamped tight between her thighs.

 

Cindy couldn’t resist a little giggle.

 

               “Uh oh,” she cooed, “Does Stargirl’s little star have an ouchie?”

 

               Eyes filling with tears, Courtney writhed on the floor, kicking her feet and curling up around the single point of agony between her legs. The pain only grew more intense rather than relenting, and she could do nothing but hold on and hope, plead for it to stop. Several breathless whimpers escaped her lips, too tense with agony to sob. There were no thoughts of getting up any more or of fighting back. She just wanted this to stop.

 

               Please… please stop… oh god… please…

 

               Cindy strode up beside her anguished schoolmate, looming and leering straight down. Putting hands on her hips, she looked her victim over with no small amount of pleasure, her lips drawn in a tight, serpentine grin.

 

               “Maybe that will help it finally sink in,” she cooed.

 

               Courtney let out a long, suffering moan, curling up into a ball.

 

               “When I say something, I meant it,” the villainess continued, “And when I tell you to do something, you do it. Now get up.”

 

               The fact that Courtney remained where she was had nothing to do with heroic resistance. She moaned again, clenching her eyes closed, entirely focused on bearing the pain she was already suffering. There was no way she was getting up under her own power.

 

               However, it became clear Cindy wasn’t giving her an option when the villainess grabbed her by the wrist and yanked it up behind her back. A sharp twist drew a searing pain, the joints in her arm threatening to come loose. Then using the captured arm as a handle and a grip on her shoulder, Courtney’s rival dragged her up from the floor, regardless of her wishes.

 

               “AAA-AAH!” Courtney wailed at the new pain as she was drawn up, then sat on her heels. She wanted to grab at the hold with her free hand but couldn’t bear to remove it from the pain that still throbbed between her legs.

 

               “Listen to poor baby cry,” Cindy smirked, “You should be ashamed to call yourself a superhero. You wouldn’t hear Wonder Woman carrying on like this…”

 

               Once she’d drawn the heroine to her knees, she twisted and tugged up on the contorted arm behind Courtney’s back. The girl cried out once more and jumped up off her heels, rising to keep all the joints in her arm from popping free. With her victim kneeling but upright, Cindy planted her foot on the top of Courtney’s calf, pinning her where she knelt.

 

               Then, wearing a crooked grin, she let go of the blonde’s shoulder, only needing the painfully twisted arm to control her.

 

               “At least you can take a beating,” she said, “That’s twice I’ve beat your superheroic little ass in two days.”

 

               She twisted the arm up a bit higher.

 

               Courtney gasped and arched her back, desperate to relieve the strain on her ligaments.

 

               “But we’re not doing three,” Cindy said, reaching into the pocket of her skirt, “Not that I haven’t enjoyed humiliating you. I’ve just got other things to do. Besides, after beating you three or four times, it might get boring.”

 

               Courtney bit her lip but could no longer keep herself from whimpering. The way her arm was twisted up to her shoulders forced her to curl her back and thrust her chest out, shoving her perky breasts outwards against her t-shirt. The fabric strained, pulled tight across and around, showing the individual shapes of both heaving orbs. She was not only unable to get to her staff, she was trapped in this position, the tips of her boobs poking out beneath her bra.

 

               She just wanted it to stop. Anything to make it stop. Anything.

 

               Not seeming to notice the heroine’s desperation, Cindy withdrew the bracelet. She dangled it in in front of her victim’s face, almost touching it to her nose.

 

               “Look, see?” she cooed, “For you.”

 

               “L-let… g—AAAH!”

 

               All it took was a little tweak of her trapped wrist to cut off Courtney’s plea.

 

               “Look.” Cindy said again.

 

               Courtney nodded quickly, obeying. She looked, blue eyes shining with pain, bottom lip trembling.

 

               “It’s got a tracker in it, and a tiny recording device, powered by a hydrogen battery,” the villainess explained, “So I can keep track of you. We don’t want my best friend forever to get lost somewhere, do we?”

 

               Not sure whether she wanted an answer or not, Courtney shook her head to be safe. She gulped loudly, feeling sick.

 

               “The hydrogen battery will run out in about 200 years,” Cindy continued, “And the string is actually a type of detonation cord I made. Try to take off my fiddle with or take off my friendship bracelet and it will ignite. You’ll lose your hand, if not half your arm. Assuming I don’t just detonate the battery and vaporize you, along with whoever is nearby.”

 

               As Courtney listened, her eyes widened, staring with growing fear at what was essentially a tiny bomb dangling in front of her face. She shrank back, brow rising, breasts heaving at a hummingbird pace.

 

               “Best friends forever,” the villainess said, “And that’s how long it stays on. Forever.”

 

               She sneered, flicking her wrist to make the little bracelet swing back and forward. It waved in front of the heroine’s face like a metronome.

 

               Once it finally stopped swinging, Cindy spoke again.

 

               “Now, give me your other hand, new girl,” she purred, “Let’s see how it fits.”

 

               Courtney cringed, hesitating, her hand still tucked between her legs.

 

               When she didn’t immediately obey, Cindy twisted her wrist higher, straining several fragile parts in her arm to the breaking point.

 

               “AA-AAOW!” Courtney wailed, chest thrusting out and head thrown back.

 

               “Give me,” the villainess repeated, “Your other. Hand.”

 

               One last time, Courtney tried to cling to her superheroic optimism. She started to tell herself she could get through this, find a way to win. She could… maybe if she… if…

 

               Her bottom lip quivered.

 

               Since Cindy had revealed her identity, the hope of the girl that was Stargirl had been clinging to a single lifeline: the belief that in the end, good would triumph. She’d told herself that she would figure out a way to turn this around, but that rope had started fraying as the villainess proceeded to beat her with ease. Every time her attempts had ended with further punishment, the lifeline shrank, whittled down until it was a single thread.

 

               Now she tried to come up with some way she could still win and couldn’t think of a single possibility. She was exhausted, punch-drunk, pinned on her knees, in such pain she could barely see straight. Not only couldn’t she escape, but she knew if she didn’t do what Cindy wanted, right then, the villainess would break her arm, just to teach her a lesson.

 

               Courtney gulped, then a small sob slipped from her lips. Her chest was still forced out, the outline of her bra showing beneath her shirt, but she wilted as much as she could.

 

               She was at Cindy’s mercy and was going to stay there.

 

               The last string of her lifeline snapped.

 

               With another whimper, she slipped her hand from between her legs, then reached behind herself. Holding her arm out, as if offering it to be twisted behind her back as well, she gave it up, waiting for Cindy to take it.

 

               That was how Stargirl surrendered.

 

               Cindy’s only reaction was a grunt of satisfaction. As far as she was concerned, it was about time.

 

               She snatched Courtney’s wrist, yanked it up a bit higher, then finally let go of the hold she had on the opposite arm.

 

               Courtney gasped and sagged, her freed arm falling loose to her side.

 

               “Pl-please…” she whimpered, “I’ll do… whatever…”

 

               “Hush,” Cindy chided.

 

               With both hands freed, she looped the bracelet around the blonde’s wrist then clipped the two ends together. There was a chirp when the clasp closed. The detonator was activated.

 

               “Y-y-you win…” Courtney sobbed, “Just… don’t do—”

 

               Cindy yanked back on a handful of curly blonde hair, silencing her with a yelp.

 

               “Shut up!” the villainess snapped, “Stop whining! God!”

 

               A shove threw Courtney to the floor. The beaten heroine barely managed to catch herself on all fours.

 

               Cindy circled around her, coming to a stop in front of her. For a moment, it was like Courtney was bowing down before her.

 

               “I’m doing you a favor, you stupid little girl scout,” the villainess glared down at her, “A big favor. Now stand up.”

 

               Wilted and exhausted, Courtney slowly obeyed. Feeling every ache, she struggled up, quaking all the way.

 

               Cindy crossed her arms, watching, not helping.

 

               “What I should have done was tell my father about you,” she said as her rival fumbled her way to her feet, “He would have been pleased with me.”

 

               Finally staggering up, Courtney tottered to one side before catching herself. Shoulders slouched forward, arms dangling, she bowed her head in abject misery. She wanted nothing more than to fall down to the floor and stay there.

 

               Cindy strode closer, stopping right in front of her, almost chest to chest.

 

               “Do I need to explain what would happen next?” she arched an eyebrow, “To you? Your family? Your loser friends?”

 

               Cowed, Courtney looked at the floor. She sadly shook her head no.

 

               Scoffing, Cindy eyed her rival with disdain.

 

               “I bet you didn’t even think about that, did you?” she narrowed her eyes, “Look at you. God, are you ever NOT just a cutesy, dumb, girl-next-door stereotype?”

 

               As finished speaking, a shining, silver blade sprouted from her wrist.

 

               Courtney heard the grating sound of the knife being drawn and stiffened. Her eyes widened with fear.

 

               However, before she could even protest, a slash split open her t-shirt where it stretched across her breasts. The blade disappeared back into the villainess’ arm and Cindy was already reaching for her before the young heroine realized what had happened.

 

               Eyes wide, she let out a belated yelp, looking down at the hole in her top, and the peak of the bra and bare skin seen through it.

 

               “I thought I said to stop whining,” Cindy snapped.

 

               She dug her fingers into the hole she’d made, then ripped it wider with a jerk.

 

               “You brought this on yourself.”

 

               Moving upwards, with several violent yanks, she ripped the shirt in half. Each tear was an angry motion that jostled the unsteady Courtney, making her sway on her feet.

 

               “Pathetic… little…” Cindy snapped while she worked, “Barbie doll…”

 

               When she reached the neckline, the villainess tore it open with a grunt, then in the same motion yanked the ruined garment wide. Now opened, she was able to rip the shirt down the girl’s arms, like she was taking off a coat. She stopped when it was a tattered rag hanging from Courtney’s waist, only to turn her attention to the pajama pants.

 

               “Did you think you were being heroic or something?”

 

               The blade popped out once more. She sliced through the drawstring of the loose pajama bottoms with a flick of the wrist.

 

               “Well, newsflash, new girl,” she grabbed the waistband of the pants and the ruined shirt in one hand, “This isn’t a comic book.”

 

               With one smooth yank, the entirety of Courtney’s pajamas were bunched up around her ankles.

 

               Cindy took a small step back. She looked her rival up and down, smirking at her adjustments to Courtney’s wardrobe.

 

               “And you,” she hissed, “Aren’t a superhero.”

 

               Head bowed, shoulders slumped in defeat, Courtney stood with her knees together, awkward in her bra and panties. Both a faint turquoise with white straps, including a slender, frilly waistband on the underwear, they were scrunched and tugged from the fight, not fitting properly. Thin and rumpled, they made the once-brave teenager look even more pitiful.

 

               Swallowing, a blush coming to her cheeks, Courtney tugged quickly at the waistband of her panties, straightening them, then clasped her hands over her crotch. Exposed, she seemed to wilt even further inwards, shoulders squeezing in and holding herself. She could all but feel the other girl’s eyes on her, judging.

 

               “How precious,” Cindy leered, “But honestly, I’m surprised. No stars?”

 

               Courtney winced and squirmed in place, wringing her hands.

 

               The villainess shrugged, “Turn around.”

 

               Reluctantly, the young heroine obeyed. She shuffled in place, turning slowly, feeling even more uncomfortable turning her back on the other girl.

 

               Cindy strode up behind her without preamble. As soon as her vanquished rival was turned away, she was already unsnapping the girl’s bra.

 

               “Stripping you naked ought to—relax!”

 

               She shouted Courtney down when the girl started protectively hugging her chest.

 

               After a brief pause, the defeated blonde let her arms fall to her sides and Cindy continued removing her bra.

 

               She slipped the bra down the unresisting teenager’s arms and tossed it aside, then hooked her thumbs into the waistband of the underwear.

 

               “It’s amazing how being stripped naked changes your outlook, huh?” Cindy yanked the underwear down, “Maybe I should start with that, next time someone mouths off at me…”

 

               Courtney winced, flushing pink as she felt cool air on the intimate grooves she usually covered. Stiff as a board, she balled her fists, cringing painfully, features screwed up like she’d just been slapped in the face.

 

               She was naked. Naked, literally dressed down, and Cindy was sneering at her in triumph. It was so humiliating it actually hurt, bringing tears to her eyes.

 

               Cindy clapped a round butt cheek, the sound low and thick. Unprotected, the pale globe jiggled merrily, shifting the shape of the shadowy crack that ran between the two shapes.

 

               “Now don’t start crying,” she chided, “You’ve got a cute little body. Perky little ass of yours…”

 

               She gave the bare shape another quick smack, then took Courtney by the shoulder. She turned her former rival around to face her, her lips pursed, thoughtfully looking over the heroine’s naked body.

 

               “And look at these tata’s,” Cindy sneered, “You ought to show these off more often. You’d be much more popular, especially with the boys…”

 

               Courtney’s breasts were fairly petite, but stood out proudly, round with barely a point at her pink nipples. They weren’t busty, cute being a better descriptor, which fit the rest of her athletic, curving figure.

 

               Cindy cupped beneath the boobs and hefted them up, molding and moving them in slow circles.

 

               “You ARE going to be more popular, you know,” she said as she enjoyed the shapes, “Being in my circle. Some people are going to be jealous of you. You’re going to go to all the right parties, get the inside scoop on all the gossip… and generally, you’re going to be out of the way when someone pisses me off.”

 

               Grinning to herself, the queen bee gave Courtney’s breasts a squeeze, watching their shapes warp like they were stress balls.

 

               Then her grin faded. The time for play was over.

 

               She let go of Courtney’s soft breasts and instead snatched a handful of blonde curls. With her cruel grip in place, she yanked the humiliated girl’s head up to look at her.

 

               Courtney yelped, finding herself staring at the victorious villainess with wide eyes.

 

               “But let’s make one thing crystal clear,” Cindy narrowed her eyes to slits, “The only reason you’re popular is because I said so. The only way you have ANYTHING, actually, is because I say so. You’re not dead—your family’s not dead—because of me. And I can still tell people what I know ANY time I want.”

 

               Seeing the cold, malevolent command in the other girl’s eyes, Courtney forgot all about being naked. She gulped aloud, quivering like a frightened bunny.

 

               “You’re MY best friend, now,” Cindy hissed, “Belonging to me. Doing what I want. Mine. Forever.”

 

               She paused for a moment, letting that sink in.

 

               “Is there any part of that,” she said in a deceptively silky tone, “That you have trouble grasping?”

 

               Courtney shook her head, but with Cindy gripping her hair, all she managed to do was bobble it. Afraid it wouldn’t be enough, she quickly stammered out.

 

               “Nuh—Y-yes!” she gulped, eyes wide and trembling, “I m-mean, y-yes it’s clear. I-I understand…”

 

               Cindy stared at her silently.

 

               Utterly intimidated, Courtney quickly spoke again.

 

               “I-I’m sorry, don’t…” she sniffled and lowered her eyes, a tear running down her cheek, “I’m sorry, Cindy… pl-please… I… I’ll do whatever you want… I un-understand… I…”

 

               The young heroine wilted. She knew she was naked and hardly cared.

 

               Right then, she knew something, deep in her heart.

 

               When she spoke again, her voice was weary and hollow.

 

               “I… belong to you…”

 

               At the broken, whimpered words, Cindy’s grin broadened.

 

               This was her masterpiece. From an idealistic, never-say-die, energetic blonde that told her she wouldn’t get away with bullying people, to a naked, whimpering little girl, apologizing and begging for her understanding.

 

               Beneath her lips, Cindy’s tongue ran over her teeth.

 

               Oh, how she’d looked forward to this. And now that it had happened, it was even better than she’d hoped.

 

               After another second, Cindy nodded slowly. She relished this moment, trying to burn it into her memory. Then she ended it with a single word.

 

               “Good.”

 

               With that, she took Courtney by the arm and spun her around.

 

               “Bathroom.” She ordered, “Go.”

 

               A smack to the bare bottom made Courtney yelp and skip forward.

 

               Getting the picture, she lowered her head and trudged towards her bathroom.

 

               Cindy followed a few steps behind, a grin on her face.

 

               “We’ll get you cleaned up first,” she explained, “Then we’re going to pack you a bag. You’re sleeping over at my house tonight.”

 

               Tilting her head, amused, she watched the bare shapes of Courtney’s bottom bounce and shift as she walked.

 

               “I’ll be taking your staff and belt with me, of course,” she said, “We’ll leave your parents a note so they don’t worry and then we can have some fun.”

 

               Unable to resist, she reached out to give Courtney’s rump a little pinch.

 

               This time Courtney didn’t even react. She was getting used to it and was too tired to be upset.

 

               Head bowed, she shuffled into her own bathroom as a defeated prisoner.

 

               Cindy followed after her, a cheery bounce in her step.

 

               “Now let’s get you nice and squeaky clean,” she purred, “I’ll be helping. Need to make sure you wash behind your ears…”

 

               She swung the door and it closed behind them with a bang.

 

               It was gal pal time. And it would be the first of many…