Author's Note
…..
A strange feeling of Déjà vu overcomes you as you push open the unassuming white door, labeled in bright font "Happy Tree Friends: The Musical!" Squinting below the writing, you see "By Phoenix Reece" In nearly unnoticeable handwriting. You enter, and are wholly underwhelmed by the sight. A dank, plaster-walled room carpeted wall-to-wall with sheets of scrap paper, stories and doodles lining them. You notice a desk across the room, a small black laptop perched on top. It's on, so you decide to check it out, and you make it close enough to notice some strangely obscene and mildly erotic images involving furry creatures before you bump your foot against something in the two foot pool of papers.
A figure groans underneath you and rises up like a corpse, rubbing it's neck, which you must have hit. A man, of perhaps his mid teens, portly and a bit of stubble grazing his chin. He adjusts his glasses as you come into focus for him.
"Oh!" He yelps in realization, "The story… riiiiiight…" He smiles awkwardly, and turns, feeling the sting of your glare. Finally, after a short silence, he sits himself down before the computer and begins typing, knowing very well the repercussions of his absence.
"I… I can't write with you watching… it's embarrassing." He mutters, and you turn away in a huff.
"This had better be good," You growl, and he jumps for a moment, and then sets back to his typing.
"Oh," he turns to you, remembering something important, "Today's songs are Molly Malone by James Yorkston, Shippin' Up to Boston by Dropkick Murphys and Ireland(And the Reprise) from Legally Blonde; The Musical
HTF: The Musical!
"Jeez, what have I gotten myself into?"
There he was, Cuddles, the face of Happy Tree Town. A recognizable fellow everyone seemed to know, and to whom many looked up to. He was a songwriter, a daredevil, and half of the Town's hottest couple.
Or was. Now, he was an idiot, falling in love with another girl right after his break up. But, that wasn't the worst part. If it was true love he could deal with the stares and whispers, even with Giggles' pleading eyes when she saw Cuddles and Misty walk down the street together. But that wasn't what was eating him up inside, oh no. What was killing him was,
"How the hell can I love two girls?" He shouted, kicking a nearby can. He was outside the apartment, dressed down in some casual clothing, before he had to change for the dance tonight. Misty had convinced him, against his better judgment, that a dance could help loosen up his mind. Of course, being with her just twisted up his head all the more. She made his heart steam just by looking at her, but at the same time his mind was swamped with thoughts of Giggles.
A scuttle, and a chuckle, a wild laugh and Cuddles immediately knew who was headed down the street. It was Nutty, chocolate smeared over his fur, he must have just hit up a vending machine, and smiled blissfully as he downed the last bits of candy in his hands.
He noticed Cuddles, and made his way over, sitting down on the stoop beside him, "Hey buddy! Why the long face?"
"Nutty…" Cuddles was too frustrated to deal with Nutty's erratic behavior, and at the same time desperate enough to take any ear to listen to him, "It's Giggles. You must have heard we had a fight, and now…"
….
"Wow," Nutty finished suckling on the lollipop he had pulled off of his fur as Cuddles explained in detail of his plight, "Heavy stuff. I'm not sure what to tell you."
"Well, I figured as,"
Nutty cut him off, "I mean, I'm not sure what to tell you except maybe you might want to try to appeal Giggles again. You've only been with this Misty chick for a little while, and who knows how it might turn out, but you've loved Giggles for so long, maybe you're meant for each other."
Cuddles was taken back, "Wow, that's deep Nutty. But what if she doesn't care? What if Giggles gave up on me?"
"It couldn't hurt to try."
He thought for a second, but it was already decided in his heart, "You're right. But how," realization dawned on his face and he fished through his pockets, pulling a crumpled piece of paper. "Take this to Giggles, please. Tell her I'll be at the dance if she wants to see me, and tell her I'm sorry."
"What's in," Nutty pulled on the paper, but Cuddles refused to show him,
"Please, don't show this to anyone but Giggles."
Nutty felt the urgency of the situation, and became like a child tasked with a mission. "Yes sir!" he mock saluted and grabbed the paper, sprinting off in a random direction.
"Nutty! Wait! Where are you going?"
"Don't worry Cuddles, I've got it under control!" He shouted back, over his shoulder.
"Nutty! NUTTY! Oh," He gave up, his chances were in the wind now, "I'm counting on you, Nutso…"
…The Peppy Hare…
…(Local Tavern)….
….5 o' Clock, two hours before the Dance off begins…
The Peppy Hare was a rough n' tough bar, near the edge of town on the water's side, where often the sailors(however few they be) would stop in for a drink, get sauced up, and have their mothers be called up for a scolding after hitting on the innkeep.
Ginger o' Hare was her name, an Irish hare who had seen plenty in her years, and had a daughter to raise. Her time at the inns of her hometown had roughened her edges(Though certainly not her curves), and gave her quite a rough attitude. She had thrown quite a few unruly patrons out into the salt water in her time of working in Happy Tree Town, but at the same time she cared for the children around town as a mother should, especially her pride and joy Pippy.
A girl of not over ten, Pippy was a rough little lass, who had tried the strength and patience of everyone she had met since moving here. You would be lucky to ask her for directions and walk away without an arm wrestle or a "You punch me, I punch you, Hard." Contest.
Right now, the two were doing their daily rounds at the Hare, Ginger stood behind the bar, washing glasses and consoling the drunkards who cried into their beers, while Pippy darted around the rest of the bar, a silver tray balanced on her head. A comical sight, her ears stuck out lopsided from underneath the tray, as she somehow managed to navigate the maze of chairs, drinking games and smoke to find her next patron.
"Hey! Where's my drink? I ordered it nearly an hour ago!" A pig, dressed in a dirtied sailor's suit snorted from his booth.
Pippy pulled the tray from her head and placed it on a bystander's table, before she shouted back across the bar, "You ordered your bloody drink ten minutes ago you stinkin' drunk! Now shut your face before I come over there and knock out a tusk!"
"Pippy!" Her mother scolded her across from the room.
"What? He had it comin'!"
Her mother was steaming, but a hand on her shoulder comforted her, It was Russell, a longtime friend.
" Let me handle this," He took a seat in front of an aged piano, one that seemed primarily for decoration, and began to tap out a tune on it. He played surprisingly well for an otter with a hook for a hand. Pippy immediately heard the music, and was drawn to Russell.
"Oh, hello Pippy," He faked surprise, "Want to hear a song?"
Her eyes lit up like Christmas lights.
"Yes, please…" her eyes were like saucers, staring up at him with deep sincerity.
"Well, I suppose if you'll behave yourself,"
"Yes! Yes, a hundred yeses!" She bounced up and down.
He chuckled a little, and began to play. His voice was deep, a tenor with an Irish tinge to it, soothing a jovial at the same time
RUSSELL
(Pippy begins to act out the song, pushing an imaginary wheelbarrow)
In Dublin's Fair City
Where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheel'd her wheelbarrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive, alive o!
RUSSELL AND PIPPY
Alive, alive o!, alive, alive o!
Crying cockles and mussels alive, alive o!
RUSSELL
She was a fishmonger
But sure 'twas no wonder
For so were her father and mother before
And they each wheel'd their barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive, alive o!
RUSSELL AND PIPPY
Alive, alive o!, alive, alive o!
Crying cockles and mussels alive, alive o!
(The music takes a drastic turn, the notes Somber, and Pippy mimics this. Her movements become slow and lifeless, until she flops over, feigning death)
RUSSELL
She died of a fever
And no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
But her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive, alive o!
(Pippy springs back to life for the final chorus, singing her heart out)
RUSSELL AND PIPPY
Alive, alive o!, alive, alive o!
Crying cockles and mussels alive,
alive oooooooo!
Some of the patrons applause, while others don't bother to look from their drinks. A sweet, young voice addresses Ginger from the bar, snapping the rabbit out of the trance she had been in watching Russell.
"He's nice, isn't he?" It was Giggles, who had been at the bar all afternoon.
"He's like a father to Lil' Pippy. But honey," She moved closer to the chipmunk, who hadn't changed her glass all day, "This isn't like you. You only ever go drinking with your friends, this is drowning your sorrows. What's the matter?"
"Cuddles and I got into a fight, and I think I was too hard on him," She bit back her tears, "And yesterday, people saw him with some new girl!"
Ginger shook her head sadly, "Honey, come with me." She led Giggles around the bar and out the back door, calling to Russell as she left. "Rus! Play something to keep the Barflies busy, I might be awhile!"
Russell winked, or perhaps blinked(with one eye it was difficult to tell), and began to pound out a much wilder song. Pippy recognized it immediately, and leapt on top of the Piano, singing above the crowd.
PIPPY
I'm a Sailor Pig, and I lost my Leg!
Climbin' up the topsail,
I lost my Leg!
….
Ginger had lead Giggles out to the back alley, and brought with her a small CD player. They were beside the pier, and the air was thick and smelled of salt and sea brine. Not unpleasant, but from this angle they could easily see the darkening skyline.
"Listen, Ginger, I appreciate the effort, but maybe I should just,"
"Giggles," She cut her off, "Do you know the number one reason behind all bad life decisions? Love!"
GINGER
You're lost without your love
Your heart is on the floor
I can help you
I've been there before!
When I need to relax
I just put on some tracks
From this CD I bought from the store
(The music begins playing, an enchanting aria of Celtic song)
(Spoken)
Isn't that relaxing? It's called CELTIC MOODS!
(sung)
When I'm lonely or feeling dejected
I play this and it never fails
I pretend like I'm in Ireland
With Enya and the whales
When my telephone gets disconnected
Or I spend every night alone
I pretend like I'm in Ireland
Where the Irish bagpipes drone
Smell the grass as a rainstorm is endin'
People smile while I stroll past their farms
With a redheaded sailor named Brendan
And we dance without moving our arms
In a bar once I met this guy Dewey
And he bought me like 14 beers
And he told me that he was from Ireland
So I lived with him 10 years
If I squinted he looked like my sailor
Through my boozy delusional fog
But he dumped me for some slut named Kayla
Took my trailer and took my dog
In Ireland they know how to love you
You embrace in the misty Irish breeze
And if your Irish boy tires of you
You're allowed to shoot him in the knees
Hey, you look like that poster for Ireland
Bright red bow and the sweet sunny face
Oh no wait that's the poster for Sweden
Oh screw it. I'll never see either place!
(She sits beside Giggles, staring out to the sea)
But a girl sweet as you has a future
You have hope as each new day dawns
Girls like you always get to see Ireland
Give my love to the leprechauns
She was at a loss for words, "Ginger, I don't know what to say. But that man, you were talking about, is that why Pippy,"
"Doesn't have a father? Exactly, he screwed me, stole what I had, and ran. Good men are hard to come by, and Cuddles is the man for you…"
They stared out to the ocean for what seemed like an eternity, when someone called to them.
"Hey! Giggles? Is that you?" It was Nutty, he was panting heavily, and clutching a piece of paper. "Thank goodness, this was the LAST time I was gonna check the pier for you."
He dashed up and handed the paper to Giggles, "Who sent this?"
"Cuddles, he wanted me to tell you he's sorry, and that he's going to be at the dance if you want to see him."
She unfolded it slowly, and gasped at the messy writing, smudged from sweat and chocolate.
"What does it say?" Ginger leaned in to get a better look.
"Nothing, nothing important." Giggles tucked away the paper and stood, brushing herself off, "But I need to get to the dance."
"I can drive you," Ginger began fishing her pockets for her keys, but Giggles grabbed her wrist,
"Wait! What about that other girl, how do I know she won't be there?"
"CRIMENY!" A shout could be heard from the other side of the door, and finally Pippy kicked it open.
"Pippy, how long were you listening?" Her mother shouted.
"Long enough!" She turned to Giggles, a fire in her enormous eyes, "Giggles, it's about time you toughened up! If a girl like you can't get back her man, then where's the hope for the rest of us? You go, and you fight for him!"
PIPPY
The Irish fear nothing and no one
They keep fightin' 'til everyone's dead
I'm not sure where this metaphor's goin'
I just felt like it had to be said
There's a guy at that party who loves you
Something most of us only dream of
You go out there and you get some Ireland
The country of whiskey
and loooooove!
Giggles froze, contemplating what was just laid out before her, but then, a passion ignited in her heart as well.
"Ginger, you offered to drive?"
HAHAH! Finally, this summer I can make my triumphant return, what with all this free time I've got now!
So, like I said, I'm altering Pippy's orphan status for this story, not sure if I'm gonna keep the change though.
But anyhoo, now that summer's here I can finally get back to updating regularly!
