Roger waited anxiously in the hallway, standing next to Blythe's bedroom door. The one thing he had set on his mind was his fierce concern for his daughter, prompting him to call a doctor just half-an-hour prior.
After a moment of waiting, the physician came out of Blythe's bedroom, and on account of his expression, Roger knew it wasn't going to be good news.
"How bad is it, doc? Is my Blythie gonna be okay?"
"Mr. Baxter," said the doctor, glumly, "I don't quite know how to put this. I've run some tests and found a shocking developments your daughter has juvenile dementia."
Roger gasped loudly. "Juvenile dementia?! What on earth is that?!"
The doctor explained everything to Roger. "Juvenile dementia is a rare form of Huntington's disease that causes symptoms in childhood or adolescence. And it appears your daughter is one of the unlucky ones. I don't exactly know how long it'll take her to recover—could be weeks, months, even years. All you can do at the moment is make her comfortable."
The doctor left after finishing his sentence. Roger was petrified with disbelief—her own daughter had Huntington's disease. He was somewhat reluctant to enter Blythe's room as he didn't want to disturb her at a time like this, but he managed to get himself together.
Upon entering her room, the sight of his pride and joy hooked up to a heart monitor almost made him feel sick to his stomach.
He gave Blythe a feeble wave. "Hey, Blythie."
Blythe woke up from her slumber and turned to face her father. "Who's this Blythie you're talking about?"
Roger took a few steps towards Blythe's bed. "I just wanted to say, uhm, your father's prayin' for your recovery. And I would like to tell you, in case you don't make it through this..." He began to tear up as he continued to speak. "...I will always love you, to eternity and beyond."
Blythe was untouched by her father's words, but Roger was confident the message got through. Taking one last, reluctant look at his daughter, ready to go back to sleep, and turned out her bedroom light before leaving the room, letting out a hefty sigh.
At the LPS day camp, Pepper sat by herself in the hydrant, wishing to have some alone time while she continued to wrestle with the grief. Taking a quick look at the corner outside, where the boys remained, she saw Sunil and Vinnie clinging onto each other and shivering. Russell was curled up into a ball, shuddering alongside the mongoose and gecko.
Pepper let out a sigh and laid herself down, preparing to take another nap, when Zoe and Minka quickly zoomed into the hydrant, looking rather morbid.
"Woah!" exclaimed Pepper. "Zoe, Minka, what is it? If I'm not mistaken, you both seem almost as tense as me!"
"We've just seen the news," said Zoe. "Apparently, there was a murder at Downtown City Park last night. They're saying it was a masked assailant who killed one of the animals."
Pepper's heart skipped a few beats upon hearing what Zoe had just told her. "A murder... at Downtown City Park?"
Minka nodded frantically.
"Who was the victim?" asked Pepper, hesitantly.
Zoe and Minka remained silent for a few seconds, then spoke in unison: "Shivers."
Pepper's feelings of dread were immediately taken down a notch. "Oh. Well... uhh... can I- can I be honest with you both?"
"Sure," said Zoe. "We would be glad to hear how you feel about the situation."
Pepper took a deep breath and sighed. "Okay... here's the truth. When Shivers first showed up at the day camp, I knew right away he wasn't gonna play fair. I could smell trouble on him a mile away. Then, he started hogging all the water, pigging out on our snacks, took our toothbrushes, and made things harder for us than they needed to be! Then he got us to turn on each other and I couldn't take much more of it, but no matted how many times Blythe tried to leave him at the park, he just kept coming back! I just wanted to scream at him and TELL HIM TO GO AWAY AND LEAVE US ALONE!" She calmed herself down. "Then we helped him excavate his home and everything turned out well in the end. Then, when Penny Ling left us, I just snapped. I lashed out at the guy and told him to stay out of my affairs. I gotta admit, I felt immediate regret for my outburst the moment he left." She let out another sigh. "And now, he's gone too. I feel bad, but at the same time, I kinda feel...relieved."
Zoe and Minka were flabbergasted. They had never seen Pepper act this cynical, even when she was trying out insult comedy. They didn't know how to feel about what they had just heard, especially after a good-hearted, fair-minded squirrel like Shivers had been murdered. Minka was about to reply, but Zoe waved her down and took a deep breath.
"We... understand," said Zoe, swallowing Pepper's words like a bitter pill. "It's good you're being honest with us, Pepper. We're your friends and we'll always be there for you."
Minka nodded in silent agreement. Pepper turned her eyes to the pair and smiled, knowing they would be ever so understanding, no matter how she felt.
"And for that, I'm thankful."
Outside the Biskit residence, Eliza was sitting quietly on the porch, reflecting upon her relationship with Fisher and his eventual death. She was still baffled by the fact that her own daughters would soon be the new owners of Largest Ever Pet Shop.
A few minutes later, her daughters came onto the porch through the door. Eliza turned to her daughters and smiled. "Oh! Hey, darlings!"
"Mom," said Brittany, "we need to, like, ask you about something."
"I'm all ears," said Eliza, in an enthusiastic tone.
"What do you think is the secret to Littlest Pet Shop's success?" asked Whittany.
"Oh!" exclaimed Eliza. "Now that's a brainteaser. Do you have a theory?"
"Well," said Brittany, "there was this one time where we thought it was water, but then we were told it was actually, well, love."
Eliza thought about it for a moment, then came up with her own theory. "Well, you can never be too sure of the true answer. If anything, it could be both water and love. From what I've heard, Blythe loves tending to the pets at the day camp—keeping them fed, showering them with endless love and affection and all that."
The twins took a minute to think about it and they realized something—they hadn't been showing the pets at Largest Ever Pet Shop as much love as LPS, sometimes to the point of starving them in their crates. Of course! How could they have been so blind to the truth?
Upon learning of the most plausible answer, they smirked and went back inside. "Thanks, mom!"
Eliza smiled. "Any time."
At the Song residence, Youngmee sat solemnly on her bed, with Sue and Jasper by her side as she gently rocked Nutmeg Dash in her arms. She sighed and laid Nutmeg on her lap. "I still don't get it. Who would do such a thing like killing someone's family member?"
Sue placed a hand on Youngmee's shoulder. "I have no idea, Youngmee's, but this surely doesn't sound too good. Jasper, what do you think?"
"I've seen a lot of slasher movies," said Jasper, "and I know for a fact this'll only go from bad to worse. You don't suppose the guy who aced your Aunt Christie was wearing a mask?"
Youngmee gulped at the very idea. "Shadow Blazer told me that."
Sue and Jasper were confused at the mere mention of Shadow Blazer's name. "Who's Shadow Blazer?"
"I'm Shadow Blazer," a voice familiar to Youngmee called out from another part of the room. Sue and Jasper were caught off-guard by who had just turned up at Youngmee's door—Shadow Blazer herself.
Youngmee waved at the Pegasus. "Hey, Ms. Blazer."
Jasper got up from the bed. "So you're this 'Shadow Blazer' my friend keeps talking about." He held out his hand. "The name's Jasper Jones. Nice to meet you at last."
Shadow Blazer held out her hoof and shook Jasper's hand. "Nice to finally meet you too." The Pegasus walked up to Youngmee. "I'm glad I arrived here on such short notice. I've just had another vision."
Youngmee felt a surge of adrenaline rush throughout her body. "Another vision? How bad is it this time?"
Shadow Blazer had a stern look on her face. "Very. Normally, I would have visions of people dying, but it seems the tables have turned for this one. Do any of you know the Biskit twins?"
The trio nodded.
"Well," said Shadow Blazer, "it seems they are now under the belief that they have figured out the secret of Littlest Pet Shop's success. Worst yet, they've teamed up with the masked assailant who murdered your Aunt Christie."
"Called it," said Jasper.
Shadow Blazer continued. "They intend to gather as many followers as they can for a full-frontal assault on Littlest Pet Shop. What they don't seem to realize is..." She sighed. "I'm this one who holds the true secret to the pet shop's success."
The trio gasped.
"You know of the secret to Littlest Pet Shop's success?" said Youngmee.
"I'd hate to be one to admit it," replied Shadow Blazer, "but it's true. I've been around your friend Blythe as long as I've been around you, it was only a matter of time. But what can you say? Friends like to share secrets. But that's besides the point. As of right now, your lives and mine are at great risk. I need to make sure they can't find us."
"Hold up," Sue stepped in. "Are you suggesting that we... leave home?'
Shadow Blazed nodded nonchalantly. "At least until this whole thing blows over."
Jasper turned to Youngmee. "Youngmee, what do you think?"
Youngmee sighed heavily. "I agree."
Sue and Jasper were naturally shocked by Youngmee's response. "What the huh?!"
"Look," said Youngmee, "I'd hate to leave this city behind as much as you, but I know the Biskits from the back of my hand. Given the current climate, they could pose a legitimate threat to not only the pet shop, but us as well." She turned to face Shadow Blazer. "So where do you plan on taking us exactly?"
"Indeed I do," Shadow Blazer responded enthusiastically. "My wife Spitfire owns a secluded spot in the woods. We've been doing some renovation ever since we were transported to this world."
Youngmee smirked. "Clever girl."
Shadow Blazer led the trio to the national forest, where the "secluded spot" was located. When they reached their desired location, Blazer was immediately welcomed by the open arms of her wife Spitfire.
"Shadow Blazer!" exclaimed Spitfire, giving her partner a warm hug. "I'm so happy to see you again, my little cinnamon apple!" She noticed Youngmee, Sue and Jasper standing in front of her. "Um, who are they?"
"These are some friends of mine," said Shadow Blazer. "Say hello to Youngmee, Sue and Jasper."
Spitfire waved at the trio, who waved back at the golden Pegasus.
"So what brings you here?" Spitfire asked the cloaked Pegasus.
"Something big is about to go down," replied Shadow Blazer. "I need to keep these three safe from harm. Would you be so kind as to show them the way?"
Spitfire nodded in agreement. "Sure thing, sweetie. What about you?"
"I'll catch up with a moment," said Shadow Blazer. "I'm going over to the day camp at Littlest Pet Shop. I have a feeling they could use some company during these dark and difficult times."
Spitfire nodded and led the trio into what appeared to be a cave, which Sue felt uneasy about, but Jasper was there to comfort her. In front of them was a dinghy, designed to hold up to five people, sitting on a body of water.
"A dinghy?" said Youngmee, confused. "Where will that take us?"
Spitfire winked at the Korean teen. "You'll see when we get there."
Meanwhile, Shadow Blazer made her way back to Downtown City, where she found herself standing in front of the entrance to Littlest Pet Shop. Sneaking her way through the door so as not to be spotted, she tiptoed past Mrs. Twombly, who was still blindly sterilizing the counter, and entered the day camp.
Pepper was taking her second nap of the day, with Zoe and Minka keeping her company, when she was awoken by the pitter-patter of hooves. "Hm? Zoe, Minka, do you hear that?"
The canine and spider-monkey nodded simultaneously. Just then, Shadow Blazer poked her head into the hydrant area, making Pepper jump and yelp in surprise. She pushed herself up on her feet and waved at the Pegasus.
"Hey, Ms. Shadow Blazer."
Zoe and Minka greeted their visitor more optimistically. "Hello, Ms. Blazer!"
"It's good to see you all," said Shadow Blazer. "And just in time too. Pepper, I'm gonna need to take Zoe and Minka with me for a while."
Pepper's eyes widened with shock. "What?!"
"Dunno why you would need us so badly," said Minka, "but sure."
Zoe followed Minka as she leapt out of the hydrant. "Well, if you feel so strongly about it, I will gladly go with you."
"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Pepper. "You girls are gonna leave me here, all alone?"
Just as Pepper was about to tear up, Sugar Sprinkles ran into the day camp and leapt into the hydrant. "It's okay, Pepper! Sugar Sprinkles is here!"
Sugar Sprinkles greeted Pepper with a reassuring hug, making Pepper smile at the Pegasus as she shed a tear. "Aww, Blazer! You shouldn't have!"
Shadow Blazer smiled back. "I'm glad I told Sugar Sprinkles about my absence. She can keep a close eye on you while we're gone. I've seen how well she tends to Buttercream."
Pepper was grateful for Shadow Blazer's thoughtfulness and felt it was only right to hug Sugar Sprinkles back, to which she purred delightfully. Pepper let go and settled down, ready to go back to sleep. As she laid her head back on her tail, she watched as Shadow Blazer walked away from the hydrant and headed towards the door, holding Zoe and Minka in her left wing.
Zoe waved at the pair. "Goodbye!"
Minka followed suit. "Don't fret, we'll be back before you know it!"
And like that, they were gone.
