ZOOMing Out

A ZOOM fanfic

By Madeline Fretz

Commentary: This fic was originally going to be called "The Sad Goodbye," but changed the title to "ZOOMing Out," since this fic isn't all, you know, sad goodbyes (SPOILERS(!)). - end commentary

2000. Boston, Massachusetts. Boston was a place for kids. Best of all, it was the place where ZOOM, the popular PBS show, was filmed. A revival of the popular 70s kids show of the same name, ZOOM was produced by WGBH Boston. Commentary: Like my Sprout fanfic, I treat this fic like a movie. If this were a real movie, the first scene would definitely have a narrator, maybe one of the ZOOMers. - end commentary.

11-year-old Caroline Botelho was on her way to the studio where her show was filmed. Caroline could easily call WGBH and ZOOM her second home. It was where she met hip, cool kids her age, and they instantly became fast friends. It was her second season on the show.

Caroline got her makeup done, put on her costume, and walked into the ZOOMZone, the room where the ZOOMers hung out when they weren't filming segments or on the set. Frances Dormond, a African-American Caroline's age, was the first one in there, and greeted her castmate.

"Hi, Frances."

"Heya, Carey. What's new?"

"Nothing much really." Caroline rolled her eyes and shrugged. "What's new with you, Frances?"

"The usual." Frances groaned. "Only yesterday, my mom and I went shopping and we took my little sister to her ballet class downtown. Oh, and also picked her up." Commentary: This is a reference to the fact that my mom and I drive my sister to her ballet classes downtown every day except Thursday and Sunday. - end commentary

"You always tell me those!" joked Caroline, who then looked at the "viewers." Sometimes, she would break the fourth wall in real-life like they would do on TV shows. "Hi, ZOOMers, welcome to the show!"

A hip-hop-ish beat started playing out of nowhere, and the ZOOMers, including Caroline and Frances, came bursting into their show's set. It was the show's third season.

ZOOMers:

ZOOOOOOOM!

Come on and ZOOM,

Come on and ZOOM,

Come on and ZOOM,

Come on and ZOOM,

Come on and ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOMa, ZOOM!

Come on and ZOOM,

You call the tune!

Come on and ZOOM,

We're starting soon!

Come on and ZOOMa, ZOOMa, ZOOMa, ZOOM!

(ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM!)

I'm Frances!

I'm Eric!

I'm Rachel! Oh yeah!

Hey, I'm Kenny!

I'm Kaleigh!

Hey, I'm Buzz! Ba-da-ba-da-boom!

And I'm Caroline!

We're all plugged into one world now!

So let's talk, we wanna hear from you!

Come on, give it a try!

And if you like what you see, turn off your TV and do it!

(ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM!)

Come on and ZOOM,

Come on and ZOOM,

Come on and ZOOM,

Come on and ZOOM,

Come on and ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOMa, ZOOM!

Come on and ZOOM,

Come on and ZOOM,

Come on and ZOOM,

Come on and ZOOM,

Come on and ZOOMa, ZOOMa, ZOOMa, ZOOM!

It was a very busy day. After filming a few segments, the ZOOMers lounged in the ZOOMZone. Commentary: Every movie needs an opening number, and the ZOOM theme song would be the perfect theme song to a ZOOM movie if there ever was one! - end commentary

Young adult Keiko Mathewson now worked on the show after leaving the cast after Season 1, but she couldn't decide whether she was a man or a ZOOMer. Commentary: I remember Keiko being in a news article about auditions for (I think) Season 5, and I think she was helping out with the auditions. I needed a former ZOOMer in this fanfic, so I went with her. - end commentary

Keiko watched the other ZOOMers hanging out and filming segments "Hey, Keiko, glad you could visit the set!" 11-year-old Kevin Barrette smiled at the teen. Kevin's friends and the ZOOM crew called him "Buzz" since he had a buzzy hairstyle.

"Thanks, Buzz." sighed Keiko.

Frances and Eric Rollins, 13, ran up to Keiko. Frances and Eric had known each other since they were both very little, and both had ended up on ZOOM for its third season. "Hey, Keiko, wanna help us with our ZOOMSci project?" asked Frances.

"Uhh, nubo thub- no thanks." Keiko politely declined. For some reason, she kept missing summer of 1998 - the good old days. She missed her teenage self with braces and overalls, hanging out, playing games, and of course speaking in Ubbi Dubbi with the other ZOOMers. Her close friends Zoe Costello and Alisa Besher were also on the first season of the show, but both left after the second. Keiko sighed, and slowly started to sing.

I reflect on my reflection

And I ask myself the question

What's the right direction to go?

I dunno.

Am I a man or am I a ZOOMer? (Am I a ZOOMer?)

If I'm a ZOOMer, then I'm a very manly ZOOMer (very manly ZOOMer)

Am I a ZOOMer or am I a man? (Am I a man?)

If I'm a man, that makes me a ZOOMer of a man (ZOOMer of a man) Commentary: Yes, I know Keiko's a girl, but I had her sing this song anyways since I knew the song would fit ZOOM and the ZOOMers well. - end commentary.

Caroline took a walk in rainy Boston, complete with a raincoat, hat, boots, and umbrella. Caroline sighed. She also couldn't decide whether she was a ZOOMer or just a regular girl. She stared at other kids, and started singing. Commentary: The portion of this number is inspired by the song "Why Can't I?" from the Strawberry Shortcake (2003) episode "It Takes Talent," in which Strawberry also takes a walk in the rain. I knew this would be perfect for a song like "Man or ZOOMer." - end commentary

I look into these eyes,

And I don't recognize,

The one I see insiiiiiiiiiide.

It's time for me to decide!

Keiko and Caroline, who made a dream catcher together in the Season 1 reunion episode last season, played piano with their Season 1 ZOOMer self and adult self respectively.

Caroline:

Am I a man or am I a ZOOMer? (Am I a ZOOMer?)

If I'm a ZOOMer, well, I'm a very manly ZOOMer (very manly ZOOMer)

Am I a ZOOMer or am I a man? (Am I a man?)

If I'm a man, that makes me a ZOOMer of a man (ZOOMer of a man) Commentary: Caroline's also a girl, but see above. - end commentary

Keiko and Caroline:

Here I go again.

I'm always runnin' outta time,

I think I've made up my mind,

Now I understand who I am.

After much singing and deciding, both Keiko and Caroline decided who they were and where they needed to be.

Keiko:

I'm a man!

Caroline:

I'm a ZOOMer,

Keiko:

I'm a ZOOMer of a man!

Caroline:

I'm a very manly ZOOMer!

Keiko:

I'm a ZOOMer of a man!

Keiko and Caroline:

That's what I am.

Both girls were in the ZOOMZone, where the ZOOMers hung out when they weren't filming segments or on set.

"Keiko, I know you miss the good old days and your first season and all, but are you a man or a ZOOMer?" asked 16-year-old Kenny Yates. This was also his second season on the show. The shortest ZOOMer, Kenny may have been too old for ZOOM when he joined the cast, but got on anyways because of his height.

"Kenny, I sang an entire song about it! I'm a man!"

"You're a girl, not a man." Frances pointed out. Everyone else nodded and agreed. Commentary: Frances and Kenny have a point (or should I say "points"?). - end commentary.

"I know, but I said just what the song says."

Frances rolled her eyes.

"So, what should we do next on the show?" asked Eric.

11-year-old Kaleigh Cronin pulled a letter out of the ZOOM mail cart. "Elmria, age 8, of Louisville, Kentucky says we should make a fruit salad treasure chest, and she listed the ingredients and instructions." Commentary: She's referring to a recipe that used to be on which they made on The Sunny Side Up Show and I think The Super Sproutlet Show. - end commentary

"Who's gonna make it?" questioned Caroline.

"Whoever the producers choose." Kaleigh told her castmate. "It doesn't matter!"

Just then, series producers Kate Taylor and Marcy Guthner walked in the room.

"Guys, I have some bad news to tell you." Kate told the ZOOMers.

"What is it?" asked Buzz.

"I hope it has some good in it." 12-year-old Rachel Redd added.

"We're sorry to inform you that ZOOM has been … canceled." Marcy said with tears in her eyes.

Before long, various "Whys?" filled the room.

"It was due to government cuts of PBS funding. They deemed your show too expensive to produce." explained Marcy. Commentary: ZOOM was canceled in 2004 due to low ratings, with its seventh and final season airing in early 2005, but this story (or "movie") takes place during the third season, which was filmed in 2000 but aired in 2001. I chose this as the setting because the original ZOOM from the 70s was going to get canceled during its third season, but many kids (referred to as "ZOOMers") sent in pictures and letters, and WGBH turned the lights back on. In this story, ZOOM gets canceled due to PBS funding cuts (SPOILERS!(?)). - end commentary

Most, if not all of the ZOOMers started crying quietly. Caroline ran over to the beanbag chairs and let tears slip down her cheeks.

"Guys, don't fret!" Kate told the cast. "If you continue to work together, you'll still be friends and get the job done, just like always! But you'll all have to move out and say goodbye."

"I knew she'd say that." Kaleigh facepalmed.

"Okay, everyone. You did a great job on the show today, now put on your regular clothes, go back home, and get some sleep. See you … maybe tomorrow."

The next morning, Rachel woke up. She couldn't believe her favorite show was stopping production and getting canceled. The 12-year-old African-American could easily call herself ZOOM's biggest fan. She auditioned for the show and became an official ZOOMer, making her happy and so excited. It was clear she was having the time of her life. Commentary: I believe Rachel talked about watching ZOOM in one Season 3 episode, and was in the cold open for a Season 1 episode, so I declared her a big ZOOM fan in this story/movie. - end commentary

"I knew it wasn't a dream!" Rachel groaned as she stopped her alarm clock, rubbed her head, and got out of bed, "I guess we better start packing!"

Keiko and Kenny, the two eldest ZOOMers, were on the set, packing their belongings. "I'm sure gonna miss this place." Kenny sighed as he packed cast pictures and several props given to him in his suitcase.

"Kenny, why are you packing ZOOM props?" asked Keiko.

"Oh, the producers and crew gave them to me."

"Keiko, we need help cleaning the ZOOMZone." producer Jim Johnston told the former ZOOMer as he, content producer Marisa Wolsky, and managing producer Kathleen Shugrue walked into the room.

"On my way!" Keiko beamed as she ran away from the set, but not before turning to Kenny. "I'll be right back, Ken!"

"Got it!"

In the ZOOMZone, Kaleigh and Caroline were also packing. "I'm sure gonna miss my ZOOMZone Fairyland. I wish ZOOM would go on forever." Caroline sighed.

"Yeah, me too." commented Kaleigh. "We had some good times.

"But you know what they always say…" Caroline pointed out.

"...All good things must come to an end." both girls finished.

"...Except for Sesame Street, The Simpsons, and Saturday Night Live." Caroline pointed out.

"We've been through a whole lot together, doing ZOOMSci experiments and acting out ZOOMPlayhouses." Kaleigh said. "I'm sure Fannee Doolee liked all those things!"

"They've been doing this since the 70s. Too bad it's all ending!" Caroline replied with a frown on her face.

"Don't despair, Carey. I'm sure PBS stations will play reruns. After all, they always play reruns of canceled shows. And I'm sure our PBS Kids website will remain up."

"You know what? Why didn't I think of this sooner? Besides, I hear that Mr. Rogers is canceling his show and retiring because he has stomach cancer."

"Poor him. I hope he comes out of retirement!" Commentary: Mr. Fred Rogers (RIP) announced his retirement in December, with his final episode airing on PBS in August 2001, but this story takes place around August. - end commentary

In another room, Eric was helping Frances and Buzz pack several ZOOM props and ZOOMZone stuff in boxes.

On Thursday, the ZOOMers filmed their last episode and their show officially wrapped production. After filming the final segment, the kids talked a little with the crew.

"Hey, Paul!"

"Hmm? What is it, Carey?"

"Will our show air in reruns? Kaleigh was asking the same thing the other day." Caroline asked segment producer Paul Serafini.

"I'm sure it will, Caroline, and I'm sure the viewers will still be able to send in stuff via the ZOOM website."

"Phew! What a relief!" Caroline smiled.

Eric and Kenny, the two eldest ZOOMers this season, were conversing with one another. "I'm quite worried about our props because they're with us rather than the GBH people." Kenny told the African-American teen.

"I'm sure everything's gonna be okay, Ken." Eric confronted his friend.

"Thank you!" Kenny sighed in relief. "Or should I say 'thubank yubou?'"

Buzz put his ZOOM production journal, given to him at the start of the season, in his suitcase, closed it, and sighed. It was quiet. The boy silently started to sing.

Come stop your crying

It will be alright

Just take my hand

Hold it tight

Rachel:

I will protect you

From all around you

I will be here

Eric and Kenny:

Don't you cry

For one so small

You seem so strong

Kaleigh and Frances:

My arms will hold you

Keep you safe and warm

This bond between us

Can't be broken

I will be here, don't you cry

ZOOMers:

'Cause you'll be in my heart

Yes, you'll be in my heart

From this day on

Now and forever more

You'll be in my heart

No matter what they say

You'll be here in my heart

Always

Caroline joined in with a sad smile. Everyone gulped, holding back what was left of their tears.

Always

The gang walked down to dinner.

The entire ZOOM Season 3 cast and crew was at a local restaurant in Boston, raised their glasses, and gave cheers.

"Man, this fancy dinner is a great way to end production." Buzz said, munching on a breadstick.

"Yeah, I agree. Too bad we didn't have an actual wrap party!" Rachel replied.

Suddenly, the ZOOMers' eyes met Frances playing with her silverware. "Frances, don't play with your food." groaned Kaleigh.

"I have to, Kales. I'm putting on my own fork-and-spoon play!'

"What's it called?" Eric asked.

"It's called 'Fork in the Road.' Get it?"

"We get it!" the others groaned.

"Speaking of which, has anyone seen an actual fork, like the ones you use for meals, in a road while driving?" asked Caroline.

Most of the ZOOMers replied with "No" and "I don't think so." "Caroline, have you ever seen a fork in the middle of a road?" Kenny asked his "girl."

"No, not really, Ken."

Suddenly, Caroline and Kenny held hands. The others knew they were secretly in love. Both kids had been on the show since its second season last year.

"Kenny and Caroline love each other very much." Frances whispered to Rachel, who giggled at her comment.

"What's all the fuss, Rach?" asked Kenny.

"Oh, it was nothing really." Rachel told the teen. "Fubinubish ubeatubing!"

The ZOOMers dug into the food they had left. Commentary: This scene is based on a scene from theprawncracker (Ryan Dosier)'s Muppet Central fanfic "Street Smarts," which is about the Sesame Street gang saving their street from getting demolished by an evil oil baron who turns out to be Mr. Hooper's nephew. In one scene, the gang has dinner at Charlie's (the restaurant Grover works in). There, Rosita puts on a play using her silverware and Kermit and Elmo notice Gabi and Miles holding hands. A similar scene appears in my previous ZOOM fic "The End of the Road," which takes place during production of Season 7. - end commentary

As time went by, crew members slowly began to trickle away. Most of the crew members left in taxi cabs, and before long, it was the ZOOMers' turn to leave. There was one more taxi left.

"Well, guys, I guess the next taxi's mine." Rachel sighed. "I don't wanna go!"

"Listen, Rach, I know you don't wanna go, but it's something we just have to do." explained Eric.

"Yeah, I know. You know what, I'm sure gonna miss ZOOM."

"We all will." Kaleigh reassured.

Rachel:

Long ago, but not so very long ago

The world was different, oh yes it was

Eric and Frances:

They settled down and they made a show and made it live

And they watched it grow, it was our show

Buzz and Kaleigh:

Time goes by, time brings changes, we change too

Nothing comes that we can't handle, so on we go

Eric:

You never see it coming when the world caves in on you

On our show, nothing we can do

Kaleigh, Rachel, Frances, Eric, and Buzz:

Main street isn't main street anymore

The lights don't shine as brightly as they shone before

Tell the truth, lights don't shine at all

On our show

Frances:

Sun comes up each morning, just like it's always done

Kaleigh:

Get up, go to work, start the day

Open up for business that's never gonna come

Rachel:

As the world rolls by a million miles away

Kaleigh, Rachel, Frances, Eric, and Buzz:

Main street isn't main street anymore

No one seems to need us like they did before

It's hard to find a reason left to stay

But it's our show, we love it anyway

Caroline and Kenny came out of the building holding hands, not having to hide anything, but coming in at the wrong time.

Come what may to our show

"I…I gotta go guys." Rachel said as her eyes met her taxi.

"Thanks a lot, Rach." Buzz said with tears in his eyes.

After hugging all her friends, Rachel got into the taxi, which slowly drove away. Commentary: Also inspired by a scene in "Street Smarts." - end commentary

Buzz wanted to eat the box of crackers in his hand. His stomach wouldn't let him.

Buzz got into his family's lime green car.

Kaleigh cradled a box containing ZOOM belongings and memorabilia in her arms, the tears falling from her face.

Kenny and Caroline looked at the WGBH studio and both cried. Kenny wrapped his arm around his sweetheart's shoulder.

The lime green car drove away.

Followed by a bus.

Another bus came to pick up Caroline and Kenny.

"Well, they're gone." Eric said sadly.

"Yup, and pretty soon, we'll be gone too." Frances replied. "I'm sure gonna miss this place … and the show. You know, out of all the shows on TV nowadays, nothing can beat ZOOM!"

"I agree, girl. We've had so many memories here."

"But Eric, I'm sure we can visit the set. I promise! Caroline said that even after the Season 1 kids left the show, they still saw the cast."

"Yeah, I hope so." Eric commented, and started singing.

Here's to the ones that we've got,

Cheers to the wish you were here but you're not

'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories

Of everything we've been through.

Frances:

Toast to the ones here today,

Toast to the ones that we lost on the way

'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories

Frances and Eric:

And the memories bring back memories bring back you.

Frances:

There's a time that I remember

When I did not know the plain.

When I thought it'd be forever,

Everything would stay the same.

Eric:

Now my heart feels like December,

When somebody say your name.

Now I can't reach out to call you.

But I know I will one day.

Frances:

Everybody hurts sometimes, everybody hurts someday.

But everything's gonna be alright, go raise a glass and say…

Eric:

Here's to the ones that we've got,

Cheers to the wish you were here but you're not

'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories

Of everything we've been through.

Frances:

Toast to the ones here today,

Toast to the ones that we lost on the way

'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories

Frances and Eric:

And the memories bring back memories bring back you.

Eric:

There's a time that I remember, when I never felt so lost.

And to fulfill all the hatred was to go out from the start

Frances:

And my heart feel like you never

And it's lightin' up the dark.

I'll carry these torches for you,

That you know I'll never drop (Yeah!)

Everybody hurts sometimes, everybody hurts someday.

But everything's gonna be alright, go raise a glass and say…

Eric:

Here's to the ones that we've got,

Cheers to the wish you were here but you're not

'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories

Of everything we've been through.

Frances:

Toast to the ones here today,

Toast to the ones that we lost on the way

'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories

Frances and Eric:

And the memories bring back memories bring back you.

Frances:

Memories bring back memories bring back you

"Well, I better get going." Eric sighed as he noticed and headed toward a bus. "Bye, France!"

"Bye, Eric!" Frances sniffed as she waved goodbye to a fellow ZOOMer she held near and dear to her heart.

Suddenly, Frances heard her mom calling her, and started going herself.

Caroline and Kenny were still on their bus, which pulled away from Massachusetts. The two both missed ZOOM and WGBH, but were ready to make new memories elsewhere. The bus stopped at a house in North Carolina. The house was silent. Standing alone. Commentary: My Uncle Jim lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. If this movie were real, Kenny and Caroline's house would probably be his. - end commentary

As the minutes, maybe even hours, passed, the duo unpacked their things, even old ZOOM props, and got themselves settled in their new home.

Kenny was playing video games in the "bonus room" he just made when he heard Caroline crying in another room. He ran into the hallway, opened the door to a small bedroom, and saw Caroline collapsed on a bed and sobbing.

"Carey, all you alright?" asked the teenager as he walked into the room.

Caroline got up, noticing her "boyfriend," and sighed. "Oh, hi, Ken. Oh, I was just… I … I miss the good old days." the girl said sadly, sniffing in between words.

"Caroline, listen, girl, we all do, but sometimes it's better to go."

"I know, but I can't stop thinking about how things used to be." Caroline replied. "I miss Kaleigh, and Frances, and Buzz…"

"...Rachel and Eric…"

"...ZOOMScis and ZOOMPlayhouses…"

"...CafeZOOM and ZOOMGames…"

"...ZOOMDo and ZOOMZingers…"

"...Everything." Kenny and Caroline said.

"Don't worry, everything will be okay!" said a voice.

"What was that?" Kenny asked.

Caroline opened a small, square-shaped door in the bedroom, and crawled inside. Suddenly, a troll approached the 11-year-old. Commentary: Sometimes, I see small doors in Uncle Jim's house (see above) and believe trolls live in there, and I believe we have ones just like those in our own house. There was a Sofia the First episode in which the titular character discovered trolls. - end commentary

"I knew trolls were real." Caroline rolled her eyes, before turning to the troll. "Anyways, were you the one that was saying 'everything is going to be alright'?"

"Of course I was," said the troll. "I'm Harold, nice to meet you!" Commentary: That name popped out of nowhere. If this were a real movie, Harold would probably be played by Matt Dillon, whom I mentioned in both my poster and trailer for this fanfic. - end commentary

Caroline smiled as she shook hands with Harold. "Hi, I'm Caroline. I used to be on this PBS show called ZOOM."

Harold was surprised at his new friend's statement. "You were on TV?"

"Yeah! It was so cool. We played games, made things, and performed skits all written by kids. You were missing out, living under a rock."

"Actually, Caroline, I live in a cave."

"Actually, this cave is in a bedroom in a North Carolina house." Caroline told Harold. "Don't believe me? Come with me!"

Caroline opened the door. She and Harold crawled out of the door and approached Kenny. "That's my friend Kenny."

"Was he on that ZOOM show too?" asked Harold.

"Of course he was, Harold. Lots of other kids were on the show too. We were both on the show last year, and had lots of fun."

"Oh, better go! Gotta go to the troll dinner party!" exclaimed Harold as he jumped into the small door and ran away.

"Bye, Harold!" Caroline waved goodbye to her new friend.

Kenny turned his head to Caroline. "Harold? Who's Harold?"

"Oh, Harold's a troll who lives in this door." Caroline told her boyfriend soon-to-be husband as she pointed to the door where the trolls lived.

"Caroline, you're silly!" Kenny rolled his eyes. "There are no trolls in that cabinet!"

"It's a door!" argued Caroline.

"Oh really? Prove it!"

Caroline opened the door and crawled into it with Kenny. "He said it's a cave!" Caroline told her friend as soon as the two were inside the door.

"Looks like a cave, but it's not actually one."

"Is too! And there are trolls in there. Actually."

"I don't see anything, Caroline." groaned Kenny. "You were just using your imagination!" Commentary: Mr. Snuffleupagus from Sesame Street used to be imaginary. Only Big Bird could see him since, before the adults could see him, he had to go back to his cave for some reason, and, when the adults would arrive, they would believe Big Bird was just using his imagination. - end commentary

"I see." Caroline sighed. "Oh! Didn't you order a pizza for dinner. Ken?"

"Uhh … oh wait, yes, I did! And I think it's here now!" Kenny said as he ran out of the room and rushed to the house's front door.

"Beat ya there!" Caroline said as she ran after her "boyfriend."

Rachel was up so high, noticing the floor down, down, down below. The 12-year-old Black girl, who always wanted to fly, wondered what would happen if she would fly down there, and tried to "fly" down to the ground. Once she landed, she almost got seriously injured.

A beautiful blonde-haired woman noticed Rachel's crash landing to the ground, and helped her up. "Are you alright?" asked the woman. Commentary: I knew I needed a strong female character to save the ZOOMers and save the day, and I created the perfect person (or character?) for the job. - end commentary

"Yeah, I think so." Rachel replied. "I was trying to fly, but found out I couldn't do it. Oh, and by the way, name's Rachel!"

"Hi, my name's Stacia." the woman told Rachel as she shook hands with her. "Hey, haven't we met before?"

"I don't think so, Staysh. Mind if I call you that?"

"Sure."

"Hey, Staysh, ever heard of the show ZOOM?"

"Uhh, yeah. I watched that show as a kid."

"Well, PBS and WGBH made a new version for TV a few years ago, and I love watching that show." Rachel told Stacia. "In fact, I was in an episode in its first season."

Stacia was surprised at what the 12-year-old said. "Cool, you were on TV!"

"Yeah, I was. Oh, and wanna know the best thing ever?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I auditioned for the show at the start of this year, and guess what?"

"What?" asked Stacia.

"I got on! We started filming my season this summer, and I think it's due to air at the start of next year." Rachel explained. "This is basically my dream come true! I'm ZOOM's #1 fan!"

"Dream come true indeed!" replied Stacia. "I knew you were going to say that!"

"Oh, and Stacia."

"What?"

"I'm here for space camp." Rachel told her new friend. "You see, ZOOM got canceled in the middle of production a few days ago due to PBS funding cuts. After our show got canceled and we broke up, my parents enrolled me in space camp right here. Oh, and do you by any chance work here?"

"Sure. I do." Stacia told Rachel. "Follow me!"

The two girls walked into another room - one that was filled with space-themed objects and wallpaper. Stacia had Rachel put on a spacesuit and then it was off to work. Commentary: If this were a movie, Stacia would probably be played by Jennifer Aniston. After all, her name was mentioned in my movie poster and trailer. - end commentary

"Good morning and welcome to the kids' club." said a young brunette with glasses and her hair in a ponytail. "My name is Rosie, and we're going to have a great time!" Commentary: Yet another name that popped out of nowhere. If this were a movie, Rosie would probably be played by Jennifer Aniston (Stacia)'s FRIENDS co-star Courteney Cox. - end commentary

"Hi, Rosie!" said a group of young children. Most of them were preschool or kindergarten-aged, except one. One 11-year-old boy.

"It's going to be a great year, and let's start it by telling everyone our names and what we like to do."

The kids cheered.

Rosie pointed to the 11-year-old. "'Big kid' in the center, you start."

"Well, my name is Kevin, but you can call me Buzz. Anyways, I spent the summer doing the best thing ever!"

Before long, the room was filled with "What is its?"

"I was on TV." Buzz told the little kids, surprising everyone. "There's this hipster kids' show on PBS called ZOOM in which a bunch of kids do fun stuff sent in by viewers." Commentary: When ZOOM was around, I believe it was quite the hippest kids' show on Earth. After all, they had a hip-hop theme song (until Season 7 of course) and the cast members were like your hip, cool big brothers and sisters. - end commentary

"Wow! That's cool!" exclaimed a 5-year-old brunette with a pink shirt and her hair in pigtails.

"I've heard of that show." added a Caucasian boy with black hair and a dark blue shirt.

"I am, well, was, part of the cast this year, and we started filming in June." Buzz continued. "It's our third season so far, and this is my first year on the show. I think my season is slated to air next year. But wanna hear the sad news?"

"Uhh, yeah." sighed the pigtailed girl.

"They canceled the show due to PBS losing its funding."

"Aww." groaned the kids in the room.

"Will the show still be on?" asked a black girl wearing a white tye-dye shirt sitting next to Buzz. "And will you be on it?"

"The producers told us the show will still air." Buzz told the girl on his left. "And besides, they said my season will air on New Year's Day next year." Commentary: From what I have heard, Season 3 premiered on January 1st, 2001. Is that true? - end commentary

"It's nice to know that you're going to be on TV, Buzz," Rosie told the boy, "but tell us your name and what you like to do."

"Okay. My name is Buzz and I like to play the drums!"

"My name is Buzz and I like to play the drums!" Rosie and most of the kids got up and repeated after him. Commentary: There's this cool YouTube channel with a website consisting of games, icebreakers, and skits that totally should've been done on ZOOM, and they had a "My name is [insert name here], I like to…" video - end commentary

"Next!" Rosie said as she pointed to the black girl next to Buzz.

"My name is Iesha. I like to dance!"

Most of the kids, including Rosie, repeated after the girl, except Buzz. The boy sighed. "Why did they enroll me in a little kids' class?" he asked himself.

"My name is Merlin. I like to swim!" said the boy on Buzz's right, the one who told him he watched his show. Commentary: "Iesha" and "Merlin" were both names from my old preschool class. - end commentary

Eric was fast asleep on his bus, grumbling in his sleep. "Box 350, Boston, Mass, 0 … 2 … 1 3 … 4."

Eric's bus pulled him to a theater somewhere in Richmond. The black teen got off the bus and walked into the theater. Suddenly, his eyes met a band logo that resembled the ZOOM logo, except it was white and read "DOOM" and a group of thugs who looked like the other ZOOMers talking and hanging out.

"Hi, we don't know you!" said a thug girl who looked like former ZOOMer Jessica.

"Uhh, don't you know me? I'm Eric from ZOOM."

"Eric?! Never heard of him!" said another thug resembling Ray, another former ZOOMer. "Welcome to DOOM! I'm Rooy!"

"I'm Cloodio!"

"I'm Joosica!"

"I'm Caroloone!"

"I'm Aloosa!"

"I'm Zooe!"

"…And I'm Koony!" finished a thug resembling Kenny. "What are you doing here?" Commentary: Take a wild guess at whom the DOOMers are based on! - end commentary

"A bus just dropped me off here." Eric told the "DOOMers." "You see, ZOOM got canceled due to funding cuts and the cast broke up, and, well, I'm here. I don't know what to do!"

A woman walked into the room. "Kendra, what should we do with this Eric guy?" asked "Zooe."

"Make him a DOOMer!" yelled "Cloodio."

"A DOOMer?!" asked Eric.

"DOOM's the name of our ZOOM tribute band." explained Joosica. "By the way, my name's Joosica, but you can call me Joosie."

"Yeah. You, Eric, should be the lead singer of DOOM." Kendra pointed to the black teen.

"Who, me?"

"Yes, you!" yelled the DOOMers.

"You will have so much fun!" "Caroloone" told Eric. The other DOOMers agreed.

"Well, they say I can do anything." Eric rolled his eyes.

"Okay, DOOMers, time for rehearsal!" Kendra told Eric and his new band. The DOOMers cheered, except for Eric.

"I think I'm going to like it here." Eric groaned at himself.

Frances was in a Denver studio, her office filled with baby toys, books, and VHS tapes. The 11-year-old black girl sighed. It was clear that she missed ZOOM, its studio, and of course the cast. She wanted the show back and to see her old friends again. Suddenly, the girl heard a knock on her door.

"Frances Dormond, almost showtime!" a blonde middle-aged woman told Frances as she walked into the room.

"Okay, Julie." smiled Frances. After the ZOOMers broke up, Frances started working for the Baby Einstein Company, which at the time was owned by Family Home Entertainment, a subsidiary of Artisan. The company was known for making educational direct-to-video specials aimed at babies and toddlers, and right now, they were making their sixth video, Baby Santa's Music Box, themed around christmastime. Commentary: I love both ZOOM and Baby Einstein, and, when I couldn't decide what job Frances should have after the ZOOMers broke up, I decided she work at the Baby Einstein company. Yes, a then-11-year-old working at a little kids' company. - end commentary

"I wanna go home!" Frances moaned as she walked out of her office and into a filming studio.

A bunch of kids, most of whom seemed to be around preschool age, were in the room, running, screaming, jumping, and dancing, all wearing Christmas outfits. Christmas in August. Frances couldn't believe it.

"Kids, kids, calm down! Almost time for the show!" a man told the kids. Most of them didn't listen, annoying him and Frances. A brunette woman put animal sock puppets on her hands, trying to grab the kids' attention. "Good safe, Markie." the man told the woman.

"Uhh, Mark. Didn't you know that I used to be on ZOOM?" Frances asked the man.

"The PBS show from the 70s?"

"No, the new version on PBS. We started filming a few months ago, but got canceled a few days ago. My family moved to Colorado and my parents convinced me to work here, but I still want ZOOM back. I miss ZOOM."

"I know you do, France, but sometimes you just have to let go." Mark explained.

"I know." Frances sighed.

"Okay, everyone, shootin' time." said Baby Einstein's First AD through a megaphone. Mark got to a camera and got to work. Julie Aigner-Clark, the founder of the Baby Einstein Company, walked into the room.

"What are we going to do first, mommy?" asked an early elementary school-aged, blonde-haired girl. Julie had two children, Aspen and Sierra, and made the Baby Einstein videos just for them.

"So, we're going to have scenes of all the kids dancing around and going crazy." Julie told Aspen, her first daughter.

Frances ran away and locked herself in a nearby closet. She found a phone and decided to call Kaleigh, remembering and still having her castmate's phone number. "Heya, Kales!"

"Frances, why are you calling?" asked Kaleigh on her phone.

"Oh, I just wanted to see what you were up to." explained Frances. "Me? I'm working for the Baby Einstein Company in Denver and filming a children's video there."

"I'm on the annual Cronin family vacation in Disney World." Kaleigh replied.

"Cool! What rides have you gone on so far?"

"Well, so far, I've gone to the Magic Kingdom. My favorite rides, and the only rides I've gone on so far, are Dumbo the Flying Elephant and the Mad Tea Party."

"I love those rides!" Frances beamed. "And what characters did you meet?"

"Ugh!" Kaleigh groaned. "I haven't met any characters so far and I don't plan to ANYTIME SOON! I refuse to meet characters at theme parks because I don't believe they're the real characters."

"Well, hate to disagree with you, Kales, but I believe they're the real characters."

The two former ZOOMers started arguing on the phone on whether Disney theme park characters were the real characters. Suddenly…

"Frances, we need you!" yelled Julie Clark.

"Coming!" Frances replied. "Be right back, Kales!"

"Okay! Got it!" Kaleigh smiled and hung up.

Meanwhile, Kenny and Caroline were in their new house, hanging out with Harold in the "troll room." Suddenly, Harold started singing, or rather rapping.

I'm Harold the Troll, Mr. Harold T.

People call me rich cause I got my mo-money.

I got more cheddar than supersized nachos,

I got cash flow like Robert has De Niros.

I use greens than Vincent Van Gogh,

I make the baker make my bread outta dough.

No, no, don't eat it though, it'll make ya ill!

There ain't no flower in a hundred dollar bill!

Female trolls:

He's Harold the Troll (oh yeah!), everybody listen,

Just how great it is to be him! (Oh, it's great to be me, yeah!)

He's the greatest (I'm the greatest!), you're the lamest!

ZOOM is a waste of time, oh can't ya see?

Harold:

It's funny in a rich troll's world,

When I need a piece of string, I use a string of pearls

If something's for sale, consider it sold!

I've got so much gold, I go plate my gold.

I even got a troll to go plate my cat,

I don't regret much, but I do regret that!

Female trolls:

He's Harold the Troll (oh yeah!), everybody listen,

Just how great it is to be him! (Oh, it's great to be me, yeah!)

He's the greatest (I'm the greatest!), you're the lamest!

ZOOM is a waste of time, oh can't ya see?

Suddenly, Harold started singing opera.

I recall a heartbreaking story about my own tenth birthday party.

It should've been a glorious day for me, I'd have been happy as can be,

But the ZOOMers were there to put on a show.

They started to dance, they were telling their jokes.

I didn't laugh, I didn't know how.

And my friends, they all turned around,

And they laughed at me, they laughed at me,

I hate you ZOOMers so!

The music then turned back to rap.

Female trolls:

He's Harold the Troll, everybody listen,

Just how great it is to be him!

He's the greatest, you're the lamest!

ZOOM is a waste of time, oh can't ya see?

Harold:

Little ZOOMers, time to give up your dreams!

"So, you don't like us, huh?" Kenny asked Harold. Commentary: Every movie needs a villain, and I knew Harold would make a great villain. Every villain needs a song, so I went with "Let's Talk About Me" from The Muppets (2011) for Harold. Yes, I know this song, along with other songs in this fic, didn't exist back then (2000), but still. - end commentary

"Yep, Kenny, and now, I am planning to destroy the ZOOM set in a fire, kidnap you two, and woo you with horror movies!" Harold told the teen, and laughed evilly.

"Oh no." Caroline groaned, then turned to Harold and yelled at him. "You can't do this, you nasty old troll!" Suddenly, the 11-year-old girl slapped Harold.

"Well, you two, get ready, 'cause you're goin' down!" exclaimed Harold as he once again laughed evilly.

"C'mon, we should get goin'!" Kenny told Caroline. The duo headed out of the small troll door in fear, fearing Harold might destroy the ZOOM studio and kidnap them.

"You know what? I think Harold's gone from a good troll to a very bad troll, otherwise known as a mean old bully." Caroline said angrily.

"I guess you're right." replied Kenny. "Hey wait, I think there's a way to defeat him! Breakfast's ready, lemme tell ya!"

"Okay." Caroline smiled, and the two headed downstairs for breakfast.

Later, Harold was destroying models of the ZOOM set. "Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! The ZOOM set has been crushed! Oh no!"

As time went by and hours passed, Harold called Caroline and Kenny upstairs and handed them a tape. The two went into the "bonus room" and put Harold's tape in the tape player.

Suddenly, the duo's eyes met something disturbing on the TV. In the tape, Harold and his troll henchmen were flying around Boston in a helicopter. WGBH Studios, where ZOOM was filmed, did not get destroyed, but the trolls set it on fire. Commentary: I decided the story have the WGBH Studios being caught on fire since the same thing happened to Fox Elementary in Richmond earlier this year. I don't know if the school is permanently closed because of this. - end commentary

"Operation: Destroy the ZOOM set. Finished!" Harold told his henchmen. "This will show them that ZOOM is no more!"

"Oh no! This is terrible!" groaned Kenny as he ejected the tape and turned the TV off.

"Uhh, Ken, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" asked Caroline as she started whispering in Kenny's ear.

"Oh yeah!" Kenny smiled.

Keiko was in space camp in Las Vegas, the same one Rachel was in. She brought a box inside, opened it, and her two 16-year-old eyes met a VHS tape. The ZOOMer-turned-adolescent walked to the nearby TV, turned it on, and put the tape in. The tape showed the same thing Caroline and Kenny were watching.

Keiko was both frightened and traumatized by the tape. It was clear that her life was forever changed. Suddenly, the power went out in space camp, surprising everyone, including Rachel and Stacia, who were practicing moonwalking.

"Hey, who turned off the lights?" wondered Stacia.

"I dunno." shrugged Rachel, still wearing her spacesuit.

After Keiko crushed the tape to shreds and threw it away, she read the address on the box. The tape was from Kenny and Caroline, who lived in North Carolina. The teenager ran into the room where Rachel and Stacia were. "Hey, Rachel, guess what?"

"What?" Rachel asked.

"The ZOOM studio caught fire. A bunch of trolls did it! I saw it on tape!"

"Oh no! That's terrible!"

"And guess who sent the tape?"

"Who?"

"Caroline and Kenny! They said they lived in a house together in Raleigh!" Keiko told the black girl, before her eyes met Stacia. "Who's that?"

"Oh, that's my new friend, Stacia. She works at space camp." explained Rachel, before introducing Stacia to Keiko. "Stacia, this is Keiko. She was in the first season of ZOOM."

"Heya, Keiko!"

"Hey, Stacia!" Keiko waved.

"Uhh, I think you should call her Staysh." Rachel told Keiko. "That's what I call her!"

"Oh, okay." Keiko replied before waving to Stacia again. "Hi, Staysh!"

"I like that name." smiled Stacia.

"Oh, and besides, quick, I have an idea!" Keiko beamed, huddled Rachel and Stacia, and whispered to the two girls.

"You're right, Keiko!" Rachel realized. "We need to get the ZOOMers together!"

The three new friends drove in Stacia's white car to Caroline and Kenny's house and walked inside. The two were watching ZOOM episodes from the second season in their living room. "Hey, Caroline, Kenny, it's us!" a voice called.

"Are those Rachel and Keiko?" questioned Caroline.

"It can't be!" replied Kenny.

The duo ran to Keiko, Rachel, and Stacia. "Who's that new lady and what are you doing here?" asked Caroline.

"That's our new friend Stacia from space camp." Rachel introduced her fellow ZOOMers to Stacia and vice versa.

"Oh, and we're here because," Keiko explained, "did you send us a tape of our old set being caught on fire?"

"Uhh, yeah." Kenny replied.

"A troll named Harold did it." Caroline angrily made a fist.

"Well, after I saw the tape, I knew I needed to get all the ZOOMers together." Keiko told the duo. "We really need you!"

"What? We just can't leave!" Kenny commented.

"Listen, it's an emergency!" Stacia exclaimed. The two agreed to join the three, making it a fivesome, got into the car, and drove away, but not before Kenny gathered his ZOOM props. "Good thing these didn't catch fire!"

On the road…

"So, do you know where the ZOOMers are?" wondered Caroline.

"Listen, I know what to do!" Rachel told her castmate. "Ask the car to locate them!"

"Are you sure?" Caroline, Kenny, Keiko, and Stacia asked.

"Yep." nodded Rachel, before asking the car something. "Locate Eric Rollins." Commentary: Siri didn't exist yet, so I decided to have our heroes ask the car to locate the ZOOMers as a way for them to remember their addresses. - end commentary

The five headed to the theater where Eric and the DOOMers performed. Once they walked in, their eyes met a sign reading "DOOM, world's #1 ZOOM tribute band. Featuring original ZOOM cast member Eric Rollins."

"Tribute band?!" Rachel asked the others after reading the sign.

"Basically … we're dead." sighed Kenny.

"Dubead." Keiko whispered in her fellow ZOOMer's ear as they, Caroline, Rachel, and Stacia walked into the auditorium. Eric was performing a song with the DOOMers.

Come on and DOOM, DOOM, DOOMa, DOOM!

Come on and DOOMa, DOOMa, DOOMa, DOOM!

"We're doomed!" Stacia whispered to Keiko.

Eric:

Who are you?

What do you do?

Come on, or you will die!

We're gonna make you scream and cry!

DOOMers:

Come on and DOOM,

Come on and DOOM-DOOM,

Come on and DOOM,

Come on and DOOM-DOOM,

Come on and DOOM!

"Eric, ubovuber hubere!" waved Kenny from the audience.

The ZOOMer-turned-DOOM lead singer ran off the stage. "Kenny, Caroline, Keiko, Rachel, what are you guys doing here?"

"Eric, we need to talk to you for a second." smiled Keiko. Everyone else nodded.

"Plubease? It's really important." Caroline explained.

"Okay, they say I can do anything." Eric shrugged, rolling his eyes.

"Listen, the ZOOM set is on fire. We need you to rejoin the ZOOMers!" Stacia told Eric. "Oh, and by the way, name's Stacia!"

The DOOMers were surprised at what Stacia said. "WHAT?!"

"Eric's leaving?!" asked Koony. Commentary: If this were a real movie, Koony would probably be played by Dave Grohl. Guess why… - end commentary

"It's not fair! He just joined us!" added Caroloone.

"Eric, do you want to perform with DOOM or rejoin ZOOM?" snapped Aloosa.

"Listen, we need him so bad." Caroline told the DOOMers.

"Uhh, okay." the DOOMers sighed.

"But, Eric," Zooe explained, "this means that we will have to find a replacement.

Rooy pulled out a thug doppelgänger (or "dooppelganger") of Eric.

"This is Ooric." added Zooe as "Ooric" waved at his regular counterpart.

Disgusted by the new member of DOOM, everyone evacuated the theater and headed back off on their journey.

Back in the car…

"Being a kid is grubeat! And by grubeat, I mean great!" Caroline told everyone. "I once received a Christmas video message from the cast of Sesame Street. And I mean some of the human actors and puppeteers." Commentary: Guess what this is a reference to (if you know me, you know it's obvious)… - end commentary

"Nubo wubay!" Kenny exclaimed, surprised at what his girl said. "You're lucky and I'm jealous!"

"How did you?" asked Keiko.

"Well, I'm friends with someone who works on the show and on Christmas Day last year I received that video on my computer."

"Wow! That's so cool!" exclaimed Eric.

"Hey, guys, I have an idea." Stacia told the ZOOMers.

"Well then, what is it?" asked Kenny.

"How about we pick up the other ZOOMers in a time-saving montage?"

"Oh, okay."

"That sounds like a great idea!" exclaimed Rachel.

"Then okay, let's do it!" insisted Eric. Everyone agreed, and the time-saving montage began.

At "kids' camp," Buzz, Rosie, and the little kids were making a craft. The other ZOOMers arrived and Keiko whispered in Buzz's ear.

"Sorry, guys, gotta get goin'!" explained Buzz as he and the others ran out of the room.

"But Buzz, wait!" Rosie tried to go after him, but the door closed.

Frances was watching the taping of Baby Santa's Music Box, when the other ZOOMers grabbed her. Mark Burr, Markie Scholz, and Julie Clark noticed the black girl's absence. "Wait, where did Frances go?" wondered Mark.

"I dunno." Julie shrugged.

Kaleigh was riding a dark ride in Walt Disney World. Suddenly, she got pulled by a cane and pulled off the ride, meaning she officially rejoined ZOOM.

"Wow, it's so nice to see everyone all together!" smiled Kaleigh once all seven Season 3 ZOOMers were in Stacia's car. Everyone nodded and agreed. Commentary: Yes, I know this was a "montage," yet they only picked up three ZOOMers, but it's still a montage. Besides, if this were a real movie, it would probably have a song from the 80s. - end commentary

"Well, I guess that's just about everyone." Eric explained. "We can get going!"

"Yeah! C'mon, everyone, let's stop Harold the Troll and get ZOOM back on TV!" insisted Caroline.

"Hey guys, remember the old zip code jingle?" asked Frances.

"Oh yeah!" Buzz replied. "Z-double-O-M, box 350,"

"Boston, Mass," continued Eric, Kenny, and Keiko.

"0-2-1-3-4!" all the ZOOMers continued. " !" The kids laughed after singing. They couldn't believe it - they were friends again!

After hours of driving, Stacia and the ZOOMers were finally at the old studio and got out of the car. Stacia unlocked the door, Kenny opened it, and everyone got inside. Once everyone was inside the building, they noticed the studio and sets all rundown and derelict. Keiko stood up.

"Listen guys!" Keiko tried to grab everyone's attention. "I know the old place isn't at its best right now, so why don't we clean it up and make it as good as it used to?" Everyone agreed.

Buzz started by silently cleaning the floor, with no music playing.

"This is buborubing." Keiko sighed.

Caroline ran up to Buzz. "Don't you remember? We're the ZOOMers, we do this to music!"

"Oh, okay." Buzz replied as Eric turned on a nearby radio. Everyone got to work cleaning the studio to music. Commentary: If this were a real movie, the ZOOMers would probably (obviously?) clean their old studio to an 80s pop hit, like the Sprout gang did to "We Built This City" in my Sprout fanfic. - end commentary

After a few minutes, maybe even hours, WGBH Studios was all good as "old."

After fixing the beanbags in the ZOOMZone, Stacia turned to Rachel. "Well, Rach, I gotta get going."

"Hey, Staysh, maybe we can do something fun together tomorrow," suggested the 12-year-old black girl, "…like go to the beach, or take a walk around Boston."

"Maybe tomorrow, maybe tomorrow." replied Stacia. "Bye everyone!"

"Bye, Stacia!" the ZOOMers waved.

"…and thanks for saving the day!" Kenny yelled as Stacia walked out the door.

Kenny walked over to Keiko, who was helping Kaleigh and Eric with a ZOOMSci they did on the show. "Keiko, thanks for everything! We couldn't have done it without you! Welcome back to ZOOM!"

"Uhh, you're welcome." Keiko smiled before stopping in her tracks. "Welcome … back to ZOOM?!"

That night, everyone was fast asleep on the ZOOM set. Only Caroline and Rachel lay awake in their squashy purple sleeping bags.

"Hey, Rachel, you awake?" asked Caroline.

"M-hm. Uhh, can we have dark talk for a while?"

"Dark talk? What's that?"

"It's something my family has late at night."

"Sometimes I talk with my sister in the attic late at night, and the only light on is a candle."

"Is everything gonna be okay? We haven't done this in a long time!" Rachel explained. "And I really don't want to send everyone back to where they used to be."

"I'm sure everything's gonna be okay, Rach." Caroline smiled. "If so, they should be warned. Old friends. Stick together."

Rachel let out a sigh. "I guess you're right. Night-night, Caroline."

"Goodnight, Rachel." Caroline sighed and went to sleep.

The next morning, everyone was searching for the trolls. "Nope, not in there!" Frances said as she checked a trap door.

"...And they're not in the control room!" Eric pointed out.

"Quick! I have an idea!" Rachel told Kaleigh, and whispered in her castmate's ear.

"Great!" Kaleigh exclaimed, and the two ran off together to the WGBH attic.

"Holy cow!" Kaleigh was surprised at how dirty the attic was and how high she and Rachel were.

"I know." Rachel nodded. "Hey! No, wait! It's over here!" The 12-year-old got up, opened a nearby door, and she and Kaleigh walked in together. It was the attic.

The two girls explored the rather dusty attic together, and discovered a few mostly old WGBH things.

"Hubey lubook!" Kaleigh exclaimed as she discovered a few letters and several old shirts. "I think they wore and read these on the original ZOOM!"

"Looks like it." Rachel replied. "I think so too."

Rachel came across a set of VHS tapes. "Kaleigh, look!"

Kaleigh ran over to her friend.

"It's tapes of classic GBH shows. Look, there's Julia Child, and As the World Turns, and old ZOOM!"

"I see." Kaleigh said. "I wonder if they also have tapes of newer shows as well."

"Me too." Rachel commented. "Well, I think we better get goin', this attic is making me sick!"

"Yeah, I agree!" Kaleigh coughed. The two got out of the attic and back down to the ground.

"Whoa! That was some ride!" Rachel said coughing. Commentary: I was originally not going to have this scene, but written and included it at the last minute. This scene is inspired by a scene in a movie I watched a few years ago (maybe The Secret Garden?) in which two girls go to what I think was an attic, one of which exclaimed "holy cow!" when they got up there. - end commentary

"So, what should we do next?" asked Eric. "Anything interesting?"

"How about we show the trolls what we're all about by showing off our talents?" suggested Rachel. "See, the ZOOMers are so talented…"

Suddenly, Buzz was in the room, trying to show everyone whoopee cushions tied to his shoes. "Hey guys, check it out, fart shoes!"

The whoopee cushions made a rude noise when Buzz walked in his shoes. "Patent pending!"

"…and the truth is, if we do so, he'll kidnap us." sighed Rachel.

"Geez, I hope that doesn't happen!" replied Eric. Commentary: Once again inspired by The Muppets! - end commentary

Suddenly, Caroline found a small door that looked like the troll door in her and Kenny's North Carolina house. "Hey, guys, Kenny, come on!" The other ZOOMers ran into the room.

"What's up?" wondered Kaleigh.

Kenny knelt down and looked at the door. "I think it's one of those troll doors."

"Oh yeah? Like the trolls in the tape you sent us?" asked Keiko.

"I think so." Kenny replied. "Cubome ubon!" The teenager and Caroline crawled into the door.

"Harold! Harold, where are you?" Caroline yelled, clearly asking for the trolls. "Hubarubold!"

"I think they need us." Harold told the other trolls as they walked up to Caroline and Kenny. The duo pulled the trolls out of the door where they lived. The other ZOOMers were angry and mad at the trolls.

"You ruined our set!" snapped Kaleigh.

"…and destroyed a summer of memories!" whined Rachel.

"And now, you're going to get the revenge you deserve!" beamed Frances. "Get them!"

The ZOOMers tackled the trolls, who then tried to attack them back.

"You think you're so smart?" snarled Harold. "Now it's time for your own revenge!" Harold and the trolls locked the ZOOMers in a cage.

"It didn't work!" realized Caroline.

"Well, we tried our best." Keiko told everyone.

After a while, Stacia walked up to the ZOOM gang. It was clear she wanted to save them and get them out. After all, they were friends she could rely on.

"Stacia, is that you?" Rachel asked as she noticed her friend from space camp.

"Yup, it's me." Stacia replied. "I've heard the trolls kidnapped you. Is that true?"

The ZOOMers nodded, some of them with sad faces.

"We didn't see it coming, but they got us." Eric sighed. "Can you please get us out?"

Before long, all the ZOOMers politely asked Stacia to rescue them.

"Umm, okay. I can try!" Stacia rolled her eyes. The blonde-haired woman pulled out a set of keys from her pocket, unlocked the cage, and freed the ZOOMers.

"Well, Staysh, looks like you've saved the day again!" Buzz smiled and gave Stacia two thumbs up.

"You're a hero!" Rachel added and hugged Stacia.

"Aww, thank you guys." replied Stacia. "Come on, let's get them!"

The ZOOMers tracked down the trolls and tried attacking them in many ways, all of which didn't work.

Suddenly, Keiko pulled out an invisibility machine from a box. "I'll save the day and all of you guys!" The former ZOOMer turned on the machine. Commentary: This would be a great way to defeat Harold and the trolls. - end commentary

"This is not over, you troublemakers!" Harold grunted. Suddenly, Keiko made all the trolls disappear using her invisibility machine, saving the ZOOMers and the day.

"Well, looks like the day is officially saved!" Stacia declared.

"Yeah, and we didn't even need to arrest them to do it." Caroline pointed out. "You know, I think bad guys like Harold are not that bad once you get to know them."

Frances agreed. "I've watched a lot of my favorite movies, so yeah, that I know."

Rachel looked at Keiko with happy tears in her eyes. "You did it, Keiko, you did it!"

"We did it!" Keiko told everyone excitedly. Everyone cheered.

Suddenly, the door to the ZOOMZone opened, and out came the Season 3 ZOOMCrew.

"Looks like you've saved the day!" smiled Paul Serafini.

"We did!" Kenny replied. "And I didn't need to turn into Ubbi Dubbi Man to do so!"

"Ubbububbi Dubbububbi Muban!" the other ZOOMers sang.

"Oh, and guys, one more thing." Marcy Guthner told everyone.

"PBS decided to bring back your show and ordered a fourth season." Kate Taylor explained.

"Ooh, does this mean we can have a real Season 3 wrap party this time?" wondered Rachel.

"Of course."

Everyone cheered.

"Keiko, will ZOOM be safe?" asked Frances.

"Oh, Frances, I'm sure we'll be safe for a long, long time." the teenager smiled.

Hours passed. The Season 3 cast and crew was having a wrap party - watching bloopers, performing skits and songs, giving toasts, celebrating the season as well as the past two, and just having fun. Caroline was sitting on top of a piano, singing "My Heart Will Go On."

Kenny was watching his girl sing and drinking a chocolate milkshake with tears in his eyes. Suddenly, Eric presented his castmate with a wedding ring. "Go get her, Ken!"

Kenny ran onstage, knelt down on one knee, and presented Caroline with his ring. "Uhh, Caroline,"

"Yes?"

"Will, will you marry me?"

Caroline's eyes grew wide. It was clear she wanted to get married to the ZOOMer she was the closest to. "OH, OF COURSE, KENNY! THIS … THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER!"

Everyone, ZOOMer and crew member, even Stacia, cheered and clapped for the two soon-to-be ZOOMer newlyweds, who bowed their heads. They were getting married for real soon, even at ages like theirs. Commentary: Inspired by a scene in Muppets Most Wanted. - end commentary

Caroline and Kenny were given three weeks to prepare for their wedding. Weeks passed, and it was the day the two were to get married. Caroline sadly looked at a picture of Kenny, and started to sing.

This is my dream come true

The day has come for us to say, 'I do'

There's nowhere else I'd rather be

Nothing in the world means more to me than you

I've waited so patiently

I knew you were the only guy for me

Always knew this day would come

It's written in the stars, it's destiny

So how can something so right

Feel so wro-o-ong tonight?

After all we've been through

Why do I feel I don't know you?

Caroline started fantasizing about having babies with Kenny, watching them grow, and growing old together.

Caroline and Kenny:

We'll settle down and start a family

Have a mini you and a mini me

A little brown-haired boy and a little black-haired girl

They'll learn to say hello and say goodbye

We'll grow grey and old and live the quiet life

Just you and I

Hand in hand, we'll stay together

Forever and ever…

Caroline and Celine Dion:

So how can something so right

Feel so wrong-o-ong tonight

After all we've been through

Why do I feel I don't know you?

It wasn't just Caroline who had feelings about getting married to Kenny. Seeing the two lovebirds say "I do" made the other ZOOMers feel kind of sad.

Buzz:

How can something so right feel so wrong inside?

Frances:

How can something so good leave me feeling so bad?

Rachel:

How can my dreams coming true leave me lonely and blue?

Kaleigh:

How can the happiest day of my life feel so sad?!

Frances:

How can I feel the highs when I feel so low?

Eric:

After all we've been through, after coming so far,

Keiko:

Is this my destiny?

Buzz:

Was this meant to be?

Caroline and Celine Dion:

Where is the love that's written in the staaaaaaars?

ZOOMers and Celine Dion:

How can something so riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight

Feel so wro-o-ong tonight?

Caroline:

After all we've been through

Why do I feel I don't...

Know you?

Caroline looked at the picture of her man with tears in her eyes. "Oh, Kenny…"

Later that day, Kenny and Caroline's wedding was held on the roof of a local building. Kenny handsomely wore a tuxedo, waiting for his girl. Keiko started playing "Here Comes the Bride" on an organ.

"Wubait! I think there's someone missing!" a voice called, and out came a hot Hispanic adolescent. The teenager winked at Keiko.

Keiko instantly recognized the teen, having met him on the set of ZOOM a few years ago. "Pablo, is that you?"

"Yep, it's me, girl." Pablo Velez Jr. told his fellow former ZOOMer as he sat next to her. The two started playing on the organ together. Commentary: There just had to be another Season 1 ZOOMer in there! Plus, I think, out of all the boys from Season 1 (Jared, Pablo, and David), I think Keiko was close with Pablo the most, so I went with him as her man. - end commentary

Caroline walked onto the roof, escorted by her father, who then let her go. The 11-year-old walked to her future husband.

As the wedding's flower girl, Frances threw flowers everywhere in the audience, but not before throwing some to the two newlyweds.

Ring bearer Buzz carefully carried wedding rings on a pillow, not dropping them, and handed them to Kenny and Caroline.

The minister walked up to the duo.

"Uhh, Carey, I thought we hired Eric to be the minister." whispered Kenny. Commentary: Muppets Take Manhattan reference. - end commentary

The minister then looked at Caroline. "Will you, pretty lady, offer to be this lovely man's awfully wedded wife?"

"Ubi dubo." Caroline said. "Err, I mean … I do."

"Will you, handsome young man, offer to be this beautiful lady's wedded husband?"

"I do." said Kenny.

Kenny and Caroline looked at one another and kissed. Everyone cheered.

"It's my time now!" Stacia exclaimed, and threw rice onto everyone, even Boston's newest married couple.

That night, there was a reception in the ZOOM studio. The cake was cut and everyone got a slice, and everyone, including the newlyweds, danced to 70s and 80s pop music played by a hired band.

"Well, that was a great party and I think the ceremony was just as good." Caroline smiled at everyone.

"Yeah, and we better get going." replied Kenny. "We've got a honeymoon in the Florida Keys."

"Okay, hubave fubun." smiled Buzz.

Just as Kenny opened the door, everyone walked outside, and their eyes met their adoring fans, chanting and holding up signs, welcoming ZOOM back and wishing Kenny and Caroline a happy life. Never before has there been a large ZOOM fan gathering.

"Wow! They love us! They really love us!" Kaleigh pointed out.

"Yup, and they're all so happy about your return," Stacia explained, and turned to Caroline and Kenny, "and that you two are now married."

"Thanks for everything, Staysh." smiled Caroline.

"No problem!" replied Stacia.

"Hey, let's sing!" suggested Kenny.

"How charming, a finale!" beamed Pablo. Commentary: Now for a song that was made and released in the 80s and existed back in 2000! - end commentary

Kenny:

Looking in your eyes I see a paradise,

Caroline:

This world that I found is too good to be true.

Stacia:

Standing there beside you, want so much to give you.

Rachel:

This love in my heart that I'm feeling so blue!

Pablo:

Let 'em say we're crazy, don't care 'bout that,

Keiko:

Put your hand in my hand, baby, don't ever look back!

Kenny:

Let the world around us, just far apart

Caroline, Kenny, Rachel, Stacia, Keiko, and Pablo:

Baby, we can make it if we're heart to heart!

ZOOMers:

And we can build this thing together, standing storm forever,

Nothing's gonna stop us now,

And if this world runs out of lovers, we'll still have each other

Nothing's gonna stop us, nothing's gonna stop us now.

Kaleigh:

I'm so glad I found you, I don't wanna lose you!

Eric:

Whatever it takes, I will stay here with you.

Stacia:

Take it through the good times, see it through the bad times,

Whatever it takes is what I'm gonna do.

Frances:

Let 'em say we're crazy. What do they know?

Buzz:

Put your arms around me, baby, don't ever let go!

Ooric:

Let the world around us,

Caroloone:

Just far apart,

The DOOMers:

Baby, we can make it if we're heart to heart.

ZOOMers:

And we can build this thing together, standing storm forever,

Nothing's gonna stop us now,

And if this world runs out of lovers, we'll still have each other

Nothing's gonna stop us, nothing's gonna stop us now.

Boys:

All that I need is you,

Girls:

All that I ever need,

Boys:

All I want to do…

Kenny and Caroline:

Is hold you forever, forever and ever

All:

And we can build this thing together, standing storm forever,

Nothing's gonna stop us now,

And if this world runs out of lovers, we'll still have each other

Nothing's gonna stop us, nothing's gonna stop us now.

Keiko whistled, ending the finale number. Caroline, Kenny, Rachel, Stacia, and Pablo smiled at her, and together, the six winked at you, the reader. Fireworks burst in the sky. Commentary: Yet another scene inspired by The Muppets (2011). - end commentary

THE END