After what just happened with Zoe and Minka, Dr. Timpson allowed Blythe to enter the exam room while he took good care of the restroom. The sound of the door opening caught Pepper's attention.
"Hey, Pepper!" said Blythe, before she recoiled at the stench Pepper emitted earlier. "Ugh! Man, when Zoe said your scent smelt worse whenever you're in grief, she wasn't kidding!"
Pepper hanged her head in sorrow, staring at her comatose panda friend. Blythe held her nose and began talking to her. "Listen, Pepper… you don't need to blame yourself for what happened at the pet shop. I understand you were just trying to find your happiest scent."
Pepper raised her head up at Blythe. "If you're trying to make me feel better, it's not gonna work. I'm a cold-blooded, heartless nuisance. I killed Penny Ling, all because I was too damn selfish."
Pepper began crying once again, and Blythe calmed her down. "Oh no, Pepper. It's not like that. Look, I'll give you some time to calm down, and I'll check on you later, okay?"
With that said, Blythe left the exam room and let go of her nose, taking in a deep breath through her nostrils. "Phew! Fresh air at last!"
Inside the exam room, Pepper stopped crying and laid on her side, almost falling asleep until a sudden tap kept her awake. She lifted her head and looked around the room, eventually finding a familiar Netherland Dwarf Rabbit standing in front of he on the table, waving excitedly at her.
"Hidey-hepper, skunky Pepper!" she exclaimed.
"Buttercream?"
"Yes," said Buttercream, "it's me, everyone's favourite funny bunny no sweeter than honey! I came here 'cos I heard you were down in the dumps with a frown in the frumps! What's the 411, Pepper-Bo-Bepper?"
Pepper, not wanting to talk, or even make eye contact with the rabbit, pointed at Penny Ling, who was laying on the opposite side of the table. Buttercream hopped over to the panda and observed her more closely.
"Oh, Penny Ling! If I'm not mistaken, she appears to be fast asleep, but her snoozin' ain't deep. I wonder when she'll wake up?"
"She's not gonna wake up," said Pepper in a clearly dismal tone of voice. "She's dead."
Buttercream became confused at Pepper's response. "Dead? Pfft! Don't be a silly billy! You'll make me feel all chilly!"
Pepper's teary eyes stared at Buttercream. "I'm serious, Buttercream. Penny Ling really is dead. And I killed her." She weeped softly as she finished her sentence. Just then, a familiar snowshoe cat leaped up onto the table, wielding her ukulele.
"You know, that would make some excellent lyrics for my next song." Buttercream hopped over to her and greeted her with a big hug.
"Sugar Sprinkles!" she exclaimed.
"That's my name," said Sugar Sprinkles, "don't wear it out." She took notice at Pepper and had Buttercream let go of her so she could walk up to her. "Hey, Pepper… are you feeling okay? You don't look so good."
Pepper lightly pushed Sugar Sprinkles to the side. "Leave me alone… please."
"Oh!" exclaimed Sugar Sprinkles. She could tell Pepper was depressed; she looked like she'd been crying for days. "What's wrong? Did something happen?" She turned around to the opposite side of the table and found Penny Ling laying on her back. She gasped, and rushed over to her body.
"Penny Ling?" She gave the panda a slight nudge. "Buttercream, what happened to her?" Buttercream shrugged in confusion.
"You know what? Never mind that now. I can tell Pepper's upset, so it's my duty to keep her company. Buttercream, do you mind giving us some privacy for a moment?"
Buttercream smiled and nodded, then hopped off the table, leaving Sugar Sprinkles to keep Pepper company until Blythe came back.
"There there," said Sugar Sprinkles. "It's okay, Pepper. I'm here for you. Why don't I play you a soft lullaby to help you get some rest?"
All Pepper could do was cry. Nonetheless, Sugar Sprinkles was glad to play one of her songs for her, so she started tuning up her ukulele.
Meanwhile, in the vet's restroom, Blythe was in the cubicle while Dr. Timpson waited office. Zoe and Minka took turns praying to the porcelain god, and Blythe was quite amused.
"Wow, you two! I've never seen you so devoted to sharing before!"
Zoe brung her head out of the porcelain bowl and wiped the dribbles of puke from her lips. "Well, what can we say?"
Minka spat out a bit of puke and panted. "We're good friends, aren't we?"
"I gotta say," said Blythe, "Pepper's stench has never smelt any stronger."
"I'm inclined to agree," said Zoe. "Enough to make any of us gag. Especially Minka."
Minka chuckled slightly. "Hey, I have a weak stomach sometimes. Say, you wanna know what really makes me barf?"
"What might that be?" asked Zoe.
"Mouldy bananas," replied Minka. Zoe immediately gagged again, "Mm!", and slammed a fist on her mouth.
"Uh-oh," said Blythe. "I don't like where this is going."
"I remember when I was a young monkey," said Minka. "I ate one without realising it on a hot summer's morn. As I tried to rest, my stomach turned like a boat and a wave of nausea hit me as hard as a rock, just thinking about the sour taste, that disgusting black peel..."
Zoe gagged again as she felt another wave of nausea pass by. She kept a firm paw on her mouth, trying hard not to lose it; unfortunately for her, she was unable to keep it in, and she brought her head back into the bowl, loudly hurling once again.
Blythe cringed a bit, and felt a bit nauseous herself. "Interesting story, Minka. As a matter of fact, it's making me wanna barf too."
And rightfully so. She felt something coming up herself, and this was clarified by her gag reflex being triggered. Dr. Timpson knocked on the door of the cubicle.
"Hey, uhm, I don't mean to spoil the fun, but how much longer are you gonna be in there?"
"Just a minute!" said Blythe, before she introduced her head to the rim of the bowl. Loud retches, splatters and dry heaving filled the room as Blythe unceremoniously allowed her stomach to release the remnants of her breakfast.
"Well, there goes my scrambled eggs!" Blythe darkly remarked, as Zoe and Minka laughed on.
Meanwhile, inside the exam room, Sugar Sprinkles was playing her ukulele for Pepper, quietly singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star".
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you—
Her singing came to a sudden halt as her nose picked up Pepper's grief-driven scent. She immediately recoiled at the stench and used a paw to wave it away.
"Eugh!" she exclaimed. "Pee-yew, Pepper! Was that you?" She grabbed a firm hold of her nose. "I know you're a skunk and all, but you really need to warn someone before you crack one off like that. My mouth was open and everything."
Pepper groaned, still overwhelmed with grief, and Buttercream hopped back onto the table.
"Never fear, Buttercream Sunday is here!"
Buttercream took a deep breath and attempted to blow the stench away for her friend, only for it to end up blowing in Sugar Sprinkles' face. Her eyes teared up as she coughed uncontrollably, desperately trying to wave the stench away. Pepper watched Sugar Sprinkles cough and sputter, triggering her PTSD caused by that godforsaken fantasy.
"Buttercream!" exclaimed Sugar Sprinkles as she kept coughing. "Are you trying to kill me?!"
"Oops!" exclaimed Buttercream, giggling nervously. "Sorry!"
Pepper's lips quivered, and her eyes started spraying tears like a fountain as she bawled loudly at Sugar Sprinkles' remark. Sugar Sprinkles immediately felt bad and went over to console her.
"Oh nonononono!" exclaimed Sugar Sprinkles as she gave Pepper a gentle hug. "Pepper, I didn't mean it! Oh, I'm so sorry! Just calm down and lie on your front, okay?"
Tears continuously drained down Pepper's face as Sugar Sprinkles laid her down on her front before going over to Buttercream.
"Quick, Buttercream!" exclaimed Sugar Sprinkles in a hushed tone. "Sing with me!"
Buttercream grinned. "On it!"
And so, Buttercream and Sugar Sprinkles stood in front of Pepper and began singing her to sleep.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How we wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the traveller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through our curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
'Till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveller in the dark,
Though we know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
Pepper's quiet weeping came to a full stop as she drifted off to sleep. Buttercream and Sugar Sprinkles sighed in relief and sat down on the table for a moment before helping Penny Ling out of her maid outfit.
"Golly," said Buttercream, "I sure hope Penny Ling wakes up soon. She's the skooshtabooshiest of all the skooshtabooshes."
"True that," said Sugar Sprinkles, grimly. Buttercream simply nodded in sombre agreement with her bleak comment.
Suddenly, Penny Ling's body twitched, quickly catching the pair's attention. It twitched a few more times and jolted slightly, then her eyes slowly flickered open. The pair were aghast at the sight.
"Penny Ling?" said Buttercream, curiously.
"She's…" said Sugar Sprinkles. "She's coming to." Her voice quickly shifted to a whisper-like tone. "Quick, Buttercream, find a heart monitor!"
Buttercream nodded and hopped off the table in search of a heart monitor. Penny Ling's eyes were squint, and she feebly turned her pupils to Sugar Sprinkles as she began to speak.
"Wh...where's Blythe?"