NOTE: Here is the final chapter of the story. Goes to show you that I have a bit of a mixed taste in music.
The six pets all gathered around a bonfire, watching Sunil's magician hat burn. The mongoose drew a heavy sigh, "Irene is no longer a threat, she has been banished."
"Then why do you seem so sad?" Minka asked, scratching her head.
Sunil whimpered a bit, "I still have scars from what she has done to me. And what she has done to poor Kim, no one deserves that kind of treatment. When I first met all of you, I already had the scars. A long time ago, I used to be happy and curious. Irene robbed me of my innocence and that I shall never recover from."
Vinnie walked up to Sunil and sat next to him, "That isn't true, Sunil. You seem awfully happy when you're doing magic."
Sunil rubbed his tail a bit, "Magic is only an escape I have from the curse. It's what helps keep my brain occupied so I don't have to worry so much."
Vinnie rolled his eyes, "Come on, Sunil. So what if you have a bunch of ghosts swimming inside your head? There made of ectoplasm, it's not like they can hurt you, can they?"
Sunil stared at Vinnie with his eyes wide in horror and immediately, the gecko choked on his own words, "Oh...I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Penny turned to Sunil, "By the way, where did you get that magic dust?"
Sunil closed his eyes, "It was given to me by my mother. Like me, she is also sensitive to spirits. She gave it to me to protect me from evil spirits but when I met Kim, I knew she needed the dust more than I ever did."
"Did your mother make the dust herself?" Penny asked curiously.
Sunil shook his head, "No, she got it from a trader out in the desert."
There was a long silence before it was broken by Russell, "You know, I didn't believe in ghosts and spirits back then but after all these events happened with Sunil, it kind of makes me wonder."
Sunil nodded, "Ghosts are very real, Russell. You're just not as sensitive to their energy as I am."
"Maybe his bossiness scares the ghosts away." Pepper joked.
"Hey!" Russell shouted, crossing his arms.
Pepper giggled a bit, "Lighten up, Rusty. It was only a joke."
Russell crossed his arms and grumbled a bit while Pepper walked up and sat next to Sunil. The skunk cleared her throat, "I know this seems like all of a sudden, but can you and I have a private chat?"
Sunil turned to Vinnie who winked at him and gave him a thumbs up. The mongoose smiled at the skunk, "All right, as long as this isn't some sort of lame prank, I'm game."
And so, Sunil and Pepper walked away from the group to find a more private spot. Sunil had a confused look on his face, "What is it you want to talk about?"
Pepper drew a heavy sigh as she felt a lump form in her throat, "Sunil...I couldn't help but think how awful I've been to you."
Sunil shrugged, "You haven't been any worse to me since we first met."
Pepper hung her head as tears formed in her eyes, "I've never been one for mushy stuff like this but, you know how sometimes girls tease boys cause they like them and vice versa?"
Sunil blinked, "Yes?"
Pepper loked up at the mongoose through teary eyes, "Sunil, what would you say if I told you that I deeply loved you?"
Sunil found himself blushing, "Well, I would uh..." A tear rolled down Pepper's face as she choked back a sob. Sunil felt his heart break as he knelt down and brushed Pepper's tear away, "No, no, no. Please don't cry, Pepper."
The mongoose was completely shocked, he had rarely ever seen Pepper cry before. Yet here she was, sobbing into his arms. He felt himself blushing as he hugged her and rubbed her back. After about 5 minutes, the skunk sniffled and dried her eyes, "Please do me a favor and pretend that never happened. I don't want the others to think I'm going all soft and sappy, all right?"
Sunil nodded, "All right."
Pepper smirked at him, "Because if you tell them that I cried, I'll fill your favorite bean bag chair with scorpions. Is that clear?"
"Crystal." Sunil nodded nervously, his little heart racing inside his chest.
Pepper smiled at Sunil, "So, I'm guessing you would like to...you know..."
Sunil blinked, "Go on a date? All right, I guess it wouldn't hurt."
"Either you really ARE psychic or you're just very observant." Pepper replied, playfully punching Sunil in the arm as a pleasant aroma wafted from her bushy tail.
Sunil chuckled a bit as he rubbed his arm, "Remember, Pepper. This is a date, not a boxing match." He breathed in the aroma, causing him to relax a little.
Pepper smirked a little, "You're a wimp but you're a cute wimp. All right, meet me at the sweet shop at 2 in the afternoon."
Meanwhile, Zoe had just arrived and walked up to Russell, Penny, Vinnie and Minka who were all gathered around the campfire, "Oh, hey everyone. Why is Sunil's hat burning?"
"Oh, an evil spirit is trapped in it and we're getting rid of it permanently." Russell replied, completely deadpan, "So how was your trip?"
"Absolutely and completely fabulous." Zoe replied, "I got lobster flavored kibble and there was a groomer on board and I also met this really dreamy minpin named Chad. He gave me a massage and he has the most gentle paws..."
Vinnie raised an eyebrow, "Eww. Lobster flavored kibble? I'll pass. And what about Digby? I thought he was your boyfriend."
Zoe shrugged, "We all gotta move on sometime."
Penny sighed, "Poor Digby will be so broken up over this."
Zoe rolled her eyes, "Well, when I become a famous pop star, boys will flock from across the globe to see me."
Russell crossed his arms, "Sounds like you have commitment issues."
Minka smiled, "Anyway, we're glad to have you back, Zoe. Karaoke starts up in about 5 minutes."
Zoe looked around, "By the way, where's Sunil and Pepper?"
Penny smiled, "Oh, they went for a walk because they had some private issues to discuss."
Just then, the mongoose and skunk approached the group and saw Zoe. Sunil smiled, "Welcome back, Zoe."
Pepper looked around at everyone, "Looks like we're all here. Let's go back inside and get this party started!"
And so, all the seven pets went back inside to see Blythe had the karaoke machine up and running. Zoe turned to Penny, "So, what song are you picking? I know what song I'm picking."
Penny smiled, "It's a surprise, Zoe. You'll have to wait and see."
Pepper chuckled a bit, "Probably a slow song. I'm not here for ballads, I'm here to rock out!"
Russell nodded, "Same here, believe it or not."
Vinnie gave Russell a confused look, "You? Rock out?"
Russell crossed his arms, "Hey! Even I need to cut loose sometime!"
Sunil looked around the group of pets and noticed Minka missing then he turned and saw her standing on stage, "Looks like karaoke breakfast has started sooner than we thought."
Minka was singing the Journey song "Don't Stop Believing" and putting her own little energetic twist on the song, hopping about the stage and drumming on the equipment, which quite annoyed Russell.
Strangers, waiting, up and down the boulevard
their shadows searching in the night
streetlight people, living just to find emotion
hiding somewhere in the night
Vinnie went up to the stage next and his song choice surprised everyone. He sang "Peg" by Steely Dan. He wasn't that great a singer but his performance looked interesting.
Peg it will come back to you
Peg it will come back to you
Then the shutter falls, you see it all in 3D,
Its your favorite foregin movie.
Up next was Pepper, rocking out to The Killers' "Somebody Told Me". While performing, she tossed comedy props out into the audience.
Well, somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
Penny Ling took the stage next, crooning her version of Adele's "Someone Like You". Sunil and Minka were visibly moved to tears by her performance.
Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I beg
I remember you said,
"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead"
Russell was next up, rocking out to Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell". It was a surprisingly high energy performance. Not as high energy as Minka's or Pepper's but the hedgehog still rocked the house.
In the midnight hour she cried- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried- "more, more, more"
In the midniight hour babe- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell- "more, more, more"
More, more, more.
Zoe turned to Sunil, "Can you please tell me what I've missed while I was gone?"
Sunil nodded, "I'm more of a magician than a musician, but I'll be more than happy to tell you in song format."
And with that, the blue mongoose went on stage, wearing his cape but with no hat. Sunil cleared his throat as he spoke into the microphone, "Ladies and gentlemen, I shall now pour out my feelings onto the stage."
Sunil closed his eyes as the music started up with a mid-tempo saxophone tune. Pretty soon, the mongoose was singing the lyrics:
I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications
Especially at night
I worry over situations
I know will be alright
Perhaps it's just imagination
Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat, shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away
Alone between the sheets
Only brings exasperation
It's time to walk the streets
Smell the desperation
At least there's pretty lights
And though there's little variation
It nullifies the night
From overkill
Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat, shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away
Come back another day
And with that, Sunil used his magic wand to poof up a sitar and started playing the guitar solo on it before belting out the first verse again:
I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications
Especially at night
I worry over situations that
I know will be alright
It's just overkill
Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat, shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away
Ghosts appear and fade away
Ghosts appear and fade away
The song ended and the mongoose hopped off strange. Zoe looked mindblown, "So, you can see ghosts?"
Sunil nodded, now comfortable with his former secret, "Of course I can. Blythe can talk to animals, right?"
Zoe shrugged, "You're right, I guess that wouldn't be too much of a stretch."
Sunil drew a sigh of relief, "So, I guess I'm not a freak then, huh?"
Zoe shook her head, "Of course not but Pepper might make Sixth Sense jokes about it for a month before she cools down."
Sunil shivered, "I remember that movie. I cried a little when I saw it."
Zoe raised an eyebrow, "A little? Sunil, you were crying waterfalls over that movie and when you weren't crying, you were screaming like a little girl."
Sunil whimpered a little, "The part with Kyra..." The mongoose gave a soft sniffle.
Minka crossed her arms, "Stop picking on Sunil, Zoe. Just because he cried at a movie doesn't mean you should laugh at him."
Zoe rolled her eyes, "All right, all right. Sorry for making you unleash your inner Penny Ling, Sunil."
Penny rolled her eyes at Zoe's comment, "I'll just pretend I never heard that."
Suddenly, a disco ball lowered from the ceiling and Pepper smiled at Zoe, "Looks like you're the final one to sing, Zoe."
Zoe chuckled a bit, "You know what they say, always save the best for last!"
Vinnie grinned, "This fic is almost over, so would you mind giving us a closing credits song?"
Zoe shrugged, "Hey, why not?"
And with that, the purple spaniel took to the stage and started singing into the microphone:
I never can say goodbye
No, no, no I, I never can say goodbye
Every time I think I've had enough
And start heading for the door
There's a very strange vibration
Kissing me right to the core
It says turn around you fool,
You know you love more
And more
Tell me why is it so?
Don't wanna let you go
I never can say goodbye boy
Ooh ooh baby I never can say goodbye
No no no no no no
Ooh hey I never can say goodbye, boy
Ooh ooh baby
I never can say goodbye
[no no no no no no] hey
I never can say goodbye [never say goodbye, boy]
Oh no, no, no i, I never can say goodbye
[never say goodbye, boy]
I keep thinking that our problems soon are all gonna work out
But there's that same unhappy feeling,
There's that anguish, there's that doubt
It's that same old dizzy hangup
I can't do with you or without or you've had with you all your life
Tell me why is it so? I don't wanna let you go
I never can say goodbye boy, ooh baby
I never can say goodbye, no no no no no no
Hey I never can say goodbye boy,ooh baby
I never can say goodbye, no no no no no no
I never can say goodbye, boy,
I never can say goodbye, no no no no no no
I never can say goodbye, boy
I never can say goodbye, no no no no no no
I never can say goodbye, boy
I never can say goodbye, no no no no no no
I never can say goodbye, boy
I never can say goodbye, no no no no no no
Ooh ooh ooh hey I never can say goodbye, boy
No no no baby hey never can say goodbye
No no no no please, don't make me say goodbye
Hey I will never say goodbye, no baby
Oh please don't leave me, no no no no
Hey oh I can't say goodbye, boy
No no no baby
Oh please don't oooh, baby.
NOTE: The song that Sunil sings is "Overkill" by Men At Work and the song Zoe sings is "Never Can Say Goodbye" by Gloria Gaynor. I originally thought of having Zoe sing "Sinead" by Within Temptation but then I doubted she'd sing symphonic metal at karaoke. Men At Work's "Overkill" fits Sunil so much it's almost scary. I can totally picture him singing that song. Also, I may or may not upload an extra chapter about Sunil and Pepper's date at the sweet shop. Depends on writers block and that kinda stuff.