Author Notes - Maybe I should stop titling these chapters as though they are the final one. ... Nah.

CHAPTER ELEVEN - THE END OF A MUSICAL ERA

'You're breaking up the band?!' Abyssa cried.

Nonny couldn't believe his ears. Had Molly really just suggested breaking up the band? Surely, no. The Bubble Guppies were who they were, through and through. Without the band, what else was there? It hadn't really dawned on him until now that a band formed from a preschool class may not have been able to survive past the class it was made in.

'A-Are you serious?' He asked.

'This isn't a choice we're making lightly,' Molly said. 'We've thought about it for quite a while. I would've told you about it over the emails, but this is really something we have to talk about face-to-face.'

'We just don't think it's very - what's the word you used? - practical,' Goby said. 'Making those songs required us all being there to bounce ideas off of and chip in. If half of us aren't even going to the same school, then we can't really put in the time to do it.'

'And these visits just aren't long enough,' Zooli said. 'And even if they were, we'd rather spend time just playing around instead of trying to get a whole new song written.'

Nonny looked down at his plate, just so he had something to look at that wasn't a pair of eyes. His cake slice wasn't close to being finished, so he slowly worked his way through it. It wasn't easy to enjoy it, however, with this new tibit floating around in his brain.

'Have… have you told the fans yet?' He asked.

'Not yet,' Gil replied. 'Aside from a quick video saying we'll have a big announcement 'soon', and that it probably wouldn't be good.'

'Soon? Are you sure that was a good idea? Saying we'll have another announcement 'soon' always got a bad reaction out of our fans.'

'We know that,' Deema said. 'But we didn't have much of a ch- HIC! … I'm gonna get some water.'

She got up to fetch a glass of water, leaving Nonny to stew in his own thoughts. His mind couldn't quite piece this bit of news together, and his hands shook just thinking about it.

'We've all agreed to go through with it,' Oona said. 'As sad as that would be. Maybe we could record a song now and then, but we won't be able to make much of an album when we're only together once a month.'

Abyssa hung her head and sighed. 'Aw man, that really sucks. I mean, I get it. But your music was so good! I'd hate to see it end so soon…'

Nonny put the plate down, unable to stop his hands from shaking. He should've known better. He knew he should have. How could he expect the band to keep going after something like this happened? The inevitability of it did not make it feel any better.

'W-We can't break up the band,' He said. 'It's what we're all about. Without the band, what are we?'

Oona leaned in close. The physical contact with her did an unusually poor job of making everything feel okay.

'We were friends before the band, Nonny,' She said. 'The band just kinda happened after we became friends.'

'You don't understand,' Nonny said, his voice choking up just a little. 'I-I struggled to feel like I belonged until we started singing together. I hardly felt like I was really one of you before the first time we sang. Without the band, our friendship will just drift apart!'

He could feel his eyes welling up with tears, and he hated it. His first monthly visit with his old friends could not end like this. Anything but this. The truth he didn't want to face was that it was already too late. The other Guppies were silent, shocked to hear Nonny have such an emotional outburst.

'I'm back, guys!' Deema said, returning with a half-empty glass of water. 'I think the hiccups are gone too!'

Her smile quickly faded once she saw how upset and quiet everyone else was.

'... What did I miss?' She asked.

'We can't break up the band!' Nonny yelled.

'... Oh. That.'

Oona grabbed onto Nonny's hands and pulled him towards her, all but forcing him to look into her eyes. How lucky that she was the only person he could make prolonged eye contact with.

'Breaking up the band will not end our friendship,' She said. 'We formed the band because we were friends. Not the other way around. If our friendship can survive everything it's been through, then it can survive this.'

'And besides,' Molly said. 'It isn't really… realistic to assume that our band would be able to stay together anyway. We'll drift apart sooner or later. Not forever, of course, but we're gonna have our own lives once we get older. Different classes, different jobs, different neighbourhoods… it happens to everyone.'

'My big bro says he hadn't seen his preschool friend in years,' Gil said. 'Not after she moved to Big Bubble City. He hasn't really heard from her either. But, one of his old classmates moved all the way to Finfield, and they still talk over letters sometimes!'

'We've been talking about this for a week or two now,' Zooli said. 'And we've decided that it's the best course of action. We just wanna hear what you have to say. If you really want the band to stay together, then we won't break it up.'

In Nonny's short life, he had never felt as much pressure on himself as he did in that moment. Whether the other Guppies realised it or not, they had handed over all the power to him without a warning. He gulped; it was all up to him. The answer he wanted to give - to shout - was 'no'. That was his first instinct. And it's what he would've gone with as his final answer if he hadn't seen the look in Oona's eyes.

She thought this was for the best.

And, as she promised, it wouldn't break up their friendship.

He always believed her.

After thinking about it, he sighed. 'Alright. I think you're right. It would be for the best to break up the band.'

Deema was in the middle of taking a sip when he said this. By the end of the sentence, she had spat half of the water out all over the floor and choked on the other half.

'You agree?!' She yelled, in between coughs.

'Was I not supposed to?' Nonny asked.

'Not unless you wanted to,' Goby said, getting up and patting Deema's back. 'But we kinda figured that you would've said no, even though we all agreed that we couldn't really have the band anymore.'

'Which means,' Molly said, standing up. 'If this is really what we want to do, we have to make an announcement video for the fans. They deserve to know. This won't be like when we went on hiatus after our fourth album, when we did it suddenly and didn't really talk to our fans about it. We have to let them know that this is probably the end.'

'I'm sure that will go over well…' Zooli murmured. 'Like it did when you guys announced that I would be joining.'

'Oh, don't worry about that,' Gil said. 'The fans get mad no matter what. It's what fans do. They go crazy when we call each other nicknames!'

And so, the decision was made. Oona requested the use of her mothers' laptop, and brought it into the living room. The cakes were eaten and the plates were returned to the kitchen while Molly and Nonny set up the website. The former Bubble Guppies gathered around the screen, while Abyssa and Nicholas stood away from them.

'Sorry that you have to stay out of the video,' Zooli said. 'But we don't really wanna give any fans a spotlight without there being some sort of contest or something. You don't wanna be accused of favouritism among your fans.'

Abyssa smiled. 'Nah, it's fine.'

'We totally get it,' Nick said. 'And you probably don't want your families to be shown either.'

Molly hovered the mouse over the 'livestream' button, knowing that it was probably the best way to get this information across. Live, so everyone would be watching at once, and personal too. She couldn't bring herself to click the button just yet.

'So, how do you guys want to go about it?' She asked. 'Should we do something to build up to it, like talking about everything that we've done together? Or do you just want to come out and say it?'

'I think a little build-up would be good,' Goby said. 'Just dropping the information on them and leaving it at that is kinda mean.'

'But just a little,' Gil said, holding up his fingers for emphasis. 'We don't wanna make it look like we're trying to cover up anything, and we shouldn't keep them waiting.'

Molly tried her best to smile as she clicked the livestream button, starting the live feed immediately. It didn't take long for the views to skyrocket, climbing bit by bit as more and more people got the notification.

'Hi!' Molly said, doing her usual introduction. 'I'm Molly, and it's time for…'

'Bubble Guppies!' The other Guppies chimed.

All seven of them could feel a strange emptiness consuming their insides. It was only as they were starting this announcement that they realised that this would likely be the last time they did an intro like this. At least, they wouldn't again for a long, long time.

'And we…' Molly sighed. 'Okay, we're not gonna beat around the bush. This isn't going to be one of those announcements where we talk about something amazing that you should be excited for. We've come far as a band, and as friends. You've heard our songs and learnt the words to every single one, and you didn't care if anyone made fun of you for liking a kids' band.'

She paused to gulp. Her voice was beginning to choke up. If it was anyone else, they would've handed the task over to another Guppy so they could rest. Possibly passing it on throughout all of them. But Molly, ever dedicated to her role as the 'natural-born leader' of the group, kept going. There was no way she was going to force anyone else to do this.

'And… a-and I'm afraid that it might be coming to an end,' She continued. 'We're growing up and going separate ways. Writing and performing new songs takes time and dedication, and we simply don't have that anymore. Not with each other, anyway. So, it's with a heavy heart that we announce that-'

She cleared her throat. Some tears were getting stuck in there and making it harder to talk. Gil held her hand, just to make her feel that little bit better.

'-that we will no longer be making any new music. We just can't keep up anymore. This isn't a decision we're making lightly. We will not be taking our music off the shelves or anything like that. Heck, we can even keep making merchandise for a little while! But when it comes to music, that's it from us.'

The Guppies waved to the camera, as they always did at the end of an announcement video. Then, with perfect synchronisation, they all said one last word:

'Goodbye.'

Molly turned the video off. And sunk back in the chair. It was like a massive weight was lifted off her shoulders, only to be replaced by another one that dragged her back into the ground.

'Well, I guess that's it then,' Gil said. 'It's over.'

'It doesn't feel right,' Zooli said. 'It just feels kinda, well, empty.'

There was no way Molly would force anyone else to deliver that speech, but that didn't stop its emotional hold on her.

'I… I have to leave,' She said.

She got up swiftly, feeling the tears in her eyes that threatened to fall. Tears that she fought with every bit of her power, so the others wouldn't have to see it. She had to be strong for her friends. She knew that if she cried right there, the other Guppies would start crying too. There was no way she could have that.

She didn't make it very far, however, before Gil grabbed her arm.

'Don't go, Molly,' He said.

'I-I have to,' Molly said, her voice choking up. 'T-There's no way I can be here when I… I…'

'You're with us, Molly,' Oona said. 'We don't just be happy together. Sometimes, we're sad together too. If you have to cry, you're going to cry here with us.'

That was the final straw for Molly's emotional stability, and she broke down crying almost immediately. The true magnitude of what had happened hit the other Guppies one by one, adding more tears to the pile. In just a few minutes, the whole former band was huddling together, helping each other cope with what just happened.

Abyssa and Nick said nothing, giving each other knowing looks instead. They left the room to allow the former Bubble Guppies to deal with this themselves.

When Leo found his son crying in the living room, his overprotective instincts kicked in and he immediately assumed something terrible had happened. One heated discussion with Oona's mothers later, the misunderstanding was cleared before any real harm could happen. He continued to talk with Kagami and Sakura (and Tonya too) while the Guppies sat around on the couch, watching whatever cartoon they felt like watching that day.

Mostly SpongeBob SquarePants, because it was the only cartoon all of them - including Nick and Abyssa - could agree on.

'I keep telling you!' Gil said. 'Band Geeks is easily the best episode.'

Deema scoffed. 'Daring today, aren't we? Come on. Karen's Virus is right there!'

'What about the one where Gary runs away?' Oona said. 'That one is perfect!'

Though the definition of 'agree on' was a bit of a stretch. It was a playful argument to be sure, but an argument nonetheless.

'Wow,' Abyssa said. 'You're having trouble deciding?'

'Yeah, this happens sometimes,' Goby said. 'We can't agree on much.'

'But you guys are, like, the bestest friends in the whole world! Why would you fight or argue over anything?'

'Because we're all different people,' Zooli said. 'With different tastes on everything.'

'Should we really spend Nonny's visit arguing about SpongeBob?' Molly asked.

Nonny smiled. 'I'm okay with that. If my visit was perfect, it wouldn't feel right.'

He listened to their compelling arguments as to why this or that episode was the best, leaning back in his seat and savouring every sound their voices made. Hearing them over a video chat was a totally different experience to hearing them in-person and without a spotty connection to worry about.

'Okay, this is getting us nowhere,' Zooli said, after an entire debate was had. 'We've spent long enough trying to get over 'the thing'. Have we checked how the fans have reacted to it?'

'No,' Gil replied. 'And I really don't want to. What's that gonna do?'

'Good point. We can't really reply to anyone who has a problem with our decision, cos that's gonna be a lot of people.'

'... Did we make the right decision?' Nonny asked. 'I know trying to make another album would be too impractical, but…'

'Bands break up all the time,' Molly said. 'Sometimes on good terms, sometimes not. And, if we change our minds and come back, the fans will go crazy over it. Now, let's worry about this another day. Right now, you're here to visit.'

It was an overnight visit. That meant it was time for a sleepover. The first one that Nonny had since they helped Skip move into his new house. Kagami and Sakura divided them all up into a few groups. Allison and Leo got the guest bedroom, and little Tonya would sleep in the same room as them (thank the cods that they kept Oona's crib). The rest of them went into two different rooms - the girls gathered in Oona's, while the boys were in Kian's instead. Kagami and Sakura didn't exactly explain why they had to be divided like that, only saying they'd understand it 'when they got older'.

Nonny rolled out his sleeping bag and sat on the pillow, watching the other boys do the same. Kian had insisted that he sleep in the bed, but Nonny declined.

'I haven't gone to a sleepover since Skip,' He said. 'So this is a little… strange for me.'

'That's cool!' Gil said. 'We don't have to do all that weird and crazy stuff to make this the best sleepover ever. You just being here is enough!'

'Uh… thanks?'

'I'll tell you the truth,' Goby said. 'It's been forever since any of us had a sleepover either. I dunno why. I guess it just wouldn't be the same without you.'

'I see why,' Nick said. 'My little bro is a pretty cool kid. I can't imagine trying to do anything without him.'

'Nick,' Nonny said. 'You haven't known me that long.'

'That's all he needs!' Kian said. 'Heck, all I knew about you for a while was what my little sis told me. And I knew you were awesome from that alone!'

Nonny blushed once again. No matter how many times people told him he was awesome, he never quite believed it. Didn't mean it wasn't flattering, though.

'So,' Gil said. 'We gotta talk about something. It's a sleepover, right? We could talk about the, um…'

Goby sighed. 'It'll be hard finding things to talk about that aren't about the band. Or am I the only one who's been thinking about that all day?'

'No… I've been thinking about it too. I think we all have. It's kinda hard to forget.'

'Well, what's done is done,' Nick said. 'How about we all just sit back and relax, and try to enjoy this little sleepover, huh?'

Nonny wasn't sure how easily he could do so, but he tried his best anyway. Maybe he could just enjoy himself for the night, forgetting about the end that loomed over him.

'Hey, you know what we should do?' Kian said. 'I know my mothers want us in separate rooms, but maybe we could invite the girls over! You know, for a few minutes.'

'Yeah,' Nonny said with a small smile. 'That would be nice.'

Author Notes - I've already said this, but it bears repeating: I am channelling a lot of my own feelings regarding the show ending. A big thing I'm worried about is what's gonna happen to the fandom. It's somewhat active right now, but let's be honest. It's being carried mostly by me and ReaderandWriter. Obviously we're not the only writers. That would be an absurd claim when there's clearly plenty of others writer contributing to this small but passionate fanbase. But I'm still worried.

During the show's 'heyday', there were a ton of authors and fanfics coming out. Then the show got cancelled the first time, and it came to a halt. It's part of the reason why I stopped writing Bubble Guppies fanfics for a while. Being the only one really posting anything for a while killed my enthusiasm to write because it seemed like no one was reading it. Now the show's seemingly been cancelled for good. If it could halt the fandom the first time, it could easily happen again. I'll never truly leave this fandom, because Bubble Guppies is special to me, but it may be only a matter of time before I lose the will and desire to write more fanfictions.

That being said, this is by no means a 'goodbye' speech. I'm staying on this ship until it sinks.