Chapter 6. The Key to Betty's Mysteries.

AN: I try to make this continuation as faithful to the original series as possible, so if you see anything that might not seem to fit, even just a little, please let me know so I can gladly correct it. Thank you very much for continuing up to here.

After the week had passed, finally came Saturday, Blythe approached the pets; her eyes shone with a mixture of enthusiasm and a touch of apprehension. "Today's the big day," she said to the group of pets in front of her, giving a little smile. "I finally get to meet Speedy. Maybe he'll help me figure out some of Mom's mysteries."

Zoe personalized, perking up her ears and brightening her eyes, barking with encouragement, "We're with you, Blythe!" she said.

Russell nodded. "We believe in you, Blythe. It's the ideal opportunity to get down to brass tacks."

As Pepper tried to throw in some humor with her usual style, finally, she got closer with a mischievous smile and said, "Just keep in mind, if Speedy, while walking fast, ever starts giving you advice on how to live a slow and steady life, don't take everything literally!" she concluded, causing quite a chuckle among the bunch.

Before leaving, Blythe squatted down a bit and spread her arms wide to signal for a group hug, which the pets answered by pouncing on her in a deluge of love. "Don't worry pets, I'll be back before you even know it. You just take care in the meantime!" providing assurance in the warm and calming tone.

"Good luck, Blythe!" said Penny Ling, her soft voice filling the room with hope and support. With the love in her heart for the furry friends and an unbreakable determination, Blythe stepped out, leaving with a smiling goodbye, hopeful to find the answers as she steps out with a room full of encouragement and positive wishes.

Blythe smiled to her furry friends in gratitude, bade them goodbye, and went to Mr. Jones's house.

So there she was, in front of Mr. Jones' door, taking a big breath before knocking.

Mr. Jones opens the door, his face lighting up upon seeing Blythe. "Hello, Blythe! What brings you here today?"

Blythe smiled politely and responded, "Hello, Mr. Jones. Ever since Speedy arrived at Littlest Pet Shop, I've been very curious about how some animals live such long and healthy lives. I would love to observe him to learn more about the longevity of animal species. May I spend some time with him? I'd like to watch his behavior and perhaps discover his secret to a long life. Also, Speedy was my mom's pet when she was young."

Mr. Jones's eyes lit up with recognition and understanding. He answered with an enthusiastic voice, "Of course, Blythe. It's wonderful that you want to reconnect with Speedy, especially considering that your mother had adopted him too. He's such an interesting creature. I'll leave you alone with him; I have some things to take care of in the garden."

Mr. Jones leaves Speedy and, having given the terrarium to Blythe with all the responsibility in the world, leaves. The girl is in front of the terrarium.

"Hello, Speedy," says Blythe, her voice soft and welcoming. "I've come to visit you. How have you been?"

He looked at her, the ancient eyes lighting up with a flicker of recognition. "Ah, Betty," he said with his vibrant and clear voice, "I didn't expect to see you after so long."

Blythe smiled sweetly for a moment, a little taken aback, and said, "Actually, Speedy, I am Blythe, the daughter of Betty." Then she opened her purse and took out her ID, showing it to the tortoise. "Look, here is my name with my picture."

The tortoise studies the gesture with the same sort of consideration he would give a fresh lettuce leaf, then upon seeing the identification, as if the seeing of the identification cleared away the mists of time, exclaims, "Oh! So you're not Betty. I mistook you for her because you look a lot alike. That means in the end, I did give your mother's journal to you." "That is right, Speedy," says Blythe with her voice, also filled with happiness and maybe some sorrow. "And I am here to find out more about her... about us."

When Speedy looked at Blythe with a new light of understanding, he said seriously, "Your mother, Betty, she kept it very close. She didn't want anyone else to know what she was capable of or about the journal. But since you are her daughter, I don't think she would have minded you knowing."

Blythe nods, grateful for Speedy's sensitivity. "Thank you, Speedy. That means a lot to me."

After a brief pause, the tortoise asks cautiously, "And where is your mom now, Blythe?"

Blythe sighed, and her eyes, obviously sorrow-filled, said, "She... she died, Speedy. It was sudden, from a heart attack."

Surprise and sorrow reflected in the eyes of Speedy. "Oh, I do feel very sorry to hear that. Betty was a fine person; I shall always remember her with regard to the moments we had." Blythe felt how Speedy's words of comfort seemed to offer her just the tiniest bit. "Thank you, Speedy. Knowing you have happy memories of her helps me."

That set Blythe onward, sitting some more forward towards Speedy. Interest in the words of the tortoise was clearly piqued. "Speedy, do you have any idea how long it is that you were with my mom? I wonder how deep a connection could be in that time."

Speedy answered, with an undertone in the voice, "We've been together for some years, right from the time she was a young little girl up to when she blossomed into a full-grown one. Those were the times of great discovery and joy."

Blythe nods, her eyes filled with curiosity and excitement.

"Yes, that's what I thought. It was towards the end of that period that she left her journal with you, and it seems as if she recorded almost her entire youth in it. That must have been a big thing for her to do at that time, starting with her adult life."

Speedy confirms, "That's right, Blythe. Though I've had several owners since, and this is what made my memory confuse you with your mom. You look so much like her." "I see, Speedy. That's great to think of the bond my mother shared with you," Blythe said, the emotion in her voice and regret.

Blythe turned to Speedy; she was excited and a little scared. "Speedy, did you know when my mom started talking to the animals? Was she always able to do that?"

The tortoise looked at her with eyes that seemed to hold centuries of wisdom. "Since she was a child, Betty always talked to me," began Speedy, his voice slow and thoughtful.

"I told her, but at first, she didn't even appear to be reading the words. It was only gradually that Betty began to understand my gestures and movements, until the day came when she could understand the words I was speaking. I can remember her telling me that she was surprised: 'You talk to me like a person; I can understand you.'"

Blythe listened, her eyes taking more than a casual interest now. Every word from Speedy fell into place like a jigsaw puzzle. "That's great, Speedy. So, that developed with time? Grew with her?"

"That's what I thought," Speedy answered. "It was something that grows stronger over years—something that is strengthened with her bond with the natural world."

Blythe couldn't leave well enough alone and pursued another aspect of her mother's life. "Do you know much about the volunteer programs my mom was involved in? Always sorta wondered if that had anything to do with her ability." Speedy seemed to think for a moment before answering.

Speedy said, "Betty has been active in lots of volunteer programs from her very childhood. Most of them had to do with animals in one way or another, but she was a real propagandist of empathy and the necessity for taking care of every living creature. I am not sure if those directly affected her ability, but surely, her love and dedication to animals had no boundaries. Perhaps that bond was so close that it really opened her heart and mind before them." Blythe nodded, feeling that for every answer Speedy had given her, two more questions were being unleashed into her head. "Thanks, Speedy. Every little bit of information about her helps me to know her better, makes me feel even closer to her right now."

Speedy took a moment to organize his thoughts before continuing. "She was a wonderful helper. She used to help people and try to make a difference, especially with animals. I don't have such an exact photographic memory of the names of organizations she used to frequent, but I do remember the places very much. One she used to like very much was a nearby shelter called 'The Kindred Haven.' That was the place many people contact her for help."

He seemed to gather his thoughts for a moment before adding, "Maybe if you visit 'The Kindred Haven,' you could talk to some of the animals that are there now. They might give you some more clues about your mom and the work she did there."

Blythe nodded slowly, taking in every word said. "Thank you very much for this abundance of information, Speedy. It really goes a long way in helping me do something new in my research. I'll pop into The Kindred Haven and speak with the animals there. Who knows, I might get more answers."

"I hope you do, Blythe," said Speedy, hoping for Blythe to go through with it by the tone in his voice. "Betty would be so very proud to see you seek the knowledge to be able to carry on, expanding on the special gift she shared with the animals."

"Thank you, Speedy," Blythe replied, her eyes firm. "And thank you for opening up your heart to me with all these memories. It means a lot."

With that, and a parting smile to the good tortoise, Blythe was gone. "So long, Speedy, till I come back to see you again."

Blythe was ready to leave Mr. Jones's place with her heart about to burst from all the gratitude, and her mind was teeming with new leads that could be followed. Her chat with Speedy had yielded enough clues that were rather valuable for where to look for further information, and it also aided in increasing her resolve to find out just what made her mother's ability so special—perhaps find something out about herself in the process.

After her encounter with Speedy, Blythe decided to share her findings with Youngmee through a call.

"Hey, Youngmee. I spoke to Speedy, the tortoise mom kept as a pet. He gave me a hint and said something about a shelter that's called 'The Kindred Haven.' I think I'm going to check it out," Blythe said in an excited and inspired manner.

Always eager and helpful to her friend, Youngmee asked, "Sounds good, but have you considered talking to your uncles? I mean, they are your mom's brothers. I'm sure they know something."

Blythe thought over it and answered, "I could, but really, I don't see a point in doing that. They don't know about my mom being able to talk to the animals, and in case I ask them, I may end up telling them this secret."

"Are you really sure that they wouldn't know?" Youngmee repeated, letting the real concern squeeze out.

"No, I doubt if they have any idea about my mom's ability yet. But then if I ask them directly, I am surely going to disclose the secret. There isn't much sense in doing that now," reasoned Blythe thoughtfully.

"I get it, but suppose you ask them about your mom's activities, like the volunteer programs she was involved in, without telling them the ability," Youngmee tried to find an alternative Blythe could use in her quest without spilling the beans.

Blythe considered the idea for a moment. "Yes, it may be, but so far I have information from Speedy, and thanks to my ability to talk to animals, I think I can solve this very easily. If somehow I feel like getting a little more detail regarding this matter, then obviously I will come to them."

Youngmee nodded her head; with the use of technology, she heard the one-sided gesture. "Okay," she smiled at the same time. "If you ever need anything at all, you know I'm right here."

"I know, and that means so much, Youngmee. Wish me luck now for 'The Kindred Haven.' I'll keep you abreast," Blythe said, her voice laden with as much thanks as she was with determination.

"Of course, good luck, Blythe! I can't wait to hear everything when you get back," said Youngmee.

Blythe excited, added, "Oh, Youngmee, I almost forgot to tell you! I can talk to the pets again!"

Youngmee surprised and happy, responded, "That's amazing Blythe! How did it happen?"

"I'm not exactly sure," admitted Blythe, "but I think if I investigate more about my ability, I might be able to discover how it works."

"You're right," affirmed Youngmee with conviction. "Keep investigating and you'll find the answers you need."

"Thanks Youngmee. Your support means everything to me," said Blythe, deeply appreciating her friend's encouragement.

After a few more words of encouragement and goodbye, she hung up the phone, now ready to follow the leads which Speedy had given her. With that and better yet, a stalwart friend to back her up, Blythe squared her shoulders and took on the next chapter of her sleuthing.

AN: Blythe finds a clearer path thanks to Speedy's help, so she will continue with her investigation.