Chapter 11. A Delicate Balance.
AN: Another thing that catches my attention is the fact that in the LPS universe, the pets and other animals apparently have intelligence similar to humans. So, I want to start considering this detail from this chapter onward.
That Saturday, Blythe and her dad returned to the Advanced Center for Biotechnology and Conservation. Once again, Dr. Jenkins met them at the door and took them into a conference room with a projector and screen.
As the first slide came to life on the screen, the lights dimmed. "Thank you for coming again," Dr. Jenkins said. "Today we will explain why we have kept this ability a secret for so many years."
Roger and Blythe sat down, ready to listen.
"First, let's talk about misuse and exploitation. If this ability were commercialized, it could be used to exploit animals," Dr. Jenkins started off.
Blythe frowned. "But how could somebody exploit animals that way?"
"Can you imagine," Dr. Jenkins continued, "if someone could talk to animals? People might start seeking out animals for information—asking them about other animals in the wild, about their own kind, or even about their owners—without even considering the impact of such questioning on the animals themselves. People could also use this ability to pry into animals' conversations, spying on them or gathering private information."
"That sounds horrible," Blythe said, aghast.
Dr. Jenkins clicked the slide on. "And then, of course, there is the impact on society and nature. The disruption of ecosystem services can be expected to occur if humans greatly modify natural habitats."
"Like if they entered jungles, talking to any animal for a long time and changing the behavior of all the animals?" Blythe asked.
"Exactly," replied Dr. Jenkins. "It would probably lead to substantial ecological imbalances."
Roger raised an eyebrow. "What about safety and health? Is there any risk?"
Dr. Jenkins explained, "We fear potential health risks such as unknown side effects or mental health issues stemming from this ability."
"What kind of issues?" asked Blythe.
"Just think of knowing all the time about the suffering of the animals," said Dr. Jenkins. "It will certainly be overwhelming, not very friendly to mental health."
The next slide raised concerns regarding equality and access. "The ability, however, could increase the inequality between humans and exacerbate existing social inequalities—only the richest and most powerful would be able to acquire it."
"So that would be like creating a social rift?" asked Roger.
"Yes," agreed Dr. Jenkins. "It could enable the haves to get those jobs that offer a better pay scale and other elite benefits. It could also make for a kind of reverse discrimination among those not having the ability."
Blythe frowned. "That just doesn't seem fair."
"It's not," responded Dr. Jenkins. "That's why we are building up a framework to make sure this is universally available and the ability does not turn into a source of inequality."
The next slide discussed method complexity and evaluation of the risks. "Conducting clinical trials and validation studies is a time-consuming process. We would like to be sure in all aspects before making this ability public."
Roger nodded. "It's a necessary process, even if it takes time."
The final slide was presented. "And lastly, we must prepare society globally. This includes education, creating legal frameworks, and cultural preparation to accept and manage the new ability."
As soon as Dr. Jenkins had finished showing the slides, Blythe and Roger sat there in silence for a moment, letting everything that they had just seen sink in. Then Blythe started:
"Dr. Jenkins, it's really starting to worry me now about what's going to happen to animal rights if more people can start talking to them."
"That's a very important question, Blythe," Dr. Jenkins said. "There would be tremendous pressure to legally admit rights for the animals, since they directly would have a say in their wants, needs, and suffering."
Roger nodded. "That would force industries that use animals, like livestock farming and entertainment, to change their practices to ensure that animals' wishes and well-being are respected."
"Just so," Dr. Jenkins continued. "Current practices could not be condoned by clearly communicative animals. More profound reforms would be required."
"What about diets and food?" Blythe asked. "Would that change too?"
"Probably yes," said Dr. Jenkins. "Eat meat isn't bad, but people would probably be going more toward vegetarian or vegan as they understand and feel the same feelings and suffering that the animals go through that are raised for consumption."
"That would have a major impact on the economy," said Roger, "The livestock industry would have to go under so many reforms."
"Absolutely," answered Dr. Jenkins. "Besides, most likely there will be alternative methods to animal experimentation. Also, probably animals themselves will express their suffering and pain, leading to a social and ethical rejection. After all, new ways of producing meat adapted to this new reality would need to be developed."
"And what of scientific inquiry?" Blythe asked.
"Scientists could go among the animals, and research with greater respect and ethics, and gather information without damaging," Dr. Jenkins said. "It would open up a new era of collaboration."
Blythe reflected for a moment before speaking again. "What would happen to the relationships between humans and animals?"
"We anticipate a dramatic rise in empathy and understanding between humans and animals," said Dr. Jenkins. "Educational programs would be integrated in the study of communication with animals and respect for their needs and rights."
"That sounds great," Blythe grinned in return.
"But there would also be changes in entertainment," said Roger. "Entertainment industries that use animals, like circuses and zoos, would have to transform."
Dr. Jenkins agreed, "So, the format might be adapted to the new reality, and probably in this one we will have more documentaries on education about communication with animals and their lives."
"That is a lot to take in," Blythe admitted. "But also exciting to think about all the ways we could improve animals' lives."
"Yes, it is," Dr. Jenkins nodded.
"So, are these the reasons why you've kept the results of this experiment confidential for so long?" asked Roger.
Dr. Jenkins nodded. "Yes, indeed. We are at the threshold here. Your contribution might go very far in assisting us to make this a better future for everyone."
Roger eyed Blythe with pride. "Well, we are ready to help her in any way she needs."
"Thanks," Blythe said, and a fresh bolt of resolve struck through him. "We'll do this together."
Roger raised his hand to ask yet another question.
"Dr. Jenkins, you mentioned a while ago that this technique of therapy has been very confidential for a long time. How have you managed in communicating with the public regarding your findings?"
Dr. Jenkins nodded and said, "Good question, Roger. That is not totally confidential since we revealed the therapy technique we used to other organizations who are also into genetic research. With regard to the general public, we submitted reports on the progress of the research and findings without including specific details of the method used."
Blythe frowned with curiosity, "And how did you involve the public in this process?"
"We have engaged the public and scientific communities via regular consultations to discuss progress and consider its ethical dimensions," Dr. Jenkins said. "We have used anecdotes and science-fiction stories about people who could talk to animals to create a level of familiarity with this potential for the general population."
"Science-fiction stories?" asked Roger with interest.
"Yes, we did circulate those stories about communications with animals," Dr. Jenkins continued. "So that the idea is not that new, and it gives time for people to get subconsciously prepared for the shock of the full truth."
Blythe nodded along. "That makes sense. It'll make the method less of a shock to people when it's finally made public."
"That is it," said Dr. Jenkins. "So we're ensuring society can be ready and deal with this information with responsibility."
"And it's also a way to get feedback and adjust approaches based on public reactions," Roger added.
"Right, it is very important," agreed Dr. Jenkins. "This will inform us of the concerns and expectations of the people, which is vital for forming an appropriate ethical and regulatory framework."
Blythe paused for a moment, considering before she spoke again. "So in the end, it's all about preparing society and making sure everything's ready for this ability to be used in the right way without any harm."
"Just that, Blythe," Dr. Jenkins replied with a smile. "And your working together and understanding could probably be important to this whole event."
"I am ready to assist in any way possible," Blythe declared with resolve.
Roger smiled and said, "We're grateful to you for being so candid and whole-hearted with regard to ethics."
"Thank you," said Dr. Jenkins. "We're here to support you and work with you hand in hand on this exciting but challenging journey."
After Dr. Jenkins had finished explaining the reasons, Blythe raised her hand.
"I want to help," Blythe said. "But first, I'd like to get in touch with someone else who has this ability."
Dr. Jenkins nodded. "Of course, Blythe. We'll set you up with one of them and then get back to you when it's all set up."
"Thanks, that would be super," Blythe returned with a smile.
Roger turned to Dr. Jenkins and the others. "We appreciate all the information and want to thank you for volunteering to help us."
"We're here to support you in any way you need," Dr. Jenkins said.
Blythe and Roger bade farewell to the scientists. "Thanks again," said Blythe.
"See you soon," Dr. Jenkins responded.
Blythe and Roger walked out of the center feeling more equipped to face the journey ahead.
After her visit to the Biotechnology Center, Blythe went back to the Littlest Pet Shop. She found Mrs. Twombly in the reception area stacking up some papers together.
"Mrs. Twombly, I need to tell you all the things they told us at the place," Blythe said.
Mrs. Twombly looked up and smiled. "Of course, dear. What happened?"
Blythe outlined the sum and substance of what they had learned, without bothering about technical details but stating the scientists' reasons and concerns.
"Wow, that's awesome Blythe, sounds like you learned quite a bit by, well, golly, there's a lot riding on it," said Mrs. Twombly.
"Yes, it was quite enlightening," Blythe answered. "Now I'm going to tell the pets."
"Okay, dear. They will just be eager to hear," Mrs. Twombly said with a smile.
Blythe went to the Day Camp, where all the pets gathered around her, eager to know what happened.
"Hey pets, I want to tell you what happened at the Biotechnology Center," Blythe said, sitting on the floor to be at their level.
"Tell us, tell us darling!" Zoe exclaimed.
"Was it interesting?" Minka asked, hopping from side to side.
Blythe gave the ideas of the concerns and reasons of the scientists without being overly technical.
"In essence, they have a lot of reasons for keeping everything secretive until they're sure things are okay," Blythe said.
"Wow! That sounds so complicated!" said Vinnie, trying to keep up.
"But it's pretty logical," Russell said. "They want to make sure there aren't any problems."
"I just hope there aren't any more weird tests!" joked Pepper.
Sunil asked with curiosity and nervousness, "So, did you get to talk to anyone else who has this ability?"
"Not yet, but they're going to arrange a meeting for me," Blythe replied.
"That'll be great! You'll get to learn so much more about the ability," said Penny Ling with her soft, comforting voice.
"Right, Penny. I'm terribly excited about that," Blythe said with a smile.
"Hey, Blythe! We were on the case too!" chirped Minka. "But we haven't found anything weird around here!"
"I see, well thank you very much for helping me," said Blythe. "Well, back to work."
"Good luck, Blythe!" replied the pets.
After she spoke with the pets, Blythe stood and went to help Mrs. Twombly. There, she took notes in her notebook on all that she was learning about her ability and what the scientists told her. Meanwhile, the pets had gathered at one corner of the Day Camp.
"Alright, team! It's time to get to work and resume our investigation," stated Russell.
"Yeah! DETECTIVES IN ACTION!" Minka exclaimed, hopping around.
"Now where should we look?" inquired Vinnie enthusiastically, looking around.
"I think we should check the shop's supply storage," Zoe suggested, quite elegantly. "There might be clues hidden among the materials."
"COME OOONNNN!" shouted Pepper, holding her toy magnifying glass high.
The pets scattered, and Mrs. Twombly wandered over to Blythe.
"Sweetheart, how goes it?" Mrs. Twombly asked with a smile.
"Great, Mrs. Twombly. I'm just working on some new designs," Blythe replied, showing her some sketches.
"They're beautiful, Blythe. You have incredible talent!" Mrs. Twombly gushed, admiring the drawings.
Inside the supply storage, the pets had begun to look for clues. Vinnie jumped into an empty box and got stuck inside.
"HELP! I'M TRAPPED!" Vinnie cried out as he kicked his legs.
Minka ran over and laughed. "Vinnie, you always get yourself into trouble!"
Meanwhile, Zoe was checking a high shelf with the help of an improvised ladder she had built from a stack of cardboard boxes.
"This is just like the detective movies, isn't it, darlings!" Zoe said stylishly, keeping her balance.
Pepper was inspecting a dusty corner with her magnifying glass. "Aha! I've found... a giant dust bunny!" she said dramatically, holding up a ball of dust.
Sunil, nervous but determined, was trying to open a locked cabinet with a hairpin he found. "Maybe there's something important in here," he said, trembling slightly.
Russell, who was taking notes in his notebook, approached. "Sunil, be careful. We don't want to cause a mess."
All of a sudden, the cabinet flew open, and a pile of old toys fell down on top of Sunil. "Ouch!" he wailed, as he was pinned under the toys.
Penny Ling rushed over to help. "Are you okay, Sunil?"
"Yeah, just a bit squished," Sunil replied, shaking off the toys.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Twombly and Blythe continued their conversation in the shop.
"I'm glad you're handling all of this with such maturity, Blythe," Mrs. Twombly said. "It's a big burden on your shoulders."
"Thanks, Mrs. Twombly. There's lots for me to learn, but I'm up for the challenge," Blythe replied with a smile.
The pets gathered back in the Day Camp to share their findings.
"Well, we didn't find anything really mysterious," Russell admitted.
"But we sure had a lot of fun!" Minka laughed.
"Oh well, we did some cleaning at least," teased Pepper, pointing at the pile of toys.
"The important thing is that we're here to help Blythe," Zoe said with her usual elegance.
"Sure is," added Penny Ling. "We'll always be here for her."
"Littlest Pet Shop Detectives, ALWAYS READY FOR ACTION!" Vinnie shouted, doing a goofy salute.
The pets chuckled and prepared themselves, knowing that in every adventure the future held, Blythe could count on them as her true supporters.
On Monday, during lunch at school, Blythe met up with her friends Youngmee, Sue, and Jasper in the cafeteria. The excitement from everything she had learned at the Biotechnology Center was still buzzing inside her.
"Guys, I have to tell you something amazing that happened," Blythe began as they sat at their usual table.
"What is it, Blythe?" asked Youngmee, excited.
"Yes, let us know," added Sue, leaning forward with interest.
Blythe took a deep breath and summarized what she had learned at the Biotechnology Center, including the implications of her ability and the scientists' concerns.
"Wow! They've thought a lot about that!" exclaimed Jasper.
"Yeah. The scientists are worried about how this ability could be used on a large scale, and they want to make sure it's done ethically," Blythe explained.
"That makes sense," said Youngmee. "It's an awesome power, and it could easily be misconstrued or misused."
"How are they going to handle all that?" Jasper asked, frowning.
"They're going to institute strict legal and ethical frameworks. They're also involving the public and scientific communities in constant conversations," Blythe replied.
"It's good to know they're being careful," Sue nodded. "But what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to keep working with them and learn more about my ability," Blythe said. "They are also going to arrange a meeting with someone else who has this ability so I can talk to that person."
"That's so nice!" Youngmee exclaimed. "You could really learn a lot from that person."
"Yeah, I'm excited," Blythe said, smiling. "And I'm grateful to have friends like you to support me."
"We'll always be here for you, Blythe," Sue said with a warm smile.
"Absolutely," added Jasper. "Anything you need, just let us know."
"Thank you, guys. This really means a lot to me," Blythe said, feeling comforted.
"And remember," Youngmee added playfully, "you can always practice with my pet Nutmeg Dash. She'd love to talk to you! By the way, Buttercream, Nutmeg Dash, and Sugar Sprinkles will go to Littlest Pet Shop next week."
"Oh, that's wonderful. I'll make sure they all have a great time," Blythe replied with a beaming smile.
They all laughed, easing the tension with a touch of humor. The lunch bell rang, signaling the end of their time together. As they gathered their things, Blythe felt more confident and prepared to face the challenges ahead, knowing she had the unwavering support of her friends.
Blythe returned to her classroom after talking with her friends. When the bell rang, she got up from her seat and left her notebook on the desk as she headed down the hall toward the bathroom.
The abandoned notebook caught the attention of the Biskit twins, Brittany and Whittany.
"Look, Whittany! Blythe left her notebook," Brittany said with a mischievous smile.
"Let's see what she's been writing," Whittany replied, leaning closer over the notebook.
The twins opened the notebook and began to read. Their eyes widened in surprise as they found passages where Blythe explained her ability to talk to the pets.
"I can't believe what I'm reading," Brittany said, astonished. "Blythe can talk to pets."
Whittany nodded, equally surprised. "That explains why she always seems to be one step ahead of us at events with the pets."
"We could tell everyone that Blythe has this ability," Whittany suggested with a wicked smile.
"Yeah, but no one would ever believe us without some concrete evidence," Brittany replied. "These writings could easily be dismissed as pure fantasy."
"You're right," Whittany admitted, frowning. "We need proof."
Brittany thought for a moment and then smiled. "Let's spy on Blythe. The next time she's around any pets, especially at the Littlest Pet Shop, we'll watch her closely."
"Good idea!" Whittany exclaimed, smiling. "Then we can get real evidence."
The twins glanced at each other and nodded, determined to follow through with their plan. Just then, Blythe returned from the bathroom and picked up her notebook, not realizing it had been looked through. Meanwhile, the twins discreetly withdrew, silently preparing to put their spying plan into action.
After a long day at school, Blythe returned to the Littlest Pet Shop, eager to catch up with the pets and work on her designs. As she stepped inside, she was greeted by the cheerful commotion of the pets, their energy instantly lifting her spirits.
Meanwhile, outside the shop, Sunil noticed the Biskit twins, Brittany and Whittany, lingering suspiciously close to the entrance.
What are the Biskit twins doing here? Sunil thought to himself, frowning. He decided to keep an eye on them, just in case.
Unnoticed by anyone, the twins discreetly placed a phone on a shelf in the shop, its camera quietly recording, aimed directly at the Day Camp. Once satisfied with their sneaky setup, they quickly walked away, leaving the phone behind.
Inside, Blythe headed to the Day Camp, where she began chatting with the pets, sharing her latest ideas and plans with them. The pets listened attentively, eager to hear what she had in mind.
Suddenly, Sunil, who had been keeping watch from the window, spotted the phone propped up on the shelf. Alarmed, he immediately ran over to Vinnie.
"Vinnie! Look at that!" Sunil exclaimed, pointing at the phone. "Doesn't it seem strange that there's a phone just sitting there like that?"
"Yeah, that's not normal," Vinnie agreed, his brow furrowing in concern. "We have to do something!"
Without hesitation, they both rushed to Blythe, interrupting her mid-sentence.
"Blythe, be quiet!" Vinnie urged, his voice filled with urgency. "It looks like there's a phone recording over there on the shelf."
Blythe, taken aback, immediately stopped talking. Her eyes scanned the room until she spotted the phone. Speaking in a low voice, she said, "We'll talk later."
Carefully, Blythe left the Day Camp, making sure to stay out of the camera's view. She quickly took the phone off the shelf, ending the recording. Outside, the Biskit twins watched from a distance, frustration crossing their faces as they realized the recording had abruptly stopped.
"Oh no! The recording stopped!" Brittany exclaimed, her voice tinged with frustration.
"Calm down, Brittany. We still have the footage we already recorded," Whittany replied with a smug smile. "Jackpot!"
Just then, Blythe stormed out of the shop, clutching the phone tightly in her hand. She marched straight up to the twins, her face flushed with anger.
"That's enough! What are you doing here?" Blythe demanded, her voice shaking with fury.
The twins exchanged a smirk, clearly pleased with themselves. "Oh, we were just seeing what you were up to," Brittany said nonchalantly.
Blythe's heart raced as she looked at the phone in her hand, her thoughts spinning as she realized the Biskit twins had recorded from a distance to another phone as well.
Desperation laced her voice as she pleaded, "Please, don't show this video to anyone. It would be a disaster for me."
Whittany raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "And why shouldn't we?"
Brittany's smile turned malicious. "We might not show it… but on one condition."
"What condition?" Blythe asked, her voice tinged with desperation.
"We'll think about it and tell you tomorrow," Whittany replied, clearly enjoying the power they held over her.
Blythe felt a knot tighten in her stomach. "Please, listen. This could ruin my life. I'd be seen as a freak, and I'd never have a normal life again. I know we have our differences, but I'm begging you not to do this."
The twins exchanged a look before turning back to Blythe. Brittany spoke first. "We'll think about it."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow," Whittany added as they walked away, leaving Blythe standing there, feeling the weight of the situation bearing down on her.
Back inside the shop, Blythe found her dad and told him everything that had happened.
Blythe said, her voice laced with worry. "The Biskit twins spied on me, Dad! They were actually recording me while I was talking to the pets, and they can reveal that I can talk to animals."
Roger's expression hardened. "Those girls shouldn't be spying on people, Blythe. That's wrong." He paused for a moment, then asked gently, "But Blythe, why don't you decide to tell everyone yourself? I think it wouldn't be a bad idea for more people to know after we learned about the organization."
Blythe sighed, the weight of her fears evident in her voice. "Dad, it's not that simple. If everyone knew, I wouldn't just be 'Blythe' anymore. I'd be the girl who talks to animals—some kind of sideshow or freak. I'd lose my privacy, and people would treat me differently. I just want to keep some normalcy in my life for as long as I can."
Roger looked at her with sympathy. "I understand, sweetie. It's a lot to carry, and you deserve to have control over your own life."
Blythe nodded, grateful for his support. "Thanks, Dad. That's why it's so important that we keep this under wraps until we're ready."
Roger nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. "Alright, Blythe. We'll do whatever it takes."
Meanwhile, the LPS pets had gathered to discuss what had just happened.
"I can't believe those twins were spying on Blythe!" Zoe exclaimed, her tone filled with outrage.
"Those two are always trying to ruin Blythe's life," Pepper commented, shaking her head in disbelief.
"What are we going to do if they come back?" Penny Ling asked, her voice trembling with worry.
"We have to stay alert and protect Blythe," Russell said, his voice firm with determination. "We won't let those twins ruin her life."
"Littlest Pet Shop Detectives, READY FOR ACTION!" Vinnie shouted, striking a comical pose to lighten the mood.
The pets laughed, but they knew the situation was serious. They were determined to do everything they could to help Blythe keep her secret safe.
AN: Whew, the next chapters will be coming later. You'll notice that the LPS pets were not yet surprised about the concerns regarding the possibility of humans discovering that other animals apparently have intelligence similar to humans. Later on, these pets will realize that. I'm aiming to finish this fanfiction before the end of the year but I can't make any promises. Fingers crossed though! Hehe.