Chapter 8. Uncovered Truths.
AN: Hi everyone! I'm back. I've had some pending tasks lately, so I've been delayed with this chapter. Also, I think I can finish this fanfiction before the end of the year. I hope so.
Blythe arrived at Littlest Pet Shop, her mind buzzing with thoughts. As she entered the store, she saw Mrs. Twombly meticulously arranging items on a shelf. Should I tell her that I can talk to pets now? Blythe pondered, feeling a knot of anxiety form in her stomach.
Blythe took a deep breath, deciding it was best to wait. I'll do some research with Dad first, maybe find some answers. Then, when I have more information, I'll tell her.
Resolute in her decision, Blythe stepped further into the store.
"Hello, Mrs. Twombly," Blythe greeted, a smile gracing her lips as she attempted to steady her voice.
"Hello, Blythe!" Mrs. Twombly responded.
Blythe began, drawing a deep breath. "I wanted to discuss something important with you. It's about a research project I want to undertake with my dad."
Mrs. Twombly paused her work, giving Blythe her full attention, her expression one of genuine interest. "A research project? Tell me more, dear."
Seeing Mrs. Twombly's willingness to listen, Blythe felt her nervousness ebb slightly. "Yes, there's an building in the industrial center in this city known as Advanced Center for Biotechnology and Conservation. I believe it might hold valuable information about my mom and the volunteer work she did there."
Mrs. Twombly nodded thoughtfully, absorbing the information. "I see, Blythe. Do you think you might uncover answers about her there?"
"I hope so," Blythe admitted. "My dad and I plan to visit this weekend to investigate. I need to learn more about her work."
Mrs. Twombly's expression softened with understanding. "That's an important journey for you, Blythe. Your mom would be proud to see how far you're willing to go to learn more about her."
Blythe smiled, grateful for the support. "Thank you, Mrs. Twombly. Would it be alright if I took some time off from the store that day?"
Mrs. Twombly placed a reassuring hand on Blythe's shoulder and nodded. "Of course, dear. The store will be fine. What you're doing is far more important. Just make sure to stay safe and take care of yourself."
"I will," Blythe promised, feeling a wave of relief and gratitude wash over her. "Thank you for understanding, Mrs. Twombly."
"Always, Blythe. Go and uncover everything you can. And when you return, don't forget to share it all with me. I'm sure your mom would be very proud of you."
With one last hug of gratitude, Blythe left the store, ready to embrace the next chapter of her adventure with Mrs. Twombly's blessing and support.
It was Thursday, and since Roger had an afternoon off from his job as a pilot, Blythe decided to call him for a chat. Once in the apartment above the Littlest Pet Shop, Blythe began the conversation.
"Dad, I've been checking on my phone, and it seems it might be difficult to get authorization to enter the industrial center's facilities," Blythe said, showing concern.
Roger smiled and responded calmly. "Don't worry, Blythie. There's something you're forgetting."
"What is it?" Blythe asked, intrigued.
"You can talk to animals," Roger replied with a knowing smile.
"That's right!" exclaimed Blythe, her face lighting up. "I could talk to some animals that have been near the industrial facility, like the birds."
"Exactly," Roger nodded. "That will give us an advantage."
Blythe became even more encouraged. "Dad, I'm so motivated to thoroughly understand the true nature of my ability. I had a dream where Mom told me that the answers are here, and it seemed to show me that the important thing is not just to talk to animals, but to understand them."
Roger was surprised. "Mom appeared to you in a dream and told you that the answers are here? That's incredible. I'm glad you had the chance to dream of her."
"Yes, Dad," Blythe nodded, with a mix of excitement and nostalgia. "I wish I had spent more time with her."
"Me too, dear," Roger looked at her tenderly and asked, "Blythie, when did you start talking to animals?"
"It was when I hit my head, right after we moved into the apartment," Blythe answered, recalling the moment.
"Don't you find it strange that your ability appeared just in this place?" Roger asked, thoughtful.
"Yes," Blythe responded, reflecting. "But I also wonder if I would have acquired this ability if I had hit my head in our hometown."
"We don't know that," Roger said, "but it's quite a coincidence that this ability appeared right after we moved here."
"Yes, maybe that's why Mom told me that the answers have always been here," Blythe said, looking at her dad seriously. "But I can't know why."
"Preferably, we should record all the traits of this ability that we can discover," Roger suggested. "For now, we know two properties: it seems to activate by hitting your head and is temporarily suppressed by taking an herbal remedy for colds."
"That's right," Blythe nodded. "That's all I know about the ability so far."
Then, Blythe ventured to ask, "Dad, can I take some pets from the Littlest Pet Shop to the facility?"
Roger smiled and said, "Yes, no problem. As long as you ask their owners for permission."
"That's right," Blythe concluded, feeling grateful for her dad's support.
On Friday at school, Blythe found Youngmee in the cafeteria during lunch. Blythe began to share with Youngmee the conversation she had with her dad.
"Youngmee, last night I talked to my dad about our investigation," Blythe began, taking a bite of her apple. "I told him it might be difficult to get into the industrial center's facilities, but he reminded me that I can talk to animals."
"That's a big advantage," Youngmee replied, her excitement evident. "What else did he say?"
"Well," Blythe continued, "I realized I can ask the animals that have been near the industrial facility, like the birds, for information."
Youngmee nodded, clearly impressed. "That's brilliant, Blythe! You definitely have an edge with that ability."
"Yes," Blythe said, a smile spreading across her face. "Dad was surprised but also happy that I had the chance to dream of Mom. He asked me when I started talking to animals, and I reminded him that it was right after I hit my head when we moved into the apartment."
Youngmee listened attentively. "And what else did you tell your dad?"
"I told him that I also wonder if I would have acquired this ability if I had hit my head in our hometown," Blythe explained. "Dad thinks it's a coincidence that my ability manifested right after we got there."
"Hmm," Youngmee mused, "maybe the place has something to do with it. What else are you going to do?"
Blythe's eyes brightened. "I asked Dad if I could take some pets from Littlest Pet Shop to the facility, and he said yes, as long as I ask their owners for permission."
Youngmee looked at her with admiration. "That sounds exciting, Blythe! I'm sure you'll find a lot of answers."
Blythe felt a wave of gratitude for her friend's support. "Thank you, Youngmee. Your support means a lot to me."
Youngmee gave her a quick hug. "I'll always be here for you, Blythe. Now, let's get to class before we're late!"
The two girls got up, gathered their things, and headed to class, chatting and laughing as they made their way to the classroom. With friends like Youngmee by her side, Blythe felt more confident and motivated to face any challenge that came her way.
On Friday afternoon, Blythe gathered the Littlest Pet Shop pets in the Day Camp to share the details of her investigation. The pets clustered around her, their eager faces reflecting their anticipation.
"Hello, pets!" Blythe began with a warm smile. "I want to tell you about the conversation I had with my dad last night."
The pets looked at her expectantly. Vinnie spoke up first. "Come on, Blythe, tell us everything! What did your dad say?"
Blythe sat on the floor, surrounded by her pet friends. "Well, we talked about many important things regarding our investigation and how we can use my ability to talk to animals to help us."
Zoe, ever curious, tilted her head. "So your dad is on board with all this? That's fantastic, darling!"
"Yes," Blythe nodded. "And there's more. I'm going to need three of you to travel to the industrial facility tomorrow. I've already talked to your owners, and they agreed."
Russell, always practical and prepared, stepped forward. "Who's going with you, Blythe?"
"Vinnie, Zoe, and you, Russell," Blythe replied with a smile.
Vinnie jumped with excitement, doing a little spin in the air. "Yes! An adventure! I'm ready for anything!"
Zoe wagged her tail elegantly. "It will be a pleasure to accompany you, Blythe. I'm sure we'll discover fascinating things."
Russell nodded. "I'm ready for any challenge, Blythe. Let's do this the best way possible."
Blythe felt encouraged by her friends' enthusiasm. "Thank you, pets. I knew I could count on you. Tomorrow will be a great day, full of discoveries."
Pepper, always the jokester, couldn't resist adding a comment. "Just make sure Vinnie doesn't get lost dancing in the middle of the investigation."
Everyone laughed, and Vinnie responded with an exaggerated hip movement. "Don't worry, Pepper! My moves will only guide us to success!"
Blythe stood up, feeling more prepared than ever. "So, everyone rest well tonight. Tomorrow will be a big day, and I'm sure that together we'll find the answers we're looking for."
The pets nodded and said their goodbyes with words of encouragement and excitement. "See you tomorrow, Blythe!" they said in unison.
Blythe smiled at them once more before saying goodbye, her heart filled with hope and determination for the adventure that awaited them the next day.
It was Saturday morning, and Blythe, her dad Roger, Russell, Zoe, and Vinnie headed to the industrial facility of the Biotechnology Center. Upon arrival, they found the doors closed.
"It's locked," Roger said, frowning as he examined the entrance.
Blythe nodded, undeterred. "No problem, Dad. I'll talk to some animals that live around here, especially the birds that are usually near the building, to see if they've noticed anything."
Roger nodded, trusting his daughter's ability. "Good idea, Blythie."
Blythe approached a crow perched on a nearby branch. "Hello, do you know the organization that works in this facility?"
The crow tilted its head and replied, "Yes, it's a Biotechnology Center."
"Do you remember when they changed their name 15 years ago?" Blythe asked, curious.
The crow nodded. "Yes, when I was young, they remodeled the facility. They were getting rid of some ID cards and destroying them, but a bird at that time snuck in through the window, took a card, and while trying to take it to its nest, dropped it in a bush near that tree."
Blythe smiled, grateful. "Thank you very much, that's the information I needed."
She then turned to her father. "Dad, we need to check that bush."
Russell, ever meticulous, suggested, "We should carefully examine around the bush. We might find something important."
Blythe nodded and turned to Zoe. "Zoe, can you try sniffing around that bush to see if you find anything unusual?"
Zoe sniffed around the bush and soon discovered something among the branches. "There's a plastic object very deep inside!" she exclaimed.
"Vinnie, because of your size, can you grab it?" asked Zoe.
"Of course!" replied Vinnie, sliding his small body between the branches. Carefully, he pulled out a card and handed it to Blythe.
Blythe examined the card. "It's an ID of one of the institute's officials. It has the old logo with the initials GERI." She noted the ID number and the email on the card. "This is pure gold for my friend Jasper to access the confidential files of this organization."
Blythe looked at her dad, a bit unsure. "Are we doing the right thing?"
Roger placed a reassuring hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Understanding GERI's experiments is crucial for your safety, Blythie. If your ability is the result of some experiment, we need to know the details to protect you and ensure your well-being."
Blythe nodded, feeling more confident. "You're right, Dad. Let's uncover the truth."
With the card in hand and determination in their hearts, Blythe, her dad, and the pets prepared for the next step in their investigation, knowing that each step brought them closer to the answers they sought.
After returning to the apartment with her father and the pets, Blythe sat at her desk, holding the ID card. She knew she needed her friends' help for the next step. She took out her phone and started making calls.
First, she called Jasper. The phone rang a couple of times before he answered.
"Hi, Jasper. How are you?" Blythe greeted him.
"Hi, Blythe. I'm good, and you?" replied Jasper.
"I'm good. Jasper, I need us to meet this Sunday afternoon at your house. There's something important I want to discuss with everyone," Blythe explained.
"At my house? Sure, Blythe. Is there something I should know in advance?" asked Jasper, curious.
"I'd prefer to explain it when we're all together. I need your help with something important," Blythe said, trying to reassure him.
"Alright, Blythe. I'll be there. See you on Sunday!" replied Jasper.
After securing the meeting place, Blythe called Sue. The phone rang a couple of times before Sue answered.
"Hi, Blythe! What's up?" Sue asked, with her usual enthusiasm.
"Hi, Sue. I need you to meet me and the others this Sunday afternoon at Jasper's house. There's something important I want to discuss with everyone," Blythe said, trying to contain her excitement.
"At Jasper's house? Sure, sounds interesting. Is something wrong?" Sue asked, a little worried.
"No, everything's fine. But I'd prefer to explain it when we're all together," Blythe replied.
"Alright, I'll be there. See you on Sunday!" said Sue before hanging up.
Then, Blythe called Youngmee. Youngmee answered quickly.
"Hi, Blythe! How are you?" greeted Youngmee, in her always friendly tone.
"Hi, Youngmee. I'm good. Listen, I need you to meet me, Sue, and Jasper this Sunday afternoon at Jasper's house. It's very important," Blythe said.
Youngmee noticed the urgency in Blythe's voice. "Of course, Blythe. Are you sure everything's okay?"
"Yes, everything's fine. But there's something important I need to discuss with everyone," Blythe explained.
"I understand. I'll be there on Sunday. See you!" replied Youngmee.
Blythe hung up the phone, feeling relieved to have contacted all her friends. She knew that together they could unravel the mystery of her ability and uncover the truth behind GERI's experiments.
On Sunday afternoon, Blythe, Sue, and Youngmee arrived at Jasper's house, eager to uncover what secrets the ID card might reveal. Jasper was already seated in front of his computer, ready to dive into the search.
"Hello, everyone," Jasper greeted. "I'm ready to see what we can find with this ID tag."
"Jasper, before you start, I want you to know that Lauren Smith was my mother's name," Blythe said seriously. "Maybe that will help you find something relevant."
Jasper nodded, taking note. "Thanks, Blythe. That's very helpful. I'll set up an advanced search using her name and the word 'therapy'."
Jasper began typing quickly, adjusting various parameters on the screen. "First, I'll search for any reports that mention 'Lauren Smith' and 'therapy'. This should help us narrow down the information."
Everyone watched with interest as Jasper continued. "Also, I'll limit the search since the name change happened 15 years ago. This will give us a more manageable timeframe."
After setting the filters, Jasper started the search. They sat in silence for several minutes, watching the screen as the progress bar slowly advanced.
"This might take a while," Jasper commented. "There are a lot of files in this database."
Blythe watched the screen nervously. "Let's hope we find something useful."
After about ten minutes, the search began to yield results. Jasper started reviewing the documents one by one, quickly reading the summaries and discarding those that didn't seem relevant.
"This one mentions 'therapy', but there's nothing about Lauren Smith," muttered Jasper, discarding another document.
Youngmee watched, fascinated. "It must be hard to find what we're looking for among so much information."
"Yes," Jasper agreed. "But I'm hopeful there's something here. We just need to be patient."
Finally, after reviewing several reports, Jasper stopped at one that caught his attention. His expression changed, and his heart raced.
"Guys, I think I found something," he said, with contained excitement. "This report mentions the 'Empathy Project' and refers to genetic modification in human subjects. Listen to this."
Jasper began to read aloud:
"The scientists at the Genetic Engineering Research Institute (GERI) were deeply involved in an ambitious and well-intentioned project called the 'Empathy Project'. Its goal was to address a range of genetic disorders that affected people's ability to emotionally process and respond to others, with the hope of improving empathy and interpersonal communication in individuals with certain autism spectrum disorders or similar conditions.
To achieve this, the GERI team focused on studying and modifying specific genes related to sensory perception and emotional interpretation to increase empathy with animal species. During their research, the scientists identified individuals who spent a lot of time with animals and seemed to perfectly understand their body language, recording rumors that some of these people could verbally communicate with animals. The list of these individuals registered with their consent is found in the 'Registry of High Animal Empathy Subjects'.
The scientists collected DNA samples from these individuals with their consent or that of their families, not knowing for sure if they could really communicate with animals, but they observed a particular genetic disposition that seemed to allow a greater empathic connection with animals. They decided to use this information for their experiment with Lauren Smith, who volunteered.
Lauren, 15 years old, known for her immense compassion and willingness to help others, volunteered with her parents' consent for the project, motivated by the possibility of contributing to research that promised to significantly improve the quality of life for many people. The scientists did not tell her that one of the experiment's possibilities was to develop the ability to communicate with animals, as they wanted to observe the results without external influences and maintain the integrity of the study.
During the experiment, the scientists used an advanced gene therapy technique to introduce modifications into her genome, hoping to enhance brain areas related to empathy and emotional interpretation. However, the results went beyond expectations. The therapy not only intensified her empathic ability toward other humans and non-human animals but also unlocked an unprecedented latent capacity: the ability to communicate with animals. It seems the genetic modification interacted unexpectedly with a rare genetic variant Lauren possessed, possibly related to the ancestral human connection with nature and animals.
The GERI scientists, without informing Lauren, installed monitoring devices in an animal shelter without her knowing to not interfere with the study's integrity, aiming to observe her interactions with animals. Although the monitoring devices were installed without specific mention to avoid outside interference, GERI ensured that all procedures were approved by an ethics committee. Once the significant results were discovered, Lauren and her parents would be informed about the monitoring, understanding the importance of the findings. Through these devices, they realized Lauren increasingly understood the animals' needs, and after 15 months of testing, they noticed Lauren engaged in conversations with them, based on documented responses.
The GERI scientists, surprised and concerned about the ethical implications and potential consequences of their discovery in having, for the first time in history, made communicating with animals determined by humans and not by nature as with other potential subjects, decided to keep this side effect of the therapy confidential. The researchers at GERI chose to document the unexpected results anonymously, not out of malice, but out of a concern for the safety and well-being of the participants. They intended to reveal the findings in a controlled manner once they had a comprehensive understanding of the implications and had developed protocols to handle the situation responsibly. Their primary goal was to protect Lauren and ensure that the results would not be misused."
Jasper stopped reading, stunned by the information. He looked at Blythe with eyes full of surprise and confusion. "Blythe, what does it mean by 'communicating with animals'?"
Sue also looked at Blythe, awaiting her response.
Blythe took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "Yes, it's true. I can talk to animals. That's the absolute truth. But I've always wanted to know the origin of this ability."
While Blythe and her friends were discussing inside Jasper's house, outside, the Biskit twins, Whittany and Brittany, were spying from behind some nearby bushes. They whispered to each other, their faces full of curiosity and suspicion.
"Whittany, what do you think Blythe and her friends are doing inside Jasper's house?" Brittany asked, trying to peek a bit more to get a better view.
"I don't know, Brittany, but it must be something very interesting," Whittany replied, frowning. "They're being very secretive about it. Did you notice how they looked around before going in?"
Brittany nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, they made sure no one saw them. What do you think they're up to?"
Whittany pondered for a moment before responding. "It must be something important. Blythe never does anything without a good reason. And doing it at Jasper's house, away from the public eye, makes it even more suspicious."
Brittany made a face. "Do you think they're planning something against us?"
Whittany shook her head, still intrigued. "I don't think so. But if they're planning something big, we should know about it. It could be the perfect opportunity to get ahead and take advantage."
Brittany smiled, sharing her sister's excitement. "Yes! Imagine if we discover something important. We could use it to our advantage."
Whittany nodded, determined. "Exactly. Let's keep spying and see if we can find out more. We can't let anything slip by us."
The Biskit twins settled more comfortably among the bushes, straining their ears and keeping their eyes fixed on Jasper's house, waiting for any hint of what Blythe and her friends were up to.
Sue, her eyes wide with astonishment, exclaimed, "I can't believe it! Since when have you been able to talk to animals?"
Blythe explained, "Since I hit my head when we moved to this city, right in the building where I live and where Littlest Pet Shop is. I've always wondered why and how I developed this ability."
Jasper, still processing the information, asked, "And you think this 'Empathy Project' has something to do with it?"
"Yes," Blythe replied. "I think my mother was part of that experiment and that, somehow, this ability was passed down to me."
"This is mind-blowing," Jasper said, finally grasping the magnitude of their discovery. "We have to keep investigating and find out more about this project and how it affects you."
"I agree," Sue nodded. "We need to make sure you fully understand your ability and how you can use it safely."
"Thanks, guys," said Blythe, feeling overwhelmed but grateful for her friends' support. "Let's uncover the whole truth together."
Jasper, excited, exclaimed, "By the way, Blythe, now that I think about it, you could be the perfect veterinarian!"
Blythe looked at him in surprise. "Why do you think that, Jasper?"
Jasper smiled and explained, "Think about it. As a veterinarian, you could ask pets what they feel, what they need, or where it hurts. You could make diagnoses much faster."
Youngmee interrupted, concerned. "Jasper, this is serious. We need to focus on the true nature of this ability to talk to animals."
Jasper nodded, recognizing Youngmee's point. "You're right, Youngmee. I got too excited. I'm sorry, Blythe."
Blythe smiled, understanding. "Don't worry, Jasper. Now, can you take a screenshot and print the report?"
"Sure," replied Jasper, turning back to his computer. After a few minutes, he printed the document and handed it to Blythe. "Here you go. But Blythe, be careful. If the current organization, even with a different name, discovers that some of their information was leaked, the consequences could be unpredictable."
Blythe nodded, taking the report. "Okay, Jasper. I'll be careful."
As she reviewed the report, Blythe noticed something. "There's an additional report called 'Registry of High Animal Empathy Subjects.' Can you look it up, Jasper?"
"Of course," replied Jasper, typing quickly. After a few minutes, he found the report and opened it. "Got it! There's a list of names. Wow, there are about 47651 people."
Blythe was amazed. "47651 people! Jasper, use Control-F and type 'Henrietta Twombly.'"
Jasper did as Blythe asked, and sure enough, the name appeared in the report. "Here it is. Henrietta Twombly. Who is she?"
"She was my boss Mrs. Twombly's great-great-grandmother. She spent a lot of time with animals and worked in the building that now is Littlest Pet Shop, and it was rumored that she talked to animals," explained Blythe.
Sue frowned, curious. "How could they have obtained her DNA if that concept didn't exist back then? It was a long time ago."
Youngmee thought for a moment before responding. "They could have gotten a brush she used to comb her hair and taken a hair sample after she died."
"That makes sense," said Blythe, nodding. "Knowing that the community rumored she talked to animals, it's possible that Henrietta's family agreed."
Blythe's friends looked at each other before Youngmee asked, "Blythe, who else knows about your ability?"
"My dad and you guys only," replied Blythe.
Youngmee looked at Blythe with concern. "Does your boss know yet?"
Blythe shook her head. "No, but I feel obligated to tell her soon, especially since I'm going to tell her about Henrietta Twombly."
Her friends nodded, showing their support. Blythe turned to Jasper. "Jasper, please investigate more about that organization. I'm afraid it might be malicious."
Jasper searched for more information and found several recognitions and achievements. "Blythe, I've found that they've been involved in research that has managed to cure and treat diseases and other malign conditions."
Blythe insisted, uneasy. "Keep looking. I don't like how they treated my mom."
Jasper continued searching and found more recognitions and achievements. "It seems this organization has helped humanity a lot, and I haven't found anything indicating they want to harm anyone. They don't seem malicious at all. Besides, Blythe, this happened to your mom with her and her parents' consent, not because the organization forced her."
Blythe sighed, accepting the explanation. "That's true. You're right."
Sue intervened, "But still, for GERI to keep the results of those experiments a secret. Don't you think it was unethical?"
Youngmee commented, "I understand your concern, but I think they had a reason. They wanted to make sure they fully understood the implications before making the information public."
Jasper responded, "You both have valid points. It's a complicated issue, but it's important that we discuss all perspectives to better understand the situation."
With that, the four friends finished their discussions, knowing they had taken a big step toward understanding Blythe's unique ability and the mysterious past of her family.
As she left Jasper's house, Blythe ran into the Biskit twins again, who were apparently lounging near the sidewalk. Blythe stopped, looking at them suspiciously.
"What are you doing here?" Blythe asked, crossing her arms. "It's not common to see you around this area."
Whittany and Brittany exchanged a quick glance before Whittany spoke first.
"Oh, Blythe, what a surprise to see you here!" Whittany said, feigning surprise. "We were just... taking a walk."
"Yeah, taking a walk," Brittany quickly added. "We wanted to... explore the neighborhood a bit. You never know what interesting things you might find."
Blythe raised an eyebrow, clearly doubting their excuses. "Really? Because it looked like you were very interested in Jasper's house."
Whittany smiled nervously. "Jasper's house? No, no. We were just admiring the bushes. They're... very nice."
Brittany nodded energetically. "Yes, the bushes. Very... green. And... what are you doing here, Blythe?"
Blythe stared at them for a moment before deciding it wasn't worth arguing. "Nothing that concerns you. Anyway, I have to go."
Whittany and Brittany gave her fake smiles and said goodbye. "Goodbye, Blythe! Have a nice day."
"Yeah, see you," added Brittany, as the twins began to walk away.
Blythe watched them leave, still suspecting their true intentions, but decided to let them go for now. The three of them walked off in opposite directions, each with their own thoughts about what had just happened.
When she got home, Blythe went straight to her dad.
"Dad, I have something very important to show you," Blythe said, her voice serious.
Roger put aside what he was doing and nodded. "Alright, Blythe. What is it about?"
Blythe took a deep breath. "It's pretty heavy, so brace yourself."
Roger frowned, concerned, but nodded again. "I'm ready. Show me."
Blythe handed him the two reports that Jasper had found. Roger began to read, his expression shifting as he absorbed the information.
"This is... incredible," he murmured. "Your mom was always so supportive, but I never imagined she'd undergo a genetic test to enhance animal empathy, and that this would result in the ability to talk to animals."
"Did Mom know that her ability was caused by this?" he asked, still astonished.
Blythe shook her head. "No, Dad. Mom never knew her ability came from that test because the scientists wanted to maintain the study's integrity. They didn't want to create false expectations. Besides, they considered it highly speculative to claim she could talk to animals since they couldn't record the animals' 'words'—only the sounds they made. They could only document what Mom said."
Roger nodded, reflecting. "She always volunteered for medical tests, and they always turned out well. But I never thought one of them would result in this."
"It seems this was the most ambitious test Mom ever participated in," Blythe said with a sigh.
"So, if she had that genetic modification, does that mean she passed it on to me?" Blythe asked, her mind racing.
Roger nodded slowly. "It seems so. You carry the result of your mother's decision."
Blythe was stunned, trying to process the information.
"Blythe, who else have you told about your ability, besides me?" Roger asked.
"Only my friends Youngmee, Sue, and Jasper," Blythe replied.
"And have you told Mrs. Twombly?" her dad asked, curious.
"No, but I'm going to tell her," Blythe said. "Especially since Henrietta Twombly is listed in the report as one of the people who spent the most time with animals and was considered likely to have talked to them."
Her dad nodded. "If you want, you can tell your boss, but don't tell more people about this ability until we go to the industrial center to investigate."
Blythe nodded. "Alright, Dad. Do you think they will let us in?"
"Of course they will," Roger said firmly. "We are direct relatives and have the right to know what happened with your mom. We just need to bring our IDs."
"That's true, let's do it," Blythe replied with determination. "Are we going to tell the organization that we leaked their information?"
Roger shook his head. "No, we need to see what they tell us first."
"Okay," Blythe agreed, mentally preparing for what was to come.
After her conversation with her dad, Blythe decided it was time to talk to the Littlest Pet Shop pets about everything she had discovered. She headed to the day camp, where the pets were playing and resting.
"Hi, pets," Blythe greeted, catching everyone's attention. "I need to talk to you about something very important."
The pets gathered around, curious. Vinnie was the first to speak. "What's up, Blythe? Did you find something interesting?"
Blythe nodded, sitting on the floor to be at their level. "First of all, I want you to know that Sue and Jasper already know I can talk to animals."
The pets reacted with surprise. Zoe was the first to speak. "Really, dear? And how did they take it?"
"They took it pretty well," Blythe replied with a smile. "They were very understanding and are willing to help me investigate more about my ability."
"That's great," said Vinnie, excited. "It's good to know more people can help you."
"Yes," added Minka. "But what exactly did you find out?"
"Well," Blythe began, taking a deep breath. "Jasper, Sue, Youngmee, and I discovered that my ability to talk to animals comes from a genetic experiment that my mom participated in when she was young. The scientists were trying to improve empathy and interpersonal communication, and they accidentally unlocked the ability to talk to animals."
Russell frowned. "Your mom participated in a genetic experiment? Does that mean your ability is hereditary?"
"Yes," Blythe replied. "It seems the genetic modification they did to my mom was passed down to me. Also, we discovered something else. Henrietta Twombly, Mrs. Twombly's great-great-grandmother, probably also had this ability, but she obtained it naturally, just like other people registered in the report."
Pepper, always the jokester, tried to lighten the mood. "Wow, Blythe! That sounds like something out of a science fiction movie!"
Minka jumped excitedly. "That's incredible, Blythe! But what does it mean for us?"
Blythe smiled, comforted by her pet friends' enthusiasm. "It means that my ability has a scientific origin, and we need to know more about it to fully understand how it works and how we can use it best. What they did with my mom was the first time the ability to talk to animals was obtained by something done by humans."
Sunil, a bit nervous, asked, "Is that organization evil, Blythe?"
Blythe shook her head. "No, guys. In fact, the organization is well-intentioned and has helped humanity more than I thought. They have been involved in research that has managed to cure and treat many diseases."
Zoe nodded, understanding. "That's a relief, dear. But have you told Mrs. Twombly all of this?"
Blythe nodded. "I'm going to tell her everything, including the research and about her great-great-grandmother Henrietta, once she finishes the work shift."
"There's something else I want to share with you," Blythe added, her voice lowering slightly. "My mom told me in my dream that 'the answers are here.' I think it might make sense because when I hit my head here, I started to have the ability, something I never had before."
Russell reflected, nodding slowly. "It makes sense. Maybe hitting your head here activated something in your genetics that was latent."
Penny Ling approached and hugged Blythe. "We're here for you, Blythe. No matter where your ability comes from, we'll always be your friends."
Minka added, "And no matter how it happened, we're grateful you can talk to us. It's a blessing!"
Sunil nodded, showing his support. "Yes, Blythe. We'll always be here to help you discover more about your ability."
Blythe smiled, feeling grateful for her pet friends' support. "Thanks, pets. That means a lot to me. I promise to keep you informed about everything we find out."
The pets nodded, showing their support and solidarity. With friends like them, Blythe felt more prepared than ever to face any challenge that came her way.
After talking to the pets, Blythe headed to her room, feeling overwhelmed by everything she had discovered and shared. She dropped onto her bed, staring at the ceiling as her mind continued to race.
Why did my mom say that the answers are here? Blythe thought, recalling her dream. It makes sense since I started talking to animals after hitting my head when I first arrived, and because Henrietta Twombly apparently also talked to animals in the same place a long time ago.
She turned over, resting her head on her pillow, and sighed. I know my mom was involved in this ambitious experiment, but I also want to know how she could have died.
The weight of that question pressed down on her. She felt that the answer was out of reach, hidden in the details of the past she had yet to uncover. She closed her eyes, trying to picture her mom, seeking comfort in the memories.
Are there other aspects of the ability I haven't discovered besides the head injury and the herbal remedy for colds? Blythe wondered, opening her eyes again. What else could activate or suppress this ability?
She sat up in bed, feeling the need to do something, to find more answers. She knew she couldn't just sit still and wait for everything to resolve itself.
I have to keep investigating, she resolved. I need to understand this ability fully and uncover the truth about my mom.
Determined, Blythe grabbed her sketchbook and began jotting down her thoughts, questions, and the next steps she needed to take. The path ahead was uncertain, but with the support of her friends and the newfound knowledge, she felt a glimmer of hope. The answers were out there, and she was ready to find them.
After Blythe went to her room, the pets stayed in the day camp, processing all the information she had shared with them.
Vinnie was the first to break the silence. "Wow! I can't believe Blythe is involved in something so big!"
Zoe nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yes, it's incredible. But it must also be very difficult for her."
Russell, ever the pragmatist, said. "Definitely. We need to be here to support her. This isn't something she can handle alone."
"That's true," said Penny Ling, in her soft voice. "Blythe has always been here for us. It's our turn to be here for her."
Minka, always energetic, jumped up excitedly. "Exactly! But how can we help her?"
Pepper, the jokester, tried to keep the mood light. "We can start by not causing more trouble than we already do, right, Vinnie?"
Vinnie made a face but smiled. "Yeah, yeah. I promise, Pepper."
Sunil, nervous but determined, spoke up. "Maybe we can investigate more about this very place. There might be something in the shop that can give us more clues about her ability since Blythe first got it here, and apparently, the same happened with Henrietta Twombly."
"Good idea, darling," replied Zoe. "We can search around this place. There might be something special and unknown here."
"And we can also keep an eye out for anything strange," suggested Russell. "If there are other aspects of Blythe's ability that we don't know about yet, we might notice something before she does."
Penny Ling nodded. "Yes, we need to be very attentive. Blythe needs us more than ever."
Minka made one final jump, full of energy. "Then it's a plan! We're going to help Blythe any way we can, and don't forget to have a detective kit to investigate more about this place."
The pets looked at each other, feeling a renewed determination to support their human friend in her quest for answers. With a clear goal in mind, they knew that together they could face any challenge.
AN: I hope you find this story interesting, I'm going to continue it depending on how I organize my time. Thanks for reading!