Chapter Text
Finkit and Fern were sitting under the tree in camp when Flameclaw appeared from the camp entrance. Flamepaw was with her, and Flamepaw was absolutely buzzing with excitement.
“What happened?” Finkit asked her.
“The singing animals contest is back in town!” Flamepaw burst out. “I’m going to enter, it’s going to be SO amazing…”
Flameclaw sighed, a faraway look in her eyes. “Well, it’s not all glamorous, you know. You’ll perform your hit song…”
A flashback plays, and we hear ‘I’m Flamepaw and I Wanna Have Fun’.
“Then you’ll abandon the one you came to the show with in favor of the popular, skilled apprentice that you thought you loved…”
Flameclaw, as an apprentice, turned away from Heinz as an apprentice and faces a black and white striped apprentice. She smiled.
“And you’ll have to run away, eventually, though you didn’t know it at the time.” Flameclaw sighed, and Flamepaw looked uncomfortable and confused.
“Hey Fern, I know what we’re going to do today!”
“No,” Flamepaw said, “I know what I’M going to do today.”
——
Perry approached Heinz’s building. He noticed something was off about it. It seemed to be in a slightly different place then normal, like something had shifted it. He slipped inside and tumbled into Heinz’s trap. He growled, thrashing and pulling at the ropes that entangled him.
“Ah! Perry the Platypus. You’re just in time to witness my takeover of Tigrillo Town!”
Heinz walked over to a control panel. “Watch and learn, little monotreme.” He pressed a button, and the building began to shake, and then raise up into the air. From the outside, legs were visible beneath the building, and arms shot out of the sides just as a head emerged from the top.
——
“So, are you going to the singing animals contest?” Stacy asked Vanessa as they walked through the streets of the town.
“Sure, sounds fun,” Vanessa responded.
——
Flamepaw took a deep breath. Lemonpaw was beside her, the singing animals contest stage was in front of her, and she was ready to sing. She just had to wait her turn. Hopefully, she would win, and be allowed to sing for a second time at the end of the show. Though at the same time, she didn’t want to have to sing a second time. Only once was scary enough for her! She didn’t have to win, as cool as that would be. Just participating would be enough for her.
But then, just as the Lumberzacks left the stage, it was time for a particular band to sing. Just one more song before it was Flamepaw’s turn. But when she saw who it was that was singing…
“Hello! I’m Finkit, this is Fern, and we’re gonna sing a song.” Fern was holding an assortment of musical instruments, while Finkit was at the microphone.
Flamepaw stumbled.
“Woah, Flamepaw, are you okay?” Lemonpaw surged forwards to steady her.
“I’m- I’m- I have to go.”
Flamepaw spun around and ran. Curse Finkit and Fern! Why did her brothers have to ruin this for her? This was supposed to be her special day. She was going to sing the classic song, I’m Flamepaw and I Wanna Have Fun. But now she couldn’t! She couldn’t follow her brothers onto the stage, even as they left.
Everything was ruined.
——
“We’re going to that cursed singing animals contest!” Heinz crowed. “Let me tell you about what happened to me, so long ago. You see, I was but an apprentice, when a beautiful molly asked me out to see the singing animals contest. She performed on stage, but then, instead of coming to me, she dove into the arms of- of- well, he’s a nice guy, really, I like him, but how could she choose him over me? I was the one she went to the show with, I was the one she asked out. It makes sense that she would choose him over me, I suppose, given my hideous appearance and his handsome one, but still! It broke my heart! And so I will break hers. By destroying the singing animals contest she loved so much!”
Perry growled again, slicing at the ropes holding him with his claws.
——
“Flamepaw? Flamepaw!” Lemonpaw called out, searching through the woods. He heard a sniffling coming from behind a nearby tree. He rounded the corner and saw her lying there. “Flamepaw, what’s wrong?”
“They ruined it!” Flamepaw cried. “How am I supposed to sing when my brothers are up there? They’re not even supposed to leave camp without an apprentice to shadow!”
“I think they had Gingerpaw with them…” Lemonpaw pointed out. Flamepaw just sobbed harder.
“Gingerpaw! That’s just great!” Flamepaw wiped her paw across her face roughly. “Whatever, it’s ruined, now, anyways. I’ve missed my chance.”
“Hey, I’m sure you still have a shot at singing. Even it’s just singing to me.” Lemonpaw looked down, blushing. “You shouldn’t give up on your dreams just because your brothers were there.”
“You… you’re right. I should… I need to go back!” Flamepaw leapt up. She looked around wildly. “Which way was it?”
“This way,” Lemonpaw said, and he led the way back through the trees towards the town.
——
“Hahaha!” Heinz laughed manically. He peered out a window down at the singing animals contest. “I will now- wait. Is that Vanessa?”
Sure enough, Vanessa was sitting in the crowd, talking to Stacy.
“I didn’t think she would-” Heinz cut himself off, thinking hard. Just then, Perry broke free of his ropes, and hurdled towards Heinz. “Hey, hey! Stop it! I was just about to turn around anyways!” Perry stopped, and looked at Heinz with confusion.
“I can’t attack the show with my daughter there. This scheme was just a waste of time, I suppose.” Heinz directed his building-robot to go back to his land. It walked away, and Perry, confused still, jumped out a window and landed in the crowd of the singing animals contest.
“Oh, there you are, Perry,” Stacy said, looking at him sideways. Perry chattered, and then hurried away before Vanessa noticed him.
——
Flamepaw walked back towards the stage, just as the announcer called out “And now, for the winners of the singing animals contest- Finkit and the Ferntones!”
Flamepaw stopped walking. Shoot, she had missed her chance. But just then, Finkit noticed her in the crowd.
“Hey Flamepaw,” He called out. “Get up here and sing with us!”
Confused but happy, she complied. Then they started singing.
Bow Chicka Bow-Wow
That's what my kitten says
Mow-mow-mow
And my heart starts pumpin'
Chicka-chicka choo wah
Never gonna stop
Gitchee gitchee goo means that I love you
My kitten’s got her own of talkin'
Whenever she says something sweet
And she knows its my world she's a'rockin'
But my vocabulary's incomplete
And though it may sound confusing
Sometimes I wish she'd give it to me straight
But I never feel like I'm losing (losing)
When I take the time to translate
Here's what I'm talkin bout:
Bow Chicka Bow-Wow
That's what my kitten says
Mow-mow-mow
And my heart starts pumpin'
Chicka-chicka choo wah
Never gonna stop
Gitchee gitchee goo means that I love you
Well I don't know what to do
(I don't know what to do)
But I think I'm getting through
(I think I'm getting through)
Cause when I say I love you
(When I say I love you)
She says I Gitchee gitchee goo you, too!
(Gitchee gitchee goo you, too!)
Gitchee gitchee goo you, too!
(Gitchee gitchee goo you, too!)
Don't need a dictionary!
Bow Chicka Bow-Wow
(That's what my kitten says)
Mow-mow-mow
And my heart starts pumpin'
(Chicka-chicka choo wah)
Never gonna stop
Gitchee gitchee goo means that I love you
Gitchee gitchee goo means that I love you
Gitchee gitchee goo means that I love you, kitten, kitten, kitten
(Kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty)
Gitchee gitchee goo means that I love you!