Another Kind of Christmas

Songs

Whisper's distant fears were confirmed.

Tangle wasn't very good at keeping secrets. Well, to be fair, it depended on WHAT the secret was. If they were about more serious issues, like Whisper's past with the Diamond Cutters and Mimic, then things were alright. But if Tangle believed that it needed to be shared, it would come out eventually.

The pair began to reach the recreational hall on the other side of the resort. Loud music and a carefree male voice resonated all the way out of the main hall to the little area just outside it.

Whisper recognised the voice - she was instantly surprised and scared. She was surprised that he had a decent voice, and scared she was next.

She knew what was going on inside, and immediately began shaking.

"Tangle... we're just watching them, right?" Whisper whispered.

"Oh yeah! Sure!" She replied, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Whisper's heart dropped.

Taking a breather, the two girls walked towards the great doors and into the hall. The lighting was very different from outside; her eyes slowly adapted from the bright, golden sunlight to the cheap multicoloured lights that washed over the room.

Sonic the Hedgehog was on the stage, nearing the end of a song. He wore a bright smile as he sang the final phrases, clearly enjoying himself. Tangle and Whisper stood by the back of the hall watching him eagerly.

As nervous as this environment made Whisper feel, there was something about his calm and confident presence on the little stage that relaxed her. She couldn't help cracking a small smile as the song instrumental faded out and the whooping applause began. Sonic gave one more bright smile and a bow, and jumped off the front of the stage.

After a little clap, Tangle took her close friend's hand again and pulled her through the rows of plastic chairs to join the blue hedgehog (hugged intensely by Amy, as usual) and the rest of the familiar (but very small) crowd.

Whisper saw him give a quick glance at a long table that stood just in front of the wooden stage. Three people were sitting behind it, writing down notes with a stern look. This seemed quite a bit more serious than a casual karaoke contest for holidaymakers.

Sonic turned around again to see the two girls standing there.

"Yo!" He grinned. "Glad you two could make it!"

Whisper said nothing, and felt her skin crawl.

"Yep! It wasn't that hard to get her to join," Tangle chirped, elbowing the wolf.

"no..." Whisper whispered shakily.

"Woah!" Sonic raised his brows. "Are you gonna give it a go?"

"Well, not me. I can't sing to save my life! But I have a liiiiitle feeling this one could." The lemur looked at Whisper (whom at this point was clearly dying inside) and gave a broad, mischievous grin, hands behind her back.

"No..." Whisper repeated, a little bit louder. "I... I thought what I told you was supposed to be between us."

"Well!" Tangle clicked her tongue. "I guess I just disagree. The pianist is waiting for ya."

Whisper didn't notice the grand piano that sat on the far left of the stage until now. A white cat was sitting behind it, staring mindlessly at the keys.

"No!" Whisper decreed once more, head down. "I can't do this. I could never..." She took a deep breath and held her hands to her chest.

"Sure you can!"