because you were a costume girl, and I never thought that you were anything but a costume girl. But, when I heard you take the role of Marguerite, I was astounded by what they said about you. I am truly impressed."

   "But, I heard you were upset me replacing at the Gala."

   "Oh, I overreacted, the bronchitis made me a bit cranky. I think you deserved it. In fact, I think you should take my place as Marguerite from now on."

   Jenna came to a stop, "You're not serious, are you?" She had always dreamed to be accepted by the singers of the Opera House, including La Carlotta, and now that dream might actually come true.

   "Dead serious, Jenna dear, I'll tell my friends to come tonight and cheer you on."

   "Wow, thank you." Jenna smiled, "But, why are you being so nice to me? Last I checked you were scolding me for not making your dress perfect."

   "That's all in the past, Jenna." La Carlotta smiled, "Now run along, you have an opera to perform, Mademoiselle."

   As the poodle opened the door to Dressing Room 1 for the husky, her mouth turned into a devilish smile, seeing how she easily fell for her façade.

   Step 1 is complete. Now, for Step 2…

   Later that evening, the second performance of Faust was to be performed, and instead of Carlotta, Jenna was going to be playing Marguerite again, and whilst she was getting ready for her small scene in Act 2, La Carlotta had done some planning. As you can see, the poodle's plan to ruin Jenna's career was coming into bloom, and even though she seemed to have gained Jenna's trust, she knew that Jenna would have any second doubts about this sudden recognition. Monsieur Harris had also done his part. She would generously reward him for his efforts, but there was still more to be done.

   She had called up all of her friends and supporters in Paris to come see her newest "camarade", and she boasted and bragged that she was going to completely stun them with her voice.

   The only thing she said was wait for the "signal" to give her what she deserved.

   Oh, they'll be stunned alright, she thought, as she knocked on the door to Jenna's dressing room again, carrying a bag in her teeth.

   Jenna gasped, almost dropping her powder when she saw her door suddenly open, "Oh, um hello Carlotta, what are you doing here?" She asked the poodle.

   "Sorry about the sudden appearance, but I wanted to give you this." She then pulled out what looked like a bottle of champagne that looked unmarked.

   "Oh, um thanks…again." Jenna replied.

   "No need to thank me, Jenna, but I just wanted to give you something special, and by special, I mean, a little good luck." She then pulled out two small glasses, popped the top of the bottle, and poured the clear liquid into the glasses

   "Here, drink this, I always have a little sip of champagne before a performance."

   Jenna took the glass, "But, it's already Act Two."

   Carlotta frowned, "Well, it doesn't matter, you'll do great anyway." Jenna seemed like Carlotta was serious about all of this, and the two singers drank down their glass.

   "Now, go out there and show them up, Jennifer." La Carlotta smiled, "I'll be cheering you on."

   Jenna smiled awkwardly, as Carlotta closed the door on her way out. The husky got back to powdering herself, despite feeling a bit odd from the champagne, but she shrugged it off as nothing.

   Act Two started up, and the stage was filled with songs filled with cheer as a crowd of town's people, students, and soldiers. After their ensemble finally ended, and the soldier Valentin had declared to his companion Siebel to look after Marguerite whilst he was away at war, who also fails to defeat Mephistopheles, Faust tries to woo the young peasant girl (Jenna).

   "Ne permettrez-vous pas, ma belle demoiselle, qu'on vous offre le bras, pour faire le chemin?" Faust sang, as he offered to escort Marguerite to wherever she pleased, out of adoration.

   "Non, monsieur! Je ne suis demoiselle ni belle, demoiselle, ni belle, et je n'ai pas…" Marguerite replied defiantly, rejecting his offer, but seemingly out of nowhere, Jenna felt something off about her voice. Her voice suddenly became dry, and she was unsure as to why she was feeling odd. She was forced to stop, which caused the audience to stare in confusion.

   Come on, keep singing, it's probably nothing, just clear your throat, Jenna thought to herself quickly, and after immediately taking a few quick seconds to clear her voice, she tried the verse again.

   "Non, monsieur! Je ne suis demoiselle…ni…belle…" Jenna had to stop midway, as her voice grew weak and hoarse, as the notes from her mouth became small and wheezy. She covered her mouth, as she wasn't sure as to what she was wrong with her.

   However, this was just part of this terrible ordeal. The dogs that took up most of the front of the bottom rows were Carlotta's fans and friends, who were ordered to wait for the "signal" to in fact the poodle's horrible scheme.

   And as soon as she fumbled her words, they knew exactly what to do.

   "She really does sound like a crock!" One of Carlotta's close friends rang out, causing the other dogs around her to laugh. Somehow, the other audience members weren't sure what was happening, and even though some of them kind of thought that this was rather odd that their once loved singer had messed up, terribly, and with the previous accusation by Monsieur Harris, they eventually started laughing as well. In fact, some of those fools actually believed that critic's lie, and they started jarring the poor husky as well.

   "What is this?" "I knew she couldn't sing!" and "Go back to Alaska!" Were just some of the horrible insults that were thrown at the husky onstage, who was covering her face with embarrassment with her paws. The other opera singers that were around her didn't like what was going on, and immediately crowded around her, and started yelling at the audience members for unfairly bashing the young singer.

   As this terrible scene went on, and whilst the Managers tried to calm everyone down, Monsieur Belmont, Dixie, and Slyvie took the now weeping husky back to her dressing room.

   "Don't listen to them, Jenna." Dixie assured the husky, handing her a tissue, whilst she lied on the couch, "What happened anyway?"

   "I…I don't know…" Jenna stammered, as she wiped the tears from her eyes, "I was doing fine…I guess I messed up. This is all my fault!" She then covered her face again with her paws.

   "Maybe we should leave her right now," Monsieur Belmont requested, "Come along ladies." Dixie and Slyvie were somewhat upset with what had just occurred, but who would do something so cruel?

   Well, why don't we go backstage, and ask a certain giggling poodle diva?

   I did it! She thought, as wanted to jump for joy, that costume dog will be no more after this! Now then, for the final step…

   After a few minutes of searching, she managed to find Monsieur Belmont, who was a bit worried about the husky singer.

   "Oh, don't worry about her, I'm sure she'll be fine." Monsieur Belmont told her.

   "The poor dear…but, who's going to play the role of Marguerite?" Carlotta asked over dramatically.

   Monsieur Belmont thought for a moment, and he came to the conclusion, "Why don't you, Madame, and try and save this performance?"

   "Oh, I couldn't," The poodle blushed, "But…if you insist,"

   "I do, and-," La Carlotta then took hold of Monsieur Belmont, and they rushed off to Dressing Room 1.

   La Carlotta entered the dressing room, and found Jenna moping on the couch.

   "Oh, you poor thing," She cooed, putting a paw on her back, "I'm so sorry Jenna,"

   "You don't have to apologize," Jenna replied sadly, "It's my fault."

   "Oh, that's not true."

   "How do you know? That was the most horrible experience on my life! I don't think I'll ever sing again."

   "Jenny, honey, look at me," The husky looked at the poodle straight in the eye, "Listen, I'm going to be honest with you…" She then paused, and suddenly smiled, "I think that's a good idea, a very good idea. So, maybe you should get going, costume dog."

   Jenna fell silent as she let what Carlotta just said sink in. Carlotta then got up from her spot, and went over to the vanity mirror, "You don't belong here in, costume dog, not with the elite that the Canine deserves, such as myself. Now, if you don't mind, a certain prima donna needs to get ready for her spotlight."

   The husky walked over to the door, feeling completely ashamed and terrible at the fact that she was the victim of the