When Guilt Haunts Worse Than Ghosts - An Alvin And The Chipmunks Fan Fiction

Chapter 9: In Due Time

Theodore's mind:

A world of rainbows and sweets, and Talking Teddy too, was what the young chipmunk's mind had usually. And during that dream, things were brighter, more colorful, and more joyful than ever. But Theodore did not pay much attention to it, his excitement was focused on something else. "Alvin?!" Theodore called, hoping to see his brother, and eager to talk to him. "Alvin! Are you there?!" He called over and over, and just before doubts had any chance of consuming the chipmunk's joy, a chipmunk in red appeared.

Theodore's happiness couldn't have been bigger than that, his soul was overflowing with joy he couldn't even let out words correctly, much to Alvin's relief that his young brother was smiling again.

- Alvin: Okay, okay, calm down. I can't understand a word of what you're saying.

- Theodore: I-I-I'm saying I can't believe I'm seeing you again! I missed you so much! *About to cry*

- Alvin: Now, now. Don't cry, find us a place to sit here, 'cuz I'm guessing we're gonna have a long chit chat.

A picnic spot appeared in the blink of an eye, and the two chipmunks sat down.

- Theodore: I'm happy what Simon said was right, everything was boring and empty without you.

- Alvin: *Playing along* Oh? How so?

- Theodore: The house is eerily quiet, Simon and the girls don't have time to hang out with me, and Dave is no longer happy.

- Alvin *Playing along* Dave is not happy?

- Theodore: Yeah, he cried for nights straight to the point he couldn't even focus on work. All of us cried too...

Theodore's joy slowly faded to a look of sadness after remembering the night they heard about Alvin's demise, and the latter quickly noticed and patted his younger brother in an attempt to not let anything turn the dream to a nightmare. Theo was relieved but still felt bad knowing that Alvin was not going to be there once he woke up.

- Theodore: I wish there was a way to bring you back. I'd love to play together again, even if your plans go out of control and cause us to get in trouble.

- Alvin: I'd love to go back in time to have actual good times with you too, Theo. If anything, I was not a good brother or friend to anyone.

The silence haunted the dream the two were in, and while no bad sign appeared, Alvin could sense that Theodore was becoming sadder.

- Theodore: *Low, sad tone* Alvin?

- Alvin: Yeah?

- Theodore: Aren't you mad at us?

- Alvin: Why would I?

- Theodore: Don't you remember when we made you sad? You ran away and-

- Alvin: Oh, that. I am not mad at anyone, Theo. There was never a reason to be mad anyways, and if there was, it'd be a reason to be mad at myself.

- Theodore: W-What do you mean?

- Alvin: I was not a good friend, brother, or son, if anything it's all of you who have the right to be mad. I would've fixed it if I realized how badly I treated everyone.

- Theodore: D-Don't say that, we all get in trouble, you just did it too often. But nobody can hate you for that.

- Alvin: I surely hope that's true...

The silence dominated the surroundings again...

- Theodore: Alvin?

- Alvin: Hm?

- Theodore: Can you visit us in the real world?

- Alvin: I suppose I could try to visit you as a ghost, but wouldn't that scare you?

- Theodore: Not as long as you don't play bad pranks with me, you know how easily I get scared.

- Alvin: I'll see what I can do, under one condition.

- Theodore: What is it?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

When the sunlight shone through the window, Theodore woke up immediately and ran to a sleeping Simon, who was startled when the young chipmunk jumped on his bed. The first thing the blue-clad chipmunk noticed upon waking up was the happiness that overflowed from Theodore's smiling face, which relieved him a lot since he knew that Alvin's plan worked well.

- Simon: Morning, Theo-

- Theodore: Simon! It worked! I saw Alvin, and he might come to visit us!

- Simon: Visit... *Confused* What?

- Theodore: He said he might come to visit us anytime soon to try and make things right, he'll come as a ghost but I won't be scared.

- Simon: *Tried to play along* Oh, is that so?

- Theodore: Yeah! But he had one condition.

- Simon: What was it?

- Theodore: He told me to not let anyone know aside from Dave and you, we need to keep it a secret. And you don't want to break a deal with a ghost, they can be v-very vengeful.

- Simon: *Slightly Annoyed* Don't tell me he said that.

- Theodore: Nope, I just know ghosts' anger is not something you'd want to experience, Cheesy said so.

- Simon: *To himself* Note to self, teach Cheesy to stop scaring Theo once this is done...

- Theodore: He just told me to not tell anyone else, especially the Chipettes.

- Simon: Oh, okay that makes sense, I get it. Can we go and prepare ourselves for school?

- Theodore: You bet I can! C'mon! I'll beat you to the kitchen.

Simon and an invisible ghostly chipmunk were more than delighted to see their younger brother's spark of joy returning, and both hoped his happiness would remain with him even after Alvin's time to move on. "Told you it'll work." An invisible Alvin spoke from somewhere near Simon.

- Simon: While I am relieved it didn't backfire, are you sure you showing up to him is a good idea?

- Alvin: In due time, yes. You two go before you're late, I'll be around if anything new happens

- Simon: I sure hope you're not gonna try to traumatize Derek.

- Alvin: I will if he tries to touch you or the others, his bullying has to end before I move on.

- Simon: Just, how many unfinished businesses do you have?

- Alvin: For a reckless, insensitive, and sorry excuse of the chipmunk I was to you and to everyone else, making amends isn't as easy as you may think, Simon...

Simon's POV:

I couldn't help but notice Alvin's tone during that conversation, and I kept thinking about it for the rest of the day. His voice was full of sadness, which I can understand since existing as a ghost must have been a bad experience. But maybe his sadness was related to the last sentence he said to me that morning, he is beating himself for being a mischievous chipmunk when he was alive.

Now that I think about it, judging by how he said that last sentence, finding the cause of his death might've not been why he became a ghost, but rather it was the guilt he held for the headaches and troubles he caused to all of us. And I had a good assumption that that was the reason ever since our talk that night, he did not mention anything about looking for clues, so far, he was spending time checking on everyone.

The thought of my brother stuck in the world of living as a ghost due to feeling that way hurt my heart, if anything, we were harsh with him, couldn't try to understand him, and tried to correct him in ways that either crushed his pride or directly hurt him. The idea itself gave me more than enough reason to help Alvin end this misery, and that was the least I, Dave and Theo would do.