'I know..I know. Doesn't she deserve that round of applause. I know I'd be dead having run a quarter marathon, never mind two.' Geri said with a smile that spread across the breadth of her tigress muzzle. And why shouldn't she. She was thrilled to have gotten this gig, temporary as might be. Hosting a show like the Red Lounge even for the few months the regular host was on maternity leave was the spring board she had been looking for to boost her career, especially as she was looking to break out from the music industry. And she had dressed to impress, the long black evening gown the perfect match for her sleek raven hair that flowed almost until it touched her tail. ' Still..my next guest might be able to give you a run for money, Summer dear. A guest who needs no introduction but I think you'd all kill me if I didn't. So without further ado, please give a very warm welcome..no..a royal welcome for our new Royal Celebrity, the one and only Sally Acorn.'

The rousing applause that greeted her was nothing short of thunderous, filling the whole of the stage cum mock lounge, dominated by red plush couches and equally plush cushions that perfectly created the homely feel it was designed to replicate, even with the packed stands of the still cheering audience set before it; the ten row high collection of seats packed with clapping furs of all species and genders, even if from a limited age group that could easily be described as youthful.

Equally as youthful as the whistles and appreciative cheers that heralded the entrance of the lithe chestnut furred squirrel, the deep smooth richness of her fur cut by the lighter patch over her breasts and stomach, a look as ionic as her naturally styled hair loose around her head in the style so many had come to know, making her easily recognisable despite the new outfit she sported. Gone was her usual attire of the loose blue jacket which had almost become her trademark, replaced by an equally elegant combination of snug black chinos and a deep crimson tshirt, loose around her frame and artfully rolled up to reveal a little flash of toned stomach, which went perfectly with her delicately but definitely rippled muscles in her arms.

'So..welcome Princess. Or is Sally okay? If rumour runs true, you aren't one to stand on ceremony.'

'Sally is fine. I'm..not sure I'm much of a Princess. So much has changed recently. This world...our world. It's a lot to take in. So..maybe I'm better off being Sally for now.' Sally said as she hesitantly took the offered seat on the couch opposite the armchair Geri had already settled into. 'One thing is for sure, I'm going to have words with Sonic about this. It's great here..don't get me wrong. All new and the same, with bits of Mobius worked in around..places I don't know. New places but..it's just..new.'

'Well..you are very welcome. And I do hope you stay. You do seem to be fitting in. And keeping yourself busy, with your burgeoning career as a movie star taking off. I guess after life as a Princess and all those world altering..sorry..bad choice of words..worldly decisions..it must be a walk in the park.

'Actually..it's kinda nerve wracking.' Sally felt no shame in admitting that. There had once been a time when she would have hidden doubts like that; feeling she had to be strong all the time with everyone watching her. Now it saw it as a strength to admit those fears. 'I'm not used to it. Royal Speeches and on the fly pep talks are one thing but this..it's really different. As is this..I don't mind saying, I was kinda nervous about tonight as well. I've never..done anything like this before.'

'Well..you are doing fine.' She patted her hand. 'And you do seem to be settling in. You've certainly taken to social media, I've noticed. And making lots of new friends from what I've seen.

Sally despite not knowing it could do that, was not entirely to see the city backdrop cum screen now projecting a collage of photographs; all depicting the same five people clearly taken in differing places and times, from the dim interior of fancy night clubs to the warmth of sunny beaches and everything in between.

Sally might not have known Pumyra, Jenny, Colleen and Coco for that long, but the quintet had become fast friends and quickly made a splash on the celebrity scene. True this new friendship had spurred any number of rumours and gossip to fuel the tabloid press, going so far as to suggest the five of them were in an open relationship, although some tabloids hadn't been as kind in their phrasing there, Sally reflected as her gaze lingered on the picture of both felines giving her a playful kiss on each cheek; that picture being one of the things that had fuelled that rumour.

Playful was all it was though, Jenny and Pumyra in a devoted relationship that was more than enough for them. As it was enough for Sally to be single for now. And Colleen who despite clearly liking a certain golden retriever hadn't gone serious with him yet. Which just left Coco who was playing the whole dating thing close to her chest. Which Sally understood. If she wanted to tell them, she would be able to do that in her own time.

'We've..bonded, yes.' Sally said, suddenly aware she hadn't answered the question left hanging in the air while she had been thinking. 'I think that's the best word. I didn't think we would have become such good friends but in truth we have a lot in common. I certainly don't think I would have taken the leap into movies without them.'

'Well..I think lots of people out there will thank them for that. It's nice to see that a lot of your fans followed your leap to the big screen.'

'I guess that means I wasn't terrible.' Sally said with a laugh. 'Or that I the movie didn't come across as terrible. Wasn't exactly groundbreaking I know..but I had a lot of fun making it.'

'Don't underestimate the power of a good action movie. And I think you carried it off well. You are perfect for it. I understand you had some..challenging scenes.'

'Well..yes.' Sally admitted. 'I wasn't really sure about them or expecting to have to do anything like that.'

'I think for anyone who hasn't seen the movie we should show a few of them. And for those that have, I'm sure they'd love to see them again.'

'I'll bet they would,' Sally said, suddenly bashful even if the audience was suddenly not focused on her but the screen which flicked through a quick series of clips, from Sally plunging into a murky black swamp to Sally sinking in a cloying brown mud to Sally trapped in a close plastic cylinder filling rapidly with a bright pink slime. 'That last one was really weird to do.'

'Well..people expect it. After all the studio involved started out in the kids tv show business. And they couldn't make a feature film without a little homage to that.'

'Yes..I heard that. I'm not sure it wasn't just an excuse to cover me in pink goo really. I've heard there is a thing about doing that to celebrities in this world. Still..if that's the price of making it in movies I guess it's not too bad a one to pay.'

'Indeed it's not. Although, I've heard that apart from just staring in movies you've become something of a movie buff yourself. And isn't it a coincidence that we have another movie buff here tonight. Isn't that right, Georgia Dallas?'

That comment was clearly as much of a surprise to the audience as a whole as it was to youthful lynx suddenly sat with her hands clapped to her muzzle even before the cameras panned over to her. A surprise that despite radiating in her keen soft brown eyes that sparked with a joy for life didn't stop her picking her way down towards the stage and past the rows of chairs that held the applauding audience. And no wonder, as well rewarding her for being a good sport, it hadn't escaped their notice that with her tight blue jeans and black blouse under a loosely wrapped white scarf she was extremely cute.

'Soo..Georgia..you are a movie buff I hear.' Geri said as the lynx joined her on the stage, a paw running nervously through her short scruffy chestnut hair that sat in contrast to her groomed fur. 'So much so that you are the ace of your pub quiz team when it comes to a movie round.'

'Well..I can hold my own.' Georgia seemed to rally, her nerves fading a little even as she toyed with her scarf. 'Even against a renowned expert like Sally here.'

'That sounds like a challenge. Which is just what we had in mind. A little quiz of our own. Sally will be given the chance to set a high score, then Georgia will have a chance to beat it. There is a catch however. Georgia..you will be answering your questions in here.'

The slightly nervous yet not exactly surprised chuckle that slipped from Georgia's muzzle as the tall square shape of the shows iconic gunge tank slid into view, the smooth plastic walls embellished with shiny yet simple chrome edging completely at home within the modern setting of the lounge styled set. Nervous though she was, that didn't stop her from stepping into the tank as the door hissed open.

'No way I'm getting gunged.' Georgia said with a confidence that belied the threat of the primed tank of yellow gunge over her head. 'Let's do this.'

Confidence aside, Georgia was left with a somewhat tense hiatus as Sally leaned back on the sofa casually, something that was somewhat of an act given she wasn't entirely sure she wouldn't end up in the tank if she got the lower score.

'Fighting words. I hope you aren't going to take this lying down Sally.'

'Oh heck no.' Sally said firmly. 'Let's do this.'

'Who was the first female monster to appear in a movie?' Geri wasted no time jumping in with the first question.

'Bride of Frankenstein.' Sally didn't even pause before she gave that answer.

'Correct. Lucille Le Sueur became famous as what actress?'

'Joan Crawford.' Sally answered with the same confidence.

'What classic film was called production 9401 during filming?' Geri continued.

'Psycho.' Sally continued without missing a beat, that answer followed by barely a pause before Geri continued.

'Which actor won an Oscar posthumously for Network?'

This time Sally's quick response was not exactly forthcoming; her brow furrowed as she wracked her brain for an answer. An answer she plucked out with about as much confidence as she spoke it. 'Jack Finch.'

'Close.' Geri answered. 'Peter Finch. What colour were the slippers in the original script of Wizard of Oz?

'Silver.' Sally said, with the same confidence her first answer had shown. She wasn't going to let one dodgy question throw her off her game.

'Which director directed the movie of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451?' Geri asked, that skip over her answer as good as an affirmative.

'Francois...Trudeau.' Sally said, the first name coming easily even as the second caught on her tongue.'

'Correct. William Hurt won the best actor Oscar for what 1985 movie?' Geri continued.

'The Kiss of the Spiderwoman.' Sally said with a smile. 'I love that movie.'

'Correct again. Raquel Welch once had a job as a what?' Geri asked.

'Oh..she was a..newscaster.'

'Not quite. Weathergirl was the answer.'Geri replied before she moved to her next question.

'In the first two Jaws films, what was the police chiefs name?'

'Martin Brody.' Sally said more casually than she felt. She had been doing the math and knew she was coming down to the last question. And while she hadn't managed a clean sweep, it wouldn't hurt to get the last one right.

'Which famous actor was born in Chihuahua Mexico?' Geri continued in full flow.

Sally couldn't help a slight smile, relieved to have gotten one she was pretty sure about. And it was that surety that she spoke. 'Anthony Quinn.'

'Correct. And that was a very creditable eight points.' Geri said with a smile thaf was part congratulations, part challenge depending who it was aimed at; 'Georgia, think you can best that?'

'I guess we will find out.' The lynx said with a slightly bashful smile as the audience's gaze settled on her, an audience she was pretty sure were looking forward to her being gunged if she lost.

'That's the spirit. Let's get started. Which is the first movie in the James Bond film franchise?'

'Dr. No.' Georgia aped Sally's performance with a confident answer of her own.

'Correct.' Geri nodded. 'Which is Angelina Jolie's first and least discussed film?'

'You mean the lamentable Cyborg 2?' Georgia answered with a visible shudder.

'I'm guessing you aren't a fan.' Geri mused. 'Anyway...Which British actor has adopted a unique voice or accent for each character he has played?'

'That would be the brilliant Gary Oldman. "Oh, it's Lieutenant now. You really started something. Bent cops running scared, hope on the streets."'

'Good quote knowledge.' Geri smiled. 'Name the voices of the Furious Five kung fu masters from the Kung Fu Panda 2 movie.'

'Let's see..' Georgia mused with pointed deliberation. 'Monkey - Jackie Chan; Crane - David Cross; Tigress - Angelina Jolie; Viper - Lucy Liu; Mantis...Nope..I'm drawing a blank.

'Good try. Seth Rogen was the voice of Mantis.' Geri sympathised. 'Still..moving on. Which movie of Christian's Bale involved him taking up crash dieting, smoking, and losing 63 pounds to look the part of a emaciated, depressed, and sickened mechanic?

'The Machinist.' Georgia said without any hesitation.

'Correct. Which horror movie protagonist's look is based on a painting "Scream" by Edvard Munch?'

'Ummm..Freddie Kruger?' Georgia, her voice now filled with a tiny point of doubt. Doubt that only grew as the seconds ticked past.

'I'm afraid not. The serial killer "Ghost face" from the Scream film franchise. Which Coen Brothers cult classic film features the principal character hanging out at a bowling alley all the time, but the character never actually bowls?

'Oh..err..The Big Bowlski.' Georgia was clearly out of her comfort zone here as she struggled to dredge her mind for some scrap of memory.

'Almost. The Big Lebowski.' Geri replied. 'Which horror film series features a murderous doll possessed by a serial killer, who goes on a murderous rampage?'
'Child's Play with Chucky as the doll.' Georgia said, clearly relieved to be back on more solid ground. 'Almost as Child's Play as that question.'
'You are certainly doing well.' Geri said without any mockery. 'Let's see if you can continue with this one. Which was the last feature film of screen legend Paul Newman, which was also the highest grossing movie of his career?'

'Cars.' Georgia didn't miss a beat, very much back in her swing.

'Seems like you can.' Geri nodded. 'This might be an easy one. What is Captain Jack Sparrow's key catch-phrase in all the Pirates of the Caribbean films?

'Please. Too easy.' Georgia said with a grin that didn't exactly hide the sudden flash of worry that she hadn't exactly done well enough to avoid her slimy fate. 'Savvy.'

'Very good. Very good. And a very good score. I'm just afraid that Sally piped you by one point.'
There was no reason to elaborate on what exactly that meant, Georgia's quick glance at the top of the tank spoke volumes as to the extent she knew what was about to happen to her, even as she grinned shyly at much as that thought as the sudden round of applause that made her squirm.

A squirm that became more of hunch as the shrill whooping siren rolled around her, drawn out for a slow couple of seconds; her sudden dipped pose an instinctive reaction that in the grand scheme of things really did little good.

Even if she hasn't been seated in the close tank with it's equally close walls, squirming would have done no good against the gushing rush of bright yellow that started the second the tank opened with the clack of the latch release hidden by the shrill siren. Georgia still leapt to the side as much as she could, her hunched dive allowing the hoarded Gunge to splatter over her shoulder and down her back.

Both that reaction and the squeak that flowed from her muzzle showed how nervous the lynx actually had been about the gunging, the earlier instinct doing all she could to protect her from something she really had no idea about what she could expect. Even though her hasty dodge had saved her hair and face from the thick deluge, there was no ignoring the Gunge just now rolling over her shoulder and side, to say nothing of seeping through her clothing, leaving little tingles where it brushed her fur.

The stream was wide enough to leave no area of her untouched, having grown to a pour to cover her from one shoulder to another and all inbetween. There would have been no escaping it even if she had jumped out of the chair. She dudnt, being a good sport and just taking it.

Her sudden move might have worked if the initial rush had stayed as it started, but what had been a sudden splash grew into a thick stream quickly grown to encompass both her shoulders and the whole width of her back, those hunched shoulders doing nothing to stop the roll down over her cutely swelled chest which couldn't hold it back.

Maybe it was that slippery touch on her fur from her chest now pressed against her slicked shirt as much as against her back and sides which were in the same state due to the still raining Gunge that prompted the slight giggle from her muzzle as the realisation that it wasn't as bad as she had feared settled in.

That's what she thought and why she leaned back under the still steady stream, allowing her hair to be claimed as the rest of her body had been, her giggles growing as her face disappeared behind a fresh wave that made her dip her head, her hair and fur equally soaked and sticky. In the face of her faded nerves, she decided to enjoy it a little. Playing to the crowd she decided to treat it like a shower, pushing the fresh splashed over her head, still feeling the way it rolled over her chest and shoulders with it's oddly satisfying warmth. Her shirt was stuck like a second skin she was sure, her jeans plastered even as they kept it out, the only area of her fur left clean. It was even pooled in her socks and shoes. She was going to need a real good shower as her fur yielded and became more matted. She wiggled her toes in her slop filled shoes. She leaned back to guide it over her head just like a shower, the heavy roll down her back with pressure unlike anything else. She could feel residual yet still thick trickles across her breasts, to say nothing of underneath her shirt and down towards her waist. She really had nothing to compare it too..bizarre and satisfying in equal measure. Add a bit more about how it splashed all over her at the start, leaving her with no way to escape the Gunge rolling over every inch of her it could and sticking to her fur. She was a sight, a mass of yellow within just a few seconds as the perfectly designed tank showing no mercy or respite.

Georgia for her part took in it good grace, a smile never leaving her muzzle throughout the gunging that too most people watching looked if not utterly disgusting then certainly uncomfortable given how her clothes were plastered to her fur; something that became plainly obvious as she stepped out of the tank to a chorus of whistles and applause before she was lead off to no doubt get a well deserved shower.

(THING IN THE SHOWER WITH NER GIRLFRIEND WHO THOUGHT SHE LOOKED HOT ALL GUNGED..THEY HAVE SOME FUN...THE SHOWER IS A RIGGED GUNGE TANK WHIVH THEY FIND OUT AT THE END.)

'Well...I'm glad that wasn't me.' Sally said with a good natured chuckle. 'I was half afraid you'd put me in there if I had lost.'

'Oh..you needn't have worried about that.' Geri said softly. 'After all, that would have ruined the surprise we have for you.'

'Oh yes.' Sally said, suddenly a little cautious. And perhaps rightly so.

'Oh yes.' Geri echoed as the rear wall of the set that had proudly displayed the show's logo slid away in two halves to reveal a treadmill surrounded both front and either side by thick plastic walls; walls obviously designed and placed there to protect the audience it faced from the vat suspended above the treadmill with ominous intent. 'Now, it's no secret that your blue friend is fast on his feet. But does anyone want to see how fast our regal guest is?'

Despite hoping for the contrary, Sally wasn't exactly surprised when the audience broke into a rising tide of clearly eager applause; applause that rose as the assembled furkind rose to their feet as well.

'I guess I can't say no to that.' Sally sighed in mock resignation, almost an attempt to mute the ripple of anticipation that raced through her. Secretly she had, in some perhaps unwise curiosity, hoped this would happen. After all, had she not been curious or at least open to it, she could have turned the option down. But she hadn't. 'I'm not really dressed for running though.'

'Well..we won't stop you if you want to slip into something more comfortable.' Geri said with a smile, her words practically an understatement in the face of the renewed applause at the thought of seeing the gorgeous Squirrel risking being gunged in her underwear.

'Or maybe nothing at all.' Sally said with a coy wink. 'I'm sure nobody here will mind if I run naked. Besides, I'd hate to ruin such fine lingerie.'

Fine didn't really do it justice. Geri couldn't help staring dry mouthed for a few seconds at the crimson, lacy and downright sexy bra Sally had revealed the second she shucked her top; the supportive material creating a delicious push up effect as Sally bent forward slightly to unfasten and ease her chinos down over her hips in a almost mock striptease as she revealed a high cut and perfectly matching set of panties. She might have felt a little squirm of guilt about ogling another woman when set against her long term relationship with Carl, if not for the knowledge that her boyfriend would find the thought very hot.

Sally was true to her word, unfastening the bra deftly and slipping out of it with barely a seconds hesitation, the same lack of bashfulness aiding her in stepping out of her panties. And why should she be. Bashfulness and modesty had had different meanings back on Mius. Certainly for a princess who once famously wore nothing more than boots and an open jacket. But that had been a different time..a different world even. Different world or not, there was something liberating about returning to such a familiar state.

'So..what do I have to do?'

Sally's question shook Geri out of the same stupor that seemed to have momentarily stunned the whole audience, the feline taking a subtle breath as she composed herself while she frantically hoped Pumyra wasn't watching this.

(They could reflect on this later..shocked while watching her strip, she feels bashful. Pumyra says she's bold. And that she really did that on live tv. Makes her sorry she missed it. She's not mad. She dared ask the question. Of course not silly. Now shhh..she wants to see this. Jenny secretly wanted to see it too)

'Nothing very difficult.' Jenny rallied herself again. 'It's sort of a video game. Just make it out of the level before the Mega Mack catches up with you. Or the Mega Mack catches up with you.'

'I see.' Sally said eyeing the vat with a pointed smile. 'Nothing more to it than that?'

'Nothing more to it than that.'

'Okay.' Sally hopped up on the treadmill determinedly, breaking into an easy pace as the belt leapt into life. The second it did the screens before her turned out to live up to that word in more ways than one, the once clear plastic now showing a retro pixelated image of her running through a futuristic cityscape; the top of the image highlighted with two bars at the far right, one of which was silver with a close up image of her head in similarly pixilated fashion of course, and the other was pink with an errie pink skull like head marking it.

'Right. See how this works. The top one is you and it shows your progress.' Jenny must have been watching the same image somewhere, Sally guessed. 'The bar is the course length. Below it is the progress of the Mega Mack. If that catches up with you, it's game over.'

And I get gunged. Sally didn't need her to explain that as her 8bit avatar broke into a run along the now scrolling screen. She experimented with her speed, the treadmill increasing its pace to keep up with her; the image on the screen doing likewise.


Tempting as it was to just pour on the speed, Sally wasn't a natural runner as a few others she could name. Sure, she was in great shape as her shamelessly revealed physique showed but she lacked Sonic's stamina for long distance full tilt running. With all the calories he must burn it was no surprise how he could chuck back dozens of chilli dogs and still not put on any pounds. Still..Sally was proud of the physique she had earned through rigorous daily exercise and life and death battles alike. As a princess people relied upon her and she had to know she could rely on herself.

All that experience aside, Sally had no idea what she was doing here. Or if she was doing it right at any case. Going by the quick glances at the two lines at the top of the screen, she was keeping a solid distance ahead of the oncoming wave. But neither was she pulling away from it either.

Had this been real, Sally would surely have had some adrenaline to spur her onwards and lend speed to her feet. But it wasn't. It wasn't as if she really was being chased by a huge wave of synthetic gunk after all, the whole thing was just a simulation. So she just settled back into the rhythm of the run, listening to the pounding of her feet.

Already she was formulating a plan. This whole thing was likely to be easy to start with, like any video game. It wasn't as if she had no experience with video games of course. Okay, until recently the whole concept had been abstract to her, something she knew only vaguely to be an interest of the humans who lived in station square. Even if it was an interest that had been becoming more popular in Mobius before her world and this one had collided. But she had still been personally ignorant of them until Jenny and Pumyra had introduced her to them one rainy afternoon.

That was how they worked after al. Start easy, end hard. So she wanted to leave something in the tank when that moment showed itself. As tempting as it was to just power ahead at the start, that just wouldn't be smart.

'Well..you seem to be taking this in your stride. I guess running is something you do a lot when you hang around with someone like Sonic.'

'Not really. Sonic isn't really one to slow down for you. You either find your own way to keep up or he leaves you in his dust.' Sally would have followed that sentence with a shrug if she hadn't been too focused on hitting her next stride.

'Sounds a bit like he has a chip on his shoulder.'

'Sometimes.' Sally admitted. 'But not so much as he once did. And it's not just about that. He doesn't like leading others into danger just for his sake. He's all about protecting people. And that sometimes means leaving them behind.'

'So..he's worried about things catching up on him? Oh..speaking of catching up.'

Sally took the meaning of that perhaps a fraction of a second too late; her eyes darting to the screen where her pixilized self was now inches away from the simulated pink wave thaf itself was inches away from cresting over her.

Fuelled by a very real surge of adrenaline, Sally poured all she had into the tredmill. For a second she thought she had made it, the end of the level or what she hoped was such suddenly in sight. Then the simulated wave became a real one. Sally had no way of protecting herself. Even had she been fully clothed they would have been of no help. The buckets tipped and she was swamped from head to toe in the bright pink slop, the artfully aimed splash flung around her shoulders and front until she was awash with pink.

She had no choice but to grab the armrests and hold on for dear life against the gushing pour, under which even Sally was forced to yield a little. Her hair was utterly destroyed and no doubt what her mother would call an unconscionable mess before you even got to her fur. She could feel the Gunge seeping over and around her arms and shoulders and curves alike, all of her no doubt lost beneath the pink splash.

She could only imagine how much of a sight she must look, every inch of her feeling like she was dripping in goo. Given how much she could see splashed around her on the floor that might not be an exaggeration. Feeling an odd mixture of chagrin, a warm glow of self-consciousness and a sliver of relief Sally met the gaze of the audience with a warm smile as the growing applause she had missed finally reached her ears.

'I think that means they'd like you back. And I know we'd love to have you back. Sadly that's all we have time for tonight. And on that messy note, I'll say goodnight and let our Princess get herself cleaned up. So, goodnight...ahhh.'

The quick fade to black that followed those words wasn't quick enough to hide the cheeky flick of Gunge Sally threw towards the host coupled with a equally cheeky grin, or the hasty flinch it inspired.

--------------------

Another sweet dip into the world of The Red Lounge. While this might not become a regular fixture of my writing, I don't think this will be the last you see from it. After all, there are a lot more furry celebs ready to grace its stage.

This was kinda fun because I got to do a little world building which is always something I enjoy. Working a Mobius dwelling Sally into a larger furry world was a bit of a challenge but one I enjoyed.

If you guys liked this, you could do worse than check out my Patreon Page where you can find more like this and for a small Pledge help direct my writings.

www.patreon.com/white66