♫When you wish upon a star♫
♫Makes no difference who you are♫
♫Anything your heart desires♫
♫Will come to you♫

The novel is done.

I'm a hero. Read it for yourself:

Chapter 35
    Lyle and Seva were forced to stop when they reached the officers. “I can’t let you two get any closer,” Dexter warned.
    “How are we going to get our friends down?” asked Lyle, squinting up at the monster looming nearby. He could see Princess Morgan looking at him, and she seemed to be barking, but he couldn’t make out any words. “I think Morgan is trying to say something,” he said.
    “Shhh,” said Skye. She cocked her head and listened. “She’s saying, ‘He’s a dog! He’s a dog!’”
    “Well, that’s strange. Of course I’m a dog,” Lyle replied. He grabbed the microphone from the podium and spoke into it. “Hi Morgan! You’re a dog too!” he shouted.
    Seva trained her keen sight hound vision on the hostages. “She’s rolling her eyes, Lyle. I don’t think that’s what she meant. I think she means that the monster is a dog,” she said.     “I guess that would explain why he has a thing for shoes.”
    “She’s barking again,” interrupted Skye. “She says, ‘Lyle, he’s your brother!’”
    Everyone turned to stare at Lyle. “I…I didn’t know,” he stammered. “My brother was a lot shorter the last time I saw him.” Not quite believing, he stared up at the doglike creature and spoke into the microphone. “Norbert?”
    The monster froze. It was visibly startled. It slowly turned its great green head to face the podium and stared at Lyle. “B—b-brudder!” it said. “Norbert hungry.”
    “We’ll get you something to eat. No, no, not them. We’ll get you some chicken.”
    The monster’s face contorted in anger. It shook its head and roared, “NO! Norbert ALWAYS hungry. Lyle always full. Lyle happy home. Lyle rich. Lyle always with chicken. Norbert alone. Norbert HUNGRY! Not fair to Norbert!”
    Lyle’s heart skipped. He had always known that fortune had smiled upon him. The fickle hand of fate had apparently not dealt as kindly to his brother. The plight of stray and neglected dogs had always nipped close at his heart, since he knew how easily he could have become one of them. Somehow in spite of the destruction Norbert had caused, Lyle felt pity for his brother. This hideous transformation could not have been his fault. He could not help what he had become, and Lyle was saddened. He called out to his brother.     “Norbert! Please listen! I’m sorry you didn’t get a family. I’m sorry for all the dogs that don’t have families. I want to make life better for all of you. Did you know I’m in Congress? One of those dogs you’re holding and I are trying to pass a bill that will provide chicken on demand for all dogs.”
    “Norbert get chicken?” the creature asked suspiciously.
    “Yes, yes, Norbert will get chicken,” Princess Morgan confirmed.
    “Lyle cares about Norbert?” The monster’s eyes began to fill with tears.
    “Lyle cares,” said Lyle. “Please let my friends go. We’ll find you something to eat and we can talk.”
    Very gently, Norbert placed Miss Matches and Princess Morgan on the pavement.

Chapter 36
    As soon as she realized that the situation was defusing, Skye rushed over to her partner. He appeared to be unconscious. She tapped his shoulder. “Basil? Can you hear me?” There was no reply. His head rolled slightly to one side and his tongue lolled out of his mouth. “Oh, Basil!” she whispered. “Please be okay. You need to know you saved the mayor’s life! You’re a hero!” She buried her head in her paws and sobbed quietly.
    Basil opened one eye. “I’m a hero?” he asked.
    “Basil! Are you okay?” Relief washed over Skye.
    “Nuthin’ but a scratch. You really thought a little ol’ monster like that could take down a Boogle? Not nice, Brat-a-houla.”
    Skye sighed, smiling. “Looks like you’re going to be fine.”

Chapter 37
    Dexter and Seva stood together watching Lyle talk down his brother. When the monster began to cry, Dexter breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, butter my buns and call me a biscuit,” he said. “I never would have expected this.” He began to holster his gun but remembered he had pocketed something there. He pulled out the object, and was surprised to find a shoe.
    “My Prada pump!” exclaimed Seva, throwing her arms around Dexter and kissing his cheeks. “My hero!”
    “Just doin’ my job, ma’am,” smiled a blushing Dexter.

Chapter 38
    “Excuse me, Lyle,” said Mayor Impy, tapping him on the shoulder.
    “Yes, your Honor?”
    “Do you mind if I speak with this young dog for a moment?” she nodded towards Norbert. Impy had been watching the events from a few paces away. Lyle raised an eyebrow at her. He looked at his brother. “Don’t eat the mayor,” he ordered.
    “Norbert no eat mayor,” Norbert confirmed. Lyle watched as the pair walked off together, seemingly deep in conversation. He realized Miss Matches and Morgan were still huddled together in front of him, blinking in disbelief.
    “Are you two going to be okay?” Lyle asked.
    Miss Matches stared at him for a moment. “Okay? Okay? Are you kidding me? I just got the story of a lifetime! I’m not just going to report the news; I’m going to BE the news! This is incredible!” She said her goodbyes and raced off to the station.
    Lyle smiled at Morgan. “Are you that okay too?”
    “I’ll be fine, dear. See, Lyle, the Chicken Bill is changing lives already,” she said, smoothing her cape and straightening her tiara.
    “I’m heading out to Washington tomorrow to present the bill,” Lyle announced. “And as for Norbert and the rest of the strays, as dog is my witness, they’ll never go hungry again.”

Epilogue
    The sun was shining brightly on the rebuilding of Chicago. People and buildings were being repaired and eventually they all would recover. Impy stretched out in a deck chair overlooking her lawn. She smiled as she watched the newest addition to her family playing with her youngest, Cassie. Norbert and Cassie raced in circles around the yard, Norbert tearing up huge chunks of turf with each turn, Cassie barking furiously at his heels. Cassie gained on him; soon close enough to nip at his feet. Norbert turned and snatched her up in his mouth.
    Impy sprang to her feet. “Norbert! Bad dog! Drop it!” she shouted.
    Norbert lowered his head sheepishly and opened his mouth. A slime coated but unhurt Cassie tumbled out, shaking and barking, ready to tussle again. Impy shook her head, smiling ruefully. They weren’t perfect, probably never would be. But they were a family.

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    “Can I see you again?” asked Dexter.
    “Buy a copy of Dogvita,” Seva replied, mischief in her eyes.
    Dexter shuffled his feet uneasily, “No, I meant…”
    Seva smiled genuinely. “I know what you meant. Here’s my card. Come on up and see me sometime.”

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

    And as for the rest…Skye was promoted to Detective for her talent in tracking and awarded honors for her role in saving Mayor Impy. Basil was also offered a promotion, but respectfully declined, saying he would miss being a beat cop. He did, however, wear proudly the medal Mayor Impy bestowed on him.

    Princess Morgan and her Prince Charlie reigned for many long and happy years in Appalachia. They would eventually go down in the history books as the most effective rulers in memory.

    Miss Matches was soon offered a coveted anchor position at Animal Planet. Their ratings soared. Miss Matches eventually wrote a book about her experiences which became a major motion picture.

    And last but by no means least, there was Lyle. His Chicken Bill flew through Congress with bipartisan approval. He eventually went on to champion the rights of strays worldwide. His achievements became the stuff of legend. Stories were told from generation to generation of the devastatingly handsome Whigle who had saved Chicago and brought chicken to every dog’s dish. Even the stars in the sky celebrated the life of Lyle. They arranged themselves in his likeness so that all who gazed upon them would know his greatness and good deeds.
    And they all lived happily ever after.

THE END!