Smiling Critters One-Shots

We're Not The Same Without You (DogDay x Kickin)

A request for @Forgot_The_Love

Spring had arrived in Sunshine Valley, and as the cold winter weather cleared, DogDay, the leader of the Smiling Critters bounced out of bed, eager as ever to wake up the other Critters and have a fun day, whatever happened. He opened the door to his house and skipped through Sunshine Valley, to each of his friend's houses. One of the Critters, Kickin Chicken, was also up, but for a very different reason. Upon waking up, he'd realised that he was losing his feathers. He didn't know why, but it was making him very worried that he didn't look cool, like he usually did. He'd heard about this from Bubba, who had informed him of this a few weeks ago, but didn't think it would actually happen. Even worse, he was so focused the speck of bare skin on his head that he didn't notice he was moulting in other places, including his chest and the side of his face.

He jumped when he heard DogDay knock at his door, and he quickly put on a cap and jacket to hide his bald spots. He took a deep breath and opened the door, smiling as always.
"Hey Kickin!" DogDay said, Bobby Bearhug, Hoppy Hopscotch, Bubba Bubbaphant, Crafty Corn, CatNap and Picky Piggy around him.
"Hi, DogDay!" Kickin replied.
"What's going on today?"
"We were initially going to play a game of tag, but since the sun is so hot today, we're going to play it by Friendship Lake so we can cool off!" CatNap said.

Down by the lake, the game was well underway, everyone playing, even CatNap. Apart from Kickin. He couldn't risk getting his feathers wet. He suddenly saw Hoppy sending a huge wave of water his way, and he quickly scurried onto a rock. Hoppy thankfully missed, the splash hitting Crafty and Bearhug instead. Hoppy smiled sheepishly and apologised. Kickin breathed a sigh of relief. What he failed to realise was that the rock he was perched on was loose, and his weight wobbled.  Kickin gasped as the rock gave way for him to flop into the lake. His cap slid off his head and his jacket sloughed down with the water. Then it happened. Picky pointed out several bald patches on Kickin's body when the Critters immediately rushed to see if he was okay.

Kickin was mortified, and he climbed out of the lake. The way that Picky had pointed it out was making him so embarrassed-and it quickly turned to anger.
"Picky!" Kickin growled. "You just had to point out my bald spots, didn't you! You simply had to! Why did you do that!"
Picky burst into tears.
"You made Picky cry!"
DogDay said. "You should apologise!"
"I won't! She pointed out my balding problem, which I had tried so hard to hide!"
"Kickin, we don't-" DogDay said.
"Shut up!" Kickin exclaimed.
"This is-" Bubba tried to say, but Kickin again interrupted.
"I am not listening to anything you have to say! DogDay, why are you even the leader?!" You know I like to look cool, and you let Picky humiliate me! Why am I even part of the Smiling Critters! I quit!"

The words forced a gasp out of the other Critters.
"No..." Bearhug said.
"It's okay, Kickin," Hoppy said.
"No, it's not!" Kickin said, the naked rage on his face shocking her. "I quit, and hate you all!" With that, Kickin turned away and stormed back to his house. The other Critters looked on, in shock from what Kickin had just done.

Kickin stomped inside his house and slammed the door shut, going back to bed, not wanting to see his friends for the rest of the day. The next day he was the same, barking an irritated "Go away!" when DogDay came to his house. When he tried again, Kickin said  "DogDay, you're the worst!" DogDay left, and instantly realised how the Smiling Critters were without Kickin. Hoppy had no one to compete against when she was at the skatepark, Bearhug had one less Critter to love, Crafty couldn't make art for him, and all of them missed him.

Over the course of several days,however, the reality of what Kickin had done sank in. And he felt terrible once he realised. How he'd hurt Picky's feelings. How he'd acted out in front of his friends. How he'd most angrily brushed DogDay off. For all he knew, he would never forgive himself, and his friends would never forgive him. He settled into bed, crying silently into his egg pillow.

Until he heard a knock at his door. He immediately recognised the voice and fear built into his chest. It was DogDay.
"Kickin? Are you home?" he called. Kickin didn't answer. He didn't want to hear how DogDay would react to his outburst three days prior.
"I'm coming in!" DogDay said.
It was then that Kickin realised why. He always left his door unlocked in case anyone wanted to come over. He must've left it unlocked out of habit. Kickin dived under his bedcovers, but DogDay knew he was there.
"Go away," the chicken said.
"Kickin, you don't mean that," DogDay replied. "We all know it. Our lives are mundane without you. Hoppy misses you, and so do the rest of us. And since I'm the leader, I do especially."
Kickin peeked his head out from under the covers.
"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry..." he croaked. DogDay climbed onto the bed, and Kickin sat up. Kickin reached out, and cried into DogDay's chest. "I'm sorry for everything I said!" DogDay hugged him, allowing Kickin to cry it all out.
"We know you are," DogDay told him. "It's okay. We're not angry. No one is."
Kickin sniffed and placed a wing into DogDay's paw.
"How about you go out and have some fun with the other Critters?" DogDay asked.
"Okay..." Kickin replied, despite feeling nervous about how his friends would react.

Upon seeing them, however, they welcomed him back with open arms, Bearhug delivering one of the biggest hugs she'd ever delivered. The other Critters piled in.
"You'll get your feathers back, Kickin. You're just moulting," Bubba said. "It's just that since this is your first moult, you outgrew more feathers at a faster rate. But you'll get them back."

Kickin smiled happily, and he crowed in delight.

One-shot done! Hope you like it! Coming up next, the wedding of DogDay and Hoppy!