Chapter Text
Dogday sat alone at his dressing table, unable to recognize the nauseous feeling forming in his gut as he wiped his stage makeup from off of his face. Tonight's performance had gone like usual-the audience loved his act, and he received the regular praise by fans after the show about how a voice as beautiful as his should be on the radio for the world to hear. However, this time, he felt a sudden pressure on himself to do well, growing self-conscious of every note and every dance step. His friends, the other smiling critters, assured him that he was amazing as always.
"You're overthinking it!" His friend Kickin Chikin had told him. The rest of the group had agreed, considering that he was so talented. Though he appreciated their kindness, he knew that they didn't fully understand what was worrying him. Could it be possible that he was losing his touch?
Looking at his reflection, he noticed dark circles that weren't been there before had taken residence underneath his weary eyes. His insomnia had been getting worse, making it more difficult for him to fall asleep each night. At this point, he wasn't even sure that he wanted to sleep-sleep only meant more nightmares.
He had been having the nightmares for a long time-long before Mommy Long Legs had rescued him from the orphanage, or before he met the smiling critters. It was in those nightmares that he went back to that dark place he left behind as a child, getting beatings which left marks on his skin from a man whose face he couldn't remember all too well. There was no joy in the orphanage-joy came later when Miss Long Legs found him. There was only suffering and pain, and cold nights where he was barely fed anything. The things he experienced in those dreams felt so real to the actual thing, that they caused him to jolt awake in the middle of the night and sob.
But recently, he had been having a different nightmare. It started off similar to the rest-with him in that old, dark room back at the orphanage that he desperately tried to forget. This time however, his friends were also there with him, though something felt off. Their pupils had gotten a lot smaller, and their smiles were unnaturally wide. Concerned, he would ask them if they were feeling alright, and would be met with unsettling laughter as they came towards him. Terrified, Dogday would beg them to stop, but they couldn't hear him, snarling and growling like hungry animals as they closed in on him. He couldn't figure out why they were acting this way, until he saw a tall man with long boney hands emerge from the shadows, though it was too dark for him to see his face. At the sight of him, his friends abruptly stopped attacking him and began to cheer, cackling and chanting excitedly. Then Dogday heard a voice, low and ominous, that began to speak to him.
You can't save them the man whispered threateningly. They'll all be mine in the hour of joy. It's only a matter of time now.
Dogday would always wake up before he could know what the hand had meant by an hour of joy, though to him it seemed like quite the opposite. He hadn't told anyone about what he was dreaming of besides Miss Long Legs, whom he knew would understand what he was dealing with. She immediately went in search for a doctor, and had found Harley Sawyer, who she had heard was capable of curing just about any illness. Upon meeting Doctor Sawyer, Dogday was automatically unsettled by him-there was something cold in his dark eyes that sent shivers down the cocker spaniel's spine. Still, Dogday forced himself to continue seeing him as to not worry Miss Long Legs. During his first visit, the doctor had prescribed him a drug that he claimed should help him to fall asleep faster, though they wouldn't be able to solve issue of the nightmares. If anything, Dogday almost felt as though the nightmares had gotten worse, and he had found it harder and harder to wake himself up. Nobody could know what he was going through-after all, he was supposed to be the most optimistic of all his friends
Keep pushing through Dogday! he continued to tell himself, doing his best to stay positive. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. You just need to find it! That was easier said than done, but he wouldn't allow himself to crack in front of his friends, especially when they needed him.
Suddenly he heard a quiet knock at his door, bringing him to a pause.
"Come in!" Dogday called, putting on a warm smile. He was quite pleased when his friend CraftyCorn answered, wearing her usual blue flapper attire and standing shyly in the doorway.
"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you," She said, her voice at a whisper.
"You're not bothering me!" He said happily, his tail wagging from behind him. "Please, sit down!"
She quietly trotted inside, closing the door behind her and pulling out a chair from the corner to sit beside him. Dogday had always enjoyed Crafty's company, since her calm and gentle nature made her easy to be around.
"Those are some very pretty flowers," she said, referencing to the vase of poppies that sat at his dressing table.
"Thank you!" Dogday replied, beaming fondly at the lovely bouquet that Mommy Long Legs had sent to tell him she was thinking of him and missed him. It was the smell of Poppies that would always help him to sleep as a child, but the scent grew to become ineffective by the time he reached his teenage years.
Turning to look back at his friend, he noticed that she wasn't as bright as she normally was. There was a look of worry behind her eyes, as she fiddled nervously with her long blue hair.
"Crafty, is everything alright?" He asked her. Crafty turned to look at him, shaking her head solemnly
"Not really if I'm being honest. That's actually why I came to talk to you, but please promise me you won't say anything to the others."
Dogday hesitated for a moment then silently nodded. In all his years of knowing her, Crafty had never been one to keep things from the rest of their friends, and he couldn't help but feel worried about her. Still, she had chosen to come to him because she trusted him, and he didn't want her to regret that choice.
"I promise I won't tell anyone, but what happened? Did something happen between you or one of the other girls?"
She shook her head again. "No, Bobby, Hoppy and Picky are all very good friends. It's...something else. I've been witnessing many strange things in town lately."
Dogday tilted his head slightly to the side, confused as to what she could be talking about. Nothing strange ever occurred in their town, aside from the disappearance of Kissy Missy, whom Dogday knew from living in the apartment next to his before she had went missing. That event had occurred years before Crafty had told him this, and nothing odd had happened since that he could remember. Still, he listened as the unicorn continued her story, becoming more intrigued.
"Last week, I was walking home from work, a little later than usually would. It was dark outside, and I was very tired, so I wasn't able to see very well. Across the street from me, however, I noticed someone standing there. Their face was hidden behind their coat, though I could still tell they were looking at me." She began pulling harder and more anxiously at the strands of hair she had been fidgeting with in her fingers. "I saw them again two nights later, watching me from the shadows. When I tried walking away, I could hear footsteps following from behind me. I was able to make it home safely but, I still feel a little nervous." Her face molded into a sudden soft smile. "I came to you because you always know what to do!"
He flushed at the compliment, his tail wagging mildly behind him. "Don't worry Crafty! I'm sure you probably!" He replied. "
"A-are you sure?" She muttered quietly, and unsurely.
"Absolutely! Our town is really safe. Besides, you've got us! We would never let anything hurt you!"
She paused for a second, as if trying to determine if she believed him, then gave a slow nod when she decided she did. "Alright, I trust what you say Dogday! Thank you."
"Anytime Crafty!" He placed a friendly hand on her shoulder. "I'll always be here for you!"
Suddenly the door swung open, making the pair jump in unison. Of course, it was their friend Kickin Chickin, the club's loud and chaotic mc who believed himself to be the coolest person alive.
"Hey you two! Good performances as always!"
Dogday beamed proudly, while Crafty bowed her head down shyly. "Thank you Kickin!" The Unicorn whispered in response.
"No problem! I came to tell you that I'm pushing your performance times back a few minutes! Hope that isn't a problem for you!"
Dogday exchanged a confused look with Crafty, tilting his head slightly to the side.
"It's not a problem at all, but how come?" He asked curiously, turning to face Kickin whose grin suddenly grew even wider.
"We've got a new performer starting on the job tomorrow!" He replied excitedly. "Got a voice as smooth as silk! He's kind of shy though, so don't bully him, m'kay?"
"Of course we'll make him feel as welcome as possible!" Dogday said, his tail wagging from behind him.
"Great!" The Chicken gave them both a huge thumbs up. "Now head home you two, and get some rest! You'll both need it for tomorrow."
Rest? Yeah, right Dogday thought to himself, as Kickin slammed the door closed in his usual Kickin manner.
"...New performer?" Crafty mumbled quietly. Dogday turned to her eagerly.
"Kickin said he's got a really good voice! I can't wait to hear him sing!"
Crafty nodded in agreement. "I just hope that he's nice."
"I'm sure he is!" Dogday replied, already mapping out ways he would try to befriend the newbie. It would be a good distraction for him for now, to keep him away from all the pressure he was under.
"D-DogDay?" Crafty muttered, reaching out and gently tugging on his sleeve to get his attention. "You wouldn't mind walking me home right? I would ask someone else, but I'm sure everyone has already gone home. Besides...I'm still really scared."
Dogday paused for a moment, shocked that she had asked to walk home with him, then gave her a soft smile.
"Sure!" He replied eagerly. "Besides, I could use the company! Come on!" She nodded, and together, they grabbed their stuff, and headed out into the darkness