Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

S - M - I - L - E! 

Every day! 

When you're feeling down and out 

And you're wearing a frown and pout 

A smile replaces it! 

S - M - I - L - E! Every day!

Cool adventures! Yummy fun!

A huggable heart! So brainy! So strong!

Crafting kindness, and a goodnight's sleep!

And optimism makes it all complete!

S - M - I - L - E! 

Every day! (Everydaaaaaaaaay!)

S - M - I - L - E! 

Every day!

SMIIIIIIIIIIILE EVERYDAAAAAAAAY!

S - M - I - L - E! Every day!

Smiling Critters: Critter Crew Magic

Created by Matthais Unidostres

Episode 1: The Mystery Magic Mix-Up!

Bubba Bubbaphant was organizing books in his library, which was actually more of a big bookshelf that took up an entire wall of his house. Bubba was humming to himself as he slotted in the last few books. Now finished, he sighed contentedly and said, “Mmmhmm. That’s good. Good. A place for everything, and everything in its place.”

*Knock-Knock-Knock!*

“Who is it?” Bubba asked.

“It’s me!”

“Oh, come on in, DogDay!” 

DogDay pushed the door open and walked right into Bubba’s house. Filled with his optimistic golden retriever energy, DogDay stepped over to Bubba’s library. 

“Hi, Bubba! I’m here for another book!” DogDay said happily.

Bubba looked very glad to hear that, and he said, “That’s great to hear, DogDay. There’s nothing better than a good book. You can learn anything from books. Go ahead and pick one, just make sure to keep everything in order . .” Bubba then smiled nervously, and added quickly, “Please, I just sorted everything.”

“Thanks, buddy,” DogDay replied, then he stepped over to the bookshelves lining the wall and said, “Hmmm, let’s see. . .  I think I'll borrow. . .  THAT ONE!”

DogDay then pointed, not at the bookshelf, but at a wastebasket that contained a single old looking thick book. DogDay grabbed the tome, dusted it off, and turned to Bubba in concern. “Did you really throw this cool looking book away? That doesn’t sound like you at all, Bubba.”

Bubba just stared at DogDay for a moment, then he pointed at the book and said, “Uhhh. . . DogDay? Did you, um, read the title?”

DogDay nodded excitedly, “Sure I did! Magic Spells and Incantations. That sounds so cool!”

Bubba sighed and said, “Okay, DogDay, listen carefully. There’s no such thing as magic.”

DogDay tilted his head, “Uh, CraftyCorn is a unicorn.”

“What I mean is, critters can’t just say made up random magic words and cast spells!” Bubba said as he waved his arms around, “Crafty’s angry horn lasers are different. That’s just energy her body unleashes when she’s upset. The idea of waving your paw and turning lead into gold is unscientific nonsense. It would be one thing if that book framed itself as a fictional story, but that book is written like it’s real. I had to throw it away.”

DogDay just laughed and said, “Oh, Bubba. You gotta be more open minded. How else are you gonna be able to see all the wonder out there in the world?”

Bubba was still unconvinced, and he shook his head and said, “Ahem. . . That’s a very nice innocent thought. But I still don’t believe in magic.”

“But I can still have it, right?” DogDay asked eagerly, his short tail wagging.

Bubba shrugged, “Sure, go ahead. Just please don’t get your hopes up. And don’t try casting any spells?”

“Why not? What’s the harm if magic isn’t real?” DogDay asked with a touch of slyness.

“Well, I just don’t want you getting superstitious or mistaking coincidences for magic. That can get you into trouble,” Bubba warned.

“Trouble? Me?” DogDay asked, sounding both amused and casual, “Come on, Bubba. I’m the leader of the Critter Crew. Don’t worry about me, there’s nothing that I can’t handle.”

“True,” Bubba said with a nod, “Fine then, you can keep it. But please, if anyone says you’re acting weird, get rid of it.”

DogDay laughed and said, “Sure, Bubba. But really, you kinda worry too much.”

Much later, DogDay stood in his house, both paws flat on the surface of his table, with the open book between them. A tea cup sat in the center of the table, and DogDay was focusing hard on the page on telekinesis. DogDay had spent hours reading the book, and the pages on focus and willpower were amazing. A lot of what was in the book sounded really hard, like fixing broken objects or making plants grow super fast. But making things float sounded pretty simple and very useful, so he decided to focus on doing that.

“C’mon. . . c’mon. . . move. . .” DogDay said, focusing hard on the cup.

Nothing.

DogDay began to feel discouraged. He has studied the book hard, and was so sure he’d be able to do this. He began to feel bad that he wouldn’t be able to show his friends. He was certain his friends would be amazed and excited if he could have done this. Plus, being able to levitate things would be useful to helping his friends. He just wanted to make his friends happy. To have another tool to make his friends smile. He loved his friends so much-.

Clink!

DogDay’s jaw dropped when the tea cup fell to one side and lay still on the table.

“I DID IT! IT MOVED! I MOVED IT! I DID MAGIC!” DogDay cheered, unaware of the way his Sun Critter Charm was gently glowing.

*KNOCK! KNOCK!*

DogDay froze.

“Uh-oh,” he said as he turned to his front door.

“DogDay. . . are you gonna stay up all night?” came the deep yet soothing, but now chiding, voice of CatNap through the door.

DogDay turned and looked at the clock on the wall. He was shocked to see how late it was. He honestly felt bad, seeing as how sleep was so important to CatNap. It was amazing how close the two of them were, despite having contrasting personalities. CatNap was clearly on the more introverted side, but the cat was by no means cold. CatNap always knew just what to say or do to fix a problem. DogDay had plenty of times when he had been a bit down or unsure, only to get a nice bit of encouragement and a hug for CatNap. There was no doubt about it, the pair were the only ones who truly understood each other on a deeper level.

DogDay chuckled and called out through the front door, “Sorry, CatNap! I didn’t mean to! I just got caught up in a good book! I’m going to bed right now!”

“You do that,” CatNap said in a way that left no room for disagreement, but was still said in love.

DogDay reached out to the book, but was in a hurry and accidentally knocked it off the table. DogDay quickly bent down to pick up, but then noticed that the book hand landed so that it was open to the very last page. His eye was caught by the words on the top of the page: The Mysterious Spell of Destiny, written long ago but never successfully cast. Crafted to do something amazing, but never fully realized. Said to be missing one single unknown thing.

DogDay’s imagination and wonder went wild. He had already cast one spell (sort of), so what if he could cast this one too? So, he read the spell aloud.

“From one to one, from none to none — Fates forged, a self-made throne. The one who commands, who shapes, who binds — All below answer to me, they are mine alone.”

DogDay’s Critter Charm flashed, filling his house with light. But that light also ballooned out through the walls and extended outward for quite some distance, until finally it faded.

DogDay blinked, feeling confused. Somehow, he hadn’t even noticed the flash of light. He looked at the book and said, “Huh? That doesn’t make any sense.” DogDay yawned and said, “Well, I should probably just sleep on it. Before CatNap decides to come down the chimney again.”

The next morning, DogDay woke up.

He went through his morning routine. He splashed cold water on his face, did a good shake, and gave his tail a quick chase. As usual, he couldn’t catch it. This was good, because now he could try to catch it again tomorrow morning.

DogDay checked the calendar and smiled excitedly. “It’s Saturday! Breakfast at Picky’s!” Then he looked at the clock and saw how late it was. “Oh no! I overslept! Picky’s gonna kill me!” DogDay shouted in horror, “Or worse: there won’t be any food left!”

DogDay ran out the front door and made a beeline for Picky Piggy’s barnhouse. Unless Picky wasn’t up for it for one reason or another, Saturday was always the day where Picky would make a big breakfast for everyone. A daunting job for sure, but Picky loved to cook, and was very good at it. Besides, when it came to gathering the food she wasn’t alone. 

Her home didn’t look like a barnhouse for nothing. She lived on what was essentially a small farm. There were enough fruits and vegetables growing to easily feed and nourish the 8 critters living in the valley. Corn, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, various berries, several herbs, and more. Everyone would help Picky out when it came time to plant, harvest, or weed. The farm was small enough to handle, but big enough to sustain 8 young critters. As for everything Picky couldn’t just grow, there were fruit trees on the edge of the forest, and, of course, mail order from the bigger towns and cities outside their little valley. 

When it came to ordering anything, money was never an issue to any of them. Since the Critter Crew had essentially founded this little community due to being the first ones to build homes and live here, this meant that they lawfully owned the land. This included the rather large forest nearby, and the huge salt deposit that was found inside the far wall of the valley. So, whenever someone needed lumber, the Critter Crew got paid. And when it was decided a salt mine should be dug, that meant a big pile of coins from the miners every month in exchange for a simple “go ahead and dig” from the Critter Crew. Not by any means a fortune, of course. It was a salt mine not a diamond mine, but the pay was just enough to make life very comfortable.

These civic-minded laws were just another reason to love the King.

DogDay arrived at Picky’s barnhouse and knocked on the door, only to find it ajar. He leaned in, and saw that the dining room was empty. For a moment he worried that he had completely missed breakfast, but that didn’t make sense. Surely one of his friends would have checked up on him if he had been that late. CatNap definitely would have gotten worried and checked on him. Then DogDay heard clanging and banging from the kitchen. DogDay’s nose immediately picked up the scent of something burnt, which surprised him a lot. Although nobody is perfect, Picky wasn’t one to let food burn. But what confused DogDay even more was the scent of. . . lavender.

DogDay quickly walked towards the kitchen. “Picky? Are you alright in there?” he asked as he pushed the door open. But what he saw left him very surprised, and confused. Picky was nowhere to be found. Instead, CatNap was wearing an apron and running around frantically, occasionally stopping to mix a pot of what looked like very thick oatmeal, open a wafflemaker to find the batter still uncooked, and attempt to flip some sunny-side up eggs only to break all the yolks.

“CatNap?” DogDay asked in shock.

CatNap turned his head and looked at DogDay apologetically, “Sorry. . . I don’t think breakfast is gonna be ready on time. . . or at all.”

DogDay stared at his friend, then shook his head until his ears flapped around like crazy. Then he stopped and asked, “Why are you cooking breakfast?”

CatNap turned around fully and gestured to a farm themed calendar on the wall. “Becasue it’s Saturday. I always make breakfast on Saturday.”

“What are you talking about? You-,” DogDay began but he froze when he saw what was hanging from CatNap’s neck. Every critter in the world has a Critter Charm. They have it from the day they come into this world. It hangs from the neck from an unbreakable cord. It never comes off no matter what because it symbolizes who they are in their heart of hearts. CatNap’s Critter Charm was a crescent moon, symbolizing his devotion to getting a good night’s sleep and helping others to get a good night’s sleep. But somehow, CatNap’s Critter Charm had changed from a crescent moon to an apple. Somehow, CatNap was wearing Picky’s Critter Charm.

“What happened to your Charm!” DogDay exclaimed.

CatNap looked down at his charm fast, then looked back up at DogDay and shrugged, “Uh, nothing? It’s the same as it’s always been.”

DogDay just stared at him. CatNap wasn’t lying, DogDay could tell. CatNap truly believed nothing was wrong.

Then the scent of something burning caught their attention, and CatNap turned around fast, “Oh no, no, no, no! Not the pancakes!”

CatNap quickly flipped the blackened pancakes and said, “I can fix this. I can fix this. This is what I’m meant for. Just need to focus.”

DogDay’s thoughts were spinning around as he struggled to figure out what was going on. “I gotta find Picky,” he whispered.

CatNap heard him and said as he messily mixed a bowl of clearly lumpy pancake batter, and he said casually, “Oh, I saw her in the soccer field.”

“. . .Huh?”

DogDay arrived on the field and saw Picky standing in front of the soccer goal, with a soccer ball between her and the goal. He saw Picky take several deep breaths, then suddenly run towards it with a loud cry. She made an attempt to kick it, but her hoof missed it and ended up landing on top of it. Picky let out a cry as she fell backwards and landed flat on her back.

“Picky! You okay?” DogDay shouted as he ran to her.

Picky sat up and groaned. “Uggh. I’m fine. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I haven’t scored a single goal!”

DogDay looked at the Critter Charm hanging around Picky’s neck, and sure enough it was Hoppy’s lightning bolt.

“I kick, and kick, and kick! And every time the ball either goes in a random direction, or I miss the ball and land flat on my back and kill myself!” Picky screamed wildly.

DogDay helped Picky back up onto her hooves. He gently rubbed her back and said, “Oooookay. How about you just take a break. Maybe have a snack. And, by the way, have you seen Hoppy today?”

Picky just pointed in the general direction of Bubba’s house.

“Oh no. . .” DogDay said with a look of worry.

The door to Bubba’s house was ajar as well, and DogDay let himself in and immediately saw Hoppy Hopscotch looking miserable as she laid on a big pile of books. DogDay immediately saw the lightbulb Critter Charm on the rabbit. 

“Go away,” Hoppy moaned.

DogDay got closer and said, “Hoppy. What are you doing?”

Hoppy smacked her paws over her eyes and shouted, “What the heck is wrong with my brain? These books are so boring!” Hoppy then uncovered her eyes and jumped up. She ran over to the blackboard against the wall, and it was covered with various numbers being added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided. Most of it was scribbled out in spite of there being a perfectly good eraser right there. Hoppy’s ears drooped as she stared at the chalkboard. “And I’ve been trying to figure out how to improve how many crops we can grow, but I just can’t do it!”

Hoppy turned away from the chalkboard and paced around in frustration, “This stinks! My head hurts! I’m bored! My whole body is tense! It smells like stale paper in here! Ugggh!”

Hoppy grabbed her ears and tugged them, “Why can’t I think of any good ideas!” She then let go of her ears and ran over to a boxy device on the table. It was a two foot cube made of wood, with various cranks and a hinged lid on top. “I tried to make an invention to scatter seeds on the sports fields to fix the spots where the turf gets messed up, but I can’t get it to work!”

Hoppy smacked the machine, and the top popped off and sent seeds all over the place.

“AAUUUGH!” Hoppy shouted, stomping her feet in anger. She then started shoving DogDay towards the door. “Get out of here! I need to think!”

“Wait-wait-wait! Where’s Bubba?” DogDay asked urgently.

“Up on the big hill, now get out already!”

*SLAM!*

DogDay ran up the hill, and he could already see Bubba standing in front of a canvas on an easel. Bubba held an artist’s pallet, and was jabbing a paintbrush onto the canvas.

DogDay whimpered, and he sped up and came to a stop next to Bubba. The flower shaped color wheel Critter Charm was hanging from Bubba’s neck. 

“Okay, okay. . . DogDay. . . what does this say to you,” Bubba asked as he motioned to the canvas.

DogDay looked at what Bubba had painted. 

He had no idea what he was looking at.

It appeared to have started as a landscape with grass and trees, but it also looked like everything was painted out of order. There were some green trees, with the blue paint of the sky mixing with the green from being painted on top of them while everything was still wet. There was the sun, but it was painted in red with yellow splashed on top. There were some flowers in the grass, but they seemed to have been repainted several times to change their sizes afterwards, with blue and green used to cover them.

“Oh, well, it’s imaginative-,” DogDay began.

“NO! It’s awful!” Bubba shouted.

“No it’s not!” DogDay said quickly, “I mean, art can be anything! It can look like anything!”

“I know that. I’m not trying to make photorealism.  But this is not what I’m trying to make either!” Bubba complained, sounding thoroughly frustrated, “The picture in my head isn’t coming out. It’s all wrong. I can’t make the colors I want. I keep getting a muddy mess and I don’t know why.”

DogDay just couldn’t understand what was going on, or why. His friends were trying to live each other’s lives under the assumption that it was how things were supposed to be, and they were all failing and miserable. It then occurred to him that he didn’t know who was trying to live Kickin’s life. This brought a sense of foreboding in him, and he asked, “Bubba? Do you know what Crafty is up to now?”

DogDay sprinted down the path, an intense sense of worry in him as he desperately searched the edge of the forest.

“Crafty! Crafty!” he called out desperately.

DogDay got an answer in the form of a scream. He turned just in time to see CraftyCorn flailing about on a skateboard, zooming out of a side path and headed straight for him.

*CRASH!*

DogDay lay dizzy on the ground with the unicorn laid out on top of him. The skateboard lay upside down next to them. Eventually DogDay reimagined his senses and sat up as Crafty slowly rolled off of him.

“I’m sorry,” Crafty whimpered, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. I keep falling and crashing. . . It’s like I’m not cool anymore.”

DogDay frowned at the orange star Critter Charm Crafty was wearing, then he looked at her with compassion and said, “Crafty, you always were cool, and you always will be. But you’re cool in your own way. Not in doing. . . that.” DogDay pointed at the skateboard.

Crafty looked confused, “But that’s what I’m supposed to do. To have perfect balance and style and coolness.” She held up a forehoof and said in an attempt at a smugly confident voice, “Like, yo, dude? Totally radical?” 

DogDay bit his lip and cringed.

Crafty hung her head sadly, her messed up mane falling over her face, “I feel so tired. Like I need to sit at home for a while. But I can’t. I gotta stay out here and be cool. But I want alone time! What’s wrong with me?”

“Where’s Kickin?” DogDay said, unsure what else to say right now.

Crafty looked up at him and replied, “He went for a walk in the woods. He tried to cheer me up. It. . . didn’t really work. Then he got sad and said he needed some time to think.”

DogDay nodded, “Alright. I think you should call it quits with the skateboarding for today and just relax a bit. I think the Critter Crew needs to have a little meeting later.”

Crafty smiled slightly, “You mean at the sleepover tonight at your house?”

DogDay realized that the bizarre problem his friends were facing had caused him to forget all  about their sleepover. DogDay smiled back and said, “Yeah, sure thing.”

DogDay had been searching for Kickin Chicken for a long time. The fact that he had skipped breakfast made things hard. Luckily there were apple trees and berry bushes in the forest to give him energy. But still, Kickin was certainly elusive in these woods. Kickin had apparently wandered away from the central valley and gone really deep into the woods. While DogDay did have his keen nose, several things made it less effective than usual. For one thing, DogDay had still skipped breakfast, which made his brain and senses a bit dull even with the snacks from the forest. Also, the stress, worry, and growing panic was really messing with him. Add in all the unfamiliar scents and pollen of the forest, and finding Kickin would not be as easy as just sniffing the air twice.

But DogDay was persistent, and eventually he found the chicken Critter.

Kickin was leaning against a tree, with his forewing between his head and the bark. He didn’t look like he was in his usual cool and overconfident mood.

DogDay gulped, but reminded himself to stay positive. “Hey, Kickin. What’s up?”

Kickin immediately stood up straight, and he spun around and flashed DogDay an obviously fake, forced smile. “Well, well, well! If it isn’t my wonderfully wonderful friend DogDay on this very wonderful day!” he said in a painfully chipper voice. 

DogDay immediately took notice of the red heart Critter Charm that Kickin was wearing. DogDay raised his paws and said gently, “Okay, Kickin. We need to go and see Bobby-.”

“That’s right! Bobby is a great friend! But so are you!” Kickin said with a very wide smile, “And I can see that you are looking tense! You look so stressed out, like you got dragged through weeds and tall grass. You sure look awful! A total lame wreck!”

DogDay blinked, “Uhhhhh. . . thanks?”

Kickin’s smile slipped, and he looked nervous. “Uh, what I meant was, you normally don’t look this terrible. You’re usually a bright eyed bushy tailed guy who’s obsessed with rules and junk! Like a total wet blanket that still looks nice.”

There was an awkward moment of silence, then Kickin chuckled nervously and said, “Okay, no talking. More hugging!”

Kickin then ran forward and grabbed DogDay in a hug. The chicken’s feathers were scratchy, and the hug just felt awkward. When Kickin let him go and stepped back, Kickin’s face fell.

“Yeah, that didn’t work, did it?” Kickin said, then he spun around and started kicking a tree. “URGGH! Why do I stink at this?! I’m supposed to be good at making everyone feel better! WHAT!? IS!? WRONG WITH ME!?”

DogDay struggled to figure out what to say. He didn’t know what was going on with his friends, and he didn’t know where to begin to help them. 

“We . . . could all talk about things at the sleepover?” DogDay suggested.

“. . . Fine,” Kickin said bitterly, and he started walking with his head down dejectedly, dragging his feet.

DogDay whimpered, and he slowly followed his feathered friend.

It was sunset by the time the two Critters arrived at DogDay’s house. The other six Critters were already there, munching on a platter of sandwiches CatNap had thrown together. DogDay couldn’t help but notice that the sandwiches were awkwardly cut, and too much peanut butter and jelly was oozing out of the sides and onto the platter. The jelly side of the sandwiches had jelly seeping out, looking very unappetizing.

Everyone was seated on the floor, and no one looked happy or ready to play.

Bubba flopped back heavily on his back and said, “Okay, so is anyone even in the mood to do anything other than sleep?”

“Nooooo,” the other six Critters said as DogDay just flinched.

“Uggh! I’m too sore to sleep!” Piggy said as she rubbed her legs.

Crafty whimpered and rubbed her arm, “Me too.”

Bobby Bearhug stood up and said, “Well then, just leave that to me, everyone. After a good night’s sleep, we’ll feel much better.”

DogDay saw the crescent moon Critter Charm on Bobby, and a sense of dread filled him as everyone grabbed their pillows and blankets. The Critters got as comfortable as they could as Bobby stood up tall with her paws on her hips, ready to leap into action. 

Bobby skipped over to a miserable looking Crafty, and she leaned in and mushed her cheeks. “Shhh. . . time for sleep my unicorn friend. Sleep, sleep, sleep. . .”

Crafty blinked, and muttered, “Uhm. . . can I have my cheeks back now?”

Bobby pouted, but then ran over to Kickin and rubbed the hair-like feathers on his head. “Sleepy time, chicky! Sleepy!” she cooed.

“Get off of me!” Kickin snapped, smacking Bobby’s paw away.

Bobby was clearly getting disheartened. She dashed over to Hoppy and began giving little kisses to her head between her ears. “*Mwah!* Go to sleep now. *Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!*.”

Hoppy gave Bobby an uncomfortable look and said, “Okaaaaay, that’s just weird, Bobby.”

Bobby looked around at all her friends nervously, but she forced a smile and said, “Okay, okay! I’ve got it! A lullaby!” Bobby then cleared her throat and began to sing very poorly.

GO TO SLEEP! GO TO SLEEP!

YOU’VE BEEN AWAKE FOR SO LONG NOW!

GO TO SLEEP! JUST GO TO SLEEP!

EVERYONE GOOOOOOO TO SLEEEEEEEEEP!

Everyone else groaned, rolling over and either covering their eyes or putting their pillow over their head. The two large eared individuals had it the worst. Hoppy grabbed her ears and placed them over her eyes, and Bubba shoved his hooves into his large ears.

During all this, however, DogDay had already gotten up and was walking miserably out of the living room and into the kitchen. He was at a complete loss. It was like the entire world had gotten mixed up and messed up in the most personal ways possible. The very idea of his friends having their identities scrambled was insane, and yet somehow it had happened. It was as DogDay was thinking of this, his mind thrown for a loop, when he saw it. The book of Magic Spells and Incantations.

DogDay stared at the book, and he remembered what he had done the very night before. The only unusual thing that had happened. 

“From one to one, from none to none — Fates forged, a self-made throne. The one who commands, who shapes, who binds — All below answer to me, they are mine alone.”

The meaning of those words became clear in light of the bizarre changes that had afflicted his friends. “It’s my fault,” DogDay said quietly, heartbreak and guilt in his voice, “I read that spell, and it did all this. It was me.”

DogDay stepped over to the table, plopping his bottom into the chair as he stared at the book that had ruined everything. Then, with a pitiful whimper, DogDay let his face slam onto the table. Overwhelmed by everything that had happened today, he cried himself to sleep.

And now it’s time for. . . 

SONGS WITH THE SMILING CRITTERS!

CraftyCorn sings

“The Creativity Song”

Bubba, Kickin, and Picky were seated at a table in Picky’s house. All three of them were very clearly bored, just listening to the ticking of the clock. Picky had one cheek resting on her forehoof. Kickin was absentmindedly tapping the table. Bubba had a thoughtfully wistful expression.

Suddenly, Crafty stepped into the room smiling and singing.

What’s your favorite idea?

Mine is being creative!

“How do you get the idea?” Picky asked curiously.

I just try to think creatively!

Crafty held up an apple in her hoof.

Now when you look at this apple

Tell me please, what do you see?

“It’s just a boring old apple,” Kickin said with a roll of his eyes.

Crafty quickly drew on the apple with a marker.

Maybe to you, but not to me

I see a silly face!

“Wow!” Picky said, amazed at the expressive goofy face Crafty drew on the apple.

Walking along and smiling at me

“I don’t see what you mean,” Kickin said, unimpressed.

Cause you’re not thinking CREATIVELY!

Crafty then tossed her cyan mane and ran a forehoof through it.

Not take a look at my mane

“Cool!” Picky said with a grin.

I use my mane to express myself

“Well we don’t have manes, or hair,” Bubba pointed out.

Crafty forced a smile.

I use my mane to express myself

Crafty then moved to the window and said, “Now, when you stare at the clouds in the sky, don’t you find it exciting?”

“No.”

Crafty pointed at the clouds enthusiastically and said, “Come on! Take another look!”

“Oh wait!” Picky said with wide eyes as the clouds began to take shape.

I can see a hat, I can see a cat

I can see a rabbit with a baseball bat

I can see a dog, I can see a frog

I can see a ladder leaning on a log

I think you’re getting the hang of it now

Using your minds to have a good time

“I might paint a picture of a clown,” Bubba said as he dipped a paintbrush into some paint and began dabbing it on paper.

Crafty smiled nervously.

Whoa there, friend, you might need to slow down!

*Clunk*

Bubba accidentally knocked the small pot of white paint over, causing a big spill all over the table. Kiockin covered his mouth to hold in the laughter, and Picky was glaring at Bubba because her table was now all messy.

“Oops. . .” Bubba said, looking embarrassed and guilty, “Sorry, Picky.”

Crafty looked around at the awkward situation, then quickly started singing again.

Here’s another good tip

“Yeah?”

On how to be a creative wizkid

Here are some crayons, take your pick

Grab the one that’s your favorite color

Crafty held out her big box of crayons and the others reached out to grab one.

“Blue,” Bubba said.

“Orange!” Kickin said.

“Teal!” Picky said.

That’s not teal, that is clearly turquoise.

“Doi!” Picky said as she cringed.

There’s one more thing that you need to know

Before you let your creativity flow

Listen to your HEART

Listen to the RAIN

Listen to the music in your BRAIN

“Come on guys, let’s get creative!”  Crafty exclaimed as she stood tall and laid out art supplies on the table.

Immediately her friends began utilizing the materials. Kickin scribbled on paper with colored pencils, Bubba grabbed a marker and was drawing some curves and lines, and Picky squirted some glue on pink construction paper and sprinkled green glitter on it.

Get creative!

Kickin had a big grin as he grabbed the box of crayons and dumped them all over the table.

Get Creative!

The critters were going at their paper dual wielding art tools, stopping only to toss down googly eyes, sequins, and more glitter onto what they were making. Soon more jars and bottles were being spilled, but none of the three even noticed the growing mess as they continued their creative pursuits. Crafty watched anxiously, too nervous to say anything as the growing mess grew yet bigger. Bubba was pouring paint directly onto the paper and brushing it around. Kickin was holding 4 markers in each wing and was scribbling around like crazy. Picky was aggressively shaking glitter onto her paper like she was seasoning a very bland soup. All three of them were tossing things around just to grab something else, and the sound of things flying, falling, and being rubbed against paper got louder and louder until-

“STOOOOOOOOOP!” Crafty screamed.

And stopped they did.

The four of them all stood still, looking around at the huge mess they had made.

Crafty’s fidgeted, and she gave a nervous laugh.

Now let’s all agree

To be a little less crazy next time

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, I guess we all went a little ‘doi’ this time,” Picky admitted.

Crafty looked at her friends’ papers and gasped, “Oh, wow, these are actually really nice. In spite of, well, everything.”

And now, back to the episode!

The next morning, DogDay woke up, very stiff form his awkward sleeping position. After some stretches, he hoped that maybe it had all been a very weird bad dream. But when he looked into the living room, he saw his friends in a very restless uncomfortable looking sleep, still with their mismatched Critter Charms. CatNap seemed to have already left. The fact that CatNap had risen early was further proof of how messed up everything was.

DogDay couldn’t bear to look at his suffering friends. Instead he turned away and wandered into his bedroom. His comfy round orange dog bed was there, along with his desk and corkboard for planning things out. But what really caught his attention were the photographs. The wall had plenty of them, each one showing him with at least one of his friends. Fist bumping Kickin, high-pawing Hoppy, hugging Bobby, applauding a blushing Crafty, unpacking a box of books with Bubba, harvesting with Picky, and just simply vibing alongside CatNap.

DogDay’s attention was then drawn to the photo in the center. It was a group photo of all 8 of them. They were all smiling and sharing a group hug underneath a big tree. They were all very young, as it had been taken years ago. It had only been about a year after DogDay first arrived in the valley when the photo had been taken. This made DogDay think about that very day of his arrival, and he found he remembered it very well. . .

DogDay walked down the path, a lone young orange puppy critter with a sun Critter Charm hanging from round his neck, and nothing but a backpack to his name. This was not uncommon as critters are not so much born as they simply appear. It is a mystery exactly where they come from, mostly because they can show up pretty much anywhere. Some float down in parachuted baskets from the sky, some bob up to the surface from under the water and float to shore, and some pop up out of the ground like cabbages. Within a year of their arrival, critters are pretty much self-sufficient. Many found families, while others, like this particular puppy, would set off on their own to find their place, wherever or whatever that might be.

DogDay had been walking for some time. The kindness of strangers had gotten him started, but after a pawful of purposeless years, he really did want more, or at least something. So, he used his puppy-dog-eyes to get himself a backpack, which he then filled with a few snacks and his meager possessions, and off he went. This was quite a while ago, and he was all out of food, but he wasn’t worried just yet. The glass was still half full, after all. The glass is always half full.

He smiled when he saw the path open up as the trees thinned up ahead. Optimistic as ever, he had high hopes for whatever lay at the end of this path. He knew whatever awaited him would be worth it.

“Hello there!” a cheerful voice said.

DogDay turned to see the speaker run over to him from another path that connected to the one he was on. She was a bear cub critter with bright red fur, and a matching red heart-shaped Critter Charm. The bear looked very excited to see him, which was surprising to say the least.

“We don't get many visitors in our valley, so a new face is always exciting!” she said gleefully, bouncing on her heels with her paws behind her back.

DogDay smiled back as his nose took in the smell of roses. He said, “Well, hello to you too. My name is DogDay.”

The bear cub looked ready to burst with excitement, and she suddenly lunged forward and wrapped her arms around him. Tightly.

“You are so sweet! I'm Bobby Bearhug!” she squealed.

DogDay's eyes bulged as she squeezed him. “Air! AIR! NEED AIR!” he gasped out urgently.

Bobby quickly let him go. “Oops! Sorry!” she said as shuffled her footpaws nervously, looking embarrassed.

DogDay took several deep breaths, then said, “Wow. You sure live up to your name.”

“Thank you!” Bobby said, the joy practically radiating from her, “Come with me! I have to introduce you to all my friends!”

Bobby took his paw in hers and pulled him on ahead. DogDay had no trouble keeping up with Bobby as they ran out under the clear blue sky. DogDay was amazed by how green the valley was, with trees and walking trails all over. He could spy several houses of various shapes and colors unlike any he had even seen before. One looked like a purple treehouse, another looked like a giant yellow beehive, and yet another looked like a giant orange carrot. He could also see a barnhouse next to a small field of various crops, a cool looking chicken coop like building, and a grass-roofed hut with palm trees sticking up out of it. Further in the distance, he saw a stone tower that looked like it came straight out of a fairy tale.

Bobby and DogDay soon arrived at an open area that seemed to be a type of athletic park. There was a playground, a skatepark, a baseball field, and a soccer field. There was also a big shady tree where 6 more critters were gathered. 

A yellow chick with a star Critter Charm and a green rabbit kit with a lightning bolt Critter Charm were both focused on kicking a soccer ball up over and over. Between them was a blue elephant with a lightbulb Critter Charm, and he was counting.

“27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. . .” the elephant counted.

“AH! NO!” the chick shouted as his ball bounced off of his foot and rolled away.

“OH YEAH! I win again!” the rabbit cheered, kicking her ball up and catching it in her paw, while she fist pumped with her other paw.

On a large, wide rectangular picnic blanket, a white and blue unicorn filly with a color-wheel flower Critter Charm smiled and hummed as she worked on a picture with colored pencils. Next to her, a piglet with an apple Critter Charm was taking containers of food out of a picnic basket. The piglet shook her head and said with a dry nonplussed expression, “Those two. Ya know, always competing.”

Under the tree, a purple kitten with a yellow crescent moon Critter Charm lay back in a dose. Then he opened one eye and said in a low, smooth voice, “Bobby’s back from her walk. She’s not alone.”

Everyone directed their attention to Bobby and the newcomer.

“Hi, everyone!” Bobby said as they arrived, “I’d like you all to meet DogDay!”

DogDay smiled nervously at first, but then he stood tall and gave a friendly wave. “Hello, everyone. I hope I can get to know all of you real well while I’m here.”

The rabbit dashed over to DogDay and said, “Yo! I’m Hoppy Hopscotch! The fastest, strongest, bestest Critter around!” She held out her paw to him and moved it around, “Up high! Down low! Too slow!”

DogDay chuckled nervously as the scent of peppermint hit his nose hard, and he said, “Okay then.”

The chick sauntered over and said, “Yeah, she’s annoying. That’s kinda her thing. She only thinks she’s cool, and then there’s me. Name’s Kickin Chicken. And no matter what she says, I’m the star. Just you wait, you’ll see how cool I am and want to be my number one fan!”

Kickin held out his feathery fist.

DogDay stared at it, not sure what to do as he smelled Ylang-Ylang.

Kickin deadpanned and said, “What? You don’t know what a fist bump is?”

*Grrrrrrowl*

DogDay blushed and said, “Oops. Heh. I’ve been walking for a while, so I’m kinda hungry.”

The piglet jumped up quickly and said, “Oh, I know exactly what you need!”

The piglet reached into the picnic basket, grabbed something, darted over to DogDay, and shoved it into his mouth. After getting over the shock, DogDay realized that it was a sandwich. DogDay reached up and held onto the sandwich as he took a bite out of it. He immediately determined that it was a PB & J sandwich. However, it was by no means an ordinary PB & J sandwich. The bread was very soft yet substantial, and even the crust tasted good. The peanut butter was creamy and deeply roasty and toasty. The jelly wasn’t just sweet, it was incredibly fruity and blended so well with the peanut butter.

The sandwich brought a tear to DogDay’s eye, its flavor even overpowering the piglet’s citrus scent, and soon he had gobbled up the whole thing. He licked his paws, then looked over at the piglet in awe.

“That was awesome!” DogDay said, “That was the greatest thing I ever ate!”

The piglet smiled proudly and said, “Oh, ya know, it was nothing. Although I did bake the bread myself. And I made the peanut butter myself. And the jelly too. Fresh ingredients do matter, ya know.”

“Wow. . .” DogDay said, amazed by the piglet’s skill.

The elephant chuckled and said, “Well, that’s our Picky Piggy! She is an indisputable master of gastronomy and the culinary arts.”

“Huh?” DogDay asked in confusion, catching the scent of lemongrass coming from the elephant.

“The nerd means that Picky’s a good cook,” Kickin said with a wave.

“Umm, my name is Bubba Bubbaphant, not ‘nerd’. Please use my actual name, thank you,” the elephant replied indignantly.

Bobby nudged DogDay and said, “Well, Picky might be creative in the kitchen, but our CraftyCorn has a magical imagination when it comes to the visual arts!”

The unicorn foal looked up from the paper she was drawing on and blushed deeply. “Oh. . . it’s nothing. . .”

“Show him, Crafty!” Bubba said eagerly.

The unicorn whimpered and covered it with her forehooves. Seeing her distress, DogDay quickly said, “Oh, no, it’s okay! You don’t have to. It’s totally fine.”

Crafty looked up at DogDay’s calming smile, and she felt her nerves settle down slightly. She then took a breath, and held up her drawing so he could see it. It was a picture of Hoppy and Kickin having their kick-up contest with Bubba in between them, with the sunny sky, tree, and green field. The three characters were simple in appearance, but it was clear who and what they were thanks to the accurate colors. What was really amazing was how multiple colors and shades were blended together to give the image actual depth.

DogDay whistled, noticing the drawing smelled like jasmine, and said, “Woah. You really are an artist, CraftyCorn!”

Crafty smiled and turned away, looking adorably bashful.

Then DogDay felt a paw on his shoulder. 

He turned fast to see the purple kitten standing right behind him and smiling lazily. DogDay would have expected to jump in fright in response to a surprise like this. The kitten had been completely silent in his approach. However, the scent coming from him prevented DogDay from jumping up three times his height and barking.

The kitten then leaned in and sniffed DogDay’s ear.

“You smell like sugar cookies,” the kitten said simply, his voice soft and soothing.

“Vanilla,” DogDay replied in a level tone. Not to be outdone, DogDay leaned forward and sniffed the kitten. “You smell like flowers,” he said with a grin.

“Lavender,” the kitten corrected.

The two of them looked at each other eye to eye, and they smiled at each other. Somehow, a unique bond had formed between them. This unapologetic sniffing seemed to do something in DogDay’s puppy brain. This kitten seemed, for the lack of a better word, honest.

Kickin just rolled his eyes and said, “Yeah, that’s CatNap. He’s kinda weird.”

“Kickin!” Bobby said with disapproval, “You know how important CatNap is. He makes sure we all go to bed on time and get enough rest.”

“Exactly!” Bubba said, “The brain can only operate at optimal efficiency if it gets at least 7 hours of sleep.”

“Whatever,” Kickin huffed.

Hoppy smirked and said, “Oh yeah? So, did you like it when you fell asleep on your skateboard and rode right into a tree because you stayed up all night? Or what about that nightmare you had when you finally passed out from not sleeping for so long?”

Kickin waved his wing and said in annoyance, “Yeah, yeah, we all know it. He was right and I was wrong. Can we move on now?”

“Anywho,” Hoppy said with an excited gleam in her eyes, “You being here works out great, DogDay. Now that there’s eight of us, we can play a game with two teams of four! It’s soccer time, pals!”

Picky groaned and Bubba put a hoof to his forehead.

“What?” Hoppy asked.

“Not soccer again,” Picky complained, “Ya know that you and Kickin always hog the ball and score all the goals.”

Crafty frowned and said, “Yeah. I’m not very good at soccer.”

Bubba sighed and said, “It’s a matter of biology. Hooves make precision kicking during high speed, high intensity moments a near impossibility due to the rounded surface.” 

“Blah-blah,” Kickin said, “At least we aren’t so big that we keep blocking nearly every shot just by standing there.”

“Are you calling me fat?!” 

“You said it, I didn’t!”

“Guys, please, knock it off,” Bobby said in distress.

“Bubba started it!”

“No I didn’t!”

“Fine, Hoppy started it!”

“No, Picky was the one who complained first!” Hoppy argued.

“It’s not complaining if it’s true!” Picky shouted angrily.

“Awwwoooooooo!”

Everyone stared at DogDay, surprised by his sudden howl.

DogDay cleared his throat and said, “Sorry. I just. . . I just really don’t like it when friends fight. But maybe I can help you all out? I mean, I think I’ve got an idea. If you’d like to hear it.”

Everyone continued to stare, now looking at him with curiosity. CatNap was still by his side, and he leaned in and said with gentle encouragement and genuine interest, “Go on.”

DogDay felt invigorated by CatNap’s support, and the surge of confidence fused with his optimism and gave him the push to share his plan.

“Alright!” DogDay said, and he turned and ran over to the net bag full of balls and sports equipment that was laying next to the tree. He reached in, tail wagging excitedly, and he pulled out a particular white ball. “Let’s play volleyball!” DogDay cheered as he held up the ball.

The other critters just stared at him.

“Dude, what’s volleyball?” Kickin asked.

DogDay was surprised, and he asked, “You’ve never played volleyball?” 

Hoppy shrugged and said, “I wanted some sportsballs, and the bag of used balls was cheap. I never used that weird looking ball you’re holding. It’s not fun to kick, and it doesn’t bounce very well.”

DogDay smiled and said, “Well then, you guys are all in for a treat! Volleyball is a perfect game for critters of all kinds.” DogDay set the ball down and reached into the bag again. This time he pulled out a pair of telescoping poles with a net wrapped around them.

Hoppy peered at it and said, “Is that thingy used in volleyball?”

DogDay carried the poles out into a flat area. He unwrapped the net from around the poles, extended one pole, and stuck it into the ground. Then he stretched out the net and extended the other pole, sticking it into the ground and raising the net up high. The rest of the critters followed and watched in curiosity.

DogDay then spun around to face them and said, “Alright, critters! Volleyball isn’t about kicking or catching or bouncing! It’s about hitting, smacking, and spiking the ball! Hooves, paws, wings, it doesn’t matter! Anyone can play! Let’s see. . .”

DogDay looked at the seven critters thoughtfully, then he nodded and said, “Okay. Hoppy and Kicken, you two would make great team captains, and would be perfect up in front to spike the ball down. Me and Bobby can also be in front to smack the ball back as it comes over the net. The rest of you would do great in the back to knock the ball back with your hooves! Oh, well, CatNap has paws, but I think he’d be better in the back line. Don’t worry everyone, I’ll explain the rules to you. Here’s how volleyball goes. . .”

And so DogDay taught the group the rules, and they picked them up rather quickly. Kickin and Hoppy were happy with being team captains. Kickin picked Dogday, Bubba, and Catnap; while Hoppy chose Bobby, Picky, and Crafty. Sure enough, the eight of them had a very fun time. Hoppy and Kickin were competing to see who could spike the ball the most times, and Bubba and Picky were always ready to bop the ball back up at the other team. Dogday and Bobby were eager to score goals, while Crafty and CatNap were happy to stand back and assist their team whenever the ball came into their area. Although there was a bit of a disagreement on if it was okay for CatNap to use his long prehensile tail to hit the ball. But other than that small hiccup, it was all thrilling good fun.

The eight of them played until the evening, where the sun turned the sky orange as it began to set. 

“YEAH! I WON!” Kickin cheered.

“WE won, Kickin,” Bubba corrected as he gestured to DogDay and CatNap.

Kickin rolled his eyes, “Alright, fine. My TEAM won.”

Hoppy pouted and said, “Well, I just gotta learn how to spike better.”

Bubba turned to CatNap and said, “You did better than I thought you would, CatNap. Good tail work.”

CatNap hadn’t moved much during the game, but he was smiling and awake all the way through the long game.

Piggy glanced at the setting sun and said, “Well, ya know, that sky tells me it’s almost dinner time! Let’s all head over to my house and I’ll cook up something special for our new friend, DogDay!”

DogDay smiled and said, “Wow, thanks for inviting me. I’ll be glad to stay for dinner.”

Bobby laughed and said, “Stay for dinner? Ha-ha! You’ll be staying for lots of dinners! This valley is your home now.”

DogDay’s eyes widened, and he looked around at the seven smiling critters.

Bubba nodded and said, “You are a very good and intelligent leader, DogDay.”

“And you’ve got good energy,” Hoppy added.

“You’re totally cool,” Kickin said with a smirk, “Not as cool as me, but still cool.”

Crafty smiled bashfully and said, “You knew the perfect place for all of us, and you told us all what to do so nicely.”

“Yeah, stay with us, DogDay!” Picky said chipperly, “And ya know, I would love to have a new palate to cook for.”

DogDay’s heart beat loudly in his chest, “You really think this is the place for me?”

“Certainly!” Bubba said confidently, and he addressed everyone else and said, “All those in favor of appointing DogDay as our leader say ‘Aye’!”

“AYE!” the other six critters said.

DogDay was utterly amazed at this point, and deeply touched. He wiped tears of joy from his eyes and said, “Wow. . . I just. . . I didn’t expect to make so many friends so fast.”

“So you’ll stay with us?” Bobby asked excitedly.

DogDay nodded enthusiastically, his tail wagging excitedly, and said, “Sure thing, Critter Crew!”

“Heeey, Critter Crew? I like the sound of that!” Kickin said eagerly.

Crafty had a creative glint in her eyes, and said, “Oooh, I can’t wait to design his house!”

Picky giggled and said, “Ya know, Crafty designed all of our houses to be perfect for each and every one of us, and we all worked together to build them. We can do the same for you, DogDay.”

“Wow. . .” DogDay replied, “I don’t know what to say. . . thank you, I-.”

DogDay suddenly felt a paw on his shoulder, and he turned to see CatNap standing close once again.

“You’re staying with me until your house is finished,” CatNap said in his smooth low and gentle voice.

“Awwww,” Bobby said in disappointment, “I wanted to have a roomie.”

“It’s okay if you snore, I’m a heavy sleeper,” CatNap added, then he furrowed his brow seriously and said, “Just make sure you go to bed on time. Every night. No exceptions.”

DogDay blinked, then grinned and said, “Sure. But you know what they say. ‘Early to bed and early to rise makes a critter healthy, wealthy, and wise.’ So if I got to go to bed on time, then you gotta get up on time. Deal?”

CatNap’s serious expression melted into a calm smile. “Deal, pup.”

Back in the present, DogDay stared at the beloved group photo. His time living with CatNap in his purple cat-tree house was great. He valued that time so much, and he could tell CatNap loved it too. They both learned a lot from each other. DogDay learned the value of calming down and resting at night to recharge, and CatNap learned that getting an early start was important to making the most out of life. All in all, DogDay considered CatNap his best friend. And in spite of CatNap’s subdued slightly lazy personality, DogDay could tell that CatNap considered him his best friend too. The pair could tell each other anything, and have done so on windy nights before going to bed. It was probably a bit like how Hoppy and Kickin had a special best friend bond of their own.

Of course, DogDay loved all of his friends dearly, which made the current predicament all the more painful. Crafty had designed a perfect house for him, and everyone had worked so hard to build it in record time, complete with furniture and everything. DogDay had actually broken down and cried tears of joy when the house was finished. It was at that moment that DogDay was certain that his friends would do anything for him, and for each other.

And as that thought came to mind, DogDay’s mind suddenly came to a sudden glorious conclusion that kicked his optimism into high gear.

“That’s it! They WOULD do anything for each other,” DogDay exclaimed, “How did I not see this earlier? The only way to set things right is to get my friends to help each other to set things right!”

DogDay turned and ran to the door, smiling as he said, “I can’t believe I almost gave up so easily! No problem is unsolvable! It’ll be hard, but it’s not impossible. I can get my friends back to where they need to be!”

The six critters were sitting in the barnhouse’s dining room, around the big dining room table. None of them looked very happy in the slightest. DogDay ran in and said, “Good morning, Critter Crew! Today is gonna be a great day!”

“Yeah right,” Kickin said grumpily, his cheek resting in his wing.

“Hang in there guys,” DogDay said confidently, then he said, “So, is CatNap in the kitchen again?”

Picky nodded and said, “Yeah. Ya know, he felt bad for not being able to make anything good yesterday, so he invited us over to try again.”

DogDay made a show of scratching his chin thoughtfully, “Hmmmm. Well, I think Picky and I should give him some help.”

Picky blinked and said, “Me? Why me?”

“Trust me,” DogDay said confidently, “I think you can help him more than you think.”

Picky shrugged, and she stood up, “Okay, I mean, I’ll do what I can.”

The others watched as DogDay and Picky stepped into the kitchen. In said kitchen, CatNap was trying to stir a big pot of oatmeal. But then the pot began to boil over, causing CatNap to yowl in fear and hop backwards in fear. 

“No-no-no-no-no-no!” CatNap stammered out in wide eyed fear. 

Picky’s eyes were wide as well, and she turned to DogDay and said, “What do we do, DogDay?”

DogDay looked right back at Picky and said, “I think you know what to do, Picky. Just think. Think about helping your friend.”

Picky turned back to look at the frightened CatNap and the boiling pot of oatmeal. She thought hard, her desire to help her friend overriding all of her uncertainties, and she stepped forward towards the stove. She turned off the gas, then she grabbed a potholder and used it to move the pot off of the hot burner.

CatNap sighed in relief and said softly, “Thanks, Picky.”

Picky seemed to be amazed that she had managed to solve the problem. Then DogDay stepped over and said, “Well, everyone is still pretty hungry for some breakfast. How about we both help CatNap in the kitchen. What do you say, Picky?”

Picky’s snout wiggled a bit, then she smiled and said, “Well, ya know, I’d do anything to help out my friends.”

And so the three of them started over and began getting breakfast for 8 ready. As they worked, it soon became clear that Picky had things to say about what her friends were doing and how they were doing it.

“No, CatNap, don’t crack the eggs on the lip of the bowl. You’ll just send pieces of the shell into the egg. Crack it on a flat surface, like the countertop.”

“DogDay, you’re overmixing the pancake batter! Don’t worry about lumps, they’ll disappear when we cook it.”

“Don’t slice or chop the cheese, CatNap. Use a grater. It’ll melt better in the omelet that way.”

“Hmm, ya know, we ought to cut up some fresh fruit like apples and pineapple and strawberries to add some fresh sweetness to cut through the maple syrup. Oh! And we should bring out some honey for Bobby!”

Before long, Picky found that she fit the role of head chef, while CatNap and DogDay were the souchefs. After about half an hour, the three of them proudly wheeled out a cart loaded with pancakes, omelets, and fresh fruit.

Hoppy’s ears stood up and her nose twitched like crazy. “Yes! Finally! I am STARVING!”

“Me too!” Kickin added.

Everyone was served a plate, and they all dived right in. Everyone was rather quickly satisfied.

“Mmmm! Perfect pancakes!” Bobby said as she licked some honey off of her lips.

“I certainly appreciate the fruit,” Bubba added.

“This omelet is a work of art, CatNap,” Crafty said gratefully.

At the sound of his name, CatNap lowered his head and held his tail. “Uh, well, no. I mean, I didn’t cook any of this. I mean, DogDay and I helped, but Picky is the real chef.”

Everyone turned to look at Picky, who was blushing deeply. The pig gulped and said, “Well. . . that is . . . ya see. . .”

DogDay leaned over and said, “Picky. Come on. You were amazing in there. You knew exactly what you were doing. You really ARE a chef.”

Picky’s eyes widened. “Oh my gosh. . .that’s right. I knew how to cook things, how to cut things, what ingredients worked and wouldn’t work. How to make things taste just right. I knew it all. Like being a chef and knowing how to make good food is. . . who I really am!”

The lightning bolt Critter Charm around Picky’s neck started to glow. And then, with a flash of light, it transformed into a red apple.

Everyone gasped, and DogDay jumped out of his chair and cheered, “It worked! It worked!”

Picky scratched the side of her head and asked, “What’s going on? What happened? Wha-!? Why does CatNap have my Critter Charm? Why does everyone but DogDay have the wrong Critter Charms?!”

DogDay stepped over to Picky and gave her a quick hug. “I know it’s confusing, but don’t worry. It’ll all make sense soon enough. But right now our other friends still need our help to be themselves again.”

Picky was confused, but seeing DogDay's confidence encouraged her. “Well, ya know, you are the leader, so I trust ya. How do we fix everyone else’s Critter Charms?”

“Simple,” DogDay said with a confident optimistic smile, then he turned to Hoppy, who was looking down at her lightbulb Critter Charm with uncertainty. “Hoppy,” DogDay said to her, “I need you to teach Picky how to play soccer.”

“Huh?” Hoppy said as she looked up to look at him in bewilderment.

“But I don’t play soccer!” Hoppy exclaimed as the Critter Crew stood on the soccer field. CatNap, Bobby, and Kickin were off on the side lines, while DogDay and Picky were next to Hoppy with a soccer ball in front of them and the goal up ahead. Bubba was acting as the goalie.

DogDay pointed and asked, “What are those?”

Hoppy looked down at where DogDay was pointing, “Uh. . .my feet?”

“They’re pretty big, aren’t they?” DogDay observed.

“Oh yeah?!” Hoppy said indignantly as her ears stood up straight.

“Oh no, I’m not making fun of you!” DogDay said quickly, “What I mean is, feet like those would be really good at kicking a soccer ball around, right?”

Hoppy didn’t look too convinced, “Maybe. . .”

DogDay turned to Picky and said, “Alright, Picky. Try to score a goal.”

DogDay secretly winked at her, and she secretly winked back. “Alright! Here I go! I’m gonna kick this soccer ball and become a soccer star!” Picky said with obvious overacting as she trotted up casually to the ball. She gave a feeble kick, and her hoof hit the ball awkwardly. The ball bounced towards the goal where Bubba easily intercepted it.

Hoppy stared incredulously, “Wha-!? What was that!? That’s not how you kick a soccer ball, girl! You need to get a run at it, then bring your leg back, and then follow through with the kick.”

“Then show me, if you’re so smart.” Picky challenged smugly.

“Watch me!” Hoppy said boldly, and she backed up and shouted, “Toss me the ball Bubba!”

Bubba rolled the ball out towards the green rabbit, and she ran towards it. With a powerful kick, she sent it flying in a curve towards the goal. Bubba tried diving for it, but it went right past him and went into the net.

Hoppy had the widest of smiles on her face, and she raised her arms and shouted, “GOOOAAAAL!”

There was a flash of light, and the lightbulb Critter Charm she was wearing turned back into her lightning bold charm.

Hoppy blinked and said, “Woah. That was totally weird. Why did I think I couldn’t play soccer? That’s literally my thing. My most prized possession is a soccer ball!”

Bubba got up and caught his breath, “Whew! Well done, Hoppy.”

DogDay nodded and said to Bubba, “And now you can help Hoppy with her invention.”

“Wait, what?” Both Hoppy and Bubba asked in unison.

The Critter Crew were all in Bubba’s house. Bubba was staring at the two food cubical device sitting on the table.

“Huh. . . so, this is supposed to spread grass seed on the sports fields to replace messed up turf,” Bubba remarked.

Hoppy grinned and said, “Yeah. Pretty cool, ain’t it? I mean, sure, I can’t get it to work, but still! Cool idea!”

Bubba nodded slowly, “Yes. Yes, that is an idea worth pursuing. Soooo, how do you turn it on?”

Hoppy stepped over and said, “Well, I think you just-.” She tapped the side of the cube, and it immediately started jumping around sending sees flying out the top and bottom simultaneously.

“Shut it off, shut it off, shut it off!” Bubba shouted in a quick panic.

Hoppy smacked the invention, and it stopped.

Bubba breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Well, okay. But I have to admit, I can see what you were going for.” Bubba leaned over it and opened the hatch on top with his trunk. “Huh. . . I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I can actually see potential in this little gadget. We just gotta. . .um . . . well. . .”

Hoppy grabbed the tool box and set it on the table. “Maybe you could use this?” Hoppy said as she handed him a small screwdriver. 

“Hmmm. . .” Bubba said thoughtfully, then he grabbed the screwdriver with his trunk and went to work.

After about half an hour, the group was outside of Bubba’s house standing near a patch of bare ground. Bubba had the redesigned and rebuilt grass seed spreader in his hooves. 

“Okay then,” he said nervously, “Moment of truth.”

“What are you worried about, you nailed it!” Hoppy said encouragingly.

“We’ll see,” Bubba said simply. 

Then he turned the crank on the side of the cube. Sure enough, grass seeds mixed with plant food shot out from the bottom and embedded themselves into the soil at the perfect depth.

Bubba’s eyes widened, “I. . .I. . . I did it! I really did it!”

Hoppy slapped him on the back and said, “See! I told you! You’re a genius!”

“A genius?” Bubba said in shock, then he smiled and said eagerly, “Yes! Yes, that’s right! I’m a genius!”

There was a flash, and Bubba’s Critter Charm changed back into a lightbulb.

Bubba nodded and said, “Yes, of course, I see it now. The logical progression of the restoration of our proper personalities is obvious now.” He then turned to the unicorn and said, “Crafty, I need you to help me with something.”

The Critter Crew stood in the ground floor of Crafty’s tower, and stared at the many paintings Bubba had made. Each canvas was filled with muddy colors that looked utterly unappealing.

Picky cringed and said, “Ooh, wow. Bubba, you are not an artist.”

Kickin nodded, “Yeah. I mean, you tried, Bubba. But you failed. Hard. Sure, points for trying, even though you failed. . . sorry. . .”

Bubba focused on Crafty and said, “Well, what do you think?”

Crafty stepped backward and said, “Oh, well, art is art, isn’t it?”

“Sure, but that’s not the issue here,” Bubba explained, “I wanted to express what was in my head, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t make what I wanted to make. I didn’t know how. Like this one.” Bubba grabbed a canvas, which DogDay recognized as the one he had seen Bubba painting on yesterday. Bubba showed it to Crafty and asked, “Any thoughts on this?”

“. . . . . Did you paint on top of wet paint?” Crafty asked after staring for a moment.

“Yes.”

“WHY!?” Crafty blurted out, only to immediately blush and cover her mouth with her hooves.

Bubba shrugged and said, “I was just trying to fix some mistakes.”

Crafty uncovered her mouth and shook her head. “There are no mistakes in art. Only happy accidents.”

Bubba looked intrigued and said, “Very interesting. . . Could you maybe show me what you mean?”

Soon enough, Crafty and Bubba both had art easels set up with canvases, and were holding painter’s pallets and brushes. The two of them were painting the landscape outside the window in front of them.

“. . .so you mix the basic blue with a bit of titanium white on your pallet, and you get the perfect shade of sky blue. Then once you’ve got your sky, then you move on down to the ground. You start with more yellow than blue on the pallet, then add blue slowly until you get the color of beautiful sweet green grass. And by the time you have the ground painted, the sky should be dry enough to paint on top off. You can add the sun, or not if you want to imagine the sun behind you. You can add clouds to create more images in the sky. It depends on how much attention you want on the sky compared to the ground. You can add dots of color to suggest flowers in the distance, or draw flowers big and up close. Trees and hills are perfect for scaling everything. Don’t fret if you get a blob of paint somewhere you didn’t want too. Don’t try to paint over it, that’s how you get brown messes. Work with the happy accident. Make it a rock, or a bush, or a piece of fruit, or the face of a friend. And done!”

Crafty leaned over and smiled at Bubba’s painting. “That beautiful, Bubba!”

Sure enough, Bubba had painted a nice picture of a blue sky with a few puffy clouds above a green field with a scattering of colorful dots.

“Well, it’s the best I’ve ever painted, for sure,” Bubba remarked jovially, then he turned to Crafty and said, “Now, let’s see your creation.”

Crafty immediately blushed and looked terribly nervous. She quickly stepped in front of her canvas and said, “Oh, um, no. It’s nothing worth looking at.”

Bubba gave her an amused look and said, “Crafty. You went on and on about artistic techniques and gave me enough advice to fill a book. And you somehow don’t think your art is worth seeing?”

“Bubba’s right,” DogDay added with coaxing encouragement, “You don’t have to be afraid to show us, Crafty.”

“You bet! We all know it’ll be good!” Picky added eagerly.

The rest of the group all nodded and stepped closer, giving Crafty their smiles. The unicorn could feel the support fill the room, so she took a deep breath and let it out, then stepped away from her canvas.

Everyone let out soft gasps in awe at Crafty’s painting. The grassy field had a whole gradient of green, and the small colorful flowers popped out playfully. The sky wasn’t just blue with clouds, it was a deep sky blue with clouds that ranged from white to soft greys, which were in various shapes.

“It’s. . .beautful,” Bobby said as she wiped a tear from her eye.

“That’s our Crafty,” Bubba said proudly.

“How does she do it,” Hoppy remarked in disbelief.

Crafty looked at her friend’s reactions, then at her painting, and then at her hooves. “I. . . I. . . I really can do it. I can create art and beautiful things. And it feels like art is. . . is who I really am.”

The star shaped Critter Charm turned back into a color wheel flower with a flash. Crafty gasped, eyes wide as she said, “Oh, I can’t believe I tried to ride a skateboard!”

DogDay had a look of sympathy on his face as he approached her. “Crafty, I know you must feel exhausted and confused right now, but we’re gonna need your help for a little bit longer. Will you help us?”

Crafty looked unsure, but after taking one look at CatNap, Kickin, and Bobby with their changed Critter Charms, she said, “If my friends really need me, then I’ll do what I can to help.”

“Sooooo, what do you want me to do again?” Kickin asked as the group stood in the small skatepark area of the athletic park.

DogDay pointed and said, “Just watch Crafty and see if you have any pointers.”

Kickin followed DogDay’s finger and looked quizzically at Crafty as she wobbled uncertainly on the skateboard, looking nervous while wearing elbow pads, knee pads, and a helmet.

“Pointers on what? How to fall down without busting up your bones?” Kickin asked flippantly.

Crafty whimpered, sweat beading down her head. But DogDay quickly said, “It’s okay. You’ll be safe. Your safety gear will protect you. Just try to roll forward. You can do it.”

Knowing Kickin needed her help, Crafty took a deep breath and pushed off with one hoof. She held her arms out, wobbling a lot as she rolled across the level ground of the skatepark. She slowly moved several feet, stopping right in front of Kickin and DogDay.

Kickin gave her a look and said, “Is that it? I mean, is that all that skateboard is good for?”

“W-well. . .” Crafty began nervously.

“I mean, come on!” Kickin said as he spread his wings and gestured to the skatepark they were standing in, “Look at all of this awesome stuff! The rails! The halfpipe! The stairs! Why aren’t you skating on them?”

Hoppy had a huge grin, and she shouted out to Kickin, “Why don’t you?!”

Kickin blinked, and looked at Hoppy. “Oh. . . um. . . well.”

Crafty stepped off of the skateboard and put a hoof on Kickin’s shoulder. “I think you can do it, Kickin,” she said softly.

Kickin’s face lit up at her words, and he found himself stepping rather confidently onto the skateboard. “Riiight,” he said slowly, “So, here’s the thing, Crafty. What you need to ride a skateboard is balance and uhhhhhhh. . .”

“Coolness?” Crafty offered.

“Coolness?” Kickin echoed.

“Awesomeness?” Hoppy added.

“Radicalness?” DogDay added.

“Those last two aren’t words, but I agree with the sentiments,” Bubba remarked.

Crafty could see the metaphorical gears turning in Kickin’s head. Determined to help him, she ran ahead and said, “C’mon, Kickin! Try going up this ramp!”

Instinctively, Kickin pushed off with one foot and rolled forward. “Woah! Woaahhhh!” he said as he rolled up the ramp, and then rolled down the opposite side, gravity speeding him up. He bent his knees, and leaned back and forth. The board moved left and right in unison with his movements. His eyes widened in realization, then he gained a smug look and said, “Heh. Rad.”

The next thing he knew, Kickin expertly grinded rails, went up and down the halfpipe, and did flawless kickflips. He rolled back to where his friends were watching and skidded to a halt. He hopped off of the board and stepped on the end of it, flipping it up for him to deftly catch. 

“I am feeling so awesome right now!” Kickin said, absolutely glowing with confidence. Then the heart shaped Critter Charm he was wearing flashed and turned back into an orange star.

“Yes!” DogDay cheered.

Kickin, however, had his eyes closed and was bobbing his head.

Hoppy moaned, “Oh no, don’t tell me he’s gonna-.”

Kickin suddenly pumped his fists, and then held his skateboard in his wings so he could use it to play air guitar. Still bobbing his head to the beat, Kickin burst out into a song.

“Ki-Ki-Ki-Kickin!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chicken!

Cool Kickin Chicken, yeah, I’m awesome as well!

Ooh, Smiling Critters, now you’re ringing my bell!

Radical and super, now the superstar’s back!

Ooh, numero uno, it’s a Kickin attaaaaaaaaaaack!”

Kickin then smirked at his friends and said, “The king has returned.”

Everyone stared at him for a moment, then Hoppy finally said, “Well, that’s the old Kickin Chicken we know and. . . know.”

DogDay smiled, then in the corner of his eye he noticed CatNap. The cat had been very silent since they had left Picky’s barnhouse, and now he looked very somber indeed, just staring at the ground looking like he was busy feeling sorry for himself.

DogDay then turned to Bobby and said, “Poor CatNap. Doesn’t he look sad? Why don’t you go cheer him up, Bobby?”

Bobby looked back in confusion. “What? M-me? Why me?”

“Trust me,” DogDay said with the utmost sincerity in his voice and gaze, “Follow your heart, Bobby. Out of all of us, you have the biggest heart.”

Bobby put a paw over her chest, clearly surprised by DogDay’s words. But somehow, in spite of what she thought she knew, she was certain that she could believe him. So, she stepped over to CatNap.

“Um . . . CatNap?” she began.

CatNap looked up at her wordlessly.

Bobby gulped, and she asked, “Do you feel sad because. . . you aren’t sure what you’re supposed to be doing or why you can’t seem to do anything right?”

CatNap hung his head sadly.

“I’m right there with you, CatNap,” Bobby insisted.

CatNap looked up again, confused this time.

Bobby fiddled with the crescent moon Critter Charm she was wearing and said, “I wanted to help everyone get a goodnight’s sleep. . . but I couldn’t. I felt like a failure. . .and so guilty over not being able to help them.” Bobby blinked away a few tears, then continued, “But everything that’s happened today has shown how wrong I was. Because despite all of the strange problems we’ve been having, none of us saw each other as failures. Because we’re not failures. I’m not a failure, and neither are you, CatNap. Don’t hold onto those bad feelings. Don’t give up hope. And if you don’t think you can let it go, or if things feel too hopeless, then we can face it together.”

Bobby held a paw out to CatNap. He stared at her paw, thinking over her words. Then he gave a small smile and took her paw in his own. Bobby smiled back, the sight of his smile awakening something inside her. Then, unable to hold it in any longer, Bobba suddenly lunged forward and caught CatNap in a big hug.

CatNap let out a quick “meow”, then he settled into the warm hug. “Huh. Thanks. I think I really needed this.”

Bobby held CatNap close, a look of delight on her face as she said, “I just. . . have to help the ones I care about. To make sure they feel happy. . .and loved.”

There was a bright flash in between CatNap and Bobby, and she didn’t have to look to know that her red heart shaped Critter Charm had returned.

DogDay could tell too, so he let out a long yawn and said, “Oh wow, what a day! It’s only noon, and I’m already exhausted. I’m sure the rest of us are too, since none of us got a full night’s sleep last night. Let’s all head to my place for a nap.”

The rest of the critters, sans CatNap, all smiled to themselves as they could easily see where this was going.

The critters had left their blankets and pillows in DogDay’s house from their failed sleepover last night. 

Picky did a little stretch and said, “Whew! Ya know, this little piggy needs a nap.”

Kickin grabbed a blanket and said, “I hear you, Picky. Being this awesome can be exhausting- HEY!”

Hoppy snickered after throwing a pillow at Kickin’s face.

Kickin was about to throw it back when Bubba cleared his throat loudly. Kickin noticed Bubba discreetly pointing at CatNap with his trunk. Kickin reined it in and just tossed the pillow at Hoppy’s feet, but gave the green rabbit an annoyed glance.

As everyone started to settle down, DogDay turned to CatNap. The cat critter was fluffing a pillow nervously. 

“Well, buddy,” DogDay said brightly, but then quickly dialed back his energy and said more gently and a softer tone, “We could use some help settling down.”

CatNap looked up at him, a quizzical look on his face.

“Our thoughts are all buzzing,” DogDay said, “We’re still filled with nervous energy from all the stuff we’ve done these last few hours. And we’re still digesting that big breakfast . . . or was it technically brunch? Anyway, all that kind makes it tricky to sleep, right?”

“. . . Right,” CatNap replied softly and with a nod. 

“Perhaps you could help us with that?” DogDay asked.

CatNap’s paw went to the apple Critter Charm he was currently wearing. He fiddled with it, and said, “Well. . . I wouldn’t know. . .”

DogDay decided now was the time for a direct approach. He stepped over to CatNap and put his paws on the cat’s shoulders. “CatNap. . . I know that even after everything that happened today, you still might think you’re supposed to do one thing instead of another thing. It probably seems obvious and unchangeable to you, like it did to the others.” DogDay looked his best friend in the eye and spoke from the heart, “But I know you. The real you. Just like how you know the real me. Remember that stretch of time when we were roommates in your house? We both learned what we were good at, what we cared about, and what was important to us. You’ve forgotten who you are, buddy. But I’m gonna help you remember.”

CatNap’s eyes were wide and his heart was beating strong as DogDay stepped back and said, “Now, what’s wrong with this picture.”

CatNap said nothing. He just looked around the brightly lit room as his friends all laid listlessly atop their pillows and twisted blankets. CatNap then looked over at the open windows and frowned. He stepped over to them and closed the curtains, making the room dark and calming. CatNap turned around, and through some reflexive muscle memory, his very long tail snaked out and began pulling blankets out straight and laying them onto his friends. CatNap was briefly surprised, but then went with it and quickly set about adjusting blankets and pillows, tucking in each of his friends.

And as he did all this, CatNap began to sing.

“Hush now, take a rest, you’ve had such a long day through,

You’re not a mess, you’re tired from play; I’ll watch over you.

Close your sleepy eyes and breathe, let worries drift away,

I’ll craft the dreams you wander in till night turns into day.

Quiet now, take a rest, the day’s excitement slips from sight,

Where all is not as it may seem, yet everything feels right.

Lay your head, take a breath, let gentle dreamland spread,

Joy will find you, calm and warm; now it’s time for bed.”

By the time he had finished singing, everyone else was fast asleep. 

With one final flash, CatNap’s Critter Charm turned back into a crescent moon.

CatNap had a wide grin and chuckled to himself. “Well . . . how about that?”

CatNap then turned towards DogDay, who was gently snoring nearby. CatNap knelt down and gently picked the dog up in his arms. With great and careful effort, CatNap carried his best friend over to the couch and laid him on the cushion. CatNap gently tucked him in, then the cat curled up with pillow and blanket and joined his friends in sleep.

Hours later, DogDay woke up laying on his couch. He rubbed his eyes a bit, then sat up as he remembered everything that had happened. He looked around, and saw that his friends had already left. This time, they took their pillows and blankets with them. DogDay felt a surge of relief. CatNap had put them all to sleep, meaning at long last the Critter Crew was back to normal.

Feeling confident, DogDay got up and then spotted the spell book on the table. The guilt returned. Things might have been fixed, but that didn’t change the fact that this was all his fault in the first place. He walked over and picked up the book, wondering what to do with it now after all the trouble he had caused with it.

*Knock-Knock-Knock!*

Tucking the book under his arm, DogDay stepped over to open the door and step out into the later afternoon outside.

“SURPRISE!”

DogDay jumped as he was greeted by all his friends holding balloons and smiling at him.

“You totally saved us! We all owe you big time, bruh,” Hoppy said.

“That's our fearless leader! Respect!” Kickin said as he thumped his chest.

“You're our hero, DogDay!” Crafty said joyfully.

“Indubidatedly,” Bubba agreed.

“Celebration picnic dinner!” Picky cheered as she held up a picnic basket in one hoof and a cooler in the other.

DogDay stared at his friends, unable to speak at first. Then he finally hung his head and said, “No. No, I'm not a hero.”

Bobby chuckled and said, “Aww, DogDay! Don't be so modest!”

“Uh, why is he crying?” CatNap asked with a raised eyebrow.

DogDay was indeed tearing up, much to the confusion of his friends. He sniffled and said, “You don't understand. This was all my fault. Your lives all got mixed up because of me.”

Bubba was bewildered, and he said, “But that's ridiculous. How could it have been your fault? Such a phenomena as the scrambling of Critter Charms is far beyond any-.”

“It was this book,” DogDay said as he held up the tome, “I was trying to do magic, to cast spells, and I found a mysterious one and read it out loud. I didn't think it would work. I didn't even know what it would do. But it did work, and it ruined all of your lives! I was careless and reckless and I hurt all of you, and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.”

Everyone stared at DogDay, and he felt and looked utterly miserable. He couldn't look any of them in the eye as he continued, “I let you all down. As a leader, and a friend.” 

DogDag stepped over to Bubba and said, “You were right, Bubba. I shouldn't have messed with this book. Take it and get rid of it. I never want to see it again.” DogDay held the book out and pushed it into Bubba's hooves. Bubba was at a loss for words as he looked down at the book, then back at DogDay.

DogDay stepped backwards and rubbed his nose, “I understand if you guys can't forgive me, or don't trust me, or don't want to be friends with me after what I did. Just know that I’m sorry. I’m so very, very sorry.”

“Okay, cut it out. That's the dumbest thing you've ever said,” Hoppy said bluntly.

DogDay looked up at Hoppy, and was surprised by her smirk.

“Yeah, I actually agree with Hops on this. You really think we'd all ditch you for making a mistake?” Kickin asked.

DogDay blinked, “But, I ruined your lives. I changed all of you.”

“So? You fixed it, didn't ya? No harm, no foul,” Kickin said casually.

“Not only that,” Hoppy added, “You actually fessed up. You totally could have kept that a secret, but you didn't. That takes guts!”

DogDay looked around at his friends and asked, “None of you are mad at me?”

Bobby spoke up and said, “Well, suppose it was one of us who read the book, and you had been one of the critters who got changed. Would you hate whoever read the spell?”

“No way!” DogDay said immediately, “I could never hate any of you! You're my. . . friends. . .” Slowly, the realization came to him. “Ohh. . . that's right. I get it now.”

“Friends forgive each other when they mess up,” Bobby said confidently.

Kickin smiled sheepishly and said, “Yeah. I would know. Heh-heh.”

Hoppy’s eyes widened, “Woah! He admits it!”

“And never will I do it again,” Kickin said with finality.

“And besides that,” Bubba continued as he stepped closer to DogDay, “You did something incredible. Something unprecedented. Something I didn’t think was possible.” Bubba looked DogDay straight in the eye and said solemnly, “You proved me wrong, DogDay. I said it was impossible, and you did the impossible. You cast an actual spell. Actual magic. The kind of magic that’s real. And that’s why I think you should hang onto this.”

Bubba handed back the spell book to DogDay, who took it nervously. “Are you sure?” DogDay asked, “After all of that chaos?”

Bubba smiled, “Positive. Things did get rather strange, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. If we didn’t take some risks, things would never change, grow, improve, or get better. There would be no science and we’d all still be trapped in the past. If magic is real, then it’s worth studying in a safe and thoughtful manner. Next time, just let us know before you try a mysterious or complicated spell, so we can maybe keep things a bit safer and less chaos inducing.”

DogDay nodded firmly, “I promise. Any spells I cast will be to help my friends and to make the world a better place!”

“Sweet! We are friends with an actual wizard!” Hoppy cheered.

“Oh, I wouldn’t go that far,” DogDay said humbly.

Bobby ran over and gave DogDay a hug. “Don’t forget, DogDay. No matter what happens, your friends will all be right behind you!”

DogDay let out a soft gasp as Bobby squeezed him tight. Thankfully she let go after a few seconds. DogDay looked at his smiling friends, and he felt happier than ever to them all with their proper Critter Charms, and fully happy with him despite everything. In that moment, he was certain that their friendship was more powerful than any magic.

And it was this thought that brought to mind the spell that had caused all of this:

From one to one, from none to none — Fates forged, a self-made throne. The one who commands, who shapes, who binds — All below answer to me, they are mine alone.

And then, inspiration struck his brain like lightning.

“THAT’S IT!” DogDay exclaimed, and he quickly opened up the book to the spell. “I need a pencil!” he gasped.

Unsure what had gotten DogDay so excited but willing to help, Crafty reached into her mane and pulled out her lucky pencil.

“Thank you,” DogDay said, and he meant it as he took the pencil from her. Then he began quickly crossing out and writing in the book.

Bubba winced at the sight of a book being written in, but held his tongue out of trust for his leader and friend.

After editing the words of the spell, DogDay saw how messy it looked and decided to rewrite it in the remaining blank space on the page. As he transcribed the rewritten spell, he spoke the words out loud:

“From one to another, from another to one — Fate is what we forge together. The one who leads, who guides, who aids— They all stand beside me, we are friends forever.”

The very moment the last word was written and spoken, DogDay’s Critter Charm began to glow. Then it floated up from his chest. The other critters were surprised when their Charms also started glowing and floating. A magic hum emanated from the Charms, and all eight tones harmonized together as their glow grew brighter. Then, when it all reached the height of intensity, the Charms each shot out a beam of colored light up into the sky evening. The eight beams met and twisted together into a rainbow beam of spinning light. This beam went higher and higher, until finally it exploded in a colorful burst of light. Colorful fireworks filled the sky, and images of the 8 Critter Charms appeared in the form of the magical pyrotechnics. It was far from nighttime, with the sun low but still very much in the sky. However, the fireworks still shone brightly and fully visible in the blue sky above that had yet to even be tinged red.

Bobby grabbed the amazed DogDay’s paws and cheered excitedly, “You did it, DogDay, congratulations!”

“WOOOAAAAH! THAT WAS SO AWESOME!” Kickin shouted with the widest eyes ever.

“Fireworks that can still be seen during the day. . .” Bubba said in awe.

As the images of the Charms continued to pop into glowing existence in the sky, a sense of complete fulfillment filled DogDay’s soul. He found himself sitting himself down on the ground along with his other friends as they huddled up together to watch the fireworks display. Seeing their Charms appear again and again in bursts of light was an experience that no words could adequately describe.

CatNap leaned up against DogDay’s shoulder, and he said with a smile, “You did good, DogDay.”

The eight Critters sat in a cozy silence, watching the show that played out in the heavens above them, feeling more connected than they ever had before. It was such a dazzling sight that they quickly lost track of the time.

Then, Hoppy’s right ear twitched.

“Huh? What’s that?” the green rabbit asked as she turned to look into the distance.

Bubba turned, his own large right ear picking something up as well, and he said, “Yeah, I hear something too.”

DogDay’s right ear twitched too, and he heard the sound as well. He soon realized that the sound was a combination of galloping hooves and blaring trumpets. Before long, the source of the sound was close enough for the other five smaller eared Critters to hear it. Everyone stood up and looked to see something coming fast through the forest that grew at the entrance to their valley.

It was a quartet of buff looking Critters. As they got closer, it was clear the quartet consisted of two Irish elk Critters with barbell and gold medal Critter Charms, and two caribou Critters with snowflake and thundercloud Critter Charms. The four were dressed in impressive looking tunics that only enhanced their muscular appearances. What’s more, they were all hitched to a shining titanium chariot. Riding in that chariot were two just as buff horse Critters, with musical note and trumpet Critter Charms, who were blowing brass trumpets in royal fanfare.

The chariot came to a halt in front of the Critter Crew, and the main passenger of the chariot stood up and stepped onto the ground. He was a tall, majestic, light brown lion Critter, with a full brown mane. He wore a regal red robe with fluffy white trim and a golden royal pattern, a yellow waistcoat underneath, a sunflower shaped Critter Charm, and a gold bejeweled crown on his head.

The Critter Crew all stared in stunned silent awe and the scent of frankincense emanated from the lion. Finally, DogDay gasped out, “King Levon. . .”

Then all eight of them fell to their knees and bowed.

King Levon stepped closer, and he stopped right in front of DogDay. The dog trembled in fear, his mind racing as he wondered why the king had literally shown up at his doorstep.

“What is your name, young one?”

King Levon’s voice was very warm and surprisingly calm, with a sense of patience and kindness that was layered on top of true inner strength and authority.

The dog gulped, and continued to bow and didn’t dare look up. “DogDay, your majesty.”

Then, King Levon chuckled with gentle amusement.

“Now, now, DogDay. A prince doesn’t belong on his knees.”

DogDay’s head shot up so fast it’s a wonder he didn’t pull a neck muscle. His friends were all shocked by the king’s words as well.

“Wha. . . what did you. . .?” DogDay gasped out, trying to figure out if he heard right.

King Levon gently took DogDay by the paws and lifted him up to standing. “I can see that you were able to cast The Mysterious Spell of Destiny,” the king said, glancing over at the spell book on the ground next to DogDay.

“You knew about it?” DogDay asked, still in awe over everything that was happening.

King Levon nodded, and he said, “That spell was a mystery that my predecessors, myself, and my advisors had struggled to decipher for a very long time. Mostly because magic itself had seemingly ceased to exist in this world long before I was even alive. However, I believed one day, someone would figure it out, and use it to bring the wonders of magic back. So, I had the spell published in spell books, and allowed copies of those spell books to make their way throughout the kingdom. Sure, many of them would be dismissed as fantasy and discarded. But, eventually, the right Critter would come across one of them, and figure out what was missing from it.”

DogDay blinked, then said, “Well. . . you were right. I found the spell, and I was able to cast it. It kinda messed up my friends’ lives, but when I figured out how to fix it, and we all worked together to set things right, the answer came to me. The original spell was all about standing alone, making others bend to your will, controlling others and holding onto power. But my friends helped me see that real strength is what you share with the people you care about, and standing with them by your side is a power stronger than anything else.”

King Levon looked absolutely elated. “Young DogDay, you are so very wise! Clearly my plan has worked perfectly. The spell was the ideal test to find a worthy heir to my throne.”

DogDay’s jaw dropped.

Kickin and Hoppy leaned forward and they both said, “SAY WHAAAAAAAAAT?!”

Crafty, the one still on the ground bowing, covered her face with her hooves and whispered, “Not in front of the king, you guys.”

King Levon was unbothered by the humorous reaction. He simply smiled his warm fatherly smile and said, “I can’t go on forever, nor do I think I would want to if I could. The king and queen before me asked the universe for a child, and I, like many other Critters, sprouted from the ground as a cub. I came to be in the midst of their sunflower garden, and they loved me and raised me until their time ended. But my heart has never yearned for a queen, nor has it ever yearned for a child. Many of my slightly younger advisors offered to mind the throne, or even suggested possible heirs they deemed worthy. But I knew I couldn’t possibly let another adult take the throne. They had already become set in their ways, and would only want things done their own way. I knew that I needed to find a young Critter. A young, optimistic Critter with a heart filled with hope and future yet to be written. One willing to see the world differently than everyone else. And by casting that spell and bringing magic back into the world, you have proven yourself more than worthy, DogDay.”

“But. . .” DogDay said, unsure exactly what to even say.

Bobby suddenly hugged DogDay from behind and said, “It all makes sense! Don’t you see, DogDay! You’ve been our leader for so long, and you’ve always done a great job! You always know what to say, what to do, and how to help us out and plan things out and fix things and everything! That’s all the things a prince needs to be good at!”

“I agree,” CatNap said with a nod, “If anyone deserves to be a prince, and would be a great prince, it’s you, DogDay.”

DogDay was encouraged by his friends’ words, but he looked up at the king and said, “You really want me to be your heir?”

“Absolutely!” King Levon said with delight, “But you needn’t worry. I have a great deal of time left on the throne myself. I wouldn’t just toss you the crown right away. You still have much growing up to do. You still have much of your youth left to enjoy with your friends, and I wouldn’t take that away. I simply want you to know what your future holds, so you can slowly begin to prepare and grow into that role. But before any of that, I must say that I would never force you into this position. This is a role that you must accept with your own freewill. Therefore, I ask you, DogDay, do you accept the title of prince? You are free to say no, and I would not fault you for it. And if you do say no, you are also free to change your mind. Tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, or even multiple years from now you could always come to the castle and say you are willing to become a prince. Do not be afraid. Simply tell me what your heart says.”

DogDay could hardly believe it. The king was giving him a choice, and his voice and expression showed that he was sincere and that DogDay truly was free to say no.

“I. . . I. . .” DogDay stammered out.

“Oh, come on, DogDay!” Hoppy said incredulously, “What’s there to think about? Say yes! Be a prince!”

“Yes! Yes! Say yes!” Picky shouted eagerly, “Ya know, this is what you were meant to be!”

Bubba nodded and said, “I must say that you do have all the qualities necessary to be a good prince.”

“You know where I stand, DogDay. Go for it!” Bobby added.

Crafty had finally stood back up, and she said, “Well, I think you’d be a great prince.”

“Yeah! And I’d be buddies with royalty! Sweet!” Kickin said victoriously.

CatNap just smiled and gave DogDay that same half-lidded look that said that he had full confidence in whatever DogDay was about to do.

DogDay took a deep breath. He considered what the king had said. To simply say what his heart was saying. DogDay closed his eyes, and he listened to his heart.

Then he opened his eyes and said, “If I say yes. . .will I have to. . . leave my friends?”

King Levon chuckled, “Oh, heavens, no! It was the bonds of friendship that had aided you in passing the test. I would hardly uproot you from this wonderful valley you call home right now. And when the day comes for you to take the throne in the far future, I know that your friends will play a major role in your rule.”

DogDay’s heart surged with joy, and with a smile and wagging tail he said, “Then yes! I accept!”

“Splendid!” King Levon declared, “Well then, we must be off! All of you, come aboard the chariot and we’ll be off to the castle!”

“The castle? Now?” DogDay said in confusion.

“All the land must know that the kingdom’s future is secured. We must have a grand coronation ceremony announcing the new prince has been found, and there is no time like the present,” King Levon proclaimed delightedly.

Crafty perked up like she had just finished her latest masterpiece. “We get to go. . . to the castle!?” she squealed.

“Guests of honor at a royal coronation! Oh, this feels like a dream!” Bobby cheered with her eyes practically glowing with glee.

Bubba was smiling wide as he breathed heavily. “Oh my. . . History in the making. . . and we’re going to be there. . .”

Hoppy was bouncing from foot to foot with barely restrained excitement, and she said, “Well, what are we waiting for? The King said it himself: there’s no time like the present.”

The excitement was contagious, and DogDay proudly led his friends in boarding the chariot. The two horse critters shared a nod, and both swiftly jumped off in unison to make room. They joined the Irish elk and caribou critters, hitching themselves up in front of them so that they could all easily and comfortably pull the increased load together.

The titanium chariot had a large wide carriage box, with a cushioned seat for the King and plenty of arm and leg room, which could also be used to carry anything else the passenger needed to bring. The Critter Crew stood on either side of the King’s seat, and there was just enough room for the eight of them. King Levon set himself down and said, “Take hold, and let us be off!”

The Critter Crew held onto the sides of the carriage box, and off they all went at a speedy pace. It was a testament to the team of six strong critters, whose handsomely paid jobs it was to pull this carriage, that they could go this fast without struggling in the slightest.

“Dude! We are riding with the King!” Kickin exclaimed as the adrenaline surged through him.

The chariot carried its passengers out of the valley towards the capitol city. However, as they raced off to destiny, they didn’t notice the figure that had been watching them from the top of DogDay’s roof. As this figure silently flew off, a single jet-black, cinnamon scented feather was left behind.

Credits

Chris Pratt as DogDay

Chazz Palminteri as CatNap

Tara Strong as Bobby Bearhug

Andrea Libman as Picky Piggy

Awkwafina as Hoppy Hopscotch

Jack Black as Kickin Chicken

Andy Samberg as Bubba Bubbaphant

Linda Cardellini as CraftyCorn

Dan Green as King Levon

Critter Crew Magic Theme Song based on Smiling Critters Theme by Zachary Preciado and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic theme song by Daniel Ingram and Lauren Faust

The Creativity Song by Joseph Pelling and Becky Sloan

Cool Kickin Chicken based on Steve’s Lava Chicken by Jack Black

Hush Now, Take a Rest based on Hush Now Lullaby by Daniel Ingram (melody), William Anderson (backing), and Chris Savino (lyrics) and Take a Rest by RecD and INUbis

Author's Note:

And that was the first episode. This was fun to write, because it was so ambitious. I wanted to accomplish several things with this story. 

First of all, I wanted to create a Smiling Critters series that was truly independent from the reality of the Poppy Playtime horror universe. Gemstin Production and INUbis and RecD were inspirations, and the quality of their Smiling Critters animations are amazing. Gemstin has awesome animation and character design, and INUbis and RecD have incredibly catchy original songs and high energy with fluid movement. But it always bothered me how they both couldn't break away from the horror aspects. INUbis’ and RecD’s animations and songs don't even try to hide the fact that it straight up takes place in what's essentially a cross between Playcare and The Truman Show. If the Smiling Critters franchise were an actual franchise, it would not have these horror references. Gemstin admittedly only features subtle references to the horror game, and has actually slowed down with them at the time or writing, unless the upcoming “Pally the Pal” changes things. That being said, he has written songs that have explicitly embraced elements and non-Smiling Critter characters from the horror game. Gemstin had actually made a beautiful cover of “Even a Miracle Needs a Hand”, but soiled it with references to the Hour of Joy and the Prototype. 

I wanted to avoid all of this, but to do that, I had to do some actual world building. I needed to make the world of the Smiling Critters able to stand on its own separate from Poppy Playtime. This meant I needed to answer big questions, like where do the Critters come from? What's the purpose of the charm necklaces they wear? Where do they live? How did they get there? How did they first meet? How do they survive and make a living? What's the greater outside world like? Is there a society? A government? Who's in charge? I believe I was successful in answering those questions. I made their world a “medium fantasy”. There are some fantasy aspects, but it is mostly a grounded rational setting. Bubba is a science guy, after all. But I also took inspiration from the Cabbage Patch Kids and the live action Grinch movie (2000) when it came to how Critters are “born”. Their Critter Charms are a combination of Cutie Marks from My Little Pony and dragon badges from Dragon Tales. Then the rest of the practical world building grew from there. I also had to put my foot down on not including several things from the Smiling Critters fanon. There will not be any red smoke. CatNap having this ability causes way too many problems and has too many bad implications. Also, Miss Delight will not be in this series. She was a great, funny, likeable character in INUbis’ videos (much better than Lilly “Oh My Gosh I Hate Her So Much Why Is Everyone Simping For Her Someone Please Set Her On Fire” Longbraids), but it makes no sense for her to be in the Smiling Critters’ world as a I have defined it. Also, I didn't want them to be in school. Yes, there are story and comedic possibilities for these characters in a school setting, but at the same time having them just going to school is too cliche. Having them be more independent with complete lives and not just school kids opens up more opportunities for plots, like the Mane Six from My Little Pony.

Secondly, I wanted to create definitive versions of the main characters. Gemstin’s DogDay was more of a simple nice guy leader and consummate professional, kind of like Kermit the Frog. INUbis’ DogDay was more of a cheerful ball of energy with hidden depths who fears failing his friends. I liked both, but I wanted to really emphasize DogDay’s “golden retriever energy” as well as the strong sense of optimism he canonically has. I don’t see him as Stepford Smiler because his optimism is genuine. I chose to make him the type of guy who is loaded with energy, and wears all of his emotions on his sleeve, both happy and sad, although he tries to stay happy for his friends’ sake. 

Gemstin’s CatNap is mute but thoughtful, and is the mysterious Dues Ex Machina who shows up, fixes the episode’s problem, and leaves without saying anything. INUbis’s CatNap is a more sarcastic version of Sans from Undertale, even down to the voice. “Give A Rest” is an incredible backstory for CatNap that shows how much he truly cares for others. While many fans see CatNap as mute, and even have him use sign language, I prefer to have him speak. I appreciate the idea of representing mute people, but I’m not really qualified to portray a mute character beyond replacing “CatNap said” with “CatNap signed”. Also, future story ideas won’t work as well with a mute CatNap. The Deus Ex Machina thing Gemstin does works as quick jokes, but I don’t really like Deus Ex Machinas in my stories. I basically made CatNap thoughtful, intelligent, soft spoken with a smooth voice, and truly caring for his friends, especially DogDay. The sun and moon, opposites who attract. They are best friends who understand each other like brothers. This is common throughout the Smiling Critters’ fandom for a reason, so I put my own spin on it. I think it worked. 

The other characters weren’t too difficult to write for. I definitely wanted to make Hoppy a bit nicer, and the others were self explanatory and just needed more fleshing out. But I definitely need to mention CraftyCorn. Gemstin’s upcoming episode “Pally the Pal” is going to be amazing with its hand drawn animation and longer length and original soundtrack. But after seeing the previews, I have to ask, what the heck did he do to Crafty? Why is she suddenly lonely and depressed? In all of the earlier clips she was part of the group, well liked, included, and interacted fine with everyone. Yes, at the end of “Hog Wild” she was left alone at the picnic, but that was more of an ending joke for the “wah-wah-waaaaahhhh” music and not meant to be taken seriously. Besides, she could have easily gotten up and joined Bobby in nursing DogDay, or just hung out with Bubba, or given Picky moral support. Why couldn’t Crafty just be an introvert who needs alone time, and then comes out when she’s ready? Why does being alone automatically mean she’s depressed? INUbis’ CraftyCorn was arguably worse, because she’s a weird creep who makes death threats, has no filter, and tries to take blood from her friends to use as red paint (“Can I sorrowbom?”). So I had to go back to the drawing board with her. 

As I said, Crafty is an introvert. My Crafty has no problem joining her friends. She is passionate about art, obviously, but is also neurodivergent. She is passionate about color and gets mad when colors or pieces of art get insulted. I kinda based her on myself, with how she will get super obsessed with a creative project and get laser focused on it, shutting out everyone around her or running off to get some privacy. She will also get “socially drained” and then keep to herself for a while, and then come back out to hang out with her friends again when she has “recharged”. There’s nothing wrong with her, she just thinks and feels differently.

Thirdly, I wanted to kinda fix the infamous My Little Pony episode “Magical Mystery Cure”, or at least show how the premise can actually work. I threw out the whole musical aspect. That was just a trick they used to shove a too big story into an episode that was already too small. I wanted the story to really convey the emotions, struggle, and bonds between the characters without using music to treat. I had the Smiling Critters talk to each other and work through the problems normally, not just sing and make everything better. And then we have the whole royalty thing. You might wonder why I made DogDay a prince and not a wizard or a magician. That’s simple, if I made him a wizard or magician, that would trap him in a box where he’d be expected to constantly do magic every episode. By making him a young prince, a prince who has yet to fully ascend, it leaves his options open. He will occasionally study the magic book or cast a spell, but he can also still be his normal self doing leadership stuff and being his friends. No wings or obvious biological change. I also made sure to explicitly frame being a prince as his choice. The king asked him kindly and made sure he knew that he could say no. After clarifying the terms and support from his friends, DogDay gave consent with a verbal confident yes. Something “Magical Mystery Cure” did not have. 

Also, as you can see, I split up the destiny switching plot and the coronation plot. Speaking of which, the coronation plot is gonna be as big and long as the destiny switching plot. DogDay is not just gonna stand on a balcony and give a speech. The next episode is going to explore a new location, introduce new conflicts, show off new characters, and give ALL of the other Smiling Critters something important to do. That means this story WILL BE SLOW TO UPDATE!  And if you’re wondering why this chapter was long, it was because I wanted this chapter to actually be as long as an episode of a cartoon you would watch on TV. I wanted it to take 30 minutes to read to simulate the feeling of watching a 30 minute episode of a show. So, each chapter will take 30 minutes to read. I hope I succeeded here and will continue to succeed going forward. This also means that these episodes take a long time to write, so bear with me. Consider me the Gemstin Production of the written medium. Trust me, each chapter episode will be worth it. I have tons of ideas after this. 

And so, here are future episodes I have planned (the order of episodes is NOT set in stone):

It’s The Prince-Pal of the Thing - The Critter Crew goes to the castle to get ready for DogDay’s coronation. During the tour, DogDay finds things for most of his friends to do. But CatNap worries he won’t have a place in DogDay’s life when he becomes a prince.

It’s a Mad, Mad World - After the Critter Crew listens to a radio show about a mad scientist, CatNap sees and hears strange things coming from Bubba’s house in the middle of the night. This convinces CatNap that Bubba is a mad scientist!

Do You Speak Bobby? - When the rest of the Critter Crew get fed up with Bobby’s bonecrushing hugs, Bubba pushes her to learn about the 7 love languages.

I Can’t Work in These Conditions! - Bubba perfects a brand new invention the royal researchers shared with him: the video camera! The Critter Crew decides to make an action packed moving picture for King Levon, but things don’t work out very well.

Sunny Days, Nevermore! - When an evil spellcasting raven critter named Poe creates an eclipse that will blot out the Sun forever, DogDay must lead the Critter Crew on a quest to bring back the light. But during the quest, it looks like CatNap is going to join Poe!

You Owe Me, Chickenlegs! - Kickin accidentally destroys Hoppy’s mattress while housesitting, and he can’t afford to buy her a new one!

Alone But Never Lonely - A solitary black sheep named Baba Chops arrives in the valley. Convinced she’s lonely, DogDay wants to make friends with her. But the newcomer might not be as “sad” as she appears.

Hair-raising Hugs - When a big blue monster has been seen prowling around the woods in the valley, the Critter Crew rushes in to warn Kickin. But when Bobby gets separated from the group and runs into the monster herself, it’s revealed that there has been a big misunderstanding.

Throwdown with Maggie Mako! - Maggie Mako, King Levon’s former headchef, challenges Picky Piggy to the ultimate cooking contest. The loser must swear to never cook again! 

CatNap and the Bullygator - CatNap has a special napping place, but a lazy alligator has claimed it for his own. Not wanting to appear weak, CatNap tries to stand up to this bully on his own.

Cool Guys Finish First - Kickin enters a skating competition, and the one to beat is the “unbeatable” Icky Licky! Will the opponent’s harsh words cause Kickin to choke and blow his chance to win the trophy he trained so hard for?

We Are (NOT) In Love! - When Kickin and Hoppy accidentally kiss each other, and a newcomer starts a rumor about it, the Critter Crew becomes divided on whether or not the two competitive athletic critters would make a good couple. But do they even want to be?

Touille's a Crowd - When a rat Critter squats in Bubba's house, the Critter Crew goes crazy trying to catch the rat and get him out of the house.

Mean Pink Mother From Outer-Space! - The Critter Crew’s valley is invaded by a very maternal alien!

Elementary, My Dear CatNap - When Bobby gets robbed of all of her honey, Bubba becomes a detective and discovers evidence that points to CatNap!

A Kick and a Hug - Kickin and Bobby make a bet to see who has more self control, where Kickin can’t kick and Bobby can’t hug for a whole week!

A Very Pig Deal - The other critters forget Picky’s birthday, and she's hurt and furious! Can they prove to her that they still care about and appreciate her?

Big, Scary, and Pink! - Another furry monster has been up to no good in the capital city, so the Critter Crew will need the help of their newest friend to resolve things.

A New Year’s Carol - King Levon tells the story of how a bitter CatNap was visited by the spirits of New Year’s Eve to help him better appreciate the holiday’s midnight celebration and the true meaning of New Year’s Eve.

How the Smiling Began - Under the stars, the Critter Crew shares the stories of how they were born, but CatNap doesn’t want to tell his story. But maybe DogDay’s story can help.

Attack of the Nightmare Critters! - An evil dragon critter named Simon Smoke escapes the castle dungeon and rounds up all of the Critter Crew’s enemies to capture DogDay, and then take over the kingdom!

Mulling and Mending - DogDay gets stressed out and snaps at his friends. For the next few days, CatNap seems to be avoiding him, and his other friends seem to be hiding something from him.

Also, also, here are the future songs I have planned (order of songs is also not set in stone):

I Am Not a Care Bear - Bobby plays a rock song about how she doesn’t like it when Kickin calls her a Care Bear

Sound Machine - A psychedelic pop song by CatNap about his grief over his sound machine that he uses to help fall asleep not turning on.

You Are In Love - Bobby sings a pop song about how Kickin and Hoppy must be in love, but they keep insisting that they are not.

Healthy - Picky sings a song about eating a balanced diet to Crafty, Bubba, and Kickin. But as the song progresses, Bubba and Picky start arguing about which foods are or are not healthy.

Cock of the Walk - Kickin sings a country song about how awesome he is.

Dr. Bubba’s Hospital - Kickin is hurt and has a runny nose, and gets treated by Dr. Bubba and Nurse Bobby as the three of them sing a rap song.

Take a Run - DogDay sings a happy bouncy song trying to convince CatNap to get up early and go on a run with him. 

Luna - CatNap sings an eurobeat song about a princess of the night who was banished to the moon for a thousand years for trying to make the night last forever.

Time - Bubba sings about how time works to Crafty, Picky, and Kickin. But as the song progresses, Bubba struggles to explain it in a way they can understand, and is unable to answer certain questions.

DogDay the Wizard - An epic rock opera about DogDay doing small, mundane, everyday things with simple spells.

Baking Bread - Picky sings an Italian song about baking bread.

Hoppy Lowered the Boom - The Critter Crew sings an Irish Saint Patrick’s Day song about how tough Hoppy can be.

Music to My Ears - Crafty sings a hip-hop funk electronic song about the joys of making music to Bubba, Picky, and Kickin, but as the song progresses she unravels into fears of not being good enough.

Lazy - An ironicaly fast tempo rock song where CatNap sings about being lazy and not getting the things he said he'd do done on time.

Impostor! - A serious dramatic song that builds, where the Critter Crew is in a mansion and suspect one of them is a shape-shifting impostor. They incapacitate each other one by one, until only DogDay and CatNap are left. The song ends with the reveal that the 8 of them are all really in DogDay's house playing a deduction boardgame.

I've Got Candy -  A bubblegum pop, garage rock, and new wave song where Hoppy takes on the role of the Easter Bunny and proudly boasts about giving all her friends candy.

PB&J - A steamy love song Picky sings directly to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as she makes it and then eats it.

Want You Gone - An electronic geek rock song Bubba sings to Toullie the rat critter about wanting him out of his house and out of his life.

Best Friends - A happy and peppy ukulele song where CatNap and DogDay sing about being best friends who are also opposites.

Dreams - A goofy educational children's song where Bubba tries to teach Picky, Crafty, and Kicken about dreams. But CatNap shows up, and he keeps interrupting and correcting Bubba.

Say Hello! - An upbeat children's song where DogDay and Bobby sing about how it's good to say hello when you meet someone for the first time, and the many different ways you can say "hello".

Fame is for Lone Wolves - A soulful earnest upbeat hip-hop rap song where Kickin sings that if he were offered all the fame in the world, but had to give up his friends, he would choose his friends every time. Two thirds into the song, Hoppy arrives and sings as well, agreeing with Kickin's sentiment and saying she’d make the same choice.

Security - A mysterious techno song where Kickin tries to teach Bubba, Crafty, and Picky about keeping their stuff and houses secure from thieves and "creeps". But Kickin utterly fails at teaching anyone anything of substance due to his cool guy attitude and general ignorance.

Stronger Than You - An electropop power anthem featuring strong elements of synth-pop and funk, where Bobby declares that her big loving heart also makes her strong and tough enough to physically fight to protect her friends with the strength of a fierce mama bear.

Yellow Bird - A ska, Latin pop, jazz fusion, and surf rock song where the Critter Crew is on tropical vacation, and Kickin wants a banana from a tall tree. Hoppy sings about his attempts to reach the bananas. Since chickens can't fly or climb, Kickin tries various creative ways to get up high enough to reach the bananas. They all end up backfiring or failing in comedic ways, hitting Chikin with varying levels of slapstick. As the song progresses, his friends start getting caught in the crossfire of the slapstick, too

Blue Moon - CatNap sings a doo-wop song about how before he arrived in the valley, he was very lonely and sad. But when he arrived and became friends with everyone, his life changed from a sad blue moon to a golden full moon.