Dueling Critters, a Smiling Critters x Yu-Gi-Oh AU Story

Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Separate Ways, For The Greater Good

“THE WINNER IS CATNAP!” RatedRat shouted, “HOLY CRAP, HE WON THE WHOLE TOURNAMENT CLEAN!”

KickinChicken was on the ground, in defeat and frustrated.

“Damn it!” He shouted, “What the hell just happened?! He set me up, didn't he?!”

CatNap walked up to him to lend him a hand. KickinChicken then looked at CatNap's hand.

“...Need a hand at least?” He asked KickinChicken,

“Back off!” KickinChicken shouted as he slaps CatNap's hand away from him, “I don't even need help from someone like you! Sabotaging my defeat and everything!”

CatNap sighed as he shook his head in disappointment.

“You're never gonna learn, are you?” He asked KickinChicken,

“Huh?” KickinChicken wondered, “What are you talking about now?”

“Can't you see? You're destroying yourself over your own choice of words and actions. You're also destroying us, but you don't care because your ego is in your way.”

KickinChicken smirked.

“So what?” He said, “Once I find you, I'll make sure you regret it!”

“I'm sorry, but that won't happen.” CatNap said, “You're never gonna hear from us again.”

“Wh-What? What are you… what are you talking about?!”

“What I'm saying is this. You've hurt a beloved friend of our's. Not just my friend, not just your friend, OUR friend. Out of pure wrath and jealousy that… you felt like it? He's messing with you and Hoppy's turf? Hoppy has realized her errors, but it only happened because YOU manipulated her. You're a sad chicken, Kickin.”

KickinChicken groaned.

“You're even sadder when you try to talk me down.” He said, “I'm not gonna fall for your guilt tripping bullcrap!”

“This isn't guilt tripping.” CatNap said, “This is life. This is what happens when you make these actions on us. There's consequences to those actions, and you're gonna soon realize them.”

CatNap then turned away.

“Starting from today, we're done with you.” He said, “Not just me or Hoppy, but Bubba, Bobby, Picky and of course, the one friend that never lay a finger on you, DogDay.”

CatNap then looked away from KickinChicken and started to walk back.

“Goodbye.” He said,

KickinChicken groaned more as he managed to sit on his knees.

“Fine!” He shouted, “Leave me be! I don't need any of you freaks in the first place! I have myself, and that's all I care about! But know this, you're rue the day that KickinChicken steps foot near your space!”

CatNap ignored KickinChicken as he headed back. KickinChicken then slowly got up and walked back to his own locker room, still in defeat.

Back inside the locker rooms, CatNap regrouped with his friends.

“Yo, congrats, CatNap!” Hoppy said, “You've won!”

“Thanks…” CatNap replied, “But…”

“DogDay, isn't it?” Bubba wondered,

“Yes, I want to see how he's doing.”

“I got off the phone from the hospital DogDay is in.” DandyDragon said, “We can visit him later today.”

“Good.”

A knock was heard on the door to the locker room.

“Come in?” CatNap hollered,

RatedRat came in with a cameraman and a microphone.

“CatNap, congratulations on winning this year's annual 8-Critter Duel Monsters Tournament!” She shouted, “How are you feeling?”

“...Can I not do this interview?” CatNap asked,

“Huh? Why not?!”

“We got a lot of heavy shit on our mind, that's why!” Hoppy shouted in response, “Come on, we're leaving!”

“And by the way, mail me whatever trophy you have.” CatNap hollered, “I'll send you a picture if I get it.”

Everyone left as DandyDragon looked at RatedRat and asked her a question through the microphone.

“Can you increase security here?” She asked, “You probably won't do that since you're an egotistical rat and all, but…”

“...Shouldn't you be somewhere?” RatedRat asked her,

“Oh! Right! See you later!”

DandyDragon left to catch up with the other critters. RatedRat sighed.

“What a tournament.” She said,