Smiling Critters One-Shots

This Isn't Your Fault

It was absolutely storming outside. Fortunately, all of the Smiling Critters were having a sleepover at Crafty Corn's tower, so they were protected from the rain and cold. Picky Piggy was cooking some food, Bubba Bubbaphant was summarising his research, DogDay was with Bobby Bearhug, CatNap was...well, sleeping, and Hoppy Hopscotch, her arctic hare friend Snowball, and Kickin Chicken were downstairs, where Crafty Corn was painting. They knew not to distract her if at all possible, lest she make a mistake. She didn't mind recreating it, but if it was one she was passionate about, she'd be a little annoyed.

This one, however, was of paramount value to Crafty, who had been planning it for days. It was a group portrait of her and all her friends all together. If anyone ruined it, she'd probably cry. Even Picky was being careful not to distract her, so instead of cooking multiple dishes at once, she cooked one at a time, so as not to suffer any damage to the painting. DogDay, Bearhug and Bubba came downstairs.
"Where's CatNap?" Hoppy asked.
"Still sleeping," DogDay answered. "Not much of a surprise."
Crafty didn't pay much attention to the conversation, as CatNap almost always slept, even during the day. Until he had to go with the other Critters, at which point he'd wake up.

Crafty was almost finished, when Picky announced that she'd finished cooking the food, and Crafty put her painting away. However, Hoppy slipped on the floor, somersaulted through the air-and landed straight on top of the painting.
"I'm so sorry!" she shouted. She stood up carefully as a gasp from Crafty hit her ears. Kickin and Snowball winced and went up the staircase as Bearhug comforted Crafty and DogDay cleaned up the mess. The other Critters, however, weren't happy with Hoppy.
"What were you thinking?!" Picky shouted.
"It was an accident!" Hoppy exclaimed.
"Nonsense! A slip like that would have sent you into the kitchen, not on top of the painting!" CatNap said, the almighty crash from the impact waking him up and bringing him downstairs.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" Bubba said.
"I said I'm sorry!" Hoppy replied again.
"You're not sorry because you deliberately landed on the painting!" Bubba shouted.
"I wanted to break my fall once I was over the painting, but it was too late!" Hoppy pleaded.
"Well, if you want to destroy everyone's hard work, then maybe you shouldn't even be a Smiling Critter!" Bubba shouted, louder than ever.

There was silence after that. Nobody said anything, but Hoppy walked to the door of Crafty Corn's tower and opened it. Briefly confused, Snowball asked "Hoppy, where are you going?"
"Away from all of you!" Hoppy shouted.
"I hate you all!" With that, she slammed the door behind her and left.

In truth, Hoppy wasn't angry, but rather hurt. As if the weather agreed with her, it started to rain as she headed home with tears in her eyes. Once she got home, she settled into bed.
"Maybe Bubba's right," she said. "Maybe I'm not cut out to be a Smiling Critter. Yes. That's right. I'm going to move out." She decided on that, hugging her pillow.

Meanwhile, back at Crafty's tower, Kickin and Snowball were having a 'talk' with Bubba.
"Now look what you've done!" Kickin said. "You've made Hoppy leave and almost made her cry!"
"And what you said back there...that was harsh. Hoppy is a Smiling Critter, and always will be!" Snowball added.
"Sorry Bubba, but I've got to agree with Snowy on that one," DogDay answered. "But, to be fair, we were all in the wrong. We should go and apologise," Bearhug said. They left to go to Hoppy's house, but all traces of the mint bunny had gone. She'd left her door open in her haste just to get into bed and be done with the day. They found her in her bedroom, her body under the covers. The other Critters heard a muffled "What?!" from her.
"We want to help," CatNap tried. Hoppy peeked out from the bedcovers.
"Get out," she growled.
"Please, Hoppy," Picky tried.
"Get out," Hoppy replied, more angrily.
Thinking it was Bubba, DogDay gestured for Bubba to leave the room, and Hoppy calmed down, but not fully.
"Let me talk to Hoppy," Kickin said.
"See if I can smooth things over."
"There's nothing you can do," Hoppy said. "Just go away,"
"Listen, none of this is your fault. It was an accident," Snowball said.

That did it.
"Sorry...I'm sorry!" Hoppy wailed, crying into Snowball's fur. She and Kickin continued to comfort Hoppy until her cries turned to just sniffles.
"It's alright, nobody is angry with you," Kickin said.
"We all miss you, bun bun, especially me," Snowball added.
"How about you come back with us?" Crafty suggested. "After everything you went through, you deserve to stay with us."
"Okay," Hoppy said, preparing to enjoy the rest of the sleepover.

One-shot done! Hope you like it! See you soon!