A Splashing Revelation

Kiki's nose twitched as she caught the scent of the mug child's sweet and sticky liquid that rested in his head. She effortlessly jumped down from the genie's pack and started to follow the scent. The feline opened up her mouth to let in even more of the smell. She followed the trail carefully as if she were stalking prey. Her paw steps barely made any sound as they padded across the blanket-like grass that swayed in the gentle wind. She followed the scent as it seemed to go north. Kiki took notice of the river that snaked its way toward the town. Keeping it on her right, the cat kept going as the odor became stronger. Ultimately, she found the mug child curled up a few body lengths away from the rushing river. Kiki approached the boy without fear.

Mug had buried his head in his arms and folded his legs up to his chest. The feline's paw steps were so quiet that he didn't hear her approaching. Mugman only took notice when she squeezed herself under his legs and startled the child. The boy's glass body flinched as she came out the other side. He gasped but then let out a sigh of relief.

"Oh! It's only you…" Kiki sat down next to the sullen mug and stared up at him with her emerald eyes. Her tail wrapped around her paws as she sat up straight. A purr started to grow in her throat.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He asked her. Kiki just continued to stare. "You think I should go back?" She then gave him a sharp meow that sounded like she was saying "now".

"Why? No one trusts me anymore." Mugman looked away, trying to deter the little cat from persisting with her soothing purr and luxurious fur. Kiki got up and head-bumped his hand. She then proceeded to climb into the child's lap. The young mug relaxed his tense body as he felt a sense of comfort from her golden fur. He watched as the feline let her eyes fall into a slow blink. A smile came across Mugman's face as he realized that Kiki was saying that she was his friend and that she wouldn't give up on him either.

Her ears twitched as she heard a commotion coming from a little way upstream. She intended for the young mug to notice this too. Without another thought, Kiki climbed her way to the mug child's shoulder, bumping his head to the left.

"Ow!" He squealed as her claws dug into his shoulder. But then he noticed Spoonfred and his followers in a huddle farther up the river. Mug then grabbed the cat and pried her off his glass skin. He held her out so that he could look into her beautiful eyes.

"Well, what do you want me to do about them?" Kiki merely squirmed her way out of his hands and landed gracefully in the grass. She took a few steps in the other children's direction. Turning around, she waited for him to follow. Her stare was intense but warm. It seemed to be saying that Mugman could still make things right with his peers. Without a word, Mug stood up and began to follow the little feline.

"What are you doing back here, Spoonfred?" Spat the utensil's followers. After what they had heard and seen yesterday, the others were not too keen on hanging around with him anymore. The spoon's biggest secret had been spilled. They had all believed that Spoonfred was a tough individual. And the truth that he was essentially bullied by his own father caused his followers to lose all respect and admiration for him.

"I came looking for you guys. You're my friends after all." The little spoon responded, being more of himself than he had been for many years. He somehow hoped they would accept him for who he was instead of who he pretended to be.

"Friends? You really think we're your friends? You're just a scaredy like the mug!" Ribby's nephew croaked at him. The frog hopped closer to the utensil clenching his fists just like his boxing uncle would do. Spoonfred tried to back away from the seemingly hostile amphibian. He heard the roaring of the river water not too far behind him. Taking a quick glance over his shoulder, he stopped and looked back to his former friends with a pleading look.

"Yeah! You proved that yesterday!" Croaks' nephew chimed in.

"Do you really think we would let a coward lead us?" A bird squawked. It motioned with a blue wing for the others to close in on the young spoon. Poor Spoonfred recoiled in fear.

"It's still me, guys! I haven't changed!" He desperately tried to convince the others. Sweat rained off his concave head and soaked his nice suit. The utensil began to visibly shake as they came closer.

"Look! He's totally scared of us!" One of them jeered.

"A real leader wouldn't let his followers bully him!" The bird cawed in excitement. Both Spoonfred and his former followers knew that the little rich boy was getting a taste of his own medicine. For the little spoon, he realized how bad it felt. This is what he had done to Mugman and many others for years. And now he knew how wrong it had been. Spoonfred was sorely regretting everything he had said and done. By this point, he was curled up on the ground. The utensil prayed that they would not beat on him and tried to cover his head with his hands and arms.

"Wh-what are you going to do to me?" Spoonfred stuttered out without looking at them.

"Get on your feet!" The young cuckoo bird demanded, hopping up and down and flapping his wings. A shaking sterling silver body got up without question. He watched as a wicked smile came over the frogs' faces.

"I think Spoonfred looks hot!" Croaked one of them.

"Yeah! Perhaps he could use a bit of a cooldown!" The other sneered.

"Th-that's a good one! A real good joke!" Spoonfred nervously chuckled, hoping they weren't taking this seriously. But without another word, the children grabbed onto his arms and well-ironed shirt.

"Come on guys! You know I can't swim!" He cried out as his body was lifted off the ground and dragged towards the rushing river. Sweat rained off his body even faster. He was so wet that it was as though he had already been in the river. "Hey! Wait! Let's talk about this! Please don't-!"

The helpless child got plunged into the river while he continued his pleas for mercy. Mug stopped in his tracks in utter shock at what he had just witnessed. He watched as Spoonfred's head surfaced as his limbs flailed around wildly. The spoon spat out water and coughed as his body got tossed around by the strong current. His head bobbed up and down, under and over the water's surface.

"Help!" He screamed every chance he got. Spoonfred could only hope that there was someone around to hear his desperate cries. Mugman finally snapped out of his trance. The young mug noticed an old tree arching over the river. His brown boots pounded as fast as they could to reach the tree and climb it before Spoonfred got swept away. Kiki merely sat down to watch what would happen. She was confident that the mug child would save the other without any trouble. Her tail curled around her paws as she stared on with her bright green eyes.

Mugman started to climb the obviously very old tree. It didn't have any leaves on it anymore and was almost a black color from age and decay. Mug heard the trunk creak under him with every step he took. Watching carefully where he stepped and grabbed, the little mug made his way over the rushing river. And along came Spoonfred. His head was still bobbing up and down in the rolling waves. But Mug did not hear him cry for help anymore. He assumed this was because the utensil had probably swallowed water in his attempts groping for air. Its arms still flailed around, but not in the intensity they had started with. Determined to save the young spoon, Mugman bravely reached down as the tree moaned under his weight. His gloved hand seized the utensil's arm as it lashed upward. As soon as he had hold, Mug dragged the child onto the shore as he inched himself down the tree quickly but safely.

The soaked and bedraggled boy coughed and spat water onto the riverbank as he got his bearings. Spoonfred turned his sopping body over to see who his savior was. Mugman was the last person he expected to see, but here the mug was. The little spoon felt embarrassed to be in the mug child's presence. His silver cheeks flushed red as he averted his gaze to the ground.

"Thanks." He said. "But….wh-why did you save me? After all I've done to you…."

"No one deserves to drown. Not even you." Mugman said, sounding humble in his response.

"But….I don't deserve another chance." Spoonfred tried to make eye contact with the other child. His confidence wavered and it fell just past the young mug.

"Says who?" Mug questioned. "I think you and I are more alike than you realize. And that shouldn't be what tears us apart. It should be what brings us closer. What do you say we start over?" A friendly gloved hand extended towards the utensil.

Spoonfred stood up quickly. He shuffled around in circles as his mind struggled to comprehend how the mug could be so nice to him after all this time. His sopping gloved hands worked all over his concave head.

"How can you say something like that? You should be mad at me! You should let your demon rip me limb from limb! It's what I deserve after all…."

"Spoonfred…." Mugman started to say, but the utensil continued with his rant.

"Punch me! Beat me! Punish me to your heart's content! When my father's not doing that to me, I would do that to you and the others. I now realize how wrong that was though…." The child paused before circling and ranting even further. "I don't expect you to ever forgive me, Mugman. And I don't expect to ever have any real friends because of how selfish I was."

"Spoonfred!" The young mug snapped and caught the spoon by his shoulders. Spoonfred's pupils shrank in fear as the mug touched him and stared him straight in the eyes. However, it wasn't a hard stare, but one of understanding.

"I forgive you." He said softly and pulled the utensil into a hug. Mug felt justified to embrace the spoon, but the demon inside him felt uncomfortable to be so close to "an annoying little maggot," as he previously described him. Spoonfred stood there in shock. His hands hovered in the air, not returning the gesture. Yet he was overcome by emotion by the mug's understanding and acceptance of him.

"If only I had realized what you were going through sooner... You wouldn't have had to go through it alone." Mug explained solemnly.

The young spoon's eyes welled up with water as he finally met Mugman's hug.

"I'm so sorry, Mugman!" He sobbed. "I'm sorry…."

Kiki, who was still watching, let a purr of content grow in her throat. Her eyes fell into a slow blink that neither of the boys noticed.

"And I'd like to be your friend." Spoonfred sniffed. "If you'll have me…."

"Of course, Spoonfred!" Mug beamed. "Both the demon and I will have your back!"

"Huh?" The young spoon flinched out of the embrace at that last sentence.

"Don't worry! He doesn't come out unless I ask him to. And I'll make sure he knows that you're on the list of people to protect." His voice became stern as he mentioned for Spoonfred to be placed under his protection.

Very well. It grumbled. As long as it's not going to double-cross us.

I really don't think he will. The young mug replied. He's just happy to have a real friend since he's never actually had one. At least, I don't think he has….

"He's not really the evil creature that everyone thinks he is…" Mug persisted. "In fact, he's changed so much since I first met him, and…. I'm proud of him."

You're….proud of me? But what did I do to win your approval?

Simply by being understanding and becoming my friend instead of my adversary. You could have made my life hell, but instead you chose to listen to me- The mug child's honest and heartfelt answer was interrupted by the parasitic creature grumbling.

I'm going to stop you right there and ask you to cut it with all those mushy explanations. It said tersely. Mug, however, didn't take this as an insult. He still knew that too much nice talk made it uncomfortable.

Spoonfred was a bit shocked at how the young mug talked about the demon. It was as if it posed no threat anymore. The utensil hoped that Mugman was right about that. But only time would tell for sure. The shocked expression on the spoon's face started to melt away.

"So what are you doing out here anyway, Spoonfred? Besides getting tossed in the river, of course."

"After I left your place yesterday, my father noticed a bruise on me and just assumed you had done that to me. I tried to tell him that wasn't really what happened, but he wouldn't listen to reason." Spoonfred shoved his hands into his pockets, bloating them up with water. His gaze fell down to the ground. "That's why Cuphead and your grandpa are with him now. They're trying to convince him of what I was saying."

"So why aren't you there, too?" Mugman questioned. With a big sigh, the little spoon looked back to his new friend.

"The moment I tried to say something about what happened yesterday, my father yelled at me and told me to leave." The child paused before continuing. "I'm not looking forward to going back to him. I'm sure he'll have found something to reprimand me for…"

"You shouldn't have to live under that oppression." Mug said matter-of-factly. "And it's not your fault that your father is the way he is." The young spoon agreed with him, but he knew that was not reality in the eyes of his father.

"Try telling him that." Spoonfred snorted and kicked a pebble that bounced back into the river.

"That's exactly what we're going to do!" The mug child's facial expression became confident.

"Huh?" The utensil finally made eye contact with the little mug again.

"You don't have to face him alone, Spoonfred. I'll be right there with you and we won't let him treat you that way anymore!" Mugman held out a friendly hand, hoping that Spoonfred would take him up on that offer.

"Y-you mean it?" His voice wavered and eyes rippled with emotion. The spoon removed his hands from his pockets and prepared to meet the mug's embrace.

"Absolutely!" The young mug beamed, grabbing ahold of the hand that traveled slowly towards his. Mug gave a nice firm handshake that Spoonfred copied.

"That sounds great!" Hope was growing in the spoon's heart. Perhaps if they worked together, they really could convince his father to be nicer. But then he re-thought about what he was saying. This was Forkington they were talking about. And change was something he didn't take well. Many years of living under his iron rule pounded that fact into Spoonfred's heart. "But….he can be really mean." The confidence in his voice wavered as he let go of the mug's gloved hand. A meow sounded into their conversation. The boys averted their attention to the golden feline that had watched the whole event between Mugman and Spoonfred. Her gaze locked onto the young utensil as she finally got up from her sitting position. Kiki approached the spoon child with her tail sticking straight up in the air.

"I think she's saying she wants to come with us!" Mug said with a smile. Spoonfred tensed up as she came close to him. He wasn't sure what the cat wanted or was going to do. Kiki began to paw at his wet leg.

"What does that mean?" He nervously asked.

"She wants you to pat her!" Mugman replied with a small laugh.

"Really? I've never had a pet before…." The young spoon trailed off. He then crouched down to caress the golden feline. Kiki purred loudly as he cupped her head in his hands. His thumbs rolled around his circles behind her ears. Her emerald eyes closed in content. The mug child watched as a big smile came over Spoonfred's face. After a little while of getting her head rubbed, Kiki pulled away having decided that she had enough of the utensil's wet hands. She couldn't have someone soiling her perfect coat after all. A coarse tongue rolled over her paw before she proceeded to puff up the fur behind her right ear.

"Let's go make things right!" The young mug boasted. Spoonfred nodded with conviction but felt fear welling up in his heart. He wasn't sure that he was truly ready to confront his father yet. Heck, the poor child didn't know if he would ever be ready.