Hello, everyone! This is Umbra the Hedgehog signing back in! Well, here it is. Probably my fastest update ever. But hey, that's what happens when you think the whole thing up right away, and then decide to split it in half. Anyway, here's the other half of the first Spliced story on the entire site!

NOTE:

-I do not own any of the characters or scenarios presented in this story.

The Missing Holiday

Chapter 2: Celebrating the holiday.

Peri got out of bed, ready to celebrate the new day after making himself some breakfast. After having another sandwich and a glass of swineapple juice, he headed for his friend's house.

He knocked on the door. "Entrèe! Are you there?"

After the door opened, he was met by the figure of his best friend. "Hi, Peri. Sorry, I was taking care of the couch."

"You're still at odds?"

"I'm telling you, the couch hates me!"

"Uh..." Once again, he was at a loss for words. "Well, anyway. It's February 14, so it's time to celebrate."

"Right. That thing you found." He began to walk towards the city, with Peri following.

Cut to the city once again...

The two friends arrived at the city, and were surprised to see everyone walking around in pairs, as well as the number of stands that had been set up. Not only that, but the usually-closed amusement park was open now.

"Wow." Peri was totally surprised by this turn of events. "I guess they really wanted to celebrate this holiday!"

"There's fun stuff now!" So was Entrèe, except for a different reason.

Before he began to run towards the fun, Peri pointed something out. "Hey, wait, Entrèe. Have you noticed something?"

"The volcano is erupting with ice cream again?"

"Not that. I'm talking about everyone else." He pointed at some of the people. "They're all walking around in pairs. They all have dates."

"So?"

"I think we should try to get dates too."

"Whatever."

-montage time!-

Peri walked up to one of the mutants who was hanging around. She wasn't with anyone.

"Hello?"

She turned around. "Oh, hello. Can I help you?"

"I was wondering if-"

And then, someone else came around. "Hey, I got the tickets you asked me about."

"Oh, great! Thanks!" She took them from her friend. "Give me a moment, OK? I'm talking to-" She turned back to Peri, only to find that he was walking away. "Uh...nevermind. I guess he found what he wanted."

Peri, however, wasn't feeling down. "Well, that didn't work. Maybe someone else is available."

Entrèe was just sleeping in his hammock.

Peri had found another mutant. "Uh, excuse me. I was wondering if you would be my date today."

"Sorry, I have my hands full with the Wunny Sharbit."

"Come on. He's just a bunny. And a shark. And a chainsaw. He's cute and cuddly."

"And he made a meal outta my date."

"Oh!" Realization hit him. "Sorry to bother you. And good luck with that."

"Thanks!"

With this, the other mutant walked away.

"That didn't work either. Who else can I look for?"

Entrèe was inside his house, drinking some lemonade.

"Do you have a date for today?"

"Having trouble finding one, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well, I'm taken, but don't worry. I'm sure you'll find someone in time."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Entrèe was just standing in front of his toaster, waiting for his toast to be ready.

-montage over-

Peri and Entrèe were standing in front of Entrèe's house.

"Well, I guess it's just the two of us, Entrèe." Peri turned to his friend. "Two best friends celebrating the holiday together. This should be nice."

No reply.

Peri noticed that Entrèe was holding a rock right next to where his ear should be.

"Uh, Entrèe? What are you doing?"

This snapped him back to reality. "Oh, sorry, Peri. I was just paying attention."

"To who?"

He then held the rock in front of his friend's face. "Peri, meet Marla. Marla, this is my best friend, Peri."

Peri was baffled. "Uh, Entrèe? You do know she's a rock, right?"

"Yeah." He put the rock next to Peri's ear. "Turns out they're great at holding conversations. Listen."

Despite his attempts at actually hearing something, not a single sound entered his ears.

"Uh, yeah. You're right; she's actually really interesting."

Entrèe just chuckled gleefully. "See?" He then turned away. "Come on, Marla. Let's go ride the roller coaster!"

Peri could only stand there, completely flabbergasted.

Cut to the beach...

Peri was walking around the beach. The lack of a date to have fun with, surprisingly, still wasn't enough to make him feel upset.

"Well, at least it's a nice day. I'm sure everyone else is having fun." He then took out the brochure, this time out of his fur. "Finding this was really worthwhile."

He tore his eyes away from it, and he noticed there was someone nearby, sitting on a log, without someone else.

"Uh, excuse me!"

When he approached the rock, he was surprised to find that he recognized the one sitting on the log.

"Patricia?"

Yes, it was the platypus. "Oh. Hi, Peri."

Since he had been walking for a while, he decided to sit down as well.

"What are you doing here? I haven't seen you like this since that time we made you an honorary mutant."

Patricia let out a sigh. "Well, the thing is...I didn't get a date."

"You didn't?" Peri was surprised. "What about that guy with the puma head and chicken legs?"

"He was actually my first choice, but someone asked him before I could."

"Oh."

They both went silent for a few seconds, until Peri broke the silence again.

"Well, uh...if it makes you feel better, I couldn't find a date either." Now she was the one who was surprised. "But hey, at least we can sit here and enjoy the sight of the beach."

Patricia was at a loss for words now. She thought that, since he was the one who told them all about the holiday, he would naturally be the first one to get a date. But what surprised her more was the fact that, despite not getting a date, his spirits were still high.

They just sat on the log, staring at the sky...

...until Peri suddenly had an idea.

"Hey, Patricia. I just thought of something."

She turned to him. "And what's that?"

"Well, you just told me you don't have a date, and I don't have one either. I was thinking that maybe..."

She immediately caught on. "...that you and I could go and celebrate...together?"

"Yeah. You know, we could go and have some fun, as friends."

She was still trying to wrap her mind around the idea. "You and me?"

He then got up again. "Hey, don't worry, Patricia. It was just a thought." He began to walk off. "Maybe I could go home and fix something up."

"Actually..." This comment stopped him in his tracks.

Peri turned around after hearing this, and he saw Patricia getting off the rock, approaching him.

"...I wouldn't mind going with you." She said this with a smile on her face.

He smiled back. "OK, let's go and have some fun!"

"Sure. Let's go."

She began to walk back to the city, but then she noticed that Peri wasn't following her.

"Uh, Peri?"

He was reading the brochure again.

"What are you doing?"

"I was trying to make sure I knew what to do." He pointed at one of the pictures. "I think we're supposed to do this."

"Aww..." His cuteness, acknowledged by her at one point, got the better of her. "Sure, no problem."

Back to the city once again...

Entrèe was walking around the city, rock in hand.

"Wasn't that just so much fun?"

And then, he bumped into Joe. "Entrèe!"

"Oh, great. It's bird-butt Joe. What, are you stomping me again for no reason?"

"I would..." Another mutant came into view, appearing from behind Joe. "...but I have a date. Be thankful that you're off the hook today!"

"Yeah, sure. Whatever."

Joe's date then began to speak. "Say, where's your date?"

"Oh, here she is!" He showed them the rock. "This is Marla!"

Just like Peri, they were completely stunned.

"Uh...that's a rock." They spoke in unison.

"Yes, I know!"

And then, Joe noticed something. "Wait...where's Peri?"

"I don't know."

"Is he orange and furry with tentacles instead of feet?"

"Yes. Why?"

"I think he's over there." She pointed behind Entrèe.

As Entrèe turned around and Joe moved his head, they were both caught by surprise.

Peri and Patricia were approaching them, and they were...holding hands?

"Hi, guys!"

All three of them were completely speechless.

"See you later!" They just walked past the three, heading for the amusement park.

Joe's date then broke the awkward silence. "Am I the only one who thinks they look kinda cute together?"

-montage time again!-

Peri and Patricia were riding on the roller coaster, hands in the air.

"Woohoo!"

"This is great!"

This was followed by a slide down the volcano, just like they did during that one time Entrèe had literally become a tree.

"Yeah!" Patricia threw a ball of ice cream at Peri's face.

He licked the ice cream off his face again. This time, however, he added some chocolate syrup instead of sprinkles.

"It's great to taste this again!"

"OK, I have three shots."

Peri got ready to throw the ball at the bottles, intending to knock them all down.

"Here goes!"

As he threw the ball, however, his arm flew along with it, hitting the bottles as well.

The two just stared at where Peri's arm should be, and then just began to laugh.

Entrèe was talking to his rock again.

"I'm telling you, a swineapple covered in mayonnaise would be great!"

Peri and Patricia exchanged confused looks.

-montage over-

Night time had finally hit, and Peri and Patricia were just sitting on the beach.

"You know, Peri? This was actually really fun."

"I was thinking the same thing." Peri threw a rock at the ocean. "This day turned out really well."

Patricia did the same thing. "Well, I guess we can call it a day."

Now he was reading the brochure again. "According to this, I think I have to walk you home."

She couldn't help but let out a laugh. "Sure. Let's go."

One walk later...

The two were now in front of the platypus' home.

"Thanks for a great day, Peri." She put a hand on his shoulder. "This was just as great as the Crazy Funday."

He just shot a smile at her. "Hey, we're friends, Patricia. That's what friends do for each other, and that's what today is all about." He then began to walk back home. "I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Yeah, sure." She closed the door. "Friends..."

She suddenly rubbed her hand, almost unconsciously.

One last location change...

Peri was back inside his house, ready to sleep.

"This is a great holiday. I can't wait to celebrate it next year."

As he fell asleep, he didn't notice his hands suddenly coming together.

...Valentine's Day is just full of surprises, isn't it?

Well, that's about it. I don't think I can really elaborate on this.

Thanks for reading this little story.

This is Umbra the Hedgehog signing off.