We Must Endure!

‘Attention! Attention! The Pink Cotton Park is now in use for examination for the Adorables Training Camp. Only citizens who are pretty and can talk, mhmm — those with eyes and beans, can stay to spectate the examination. Otherwise, please leave the area, or else… Thank you!’ An announcement interrupted the casual atmosphere, as over half of the fluffy soft visitors reluctantly packed to leave.

The park was always pink, milky scented and cozily warm, just like anywhere else on the Stronga Babies planet. The remaining visitors gathered there as the examination was about to start. They seemed to be gossiping about their expectations of the camp’s trainees.

‘My bias is Ocpus. Of course she will be our trailblazer,’ said a serious fur ball among the visitors. He took out his binoculars and handed them to a sassy stuffy next to him.

‘Well, maybe Pus too, if he could make it through,’ the stuffy replied, pushing away the binoculars blatantly. Then she fanned herself with her mittened hand to prevent herself from fainting. ‘I don’t think I’d like to see them being separated by different worlds–’

Their conversation was cut short by the proclamation of a finger puppet holding a gigantic sound amplifier. ‘Ahem! To be plushies in the human world is the most honourable job in Stronga Babies history. Since we have run out of land, the only solution is to conquer the Earth! Ador-rables!’

‘Ador-rables! Ador-rables! Ador-rables!...’ The statement resonated among the crowd and it followed suit with its chants. 

–

In the middle of the large grassfield surrounded by the crowd, the automata dolls stood in neat rolls. The noises of the crowd couldn’t reach here. A soft breeze brushed gently across the trainees’ furs, who were at the feet of the dolls. 

‘Three. Two. One. Hug,’ the dolls said in unison. The trainees were lifted up and embraced in their arms. 

‘Sweet. Soft. Love. Cute…’ they repeated at a steady rhythm. 

After a while, the dolls rested their heads on the trainees’ head fluff to level up the test. Legend has it, as the most sacred but not only task to be a plushie, every spy from the Stronga Babies planet should master the skills for being hugged — to hold their shapes while staying soft. 

Now without looking at the scoreboard, one could still easily tell that Ocpus was the top of the class, while Pus was barely making it. Just look at their faces!

‘Oh my ador-rables… Noooooo…’ Pus mumbled in agony with a ‘face of tolerance’ as his head was being sucked upwards by the doll’s sniffing. His tentacles curled up to strange angles. One of them was barely supporting his slumping forehead. It was clear that he was about to give up.

Ding! Ding! Ding! The numbers soared in a scoreboard of a doll at the opposite side. Ocpus’ eyes were bling and her smile was dear. ‘We must endure!’ Despite triumphing with ease, she whispered to Pus supportively with sympathy.

Whether they like it or not, it was the last examination in their training. If they passed, they would be the next to go to the Earth. 

‘Releasing in three, two, one.’ The dolls loosened their grips. The trainees wriggled free from the dolls’ clutches then turned to look up at the scoreboards on the dolls’ chests. The results were expected. A thunderous applause from the audience came after. Many of the trainees and audience eventually gathered on the cotton candy grass. They congratulated Ocpus for her consistently superior performances. Meanwhile Pus combed his fluff, not bothered about getting any compliments. He swaggered his way to Ocpus.

‘Congrats, Ocpus!’ Pus reached out one tentacle to fist bump Ocpus.

Ocpus grabbed Pus’s fist instead, and pulled themselves together. Tch. Their heads bumped together. She said, ‘No, congrats to us!’ They smirked at each other, and looked up to the sky.

Until the next time being hugged, they better not let loose.