Disclaimer: I do not own Buffyverse or anything else you may recognize
Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.
And now finally- 'Smile Time'! YAY!
Thank you to Bl4ckHunter for providing the reactions to Puppet Angel vs. Spike.
Hope everyone enjoys this one.
Guest 1: Thanks for the review. Oh yeah, so funny.
Guest 2: Thanks for the review. I saw the casting for Percy, Annabeth and Grover, and I already know its gonna be crap. Looks like we're not getting a decent Percy Jackson adaptation in this lifetime, let's just stick to the books.
dusty112084: Thanks for the review. If they handled the concept better, I'd be intrigued, but due to the horrible handling of it, and this episode in general, I just have nothing but dislike for this episode, its just bland.
Chapter 128- Smile Time
"Time for another", Buffy said as she turned the recording on.
A children's TV show called 'Smile Time' started playing. The set had a blue doghouse and a treehouse with a ladder leading to it. A very simplistic song started playing, and the puppets appeared. There was a brown dog puppet in the doghouse and two children puppets in the treehouse. The boy puppet had red hair and wore overalls and a baseball cap backwards on his head. The girl puppet had brown hair in pigtails on her head, fastened with daisy barrettes. All the puppets sang as a boy with a thermometer in mouth watched it, with his mother pacing around desperately as she took the thermometer out and he tried to look around her to see the TV.
"That looks like a fun show", Dawn commented with a smile.
"The sick boy needs it to feel better", Tara added.
"Hope it's doing the job", Willow shrugged.
The puppets sang in a hug with a large formless purple puppet with a musical horn instead of nose, and ended with 'You're on Smile Time'. The woman walked away from her kid called Tommy, and the puppets sang again before the puppet boy came to the screen, pressing both hands to see the mother was gone, and asked Tommy to touch it. Tommy put his hands on the screen as the puppet moaned in pleasure, Tommy's face getting paler with dark circles under his eyes. Tommy then fell down, and as the mother returned, the puppet boy joined the singing group again.
"I take it back", Willow said grimly as now all were horrified.
"What the hell? Evil puppets?" Xander asked. "Why did they have to look like cute Muppets?"
"But the boy won't be the only one watching, right?" Dawn asked. "What about the rest?"
"Must be coating it with some kind of magic", Tara explained. "Seeing they can go through the TV screen."
"Poor kid though", Buffy muttered sadly and all nodded.
"Since we're seeing this, it means it will be brought to Team Angel's attention", Giles pointed out.
The mother returned and saw Tommy lying on the ground, his face frozen in a creepy smile as the puppets continued singing.
The six looked horrified again as Giles said. "Good Lord!"
"These puppets are sick", Dawn snarled.
"Yeah, exploiting a poor kid", Tara agreed. "Hope the kid gets help."
"Angel will help him", Buffy told her.
Fred was in her lab when Knox arrived, and she spoke of a mini-epidemic in LA, where children between 5 and 8 were hospitalized due to collapse over last 3 weeks, and had not woken up, so it was mystical, and then she gave Knox a picture of a kid in the same position as Tommy. Knox said it could be Joker from comics but got a disapproving glare.
"I love a good reference, but kids are in danger, not the time, Knox!" Xander told him.
"Another reason why I feel something off about him", Tara told the others.
"Guess there must be then", Willow said, since Tara wasn't judgmental.
Fred saw a Valentine's Card had been slipped into her papers, but she wasn't in the mood for this, and gently rejected him.
"Here I thought I was not subtle", Xander quipped.
"Well, hope he got the hint now", Buffy shrugged.
Nina Ash, wearing a fashionable low-cut ensemble with a pretty necklace and a black blazer, arrived at Wolfram and Hart, a Demon in a suit talking on phone walking past her, and she met Angel, as it was time for the full moon cycle again. She still hadn't told her sister, and said she went desert camping, so Jill thought Nina was becoming a moon-worshipping Wicca person.
"I think werewolf's better than that", Willow said, sharing a look and nod with Tara.
"Yeah, much better, even other Wiccas don't like moon-worshipping ones", Tara agreed.
"Must be really weird fellows then", Dawn commented.
"You have no idea, dear", Giles told her.
Angel said Jill would be relieved to find out Nina was just a werewolf, and Harmony greeted her, and then Gunn arrived, asking Harmony if she'd gotten a receipt from the county clerk on a filing, but she said he'd filed the wrong papers, by sending a motion for change of venue than motion to dismiss. Gunn said he was trying to keep them on their toes but looked worried.
"Apparently not", Buffy realized, her eyes narrowed. "What's going on?"
"Yeah, why would he file the wrong papers?" Dawn agreed. "And it definitely wasn't on purpose."
"Something's wrong here", Willow said. "I think we're going to find out."
Angel led Nina to her cage, as she said she was getting used to it now, and even liked it, then coyly looked away, adding that she got to see him too, and then she looked into his eyes, saying she looked forward to him all month, making Angel uncomfortable as he decided close the gate, making an insurance excuse. She asked what he was doing for breakfast the next day and he said he was drinking blood, and she gave an embarrassed nod as he walked off and she sighed.
"She likes him, look how she flirted", Dawn said as the rest chuckled but agreed. "And she's dressed like it's a date."
"I think Angel should try it out", Buffy said to the rest. "After everything with Cordelia, Connor and Jasmine, he needs some normal. And she does like him."
"Yeah, the two can have a normal relationship, even if one is a Vampire and the other a werewolf", Willow nodded in agreement.
"Let's hope he sees the signs and allows himself to enter this", Tara smiled.
"And I'm sure he can stop the perfect happiness thing since he's aware of it", Xander added.
"Hopefully", Giles sighed.
Later, Angel told Wesley about Nina asking him to breakfast, and found it out of the blue, only for Wesley to call him blind because she'd been sending signals for a long while. Fred, Harmony and the girls in transcription agreed too, Harmony had said- "Why else would a chick who's coming to spend 3 nights in a jail cell dress like it's her first date?"
"Wow, can't believe I agree with Harmony", Buffy commented.
"The girls are right, because girls here can see it too", Willow said as the rest chuckled.
"And we've only seen it once, they've been seeing it for a while now", Tara added.
Angel now freaked out as perfect happiness might turn him into Angelus, but Wesley said 99.999-ad infinitum percent of the best relationships in recorded history only had acceptable happiness.
"See? Wesley's right, you only need acceptable happiness", Dawn said with a smirk.
"Yes, I wonder why people do not think of that term more often", Giles agreed with a nod. "Just hope it remains acceptable happiness."
Wesley accused Angel of hiding behind his gypsy curse since a woman wanted him, though Angel said he was a broody guy with over 200 years of baggage. Angel asked why Wesley was yelling at him. "Because!" Wesley became softer. "Angel... if there's a woman out there... who you find truly attractive, who you think about, let's say, most of the time, who represents even part of what you think makes the world worth fighting for and who doesn't view you as an entirely sexless shoulder to lean on...you have to do something about it." Angel asked. "Who are we talking about here?" Wesley looked at the door. "Fred."
"There's your answer", Xander quipped as the rest chuckled. "She arrived just as Wesley said her name."
"Actually, he said her name because she arrived", Tara said.
"Right."
"But Wesley is right about Angel too, he should try it out, no one needs to be hung up forever", Buffy said.
Fred had a case, which relieved them both, and she told them of the children's epidemic. She said she hadn't been able to get much yet, when Angel noted they'd collapsed between 7:00 and 7:30 A.M. in front of the TV, so he could follow this lead, and he walked out over-enthusiastically. Fred was surprised as Wesley revealed he was jumpy due to realizing Nina's feelings for him, and Fred grinned, saying it had taken him long enough, Wesley calling him dense.
"Yeah, took him long enough, and he's still avoiding it", Willow commented before adding dryly. "And they wonder why I'm done with guys."
Some chuckles followed as Xander said. "Sorry."
"Not mad, just saying", Willow shrugged.
Fred told Wesley her car was in the shop, and smiled flirtily, about to suggest they could go together, but Wesley then made a call, asking someone to drive Fred home, and she looked deflated as she shrugged and bit her lip.
"Wonder who else is dense", Buffy quipped as the rest sighed.
"He was crazy about her for 2 years and when she shows feelings, he is oblivious", Tara commented. "Guys are weird."
"And I took offense to that", Giles said.
"Well, from what I heard, you tried to ask out Jenny and she beat you to it, so you're not like the others", Dawn smiled at him, and now he smiled too.
"Thank you", he said.
In Angel's office, Lorne told him that Nina wanted a 'piece of Angel cake'. Angel wasn't in the mood so Lorne looked through the papers and found out about the kids show that aired during 7:00 to 7:30 A.M., and holding up the picture of a kid frozen with the eerie smile, Lorne told the name- "Smile Time".
"Now they know where it comes from", Xander said. "Well, time to stop it."
"Just hope he can do it carefully", Willow added.
"It's just puppets, what can go wrong?" Buffy asked.
Apparently, everything, she would soon realize.
On the set of KTCE, in a section marked "Closed Set. Absolutely NO VISITORS", Angel walked down the empty office hallway at night. He heard a squeaking noise, and a janitor pushed a wheeled trashcan around the corner. Angel didn't move, and the janitor walked toward him without noticing him. Angel waved his hand in front of the man's face, but still no reaction. The janitor walked on past Angel.
"Definitely come to the right place", Tara commented.
"Yep, now he'll be on alert considering how the janitor behaved", Dawn added.
"These puppets clearly go beyond just children to ensure no one finds out", Giles realized.
Angel walked into the "Smile Time" offices. The room was decorated with the show's logo of a smiling sunshine, plus cardboard cutouts of the puppets were placed around the room. Angel investigated a throbbing rumble coming from somewhere nearby. He looked around the room, following the noise until he saw a rattling file cabinet on one wall. He moved the cabinet out a bit, revealing a hole had been cut in the wall behind it. The rumbling noise was louder now, and Angel walked through the hole into the secret hall beyond it.
"Guess here it is", Willow muttered.
"It's so off and eerie, which is weird when you realize its puppets", Xander quipped.
Angel flipped on a buzzing light overhead, revealing a set of doors at the end of the hall labelled simply "Don't". The rumbling grew louder as Angel approached the padlocked doors. He pulled the padlock off with ease, opened the doors, and walked into the hidden room. At the far end of the room, a man was sitting, hunched over resting his elbows on his knees wearing a towel over his head, underneath a large, metallic, egg-shaped, glowing thing. Angel walked up to the man, but the man didn't get up or remove the towel from his head. Suddenly, the man's hands started twitching, and the man struggled to speak. "You shouldn't... be here." The rumbling sound got louder and louder. The large metal oval slitted open along its bottom curve, forming a bright, glowing smile-shaped opening. When the "smile" was fully formed, a jolt of power thrusts Angel across the room. He landed in some boxes that were stacked against the wall, and he gets covered by them. The metal oval object stopped smiling, and the rumbling noise went back to a dull roar.
"Oh no!" Buffy said, now all tense and worried. "Wasn't expecting that."
"I believe these puppets made every effort to ensure that they carry on what they are doing without interference", Giles told Buffy.
"Which means something was going to go wrong", Tara reminded.
"Just hope it's not too bad", Buffy now hoped.
The boxes that covered Angel moved a bit, and a puppet's hand reached out from them. The puppet pulled itself up to reveal that it looked a lot like Angel with black hair that stuck straight up, wearing a black leather duster and the same outfit Angel was wearing before. The puppet Angel looked at his hands, confused. "Huh?"
Everyone's eyes (or eye) were wide in shock, and surprise. They were frozen in that position for a few seconds.
"Oh! My! God!" Buffy finally said, then burst out into a laughter. "He's a puppet!"
"A cute, cuddly and fluffy puppet!" Dawn added. "I want to play with him!"
"Yes, look at those little hands!" Tara agreed.
"And the fluffy hair!" Willow added. "He is so cute and cuddly."
"Whoa! So anyone going against them also becomes a puppet, huh?" Xander wondered. "Well, not the worst thing to happen. Because it does look cute."
"As long as you don't end up in a shredder", Giles added. "Which knowing Angel's luck, he might."
"Oh no, he is so cute, don't throw him there", Buffy begged.
"Not before I play with him", Dawn added.
"I'll beat you to it", Willow told her.
"I'll beat you all to it", Tara responded.
And then all six laughed hysterically at how puppet Angel looked.
Fred was working at her desk in front of the computer when her phone rang. She answered it on speakerphone. "Practical science." Angel's voice said. "Uh, Fred..." Fred greeted. "Oh, hi, Angel. Listen, about the epidemic, it might not be mystical after all." "Do you think you could—" Fred interrupted. "Knox found a systematic endocrine dysfunction common with all the children similar to the effects of an obscure rain-forest pathogen—" Fred..." She continued to talk over Angel. "...So I put a call in to the C.D.C., And—" "Fred!" Fred stopped talking, and Angel spoke in a softer voice, but still irritated. "Believe me, it's mystical."
"Oh yeah, it is mystical, so mystical he himself is a puppet now", Xander said as all of them laughed about it again.
"Little cute adorable puppet Angel", Buffy added. "I wanna see him again."
"Hey, let's not prevent this specific one when we go back", Dawn requested with puppy eyes.
"Fine by me", Buffy shrugged.
"Yeah, we all wanna play with him", Willow said with a smile.
Fred poked her head into Angel's office. Angel was sitting in his chair, facing his back wall where he can't be seen from the doorway. "Angel? You all right?" Fred walked into the office, followed by Gunn and Wesley. Gunn commented. "You sounded weird on the phone." Wesley asked. "Yes. Is there a problem?" "Oh, there's a problem." Puppet Angel turned around in his office chair so that the gang could see him in puppet form. Gunn stepped back. "Whoa." Wesley looked carefully. "Angel? Is that...you?" "Oh, my God!" Fred rushed to Angel's side. "Angel, you're..." She shrugged and smiled, "cute!"
"Really cute", Tara spoke as the rest laughed.
"Come on Angel, be a good boy and let her play with you", Buffy said in between her laughs.
"Well, I think this recording should be called 'Smile Time', because I have a big one", Xander told the rest.
"Even I do", Giles said in between chuckles.
Puppet Angel turned away, holding his hand up. "Fred, don't." Fred bent over to inspect Angel's new form excitedly. "Oh, but the little hands! And the hair..." She scratched his head. Puppet Angel snapped. "Hey! You're fired." Fred frowned.
"And those eyes", Dawn added. "Oh my God! And the little legs!"
"He is so adorable, come on, let Fred play with you!" Willow begged too. "Us too!"
"The cheeks too", Tara added. "They are adorable."
"The entire thing is adorable", Buffy summed up.
Lorne walked into the office. "Sorry I am late, gang." He looked at Angel and chuckled. "What's with the big... puppet?" Puppet Angel looked at his hands as Wesley asked. "Angel, what happened?" Puppet Angel revealed. "I'm not sure. I went over to Smile Time last night, and I think their office is under some kind of spell. I could feel it trying to get at me. I—I shook it off, but then I met this guy with a towel over his head, and something exploded! I woke up like this. Ugh." All shifted uncomfortably as Wesley said. "Clearly some sort of hex... or a—a powerful warding magic." Lorne shrugged. "Maybe it's some type of puppet cancer." Puppet Angel said through gritted teeth. "I do not have puppet cancer!"
All laughed hysterically again as Xander said. "That is one sentence I never thought I'd hear. Puppet cancer!"
"Never catch it, it melts your puppet inside out!" Dawn added, the laughter increasing.
"I think we should take this recording home", Buffy suggested, and no one disagreed as they laughed more.
"I do not believe there would be anything wrong with that", Giles commented.
"Come on, guys. This is a serious situation. I'm a puppet, and there are children's lives at..." he gasped as he glanced at the clock. "Hey, it's Smile Time!" He hurried out of his chair toward the television set; trying to turn on the TV via remote control. "Hmm..." He grumbled as he fumbled with the buttons; beating the remote on the table petulantly. "Stupid plastic piece of crap!" He panted, noticing everyone was staring at him. "What?" "Well, Angel, it's OK", Lorne took the remote from Angel, turning on the TV program.
"He looked so cute beating the remote like that", Willow said and all nodded, the girls cooing at puppet Angel.
"Everything he does is cute", Buffy said. "Remain a puppet forever?"
All chuckled as Dawn said. "Or at least play with him."
Wesley noted. "This transformation may have altered your stress-response mechanism." "What?" Gunn explained in simple terms. "He's saying that you have the proportionate excitability of a puppet your size."
That made them chuckle again as Tara said. "That explains everything."
The puppets on the show did their usual antics as Fred picked up the phone. "Tracy, record the program that's running on channel 12 right now. Use everything. I'm gonna need a full-spectrum analysis." As Puppet Angel watched the puppets on TV, he grew increasingly angrier, grunting and making fists. The puppets sang about self-esteem as Puppet Angel ordered. "Wes, put the special ops team on red alert." Wesley calmly questioned. "Red alert?" "I want helicopters and tear gas." Gunn started. "Angel—" "This is war!" Lorne advised. "Angel, baby... Muppet, pumpkin, uh, this show is number one in its time slot. Tykes love it all across the Southland. We can't just toss a Jihad at their studio." Puppet Angel was calmer now. "Oh. Right. Lorne, who runs "Smile Time"?" Lorne told him. "Oh, that's Gregor Framkin. Yeah, real rags to riches. Started out in a garage with a couple of used couches and a glue gun. He turned it into a puppet gold mine."
"Guess he did something to the puppets then", Buffy realized.
"Yes, seems likely", Giles agreed. "Though putting an ops team on puppets-"
More laughter rang out as Dawn said. "I'd have loved to see that."
"Yeah, eighth wonder of the world", Xander added to more laughs.
"Yeah, great. You and Gunn go over there and meet with Framkin. Put some pressure on him, see if he cracks. Let him know we're onto him. Fred, Wes, I need you to figure out what Framkin did to those kids..." He frowned as he looked at his body, "and what he's done to me." Wesley agreed. "Absolutely." Everyone turned to leave Angel's office. Puppet Angel and sighed after the rest. "Oh. Uh, guys? This, uh, condition of mine? It's classified until further notice, OK?" He rubbed his forehead; looking at the TV program again.
"For some reason, don't think it's going to remain classified for long", Tara commented.
"Well, good thing, everyone should see the cuteness", Willow replied, and they laughed once more.
They were laughing a lot at this recording, and no one could blame them.
Angel walked back toward his desk, sighing heavily, when someone started to open his door. "Angel?" Angel gasped in fright, turning off the TV and threw the remote into the air as he took a flying leap toward his desk, landing under his chair, and scrambling to hide under his desk. Nina opened the door fully and walked in, looking for Angel. "Angel?" Puppet Angel tried to hide but made a noise. "Damn it!" Nina heard the noise and approached the desk hesitantly. "You— Are you under your desk?" "No. I—" He hung his head. "Yes. So was there something..." Nina started. "Well, I can see you're... busy. Listen, what I put out there last night... I don't know, if it was a problem, please—" Puppet Angel assured. "Nope. No problem." Nina asked. "Um... is there a reason why you won't look at me?" Puppet Angel replied. "'Cause I'm under my desk." "Angel—" "Nina, would you mind getting out of here" "All right. Sorry... I guess", a disappointed Nina turned and walked out of the office. Puppet Angel groaned, climbing out from under his desk to sit in his chair. "What a nightmare..."
"Okay, that sucked", Buffy said. "Angel blew it."
"Come on, let her see you in this form, it would be instant love", Dawn said, leading to some chuckles. "You're such an idiot."
"Yeah, he has a chance at something normal, he shouldn't blow it", Xander agreed.
"Well, it's not irreparable yet, he can still have a chance with her", Tara assured the rest.
Spike barged into the office. "Hey, big guy, I need another car, this last one ended up in a drain-" He stopped mid-sentence on seeing Puppet Angel. "Spike." Angel started.
"Uh-oh." Buffy said as everyone tensed.
"This is definitely not gonna end well." Willow said.
"Look at you." Spike said, staring at Angel in bewilderment. "Just turn around and walk away." Angel ordered. "You're a-" Spike started. "Spike!" Angel snapped.
"Please, don't." Buffy said, facepalming herself as the girls groaned at their immaturity and Xander and Giles just watched in intrigue, not helping themselves but wanting to see Angel pounce on Spike.
"You're a bloody puppet!" Spike exclaimed, getting over his initial shock.
"And it's on!" Xander said as the girls groaned, while he and Giles watched with intrigue, wondering who would beat who.
"Ten bucks Angel kicks Spike's ass."
"Twenty on Spike." Dawn said as everyone shook their heads at their antics.
Next thing they knew, Angel lunged at Spike as they crashed through the door and were rolling down the floor, while Spike laughed hysterically and Angel grunted and there were sounds of punches but Spike continued laughing.
No one could help themselves at that point as they laughed hysterically, while remembering the other fight.
"Is he seriously laughing, while Angel's beating the crap out of him?" Dawn demanded incredulously as she blushed from laughter.
"What the hell am I watching?" Buffy asked.
"Puppet Angel beating the hell out of a laughing Spike", Tara said as the laughter increased.
"When did our lives become this?" Willow wondered in between laughs.
Spile laughed. "You're a wee, little puppet man!" Angel punched Spike in the face. "Ow!" Spile laughs; Angel punched Spike in the face harder. "Ow! Hey! That's enough." Spike pushed puppet Angel off of him, throwing him high into the air. Angel landed on his feet, glaring at Spike.
"Is it over?" Xander asked.
"No, it has just begun", Buffy told him with a smirk. "Now wait and watch."
"Don't even wanna wait", Dawn told the rest.
"Angel, what the hell happened to you?" Spike stood up. "You look ridiculous." Puppet Angel demanded. "Get out of here, Spike." Harmony saw Puppet Angel. "Oh, my God. Angel, you're a-" Puppet Angel pointed at Harmony. "Shut up!" He looked around the lobby, realizing everyone was staring at him. "What are you people looking at? Well?" The employees backed off, frightened.
"The cuteness of you, doofus!" Tara said, as she and Willow exchanged a loving look, remembering when Willow had something similar to her.
"Come on, they love how cute you look, don't be mad", Dawn told Angel.
"Yes, be flattered", Buffy added with a nod.
"I think he is more irritable than excitable", Giles told the rest.
Spike turned and smirked. "They're looking at the wee, little puppet man." Puppet Angel growled and leapt toward Spike again, biting his forearm this time. Spike groaned in pain, trying to wriggle his arm free of Angel's grip. Spike bashed Angel into the wall near the elevator, but Angel held on tightly to Spike's forearm. Spike stepped back as he tried in vain to writhe free of Angel's grip, and they stumbled into the elevator. They were still wrestling as the elevator doors closed on them. Puppet Angel was heard screaming. "Stupid limey piece of crap!"
"Who will win now?" Xander wondered.
"Wish we could see what's going on", Willow told the rest.
"I think hearing and imagining is more fun", Buffy told her as they laughed again.
A thud was heard, then the elevator doors opened revealing Spike collapsed on the floor. Puppet Angel walked off the elevator victoriously and addressed the crowd of employees that gathered around the elevator. "Yes, I'm a puppet. Doesn't mean you don't have work to do."
All laughed again as Buffy said. "So puppet Angel won at last. Shame on you, Spike."
"In his defence, I think he was laughing too much to fight seriously", Tara told Buffy.
"Not when they went in the elevator", Willow pointed out. "Wonder who would have won if Angel turned into a puppet when they were fighting for the cup."
All laughed hysterically at imagining that as Giles said. "If it was real we would have an irritable puppet for a champion."
"Fine by me", Xander shrugged before telling Dawn. "So, ready to pay up?"
Dawn groaned. "I hate you, Spike." She turned to Xander. "When we go back, I will."
"I'll hold you to that", Xander told her.
"No you won't", Willow said, she and Tara giving Xander the 'protective mom' looks.
"No need", Xander said lamely.
The crowd dispersed; Spike stood and watched Angel walk back to his office. "Harmony, get my call list." Harmony seemed confused. "Um..." Spike walked toward Harmony's desk. Angel added. "And Spike needs a car." Spike told Harmony. "You heard the puppet."
All laughed again as Buffy said. "Awww, he's taking care of Spike's wants."
"After trashing him as a puppet first", Xander added, and there was more laughter.
"This is so much fun", Dawn said.
Lorne and Gunn were escorted were escorted into Framkin's office, and he was creating more puppets. After some talk, Framkin called Lorne 'deformed'. Gunn said they were going to shut him down, but stuttered when trying to describe violations. Framkin seemed unaware as to what was going on in his show, and Gunn led Lorne away. It was revealed Framkin's lower back had a hole in it and the puppet boy "Polo" had his hand in Framkin's back. When Polo pulled his hand out of Framkin's back with a slurping sound, Framkin collapsed on the desk. Polo picked up the phone and dialled it. "Get everybody in here. We got a problem."
Now everyone's eyes widened as Giles realized. "So it was never Framkin, rather the puppets. They are sentient."
"So they are the masterminds all along", Buffy sighed as all groaned. "And what the hell is going on with Gunn?"
"Yeah, he seems to be forgetting his legal jargon", Tara agreed. "You think what was put in him is fluctuating?"
"Could be", Willow agreed. "Something's wrong, and I have a bad feeling about this."
Polo later poured 'Jack Daniels' into his 'Smile Time' coffee mug, asking the other puppets who'd turned Wolfram and Hart's CEO into a puppet, but then they realized Angel had entered the nest egg. The puppet girl suggested to take the spell off some workers so they could see an intruder, since they couldn't even operate the cameras. Polo didn't care about that and said the next day they would sweep the whole demographic instead of one kid at a time.
Now everyone's was horrified as Xander said. "Well crap! Now they're going to get all kids."
"Unless they are stopped first", Dawn pointed out. "Because Angel and his team do know that the mess comes from here."
"Just hope they can stop these in time", Buffy said. "The puppets are the culprits, not Framkin."
They were sucking kids' innocent because it carried a lot of street value in Hell, and they'd be rich enough to make their own Hades. Framkin wheezed that he wanted to die, so Polo shoved his hand into the puppet hole in Framkin's back, torturing him while the other puppets laughed.
Everyone looked disturbed again. Seeing cute puppets being sadistic like this with plans to take away kids' innocence, it was quite the creepy sight.
"Angel, when you fight them, don't hold back", Willow requested the absent Angel.
"Don't think he will, considering how irritated he is at being turned into a puppet", Tara pointed out, and all hoped to see the beatdown themselves.
Nina was standing alone in her cage, holding onto the bars as night fell. She sighed and turned around to take off her shirt, when she heard Angel's voice. "Uh, Nina..." Nina stopped taking off her shirt, turning to look for Angel. "Angel?" Puppet Angel hid behind the door. "Yeah, sort of. Uh, listen, I wanna apologize about the way I treated you this morning." Nina assured. "Look, Angel, I understand." Angel replied. "Pretty sure you don't." Nina told him. "You've got this whole, complicated, important life going on, and... the last thing you need to deal with is a crush from monster girl, some charity case you were nice enough to—" "Nina..." Angel breathed deeply and exhaled; walking out from behind the door so Nina could see him. Nina realized Angel was a puppet. "Oh."
"And the beans are spilled", Buffy said as all sighed in relief.
"I think she'll understand now", Dawn told the rest. "And I'm sure she isn't blind to his cuteness."
"No one is", Willow told her. "Everyone loves Puppet Angel."
"Yes, he is just so cute and cuddly", Tara added with a smile.
"This is gonna be an interesting conversation", Xander commented.
"As long as Angel doesn't behave like a buffoon, he has a chance here", Giles told the rest.
Puppet Angel told her. "I was turned into a puppet last night." Nina was dumbfounded. "I, uh... Wow. Are you—are you OK?" "I'm made of felt... " Angel pulled off his nose; speaking nasally. "And my nose comes off." He put his nose back on his face.
All chuckled again as Xander said. "Now it's even more interesting than I thought."
"Well, looks like she's understanding", Dawn smiled. "Angel now doesn't seem that averse to a relationship."
"Yeah, he's just embarrassed about being an adorable puppet", Tara finished as all laughed again.
Nina said. "I don't know what to say." Puppet Angel walked up to the cage, holding onto the bars. "My people are workin' on the problem. I'm sure they'll fix it. Eventually." He sighed. "I didn't meant to upset you this morning. I just didn't want anyone— Well, I didn't want you to see me this way. It's a little, uh, embarrassing, I guess." Nina replied. "I'd call it a little insane." Angel hung his head in shame. "But... what do you care what people think, anyway?" Angel looked up at Nina, surprised. "Angel... you're you, you know?" She kneeled to talk to Angel on eye-level. "You're this— I mean, God, you're an actual hero, and, I don't know, this may sound cliché coming from an art-school chick, but... the Vampire thing's kind of sexy."
"Wow, she gets it", Buffy commented, impressed. "And she got it really fast."
"Guess being a werewolf helped in relating", Willow spoke up.
"So she likes him, he likes her, and none of them are off-put by the Vampire or werewolf thing", Dawn shrugged. "They should go for it."
"Once Angel's a not a puppet, because that'd be weird", Xander pointed out and all groaned.
Puppet Angel said. "It all sounds good, but that's not how I feel." Nina revealed. "I know. That's what I like about you." Nina stood as Angel said. "I'm not very good at any of this." He sighed and looked away. "I've spent so much time worrying about the past and the future and my very complicated life... it's been a while since I looked up and really saw what was going on around me. It's not my strong suit, you know? But I'm working on it. I'm paying better attention to—" a growling noise came from the cage and a dog's paw grabbed Angel, pulling him into the cage. "Aah! Ohh!" He tried to get away. "No, Nina! Bad Nina! Yaah!" The fabric ripped and Angel groaned as he was pulled in.
Everyone was jump-scared now as Buffy said. "Someone get Angel away from Nina! Quickly!"
"Or he'll be ripped to pieces and the place will be full of felt!" Dawn added in concern.
"Do not turn your back on someone who can turn werewolf on full moon cycle at night", Giles counselled. "Especially when you are a puppet."
"If he survives, he'll learn that lesson", Xander shrugged, as the rest hoped he was fine.
Lorne was walking toward his office when he heard a battered and torn Angel making his way toward him. He was trying to hold onto his stuffing. "Lorne..." "My little prince!" Lorne said in horror as Angel groaned and collapsed; Lorne went to his side. "Ohh... what did they do to you?" He picked up Puppet Angel in his arms. "Nina... tried to... eat me." Lorne yelled. "Medic!" He assured Angel. "You're gonna make it, Angel. Just don't stop fighting." He yelled out. "Doctor! Is there a Geppetto in the house?!"
In spite of the situation, that line made them all laugh as Dawn said. "He always has the best lines!"
"At least Angel's safe now", Tara told the rest, and they nodded, sighing in relief.
"Yeah, just hope the medics can fix puppets", Willow added hopefully.
"Hopefully, they will", Buffy shrugged.
Gunn returned to the doctor from whom he'd gotten his enhancement, and another man had been given X-ray vision via new retinas. He walked off as Gunn revealed his problem, and the doctor noted the imprint was fading. Gunn wanted it back but the doctor refused, saying he'd gotten it because of the Senior Partners, so if he was losing it, they wanted that too. Gunn didn't want to lose it. "I'm not going back to who I was!"
"Hey, you were not useless, okay?" Tara assured Gunn. "You were street-smart, and you did have good suggestions, nothing wrong with going back to that."
"Guess he likes the legal knowledge as much as I liked magic", Willow made a grim and sad comparison. "Magic made me feel more powerful, this legal knowledge is making him feel more powerful, and he'd feel empty without it."
No one could disagree with that comparison as Dawn added. "And since Wolfram and Hart gave it to him, probably better off without it."
"Try telling him that", Xander said.
The doctor then revealed he had a shipment hung up at customs, and it was a collectible he wanted a profit on, so he'd give Gunn a permanent upgrade as long as his problem was solved. Gunn said he didn't make deals with people like him, and the doctor replied he didn't make deals with dumb muscle either, he wanted to make a deal with Charles Gunn, Attorney at Law.
"Don't take it", Buffy warned immediately. "Don't. Shady person offers you a deal, never goes well."
"Yes, do not take it Charles", Giles agreed. "And I do not believe it is just a collectible."
"Yeah, why would that even be held up in customs?" Tara agreed. "Even most magical items can be passed off as normal."
"Something's not right, but I think Gunn is too desperate to care", Willow said grimly.
All had a bad feeling, and next two recordings would validate those fears, as well as Tara's distrust of Knox.
'Smile Time' was playing as Wesley and Fred watched it, and both seemed to like it now, when Knox arrived with 2 coffees, though they were for Fred and himself, which Wesley didn't mind. Now Knox tried to suggest a scientific solution but Wesley was the magic expert, so Fred asked Knox to go home, so he walked off, hanging his head due to Wesley and Fred together.
"Wes may have his flaws, but he's a lot better for Fred than you are", Xander told Knox. "Just let it go, pal."
"Hopefully, he does", Dawn hoped. "And hope he's not a psycho stalker or something."
"Don't jinx it", Buffy warned.
Of course he was a psycho, just a different kind from what they thought.
Wesley brought up Fred and Knox and she revealed it hadn't gone anywhere, since he tried to make her laugh and failed, so Wesley thought she wanted someone funny. Fred read his body language and realized he'd read her wrong, and she started explaining what she meant when Wesley noted something different on the program. Fred rewound the tape. When Wesley turned the volume back on, the image on the show changed. On mute, Polo had his hands pressed against the screen, but with volume, Polo was singing with the other puppets. Wes and Fred were seeing the same effect the boy Tommy saw earlier. When Wesley muted, Polo was on the screen again as Fred said. "Polo isn't singing with the rest of them. It looks like he's talking to the audience."
"So that is how they were hiding it", Giles realized as all were surprised. "That is quite some nuanced magic."
"Yeah, it's impressive, especially from puppets", Willow agreed.
"Well, at least they're caught now, time to stop them", Tara said to the rest.
"And we know Angel and the team will", Buffy said firmly.
Wesley turned the volume on and then muted it again. "Yes. When the song is playing, it acts as a sort of cloaking spell allowing Framkin to address his target without being seen by the rest of his viewers." Fred realized. "So that's how he's been hiding it." Wesley corrected. "No. That's how he was hiding it."
"Yeah, there were going to get everyone this time, weren't they?" Dawn asked grimly.
"Which means they must work fast", Xander added.
Angel used a needle to sew his torn-up jacket, but broke the string as he whined, then Wesley and Fred arrived, and Fred asked what had happened on seeing the claw marks on Angel's face but he wanted to know about what they'd found, so Wesley and Fred explained it to him, adding the object Angel saw would be a repository for children's life force so breaking the binding magic would free the children and reverse Angel's condition. Angel gasped and became overenthusiastic, jumping and hugging Fred. "I love you guys." Fred was confused on how to respond as Angel stepped back, deciding to end it soon.
"He is still adorable", Tara said as all cooed at Puppet Angel.
"Please remain a puppet longer", Buffy begged as all laughed again.
"That jumping and hugging was adorable too", Willow added and all laughed and nodded.
Then a confident Gunn returned, revealing the show had hit an all-time low so Framkin had made a deal with some devils to bring it to top, as he'd found a contract, but Framkin had missed the fine print as the devils had now taken over the puppets too, and they'd done this before too. They had to take out the puppets. "Well, then..." Angel took a sword off the wall, removing it from its scabbard. "Let's take out some puppets."
"Time to end the puppets", Buffy said.
"So that is what is going on, devils having taken over puppets", Giles noted. "Never make deals with devils."
"Nope, always ends badly", Xander agreed. "And looks like Gunn just did."
"Yeah", Tara said grimly. "I'm pretty sure there's more to it."
"We're about to find out", Willow muttered, having a sinking feeling.
"Hope they stop it", Dawn hoped, not knowing they wouldn't be able to.
Fred opened the double-doors leading from Angel's office to the lobby. Gunn and Wesley flanked her as they walked out toward their mission. Puppet Angel was leading the way, carrying his sword behind his head, parallel to his shoulders.
That scene made them laugh again as Dawn said. "Now this is the real 'Smile Time'."
"Puppet Angel, cute but dangerous", Buffy spoke, everyone laughing louder at how hilarious this was.
A little girl was watching the show as Polo did his thing, and the girl touched the TV, slowly turning paler like Tommy as Polo said. "After all, it's Smile Time!" "No, it's not", Angel had appeared now with his sword, "it's time to kick your ass all the way back to hell!"
"Hell yeah!" Xander agreed as all cheered. "And I just realized I used 'hell' too."
Angel leapt at Polo as they fought, the crew unable to see it due to their spell. Then Groofus the dog puppet had his head chopped off by Gunn as Polo beat up Angel and knocked the sword away, then punched him into the dog house. Polo then realized it was a full-scale attack before Angel pulled him into the dog house, and the hornblower puppet ran off, tooting.
All knew this was serious but the scene was making them laugh.
"Never thought I'd laugh at something like this", Dawn said, holding her stomach at this point.
"Yeah, puppets fighting and looking serious, it's so hilarious!" Willow agreed as the laughter increased.
"Oh yeah, this is gold", Xander laughed.
Wesley and Fred enter the 'Don't' room, Wesley having a satchel, and handed the bag to Fred, who read from a scroll, then the nest rumbled as the glowy smile appeared, while the hornblower puppet choked Wesley from behind, making him drop the scroll, but he told Fred to keep reading.
"Think he's a badass, then see a puppet choking him", Xander quipped with a chuckle.
Angel and Polo fought inside the dog house as Angel threw Polo out, and Gunn was about to kill him when the girl puppet leapt at him, the two struggling as she tried to take out his eyes, and as the girl watched on her TV, Gunn slapped the girl puppet on the camera, taking her down.
"So two down now", Buffy said. "Polo and the nest to go."
"Dangerous, but still puppets", Willow shrugged.
"Devils in puppets", Tara corrected.
Fred read the scroll as Wesley struggled with the hornblower, being thrown off as the hornblower picked up a fire extinguisher to get him. Fred now put down the scroll and shot the hornblower twice, staggering it back, and Wesley looked at her in grateful admiration as she blushed, putting the gun away, then went back to reading the scroll.
"Oh, they are definitely gonna get together real soon", Dawn said.
"How much you wanna bet?" Xander asked.
"100 dollars", Dawn shrugged.
"Dawnie!" Willow, Tara and Buffy went together, and she looked sheepish.
"Stop betting with her", Tara warned Xander, who looked away in fear.
"I'll win?" Dawn both asked and said lamely.
Angel and Polo puppets were still fighting. "I'm gonna tear you a new puppet hole, bitch!" Polo punched Angel; Angel overpowered him, pushing him to the ground and started choking him. Polo gasped. "So... you got a little demon in you." "I got a lot of demon in me", Angel's forehead went all bumpy and his fangs descended as Polo gasped in fright. "Now, come on!" Angel grabbed Polo and threw him into the treehouse, breaking the wood railing. Polo fell on the wooden splinters and fell limp.
"Puppet Vamp Angel saves the day!" Dawn cheered and laughed, and so did the rest.
"Still looks cute", Buffy shrugged with a smile.
"Yes, I still wanna cuddle him", Tara agreed.
"Let's all cuddle him together, and we can invite Cordy and Fred for it too", Willow said, and all laughed, but agreed.
"Polo has gone down", Xander smirked.
"All of them will be", Giles agreed.
Fred finished reading the scroll as Wesley broke the puppet's horn, and a deflating sound came as its stuffing showed on Wesley like guts and it collapsed.
"So those are guts", Xander quipped, eliciting more laughter.
Angel returned to normal and glared at Polo who hung from the treehouse railing, and Gunn assured he was good, and Fred finished reading, as the nest egg cracked, then exploded, showering the room with bright light, and the girl was thrust back into her chair, looking healthy as she assured her mom she was just watching some TV.
All sighed in relief as Buffy said. "Now Puppet Angel and his team have saved the day at last."
"Yes, kids are safe and healthy again, and Puppet Angel brought us a lot of laughter", Willow added, as all of them laughed again.
"Yup, we need to see him", Tara agreed, bringing more laughter.
Nina was in human form again, lying naked in her cage amidst pieces of torn fabric. She woke, disoriented, and looked around her. She pulled lint off of her lips. "Oh, my God. I ate him." There was a knocking at the door. She reached for a nearby silk robe as Angel asked from outside the door. "Hey, uh, you decent?" Nina finished putting on the robe. "Angel. Oh, thank God. Hold on one second." She tied the robe. "OK." Angel walked into the room. "Wow. Sorry. Takes getting used to."
"Why is he still a puppet?" Dawn asked. "Not complaining though."
"I believe it will be undone in its own time", Giles pointed out, and the rest nodded.
Angel said. "Ha. Tell me about it. Wes and Fred say my condition's improving, though." Nina asked. "So you're gonna change back?" "Yeah. 2, 3 days tops. Ahem...uh... anyway..." Angel opened the cage door. "What are you doing for breakfast?" Nina laughed. "What do puppets eat?" "Let's find out." Angel offered Nina his hand, and she took it. They walked out of the room together.
All laughed again as Xander said. "Probably take out their stuffing and eat it."
More laughter.
Then Buffy said. "So Werewolf and a Puppet Vampire on a date, think anything will go wrong?"
"Probably, but not in the usual way", Tara shrugged, eliciting more chuckles.
"Just hope it remains a date", Dawn said, and they laughed more.
Wesley was standing at his desk, organizing books and papers when Fred walked into his office. "I just got off the phone. Looks like the kids are coming out of their stasis." Wesley responded. "Oh...good. I think we did some excellent work back there." Fred smiled broadly. "I think you're right." "And now..." Wesley grabbed his coat. Fred started. "And now..." "We'd better get some rest. No telling when the next crisis will strike." Wesley started to walk toward the door.
"You bloody idiot!" Giles said, as all groaned.
"Seriously, how can he be so smart and so dumb at the same time?" Willow wondered as the rest nodded.
"Don't think Fred's gonna let it go this time", Buffy told the rest.
Fred stepped in front of him, cutting him off; looking at him nervously. "You're just gonna go, aren't you?" "Fred—" Fred searched his expression. "Haven't you been... sensing anything lately... about me... coming from me? Uh... didn't occur to you that... something might have changed? That—I'm looking at you in a different— Oh, screw it." She put her hands on either side of his face and kissed him on the lips, then stepped back, looking in his eyes. Wesley trailed off. "Um..." Fred said. "That was a signal. OK? Is that... clear enough for you?" Wesley dropped his blazer, looked into her eyes and smiled. "Not even close." He kissed Fred more passionately; they put their arms around each other as the puppets sang a self-esteem song for background music. The screen went black.
"Finally!" Dawn said as all of them cheered once more. "At last! It has happened!"
"Took them long enough", Tara agreed. "But now both of them feel the same way."
"And this has shown it", Willow nodded. "At long last."
"I know they will work out", Buffy smiled. "They were like…..made for each other."
"No doubt about it", Xander said with a nod of his own. "Go both of you!"
"At least they can find some happiness", Giles agreed. "Well, this one was more than amusing."
"Hell yeah! This was hilarious!" Dawn said. "I loved it!"
"We all did", Buffy nodded. "So funny, Puppet Angel is adorable."
"The cuddling plan is still open", Tara shrugged as all women cheered.
"The next one won't be this funny, but I'm hoping it's not too bad", Willow hoped, not knowing it was going to be the polar opposite of this one in terms of tone.
"Let's hope", Buffy agreed as they came to the next recording.
Finally done! This episode so much fun to watch, and write! And Puppet Angel is hilarious and adorable, and him beating up Spike is even better. Fun fact- James Marsters was actually hitting himself in that scene.
And Angel/Nina as well as Wesley/Fred got together.
Also, in my MCU/Buffyverse crossover series, Connor is still an adorable baby at this point in this series and I'd a cute scene of him playing with puppet Angel, here goes-
"Cordelia lifted up Connor and put him on the couch with puppet Angel. "Come on Angel, he's still your baby, play with him."
Angel looked hesitant, but then saw Connor reaching out to him with an innocent look and sighed. "Fine."
Connor picked up his puppet dad and squealed happily as he played with him.
"Easy, Connor."
"Small dada", Connor said as he laughed.
"Yes I am."
Cordelia watched and muttered. "Still not having sex with a puppet.""
And that's some more cute and funny stuff.
But next one *sighs* Well, poor everyone.
Hope all enjoyed (of course you did, this wasn't 'Smile Time', this was 'Laughter Time'), and see you all next time with another chapter.