Chapter 5: Uncle Bron's House

Bron is walking toward his cave, with a mailbox labeled with his name. The Smiling Critters and the Nightmare Critters were still on his head as he entered the cave.

"Welcome to my Cozy Cave, little Critters. My cave is your cave," said Bron.

"A cave where sunlight could get in? I like it," Poe smiled.

"Poe, you smiled?!" Bobby BearHug is in shock.

"What?! I told you I'm not in a phase."

Bron lowers his head so Critters can slide down on his back and tail like in Flintstones.

"I always wanted to do this too!" Kickin Chicken is excited.

"Me too!" Hoppy Hopscotch smiled.

"Yabba Dabba Doo!" the Smiling Critters slide down Bron happily.

They laughed while summersaults in the air. They landed on their two feet perfectly.

"A perfect landing!" Bubba Bubbaphant is holding a 10 card.

"I agree, too!" Bron is holding a 10 card, too.

"Oh, yeah. Well, watch this!" Icky Licky exclaimed.

The Nightmare Critters slide down Bron, saying, "Obba Dabba Dee!"

"Ha, how you Critters like that?!" Maggie Mako smirked as the Nightmare Critters went flying into the air.

But they slam into the rock wall, causing everyone else to moan into seeing the Nightmare Critters in pain.

"Zur alors!" Touille exclaimed before the Nightmare Critters fell on Bron's bed.

"Sorry, but I give that score a 5," said Bubba, showing a 5 card.

"Aw, well. We landed in Bron's bed," Allister Gator yawned.

"Bed?! Out of my way!" CatNap hops onto the bed, making the other Nightmare Critters fly out of the bed, expecting Allister.

"Rude!" Rabie Baby yelled.

"Like you and your friends are better."

"And sassy! I like that in a cat."

As CatNap and Allister got comfortable in bed, DogDay said, "Now, you two, before you get comfortable, we have questions about your parents first. Uncle Bron, since you met them, what were they like?"

Baba Chops suddenly got on his head to say, "Yeah! Give us every little detail about them!"

"Of course. I want to start by saying that your parents were blessed to have you in their lives," said Bron, picking up a picture frame from a nightstand.

He hands over to DogDay so everyone can get a good look. The Smiling Critters and Nightmare Critters see an adult version of themselves, but with mustaches and big eyelashes, who are their parents. They are happily holding sleepy and bundled baby versions of the Smiling Critters and Nightmare Critters.

"Wow, talking about strong resemblance. Our parents look just like us but with facial and makeup," said CraftyCorn.

"I knew handsomeness runs in the bloodline," said Simon Smoke.

"But wait a minute. Our parents were very different and giant when we connected to them through our medals," said PickyPiggy.

"Wait, what?" the Nightmare Critters said in shock.

"That's because of the Red Air's effect. It could somehow turn anyone who encounters it into a giant monstrous abomination. A dark magic, I believe," Bron answered.

"That sounds unreal," said CatNap.

"Hello, you said you contacted your parents through your medals. How?" Baba questioned.

"I don't know."

"Anyway, on the Day of Terror, or the enemies called it, the Day of Joy," Bron continued. "You were all in the hands of the one who caused the Red Air form that your parents had to surrender to them. They had to leave in the care of Home Sweet Home in Critter City to keep safe and prepared to fulfill the prophecy."

"You mean our parents left us to protect us? I thought they abandoned us because of how we are?" said Icky.

"That's silly to think. Your parents were overjoyed when they first held you in their arms. I should know because I was there when you all entered the world. They even insisted the Princess herself to give her blessings to you as soon as you were born."

"As in Princess Poppy?" Rabie Baby asks.

"Wait, how old is she?" Bubba asks.

"Never mind that, Critters. I have a message from your parents that they want you to hear," Bron continued. "Never forget that magic is within you. Strong emotions and imagination are the keys to making your magic flow with you. But the most important thing is to remember that we love you, our little Critters. We believe that you are the faith for Playtime Land."

Touched, the Smiling Critters and the Nightmare Critters looked at the photo of their parents again. They all hug each other before a scream alerts them from outside.

"What was that?!" the Critters shouted.

A Triceratops showed up and said, "Bron, he's back! And he's looking for the Critters, too."

"What?!"

"Little Critters, stay in my cave and don't come out!" Bron leaves with the Triceratops.

"Wait, hold on! Who is the enemy we might face?!" Baba asks.

"Now what?" Crafty asks.

"There's one thing we can do," DogDay suggests.

"Take a nap?" Allister asks.

"I'm with the alligator," CatNap agreed.

"No. We have to help the dinosaurs," DogDay said.

"I'd rather stay in the dark," said Poe.

"And miss all the drama. Forget it!" Rabie exclaimed.

"Yeah, let's go kick some baddie butt!" Simon flies off.

Everyone but CatNap, Allister, and Poe sit on the bed, not wanting to leave. But DogDay, Hoppy, and Bobby grabbed them by their tails to make them come along.

"But we haven't slept in a real bed ever since we took off on our journey," CatNap complained.

"Just a couple of minutes," Allister added.

"But I just took off my cloak! No fair!" Poe yelled.