Chapter 63: Strange Feelings

While CatNap was getting ready and collecting himself from another nightmare he just had, DogDay was watching TV in the living/dining room of their little apartment.

"Hmm, Mira is now the new mayor of Sunshine Valley." DogDay said while watching a blue bird critter giving her speech at Town Hall, "She looks like a mother figure. Wish my mother was like that… Oh well, I'm not gonna let that get to my head anyways."

As CatNap was walking out of his room to meet with DogDay in the living room, CatNap received a text from one of his friends, KickinChicken. The two were now on good terms after The Hour Of Joy and were on the road to recovering as friends. CatNap chuckled as he received that text and went to meet with DogDay. CatNap looked at the TV.

"Who's Mira?" He wondered,

"Oh, she's gonna be the new mayor of Sunshine Valley." DogDay replied, "She was elected 2 months ago and got inaugurated a week after our graduations surprisingly."

"She seems like a well-respected critter."

"She looks like it. Might as well see where she goes with Sunshine Valley and how she'll get along with Crittopia's mayor."

CatNap sat next to DogDay.

"So… About that one critter…" CatNap said,

"Hmm?" DogDay wondered,

"Do you like her?"

DogDay nervously laughed.

"What are you talking about?" He wondered,

"Kickin just texted me about it." CatNap replied, "It's all about that weasel you like, huh?"

DogDay nervously laughed more.

"Come on! That's not true!" He said, "Considering that she was with us sometimes!"

"Even in graduation." CatNap said, "What was her name again?"

DogDay sighed in defeat. He can't help it. He knows he must talk about it.

"Alright, I'll explain it." He said, blushing, "Her name is Poppy Popgoes."

"Poppy Pogoes, huh?" CatNap said, "She's the weasel critter with white fur, red hair and wears blue dresses, yeah?"

"Yup, that's her."

"She's one of the highest students in Theater major."

"Oh yes! And her parents are part of two different businesses in the world of theater! But Poppy prefers to be a full on actress, which is fine by her parents!"

"I see… She's living a rich life, huh?"

"Yes, but no. Although the Popgoes family is rich, they're also just normal living citizens like us. Considering that they're millionaires and all that."

"Huh, interesting."

CatNap chuckled again.

"Hey, remember when Bubba was jealous of your final report card before graduating?" He asked him,

"Oh, don't get me started!" DogDay said, "I got the highest grade in English and History in our 12th grade class and I managed to beat him by 1 point! He had both 99s in those subjects while I got only 2 100s on my final 12th grade report card!"

"Well he is a Straight A student…"

"Same here, but I don't strive for perfection unlike Bubba…"

"Yeah…"

"Well, now that you're awake, I'm gonna go prepare breakfast for us."

"Cook away, buddy."

DogDay then walked to the kitchen to start breakfast for himself and CatNap. CatNap then sighed and thought to himself.

"...What a strange feeling…" He said, "It's almost as if… things are returning to normal around the friend group I'm in…"

CatNap then got a text from Bubba. Bubba said that Miss FishyFinns could help CatNap with his dreams. CatNap was already interested.

"Hmmm…" He wondered, "Considering that it's the Summer, I hope she has a book or two on this ongoing crisis I'm in…"

After breakfast, CatNap would be chatting with Miss FishyFinns, his 12th grade science teacher, on the phone.

"Yes, tomorrow sounds lovely." He said, "Take care."

CatNap ended the call with his science teacher as he and DogDay went out to hang with one another for the day. While the two hang out, a sheep critter was watching them from an alleyway.

"...That cat…" She said, "I need to make amends with him, before it's too late…"

The next day, in the morning, after breakfast, DogDay was seen getting ready by CatNap.

"What are you doing getting classy?" He asked DogDay,

DogDay chuckled.

"Ok, you got me, again!" He replied, "Poppy Popgoes herself wants to come here later."

"W-Wow, already?" CatNap wondered,

"Yeah!"

"...You like her."

"Don't make me blush more."

"Ok, I won't."

"By the way, I'm surprised you're not complaining that all of us are in relationships but you."

"Well I want to fix myself first before I put myself in a relationship."

"That's good, buddy. Yourself is more important than a relationship."

"For now."

"Yeah, for now… Anyways, where are you going?"

"I'm gonna go see Miss FishyFinns."

"Oh? Is it about your nightmares?"

"Yes."

"Alright… Stay safe out there, buddy."

"Thanks, and have fun with Poppy."

"Ok, that's enough. I will have fun with her."

CatNap meanwhile was out, walking to the home of Finn FishyFinns, his 12th grade science teacher.

"Alright, CatNap, you got this…" He said, "Let's just hope that nothing bad happens like the last time one of us dealt with a teacher that tried to take over the world with a genocide of some sort."

CatNap would then see someone walking by as nothing happened after looking at them. He didn't get a clear look at their face, because they disappeared so quickly.

"Huh, someone was watching me." He said, "This better not be another Hour Of Joy bullcrap later…"

CatNap then arrived outside of the home of Finn FishyFinns as he knocked on the door. It was a big house.

"Well, for someone who's single throughout their life, Miss FishyFinns knows how to keep a big yet sturdy home for her studies and stuff." He said,

Finn opened the door to reveal herself. She was an orange fish critter wearing a lab coat.

"Ah, CatNap, come in." She said, "I'll prepare some water for you, if you're thirsty."

"I appreciate it." CatNap said, "Better not poison me."

Finn chuckled.

"Never had, never will." She said, "So come in."

CatNap and Finn were then sitting on opposite couches and drinking fresh cucumber water.

"Well, I never had cucumber water before." CatNap said as he took some sips, "Tastes good."

"Glad you like it." Finn said, "So tell me, what is on your mind for you to be here?"

"It's my nightmares."

"Ah, you're still having those nightmares that you kept telling me about, on why you're falling asleep time to time back in class, yes?"

"...Yes."

"Well, since you passed my class with the 2nd lowest grade of a B, you can tell me what those nightmares were about."

"Well… It's about… myself, being in a hallway with red smoke touching my ankles."

"Red smoke, huh? That's used to make people fall asleep faster, but some people here use them as drugs to keep them wide awake while being very, very high."

"Well, when I was a kid, the Home Sweet Home orphanage made me take them to fall asleep faster, but it ended up giving me a shitty form of insomnia."

"Hmm… I never saw reports of that happening before."

"What? No one reported that sort of problem?"

"Unfortunately not."

"Damn… Something is off about that… Anyways, I'll continue with my nightmares. Sometimes I end up facing a bigger and monstrous version of myself."

"Really?"

"Really. He was on all-fours, got longer legs, looks like he hasn't eaten in weeks and has a smile so sinister that I would die if I ever saw that smile."

"Were there any monstrous versions of your friends?"

"...Just one. It was DogDay. Except, he was innocent. His legs were ripped off, were strapped to some belts by his arms and he told me about how I wasn't like the CatNap he knew."

"Hmm… Interesting…"

"And then there were some damaged stuffed animals of myself and my 7 friends that were there to eat my flesh…"

CatNap was disgusted.

"Sorry, I hate talking about it." He said,

"I understand. It sucks hearing it as well." Finn said,

"Well, do you have anything? Any books about it?"

"Hmmm… I might have a book on those nightmares and the usage of drugs to help someone fall asleep while those drugs were also abused for other usages."

"You do? That would be so nice."

"But, you're gonna have to earn it."

"Earn it? …Ok, what do I gotta do? Mow your lawn? Clean your dishes? Cook for you, maybe?"

Finn laughed a bit.

"No, none of that." She said as she went behind the couch she was sitting on to bring out a Duel Disk, which surprised CatNap, "Beat me in a game of Duel Monsters, and I'll help you find the book you want."

CatNap chuckled a bit.

"Ok, that sounds better than the suggestions I had." He said as he got out his old high school bag to bring out his Duel Disk, "Good thing I came prepared too."

"Excellent." Finn said, "Meet me outside."

Finn then left the house as CatNap sighed heavily.

"I can't believe this…" He said as he grew confident, "But if it's a duel my teacher wants, then I'll give it to her."