Chapter 1: Meadow Shower
The Smiling Critters and the Nightmare Critters are walking on Red Poppy Road through a lowland floodplain meadow, and the sky is covered in grey clouds.
Poe smiled, "Finally, a day with no sunlight."
"I'm right here, you know," said DogDay.
"Who cares?"
"This is lame. All we have to do is follow a magical rip-off road. Why can't it be flashier? Like gold? Or silver," Simon Smoke complained.
"If it did, it would get dirty instantly," said Bubba Bubbaphant.
"Like me. Would anyone like sockquitos? It's got raw onions, stinky moldy Limburger, sour milk, and mystery meat," said Touille, holding a bucket of mosquitos.
"Geh, no thanks, Touille. You can have them all," said PickyPiggy, as everyone else covered their mouths in disgust.
"Oh, well. Suit yourselves."
As Touille started eating them, Maggie Mako said, putting away her chocolate bar, "Thanks a lot, trash talker. You made me lose appetite."
"Hahahahaha. Thank you, Mister Player, for giving me this hot mama, the Nightfall Axe. I will slash all my enemies into chops," Baba Chops said while holding her weapon.
Baba was up ahead of everyone to swing a double battle axe round while slashing any long grass on the sides of the road. The Smiling Critters, even her friends, were trembling over a side they'd never seen from Baba.
"Thanks a lot, Mister Player. You turned our leader into a monster!" Icky Licky complained.
"Leader? Since when did the black sheep of the group become your leader?" KickinChicken question.
"Who wouldn't love to see a cute cuddly sheep to be in charge? I mean, look at her!" Rabie Baby gestures to Baba, who is swingy like a maniac.
"I think you made a mistake to elect her as your leader," said Hoppy Hopscotch.
"What? It was the only way we could keep her around in our group. She's the bestie our group needs."
"Besides, she scares us. Especially when she does that super disturbing laugh," said Allister Gator, who hugs Poe in fear, making them chock.
When Baba does her sheep-like laugh, everyone looks at her in concern.
"Uh, I thought Simon would be the leader of the Nightmare Critters," Bobby Bearhug suggested.
"And become like Ruffman and Babs? No, thank you. As far as I know, I want to lead this pack, and popular people don't need responsibilities. Rooster gets it, right?" said Simon.
"Totally," Kickin nodded.
But when the Critters heard thunder, they saw the clouds getting darker and rain pouring.
"Oh no, it's raining. Quickly, everyone. Get out your raincoats," said DogDay while the Smiling Critters went through their magic backpacks.
"This stinks and our backpacks will get waterlogged soon," said Maggie, pulling a weather coat.
"Stupid rain! How dare it rain upon me and ruin my hair?!" Simon yelled, looking at his damp hair.
Simon then pointed to the sky and shouted, "Hey, rain! You better stop that!"
As if by sheer coincidence, lightning strikes Simon, causing him to scream in pain and get electrocuted. He continues to cry while his friends try to hold back their laughter from seeing their popular jerk friend getting hurt for once. As for the Smiling Critters, they looked concerned about his well-being, but CraftyCorn looked worried the most. Once Simon started to burn into ashes, everyone was shocked when the electrocution stopped. Simon crumbled like a broken vase and then fell apart in pieces.
"Simon, oh my gosh!" Crafty screamed.
"Kickin, do you mind?" Hoppy said.
"Got it," said Kickin.
He uses his Willpower to create a force field to protect the Smiling Critters and the Nightmare Critters from the lightning.
"Oh, well. At least I can test my Life and Death Manipulation magic. Hold still, Ashy Smoke," Baba kneeled.
"Haha, very funny, Babs," said Simon.
"Gah, he can still talk! That's freaky," said CatNap.
"Well, he is a dragon," said Rabie.
Baba touches Simon's ashes, which start to glow white. The ashes pile into Simon's shape, thus reviving him to life again.
"I'm back and charming as ever. Thanks, Baba. You are the bestie our group needs," Simon said before hugging Baba with pride.
"Awww. Friendship prevails again," Bobby said.
"But it's what Simon gets for being rude to the clouds that defend us from the burning sunlight," Poe crossed their arms.
"Want me to burn you, raven thing?!" Simon yelled.
"We don't have time for squabbles. We need to find some shelter from this downpour, or we'll get the sniffles," said Bubba.
Allister then started to sneeze for Hoppy to say, "Too late."
"Wait, you're an alligator, Allister. How can sneeze from getting rain on?" Touille questioned.
DogDay began sniffing the air and said, "Wait. I think I smell a cave nearby. Let's take shelter there. Follow me!"
DogDay runs ahead before everyone goes after him.
As the Smiling Critters and Nightmare Critters ran, the Prototype and Shadow Poppy watched them again through the Poppy Flower Crystal ball.
"Aha, hehehehe-hehehehe. So, you wouldn't take a warning, eh? Well, thankful, we sent our agent to make you wish you'll never leave your following location," said Shadow Poppy.
"Your lovely laughter matches the outfit you have on, my dear," said the Prototype, patting Shadow Poppy with his Hand.
"Oh, you flatter me, Prototype. May our friend blind them so much that it will make them forget their journey."
Shadow Poppy looked over to the chained Smiling Knights(Bigger Body Smiling Critters), who were asleep except CatNap on the 29th.
"How insane can you get?" CatNap yelled.
"Enough for victory to be mine," said the Prototype.
"Now I see why my ancestor left you without hesitation."
"Oh, TheobellNap was never like your ancestor, CatNap the 1st. He remains obedient until he dies."
"Yeah, until he died by your hand."
"That's because his son had backstabbed me. Theobell was willing to take his son's punishment."
"I'm sure Theobell rejected working for you after you killed him. When my son, his friends, and allies show up, you will regret returning."
"It was thanks to this young lady I could return."
"What?"
"Now, about those Dark Nightmarish Knights removing the Scent Seal," said Shadow Poppy, walking away with the Prototype.
When the two villains left, CatNap thought, "I must warn my son."