CatNap's Comeback (A Smiling Critters Episode, Season 3 EP #1)
*This episode is after season 2, episode 16.
A VHS Tape was heard being inserted into a VHS Player in the darkness. A TV turns to show a screen with the words Play, 0:00:31, and SLP. After it went static, it switched to the Playtime Co. Slogan.
"What's the time?" a woman said.
"Playtime!" said some children.
It goes static again, so Smiling Critters Intro could play. However, as it plays, the Nightmare Critters joined along.
Smiling Critters: S-M-I-L-E, every day![As Hoppy Hopscotch plays soccer, Allister Gator is behind her sleeping. When PickPiggy appeared to eat a burger, Maggie Mako tried to grab it from behind her, but a wave pushed them both down.]
KickinChicken: When you are down and out... [As KickinChicken surfs the wave, Icky Licky tries to keep up with him from behind but shakes his fist as he falls overboard from his surfboard.]
Bobby BearHug: No need to frown and pout! [Bobby BearHug appeared with hearts around, but Poe had their wings crossed with a lighting cloud background behind Bobby's back.]
Bubba Bubbaphant and CraftyCorn: 'Cuz Smiling Critters' here to say [When CraftyCorn and Bubba Bubbaphant appeared to look at the canvas, Simon Smoke was putting his arm around Crafty and holding a rose. As Touille was behind Bubba while in a garbage can.]
Smiling Critters: S-M-I-L-E, every day! [Once Bubba pulled the drawing to form a moon, Rabie Baby followed it as she circled CatNap. When DogDay was about to pull down CatNap's tail, Baba Chops walked over to the tail from the opposite direction. She tripped so both she and DogDay could pull down the tail together. With the title shown, the Nightmare Critters were upside down beneath it. They did the same poses as their Smiling Critters' rivals but acted like bad guys.]
But then a glitch occurred, showing the episode barely titled "A Cat Comeback."
It's daytime at DogDay's House. Inside, the clock is at 11:08 a.m. DogDay is on the couch holding a picture of him and CatNap hugging each other with a sad expression. Bobby BearHug, Bubba Bubbaphant, CraftyCorn, Hoppy Hopscotch, KickinChicken, and PickyPiggy surround him with concern.
"DogDay, you've been lying on the couch all day. Don't you want to go outside and play?" Bobby asks.
"Life has been the same since CatNap left," DogDay replied with droopy ears.
"He only went on a self-discovery journey. He'll be back soon," Bubba ensured.
"Yes, but he didn't say when he'll return."
"How about we draw something that makes you happy?" Crafty suggested while holding crayons.
"Like CatNap being here?"
"How about we eat something? Like an apple, an orange, or a plum?" Picky suggested, taking an apple.
"Plumes are the same color as CatNap."
"How about running around outside?" Hoppy raised her hand.
"Yeah. Let's do it. The air here is getting stuffy," Kickin nodded.
But then a knock on the door was heard, startling the Critters. The door slowly opens to reveal a familiar shape: CatNap.
Their faces lit up, and they said simultaneously, "CatNap!"
DogDay puts his photo down, runs to CatNap, and shares a hug with him while saying, "Buddy! My best friend, you've come back! I never thought I'd see you again! I miss you so much."
"We miss you, CatNap," the others ran over and hugged him, too.
"I miss you all too," CatNap said in a deep voice, similar to the one from CatNap's Day Off and Hide and Sleep.
Hearing his voice, his friends gasped, surprised, and backed away.
"Did CatNap just talk?" Crafty quietly questioned.
"Oh, yes, I did. What do you think?" CatNap opens his arms like a showman.
"But how's that possible?! You were muted. Wait..." Bubba exclaimed.
"That's right, Bubba. While on my self-discovery journey, I found my voice and loved it. So mature and calm. It fits me."
"This is way past cool, CatNap," Kickn smiled.
"Now that you can talk, we have many questions," Bobby added.
"Lay it on me, Critters," CatNap answered.
"Now, since you sleep a lot, what do you dream about?" Hoppy asked.
"Mostly, I dream of sleeping on the clouds while I breathe my Sleep Gas down on the Earth for everyone to join me in soothing slumber."
"Even in your dreams, you sleep through them. Now, what are your long-term goals?" Picky asks.
"To break the all-time sleeping record."
"Heh. That figures. Now, please answer this question. How do we look with our pendants?" DogDay said, showing his Sun Medal.
"It brings out your strongest gifts out of your eyes."
"Oh, CatNap. You flatter."
"Now that I have answered all of your questions, I can finally say I want to say for so long to you guys. Bobby, go easy on the hugs, or you'll crush anyone's bones. Bubba, don't show off your smarts all the time. It will make you look like a know-it-all. Crafty, you need to learn self-confidence. Kickin, be brave if you want to stay as the cool kid of our friend group. Hoppy, remember to take it slow, or you will miss out on many things. Picky, don't overfeed yourself; you might be stuffed up like a toy. And DogDay, I love you, buddy, but you gotta learn to relax. I don't want to use my Sleep Gas on you every night to help you sleep."
"Horray for CatNap's new voice," his friends cheered.
"Let's celebrate CatNap's return with a day out," said DogDay, opening the door for his friends.
"Yeah!" everyone agreed.
In this order, Bobby, Bubba, CatNap, Crafty, DogDay, Hoppy, Kicken, and Picky left the house smiling and laughing. But Rabie Baby was seen through the window once the door closed, meaning she witnessed the reunion.
She giggled and said before flying away, "My friends will not believe this."
Rabie started flying upward before going through the forest. As she flies southward, the sunlight begins to thin out slowly. She then arrives at a creepy, barely lit forest with houses of the Nightmare Critters, meaning she's in her neighborhood. She smiles when she sees her friends are at Baba's House, which has so many Do Not Disturb signs in its yard, but her door is open. Simon Smoke is blowing smoke rings at Poe, holding an umbrella and looking annoyed.
"Hey! Quit it, dragon breathe," Poe said.
"Make me," Simon scoffed.
Allister Gator is lying on the pathway to Baba's sleeping. Touille is rummaging in Baba's trashcan.
"Wow. Rabie was right. Baba does have a doll of DogDay," said Touille, taking out a voodoo doll of DogDay.
Allister yawned and said, "Can you keep it down? This gator is waiting for Baba to come out."
"Hey, fellas. I'm back and have some good gossip," Rabie landed behind Simon.
Maggie Mako exited Baba's house and said, "Sup, Rabie! Icky and I finally got Baba out of her room."
Icky Licky then came out with his tongue wrapped on an annoyed Baba, and he said, "She was putting up one heck of an argument and tried to throw arms, but we finally did it."
"I hate that you guys are persistent," Baba said.
"Well, Babs. I'm sure this gossip I got will perk you up," said Rabie.
"I don't care."
"It involves the Smiling Critters."
Hearing the group's name, Baba emerged from Icky's mouth and said, with a devilish smile, "I'm listening."
"Tehehehehehe. An unexpected visitor showed up at DogDay's door—a certain moon kitty."
Her friends all wondered who this person was. The mention of him caused Touille to fall out of the trashcan. Maggie was eating jelly beans until hearing Rabie's words caused her to spit out at Poe's jaw, which dropped his mouth, and they started choking and falling. Icky slurps his tongue. Simon blew fire into the air in shock. Baba was surprised but then turned her attention to Poe and hit their head constantly from behind to stop them from choking.
Allister quickly woke up and said, "Was I dreaming, or did Rabie say that Red Breathe Purple Cat is back?"
After Poe stopped choking, they said, "Thanks, Baba."
"No prob," Baba answered.
Touille crawls over like the rat he is and says, "She said it. But I'm sure she's making it up."
"Yeah, I mean. Rabie could be making up things. Like that one time, she told me Crafty thinks I was smoking hot," Simon stomps his foot in frustration.
"Well, it was funny," Icky chuckled, but Simon punched him out of the scene.
"Got any proof, Rabie?" Maggie asked while she ate the choked-up jelly beans that Poe spit out.
"Right here," Rabie takes a photo of the Smiling Critters hugging each other during CatNap's return.
Her friends look closer at the photo and are more surprised that CatNap has returned. Touille takes the picture to get a better look at himself and becomes enraged by CatNap's appearance.
Touille: (in shock) The Cat is back!? [He ripped the picture in two.]
Rabie Baby: Yeah, I thought he was gone for good, too. [She touched her chest with her wing with a smirk.]
Poe: (shaking their head) It's been two years! [They find it hard to believe and close their umbrella.]
Simon Smoke: Now those Smiling Freaks will have us even! [He crossed his arm in dismay with smoke from his nostrils.]
Icky Licky: Don't push it, Simon. [He looked annoyed with his eye twitching.]
Simon: Just saying. [He shrugged and rubbed his nose with one finger.]
Maggie Mako: Things have changed a lot since Kitty left the company [She takes out a Playtime Co. poster while licking a lollipop.]
Allister Gator: That's for sure. [He rubbed his eyes to stay awake.]
Baba Chops: Nightmare Critters, let's send a message about who's really in charge now. [She touches her hands together to get her friends' attention. They looked at her with sinister grins, hinting they agreed to her suggestion.]
(Nightmare Critters evil laughed) [As they laughed, they walked toward the screen for the scene to go black as the music started to play.
Touille: Welcome home [The scene changed for the Nightmare Critters opening the door to a particular room.]
We're gonna make you wish that you'd stayed gone [They're walking through the room for the lights to come on and reveal a broadcasting studio filled with the Nightmare Critters' merchandise.]
Rabie Baby: Say hello to a new status quo [The Nightmare Critters clapped their hands twice for humans wearing masks that match their faces to appear and begin production.]
Everyone knows that there's a brand-new dawn. [The Nightmare Critters get on stage so their workers can prepare them to look good on camera, with hair styled and faces clean and perfect.]
Nightmare Critters: Turn the TV on! [They pointed to their workers to start filming.]
Director: Camera, speeds. Rolling in 3, 2... [As the set's lights activate, the cameras turn on.]
(Welcome to the show) [A TV turns on for the title of the Nightmare Critters to appear.]
Simon Smoke: Ey peeps, and we're discussing a certain freakshow [His friends stand aside while he looks at the camera so the Smiling Critters and their logo would show.]
Who has been spotted with their long-lost kitty in town [A red circle was drawn around CatNap.]
(Welcome to the show) [Another Smiling Critters reading is shown with CatNap circled( wiki/Smiling_Critters/Gallery?file=Smiling_Critters_unused_Artwork_ ).]
After a two-year absence [Another image showed CatNap getting a hug by DogDay from behind( wiki/CatNap/Gallery?file=Smiling_Critters_unused_Artwork_ ).]
Did anybody miss him? [The image has CatNap fallen on his face with CraftyCorn holding her mouth( wiki/CatNap/Gallery?file=Smiling_Critters_unused_Artwork_ ).]
(Welcome to the show) [The following image has CatNap on his tail to get taller than the stacked Hoppy and Bobby( wiki/CatNap/Gallery?file=Smiling_Critters_unused_Artwork_ ).]
Did anybody notice? [The last photo has the Smiling Critters in a blue car( wiki/CatNap/Gallery?file=Smiling_Critters_unused_Artwork_ ).]
More on tonight's program! [Simon pushes the image away before lowering down off-scene.]
Poe: So, CatNap is back in town [Poe is seen sitting on a chair while holding a CatNap doll.]
Why is he hangin' around? [A table of the rest of the Smiling Critter dolls slide over to them.]
What does that mean for the Smiling family? [Poe placed the CatNap doll on the table until Icky appeared underneath the table.]
Icky Licky: Well, handily, I've got good news [He flung the table out of the scene to reveal himself.]
They're losers, total fossils [He pulled Poe in, and his comments made them smile.]
And I don't mean to sound hostile [Both shrug before their friends come up from behind.]
Nightmare Critters: But the Freaks are cowards! [Together, they show their teeth and claws, making them intimidating.]
Allister Gator: You can take that as gospel [By pushing his friends aside, he takes out a bible with Poppy's face on the cover.]
Pulling our viewers? Impossible! [He opens it and shows a page labeled "Pro 10:06."]
We're visual. They're barely audible. [Red Smoke was unleashed onto the screen.]
Maggie Mako: Stop giving them the time of day [She was seen swimming in a chocolate sea with cotton candy clouds.]
Don't listen to a word they'd say [Jumping gummy dolphins join alongside Maggie.]
I hope kitty had a nice vacay [She then gets on the sugar sand, where her friends are waiting for her.]
Nightmare Critters: But he should've stayed away! [The Nightmare Critters put their faces up against the screen to show other Playtime Toys were watching TV from the city's street.]
Baba Chops: While Smiling Freaks hid on the sideline [The Smiling Critters were seen frolicking along the street until they spotted the Nightmare Critters TV.]
We gleam and glam in the toy line [They looked so annoyed that they lowered their eyes.]
Nightmares became the top of the Critter brand success [But then they all smirked and looked at each other before walking off.]
Playtime's been better since CatNap split. [The Smiling Critters arrived at their broadcasting studio, filled with their Smiling Critter-masked employees and merchandise.]
Where's he been? [They took center stage so their employees could prepare for them to be on TV.]
Bet he ran and quit! [A DogDay masked employee waved at the Smiling Critters to indicate the camera is rolling.]
Bobby Bearhug: Hello, everyone! Good to be back on the air [The Smiling Critters waved at the camera while Bobby did a group hug.]
Bubba Bubbaphant: Yes, we know it's been a while since some toys with style treated people to a broadcast. [Their broadcast is a scene next to the Nightmare Critters; thus, the crowd moves to the Smiling Critters' TV.]
CatNap: Kids, rejoice! [The Nightmare Critters were shocked at hearing CatNap's voice but became angry at seeing their rivals on TV.]
(Touille: What a low voice!) [The Nightmare Critters crossed their arms to show their frustration.]
Instead of bad role model animal' video podcast [But the Smiling Critters show sly smiles while they looked at their rivals.]
(Rabie Baby: Come on!) [Hearing this, the Nightmare Critters hissed at their rivals and balled up their fists.]
Hoppy Hopscotch: Are the Creeps insecure, pursuing allure? [Hoppy poked at the Nightmare Critters' scene, making them push the Smiling Critters' scene away.]
KickenChicken: Flitting between this fad and that [But their scene came back from behind and caused their rivals to fall.]
Is nothing working? [The Nightmare Critters stood back up, looking to fight the Smiling Critters.]
(Icky Licky: Ignore their chirping!) [They tried to pounce on them, but they fell.]
CraftyCorn: Every day, they get a new format [The Smiling Critters go into the scene's center with grins.]
(Simon Smoke: You're looking at the future! [The Nightmare Critters surround the Smiling Critters in rage.]
Nightmare Critters: They're the Freaks that come before that!) [They pointed at their rivals, but they appear unfazed.]
PickyPiggy: Are the Nightmare Creeps as strong as they purport? [Huggy, Kissy, CatBee, CandyCat, Boogie Bot, and Bron looked at each other in thought.]
Or is it based on their support? [The LongLegs Family, Bunzo Bunny, and PJ Puggapiller felt suspicious of the Nightmare Critters' influence.]
They'd be powerless without the Playtime Company [Poppy Playtime is seen sitting on top of the TV with the Eye of Playtime on it. She tried to hold back her laughter while the Eye appeared giddy-squinting.]
(Maggie Mako: Oh, please!) [The Nightmare Critters pound their fists on the screen to show cracks.]
DogDay: And here's something I'll say they'll hate [DogDay acted like he was whispering toward the screen while his friends did cheeky grins.]
They'd asked us to be their playmates (Baba Chops: Hold on!) [Embrassed, the Nightmare Critters grabbed the camera and shook their heads.]
We said no, and now they're mean. What drama queens! [The Smiling Critters begin to act innocent by putting one finger on their faces with eyes widened. Seeing the Smiling Critters acting like that made the audience awed at cuteness and sympathy.]
Poe: (glitches) You goodie-two-pawed Freaks! [The Nightmare Critters pulled out Smiling Critter toys, and a table slid over them.]
Allister Gator: We'll show you suffering! (CatNap: Uh oh, the TV is buffering) [They begin to pound the toys on the table violently, scaring their employees, but the Smiling Critters wiggle their fingers.]
Nightmare Critters: We'll get yoo-o-u-u you little—! (I'm afraid you've lost your signal) [Simon then unleashed an intense flame that burnt the Nightmare Critters into ashes, thus losing their signal on TV. Realizing what they'd done, the Nightmare Critters ran to a TV and turned it on. The TV shows a head-lowered DogDay with a black background.]
DogDay: Let's begin... [He showed his scary smile with his pupilless eyes and glowing orange Sun Pendent.]
CatNap: I'm gonna make you wish that I'd stay gone [He turned to his left to show CatNap is back to back on him, but the same as his best friend but with a purple glow on his Moon Pendent.]
PickyPiggy and Bobby: Tune in [Bobby appeared next to DogDay, and Picky is on CatNap's side. They, too, looked like the pair with glowing red Heart and pink Apple Pendents.]
KickinChicken and Hoppy: When we're done, [Hoppy puts her arm on Bobby while Kickin does on Picky. Like their friends, scary smiles, pupilless eyes, and glowing pendants, lighting bolt green and star yellow.]
Bubba and CrafyCorn: Your status quo will know its race is run [Crafty and Bubba are in front of DogDay and CatNap just like their friends, but cyan flower and blue lightbulb glow.]
Smiling Critters: Oh, this will be fun! [Soon, their Smiling Critters' logo appeared on the screen.]
(Smiling Critters laughs) [They show themselves on top of it, shocking the Nightmare Critters.]
Nightmare Critters: Cru-u-uuuud! [In defeat, they pound their fists on the ground in shame.]
Suddenly, a glitch showed the Smiling Critter and Nightmare Critter toyline for a male announcer to say, "That's right, everyone. Because of your recommendation, CatNap is back and better than ever. Now, you can complete the Critter toyline. All sixteen Critters are now in stores. What's the time?"
But the tape glitched again to reveal the Smiling and Nightmare Critter staring before the Eye of Playtime.