Chapter 9: Bunzo's Busted-o

Back at the Terrence, the Smiling Critters remained on or close to the stereo while bopping their heads to the music's tempo. The onlookers watched and moved to the music. The Nightmare Critters were on the right side, with Bunzo, Tibbz, and MothFlare on the left side, like Friday Night Funkin'. Wanna Be was playing for Bunzo's part.

Bunzo: Yo, tell me what you want what you really, really want [Bunzo plays his cymbals with his ears to do the Gangnam Style as MothFlare flew around Tibbz who swings his tail.]

I'll tell you what l want what l really, really want [Once MothFlare flies up, Bunzo holds Tibbz to spin him like a top.]

Gonna, I wanna... [But they stop their dance routine when they see Simon Smoke blow fire on the floor to circle himself and his friends could be in one flame circle.]

The music then changed to Scare Everyday! from Cougar Macdowall, Va.

Nightmare Critters: We will haunt you every single day (Baba Chops: Everyday) [The flames get bigger when the Nightmare Critters begin to sing and do their scary poses.]

Do whatever, whenever we say (Maggie Makko: We say!) [Icky Licky uses his Illusionary Tricks magic to make the performance look more menacing, Hell-like.]

You can try to run, or you can stay (Poe: You can stay) [The sight made Bunzo fall on the ground in shock.]

In your nightmares, there's no other way! [The Nightmare Critters walked out of the flames unscathed and posed with the flames become in their colors right behind their respective Nightmare Critter.]

Everyone cheered for the Nightmare Critters; even the Smiling Critters clapped.

"We have winners, the Nightmare Critters," said DogDay.

As the Smiling Critters got off the stereo, KickinChicken said, "That was an S Rank Party song, Nightmare Critters, despite its supposed sound like a bad guy song."

"Appreciated. We wrote it ourselves," said Simon.

"I don't get why you prefer to be bad guys, though," said CraftyCorn.

"Because being bad is rad. The thrill of chaos, the joy of dark humor, and the fun to scare. We can't help it," said Poe.

"If you say so, you love to be bad for fun," Hoppy Hopscotch said.

"How now, old man?" Rabie Baby said to Bunzo Bunny.

Bunzo Bunny had his head looking down while heaving breathing.

"Mayor Bunny?" MothFlare asks.

"Boss, you good?" Tibbz added.

"I think you went too hard on the partying, Nightmare Critters," said Bubba Bubbaphant.

"Nonsense. Bunny's just too old to handle our vibe," said Allister Gator.

"I don't take losing well," Bunzo said, standing up with his head still looking down.

"Yeah, well, neither do I, Pops," Icky said.

But then everyone, excluding the Smiling and Nightmare Critters, has their eyes glow yellow, and Bunzo has a yellow aura surrounding him.

"What's going on?" PickyPiggy concern.

Bunzo then shows his face, eyes glowing bright yellow, and a sinister smile.

"I want you out of my city, or I will have to lock you up in the No-Funzone Jail," he said.

"Crickey! The Frowning and Dream Critters were right about you! You are a manic mastermind," said Maggie, as she, her friends, and Smiling Critters get in circle defense.

"So, I was right that you affiliated with the party poopers. Perhaps if I have you, they'll be coming to me. My Critters, take them in."

Before the mind-controlled Critters could grab the Smiling and Nightmare Critters, speakers all over the Party Peninsula recorded Bunzo's voice. Everyone paused to listen. As it continues to speak, Bunzo pulls his ears in shock of what is happening, and the mind-controlled Critters become free from his hypnosis and regain the memories they've lost.

The speaker said, "Dear Audio Diary, I, Bunzo Bunny, have finally succeeded in mind-controlling all of the Critters in Party Peninsula. With them at my disposal, they will never remember how they serve those pesky Critter Knights of Playtime Land. I could keep them blissfully unaware of what has happened with the power of my Control Cymbals. The only problem is the children of the Frowning Knights and Dream Knights. So, I will come up with a way to brand them as party poopers so my controlled subjects can turn against them. They were so easy to manipulate, and they thought it wise to flee into Party Peninsula to prepare to serve the Prophecy. The Prototype was very grateful for my work. As long as I have my Control Cymbals, those Frowning and Dream Critters…Not even the children of the Smiling and Nightmare Knights would stop me."

The Smiling and Nightmare Critters smiled in victory as the onlookers mumbled, "I remember. I serve for the Critter Knights. How could I let myself be controlled by someone for five years?! I'm unworthy to be under the leadership of the Critter Knights!"

MothFlare and Tibbz then grabbed Bunzo's arms to arrest him.

MothFlare tells Bunzo, "I'm disgusted that I let you boss me around. My loyalty is with the Critter Knights for life."

"Nothing makes me angry other than the blood of the Critter Knights giving me orders. I will give the worst pain as possible," Tibbz said.

"Hello, Bunzo," said CatFeine's voice.

Everyone turned to the elevator to see the Frowning Critters and the Dream Critters, smug with their arms crossed.

"You!" Bunzo was angered.

"Did you like our song request we put on the speaker?" CatFeine teased.

"Consider that as payback for framing us as party poopers," said Groddy GurdgeBear, as the Frowning Critters and Dream Critters walked over to Smiling Critters and Nightmare Critters.

"And for the record, we don't poop on parties," said Dumbba Dumbbaphant.

"So, the mission is complete now. Can we take off these clothes now?" CatNap asks.

"Pourquoi?" Virginie questioned.

"I can't stand wearing clothes."

"Fine. Even though I put so much heart into making them for you."

"Yeah! Strip time!"

DogDay and CatNap happily took off their clothes with ease. But seeing this, Baba Chops and Rabie caused them to go red and faint. The female onlookers turned their heads, covered their eyes, blushed, screamed in embarrassment, or turned red.

"Sacre bleu, don't you two show any modesty," Touille facepalmed.

"I don't get it. We are always naked," said Bobby BearHug, while she and her friends removed their clothes.

The male onlookers did the same thing as the female onlookers.

"Stop! Stop! As if SleepyKitty and DogShine had caused too much commotion!" Allister yelled while flaying his arms.

But the Smiling Critters have all their clothes and hand them back to Virginie.

"Thanks for the clothes, Virginie. They help us well," said Bobby.

The Frowning and Dream Critters sighed, saying, "Still so innocent."

"Huh?" the Smiling Critters said.

But then Bunzo Bunny laughs like a manic for everyone to turn to him.

"Since I can't keep Party Peninsula in control anymore, it means it's time to dispose of it," he said.

His body begins to twitch and morph into his monster form. Bunzo becomes bigger than everyone, and a row of jagged fangs lines his mouth, which is also split further and widely open. His transformation makes everyone step back; even MothFlare and Tibbz let him go out of fear.

"The party is over for this peninsula," said Bunzo Bunny.

He quickly jumps up through the ceiling to escape the Tree Harmony. The booming jump caused the Nightmare Critters' clothes to fly off.

Embrassed, they covered themselves while Ben Horns said, "He's getting away! After him!"

The four Critter Crews ran out of the Tree of Harmony.

"Where did he go?!" DogDay exclaimed.

"Look, he's up there! What's he going to do?" UniqueCorn pointed up into the sky.

Bunzo is in the sky, flying with his ears like propellers. He takes out his cymbals and plays them to send a shock wave. It causes the Melody Meadows to crumble and the Critters to flee and take cover.

"Not Melody Meadows!" Dogpressed shrieks.

"He's going to destroy Party Peninsula and all of us in it! We have to stop him!" WimpinChicken panics.

"And how are we going to do that?!" Baba shouted.

"We're going up after him. Our spirit horses come to us," said Floppy FlopZee.

The Critters inside the Tree of Harmony witnessed the Frowning Critters and Nightmare Critters' Spirit Horses coming out of their pendants.

Once they got on their Spirit Horses, IckyPiggy said, "Get on!"

"Who? Us? But don't your horses hate us," said Allister.

"We don't have time. Get on!" Coco Crocodile pulled Allister to get him to ride with her.

Each Smiling Critter and Nightmare Critter get pulled up by their Frowning and Dream Critter gender counterparts, so they ride behind them.

"Put your arms around our waists," said Sally Sodden.

"Hell no!" Simon exclaimed.

"Well, you got to hold on to something."

"Yah!" Frowning and Dream Critters crack the reins.

After their Spirit Horses neighed, they rode upward like they were flying. The Smiling Critters and Nightmare Critters were amazed until the horses began to run so fast that they started to scream.

"Wow! Your horses are pretty fast!" Hoppy yelled.

"They are spirit horses. The 1st generation of the Critter Knights poured so much love into their horses that somehow their magic ended up on them, causing them to turn to spirit horses," said Lee.

"So, the power of love can transform anything and anyone." Bobby smiled.

"Honestly, I find it impossible," Bliss Teen commented.

"Focus! We need to stop Bunzo before he destroys Party Peninsula," said Kickin.

"But do we even have a plan?!" CatNap asks.

"Bunzo's cymbals are made from mithril. It can withstand a dragon's fire for a while, but under prolonged exposure, it could succumb to the heat. And that's where you come in, Simon," said Matt Mako.

"Me?" Simon was surprised.

"That's right, Simon. You are the only one who can save Party Peninsula and everyone in it," said Sally.

"But isn't mithril very valuable?! I can't destroy it!"

"You have to, or all of the lives will be lost, and a wonderful place like this will be destroyed. But don't worry, I can be blamed for it," said Easy Peasy.

"Easy!" Sally said.

"Sorry."

"But Easy is right, Simon. Your breathing fire is the only thing that can destroy Bunzo's cymbals. You need to fly over there while we distract Bunzo," said Sally.

"Still, though. It's something that Craftybaby's mother made. Princess, are you sure you want me to destroy the very thing your mother created?" said Simon.

Crafty thought momentarily and remembered her mother was still captured at Playtime Land.

She then said, "My Mother created the cymbals to help those who play them to cheer up people. She made it with good intentions. And for someone to use something she created with malintent is unacceptable. Simon, for me, destroy it so it will never be used for evil again."

Seeing the reason, Simon took a deep breath, spread his wings, and said, "Okay. Let's do this!"

Bunzo is playing with his cymbals for the sound wave for Festival Forest and Glow Grove to collapse.

He laughed sinisterly, saying, "Soon, the Critter Knights and their followers will perish in the peninsula."

A Willpower Fist came for him, but he blocked it with his cymbals. Bunzo looked down and noticed the Four Critter Crews came riding over.

"You meddling kids! I will end you all!" Bunzo yelled and tried to attack.

Bobby quickly snapped her finger to cast Protective Aura to the Four Critter Crews.

"Good idea, Bobby. Time to show no mercy in long range!" Groddy said, beginning to use his Flaming Sword to do a Fire Slash.

Bunzo dodged it but summoned cymbals and launched them at the Four Critter Crews. DogDay uses his Bone Sword to cut the cymbals down, and Dogpressed created Water Magic to create a Water Forcefield. CatNaplookeds up to see the Moon and smirked before conjuring Lunar Magic.

"CatNap, keep us safe! I'll handle the attack." CatFeine does Electric Magic to blast the cymbals.

"With the Moon out, I can do this," said CatNap, using his Silvervine Staff to create a Lunar Sheild.

Hoppy uses her Carrot Spear to create mini storm clouds so they can shoot lightning strikes. Floppy uses his Wind Magic to blow the cymbals away. Crafty uses her Unihorn Lance to use magical energy blasts while Unique creates Ice Magic to create spike attacks. Bubba uses his Sheild of Truth to defend while Dumbba does Earth Magic to make spikes to attack. Picky uses her Truffle-seeking Staff to develop roots that strike the cymbals, and IckyPiggy blows Poison Clouds to melt the cymbals. Kickin creates Willpower Ninja stars to destroy the cymbals, and Wimpin uses her Sheild Magic to defend them. Ben used his Friendship Staff to create a barrier, and Baba laughed while she used her Nightfall Axe to destroy every cymbal close by.

"Don't let the thrill make you lose focus, Baba," said Ben.

"It's so much fun!" Baba said, happily.

"Easy!"

"On it!" Easy snapped her finger to cast the Calming Aura on the Four Critter Crews.

"Whatever, if we need to be calm! I'm still ready to fight!" Icky uses his Toxic Tongue Whip to attack the cymbals.

"How can there be so many cymbals?!" Rabie slashes them with her Mystic Blade.

"It's his cymbals. Because of the mithril, what it could do when magic was infused with it is unpredictable," said Bliss.

Coco uses Chrono Sheild Magic to protect everyone from below, and Allister uses his Lazy River Staff combined with Water Manipulation to destroy the cymbals.

"I'm getting tired from this," Maggie shouted.

"I know. I want my magic," said Poe.

"Moi aussi," Touille agreed.

"You will get your magic soon," Virgine said, using the Éclair Scepter to create sugar crystal shields.

"Sally, Lee," Matt said, while shooting with his Toothpaste Trident.

"On it!" Lee cast Sunlight Magic to revitalize everyone.

After Sally snapped her fingers for Peaceful Aura Magic to reenergize everyone, she said, "Simon, fly over there and melt Bunzo's cymbals!"

"How can I fly to Bunzo when he'll be able to see me coming?!" Simon said.

Sky approached River so DogDay could say, "I can help. Hoppy, give me a boost."

"You got it, DogDay," said Hoppy, snapping her fingers so DogDay could gain some Speed magic.

"Wait? What are you doing to do?" Simon questioned DogDay.

DogDay grabbed Simon by the tail and spun around like Hammer Throw. Simon screamed as the spin went faster.

DogDay lets him so Simon flies over to Bunzo, saying, "Go long, Simon!"

"What the? Isn't that a fireball?" Bunzo is confused by Simon flying over.

Seeing Bunzo ahead, Simon takes a profound breath, not knowing that his pendant glows. The Frowning and Dream Critters noticed before Simon released a huge fire breath at Bunzo.

"Mother…" Bunzo's eyes shrink in terror.

He screamed when the fire hit him. His cymbals melted away, and his body burnt.

"Ow…," Bunzo said before falling into the ocean.

"Woah! Did you see that?! I didn't know I could blow that much fire!" Simon amazed.

"Yeah for Simon," Crafty cheered.

"But where's Bunzo?" Ben said.

"There," CatFeine pointed to the ocean.

"I'll get you next time, Critter Knights Juniors! And when I do-!" Bunzo yelled before being swallowed by a whale.

"Crickey! I didn't see that coming," said Maggie.

"Uh, should we go after him? Before you know, he gets digested," Picky asks.

"I agree. That Bunny is so unappetizing," said IckyPiggy.

"I don't know. It's best to leave it at that. Besides, we have to restore Party Peninsula," said Ben.

"Yes, and healing everyone, too," said Bobby.

"Alright. Let's go," said DogDay.

Inside the belly of the whale, Bunzo was on a raft while in his standard form.

He is calling on a Playtime Phone and said, "My Lord, forgive me. My operation was compromised. The Smiling Critters and children of the Dark Nightmare Knights, Frowning Knights, and Dream Knights broke control over Party Peninsula. For five years, I prevented the followers of the Critter Knights from remembering their cause and ensured they stayed isolated there. Grrrr…. Those meddling Critters. They had to ruin everything. They destroyed the weapons that kept everything perfect for so long. Right now, I'm in the belly of a whale. A good punishment for failure."

On the other end, the Prototype tapped his Hand and said, "They had a dragon with them. I'm beginning to think that the children of the Dark Nightmare Knights, Frowning Knights, and Dream Knights have something to do more for the Smiling Critters. Is there something else out of the ordinary?"

"Yes…Five Nightmare Critters gain their magic already. As for the Frowning and Dream Critters have magic too, but they seem to be in a third stage."

The Prototype stomps his feet in anger and responds, "I see. Once you escape, I think I have a location in mind that would require your assistance, Bunzo."

"Yes, my Lord."

Once the call ended, the Prototype crushed the Playtime Phone with his Hand and said, "So, Player…You've hidden not only what the Smiling Critters are capable of but also the Nightmare Critters, Frowning Critters, and Dream Critters' power. I wonder if there was something else they know more about within the Prophecy than I could uncover…Such a cunning move, Player. You are indeed worthy of being my archenemy. But for now, I focus on preventing your attempts to stop me by ridding the Critter Crews."