Location: Home Sweet Home - Playcare - Playtime Co.

Date: March 24, 1987

Time: 11:55 PM

No POV

5 Minutes Until the Hour of Despair Begins

As the days went by, all of the Smiling Critters are now ready for the Hour of Despair as they made sure that everyone including the children and the workers are in bed sleeping peacefully and they all have to meet inside the Playhouse, where Darku has placed a Dark Zone Pentagram in the middle of the Playhouse, where the Mini Critters live as their home and they all seemed to be excited for this amazing event.

However, as the Smiling Critters are waiting for Darku to arrive to complete the ritual to become the Dark Creatures, the Prototype was really getting impatient after he waited for CatNap to accept his offer to join him until he later found about the Smiling Critters' plan to form their own group to take over the Toy Factory without the Prototype's help.

This is not good for the Prototype as is now furious about CatNap betraying him as he plans to kill him and his friends for stabbing him in the back.

Prototype: That ungrateful feline and his vile friends. I can't believe he would betray me like that. I'm going to find him and kill him in his sleep and then I will do the same to his friends for ever messing with me.

???: Not if I had anything to say about it.

Prototype: Huh? Who's there? Show yourself!

???: Very well then.

Then suddenly, the Prototype soon found himself in the Dark Zone as Darku kept his promise to the Smiling Critters that he will take care of dealing with the Prototype and what better way to do that than doing it in his own domain, the Dark Zone itself. It's the place, where all the multiverse's evil and all things negative reside in as the ruler of the Dark Zone appeared from the shadows to face off against the infamous Prototype.

The Prototype was shocked to see a demonic being like Darku show up in his own domain as the Prototype demanded Darku to know what's going on here.

Prototype: What the hell?! Who are you?!

Darku: I am Darku, ruler of this shadowy realm, the Dark Zone and I am here to execute you.

Prototype: Execute me?! For what reason?!

Darku: You know why, Prototype. You were planning to make a truce with CatNap and betray and kill him at the last minute just so you can take what's left his body for yourself. So I decided to make a deal CatNap and his friends after I showed them their future if CatNap accepted your offer and they immediately accepted my offer to join forces with me and I promised them that I will deal with you, which is why I brought you here into my domain to execute you to prevent you from interfering with our plan to begin the Hour of Despair.

Prototype: The Hour of Despair? How is that any different from the Hour of Joy?

Darku: The reason why it's completely different from the Hour of Joy is instead of killing everyone in cold blood after all of the toys have suffered so many years of being abused and tortured by Playtime Co. own cruel and unusual experiments just for creating the perfect children's toy, than what better way than to kill them, but to make them become like them.

Prototype: Become them?

Darku: That's right. If those scientists think they can just use innocent children and adults to make toys in a toy factory like Playtime Co., then we will give them a taste of their own medicine by turning them into toys as well. However, to make sure they have no free will against me and the Smiling Critters, all of their memories of their human lives will be erased from existence, and they will remain loyal and obedient to their new masters, so they will not show any signs of free will whatsoever. And once the Smiling Critters, now known as the Dark Creatures, take over Playtime Co. with an iron fist, they will spread their evil upon the rest of the world and with you gone, the Dark Creatures and I, Darku, Lord of the Dark Zone will take over this world by storm with one less annoying hunk of scrap metal from foiling our plans.

Prototype: How dare you insult me?! Do you know who I am?! I am the Prototype, and I will not be stopped by some dark and gloomy shadow in some gaudy knight's armor from preventing me from skinning those good for nothing critters and that dumb lazy feline, CatNa-

STAB!

But before the Prototype could finish his sentence, he was stabbed though the robot's own skull by Darku's blade as he is deeply offended by the Prototype calling his fellow Dark Creatures good for nothing critters and calling CatNap dumb and lazy. Not to mention that he called Darku, dark and gloomy and insulting his own armor that is made out of pure dark energy, netherite, lava rocks, hellfire, brimstone and obsidian and it's far from being gaudy and ugly.

Darku: Good riddance to him and how dare he made fun of my new minions and make fun of me and my armor. I am far from being dark and gloomy. I'm the ruler of this world of eternal darkness and all the evil's own existence for crying out loud! (Sighs) Whatever. I got rid of the Prototype like I promised, but now...it is time for the Hour of Despair to begin....

He then teleported away from his domain to meet up with the Smiling Critters to transform them into their true selves...

The Dark Creatures

Location: The Playhouse - Playcare - Playtime Co.

As the Smiling Critters waited for their dark lord, Darku to return, the dark demon lord of the Dark Zone has arrived just in time to begin the ritual to transform the Smiling Critters into the Dark Creatures to finally start the Hour of Despair.

Darku: My fellow creatures of the night, the Prototype is now dead, and tonight is the night we begin the Hour of Despair upon the humans that reside in this forsaken toy factory. But before we begin this event, I shall grant you the power of the Dark Zone to unveil your true forms. Are you all ready to become your true selves?

CatNap: Yes, my dark lord. We are all ready to serve you and finally get our revenge.

DogDay: And we show these humans that we mean business.

The Smiling Critters: (Agreeing with CatNap and DogDay)

Darku: Excellent. You all made the right choice, and I shall grant you all my power to become the Dark Creatures. Just stand on the pentagram and hold hands to form a circle in order to make this ritual to work.

The Smiling Critters then did what Darku told them to do as they all stood upon the pentagram to form a group circle and grab each other's hand to link together to make the transformation process work as Darku chanted some ancient language of the dark arts before the pentagram began to glow a blood red color and all 8 of the Smiling Critters were blasted by the red glow and began to change into their new forms.

Though the process may be a bit painful, but the Smiling Critters all did their best to endure the pain since they all had their fair share of being constantly tortured and abused like the test animals, they all were. That is why they are willing to do anything to get their revenge on the people that wronged them, no matter how much pain they're in right now.

We see that DogDay's appearance became more dangerous and deadly along with CatNap as they're both becoming more faster, stronger and more agile and flexible in their changing bodies as well as their sharpened claws.

KickinChicken is somehow becoming more of a Chicken Hawk then a normal chicken and Bubba Bubbaphant's intelligence is greatly increasing to 300 IQ as a ton of knowledge is coursing through his mind.

As for CraftyCorn, much like KickinChicken's transformation, CraftyCorn is becoming from a unicorn to an alicorn with bony like wings growing out of her back along with her beautiful white fur becoming pitch black and her mane and tail becoming a blood red color as CraftyCorn is becoming a very powerful magic user in her new form.

Bobby Bearhug is becoming a much stronger ursine as she is gaining some knowledge of using brute strength and various melee weapons such as a giant hammer, a battle axe, a machete or even a metal baseball bat along with becoming like an authority figure like an army general, who not only has to order the troops around like soldiers, but she treats them like her own kids.

PickyPiggy has become more dangerous with both her skills in using weapons like sharp knives and meat cleavers and her cooking skills were enhanced that is enough to rival the world's best chefs like Gordon Ramsey and Guy Fieri as she willing to hunt down her prey and cook anything that is considered edible for her teammates.

Finally, Hoppy Hopscotch has become faster and more agile as she now has the speed and agility of a ninja warrior as she will be the team's eyes and ears with her stealthy abilities and ninjutsu skills. Not to mention the deadlier she's now become as she instantly became an expert using ninja related weapons like the ninja stars, katana blades, throwing knives, shurikens, razor boomerangs, smoke bombs, etc., thus making her a force to be reckoned with in the ninja world.

Now with the transformation complete, the Smiling Critters have now become the Dark Creatures as they felt more powerful than ever before in their entire lives after they made a deal with the ruler of the Dark Zone himself.

CatNap: Wow! What a rush! I actually felt more....stronger than ever.

DogDay: I feel stronger too. I feel like I can rip someone to shreds with these fangs and these wicked claws a

KickinChicken: Same here, bros! It was painful to change into this new from, but the pain is definitely worth it!

Bubba Bubbaphant: You're telling me, Kickin. I just got a massive headache after I gained so much IQ after the ritual, but now it went away. I'd never been so smart like this before.

Hoppy Hopscotch: And I'd never felt this fast and athletic before in my life. I feel like I could run a marathon around the world twice!

CraftyCorn: And I got these wings, and I feel more creative and powerful! I can rule the world with this much magic flowing within me.

Bobby Bearhug: Same here, sister! I can be your right-hand gal and train your knights in shining armor to protect you from harm!

PickyPicky: Yeah! And even this transformation has really worked up an appetite for me. I can use my newfound knowledge to cook us up a feast.

Darku: And you can by killing the people that wronged you. I hope these newfound powers that I bestowed upon you will be of great use for you along with your new outfits and weapons as a gift from me and now the time has come for the Hour of Despair to begin in 3...2...1...NOW!

Then Darku used his dark powers to lock every exit to prevent everyone from escaping as the Dark Creatures suit up and began their reign of terror through the Hour of Despair as the factory's alarm went off and everyone began to panic as they all tried their best to escape until the Dark Creatures started attacking their victims with their unquenchable bloodlust for vengeance.

Factory Worker #1: Come on! Come on! Hurry up before they get here!

Factory Worker #2: I'm trying, but the door won't budge!

Then they heard the sound of someone whistling in the darkness as the two factory workers felt the strong sense of fear before they both slowly turned to see an anthropomorphic canine wearing a sun burnt cloak and a scary looking gas mask that struck fear into the worker's hearts that made them attempt to open the door much harder than before to prevent getting killed by the Eclipse Hound, the Grim Reaper of Playtime Co.

Factory Worker #1: It's still won't open!

Factory Worker #2: Pull harder, he's getting closer!

They kept trying to escape through the exit, but it was already too late as Eclipse Hound raised his sun shaped brass knuckles and began slicing and dicing the two factory workers that screamed in pain before Eclipse Hound finished the job on the two soon-to-be-dead factory workers with his razor-sharp toe claws.

Then we see one of the workers tried to call for help, but the phone line was dead after it was cut out by Killer Bunny's stealth abilities as she managed to cut out all forms of communication within Playtime Co. with the help of Dr. Damage's newfound intelligence as he instantly mapped out the entire building.

Then as the factory worker tried to get the phone work again before grabbing his phone to call 911, Sleep Demon sneaked up to the factory worker, brought out his sword and tapped on his shoulder, causing the worker to turn around and Sleep Demon blew his sleeping gas at the worker's face, only that he quickly grabbed a gas mask and put it on to prevent him from passing out from the red mist.

His small victory was short lived as Killer Bunny appeared behind him and snapped his neck in half before giving Sleeo Demon a thumbs up, to which he gave her a thumbs up back.

Then to make sure that none of the workers will ever get out of the factory alive, Dr. Damage have already shut down all the power to the factory, preventing anyone from activating the doors with a Grab-Pack to escape or use some of the machinery like the green generator for the green Grab-Pack hand or the purple pressure plate for the purple hand. So, anyone with a Grab-Pack, they have to use the orange hand flares to see in the dark or use night-vision goggles to see.

Eventually, the poor victims were soon meet their demise with the rest of the Dark Creatures as KickinHawk started using his nun chucks to knock-out his victims or shoot them down with his dual wielding pistols. In case he ran out of ammo from his pistols, he can use his razor-sharp talons and beak to kill his victims with.

The Butcher started slicing and dicing her victims into bloody pieces of their own body parts with a machete and meat cleaver as she licked her lips after thinking about how many meals, she can cook for her and her friends with her improved cooking skills.

Death Bear soon began bear-hugging her victims from behind until their ribcages cracked into dust before using her new weapons to kill her enemies from the metal baseball bat to the giant hammer to the battleaxe, not caring about getting blood all over her fur.

BloodyCorn used her powerful magic to kill her victims like aging them until they turned to dust, burning them into ash, melting them into goo, turn them into statues, or trap them into paintings, etc. She can even create her own minions to help her take down her victims with her new magic paintbrush that can create anything with her own powerful creativity.

The whole bloodbath of the Hour of Despair went on for hours as every worker in the factory are all dropping down like flies. As for the kids however, the Dark Creatures decided to leave them alive inside Home Sweet Home as they planned something special for them once they're all done with unfinished business with the scientists as they are all scared out of their wits of seeing all of the workers including some of the toys like Huggy Wuggys, a few Mommy Long Legs, Bunzo Bunnies, Box Boos, etc. are all dead by the Dark Creatures.

And they're all next.

Scientist #1: Dear God! This can't be happening?!

Scientist #2: How could this have happened?! How could the Smiling Critters be able to overpower the workers and even some of the more dangerous toys in the entire factory?!

Scientist #3: I don't think these are the same Smiling Critters that we experimented on. They looked completely different than the original designs of the Smiling Critters.

Scientist #1: True, but the real question is how they are able to kill everyone within a few hours and shut off the power to the factory?

???: Because we were all gifted by our dark lord.

Then the scientists turned around to see the entire group of the Dark Creature appear in the lab through a shadowy portal as the scientists backed away from the monsters that killed everyone in the entire factory and all that's left is the scientists that tortured them for their own experiments like they're all playing God.

Scientist #1: What the hell?! Who are you freaks!

Sleep Demon: Tsk. Tsk. How rude of you to call us freaks. You may not recognize us, but we were the same test subject that you used us for your own cruel and unusual experiments. We are once known as the Smiling Critters, but now, we are the Dark Creatures, and we're here to kill all of you to have our revenge for all the times you tortured us to death.

Scientist #2: Oh GOD! I knew this day would come! It says so on my fortune from the fortune cookie I had for lunch at the local Chinese Resturant!

(Fortune Read: You and your friends will be killed by a bunch of vengeful demon powered toys in a toy factory.)

Scientist #3: That's an odd way to put it in a fortune cookie, but now we're all gonna die for doing this to these demon powered toys! And this is all the CEO's fault!

Scientist #1: And this is why we should never play God in the bad, especially if it's children's toys!

Scientist #2: PLEASE! Your omnipotence, have mercy!

Sleep Demon: Mercy? Mercy is for the weak. Time for you three to pay for your sins!

Scientist #1: (Sighs) Well, this is the end for us.

Scientist #2: Well, if we're gonna die then I just wanna say, I made out and with your wife.

Scientist #3: YOU DICK!!!

Then without warning, BloodyCorn used her magic to vaporize all three of the scientists as they are now nothing but dust before they killed the rest of the scientists in the lab as they all finally got their revenge after so many years.

Sleep Demon: Finally....we did it! We finally got our revenge!

Eclipse Hound: Yeah, we all worked together as a family and it's all thanks to our dark lord.

KickinHawk: Yeah, that was a heck of good time! But what do we do now that we finally got what we wanted?

Killer Bunny: Yeah, we got back at those scientists, the factory workers, and even the CEO, but what's our next move?

Dr. Damage: I have an idea. Since we have taken over this factory, we can use this factory as our base of operations and with my newfound intelligence, I can create some machines to turn our now dead enemies into our own henchman, then we can do the same with the kids, but in a safer and less deadly way and spread our evil to the outside world. I will make sure that all of their memories are wiped cleaned to make them stay loyal and obedient to us with no resistance left to betray us.

Death Bear: OH! I can train the kids that will become one of us as our elite soldiers like I'm both a general and a loving mother to them as I can treat them like they're my own kids.

BloodyCorn: That sounds amazing! I can even use my artistic skills to create some weapons, supplies and a bunch of other stuff we can all use! The possibilities are endless with my own brand of creativity!

The Butcher: And I can cook for all of us with my new cooking skills.

Killer Bunny: I will be the team's assassin and the eyes and ears to learn more about our enemies while hiding in the shadows.

Eclipse Hound: Well, I guess I'll be the team's judge, jury and executioner as I will strike fear in the eyes and hearts of our enemies.

Sleep Demon: Then it's settled. We will plan all of this out once we turn this toy factory as our base of operations before we spread our evil to the world with two of us ruling over 4 parts of Creation City to rise to power once the time is right to take over the entire planet to create a perfect utopia in our own image. Eventually, we will also hunt down our special angel that flew away from our grasp.....Y/n (Kenneth)!

The Dark Creatures suddenly remembered Y/n L/n (Kenneth Parker) after CatNap aka Sleep Demon mentioned that name as they remembered all the good times they had with Y/n (Kenneth) before he had to be transferred to another orphanage, which will be their true goal.

To capture Y/n (Kenneth) and transform him into a Dark Creature like them and they'll be a happy family together that will last a lifetime, and they will make sure that they will clip his wings from flying off again as they all got the time in the world to plan their next move once they transform the toy factory into their hideout.

This nightmare is not over yet, for this never-ending nightmare is only the beginning for the Hour of Despair.

TO BE CONTINUED...