Outside the Playhouse, the trio waited at the front; Mommy Long Legs gently placed DogDay on the ground before looking at him. "Will you be alright standing on your own?" she asked.
DogDay nodded. "I'll be fine, thank you," he said before looking at the Playhouse with worried eyes. "But Misha..."
Miss Delight turned to DogDay. "She'll be fine," she said, which made him look at her. "The company used to give the other orphanage special assignments once per week to test their intelligence."
Miss Delight turned her head to the Playhouse. "Out of all the children in that orphanage, Miss Misha had the highest score for her age," she continued before looking at DogDay. "Add that to her speed, and she'll escape those Ruined Critters in no time."
DogDay looked away with worried eyes and crossed his arms; the trio heard something from the back of the Playhouse, which made them look at it before sprinting toward it.
When the trio reached the back, Michelle came out of the slide and stretched her arms with a groan. "That was tiresome..." she said in a low voice.
Mommy Long Legs smiled and sprinted toward Michelle. "My little Misha!" she shouted.
When Michelle looked at Mommy Long Legs, she picked her up before pulling her into a hug. "You're OK!" she shouted.
Michelle chuckled a bit before wrapping her arms around Mommy Long Legs's neck. "Well, besides being exhausted from running, yeah... I'm OK," she said.
After Michelle let go of Mommy Long Legs's neck, she placed her on the ground. Miss Delight approached the duo before hugging Michelle. "I'm glad you returned to us safely," she said.
Michelle smiled before hugging Miss Delight. "Thanks..." she said in a low voice.
DogDay slowly approached the trio and looked at Michelle. "Misha..." he said, which made her look at him as he looked down and rubbed his arm. "Words can't describe how grateful I am to you, but um..."
After Miss Delight let go and stepped away, Michelle approached DogDay and held her hand out to him, which made him look at it, surprised. "There's no need for thanks," she said.
Michelle smiled at DogDay. "I'm just glad I could free you from your prison," she continued.
DogDay stared at Michelle's hand before kneeling to her level and placing his finger in her hand. "I'm forever in your debt," he said before laying his head against his hand.
The phone started ringing, which made Michelle let go of DogDay's finger before grabbing it off the GrabPack's hook. "Hey, are you alright? No ouchies or lost body parts?" Ollie asked.
Michelle smiled as Mommy Long Legs and Miss Delight approached the duo while DogDay stood up. "My allies and I are fine, and all accounted for," she said.
"Allies? I thought Mommy was the only one with you?" Ollie asked.
Michelle looked at Miss Delight and DogDay. "We found a Miss Delight survivor while traversing the School and rescued DogDay from the Playhouse," she said.
"Wow... you're a lot braver than I would be, risking your life over two toys you barely know," Ollie said.
Mommy Long Legs glared at the phone. "Mind repeating yourself, you—" Michelle raised her hand, which made her look at her before stopping herself. "Well, there's an old saying: With great risk comes great reward."
Michelle looked at the phone. "Sure, I may have gambled my life with it, but if I had the option to change it, I'd still do the same thing if it means saving lives," she continued.
"I see... well, I'm really glad you're OK..." Ollie said. "I don't wanna lose any more friends to this place."
Michelle stared at the phone. "Hey... did you see the shrine?" Ollie asked.
Michelle looked away. "You mean the one made from dead toys and the upper part of a human skeleton? Yeah, we saw..." she said.
"CatNap made it for the Prototype," Ollie said. "See, before CatNap turned into... CatNap, I guess there was some pretty serious accident."
Michelle was shocked and looked at the phone. "He almost died, but... they say that the Prototype saved his life, giving up his own freedom in the process," Ollie continued.
Michelle looked down with a slight frown. Was it genuine help? Or was it to manipulate CatNap to do his bidding? she thought.
"In CatNap's eyes, the Prototype is a superhero and has saved this place," Ollie said. "So CatNap treats him like a God, killing everyone who opposes him. Us included, if we're not careful."
The group remained silent. "That shrine... did it scare you?" Ollie asked. "If you thought that was terrifying, just wait until you see the real thing."
Michelle looked at the phone. "Anyways, we're really close to the end," Ollie said. "I sent you a new key; you're going to the Counselor's Office instead."
The others looked at the phone. "It's not ideal... but it should have enough juice," Ollie continued. "If you can get that generator going and plug it in... I think we'll be done! And keep your eyes open for CatNap."
Michelle stared at the phone, concerned. "Every shadow and every flickering light is a hiding spot; he always stalks his prey first," Ollie said. "He'll take away anything you have to defend yourself. And when you're at your most vulnerable... he'll kill you. CatNap lives for the hunt; good luck, talk soon."
After the phone call ended, Michelle hung it on one of the GrabPack's hooks before looking at DogDay. "Was what Ollie said accurate?" she asked.
DogDay nodded. "Very accurate..." he said.
Michelle hummed and nodded. "Well then, I think it's time we get this little reunion started," she said before walking in the statue's direction. "C'mon."
As Mommy Long Legs and Miss Delight followed Michelle, DogDay stared at her before following the trio.
...
...
...
In the statue's room, Huggy Wuggy and Bunzo Bunny sat on the stairs waiting by the door. KickinChicken looked at the door while sitting on the ground, his right knee bouncing a bit. "It's been a while since the kid and Mommy went to that school," he said.
Bubba Bubbaphant petted PJ Pug-A-Pillar's head with his trunk while Ivy rested on his shoulder. "One possible reason why they're taking so long is that they encountered Miss Delight," he said before looking at KickinChicken. "It would take some time to escape that psychopath."
Bobby BearHug leaned against the wall near the stairs and looked down; she heard chirps, which surprised her. Bobby BearHug turned her head to the source and saw the Mini Huggies looking at her, worried.
Bobby BearHug knelt and gently placed her hands against the Mini Huggies' heads. "It'll be alright; she'll come back to us safely," she said.
The Mini Huggies wrapped their arms around Bobby BearHug, which made her gently wrap her arms around them while looking down with somber eyes. At least... that's what DogDay would say in this situation... she thought.
Huggy Wuggy and Bunzo Bunny heard a knock on the door, which made them look at it. "Chocolate or strawberry?" the voice on the other side asked.
Bunzo Bunny smiled as Huggy Wuggy wrapped his arms around him before lifting him toward the door handle. "Strawberry!" he shouted before grabbing it in his paws.
With Huggy Wuggy's help, Bunzo Bunny pulled the door open, which revealed the small group. "I'm glad you still remembered that," Michelle said, smiling.
Bunzo Bunny smiled and held his arms out. "Welcome back, Big Sis!" he shouted.
Michelle approached Bunzo Bunny before hugging him. "Thanks..." she said.
After Bunzo Bunny let go of Michelle, Huggy Wuggy got close to her before laying his head against her cheek with a purr, which made her smile and pet the right side of his head. "Good to see you too, big guy," she continued.
The group in the room approached the stairs before looking at the opening. "You're back," Bobby BearHug said.
After Huggy Wuggy pulled away and placed Bunzo Bunny on the ground, Michelle looked at the group as they went down the stairs. "Yeah, we had to take a bit of an alternate route," she said before going down the stairs. "But hey, we got two new people in the group."
When Michelle entered the room, she turned her head to the back with a smile. "One of whom I think you're very familiar with," she continued.
When Michelle stepped away from the stairs, the group saw DogDay, which made the trio's eyes widen. "DogDay..." they said in a low voice.
DogDay went down the stairs before entering the room and looking at the trio. "I see you three stayed here when I told you to leave this place," he said. "It was a foolish thing to do, but..."
DogDay sighed before looking at the trio with happy eyes. "I'm also glad that you disobeyed the order," he continued.
Tears fell from the trio's eyes before they quickly approached DogDay and hugged him. "We're just glad you're safe..." Bobby BearHug said in a low voice.
As the others entered the room, Michelle looked at the larger Smiling Critters with a slight smile. I'm glad to see them in a good mood, she thought. However...
Michelle looked away with a contemplative expression and crossed her arms. Their group is still hiding something from me... I might have to distance myself if they continue this route, she thought.
Mommy Long Legs looked at Michelle and noticed her expression before covering her from most of the group, which made her look at her. Mommy Long Legs leaned close to Michelle. "I'm sure they'll tell you..." she whispered.
Michelle glanced at the larger Smiling Critters while they were talking. "And if they don't?" she asked in a low voice.
Mommy Long Legs glanced at the larger Smiling Critters. "Then you make another ultimatum, just like you did with Poppy," she whispered. "You'll know when you have to make it..."
Michelle stared at the larger Smiling Critters before nodding. "Alright..." she said in a low voice before looking at Mommy Long Legs. "You rest up; you deserve it."
Mommy Long Legs looked at Michelle, concerned. "Shouldn't you rest, too? Surely all that running you did exhausted you..." she said.
Michelle glanced away and rubbed the back of her neck. "Well, I wouldn't say it exhausted me..." she said.
Mommy Long Legs stared at Michelle, which made her sigh before gently smiling at her. "But for you, I'll relax for a bit," she continued.
Mommy Long Legs smiled as she pulled her hand away. "Good," she said. "Mommy is very happy."
Michelle chuckled a bit before approaching Huggy Wuggy. "Huggy," she said, which made him look at her. "I need to get in my bag."
Huggy Wuggy nodded as he knelt. "Thanks, bud," Michelle continued as she approached her backpack and grabbed the zipper tab.
After Michelle unzipped her backpack, she looked inside it. "Let's see, we'll definitely want something to snack on," she said before rummaging inside it. "We'll also need something to cure some of this boredom. Where did I put it?"
As Michelle dug her hands deeper into her bag, a CatNap plush and a DogDay plush fell out of her backpack and hit the ground, which made her look at them. "Whoops," she continued.
DogDay looked in Michelle's direction and saw the plushies before approaching them. When DogDay was close to the plushies, he knelt before picking them up. "These are yours?" he asked.
Michelle looked at DogDay. "Yeah, I got them before they recalled the CatNap plush," she said.
Michelle looked at her CatNap plush. "When my orphanage was trying to take away the other CatNap plushies, I kept my CatNap plush so hidden that only I knew where it was," she continued. "I also made sure my DogDay plush was beside it all the time."
Michelle smiled. "And even though the reasoning for their recall made sense, I don't regret my decision to keep him," she continued.
DogDay remained silent and looked at the plushies as Michelle pulled her arms out of her backpack with a bag of mini cookies in her right hand. "Here, how about we trade?" she asked before approaching him.
DogDay looked at Michelle as she took the plushies out of his hands before placing the bag of mini cookies in his right hand. "You distribute those cookies to the other toys while I place these two back in my bag; sound good?" she asked with a smile.
DogDay stared at the bag of mini cookies as Michelle approached her backpack before placing the plushies back inside. "Now for what I'm actually going for..." she said in a low voice before digging her right hand inside it.
Soon after, Michelle pulled a book with a wizard on the front cover out of her backpack. "Here we are," she continued before grabbing the zipper tab.
After Michelle zipped her backpack up, she turned her head to the group. "Hey, everyone," she said, which made them look at her. "How about a little story before I head off to the Counselor's Office?"
The smaller toys smiled and cheered, which made Michelle giggle a bit. "Alright, alright, gather around," she continued.
As Michelle sat down, PJ Pug-A-Pillar wrapped his body in a circle and laid his head in her lap before laying his body on the ground. The smaller toys climbed onto PJ Pug-A-Pillar and sat on him, while some of the larger toys sat on the ground behind them.
DogDay stared at the group and then at the bag of mini cookies before opening it and walking forward. When DogDay was close to the group, he poured some of the mini cookies into his hand before handing each toy one.
After DogDay sat down, Michelle looked at the group. "We've got a really good story," she said. "There used to be this older kid from Playcare named Matthew who would read this book specifically to the kids, including my friends and me."
Michelle showed the group the book cover. "It's called 'The Adventures of the Word Wizard'..." she continued.
Michelle opened the book and showed it to the group as they ate their cookies. "Once upon a time, in a faraway land lived a kingdom named Alphabia, home to a famous wizard known as 'The Word Wizard'..." she read.
As time passed, the smaller toys stared at the book in awe and amazement, while the larger toys had happy eyes. "But then, as the mighty dragon let out his fire breath, the Word Wizard cast his mightiest spell, 'Alphabet Blast!'..." Michelle read. "As both spells clashed, the Word Wizard was starting to struggle..."
After some time, Michelle held the book open with her right hand. "And so, the king of Alphabia gave the Word Wizard the title, 'Sir Word Wizard'. As the crowd cheered and chanted 'Sir Word Wizard', peace was restored to the kingdom, and everyone lived happily ever after," she read.
Soon after, Michelle closed the book. "The end..." she whispered.
When Michelle looked forward, she saw most of the group fast asleep, which made her smile a bit. Miss Delight looked at Michelle with happy eyes. "What a wonderful story; you tell it so well," she whispered.
Michelle chuckled a bit and rubbed the back of her neck. "Well... I tried to bring out that same enthusiasm Matthew brought to the other kids..." she whispered before looking down. "Compared to my reading, I don't hold a candle to him."
Miss Delight shook her head. "You're too modest about yourself," she whispered before looking at Michelle with gentle eyes. "People have their way of telling a story, and you tell it very well."
Michelle looked at Miss Delight before smiling a bit. "Thanks..." she whispered before looking at the group. "Could you watch over them? I think I'm gonna head to the Counselor's Office."
Miss Delight nodded and stood up. "Of course," she whispered before approaching Michelle.
Unbeknownst to the duo, DogDay opened one of his eyes as Miss Delight wrapped her arms around PJ Pug-A-Pillar's head before gently lifting him, which made Michelle stand up.
After Miss Delight gently placed PJ Pug-A-Pillar's head on the ground, Michelle held the book out to her, which made her take it before holding it under her arm and looking at her. "Please stay safe," she whispered.
Michelle nodded before stepping over PJ Pug-A-Pillar; DogDay watched her as she walked toward the back. When Michelle was close to the pipe, she saw a key with a white base and a red leather tag that said 'Counselor's Office' hanging on a metal wire.
Michelle grabbed the key and stared at it. "Are you planning to go there on your own?" a male voice asked, which surprised her.
When Michelle turned around, she saw DogDay standing before her. "I, uh..." she said in a low voice before looking away. "Since most of the toys are fast asleep, I didn't want to disturb their slumber."
DogDay hummed a bit. "Then allow me to accompany you," he said in a low voice.
Michelle looked at DogDay, surprised. "What? No, I can't do that to you," she said in a low voice. "You were being held as a prisoner in Playhouse; I shouldn't..."
DogDay knelt to Michelle's level. "It's alright... thanks to your storytelling and the sweets from your bag, I feel recuperated," he said in a low voice.
DogDay looked at Michelle. "And besides... that area is where CatNap roams the most," he continued in a low voice. "If something happened to you, you'd be vulnerable... just like how Ollie put it."
Michelle stared at DogDay before sighing a bit and rubbing the back of her neck. "I suppose you have a point on that," she said in a low voice. "Fine... you can come with me."
DogDay had happy eyes before holding out the bag of mini cookies to Michelle, which made her look at it before grabbing it. When Michelle looked inside the bag, she saw a single mini cookie. "I saved this one for you in case you were hungry," DogDay said in a low voice.
Michelle stared inside the bag before closing it and wrapping it around itself. "Thank you for that, but..." she said in a low voice before looking away with a frown. "I... lost my appetite after going through the school."
DogDay looked at Michelle with concerned eyes as she put the bag in her left pocket before gently smiling at him. "I'll be fine; I promise," she continued in a low voice.
DogDay stared at Michelle before nodding and standing up. "If you say so," he said in a low voice.
Michelle smiled a bit before approaching the stairs. "C'mon, we got a Counselor's Office waiting for us," she said in a low voice, which made DogDay nod before following her.