Snackland gathered beneath the Great Countdown Clock, where confetti cannons trembled and the sky glittered like a spilled sugar jar. Everyone knew the tradition: when the clock struck midnight, the Ball of Time would descend, ringing in the new year with dignity, fireworks, and exactly zero chewing.

Obesseus squinted up at the sky.

“Why… lollipop… falling?” he asked, rubbing his belly thoughtfully. “Is free?”

A hush fell over the crowd.

“No,” groaned Conflicted Tomato. “It’s the ball drop. You don’t—”

But it was too late.

Obesseus’ eyes widened. His pupils turned into candy swirls. “OBESSEUS CLAIM LOLLIPOP!” he roared, leaping forward with heroic enthusiasm and a mouth already open.

From the shadows, the villains emerged.

Grant the Grapefruit swooped in on a fizzy soda can. “Whoa whoa whoa! Time out! I’m, uh—five minutes late—but that’s not candy! That’s time!”

Overlord Onion slammed his staff on the ground. “STOP HIM! If he eats the ball, the year resets to January again!”

Captain Portion Control blew his whistle. “HALT! That is a regulated sphere!”

Captain Fitness flexed. “Think of the calories!”

Captain Calorie Counter screamed, “THAT’S INFINITE SUGAR!”

The countdown boomed across Snackland.

TEN!

Obesseus charged, slipping on confetti and sliding like a runaway bowling ball. Villains piled on—grapefruit rolling, onions crying, whistles blaring.

NINE!

Professor Math frantically chalked equations mid-air. “If Obesseus consumes Time, we get… leftovers?”

EIGHT!

Jeff Jelly attempted overtime paperwork mid-chaos. “If anyone touches the ball, they owe twelve hours—”

Obesseus swatted the clipboard and ate it.

SEVEN!

The villains formed a human (food?) chain. It immediately collapsed.

SIX!

Obesseus leapt. Mouth wide. Destiny imminent.

FIVE!

Grant the Grapefruit hurled a distraction—twelve cups of gravy.

Obesseus paused. “Gravy… after?”

FOUR!

Captain Portion Control fainted.

THREE!

Conflicted Tomato yelled, “It’s NOT a lollipop!”

Obesseus gasped. “NOT?”

TWO!

The ball shimmered, fireworks primed.

ONE!

The ball touched down.

Fireworks exploded. Confetti rained. The crowd cheered.

Obesseus gently licked the ball.

“…Spicy,” he frowned. “Bad lollipop.”

The villains collapsed in relief.

Obesseus shrugged, grabbed a real lollipop from his pocket (where he keeps emergencies), and sat down to watch the fireworks.

“HAPPY NEW YEAR,” he announced proudly, mouth full. “NEXT YEAR… bigger candy.”

The villains exchanged looks.

They all knew.

Next year, they’d need a bigger plan.