Before I forget, NiGHTS into Dreams… is owned by Sega and Sonic Team. Anyway after our heroes collected the first Keystone to the Gateway, they headed off to their next world. What world will that be? We'll find out later. But right now it's time to introduce the second team in this story. Who will join the adventure? Let's find out.
In an alternate version of Sonic's World…
Sonic*, Tails*, Knuckles, Amy, and Sticks are at Dr. Eggman's* base and just destroyed Eggman's machine and-
(*Sonic Boom versions of the characters)
"Hey!"
Wha.. What is it Sticks?
"Why didn't you show that battle?!"
Because showing the battle takes too long.
"Why?"
Because now just let me tell the story.
"Why?"
Because I said so!
"Okay okay. Don't get you Narration in a knot."
Anyway… The heroes just destroyed Eggman's big machine and are now destroying his Badniks while saving the Fastidious Beaver and Comedy Chimp.
"Y'know," Sonic said as he was smashing Moto Bugs, "Smashing the same Badniks over and over again can get kinda boring."
"You would think," Tails replied, "That with someone with high intelligence like Eggman would come up with something more menacing than these robots. I mean I could make better Badniks than Eggman."
Amy then added, "Just don't actually do it okay?"
Suddenly Knuckles based through the roof of Eggman's base carrying the two prisoners with him. He landed right next to the rest of the team.
"That was surprisingly awesome Knuckles." Sonic said as he patted Knuckles on the back.
"Yeah," Sticks said as she grew suspicious, "At bit too awesome. I'm beginning to think this isn't actually Knuckles. What if this is just a robot clone of Knuckles made by Egghead?!"
"I'm a robot clone?!" Knuckles asked in fear, "Oh I should've known all along!"
"That's right!" Sticks continued, "You were created by Eggman to make us think that you're Knuckles but you aren't! You were sent to spy on us and eventually destroy us! Well I've got news for you robot: I won't let you-"
Suddenly Amy wacked Knuckles with her Piko Piko Hammer.
"Hmmm," Amy hummed, "Nope he's the real Knuckles. Stop being so paranoid Sticks."
"Woohoo!" Knuckles shouted in excitement, "I thought I was going to have to turn myself in."
"Knuckles," Amy said, "Just how dumb are you?"
Knuckles thought about it for a second and then asked, "Is that a trick question?"
…
"Come on guys!" Sonic said impatient, "What're we doing standing around?! Let's go grab a burger I'm starving."
"Yeah let's go!" Tails said.
So Team Sonic started to head back to the village.
Meanwhile inside Eggman's Base…
"AAUGH!" Dr. Eggman shouted, "They defeated me again! I understand I'm the main villain of the Sonic Boom show but I should get one episode where I win!"
"Ohh," Orbot said, "Way to break the fourth wall there."
"Thanks," Eggman replied, "I've had practice."
"Hey guys," Cubot said, "I didn't know a giant blue vortex was part of the episode."
"What?!" Eggman and Orbot replied surprised.
Eggman hurried over to the computer and saw the blue vortex over the Beaver and Comedy Chimp.
"What's that doing there?" Eggman asked.
Orbot explained, "It must be a dimensional vortex. A portal that can lead into a different reality."
"What do portals have to do with fixed property?" Cubot asked.
"Reality!" Orbot said as he smacked Cubot, "Not realty!"
"Doesn't anyone else notice that those fools are floating?" Eggman asked.
At the scene…
"You realize that we're floating right?" Comedy Chimp asked.
"Actually," The Beaver replied, "I have."
Then the two fell through the portal with Sticks seeing it happen.
"Now's my chance to get my own solo adventure again!*" Sticks said as she rushed to the portal before it disappeared.
(*Sonic/Mega Man 2: Worlds Unite comic crossover)
She then jumped through the portal and then it disappeared.
"Sticks?" Amy said as she went back to find her but couldn't find her.
The others heroes came along.
"Where's Sticks?" Tails asked.
"She was behind us." Amy replied.
"Maybe she's trying to trick us to think she got captured by Eggman." Knuckles said, "Well guess what it's not going to work…. Again….. For the 45th time."
"Maybe something happened to her." Tails stated.
"You're right Tails," Sonic replied, "And we have to save her!"
That's right Sonic! You and your Team must adventure out there to save your comrade.
"Right after lunch."
Right. Right after-. Wait what?!
"Look Narrator, we've already been through an episode of the Sonic Boom show. It's time we take a break."
But what about Sticks?
"She be fine I'm sure. Now let's go guys!"
"Yeah! Lunch time!"
And there they go without a care in the world. Well let's see what's up with Sticks why don't we?
In the dimensional vortex…
Sticks was flying through the dimensional vortex looking for the Chimp and Comedy Chimp.
"I've got to save them!" Sticks said in confidence, "They have the Rock of Justice!* That can't fall into the wrong hands."
(*Oh Sticks don't tell me you're doing the same thing you did in Sonic Boom issue 4 are you?)
"You bet I am!"
Sigh. Anyway as she searched a giant white light appeared in front of her.
"Oh no!" Sticks shouted, "It's the end for Sticks the Badger! The light has come to take me away from the world of the living! I never knew my life would be this short! Farewell cruel world!"
Ignoring Sticks paranoid and dramatic statement, she fell through the white light.
In a parallel world…
Today we join our heroes Ash, Pikachu, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie as they rest for a while before progressing on their journey.
"Awww," Bonnie sighed, "My feet are so tired from all that walking."
The Pokémon in her bag said, "Dedenne."
"Me too," Serena replied, "It's nice to just relax and look at the clouds. Right Braixen?"
"Braixen Brai!" Serena's Braixen said.
"Let's not rest for too long," Ash said as he was standing proud, "We gotta head to the next town quickly so I can defeat the next Gym Leader and enter the Kalos League! Then I'll be a step closer to becoming a Pokémon Master!"
"Pika Pika!" Ash's Pikachu said as he got as excited as Ash.
"Relax Ash." Clemont said, "The Gym Leader will still be there when we get there. So just rest up for a bit."
"Ash is always so passionate about those Gym Battles isn't he?" Bonnie asked Serena.
"Yeah," Serena replied as she stared at Ash, "He really is filled with energy even when we're not."
Suddenly a big blue portal appeared out of nowhere and started pulling Bonnie and Dedenne in.
"Whoa whoa whoa! Help us!" Bonnie shouted.
"Bonnie!" Clemont shouted back as he tried to use his mechanical backpack's arm to save her. However she disappeared before he could make it.
"Oh no!" Serena said in worry.
"Bonnie," Clemont said, "Where'd she go?"
Suddenly another blue portal appeared out of nowhere and a weird brown creature in jungle clothes appeared out of it.
"Am I dead?" The creature asked, "Is this the afterlife?"
"A talking Pokémon?!" Serena yelled in shock.
"I can't believe it," Clemont commented, "Another talking Pokémon*. Just how many of those are there in the world?"
(*Team Rocket has a talking Meowth.)
"Maybe this Pokémon knows what happened to Bonnie." Ash stated, "After all it came from the same portal."
"Chokemon?" The creature asked, "I'm no Choking Monster, I'm a badger. Sticks the Badger to be exact."
"A badger?" Clemont asked, "What is that?"
"That's what I am blondie." Sticks replied in sass, "Boy are people such no brainers when they enter the afterlife?"
"Sticks," Serena asked, "A little girl with a little mouse-like creature got sucked into a weird vortex. Do you know what happened?"
"There was another portal to the afterlife?" Sticks asked.
"It looked more like a dimensional hole." Clemont answered.
"Did you say dimensional hole?!" Sticks asked in a loud voice.
She then began thinking about what recently just happened.
"I know what's going on." Sticks said.
"What," Ash said, "What is it?!"
"Pika Pika." Pikachu said.
"This girl got sucked up in a….. Jenna Sis vortex.*" Sticks answered
(*You mean Genesis Portal.)
"Whatever."
"We didn't say anything." Clemont said.
"I know." Sticks replied.
"Who were you talking to then?" Serena asked.
"I was talking to the-"
Suddenly another portal appeared below Sticks, Ash and Pikachu and quickly sucked them in and disappeared.
"Oh no," Clemont said, "Now Ash and Pikachu are gone!"
"What'll we do Clemont?" Serena asked in worry.
Clemont chuckled and answered, "I'm glad you asked. I've prepared something for a situation precisely like this one. Clemotic Gear On!"
He then got out a machine from his backpack.
"Behold!" Clemont yelled, "My Parallel Universe Vortex Tracker!"
He explained how it works, "This nice machine will help us track down a dimensional vortex whenever one appears. Therefore we can save Ash, Pikachu, Bonnie, and Dedenne."
"As Ash would say," Serena stated, "Science is amazing."
"Braixen." Braixen said.
"Here we go." Clemont said as he turned it on.
It seemed to work at first but sadly just like all his previous inventions it exploded.
"Darn it. Another failure." Clemont said in depression.
"Not exactly a failure," Serena said, "Just another mistake you can learn from."
Clemont groaned.
In the vortex…
Sticks, Ash, and Pikachu were flying through the vortex.
"Woah," Ash shouted, "This is weird!"
Sticks flew by kinda looking bored.
"You'll get used to it." Sticks replied.
"Bonnie! Bonnie! Can you hear me?!" Ash shouted.
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu shouted with Ash.
"Save your voices," Sticks said, "I already tried that with my friends."
Suddenly a big white light appeared in front of them.
"What's that?!" Ask asked.
"Just one word of advice kid," Sticks said, "Enjoy the ride!"
And the three flew through the light.
In an entirely different world…
In a town called Mean Street in a world called Wasteland, the cartoon people were having a parade to celebrate the heroic works of Mickey Mouse* and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit**.
(*The Epic Mickey version of the character. **Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two.)
During the parade, Mickey, Oswald, Ortensia and the animatronic versions of Donald and Goofy were having a nice talk.
"And that's how," Oswald said, "The Doctor became good again."
"Grawsh," Animatronic Goofy said, "That's some story. I wish I could come along on your adventures."
"Do are Cartoon counterparts* go on adventures with you in the Cartoon World Mickey?" Animatronic Donald asked.
(*The Cartoon versions of these characters are still in the Cartoon World where Mickey is from.)
"Yep," Mickey answered," More than you know."
Suddenly a blue vortex appeared out of nowhere and started pulling Ortensia in.
"Oh no!" Ortensia yelled in fear, "Oswald!"
"Ortensia!" Oswald yelled back as he tried to save her but was too late.
She got sucked in and the vortex quickly disappeared.
"Oh no!" Mickey said, "Where'd Ortensia go?!"
Suddenly another vortex appeared and a Badger-looking creature and a boy with a yellow mouse fell from it and then the vortex disappeared.
"Quack!" Animatronic Donald Quacked, "Where did you two come from?!"
The boy got up and looked around.
"Woah," the boy said in amazement, "Where are we?"
"You're in Wasteland." Oswald answered, "The world where forgotten Cartoon characters come to live."
"Cartoon characters?" The boy asked in confusion, "What're you talking about?"
"I can't be here yet." The badger said freaking out, "I'm not forgotten!"
"Do you recognize these guys Mickey?" Oswald asked.
"Nope," Mickey answered, "I've never seen or heard of these two."
"Who are you fellers?" Animatronic Goofy asked.
"My name is Ash," The boy answered, "And this is my partner Pikachu."
"Pika Pikachu!" The mouse said.
"And I'm Sticks," The badger said, "Sticks the Badger and I'm not a forgotten Cartoon of this world."
"This world?" Mickey asked.
"I've recently been on an adventure like this*," Sticks explained, "I crossed into so many worlds that this episode isn't long enough for me to explain."
(*Sticks is referencing the Sonic/Mega Man 2: Worlds Unite comic book crossover)
"You mean you know what happened to Ortensia?" Oswald asked.
"She fell through a dimensional vortex." Ash answered. "Same with my friend Bonnie."
"And my friends too." Sticks added.
"Hey," Mickey said, "Why do we all work together to find all of our friends."
"Good idea Mickey." Oswald replied.
"I'll go see if Gus can put the repairs on the T.V. to get me home* on hold to come along with us." Mickey stated and went to get Gus.
(*See the opening of Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two to understand.)
"And I'll see if Daisy, Horace and Clarabelle want to come too." Donald said as he went to get them.
"And I'll get my Vacuum cleaner." Goofy said as he left to get his Vacuum.
"This is great!" Sticks said in excitement," We shall be Team-"
Suddenly another portal appeared below Sticks, Ash, Pikachu, and Oswald. They then fell in it and it quickly disappeared.
When the others returned they found out that the four had already left.
"Where'd they go?" Mickey asked in confusion.
"Are you sure they were here Mickey?" Gus asked.
"They were when I last saw them." Mickey answered.
"Maybe they took off without us." Animatronic Goofy stated.
"That would be a good possibility," Gus stated, "After all this is Ortensia we're talking about."
"I hope that where ever Oswald is," Mickey said, "He's okay."
In the vortex…
"Woah woah!" Oswald yelled as they flew through the portal.
"Hang on Pikachu!" Ash said as he held on to his partner.
"Quit your yelling." Sticks said all relaxed, "This will be over soon."
"How do you know?!" Oswald asked.
"Because I read the script for this episode already." Sticks replie- hey wait a minute.
"See there's the other end right now."
Sticks you weren't supposed to read that script.
"Whatever, just narrate."
Fine. *ahem* a white light suddenly appeared on the other end and our heroes flew into it.
On the other side…
Our three heroes popped out of the portal appearing in a strange world with a dimensional gateway with a weird purple piece on it.*
(*We all know who got that piece on there.)
Ash got up and asked Pikachu, "You okay buddy?"
"Pikachu." Pikachu answered as he nodded.
"Where are we?" Oswald asked.
"Keystones 2-5 currently still missing." A voice suddenly said.
"Wha?" Oswald asked.
"Who's there?!" Ash asked.
"Keystone Found! Opening portal to next destination!" The voice said.
Then a portal opened on the gateway.
"That's the only way that I'm gonna find Ortensia." Oswald said.
"And me to find Bonnie." Ash said.
"Well what're we waiting for?" Sticks asked, "Let's get going!"
"What?!" Ash and Oswald asked in shocked.
"Pikachu?!" Pikachu asked.
"You want us to come with you?" Oswald asked.
"Well let's look at what's going on shall we?" Sticks said, "We've each lost a friend and now we need to find them. I'm the only one who's done something like this and without me you two would be lost."
Ash and Oswald were silent for a minute.
"That actually makes sense." Oswald replied.
"Yeah," Ash said as he smiled, "It'd be better if we work together to find our friends and find out what's going on here. Right Pikachu?"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu answered with a smile.
"Alright let's do it!" Sticks said as she put her right hand in the middle of the trio, "I'm Sticks, Sticks the Badger!"
Ash put his hand on top of Sticks' and said, "My name is Ash Ketchum and this my partner Pikachu!"
"Pika Pikachu!" Pikachu said.
Oswald then put his hand on top of Ash's and said, "And I'm Oswald the Lucky Rabbit!"
"Now let's go find out friends!" Sticks yelled in excitement.
"Yeah!" Ash and Oswald replied at the same time.
The four heroes then jumped through the dimensional vortex.
And so a new team is out there to help out. What world will they land in? Find out next time. Sonic Boom is owned by Sega, Pokémon anime is owned by the Pokémon Company, and Epic Mickey is owned by Disney.
