(A/N: OK, from now on, most of the action will be in the toy dimension. The smashers were in the toy dimension before, in my 3rd fic. So, there will be lots of references to that fic here. Every time there is such a reference, or when events of the 3rd fic are implied to be known, I will indicate it with (3), just to show that you're not missing anything from this plot. It couldn't hurt to read my 3rd fic, though…and review…)

Chapter 2: Arrival

"Well," Master Hand began dramatically after exiting the portal, "Here we are in the toy dimension."

"It looks good." Fox commented, remembering the destruction that he had seen during Mistress's short reign. "They've started rebuilding." (3)

"It does look very civilized." Marth agreed. "You said only toys live here now?"

"Yes, but they're our size." Kirby explained.

"Not yours." Link teased. Kirby shouted in mock anger, "Bigger isn't better, fairy boy!"

"Ooh, haven't heard that one before." Link retorted, laughing.

"Enough!" Master Hand shouted. "Let's go visit Apocalypse."

"That doesn't sound friendly." Young Link commented.

"Well, he's in charge of this dimension. The real Apocalypse is a nigh omnipotent villain in some other universe." Ness explained.

"Showoff," Mewtwo muttered jokingly.

"Ness and Mewtwo seem to be finally getting along." Samus whispered to Mario.

"Yeah…maybe it was the whole saving G&W thing." He whispered back, grinning.

"Pichu!"

"Pika. Kachu."

"Jigglypuff!"

"Pi?"

"Hmm…I guess Pikachu and Jigglypuff are explaining to Pichu." DK muttered.

As the smashers approached the large central building, they could see that the area was really starting to develop. Smaller buildings were sprouting up, and there were roads leading all around. It was a welcome change from their last visit.

Suddenly, the smashers were blocked by a huge blue object. It soon changed shape, though, and became Apocalypse.

"Excuse me, I was practicing my shape-shifting and didn't see y-" Apocalypse stopped abruptly, realizing to whom he was talking. "Master Hand?"

"In the flesh." Master Hand replied, then added, "I guess."

"I don't believe it! Everyone will be so happy you're alive!" (3)

"Unfortunately…" Master Hand motioned to the smashers behind him, "I've come with bad news. Gather your strongest fighters."

Apocalypse greeted each smasher; after all, he knew all of their toy counterparts, but he got stuck when he came to Clyne.

"You're not an action figure."

"No, I'm not. My name is Clyne, and I come from the same dimension as Master Hand."

"Oh, I see. Pleased to meet you."

"Likewise."

Apocalypse motioned everyone inside the central building, showing them places to eat and rest. He then left to summon the fighters.

"He seems nice." Game & Watch commented.

"Yes, he does. What did you say about his being a villain, Master Hand?"

"Oh, I don't know," the glove replied, "I had just heard somewhere that he was really a powerful evil force."

"I wouldn't believe that at all." Roy commented.

Apocalypse soon came in, and the smashers walked outside to greet a huge collection of toys.

"I said your best fighters, Apocalypse…" Master Hand sighed.

"I couldn't decide," came the reply.

"Fine. Let me talk-" Clyne whispered.

"No, they know me," Master Hand shushed, then, "Good morning, everyone."

He was soon drowned out by applause and sounds of wonder (3). He laughed amiably and continued.

"I'm glad you all care so much about me, and I'm sure you'd all like to know how I survived. I managed to teleport away at the last second before the building exploded. I ended up worse off, though. Shadows corrupted my mind, and I almost ran another tournament worse than the first. Luckily, I recovered, but only quickly enough to call everyone out of the tournament besides poor Mario."

A friendly chorus of "Awww…" rippled through the crowd, especially the smashers who had been in the first tournament.

"Now, these same shadows are preparing to attack. Here."

This time the crowd was dead serious. Except for the occasional whisper, it was utterly silent.

"I have brought the smashers to help you, but I need more volunteers to join them on the front lines." Master Hand finally got to the point. "Would anyone care to help?"

Silence ensued for a moment, then someone stepped forward.

"I'd love to work with you guys again," a cheerful Captain Commando (3) said.

A few seconds later, another of the smashers' allies, Crash Bandicoot (3), agreed.

"Anyone else?" Master Hand prompted.

"I'll do it," came a brave, almost arrogant voice from the middle of the crowd. He dramatically leapt over everyone and landed just in front of Master Hand. He was blue, with distinctive quills and red shoes, and many, including Mario, recognized him immediately.

"Sonic!" Mario greeted. "Haven'ta seen youa in a whilea."

"We didn't always get along, Mario, but now we're on the same side." Sonic replied with a big grin.

"If Sonic goes, I go." Tails chimed in.

"Me too." Knuckles agreed.

"Hey, Knuckles! I didn't know you were with them!" Ness greeted (3).

A deep, solemn voice emanated from the crowd, "If that hedgehog is going, I'll come too."

Sonic jerked his head to the side to apparently confirm his suspicion. "Shadow." He hissed. The black hedgehog smirked in reply.

"Hey, none of that," Clyne admonished. "You may not like each other but here, you're on the same side."

"Anybody else?" Master Hand continued desperately.

"No," someone shouted, "There is no one else. Now go away!"

"Who said that?" echoed through the crowd, until finally, the speaker emerged. It was the action figure version of Bowser. Everyone knew that this counterpart despised Master Hand.

"Bowser, I don't want-"

"Oh yes you do! I know what you're really doing here."

By this time the crowd was showing signs of bewilderment. What was Bowser talking about?

"You want to defeat…" Suddenly Bowser's voice became deeper, less growling. "Me."

Master Hand recognized the voice and was terrified. "Anomaly?"

Anomaly's voice continued to speak through Bowser. "My spy has been good to me, Master Hand. He has provided me with all the information I need to defeat your newly forming army."

"Is that so?" Clyne barked, and ran over to Bowser. With two swift blows, Bowser toppled over, unconscious. Clyne hit him one more time for good measure.

"He knows we're here." Clyne stated. "This is going to be tougher than we thought."

(A/N: This takes place before the storyline of Sonic Adventure 2 ends. If you have beaten the game, you know why.)