Gabriel sat down at a diner in Epcot, giving thanks to the waiter that brought over a dragon fruit smoothie for the raven to drink. Jasiri, Brooklyn, Lena, Sisu, and Kessie were all sitting there as well, each having their own smoothie as well. "Random question of the day: what's something you'd change about your story if you had the chance to go back and do it again?" the raven asked.
"Reach out and help Maggie more," Brooklyn replied instantly. "I feel bad that we accidentally drove her away, and while she's doing fine now with Talon… I still wish I'd tried harder so she didn't make all those rash decisions." He then hummed with thought. "Maybe I should change that to making sure Derek doesn't become Talon in the first place. That's where the real trouble started with the Labyrinth Clan in the first place."
"Oh yeah, Maggie is the Mutate you had a crush on in the early days," Gabriel remembered. "Do you still hold those feelings now?"
Brooklyn shrugged. "Eh, I got it over it for the most part. I can find someone else. I mean, my comic counterpart did, so there's some hope for me."
"I'd want to not rely on Webby so much," Lena admitted. "She's a great friend, don't get me wrong, but in retrospect, most of my story is just be learning the 'Power of Friendship' over and over again."
"That's my one complaint about your arc as well," Gabriel nodded. "I think once you got back from the Shadow Realm the writers struggled to figure out what your arc should be. Better to have you around than to be functionally dead, though."
"Agreed," Lena nodded.
"I just want to not get shot by a crossbow," Sisu said. "Dying was not a fun experience, let me tell you."
"Hm… I can't think of anything right now," Kessie said. "What about you, Jasiri?"
"I would have liked to have formed an alliance with King Simba earlier than we did, or maybe even joined Kion's Lion Guard," Jasiri stated. "I could have shown the Pride Lands that not all hyenas are bad. I think "The Smartest" is a good title for me."
"Or "The Kindest" due to your big heart," Gabriel said, giving his girlfriend a kiss on the cheek.
"Heh, you charmer," Jasiri giggled, blushing from the gesture.
As Team Dream Keeper continued to have their casual conversation, a certain peahen was stepping out of a shop. Almyra spotted Gabriel and waved, going over to greet the raven and his friends. "Gabriel, how good to see you here in Epcot!"
"Hey Almyra, nice to see you too," Gabriel said. "Man, we seem to be running into each other quite a bit, don't we?"
"Almost like she's a fun character for the author to write or something," Lena mused, looking past the Fourth Wall.
"You should stop hanging around Deadpool so much, Lena. His strange way of talking is getting to you," Brooklyn said.
"Hey, he keeps stalking me, so it's not like I'm willingly hanging out with him! I can barely stand the guy!" the sorceress said.
"Anyway, if you're all here, why don't you come to my shop?" Almyra asked.
"You own a shop?" Kessie questioned.
Almyra nodded, gesturing behind her to the building she walked out of. It was an Arabian-style building with a sign that read "Mystic Boutique" over it. "Wow, that's a bit out of place here in the France Pavilion," Sisu said.
"Well, back in my home country, my family has a lot of wealth, so much so that I'm considered a princess," Almyra explained. "Paris is a big fashion destination, so when I brought my dressmaking business to the Magical World, I just had to build it here."
"You're a princess?" Jasiri said in shock. The hyena smiled and gave a bow. "From one royal to the other, we would gladly visit your shop."
"No need to be so formal. We're all friends here," Almyra giggled. "But yes, let me show you inside." The gang followed Almyra into Mystic Boutique, looking around to see the shop filled with various dresses and suits. "This is my store! I have all kinds of styles from every corner of the world. And judging by your looks, Gabriel, I say you need an update."
"What's wrong with my clothes," Gabriel said, pulling at his hoodie. "Hawaiian shirts are cool."
"You look like a grandpa," Almyra said, making the raven stare at her in shock. "I mean, I see what you're going for, but it's kinda tacky."
"Nick Wilde wears practically the same thing!" Gabriel shouted.
"But he does have the cute little tie," Sisu said.
"Don't take her side," Gabriel groaned.
"If it makes you feel better, I think you look cute," Jasiri said.
Gabriel sighed. "Is this just an excuse for you to design a new outfit for me?" he asked.
Almyra gave a sly grin. "Maybe… But, I'll only do it if I can make new outfits for all of you!"
"Fine, let's do it," Gabriel said. "So, where do we start?"
"I think this calls for a mix of sewing and dance," Almyra said. She clapped her wings, making the lights go out, before a spotlight appeared, the peahen standing under it with a measuring tape in her hand held like a dance ribbon. "It's makeover time, Team Dream Keeper addition!"
As Almyra started to move, Gabriel let out some Fantasia to give her a beat, the peahen's Dance of the Mystic Veils activating as she went over to the raven, taking some measurements. Giving a nod, Almyra snapped her fingers, summoning a work table and various spools of fabric to work with, the peahen singing as she did so.
Thread by thread, stitching it together
Gabriel's dress, cutting out the pattern snip by snip-
"Wait, I am not wearing a dress!" Gabriel objected, stopping the music. "I'm not like Silver, that'll never work!"
"I mean dress as in clothes in general, not the specific article of clothing," Almyra explained, waving a needle in the air.
"Oh, okay then," Gabriel nodded, turning the music back on. "Continue."
With a nod, Almyra went back to singing and sewing, pulling up a whiteboard that she started scribbling ideas on.
Making sure the fabric folds nicely
It's the perfect color and so hip
Almyra did a spin, flipping the board around so the others couldn't see, the peahen peeking out occasionally so she could get a look at Gabriel's current state of dress.
Always gotta keep in mind my pacing
Making sure the clothes' correctly facing
I'm stitching Gabriel's dress…
With a satisfied nod, Almyra went over and measured Brooklyn next. "Just make sure it doesn't get in the way of my ability to fight," the gargoyle said.
"I'll keep that in mind," Almyra replied, going back to her workstation.
Yard by yard, fussing on the details
Jewel neckline, don't you know a stitch in time saves nine?
Almyra looked at the fancy necklace, before tossing it out. "No, that's not going to work," she said, summoning over a few other jewelry pieces to try with the outfit. "I'll figure to something here…"
Make him something perfect to inspire
Even though he hates formal attire
Almyra grabbed some black leather and carefully stitched it together, before looking at the outfit one last time. Tossing the jewelry aside, she instead placed a pair of aviators on the mannequin, giving a nod of approval at the look.
Gotta mind those intimate details
Even though he's more concerned with fighting
It's Brooklyn's new dress…
Quickly getting everyone else's measurements, the store became a whirlwind of magic and fabric as Almyra was inspired by new designs for each of Team Dream Keeper.
Dressmaking's easy, for Lena something pink
For Sisu, something breezy
Blend color and form
Do you think it looks cheesy?
Almyra held up a design to the dragon, who gave a nod of approval at the look. "It'll fit great on my human form," Sisu smiled.
Something brash, perhaps quite fetching
Hook and eye, couldn't you just simply die?
Making sure it fits forelock and crest
Don't forget some magic in the dress
Team Dream Keeper where impressed at Almyra's skills, flawlessly sewing while also dancing and singing, all at the same time. "She's definitely a princess of action," Lena nodded.
Even though it rides high on the flank
Jasiri won't look like a tank
I'm stitching Jasiri's dress…
"And with this, it should fit both forms," Almyra added, giving the hyena a wink.
Piece by piece, snip by snip
Croup, dock, haunch, shoulders, hip
Thread by thread, primmed and pressed
Yard by yard, never stressed
And that's the art of the dress!
Once the song finished, Almyra gave each member of Team Dream Keeper a bag. "Here you go! Just head into the changing rooms over there and tell my what you think!" Almyra said. As the others went to get changed, the peahen pulled out a yellow ribbon and tied it around Kessie's neck. "I couldn't make a full outfit for you, Kessie, but I hope this scarf makes up for it."
"I love it!" the bluebird exclaimed. "It's so comfy, and I love the color. It reminds me of… someone I know, though I can't say who…"
The curtains on the changing room parted, and Team Dream Keeper stepped out in their new looks. Brooklyn's outfit was clearly biker-inspired, the gargoyle wearing a leather jacket with matching leather shorts, his Phoenix Gauntlets matching the look. A pair of sunglasses sat in front of his horns, completing the look. "Oh yeah, I can dig this," Brooklyn said with a grin, flipping his shades down. "I feel like hitting the road wearing this getup."
Lena was next, the teen sorceress sporting a light blue and grey striped dress that stopped at her tail and was similar to her previous sweater, a light pink overcoat open over the dress. She kept her green sneakers, and Lena made sure to display her friendship bracelet prominently on her wrist. "I'll be honest, this look is good," Lena said. "Didn't see myself as a dress kinda girl, but I can work with this."
"Try your Super Sorceress form," Almyra encouraged.
The teen duck did so, her clothes turning white and pink as her magic turned blue. "Woah, inverted colors, very cool," Lena nodded.
Sisu came out in her human form, now wearing a fancy gold and turquoise kimono. "I feel so fancy," the dragon mused. "I might have to shape-change more often so I can wear it more. Do you think you could make one for Raya?"
"If she's willing to sit still long enough for me to make one," Almyra giggled.
Jasiri was next, the hyena changing into her anthro form to more easily put the dress on. Her outfit had a sleeveless grey top that hugged her chest and neck, with a purple skirt that went to her knees and had African-style patterns stitched into her. The hyena kept her bead necklace, but added matching wristbands along with a headband for her magic butterfly to rest on.
"Oh. My. Goodness! It turned out better than I hoped it would," Almyra gasped. "You look amazing, Jasiri."
"This is really nice, Almyra," Jasiri giggled, doing a twirl.
"Looking beautiful as ever, Jasiri," Gabriel said, stepping out of his changing room. The raven kept his sorcerer's headphones, but everything else had changed. He now wore a white turtleneck sweater with a grey long coat over it, an intricate dragon design stitched into the back that shone in his Fantasia colors. The raven also had black pants and white feet covers (since his bird feet barred him from regular shoes), as well as putting his Hero Visor back on.
"Woah, that is a look for sure," Lena said.
"You look like a detective," Brooklyn noted.
"Or a DJ!" Sisu added.
"Either way, I like the new look," Jasiri said, giving Gabriel a hug.
"I'm glad you all like them," Almyra said. "But that did take a good while to do, even with the montage, so it's back to work on all my other orders. Kanga, come on down, we have work to do!"
"Coming dear!" called Kanga, the stuffed kangaroo hopping down the stairs.
"Wait, Kanga!? What are you doing here?" Gabriel said in shock.
"Oh, I found her after I picked up a piece of paper that floated into the shop," Almyra explained, pulling out the paper. "She's been a big help around here, and little Roo pitches in to help as well."
"Hello!" Roo called from his mother's pouch.
"Well, I guess it's a good thing your page was found by someone as kind as Almyra," Gabriel said with a sigh of relief. He took the missing page and added it to the Hundred Acre Wood book.
"If it's okay with you, Dream Keeper, I'd like to stay here to continue to help Almyra at her shop," Kanga asked.
"Sure! With your page restored, you can come and go from the Hundred Acre Wood as you please," Gabriel nodded.
"It's good to see you again, Kanga and Roo!" Kessie cheered, giving the two a hug.
"Nice to see you too, Kessie," Roo laughed. "We should play bouncing games with Tigger when we get back home!"
"Who's Tigger?" Kessie questioned.
"She's still suffering from memory loss it seems," Jasiri sighed. "Oh well, that's two more Hundred Acre Wood denizens found! Who does that leave for us to find?"
"Tigger, Piglet, Pooh Bear, Rabbit, Gopher, and Lumpy," Gabriel named off.
"Well then, good luck to you all. I'll make sure Kanga and Roo are well taken care of," Almyra said. As Team Dream Keeper said their goodbyes, the doorway to Mystic Boutique opened, with a blue hornbill swooping in and landing on a mannequin. "Oh, it's Zazu! Are you here to pick up the outfits I made for King Simba and Queen Nala? I know they wanted something festive for the Winder Celebration this year."
"Actually, I have a message for the Dream Keeper," Zazu said. The hornbill reached under his wing and pulled out a letter, handing it to Gabriel. "Now then, I must be off. Timon and Pumbaa will be by to pick up those outfits when they're ready."
As Zazu left Gabriel opened up the letter and read it to himself. "So, what does it say?" Jasiri asked.
"It says that my family is coming to visit this Christmas," the raven explained. The words' meaning then hit him, making Gabriel shout out, "Wait, my family is coming to visit!?"
Author's Note
That was a fun chapter, giving Team Dream Keeper some new threads to wear. For the inspiration on each of them: Brooklyn has a biker outfit in reference to him being the "bad boy" of the group and him riding a motorcycle in one episode, Lena's outfit is based on one of her concept designs that I liked in "The Art of Ducktales" book, Sisu has a kimono with colors based on one of her concept designs, Jasiri has a casual African look to her outfit, and Gabriel's outfit is meant to invoke a superhero-type look, with a bit of Nicholas Cage from the live-action "Sorcerer's Apprentice" movie as well as Edward Elric from "Fullmetal Alchemist" mixed in as well.
The song Almyra sings is a version of "Art of the Dress" from "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" which fits the peahen and her fashion boutique. Kanga and Roo have been found as well, meaning Gabriel is one step closer to getting to take his Keyblade exam!
And last but not least, Gabriel's family is coming to the Magical World for Christmas this year. I hope you all are excited to meet the Dream Keeper's family in the coming chapters.
Next Time: As Gabriel prepares for his family's arrival, the Dream Defenders work on a way to make the raven's holiday season the perfect Christmas celebration ever!