CHAPTER 1
Once upon a time, ...
Not so long ago, in an all-too real and unenchanted world (That would be our universe, to be precise), there was an autistic man named Joshua Sumter.
He was on top of the world as he lived in the real world, where there are no 'happily ever afters', simply crazy old harsh reality. Joshua was also funny, creative, and imaginable. Okay, let us face it - he was a boy with some common qualities.
For a while, Joshua often does his own stuff. He sometimes uses YouTube and other social media sites to display his creativity. He loved to read, draw, and be on the computer to write his own work. His inspirations came from those he follows on YouTube, Disney, and countless others. Joshua's life, like the real world, was good. But it was all about to change...
One day, he was feeling disconsolate, distraught, dejected. Not to mention discouraged. His chances of stardom, fame, and the recognition he would hope to deserve were all dwindling and slipping through his fingers. And now, the directors, executives, and producers at every world-famous studio he had just visit...each shook their heads, looking doubtful.
You see, Joshua, who had taken a trip to Hollywood, California from his home at South Carolina, had just shown them his proposal of a blockbuster he was presenting - starring none other than himself, of course - and they didn't seem to get it.
What was there to get? What could be better than him singing an epic song about how a movie out of him would be magnificent, so great, that it would be the most incredible, crazy, epic movie/musical tale/motion picture event the world has ever seen with many heroes, celebrities, and special effects. And that it would blow their minds. And that he would have his own theme song guy, too.
Joshua smiled at them, hoping that they would considering his proposal. The know-nothing grumpy old executives opened their eyes.
"No," they said.
Joshua's mouth drooped into a frown on his face when he saw their expressions. They thought the whole thing of Joshua's very own movie was ridiculous and were very relieved not to have to listen to another one of Joshua's hairbrained proposals.
"Now hold the phone!" Joshua said desperately. "Did I mention there's a romantic sub-plot?"
One of the executives looked perplexed. "We're sorry but making a movie about you would be a waste of good film."
Joshua started to babble. "But I've had dreams, I tell 'ya. BIG ones, like having my own movie and stuff. I even make my own stories, thank you very much."
"Well, it is important to have dreams," the executive looked at Joshua. "But...we don't make movies about anyone else we choose."
Joshua frowned and said, "Well, I'm not like 'anyone else'. I am one of a kind! I am thrice the entertaining extraordinaire! You have seen me on YouTube, right? My stories on FanFiction? My amazing artworks? Probably worth to google."
But the studio executives just stood in silence.
"Alright, fine! You're serious," Joshua said sarcastically. "But you moviegoers these days demand epic heroes, like me!"
Suddenly, Joshua went into a Kung-Fu routine, a blur of kicks and flying fists. His moves were not so fast, but when the smoke cleared, Joshua was left with a crane pose. "Top that!"
But the studio executives just glared at Joshua, for he had just made a big mess on the conference table.
"So, uh... Did I get a woo-hoo?" Joshua asked as he giggled nervously.
A few seconds later, Joshua had found himself flying off the studio lot. He landed with a thud on the sidewalk. Yanking the camera from his back, Joshua pointed it right at his face.
"Well, that's another big-shot Hollywood studio that I nearly ticked off," he said, looking hurt. "Guess I should give them a few hours to cool off for a bit."
Joshua sighed as he continued via the camera. "Well, you know what? I have had it! How much overhyped, market-driven crud can the public stand?! All I did was to show everyone that my own movie/blockbuster can be something with a little artistic vision, something with a heart, something with some action, suspense, some real lovin', and even a few laughs, all in one epic story of...ME! UGH, who am I kidding? One of these days, some of you folks realize that life ain't about dreams coming true. It is just some that are nothing but full of compromises and disappointments. I mean, who does that?!"
Joshua may have said a lot of other crazy and funny things, too, but that gives you a picture of what we are dealing with. But for now, Joshua himself was not sure he believed as he sadly walked away in shame and hitched a ride back home on the bus with some souvenirs.
He did not notice that someone in the distance was watching him.
CHAPTER 2
Joshua was not sure if things were getting better, worse, or something in between. They just...were.
One day, after his trip to California, Joshua Sumter himself kept on coming by doing his stories. He even eats, sleep, play on the computer, and so forth - which we previously established, in case you want to go back and double-check. He was already comfortable in his own home, and he might have felt better, especially after his chances of getting his own movie went down.
But then, another fateful day, Joshua was sure that his day was going to get anywhere...until he heard something at the door.
"Who's there?" Joshua demanded. He climbed out and made his way toward the door.
"I'm warning you!" Joshua called as he opened the door. "I'm in the middle of my me-time, and I don't have time for...HOLY GOD!"
That "holy god" was right, because a mysterious old hag had just stood in front of him.
"Hello, dear boy," the hag said. "What a lovely young man."
"Yeah, yeah, I don't have time for this, okay?" Joshua said as he tried to step around the old hag, noticing how...ugly she looked. But something about her seemed familiar somehow.
Anyway, the old crone blocked Joshua's path as she said, "But old granny has a marvelous gift for you, child."
Joshua sighed and groaned. He did not want anything what the old woman had to offer. "Listen. I'm a grown man, and I got some things to do, so if you'll excuse me..."
"But 'tis a wishing well, dear!" the hag broke in. Grabbing Joshua's arm, the old crone dragged him far, far away from his home to the big city, and right into the woods, where they found a beautiful, yet old wishing well.
Joshua protested. "Look, I may have several wishes, but I ain't wasting them on some old well."
"That's what makes it the most magical of all," the old woman insisted with her eyes gleaming...wickedly. "Now close your eyes, dear boy and make a wish. That's right, that's it. Lean in close. Are you wishing for something?"
"I guess so," Joshua replied. Closing his eyes, he began to whisper, "I wish to have my very own movie," he said. But when he opened his eyes, nothing happened, as did his wish.
"Okay, lady, what happened just now-," Joshua asked. But before he could get an answer about his unanswered wish, the hag pushed him in!
Joshua's scream echoed all the way down the well, as if though his voice had disappeared into another dimension. He did not know it, but Joshua himself was being tricked into a magical wishing well.
As Joshua held on, he looked up to see the old hag laughing wickedly somehow as she said, "Sorry, boy, but you won't be getting your so-called 'wish'. For now, you have unknowingly walked right into the middle of the story."
"The middle of the story?" Joshua asked, confused as he held on tightly. "What story?!"
The hag smiled cruelly. "You'll soon see what I mean with your very own eyes." She crackled as she let go of Joshua, and he continued falling into the darkness of the mysterious tunnel of the well.
It was a long way down as Joshua twirled and tumbled down a dark tunnel of the well. And as he did, Joshua noticed something strange as he felt the strangest and weirdest sensation in and on his arms, his legs, and even his entire body.
OKAY! NOW THIS IS WHERE THINGS GET WEIRD, PEOPLE.
Sparkly dust of magic was floating everywhere. Soon, it landed all over Joshua, and in a moment, his skin began changing, as did his clothes. It was as if he were expanding - going from 100 percent of his real-world, live-action self to something quite...bizarre. Above him, silver dust swirled into the shape of a comet and Joshua screamed as if he tried to run away. What was happening?
Thump!
Joshua landed smack-dab hard in a very odd place. But before he knew where he was, everything faded to black as he started to feel unconscious.
CHAPTER 3
The sun rose on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the lush, green meadow. Birds chirped, squirrels chattered...and Joshua sounded asleep.
Joshua had no idea how long he had been out cold. Maybe a minute, or an hour? A day? But as he opened his eyes, he yawned and looked around. He was lying on some soft grass.
Isn't this nice? Joshua thought as he rolled over, Flowers, trees, a nice cool river. Nothing but a wide-open vista...
Suddenly, both Joshua's eyes were wide open as he was snapped awake and gasped. His heart thumped even faster as he looked around once again. He was not in his home world at all. He was in an animated place filled with wonders he had never seen or even imagined before!
"Aaaaaahhhh!" Joshua was REALLY freaking out. The kind of freaking out you do when you are in an animated universe. He had no idea what had happened to him - he only knew that he was not in the real world anymore. "Where's my home?! It's gone! Someone stole it!" Then, Joshua looked at his reflection near the water of the river. He did not look exactly 100 percent live-action. He looked more like a cartoon, whether 2D or 3D. In fact, everywhere he looked appeared to be...animated!
Joshua began to grow upset. "Alright, old hag," he called out angrily. "This wasn't part of my wish!" Joshua waited for a response. But 'twas nothing.
"HELLO!" Joshua cried out again, but still nothing.
Joshua did not understand what was happening. This was not supposed to be happening to him at all. "That's just great. That stupid wishing well didn't grant me my perfect wish!"
Suddenly, something hit Joshua's head. He looked up but couldn't make out anything. He looked back at his reflection in the water, but then a rock disturbs its peaceful flow...and then there was a chant.
Frantically, Joshua searched around for the source of the singing. At last, there it was -an old baboon with a stick was in a nearby tree, chanting. He looked...familiar somehow.
"Hey! Cut it out!" Joshua said, angrily.
But the wise old baboon just grinned at him. "Can't cut it out. It'll grow right back!"
Joshua got up and started to walk off, but the baboon jumped down and followed him.
"Will you stop following me!?" Joshua commanded. "Who are you, anyway?"
"I know exactly who I am," said the baboon. "But the question is, whooo... are you?"
Startled, Joshua quickly examined the baboon, thinking that he recognized the him from somewhere. Suddenly, it dawned on him. It was Rafiki was from The Lion King.
"Rafiki?!" Joshua was surprised, "Look, buddy. Here's the thing - I was in the real world, minding my own business when this old hag came into my turf, and..."
But Rafiki just bonked Joshua on the head with his stick. Joshua rubbed his head as he cried, "OWWW! Will you stop that?!"
"This is the most unexpected turn of events," Rafiki laughed.
"Wh-what are you talking about?! I was just brought here from the outside world," Joshua tried to explain.
"'The 'Outside world'? Just what exactly are you referring to?" Rafiki asked in confusion.
"The real world! My world, of course...," Joshua answered, impatiently.
"There is no such thing, nor is there any place as 'the real world', not in Toontopia."
Joshua blinked. "'Toontopia'...?"
"You seem to have lost your way," said Rafiki. "You're going to get a whole new perspective on things. If you seek answers so much, take it up to a place known as Toontopia."
Joshua was stunned. "Wait, hold the phone... How did you-?"
Rafiki had already disappeared, but Joshua could hear his laughter, "You can't go wondering around for what you're looking for."
Joshua yelled, "Oh, yeah! Watch me!"
Joshua sighed in dismay. "This can't be happening! This is got to be some kind of trick to mess with me! Or maybe it's all a dream? Or maybe it's some story I haven't thought of!" he told himself. "OK, am I animated? Yes. Is it weird? Yes! Well, it is beyond weird. Think, Sumter. This world is nuts, but you can get out of this. Just got to find this Toontopia, ask anyone about that wishing well, find it and jumped on out of here!"
As he continued forward, a mysterious voice echoed, but it wasn't Rafiki's. It belonged to someone quite unusual. "Enjoy yourself while you still can, for you will soon realize...the role you've chosen to play."
Unfortunately, Joshua didn't know where to go, and he had no one to ask - until he heard animals talking. He was surprised that he could understand them. In his world, animals can't talk. Then, Joshua heard birds flying overhead and frantically tried asking for directions, but they just kept flying.
"Okay," Joshua said, exhausted. "I got to get the lay of the land. Somehow, maybe if I can get up high enough for a better look..."
As he looked on, Joshua heard voices. He looked around and was amazed to see two monsters talking. A large purple bird-like preppy-looking fraternity, Jock-like enthusiastic monster named Brock Pearson and his partner, a three-eyed goth girl with gray skin and fin-like hair named Claire Wheeler, were watching Joshua. Those two were from that Monsters, Inc. prequel, Monsters University!
"What's he getting all worked up about?" Brock asked.
"Don't know, but he's looking around everywhere," said Claire. But the two stopped talking when Joshua was headed for them.
Brock began to scream at first, "Please, don't hurt us!"
"What?! NO, I'm not hurting anybody," Joshua told them.
"Oh, well, that's pretty decent of 'ya," Brock replied. "Are you new here?"
"No, I'm not from here. Do either of you know where the magical wishing well is?"
"Yyyyeeaa-no. Uh, no. Sorry," Claire answered.
"Listen here, I'm NOT from around here. I'm from the real world!" Joshua shouted. "I was brought here by a wishing well. A magical one. I was being pushed into it by an old hag."
Brock and Claire thought Joshua was crazy and decided to play along.
"See, we're not just monsters either. We are of the Greek Council from Monsters University," Brock exclaimed excitedly.
"Yeah, he's actually the vice-president, and I'm just the president," Claire added.
Joshua sighed and stomped off as he wondered, "Why am I even talking to a couple of teenage college monsters?! I'll find it myself."
"Oh, I wouldn't go that way," said Brock. But he can't remember why.
Almost immediately, Joshua became lost again and then suddenly, he ran into the forest. It was nothing like the forests in his world as the woods were becoming dark and full of strange noises. Owls and bats swooped down on him, and Joshua nearly tripped on twisted trees and branches.
It wasn't long before Joshua realized the forest was getting scarier than he thought as he shrieked and ran farther, becoming more lost and confused.
At last, Joshua couldn't run anymore as he spotted a tall tree. "Hmm," he said, smiling. "I can do this. No problem."
Joshua Sumter whipped out his hands, reached for the tree trunk, and began to climb up his way to the top to get a better view.
But just as Joshua was about to reach the top...
"Hello?" a voice shouted out from below.
"Huh?" Joshua looked all the way around and collapsed to the ground. "Why is this happening to me?" He groaned in despair for losing hope of finding the wishing well.
As Joshua felt unconscious once again, he thought he heard voices. The last thing he was aware of was someone saying, "Oh my... what could've brought him here?"
Around Joshua were a young boy named Melvin and his two friends, a monkey named Frank and a little china girl named Selena.
CHAPTER 4
A while back earlier, across the very woods, Melvin and his two friends were walking until they reached an unexpected forest. It was dark at first, but the sun shined it at bit. They were in search for someone called the Creator, who they'd been separated from long ago. Along the way, Selena looked up and gasped to see something. "Why is there a grown man on the top of that tall tree?!"
But it was not an odd question. Because high above the tall tree, Joshua was looking at the whole view from up there, trying to find the wishing well he seeks rather than Toontopia. At least he managed to climb all the way to the top.
Curious, Melvin looked up as well and called up to him, "Hello? Hey you, mister!"
Joshua looked around, finally realizing the voices were not coming from the distance, but from down below. "What the-?!" Joshua began to startle - and then, he slipped from the tree's branches and then, just as he had back home, he was falling...
"Ow!" Joshua cried as he landed smack-dab with a thump.
"Guys, we got to do something," Selena said.
"What do you supposed we do?" Melvin asked.
"How should I know?" Frank replied, shrugging.
Joshua had heard voices, alright, because when he slowly opened his eyes, he screamed in surprise when he found himself face-to-face with a kid, a monkey, and a china girl. They, in turn, were looking at him. The monkey seemed curious about this strange visitor, but the china girl and human boy looked surprised to see him.
Joshua cocked his head as he cried, "Whoa, back off! BACK OFF!"
"Who...who are you?" asked Melvin.
"I'm Joshua Pharoah. Sumter," said Joshua, introducing himself.
"Oh. We thought you were someone else. I thought you were in trouble when you were on top of that tree."
"Oh, heck no!" Joshua shook his head.
"Then, what are you doing out here?" Melvin asked.
"It's a long story that I, for one, won't bored you with!"
A while later, they got up from the ground and talked.
"So, your name's Melvin and you're lost from home?" asked Joshua.
"How did you know?"
"A hunch maybe," said Joshua as he shrugged.
"Oh, yes. And I kinda did remember having a home yet, but I was too young," he said. "My master and I were separated by that fire."
"Your master?" Joshua asked. "Are you like his pupil or something?"
Melvin nodded, "Oh no, not like that. He was the most magnificent person in the world. He taught me everything I needed to know about the world we lived in. We had our own secret place somewhere in the woods, and..."
"And that's where you were hoping to find him?" Joshua asked.
"Exactly," Melvin nodded. "But first I need to find Toontopia."
"Yeah, that's just great," Joshua sarcastically thanked them as he turned his back on the three and slowly began to walk away. "This kid has got a little origin story."
"So, how are you in about as few words as possible?" Frank asked Joshua.
"As much as I love to stay and chat, I'm not from this world," Joshua said. "I'm trying to find some magic wishing well, so I can get back to my world!"
"A magic wishing well?" Melvin pondered.
Joshua nodded. "Yeah, because frankly, this is clearly not some kinda crazy fantasy world that I myself did NOT dreamt about! Now if you excuse me, I'll be on my way."
"Wow!" Frank said. "Only a real person could be really that honest."
"Listen here, you three," said Joshua, looking down at the trio. "Take a long look at me. Where am I from?"
Frank, being a smart and wise-cracking monkey that he is, craned his head to look up at Joshua's face. "Umm... From that tree?"
"NO! I'm from the real world! You know, harsh reality. No 'Happily Ever Afters.' Doesn't that like bother you or intrigued you?"
"No," Melvin replied.
"Not really...," Selena shook her head.
"I don't know," Frank pondered.
"Seriously?!" said Joshua, a little surprised. "You know what, kid? There are some things we don't have in common. Like I hate it when you got someone in your face, and you try to give them a hint, and they won't leave and there's that big awkward silence... You know?"
There, indeed, was an awkward silence, just as Joshua's eyes grew wide as he realized where the Melvin kid was really going. "Wait a minute," he spoke. "Wait a minute. I know what you're up to, kid!"
"Uh, you do...?" asked Melvin, confused.
"Yeah, you just want to go to Toontopia and find some answers about your 'troubled past', and you need ME to guide you there, right?! Am I right?"
"Yes, I would like that. And how did you know that?" asked Melvin.
"Because that baboon Rafiki told me to go there! And I don't know a single clue or two about that place! I just want to go back to the real world, to my cozy home. It's all I want!" Joshua said. "So, I'll be fine on my own, thanks!"
Just then, Cinderella's Fairy Godmother appeared in front of them. "Only if you helped out this young boy, mister!" she said as she turned to Melvin. "It seems to me that you all have lost your way."
Joshua sighed. "Look, I'm not looking forward as some side gig as their little guide. I got a lot going on in my universe, like a LOT. Besides, I'm not from here. It's not like I have a map to that place."
"Oh, come on, please. Can't we just go together?" Melvin pleaded as he reassured Joshua would help take him and his friends to Toontopia. "Besides, we might have fun there, and it might help you with what you're looking for."
Joshua turned to them. This kid could not possibly be serious - could he? But then he sighed as he began to ask, "All right. So, what's the big deal about this 'Toontopia' place, anyway?"
The Fairy Godmother started to explain. "Toontopia is not just a place. It is a world beyond imagination, made from all the other worlds, all brought together by a being known as the Creator."
Joshua looked confused, "The 'Creator'? Sounds like a big over-the-top name to me...," Then he blinked for a moment. "Wait a second! Did some crazy event happened before I was here?"
"He means like a crossover event, where everyone teams up and stuff," Frank answered for the others.
Joshua tried to calm down. But recalling on what Rafiki had told him, he had no choice but to buddy-up with the kid and his two friends. But he did want to get back home.
"So, I don't really have a choice, do I?!" Joshua muttered to himself, then he sighed as he looked at the others behind him. "OK, Look! Only because I'm lost, I'll come."
"Great," Melvin nodded. "We got no time to lose! You won't regret this."
"Too late...," Joshua groaned at what he had just got himself into.
And that was how Joshua and his newfound friends came to be walking through the lands a moment later.
"This world is not the place for me," Joshua kept on mumbling to himself with a deadpan look on his face as he, Melvin, Frank, and Sally continued forward. It was so hard and weird to believe that being stuck with a kid, a monkey, and a little girl made of china was better than finding his way out of here alone. But if he wanted answers to find the magical wishing well, he would have to stick with them.
Along the way, Brock and Claire caught up with the group. The two monsters had seen some old hag sneaking around and decided to flee.
"We were thinking that if we could just kinda hang out with you guys," said Brock.
Suddenly, Rafiki appeared, showing them that he had a plan to keep that wicked fella off their trail. The group, along with some other animals, found a herd of elephants and hitched a ride on their backs as they headed for Toontopia.
Later that night, as they lay their backs around a campfire, they were gazing at the northern lights and twinkled stars.
"Oh, look," Selena said, "A night rainbow, and I thought the sky's awake."
"Yeah...right," Joshua said. "There ain't nothing but a bunch of little stars."
"You know, sometimes they're more than what they appeared," Frank said, started to feel irritated. "Forget it."
They lay silent for a while as Joshua looked at the stars and then he looked over at his friends. "So, kid," he said. "What's the deal with you and this 'Creator' guy, anyway?"
Melvin looked up at the lights and stars, sadly. "He was like a father to me, but if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here."
"So, this 'Creator' had created not only this mashed-up animated world, but you too?" Joshua looked at the kid, intrigued and concerned. "What happened to him?"
"He disappeared after the...," Melvin stopped for a moment and sighed as Joshua gave a concerned look. It was time to tell him the real story. "My master told me that before I was even born, he had brought up worlds from timeless tales to create a whole, new magical kingdom for all the characters he had brought together. Until then while everyone was enjoying themselves, there were those who did not share my master's interests. The villains tried their attack on their merged worlds in Toontopia, but thankfully my master had banished them. When peace was restored, he went into hiding and that's how he made me as his...child."
Joshua blinked for a moment as Melvin continued, "But then, at that moment, there was a huge fire at our home. I didn't know where the fire came from, but next thing I knew... we were separated." Melvin sighed again. "But as I was all alone, I found Frank and Sally. They've been around me for many times, the only friends I ever had since they both belonged to the Creator. But then, I wanted to find out why I was made at first. That's why I..."
Finally understanding, Joshua was taken a step back. "You cut me deep, kid," he said, unamused. "You cut me real deep just now." There was a pause while he gathered himself. "Does this 'Creator' guy have a real name or something?"
Melvin shook his head. "No. Not really. He never told me that."
Annoyed, Joshua gazed up at the night sky. "Thanks a lot, Creator. If it weren't for you, I would've never met the kid."
Quickly, Melvin changed the subject. He wanted to know about Joshua and this 'real world' that he claims to be from. "So, you're from the real world, huh?"
"Of course, I am," Joshua replied. "Where I come from, you are all fictional characters in famous stories that everyone loved and read so much, not to mention TV shows and movies, even remakes and reboots. Me? I'm sort of...a bit autistic, maybe perhaps artistic. I made self-insert stories and I made crossovers that nobody has ever thought of. I know that because I had some on ."
Joshua sighed again to continue more. "Then over time, there was this Marvel comic that I like a bit. It was about Gwendolyn Poole, a comic super-fan from the same world as me, and she had no desire to go back. Unlike Deadpool, she was much intended to be self-aware commentary, and... stuff."
Melvin's eyes were widened as Joshua continued on about one of his favorite characters, "She was, like, cheerful, goofy, and earnest when not burdened by the exhaustion of being a real person in a comic book world. Like all the other heroes, like Miles Morales and Kamala Khan, she faced many crazy challenges and tough choices. But in the end, she had one goal in her mini-series - to not get permanently erased. And she did it, thanks to us fans of her. She may or may not have a new mutant ability of reality manipulation or whatever. But she didn't get to be the bright-eyed, cheerful Gwen that we fell in love with, but her story ended...like an emotional roller coaster. But when her words got to me, I thought that maybe that since I ended up here, I thought that maybe I had the state of being a real person in another world, just like her. But that wasn't the case."
Just then, as he finished his story, Joshua stretched and yawned and went to sleep, as did the others. "Well...good night."
"Oh...okay." Melvin grinned. "Night."
Brock, listening to all of that, was in tears. "That is so beautiful." Then, he went fast asleep while Claire rolled her eyes and went to sleep as well.
CHAPTER 5
As the sun rose over their little campsite, Joshua was still fast asleep. He didn't notice that the others had woken up to the sound of people chattering and music playing in the distance.
"Joshua, wake up!" Selena whispered loudly.
Joshua sat up. "Huh? What?" he gasped. Then he saw Melvin and the others stood upon a view. "What the...?" He yawned, just as a flock of birds swooped down on them, directing their gaze to the most epic yet beautiful scene spread out before them.
Far in the horizon a mountain poked up into the clouds, with the sun blazing on its peak. In the middle distance was a large colorful epic world, a myriad of many Disney places - including Cinderella's Castle, Duckburg, St. Canard, Atlantica, The Beast's Castle, Agrabah, Halloween Town, the Pride Lands, Wonderland, Oakey Oaks, Metroville, Kingdom of Corona, Arendelle, Zootopia, DunBroch, San Fransokyo, Enchancia, Gravity Falls, Avalor, and much more - all linked through time and space, surrounding the majestic Disney Castle at its center. It was also crowded with heroes, princesses, heroines, talking animals, and anthropomorphic animals talking and shopping, telling stories, and much more. It was more beautiful than anything they could ever imagined.
"We made it!" Melvin laughed. "We're here! Come on!"
"What the-? Hey, wait up!" Joshua cried as he ran after the others but fell headlong. Gazing around, he was stunned, shocked, and even more surprised.
"This place is bonkers crazy!" Joshua said as he noticed every famous Disney characters of all shapes, colors, and sizes were everywhere!
Joshua was dumbfounded when he thought this out. This entire realm is Toontopia? Well, technically, he can only see the town square that looked very much like Main Street, U.S.A. from Disney World.
"Oh, come on! A whole mashed-up world inhabited by princesses and cartoon characters?" Joshua became more surprised, "This is so...so...insane!"
Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh winced in a deep monotone voice, "Easy there."
Joshua just can't believe it. He can see characters from Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, The Little Mermaid, Mulan, Aladdin, Zootopia, Big Hero 6, Toy Story, Emperor's New Groove, Dumbo, Wreck-It Ralph, Moana, Frozen, and other timeless titles all together in one big world. No wonder why he'd see the Fairy Godmother, Rafiki, Brock, and Claire when he first woke up.
"This must be our first time at Toontopia," Selene said. "I hope they'd be happy to show us around."
"So, this really is Toontopia in a nutshell," Frank replied. "All worlds rolled into one."
"Like it or not, we'll find out soon enough," Melvin said.
"I hope you haven't forgotten that we only came here for answers," Joshua glared at them, but then asked, "And where exactly is there?"
To answer Joshua's question, Melvin pointed at a gigantic castle of white and blue. Joshua recognized that castle. It was Disney Castle!
"You have got to be kidding me!" Joshua exclaimed in shock, then he added as he looked at Disney Castle. "Now THIS is what you call a castle! I bet that someone who lives here demand more towers. Second, he'll demand more towels. And third, he'll demand more trowels. The whole brickwork on this place is really, really something. Incredible."
But as Joshua was busy complaining, he did not know that the Disney characters that are already here had turned. For a moment, they all looked at Joshua, Melvin, and the others in surprise.
"Visitors!" one of the toons cried.
Suddenly, Joshua and his newfound friends were surrounded by the cheerful Disney characters. Everyone was shaking hands and talking at once.
"Well, howdy," Jessie from Toy Story said to Selene. "Glad to meet 'ya."
A bunch of monkeys surrounded Frank, who looked at them in awe. Melvin shook hands with Pinocchio. Joshua, however, still had no idea what to think of this strange place. But before he could do anything else, Mickey Mouse himself and his friends arrived.
"Hi, everybody! I thought we see some new faces!" Mickey said with an easy smile. "Welcome to Toontopia."
"How!" Joshua called out awkwardly. Then, he stepped forward, trying to be a show-off. "Me Joshua Sumter. Me come from the real world, a land of harsh reality and crazy stuff."
Elsa and Anna from Frozen glanced at each other, confused.
"Then plummet!" Joshua continued, dancing out the motions of his story. "Smack-dab. Go thud! Then here I emerge. We offer only happiness and good greetings."
"Are you dancing about how you got here?" Daisy Duck asked Joshua.
"Uh, yeah!" Joshua replied.
But Mickey had already shook Joshua's hand. "Pleasure to meet 'ya!"
The others looked at Joshua and his friends as Minnie spoke up, "Aww, look at you all! You've been through a lot today, haven't you?"
Frank narrowed his eyes at both Mickey's friends and his friends. "Oh, it's been crazy."
"Well, don't you worry, folks," Goofy told him. "You and your friends are safe now. We're all friends here. We've all been summoned here by this Creator fella, who wanted all of us to live in harmony. So, just you wait. You'll find that being here in Toontopia was the best thing that ever happened to 'ya!"
"Well, listen," Joshua tried to explain. "I didn't come here to stay; I came here for answers. I was brought here by a magical wishing well, okay?"
"Sorry, but Snow White had once been to one wishing well," Minnie was confused, but she reassured him. "But not like the one that would magically bring you here. We'll figure it out as soon as we can."
"I see," Joshua sighed, then muttered to himself. "I should've asked. The answers I've waited have come to a single blow."
After a chance meeting, Joshua sighed and looked at Melvin. "I can't believe it. I've been forced from my own world to this animated fantasy. Sorry that I dragged into this, along with you. Looks like I'll be here for now…"
"It's okay," Melvin assured. "You didn't get your answers, but I'm sure something will come up."
"And what's that?" Joshua asked.
"I'm not quite sure yet, but let's at least have some fun in the meantime," Melvin answered, gesturing himself and the others. "Maybe I'll figure out some things out for myself..."
"I guess you got a point," Joshua shrugged as he sighed.
Soon, Joshua was having fun as he felt better once, he got to know everyone and went to exotic places.
That evening, the characters took turns telling stories of what they had done. When it was Joshua's turn, he looked up at the sky. "I went on the longest, craziest, most outrageous journey I've ever been on - with a whole bunch of finest people I've ever met," He looked at Melvin. "But...what do you expect from yours truly?"
And so, it happened that Joshua remained in Toontopia for an exceptionally long time, unaware of the coming events that will soon begin to unfold...