The Dollhouse
"I must admit, this is new." Nick Fury commented, as both Andy's walked into the bunker, followed by their families and friends. By now, the two doppelgangers have switched outfits back, and the Andy who worked with Fury had his SHIELD uniform back. "Then again, I've had scientists working on how to reach other universes…"
"Well, you're a bit behind then." the Andy in the leather jacket told him. "I got a few friends from my Earth who've already figured it out. Just today, they extended the range on a trans-dimensional device so I could get here with my friends."
"So, how the Hell do we tell you guys apart?" Ash asked, drinking his beer. "Aside from what you're wearing." Both Andy's looked at each other, then to the side.
"Eh, call me by my full name: Andrew." the Andy in the leather jacket offered.
"I'll go by Veronica." the second Nica added.
"I always liked the name Allison." Alice's doppelganger shrugged.
"Well, that was easier than I expected." Constantine smirked, as he lit a cigarette and pointed to the Andy in the SHIELD uniform. "So what's your stories?"
"From what I understand, our timelines are similar." Andrew spoke for his doppelganger. "Except that my family and I are three years into the future."
"That can't possibly be the only difference." Andy scoffed. "There has to be something else that made you into… you."
"Well, from what I understand, that night at Harrogate is like a focal point on how our lives changed." Andy continued. "In a separate timeline, my mother and friends ended up in the nuthouse with Nica, while Alice was trapped in a doll. In the end, we were able to rescue Nica and kill Chucky for good."
"What's your 'current' timeline?" Andy asked, confused.
"I ended up being possessed by Chucky, but with the help of Constantine, Oliver, and Lucifer, I was freed and we all killed Chucky." Veronica explained.
"I was also dead for a few years, before Uncle Andy and Aunt Nica went to Hell to save me." Allyson added.
"After that, I rejoined the Barclays in fighting a nasty git by the name of Damian Darhk." Constantine continued. "We even travelled through time for a bit."
"And just last year, Alice, John, me, and a few others went up against a mad doctor of sorts." Lucifer finished, while he drank a glass of scotch.
"Your Andy mentioned he already knew me from his world." Ash pointed out. "What happened to me there?"
"You also helped in fighting Darhk, then went time travelling with Constantine." Oliver said in a short answer.
"Sounds fun." Williams grinned, and continued getting high.
"What about you guys?" Andrew asked, looking over at his doppelganger. "What happened to you and your family?"
"A bit similar to yours." Andy admitted. "Or rather, your other 'timeline'. My mother and Chucky's son ended up in Harrogate with Nica, and I made it there right after he killed two patients."
"Soon after, we killed Chucky, and got married." Nica continued.
"Lucky, you didn't have to get possessed." Veronica grumbled.
"What about me?" Allyson asked her younger self. "What happened to you?"
"I did something fucked up." Alice revealed. "I transferred my soul into a doll, just like Chucky, in order to go to Harrogate. I killed that doctor there, and that's a mental scar that didn't heal for a long time."
"Hey, we were able to pull through it." Andy cheered his niece up. "After all, my soul was forced into the doll back in 1990."
"Anyways, after the incident at Harrogate, we moved to New York, where Andy met up with his old friend, Frank Castle." Nica continued their story. "About a day after we arrived, a crime lord named Wilson Fisk gathered a supervillain cabal to kill Andy, Frank, and a superhero team known as the Defenders here."
"Sounds a bit like Barry's team." Oliver noted.
"They don't have a speedster." Fury interrupted. "Once the Cabal was defeated, I recruited Barclay, Castle, Williams, Jarvis, and Strode into stopping monsters they've faced in the past, like Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees."
"You guys killed them, right?" Veronica asked. "Those assholes freak me out."
"Oh yeah." Tommy Jarvis smirked. "They're back in Hell where they belong."
"Good riddance, too." Creighton Duke smiled.
"Hold on, where's your friend Castle?" Andrew asked, surveying the room full of people.
"He died fighting Voorhees." Laurie Strode elaborated, before looking towards Andy. "But he died a hero."
"They always do." Jack mumbled, and drank rum from his flask.
"And that brings us to right now." Andy finished his story. "Just last night, I had neutralized a serial killer going by the title the Headsman, and when I woke up the next morning, I found myself in your universe."
"Same here." Andrew agreed. "I woke up in this world, in New York."
"We need to find out who did this, and if his work is done-" Veronica tried to say, but then clutched her head, while Nica did the same. Andy and Andrew stared at her, alarmed, but then they too felt an immense pain in their skulls, and gripped their own heads from the torture. The pain was unbearable, as if someone was sticking white hot prongs into their frontal lobes, while a razor sharp knife slid into the cortex. At the same time, Jack noticed that both Alice and Allison were holding the sides of their heads in the exact same manner.
"What the bloody Hell is going on?" Constantine asked, bewildered at the sight.
"They're converging with their doppelgangers." Lucifer realized. Everyone shielded their eyes, a blinding light engulfed each pair of Andy's, Nica's, and Alice's. Once the light faded, smoke cleared, and standing in front of everyone else were Andy and his family. Fury and Constantine sighed in relief, but then their eyes widened, noticing there was only one Andy, only one Nica, and one Alice.
"What the Hell just happened?" Oliver asked, confused.
"I'm with Robin Hood on this." Ash chimed in. "I'm not the only one seeing this shit, right?"
"No, why?" Laurie whispered.
"Like I said, I'm baked." Ash replied smugly.
"Andy, you alright, mate?" Constantine asked curiously.
"I feel… as if I've lived two separate lives." Andy revealed, opening his eyes and looking down. Barclay's brows knit together, noticing he was wearing the same clothes as that night in Harrogate. Andy looked over to Nica and Alice, who appeared to wear similar outfits.
"It feels like I've known you all for years." Nica added, frowning. "What happened to us?"
"Both your halves merged." Lucifer explained. "I haven't seen it done often…"
"We'll solve this later." Andy announced. "Right now, I know how Pennywise came to life. Or at least, I have a hunch."
"By all means, share with the class." Fury encouraged.
"He was willed into existence by the man who created him-" Andy paused, looking everyone in the eye. "-Stephen King."
"How'd he manage that?" Ash asked, looking up with stoned eyes.
"He was given a book that can control all of reality." Andy elaborated. "That book was given by Edgar Allan Poe."
"Got an idea where he is?" Tommy asked.
"I know it's at his home." Andy volunteered, before looking towards Fury. "Do you still have the Theta-Wave?"
"You know it." Fury grinned, and he and Andy led everyone else towards the lab part of the bunker.
Five minutes later, Fury had Andy set up to the frequency machine, with everyone else watching.
"Looks similar to something Barry used against Devoe." Oliver observed, with Constantine nodding in agreement.
"You never told me about this." Nica said to Andy. "How exactly does this work?"
"Simple." Fury responded for Barclay. "The machine scans his brainwaves, then produces an image from his subconscious."
"Ready to go." Andy declared, giving Fury the thumbs up. Fury smirked and hit the button, lighting up the machine while Andy closed his eyes.
Andy opened his eyes, finding himself in an endless void. He looked around, not seeing anyone or anyone.
"Hello?" Andy asked, looking around once more. Suddenly, Barclay heard footsteps behind him, and he swung around, coming face to face with a man with white hair and a mustache, and wearing thick glasses.
"Good day, Andy Barclay." the older man greeted, extending his hand.
"Who the fuck are you?" Andy asked, losing his patience.
"I go by many names." the man sighed. "The Presence. Yahweh. The Man. The One Above All. But I prefer Stan. Just Stan."
"You're… you're God?" Andy gasped.
"I suppose that's one way to put it." Stan shrugged. "Oh, don't worry. Your friends are still obtaining the image of Poe conversing with Stephen King."
"So why have you come to speak with me?" Andy asked, confused.
"I am merely here to explain what exactly you're up against." Stan told him, before taking a deep breath. "I don't do everything alone, you know. I may be the One Above All and everything, but even I need some help. So I founded a council of elders who shaped their own realities."
"Is this story leading anywhere?" Andy grumbled.
"Mortals. So impatient." Stan chuckled. "My council has been comprised of individuals who could create entire multiverses with mere thoughts. George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Bob Kane, you get the idea. Edgar Allan Poe was once on the council."
"He what?" Andy said out loud, shocked.
"He used to be better." Stan insisted. "But he was obsessed with the idea that all worlds were filled with darkness and fear. He made an attempt to destroy all universes, but I had banished him, imprisoning most of his powers in that enormous book you saw Stephen King use."
"And now he's found it after over a century." Andy guessed, but Stan shook his head.
"Poe, like the rest of the council, are not from this world." Stan revealed. "What has only been a hundred years for you has been millennia for us. But enough of that now. You must stop Poe, for all the world's sakes. Merging your halves the beginning, and he's forcing the universes to collide."
"Why can't you do it?" Andy asked, getting annoyed. "If you are the literal God, why can't you stop Poe on your own?"
"Because I have foreseen that you will reign victorious." Stan told him. "But be warned: it will come at a price."
"I'm sure I'll be able to handle it." Andy said arrogantly. Stan kindly smiled, before he began fading away.
"Farewell, Andy Barclay." Stan said. "Oh, and tell Sparrow and Lucifer I said hi."
Andy woke up and quickly got off of the Theta-Wave bed, where everyone else crowded around the digital image of Poe giving King the book.
"Jesus, what happened?" Nica asked. "You were in there for awhile!"
"I'm fine." Andy told his wife. "I know what we need to do."
"Great, because I know where you need to go." Fury announced. "Baltimore, Maryland. That's where's Poe's house is."
"We all going?" Ash asked.
"Not everyone." Andy decided. "Especially not my family."
"But-" Alice tried to say, but was interrupted.
"I know that you want to help." Andy told his niece. "And if it was anything else, I would let you. But this guy, Poe, he has the powers of a fucking God. I don't want you anywhere near him." Alice looked up at Andy, before wrapping him in a bear hug, and cried into his shoulder.
"Just make it back to us." Alice sobbed. "Please."
"I will." Andy promised, before prying Alice off of him and turning towards his friends. "Williams, Constantine, Sparrow, Oliver, and Lucifer. I'd like you guys with me when I head to confront Poe."
"Why us?" Ash asked.
"Because I've known you all, and fought with you side by side on multiple occasions. And Jack's going because he seems to know quite a bit about this dimensional shit." Andy said. "Ash, I've had the privilege of knowing two different versions of you. And let me say, you both are good men." Ash smirked, as he loaded up his boomstick.
"Well, let's go save the world." Williams grinned. Andy grinned, and while Fury began instructing Tommy and Laurie to take care of another assignment, Barclay and his closest friends began walking towards the quinjet.
"Oh, and Jack, Lucifer." Andy remembered. "Stan says hi."
"You met Stan?" Jack asked, surprised.
"Good old Dad…" Lucifer grinned, looking up to the Heavens, before entering the quinjet last.