Chapter #29: Farewell, Brave Heroes!
Many weeks later, down at the AnimaCity shoreline, Sonic, Ratchet, Knuckles, and Spike were sunning themselves on towels in the sand when they heard someone shouting. They turned to see their friends running up to them.
Sonic lifted up his sunglasses and asked, "What's up, Tails?"
"The train carrying all the humans is coming!" his sidekick replied.
"So why is that a big deal?" asked the red echidna.
Jimmy exclaimed, "The Professor and Natalie are supposed to be on that train! Come on!" He took off, and the four sunbathers struggled to gather their things and follow him.
They raced to the station, where the locomotive was already coming to a stop. Porter opened the door to the passenger car, and a parade of humans filed out. The heroes avoided being seen until they spotted an old man in a lab coat and a teenage girl with pigtails (is that what it's called?) coming out. Spike and Jimmy raced up to greet them, and the others hung back until they were introduced. Tortimer was also present to tell them about the boys' deeds. The two were quite amazed by the story.
The Professor frowned, twirled his mustache, and inquired, "Do you have any idea where Specter is now, boys?"
Spike sighed and shook his head. "Sorry, Prof., not a clue."
But Jimmy remained optimistic. He brought out his Monkey Net, held it up, and declared, "But we'll catch him again someday!"
Natalie allowed herself a small smile. "I guess we will."
The train whistled, drawing the humans' attention back to it; it was time for them to leave. Spike turned to the other heroes, shrugged, and said, "Well, it was fun and all, but it's time we go back home."
"Maybe we'll meet again for another adventure!" Jimmy said. "Wouldn't that be great?"
They said goodbye one last time before boarding the train. The remaining gang waved until the train was long gone. Then Ratchet folded his arms. "Well, it's about time for Clank and me to split too. Everybody back home is gonna be wondering where we are."
"Wasn't your ship broken?" SpongeBob asked.
Clank, who was positioned on Ratchet's back, answered, "With assistance from Tails, we have managed to restore the ship to full working order."
The yellow sponge scratched his head. "Huh?"
Tails laughed. "We fixed it!"
The Lombax waved and said. "Well, see you guys around! Maybe we'll pass by Earth again to say 'hi'!"
Clank nodded. "It was a pleasure meeting you all. Farewell!"
The commando, with his companion on his back, trotted off to find their ship, which had been moved from its crash site at the train yard and parked by the Museum.
SpongeBob then said, "I guess I need to back home to Bikini Bottom. I hope Gary my pet snail did okay without me. Last time I left him so long he ate my couch! See ya later, guys!"
He walked back to the beach, but he jumped right into the ocean and jogged down to the ocean floor, whistling and singing.
"I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready…" Suddenly he halted. "Wait a minute…I think I forgot something. Maybe I left behind one of my souvenirs! Do you have everything, Patrick?"
He turned around, but saw no one with him. He had forgotten more than souvenirs.
"Patrick!? Where are you?!"
Half an hour later, Ratchet and Clank were relaxing in their starfighter as it cruised through the inky expanse of space.
"It's good to be back in space," said the Lombax with a sigh.
"I must agree," Clank said.
"I'm glad we left. Earth was starting to get boring."
"Ratchet, we only visited Animal Crossing."
"Well, actually, Patrick was really starting to annoy me. I'm glad we're far away from him.
Suddenly a hidden compartment opened, and you can guess who tumbled out.
"Pickled cheesecake!" the pink starfish exclaimed.
Clank's green eyes brightened in surprise. "Oh my."
"What's a Solana Galaxy?" Patrick asked, cocking his head.
Space cannot conduct sound, but if it could have, Ratchet's scream would have been heard by Earth several light-years away.
"Noooooooooooooooo!!"
Back in Animal Crossing, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy were in Acre A-5, where Tails' plane had once again been parked. He checked it over before announcing to his pals that the Tornado was ready to fly again. Then Tom Nook and Nooklings, Tortimer, Copper, Booker, and K.K. Slider appeared.
"So you guys are gonna split too?" the white dog asked.
"You sure don't want to stay any longer?" Nook asked. Beside him, his boys sniffled; they were going to miss the heroes.
Knuckles replied firmly, "We're sure. I've got a Master Emerald to guard, and I took more time than I should have."
"Whatsa matter, Knux?" Sonic teased. "Worried that Rouge will steal it again?" He ducked as the echidna swung a punch at him, and then Knuckles began to chase him around the plane. Amy watched from one of the extra seats Tails had installed behind his, and giggled at their antics.
Tails fired up the Tornado's engine, and Knuckles, who was winded from his fruitless chase, climbed into the seat behind Amy. Then the pink hedgehog realized that there weren't any seats for her hero. "What about you, Sonic?" she asked.
"I'm running," he replied, and he wore a grin that said he wouldn't prefer anything else.
Tortimer came forward to shake his hand good-bye. "Happy travels to ya, Sonic! And good luck with that Eggman guy!"
"Thanks, Tortimer!" He looked up at his fox friend and gave him a thumbs-up. "Okay, Tails, let's hit the road!"
The biplane soared into the air and followed the train tracks leading westward. The blue hedgehog ran along the tracks with a confident smirk, ready for his next adventure. With his friends tagging along behind him in the air, Sonic the Hedgehog raced away into the sunset.
The animals watched him and the blue plane vanish from their sight. Then they turned away and walked back in the direction of the Wishing Well.
Tortimer heaved a sigh. "Well, that's that."
"All of them are gone, off to find another heroic quest," Tom Nook said, waving one paw towards the setting sun.
"I hope they come back someday," Timmy said.
Suddenly a huge turtle-like reptile jumped in front of them and blasted them with his flame-breath.
"I am the almighty Bowser, King of the Koopas!" he roared. "You and your people are now my subjects!"
Then two humans dressed in red and green appeared. Yep, you guessed it…Mario and Luigi!
"Hold on, a-Bowser! You're a-being a bad boy!" Luigi reprimanded, waving one finger.
Mario raised a fist and declared, "It's-a Mario time!"
Copper let out a groan. "Here we go again!"
And that's a wrap, folks! We're finally done! Huzzah! Finally; all those years of hard work paid off! I'm finished! Yahoo! (does happy dance)
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed my humor fic, and I'm very thankful to everyone you reviewed. So, before this fic officially comes to a close, I want to make some acknowledgments to those who really helped me and supported this fic as it was being written:
First and foremost are Fanfiction Fox and Johnny Lombax. They are my younger brothers, and are fans of some of the franchises used in this story (namely Ratchet & Clank). It was Fanfiction Fox's love of SpongeBob (hence SpongeBob- and Patrick-like antics) a few years back that inspired many of Patrick's random statements and crazy actions in this story; without that this might have flopped as a humor story. Thanks a bunch, guys! ;D
Of course, I have to give a hats-off to Nintendo, who created the awesome Animal Crossing franchise. While I'm at it, I'll give a nod to Sony/Ubisoft, Insomniac Games, Nickelodeon, and SEGA for creating the four franchises that inspired this crossover.
And why not salute the eight heroes themselves: Spike & Jimmy, Ratchet & Clank, SpongeBob SquarePants & Patrick Star, and Sonic the Hedgehog & Miles "Tails" Prower! If even one of them wasn't in this story, it would be very different.
And since this is the 2nd version of this story, I want to add another acknowledgment to this long list. I want to thank C.S. Bernard for writing the review that pointed out the mistakes that I have corrected in this version.
Next up are the reviewers who...well, reviewed, the most! Thank you for your support, Chibi Cougar, Dark Kyotoa, and Shelby the Hedgehog! If I missed someone, I apologize. So, to cover all bases, thank you everyone who reviewed!!
As a final note, I did get a few reviews asking about a sequel. I am considering it, but I don't want to promise a yes or no; there are so many other stories I would like to do. But there is a new Animal Crossing game coming out this November, so that might just inspire me. In a few words, I'm only thinking about it! No guarantees!
And now, I, Hoverbike Girl, am signing off, for the last time, on this story. Until the next fanfic, farewell! (gets on Hoverbike and drives off into the sunset)
