Blackwolfen: The story continues and our group not only gets reinforcements but also sportswear for our team. The Toon Squad.
Nataliepthatsme: when it comes to Mario games like Strikers Charged, I've always admired the battle gear that they had for playing an intense game of soccer. Now that we all get to wear it, it's so cool and makes me want to fangirl about this! and the fact we got new skills, is unreal! I wonder what other surprises that await us both on and off the court.
Gemwing2012: Yet another interesting twist to the story is having Duke come along for the ride. My suggestion for Duke to join in the adventure was inspired by a scrapped draft of Disney's Peter Pan in which Nana the dog nursemaid was originally considered to travel to Neverland with the Darling children. So thought it would interesting.
LexieLuthor98: Whoo a lot has happened here! I'm still fangirling over meeting Peach and the Marios! I'm never washing my hand again... In all seriousness, it seems we'll be getting some extra assistance, so we'll see how this turns out! Stay tuned!
Back in the gym Alicia and the others talked about how to get their gear.
"Okay, so it turns out that we can't leave Toon Town due to the barrier." Katie stated. "Does anyone have any ideas how we're gonna get Alicia's gear and Lexie's paintbrush?"
"Well, I can help you with the gear problem." Said a female voice coming closer to the group as the other Toons moved to the side.
"Huh?" Natty uttered.
"Who's-?" Lexie started.
It was Princess Peach from The Super Mario Brothers Super Show.
Lexie could only gap her mouth open in shock as she uttered, "No. Way."
"Princess Peach?!" Natty exclaimed.
"Yes, the one and only." Peach nodded as she moved closer to them with a smile on her face as she grabbed Alicia's and Lexie's hand.
"I'm never washing my hand again…" Lexie sighed, trying not to have a fangirl heart attack.
"Oh my, you don't have to react like that." Peach said as she giggled.
"Sorry, it's just such an honor to meet ya." Lexie explained, blushing. "I've been a huge fan of yours since I was a little girl."
"Aww, that's nice to hear." Peach blushed a bit herself.
"Don't mention it." Lexie smiled.
"Uh, where are we going actually?" Alicia asked, changing the subject.
"Yes, you mentioned that you have a solution to our gear problem." Katie added. "What do you have in mind?"
"Well, just follow me to the Toad Workshop in the downtown area, near the Black and White Neighborhood." Peach replied.
"Wait, so there's a Mushroom Kingdom area here?!" Lexie exclaimed.
"Well, kinda." Luigi shrugged.
After a pause, Lexie finally spoke, "I think I need to lie down."
Next thing the group knew, Lexie fell, about to faint from, again, a fangirl heart attack.
"Easy, Lex." Katie said as she and Natty held her steady.
"Yes Lexie, take it easy." Alicia added.
"Sorry, just getting used to this." Lexie chuckled sheepishly.
"Same here with Baloo and the others." Alicia stated.
"I know that feeling." Katie said. "It had been my childhood dream to meet all of the amazing characters from my favorite cartoon shows and movies, going on adventures with them. In fact… there had been a time I had wished to live among toons."
"As good as that sounds but we still need some of you Toons to go to our homes and get our stuff." John mentions, pointing to his own shoes.
Gear is good and all but what about Alicia's sneakers? Her and John's were still in her home and Lexie's magic paintbrush needs to be received as well.
Cuphead thought for a second and then offered, "Hey, I can go to your house and get your sneakers!"
"Cuphead, are you crazy?!" Mugman exclaimed. "You can't go out there all by yourself! Besides, you don't even know where Alicia's house is!"
"Uhh…." Cuphead thought about what he should say next but his brother was right. He didn't know where Alicia and her brother lived but maybe some Toons can help them.
"Hey, Al, don't suppose you could give them directions or something?" Lexie asked.
"Sure but I think Cuphead needs someone to protect him in case my unwanted lover comes along and tries to steal his soul." Alicia added.
"Sounds like a plan." Natty nodded.
Katie pondered for a bit before she spoke up, "I think Kaichi should go ahead to go back to the hotel to fetch Lexie's paintbrush since he's technically a toon himself. Once he gets it into its bracelet form, it should be easier for him to carry it back."
"And being really small has its advantages." Kaichi piped up. "I highly doubt anybody in the Real World will even notice I'm there."
"Okay and what about John?" asked Alicia.
"Well… I suppose Cuphead and the Toons joining him to retrieve your sneakers could fetch John's as well since he can't leave the barrier either." Katie considered.
"But I still need some spare clothing too." John added and showed his outfit to the group.
"I can always fix you up something once I get my paintbrush." Lexie offered with a wink. "One of the perks of having a magic paintbrush."
"And… imagination!" SpongeBob chimed in as he made a rainbow and sparkles appear over his head with his hands
"Okay, so who will come along with Cuphead? I don't want him to lose his soul. " Alicia said in concern.
"I can go." Baloo raises his paw and walks next to Cuphead.
"Count me in too, Coach!" Daffy said.
"Alright in that case I'll come with you." Bugs added before he eats from his carrot.
"So with that out of the picture we can focus on our gear." John said.
Kaichi and the girls nodded while Aya mewed and Daisy squeaked.
With the problem solved Alicia, her brother and the Dreamstones followed Princess Peach, Mario and Luigi to the Toad Workshop the Princess mentioned.
Cuphead, Mugman, Bugs, Daffy and Baloo meanwhile are on the way to Alicia's and John's house to get both siblings' sneakers while Kaichi went on ahead to fetch Lexie's paintbrush.
The group walks around the town guided by the Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom and the two heroic plumbers from Brooklyn.
Most of the Toons the group walked by either greeted them or offered them something to eat. Like fruits or pastries.
"We're almost there." Peach said and walked around a corner. Alicia and the others followed her and stopped for a short moment.
"So this is the Black and White Neighborhood." John said.
"Yep you're right bro." Alicia replied.
Right in front of the group was a barrier that separates colors from black and white. All the buildings were black and white like the Toons that walk around it. Even Mario, Luigi and the Princess were black and white.
"Whoa!" Katie gasped.
"You can say that again!" Natty added.
"How cool is that?!" Lexie exclaimed.
Luigi turns around, asking, "Are you coming?"
Alicia walks up to the barrier and moves her hand through it. Like in old movies, her hand was black and white too like the rest of her body as she walked through it.
"Whoa, this is something you don't see everyday." She said looking around the neighborhood.
"Feels surreal if you ask me." Lexie commented.
"Kinda reminds me of that level in Kingdom Hearts 2 when Sora, Donald and Goofy went through that magic door into Disney Castle's past where everything's black and white while they all look like those old cartoons in the 30s." Katie said.
"Yeah, I know that level too." Alicia added in.
But suddenly Alicia felt sad again and sighs.
"Hey, are you okay?" Natty asked in concern.
"Huh?" Alicia turns to her.
"Yeah, you look down all of a sudden." Lexie chimed in, worried.
"Is something wrong?" asked Mario.
"I'm fine, guys." Alicia replied, walking past the others and follows the Princess and Luigi.
The Dreamstones and the Toons looked at one another in confusion and concern.
"I think I know what's wrong. " John sighed.
"You do?" Lexie asked.
"Yep, she missed someone very close to her." John pointed out.
Katie took a moment to put two and two together when she realized, "Her husband, right?"
John nods. "She couldn't enter the book for two or three months now."
"Seriously?" Natty gasped. "Why? Is there anything wrong with the book?"
"Well, she told me something about a portal leading from the book world to the The Cuphead Show world." John answered.
The Dreamstones looked at one another in concern.
"You don't think there could be some sort of interference between those worlds, is there?" Katie inquired. "Like some sort of glitch?"
"What are you talking about?" asked Mario.
"It's… a long story." Lexie replied with a shrug while Aya mewed.
"Alicia told us that she once came to a different version of the Inkwell Isles, different from the one you all know here that is created in a book." Natty explained. "After her previous adventures from the book, she pulled into The Cuphead Show under some weird circumstances and one of the interesting friends she had made there had created a portal to transport her back to the Real World."
"Ah, I see." commented Mario while he grabs his hat and holds it with his hand.
"And her husband is…?" the Princess asked, nervously trailing off
"Well… I don't know if we should mention it here or not." John scratches behind his head looking over to Lexie and Natty in concern.
"All we can say is that her husband is… a nice guy." Katie improvised. "While he had went about it the wrong way in the past since her first time in the book, during her second adventure in there, you'd be surprised he's a right softy."
"Oh, no wonder she misses him so much." Peach said in sympathy.
"Gawrsh, poor Alicia…" Goofy said sadly.
"Yes, I feel so sad I could cry." SpongeBob added.
"Me too." Patrick sniffled as tears startled to well up in his eyes.
"Hmm…." Luigi thought.
"What's up, Luigi?" Lexie asked.
"Well, how about we try to cheer her up after you get your gears?" Luigi suggested.
"Sure, that sounds like a good idea." Natty agreed as Daisy squeaked while riding in her jacket pocket.
"That's a good timing because we are almost there." Mario mentioned, pointing to a mushroom looking building, with red spots on a white roof.
The door was round and had two doors inside of it. One for normal sized people and one for the Toads.
A sign above the entrance said, "Toad's Workshop".
"Whoa!" Katie gasped.
"That is awesome!" added John.
Alicia said nothing. She just nodded.
"Well now that we arrived how about we enter it?" The Princess suggested.
"Sure." Lexie replied.
Alicia walked up to the building first and was ready to grab the door knob when the door opened on its own and a Toad with red dots on his head looked out of it.
"Ah, you must be Alicia Powell, the coach of the Toon Squad." He said.
"Toon Squad?" Alicia wondered in confusion.
John and the Dreamstones were confused too. Alicia opens her mouth in confusion and wants to ask about that but the Toad opens the door further and four other Toads with different colored spots on their heads come out of the building, walk behind each Dreamstone member and John and push or grab their hands.
They lead them inside the building leaving Alicia alone with the Toad.
"H-hey, wait!" Katie protested in surprise.
"Where are we going?" Natty asked as the Toads kept leading her and the others away.
"Oh, you will see." The blue Toad replied, pushing Katie inside.
The green one grabs Lexies's hand while the purple one grabs Natty's.
A yellow Toad pushes John inside leaving his sister out with the red Toad that opens the door to the workshop before he asks her to enter it.
Alicia didn't say anything. She walks inside followed by the Princess and the two plumber's before the same Toad closes the door.
The interior of the workshop was rather a sight to behold. It had various work tables where a few Toads are busy building and making various gears, gadgets and charms and a large machine spewing out several items onto a conveyor belt as some Toads picked up from the sides and placed them inside some carts. There was even a pair of stairways leading up to some rooms as several Toads were loading up some supplies or overlooking the workstation beneath them.
Seeing the workshop reminded Alicia that of Santa's workshop from the 1998 movie of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, only the colors and theme matched that of the Mushroom Kingdom and carried the air of the classic Super Mario games.
"Woah, that looks so cool!" She said with her mouth open while John smiled.
He was glad that she felt better. But her eyes are still showing sadness.
"My Toad's worked on something for all of you." Peach said.
"Really? What is it?" Natty inquired curiously.
Just at that moment, a few Toad's with some packages walked up to the Dreamstones and the two siblings.
"Wow, thank you." Katie said, accepting one of the packages from the blue Toad.
Each one gets a package with their name on it.
"You should probably put it on." a purple Toad suggested.
"Okay, sure." Lexie replied.
"Do you have any changing rooms somewhere in the workshop?" Katie asked.
"Yes we have." A yellow Toad answered.
"Okay, cool. Thanks." Natty smiled.
Each Toad grabs one of the humans and leads them to the changing rooms.
A minute later, the group stepped out of the changing room in their new gear. John and the Dreamstones are wearing traditional basketball uniforms.
The uniforms are purely white with navy blue rims, white socks and sneakers which are red and white. For the girls, they wore white skorts with navy blue and rims. On the front of the jerseys are the picture of an inkwell with a paintbrush tipped with blue paint behind blue letters that read, "Toon Squad".
Lexie and Natty each have two bracelet-like wristbands on either of their left or right wrists. One band is red while the other one is navy blue. Katie also has the same bracelets on her left wrist while she has a long dark blue sleeve on her right arm. And John has a navy blue wristband on his left wrist.
"Wow! These look great!" Natty beamed as she looked over her outfit in admiration. "And these skirts are so cute!"
"You bet!" Lexie agreed.
"Not too shabby." Katie commented as she admired her bracelets and sleeves.
There was only one person missing. Alicia. She was still in her changing room.
"Ali? Are you okay?" Katie asked, a bit concerned.
The door to Alicia's changing room opens before she steps out to reveal her new gear as John and the Dreamstones were left in awe.
"Woah, you look like Link from Twilight Princess." John said as he saw the tunic she was wearing.
But that wasn't the only thing. On her arm, something appears.
"What is that?" Lexie asked.
"What do you mean?" Alicia asked her.
Around her lower arm appears some sort of symbol slowly turning into arm bracelets as her nails turn into claws similar to the Devil's.
The rest of her body turns into an anthro wolf similar to Wolf Link.
"Whoa! That is so The Legend of Zelda!" Lexie exclaimed.
"What do you mean?" Alicia asked, even more confused.
"I think you should see for yourself." Natty replied.
A Toad moved a mirror in front of her and Alicia was shocked and surprised to see herself in the mirror.
"That….is new." She commented, looking at her body, arms and tail.
Meanwhile, in the Underworld, looking into his magic mirror, the Devil saw Alicia in her new outfit.
"Well, well, well. My lovely Alicia has a new outfit." The Devil crooned. "Oh, she looks splendid."
He then looks over to see Katie in her basketball uniform as she and the others were still stunned and awed by Alicia's new form.
"Oh, and my beautiful Katie looks stunning in that." He added. "It always makes me feel warm and fuzzy seeing my girls looking so dazzling."
"Duh, they do look nice." Henchman agreed. "But Boss, they just needed suitable outfits for the big game against the Monstars. It would be improper for 'em to compete in their regular clothes."
"Oh, I know that, Henchman." The Devil rolled his eyes. "I just think they both look sweet in those uniforms."
And of course, who could forget two more idiots; King Dice and Anubis, who just happened to stroll in the room.
"Hola, Señor Diablo, did I miss the fiesta-?"
Anubis stopped mid sentence upon seeing Natty in her outfit. A terrible grin formed on his face as he kept gazing at her image.
"Mi amor looks muy bonita with that uniform…"
While Anubis muttered more lustful nonsense in Spanish, Dice's eyes turned bright green at seeing Lexie in hers.
"Well, lookie here, my darling li'l Lexie looks breathtaking in that." He grinned. "Can't keep my eyes off her…"
Just then, Alicia's hand turns green as she moves a Toad on a table.
He walked around and kicked a vase down that almost hit the ground when everything turned gray and the vase moved back on top of the table
The Devil and the others saw it.
"This is new…" Dice uttered in shock.
"What in the world is going on?" The Devil exclaimed.
"Uh, I dunno." Henchman shrugged innocently.
"Whoa! Alicia, did you just do that?" Katie gasped.
"I guess, yes." Answered Alicia.
"Looks like you can use Ultrahand and Rewind." Peach explained.
"Coool! New abilities!" Nat squealed in delight.
"So awesome!" Lexie beamed.
The Devil grinned. "Well, it seems like my darling Alicia has some new tricks up her sleeve. This is rather interesting…"
"What does this mean, Boss?" Henchman asked.
"It means that when it comes to planning, I will have to be extra careful, seeing she can possibly use that to her advantage." The Devil replied.
He gave a nasty chuckle as he stroked the image of Katie and Alicia. Before they know it, they'll be with him.
"Well, looks like you have your outfits for the big game." Peach clapped with her hands seeing the outfits the group now have.
"Sure do." Katie agreed. "Thank you so much, Your Highness. You and the Toads have been of great help."
"Oh, it's no problem!" Peach smiled. "I'm always willing to help out friends on their adventures. Whenever I'm kidnapped by Bowser, I try to send Mario and Luigi letters with power-ups in it to aid them."
"Ohh, working behind the scenes!" Natty smiled. "I love it!"
"Same here!" Lexie grinned. "You can't go wrong with Super Mario!"
Alicia looked at her arm. She played Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom a few weeks ago. But as far as she knew there was no cartoon from this Zelda timeline.
"Is there something wrong, Alicia?" Katie asked in concern.
Alicia shrugged. "Not really. Why do you ask?"
"You're just looking a bit stressed." Lexie claimed.
"Well, I have a weird feeling something bad will happen soon." Her wolf ears lowered.
"I'm sure it's nothing too big." Natty calmly assured her. "Besides whatever comes our way, we'll be there to help out."
"You know it!" Katie chimed in. "You know that we always got your back."
John scratches her head making her tail wag as he adds in, "Don't worry, sis we will help you."
"And we'll be ready to beat those losers." Lexie smiled.
"And we'll win because we're stronger together." Katie concluded.
Just then someone knocks on the door.
"Huh? Who could that be?" Katie wondered.
"Dunno. I'll see." Lexie mentioned.
She opens the door and Betty Boop enters the workshop with a few other female toons.
"Hey, sweeties! How are ya?" Bon Bon said as she walked in the workshop and saw the humans in their outfits.
"Oh, Bon Bon! It's so good to see you!" Natty smiled as she hugged her. "We got new uniforms for the game."
Sally, Olive, Minnie, Daisy Duck, Jessica and Betty followed her and saw the others.
"Well, look at that." Olive said as she walked up to Alicia.
"Oh! Don't these four look fabulous!" Daisy Duck squealed as she admired the Dreamstone's skorts and bracelet-like wristbands.
"So pretty!" Minnie giggled.
"Yes!" Daisy Duck added with spark in her eyes.
Katie blushed bashfully as she brushed back her hair behind her ear.
Alicia blushes even more as her face turns red.
"So, what brings y'all here?" Lexie asked.
"Oh, we wanted to find you and wanted to take you out to eat somewhere." Olive commented. "We did a lot of training and could use a bite to eat."
"Wow, sounds great!" Lexie beamed.
"Thank you so much." Katie chirped in gratitude. "Now you've mentioned it, none of us had eaten much since breakfast."
"It's the least we can do for you helping us." Jessica Rabbit smiled. "My husband has gotten much more confident in his basketball playing thanks to all of you."
"Awww! It was nothing." Natty blushed.
"How about you all get changed and we'll take you somewhere nice to have a lovely lunch?" Sally suggested. "Toon Town has many varieties of amazing restaurants and cafés with the most delicious foods and beverages you could ever ask for."
Katie nods in reply. "Okay, we'll do just that. Again, thank you. All of you are so kind."
"Actually I want to wear my tunic for today so I can learn my new Abilities." Alicia said and uses her Ultrahand to grab a hammer from a shelf.
One Toad wanted to grab it but it was too high for him to reach. Lexie approaches and grabs the hammer, handing it to him.
"Here ya go." She said.
"Okay, we'll just be a minute to get changed and we'll be good to go." Natty stated before she, Katie, Lexie and John went back into the changing rooms to get back into their regular clothes.
"I like that fur Alicia." said Olive and touches her wolf tail while Betty looks at her arm.
"Ohhh, and it's metal too!" Betty commented.
"Really haven't seen anything like it." Minnie gasped.
"Thanks I guess." Alicia said nervously.
A minute later, John and the Dreamstones stepped out of the changing rooms in their normal clothes, their gear safely packed away.
"Guys I need some help." Alicia said as the female Toons pet her.
"Um… pardon me, ladies?" Katie spoke up. "I don't want to sound rude or anything but could you all maybe give Alicia some space please? I think you're making her a bit uncomfortable."
"Oh, sorry!" Bon Bon apologized. "Although I have to be honest that my sweet little goddaughter is so cute like this and her fur is so soft."
Alicia blushes and stretches behind her head while she notices someone grabs her tail and hugs it.
"True but we still have more important things to do such as training everyone to get ready for the big game." Natty reminded. "And not to mention that most of us can't train on an empty stomach."
As Natty said this, Alicia's stomach growled, much to her embarrassment.
"Sorry." Alicia apologized.
"Hey, that's okay. Like Kate said, none of us haven't eaten much since breakfast ourselves." Lexie replied in reassurance.
Katie giggled before she asked, "So, are we all good to go?"
Alicia and John nodded.
"Sure we are." said the older sibling.
"Let's a-go!" Lexie beamed.
Meanwhile, Cuphead and his group have arrived in the Real World and are making their way over to Alicia's home. Thanks to Bugs' burrowing skills, they traversed below ground to avoid unwanted attention of the local humans wandering the streets.
"The view back here stinks!" Daffy complained as he followed Bugs and the other Toons.
"It ain't better in the front either." Cuphead added.
"Well at least you can walk through these tunnels." Baloo puffed as he got pushed by Daffy in his butt.
Mugman wanted to say something too but Bugs stopped and the younger brother crashed into him like the others did.
"My head hurts!" Cuphead groaned, rubbing his head.
"Why did we stop?" asked Mugman.
"Ow! What?" Daffy snapped, annoyed while Baloo rubs his belly and groans in pain.
"We're directly in front of Alicia's home." Bugs informed.
"Are you sure about that, Mister Bugs Bunny?" asked Mugman nervously while Cuphead rubs his head.
"Most definitely." Bugs nodded. "Have I ever been wrong?"
"Okay, let's go in!" Cuphead said.
The Toons go down the tunnel directly below Alicia's home and found themselves inside.
Except for Daffy. He went to the neighbors garden and ended up in the dog house of a Rottweiler named Charles. As he lit a match to see better, Daffy finds himself face to face with a very angry Charles as the Rottweiler bared his teeth, growling at the duck.
"Mother…!" Daffy whimpered, realizing what's about to happen next.
Outside the dog house shakes and Daffy screams as the Rottweiler attacks him.
Inside the Powell's house the rug lying in the hallway slowly lifts up to reveal the Toons. Baloo removes it before he and the others climb out of the hole to look around.
"What a nice place." said Baloo as he looked around and walked in the kitchen.
Both Cup Brothers followed suit and went upstairs while Bugs went into the living room. Or he would if he didn't hear a knock on the front door.
"Hmm. I wonder who that could be at this hour?" Bugs wondered sarcastically as he walked over to the door.
He opens it to see a battered and distinctly dazed Daffy, who seemed to have lost a few of his feathers after barely escaping getting mauled by Charles. The duck was literally seeing stars as they circled around his head.
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star…" Daffy sang in a daze as he fell down to the ground. Baloo and both Cups heard it and peeked in the hallway.
"Shhh!" Bugs shushed as he closed the door behind Daffy before he helped him up. "No one knows we are here so be quiet!"
Daffy shakes his head and looks around the house with Bugs following him.
"I knew that!" Daffy scoffed.
"So… where do ya think Ali keeps her shoes?" Cuphead asked.
Mugman thought for a second before he suggested, "Hmm, maybe in her room?"
"Not a bad idea, Mighty Mug. Let's go check." Baloo nodded.
All four walked upstairs and looked in every room to see if they could find Alicia's room.
"Nope!" Bugs said as he closed the door leading to the guest room.
"Whoop, that ain't it." Cuphead shrugged as he closed the door which happened to be the closet containing towels.
Baloo opens the one next to it. "Wrong one."
It was a bedroom but not Alicia's but her parents bedroom.
"Nope. That's the bathroom." Mugman stated as he checked the next room.
Cuphead looked around and saw a door across the one Baloo opens. He peeks inside and sees a bed with a wolf cover on it, a pillow with a wolf head and a Balto plush on top of it. Next to the bed was a closet with one side door open. Next to it was a desk with a laptop and a drawing tablet.
On a small nightstand next to her bed were a lot of framed photos. One of the photos showed Alicia with her family, herself and her brother as small children with the Cups, a group picture with her godparents, another one with her friends, the Dreamstones and the last one right next to her bed with her husband.
A small sticker with a heart was stuck to it.
"Hey, I think this definitely looks like Ali's room." Cuphead informed, signaling the others to come over to have a look.
"Really?" asked Mugman as he peeked inside the room followed by Daffy, Baloo and Bugs.
All of the Toons were surprised by Alicia's room, seeing all the posters from her university, Talespin and Balto, drawings and the TV. Next to her drawing tablet was the Cuphead Book.
Of course Cuphead couldn't help himself to jump on the chair and look in the book.
"Wow, will you look at that!" He exclaimed while Mugman peeked in it with his nose sticking to the table.
He looked at all the pages and smirked, "Well, look who made a bigger mistake than me."
Yes, Cuphead knows that Cuppy only acts like he isn't guilty. But seeing him inside the Casino taking on a bet with the Devil makes him grin.
"But you did make more mistakes than him. You know that?" asked Mugman.
"Yeah… so what's your point?" Cuphead frowned.
"Hey you two, no fighting, we need to look for her shoes!" Baloo scolded as he grabbed both Cups by their handles and placed them on the floor.
"Sorry, Baloo." Mugman apologized as he and his brother began to help search around for Alicia's shoes.
"Okay, let's see… if I were Ali, where would I keep a pair of sneakers?" Cuphead wondered.
He looks around the room until he saw a black sports bag under her bed.
"Ohhh! That's kinda convenient." Cuphead commented as he reached underneath the bed and took the sports bag out.
He opens it and a pair of blue and black sneakers are inside of it.
"Wow!" said Mugman as he saw them.
"Alicia sure has great taste in shoes." Bugs added.
"Still we need some sneakers for John." Baloo pointed out as he looked for his room.
Bugs, Daffy and the Cups followed him to look around. They then looked over at a closet.
"In there?" Bugs asked.
"I'll go look." Daffy said as he walked over to the closet.
He opened it but closed it immediately as he saw the St. Bernard, Duke sleeping in it. Given his earlier encounter with that Rottweiler, the black mallard had every right to be terrified of seeing a very large dog sleeping in the closet.
"I found his sneakers." Daffy said, making a deadpanned look on his face.
"Uh, why did you say that like that's a bad thing?" Cuphead asked, raising an eyebrow.
Daffy wanted to say something when the Toons heard a loud yawn coming from the closet.
"What was that?" Mugman squeaked nervously.
Baloo ushered Daffy aside and opened the door to reveal Duke inside the closet as the St. Bernard yawned some more.
"What is that?" asked Cuphead pointing at the dog.
"Eh, I'm guessing that must be the family dog." Bugs stated. "Cute for a big fella, ain't he?"
Duke shakes his fur and wags his tail. The Cup Brothers seemed familiar to him as he moved closer to them. But they weren't the same Cup Brothers he knew. Both got scared and hid behind Baloo.
"Whoa, easy, fellas. I think he just wants to say hello." Baloo said in reassurance. "I'm sure he doesn't mean any harm."
Duke nodded and raised his paw while his tail wagged. Baloo held his own paw out. The dog puts his paw on his like they are shaking hands.
"See? He's a good dog." Baloo chuckled. "Ain't ya, big fella? Who's a good boy?"
Duke howls and lays down, showing his belly as if he begs to be scratched on it.
"I'm guessing he wants a belly rub." Baloo observed. "Go on, guys, give him a nice, good scratch."
Cuphead moves closer to Duke and rubs his belly. Duke wags his tail in response.
"Hey, I think he likes it!" Cuphead beamed.
Mugman cautiously steps in and joins in rubbing Duke's belly, the dog wagging his tail some more.
"Hey! He really does!" Mugman exclaimed happily.
Bugs took the time to go inside the closet and find John's sneakers. They were black and white striped.
"Well, in you go!" He said, grabbing them and putting them in the sports bag next to Alicia's sneakers.
"Now that's taken care of, are we good to go?" Daffy asked. "We still have a big basketball game to win."
"Well, we got both sneakers from the siblings but didn't we need to get something for one of the Dreamstone members?" Bugs asked the group as they walked downstairs with Duke following them.
"I think Katie mentioned her little buddy, Kaichi, had gone off ahead to retrieve Lexie's magic paintbrush from the hotel." Baloo answered.
"But don't you think the little fella needs our help?" Daffy suggested.
Just then, they heard a small tap at the window and they noticed a glimmer of white. It was Kaichi as the Sprigon was carrying what looked like a bracelet similar to Alicia's in his paws. Only the cords were an autumn brown and two of the beads were a sunny yellow and the third one in the middle is sunset orange.
"Looks like he didn't need our help." answered Mugman.
Cuphead opens the window for Kaichi as the Sprigon flitters inside. Kaichi laid the bracelet down onto a table to take a rest from carrying it.
"Are you alright, little guy?" asked Baloo with concern.
"Yeah. Being small has its advantages. Getting in and out of the hotel to get Lexie's paintbrush wasn't that hard." Kaichi answered. "Although carrying it around while looking for Alicia's house was another story."
"Well that's the next question. How do we get back? We can't use the tunnel again." Mugman asked Bugs while the others thought.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the front door.
"Who could that be?" asked Cuphead as he walked up to the door and opens it.
Three hooded figures, garbed in cloaks, were at the door.
Kaichi gasped in shock as his fur puffed up in alarm. Scared both Cups, Daffy and Bugs hide behind Baloo as the five Toons tremble in fear seeing the three hooded figures. Only Duke tilted his head in confusion.
"Perhaps we could provide a solution." One of the figures spoke, lifting up a hand to reach for the hood of their cloak.
They grabbed the hood and threw it back to reveal themself tone none other than… Misterie herself. The other two figures followed suit to reveal themselves as Blood and Muru.
"Blood! Muru and Misterie!" said both cups at the same time as they ran towards them.
"Wow! It's great to see you guys again!" Kaichi beamed.
"Nice to see you too." said Blood, petting Kaichi on his head before he felt both cups hugging both his legs.
"What brings you all the way here?" Kaichi asked.
"We heard about the trouble in ToonTown and about Alicia and the others training the Toons." The Manticore informed.
"Validor and I had contacted Liam and Andrew to ask for their aid." Misterie added. "All three of them are just so waiting at the portal to Toon Town while we are set to look for you."
"And who are those two?" asked Daffy.
"Acquaintances and business partners." Misterie replied as she motioned to Blood and Muru.
"Ah, I see." Blood rolls with his eyes annoyed.
"And fellow powerful magic casters." Misterie added in. "Blood is a very powerful wizard."
"Well, good to hear but we shouldn't let the others wait." Bugs mentioned.
"You said they wait at the portal right?" Mugman asked.
Misterie nodded as she reached into her bag beneath her cloak and pulled out a couple of live action coats about the right size for the Cups, as well as hats and scarves, handing them to the brothers.
"With these we should walk around without being seen by any humans." Blood explained as he handed over the clothes to the rest of the Toons.
"Hey, not bad." Baloo grinned, which suddenly turned sheepish. "I take it you got any in extra large?"
Muru nods. "Sure we have enough packed and for all sizes."
He opens his own cloak and reveals a lot of clothing in it. From coats to hats he got everything in every size.
"That's convenient." Kaichi commented as he picked up the bracelet.
Misterie raised an eyebrow as she looked over at Duke and said, "Perhaps your new friend over there would like to come?"
Duke walks up to Misterie and begs for some scratches and cuddles.
"Looks like he wants you to pet him, Misty." Blood said, giving Misterie a smirk.
Misterie bends down and pets the and smiles as he happily wags his tail in reply.
"There's really no point in leaving him behind if he has no one to feed and walk him." Misterie stated. "I don't see the harm in bringing him along. And no doubt he must be worried about John and Alicia by now."
Duke agrees with her as he whines.
"Could someone please fetch his leash?" Misterie requested.
Bugs nods and grabs the brown leash and harness. "Here you go!"
Blood grabs some stuff and places them inside a bag as mentions, "He needs something to eat, too and maybe some toys."
"Good thinking." Misterie agreed as Kaichi, bracelet in hand, hid in her cloak. "Now with that settled, we'd better hurry back. Alicia and the girls would be sick with concern about all of you as we speak."
Everyone nods and leaves the house with both sneakers of the siblings, Duke and his stuff before they walk in the town.
The clothes worked. No one notices the Toons as they traverse down the streets, Duke padding along as one of them holds his leash. They continued to pass any humans wandering the streets late at night until they had reached the alleyway near the Bean There, Brewed That café (which is currently closed for the night) where the wall housing the gateway into Toon Town is hidden away.
Waiting at the wall were Liam and Matt (who had to come along since Liam was unable to find a babysitter for him) and their pet puppy, Ash, as well two other young men.
Ash is a small Jack Russell and Beagle cross called a Jack-a-Bee with brown eyes, white fur, a brown ear, for brown spots on his left ear that resembles a paw print, a large black spot on his back, a black spot around his left eye and wearing a red bandana.
One of the newcomers, Andrew (or Andy as his girlfriend and friends call him) is a young man with light skin, brown eyes and light brown short hair. He wore a red shirt-sleeved shirt, along with blue jeans, brown boots and a matching jacket and belt. The jacket additionally included two black stripe designs on the arm of the jacket and he also has a silver band on his wrist.
The second newcomer was a young man with lightly tanned skin, long mid back-length blueish-black hair and light teal eyes. He wears a black, hooded jacket that he keeps unzipped, with short sleeves, silver buttons and pockets near the hem of the jacket. Underneath, he wears a sleeveless icy blue V-neck shirt and dark blue jeans. He also has a black belt, black handless gloves with icy blue hemmings covering his knuckles, and black boots. On his right wrist, he was wearing a familiar bracelet with three beads and around his neck is a familiar compass.
"So… how does it feel to be a human, Vale?" Andy asked the dark-haired stranger.
"To be honest… I'm still getting used to the concept of walking on two legs." The disguised dragon confessed.
"You'll get used to it." Liam assured. "Besides, no doubt Katie would find you very dashing."
A glowing shade of pink visibly dusted Vale's cheeks as Matt giggled.
Just then, Misterie's group and the Toons arrived. Seeing the coast clear, she, Blood and Muru threw back their hoods.
"Are we all here and accounted for?" Misterie asked.
Vale nodded. "We're all here."
"Lee! Matt! Ash! Andy! Vale!" Kaichi exclaimed as he flew over to the five.
"Hey, Kai!" Matt beamed as Ash barked in reply.
"Looks like you found the place." said Blood.
Andy looks over at the disguised Toons as he asks, "So, how come those guys are here?"
"They had to fetch John and Alicia's sneakers since a barrier's keeping them and the girls trapped in Toon Town until they win the basketball game." Kaichi explained. "Lexie also left her paintbrush back in the hotel and I had to go get that, too."
"Aww! A dog!" Matt exclaimed as he noticed Duke on his leash.
Duke wags his tail and walks up to Matt. The small boy pets the St. Bernard, who pants happily, wagging his tail faster.
"Looks like you've made a new friend, bud." Liam chortled.
Duke howls and barks in agreement.
Matt picks up Ash to Duke's level as the two dogs sniff one another in curiosity until they both wag their tails.
"We'd better get into Toon Town and help out the girls as soon as possible." Andy spoke up. "Who knows what sort of trouble they'd might run into during their training aside from those aliens Misterie and Vale had mentioned."
Blood nods. "Yes, they need our help."
"Let's hurry!" Vale cried urgently, concerned about his girlfriend and their friends.