"How did we get into this mess?" Aline asked aloud. Currently she alongside Gabriel, Rachel, and Logan were all being held in midair by the Collector, the child of the stars floating in front of them.
"Did you seriously just ask that question?" Logan raised an eyebrow. "It was your idea to go try and steal the final episode of "The Owl House" from the Disney Vault before it came out!"
"First of all, I wasn't going to steal it, I was just going to borrow it and then put it back in time for the premiere," Aline said.
"That's still stealing," Rachel sighed.
Aline continued, "And secondly, how was I supposed to know that the Collector was going to get involved!?"
"Because I hate it when people try to cheat or lie!" the Collector said. "And besides: no spoilers!"
"That I can get behind," Logan nodded.
"I just can't believe that you let Aline convince you to help her out, Logan," Gabriel said.
The young man went flush. "Well, she promised to help me find the script for the next Marvel movie so I didn't have to worry about getting spoiled again, like what happened with the last Spider-Man movie…"
"Dude, you know Guardian's 3 is my most anticipated movie of the year! Not cool," Gabriel said.
"Is it really?" Rachel asked.
Gabriel sighed. "Okay, second most anticipated, but that's because Spiderverse 2 comes out this year, and you guys know how much I loved the first one."
"Hey, quit ignoring me!" the Collector shouted, making them all shut up. "There! Now then, let's recap: Aline tried to steal the episode script, Logan helped her out, Rachel tried to stop you two, and Gabriel just so happened to be checking on the vault security when I caught all four of you."
"Yeah, Gabriel really doesn't deserve this…" Aline sighed.
"You're right, I don't," the raven said bluntly.
"Didn't you two defeat the Collector before?" Rachel pointed out. "Why does he have us captured now?"
"Well, to be fair, the first time we met was just after he first showed up in the Season 2 finale," Aline pointed out. "His powerset was kind of… ill-defined at that point… At least he hasn't turned us into his puppets."
"Meh, that's not as fun here in the Magical World when others can just undo it," the Collector shrugged.
"Come on man, from what Aline has told me, you're not so bad of a guy," Logan tried to bargain. "Certainly there has to be something we do to make you let us go, right?"
The Collector rubbed his chin, before snapping his fingers and smiling. "I know, how about we play a little game of Confession! You tell me your honest, truthful opinion on something, and then I'll let you go. No strings attached."
The four perked up at that. "Really? Wow, okay then," Logan nodded. "If saying something potentially embarrassing is all we have to do, I think I can live with that."
"It's not like you could embarrass yourself further after some of the stuff we've pulled off," Aline added.
"Good! Then I'll let Logan start us off," the Collector said. "So tell me Logan: what's your favorite thing about your girlfriend?"
"Oh, I'm actually interested in this," Aline said.
"I'm curious as well what you see in Destiny," Rachel added.
Logan turned bright red. "Oh, well, what's not to like about her?"
The Collector wagged a finger in his face. "I want a specific answer, or else you're going to be punished, got it?"
Logan gulped. "Well, I guess I'll say…" He closed his eyes before shouting, "I like having a tall, strong girlfriend to be at my side and fight alongside me!"
As he went completely red, the others looked confused. "Logan, there's nothing wrong with liking tall, strong women."
"Yeah dude," Aline nodded. "Plus we all know that you like plenty of other stuff about Destiny too, so don't be ashamed of what you find attractive."
"Thanks guys…" Logan sighed, feeling relief as he was dropped to the ground from the Collector's magic hold.
"Rachel next!" the child of the stars stated. "You're a Sword Mage, right? What's the biggest monster you've slayed?"
"That would have to go to the time Poe and I went adventuring in the desert outside of Agrabah, where we defeated this giant Heartless that lives out there," Rachel replied.
"You fought Kurt Zisa!?" Logan exclaimed.
"Who's that?" Rachel asked.
"Kurt Zisa is one of the secret bosses from the Final Mix version of the original Kingdom Hearts," Logan explained. "You and Poe must have had your work cut out for you to take him down!"
"Very impressive, Sword Mage!" the Collector clapped, letting her go. "Now then, Aline's turn! I know you're a cat person, but tell me: who's your favorite dog?"
"Oh, that's an easy one," Aline said. "I'd have to go with Dodger from "Oliver and Company." He was always looking out for Oliver, and he has a great singing voice."
She was freed from his magic as well. "Finally… Mr. Dream Keeper," the Collector said, getting up in the raven's face. "My question for you is this: what do you think of my show!" The child smiled. "It is the biggest show on the channel right now, so I have to know your opinion before my big finale! Come on, don't be shy about how great it is-"
"I think it's mid," Gabriel said.
The other's all gasped in shock. "MID!?" Aline shouted. "But Gabriel I- I mean, I know you've had some problems with the show in the past, but surely Season 3 has-"
"I'm not going to lie, Aline, that was part of the deal," Gabriel cut her off. "And besides, I haven't even watched Season 3 yet."
"WHAT!?" Now it was the Collector's turn to shout. "B-But the storylines, the character development! You can't just drop a show before you finish it!"
"Say that to literally any other show ever," Gabriel said. "I was going to wait for all of Season 3 to be on Disney Plus, but honestly, at this point I kinda don't care anymore. I can tell where the story is going, and I just… fell off the show… Actually, you're kinda the reason for that, Collector."
"Me?" the child of the stars gasped.
"Yeah, you. When you first showed up I thought you'd be interesting, working for Belos to help him enact his plans, but then you just turned into another all-powerful bad guy with OP powers that's going to be stopped by the power of the friendship," Gabriel said.
"To be fair, the show did get it's last season shortened," Aline pointed out.
"That doesn't excuse the writers for introducing a brand-new antagonist at the last second when they could have spent more time fleshing out Belos!" Gabriel said. "The crew even confirmed that the Collector was a last-second addition, and for what? They're probably just going to redeem him anyway and then get rid of Belos, again. Honestly, I'd rather they'd try to redeem Belos than the Collector."
That made the star child mad. "You take that back! He's a big meanie!"
"And I've met an alternate universe version of Belos that became the hero of the Boiling Isles, who I much greatly prefer to you," Gabriel retorted. "And besides, your story isn't all that unique, Collector. Being all-powerful but really just wanting a friend? My Little Pony did that story already, and I think Discord is way more interesting than you."
"Oh…" Logan sucked in air, feeling the sting of Gabriel's burn.
The Collector frowned, before raising his hand in the air. "You know what, Dream Keeper? I thought this would be fun, but you're just using it as an excuse to be mean to me! So how about you just tell me the truth- or lie, whatever! But just. Make it. Fun!"
Gabriel smirked. "Okay then, let me put it this way: I did like your show, Collector, but now I have a new favorite show to enjoy that's going to run far after your own and be more fondly remembered by me than The Owl House. And I'll say it again: Owl House is mid."
"I. Am. Not. MID!" The Collector shouted, holding out his hand and blasting Gabriel with magic. Once the light faded, the raven was nowhere to be seen.
"Gabriel!" the Dream Defenders shouted.
The Collector dusted his hands. "Oh well, the Dream Keeper lost this game. Now I can take his role and we can start a new game. How does "Living in the Magical World" sound to you guys? Sound fun?"
"Ah-ah-ah…" came a voice, and like TV static, a new figure appeared, a man in a white 70s space-age outfit with blue hair and shining white eyes.
"Oh great, it's you," the Collector groaned.
"Yes, it is I, the Beyonder!" the man said, holding out his hands to make his name appear in the sky. "The intergalactic observer sent to study humans, especially one Lunella Lafayette."
"Great, just what we need, another OP reality warper," Rachel sighed. "Maybe Gabriel was right about there being too many of these guys…"
"Oh, speaking of the Dream Keeper, where is he?" Beyonder asked.
"The Collector vaporized him or something," Aline said. "Wait, if you can warp reality, then maybe you can get him back!"
"Hm, I could…" Beyonder said, pressing his hands together. "But unfortunately for you, your friend has been sent out of my jurisdiction."
"What does that mean?" Rachel asked.
"It means that Gabriel is currently hurtling into a completely different dimension entirely," Beyonder explained. "And if you want to see him again, he'll have to make his way back to the Magical World on his own."
"Wait, other dimensions? Like the Wastelands or Mirrorverse?" Logan asked.
The Beyonder sighed, before clapping his hands and producing an old-school TV. "How about you watch this to understand? The Magical World is on a separate plain of existence from the "real world" that you all come from, acting as its own multiverse. The main parks, Wasteland, Mirrorverse, comic book universe, Star Wars galaxy- all of that is in its own universe." He flipped the channel. "And outside of that is, well, everything else that the Mouse doesn't have a hand in. Sometimes characters from those universes can show up here in the Magical World, but they are separate from it all the same."
"That might explain how Square Enix characters show up here sometimes, even if they've never been in a Kingdom Hearts game," Rachel noted.
"So you mean there's a whole other Final Fantasy/Square Enix universe that their own equivalent to the Magical World!?" Logan gasped. "Now I want to go try to find it."
"Not so fast," the Beyonder placed a pause on the young man. "There is a reason you guests have all only been able to be here in the Magical World. Those other universes I just mentioned? They have versions of you in them as well, and unlike, say, the Mirrorverse of time travelers here the Magical World, they have no idea of our existence either. A completely unrelated version of yourself. Only people with powers like mine are aware that they even exist!"
"So, what does that mean for us?" Aline asked.
"It means that crossing universes like that is a big no-no for guests, something that Star-Baby over there clearly didn't know about," the Beyonder said. "If my calculations are correct, though- which they always are- Gabriel should be arriving in a universe that does have a means for him to get back here relatively safely. However… I could send one of you over to help him out if you'd like."
The three looked between each other. "Yeah, let's help get Gabriel back!"
The Beyonder smiled. "Oh, how noble of you. However, due to not wanting to get in too much trouble, I can only send one of you over, so… Eenie, Meanie, Minie, YOU!" The tapped Logan on the head, making his body glitch out with blue energy before disappearing. "That was for those comments you made about DC being better than Marvel, Logan! Have fun!"
"I guess we just have to wait until Logan and Gabriel get back then," Aline shrugged.
Rachel sighed. "I get the feeling we're going to be busy with another problem while they're gone, though…"
The two looked up to see the Collector and Beyonder staring each other down. "So kid, how's it going, knowing the Dream Keeper finds a dragon noodle chimera chaos lord is cooler than you?"
"Shut up!" The Collector said, pointing a finger at the space man. "Of course you had to show up and ruin the fun, just like you and your stupid show did before!"
"Are you really still on that?" Beyonder rolled his eyes.
The Collector pouted. "Our show was created first, but somehow stupid Moon Girl and her dinosaur got Funko Pops before us!"
Aline fell comically to the ground. "You two are rivals… over Funko Pops?"
"First of all, Moon Girl has been around in the comics since 2015, way before your show even was announced, so those little plastic people were a long time coming," the Beyonder said. "And second of all, are you really going to blame all of your own problems on me?"
As the Collector and Beyonder started trading words, Rachel sighed and fell down next to Aline. "Let's just hope that Gabriel is going to have a better time getting back to this universe than us having to settle a feud between two entities of immense power…"
In another universe, Gabriel was in fact not having a good time. The raven fell from the sky, only stopping himself with a bit of magic and landing in a tree. Groaning, Gabriel pulled himself from the branches and landed on the ground, looking around to see what was going on. "Ugh, that's what I get for voicing my opinions…" he sighed. "Seriously, that was just like being on Twitter in the real world, but worse…"
As Gabriel got his bearings, he noticed that he didn't feel the pull of Fantasia as he usually did. Humming to himself, the raven found that he could still call on Harmony, but not the full extent of Fantasia, just his own personal music magic. "Okay then, best be prepared for anything in… wherever I am right now." He held out his hand, only to frown. "Huh? I can't call on my Keyblade either? I guess I'll have to make do with my other power…"
Gabriel put his hands together, before pulling them apart and letting his magic flow between them, transforming it into dragon claws before quickly dissipating. "Just in case, I'll have my Dragon Claw spell on hand," he said to himself. As he started to walk through the trees, the raven was suddenly drawn towards what sounded like music. Emerging from the tree line, Gabriel soon found that himself in the middle of a… dance party?
Of course, before he could actually see what this dance party was about, Gabriel has his attention taken away by the sound of someone falling from the sky. Taking a step backwards, the raven cringed as Logan faceplanted into the ground, though his supernatural strength made it so he just made a comical hole in the ground instead actually being injured. "Thank Anubis I'm not easy to kill…" Logan groaned, pulling himself out of the hole.
"Logan? What are you doing here?" Gabriel asked.
"I'm here to save you, dude! The Beyonder showed up and sent me here to help you get back to the Magical World," Logan said. "I guess we have to figure out where "here" is in the first place, though…" He held out his hand, only to look at it in confusion. "Huh, I can't summon my Keyblade…"
"Yeah, I think that wherever "here" is has cut off our connection to any Disney-based powers. I can't use Fantasia either," Gabriel explained.
"Well, Beyonder did say we're in an alternate universe, so I guess that makes sense," Logan shrugged. He looked over to the dance party and gasped. "Oh my goodness, are those lemurs!?"
Gabriel looked back to the dance party and noticed that in fact it was populated by lemurs. "Oh, I think I know which universe we might have ended up in…" the raven said.
"I think I do too," Logan said with a grin.
"We should probably try to blend in, though," Gabriel said. "Hm… While I can't control the music with Fantasia, I can probably use Harmony to sync up with their music and make us more welcome."
"Worth a shot," Logan said. "Oh, it looks like they're starting a new song now. Let's do this!"
As the two got ready to enact their plan, the lemurs were cheering as their ruler, King Julien, jumped up onto a stage, pointing his head to the sky as he started singing.
I like to move it, move it
I like to move it, move it
I like to move it, move it
Ya like to...
"MOVE IT!"the lemurs called back. It was at that moment that Gabriel made his move, using Harmony to create a link to the music, the raven stepping out into the dance party as he began to harmonize with the lemur king.
I like to move it, move it
I like to move it, move it
I like to move it, move it
We like to move it!
As Gabriel sang, the lemurs moved out of the way as he made his way up towards where King Julien was. The king himself was unfazed, seeing it as a new person to party with.
I like to move it, move it
She like to move it, move it
He like to move it, move it
We like to move it!
Logan came out from the trees as well, joining in on the dance party as his friend began to sing a verse.
Keep on jumpin' off the floor
Dancin' 'til your feet is sore
Party hard just like it's Mardi Gras
'Cause that's what life is for (Yeah!)
"MOVE IT!" the crowd cheered, watching Gabriel do some sick moves.
And we don't party hardly (No!)
We just party hard (Yeah!)
And not because we bored (No!)
We party 'cause we born to party
"MOVE IT!" the crowd cheered. King Julien wasn't about to let this newcomer steal his thunder, however, and pulled out some of his own moves.
We gonna move our bodies
With our hands in the air
And wave 'em all around
Like we just don't care
"MOVE IT!" the crowd cheered. As the lemurs did the wave, Gabriel connected Harmony to Logan, the young man getting to do his own short wrap verse.
(Yeah!) Moto Moto in the house
(Yeah!) I'm about to turn it out
(Yeah!) And you know it's going down-
But Logan was soon cut off by King Julien jumping in to lead into the chorus again.
Ya Like To... (MOVE IT!)
I like to move it, move it
I like to move it, move it
I like to move it, move it
We like to move it!
"I think it's working!" Logan exclaimed.
I like to move it, move it
She like to move it, move it
We like to move it, move it
We like to move it!
"Then let's keep this party going!" Gabriel replied, going into the next verse.
Party ain't done, party ain't done
Party this belly got started, Act I
It just begun, big action
Pump up the volume, speaker blastin'
"Woman ya cute!" King Julien interjected, dancing with some of the lady lemurs.
Shake up the ground, shake up the ground
Shake like a earthquake, quake up the ground
Play to make a sound, play to make a sound
Play to make a, play to make a, play to make a sound
"MOVE IT!" the crowd cheered. Feeling the beat, Gabriel used his magic to create a mini disco ball that started shining lights over the party.
So I can do my little dance, do my little dance
Do my little, do my little, do my little dance
Ants in my pants, got ants in my pants
Ants in my, ants in my, ants in my pants
"MOVE IT!" the crowd cheered as Logan and Gabriel did a combo dance move together, the two guys posing at the end.
That's why I keep on movin'
Yes, that's why I keep on groovin'
Yes, that's why I keep on doin'
Doin' what I'm doin', y'all
Even King Julien's assistant Maurice was getting into the groove as his king and these newcomers threw down on the dance floor. Logan saw this as his turn to get another chance at a wrap verse.
First name Moto, last name Moto
Here's how you spell it, M-O-T-O M-O-T-O
When I step in all the girls want a photo
Ya know, hey, yo
"MOVE IT!" the crowd cheered, some of the female lemurs swooning as Logan struck various strongman poses.
Moto Moto in the house
I'm about to turn it out
And you know it's goin' down
I'm physically, physically, physically round
"Now sing it out!" Gabriel shouted.
I like to move it, move it
I like to move it, move it
I like to move it, move it
We like to move it!
With party in full swing, Gabriel followed King Julien's lead, mimicking the lemurs energetic dance style.
I like to move it, move it
She like to move it, move it
We like to move it, move it
We like to move it!
While the party was going on, everyone failed to notice a pair of red eyes lurking in the shadows just behind the trees.
I like to party, party
He like to party, party
They like to party, party
We like to party!
She like to shake it, shake it
She like to shake it, shake it
He like to shake it? Yo!
"MOVE IT!" The crowd cheered.
"Somebody say ho!" Gabriel shouted, the crowd echoing it. "Say ho-ho! Back it up, back it up, back it up, back it up, back it up!"
"Yo! Somebody say yeah!" Logan shouted, standing next to his friend as the lemurs echoed back. "Say yeah-yeah! Back it up, back it up, back it up, back it up, back it up, back it up…"
Not one to be outdone, King Julien jumped between them to start his own verse, getting the crowd into a frenzy as Gabriel and Logan just vibed to the song.
Woman ya cute, and you don't need no make-up
Original cute body make a man mud up
Woman ya cute, and you don't need no make-up
Original cute body make a man mud up
The two guys followed along with the king's moves, letting Harmony lead them in the dance.
Eyeliner 'pon ya face
make a man mud up
Nose powder 'pon ya face
make a man mud up
Pluck ya eyebrow
'Pon ya face make a man mud up
Gal ya lipstick
'Pon ya face make a man mud up
Logan started mixing in some of his fighting moves, while Gabriel instead used his magic to create a light show around himself.
Woman ya nice broad face
And ya nice hip
Make man flip and bust them lip
Woman Ya Nice And Energetic
Big ship 'pon de ocean that a big Titanic
"Oh yeah, it's been a while since I could cut loose like this!" Gabriel laughed.
"Maybe being in a different universe isn't so bad!" Logan replied.
Woman ya nice broad face
And ya nice hip
Make man flip and bust them lip
Woman ya nice and energetic
Big ship 'pon de ocean that a big Titanic
The three performers then all came together as the song started to come to an end.
We like to move it, move it
He like to move it, move it
They like to move it, move it
Move it, move it, move it, move it
Move it
"You really think this is never gonna end?" King Julien asked the crowd. "Cuz it is. 3,2,1." The lemurs all cheered as their king gave a bow."Not bad, eh? I like it! Now then, who the heck are you guys?"
"They're clearly outsiders, my king," Maurice stated.
"Oh yeah, like those New York Giants," King Julien nodded. "I hope they're more fun than those penguins. Ugh, so serious all of the time."
"King Julien, I am Gabriel, and this is my friend, Logan," Gabriel introduced himself. "We actually were lost in the forest when we came across your party. You wouldn't happen to know the way out of here, would you?"
"Oh, of course we do! And how can I not help such wonderful dancers such as yourself?" King Julien said. "Now then my people! Let us help Gabriel and Logan!"
The lemurs all cheered, before a piercing whistle cut through the air, silencing all of them. The small creatures quickly vanished into the trees, leaving Gabriel and Logan alone as two red eyes appeared in the trees. Gabriel summoned his Dragon Claws while Logan pulled out his Khopesh, silently thankful that he remembered to pack it today.
"Well, well, well… It seems like there are intruders here in the Epic Universe…" a voice said. The red eyes stepped out from the trees, revealing a figure around Gabriel's height that walked on wolf legs, wearing a pair of brown sweatpants and a black hoodie with a gray alchemic symbol of death emblazoned on the front. The figure has a Khopesh of his own in hand, though his was a glimmering gold color with an obsidian edge on the blade.
"Back up, wolf guy," Logan warned. "We're not afraid to fight."
"I think you misplace your bravery, caudex," the wolf said.
Logan tilted his head. "Uh, what?"
"He called you a blockhead in Latin," Gabriel said.
"You know Latin?" Logan said, surprised. "Hey! That's rude! Now we have to fight."
Gabriel shook his head. "I don't think we want to fight this guy, Logan, especially if he is who I think he is…" The raven stepped forward, only to clutch his head.
The wolf did the same, even removing his hood to reveal his face, a wolf's muzzle with piercing red eyes, a dark "mask" of fur around them with a lighter gray color going down his head and back while his front was a pure white. "What is this…? Why do I feel…?"
"A connection?" Gabriel finished his thought. The raven held out a hand, the wolf doing the same as they touched, Harmony sparking purple magic that was met by a wispy, red smoke of the wolf's own magic. "Logan, as crazy as this may sound… I think this guy might be my dimensional counterpart…"
Author's Note
Duh, Duh, DUH! Gabriel and Logan are in a whole other universe now! And not just that, but they've run into that universe's Gabriel as well!
I wanted to give a reason as to why Gabriel was in another universe, and him ticking off the Collector seemed like a good way to get him sent to one. I am personally waiting for all of Season 3 to be on Disney Plus before watching it, but not all of Gabriel's sentiments necessarily line up with my own. Other than liking Discord from My Little Pony more than the Collector, that I will fully stand by being true!
And the Beyonder shows up as well, starting the conflict of the Magical World half of this arc. While we will be focusing on Gabriel and Logan in this new universe, there will be cuts back to what the Dream Defenders are doing as well. Beyonder and Collector feuding over Funko Pops is based on a real event that happened back in February of this year when it was revealed that Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur would be getting Pops of their own, and let's just say that Owl House fans got unnecessarily mad and petty at that fact. Seriously guys, Moon Girl has been around since 2015, and Devil Dinosaur even longer, they deserved those Funko Pops!
If you didn't catch on, the universe Gabriel and Logan are in is one based on the Universal Studios parks, which I'm dubbing the "Epic Universe" in reference to their upcoming third park in Florida. The first characters they meet are the lemurs from "Madagascar" with them preforming their iconic song "I Like to Move it", though I used a remix I found on Youtube that mashed up the versions of the song from the first and second movies.
And we met a wolf who turns out to be Gabriel's dimensional counterpart! He's going to be an interesting character to explore, and if you don't know who his appearance is based on, well… I'll just say go watch "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" to get a good idea.
Next Time: Gabriel gets to know his counterpart, who tells of them of a possible way to get back to the Magical World!