Chapter 2: This Is For Real

The view was pitch black in the boy’s eyes as nothing could be seen but the sound of other voices nearby.

“Hey you guys! I found something!”

“Goodness! Is he alright?”

“Where did he come from?”

“He fell out the sky! Do you think he was abducted by aliens?”

“Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet, Ed. See if he’s awake.”

Slowly opening them he gazes into the sky above an animated scenery with the head of a tall yellow skinned, horse teeth, buzz cut, and black unibrow figure looking down upon him. “Hello. My name is Ed!” He said.

After a short glance he responds, “Aaaaaaaaaaah!!” So too did the yellow skinned boy. The young man shuffles back from him and leans against a tree.

“Would you stop screaming already?” A short pink skinned boy retorts. He had on a yellow polo shirt with a purple collar/sleeve hems and a vertical red stripe on the right side, light blue pants with a wallet chain and plain red shoes.

Yellow skinned boy, who wore a dark olive/green jacket with white sleeve stripes over a red and white striped T-shirt along with purple/blue pants, and large black shoes, does so.

The young man looks at them confused when a boy wearing a black ski hat with white stripes on each side comforts him. “I’m terribly sorry if we startled you like that.” He apologizes.

He had desert sand-beige skin wearing a red T-shirt, purple shorts, long red socks, and cyan-colored shoes. He had three black hairs sticking out of his hat and a gap between his teeth. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Edd. But you may call me…”

“Double D!” He points at him.

Surprised, Edd or Double D simply replies, “Why yes. And these are my friends,”

“Ed and Eddy!” Finishing his sentence and pointing at the other two.

“He knows our names you guys!” Ed gasps.

“No duh, Monobrow.” Eddy muttered.

“Do you think he can read our minds?”

“Now, now Ed. Let’s not be to haste with our new guest here.” Double D said.

“No way is this for real.” Shaking his head, “You guys are cartoon characters.”

“We may not be real to you as yet, but we will be.” Double D proclaimed.

“If you don’t believe us I’m sure Ed here can hit you with something to make you wake up.” Eddy suggests with a grin.

“No, no, I believe you guys are for real. I just don’t know how I got here.”

“You fell from the sky!” Ed blurts out pointing up.

“What Ed’s trying to say is we found you here in the cul-de-sac after hearing you collapse out of nowhere.” Double D explained.

“Just where did you come from anyway?” Eddy asks.

He rubs the back of his head, “I-I was back home. Some strange looking ship crashed. I tried seeing what was inside then it took off with me in it. ...And ended up falling out of it. I don’t remember much after that.”

“And then you came to our neighborhood.” Ed said.

“Yeah... Then I arrive here of all place.” He mutters.

“Since you’ve already know our names perhaps you can tell us yours.” Double D asked.

“I’m David.” He said standing up and brushes his clothes off.

“Well David you’ve come very far where you’re from.” Double D remarked. “You’re in a whole new place called Fan Fiction.”

“Fan Fiction? Isn’t that like a website?” David raised an eyebrow.

“Maybe in your world it is. But here this is a place where all cartoon characters like us live in the real world?”

“Even the ones from Cartoon Network?” David exclaimed.

“We have them all!” Ed said looking at his fingers counting. “We have the Powerpuff Girls, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Dexter’s Laboratory, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Samurai Jack…”

He continues to ramble on with Eddy standing next to him looking bored when he gets an idea. “Yeah! We have a lot of those great cartoon characters here. And of course we wouldn’t mind taking you down town where you can see them all.”

“You really mean it?” David let out.

“With an extra fee of course... we’ll take you anywhere.” Eddy replied snickering.

“Eddy…” Double D scowled him seeing through his scheme, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Will this be enough?” David hands out a five-dollar bill.

Eddy shrills with glee snagging the money from David’s hands, “Five Dollars! This is bigger than all the other scams… I mean, give us one sec.” He said turning to both Double D and Ed in a group huddle.

“Eddy, you know this is a bad idea.” Double D uttered.

“Relax Double D. It’s only for a little while. Let’s just show him around and pick up some jawbreakers while we’re at it.”

“Jawbreakers good for Ed, Double D.”

“Yes I know Ed.” Double D miffed before turning back to Eddy, “But couldn’t we’ve given him some sympathy, Eddy? This is his first time being here and he has no idea what’s going on.”

“I’m sure he won’t know a thing.” Eddy confirmed turning back to the boy, “Hey! David was it? You ready for us to show you around town?”

“Okay, why not?” David nodded with a smile, “Let’s see what you got.”

“Cartoon Network city here we come!” Ed shouts pointing his finger up into the air.

~

David and Eds arrive into the city of Cartoon Network and gaze at the 2D cartoon characters in front of them interacting in a city composed of sets from shows. There were many different view sites filled with different characters both old and new at the subway, Movie Theater, City Hall, Downtown Park, and more. It felt like being a young kid again going to his first amusement park.

“Pretty cool, huh?” Eddy assured comforting him.

David couldn’t help but not take his eyes off the scenery, “This is so amazing…” He said in awe. “This is really Cartoon Network!”

“This sure does bring back memories.” Double D marveled. “I wonder how long it has been since we were here.”

“Probably ages ago.” Eddy remarked.

“Can we get jawbreakers now?” Ed pleaded.

“Ed,” Double D snapped at him, “We came here to show David around. Not buy jawbreakers.”

David replies, “It’s okay you guys. I wouldn’t mind exploring around by myself.”

“See Double D. He’s okay being on his own.” Eddy comforted him. “C’mon! Let’s go see if the candy store is still around.”

“You guys go on ahead. I’ll stay here with David.” Double D insisted.

“Sit yourself,” Eddy shrugs. He turns to Ed. “C’mon Ed! Jawbreaker city here we come!”

“Yum! Jawbreaker good for Ed!” Ed follows.

Double D glances over at the two taking off then turns to face David, “My apologizes for those two. They can’t help themselves.”

David snickers, “Don’t worry about, Double D. Besides, I wouldn’t mind if you could give me the tour around town.”

Double D put on a smile, “I’d be delighted.”

As the two went on exploring the city, a mysterious man watches in silence from behind. He had on a simple white kimono with gray lining on the sleeves and a white sash tied together on the outer edge of his clothes. His upper face was covered by a straw hat only showing his square chin.