Ultimate Dream League Shorts Collection 1

Written by Joseph Label

Original "Dream League" concept created by Joseph and Andrew "HeffyDoodle" Wamboldt

ABOUT

Ultimate Dream League is an ongoing series currently found here in (Ultimate Dream League - Volume 1). The Dream League is a team of superheroes consisting of AU Disney characters. This is not the main series but instead a collection of shorts taking place in that universe. Some of the shorts will be more canonical than others to the UDL narrative, and in fact some shorts may be outright non-canon. I will usually include a small comment to each short to give an idea of where they might or might not fit in. We'll see. Lastly, this is only the first collection, and I think each UDL Volume will have a Short Collection as a companion.

You will meet superheroes based on Disney characters but modified for this unique world, such as…

THE MASKED MALLARD

Real Name: Scrooge McDuck

Created in the Dream League Universe by: Nicole aka "One Lucky Unicorn"

Brief Description: An old, Glaswegian anthropomorphic duck who can still battle! Scrooge McDuck is the richest duck in the world and an economical titan in Epcot City and Duckburg, Calisota. Avaricious but moral (for the most part), he's made his fortune by being tougher than the toughies and smarter than the smarties. He's greedy and a master treasure hunter, but as the Masked Mallard he is a dapper protector of Epcot. With his super strength, keen wisdom and a bit of inexplicable luck, he's one tough septuagenarian. He's the Gentleman's Crimefighter!

DREAMCHILD

Real name: Alice Liddell

Created in the Dream League Universe by: Joseph

Brief Description: Curious, little Alice is a twelve-year-old student attending St. Blair Academy, but when she's not in class she's in her blue and white costume as Dreamchild! She's remarkably intelligent and precocious, but she still indulges in more childish whimsy. But as playful and polite as she is, her psychic powers are great and powerful, and many adult criminals fear her. She can also enter dreams and speak telepathically. Whether you need to be rescued or you need a good friend, this English girl is a real Dream Come True!

(She's the deuteragonist of the main Ultimate Dream League storyline.)

DUCK AVENGER

Real name: Donald Fauntleroy Duck

Created in the Dream League Universe by: Joseph

Brief Description: A snarky wisecracker, Duck Avenger is a relatively young adult duck. He enjoys teasing his comrades, but secretly he's jealous because he lacks any superpower, being the only member with this distinction. Nonetheless, he's trusty with his many gadgets, and underneath the hotheadedness beats a pure heart. He is The Duck Knight.

(His name, costume, and some minor details are lifted from Paperinik, but otherwise there's no real adaptation of that series in The Dream League.)

BONGO

Real Name: Bongo

Created in the Dream League Universe by: Andrew "HeffyDoodle" Wamboldt

Brief Description: Bongo is a halfway anthropomorphic, young brown bear; he's bipedal but he cannot talk. Very little is known about his background, only that he used to be in a circus and he has super strength. He's lovable to many teammates, but in battle he's nobody to fool with. He can box and ride his unicycle, but at the end of the day he wants nothing more than a tasty pork cutlet and a good sleep as a reward. He's Bongo, the Amazing Super-Bear!

SUNSHINE

Real Name: Briar Rose (?)

Created in Dream League Universe by: Joseph

Brief Description: Virtually nothing has been revealed about Sunshine's past save for the fact that she's "not from America." But what the Dream League does know are her physical beauty, her ability to fly, her powerful strength, and her solar-charged attacks. Despite her beauty she's quite modest and compassionate, serving as a moral compass for the team. Patient, understanding and affectionate, she sometimes has to play the thankless role as the mediator. Shy, sisterly, she's a Ray of Hope, so to speak!

WONDERBOY

Real Name: Hercules Adelphos

Created in Dream League Universe by: Emma

Brief Description: Hercules when at his parents' farm, Wonderboy when in Epcot City, he is a clumsy and awkwardly meek superhero, the second-newest member of the team so far. Some might mistake his clumsiness for being dumb, but they're dead wrong. He's actually pretty clever and has figured out a villain's weakness before the others more than once. His mythological-like physical strength and stamina are betrayed by his kind and sensitive heart. He seems to have a crush on Sunshine. His first cousin is Ariel Adelphos (see below), and he's good buddies with Dreamchild, who invited him to begin with after he saved Alice Liddell's life. He's one heck of a Cinderella story: he's the real Zero to Hero!

(He's the protagonist of the main Ultimate Dream League storyline.)

LA SIRENETTA

Real Name: Ariel Adelphos

Created in Dream League Universe by: Hannah aka "GotSpirit"

Brief Description: La Sirenetta, who also goes by the nicknames Siren or Renny, is a funny, bubbly young woman with aquatic powers, including the ability to transform into a mermaid at will. The only catch is her body and hair turn blue when using powers. Attractive and spunky, La Sirenetta is rebellious but friendly. Ariel's first cousin is Hercules, and while she shares his sensitivity she's more sociable and forward. Tragically, she lost her mother under mysterious circumstances years ago, an event that still haunts her. She started off as a Dream League fangirl, but now she's part of their world. She's the NICKNAME COMING SOON! UNCOMFORTABLE PLACEHOLDER!

But not every hero in the Overlook Mansion is conventional…

DUCKWORTH

Real Name: Edward Sigmund Duckworth

Created in Dream League Universe by: Nicole aka "One Lucky Unicorn"

Brief Description: Duckworth is the longtime butler of Scrooge McDuck/The Masked Mallard. Many would describe him as no-nonsense, but that's not entirely true: he does have a dry, sarcastic sense of humor. He frequently makes quips at the Dream League's expense and is recognized as a voice of reason. But take away his stiff upper-lip persona and you'll find someone fiercely loyal. Despite his name he's actually an anthropomorphic dog, and a tall one at that. Very good, sir.

LET'S GO!

"Sunshine's First Anything"

Duck Avenger, alone with Sunshine in the Overlook Mansion, treated the tall, beautiful superhuman to a tour of many things throughout the day. Sunshine lived full time in the Overlook after joining the team, and she wasn't familiar with 'modern' life.

"Okay, Sunny," Duck Avenger said. They sat at the dining table. "I got a new joke for ya. Ready?"

Sunshine didn't know what to expect but she indulged him. "All right."

"Knock knock."

She tilted her head a bit. "Hm?"

"Knock, knock!"

She hesitantly knocked the table twice.

"No! No, no, no!" Duck Avenger was stunned. "It's a knock-knock joke!"

"Oh." She smiled for a few seconds but lost it quickly. "What's that?"

"I say, 'knock knock,' and then you pretend to ask about it. It's like I'm knockin' on the door. I start it, but you gotta answer. Okay? Just pretend I'm really knocking."

"I see now. All right." She smiled confidently.

"Good. Knock, knock."

"Come in!" she said happily.

"NO!" He slammed the table with his right fist. "You're supposed'ta say, 'Who's there?' and act like—aw, forget it!" He left the room, defeated.

Sunshine timidly sat alone and felt so confused. "Knock-Knock jokes aren't funny, it seems."

"Here ya go!" the Avenger said as he handed Sunshine a packaged ice cream bar.

"What's this?" she asked. "And why is it so cold?"

"It's an ice cream! It's a frozen treat and it's good." He unwrapped his own ice cream and took a bite. He spoke with a mouthful of chocolate and vanilla. "Ya see?"

Sunshine carefully opened hers and took a delicate bite. "…"

"So, what'd—"

She took an enormous bite and then another, eating with remarkable speed.

"HEY!" He nearly choked on his ice cream and had to swallow it and hit his chest to get a hold of himself. "Sunny! Slow down! You're gonna get a brain freeze! Or can ya?"

She finished her ice cream and was shocked by her impulse eating. "I've never had ice cream before and this was… incredible! Incredible! A frozen dessert, and it's SO delicious!"

"Never had a frozen—Sunny, where are you from?"

"I… I'm sorry. Maybe someday I'll tell you, but I… we agreed I didn't have to say until I was ready."

"Fine." He ate his own ice cream, afraid that she was gonna steal it from him.

"How's your game goin', Sunny?" Duck Avenger had lent an old school Game Boy from his ducklinghood to her. The game inside was Tetris.

"Hm." She didn't seem to register his words. Her hair was a little unkempt.

"You've been playin' for hours." He peered over her shoulder. "It's fun, but we should—AAHH! Your score is crazy!"

"Oh." Again she didn't seem to pay attention as she played 'in the zone'.

"Sunny, you're hooked. Maybe you—" He reached for the Game Boy but stopped himself when he wondered if she'd turn against him. "Never mind. Keep playin'." He left her alone.

"I will never surrender," she muttered, almost too intensely.

She disliked the two Z-shaped blocks the most, but the gameplay and melodies (even if the music quality was very odd) captured her.

Sunshine was seated in front of one of the mansion's computers. The big machine was already completely foreign to her, along with the Internet and YouTube. "What do you want to show me?" She sat patiently on the chair with her hands on her lap.

"It's a cute video about lovers on a beach," Duck Avenger said as he set up the video. He grinned and played it with the volume up. "Take a look."

While the video did seem to be about two people on the beach, it was really a screamer prank ready to happen. Sunshine watched and continuously reminded herself that the people on screen weren't relays through a magic mirror, but just 'recordings'. She was taken by the overly sentimental footage of a man and woman on the sand. The glow from the setting sun set the mood along with the piano music. The two shyly looked to each other and were clearly ready for love. Sunshine felt nostalgic and bittersweet at once.

Then a demon-like creature jumped up and screamed an ear-splitting wail. "AAAAAHHHHHHH!"

Instinctively, Sunshine punched clean through the monitor with narrowed eyes and gritted teeth.

Duck Avenger was frightened; the joke was on him! "AH! I, uh, I don't know what that was about! That monster—I didn't know it was in the video. Uh, heh-heh. Sorry."

Sunshine regained herself and eyed the computer. "Oh, my…"

As it would turn out, the Masked Mallard ultimately sided with Sunshine and forced the Avenger to buy a replacement.

At the end of a long day, Duck Avenger spoke to his new friend. "Night, Sunny. Sweet dreams."

The Ray of Hope smiled to the man who taught her so much. "Good night. Until tomorrow." When she was left alone she changed into her night gown and slipped into bed. She closed her eyes and smiled as she hummed the 'Type A' music from Tetris.

THE END

Notes on "Sunshine's First Anything"

Some of my readers know where Sunshine comes from, the rest do not. I will try and reveal soon, but so far the UDL story hasn't called for it. When I took the character of Briar Rose and turned her into a superhero for the Dream League, I knew what I wanted. I wanted a powerful hero who wasn't broody and dark and cynical, but one with an uplifted, sweet, and sunny disposition. I wanted a hero who could be warm and lovingly kind but kick ass at the drop of a hat. Not to mention, I've personally grown miiiiiiiiighty weary of the Aurora hate that's popular now. Yes, she's criminally underused, under-focused and has little to do with her own movie, but I love her voice and personality. I think she is a character; she just never had enough time in the spotlight. And that's how I approach her. I respect her, I love her, and I do not view her with any sort of contempt or malicious irony. Sorry if this makes me sound like a pious and snobby white knight, but this was how Sunshine was created.

As for her firsts, I thought it'd be funny to see such a mysterious and odd person like Sunshine react to typical things in OUR lives right now. This is probably an understated 'first' short for this collection, but I always considered that UDL is the primary focus and Shorts is the 'to tide you over.'

Duck Avenger has been pretty underused in UDL so far, so that has to be corrected. Giving him equal focus in the first short will hopefully keep him off my back, because he's a temperamental dude.

Thanks for reading! Dream League… DREAM ON!