Morpha hung several streamers from the ceiling while Nosedive was getting the tables set. The other ducks helped out.
"Hard to believe that Halloween is just around the corner.", Thrash said smiling.
Derek looked a little confused.
"Halloween?"
"It's an Earth thing.", Canard explained, "Phil had us turn the Pond into a haunted house once, and Malevolence made it even more realistic even though it was unintentional."
Benny looked inspired.
"You really did that?"
Before he could get an answer, Phil came in with a checklist and clearly getting a bit worked up.
"Okay people, let's pick this up. Halloween is a few days away and we still need to get this place in shape for the party."
Timmy's ears picked up at the word "party".
"There's a party?", he asked getting a bit excited.
"Sure.", Mookie(who happened to be nearby) answered him, "Thrash and I used to throw one every year back on Earth so we brought our suggestion to Wildwing and he said it was okay."
Wildwing was helping prepare a huge punch bowl with Grin and Duke helping out.
"Hard to believe we're throwing a party here in Limbo.", he said calmly.
Before anyone could talk further, a loud bang rang out and everyone turned to see Iyan materialize with a more than eager look on his Chinese dragon head.
"You guys are throwing a party without me?!"
"Oh great.", Mallory said with a frown, "It's Mr. Party Planner from between dimensions."
Iyan looked a bit insulted.
"Madam, my parties are the best and the most fun that anyone has ever seen."
Benny looked inspired.
"You host parties?"
Iyan hovered over to him and produced a business card which Derek took and read.
"Iyan Oman. Certified party planner. Don't call."
Iyan got out his own checklist with a pen and got ready to write.
"So, what can I do for you?"
Wildwing instantly came forward looking firm.
"Nothing.", he said calmly, "We're just doing a simple Halloween-"
"Halloween?!", Iyan screamed with a more than eager look on his face, "I love Halloween! Lots of costumes, the delicious sweets, and the night overhead! I'll get my best team on it right away!"
And before anyone could stop him, he gave a loud whistle and about thirty boxes of decorations appeared around the floor.
"By the way, how long is this going on?", Iyan asked.
"Til midnight.", Wildwing said firmly, "And no shenanigans like last time. Understand?"
Iyan looked a little disappointed, but then slapped on a smile.
"Well, it's your gig."
/
Falcone sharpened his saber as he looked out on the vast field in the reds of the rising sun.
"Somethings don't change huh?"
Falcone looked over his shoulder to see Circe walking towards him.
"Yeah.", he admitted, "Helps remind me of the times Father would take us out to play before the sun came up. Sure was good times."
Circe nodded.
"I know. I miss him too."
Falcone was getting the trust of his people again though it was taking a bit longer than he hoped. Still it was progress and he could live with that. Then a few dings were heard and both him and his sister turned to see a fancy looking envelope being handed over by something that looked like a cross between a salamander and a surfer.
"Special party invitation for Mr. Falcone."
Falcone looked a bit surprised as he put his saber away and accepted the envelope. The messenger vanished away and he opened it. There was a burst of confetti the moment he did and Circe read the letter.
"You're invited to a Halloween party at the Pond in Dimensional Limbo.", she read.
Falcone looked a bit inspired.
"Looks like our friends are hosting a celebration that day.", he said checking the date, " And it's a couple days from now."
Circe looked thoughtful.
"Well our advisers are poised to inform our people that the king and his sister are still attending even though they aren't for one night."
Falcone smiled.
"That's what I like about you Circe, you always know what to say."
/
For the next couple days, the Pond was very busy. Iyan did most of the decorating while the ducks focused on the invites.
"Okay, we got Falcone, his sister Circe, Arkana from Nethera, and Draco.", Nosedive said looking over the list.
Snowdrop's ears picked up.
"Draco?", she asked, "Who's he?"
"He's a prince.", Julia answered, "From Sauria."
Derek paused instantly.
"Draco is a saurian prince?", he asked with a hint of concern in his voice.
Adam could tell that Derek wasn't taking this part well so he stepped in.
"Relax Derek, Draco is a friend who helped us take down Zeral."
Derek's expression melted into one of confusion.
"You're saying that the saurians fought each other?"
"They prefer to think of themselves as the opposition.", Duke answered, "Not all saurians are bad. His guardians showed that and we're willing to let bygones be bygones."
Derek sighed. He got to know Adam and he was part saurian so he thought he could make this work. Benny however looked excited.
"We're meeting a saurian prince?!"
"Easy Benny.", Snowdrop told him, "We don't want to overwhelm the guy when he gets here tomorrow night."
BRAWN and Foxy were getting the DJ system up with Thrash and Mookie helping out. Klegghorn was overseeing that no threats would be around when the party came around.
"Well Wing, it looks like we got clear skies and no visiting domains for the next week.", he reported.
Wildwing looked relived. It would be nice to have a day off from all the rift closing and then a though hit him.
"I think we should have Drake there.", he muttered.
Canard gave his friend an understanding look.
"I know Wing, but Drake needs to be inside the mask for a while. Could be a bit before he's able to leave again."
Wildwing nodded. He knew his friend was right and he admitted that it did seem foolish to ask Drake to come out just for a party. It would look like he was just showing off.
"I just hope this party Iyan is throwing doesn't get out of hand like last time."
/
Draco held his hand over the large ruby that gave off a warm vibe and soothing light.
"I can't believe this blizzard is lasting this long.", Darcel said as he sharpened his blade for the fourth time today, "Then again Laryx said blizzards last a while up here."
Gerazi held the invitation they had gotten earlier still looking a bit lost for words.
"Why are we attending this event again?"
"To show our appreciation as well as meet those ducks we fought alongside.", Harzep answered, "And the fact that we never saw their joint last time we visited Earth to hide from Zeral."
Draco brushed some dust off his shoulder before rejoining his guardians.
"How exactly are we going to get there?", he asked, "Could take a while."
Then Gerazi noticed a little shard at the bottom of the invitation which shimmered for a second, but even so they saw it.
"Guess that's how."
A quick shimmer later, Draco and his guardians had arrived at the Pond's front door. Harzep knocked and the door opened to reveal Nosedive on the other side.
"Oh hey Harzep, glad you could make it."
The group entered to find the whole rink decked out for Halloween with the ducks getting things rolling. Wildwing and Canard came over and Wildwing noticed Draco.
"Who's this?", he asked.
Draco cleared his throat before speaking.
"My name is Regum Draco, but I prefer Draco since it's easier to say and still lives up to my family roots."
Canard looked impressed.
"So this is Frazzak's replacement as the emperor of the saurian race?", he asked.
"When he comes of age and knows the kingdoms he will one day govern.", Darcel answered.
Then came the sound of running feet. They all turned to see Benny, Snowdrop and Timmy followed by their parents heading their way. They stopped a bit away, but the kids looked in awe.
"This is that band of rebels you guys helped out?", Benny asked looking inspired.
Snowdrop gave him a look to quiet down, but Draco looked a bit surprised.
"Who is this?", he asked Wildwing.
Derek came forward.
"I'm Derek Angelwing, this is my wife Rosie and our kids Benny, Snowdrop and Timmy."
"Hi.", Benny, Snowdrop and Timmy said in unification.
Draco gave a nod of approval.
Pleased to meet you. I'm Regum Draco, call me Draco please. And these are my bodyguards Harzep, Gerazi and Darcel."
/
A while later, Falcone and his sister Circe showed up and Duke and Mallory were the ones to welcome them in.
"Hey guys, how are things over on Vallah?", Duke asked.
Falcone looked a bit embarrassed.
"I'm...getting into the swing of things again.", he admitted.
Circe could tell her brother was insecure so she stepped in to help.
"Falcone's still got a lot to make up for. After the whole...you know."
Mallory rolled her eyes.
"How could we forget?", she said, "Well, we won't worry about it. We should just relax and have some fun before we got back to whatever we were doing."
After the introduction of Draco and his guardians, Arkana arrived with several other of her race(hey they couldn't let a princess go alone) followed by Maryana and a few of her's.
"Well, now that everybody's here, let's party!", Iyan yelled as he materialized in a burst of confetti and bats.
That was when things really got rolling. Everyone was dancing, having conversations, and some were even getting into the costume displays that Iyan put in to help give more fun to the whole thing.
"Gotta admit, Iyan sure knows how to throw a party.", Wildwing said after taking a bite from the caramel apple he got from a stand nearby.
Nosedive slurped his sundae that he made and gave a smile.
"He sure does. He did say he was the universe's best party planner.", he added, "Even Morpha is getting into the swing."
They walked by Morpha who was being used as a bouncy house, but Morpha didn't mind. He was helping out and having a ball as Derek and Rosie's kids bounced around with Draco who seemed to be having fun also.
/
Then as the clock above it all began to strike midnight, the music and activity slowly began to fade away. Iyan gave a salute to Wildwing.
"Thank you all for having me host for ya.", he said smiling, "Happy Halloween, and good-night."
He vanished away and the guests began to warp back as well.
"Thanks for the party.", Draco said before his guardians and him left, "It was an honor to meet you."
"Best of luck with ruling Sauria.", Wildwing said as the ducks and him gave a salute.
After the guests warped away. The Pond went back to normal, and Phil was looking more than a bit bushed.
"Well, I'm going to bed.", he said walking over to the doors that led to headquarters below.
"Works for me.", Duke agreed, "It's been a long night."
Before they left however, a large bag fell from the ceiling and landed in the center of the room. It came with a note and Wildwing read it.
"Almost forgot this. Sorry about it being late. Iyan."
Benny had already untied the bag and in the next few seconds, a giant tidal wave of candy burst out and flooded the room with a thick layer that came up to their knees.
"Well that's enough candy for about five Halloweens.", Canard stated.
Benny, Snowdrop and Timmy were filling bags with the stuff while BRAWN and Foxy helped the ducks clear it up and pack it away. It took a long time, but they managed in the end. Shortly after they did, they all headed back to their rooms and hit the hay unaware that Theo was watching from outside.
"Good job keeping yourself maintained for once.", he said as Iyan came up to him.
Iyan looked a bit offended.
"Hey, if they called for safety, I deliver.", he said firmly, "Well, I better be going. Don't want my peeps thinking the Party King is stepping down or anything."
Theo chuckled as Iyan warped away.
"Happy Halloween ducks.", he said with a nod and materialized a caramel apple which he took a bite from, "Best of luck."
And in two seconds, he had warped away also.