"Nice shot Duke.", Wildwing called out.
The ducks were in the middle of practice as Thrash, Mookie and Morpha practiced their cheer routine in the stands nearby. They didn't have a rhyme yet, but the moves were improving by leaps and bounds. Duke had passed the puck to Grin who was about to get checked by Canard, but he passed to Mallory who had avoided Nosedive's advance and made it to Wildwing. She shot, but Wildwing deflected the puck in the nick of time.
"Whew, nice save big bro.", Nosedive said as he took the puck and avoided Grin's check.
Wildwing huffed. He was feeling the heat due to the team getting better, but he wasn't the best goalie in the NHL for nothing. He observed as Canard stole the puck away, only to have it taken back by Duke who passed it to Tanya who was about to make it to him when Nosedive stole the puck from her just as the buzzer rang signaling that practice was over. The team hit the showers while Thrash and Mookie got out of their cheerleader outfits by Morpha providing the "quick change" as they started calling it and emerging in their ordinary clothes and Morpha returning back into it's dog form.
"Never gets old.", Thrash said adjusting his shirt collar.
"You can say that again.", Mookie added looking Morpha's way, "This little guy sure comes in handy both on and off the battlefield."
Morpha's blue color points turned orange as it looked away shyly. They met up with the team back inside the base and Canard was rubbing his shoulder.
"Man I think I pulled something back there."
Tanya came forward with her omnitool and did a quick scan.
"Yep, you almost did.", she confirmed, "You better rest that shoulder for the day."
"Can't he just use aura to fix it?", Nosedive suggested.
Canard raised his other hand to his shoulder and his palm lit up with bluish white light for a second and he felt his shoulder again.
"Whoa, aura must be very powerful to be able to destroy and heal.", Mookie commented as she, Thrash and Morpha came over.
"Aura is life.", Canard stated plainly, "So how goes the official team cheer?"
"Getting there.", Thrash answered as he rubbed a hand on the nunchaku on his belt, "By the way, does anyone mind if Mook and I use the dojo to sharpen up our combat skill?"
"Be our guest.", Wildwing answered, "Mallory can help if that works for you."
"Fine with us.", Mookie answered as Mallory escorted them away.
As the ducks settled down, Nosedive started towards the door with Morpha following.
"Where you off to baby bro?", Wildwing asked.
"Just taking Morpha out for a game of fetch.", Nosedive called over his shoulder.
After they left, Canard approached Wildwing.
"His aura was giving off the feeling of depression. I wonder why that is."
Wildwing looked thoughtful.
"Why would Dive feel down?", he asked, "I should probably go ask him."
"I'll come too.", Canard assured him, "It would be better than going alone."
They had gotten up to Nosedive who had gone to the park and was in the middle of a game of fetch with Morpha. He threw the frisbee and Morpha extended a tendril to catch it and then return it. Before they could get closer, their coms went off.
"Guys, there's a disturbance near your location.", Tanya informed when they answered, "Be careful, it could be dangerous."
They looked to see a portal open and something came out. Nosedive and Morpha paused to see it too. The thing that came out was humanoid in appearance, had lowing brown hair that hung to his firm shoulders, and a Chinese dragon's head. It wore a charm bracelet on it's left wrist and another around it's right ankle, dark gray shorts, and red tank top. The thing looked Nosedive's way and raised an eyebrow.
"You called?"
Nosedive paused, but then Canard and Wildwing came on to the scene.
"Who's this?", Wildwing asked preparing to enter his battle gear, but the entity held a hand up.
"There is no need to fight here."
The entity's voice was light yet burly like a surfer and he turned to Nosedive again.
"Allow me to cut to the chase. My card."
It held out a hand that had a reading card which Nosedive took and read.
"Iyan Omon, Dimensional Master of Entertainment."
Nosedive looked Iyan in the eye.
"So what brings you here?"
Iyan cleared his throat for a second before brushing his hands on his tank top.
"Now I couldn't help but notice that your special day is coming up and you have no idea what to do about it."
Wildwing looked surprised.
"How did you know that Nosedive's birthday is tomorrow?"
"I know every special day like the back of my hand.", Iyan answered, "And if you need a party planner, I'm the best in Dimensional Limbo."
At that moment, he raised a hand and a notebook and pencil appeared in it.
"So, what kind of party are we talking here?"
Nosedive grew a little interested, but Canard pulled him aside.
"Dive, I've been to this guy's domain and it's beyond crazy. Dimensional Limbo barely keeps the parties he throws in check."
Unfortunately that only got Nosedive even more excited.
"Iyan, I'm turning eighteen tomorrow and I really want to make a mark."
Iyan then smiled big and threw the notepad and pencil into the air where they instantly dispersed.
"A sweet eighteen? I'm there!", Iyan said excitedly as he levitated into the air, "I'm going to throw you a party that all of Anaheim will never forget!"
And with that, Iyan rubbed his charm bracelet and a portal opened behind him which closed as he went through.
As the trio made it back to the Pond, Canard was looking more than a little insecure.
"I can't believe you actually got the most wild party animal in Dimensional Limbo to throw you a bash.", he said to Nosedive.
"Hey, I was just wanting to celebrate my special day.", Nosedive countered, "Iyan actually sounds cool."
"Believe me when I say he's not.", Canard stated, "He's an entity that feeds off cheer and thrills. The more into his party the victims are, the more they get warped by it."
Wildwing raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean by warped by it?", he asked.
Nosedive was clearly not listening.
"Oh man I can't wait to see what party Iyan is planning right this second."
Wildwing rolled his eyes. He knew too well that once his younger brother made up his mind, there was no changing it.
"Okay Dive, you can have the party. But keep it simple."
Canard sighed.
"Wing, Iyan doesn't do simple.", he muttered under his breath.
When they got into the base and news got out, Thrash and Mookie shared Nosedive's enthusiasm, and Mallory and Tanya agreed with Canard on his point. Still, what did they have to lose? The following morning, Nosedive got up expecting to see the party in full swing, but nothing seemed out of place until he noticed a note by his pillow.
"In the park.", he read.
By now the other ducks were up too and after filing into the Migrator, the whole gang was off. Phil was just as eager to see what all the fuss was about. When they arrived and took a look around, they noticed a ball hanging in midair with a string hanging from it and a note on the string. When they approached, Phil read the note.
"Pull this."
Phil did, and a shower of confetti and balloons came out followed by some kazoos playing followed by a whirlwind that literally pulled the ducks off the ground and they all blacked out.
Nosedive's eyes opened again and this time, the park had changed. An entire fairground had been set up complete with rides, carnival games, and even a squad of airplanes writing cloud letters into the sky. He noticed the other ducks had vanished and Morpha was with him.
"Surprise!"
Nosedive jumped to his feet and turned to see Iyan standing nearby.
"Is this my party?", Nosedive asked confused, "It looks kind of bland."
Iyan didn't look phased.
"That's cause you didn't choose your tent yet."
Iyan took Nosedive by the arm and soon they were walking into the carnival where Nosedive noticed a bunch of stands around selling party stuff.
"Cheap thrills for big dough! Get them while they last!"
"Feeling down? Try my special soda! Perks you up in just seconds!"
"Costumes, costumes for any costume party! Fresh off the rack!"
Iyan led Nosedive to what looked like a big top circus tent and smiled.
"Have fun birthday boy."
Nosedive could hear circus music playing and the door to the tent opened to reveal an entire circus show in full swing with preforming animals, trapeze artists, and clowns doing all kinds of funny acts. Morpha(who had been following Nosedive all this time) looked up at him all black signaling that it was a little worried.
"Hey Morpha, what's wrong with a little fun?", Nosedive asked, "Let's go find our seats."
Morpha looked unsure, but it followed Nosedive into the stands as a couple salesmen came over loaded with circus snacks. A few moments later, Nosedive and Morpha were seated getting a front row view of the whole thing.
"And now ladies and gentlemen, we have a special performance for you. The Dimensional Circus proudly presents the stunning, the graceful, and the most beautiful duck to work the tightrope, Mallory McMallard!"
Nosedive halted as he noticed Mallory up on the tightrope in a fancy dress and holding an umbrella. She walked across the rope with such grace as the audience applauded. Nosedive however got a little unsure.
"Okay, this is getting weird.", he muttered as he remembered what Canard had told him, "I think I'd better get Mal down before she hurts herself."
He had just risen from his seat and looked up only to see Mallory wasn't there and the crowd was applauding wildly.
"Okay Morpha, this is getting a bit scary."
Morpha nodded and they quickly left only to go into another tent which opened into a fancy dining hall with all sorts of people dressed in evening gowns and dinner jackets deep in conversation while violin and piano music flowed throughout the area.
"Great, now I'm at a classic dinner for snobby people and-"
He paused when he noticed he was also wearing a dinner jacket and bow tie.
"Just my luck.", he muttered.
Before he could say anything further, a waiter came up to him.
"Mr. Flashblade fancy you showed up. We were starting to think you would miss your brunch."
Nosedive was a little taken by surprise as the waiter led him through to the table and everyone started talking to him.
"Nosedive darling. You really should come to my chateau in France. It has a view of the Eiffel Tower."
"Mr. Flashblade, I hear you're a fancy for the video gaming industry. I bought one last year and sold it this year for a mint."
By the time the waiter got Nosedive to his chair, he was feeling more than a bit insecure. That or his dinner jacket collar was a little tight around his neck. Others took their seats around the table as breakfast dishes appeared like magic. Morpha then noticed something and tapped Nosedive's shoulder before pointing. Nosedive looked to see Grin and Phil dressed as waiters and were serving out what the guests were calling for.
"Okay, first Mal with a performance, and now Grinster and Phil are waiters?", Nosedive wondered, "What's going on?"
Morpha looked his way and shifted it's head into Iyan's and pointed to it.
"You think Iyan did this?", Nosedive asked.
Morpha nodded and hid itself under Nosedive's chair as Grin and Phil came over.
"And what will you be having sir?", Phil asked.
Nosedive got a little unsure.
"Grin? Phil? What's up with you two?"
Grin and Phil said nothing, they laid a plate of food in front of Nosedive and left leaving the young drake baffled. On his plate he noticed a note. He pulled it out and read it.
"Get out."
He didn't have to be told twice. He saw a door only a few feet and Morpha had already pulled itself to the door and they left before anyone else could ask. Unfortunately for them, they went through the door only to slide down a towering water slide and Nosedive noticed he was now wearing swim trunks and Morpha was clinging to his side all black and clearly scared. They fell through several loops, spins and flips and landed with a splash into a huge pool that was light pink. Nosedive licked his beak and looked confused.
"Strawberry lemonade?"
Morpha extended a tendril and slurped a bit before extending two more to pull Nosedive to the edge. They had just made it there when a splash got them to turn around and see Canard and Duke in trunks also, but the look in their eyes seemed distant like Phil and Grin did. He had gotten out and Morpha got a towel hanging on a rack nearby so Nosedive could dry off. Just as Nosedive did, he felt a hand grab his ankle. He turned fast to see Canard who had gotten his eyes back to normal.
"Dive, you need to break this whole crazy thing."
"Why?", Nosedive asked, "And what's with everyone?"
Canard tensed.
"Listen Dive. Iyan's using this to keep you from his true goal. He's-"
Canard instantly went under and vanished before he could say a thing.
"He's what?", Nosedive asked.
Nosedive shivered at what he had just witnessed and he was about to go when Iyan appeared in the center of the pool and drinking from a coconut half with a lemon wedge.
"Leaving so soon?"
Nosedive frowned.
"Okay Iyan, I've been through three very crazy experiences and would like to know what the heck is going on."
Iyan's smile only got bigger as the whole area instantly shifted back to where Iyan first brought Nosedive and Morpha.
"It's like I said.", Iyan answered, "I'm throwing a party Anaheim will never forget."
Nosedive's heart skipped a beat.
"So everyone in Anaheim is being brought here? Against their will?"
Iyan cackled as he rose into the air.
"More like tempted. The more people that party here, the more powerful I get."
Iyan looked Nosedive's way and his smile was really setting Nosedive on edge. He may have passed it off as weird, but now it just looked creepy.
"In fact, I'm having so much fun that I thought why not go bigger? Make the whole world my personal party place?!"
The air crackled as large storm clouds rolled into the once clear sky and the ground shifted into candy grass and marshmallows. As tempting as they looked, Nosedive was feeling like he shouldn't go for it. Morpha had clearly had enough cause whenever some kind of party material or food got passed to it, Morpha would push it aside. Nosedive then shifted into his battle gear gaining Iyan's attention again.
"Are you thinking of fighting me?"
Nosedive then noticed Morpha had shifted into a birthday cake and had the candles lit. Iyan's eyes went wide.
"No! Not the cake!"
Nosedive then smiled as he lifted the cake so Iyan could see it.
"Let's see. A birthday party is only over when the birthday boy blows out the candles doesn't it?"
Iyan raised a hand, but Nosedive already blew out the candles. A strong wind picked up for a minute, but then it receded.
"Did you think it would be that easy?", Iyan laughed, "So you've found out that when that happens-"
He paused as he noticed Nosedive had already left.
"Go ahead and try and find your cake Nosedive.", he said smiling, "But I promise you that I have party temptations even you can't resist."
He vanished away and only then did Nosedive and Morpha come out from behind a stand that was now empty.
"Okay, so now I know what Canard ment by Iyan being crazy.", he said turning to Morpha, "Nice distraction back there. That guy really likes to hear himself talk."
Morpha nodded and shifted into the cake again and then into a show of Iyan being sucked back into a portal. Nosedive smiled and nodded.
"I agree. We find that cake, blow out the candles, and send this psycho back to Dimensional Limbo."
