(Author's note: This story contains my OC, Charity. If you haven't read Twisted Strings of Fate, that's okay. You don't have to know Charity's background to enjoy this story.)

Title: A Costume Story

Characters: Fenton, Drake, Launchpad, and Charity

Word Count: Appox. 2300

Drake perused the costumes in the Halloween store, the more he looked the less he was looking forward to the party that night at the McDuck Mansion. Everything he looked at just didn't look all that great. They were either too gimmicky or cheap-looking or silly. And the scary costumes just looked way too bloody. Couldn't there be something in the middle? Or a nice-looking costume that would bring out his dynamic side? Something heroic?

He had contemplated going as Darkwing Duck since it would be the easiest costume for him, but the thought that the party wasn't just for McDuck family members crossed his mind. The last thing he needed to do was to let his secret identity out.

Drake was frowning at a space alien costume and must have had a strange look on his face because a sales associate approached him.

"Excuse me, sir. Can I help you with something?"

Drake considered just waving her on. He really didn't need any help. But then again, there were hundreds of different costumes to look through, and the employee might know exactly what he was looking for.

"Ah…yes, I was looking for a costume but I haven't seen anything I liked," Drake said. "I'm looking for something…bold. Something more on the strong and courageous side."

The sales associate smiled. "I have the perfect thing. There's some Gizmoduck costumes up front, although you should hurry because they're almost gone."

Drake thanked her angrily and stomped away. He had to circle around the store a couple of times before cooling off. Of all the costumes to have suggested…

Once again looking through the costumes, Drake was about to give up and look at a different store when he heard a familiar voice. Looking through the cracks between costumes on the other side of the shelves, he could see blue and white hair and feathers moving along at a wandering pace.

"Are you sure that's the costume you want?" Charity said, speaking to her phone to her ear. "Well, I just want to be sure considering this is the first time you're dressing up for Halloween."

Drake could guess who she was talking to. Launchpad. He had heard of Launchpad's so-called "curse" and how he spent every Halloween for the past fifteen years. It was almost unbelievable, that is, unless you knew Launchpad.

"Yes, I'm going to dress up with you," Charity said. "Mom's not up for our usual Halloween traditions this year, so I'm getting a costume, too. It'll be fun. I'm going to hang up now. See you tonight."

Drake perked up and peered closely at the costumes she was now starting to look through. An idea popped in his head. Perhaps if he found out what Charity and Launchpad were dressing up as, he could "coincidentally" come in something similar. It may even bring him and Charity closer.

Charity grabbed a costume and dropped it into her shopping basket, and then started rummaging through another stack of costumes. "Come on. Please say the right size is here. No. No. No. No. Aha. The last one. Of course. Whew." She dropped it in her basket.

Drake dropped lower to get a better look, seeing that she had put in a costume of Jessie from Toy Story. He nearly squeaked with excitement. This would be perfect. If he could figure out what Launchpad was dressing up as, then he could choose a different character. A part of him even thought that Charity would read into the "coincidence" of them having matching costumes.

As he tried to see what the costume was under the Jessie one, Charity picked up the basket and headed to the front of the store. He thought of calling out to her and talking to her to find out, but it would have less of an impact if she knew that he knew beforehand. He would just have to guess based on the location of the costumes.

Once Charity had exited the isle, Drake circled around and looked at what costumes were there. He found the Jessie costume and was certain she had grabbed the first costume close to the Jessie one. There were about a dozen different costumes from all the different movies, so he would have to make a good guess.

From what Drake knew about Launchpad, he would dress up either as Woody or Buzz. And the Woody costume was close to Jessie's. And the Buzz's? Drake looked for a little while, and found it the farthest away from Jessie's costume—on the floor and in a box since the costume was larger than the others.

Drake inwardly whooped. This was perfect! Not only was the costume just the theme that Drake was wanting, but if he showed up as Buzz Lightyear at the party, it would look as if he and Charity were a couple. And perhaps that might put some ideas in Charity's mind.

Drake snatched up one of the Buzz Lightyear costume boxes and slowly made his way up to the register. He wanted to give Charity enough time to pay for her things and leave without her knowing what his costume was. This was going to be a fun Halloween surprise.

Fenton had never bought a Halloween costume before. As a kid, his mother always made one for him or he just used an old one from one of his cousins. As an adult, he never dressed up. He had always been busy with school or inventions, and really hadn't seen the point since nobody invited him to any parties anyway.

But this year, he felt more included in the McDuck family and friends group. He was one of them now. He most looked forward to talking to Charity. Although she didn't know the McDuck family all that long, she was a part of them now and would be at the party. That, more than anything, was why he was looking forward to Mr. McDuck's party that night.

As Fenton walked into the Halloween store, he spotted her. It felt coincidental that he saw Charity just as he was thinking of her. And she was buying Halloween costumes.

In an instant, he was able to take in the scene with more detail than anyone else, thanks to his Gizmo-lense, contacts that simulated the same technology as his Gizmoduck helmet. The computer in his contact lenses zeroed in on the costume in Charity's hand, enhancing with just a thought from Fenton's mind.

Jessie from Toy Story. Charity was going as Jessie from Toy Story. It was one of the few animated movies that Fenton recognized since it was something from his own childhood. Especially Buzz Lightyear. He had especially fixated on the spaceman toy. He was brave and strong and confident—everything Fenton had always wanted to be as a hero.

And he had to admit, Buzz Lightyear and Gizmoduck did look a lot alike. Putting on a Buzz costume might be…familiar.

And if Charity was Jessie…

Fenton's cheeks heated at the thought. Not that she would suddenly decide to date him just because he dressed up as Buzz Lightyear, but that kind of scenario would have optimal flirtation points. The two of them could quote the movie together. He was certain he could makes a few jokes to make her laugh. And—of course—he was the perfect person to imitate Buzz's "Spanish Mode" from the third movie.

Quickly ducking into the store before Charity could see him, Fenton sought out where they kept the Buzz Lightyear costumes. He ended up navigating through the entire store—his Gizmo-Lenses were of no help when it comes to retail—but he found the box. With a skip in his step, he bought his first Halloween costume, believing that this would be a great night.

Drake was at the party right on time with his costume still in the box. He hadn't even had a chance to try it on. He was led by Mrs. Beakley to a room where he could change. As he was putting the costume on, he was glad that he hadn't put it on before the party. It was made of a type of foam to give it an armored look, and it was difficult to put on every piece from the plastic-bubble space helmet down to the space boots. But in the end, he thought it looked really good on him. He just hoped he wouldn't have to use the bathroom for the entire night.

As he descended the stairs to the foyer where dozens of people were mingling, eating and dancing—yes, Scrooge McDuck had invited several of his business associates just so he could count this party as a tax write-off—Drake looked for a certain lovebird, excited to see the look on her face when she saw him.

But he didn't see her as he was looking for someone in a Jessie costume. However, he did locate someone else in a Toy Story costume. At first he didn't think anything of it, but then he recognized the person in it.

He marched up to the person and spun him around so they could meet face to face.

Their space helmet bumped together.

"Oh, hi, Drake. Nice costume," Fenton said with a bright smile and a wave.

"Don't 'Hi, Drake' me. You stole my idea," Drake accused.

"Huh?" Fenton asked, bewildered. "I would never break copyright or patent laws. What idea was I supposed to have stolen?"

Drake wasn't sure what made him more frustrated: how polite Gizmoduck was or his stupid face. "My costume!" he exclaimed. "You stole my idea for the costume I was going to wear."

"Me? I didn't even know you were going to be wearing that," Fenton said. "How was I supposed to have stolen your idea?"

Drake narrowed his eyes. Could Fenton have come up with the idea the same way Drake had? "I don't suppose you ran into a mutual friend of ours and so happened to have a peek at her costume, would you?"

By Fenton's reaction, Drake was right on the nose.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Fenton said nervously. But he was also far to moral for his own good, and wouldn't let the lie lie. "I may have…seen Charity at the store while she was buying some things…but that doesn't mean anything. I would have decided on Buzz Lightyear anyway. We have a lot in common."

Drake snorted. "You? Really? Buzz isn't a science nerd. When's the last time you did something more physical than carrying around a bunch of text books."

"I have a gym membership, although I mostly use the elliptical machine since I'm working on endurance training," Fenton said before clearing his throat. "And Buzz is more than just a jock. He's a space ranger, which means he must need to have a background in higher maths and at least the basic sciences. Astronauts don't just have to be strong, they have to be smart. And Buzz Lightyear isn't the type to go skulking around in the dark and brooding."

Drake felt that one. "I obviously have more in common with Buzz. I'm totally more like Buzz Lightyear."

"I contradict that statement," Fenton argued. "I'm more like Buzz."

"No, I'm Buzz Lightyear."

"No, I'm Buzz Lightyear."

"I'm Buzz Lightyear."

"I'm Buzz Lightyear."

"Wow, way to get in character guys."

Fenton and Drake wheeled to the side as Charity's voice interrupted their squabbling. And they gasped in surprise.

Charity had a bemused expression on her face, which was the only part of her body that could be seen, peering out of a small square cut into the large, green T-Rex inflatable costume she was wearing.

"Although I think you may be overdoing it a little. Everyone is staring," Charity said, waddling toward them with her long dinosaur tail wagging behind her.

"Uh…wha…what are you?" Fenton asked, not sure what else to say.

"I'm Rex," Charity said with delight, holding up her tiny T-Rex arms.

"B-b-but I thought you were going to be Jessie," Drake said. He was about to admit that he saw her buying the costume but kept his beak shut.

"No way. This Rex costume is the best," Charity said, giving a little hop. "Besides, all the Bo Peep costumes were gone."

"Then who is Jessie?" Fenton asked, not bothering on hiding how he knew.

"Oh, she's coming," Charity said, giving a whistle. "Yo, Jessie. Get on outta here."

Giving a long, loud whoop, "Jessie" came galloping over, holding a wooden-broom horse between his legs and pretending to ride. "Yeeeeeeee-haaaaaaw, howdy ya'll. What have we got here? A couple of space men, I see."

"Launchpad?" Drake and Fenton said together, both feeling absolutely foolish.

"Jessie's his favorite character," Charity said, smirking as if she knew exactly what had happened. "It was really hard for me to find a costume in his size."

"Well…uh…it looks good on you," Fenton said, recovering from his shock.

"Gee, I'd thought Buzz or Woody would be your favorite," Drake said. "You always like the heroes."

"Jessie is a hero, one of the best. Plus, we have a lot in common," Launchpad said.

Drake and Fenton looked confused.

"We both have red hair, duh," Launchpad said. "Plus, every time I hear her song, it just plum near makes me want ta cry." He took off his hat and put it to his heart.

"Enough of this," Charity said, smacking Launchpad with her tail. "Come on. Let's party, guys."

As Launchpad was racing off to check out the snacks, Charity called, "Oh, and Buzz."

"Yes?" both of the said as they turned around, Drake taking umbrage that Fenton was doing the same thing as him.

"Play nice tonight," Charity said before grabbing their arms and following after Launchpad.