"Everyone's invited!
This is how we live!

We're all here for each-other!
Happy to give!"

David panicked, so he dropped the mic and headed for the front door.

"All we have, we share,"

He could feel all of the eyes of the room on the back of his head, but the door would just not open.

"And all of us, we care
SO COME ON!"

The door flew off of its hinges to flood the room with water. Apparently the outdoors was flooded somehow? David flailed around until he reached the surface.

"We're happy!
Giving and takin' to the friends we're makin'!
There's nothing we won't do!"

Now the song was just being carried out by some disembodied voices.

Up on the surface David found himself inside a giant cove. Some mermaids were sitting on a shore, but he didn't care. David climbed out the water to go to a normal door he spotted. Practically collapsing into it, he fell into a hall that fit the style of the rest of the house. It was also spotted with all types of creatures and humanoids, and some of them were singing like the ones in the living room.

"There's a bond between us
Nobody can explain"

Where in the world is Ball?

"It's a celebration of life!
And seeing friends again,"

Ball appeared, she didn't have her costume on anymore.
"Oh, oh hey!" She took in that she had just teleported, and that David as right next to her.
"Ball we need to get out of here!" David shouted.
"What is the rush? We did not even get to the bridge yet," Ball asked him.
"-The bRIDGE?"
"Of the song,"

"SO COME ON!"

David closed his eyes, but nothing happened.

"Welcome to our family time!
(Welcome into the famillly!)
Welcome to our brotherly time!
(We're so hapaaaaaaay!)
This is our festival-
(yeah yeah!)
You know and best of all!
(best of allll!)
We're here to share it all!

"Remembering loved ones departed!" Sang a Faun (a goat man).

"This is really corny," David said.

"Someone dear to your heart!" the crowd sang.

"Yeah" Ball said.

"Finding love!" The faun man looked at Ball and David.

"Planning a future!"

David went red, and then furious.

"Telling stories and laughing with friends!"

"HEy!" David tried to chase the faun man.

"Precious moments
You'll never forget!"

"HEY!" He screeched, and it actually got them to stop. Ball gave a causal secondhand embarrassment expression™.

"Yeah David?" Oscar walked from out of the crowd. He spoke through Rocky's high pitched voice, as if Rocky really was his head now.
"What's going on here Oscar!? These made up people are singing to me and shipping me with Ball," He crossed his arms.
Oscar looked away.
"Well, who wouldn't ship you..," He said softly.

"OSCAR!"
"Ok, I get it. You guys are just friends, and just between me and everyone else here, this is your party,"
"Has it always been our party?" Ball asked.

"Yes actually," a paper scroll appeared in front of Oscar, "You see, I was told by a credible source that you 2 are really stressed. And as your friend I feel it's my job to try and reawaken your playful side. The only problem is that, you guys are always looking for problems to solve or safe places to be! I can't force you to have a good time," the scroll vanished.

"Maybe I could relax if I understood what's going on here!" David put his arms up in the air, "Who even are you?!"
"Hmm, how about we play a fun game?"

"You are dodging my question, so I am just going to ask what kind of game you want to play," David crossed his arms again.
"Whatever game you want. Honestly, pick anything really. The energy level is through the roof, including the rest of the human guests," Oscar pointed up to some girl shaped holes in the ceiling.
"What, what happened to them?" David asked, looking up.
"They couldn't handle it," Oscar looked back down.
David held the bridge of his nose.
"So, any game?"

.1.
GO!

"Beep beep," David said to himself. He was driving in a go kart, playing an extremely large version of sumo cars. The concept of sumo cars was originally some sort of minigame inside another game, but he couldn't actually remember what that bigger game was. The aim of the game was simple, to push other players off the side of the track, and into the void.

"Hey David!" Ball barked. She was precariously parked on a peak.
David was driving down a straightaway, so he stopped to see her.
"Oh boy look over there! It's Ball!" David said sarcastically.
"Heh, Nice to see you again, David. After minutes of driving I have finally uncovered your weakness," She said it like she was in an old japanese movie.
"Oh huhuhuh, what might that be humm?" David asked in the same way.
Ball dramatically paused.
"... Hamburger"

David laughed.

From behind her, Hawkodile's car rammed Ball's car off the precarious peak. She tried to aim for David's car as she was falling, but instead of hitting him off the track like she had hoped, she simply bounced off of him into the void.
"AHHHHH!" Ball screeched.
"... Hamburger," David said a little after watching her fall.

"In a game of you've got crabs the rules are simple!" Miss Kincaid, or Carol explained. She put out four crab cards on the table, "You have a partner on the other side of the table. When it's the right side's turn, they will exchange cards with the four ones here. You can keep exchanging until you're all satisfied.

Your goal, is to get four of the same type of card while you switch cards. But here's the catch. If you have 4 of the same card, you don't win yet. Your partner on the left side of the table has to know that you have 4 of the same card,"

"How, can they know?" PaRappa the 90's dog asked, practically hiding behind his cards.
"You have to give the signal," Carol winked at him, "Once you give the signal to your partner, who's on the other side of the table, they can call out 'you got crabs' on you. At that point in the game, your team gets a point, but only if your partner actually has crabs. If they don't have 4 of the same card, you lose a point!

Now, if you want, you can just play the game that way, but the most ruthless, stressful, way to play the game is by guessing other people's signal at the same time!" Carol did a backflip over to the left side of the table. She faced Hawkodile.

"If KO, uh KO, is my son over there," She pointed to KO, on the right side.
KO was a little boy with dark brown hair that stuck up in a secured red headband. He also had red armbands, an open blue vest, shorts, and a white tank top. KO waived.
"Let's say KO, my partner, notices what Hawk's signal is. If he notices, and says that Hawk's got crabs then HE TAKES A POINT FOR HAWK'S TEAM,"

Going first was the right side of the table

"Remember, my signal is me playing with my hair" David had said.
"Got it. I will begin to roll my eyes more often," Ball had said.
"Good idea!"
"Thanks!"

Ball decided that she wanted to get all four Crabuccino cards. Her problem was being able to play the card game without hands. Just like in playing apples to apples, she merely placed the cards somewhere people couldn't see them. In this case, it was behind a book at the end of the table.

To swap a card from the 4 in the middle, she would drag the card up to the four and take the one she wanted.
By the end of the turn, she had 2 Crabuccino cards. Unfortunately, she forgot to look to see if anybody else was making any signals.

During the left side's turn David was eyeing all of the other teams across from him. The four cards he had received in the beginning had already given him 3 king crab cards. Once he gained one more, he made sure to be subtle with his signal.
As he was brushing his hair, he made sure to look like he wanted to exchange cards again as to not look suspicious.
KO was looking around across the table. David kept notice that KO was staring at him more than usual.

Or was that just me being paranoid?
Oh! Come on Ball get the signal, he's gonna catch on!

Ball began to notice, but the left side of the table was finished exchanging cards.
"David has crabs!" Ball shouted.
David sighed. He did have crabs.
"Point me," He said.
Carol tossed a crab token up in the air, which David then effortlessly caught.
"Looks like it's heating up already," Hawkodile said seriously.
"No luck so far," PaRappa shrugged. Hawkodile looked at PaRappa right through Carol in between them (not literally.)

"Oops I have 5 cards," Unikitty, an smallish unicorn cat hybrid made of legos, put her extra card back.

"The right side can begin their turn now. The game doesn't stop until all these crabs are gone!" Carol said. She showed the players all the crabs tokens in the game box.

The right side began to exchange cards. Crowla, on PaRappa's team, was a crow who was also a pinata. He used his beak to carry one card at a time, and used the same hand hiding method as Ball.

While exchanging Ball noticed something fishy. Crowla exchanged a Taxi Crab card with another Taxi Crab card.
"Swapping the same card? What is the cause? You have too many?" Ball asked competitively.
Crowla, who couldn't talk, whistled as if he was trying to look inconspicuous.
Ball looked at the bird's partner. PaRappa looked away.

The only reason Crowla would do that is if ...

"CROWLA HAS CRABS," Carol Kincaid shouted.
She was right.
Crowla snorted at PaRappa.
"Oops. Uh, didn't get the message," PaRappa shrugged.

"Looks like we need to watch out when we swap cards," Ball said.
"It also looks like Carol might be onto us," David said, "Be very careful,"
Ball nodded.
"Oh wait, hehe I have a plan. Remember to only respond to my tell. You will soon see my plan come into prosperity!" Ball said.
"Righty," David nodded.

"You kids done exchanging?" Carol asked.
"Nope!" Unikitty said. She exchanged a card.
"OK! Now I'm done,"

The left side began again. Right away David had crabs. Ironically, it was the Taxi Crab. He breathed heavily, and hoped that no one would notice his decline in exchange activity.

He looked at the cards on the table as if he was planning to swap.
As he did so, he went through his hair once swiftly.

"David's got Crabs!" KO, Carol's partner said.
"WHAT," Ball was stunned.

David put down his cards. It was true. He tossed the token back to Carol, who took it as her own.

"Looks like you're gonna hafta come up with a new tell," Carol said, "How's it going over there hawk?"

"Uhhhhhh," Hawkofile blankly looked down at his cards.
"Don't worry Hawkodile! I'm ready to receive your tell whenever you're ready to sent it to me. I'm all EYES," Unikitty widened her eyes to stare at Hawkodile.

"..Are we ready to switch?" Carol asked.

"Go ahead," PaRappa said.

It was the right side's turn again.

Now for my master plan.

Instead of intending on getting 4 of a kind this time, Ball only hoped to have 2.
One card in her hand, while the other in the pile.
With a Crabrador Retriever card in her hand, she swapped with another Crabrador Retriever card In the middle.

Carol lit up.
"Ball has crabs!"

"Haha hahahah! hahahaha!" Ball showed the players her cards.
David started to laugh with her.
"Ha! Hahaha!"

Carol leaned in near her son across from her.
"Do you know how to get out of here?" She hiss whispered while looking at the laughing duo.
"Not an itty bitty idea," KO said looking in the same direction.

It was a little after nightfall in New York. Times Square was bright, and filled with tourists and costumed performers.
Suddenly, all of the colorful billboards went dark.
"GREETINGS NEW YORK!" Ball shouted.
all of the billboards collectively broadcasted Ball and David inside a blank blue room.

"Haha!" She was extremely out of frame. All was shown was a blurred image of David's chest.

"Uh, Ball, they can't see us," He said.
"Oh."
"Wait uh hold on," David walked closer to the camera to tweak it, making the image even more blurry and shaky.

Most onlockers to this event gave it a glance as they walked on, while others stood still, shocked and confused.
David walked back from camera to reveal a much more zoomed out view of the blue room.
In the room, was nothing but David, Ball, and a bar stool that Ball happened to be sitting on.

Ball looked offscreen to a display.

"Ah!" She said when she realized that he had fixed it. She then began to try and make herself look the most sophisticated in her pose, as Johnson often did.

"What are you doing?"
"I need to have a good first impression on America since I've never been there," Ball said.
David watched her a little longer as she decided back on fourth on standing or sitting.

"I don't think the USA cares if you're up or not," David said.
"Then what does the USA care about?" Ball asked. She decided to stand.
"Uh," David thought for a moment, and then smiled, "Why don't we ask them?" He shrugged and smirked.
Ball looked at the monitor and back at David.

"Cameras do not work like that," Ball said.
"I know but this is Oscar's Halloween party, so it has to be some sort of magical thing. It's a miracle we're even online at all," David faced the camera, "I know cameras don't work like this, but can you talk to me? So I can hear you?"

The watching mini audience looked at one another.
"Where are you from!?" A man asked using his hands as a megaphone. David flinched.

"You don't have to shout, and I'm in Yoyleland," David answered, "Why did you want to know?"
"You have a strange accent!" The man said.
"Yoire talkin," David folded his arms.

"Oh wow. You got the camera to work both ways," Ball said.
"Want to ask something?" David looked over to her.
"...How's school?" Ball said blankly to the floor. David burst out laughing.
"I'm.. I'm guessing that's what everybody asks you?!" He laughed.
"Everybody like Drake," Ball said.

"I have a question!" A woman raised her hand as if she was in school.
"Alright," David looked back to the camera.
"Who is your, friend? Is he some type of robot or somethin?" She asked.

"SHE, is an object," David crossed his arms.

"I am a manifestation of my father's soul and an inanimate object. I am however separate to my father, by mostly experience, and caricatureism,"

"What's the last thing you said?" David asked her.
"Caricatureism, is a word that Johnson uses to describe how we are different. Although I wish he used a root word that wasn't attached to humorous drawings, Johnson likes to think that my personality mimics a caricature of himself in his youth," Ball explained.

"Doesn't that just mean you are the.. the J guy?" the woman asked.
"I am not my father!" Ball barked.

"Who's that guy next to you?" The woman pointed to David.
"He is my best friend, ally, and peer. We attend school together," Ball said.
"..Ok," The woman didn't have anything else to say.

"How do you all know she is a she?" Another man popped in and asked.
"Uhhh," David felt uncomfortable.

"We have no idea. In the beginning my father said I was a she, so that I will stay. I do not feel the need to concern myself with gender, as in the end it does not rule me as a person, socially, or physically,"

"I did not expect you to answer that one," David said to her.
"I am a soul experiment meant mostly for research. I've been answering questions my whole life," Ball said pleasantly.
"Oh, does this, bother you then," He meant answering more questions in the current time.
"Nope. These ones are actually a little fun. Ask me one!" Ball turned to look at him.

"Uh. Have you ever actually eaten anything?" He asked.
" ,"Ball said rapidly.
"That's really the only thing? You need to eat something. You are really missing out,"

"I never plan on eating, simply because I also never plan on defecating," Ball said simply. David Inhaled.
"I understand your point," He said quickly with the exhale.

"Hey! Hey! Aren't you the kid who fell over in that me me?" A rowdy older person shouted.
"Yeah, that's me. And it's pronounced meme. Have any questions?" David sighed at him.

"Uh, yes! Who do you think you are taking over Times Square?! I thought the me mes were bad until all of this! THIS! IS A BETRAYAL of the common tourist, and anyone who loves New York!"

"Are you a tourist?" David could roll his eyes.
"YyyES! And I've called the police! You can't scare me aliens!" He looked stiff, and proud.

"I think this goes to show that people everywhere are stupid, not just in Yoyleland," David turned to Ball. He then suddenly looked enlightened as if he had gotten a good idea, "Somebody just told me something cool we can do with the camera!"

"Who told you?" Ball stressed her words to match the strangeness of his statement.
"I donno, but have you ever wanted to visit America?"

A female police officer went up next to the older man complaining.
"We're already working as best we can to track the broadcast, but it's all distorted," The officer said.
"Talk to the me me boy! He can hear you when you do!" The man said.
"I'd like to, but that's impossible sir," The officer said.

"Don't say impossible. Because nothing really is anymore. I tried," David said to the cop.
The police officer got out her radio.
"Suspect has mics bugged in Times Square," She whispered into it.
"No mics," Ball said.
"Just magic," David closed his eyes and shrugged.

All the other digital billboards went to black except for one on the New York Times Building.
"All of the screens are offline," The officer said into her radio.

Ball hopped off of the stool as David put the camera on the ground. Then then both backed up, and rushed over to the camera. Jumping, instead of running into the camera, they phased right though the billboard on the New York Times Building, except they were the same size as how the billboard made them appear. This made them giants, but there was something odd.

"I thought this would work a little more physically," David said. Instead of just being a normal giant, he was a giant made up of blue pixels from the screen he had jumped out of.
"I believe we are holograms!" Ball exclaimed, "Aaand everybody is running away," She looked at the little people. It reminded her of when she first ran outside.

"I think you're right about that," David thrust his hand into his chest.

"Yaknow David, being a giant hologram sitting on top of the Empire State Building made me think of something," Ball said, sitting on top of David's head as he sat on top of the Empire State Building.

"Was it the Curious George movie?" David suggested.
"No. I was thinking about how small I feel, in comparison to everyone else, and everything else," Ball said. A helicopter flew around her like mechanical dragonfly.

"I guess that's just perspective then. I mean, you can feel small sometimes, but it's mostly just what you think. Chiwawas feel really big, yet they're the smallest dog breed. And you know because of all those videos, that really big dogs always think their small enough to be lap dogs,"

"So I should just feel big?" Ball asked.
"You can, but you just have to realize that you'll never be big enough," David said. He swung his legs off the side of the building.
"I hear that," Ball said, considering how big she was currently.

"STEP DOWN FROM THE BUILDING OR WE'LL OPEN FIRE! SURRENDER!" Some special forces officer said from a helicopter speaker. David gave it a glare.
"Ya serious?"

The people inside the helicopter began to chuckle, causing a strangely wavey sound from the mic.

"W-what ARE YOUR INTENTIONS," The police said.
"We are simply relaxing," Ball began, "And frankly, we can't do much harm,"
we're literally just holograms," David said.
"... Oh. Ok,"

"Hear ye hear ye! spooky party people!" Oscar announced through Rocky.
"David! I had almost forgotten this was a Halloween event," Ball said to him. They were sitting in the couch playing truth or dare.
"The sun is coming up in a few hours, so I'd like to dedicate the last remaining time we have to start the 3 AM ball. Don't confuse it with Ball herself... Whoever that is,"

David and Ball looked at each other.
"What's that supposed to mean?" David questioned. He looked at her and then back at Oscar, "Hey Hawk? What's the 3 AM ball?"

Hawkodile, pointed up in an open grin before forgetting what he was going to say.
"All I know is it's, uh. It's it…." Hawkodile trailed off.
"Do you know what it is? or not,"
"Wo! Hoo! bring on the!... the," Unikitty, the pink lego unicorn cat had suddenly forgotten the word 'ball'.

"Have I seen you before? And are you guys made of legos?" David squinted.
"Huh? Y-you talkin to me?" Hawkodile turned around.

As Ball was watching this play out her panic spiked.
"DAVID! Your memories are being erased! We need to get out of here!" She shouted.
"..You're right!" David took a moment to realize.

They jumped out of the couch and went to the front door. David turned and jostled the handle.
"Hey! I think I tried this before," He said looking at Ball and pointing to the knob.

"Please stay on task! I cannot open doors so you will need to!" Ball shouted, worried.
"Why couldn't you… Hey wait you're a talking sphere!" David said joyfully surprised.
"Of course I am. But what are you?" Ball asked.

PaRappa walked behind them.
"If you ever forgot who you were, clap your hands," He said disappointed. PaRappa went to clap his hands, but like a tablet in water they had dissolved into nothing.
"I feel like there used to be something there," He said looking at his handless wrists.

The whole house was dissolving into white. Fizzing away with a slight hissing sound.

"I need to find another way out," Ball panicked. She went back into the kitchen.
"W?" David was going to ask where she was going, but didn't understand why he wanted to.

"Chill out everybody," Hawkodile shouted while standing cool in a combat position, "I'll fight this, this.. thing! If it's the last thing I do," He punched the air while Unikitty copied him.
Up in a shelf, the masked sphere held his cape close around his body.

The 3 AM ball.
The 3 AM ball…
The 3 AM ball. Ghoulish dancers stripped of identity.
No past, no future
Just shadows in the moment trying to understand
The 3 am ball.

"The three AM ball? ..Ball?"

!: Oh wow
: Hello there..
!: Hello. Should I be worried?
: I'm not sure, but at least we're alive.
!: Shouldn't there be more to it?
: For now all there is is the dance. ...And rhythm, and music and bliss. Huh, I never, really noticed. How could I, of missed? The sweet blue sound, of the waltz, so round. That the reason, to step was always around…
!: Isn't that rhyme?
: I suppose
!: Oh you suppose! You're really talented.
: ...Thank you..

And so on was another

!: Greetings! Wish to dance?
#: Maybe..
!: What's wrong?
#: I know not, of what exists, but I feel eyes on me. I feel I must be worried, should, be worried.
!: That's nonsensical.
#: Yet still I hide...

And so on to another

!: Want to dance?
$: I should.. just watch
!: But why?
$: It's cool to watch, and besides, I need to make sure there's no funny business.

$: Maybe I can dance just a little, but after they change the music to something a little more, epic.

And so on

!: Care to dance?
?: I am.. not sure.
!: Oh dear. why doesn't anyone want to dance with me? Am I too scary?
?: No, it is not scary, I mean, you are not scary. I have just never danced before.
!: What's wrong with starting?

?: What is your name?
!: Oh, I don't know.
?: Heh, I thought I was the only one who did not know.
!: It's ok not to know everything. Please don't vibrate over it.
?: I will be ok.. Do you ever ponder the reason behind this?
!: This? Place?
?: Uh huh.
!: Always. It doesn't seem to be what I expect, yet I have no expectations.
?: What do you think this could mean?
!: That..

!: I've found someone to dance with.
?: I am a slice. Not a someone.
!: Huh?
?: That ghoul over there has my whole. I am a slice.

!: If you are a slice, than I can conclude that I am a whole, yes?
?: Yes..

¡: Hello there
?: You are a slice!
¡: Now we're both slices!
?: But what about-
!: I'm still here. It's ok.
? :But who should I dance with?
!: Doesn't matter
¡: It's still just me
?: Oh ghoul.
¡: You don't believe me?
?: I, I..

!:
?: I see, that you are the different, yet the same.
¡: Treat me the same. It's ok. I'm right here. You don't have to go looking for me anymore. I'm, right here. So you have a slice to dance with.
?: If only I was good at dancing!
¡: Ha! I barely know the definition!

The sun crept into the house illuminating the floating dust.
Ball, laying in the dining area floor, opened her eyes silently. She tried to think about what happened, but couldn't exactly picture it. Was it a dream to hard to swallow?

"Hi Ball," Oscar said quietly. He was in a polar bear onesie, and his normal self.
"Hello," Ball breathed.
A zephyr rattled a nearby window.
"Did you have fun?" He asked sitting next to her.

"I do not know. I cannot remember much. But I do feel well rested," Ball said.
"I hope you realize you're missing school today," Oscar smiled.
"Oh no," Ball thought about Johnson, but then remembered that he attended as well.
"Don't worry about it. You can just say you're sick like I am," Oscar put his hand on his chest.
"You're ill?" Ball asked, more like a statement.
"I always get sick after Halloween. Something just leaves me and I'm left with a terrible immune system," He sniffed.

"Hmm. Since the party had concluded I suppose that I have to leave," Ball said aloud.
Oscar nodded. He got up, and walked into the kitchen. Ball followed him.

In there Johnson was lying down on the counter looking at his phone.
"We've got good news and bad news," He said, sitting up.
"Tell me on the way back," Ball said.
"Agreed," Johnson walked past them both over to the front door. Lying in the way of the door was David, who was still fast asleep. Ball walked up to him, and tapped his face with her foot.

"Oh hey Ball," He said gently.
"We're getting ready to go David," She stated. David looked at Oscar and Johnson. He sat up and then yawned on his way to standing.

"We have to discuss, Craeggs stuff," Johnson opened the door.
David took a deep breath.
"Jeez it's freezing out there. Feels like winter weather," He said.
"My phone says it might snow today," Oscar said.
"Do we really have to walk home?" Ball asked.

"No. I had a ride ordered. Looks like those walks will be limited this winter," Johnson said.
"It's only just the beginning of November," Oscar said.
"Yet it's already as cold as winter?" Ball though about any fall movies she had watched, but she couldn't recall much.

"We live pretty northward Ball. It's cold ™ up in Yoyleland," David said.

"I also feel cold, so could we please just get into the car?" Johnson said, still holding the door open.
"Alright alright," David walked out of the house followed by Ball.
"Bye Oscar," David said.
"Goodbye," Ball said.
"See you at school," Oscar said.
Johnson, still holding the door, turned to look at Oscar.
"I thank you for being a gracious host, and an even more mercifu t," Johnson said 'beast' in a condescending manner.
"Hmm!" Oscar grunted, upset.

Johnson closed the door, and followed the 2 before him.
"What's the scoop Johnson?" David asked.
"The prisms emailed me about coming back. They'll be here by December, or later in the month," He shrugged.
"Any evidence as to what could be keeping them for longer or shorter?" Ball asked.
"Eh, I don't really feel like checking. They send me wayyy too many emails. And most of it is useless information," Johnson said. He walked up to a black parked car, and opened the passenger side. Ball and David joined him in the back seat.