A blast of white light gave way to a menagerie of booths in a large white room. Its vaulted ceiling broke to light as the waddling of uncountable geeks in cosplay outfits mingled amongst the booths.

Mote enthusiastically stated, "Home, sweet, home!"

Calvin gazed around, "Holy crap! Look at it all." He gasped as he stared in awe at the sheer amount of nerd related booths.

Mote chuckled as he casually hovered to Calvin's shoulder. "We's sure do know how to throw a shin-ding, don't we's?" He boasted.

Calvin smiled, wide with excitement. He turned his head to nod, only for his expression to shift to confusion.

"Mote, why do you have a ring of light around your head?" He asked.

Mote gasped. "What the hell ya mean? I got a ring of light around my head?" He exclaimed as he nervously darted around in awkward poses.

Eary giggled. The moteling's frantic searching tickled his funny bone. "I think you have a halo, Mote." He explained matter of fact as he chuckled under his breath.

Mote shook his head nervously. "No, no, no!" He blurted out as he paced upon a large ivory banister. "Ya gotta be kiddin'! They still expect me to work the floor! The nerve!" He rambled.

Just then, a man dressed in armor approached him. "Excuse me." The oddly boney man announced. "Where are the Settlers of Katan booths set up?" He asked commandingly.

The halo shined quickly on Mote's head. "Well, hello, sir." Mote enthusiastically stated as he gave out a light-hearted laugh. "You'll find the Settlers of Katan booths in the Limitless Mountain Dew Fountain Square." Mote beamed brightly as he explained. "If it's not too much trouble, I would be delighted to guide you myself." He stated with a cheery smile.

"No, I'm good. Bye." The gangly nerd stated as he rudely walked away.

Mote waived happily as he exclaimed, "Have a blessed day here in the Celestial Hevens."As the man moved out of sigh, Mote continued, "Ya fuckin' prick!"

He gaged and waived his toung around as if some disgusting thing was stuck to it.

"Ah!" He yelled out. "My tounge!" He squeeled as he dropped to the floor.

Eary nervously approached the motionless moteling. "Are you ok?" He softly asked.

Mote wheezed weakly. "I don't know if I'm gonna make it, Kid." He said softly, his breaths appearing more labored by the second.

Eary frantically asked, "What happened? All it did was make you be nice for a change."

Mote coughed weakly. "I know, right?" He whispered, his little leg twitching as if by spasm.

Eary pressed his face down against his long time companion. "Please don't die, Mote." He said as his voice began to crack.

Mote faintly gasped, "Clap."

Eary's brow furled, "What's that buddy. I couldn't hear you." He choked out between sobs."

Mote whispered "Clap."

Eary whispered "I can't hear you, Mote. I'm sorry."

Mote jolted up and angrily exclaimed, "Clap, you deaf mother fucker! Oh my God!" He collapsed lifelessly to the floor once again.

Eary jumped back as he began to nervously clap. In moments Mote rose to his feet and shook his little fanny. A dance of bouncing blue orbs erupted from his rear.

"Now, then." He floated into the neck of Eary's shirt. "I should hide away in here." He fashioned himself a bonnet as he perched upon his shoulder.

Eary turned to his friends, who had witnessed the display. "Shall we, everyone?" Eary asked cheerfully.

Alice scoffed "Are you for real?"

Eary tilted his head. "Huh?"

Alice continued, "You bought that steaming pile of bullshit?"

Eary waived his hands dismissively, "Oh, you don't understand. Mote has special needs, because he's magic." He said casually.

The whole group laughed.

Eary scrunched his nose. He exclaimed, "What's so funny?

Decan stepped forward and guided his love along. "Alright, alright, let's keep moving." He stated as the group chuckled to themselves.

Eary whispered to Decan, "What's so funny?"

Decan whispered back, "Don't worry about it." He straightened his posture as he commandingly stated, "Okay, Mote. What are we getting here?"

Mote grined back to the pair. "We's lookin' for some sorta anti-evil charm." Mote declared as he glanced towards a booth containing a variety of necklaces and rings.

He buzzed up to the booths vendor. "Say, ya got anything that wards off ultimate evil?" He asked casually as the group followed closely behind.

The vendor, dressed as a cyborg wizard, shook his head. "I'm sorry, man. Just sold out." He said as he extended his hand and pointed to a nearby sign. "Today's tournament offers a special amulet that wards off just such things." He stated as the group examined the flyer.

'Attention afterlife members!

Today's tournament of fantasy features a special prize to the winner(s).

An amulet of divine protection! Get the assistance of Claris themselves against threats such as: Dark magic, demons, the swirling abyss of darkness known as Eldris, and your mother-in-law.

Limited prize.'

Mote snapped his fingers and turned to the group in enthusiasm. "That's the ticket! You's all gotta smack around some dead nerds, and we's walk away with a new toy against the
Scions!" He stated cheerily.

Hannah huffed. "I'm out. How about you ladies?"

Maggie smiled softly. "Yeah, we only just got here. He said there are lots of them around. We should keep looking."

Denby chuckled, "Eh? You ladies telling me you ain't got a hankering to see what these nerds got?" He asked coyly.

Alice sighed. Grabbing onto Mei's wrist, she joined the other girls. "No. It sounds like a waste of time." She glanced to her sides. "We're going to go look around some more. Why don't you boys go play while we work." She smugly stated as the four girls disappeared into the crowd.

Calvin gruffed. "Hey! I didn't want to fight in some tournament." He shouted out as the girls disappeared from sight.

Decan patted him on the back. "She's gone, Cal." He said as the two stared down the aisle.

Calvin sighed, turning back to the remaining boys, he reluctantly asked. "So what are we doing?"

Luke and Sakile burst out laughing while Mote enthusiastically explained. "First, we gotta get you guys suited up. Then we enter ya in the tournament..."

The boys all groaned. "Suited up?" Luke asked casually.

Mote nodded. "Of course. You's can't go into no arena lookin' like that! You's need some new gear." He stated bluntly.

Sakile shook his head. "No damn way you'd be seein' me walkin' around here in some goofy get up." He objected.

Mote raised an eyebrow. And snapped his fingers. In a flash of blue light, Eary found himself in a small booth with a curtain.

"All right, you's guys. C'mon out!" The little moteling commanded from outside the conventions dressing rooms.

"What the fuck! How did I get in here?" Sakile cursed out from behind the dressing room curtain.

The sound of a curtain quickly opening revealed an Eary dressed in street clothes and a large yellow coat.

"Sakile, it's fine. This will be fun." Eary cheerfully announced as he modled for the moteling.

Four more curtains tore open to reveal Luke dressed in a brown trench coat and bandana and Calvin in yellow and blue spandex. Denby emerged covered in blue fur and Decan in blue with  yellow visor.

Calvin gleefully exclaimed. "Ha! I'm the cool one, Eary."

Luke asked, "Who am I supposed to be?"

Denby stated, "Mine's just some blue fur and underwear."

Decan giggled. "This is cool. Who am I exactly?"

Calvin hastily explained, "You're Gambit, Luke. Eary, you're Jubilee. Decan, youre cyclops and Denby, youre beast." He turned towards the still closed curtain. "Sakile, come out, man. I wanna see who he turned you into." He eagerly stated.

"Hell no. I ain't coming outta here like this. Tell that fucking fairy to turn me into someone else." Sakile grumbled.

Mote shimmered up to the curtain. "I only managed to swipe one of these do-dads from the vendor." He revealed a small cartridge in his hand that read 'team super costumes' "
It's totally random. So I think ya gonna come out or get cozy in the afterlife." He smugly stated.

The quick sound of the curtain led way to an eruption of laughter. Sakile had been stretched into a Storm costume. The white latex and large white wig did nothing to distract from his elaborate arm cape train and large white wig..

"Holy shit." Luke weezed between gasps

"Mote, that's so mean." Eary gasped as he clutched his side.

Denby folded his arms and raised his brow. "Sakile, you saucy devil." He said, chuckling.

Decan fought back his laughter as he looked away.

Calvin rolled on the floor. Paralyzed by laughter and clutching his phone. He pointed it mercilessly at his brother.

Mote grinned. "See! You was worried. Now look at ya! You look absolutely sexy. You'll be our ace up our sleeve, Sakile. You'll mesmerize 'em with your beauty. Most of the guys have never seen a naked woman. They'll never know what that thing is plastered to your leg."

Sakile raised his hand to object but was interrupted by an overhead announcement. "All who intend to participate in today's tournament, we close in five minutes."

Mote nodded. "Ya look great. Now let's  move 'em cheeks toots." He stated as he smacked Sakile on the bottom.

Luke grimaced. "Sorry man, we don't have time. We gotta move." He said as he fought back his grin. "C'mon, let's go!"

The group hurried the stormified Sakile to the admission booth. His long train being held up by Eary and Calvin, while Mote tried to direct him to run in heels.

The boys arrived as the vendor was packing up.

Mote quickly hollared, "Hey there kindly fellow!" He shimmered up to the receptionist dressed as a sailor scout.

"Yes?" The heavy set middle aged man asked.

Mote grimaced. "Did we perhaps make it in time to sign up?"

The vendor shook his head. "Nah, we're getting packed up. There is not a lot of participation today."

Mote nodded. "I understand completely." He stated as his forced politeness twisted his face.

"Hold up, motha' fucka'." Sakile dressed as Storm carefully approached in his heels. "I didn't run all the way over here to be told no! Get your fat ass some pens. We're signin' up!"

The husky sailor scout trembled as they pulled out the admission form and a cup of pens.

"Y-you're not supposed to talk that way here." The man clumsily spit out.

Sakile slammed his fist, complete with  long press-ons, down on the table. "Did I ask you motha' fucka'?" Eary quickly signed up while the others pulled Sakile away. "Your bitch ass!" He shouted as they made their way to the arena.

They were led to a large tunnel where a series of rooms awaited. They were led into a small room with a series of chairs and a hovering display screen.

"Wait here for your match please." The divine guide stated.

Mote nodded as he slipped a note in the guides hand. "Thanks Greg." He turned to the rest of the group. "All right boys. Get comfy, we're gonna be waitin' awhile. This place is all the rage."

The divine guide Greg chimed in, "Excuse me, Mote." The group and the moteling turn led to meet his attention. "Attendance has been down the last few millenia. There are only three matches per day now." They stated somberly.

Mote scoffed, "That's a cryin' shame. Shows ya how boring this place can be without me here. Right, Greg?"

Greg grimaced. "I assure you I don't know. Now, if you'll excuse me." The guide departed as Mote's jaw dropped.

"Well that was fuckin' rude." Mote whined as he addressed the boys. "You's are all gonna wait here until your first match. Don't worry about getting killed. You'll just be transported here if ya die. You's all got it?" He stated bluntly.

The boys all nodded as the screen lit up. 'Match ready. Please make your way to the arena.'