Summary:
Always the day to scare children
Amity grinned as she walked out of the bathroom. "What do you think?" Hallows Eve was tonight, so they all decided to run through a final check to make sure they were in 'proper attire', as the Nocedas said.
"Amity … why!?" Luz shouted.
She blinked in confusion. "You said to dress up as a terrifying monster that would scare anyone. So my top options were my Mom and Belos." She twirled around. "I figured the latter would be more traumatizing for Hunter and I didn't want him having a panic attack."
"You are definitely dressed as the most terrifying creature in the universe … next to my womb donor." Lucci smirked as he came out, dressed in a black and white striped tux suit covered in stains, white face paint covering his face and his hair covered in green.
"I thought we were going to be scary people." Amity thought. "Beetlejuice seemed like a pretty fun character, if a bit … questionable in taste." She shivered at the memory of wedding dresses.
"Who says you can't scare people with a little style?" He smirked, twirling around. "And it fits what I have planned tonight."
"Amity … yes Halloween does mean scary monsters and demons and the like … but it's mostly about dressing up how you want … you don't have to be … this …" She waved to all of Amity.
"Oh thank Titan." She sighed, ripping off the wig. "So … should I go as a cat girl then?" Amity saw a couple images of them on Luz's computer … the images concerned but also inspired her.
"Actually I was hoping we'd do a couples thing. Me as Azura and you as Hecatine." Luz handed her a costume. "You know, to celebrate our first Halloween together."
"Oooh, nice idea!" She smiled, grabbing the cloak. "So who else is coming with us?"
"Vee, Connie, and a Masha person they hang out with." Lucci said. "I'm bringing along Spinel, she actually didn't even need to change much of herself, just adjust her form a little."
"I'm all set and ready, Mr. C!" Spinel swung in from the nearest window, her 'clothes' so to speak being less pink and black and more red, her messy hair top being more like a jester's hat, and white face paint splattered all over, carrying an oversized mallet..
"Ah, Harley Quinn." Luz snickered. "You've gone all in on being a comic nerd, haven't you?"
"Hey, this coming from a book lover?" He joked back. "So what about Willow and Gus?"
"Behold!" Hunter moved from the bathroom in a robotic manner. "I am the cyberized Chief O'Reily, the most dangerous of foes within Cosmic Frontiers!"
"And I'm Captain Avery!" Gus came out next. "His best friend, who will save my Chief from the corrupted form holding onto him!"
"...So did all of us become nerds of some kind when I wasn't looking?" Amity asked.
"Helps cope I guess." Luz shrugged. "That just leaves Boscha and Willow … think they're going Total Drama?"
"Nah, that's fun and all, but not costume worthy." Willow came out. "So I decided to do something a little closer to home. I'm a fire bee." She twirled around in red and black stripes along with black horns and a little tail. "I'm gonna bring about the fiery vengeance of mother nature."
"Nice choice." Amity nodded. "And Boscha's…?"
"Right here." The girl came into a room, looking pretty much the same, but with snakes in her hair, make up that looked like she was covered in scales, all while showing off her third eye. "Gorgon lady. Figured if there was ever a time to let myself be myself, today was the day."
"Yeah that checks." Luz nodded.
"Gorgeous as ever my darling." Lucci grinned. "How about after the candy we-"
"Play even more games!" Spinel once more got between the two, prompting Amity to move to the bathroom to change.
"Lucci … I have been patient with this girl for months now … it's starting to wear thin." She heard Boscha growl.
"Don't worry about it. Tonight we're all going to have fun, and I've figured out the best way to score the biggest haul of candy!"
"Let me guess." Luz's 'done' voice said. "You either found the perfect route to maximize the most candy, or you plan to steal all the candy from other kids."
"You know me so well." He smirked. "Gus, Boscha, you two will be the most essential to my plan. We're going to scare the hell out of all the kids on tonight's Hallow's Eve!" Dramatic organ music and thunder played. "Congrats Gus, you're really getting the hype man down. You even made it Hallows Eve themed too."
"That's just how the G-man rolls." Looks like they would all at least have a fun … if chaotic … night tonight.
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Philip gazed at the town in front of him. "... Disgusting …" Worshiping the demons and witches … how abominable … a holiday to relish in twisted depravity …
Ironically, this was a holiday meant to disguise yourself as a monster in order to walk the streets when they were most powerful. The new voice spoke. Jack O lanterns are decorated as a symbol of warding off evil spirits.
"And yet they openly celebrate them. They dress up as monsters and mongrels and reward the morally depraved youth with sweets and confections, making games and entertainment of who can be the most demonic." He growled, going through the memories of this 'Jacob'. A determined young man, if deluded, misguided, and all around incompetent at his job.
Hypocrisy at its finest folks. Calling another witch hunter deluded. The most annoying voice in his head stated. Even in your most psychotic, you can't actively be mad at children who, by your stupid logic, 'don't know any better'.
"Under normal circumstances, yes, but this is different." He clarified. "I can't even actively blame the months Luz spent in the Boiling Isles at this point for her idiocy." Clearly the entire planet has fallen under disgrace. "This world … it's surrounded in moral depravity. Rose's influence most've spread far without my will to stop her."
I hate that woman with everything I have, and even I have to say you're reaching for reasons to blame everyone.
Clearly it's not important talking to you anymore. What matters is getting this word on track, and destroying the twisted logic that witches could ever be positive. Well of course they're evil. They plan on rewriting the past to make themselves emperors of the universe!
"If I wasn't forced to use your body out of necessity, I would've thrown myself off the nearest ledge and drowned you." But you won't, because I alone am worthy! "No, it's because out of anyone I could've taken, you were the one that the world would miss the least."
It says a lot that this type of guy is the only person on the planet to hate witches, don't you think? "You're not going to dissuade me from my mission, Rainbow Devil. It's clear what my mission is now. To get humanity back on the right track, and cleanse their souls before they're all damned to hell."
Oh really? Good luck with that. I spent the last twenty years of my life trying to get people to believe Witches aren't fictional. "Because you're an overgrown child that no one respects. If I'm to save humanity, I need to remind them that there's something to be afraid of." Phillip grew out his claws, and winced a little in pain. Ow, what the heck!? "Nothing major. It's just my form slowly consuming more and more of your flesh." What!? What's going to happen when there's no more!? "Now's not the time to dwell on frivolous thoughts.." My life is not frivolous!Debatable.Aren't you supposed to hate him!? That doesn't mean I can't hate you too.
Quiet down you two … we have work to do.
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Masha smirked as the gang walked by. "Steven Universe, I see we meet again." They held out their hand.
She could see him tense up. "Yep … that's my name …" He grumbled as he shook their hand. Bad association, eh?
"Right, I can see why you don't like it, the restraint." Masha lied. "Got a nickname?"
The boy paused, and let out a little smirk. "Just call me Lucci."
"Ah, the devil. Well you already dress like him, so that's a start." They looked over the Beetlejuice costume.
"Thanks, I've really gotten into the mood ever since listening to the musical." The boy smiled, turning over to Vee and Connie. "And I see you two have decided to embrace the dark and depraved depths of tonight's Hallow's Eve."
"I know, it's so awesome!" The kind soul in a puppy dog costume spoke, ears and tail wagging like actual dog parts. "You get to be whatever you want and get candy for it!"
"It's actually the first Halloween where I don't have to worry about my parents confiscating all my candy and replacing them with sugar free knockoffs!" Connie in some sort of knight outfit cheered. "So is there a route planned.."
"Even better: we're going to start tonight's haul by scarring half the neighborhood out of their candy." The boy smirked.
The two instantly pouted. "Really?"
"Yep. Lucci here said he needed an inside expert on the day of the dark and invited me into this shindig." Masha grinned.
"I don't know, doesn't that just seem … wrong? Doesn't everyone deserve candy tonight?" Vee asked.
"Look at it this way. It's trick or treat. They're begging to get frightened." They said, leaning closer to Vee. "Can't you imagine all of us sitting on a pile of candy with … delectable treats?" Masha licked their lips for emphasis.
Vee responded with a combination of a squeal and a purr that was downright adorable, though Connie seemed to get a little heated at the exchange. Lended a lot of credence to a small theory that Masha was forming in the back of their mind. "So how are WE doing this?" Connie asked, pulling the girl back.
"You don't have to do much. I already got Gus hidden away for the 'special' effects and Boscha for added hallucinogens." The now dubbed Lucci smirked. "All we need now is a little 'acting' touch, and a credible source." The boy turned to Connie. "Just pretend to be scared when the suckers come in and every base will be covered."
"Shouldn't you have Spinel on that?"
"No, she's the one throwing all the axes and weapons at them." Lucci waved off.
"The fake ones, right?" Vee asked. "Because we both know Spinel can't be trusted with holding back or missing when having fun … right?"
"Sorry, can't hear you, I'm setting up the stereo right now!" Lucci began walking off. "Masha, you get them in place and prepare for the screaming of a lifetime!"
"Will do!" They shouted. "Get ready for candygeddon." They took the girls by the hand as a group of trick or treaters, young and came passing by the street, with bags of candy trailing right behind them. "Now just follow my lead and wait for the fog machine to start working."
"Understood." Don't worry you sweet soul, you'll get lots of sweets tonite.
"Oh beware!" Masha shouted. "That house is nothing but ghouls and nightmares! We lost all our candy within its clutches!"
"… Masha, we're not stupid enough to trust you." A kid in a pirate costume deadpanned. "You thought summoning Satan at school was a fun idea." It was Beelzebub, plebeian.
"No. She's not kidding! An angry spirit roams these halls, and we barely made it out with our lives intact!" Huh, Vee was selling the frightened terror pretty well. She was one hell of an actor.
"A whole street's worth of candy, all gone." Connie lamented in a bit of a dead tone. They'd work on that later.
"Hey, if Connie's telling it, then it's gotta be true." A girl in a princess costume said.
"Yeah, she's not creative enough to lie."
"Hey, I am too!" Connie retorted.
"Yeah, she's too much of a goodie goodie." A robot said, completely ignoring her. "Come on, let's go get those treats!" They ran to the house.
"... Suddenly my guilt is lessening." Connie muttered.
"That's the spirit." Masha smirked as the victims began walking inside, the fog instantly setting in. "So how big of a square are we looking at here?"
"Expect nightmare inducing imagery being shown alongside an inappropriately cheerful musical number." Vee answered. "That's pretty much what I've seen from the guy."
"Did someone say … treats!?" Lucci's voice screamed, as multiple screams followed.
" Who said that!?" The pirate kid shrieked from behind the walls as they got closer to a window.
"Just your everyday ghost on the haunt." Lucci' s voice smirked as the kids tried to run; on for a pink gloved hand to shut the door. "Hohohohohhohoo! Now where do you think you're going!?The party is THIS way!"The hand shoved them into a room full of decapitated heads served by zombies. "And trust me... It's to DIE for!"
The kids all screamed, rushing to a door and shoving it, only to enter a room full of spiders. "Hohohohohoohohohohoo! I know we'll be the best of friends, So there's no need to run!"A giant spider began reaching forward to hug one of them. " The sooner you get dead, The sooner you can join the fun!"This boy was definitely not the innocent soul they met all those months ago…but they couldn't deny just how enjoyable it was to see Lucci cackle so evilly as he spread fear. " No need to fear for I am here!!"
"Your mortal form will disappear!"The spiders sang as the kids all ran to the next room.
"Now should we use this rusty knife?" A clown asked in the next room.
"Or an acid water gun?" A pink one with snakes in their hair held up the object.
"Oohoohoohahahaha!" Lucci appeared in costume as he and the others laughed and cackled all together. "There's a million gruesome ways to die! Oo-oo-oo-ooooh Oh why resist when the party's just begun?" The kids grabbed onto a door, which opened into a gaping maw of a mouth.
"You'll be having so much fun!" Lucci floated above the suckets, and landed in front of them, making the floors crack and the room shake as if there was a mini earthquake.
"There's a million gruesome ways to DIE! Why stay alive?"
"And I'm sure you death will be second to none!"He cackled as the kids ran out.
"Bring in the next bunch!" The girl with three eyes shouted down to them.
"Hahahahahaha! Dynamite is quick but it makes a lot of mess!" The gorgon girl threw out a vial that made a loud shock in the air while spreading a thick green mist. "And flattened by a cow is just embarrassing at best!" Suddenly out of nowhere, right where Vee was standing, a cow was in her place, with no signs of the girl anywhere. "But baked into a yummy cake…!" Before Masha could even question it, what looked like cake batter fell on top of the kids.
"…Or dropped into a pit of snakes….!" A latch opened up on the ceiling, showering what she assumed to be rubber-nope, those were completely real snakes. "Though drowning in a lobster tank might hurt a little less!"The ground broke apart into a watery area filled with snapping lobsters.
"How did they get so many wild animals?" Masha asked Connie, the only one who was still next to her.
"Luz Noceda." Ah…, that made sense. Shame they never met her before coming back from camp, girl seemed to be her brand of crazy.
"There's a million gruesome ways to die!"They sang the chorus again.
"How bout' impaled upon a spike?" A girl with glasses had a melon impaled on a spike, licking the dripping liquids from it.
"Oh why resist when the party just begun?
"Maybe something on a bike!" Lucci began chasing the kids around on a bike while swing an axe at their heads.
"There's a million gruesome ways to die!
"We could bury you alive!" A short kid made clumps of dirt fall on their heads.
"We're sure your death will be second to none!"
"Okay, Masha, go ahead and sucker in the next group." Lucci grinned.
"Seriously, this is so elaborate. It's like they're making the room bigger than it is." Mascha snickered, leading in said naive souls.
" We could put you in a cage with a hungry alligator!" What appeared to be a talking alligator came up and snapped their jaws.
"Drop you in a volcano with an active crater!" The three eyed girl threw down more viles, creating fire that made her look like some sort of demon straight out of hell."
"What about ten thousand volts of electricity?!"A wire fell on Lucci, lighting him up but somehow not shocking him.
"Or try a death by Shakespeare in a tragicomedy!" A girl in a witch costume held up a skull while having some sort of purple gunk on her hands.
"Trampled by an elephant or turned to goat meat stew." The Luz kid showed off multiple animals running around rampant, drinking out a stew like a messed up cannibal.
"Or try to fight a dragon armed with nothing but a shoe!" An actually freaking dragon came up. How the heck did they get a lizard that big…and how did it fit into the door
"We could do a Mummy's curse!"
"We'll put you in a fancy hearse!"
"Or turned into a stuffie, now that's something we can do!"Lucci cackled as he showed off a screaming tri eyes plushy, which he cuddled.
"There's a million gruesome ways to die!"
"I thought I'd try the guillotine!" The girl with glasses seemingly took off her own head.
"Oh why resist when the party's just begun?"
"I danced so hard I broke my spleen!" A blonde kid with scars fell to the ground as his entrails spilled onto the floor.
"There's a million gruesome ways to DIE!"The room itself seemed to be shifting as everyone was beginning to run away in circles. " There must be something we can try! We're sure your death will be second to none!"
"Maybe you can choke upon a grape!"
"To die!"
"Put you in a blender and frappe!"
"To die!"
"Maybe we can find an angry mob!"
"To die!"
"Tie you in a stake and cook you up like a kabob!"
"To die!"
"Smothered by a pillow in your bed!"
"To die!"
"A gluten overdose from too much bread!"
"To die!"
"Then you can join the party cuz' you're dead! I'm sure your death will be second to…"
"Mister Reaper's beckonig you,"
"Sure your death will be second to NOOOOOONE!" A pink lady with a black robe and a glowing scythe laughed. " Hoohoohoohahahahahaha!"
They waited a little while as the kids ran away in terror, leaving behind their candy. "YES!" Lucci jumped up in the air. "Aha! Complete success! I say that's my most successful scam yet!"
Masha walked up to the group, looking at the mountain of candy they collected all night. "You think we have enough? I don't think anyone else super gullible is out this late."
"Not to mention the guilt is eating me alive." Vee sighed.
"Wash away the guilt with treats!" Lucci shouted, jumping into the candy like it was a leaf pile. "Victory!" He took a bite … then spat it out. "Gaahh … It's almost as sweet as Cookie Cats."
"You just bit into an oreo." Luz pointed out.
"Guess I'm not a cookie fan in general." He tossed it away. "Lets see…oooh this looks promising." He took out a stack of black licorice. "Aaa, nice and bitter."
"Blegh." Connie winced. "How do your taste buds function?"
"I just don't like overly sweet things." He shrugged. "Well, this was a team effort everyone. Dig in!"
As most of the crew jumped into the pile, Masha picked up an oreo, unwrapping it. "Wanna share Vee?" They asked, placing the cookie right in front of their lips.
"Ahhhh…"
"Hey Vee, I got a kit kat, a candy actually made for sharing." Connie grabbed the girl by the arms. So possessive … about as possessive as she was over Ste-Lucci a while back. Either she had a nasty break up and moved on … or there was something more wild and crazy happening right now … and Masha could wait to get to the bottom of it.
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"I don't get it." Lucci turned to a confused Spinel as they walked outside. "I finally got how to tell the different tastes between rocks and food, but this just tastes like pineapples." She said, looking over something called M and Ms.
"You're telling me. I have to sort through the pile to pick out the least sweet chocolates." Dark chocolate seemed to be what he liked the most. "I'm surprised you're not immediately gouging for the best stuff, Luz."
"I have Halloween experience, Halloween night is not the best time to get a sugar rush." Luz said. "Sadly, it seems Gus didn't heed my warning."
"I can taste the rainbow!" The kid screamed, munching on candy non stop.
"He looks like one of those smile dip kids on youtube." Masha said. It was rocky before, given Vee's crush and Masha confusing him for her as Steven, but they quickly became a very enjoyable human to be around. Maybe his time on earth could be something just a little more than tolerable. "It's essentially sugary coke for kids. It gives you diabetes for life, but it's worth it for the trip."
"Nah, I have natural remedies for that if I ever want an existential out of body experience." Willow shrugged as she popped in some sour patch kids. "You gonna have any Hunter?"
"... I don't know how to say this … this is the first time I've had sweets." The boy said. "I wanna figure out what my first one is gonna be."
"Oh, I'd go with Hershey Kisses!" Vee offered, looking no worse for wear despite eating half her body weight. Basilisk perks, he guessed. "A perfect starter candy."
"K-Kisses?" Hunter looked confused, staring at what looked like a little brown dot. "This isn't some kind of love potion that manipulates hormones?"
"Only on valentines day." Masha chuckled. "It's a bit of a stereotype that women love chocolate … not that it's inaccurate." They said, offering a kit cat to Connie. "You know … because it's the time to share."
"...Don't think I don't know what you're doing." Connie glared as she took the chocolate anyways. "I just happen to be really hungry."
"Of course you are." Lucci chuckled. "So my Angel, find anything of interest?" … He looked around. "Angel?" The boy didn't see Boscha anywhere. "Boscha! Where are you!?"
"Oooh, maybe she decided to play a new game of hide and seek!" Spinel shouted. "Now I have to start counting down from a million. One million. Nine hundred ninety nine thousand nine hundred ninety nine, nine hundred ninety nine thousand nine hundred ninety eight-"
"Spinel, this is getting serious! She wouldn't just disappear by herself!" He exclaimed.
"I know, that's why we're playing hide and seek to find her." The gem smiled. "I mean, Gus isn't here either, so I guess he joined too."
"Wait what?" Luz turned around, finding him gone. "Come on Amity he was on a sugar rush, you were supposed to …'' Said purple haired girl was gone. "Amity?" Her voice cracked. "Sweet Potato … this isn't funny…."
"Alright, time to mount a rescue. I'll take the high ground, Captain you-" Hunter turned around … and saw now one. "Willow? WILLOW!"
"Huddle up!" Lucci shouted, forcing everyone together, back to back. "The moment anyone spots anything, make a noise." There was a moment of tense silence, nothing but their own breathing, and the settling of the wooden house drawing their gaze at every second and angle.
"Oh mom, why did you have to ban me from watching horror movies? Now I've landed in the middle of one and I don't know enough tropes to fall back on!" Connie shriek
"Hey, it's cool." Masha said. "I've seen plenty … now, you picked this house Lucci, how many floors and rooms are we dealing with."
"There's about … four to five bedrooms, two bathrooms, two dens, an attic, and a basement." He answered.
"Really…and this place is just abandoned?" Luz questioned. "I feel like a house that big would be prime real estate."
"Do you …" Vee gulped. "Think it's actually haunted?"
"Oh come on guys, stop being dramatic." Spinel waved off, getting out of the group. "It's not like I'm gonna walk around the corner and-" Her voice stopped the moment she moved around the corner.
"... So we all move that way?" Hunter asked quietly.
"Well if we're going by trope talk, leaving here right now at this minute would guarantee that the rest of us live, but I feel like everyone here's not down for that." Masha stated
"So what, stand here for the rest of our lives?" Connie asked.
"No, we just go in playing it smart." Masha went on. "Whatever's around the corner and snatching us up believes they have the upper hand, trying to use our naivety and cluelessness about the situation to its advantage. It's praying on our fear at the moment, so we got to counter it with the opposite."
"Reckless bravery it is." Luz immediately marched forward with her sword.
"Wait, whatever you do, don't go alone! Going off on your own essentially signing your death certificate." Vee said.
"I know that much." The girl rolled her eyes. "Hunter, you're with me."
"Hunter?" Lucci asked.
"Vee and Masha aren't fighters. If we're splitting the group you're staying behind Lucci."
"That is the dumbest plan ever." He groaned.
"How is it dumb? I check the danger, stab it if I can, if I can't Hunter warps me back to the guy who's shielding everyone else." Luz explained.
"Oh, you can teleport?" … Right, Masha wasn't … in the know. "Why don't you just move around the house at blinding speeds and bring everyone back here?" … And also super accepting apparently.
"Teleporting without being familiar with the area causes a lot of strain. I could be caught off guard mid warp trying to recover." He answered. "I'll just go with Luz and look around the area for … whatever this thing is."
"Fine…but if she gets hurt, I'm killing you myself, Golden Boy." Lucci threatened.
"I'll be fine." Luz said, slowly making her way to the corner with him, looking there. "... There's nothing."
"Seriously?" Connie asked. "Come on Masha, didn't you-Masha's gone." She gave a squeak.
"Seriously!?" Vee shouted. "They were the only ones who knew what they were talking about! We're doomed, we're doomed!"
"We're not doomed, woman! Snap out of it!" He slapped her across the face.
"..Did you just slap me!?"
"Yes, and I'll do it again if you freak out more!" Lucci shrieked.
"Why would slapping me make me feel better!?"
"Luz does it all the time and it works!"
"Only because your skin's so thick you can't feel the pain." Luz added.
"Okay, okay, lets see … we have Vee, Connie, me, you, and Golden Boy." Lucci said. "Everyone else gets snatched when we take our eyes off them for even a second, and this thing doesn't want to fight us as a group."
"Side note … given what just happened, it might be intelligent enough to listen to us talk to each other." Connie said, gazing at the walls.
"...Fuck.." Luz groaned. "Okay, we got to use everything we have. Vee, do your senses detect anything funny?"
"Hold on …" She sniffed the air. "I can't tell their locations, but I can smell Amity, Boscha, Hunter, Gus, Willow, Hunter, and the palisman."
"You said my name twice." The Golden Boy said in confusion.
Vee blinked at that. "I can … smell … two of you?" She asked, looking around.
"What?" Lucci scratched his head.
"Hang on … Vee." Connie looked at her. "What does Hunter, right here, smell like?"
The girl leaned in closer, giving the boy a few whiffs. "... Deep … not potent like the other witches, it's all mixed in deep … and a hint of Palistrum wood." She smiled. "You must hang around everyone's Palisman a lot."
"Yeah…that's totally it…" Hunter looked far away.
"So we're looking for something with deep, mixed in magic that's associated with Palistrum wood." Luz muttered. "Vee, can you track where the others are?
"I can if we get close enough, but the house is pretty big, we all ran around so the scents are all mixed in." She took a giant whiff again. "The other Hunter scent is stronger though … smells more rotten … like a dead animal."
"Rotten and dead animal." Lucci looked confused. "Does that ring any bells?"
"No …" They turned to Hunter, who had a shocked look in his eyes. "It can't … YOU CAN'T BE HERE!" The kid screamed, looking around desperately.
"What's got him so freaked out?" Connie asked
"He's only like this when …" Luz trailed off, a fearful look adopting her face. "Lucci … who became a tree monster from Palisman?"
"Don't you remember? It's.." It suddenly dawned on him. "No .... no ...…. he's dead … he's supposed to be dead!" It couldn't be ….. it couldn't be … It just couldn't be possible!
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Connie had watched these kids fight gems with the bravest of faces. The Crystal Gems were nothing but jokes to them. Even the law itself seemed to barely faze them … but now their faces had the most horrified looks she's ever seen. "Guys … What's going on?" She asked.
"SHOW YOURSELF!" Luz shouted, pulling out her blade with anger. "COME OUT AND FACE US LIKE THE BRAVE AND BOLD 'HERO' YOU CLAIM YOU ARE!!"
"Lucci, they're just over reacting right?" Vee asked the boy.
Lucci, the most brazen and overconfident of the group … did not respond. He gripped his hands, forming bubbles around them. "Stay close, stay very, very close to each other." He said quietly.
"Guys …" Vee looked as confused as her. "Who's …"
"I knew I should have stopped at four." A voice that gave her chills at every syllable spoke up.
They all turned to a wall, bubbles launching … where nothing was behind it.
"Creating you was simply supposed to be a tool." The condescending continued from another direction. "A way to save the world … and instead, all you did was infect it, number five. I should've never brought any of you back."
She could see Vee stalling her breath, shaking in place. "No … please no …" Tears fell from her eyes. "Not him … anyone but him."
"Him? Him who!?" Connie shouted. "Who are you all afraid of!?"
"I'm so terribly sorry about this. Because of these demons, I'm afraid it may already be too late to save your soul from their corruption. Because that's all they do in the end … corrupt the innocent and damned them to hell … isn't that right, Hunter?" The voice spoke from yet another direction.
"No … no, you died!" Hunter shouted in terror. "We saw you explode into pieces all over the place!"
"And you dragged me back with you … piece … by … piece …" They gritted out.
"I … we …" Luz looked downright traumatized.
"Connie." Lucci grit his teeth. "When shit hits the fan, grab Vee, and run. Do not look back. Understood?"
"I'm afraid that's not happening, Clawthorne." The voice continued. "The demon will be bleeding out by the end of the night … just like every witch already is."
"Shut up, shut up! We're not going to deal with your mind games again!" Luz shouted. "Our friends are still alive, and we WILL make it out of here, right after turning you back into a pile of mud and mold!"
"Then by all means, go to them while they're all alive and heal them … if you don't think you're on a clock." He was obviously trying to get them to fly off the handle, to split up …
And then Connie had a very stupid idea. One that she only had the confidence to pull off because she didn't have the same experience as everyone else. One she'd need one bit of confirmation on. "Are you Philip Wittabane?"
There was a tense silence as presence seemed to calm down. "You know of me?"
"Depends, are you the Philip Wittabane, the brave and noble man who helped found this town?" She egged on. It hurt to see Vee look at her like she was betraying her, but it was for a good cause. "The one everyone remembers and looks up to in school?"
"Finally! My legacy lives on!" The voice shouted. "There are good moments still existing within the world-"
Hopefully this would contribute. "The same Philip Wittabane who killed his brother because he was jealous they had a girlfriend?"
And just like that, the presence increased as she felt it form.. right behind her . "Why you little-"
"Hayeaaaaa!" Luz, without hesitation, stabbed the figure right in the gut. "Got you…Jacob!?"
Connie did turn around … seeing what looked like Jacob … with black sludge crawling from his veins, bleeding from the wound. "No one would miss him …" They grabbed the sword. "And when I'm done, they won't miss you either."
"NO YOU DON'T!" Lucci, glowing pink from the head down, slammed a hammer into the man without hesitation, sending him through the floor. "Grab Vee and Run! Hunter, find everyone! Luz, with m-" Lucci began choking as the sludgy hand grabbed him by the throat from the hole.
" If there's one consolidation I have … it's being able to end both the Rose and Clawthorne legacy personallywith my bare hands!" The sludge began climbing out.
Luz instantly sliced off said hand. "It's not like last time, you bastard!" She shouted, driving her sword through the man's face. "Push him down Lucci!"
Lucci began smashing the man's head over and over again, more and more sludge coming out as it just reassembled itself. "The flesh is too fresh! He can afford to hurt himself!"
"Then I'll rundown the time he has!" Vee shouted, closing her eyes, taking a deep breath, and inhaling what looked like blue light that came directly out of the bastard.
"GGAAA!!"An unnatural voice screamed as the sludge began to decay even more. "YOU!"A hand slammed into Vee, sending her flying into the wall, their form dropping back into the Basilisk look as they slipped unconscious.
Vee….she was….she…was..."YOU BASTARD!" Taking out her own sword, she began repeatedly stabbing the man over and over again in the chest. "You won't get away with it, you won't you won't-"
Shink
Connie fell still….as a spike retracted from her side. "Another deluded child, best to put you down quickly." The Jacob-sludge bastard sighed as if he was sorry as she fell to her back. It hurt so much….so much….warmth was leaving.
"GRRAAAA!!!"Lucci grew out horns and claws, Sugar wrapped around his arm as it grew in size, rumbling in his palm, before he slammed it right into the bastard.
BOOM!They went flying through a wall … and into the streets….and into the air.
"Connie!" Luz shouted, running to her side.
"Luz....I'm…..I'm sorry...." This was the monster they had to face on the boiling isles…..this is the type of trauma they probably dealt with daily…..Connie couldn't handle that….Luz….Luz was stronger than her in a lot of ways.
"Lucci!" She could hear Hunter shout. "Belos wasn't lying! Everyone's bleeding out! We need your spit!"
"On it!" Lucci said as she felt something wet press on her. The warmth slowly came back, but that didn't matter…she felt so exhausted…..
Then everything went black.
========================================================================
Camila smiled and waved as another group of trick or treaters walked away. "Have a lovely night!" She called out, shutting the door. Halloween, such a fun night. She remembered how Luz used to constantly dress up in unique ways. From animals, to fantasy characters. Azura was the most consistent of her costumes.
She briefly considered taking out her old cosmic frontier memorabilia, perhaps dress up herself, like she did with Manny all those years ago … but seeing Gus and Hunter dress up made her reconsider. This was their night, their fun….Camila left that behind along with Manny. She was an adult who needed to make sure her kids were happy.
Speaking of which ... there was something she's been meaning to test waiting in the bathroom…something that would change her family forever … something she was afraid of Luz finding out … or Greg.
The door slammed open. "Hey! If you kids want candy than you better-" She froze at the sight in front of her. Her daughter and friends, carrying each other … covered in blood. Camila screamed. "AAAAAAH! What…what…what…"
"We were attacked … .by Belos." Luz gasped, fear and stress covering her face.
"B-Belos … the … the evil emperor you said tried to kill every witch in the demon realm … and died?"
"He survived." Willow groaned. "He … he's still around somehow, as a pile of sludge."
"Not only that…he can possess people now." Amity shivered. "He can take over whoever he wants…he could be anybody at any time." This was starting to sound like the collective from Cosmic Frontier … that sounded like she was downplaying the situation, but it was the only frame of reference she had to how terrifying this situation was.
"He got away … we couldn't do anything …" Lucci held onto a pink heart that looked like what Spinel had at times. "He could've absorbed Spinel like he did Bismuth…..we got lucky again….he could've taken her…." Her daughter placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Luz, how are the others?"
"Connie and Vee still haven't woken up yet. Luckily Masha's out too, so we don't have to sugarcoat anything."
"Can I dump them on a couch then?" Boscha groaned. "I am not in the condition to carry them."
"Go ahead, please, use whatever you want." Camil offered. "Oh, you children don't have any injuries, do you?
"Lucci healed the flesh wounds." Gus stated in a dazed look. "I'm more worried about Hunter.
She turned to Hunter, who was pacing around in a panic. "We just have to do something… have to do something to take him down, we need to stop him, we need to-" His ramblings were stopped by a hand from Lucci.
"If the Collector couldn't kill him, nothing can. We need to find out where he's hiding and contain the bastard before he gains power." The boy spoke.
"Power from what though? His body is falling apart and there's no magic or palisman around for him to feed on." Boscha said.
"I think Lucci was referring to political power compared to magic power. He took an entire world of Witches and convinced them he was a prophet." Amity spoke. "Imagine what he can do with his own race. If he can take over some guy he feels like nobody would miss, who's to say he won't do it with someone more important next time?"
"Or someone…more personal." Luz turned to her. "Lucci, get the gems. I want them guarding the house twenty four seven. I don't care what you have to do, as long as Belos is out there, no one here is safe anywhere."
"I know, I know." He said, walking in place. "Not to mention Vee is a target now too, luckily Garnet and Lapis should be capable of defending her. But … there's way too many targets Luz. Belos could be anywhere."
"I know…this is the best I can think of…I…I don't know what else to do….I'm scared." Her daughter cried. "I'm scared….I'm terrified, and we all almost died...I'm sorry….I'm sorry…"
"There, there, baby, just let it out." Camila hugged her daughter. "I promise you nothing is going to take me away from you, ever." She kissed her on the forehead.
"I know …." They cried as Amity came in close, hugging Luz as well.
"We can work out a plan tomorrow Luz, we need to rest tonight." Amity said, "He already attacked. He's not going to risk twice a night."
"I…I know…."
This was so intense….Camila truly was at a lost now. "I'll…I'll give you children some space." She walked out of the room and went into the bathroom. She took out her phone, having Ms. Waybright's number on speed dial.
Before she could, she checked something on the sink…something she dreaded looking at given the circumstances….a pregnancy test…..
One that read positive .