DISCLAIMERS: Don't own what's not my own.
TIME: Roughly seven months after the events of Monster Zero
SnapShots
By Corvus no Genmu the Prince of Slumberland
"Halloween!"
Emerald eyes snapped open with a loud, startled snort. They blinked slowly before a thin form sat upright in obvious confusion. Burning eyes looked heavenward, narrowing at a fast-moving star. Frowning, it moved quickly up along the far wall, climbing higher and higher until it reached the topmost point of the small farmhouse. It turned its eyes to the patch of solitary fruits down below, the farmer's one pride and joy. Sharp claws long as a knive's blade and twice as sharp gripped the aged wood of the old house as a deep frown marked its rounded face.
Burning eyes suddenly widened in realization, a startled gasp turning to an angry growl. It stood upright, ready to tear the whole lot of them asunder when suddenly it paused, head tilted in confusion as it listened to voices only it could hear in the midnight of the starry sky. Its eyes turned once more to the vastly oversized pumpkin patch below, a considering frown now marking its face, a claw tapping gently at its chin.
On one hand, there was some generously satisfied vengeance to be had. On the other… well, it had to wait for another evening but it was bound to be one heck of a party… Its frown turned itself upside down and spread itself wide in a malevolent grin as claws steepled together in conniving pleasure.
"This… is going to be a good trick…"
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Bastian took a long swig of his coffee, headphones playing gentle soft tunes in his ears as he read a timeless classic, trying his best to ignore the antics of his team.
"Oh, oh, Link! What do you think I should be for Halloween?" B.O.B. melted to the floor. "Chewing gum?" Another shift, this time into a ball and bouncing about like one. "Bouncy ball? Baseball? Snowball?" Another melting. "A melted snowball?" To suddenly nine different ball floating about like a miniature—"Solar System?" To a popular urbanized icon. "Fat Elvis? Thank you, thank you very much."
Bastian set his book down to stare at the walking pile of ooze. "That… was by far the worse Elvis impression I've ever heard. Thank you, thank you very much." He responded, sounding exactly like the King of Rock himself before focusing once more on his book, ignoring the newly named Butterflyosaurus, or Bee for short, muffled giggling at Link's reaction to Bastian's "old-age attitude".
"Hey guys, good news!" Book immediately forgotten and tossed back onto the shelf with his headphones close behind. He turned in his chair to turn and regard his girlfriend of seven months, on Susan Murphy who, unlike B.O.B., Link, and Bee, was a human-type monster in that she was a towering giantess just an inch or two shy of fifty-feet. "Looks like that yeti sighting was just a hoax! So we've got the night off."
"Ah, good news indeed!" Bastian jumped down to the table to land beside Susan's oversized coffee cup. "'Bout time actually." He shot a glance at B.O.B. who was snickering childishly. "And your problem is?"
"Nothing, nothing." The plasmoid turned his eye up at Susan. "Enjoy your coffee. It's normal, really." Susan, who had her cup halfway to her mouth paused, frowning with suspicion that was quickly confirmed. "No one's in it."
Hearing his cue, Link burst from the coffee with a monstrous roar. He grinned like the jock that he was as he leaned back, ignoring Susan's disgusted look, one that was shared equally with Bastian. "This could use a little more milk."
Needing no more prompting, Susan dumped Link onto the table and placed her cup down far and away.
"I'll have them double-wash it for you to get the fish taste out of it." Bastian promised her, shooting a disapproving glare at the Missing Link, one that was easily ignored as he questioned Susan.
"Where is your Halloween spirit?"
"Hey!" Susan leaned back, crossing her legs like an eager child. "I've got plenty of Halloween spirit! Just wait until you see my zombie cheerleader costume!" She looked away, finger pressed to her lips. "Where to get some really big pompoms though…"
Bastian blinked and imagined Susan in a cheerleader's outfit. B.O.B. was awed by the large grin on the man's face even as Link argued with Susan.
"Susan, you're a real monster now and that means you're playing in the big leagues with the big boys." Link started pacing in circles. "I got fifty years of missed Halloweens all smushed up tight inside me just bursting to get out!" He spoke passionately. "This isn't just any night, it's OUR night, and when it finally comes we gots to terrify."
Bastian glanced up at Susan as she looked down at him. "See? This is exactly why we can't take him anywhere."
"However, for some of us, All Hallow's Eve is more trick than treat." Dr. Cockroach turned away from his computer, glowering angrily.
'Oh god, not the swirly-pop story again…' Bastian palmed his face as Dr. Cockroach continued with his story. 'Every bloody Halloween, it comes back to that stupid swirly-pop…' Bastian's ears twitched and he glowered up at the painting of the President hanging high on the wall.
"C'mon you guys. Like you said, it's our night, right? So lets get out and have some fun!" chirped Susan, smiling brightly.
"Fun time's over monsters!" General Monger appeared on the scene through his "hidden" entrance through the painting, held aloft by his customary jetpack. "It's a no-go, I repeat, a no-go on Halloween." Disappointment came from B.O.B. and Link while Dr. Cockroach cheered loudly. Bastian remained indifferent while Susan looked concerned as the General continued, "We got us a major situation."
He flew over as the primary monitor slid up from the table, displaying a close-up image of the United States. "A UFO has entered our airspace over California." The image zoomed in on California, continuing on until it focused on the point of origin. "And you ain't going to believe where."
"Modesto?!" exclaimed Susan. "Why is it always Modesto?"
"I thought it was kinda freaky myself." Monger agreed.
"Any idea what we're facing, General?" asked the Doc, nearly abuzz with glee. "Invasion? Abductions? Probes?"
"Unknown, and I hate me some unknown!" exclaimed Monger, glowering down at the mad scientist. "So I want you down on the ground searching Modesto for possible alien intruders ASAP. Better yet, PRONTO!" He flew up to hover in front of Susan, giving her his patented no-nonsense stare. "And let's keep this as a need-to-know basis, meaning nobody-needs-to-know!"
"What about my parents?" asked Susan.
"Nope, not even your parents. It's Halloween after all, we don't want to go around scaring folks."
Bastian stared up at the General. "… Did you even think that over before you went and said it?"
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Long claws gently stroked the soft dirt, delicately balancing a glowing drop of slime. A long, quivering tongue slithered between fangs, taking a delicate lick. Eyes bugged wide open, before it spat loudly and quickly, the remnants of the slime burning the moonlight. It rose tall, glowering at the remnants of the alien slime with inhuman distaste. Wings spread open to carry it aloft when it heard a sudden roar from the heavens. Looking skyward, emerald eyes widened in pleased surprise, watching as the source of it disappeared into the nearby town. Its grin returned with a vengeance.
It was time to play.
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"Hey guys, since everything is fine here, why don't you go out and do some trick-or-treating?" asked Susan, trying her best to keep B.O.B. from devouring her parents' candy-themed decorations. "You know, check out the neighborhood?"
"Of course! We'll keep an eye out!" Doctor Cockroach assured the giantess before realizing his audience. "For candy."
"Wait, where we going when there's candy right here?" asked B.O.B. as Link pushed him away from the house.
"You comin' Bee?" he asked the giant butterfly who roared a negative and took off into the skies, her destination unknown.
"Just try and stay… focused…" Susan sighed, realizing just how silly it was to even hope the others would do that much.
"Don't worry, sweetheart." Bastian assured her. "I'm sure they'll find some treats among the tricks of this town."
"Susan, maybe you and your mom can start peeling the grapes for the eyeball salad," suggested Mr. Murphy, shooting a fatherly glare over at Bastian as he ambled over towards his car. "I've got to get to Farmer Jeb's patch. Not to point a finger, but we, hum, need more pumpkins."
"No!" In her haste to stop her father, Susan accidentally knocked her father's car onto its side. "Oh, ah… Sorry… Aah, it's not, um, safe out there! You know, kids are throwing eggs, you could get teepeed! So uh," she reached over and set the car back on its tires, "I'll go get the pumpkins! Bastian can stay and help."
"I can what?" asked Bastian, turning to look up at his girlfriend in surprise. She shot him a pleading look, one that he tried his best to defend against.
He lasted just short of thirty seconds this time.
"Of course, sweetheart. You sure you'll be alright though?"
"I'll be fine, honey. I'll call if anything comes up," she said, pulling out her vastly oversized walkie-talkie before heading out to Farmer Jeb's, just catching the beginning of her parents' conversation with her boyfriend.
"Where's your costume by the way?" asked Mrs. Murphy.
"I… I don't have one actually." Bastian admitted. All Hallow's Eve a rare holiday to have acknowledged in his life before, let alone celebrate in its proper fashion.
"What? No costume?! We can't have that! C'mon lad, we'll get you dressed up right and proper!" exclaimed her father, dragging Bastian along into the house with her mother following close behind.
Susan smiled and continued on her way, secretly glad that her parents were getting along so well with her boyfriend.
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Mr. Murphy waited until his wife had vanished upstairs into the attic to try and dig up a spare costume for Bastian before he turned angry eyes upon the man. Surprised, Bastian stood tall, taller than the man himself, with his own eyes narrowed more in defense than in any kind of rage.
"Now don't get me wrong, I'm happy that Susie found herself a better man than Derek," Bastian noted the man's wince at the name, "I refuse to let such a thing happened for a second time, so I'm asking you, do you think you're good enough for my daughter?"
Bastian heard more than what Mr. Murphy was saying but he didn't know the man enough to say his mind, at least not fully. "No… I'm not… I won't lie to you Mr. Murphy, I was married once before and in the years since then, I've always held firm that I could have done better by here."
"Hrmph. So you were divorced?" He asked.
Bastian's canines lengthened as he glared at the man. "She was murdered." At the man's apparent shame, Bastian relaxed, looking out into the town through the large windows of the living room. "I never found him… I never had the chance to avenge her death…"
"… I don't think I have to ask how far you would go for my daughter."
"Hrm, when Derek broke her heart… it took everything in me not to kill him that night. She's a precious person, Mr. Murphy, she's a light in the darkness, someone that still believes in those happy-ever-after endings… but isn't afraid to try and write her own story. She's… amazing." Bastian turned his head to Mr. Murphy. "She believes us to be friends, Mr. Murphy. For her sake, please at least pretend as such for her."
Mr. Murphy stared at him in silence for a long moment before shaking his head. "I don't have to pretend."
"Found it!" Mrs. Murphy called as she came down the stairs, carrying a long package in her arms. "Now let's see about getting you into the spirit of things." She laughed at some private joke, fully aware of what transpired in her home between her husband and daughter's boyfriend. If he asked her, Mrs. Murphy would answer the same to Bastian's request; she didn't have to pretend either.
He was a good man despite how much he believed otherwise.
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"Farmer Jeb? Hello? Jeb?" Susan stepped carefully into the farmgrounds, being extra mindful of Farmer Jeb's empty patches. The crazy old man was Modesto's one and only pumpkin farmer and so easily supplied the town with pumpkins every Halloween. Of course, he was also more than slightly crazy about the orange produce… hopefully he wouldn't give her any trouble in picking up some more for her family.
If he was actually here that is…
She pulled out her radio and pressed it for the Doc and the others, maybe they found something cause she certainly wasn't. "Hello guys? Are you there?"
"Susie." Link answered, short, to the point, and not sounding to happy.
"Are you seeing anything? I'm just outside of town and there's nothing. Not even weird, old Farmer Jeb…"
"Same here, Suz… I think this is just one big—AAAH!"
Susan nearly tossed her radio away in surprise.
"Link?!" She gasped. "Are you alright?! What happened?!"
Doctor Cockroach's laughter answered her, "Hoho! Sorry Susan! Creepy clown costume! But everything's simply delightful here! No B.O.B. put that down! That's my butterfinger! Trades a trade! We'll call you with we find anything Susan, over and out!" Susan stared at her radio in surprise before exasperation set in with a roll of her baby-blue eyes. She started to press the call button for Bastian when she heard a rustling of wings from behind her.
A tall form landed on her shoulder, grinning in pleasure as he took a seat with crossed legs. "Girl, I just flew in from Minneapolis, and boy are my arms tired! Hahahaha!"
Susan stared in surprise at the man who, for all appearances, looked like a scarecrow with a jack-o-lantern for a head. His clothes were plain farmer clothes beneath the folds of a long brown trenchcoat with a matching wide-brimmed fedora topping his round head. Susan recognized it at once as a costume her father wore back during his, ahem, less rounded days. Since it cost him so much to buy, and a lot of time to wear, her father never threw it out so she assumed she knew the man behind the mask.
"Bastian? What are you doing here? I thought you were going to watch over my parents!"
He reached over and tweaked her nose. "With this face, call me Jack, candyheart." His grin widened as he leaned back on her shoulder, looking down at the ground below. "As for your parents worry not! No one shall get hurt this night of nights!"
Susan opened her mouth to dispute that when she heard the barn doors suddenly rattle loudly as though someone, or something, was banging hard upon them. She exchanged a glance with Bastian, or Jack as he called himself, and leaned down on her knees before carefully opening the barn doors as her passenger leapt down to land beside her.
"Is anybody in there?"
"Several," answered Jack as Farmer Jeb dropped down from the ceiling, tied tightly with vines and a small pumpkin pressed firm in his mouth. He spat it out quickly with a scream.
"They're aliiiiiive!" Faint green light shined as several pumpkins rose up from the shadows of the barn, their faces spread in toothless smiles as they advanced. Susan fell back with a start while Jack ran forward, grabbing a nearby farming scythe as he went. He cackled with glee as he brought forth a massive amount of devastation upon the mutant pumpkins. Those were not slain in his first rush started running with frightened squeals but they too fell to Jack's blade. The last one, a small little thing no bigger than a baseball, was squashed beneath a heavy boot as Jack stood grinning amidst the glowing green blood of the pumpkins.
"… Where did you learn how to fight like that?" questioned Susan, staring in surprise at Jack who twirled his scythe to rid it of the alien blood before using it to cut the frightened Jeb down. The glowing blood fizzled and slowly smoked away on the wooden floor of the barn.
"Internet." Jack answered smartly, easily picking Jeb up with one clawed hand. He looked at the man and suddenly smiled with recognition. "Jeb, my man! I missed you in Kentucky…" Jeb looked confused before his face became chalk-white and he fainted in Jack's hand. The pumpkin-headed scarecrow grinned. "Still got it."
"Uh… Susan…" The Doc called over her radio. "We have a problem…"
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"You messed with the wrong monsters, Pumpkin!" Doctor Cockroach stood proudly between the mutant pumpkins and the Murphy home, Link and B.O.B. standing beside him and a small mob of children behind them. "Nobody steals candy on my watch!"
"Nobody freaks these kids out but me!" Link stated, pounding his chest for emphasis. The two turned to B.O.B. expectantly as the plasmoid remained silent.
"I'm thinking, stop pressuring me!"
Susan stomped onto the scene, standing in front of her friends with Jack sitting comfortably on her shoulder.
"I hope somebody brought the nutmeg." The Leader of the pumpkin horde growled at the giantess though she stood taller than it. She stepped forward as Jack leapt down to the ground behind her. "Halloween belongs to monsters, and this monster is a pumpkin-crushing giant!"
Susan stomped her foot down at the Leader Pumpkin who leapt nimbly back, babbling in its people's tongue. Obeying their leader's commands, the horde melded together with it, combining together until there was no small horde border on the hundreds range but a towering muntant amalgamation of pumpkins that towered over a hundred feet tall.
"Aha… and apparently you're a giant-crushing pumpkin…" Susan stated, backing away from the towering monstrosity. The Mutant Pumpkin grinned, pulling back a vined claw to smash down upon the giantess when—
"STOP."
And it did.
All eyes turned to Jack, who stood proudly with a hand held up at the mutated mass of fruit, his grin gone, replaced by a glowering frown. The flames inside his skull darkened to an emerald green, matching than exceeding the shade of the monster before him. The stars suddenly became dim as the moon's pale light deepened into a shade of red. The wind suddenly picked up, twisting and twining tightly about the street like hidden cats on the prowl. The lights of porches suddenly switched off and in the darkness, eyes began to shine. Multitude of eyes large and small with yellowed fangs, sharpened beaks, and wicked claws.
"O autumn winds that bake and burn
And all the world to darkness turn,
Now storm and seize, and make of me…
A swarm of leaves from Autumn's Tree!"
The winds whistled sharply, tearing asunder a whole swarm of leaves; gold, brown, red as rust, all wild and simmering in the changed light of the full moon above. Flying like miniature kites on the strings of the winds, the leaves turned their sights upon the mutant pumpkin and flew like knives, tearing throw vine and hardened shell with childish ease.
Jack stood back and watched in silence as the mutant pumpkins screamed and roared as the leaves tore it asunder, scattering bits and pieces here and there but the arsenal would not bring the beast down. His fanged mouth opened wide and from its depths issued forth a scream so terrible, it brought hands to ears and eyes to clench themselves shut tight. All who heard it would never forget its horrible sound, a sound of midnight terror riding on the bones of the dead, flying on wings of bats, prowling in the undergrowth with a pack of wolves.
The mutant pumpkin screamed with Jack as the eyes exploded out from the darkness, taking shape in the moonlight as whole packs, flights, swarms, everything that could be described to the massive group of creatures that ran under Jack's command. Wolf claws tore into vines as spiders' fangs bit down into hard shells, poisoning the meat beneath while ravens' beaks pierced flesh and vine together, taking their fill and finding room for more. Bats screamed shrilly amidst the terrible swarms of insects that amassed over shell and vine, devouring everything that was in their path.
Jack's mouth closed with a sudden snap and slowly, eyes opened and hands fell from ears to take in the sight of a destroyed mass of vegetation that was once the giant mutated pumpkin now turned to pulp. Gone were its destroyers and gone was its head, the Leader who had sacrificed its followers for its own life, now flying high in the air on helicopter blades forged from its own vines.
It laughed in victory, somehow knowing it had won out in the end when the front door of the Murphy home exploded open with a technological scream of, "BioMerge System, initiated."
It was a monstrous bat that topped fifty meters in height not in length for its serpentine tail was twice as long as it was tall. Its bat like wings were spread wide and its secondary set of mandibles, which rested just outside its lower jaw, spread wide into another roar as it flew upwards toward the pumpkin Leader. Amidst its gobbledegook, one could hear a faint whimper as monstrous jaws unleashed a powerful sonic scream that sent its body into an explosion of pumpkin bits and hordes of candy that rained down to the ground below like brightly colored confetti.
Bagorah turned a tight circle, landing as its form glowed brightly and exploded into a human form. Bastian stood up, dressed up as a 90's rock-n-roll singer with a pair of thick, and heavy, headphones on his head, which he was quick to toss away with a grumbled, "Stupid piece of—couldn't hear a damn thing with those on."
"Ba-Bastian?" Susan stuttered, staring in shock at the man even as the kids swarmed over the candy, fighting to claim their spoils against an eager but playful B.O.B. "Wait… if that's your costume… than who…"
Four pairs of eyes turned to one Jack who stood reclined against a leafless tree with naught a care in the world. A mad grin was spread on his jaws as he moved his claws to a song whose notes were played by the whispers of the wind.
"There are few who'd deny, at what I do I am the best for my talents are renowned far and wide. When it comes to surprises in the moonlit night I excel without ever even trying. With the slightest little effort of my ghostlike charms I have seen grown men give out a shriek. I'm the master of fright and a demon of light, and I'll scare you right of your pants." Jack's grinned as skeletal wings burst forth from his back. He flew upwards with a mad cackle, his words falling down to the monsters below.
"Trick or Treat!"