It was the start of a dark and moonless night in the Canopy Kingdom. The wind was howling eerily as the brown leaves of autumn covered the streets of New Meridian.
Many buildings and shops were decorated in spooky themed decore, such as displaying jack-o lantern's in display shops, having skeleton and bat decals placed on windows but most notably were all the kids dressed in costumes which varied from cute and cuddly to terrifying and monstrous. These signs were an obvious giveaway that tonight was the night of Halloween and all were getting into the spirit of celebrating ghost and goblins but more importantly the candy quest that was trick-or-treating.
At the Poorman's Hotel Squigly was in front of the downstairs mirror trying out her costume with Leviathan - she was dressed in a tattered wedding gown, which covered her skeletal arm and hole in her back, complete with a bouquet of black roses. Leviathan wore only a top hat that was small enough to fit his head.
"Leviathan, what do you think? Can this pass as a suitable costume?"
"Of course. You've spent the last few weeks crafting it to perfection. It suites you very well, milady. Though I fear I've come up short - I only have this to wear." He brings the tip of his tail up to adjust his top hat.
Squigly wraps her hand around Leviathan and brings him down so that she could spoil him with cuddles. "Don't apologize. Your hat is so cute, Leviathan! You're so handsome with it on!"
A pleased Leviathan melts away into his hosts affection and nuzzles his cheek into her, mimicking a pet returning love to its owner. The pair was so wrapped up in each other they didn't notice the Player sneaking up behind them while concealing most of his appearance with a cape, Dracula style.
Once he got close enough he jumps at them. "GIVE ME YOUR BLOOD!" He swings the cape from around his body to fully reveal himself.
Both Squigly and Leviathan flinch at the jump scare with a cute shriek coming from Squigly. The Player tosses the cape onto the couch and laughs delightfully at the result of his small prank.
"I actually scared you? Ha!"
"Of course you scared me! You came out of nowhere!" Squigly gently shoves him with her good arm.
"Aren't you supposed to be the one who can sense people and stuff? I thought you were going to detect me."
"Hmm. Perhaps I've been getting too caught up in my own costume." She shyly scratches her cheek with her skeletal index finger.
Leviathan smiles at their exchange but then focuses on the Player. "What are you going as?"
"Can't you tell? I'm a vampire." The fake fangs were the only thing relating to the vampire look. He lacked the classic goth aesthetic for a more unique take on the old vampire tradition.
The Player was dressed in all black to really get in the spirit of Halloween. His outfit consisted of a black jacket that he kept unzipped thus revealing his grey shirt that was tucked into his baggy black shorts. Underneath his shorts were a pair of slim-fit pants wrapped in multiple red bandages, meanwhile his shoes had a single white strap and silver buckle on the outer sides across the midsection.
Unlike Squigly and Leviathan the Player was flashy in appearance, he even had little devil wings on the back of his jacket and white gloves that made it appear as if he had clawed fingers. It appeared that he used some form of black makeup to ashen and shadow the area around his eyes to really give off a dark and mysterious appearance.
Squigly and Leviathan checked him out from head to toe but didn't see the resemblance. "Nope. I honestly can't tell." They answered in sync only to laugh once they realized they spoke in harmony.
"You two must be blind. This is clearly a vampire costume. Come to think of it... What are you supposed to be?"
"I'm a bride!" Squigly's tone was rather upbeat and cheery on answering as she took great pride in her creation.
"A bride? But that's not scary. It's Halloween, not your wedding. What was wrong with your look before? You had that zombie appeal going for ya."
"You don't have to look scary to dress up for Halloween." She answered rebelliously but based on how the Player replied she just pouts and gently spanks her thighs with her fists in a cute fit. "You don't think it looks nice?"
"I didn't mean it like that, I just wasn't expecting it as all. You look beautiful in it."
And that turneSquigly around instantly, her cheeks darkened in color — hinting at a blush, and she sways adorably from the compliment. "Aaaaw! Thank you so much! I worked really hard on it."
"Still, you would've been cooler in a more zombified outfit." He teases her with a smile.
She went back to pouty just as quick. "I'm a 28 year old woman who spent most of my life asleep and single. If I want to pretend I'm a bride then I'm going to pretend I'm a bride."
"...Hm." Was all the Player could muster from that. Squigly's tone became a lot more serious when explaining so the Player figure it was best not to touch the subject again. "Um, what about you, Leviathan?"
"I'm her best man."
"Don't brides usually have a bridesmaid?"
"HE'S ALL I GOT!" Squigly lashes out at the Player in a humorous fit.
The Player was intimidated and held up his hands to signal he didn't want a fight, all while trying his best to impersonate a smile. "R-Ri-Right... Of course. How could I be so stupid?"
Just then Squigly smiles back at him, feeling that they were both on the same page. Even Leviathan was a bit shocked to see Squigly react the way she did with his wide and temporarily circular eyes.
"We all make mistakes." She happily pats the Player's head before returning to humming whimsically in the mirror, marveling at her wedding gown.
The Player takes a step back and adjusts his collar. 'Jeez... I don't think I'll ever see anything more scary than wedding-clad Squigly.' He thought to himself only to face the other direction and see a feminine figure standing in the other side of the room in nothing but a long white t-shirt and silky black hair draping over her face. "AAAAHHH!" He screams in horror.
Squigly jumps at the Player's outburst and turns to him. "What is it now?" She asks before he ran behind her for protection.
"It's the girl from that Ring movie!" He points forward in a fright.
"It's just me." The girl pulled her hair from her face like they were curtains, revealing Filia's smiling face.
The Player wasn't used to seeing Samson so sleek and straight so her appearance caught him completely off guard. He scared Squigly and Filia scared him, Karama didn't waste any time getting him back.
"I always get a kick scaring the crap out of you." Samson remarks.
"I wasn't scared." The Player claims.
"Then why are you still hiding?" Samson asked with a smirk.
The Player, who was on his knees, looks up to Squigly and Leviathan who were looking down to him and then back to Filia and Samson, all of them were looking at him rather smugly, just waiting for an excuse. The Player plays it off to make it seem like he was checking the fabric of Squigly's gown as he pinched a lower piece of the material and caressed it using his index, middle finger and thumb.
"I was just checking out the marvelous detail of Squigly's wedding dress. Just take a look at this, she used Venice embroidered lace fabric."
"No I didn't." Squigly replied with blunt honesty.
The Player drops his head and sighs before standing back up. "Can we just focus on our night out together? I haven't gone out trick-or-treating since I was a kid. It feels nice getting back into the swing of things and just look at our costumes, we'll make a bucket load of candy."
"I thought we were only going out to let Umbrella do the trick-or-treating." Said Filia.
"That's what you said." Squigly added. "We're dressing up for the Halloween party we were invited to."
The Player, bemused, reaches for his mask and a plastic bag to carry his candy. "Right. Right. Of course."
On the subject of his mask it was the final piece to complete his costume. It was circular in shape and had small horns on the top with a jagged, jack-o'-lantern-esque mouth curled into a twisted smile, and triangular eyes. The mask's right eye is green and the left one appears to be closed as if giving a wink. The Player wore his mask off to the side to conceal his right eye.
Filia giggled at his response and adjusted her hair so that only her left eye was visible. "I'm really excited for tonight! It's going to my first Halloween! Or at least the first Halloween that I'm aware of."
"Mine too." Squigly approaches Filia with a similar expression. "I've never been to a Halloween party before but it'll be my first event out and having you all there only makes it better."
The Player was making minor adjustments to his mask while looking in the mirror. "Now all we do is wait for-" A knock at the door cut the Player short, "-nobody, because they're right on cue. You guys ready?"
"Of course." Filia answers. "Samson, get ready."
"This is gonna suck. That party better have all the alcohol I can drink." The plan was for staying out of sight so Samson closed his eyes and mouth, making it appear as if Filia had a normal head. His mouth was shut in a way so that his large teeth were hidden as well.
"Leviathan, you're-"
"Part of the costume. Already ahead of you, madam."
His friends were looking more than perfect for tonight. He took one last glance at them with a nod of approval. "Looking good, ladies. Now let's get to it."
The trio head for the door to meet with whoever was knocking. The Player opens the door and finds the Renoir sisters standing before him and dressed in costume.
Parasoul was dressed in a sleeveless black bustier-like top adorned with white feathers and a small cross cut out of the midriff; purple nylons emblazoned with bat patterns; black boots; and conspicuous batlike wings protruding from her back and the sides of her head, the wings were synthetic decoration to make it appear organic. Umbrella was wearing the same outfit but in a crimson color scheme.
"Lord, have mercy..." The Player nearly fainted at the sight of Parasoul and collapsed back.
"Oh jeez...!" Filia grunts after catching him.
"What's wrong with him?" Umbrella asked.
Filia tried her best to get him back on his feet but the Player remained limp. "He's fine. C'mon, stand up."
The words being mumbled out the Player's mouth was gibberish. Squigly covered her mouth with her sleeve to hide the fact that she was laughing, a tear formed in Leviathan's eye as he tried his best not to laugh or blink.
"Perhaps he's not feeling well?" Parasoul questioned in concern. She crouched down to him and placed her hand on his forehead to see if he had a fever.
The moment her hand touched his head the Player came around. Shaking his head as if snapping out of a trance.
"You ok?" Filia asked.
"Yeah... I'm fine. I just..." He awakens to Parasoul's face and could feel himself growing weak again but he composed himself. "I'm fine but hot damn. Parasoul, that costume." He gets himself up using his own strength.
Parasoul got herself up along with the Player. "You like it? I wasn't sure about it at first but Umbrella convinced me to use this."
The Player looks down to Umbrella and then back to Parasoul. "Nagging?" He asked casually.
"Nagging." Parasoul answered with a nod.
"It was between this or that stupid Annie costume!" Umbrella argued.
Parasoul faced Umbrella with an immediate answer. "It wasn't stupid."
"Yes it was! You were dressed as that kid from that dumb show!"
"Annie and Sagan's adventure is not dumb! It's a great show with good characters and an interesting story!"
Umbrella crossed her arms and turned her back on her sister. "It's sad to see a 25 year old woman reduced to a fangirl of a kid's show."
Parasoul's eye twitched and she snarls lightly but calms herself. "I don't have to justify myself to you."
Much to the Player's surprise Parasoul was showing a side of herself that he didn't even know existed. Filia and Squigly actually admired their sibling quarrel and thought they were funny, the two snickering to one another in the midst of their bickering.
"Nothing quite like siblings, huh?" The Player shared a single laugh as he whispered over to the girls. "So! Parasoul, what brings you here? Were you just dropping Umbrella off?"
"Originally I was but after I got into costume I figure why not join you. Umbrella can be quite a handful and I wouldn't want to just dump her on you."
"Hm. You're right about th-"
Filia busts into the conversation by brushing against the Player's shoulder and making him move to the side. "She's no bother. We really like having her around." She wasn't doing it to be rude but she felt that she had to clarify her feelings toward the young Renoir.
Upon getting a closer look Umbrella was finally able to realize it was actually Filia standing before her. "Oh! Filia, it's you! Wow I didn't recognize you with that costume. It's really cool!"
"Thank you, Umbrella, your costume is great too. Did you buy it?"
"Nope. These were custom made for us back home."
"Really? That's awesome"
"You know this girl, Umbrella?" Parasoul asked.
"Of course. She was the one who was helping me look for mom. Remember I told you?"
Bringing up that subject reminded Parasoul of the deep anxiety she felt when Umbrella went looking for 'their mother'. She replied with a soft "Oh," before standing in silence, but only for a moment. "I see."
Filia stood and bows respectfully to Parasoul. "I'm sorry! I forgot to introduce myself. Sorry about that, I can be a bit of an airhead sometimes. My name is Filia."
Parasoul extends her hand with a smile. "It's nice to meet you. My name is Parasoul."
The name 'Parasoul' struck Squigly and Leviathan with a heavy sense of familiarity. Perplexed, the two look on as she shook hands with Filia. The voices of her friends seemed to have zoned out, transitioning into mere muffling.
"...Parasoul." Leviathan speaks via telepathy to his host. "That name... It belongs to the daughter of the late Nancy."
"The one who became the Skullgirl." Squigly replied in an even softer tone. "She's also the one the Player mentioned. When we saved the girl."
"Then that would mean Nancy had another daughter." Leviathan added, noticeably losing that convincing Halloween prop look he had.
Suddenly the Player snaps his fingers in front of Squigly. After the fourth snap she blinks sporadically and faces him. "H-Huh?"
"You feeling ok? You were spacing out for a moment." The Player explained now that he had her attention.
"Oh... Sorry, I just- uh, guess I had a lot of nothing on my mind. Heh."
It wasn't like Squigly to just zone out with such a concentrated face, he knew she was making a coverup but decided to leave it alone in case it was a personal matter. He placed his arm on her shoulder and held up the opposite hand to introduce her.
"You've never met my other friend, this is Sienna."
Regardless of her last revelation it was still a high honor to have the two princesses in her presence. She gets onto one knee and bows. "Forgive my uncouth manners earlier, your highness. It is an honor to be in your grace." It was burning Leviathan up that he couldn't properly show his respects to Canopy's leader but his hosts safety was of top priority and ignored his chivalrous code.
In the middle of her bowing Umbrella grabs onto Squigly's face with gently pinches and pulled on her cheeks much to Leviathan's humorous frozen chagrin and Squigly's comically fitting squash and stretched face.
"You went all out for your costume." Umbrella states while pulling on her to see if her face was a mask. "So this isn't a mask?"
"Vo, Vit Visn't..." Was Squigly's variant of 'No, it isn't...' since her mouth was being forced open.
Umbrella's eyes narrowed and her mouth shaped into the appearance of the number 3. "Well how do you keep the blue face paint on?"
"Umbrella!" Parasoul had to pull her sister away to get her to stop. "Have you no manners?!"
"What?" The delivery in her question was far too innocent for her own good.
Squigly stands and rubs her cheeks with her iconic long sleeves. "Mmmm..." She groans.
"Sienna, I am so sorry. Umbrella is usually never this grabby."
"I'm not?" / "She's not?" Both Umbrella and the Player ask simultaneously.
Parasoul sighs and looks down to her sister in concern. "I would hope not. You're a princess, act like one."
"It's fine." Squigly replied with a forced laugh. "She's just a child so no harm done."
"No, no. I won't stand for it. Umbrella, apologize."
A pouty Umbrella kicks at the floor rebelliously but complies. "Sorry."
While Filia and Squigly share a laugh the Player remained apathetic, showing his impatience by frequently looking at the clock in the nearby kitchen.
"Not to rush introductions guys but we're running a Halloween chapter and we've got to get this show on the road."
The girls all look at him with puzzled glares. "What?" They all ask the same question.
The Player, with his plastic bag in hand, marches forward. "Trick-or-Treating time! Filia, lock the door."
Now he was speaking Umbrella's language. The young princess reached for hammerspace and pulled out a cartoonishly oversized bag and runs ahead to catch up with the Player. "Wait up!"
Parasoul, Filia and Squigly watch them off and Parasoul sighs like an exhausted mother figure and walks ahead. "I often worry about those two."
Filia locks the front door behind everyone and safely tucks the key away into her bra seeing as how she lacked pockets underneath her costume. The two parasitic hosts were the last few to run ahead. Halloween was officially a go for the group of friends.
The Player and Umbrella's excitement knew no bounds throughout the night, the duo went to every house they saw for a chance to claim their sweet treats. The most popular area they visited was Maplecrest and the neighborhood offered an abundance of healthy competition for candy goers, kids were racing from house to house in search of more but as the night went on houses were running short on supplies and the few that still had some available meant lines, long lines extending from the house walkway down to the sidewalk.
Parasoul didn't want Umbrella bent up on a sugar rush for the next few months but her sister reluctance to stop kept her going. At least she wouldn't have to go out to the store and buy her some for a while, she'll just have to hide the candy away once they returned home.
Maplecrest was treated dry but there were more neighborhoods to see and considering how much sugary fuel the kids had the night was just getting started. The princess, Filia and Squigly waited patiently by a fenced off area while watching Umbrella and the Player waiting at another house.
"Goodness... How much candy can a human eat?" Parasoul questioned.
"I give them points for resilience." Filia comments.
"I just hope they don't eat themselves into a sugar coma." Squigly playfully remarks.
Filia crossed her arms at the thought of the Player being greedy with his sweets. "If he doesn't share with us once we get home I say we jump him."
"You read my mind." Squigly agrees delightfully.
The two girls have a playful laugh and Parasoul watches them with an amused smile, she looks back across the street to see Umbrella shine with laughter alongside the Player. The groups camaraderie gave her a sense of warmth though she kept these feelings to herself.
Ever since Umbrella's retrieval she was strictly keeping Umbrella to her training and yet seeing how much fun she was having with everyone made her wonder if being so adamant was the way to raise her sibling. In fact it was only beginning to remind Parasoul of her own childhood, being forced to become a trained warrior worthy of her father's legacy. Parasoul herself was still young so she didn't really know what was best but, for her, all that mattered was seeing Umbrella happy.
A few minutes pass and the Player regroups with the girls with Umbrella following behind him with her large bag.
"Woo!" He exhales with a look of satisfaction from his bag of treats. "What a night! I got like 20 Kit Kats! Or whatever this worlds equivalent to that is." He opens the bag and digs around for the candy. "...Oh right, the Tik Tak. How clever. So what's the equivalent to Tic Tacs?"
"What's a Tic Tac?" Filia asked with a slight tilt of her head.
"They're these tiny hard mints you eat to keep your breath fresh. For me, personally, they don't work as well as minty gum."
"Tiny hard mints? You mean Cit Cat mints?" Filia asked.
The Player paused briefly but ends up shrugging his shoulders. "Sure. Why not." There was no point in trying to question it at this point.
"Alright, it's getting late." Parasoul directs her words to Umbrella. "We should start heading back."
Naturally Umbrella wasn't happy to hear this and faces her sister with disinterest. "What? No! I can still fit more candy in my bag!"
"Umbrella, you're going to get a cavity eating all that junk."
"I want to be the kid who goes down in history for collecting the most candy in one night!"
Just looking at her bag and one could just tell she already achieved that. The Player, Filia and Squigly look to one another and exchange stares, all three having the same thought in mind.
Parasoul rolled her eyes, not willing to debate. "Umbrella, no. It's past your curfew."
The young princess knew not to challenge Parasoul when she was making that authorative face so rather than continuing to argue she crosses her arms.
"I guess we ought to head back too." The Player says to Filia and Squigly. "By the time we get back and drop off the goods the party will most likely be popping off."
"I guess you're right." Filia replied.
While the gang was discussing their next move Umbrella was still sulking, but as she realized her chaperones were occupied with their discussion she turns her attention back to her candy collecting business. What could one more house hurt?
Her eyes fall upon the house they were standing before and it was quite large, almost resembling that of a manor, surely the residence was loaded with candy. Umbrella grins devilishly and sneaks off once she checked to make sure nobody was paying her any mind.
After discussing the plan with his roommates the Player turns to the princess. "So, what's up, Parasoul? You wanna come with us?"
"Me?" She asked in a surprised tone.
"Yeah. You're more than welcome to come with us. And I bet you'll get a killer crowd with that outfit you got on. It'd be real nice if you could accompany us." His eyes were lustfully eying her from head to toe.
Filia pops the side of his head once she realized what he was doing. "What he meant to say was that there's a costume contest being held there and your outfit is so becoming that you should enter for a chance to win the prize."
"What was that for?" The Player asked while rubbing the back of his head.
Filia paid him no mind and Parasoul took a moment to think.
"Don't ignore me when I'm speaking to- Ow!" He could be heard complaining only to earn another pop.
"...I guess I could." Parasoul answered.
"Sweet." The Player cradles his fist within an open palm. "With you on our team there's no way we're going to lose."
Squigly steps forward. "Your highness, we know you're really busy. If your schedule doesn't allow for it then we completely understand."
"It's fine." Parasoul assures the group. "Actually, I'm looking forward to it, I don't often get a chance to attend parties like these so I'd like to experience it. At least this once."
"See? It all works out." The source of the Player's enthusiasm was quite clear but it also made him happy to see thar she was willing to help them win the contest.
"Once I drop off Umbrella we can drive there. I'll pick you all up at the hotel."
"Sounds good, chief."
Parasoul closed her eye and smiles warmly with a soft giggle. It was really cute, nearly made the Player faint again. "Umbrella, we're about ready to g- Huh?"
Parasoul and the group look to where they last saw her but no sight of the young princess. They look around the general area but the streets were empty now that all the houses weren't giving out no more candy.
"Umbrella?" Filia called out. "Wasn't she just here?"
The Player nods. "Yeah. She was right here beside us."
"Where could she have gotten off to?" Parasoul asked.
Squigly looks beyond the large metal gate leading to the manor and sees the bag of candy Umbrella was carrying on the porch.
"Look." She initially points with her skeletal hand but after realizing what hand she was using she quickly throws it down and uses the other one. "Isn't that her bag?"
Parasoul squints her eyes and walks over to the gate. "It is but where's Umbrella?"
"Aaaw! Not this again..." The Player was already beginning to dread having to endure another search and rescue.
"I'm sure it's nothing." Said Filia in hopes of keeping everyone, especially Parasoul, calm. "Let's just go up there and see if the owners invited her in."
Parasoul nods. "Right." She opens the gate and walks toward the porch.
Squigly follows after her while Filia and the Player were the last to join them. As they approached the house it was clear to see that it was a derelict, but perhaps it was all for the Halloween spirit. The dead trees surrounding the house didn't make any better as it was beginning to make Filia worry with the creepy atmosphere.
On the second floor a shadowy figure watches the group approach the house through one of the boarded windows. The four friends arrive at the front door and Parasoul inspects the windows only to see that they were blocked by wooden planks nailed to the walls on the other side.
The Player tries to ring the bell but it didn't appear to work as there was no sound. Instead he grabs onto the platinum door knocker and knocks multiple times before waiting to get a response.
"Hm. There's something...off about this house." Squigly comments.
The Player looks over to her. "What do you mean?"
"You ever just get that feeling when you know something isn't right?"
"Ah. Yeah, I hear you. I'm trying to figure out why Umbrella would even come here."
Parasoul looks down to her bag of candy and shakes her head. "Getting more candy. I really need to ground her."
"That sounds good." The Player responds delightfully. He then looks back to the front door after letting enough time pass to warrant another try. He raised his hand to knock once more but the moment his hand drew near the front door slowly opens with a loud creak that echoed through the building.
From the entrance the group had a clear view of the foyer which had a fire going at the fireplace as well as lit candles.
"Huh. Well that's new." Said the Player.
Parasoul checks to see if there was anybody there to greet them but it became obvious this wasn't the case and she proceeds, leaving the Player and the girls following after her. Once they were inside the door closed behind them, which caught them all by surprise.
The group hesitantly pay it no mind and walk on until they got to the foyer. Parasoul investigates while the others take a minor gander at their surroundings.
"Do you think it's ok to just barge in?" Filia asked.
The Player shrugs. "Under normal circumstances? No."
"Somebody has to be home." Parasoul comments with her focus being on the candles that were showing signs of being lit recently. To further back up her statement the house replies with the sound of old wood being influenced upstairs.
"Yeah and if that's not enough we got a creepy house that answers us before the owner does." The Player says after tucking his hands away into his jacket pockets.
"Hello! Is anybody here?" Squigly calls out and waits for a response but nothing.
"Umbrella! If you're in here give us a shout!" Filia then makes an attempt.
Nothing. Not even the sound of the wood that once hinted at human presence.
The Player looks over to Parasoul. "Parasoul, is there any way for you to call her? Like on a phone or something?"
"I don't have any of my gear." She claims.
The Player sighs and looks in the other direction. "Of course not."
Just then thunder crashes and everyone jumps at the sudden noise. Filia hides behind Squigly for protection as the sound of heavy rain could be heard around them.
"A storm?" Squigly questions while holding a timid Filia.
Parasoul's eye narrows as she looks up to the structural glass ceiling which revealed that a storm was indeed going on.
The Player looks about and notices there were multiple doors and stairs leading to different sections of the house. Based on this setup it would've been easy to get lost, especially since they weren't familiar with the layout.
"We've got a little girl gone missing, a young group of strangers with no weapons in an old house, a thunderstorm that came out of nowhere and not a peep from the person who is potentially living in the house." He takes a moment to let it all sink in. "This is quickly turning into every horror movie I've seen. I think it's at this point that we never, and I mean NEVER, say-"
"We should split up." Parasoul suggests.
The Player throws his head back in angst. "UUUUUUUGGGGHHHHH-"
To Be Continued...
A/N: Y'know, I was originally going to make this chapter non-canon because I only wanted it to be a fun special for Halloween but as I was writing I realized I had already introduced Squigly and Filia to Parasoul and them meeting in the future chapters wouldn't make sense because they wouldn't have known each other so I'm trying to decide whether or not it should be a core event or not, I'll keep you all updated on what I decide.
Another reason I wanted to have the Halloween story be its own thing is because the transition from the last chapter feels a bit off. I wanted to make a few more chapters that bridged off of that but as October went by I realized Halloween was coming up and I wanted to have the chapters out before November and since we're down to the last two days I had to make haste.
I guess that's about all I wanted to say. Filia, Squigly, Parasoul and Umbrella's costumes are based on the designs Alex Ahad drew them in a while ago to celebrate Halloween, for those of you who don't know the Renoir sisters are dressed as Morigan Aensland and Lilith from Darkstalkers, Filia is the creepy little girl from the ring(no idea who she is because I never saw the movie) and I think Squigly is just a bride, if it's a reference to anything I'm not sure what it could be but she's still cute regardless. The Player is dressed as Sora during his visit to Halloween Town in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II.
If you want to see the picture of the girls from the man himself just google Skullgirls Halloween Alex Ahad, he named it "Happy Skullgirls Halloween"