Halloween was never ordinary, but for the denizens of Little Homeworld, it was always just an extra bit special. The Gems who lived there had only just learned about the holiday a couple of years before, but for the most part, they took to it like the excited human children who roamed the streets of Beach City, and their shapeshifting abilities made dressing up for the occasion all the more fun.
Steven Universe had always loved Halloween too, and he'd never have missed it, even if he had to return for a brief respite from his travels to celebrate with his friends. Of course, they all greeted him with open arms... Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, his dad, the other Gem friends he'd made along the way... and of course, his girlfriend, Connie. The two had even coordinated their costumes... Connie was dressed as She-Ra, defender of the universe, and Steven was dressed up as Catra... mostly because he liked the ears.
"So, how do I look?" asked Steven, posing for Connie as the two stood on a cliff overlooking Little Homeworld. As the sun set off in the distance, the two could see plenty of activity below, from all the Gems celebrating the holiday, and even some of the human friends they'd made during their time on Earth. "Am I catlike enough, or do I need a bigger tail?"
Steven waved his tail back and forth as Connie looked on, striking a majestic pose of her own. He'd grown the tail himself, though after his previous traumatic experiences with cat transformations, it was the only thing he dared growing, and his cat ears were artificial. Connie just smiled at him, leaning in and placing a hand on his shoulder.
"It's good, but aren't you forgetting something?" she asked. "Go on... say the line..."
"...'hey, Adora'?" Steven said, with much less confidence than the real Catra. Connie just giggled, and despite his shaky recitation, he won her approval, and a kiss on the cheek.
"You'll get the hang of it the more you say it," replied Connie, who then unsheathed the sword she was carrying."For the honor of Greyskull!"
As Connie lifted her sword into the air, Steven's eyes widened, and little stars could even be seen forming in them. He applauded, and Connie gave a little bow.
"That's incredible! You've been practicing way more than I have, and mom's sword looks great with your costume!"
"Thanks! I thought about using a more authentic sword, but this sword's way cooler, and it gives the costume a unique flavor!"
The two then sat down in the grass together, and Connie placed her hand gently on Steven's.
"You ready for Halloween?" she asked him, smiling gently.
"Uh huh," he replied, looking warmly into her eyes. "And it's really nice to see everyone again..."
Connie could tell Steven was excited and happy, but there was a faint sadness in his voice and in his expression. She'd known him long enough to tell when he was upset, and she'd been paying extra close attention to his feelings ever since the monster incident, and even before that when she first started realizing he was hurting. He was, of course, doing a lot better now, thanks to therapy and being able to get away from everything, and that was good, but he still had so much empathy, so when he was hurting, it was probably because someone else was hurting too.
"...but...?" Connie said, letting Steven know that she sensed his negative emotions. Steven sighed, then smiled. He didn't want to burden Connie or anyone else with what he was going through, but at the same time, he knew he needed to be more open if he was hurting.
"It's Red Chalcedony," Steven replied. "One of the shattered Gems I healed when I first got back to Beach City. She's... just not taking things very well, and I'm worried about her."
"Well, the shattered Gems have been through a lot," Connie told him, squeezing his hand with hers. "It's normal for them to be upset and to need some space."
"It's different, though," replied Steven. "She seems... hostile toward me, in a different way than the other revived Gems. They accepted support quickly, and they're taking to being back really well, but not her, she just wants to be alone and she especially doesn't want to see me. Which is okay, I mean, I'd never force anyone to be around me who didn't want to, but..."
"...but you're worried she's isolating herself in a way that could cause her harm."
"Yeah. I mean, it seems like she needs someone, but she won't accept help from anyone, and I don't know what to do."
"You don't have to do anything, Steven," said Connie, looking Steven in the eyes and squeezing his hand tightly now, not wanting him to ever feel like he needed to help everyone, not after all of the burdens of the past had caused him to have a breakdown. "You're not responsible for all the Gems, they can all help each other now. I'm sure Red Chalcedony will find someone who can help her, just like how all the other shattered Gems were able to find help and support from others. I know you feel like you need to do something, but sometimes there's nothing you can do, and that's okay."
Connie's smile and her sincerity always had a way of bringing Steven out of his negativity, and it seemed like she could always remind him to keep his priorities straight. She was always there for him, and once again, listening to Connie was quickly cheering Steven up and putting him back into the holiday mood.
"You're right, Connie... I need to stop trying to take all the other Gems' problems onto myself. Red Chalcedony'll be fine... and in the meantime, we've got a Halloween to celebrate!"
"That's the spirit!" shouted Connie excitedly, raising her fist into the air.
"...I'm still worried about her though," Steven replied, sighing and bowing his head. "It's okay, I can enjoy Halloween, but I'm still gonna worry."
"What if... I went to visit Red Chalcedony?" asked Connie, placing a hand on Steven's shoulder. "She wasn't hostile toward me, at least the one time I visited with her. I'll go see if she's okay and maybe I can even get her to come to Little Homeworld for Halloween! And you can go visit the Crystal Gems and make sure Amethyst isn't giving Peridot too much of a hard time... you remember last Halloween, right?"
"Oh yeah," Steven said with a laugh. "That was a really mean prank Amethyst pulled... I'm just glad Peridot took it in good spirits, even if Lapis did have to spend about three hours unsticking her..."
"And while you're making sure Amethyst behaves herself, I'll go try to cheer up Red Chalcedony. I'll meet you in the town square when I get back!"
Connie then leaned in and kissed Steven on the cheek, and Steven snickered before turning and whispering into her ear.
"Hey, Adora..." Steven whispered, before snickering even louder.
"Getting better!"
Red Chalcedony didn't live in Little Homeworld itself. After being brought back, she decided to hole up in an abandoned arcade in Beach City proper, and no one had the heart, or perhaps the guts, to evict her. Connie made her way down the cliff and into Beach City, passing trick-or-treaters, both Gem and human alike, along the way. As she walked, enjoying the cool ocean breeze and using her hand to brush back strands of hair from her long, blonde wig, she listened to the sounds of laughter and excitement all around her, and thought back to her childhood, before coming to Beach City with her family.
I didn't have too many happy Halloweens... I never got to make any friends, and mom was always freaking out about people poisoning the candy... what little candy she let me have back then, anyway. I used to hate Halloween... so why do I love it so much now? Is it the spooky atmosphere? The chance to cosplay out in the open for fun? Am I just making up for lost time?
As she walked, many people waved to her, both human and Gem alike. Many recognized her by name... and she waved back to them, complimenting them on their costumes or striking a fun She-Ra pose for the ones she knew watched the show.
Halloween is supposed to be fun... and now I'm having fun, and it's all thanks to you, Steven... and Pearl, and Garnet, and Amethyst, and everyone... I'm so glad I have so many friends now.
Connie let out a giggle, wrapping her arms happily around herself.
Maybe I can tell Red Chalcedony about how much fun it is when you have friends. I know her life was filled with trauma before, but it's never too late to make things right... I just hope I can help her like I helped Steven.
Connie stepped into the abandoned arcade, still lined with rows of broken or deactivated games. In contrast with the shiny new machines that populated Mr. Smiley's Funland a few blocks down, these machines were much older, games that Connie had only played on retro compilations or had heard about from her dad back when he used to be a gamer. Though the arcade had a creepy atmosphere, Connie wasn't frightened... she had her sword with her, after all, and she knew there were no such things as ghosts or vampires, even if there were far scarier things out there like tyrannical magical aliens. She knew that if Red Chalcedony had chosen to make her home here, she must be truly desperate to be alone... but she also knew that she must feel lonely, being isolated so much.
I just need to talk to her. I won't force her to come out if she doesn't want to, but I want to try to make her feel better after everything she's been through. I hope I can... I don't want anyone to feel as bad as Steven was feeling.
Connie searched the arcade, every room, from the offices to the bathrooms, but there was no sign of Red Chalcedony anywhere, or any sign of human life for that matter. She returned to the main gameroom and let out a sigh... but then, felt a twinge of hope.
Maybe she's decided to come out and celebrate after all! I should go back to Little Homeworld and look for her!
But as soon as Connie had had that hopeful thought, she heard the sound of children screaming. She rushed toward the sound, thinking it was someone playing a particularly scary prank... but instead, she saw a group of young children, and something towering over them, with claws nearly as long as the children were tall, and a hideously glowing red face.
"Hey!" shouted Connie, rushing toward the creature. Still thinking it was a prankster, she pointed a finger instead of her sword, and put on her best stern tone, trying to evoke her mother's scolding. "Stop that, you're scaring them! Take that costume off right now!"
The creature just shifted its gaze from the kids to Connie, snarling at her before turning its attention back to the children.
"It's the Skinnyman!" shouted one of the kids in a terrified voice. "RUN!"
The creature then lunged at the children, slashing its claws at them. With a gasp, Connie lunged forward, just barely managing to parry with her sword.
"That's... enough!" Connie yelled, her voice straining as she struggled to hold the creature back. Wow, for a teenage prankster, they're really strong...!
As Connie fought to hold back the creature's long, sharp claws, the children fled, and Connie managed to push it back with another powerful lunge. It stumbled away, then roared at Connie before climbing the side of a nearby building and getting around behind her, chasing after the kids and leaving her standing in shock.
How did that thing... is it REAL?!
Barely hesitating despite the creature's otherworldly movements, she ran after it again, her sword drawn as she moved quickly to protect the children.
"I said leave them ALONE!"
Connie could see the creature slashing down at the group of kids as they cowered beneath it, and realized she had to act quickly. With a loud scream, she leaped into the air as high as her legs would take her, raising her sword high just as the creature brought down its powerful claws. With a fierce swipe, she cut down its entire body, from the top of its head down beneath its waist, and landed behind it with a graceful pose. The creature let out a scream as it split down the middle, complete with a spray of blood that landed on both Connie and the children, who cheered despite the brutality of it all. Connie, taken aback that she'd cut a living creature in two, but grateful that she'd saved the children, smiled and shook away the blood from her body, walking around to see if the children were all right.
"Hey, it's okay now, it's-"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
"SKINNYMAN'S NOT DEAD!"
"Huh?"
Connie turned to see that the creature was quickly reforming, the wound she'd made healing instantly as the creature's two halves formed back into one, and it returned with a mighty vengeance, letting out another powerful scream.
"Run!" Connie shouted at the kids, holding her sword at the ready as she did so. It lunged at them again, but she refused to let it pass, reaching up with her sword and catching its claws around it before using the leverage to slam it back down behind her. "Hi-yaaaaaah!"
The creature impacted the ground hard, but quickly got up with a roar, then swiped at Connie who just barely managed to move out of the way. It then leaped toward a decorated stand around which many costumed people were gathered, and destroyed the wooden display in one mighty swipe, sending splinters of wood everywhere and causing the people around to scatter. Connie gasped, looking around to see people running and screaming in all directions at the creature's rampage, then watching as it attacked another young child with his mother.
"No!"
Connie ran after the creature, kicking it away from the boy just in time. It snarled, then lunged at her, knocking her aside and then skittering on top of her, shrieking and aiming another claw at her head. She barely parried it with her sword, then, as it stabbed at her again, she rolled out of the way a split second early, panting and gasping as she struggled to stand. Her arms and legs were now bruised, but she could still hold her sword, and used it to parry another swipe from the creature, which then screamed at her and used its weight to slam her through the window of a building. As Connie once again was sent rolling on the ground, she clambered behind a display case of phone accessories inside the store, quickly taking her phone out to call Steven.
I have to get the Gems down here, they'll-
As Connie lifted up her phone, it was suddenly impaled by one of the creature's sharp nails, while two more passed just a fraction of an inch through her head. She dropped her phone and clambered back to her feet, watching as the creature tossed away the display case she'd just been crouched behind. Looking around and seeing nowhere to run, she gripped her sword tightly and stood her ground, staring the creature down and trying to surmise its intentions.
"Who are you?" Connie demanded, trembling slightly but keeping her feet firmly planted as the creature once again loomed over her. "And why are you smashing up Beach City?"
The creature just screamed at her, and for a moment, Connie thought she could hear humanlike speech in its voice.
Murderer...? Connie thought, continuing to stare the creature down. Did it just call me a murderer?
"Monster...!" the creature cried out, its claws slowly moving toward Connie.
"You're the monster!" Connie screamed back.
"NO!"
The creature lunged, but Connie was ready, leaping into the air with a ferocious somersault kick aimed squarely at the creature's chin, or at least what passed for it. Connie then landed, sliding between the creature's legs and pointing her sword at it from behind.
"The kids called you Skinnyman, is that supposed to be some kind of internet meme? What are you, really, and what do you want?"
"Revenge...!"
The creature twirled around and dove toward Connie, who slid back and out of the building. It continued to surge forward, crashing through what remained of the windows, but Connie had already slid to the side and behind the corner, peering around to see the creature in the middle of the street, looking in all directions as it sought her out... or perhaps another victim.
Something tells me this has nothing to do with whatever Skinnyman creature those kids talked about, but if it's not that, then what...? Is it a Gem? A Gem shard that Steven missed? Oh, Steven, you must be worried sick by now... but don't worry, I'll handle this.
"Hey!" Connie called out, stepping out from around the corner to draw the creature's attention. "You want revenge, come and get it, I'm right here!"
Connie knew that even with all her training, even with all her skills, baiting out a strange and deadly creature like this was extremely reckless and dangerous... but she also knew that there were likely still lots of little kids and their families out trick-or-treating, and she didn't want the creature to go after them. They couldn't handle it. Connie wasn't sure if she could, but she knew she had a better chance than any other human around.
And if I can keep it talking, I can figure out what it wants.
The creature began walking toward Connie again, and this time, instead of staying in one place, she ran... and hoped it would give chase. It did, pursuing her down the street and quickly catching up, but she managed to evade it by grabbing onto a nearby celebratory banner and pulling herself into the air, swinging up and out of the creature's reach. It roared at her, swiping its claws again, but she evaded the swipe and began running again, this time down toward the beach. As it pursued, she flitted between buildings, lamp posts, and displays, and the creature destroyed almost everything in its path, crashing through windows and splintering booths that had once played host to games like bobbing for apples and "Throw Darts At The Witch". Connie ran all the way down to a group of beachfront houses lined up in a semicircle facing the ocean, but rather than lure the creature toward the houses, where she knew there might be people sleeping, she instead ducked into a clothing store and listened for the telltale sound of the creature's approach.
Instead, she heard nothing.
Did it... stop?
Connie knelt down behind the counter to catch her breath, feeling her rapid heartbeat and wishing Steven were there, even if she was glad he wasn't in danger.
If he were here, we could fight together... maybe even fuse. Stevonnie could handle this situation... maybe Stevonnie could talk this thing down.
Connie began wracking her brain, trying to figure out just who, or what, was pursuing her... and continuing to speculate that it was some kind of rogue Gem or Gem shard gone berserk.
If that's the case, if it's a Gem, then why didn't it poof when I split it in two? Don't Gems usually do that? But then again, Gem shards can reform and shift around... and this thing behaves a lot more like a shard than a Gem. Ugh... I just need to figure out how to get it to stop, before someone gets-
The revving of a chainsaw from just above Connie's head snapped her immediately out of her thoughts. She looked up to see a red human-like figure in a hockey mask towering over her, lifting up the saw and bringing it down. She screamed.
"NOOOOO!"
Diving out of the way just in time, Connie could hear the chainsaw ripping through the counter behind her, and saw the person lift it up to take another swing. She grabbed the cash register from just next to the gash and threw it at them, hitting them in the face and sending coins and cash flying everywhere, but barely fazing her attacker, who swung down with the chainsaw again.
"DIE!"
Connie could hear the scream, a loud, guttural screech resembling that of the cries of the creature from before, and knew it had to be coming from the same entity, even if they were now shorter. She stood up and once again held up her sword just as the chainsaw came down, sending sparks everywhere as the two weapons clashed.
"Leave... me... alone...!" Connie screamed fiercely.
"Leave... me... ALONE!" the figure screamed back, pushing the chainsaw and Connie's sword back toward her face. Connie gasped, struggling to hold the assault back, her legs shaking as she strained and grunted. "You... and... all... of... THEM!"
Letting out a desperate scream, Connie managed to use her sword to guide the chainsaw away from her face, and when it was pushed back just enough, she slid away, carrying her sword with her and running out of the store. She looked back inside and could see the figure standing there, and the store filling with a strange red mist. She slowed and turned back toward it, looking on and watching until the mist disappeared... and so did the figure.
"...what... was that?" Connie breathed, sheathing her sword and catching her breath. She stumbled back toward the store, checking for any sign of the creature, or any sign of life at all, and found nothing, even as she got close enough to see everything inside past the shattered windows. "And what did it mean by... them?"
Sighing, Connie's shoulders slumped as she finally felt her heartbeat slowly return to normal. The creature was gone, and the fact that she couldn't hear anymore screams nearby seemed to indicate that the threat was gone as well. Beach City's Halloween celebration had been ruined, but everyone was safe, and Connie was as well. She looked out toward Little Homeworld, hoping that at least some people were having a good time.
Steven, I'm coming back... I hope you weren't too worried about me.
Connie would have to tell Steven and the Gems everything, and she'd feel bad about ruining their good time, but hopefully whatever problems arose, they could all take care of it together, and save the people of Beach City once again.
And... I'm sorry I couldn't find Red Chalcedony, but I'm sure she-
Once again, Connie wouldn't have time to finish her thought, as it was interrupted by a harsh blow to the back of her head that rendered her immediately unconscious. She fell, and was quickly scooped up by the same mask wearing figure from before, who lifted her into its arms and carried her away, leaving her sword lying in front of the destroyed beachfront store.
The creature carried her without a word, back toward the abandoned arcade where Connie's night of horror had begun...