CASSIA'S GUIDE TO EARTH HOLIDAYS
(part three)
Author's note: sorry this took so long… things had been a bit confusing and distracting in my life these past couple of years, but I am back now. I would like to thank "otakugir18" for the suggestion for this chapter, especially since COVID-19 is causing things to be so different this year, we might as well be celebrating holidays on another planet. I also took some inspiration from an old chain of promos from Jetix, so enjoy.
Halloween/Samhain/Spook Day
It has almost been a year since Cassia had first come to Shuggazoom… since the war ended… and by then a fifth of the city structures were back to their former glory, but the memory of the Skeleton King and his evil was still haunting the residents. The occasional power surges and delays in the intergalactic trade department didn't help much either. All the same, the former Earthling had grown accustomed to the otherworldly city life, even though some things about Shuggazoom befundles her… such as how Gackslapper's famous hoverburgers are able to float without losing edibility. By this time, she officially moved out of the Super Robot's med-bay and- courtesy of a meeting Chiro had with the mayor- she now has her own apartment in one of the newly reconstructed buildings; specifically one not to far from Shuggazoom City Park, where the Super Robot's docking area was. She insisted on a room with a window that properly aligns with the Robot's head and shoulders, so that she and her friends could wave to each other if they have the chance, and Gibson and Otto even managed to make that living space soundproof so- if they had to launch the Robot against any new threat that decides to take Skeleton King's place- the need for battle mode wouldn't disturb her should she need peace and quiet.
"Are you sure you don't want to live with me, auntie?" Cassia asked Vex, as they and the monkey team began unloading her boxes from Earth into the apartment, "There is more than enough space in here for two, plus guests."
Vex shook her head, "I have to... lay low... for a while longer;" the formless monkey explained, "it seems there are still whispers that the Skeleton King's evil lives on even though he and the Alchemist he used to be had been executed. If anyone found out I am a formless… at worse, the resurrected corpse of an assassin… the mass panic would be critical."
Cassia nodded in understanding, before looking out the window. Along with the Super Robot and the park itself, showing the colorful leaves of mid-autumn, she also saw the colorful and oddly shaped buildings of the city as well as its wide streets covered in markings that, to Cassia, almost made her think she was living inside a pinball machine. Or, rather it would, if it wasn't so unusually empty. From what she heard from Supa, Gibson's froggy intergalactic e-pal, the residue from use of the dark crystals had restored a long dormant virus to new life a few months back… nothing too serious, thanks to modern medicine, but it had been bad enough that, even after he and Gibson found the cure, many families in the largely populated city still insist on staying inside their homes.
"You aren't the only thing they have to be afraid of, auntie," the capuchin signed, "but thankfully it is almost Halloween on Earth's calendar… that particular holiday is all about facing fear."
Otto perked up hearing that as he rushed to put away the pots and pans, "Are you saying Halloween is your planet's version of… Spook Day?!" he ran up to the couch that Sparx and Nova were still carrying and started jumping on it, "Chiro and I invented that holiday for Shuggazoom City after our misadventure chasing the Dark One Worm! It is the most spooktacular holiday of the year! There will be costumes, spooky decorations, and candy! Lots and lots of yummy, sugary candy!"
"Otto! Get down from there!" Nova scolded.
"Yeah, that holiday is scary enough as it is," Sparx added, "the thought of dropping this thing and hurting all three of us is making me even more nervous!"
Antauri chuckled at the sight before using his telekinesis to finish the job.
Cassia giggled too. "I am not surprised Chiro made a holiday like that for this world," she stated, "I don't know if he remembers, but Halloween was his favorite holiday when he was really little, and for the same reasons, but there is much more to the holiday, Otto, then what you picked up in…" she paused, and looked towards Gibson (who, at that moment, was arranging Cassia's brand new bookshelf), "uh, what did the locals of that dimension you guys landed in call their town again?"
"Cyptovania," the blue monkey answered matter-of-factly, "though I personally question whether or not Spook Day would ever become an official holiday here. Otto is just speaking out of wishful thinking… The war kept us from solidifying the event up until now, and with that pandemic we had to deal with, I am not sure if we will manage to do so this year, despite the fact the Power Primate somehow immuned us to the worst of it. In fact, despite the quarantine that's still in effect, it's a miracle it has subsided enough by now for us to touch each other again."
"There are many ways to celebrate a holiday," Cassia reassured, "but I think we should wait until the humans of our family get here before I explain that theory. That's why we are finishing my unpacking now… I do not want to be distracted."
Sparx shook his head. Cassia seems to like lecturing about Earth and it's holidays as much as Gibson enjoys going on about math and science. It is no wonder they seem to belong together, he thought, this is a case of nerd love waiting to happen. As if she could guess what is on the red monkey's mind, Nova "lightly" punched Sparx in the arm.
"Be nice," she whispered to him, "at least Cassia's trying to make it fun, and Gibson has been saving his lectures for his new college job ever since she got here."
Nova had a point: since the war had ended, and due to not wanting to go back to hibernation until the next big disaster (mostly because it would cause a rift between themselves and Chiro) the monkey team had started looking for part-time jobs that would put their talents to good use… an idea that, at first, shocked the citizens of Shuggazoom City, as they never thought of superheroes doing anything else other than protect them. It took Captain Shuggazoom announcing his true identity as the long missing industrialist Clayton Carrington (that, and Chiro's great uncle) to open their eyes, and after that, on Cassia's suggestion, Gibson was the first monkey on the team to be officially employed as a college professor, even if he has to work from intergalactic skype for now. Gibson smiled towards Cassia in gratitude… Since it is autumn break, he wanted to spend what downtime he had with his "family".
Before long, Chiro, Jinmay, and Captain Shuggazoom… or rather, Clayton… had finally managed to show up. They were all wearing their civilian clothes, as- despite the pandemic- there wasn't enough danger at this point to go into their superhero forms.
"Whoo-wee," said Clayton, as he wasted no time getting to the couch, "thank the stars for elevators. These old bones can't fly around all the time."
Chiro chortled hearing that, "Oh, Uncle Clayton," he sighed, by now getting used to using such a title on the old man, "you wouldn't last five minutes against the Elevator Monster."
"Ugh! Not that story again Chiro!" Jinmay groaned, "Just thinking of you being in a cage in a pit in any situation gives me the willies!"
"Well, you better work up your nerves of steel, girl," Cassia said, as she closed the curtains and turned on a single lamp (for effect), "because this is the year we bring your Spook Day to life! And since it is similar enough to Earth's Halloween, I believe it is time I let you know that the event you want to bring to this city dates back further than your visit to Cryptovania…"
"...There are several versions of Halloween all over planet Earth: the Obon Festival in Japan, Totensonntag in Germany, and Dio de los Muertos in Mexico just to name a few, but even before candy was invented they have a lot in common, mainly that they are celebrations of the lives of loved ones that had passed away- and a chance to poke fun at dead enemies and rivals-"
"Mandarin would've liked that." Chiro laughed, only to go quiet when Cassia cleared her throat before continuing.
"Of course, the version of 'Halloween' I recall celebrating comes from a Celtic festival from over two thousand years ago in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom of the British, and Northern France. During its founding it was known as Samhain… a harvest festival marked by the first signs of frost once believed to be the one night a year when the borders between the living and the realm of the dead are thin enough to cross into each other, filling the village streets with ghosts, monsters, and demons that are said to pull terrible pranks, damage crops, and… yep, that's right… steal children. Much like the people of Crytovania had convinced you, the Celtic people of the time had a strong belief that wearing frightening costumes made of animal skins and lighting bonfires would keep these dark forces at bay, but there were some, like the Druids, who took advantage of these yearly paranormal visits, mainly by making sacrificial offerings to their deities, and capturing lost souls out of the belief that contact with the spirit world would reveal their futures."
"Indeed very much like Cryptovania," Antauri stated, "only far more ancient. Oh, do go on."
"In the year 609 A.D., the holiday started to outgrow it's pagan background and became part of the old Christian event All Saints Day, in which those who risked themselves for the sins of others are properly honored. In fact, the word 'Halloween' comes from an old term meaning 'All Hallowed Evening' or 'All Saints Evening'. It was during that time that Trick or Treating, also known at the time as 'guising' or 'souling', had become part of the holiday… instead of gathering with their elders and supposed ancestors around a bonfire like they used to, young ones in costumes and masks filled the streets going from door to door asking for what was called soul-cakes… traditional pastries made in those days for that particular holiday… among other goodies. It used to be believed that, for every treat a child is granted during the event, a lost soul recieves a ghost coin to help pay for the damage of their sins, granting them a better place in the afterlife. Unfortunately, it was also believed that, if someone was stingy and refused to feed their disguised visitors, the children should help the lost souls get even by pulling a prank on that person and their household, mainly in the form of vandalism! None of the kids do that anymore… thank goodness… but the thought of such tricks happening has always been frightening enough."
"Guess that's why they call it 'trick or treat'." Sparx chuckled.
"Correct, Sparx," said Cassia, "Now, where was I? Oh yeah-"
"In this modern era, Halloween has become the Spook Day event that it is now, as candy replaced the soul-cakes and concepts like haunted houses and scary movies get added into the mix, but several of the games played during Halloween parties come from ancient beliefs."
"I am scared to ask," said Jinmay, "but… what kind of games?"
"Well, fortune telling for one," Cassia stated, "it's an obsolete concept, but Madam Esimia and I used to preform that sort of thing every year when she was alive… as part of my oracle training, of course-"
"Most of the fortune telling done in Halloween's past was usually preformed by a matchmaker, as many women in those days want clues on their otherwise unknown future husbands. One ritual involves holding a candle at a certain angle in front of a mirror, as it used to be believed that doing so would reveal a ghostly image of the one you are destined to wed… but it is also forbidden to chant the name 'Bloody Mary' or mention the name of any alcoholic beverage while doing so, as some say a witch's ghost had been trapped inside a realm of reflective surfaces, and should the mentioning of her name be heard near a mirror thirteen times, she'd not only reveal who your loved one is but also how that loved one would die… right before SHE ESCAPES!"
Right when Cassia said that, a shadowy figure wearing a witch's hat jumped onto the couch, giving off a wicked cackle. The entire family, humans and monkeys alike, screamed in terror… even Antauri was freaking out… before Cassia opened the curtains to reveal that it was only Vex in a costume that she put on while the others were distracted by her lecture.
"Brilliant as always, Auntie Vex," Cassia said, laughing, "I see all that time in purgatory hadn't caused you to lose your touch."
Vex gave a small smile as she removed the hat, "If I had both my eyes, I'd be winking."
Seeing that it was just a joke, the entire hyperforce sighed in relief, but Clayton Carrington wasn't amused. "Vexhalia Malory!" he scolded, "You trying to scare an old man to death?"
Vex gave a rare chuckle, "A has-been like yourself has nothing to worry about, da? After all, as far as your industry had known up until now… you're already dead." After that, she got down from the couch and sat herself on the floor next to Antauri, giving him a barely detectable apologetic look until his returning glance showed he silently forgave her.
"Sorry for setting you up like that," Cassia said, "but that is the point of a real Spook Day: learning from the past, preparing for the future, and… above all else… facing fear!" she cleared her throat, "As I had said earlier, there are many ways to celebrate, even during a medical crisis, as discovered by people during the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020." she pulled an old chart out of one of the yet-to-be-unpacked boxes, revealing a map with red, orange, yellow and green areas.
"Something tells me this isn't our usual use of color coding." said Chiro, poking a little fun at his teammates multicolored fur (though they know he means no offense).
"No, Chiro," said Cassia, pulling out a few color coded scrolls, "but that does make choosing vollunteers for this part of the lesson easier. You take this scroll, Chiro. Sparx, Nova, and Otto, you unroll these."
"Well, this is interesting," Sparx said, as he elbowed Gibson, "your lectures surely never involved this sort of thing."
Gibson crossed his arms as he watched his teammates unroll the color-coded scrolls. Glad as he is to have students eager to learn from him at Shuggazoom University, he had never gotten this kind of interest from his own teammates before. He eyed Cassia in envy, but he fought the urge to turn his hands into drills over this. Such mixed feelings were no excuse to act uncivilized after all.
The team was soon comparing and contrasting the pictures on each of their scrolls.
"I don't like mine," Sparx stated, "everyone looks all cooped up."
"That, Sparx, is because the red zones on this 2020 map are where the risk of illness were at the highest during that particular year," Cassia explained, "everyone had to follow the 'stay inside' protocol, and find more intimate ways to have their spooky fun. For example, most parents would decorate their own house as a haunted house and fill it with jumpscare based practical jokes before sending them from one room to another in a creepy scavenger hunt. Other ways they celebrated Halloween included virtual costume contests and scary video contests that raise money for charity… but more often then not, it was just one big horror movie night for that particular group." she then moved on to her old playmate, "Chiro, the orange zone is your scroll… what do you see on it?"
"A lot of vehicles for starters," Chiro said, looking mighty confused, "but… why?"
"The orange zones are safer than the red ones, old friend," Cassia explained, "but in those areas, going out during the pandemic was still a huge risk. So instead, they do trick or treating in reverse… Instead of letting the kids go from house to house for their candy, the grown ups throw a Halloween parade so that the treats would come to them. On top of that, the kids and adults alike make up for lost time by wearing their costumes for a whole week, rather then just that one day a year."
"Wow," said Chiro, looking at his scroll again, "that actually sounds pretty cool."
"My turn next," said Nova, holding up her scroll impatiently, "and wow! The people celebrating Halloween in the yellow zones seem to be rather messy!"
"That, Nova, is a process called 'YEET the treats'." Cassia pointed out, "Kids in those areas are allowed to go from house to house, but instead of getting the treats handed to them at the door like they used to, they are distanced from their neighbors by having the candy 'yeeted' or thrown at them from out the doors and windows… rather unorthodox, but it gets the job done. They also celebrate by decorating their own plain white masks and paying a visit to what is known as a 'fairy forest'; an area of the woods with a mark trail that is decorated to make it look like the trick or treaters had made an unexpected visit to another world."
"Ha!" Nova laughed, "I think we all have tons of inspiration for that."
"Hey! I think I won the jackpot!" said Otto, unrolling his scroll, "This looks just like the Spook Day that I had often imagined!"
"The green zones have the closest thing to a 'normal' Halloween as anyone could get at the time, Otto," said Cassia, "so long as they keep their group numbers small, keep their hands clean, and remember to follow the usual Halloween safety rules, those who live in those areas can celebrate the holiday any spooky way they want." She then turned towards Gibson, and smiled as she pulled up a Dell XPS 13 laptop from off the table, "Professor, would you mind connecting us to Supa for me?"
Gibson was stunned and surprised that he got to be part of the lesson, even if it was indirectly. "W-what?" he stammered, blushing, "M-me? B-but… why?"
"I don't know that frog's intergalactic email address," Cassia explained, "but last I saw him in person… so to speak… I've given him charts very similar to these along with four different color coded cue cards so he can show us which kind of celebration plan we'd be most likely to follow when we prepare Shuggazoom City's first official Spook Day. Who knows? The entire basis of the traditions of every year could highly depend on this big reveal."
Gibson nodded in understanding. "But of course." he chuckled, as he typed up Supa's address on the intergalactic skype. Otto crossed his fingers, practically praying that his color is the zone that Shuggazoom is by now. Chiro and Nova do the same. Sparx, ironically, was hoping for any color other than red… as much as he dreaded the idea of Spook Day, the thought of spending the new holiday indoors was far worse! After all, too many scary things happened inside the Super Robot as it is: Gibson catching that static virus that turned him and the Super Robot itself into monsters, the giant eyeball that turned the entire city and the team into zombie slaves that tried to attack Chiro, the Chiro clones, Gyrus Krinkle trying to blow them up, the wraith virus that almost turned Chiro into a soulless ghost creature, the Wigglenog (if Otto wasn't making things up), TV monster almost eliminating them, and- most terrifying of all- the night all their nightmares were brought to life… including his own fear of going blind… and a terrified Nova pulled him all over the place to escape an out-of-control Antauri!
"Please-please-please let the Super Robot be a safe haven for once." Sparx muttered under his breath, practically folding his hands as if he was praying. Nova chuckled at the sight, practically guessing what's on her boyfriend's mind.
Luckily, not long after Supa appeared on the screen, the blue frog held up a green card, which means that Shuggazoom City was in the clear for a traditional trick or treating. Sparx sighed in relief, Nova and Chiro cheered, but they didn't cheer nearly as loudly as Otto, who was practically bouncing off the walls at the thought of all that candy he might get.
"That's great news," Cassia grinned towards Supa, while affectionately patting Gibson on the back, "now all that has to be done is teach everyone the basic Halloween safety rules for Shuggazoom's first official Spook Day, starting with you guys… and believe me… I have a feeling they would come in handy."
"I can't believe we put off choosing costumes to the last minute!" Chiro moaned, as the sun began to set on Shuggazoom City on it's very first official Spook Day, "Especially since Mr. Paulie's costume shop is sold out! We have to resort to homemade Halloween uniforms at this rate, and there's not much time just to get started."
"Yeah!" added Otto, "I bet everyone else had gotten their candy by now."
"I'm working on them as fast as I can!" said Cassia, rummaging through the Super Robot's cargo hold for supplies she doesn't have at her new apartment, "but with what Captain Shuggazoom suggested for Carrington Manor, and in assisting you guys in teaching the entire city the Halloween safety rules, Vex and I had been up to our ears in Spook Day projects for weeks… it might be another couple hours or so before I put on the finishing touches."
"Oh, no need to fret my dear." Gibson reassured, "After all, we had all agreed that, if all else fails, we'll just go trick or treating as ourselves, so… in a manner of speaking… we are wearing our uniforms."
"Fur and weapons are our uniforms?!" Sparx stated, in obvious annoyance, "Come on!"
"Don't worry," said Otto, smiling, "everybody loves robot monkeys!"
"And if this be the case," added Antauri, pulling out some black, temporary face paint and some yellow ocular orb covers, "it shall make it a tad easier to put on my backup costume: my former self."
Antauri had just opened the jar and was about to apply it to the parts of his body where his fur used to be, when Nova grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Hold it, Antauri," the golden monkey said, "I know you planned on going as the black monkey if we went trick or treating as ourselves, but that makeup better not be too dark!"
"Nova has a point," said Cassia, "have you forgotten the safety rules involving costumes? In addition to using flame resistant materials, such as polyester and nylon, and making sure the costume is the right fit so you don't trip yourself or get snagged on anything, the key point in any Halloween costume- store bought or homemade- is to see and be seen. Bright colors are essential, as they don't camouflage you so much when you go out in the dark, and if you must insist on wearing black, always be sure to wear something reflective, or something that glows in the dark, so that others can see you in case something goes wrong."
"I appreciate your concern, but worry not," Antauri reassured, "beneath the paint imitating the black monkey I once was, I am still the silver monkey now. Once my costume is applied, I will be sure to polish my arms and tail so it would be easy for my allies to look for me and the team… what's more, I believe I made a wise choice in using paint for my backup disguise. After all, Cassia, it is as you yourself had said: using hats, wigs, and face paint are a safe alternative to wearing traditional masks, as they are far less likely to obscure your vision."
"Or turn into demonic trap masks," added Chiro, "Like the ones we wore on Cryptovania where I got the idea for this holiday on Shuggazoom to begin with."
"That's a bonus either way," said Sparx, "tied up by demons… going blind… I still get nightmares about both scenarios! Um, not that I'm scared or anything."
Nova rolled her eyes at her boyfriend. Even after all he's been through to humble him, Sparx still insists on being macho whenever he could.
"Mind if we help with your costume, Antauri?" asked Otto, "I really want to go trick or treating right now!"
Before long, the monkey team were outside the Super Robot as themselves. The only exceptions seem to be Antauri in black paint with extra shiny arms, and Chiro wearing his space helmet.
"BT and Glenny said they are also going out as astronauts," said Chiro, "so I'm sure they won't mind if I borrow the idea until our real costumes are finished. Plus, it has its own oxygen supply in case that illness perks up again, and you guys have your inhalers masks from your underwater mode. After all: if you need to wear a mask trick or treating during an illness, a surgical face mask is a better choice than traditional ones."
"True as that may be, Chiro, we don't need to resort to those measures," Gibson stated, "I read Cassia's historical records on the 2020 pandemic, and in towns that are cleared for such outings it had been proven that traveling is safer, illness or otherwise, when it is done in groups of six people or less. Any group number larger than that should be divided into smaller groups that are a certain distance from each other."
"Which is why Jinmay and Captain Shuggazoom would not be joining us as we originally planned," said Antauri, "but let us not have our fun ruined by that. Now, team, one last safety check before we go: headlamps and communication devices fully functional?"
"Check!" said all the monkeys on the team, turning their lamps on and off.
"Map of the city with GPS engaged?"
"Hold on, I got to shut down the virtual gift catalog," said Chiro, touching the screen on his portable device a couple of times, "okay, now the map is engaged."
"And I have a backup paper version of that map in my secret compartment," said Otto, "you know, the one in my helmet that makes my brain look smaller than it really is." he opened that compartment and shown the map, "I don't know which houses we are going to visit first, but I had just heard of this old building that hands out jumbo sized Doodle Bars. It's on the other side of town, so we'll have to take a shortcut through the park to get there, but I'm sure that checking it out will be worth it! After that, we will go to the other parts of the city to fill our goodie bags, so long as we limit our time at the apartment where the asparagus guy lives, and completely avoid the building that decided to give out toothbrushes."
"That would be the dentist's office, Otto," groaned Nova, "and we're NOT letting you avoid your appointment just because it's on this holiday, got it?!"
Putting the paper map back in it's secret compartment, Otto- at the thought of the horror planned for him- sighed in defeat, "Okay, but we're going there last," then he smiled as he rushed out into the park, "Come on guys! It's Spook Day! It's trick-or-treating time!"
"Hey! Wait for us, Otto!" Chiro shouted, "we're supposed to stay in a group, remember?"
Before long, Chiro was leading the monkey team through the park… starting their first Shuggazoomian Halloween this way almost reminded them of how they traveled through the woods to the Sacred Cemetery when this version of the holiday was founded, and they quietly agreed to make trips like this their own Spook Day tradition; though Gibson- having left without a book to read this time, and being without a mission to focus on- was more aware of the frightening noises of nature then Sparx was while they were in the haunted forest. In fact, he more than the others had a bad feeling the lot of them were being watched, and a strange bolt of lightning in an otherwise clear sky didn't really help much, but he decidedly ignored the ominous aura around him once they were at their destination.
"Is this the house you were talking about, Otto?" asked Chiro, checking the map as the team stood before a rundown old building that none seem to recall seeing before during any of their patrols, with the only light coming from it being an eerie blue glow from the windows.
"Yep! This is it!" Otto smiled, as he walked up the stairs to the front door, "We're going to get so much candy!"
"I say less talking and more trick or treating!" Nova yelled, "So, is someone going to knock on the door or what?"
"Uh, sure," Sparx said, inching his way to the back of the group, "l-ladies first."
Nova shook her head and muttered to herself, "Ugh, now he has some manners-" but she complied and activated her large fists before pounding on the door rapidly, screaming at the top of her lungs: "Trick or Treat!"
It was clear at that point, however, that the team should've started somewhere else, for not only did Nova's pounding barely leave a dent on the door, but by the time it opened, a familiar face they all thought they'd never see again was the one who answered, casting a shadow upon them and giving off an evil laugh before a trap door caved under them. Before long, they were waking up in a cage, in front of a throne, upon which sat the very one who put them there.
"Chiro!" Antauri said, as soon as their human leader woke up, "We've been captured! And we can barely believe who captured us!"
The only human on the team didn't need to be told the name, as he recognized the image of the Skeleton King before him. "You!" Chiro told the dark lord outside of the cage, speaking without an ounce of fear in his voice… though his efforts to hide his confusion was in vain. After all, he ended the war by shattering that tyrant's skull… the Skeleton King had been dead for far longer then he was before Valeena resurrected him. How can this be?
"Do not be too surprised, boy," he said in a creepy whisper, "this is indeed the night lost souls roam the earth, and mine had been severed when you destroyed me… my human half thought I was contained when a seance called him to see an old friend, and by the time he finds out I'm gone, it'll be too late. After all, what is Halloween without a skeleton? And with you fools helpless to stop the horrors I have planned, this will be one Halloween that Shuggazoom City will never forget."
Nova clutched a fist, and Gibson just stood there dumbstruck… but out of all the monkeys, none were more upset in that moment then Otto.
"He's not giving out candy, is he?" the green monkey realized, hanging his head in disappointment, "The rumors were a lie to trap us."
Antauri, however, wasn't impressed, and the way he crossed his arms spoke volumes about that, "Whatever you have planned, Skeleton King-" he stated.
"It won't work!" Chiro concluded.
"You walked right into my trap," the Skeleton King stated, as though to make a point, "and soon all Shuggazoom citizens shall visit my haunted house and be swallowed up!" In that moment a nearby television set, possessed by magic, turned into a brand new TV monster and flew in front of the group, showing images of Shuggazoom City, and Skeleton King grinned wickedly at what he saw, "Ah! Here comes some more victims now."
It was BT and Glenny in their astronaut costumes… but they walked right past the haunted house as if it wasn't even there. Skeleton King was shocked, "The fools are not even coming to the door!"
Sparx chuckled at what just happened… Cassia's safety advice seemed to be working so well that even those dopey bullies were smarter then Skeleton King on this very night!
"They are not as foolish as you think they are, ugly!" Nova yelled, almost gloating on the team's behalf (including absent honorary members).
"But of course," said Gibson, "The more intelligent trick or treaters visit only the houses they're familiar with."
"That says a lot about us." sighed Sparx… who made an excellent point. The hyperforce had been protecting Shuggazoom City and everyone living in it for ages, yet even with the monkey translator added to their systems they've barely had much time to socialize.
"Yeah," Otto started to cry, "they're out there visiting all the good houses and getting all the candy."
"Don't worry, Otto," Chiro reassured, "you'll get your treats."
"Empty promises, boy," Skeleton King scowled, "I have other plans for you and the city tonight. My Halloween has only begun."
Meanwhile back at the Super Robot, Cassia had just finished the team's costumes, but an eerie feeling overwhelmed her. She shook her head.
"Captain Shuggazoom better not have started that seance without me," she groaned, "I told him that, without a properly trained soothsayer like myself, anything could go wrong."
At that moment Jinmay, dressed up as a pink butterfly princess, had entered Cassia's apartment. "Cassia, have you seen Chiro?" she asked, "I've been waiting at Carrington Manor for him since sunset, and I hadn't seen him or anyone on the monkey team at all! I think they are in trouble."
"Strange," Cassia murmured, "I seem to recall asking Antauri to polish his exposed silver parts so he wouldn't be hard to find in the dark… did you tell anyone on the team that you'd be expecting them at the manor tonight, let alone at a specific time?"
"Well, no, come to think of it," said Jinmay, "but we are friends with Captain Shuggazoom, so I assume they'd know."
"Uh huh… and did anyone tell you about the six members to a group rule before tonight?"
"No. I didn't hear that one."
"I think I know what's going on here," Cassia sighed, "it seems costumes weren't the only last minute preparations made this Halloween… in addition to only trick or treating in houses you are familiar with, you should have a precaution plan in case a route includes houses you don't know. For example, friends who are separated by the group size limit should pick out a rendezvous point to meet up at and when they should be there. Each group should also include an elder or other trustworthy person who knows the neighborhood inside and out, so if you have to trick or treat somewhere new, you won't pick a building that lands you in trouble."
"You think that's what happened to the team?" Jinmay said, looking worried.
"Possibly… but we better check the Super Robot's supercomputer for a triggered silent alarm before we jump to any conclusions," explained Cassia, "I asked Gibson to signal me if anything seems out of the ordinary, and the communicator he gave me has a dead battery! That's another safety violation when going out after dark on any night, let alone Halloween: Always keep any means of contact on hand and fully operational, and to save power do not use them except in an emergency." She shook her head, "That reminds me… I hadn't heard from Auntie Vex all night either. We should give her a call while we are at it, just in case."
Back at Skeleton King's haunted house, hunger and disappointment was starting to get to the monkey team.
"We should've come here last," said Sparx, "I'm starved."
Chiro had tears in his eyes as he smiled and daydreamed about what he and the team were missing out on, "Doesn't a chocolate Monkey Doodle Bar sound great?"
"Fool!" yelled Skeleton King, "Your obsession with your precious treats will be your undoing! Especially after I am through with them!"
"No! Not the candy!" screeched Otto.
"Yes!" said Skeleton King, as he pulled out a small monster larva, "imagine each and every Halloween treat replaced with one of my own creations… piece by piece!" With a surge of his dark magic, the Skeleton King turned the tiny worm into four colorful gumballs.
"That plan is diabolical!" yelled Nova.
"If not flawed." added Antauri.
"What?!" yelled Skeleton King, "How can you say that?! I admit, this particular plan is far from original, especially on Earth where candy tampering had happened before ages ago in the mid 20th century, due to sharp objects and toxins being found in treats at the time as a prank or act of malice, but it has become such a rare occurrence that it faded into myth. A myth that nobody will ever expect to happen for real ever again, until it's too late!"
"Better safe than sorry, Skeleton King!" Chiro said with a smile, "These days, every trick or treater knows to ask a grown up to check their Halloween candy before eating it."
"Usually a thorough analysis would reveal any unsavory tampering," Gibson agreed, "as a certain friend of ours pointed out, one should be on the look out for treats that look homemade, unwrapped, or have puncture holes."
"Yeah, and if it looks good," added Otto, "I'll double check them with a taste test."
"You have yet to thwart all my plans, super robot monkey team." Skeleton King scowled.
"You picked this up on the way to my apartment?!" Cassia scowled, analyzing a worm-infested candy apple that Jinmay pulled out of her candy bag, "This is the kind of tampering that knocked Snow White into comatose! Don't you know getting homemade treats on a trick or treating route might be dangerous?"
"Well, I heard that safety rule, but I kind of ignored it," Jinmay sighed, "I'm sorry… I just like candy apples so much I couldn't help myself."
"Lucky for you, Jinmay, there's a way around that;" sighed Cassia, throwing the clearly poisoned apple away, "if you or your friends are craving homemade treats, the safest route would be to make them yourself, so that you'd be sure exactly what is in it and avoid the nasty surprises that come with tampering. Also, if you want to give something homemade to trick or treaters, avoid handing out the edible stuff and make them something they would treasure all year, like bookmarks and bracelets."
"I'll keep that in mind for next year." said Jinmay.
"Come on, we're almost at the Super Robot," Cassia exclaimed, "If our friends really are in trouble, we've no time to lose!"
"Whatever you're planning next, Skeleton King," yelled Chiro, "we will stop you!"
"Can you stop me from cloaking Shuggazoom City in eternal night?!" taunted Skeleton King, casting a spell that seemed to wrap everything in shadow, both inside and outside the haunted house! Screams of panic were already heard from the streets, "Once the city is entombed in the deepest of shadows, the full wrath of my power shall be unleashed upon Shuggazoom!" Just as Skeleton King was letting out another mocking, evil laugh, a sudden light shined upon his face, "Huh?!"
"Lighten up, bonebag!" said Sparx, smiling and pointing to his activated headlamp.
"Just like Sparx," Nova said proudly, "the trick or treaters bring flashlights when they go out on Halloween."
"Their handheld lamps are instrumental in piercing whatever shadow they encounter," stated Gibson, "making for a safe evening journey wherever it may take them."
"You'll have to do better than vailing us in darkness, evil one!" said Antauri.
The Skeleton King growled, "Perhaps the greatest threat I can create," he muttered to himself, "is one that can be seen by one and all."
Inside the Super Robot, Cassia and Jinmay had to deal with the shadows, but thanks to Cassia's flashlight and Jinmay's night vision they were able to turn on all the emergency lights as well as the supercomputer.
"Wow!" said Jinmay, as she pushed a button to look out a window, "Looks like Shuggazoom City is having a blackout, and whatever cut the city's power almost affected the Super Robot too! Thank goodness that you insisted on telling every kid around here to bring flashlights tonight, or that mass panic down there would've lasted all night."
"We told them, Jinmay, not just me," said Cassia, celebrating the computer to search its data banks for any distress signals, "though I hope the adults were just as prone to listening to the suggestion to leave an emergency lamp near the doorways… houses that are safe to trick or treat at should be well lit in an inviting manner no matter what. Eerie glowing in the windows are not enough light to be considered safe, and odds are whoever is in there is better off left undisturbed. The smiles of Jack-o-Lanterns are also useful to mark a decent household, though they are best lit with electric candles… using real fire in a pumpkin without adult experience can prove dangerous."
"You went trick or treating before," asked Jinmay, "did you Cassia?"
"With Chiro and his parents," Cassia added with a sad smile, "when he was three. That was the year of the octopus and the vampire and the rubber duck… because he lost a bet to me that year, he ended up being the duck. Oddly, he didn't mind, and tried to be scary anyway. Honestly, the Jack-o-Lanterns I made with Madam Esimia were scarier-" Soon enough, her trip down memory lane was interrupted when she found what she was looking for. "Ah-ha! Gibson did send an emergency signal halfway through the park, and it trailed all the way to that house before the beacon went dead and-" suddenly, the Super Robot beeped, as a bunch of images of the city throughout the ages appeared on the screen, and one of the most recent pictures gave Cassia a shocking comparison, "What?! Wait! That can't be right! According to these, buildings in this city rose with time, but that seemingly old and condemned house is actually brand new… in fact, it just appeared out of nowhere on this very night!"
"Oh no!" said Jinmay, "They are definitely in trouble! Good thing it is just across the park… I'll just rush there and back with them before you can say: Trick or Treat!"
"Jinmay! No!" Cassia turned around and reached out an arm, but it was too late: Jinmay was already gone, and what's worse, she forgot her map of the city on the chair she was sitting on! Cassia facepalmed and muttered, "Is everyone in this family so impulsive? First the team trick or treats at a house that nobody knows about, and now Jinmay out and about without a map…" a vision of zombies hit her… no, they weren't zombies, but there was something wrong with them. "...and I am getting an epiphany that such a precaution would be needed now more than ever! I better call Captain Shuggazoom and Auntie Vex right away, before things get any worse! Ugh! Just hope they listen to me when I warn them to bring a form of navigation!"
Back at the haunted house, Gibson, even with the headlamps of every monkey team member on, was feeling more disoriented then usual. He thought he saw a doorway in that particular room, but he keeps forgetting which way that is, and he was beginning to doubt his intellect would navigate the labyrinth above them which the haunted house truly is.
"Got a headache, brain-strain?" said Sparx, trying to lighten the mood with the embarrassing nickname yet was barely able to hide his concern, "never thought I'd live to see the day you'd ever look this confused."
"Ugh, it's Skeleton King's magic," Gibson managed to rationalize, "first he summons a darkness shroud in spite of being nothing more than a ghost, and now he's doing something else that makes it near difficult to think straight." He looked out the cage straight into the glowing red eyes of the enemy, "it pains me to admit it, tyrant, but your might is beyond comprehension."
"What you experienced is just a sample of my latest plan," Skeleton King explained, "my magic has just clouded the minds of Shuggazoom citizens with Halloween confusion. Soon, all will lose their way and wander the city aimlessly… forever."
"Oo," Otto exclaimed, with a smile, "that would work if the trick or treaters weren't carrying their maps."
"Maps?!" yelled Skeleton King, "What maps?!"
"The maps everyone uses to plan their routes." Nova playfully explained.
"Should anyone become lost," added Antauri, "they can consult their map and find their way back home. This is why it is important not to trick or treat alone, but with friends and family."
"Guess what Skeleton King?" Sparx asked teasingly.
"You lose again!" chimed Chiro.
"Ugh! You have prepared the city well, monkey team!" scowled Skeleton King, "Still, as the hour grows late, so do my powers grow."
Jinmay had passed by the same tree at least three times at the park before Vex and Captain Shuggazoom had found her. At first, she thought she was being stalked by a monster and charged up for an attack, but the old heroes managed to calm her down and clear her confusion… though it didn't stay clear for long when she saw the ghost of the Alchemist traveling with them.
"I don't understand," said Jinmay, trying to get everything straight, "the Skeleton King used to be you, but he isn't you, so the two of you split in half when he died and now he's your responsibility even though he's you and not you at the same time? Ugh! My head."
"It was as my obnoxious demon side had said when you first found out you were a robot," the Alchemist explained, "things are rarely as they appear to be… the tyrant that found you, cleansed your memories, and used you as a tool was nothing more than an embodiment of everything I always despised about myself and tried not to be until I could do it no more. I humbly plead for your forgiveness, child."
"And I've been trying to ask yours all night, Aki!" Captain Shuggazoom told the ghost, "If I had never left you, your condition… your corruption… why I'd never-!"
"Do not blame yourself, Captain," the Alchemist explained, "protecting the city was our shared goal… you were just doing your job, and I was the one who failed you. I put too much faith in the containment grid and too little on the silver monkey. Thankfully, my efforts to redeem myself in my final moments of humanity had not gone completely wasted, as the hyperforce had become everything I hoped they'd be and more."
"The hyperforce!" Jinmay gasped, "They are still trapped in that weird haunted house on the opposite side of the park from the Super Robot! We should get going… uh… they should be… this way! No, that way. Um, that way? Uh no."
"A bewilderment spell," the Alchemist sighed, shaking his head, "I had used that particular kind of magic even before I was corrupted… mainly to keep strangers from getting near my lab… but who knows what kind of chaos it may cause used by my demonic side, especially since he continues to strengthen even in death."
"Only because you let him." stated Vex, "Two beasts... inside of all of us… one dark… the other light… always fighting… the one you feed… is the one who wins."
"But I always made the mindful decision to be a perfectly good soul," said the Alchemist, "why even after I was corrupted, I-"
"Exactly! You had tried… to be perfect…" Vex explained, "you… you wanted everything perfect… even me… you should've tried… to be… as your kind would say… 'human'."
"Vexhalia… why didn't you just tell me that before you left?"
"I… needed to… learn that myself."
Captain Shuggazoom cleared his throat, "Well, I trust that you two can discuss this along the way," he said, giving Vex the map, "it's up to you to help the hyperforce while I get the little lady back to the Super Robot."
"Me?" asked Vex, "Why?"
"You captured demonic souls and put them in objects before, Vex," said Captain Shuggazoom, "it's part of your job, and this is the Alchemist's battle, not mine. I had already failed him, but you won't."
"Please, my friend, stop blaming yourself for my mistake." said the Alchemist, "You are right, however, this has always been my fight. Are you sure you can get Jinmay back home safely? This bewilderment charm is a strong one, and you just gave up your map too-"
"Ha! Never needed a map to find your lab, did I?" Captain Shuggazoom said, with a wink, "The height I am able to fly at, the city itself is my map! Vex needs it more than I do. Good luck you two." With that said, he flew off.
Vex shook her head, "My training... has immune me... to many mind tricks," she said, checking the map anyway, "I am only using this… to double check… my bearings. Sterling would say it's the wise thing to do."
She checked the map, and remembered which end of the compass rose the Super Robot was in the park… the haunted house was in the opposite direction, but even with her immunity to mind tricks she struggled to know her way, as the eternal darkness spell did more then just cause a blackout; the sudden clouds were blocking the stars. Recalling what her maniac of a teacher, DeSoto, forced into her head when she was "training" to be an assassin. She recalled that moonlight can penetrate supernatural clouds, and if it was a crescent moon the angle of its points usually align with the Southern direction… that plan was flawed though, as the moon was full that night, but checking the time and seeing it wasn't midnight yet, so she used where the moon was positioned in the sky at the time to know her way. The direction of the wind also helped as she recalled which hemisphere of the planet Shuggazoom City (or at least, what's left of the still-being-reconstructed area) was on. Combined with the map, and the surviving park landmarks she was actually familiar with from when Chiro's father was a boy, Vex knew exactly where to go, and wasted no time getting there with the Alchemist's spirit following behind on one side of her and a brown satchel with a golden cross carried by the other. When they got to the stairs of the haunted house, however, she seemed to freeze in place.
"Why do you hesitate?" the Alchemist asked.
"You and… that monster… once shared the same body." Vex whispered, "you should… know… what holds me back."
"It is the mark, isn't it?" sighed the Alchemist, "The one my awful demonic side placed on you when he brought you back as a formless. The one that keeps you alive at a terrible price."
Vex nodded, "If I… confront… Skeleton King… directly… he'd use the mark… to possess me… make me… his puppet." she touched her forehead, feeling the pain that the tyrant's mere presence was causing her, "I do not want... to hurt... my family… not Chiro… not Sterling… not any of them… yet… I must risk it… for this… to work."
The Alchemist chuckled, his ghostly form flickering like candlelight as he did so, "That may be true," he stated, "but he won't be able to make you his puppet… if another version of him was pulling the strings."
Vex had only started to ponder about the situation when the fin on her helmet started to quietly beep and vibrate… it wasn't so loud to draw anyone else's attention, but it was enough for her to notice. Annoyed, she tapped on it in just the right way to undo the latch on it, allowing her to take the fin off and move it to her ear, speaking into it like a walkie talkie: "Who interrupts?"
"Auntie, it's me!" said the voice of a certain capuchin monkey at the other end.
"Cassia?" Vex groaned, rolling her good eye, "You are the only one... besides Skele-Mandarin… and my old Master… to figure out… the frequency… to my communicator. How did you… figure it out… anyway?"
"That's irrelevant, Auntie Vexahila! What's the hold up there?! I'm still having trouble calling Gibson, and I know the entire team has been stuck in that building for a while now! Whatever you are planning, you better get on with it RIGHT NOW!"
"Hush child." Vex said, in her most reassuring tone, "Hush… calm, Cassia. Your panic screams… will not… make the job… any easier. I am on the case… just… calm… and patience." She then returned the communicator to it's helmet-fin slot as though hanging up a phone, only moving her claw away when she heard it click firmly into place. She then shook her head, annoyed at the delay answering that call might've caused, and quietly envying the younger generation's satellite ears. "You heard… my surrogate niece… whatever plan you have in mind, creator… best get it done quickly."
"So," Chiro asked Skeleton King, "what lame plan are you going to try next?"
"You think you're so clever," Skeleton King retorted, "you tell me!"
"I don't think he has anything else, kid." said Sparx, as he polished his magnets.
"I'm with you, Sparx!" said Chiro, as he did a lightning kick to break open the cage, "Your Halloween plots are used up, Skeleton King! Monkeys, mobilize!"
At that signal, the monkey team burst out of the cage, weapons activated… The Skeleton King seemed dumbstruck. "What treachery is this?!" he yelled.
"We let you capture us!" gloated Nova.
"And you revealed your plan just as we anticipated!" added Gibson.
"We made certain you did not succeed." said Antauri.
"The trick's on you, Skeleton King!" Chiro concluded.
Skeleton King growled, "It matters not! You may have escaped the cage, but you'll never get out of my haunted house!" as he said that, he heard a knock on the front door, and heard a ghastly voice singing… an old souling tune from a time before the phrase trick-or-treat was invented:
"A soul cake, a soul cake/ please good fellow a soul cake/ an apple, a pear, a plum a cherry/ any good thing to make a soul merry…"
"Ah, it seems we have company after all." Skeleton King hissed, as he turned on the screen of the TV monster. There was indeed a trick or treater, with a large wolfskin for a costume, but she wasn't even standing on the trap door… in fact, she wasn't even standing in front of the obvious entryway, but leaning her back against the wall next to the door. A shadowy black monkey tail with bonelike markings stretched out and knock on the door again, as she got to the next verse of the old tune:
"...a soul cake, a soul cake/ please good misses a soul cake/ one for Peter, two for Paul/ and three for He who made us all."
The song and knocking got the hyperforce's attention, and made the directions to the exit obvious. In that instance, Skeleton King recognized his former double agent, Vex, and the game of hot or cold she set up to help her family escape, and he was not amused. "Grr! I will be back, monkey team!" returning to being a ghost, he fused himself with the new TV monster, "And sooner then next Halloween!" with that said, the TV Monster, with the Skeleton King's ghost inside it, flew into the fireplace and up the chimney.
"Well, okay," Otto said in a sing-song tone, "but you owe us double candy!"
"Come on, monkey team!" said Chiro, a smile on his face, "Let's go get Otto his candy! Everyone, follow that voice; we're out of here!"
While the hyperforce was being guided out of the haunted house, the TV monster was on the roof, and Skeleton King- looking down at Vex through the screen- gave a wicked grin as he looked down on her. "Celebrate your Halloween treat, hyperforce," he quietly gloated, "as it goes to show you are indeed oblivious to the real tricks I've put into motion for your future." He gave an evil chuckle, as he unfused himself from TV Monster and left it at an angle that will allow it to topple once the hyperforce exits the building… one last jumpscare for the approaching midnight hour before his real plan begins to kick in. While anticipating that, being the demonic ghost he really is at this point, Skeleton King figured the best form of attack against the old former assassin at the door would be to turn himself invisible as he floats down to the ground, and then reappear in a full blast of dark energy once he gets close enough. There is, in his opinion, no point in creating another Skeleton Droid to handle this particular opponent… the hidden curse mark on her forehead should subdue her and turn her into his slave if he got close enough and exposed her to his wrath, and even if she did… somehow… have enough willpower to resist that, there is no denying that she's a old and fragile old woman who depended on the last of his ooze to survive. Defeating her would be too easy… or rather… so he thought.
Upon sensing that Skeleton King's ghost was in front of her, and feeling the energies of her loved ones near the door on the other side of the wall behind her, Vex stopped singing, and pointed her claw towards the very spot his dark, unseen presence stood. Her one good eye glowed white, as she spoke in a voice that wasn't her own: "So, we meet at last… abomination!"
The Skeleton King, recognizing the Alchemist's voice, reappeared with an evil laugh. "Two puppets for the price of one," the demon jeered, "this must be my lucky night after all… and why wouldn't it be? It is, of course, the Season of the Skull."
"Alone… you had the power…" Vex spoke with both her own voice as well as the Alchemist's, "but together… the tables have turned." In that moment, the hyperforce makes it to the exit and sees the confrontation, as Vex reveals her satchel and pulls out a familiar looking mechanical eyeball… damaged, but otherwise in one piece.
Chiro's eyes widen, as he recognizes the artifact. "Flytor's eye?!" he stated, "Vex! How did you get that? I destroyed it when Mandarin captured me and tried to hold me in his clone factory!"
"Will... tell you later…" said Vex, speaking with her own voice, "for now… time for work." she smiled, as several flashbacks of when she said that before- to both a younger version of Chiro as well as Chiro's father, Ace, when he was a boy- before she lunged towards the Skeleton King's demonic form and put the plan into action. At first, she and the Alchemist's ghost within her acted in sync, as if his energy was an extension of her own, but none of the attacks were doing nothing to destroy their opponent. Both lost souls knew it wouldn't, and anticipated it, for destroying Skeleton King wasn't the plan at all… each attack was intended to steer the dark entity away from the haunted house and closer to a specific opening in the park, with the ground marked with specific runes to trap an unkillable entity into a personal object. The only problem with this specific trap is that Vex has to use her shadow attack from behind in order for it to work, and Skeleton King's "ghost" was aware of Vex's presence now that she's started corralling him towards it from the front. Of course, she and the Alchemist prepared for that when making the next step of the plan.
It is time. She heard the Alchemist's voice from within her own head, I'll distract him from the front while you spring the trap.
'Are you sure you can handle him?' she thought.
This is my demon… we've battled for control in the Dream Lands many times, and though I usually lose, neither of us can destroy each other. Not forever. We fight in reality this time; the playing field is level now… besides, remember what you told me this night: we don't have to be perfectly good, just good enough. Whatever happens, do not worry about me.
Hearing that, Vex nodded, then reached out both claws towards the Skeleton King and injected the spirit of his human self towards him. Her eyes return to their normal color, and she takes to a nearby hedge while the Alchemist keeps the spirit of his demonic self distracted by trying to yank his scepter out of his claw-like hands. While Vex was using the opportunity to get to the other side of the trap, the hyperforce, watching the whole thing, was feeling antsy.
"We got to help them!" yelled Nova, "Now!"
"Not yet, Nova." said Chiro.
"We have no idea what is going on," added Antauri, "but I have a sense that my beloved has done this sort of thing before."
"You honestly think you could stop me?!" Skeleton King screamed, as he and the Alchemist wrestled for his scepter, "You couldn't even muster the power to win a fight in OUR dreams! You are little more than a pathetic sham! A fraud! You are NOTHING!"
"Clearly we were two halves of the same coin," the Alchemist argued, "as I had just started thinking the same thing about YOU!"
"You thought yourself a hero… you were a fool! You thought studying the Dark Ones directly would help you use their power to undo the evil they embody… all you did was let them in so they can create me! You couldn't even face your own evil before I was born from it in your body!"
"Spoken like a true parasite!"
The Skeleton King threw the Alchemist aside, reclaiming his staff before giving his infamous evil laugh, oblivious to what he was hovering over, "Parasite? Nonsense!" he gloated, "Do you understand nothing about what the Dark Ones have truly done? Did you truly think I had been calling us the 'Skeleton King' just because of how I looked, or the theme of my minions and Citadel of Bone? The evil that stands before you had ALWAYS been there even before the Dark Ones chose it, strengthened it, CORONATED it… as it had to several dark lords of similar backstories before us, and several more to come."
"Liar!" the Alchemist yelled, as he struggled to float again, "I was a good man! A GOOD MAN!"
"Ha! Who's lying now?" argued the Skeleton King, "All you ever did in your life was act good… that's all it ever was… an act. You were NEVER as perfect as you had tried to be, and because the Dark Ones gave power to my side… the side of yourself you tried so hard to repress every time someone had wronged you, lied to you, or even broke a promise to you… all your hopes of creating a universe rid of evil shall NEVER HAPPEN!"
The Alchemist's mismatched eyes widened, "Let me make a few things clear, demon," he stated in a tranquil fury, "Captain Shuggazoom didn't break his promise, he merely overslept and kept his word too late-"
"I wasn't talking about that hero has-been! His disappearance was merely the final straw… no! I was talking about all the acquaintances you had met before!" Skeleton King waves his staff as he spoke, forming images of the Alchemist's past inside of a dark cloud, "Bullies who harmed you for your mismatched eyes… the murderer who killed your wife when your daughter was born… and do not get me started on your two insolent co-workers back on Koberiticara-"
"The Prometheus Project is in the past. Besides, as it is said in many parts of the cosmos: to err is human."
"Which is why I am an improvement!"
"No… you are an infection, and it is time I was cured of you. Vexahila! Now!"
Finally in position and hearing the signal, Vex summoned her living shadow as a means to activate the dark magic trap and paralyse the Skeleton King's ghostly form from behind. The demon howled like a rabid beast, as the runes around him began to glow, and as Vex gently rolled the Eye of Flytor into the glowing circle, aiming it so it was perfectly aligned with Skeleton King's scepter, sucking that and the monster holding it inside.
"You think you can get rid of the Skeleton King that easily?!" the tyrant's ghost screamed, "A prophecy I write on this Season of the Skull: be it through my escape, or the coronation of another, the dark throne shall not remain empty forever! A mere skeleton of a fool's former self shall be royalty, and the Dark Ones shall be feared and worshiped like the gods that they are, and the Chosen One… be it this one or the next… shall not live to see it happen, let alone stop it! In fact, as far as I know…" his essence was fused with whatever remains of Chiro's DNA sample from within the mechanical eye, transforming the Skeleton King's ghost into a pale, twisted, evil version of his own grandson and enemy, right down to a hollow and creepy version of Chiro's voice, "...should fate allow me to escape, Chiro, this form might be the closest you'll ever get to being there." And with one last wicked laugh, Skeleton King- now a ghostly anti-Chiro- finally got swallowed up into the Eye of Flytor on the command of Vex's holy incantation. The runic trap stopped glowing, and the mechanical eyeball fell right into Vex's claws.
"The task is finally done," said Vex, looking towards the Alchemist as she put the Eye of Flytor into her satchel, "you do not have to return to purgatory, now that you are finally rid of Skeleton King."
The Alchemist's ghost shook his head, "I may never be rid of my own demon," he explained, "even while it remains prisoner in your collection of dark souls. True, in the afterlife, he and I are separate entities, but the memories of us being one and the same live on, as does the weight of his sins on my shoulders. I'll have to return to purgatory until my debt is repaid, even if it takes more than a century to do so." he shook his head, "Honestly, there is nothing I want more then to reunite with my daughter in heaven, but if I do so prematurely, my demonic side might escape and be reborn in another. I shall not let my evil infect the cosmos… again."
The hyperforce approached the ghostly image of their creator, albeit with caution, but Nova seemed to rush towards him with the same sorrow that she held towards him when he tried to erase the monkey team's memories of him.
"I don't want you to go away again!" the gold monkey pleaded, "Please! Skeleton King is destroyed for good… his demonic presence is clearly sealed away. We just got you back! Please."
It was clear from the look on everyone's faces that Nova was speaking for the entire team, and if the Alchemist's ghost could only cry, there would've been tears in his eyes at that very moment. Instead he sighed, shook his head, and embraced the female monkey as only a ghost could manage. "Forgive me, dearest Nova," the Alchemist said, in a manner similar to the last time he held her with such affection… the very last time, "I should never have hidden the truth from you…" he looked to the monkey team, "...all of you… I was afraid that if any of you knew who you were truly fighting, you would've held back. You have no idea how proud I am of you all; despite all you found out, you saw your purpose through no matter what, and I can tell you intend to continue doing so." He put Nova down, and gently patted her head much like he did when she was a baby, "It is midnight… the bridge between the Season of the Skull and the Day of Saints… I shall stay with you in the land of the living until the sun rises; after that, I simply must go until next year. Please, try to understand."
Nova nodded hearing that, and the rest of the team was sharing a quiet look of agreement when a signal had suddenly… and finally… reached their robotic ears and Chiro's pin:
"Cassia to the Monkey Team! Cassia to Monkey Team! Do you read me?! Gibson? Chiro? Anyone?! Where are you?!"
"We read you, Cassia," Gibson said, "loud and clear!"
"We've ran into an old foe on our trick or treating route," Chiro explained, "but we managed to out smart him and win our escape!"
"Yeah! Then Vex and an old friend finished him off!" added Otto, "It was so worth the trouble, but I hope you got our costumes ready because I really want that candy! In fact, after being locked up for hours with nothing to eat, I NEED candy!"
"You've guys had me and Jinmay worried sick for hours and all you can think about is candy?!" Cassia's voice practically screamed, "What is with you knuckleheads?! And yes, Gibson, when I had used the term 'knuckleheads', that included you! I was counting on you to help plan a safe route, professor, so the team would only visit the homes they are familiar with!"
"Cassia, there is no need to be rude!" retorted Gibson, "Just because we've protected this city for years doesn't mean we know anyone in it… at least not personally… so… well-"
"Uh-huh," Cassia shook her head and rolled her eyes, "you guys are so lucky that Captain Shuggazoom managed to contact his more forgiving ex-girlfriends and their families for safe trick-or-treating locations shortly after getting Jinmay safely to the Super Robot."
"What?!" said Chiro, "Jinmay?! What happened to her?"
"Relax, Chiro, she's fine," said Cassia from the other side of the transmission, "she's just a bit bewildered after rushing into the park without a map looking for you guys!" she sighed, "Thank the heavens you guys are alright, but you do know I taught you those Halloween safety rules for a reason, right?"
"Worry not, Cassia," said Antauri, "your advice had saved us all, far more than you realize."
"Well, at any rate," said Cassia, "I have finished your costumes. They are with me in the main room of the Super Robot right now if you want them, but you better hurry… Halloween only comes once a year!"
"Roger that!" said Chiro, "We'll be right there! Over and out!"
Cassia was surprised to make an encounter with the Alchemist. Despite having grown up in a "haunted" house back on Earth, she had very rarely seen actual ghosts… at least with her eyes… but it didn't take long for her to talk with him as though they were old friends. She mentioned how much she missed Madam Esimia.
"If the seance allowed it," she admitted, "I would've brought her here to Shuggazoom… it was on her deathbed that she granted me my freedom from her services. Being honorbound, I had refused to leave for any other reason, despite having worked on my own rocket to do so for years." the capuchin monkey sighed and shook her head, "She would've loved to see this place… and she would've loved you… in spite of all you did."
"She is in a better place," the Alchemist's ghost reassured her, "one that I will spend many years of my afterlife earning a place in. Your mistress would be so proud of you."
Quickly enough, the conversation was interrupted as the hyperforce emerged from their rooms wearing Halloween costumes that are almost reminiscent of their original Spook Day masks… even Antauri had washed the black paint away in favor of a ragged white robe with a ghostly hood.
"Couldn't you have chosen something more original, Cassia?!" said Sparx, dressed in devil horns and a mustache, "I feel like an idiot when I'm dressed as a demon, and Nova is scaring me more in an entire witch get up then she did with that mask alone!"
"Oh really?" said Nova, tipping her new pointy hat, "I thought you'd find me… spellbinding." with that joke said, she did her creepy witch's laugh.
"Sorry, Sparx. Didn't I tell you?" Cassia explained, "I have been telling your story about your Season of the Skull adventure to the kids during my library fundraiser, and they had been asking to see those masks you wore even though I pointed out to them several times that they've been destroyed when you had freed yourselves from your constraints. So I took the time to make… safer… versions of those looks."
"Well, at least I won't need to bring my spellbook this year." said Gibson, marveling at his vampire ensemble in a reflective surface before making eye contact with Vex, "On that note, Vexahila, I've been meaning to ask you about that ritual and incantation you used to seal the Skeleton King's corruption-"
"Next year, blue," said Vex, "I promise. For now… being in… your own ghost story… is fright enough for… one Halloween. Tonight… you go… have your fun. I shall be here… when you get back."
"You're not coming with us?" aske Chiro, all dressed up and painted like the Frankenstein monster, "You'd have a great time trick or treating, especially in that wolf skin you were wearing when you baited the enemy."
"Besides, my beloved," added Antauri, "I am not sure the six people or less rule in this year's social distancing applies to robots. I would be glad to have you."
Vex shook her head, "I… don't really like candy."
Otto, dressed as a jackalope, thought for a bit, and then he perked up, "You like toothpaste and toothbrushes, right?" he stated, "didn't we tell you? We're saving the dentist's office for last! Dr. Jaws always gives toothpaste away to everyone on the holidays, even new holidays, and he'd let you choose any flavor you want! I'm sure you'd like to come for that."
Vex pondered, "I… never been… to the dentist…" she said, "but… you are right, green. I do love toothpaste." She gave a tiny smirk, put on her wolfskin, and nodded in agreement.
"Well," said Captain Shuggazoom, giving Chiro the electronic map, "I just added the coordinates to all the safest places for the Hyperforce to trick or treat: Mr. Gackslapper's house, Mr. Paulie, the families of the ex-girlfriends that don't want to kill me for ditching my dinner dates with them, and… of course… Dr. Jaws' dental office. I'd love to tag along, Jinmay needs to recharge and I offered to look after her. Besides, my old friend and I have some catching up to do before the sun comes up."
"I'll have to stay too," said Cassia, "I left a note on my door telling the trick or treaters in my apartment to come to the Super Robot if they want the treats I have in mind…" she removes her backpack and reveals it is full of bookmarks she had clearly made herself, decorated with bats, ghosts, pumpkins, and other Halloween symbols, "after all, in my opinion there's no better treat then a good story." She puts a bookmark into seven bags and gives one to each of her friends.
"Uh, thanks Cassia," said Chiro, with an awkward smile, "we'll use them later."
"At least it comes in a bag," said Otto, "now we can carry the good stuff! And I'm hungry!"
"Don't mind them, my dear," Gibson told Cassia, reassuringly, "I think your idea of a treat is perfect… although, I do wish there was time to make dinner when we come back, after all that time we wasted in Skeleton King's haunted house. I wouldn't want anyone on the team eating the candy before we sort through it. Oh! Speaking of which, I arranged a special treat for you, Cassia." He rushed to his room, and came back with a tiny creature in his hands, "This specimen is called a zoglidor, the only slug in the Nexxo-4 galaxy known to secrete candy!" He squeezed it, covering Cassia's face with purple goo.
"Yum," Cassia said, trying to be polite, "I'll taste it later."
Chiro knew the look on Cassia's face all too well, and tried to contain a giggle before composing himself. "Monkey team, it's time we got going," he said, "I'll catch up with you in three minutes."
Nodding in understanding, the Monkey Team and Vex made for the exit. Along the way, Vex… sensing the disgust of her niece… whispered to Gibson, "Blue… we need to talk."
As soon as he was alone with her, Chiro placed a hand on Cassia's shoulder and told her, "I'm not going to lie to you, Gibson gave me the same thing for my thirteenth birthday." he gave her a rag to clean up with before he continued, "It's a lot less disgusting when you try not to think of it too hard. Besides, I think he likes you."
"Thanks Chiro," Cassia said with a smile, as she started to wipe off the zoglidor slime, "you have no idea how much that means to me."
"Well, I better get going," Chiro said with a smile as he made for the exit, "Happy Halloween, Cassia!"
"Happy Spook Day, Chiro!" said Cassia, smiling and waving as her friend left. As soon as the group was gone, she headed for the kitchen. Since the Super Robot was her home away from Earth before she got her own apartment, she knows the inner workings of this lived-in machine like the back of her hand… most of the time. She chuckled at all the times she got lost inside the Super Robot before, and was glad this wasn't one of those times when she ended up exactly where she intended. "Gibson was right," she told herself, as she rummaged through the automated cupboards, "after what they been through, the team will need something other then candy to munch on… but… that zoglidor… such a redefinition of 'trick' and 'treat'. Almost makes me scared to ask what other weird things my new friends like to eat. This meal is for Halloween and All Saints Day… it has to be special."
Although she knows deciding what to make for dinner that night would be a challenge, however, Cassia took it in stride knowing that the team knew the Halloween safety rules… she knew that they will return with a lot of candy to sort through, and she'll have a better offer on the table, literally, to keep them full so they wouldn't eat the treats before sorting through them. At any rate, setting up the table was simple enough for this occasion; recalling her mesoamerican ancestry, she even set up a shrine for Madam Esimia, the Alchemist, Chiro's parents and Mandarin on the side of the table. "They're not perfect," she said, as she went through the cookbooks, "but they are still family, and facing fear to bring family and friends together is what this time of year is all about."
Meanwhile, outside the Super Robot, while the team was getting some real trick or treating done, Vex was having a serious talk with Gibson about his "gift" for Cassia.
"I honestly thought she'd be fascinated by the zoglador." Gibson stated.
"I believe you," said Vex, "but while… your heart… is properly aligned… the brain… does not substitute… common sense. Give it time, blue. You'll get it right someday… until then… try to remember… even after a year… being in a new world… with new customs… can be frightening. Please, blue… be gentle… with my niece."
Gibson nodded in understanding, when a sharp scream caught their attention.
It was only Otto, who noticed the address on their current and final stop on the route: Dr. Jeremy Jaws, DDS.
"Honestly Otto!" Gibson moaned, "I hadn't heard you scream like this since you were chased by clams with feet… of all the ridiculous-!"
"Pardon?" asked Vex, clearly confused.
"Don't ask." said Chiro, before turning his attention to Otto, "Come on, buddy! We've been trapped in the basement of Skeleton King's haunted house for half the night. Next to that, how scary could some trip to the dentist be?"
As soon as those words were spoken, the door to the dentist's office had creaked open, and Dr. Jaws, looking like a mad scientist with his tools and his lab-coat-like dental uniform, looked at them with an overzealous look in his eyes and said: "It seems you are all past due for your cleaning, hyperforce! Time to check your fangs for CAVITIES this Halloween!"
Chiro and the monkey team all freaked out hearing that (yes, even Antauri, in spite of the fact he is a robot), but Vex calmly approached the dentist, looked him in the eyes, and gently asked: "I heard a rumor you have toothpaste flavors other then mint. Is it so?"
I hope you all enjoyed this latest chapter, and I am open to suggestions for the next holiday, even if it isn't in chronological order on the calendar.
WingedWolf101, if you are reading this, I hope it wasn't too out of character to have Vex singing an old Samhain souling song on Halloween to bait whatever was left of Skeleton King's essence, but by my understanding she'd do anything weird to lull her enemies into a false sense of security before doing them in. Also, from your paintings, it is clear she loves brushing her teeth a lot in her spare time, so it shouldn't be a surprise she's the only one in this particular family who isn't afraid of going to the dentist despite the fact she's never seen one before. I hope what I wrote will inspire you, as I am hopeful to see some story about what Vex had always been up to on Halloween before she joined the hyperforce.
Happy Halloween!