Greetings, dear readers, and welcome to a new arc of 'Bayley's Universe'! Like I mentioned last time, I was hoping to have something written that would help coincide with what feels like the rapidly approaching spooky season (not that I'm complaining ...much, just feels like it's come pretty early this year). And so we have it with this arc! Just what possible tricks and treats may lie ahead for our favorite ponytailed cinammon roll and her friends and family? Read on to find out, and I hope you all enjoy, my dolls. =)

(Before the story, I would just like to take a moment to say rest in peace and paradise to wrestling legend Terry Funk, one of the greatest to ever step in a wrestling ring. My thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to his family and friends.)

(Just a heads-up: There's slight profanity in this chapter.)

The summer season had been a fairly hot one for the residents of Emerald Pines, possibly one of the hottest on record. So, to some, it felt like a huge relief when signs of the fall season and all it brought could soon be seen on the shelves of some stores. And even on the menus of some of the town's restaurants.

Blinking a bit in confusion, all Shayna and Sasha could do was watch as Paige happily munched on a cookie baked in the shape of a spider and frosted to look like one at one of the town's bakeries one mid-September Wednesday afternoon after school.

Seeing the looks on her friends' faces, Bayley couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. "Everything okay over there, you two?"

"Um, y-yeah, Bayley, everything's fine," Sasha said, still trying to make sense of why her raven-haired friend was eating cookies in that shape.

"I …guess they are," Shayna responded, her own confusion not helping the slight unease she was feeling. It had been a few weeks since she had had her own apology tour of sorts, but the brunette Gem could somewhat safely say she had made up with the humans she wasn't quite the nicest to in the past, the black-haired girl she was sitting here with being one of the many in that group. …So, now here she sat with a fellow Gem and two humans, feeling just as confused as said Gem as to why Paige was eating a cookie for a holiday that hadn't even arrived yet.

Swallowing the mouthful of cookie she had been chewing, Paige laughed a bit herself before asking "What? Can't a girl enjoy a nice spider cookie while she's hanging out with her friends?" before grabbing her frozen hot chocolate and taking a few sips.

"No, nothing wrong with that," Shayna said. "I'm just feeling confused as to why. I mean, we're nowhere near Halloween season, so I just don't quite get why the spooky cookie. Or, hell, any of the Halloween stuff that's already available."

"Oh, Shayna. Poor darling Shayna," the raven-haired girl shook her head with a few laughs. "I'll have to do my best to show you all of the fun you can have when it comes to the most awesome and spooky fun day of the year. Just trust me. You'll love me for this."

"O-OK, Paige. If you say so," Shayna said with a slightly nervous smile. So, while she had a slight handle on human holidays and just what some of the traditions were with said days, it just felt weird celebrating one of those days a bit of time before its actual date. …But, she was a good sport. She could play along with stuff like this. She'd humor Paige and see just what Paige had to show her.

Meanwhile with Sasha, she wasn't quite feeling in the Halloween spirit just yet either. But, for her, there was a different reason behind her not quite feeling in the mood for anything spooky just yet.

"Whoa, really, Sash? You guys are gonna start talking about musicals in your Drama class? That sounds awesome!" Bayley chirped.

"So you say, Bayley, but I don't quite know," Sasha said as she stirred her straw around in the strawberry milkshake she had.

"Huh? Why do you say that?"

"Well, it's because I'm not exactly the best singer. I just don't want to embarrass myself in front of my class."

"Aww, don't worry, Sash. I'm sure Mr. Hardy'll let you guys have some practice time in class," Bayley said, not paying much mind to the fact that she had grabbed one of the Halloween cookies Paige ordered, this one shaped and frosted to look like a jack-o-lantern.

"I'm sure of that too, Bayley. But, I'd at least like to maybe practice a bit before then.

"Hmm. Yeah, I can see why you say that," the ponytailed brunette said as she began to think a bit.

Having taken a sip of her own vanilla milkshake, Shayna suggested "Why not just do some practice stuff at home before school? That way, when it'll be your turn to sing and dance around, you won't feel so nervous or stage frighty."

"Ooh, that's a great idea, Shayna!" Bayley chirped. "And I think I may know the perfect person you can practice with."

"Really? Who?" the magenta-haired teen asked.

"Uncle Seth! After all. Remember how it seems like he's always liked stuff like plays? Maybe he can help you out with the singing stuff with your musicals."

"Huh. I didn't even think about asking him. Thanks for the suggestion, Bayley. I'll be sure to do that when we get back home," Sasha nodded her thanks to the smiling ponytailed brunette. Maybe Seth would be happy to help her out with practice. After all, it did seem like he would always want to have a main role in the plays they would both attend years ago. So, maybe, just maybe, he'd be okay with helping her out with this. 'But I won't know until I ask him,' Sasha thought as the group finished and paid for what they ordered before leaving the bakery and heading to their homes.

"Whoa, really? I didn't know Seth was in plays years ago," Bayley said as the pair made their way up the hill home. "He just doesn't really seem the type, if you ask me."

"Yes, well. Seth can be one that can have a bit of a flair for the dramatic at times. So, I'm guessing that's something that he decided to work into some of the characters he'd have in plays. And I have to say he'd get many comments and great reviews from people that would attend any production he'd be in. He'd even gain many admirers because of his performances," the magenta-haired Gem said with a light laugh, memories of what she just said coming back to her a bit.

"Aww, that's awesome! Well, with a partner like Seth, I'm sure you'll be able to get a good handle on stuff for musicals."

"I sure hope you're right about that. I really do," the magenta-haired Gem said as the pair climbed the steps up onto the porch. Only to be greeted by the sight of a box on the doormat. "Huh. This is weird. What's this box doing here?"

"I don't know, Sash," Bayley said. Bending down to pick up the mystery box, a look at the address label drew an excited squeal from the brunette.

"Bayley, what is it? Is everything okay?" Sasha asked, feeling a bit caught off-guard by this sudden outburst.

"Huh? Oh yeah yeah, Sash, everything's okay. I'm just surprised by this."

"Oh. Well, ..what is it?"

"I dunno," Bayley said as she shook the box, only to hear something moving around inside of it. "But, whatever it is, it's something my dad sent me. I can't wait to see what it is!"

Is there nothing that having some spooky cookies after school can't do to help out with starting to spread around spooky season vibes? It seems to be doing the job for Paige. ...And it looks like Shayna may be wanting to learn a bit about what makes Halloween so great. Maybe she'll learn just what from our favorite gothish cinnamon roll. Moving away from that and to what gives this arc its namesake, Sasha seems to be feeling nervous about what her class will be discussing as part of their next unit in class, that being...*insert slightly dramatic music sting here*...musicals. At least Bayley and Shayna had some helpful advice for how Sasha can beat her stage fright. One girls day out after school later, Bayley and Sasha are headed home where, upon arriving, they're surprised by a mystery box that they later find out is a gift to Bayley from Tyson. Just what could be in this mystery box ("What's in the box?!" to borrow a movie quote)? And will Seth help Sasha out with musical practice? We shall find out...next time! Until then, don't forget to RR please. =)

(Looks like we got a bit of history about how Seth and Sasha were in the past. And given what Sasha said, sounds like Seth'll be a fine teacher.)

(Stay safe, cool, and healthy out there, lovelies. *sends love and positive vibes out to you all*)