5A/N: This story is based on Costume Quest, the Halloween theme game from Double Fine Production. It takes place after the events of Costume Quest 2. There will be several references to all the games so you can either buy the games or just watch the playthrough on youtube to understand what happen prior. Costume Quest is now an animated series of Amazon Prime. However I will not be referencing anything from the show since this story is based on the games. As always I don't own anything.
A time portal opens up and three kids in costume jumped out of it. Reynolds, dressed as a zombie cowboy (cowboy with green makeup), Everett, as a Zorro the last musketeer (musketeer costume with a Zorro sword and mask), and last but not least Sadie, as a gypsy priestess with voodoo powers (you can tell because she has a little voodoo doll and pins). (Hey they're just kids with big imaginations.) "So where are we?" Sadie asks. Scanning around it looks like they are just on the outskirts a large city. Far different from the suburban town of Auburn Pines they came from.
"Don't you mean when are we?" Everett joked.
"Knock it off," Reynolds snapped. Having his twin sister abducted by aliens has made him even more edgy than normal.
"Sorry man," Everett apologized. "But seriously, do you have any idea where and when we are?"
"Looks almost like New Repugia," Reynolds recalling the monster city from his last adventure when he and Wren traveled to the far future. "Only with a lot more people and a lot less monsters." Recalling how the last time he came to the future it was overrun with monsters and most humans hiding in the sewers just to get a tiny taste of candy.
"So we really are in the future?" Sadie said in awe. Taking in as much of the sights as possible. "So what do we do now?"
"Good question," Everett agreed. Looking at Reynolds.
"What? Me?" Reynolds stepped back not feeling comfortable with his friends staring at him.
"You've been here before right," Everett reminded him. Feeling a bit miffed that he missed out on the twins time traveling adventure.
"Uh sure," Reynolds trying to come up with a plan. "If this place is the same...then maybe Dr. White is at his old place as well!" Reynolds led them down the road only to have to turn around when he realized they were going the wrong way. Causing both Everett and Sadie to have some serious concerns about this trip.
The trio made their way through the city. Strangely no one seem to give a second glance to a bunch of kids walking down the streets in costume. That was until they found a sign stating that there's going to be some kind of parade later in the day and that kids are encouraged to come in costume. Reynolds quickly led them to what in an alternate reality used to be called the Dental Compound. The sinister headquarters of the Evil Dr White DDS. Now it seems to be a major hospital now called White Medical Center.
"Excuse me," Reynolds asked the receptionist. Who appears to be a Grubbin.
"Do you have an appointment?" the Grubbing receptionist asked without even looking at him. Too preoccupied with filing her nails.
"Uh no but I need to talk to Dr. White," Reynolds replied.
"Sorry but the head doctor is very busy on an important project. In fact he's waiting for a very important client so he can't be bothered, but I can pencil you in for..." the receptionist checking her computer.
"Project!" Reynolds perked up. Believing that it might be the very thing they came to the future for. "So when you say 'project' does that mean he's in a lab or something?"
"Of course," the receptionist rolling her eyes.
Checking the map of the hospital, Reynolds could vaguely see the similarities with the old Dental Compound, and where Dr. White's old lab used to be. Even though it wasn't labeled as a lab, Reynolds is certain that's where they'll find Dr. White. "The lab wouldn't be in section T would it?" he asked the receptionist just to make sure.
"That's right...Hey! How did you know about..." the receptionist finally looked up but it was too late. Reynolds and the others have already left. Knowing that her job is on the line, she quickly hit the security alarm button. Sending a squad of Trowbogs after them. Before long the kids were completely surrounded.
"I guess we have no choice," Reynolds giving his friends the go ahead to transform.
"I know you guys are just doing your jobs and all, but we're in a bit of a pickle." Everett apologized.
"I certainly hope this doesn't negatively affect my future self here," Sadie worried that her older self would get billed for any damages she cause. The trio were about to transform when Dr. White stepped in. Arriving to investigate the alarm.
"What's going on here? Why is the alarm sounding?" Dr. White demanded.
"Oh sorry to disturb you, Dr. White DDS," the receptionist stepped forward. "but these kids..."
"Kids?" Dr. White turning to Reynolds and the others. "Reynolds! Everett! Uh new girl! You made it!" he welcomed.
"Sir?" the receptionist feeling confused.
"This is my appointment," Dr. White clarified. "Didn't I tell you I was expecting them."
"Oh right, sorry but they never gave me their names." the receptionist trying to cover her butt.
"That's our bad," Everett apologized.
"Well kids will be kids," Dr. White laughed. "Come, come! I want to show what I've been up to for the past 20 years." Dr. White led the kids on. Leaving behind a very confused but relieved receptionist. Dr. White led the trio to his lab where they were amazed at how big it is. "impressed? I've spent over twenty years nonstop for this day." Dr. White bragged.
"So does that mean it's done?" Reynolds asked.
"Uh yes and no," Dr. White gulped.
"Yeah I figured something like this," Everett sighed. In all of his RPG adventures campaigns nothing ever goes smoothly.
"You see..." Dr. White began when several Repugnians wearing hardhats came stomping in. Holding up anti-Dr. White signs, and chanting 'Dr. White unfair!'. "That is my problem," Dr. White sighed sadly. The kids waited for a better explanation. "You see in order to get the device working on schedule, I kind of tricked them into working overtime. All we have left is to put everything together, but somehow they found out that I don't have enough candy to pay them. So now they are on strike."
"That is outrageous!" Sadie yelled. As a striving business women herself, she can't stand unscrupulous business practices. Especially when it comes to payment.
"I know. I know." Dr. White conceded. "But if I didn't, the project would have taken two more years. And I already know that Kroneculus will not send you any further than this point in time."
"Wait!" Reynolds getting an idea. "You said we just need to get enough candy to pay them?" Dr. White nodded. "Well then you're in luck. Because we're the best trick or treaters of all time!" Reynolds bragged.
"Hey yeah, we should be able to people around the city for donations or something!" Everett catching on.
"Yes, and today is the Founders Parade. Monsters love Halloween that practically every holiday has some version of trick or treating." Dr. White recalled. "But I should warn you. Not every Repugnian is happy about living here with humans. There are many that still hold animosities for what happened in the past."
"Don't worry. We know how to deal with them," Reynolds chuckled confidently while twirling his toy gun.
The trio went door to door. Asking people and monsters 'trick or treat'. While most happily gave candy, other who were not feeling festive, attack the kids. These attack were quickly quelled as the monsters found themselves no match for the kids costume powers. After about 2 hours of trick or treating, the kids manage to collect enough candy to pay off the workers. They quickly hurried back to Dr. White's lab. "Dr. White! Dr. White! We got candy!" Reynolds happily reported.
"Good work," Dr. White congratulated. Taking the bags of candy he turned to the strike workers. "Repugnians see here is your pay! And if you want it get back to work!" he announced. Seeing Dr. White dangling their paychecks in front of their faces reinvigorated them as they all eagerly prepared to work. Until...
"WAIT! That's not enough!" one employee squawked. Everyone turned to see a Crestwailer standing in protest. "We're here forced to work on holiday! We should demand bonuses!" the Crestwailer argued. The other Repugnians all started grunting in agreement.
"Look I promise that you'll all get your bonuses at next month's budget meeting!" Dr. White announced. While some of the Repugnians seem satisfied with that, others were being riled up by the Crestwailer who just kept adding demand after demand being completely unreasonable.
"Okay I can understand the workers plight, but that guy is just getting ridiculous." Sadie commented after the Crestwailer made his 42nd demand.
"You know there's something familiar about that Crestwailer," Everett whispered to himself. There was just something about this bird monster that really annoys him. Taking out a tiny slingshot, Everett took aim with a piece of hard candy, and manage to shoot off the Crestwailer's hardhat revealing his identity; causing everyone to gasp in shock! "I knew it! It's Araxia!" Everett sneered.
"How can you tell?" Sadie had to asked. As all Crestwailers look alike to her.
"Oh Araxia kidnapped Lucy once. Everett had a thing against him ever since." Reynolds explained.
"Yes it's me!" Araxia seeing the jig is up, removed his workers uniform and flew above the crowd. "You ruined my plan to get as much candy as I can to resurrect Big Bones!" This caused everyone to gasp as they all still remember the tyranny of Big Bones. "My plan may have failed, but I can still take that generous supply you've already gathered for me!" Araxia then charged at Dr. White and the bags of candy!
"Looks like he's this stages boss battle!" Reynolds and the kids quickly jumped into action! Transforming into their Costume Warrior mode. Reynolds as a zombie cowboy started shooting at Araxia causing him to fly off in another direction. Though he manage to shoot off one of his feathers. Sadie quickly grabbed the feather and used it on her voodoo doll. Taking a pin, Sadie poked the doll causing Araxia some pain. Forcing him to crash land. Now that he's grounded and within reach, Everett draws his Zorro sword and start dueling his archenemy. The kids finished him off using their ultimate moves; Reynolds (Zombie Cowboy) threw sticks of dynamite, Everett (Zorro the Last Musketeer) summoned three more musketeers for an All for One attack, and Sadie (Gypsy) drawing tarot cards with random effects. This time she drew the archer card that unleashed a rain of arrows on the poor Crestwailer.
"Wait! I give up!" Araxia pleaded seeing that he's no match for the costume warriors. With this conflict resolved, the Repugnians and Dr. White were able to come up with a reasonable agreement. Thus work on the portal machine continued. Upon finishing Dr. White gave Reynolds and the group returned to the time portal back to the present.
Inside a lone spaceship traveling through space, a group of Earth kids were celebrating their escape from their alien captors. Gorging themselves with candy that the aliens also stole from Earth at the same time the kids were abducted. Travis, the ship's pilot, was showing off using his feet to turn the steering wheel. With Wren, the self proclaimed captain, was acting as DJ. Pressing the buttons on the computer to make different sounds and calling it music. Only one kid wasn't in the festive mood. Lucy the ship's engineer and science officer.
"Um Wren, are you sure we should be doing this?" Lucy asked her leader.
"Oh lighten up Lucy. We escaped an alien slave pit, stole a spaceship, and have more candy than we'll ever see in our lifetime. What's not to love?" Wren rambled obviously from sugar high.
"Did you forget that this alien technology runs on sugar? If we eat too much of it, we might not make it home." Lucy pointed out.
"Please," Wren coughed. "You said it yourself. There's enough candy fuel for a round trip, and since we're not planning on ever going back to that crazy planet, we can sit back and enjoy half of the candy." Wren justified.
"Yes," Lucy nodded seeing her logic. "But that's only if things go smoothly. If we should run into any complications, we may need extra sugar fuel." Lucy argued.
"Complications? Like what?" Wren laughed confidently. As karma would have it, the ship's alarms began blaring at that moment. "Hey what's going on!?" Wren demanded.
Lucy rushed over to some of the computers. "We have incoming!" she reported.
"How many and where?" Wren acting all captain like now.
"About twenty and they are right behind us! I'm guessing that they're from that one planet coming to recapture us." Lucy theorized.
"Are you sure?" Wren wanting some verification first. She got her answer as the ships opened fire on them.
"I think they just made their intentions clear," Lucy trying to keep balance at the ship rocked from the impact from the enemy's weapons.
"Well then they won't get us without a fight. All crew, man your battle stations!" Wren ordered.
"Huh?" the rest of the kids shrugged in confusion since they don't actually have duties on this ship.
"Ugh," Lucy groaned as she activated the ship's weapons. "Alright, there are the controls for the ship's guns." Lucy pointing to a half a dozen control consoles.
"Sweet," Wren jumping into the first turret. "Who ever shoots down the most win a ton of candy!" she declared. Even without that reward, the kids would have still would have joined in. Treating the situation more like a video game than a life and death struggle. "OH YEAH! EAT THIS!" Wren screamed as she opened fire on their attackers, but not having much luck hitting any of them.
"Hey losers! What are you doing back there! Hurry up and shoot them out of space!" Travis complained over the intercom after their ship took another direct hit.
"Well maybe if a certain someone could learn to fly straight then maybe we can actually aim!" Wren shot back. Wishing that she could just shoot him in the back.
"Oh that's a good idea. Just be a sitting target making it easier for them to sink us!" Travis pointing out the obvious flaw.
"Get a room you two! Now is not the time for this!" Lucy said in frustration. She had her hands full directing the kids who weren't manning the guns and had them doing some emergency damage control around the ship. So she was in no mood having to listen to Wren and Travis bickering. Not to mention the fact that they need the coms clear in this state of emergency.
Heeding her words, Travis and Wren agreed to be more cooperative. Coordinating on where and when Travis would steer the ship giving Wren and the other gunners a chance to better target the enemies, while at the same time able to avoid taking too many hits. After about a good half hour, the kids manage to shoot down most of the enemy ships. Only three decided to retreat. "Well that was fun," Wren said sarcastically as she breathed a sigh of relief.
"You said it," Lucy agreeing with the sentiment as she finished patching up the last of the holes in the bulkhead.
"Travis set course for home," Wren ordered only for the alarms to sound again. "What's going on? Is it more enemy fighters?" she demanded.
"No we're out of fuel," Travis reported.
"How can we be out of fuel? We still had half a tank a few minutes ago!" Wren ranted.
"Well we did fire a lot of shots in that battle," Lucy pointed out.
"What's that got to do with anything?" Wren demanded.
"Putting it simply, the ship's weapons a also powered by candy. The more times they were fired the more we power we used up." Lucy explained.
"Oh great, because you can't shoot straight we're out of gas!" Travis huffed.
"Are you sure it's not because of your fancy flying?" Wren accused.
"Uh guys!" Lucy trying to get their attention.
"WHAT?" the two demanded. Lucy pointed out the window showing that they're about to crash on some planet!
"AAAAHHHHH!" the kids screamed in terror. Quickly reacting to this crisis, Travis instinctively pulls back on the controls, Lucy hit the emergency boosters, and Wren ordering the crew to brace for impact.
CRAAAAASSSSSHHHHHH!
The ship hit the ground hard, dragging on the dirt for almost a mile before finally stopping. After it stopped, the ship was eerily quite. There wasn't any visible movement from the outside. Inside all of the kids laid motionless.