Official Halloween Contest *Prizes Announced!*

[Lady Leaf]

[atrb=cellpadding,7px,bTable][bg=black] Halloween Contest Prizes Well, as some may know and others may not know, Halloween is my absolute FAVORITE time of the year. This year, however, I will be getting my wisdom teeth pulled instead of my original plans *Tears* So, to cheer myself up I’ve decided to hold a Halloween Contest! After talking with SG, this contest will have FIVE categories! (\o/ PRIZES FER ERRYBODEH) First up, SPRITING - SPOOKY POKEMON

[/u]! Not good at spiriting? That’s ok. They don’t have to be anything grand. They can range anywhere from simply colour swaps to full out creepy changes!

Second, SPRITING - TRAINER COSTUMES[/u]! Take a trainer sprite and dress it for Halloween, simple as that~! You'll receive some slight bonus points if it definitely looks like a VC char (or even if we can at least tell it is after you say who), but you're also allowed to just dress up stock trainers from the game, like Lass, Fisherman, or Youngster. (Due to sheer levels of awesome, we will not allow Youngster Joey to be dressed as a Rattata. This would automatically put him in the Top Percentage, and provide an unfair advantage. *SHOTSOHARD* X'3)

Third, DRAWING - SPOOKY POKEMON[/u]! Similar to spriting, just give us a good spooky Pokemon something, be it elaborate or just silly.

Fourth, DRAWING - TRAINER COSTUMES[/u]! These DO have to specifically be VC chars, though if you want to do something like just draw in Paint on top of an FC pic, you're welcome to.

*- Artistic merit certainly COUNTS in all of these, but design/ideas are MOST important~

And finally, WRITING[/u]! Nothing too long! (You don't have long to do it, after all!) Just a short spooky little fanfic with VC characters or Pokemon in general. Should include at least one of your own chars, but can include others's as long as you're tactful in your portrayal.[/color] [/center]

The Challenge

1. For Spriting and Drawing categories, choose a Pokemon species, trainer class, or VC character and claim it by posting here. It cannot be one someone else has already claimed. However, each species/char can be claimed once per category, so one person might end up spriting Pikachu and another drawing it, etc. (Though you're allowed to claim it for both.) Writing can skip this step.
2. Create your work. It can range from simple orange and black colour swaps to full huge changes, or from one-paragraph so-bad-it's-good blurbs to few-page short stories.
3. Post your creation, wait for judging, and claim your prize!
4. Contest ends at 12:01am EST on the 1st of November. If you are late you cannot win full prizes.
5. You can enter more than once, but you can only receive the Entry Prize once, and you may only win actual prizes in up to two categories (and only one prize per category, obviously). Odds of winning in more than one are fairly low and are mostly just a measure against potentially low total entry numbers.

The Prizes

For each prize, you can decide which character whatever goes to.

Entry Prizes - For EVERYONE who enters, including the big winners!
Five Tokens to divide AS THEY SEE FIT among their chars, and One Random Egg! These have a 67% chance to be purebred, a 30% chance to be a two-species hybrid, and a 3% chance to be a THREE-species hybrid! 8'D (SG is excited by this.)

Third Prizes - Each category's third place will receive:
$500 and an unevolved Dark, Ghost, Poison, or Bug-type of choice. (No chance of special color.)

Second Prizes - Each category's second place will receive:
$1000 and any* Dark, Ghost, Poison, or Bug-type of choice. (Normal mods-roll-dice odds of color.)

First Prizes - Each category's first place will receive:
$2000 and any* Pokemon of choice, in their choice of a spooky Melanin-disorder color! (Alb/Leu like ghosts, Mela like darkness, or Abun for spooky dark marks. SG must approve Abun markings to make sure they're not only marked enough, but creepy enough. xP)

GRAND PRIZE

[/u][/color] - Once the others are decided, Kero shall choose between the five First Prize options to declare a Grand Prize winner! In the event she can't decide, she may ask SG or other staff to be extra judges or simply opt to put up a poll. This ultimate winner shall receive, in ADDITION to his or her Entry and First Prizes:

Any* Pokemon in any color of choice! Five MORE tokes TO DIVIDE AS YOU SEE FIT! And a drawing by Kero and/or SG depicting one of the winner's characters or Pokemon as the King or Queen of Halloween! (Details of this to be worked out after winners are chosen; we reserve the right to negotiate. Please allow up to 6 to 8 weeks for delivery completion. X3)


(* = "Any" Pokemon excludes legends, obviously, and fossils for second and first prizes. Grand prize can choose fossils. Also, for any of them, pseudo-legends are allowed, but only in their unevolved form. That is, you can get a Deino, but not a Hydreigon. :3)

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Examples


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(EDIT: Thinking on things a bit and seeing how slow entries are so far with only a few days to go (\o/ not that we don't hope for many more to suddenly flood in), SG thought she'd add a note. In the event that not enough people compete at all, you CAN PLACE in more than two categories. (I'll discuss more details of that with Kero later.) However, you will only be able to receive PRIZES for up to two. Still, bragging rights are cool, right?)

[atrb=cellpadding,7px,bTable][bg=black] Halloween Contest Sen: *Clears throat* On behalf of Leaf I am here to inform you all that regretfully no one will be receiving prizes for this event. Also, Santa put you on his naughty list. Errr… I mean the Pumpkin King… or wait… does he a list? Umm… Never mind, scratch that. *Takes prizes and flees to the basement* Bwhahahaha … aha… …. Alright! Well, after finding, and locking Sen back up in Felis’s basement, I’m happy to announce you are all getting prizes! \o/ But before I tell you who won what, I’m going to explain how it works. I allowed everyone to win in everything they entered, however, you can only pick Two prizes if you won more than once. For those who won in the same event twice (it means there wasn’t another entry to fill the spot) you can only have the prize from the highest place you won. (For example, if won 1st and 3rd, you can only have the 1st place prize) Why? Because Sen did something to other prize. He’s like that. Anyway! With the wave of my wand I create a white pumpkin and the list of winners! The Winners! Spriting - Spooky Pokemon 1st Place - Tere’s Gallade 2nd Place - Elayne’s Ekans 3rd Place - Jay’s Torchick Spriting - Trainer Costumes 1st Place - Jay’s Jester Black Jack Spade 2nd Place - SG’s Battle Princess Kali (Sen: Yue might even have to fight off me 8U) 3rd Place - SG’s Nami with her hair bleached (No prize; Sen ate it) Drawing - Spooky Pokemon 1st Place - SG’s Creepy never sleep at night, make me cry, eat your soul, Zoroark 2nd Place - Ink’s Witchy woman (Sen: Be a Man! *Bonks Sen* Owie... ; . 3rd Place - Dare’s Vampire Mewtwo <3 <3 <3 Drawing - Trainer Costumes 1st Place - Elayne’s Jacktoria Vampires 2nd Place - Ink’s Mikey/Sanja 3rd Place - Jay’s Jack and Vicki! (Sen: ; -; He could suck my blood if he wanted!) Writing - Spooky Story 1st Place - Wind’s ‘Real Fear’ 2nd Place - Jay’s ‘Story’ 3rd Place - Jay’s ‘Second Story’ (No Prize - Sen hid it and can’t remember where)

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And now for the drum roll please, for this prize was really, really hard to pick.
However, with the hair on my chinny chin chin…
THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER

SongofWindchimes’s Spooky Story!
Yup, I loved it so much I picked it over the pretty, pretty pictures *Snuggles them all*


And for SG cuz no one did it yet;
Species: Melanistic Caterpie x Illumise
Hatch: 11 - 11 - 11
Sen: *Steals*
No! Bad Sen >U
Sen: *Slowly puts it back...*

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[Jay]

8U sounds like fun~
I claim Torchic for the spriting *shot*

[DJ Boomkitty]

Officially claiming Mewtwo. I'm drawing him on the ever-so-lovely ms paint. Cause I don't have a tablet or anything. Lawl.

[Ball Rat]

So I decided to randomize my choice and I ended up with Gallade. X3 This should be... interesting. This is specifically for spriting, since I really can't draw to save my life, especially not human-shaped things. XD; I might decide to do a trainer sprite after I finish the Gallade. o3o

[Admiral Striker General]

X'3 CONTEST UPDATED. Be sure to read the new stuff guys, and please if you would edit your posts to specify which category you're claiming things for (or if you're claiming them for both Pokemon ones I guess x3).

[Rarity]

I'd like to claim Ampharos for both spriting and drawing, and I may also do a trainer edit~

[Maid Melody]

Mmm Elayne will do Arbok for the pokemon sprites and Vicki and Jack (with Jay's permission of course) for drawing a trainer costume

[Maid Melody]

SPOILER: Click to show

[Inkythulhu]

I'm doing both drawing contests. :3 Drawing/claiming Flareon, and I'd love to do a Halloween pic of Fish's Mikey and my Sanja. <3 (Still need to ask him.)

[Ball Rat]

Since the deadline is quickly approaching and don't feel as though it's fair if I add a horse Pokemon for my "Headless Gallade", here he is. X3

[Admiral Striker General]

I claim Spinarak for spooky spriting.

[Admiral Striker General]

XD I think its beeyooteeful Darehkinz, hush yer mouth.

Also, I think I'll claim Zoroark and Skitty to draw. X3 And.... X'3; I still can't decide which trainers to use. I'll do trainer sprites of Kali and 'Nami'-sort-of. x3

8'3; I may do the Skitty later for lulz.

[Jay]

Mmmmm

SPOILER: Click to show

:I not very creative... Jack's a witch/vampire whose taken Ven/Vicki a pirate hostage and is drinking her blood *shot*
Alternatively...

Vengeance: *eating a corndog*
Jack: ....can I have a bite?
Vengeance:..............sure?
Jack: thanks! *chomps neck*

xD; no I don't understand it either, don't try to *shot*


Jester Black Jack Spade would like to battle
Jack: GO Hollow!
Jester Jack has released a Dusknoir

SPOILER: Click to show

It was that time of year again: Halloween, and for the characters residing in Seta Sojiro Jaybird Remamru Shindou’s mind, it was either a time to be merry or a time to question if the god of their universe was going to take this time to abused them. Either way, they did their best to be merry for now, in hopes that maybe they would elude or possibly appease the god. For those in the land of Era who were more awake than some, it seemed, at least for now, a pleasant evening.

Haiiro Navi sat with his back against a tree and his arms crossed in front of him. Being one of Jay’s older and more dynamic characters, he’d traveled from land to land and had come to expect that the mysterious god-bird would try to scare him. Quite frankly, he no longer cared to work himself up into such a worry about it and therefore simply waited for the inevitable. Sitting across from the dark haired man in a paradoxical older-younger way was Nathan Atra who, having lived supposedly longer but had existed a shorter amount of time, was rather sure he could stand whatever terrors the Halloween brought. In his lap sat a Gardevoir, Amia, who had her arms loosely crossed in front of herself.

To the right of the redhead sat a green- possibly teal- haired man looking rather comfortable against his own tree. A good deal of red colored Alvaro’s cheeks though it was far from being embarrassed or in love. No, he was feeling rather sick after having eaten more than his fair share of candy. Off to another side sat Black Jack Spade crossing his purple stocking legs and setting his arms. He was dressed in some sort of cross between a wizard and a witch having both the stockings and hat of a witch but a cloak of a wizard.

“Anyone know where everyone else is?” asked Jack rather casually finally unfolding his form a bit and stretching.

Nathan looked sideways and brought a finger to his chin. “Lord Feliciano has taken the young Lady Rosalba out trick-or-treating, Miss Gwendoline is probably off at her party with Lord Romano… Ieri is no doubt still looking for the queen, Seles following after, a Lyall- er- Lancer is off at another Halloween Party. Young Lady Iliyasviel has dragged Lord Nikolai out trick-or-treating though that probably changed a bit since I last heard. Indiana and Luana Indigo went back home to their ‘home world’ for a short bit. Nurse Jayme – hm… Haiiro do you know where he is?” Nathan stopped and directed his question at Haii who leered back for a moment before sighing and rubbing his temple.

“I heard he went trick-or-treating with some kids or something,” Haii answered back dryly. Nathan nodded and went back to his explanations again.

“Ah, and previous Lord Lance is somewhere in Era. Hard to keep track of his movements as of late….I believe Miss Nami was supposed to come but supposedly fell sick at last minute… something about a Spinarak…..Nero Ishi had been here earlier, but seems to have wandered off now….Okita Souji went to Tree-Top Town.. Raphael chose to visit some friends, Gun Woman Temera ----oh there you are.”

The sudden movement through the brush could then be heard as Teme stepped forwards with a rather harsh scowl on her face. She was in a bad mood, to say the least of it. Upon seeing Jack, Teme tensed. “YOU!” she started. Jack blinked suddenly and was on his feet in an instant ready to dart the moment he heard a bullet.

“Miss Temera sit down, it’s Halloween, and a death on such a date only lays curses on us from our .. charming goddess Jaybird….” Nathan said rather sharply causing Teme to freeze and take a step back. Grunting, she sighed and finally sat down.

“Fine, we’ll make peace for today,” she grumbled as she leered at everyone especially a certain purple haired man, and, upon seeing him, a certain dark haired one.

“Ah yes that leaves Yue…probably at work as always,” Nathan sighed dryly shaking his head.

“What about Sebastian?” Alvaro piped up still looking a bit more off his rocker than usual.

“Ah yes, he traveled out of Era and into retirement,” Nathan said rather quietly which in turn caused a few to sigh quietly as well. That was something sad for all no questions asked. After a brief moment of honorary silence, Jack realized he was still standing up and finally sat down again.

“Ok~ ready for some ghost stories?” the purple haired man grinned. Though he had been rather depressed earlier after realizing almost no one cared about his birthday, he’d managed to ick himself up and not resort to drinking… by deciding it was high time to get the few people around and swap some scary stories.

Haii grunted a little in a sort of ‘fine’. He was in a bad, somewhat paranoid, mood, and in all honestly, he would probably have been happier just getting up and leaving then and there if not for the fact that left him alone on Halloween. Nathan nodded his head rather easily. He was actually rather pleased with the idea of swapping stories…seeing as they were stories. “Sure,” Alvaro grinned. Like he was going to be scared considering what he’d worked with, but why not and see what everyone could do? Teme just grumbled to herself and nodded.

“I’ll go first~” Jack grinned clapping his hands together. Ripper hissed in the back of Jack’s mind, and for a brief moment, the purple haired man went pale. However, he recovered quickly and smirked again. “Years and years ago, there was a small village in Era known as Meadows City. It was quiet, peaceful, and the people were pleasant… till one day a man in a cloak appeared…They thought he was just a traveler, and when he asked for a place to stay in an inn, they didn’t worry too much. However, that night, a lightning storm struck! The innkeeper sighed, he probably wasn’t going to get any more business and instead turned towards the man who had asked for a room and started to chat with him. ‘So where are ya from?’ the innkeeper asked, yet rather than replying, the man simply sat in silence. It became awkward as shit, so the innkeeper dropped the question quickly asking how far the man had traveled instead. The man continued not to answer... the innkeeper was growing a bit nervous now and rather than say any more started to look out the window. Suddenly a flash of lightning crackled and lit up the room before a bang was heard and the lights went out! The innkeeper jumped around and was about to apologize to the man for the power, yet even though he could see the chair that the man had been sitting in… the man was gone.”

Jack stopped a moment quickly eying everyone. Haii was staring blankly almost into space. He was worried about his own affairs rather than those of someone in a story. Nathan at least looked moderately interested while Amina was quite visibly shaking quite frightened despite herself,. Alvaro’s previous expression had shifted somewhere in the story, and for all his passive looks previously, he was staring now straight at Jack. Teme had forced herself to remain calm but was fidgeting ever so slightly. Smirking, Jack continued.

“Worried now for the man, the innkeeper began to call out ‘Sir? Sir are you there?’ he asked, yet there was no reply. Starting to walk about the area slowly, the innkeeper looked about through the darkness. His heart had started to quicken… ‘boom boom boom’… ‘I’m sure he just went to the kitchen or maybe upstairs… I’ll check both’ the man said, yet when he came into the dimly lit kitchen, he could not see any sign of the man. However……..there was a mirror on the other side of the kitchen, and as he looked into it, he….he…he saw the reflection of…of…..of---“

“GET ON WITH IT DAMN IT!” Teme barked causing Haii to physically jump, Nathan to blink, and Amina made a very quiet whimper. Alvaro looked virtually unfazed but did look sideways to stare at Teme. “I mean…” Teme growled ever so slightly under her breath and rubbed the back of her neck trying to soothe the hairs that were standing up there.

“He saw a reflection of himself….except his head was missing!” Jack finished rather quickly. Teme’s eyelid twitched violently. Nathan brought a finger to his chin already associating some sort of headless horseman theme to this, but what none expected was the sudden laugh escaping from Alvaro. Jack looked sideways and frowned a little as the light green haired man laughed rather cheerfully. “What?” Jack asked trying to keep Ripper’s edge out of his voice.

“That’s not scary…” Alvaro smiled lightly. Teme unintentionally growled getting ready to defend that it was which was why she was reacting before Alvaro continued. “I’ve actually seen corpses with heads missing, and after a while… neh…” Haii raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.

Jack frowned even more but raised an eyebrow. “Alright… you tell a story then,” he said cutting off his own story rather quickly in turn. Light purple eyes stared at darker purple ones for a second or two before dropping.

“Ok…” Alvaro answered back continuing to stare at his own lap before finally looking up with a smile on his face. “It had been a peaceful April Night. Though I’d been working all day and was tired, I stayed up talking to Undertaker, the old man I lived with at the time.” A…story about himself? was the question that passed through everyone’s mind, and more interest seemed to grow from this. “He was making fun of my hair again… saying it was too long even when I kept it up…but anyways… a knock came to our door. I’d gotten up, walked over, and opened the door, and a dark blue haired man dressed in an all-black suit was standing there. Well he said something about his sister having passed and that he wanted to talk to Undertaker about it, so I let him in…” he hummed lightly. “Yet when Undertaker saw him, he stopped smiling and told me to leave… so I walked outside figuring maybe they knew each other and wanted to catch up privately or something. Anyways, I went outside and walked around a while. However, as I’d started to head back to the house, a scream hit my ears. I didn’t jump or run over or anything. A lot of the times people cried around Undertaker, so I figured eh whatever ya know? However, some banging sounds followed, and it perked my interest. I moved a bit faster but not that much… Yet when I pushed open the door… The entire room was bashed and crashed and slashed, and Undertaker was lying on the ground.”

“Stop!” Teme barked causing Alvaro’s eyes to shift over to her. “Er…fine keep going…” Alvaro cleared his throat and looked around once before continuing again.

“I rushed over to him and asked what had happened, but he was out cold as death. I looked around, and suddenly the man from before just suddenly appeared. I stared at him. He stared back. And slowly… very slowly… horribly very very very slowly….so slowly that it almost seemed frozen in time… a hand was raised and moved towards---“

In another moment, Alvaro howled loud and clear and caused Teme to jump hard pull out her guns, and roar viciously. Jack, who rather than be afraid of the howl, reacted to the sight of the guns and quickly dashed behind a tree. “What?” he asked rather quickly but didn’t receive any sort of answer. The hell…. Ripper growled causing Cas to squeak in BJ’s mind. Nathan’s muscles tensed around Ami’s waste, and she squeaked right after.

“THE FUCKING HELL!” the blonde woman roared, yet Alvaro was laughing rather hard now holding both sides falling over in a fit of giggles. Teme literally face/palmed and groaned at having fallen for it. Haii, who had bitten the inside of his mouth in the process, swore quietly under his breath before shaking his head slowly. “Boy I swear I will…” Teme growled looking back up at Alvaro who was continuing to laugh.

Just then… a cracking sound echoed out from somewhere far off. All the story participants tensed, and multi-sets of eyes traveled towards where it had been heard. “Alvaro I will kill you if that was you…” Teme swore quieter now.

Alvaro who had suddenly drawn quiet shook his head. “That wasn’t me…” he mumbled as though needed to confirm this with words.

Haii’s eyes narrowed. Damn, what the hell now? “Whoever you are, get out here!” he ordered causing the group to stare at him. Standing up, Haii crossed his arms leering into the darkness. “You heard me.” Despite this, the area had gone silent again save for a low hum that was now taking over the area.

“N-nathan…” Ami whispered squirming a little in her seat. Nathan said nothing but was looking around the area inquisitively now.

“Ami do you sense anything?” was the question the redhead finally posed back to his wife. Realizing she had such psychic potential, Ami closed her eyes and began to try and feel the air pressure around.

A sudden scream split the air!

Heads turned this way and that, yet one was missing. Where had… Teme gone? “Shit,” Haii growled looking around quickly. “Where’d she go?” he demanded as he looked around at everyone.

Jack hadn’t realized he had shut his eyes until he opened them. Looking about, he fidgeted before finally coming out from his hiding spot. “What….but…” he frowned but said no more on the subject.

“We have to find her!” Ami’s thoughts broke out causing everyone to jump in retaliation.

“Don’t do that again!” Haii roared causing Ami to falter and fall silent again. Growling and rubbing his temple, Haii tried to think over what to do.

“We should go out looking for her…” Jack said aloud.

“And find out what is going on…” Nathan agreed rather quickly.

“And get ourselves killed in the process..” Alvaro sighed as though this were too obvious. Everyone fell silent again.

“And what do you suggest then?” Nathan asked looking at Alvaro who simply shrugged his answer back. Sighing, Nathan looked around again. “Ami can you sense where she went?” Ami who was physically trembling now, nodded her head slowly closing her eyes again and trying to find the emotions of Teme.

“She-she-I … I can’t sense her…” Ami whispered quietly blushing from embarrassment at both being so shaken and from her own insecurity. No! She was with Nathan >< It was going to be alright… right?

“Shit,” Haii answered back shaking his head before stepping a bit closer to the--- AHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Haii’s pupils vibrated from the scream darting around for the source, yet rather than find the object that had caused it, the blue spheres settled on what wasn’t there…. Alvaro. “JAY! Jaybird this isn’t funny!” Haii roared swearing at the god of their universe he was all too aware of when it came down to it.

Nathan’s hand was suddenly raised and cupping Haii’s mouth shut. “Don’t swear…” he mumbled continuing to look around. Haii had to fight the urge to bite the hand that was over his mouth and instead settled for pulling away quickly. Jack was trembling now. Pale as a sheet against his dark clothes, the purple haired man stood there looking panicked yet unable to move.

Haii fidgeted a moment before suddenly turning and taking several steps away from the ‘camp’ towards the forest that lay beyond only to be seized by Ami. “Please! Don’t do that… we don’t know what’s out there, and it could prove….bad to go…” Ami whispered managing to keep herself calm.

However, Haii had other plans. Whipping around he pulled away from the Gardevoir and backed up. “Like hell… I’m going to find out what is going on,” he said bluntly back before turning and walking through the forest. Watching this, Nathan averted his eyes and pulled Ami closer to him. The sounds of Haii’s walking seemed to slowly disappear into the distance.

“And then there were three….” Nathan mumbled only to freeze, eyes wide, when he could no longer find Jack. When had he--? There hadn’t even been any sort of noise! What was going on? “Jack? Black Jack?” Nathan questioned, yet the air was still. Ami whimpered slightly, and for an honest moment, Nathan cringed shaking his head slowly.

And then a flock of birds exploded into the air… and all was dead.

SPOILER: Click to show

“CASSSSSSSSSIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!”

Jack’s eyes flashed open staring up at the ceiling above him as the sound of Halloween music boomed next to his head, and in a split second, he was sitting up with his hand over his mouth feeling a wave of nausea. His heart raced violently in his chest resonating in his ears and melding with the song that was playing. After a moment, the hand removed itself from Jack’s mouth and he groaned a little before finally turning and smacking at the alarm clock pulling the sheets off of him as he went. “It was just a dream…” Jack muttered to himself getting up and walking over to his closet in nothing but pumpkin boxers. Glancing sideways at the calendar on the wall, Jack stopped and stared. Good morning sunshine! Cas smiled wide, yet none of the voices responded to him. Shaking his head, Jack sighed and went back to his closet before starting to go through his clothes. “Happy birthday…. To you…. Happy birthday… to me…. Happy birthday… dear Cassi…. Happy birthday to we...ourselves…and us,” a quiet melody started to meld with the air as Black Jack Spade changed. Not even Cas spoke. It was that day again….

Pulling a black jacket on over the white dress shirt he had just put on, Jack stared in the mirror trying to keep a smirk on his face. A black jacket… black pants… a white shirt… and a tie. All things Jack rarely wore unless required to, but today… well the morning, at least… was important. “Happy birthday, dear Cassi… happy birthday to you,” he sighed keeping the tune going quietly as he worked the black tie around his neck and set it right. Reflecting in the mirror again, Jack nodded a brief moment before walking away, out of the closet, across the room to snag something small in his hand, before finally walking out of the room, down the hall, and out of the apartment. “Happy birthday... to you…”

They, all the voices, remained quiet for that day was BJ’s alone. It was the only real present they’d all given him. “Happy birthday ….” Jack started before pulling out a pokeball and releasing a shiny Gardevoir who leered rather unhappily at him. “Hey …I know you don’t like me much…but…. ya mind taking me somewhere…?” Jack asked. The Gardevoir raised his ‘eyebrow’.

Twenty minutes later, Jack found himself standing in front of an almost mansion of a house. It was old, yet there was something still regal about it… something time couldn’t quite touch though vandals probably could. Biting his lip Jack closed his eyes a moment and sighed again before starting up the steps of Atticus’s old house. “Happy birthday… to you…” Jack’s voice said quietly. The door opened squeakily but with no other trouble, and as one looked in, damage could truly be assessed. It had been abandoned, simple as that. “Sorry I haven’t been home in a while,” Jack grinned to no one in particular. “Guess things kinda unfolded without maids and stuff, hu?”

No one answered, not that Jack expected anyone to greet him and tell him all that had been going on. Walking across the creaky floorboards down the hallway, Jack looked at the walls as he passed. Pale squares on the wall alerted to areas where pictures once hung, and though they were not there now, Jack nodded to what would have been the faces of Atticus’s ancestors, Jack’s adoptive ancestors by default. Finally coming into the main living room, Jack couldn’t help but make a quiet ‘heh’ sound. There were couches, ancient in nature, covered by white spirits to preserve them. Rather than drop down on one of them, Jack walked around the couches slowly circling one of them before leaning across the back breathing in the dust and age for a brief moment before standing up again.

“You haven’t changed at all…” Jack sighed as his eyes glazed over for a brief moment before he shook his head and looked towards a hallway not far off. Feet followed the path, remembering it all too well… down the hallway… to the right… Stopping at the door, Jack hesitated a moment before finally taking the handle and pulling it open. The study within hadn’t changed save for a fresh coat of dust. The books were even there on the shelves as though waiting to be red by some honorable scholar. Slowly looking down at the floor, Jack frowned. “Hey Dad….” Jack’s voice cracked before he could say much more, and his entire body seemed to collapse on him. Sinking to his knees, Jack simply sat there staring inwards. No tears fell, no he was far too old for that, but it was the familiar feeling of uncertainty that had dragged him down.

“I…I’m sorry….I… was never strong enough against Ripper…” Though he almost expected Ripper to answer this, Jack found the voice remained silent. “I guess….I dunno… it’s still… all a blur in my head…” he admitted shaking his head a bit. “And I wasn’t strong enough to…to keep Cassi…I…” Jack gulped and fell silent again. “I’m just the fool who lost it all and made it worse, heh, right?” he asked to the silence that didn’t appear to be answering him any time soon. “Oh! I brought you something though, Dad,” Jack grinned looking up and holding out the box he had picked up earlier. “I remembered you always had that silver pocket watch you used to look at all the time… so… I got you a gold one,” he explained quickly opening the box to show the watch. “I know It’s probably not your birthday… but you never told me when it was so…” Jack broke off, forced himself to stand, and walked over to Atticus’s desk setting it down next to other small things appeared to have been acquired over the years. “I hope you like it!” Jack beamed before looking down again.

“I….I hope Cassi’s having a good birthday too…I… don’t know where she is still…but…wherever she is… I hope she’s happy….without me…” Jack murmured as his eyes averted from the ground and stared out a bleak window. “Oh! I forgot to tell you!” Jack turned his head back and smiled. “I’ve been doing ok…the run through crew’s been getting a lot of work, and trade has never been better… I made a few friends this year and found my old friends… it was really cool. I also –“ A sudden crashing sound sent a chill up Jack’s spine, and the purple haired man froze where he was. “Probably a cat pokemon or something…” Jack mumbled to himself slowly starting out of the room and looking down the hallway. Not seeing anything, Jack continued down the hallway looking around carefully now. Suddenly movement in a room caught his eye, and Jack thrust open the door harshly. What appeared to be a very slim, raggedy man was fishing through a drawer…. In… Cassandra’s room. This was… Cassi’s room. “GET OUT BEFORE I KILL YOU,” Jack roared causing the man to jump and spin around wide eyed and surprised.

“Oh er..uh…” the man tried and failed to come up with anything and instead backed up a bit unsure of himself. “I..uh…was just uh….”

Jack’s eyes narrowed, and a sudden viciousness overtook him without the help of Ripper. Walking into the room, Jack kicked the man hard in the ribs causing the skinny being to cringe and back away. “Get out and go die in a hole you scum,” Jack hissed. No one touched Cassi’s room! No one! Suddenly fishing out a pocket knife, Jack leered at the man who was still trying to avoid the purple haired man. The poor man suddenly tripped over one of the few clothes that remained littered in Cassi’s room and came crashing down again. Jack hissed kicking the man again. “GET OUT!” he roared, and made to swing the pocket knife cutting the man who screamed and finally broke away managing to run out of Cassi’s room and escape from Jack. Watching the man run, Jack relaxed again closing his eyes and sighed quietly.

You ok? Third’s voice caused Jack to open his eyes again. I know it’s your day… but… we can still sense your emotions, you know. Jack sighed. “I’m fine…” he said aloud shaking his head slowly before rubbing his temples with both hands. After a minute or so, Jack lowered his hands and looked around Cassi’s room. It was one of the rooms in the house like Atticus’s that was untouched…. Or was… damn that man…. Jack bit his lip slowly and turned back towards the exit only to suddenly catch sight of a flickering fading image of what had appeared to be a small child. Eyes widened, Jack stood there frozen for a brief moment before shaking his head. No… he hadn’t just seen that.

Walking out of Cassi’s room, Jack looked down the hallway trying to possibly see some small child running away or something, yet there was nothing there. Frowning, Jack had started to walk down the hallway only to stop when a bang sound echoed in Jack’s ears. Whipping his head around, Jack frowned greatly. That had not just come from Atticus’s room… Walking quickly down the hallway, Jack made a quick turn and stepped into Atticus’s room looking around accusingly only to find that there was no one in the room. Despite this… the books were now on the floor. Blinking startled, Jack hesitated a moment before slowly walking towards the books and began to pick them up.

“Did you remember you knocked over my bookshelf at some point after killing me?” a voice asked. Jack dropped the books. Looking around quickly, Jack felt his heart beating in his ears, yet there was still nothing to be seen. Cringing a little, Jack shook his head and looked back down at the books starting to pick them up again.

Setting the books up back up on the shelf, Jack found his eyes looking back over his shoulder. His heart still pounded making his motions jerky, yet after a moment, he set all the books back and turned around rather quickly. His eyes fell to the desk only to find the pocket watch gone. Eyes wide, Jack fidgeted looking quickly around the room trying to find where it might have fallen, yet it simply wasn’t there. Sucking in some air, Jack’s eyes slowly slid behind him back towards the bookshelf.

“I like the watch, by the way… you have a taste for the expensive,” a voice whispered quietly causing a squeak sound to escape from Jack. Suddenly twisting his form around and backing up, Jack stare at the unmoving bookshelf half expecting it to morph into some sort of large monster then and there.

“D-dad?” Jack asked quietly looking around the room as he felt his heart speeding up even more than before.

“Yes?”

Jack’s eyes whirled around the room before suddenly settling on a slightly translucent form sitting in the large chair. Covered in blood, Atticus Spade sat with his legs crossed slightly at the ankles staring at Jack. The gold watch was in one hand, and it appeared as though he had been looking at it previously. Silence engulfed the room. “Jackie I’m glad you’re doing well… I’m doing well as well” Atticus asked smiling a little. Jack stared not saying anything but feeling his heart pounding. Gulping finally, he forced something of a smile.

“T-that’s good, Dad,” Jack said forcing a smile and sweat dropping. “So er…. What are you er….doing up?” Jack asked.

Atticus slowly frowned. “Are you not happy to see me, Jack?” he asked turning his head to one side. “You’re looking pale…” he slowly smirked ever so slightly causing Jack to lose his smile. “Are you… scared?”

“NO!” Jack shouted suddenly camping his mouth shut directly afterwards. Remaining silent for a few seconds, Jack averted his eyes and slowly spoke if shakily. “I mean… I… I was just…You are…your…dead…” Jack finished slowly drawing his eyes up to Atticus.

Atticus was quiet and seemed to be staring rather darkly at Jack now a frown was left on his face. “Yes… I’m dead. You killed me, Jackie,” Atticus said in a sort of ‘matter of fact’ sense. “Do you remember when you stabbed me… that look I had… you remember it well.. I can tell by the look on your face.” Jack was silent and unable to move. “You’re scared….say it…” Atticus prodded gently before slowly standing upwards. “It’s alright, Jackie… just say it…”

A squeaking sound escaped from Jack, and in another moment, he found himself able to move again. Turning sharply and running as fast as he could, Jack felt his body rushing down the hallway. “Jackie! It’s not nice to run away… I thought I taught you better,” Atticus’s voice vibrated in Jack’s ears, and all Jack could do was run faster his heart screaming in his ears. Dashing down the hallway, Jack made a quick left and rushed back into the living room. Lunging towards the front door, Jack seized the handle only to suddenly release it again his hand pulsing from a burn that was starting to develop then and there.

“Jackieeeeeee~ Come out Jackie… you’re too old to be playing games you know,” the sing song voice of Atticus called. Jack cringed but made to seize the door handle again only to cry out as he tried to turn it. Flesh was burning and fast, yet panic drove him. However, the door handle simply wouldn’t turn. Releasing it and swearing harshly, Jack looked backwards only to stop and stare as Atticus’s translucent form that stood there smiling. “Jackie… don’t be afraid… I’m not angry… well… not that much… but you know what? I have a proposal…. How about we make a deal hm? Since you took my life… I’ll take yours. Then we can be together… and we’ll find Cassi too!”

Jack’s pupils shrank, and he turned harshly before banging on the door screaming out indiscernible words. However, one finally broke through. The one person he wanted to protect him. “CASSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! “ However, no one came…..

“Jackie….Jackie….Jackie… come here…be a good son now….” And slowly the screaming died out. “Isn’t it your birthday? Happy birthday to you~ “

Jack’s entire body went rigid, and the purple haired man sat up in bed breathing hard. Setting his hand on his heart, Jack looked around his bedroom. “Just a dream…..” he sighed before falling back in the bed.

[Inkythulhu]

I FIN~ISHED!! <3

SPOILER: Click to show

For the Pokemon drawings. <3

SPOILER: Click to show

And for the VC character costume drawings. <3

[Admiral Striker General]

8'3 MY ZOROARK IS COMPLETE<3

SPOILER: Click to show

8'D I WARNED YOU.

Why does he have no left thumb?

Because..

D8< HE ATE IT!!! *SPOOKY NOISE SPOOKY NOISE* \o/ >

8'3 Now let's see if I can manage anything else in this last hour and a half.

---

Battle Princess Kali would like to battle!



(XP Hey! Not everyone dresses up as werewolves and vampires and pirates. Kali would like to be a slightly slutty-looking princess! x3)

X'3; And just an old sprite I had that I guess technically qualifies; some random chick cosplaying as a Blaziken. 8'3 Ehh... X'3 We'll call it Nami with her hair bleached for the occasion? *SHOT*

[SongofWindchimes]

Exactly 1 hour, 17 minutes before the deadline!

I'm not sure how much it counts as a 'spooky' story, but it takes place around Halloween and it's about fear, so I figured why not.

SPOILER: Click to show

Halloween doesn't scare me. Not much does, anymore, at least not the kind of 'spooky' things Halloween is based around.

Well, maybe that isn't completely true. Ghosts do kind of give me the heebie jeebies, but with all the stories of them stealing souls for food, by instinct, or just in the their twisted sense of fun, who wouldn't be a little unnerved by a ghost pokemon they didn't know? Unless your name is Trisha Walker, of course; that little goth girl works on an entirely different mental wavelength than most people. Though I'll say that, reservations about ghosts or not, her Mismagius is adorable.

The fact is, I can deal with ghost pokemon once I get to know them, and I also know that if Casper decides to be a little unfriendly, my Zoroark can deal with them with a well-placed Dark Pulse. As for other typically creepy things in the pokemon kingdom, they barely faze me. Bugs? Didn't even bother me as a little girl. Bats? They don't bite me, I'm cool. Dark types? I think the fact that I own a Zoroark says enough.

No, my fears are much more sensible. A shame that no one else considers them sensible.

Sometimes, it feels like that bastard's still there. Like a part of him adhered itself to the back of my skull before he died and is still lurking there. Like I'm carrying a parasite. I bet that he'd love to know how much he broke me that night, and all the years leading up to it. He'd love to know that it's like he never really left.

I want to forget. I always want to forget. But that would involve letting another one of those things in my head, and no one is ever setting foot in there. No one's going to hurt me again.

In a lot of ways, Halloween is refreshing. I can get so wrapped up in the holiday of fear that I forget what I'm really afraid of.

And getting to wear a sexy costume is fun, too.

---

Bianca smirked a little as she looked at herself in the mirror. Okay, so she'd once again failed to do anything with her captain's hat and was wearing a costume she'd worn a few times, but not everyone she knew had seen it. One man in particular had not, and she was sure he'd like what he saw.

The bit of rich amethyst fabric that could be graciously called a top was slightly reflective and had a scale pattern, matching the long skirt that hung low on her hips and flowed nearly to her ankles but had a long slit going up the side. Purple heels and purple gloves that nearly reached her elbow continued the colour scheme, and sitting on her head was a spiky, silver crown, from which sprouted black, shiny horns that curled like a ram's. A silver necklace dripping in glittering amethysts was the finishing touch.

The sheer amount of work that had gone into the costume those years ago (and the friend or two she'd had at the time and recruited to help) made it more than worth many repeats. Tonight, she wasn't a pirate captain. She was the Dragon Queen.

Suddenly the smirk faded, and Bianca saw her own reflection's eyes widen. A feeling like ice grabbed a hold of her heart, in conjunction with something all too familiar.

---

What makes me sick the most is the fact that I used to find him a comfort. Looking back, that bastard made it his job to be everywhere I was, whether it was suddenly noticing him out of the corner of my eye, watching me, or feeling that little inquiring brush against my mind.

It's the brushes that terrify me. The way a psychic will just skim the surface without even thinking about it when interacting with someone.

I thought the brushes meant something like 'where are you?' or 'are you all right?'

Instead, they were 'are you doing anything I don't like?' and 'and you thinking anything I don't like?' He always made sure to fix that, so quickly and thoroughly that I don't think I really know which decisions were ever mine.

Maybe none of them were.

---

"GET OUT!"

The sound of screaming sent the door flying open and slamming against the wall. Faux Zoro, wearing the cape from the vampire costume he'd only begun to put on, burst into the room with teeth bared and dark energy dripping from his claws.

"Get out...just get out of my head..."

Bianca was on the floor next to the mirror, and it looked like her legs had collapsed under her. Her screams had turned to whimpering sobs as she trembled there. The Zoroark carefully made his way toward her and knelt down.

"...Bianca?"

She didn't respond immediately, but eventually the human woman's head rose. Tears ran down her cheeks, taking her makeup with them, and suddenly she threw her arms around Zoro, locking him in a grip like a vice.

---

Just being near a dark type seems to help. Like if I'm close enough, whatever closes them off from psychics spreads a little bit further and protects me. Maybe it's all in my head. It wouldn't surprise if it was. But it's hope and a comfort, and I don't want to give that up.

Faux Zoro saved my life, and stayed by my side ever since. Sometimes I think he's going to drive me crazy, and sometimes I feel like he's the only thing keeping me sane.

There are times that frighten me, the way he tends to always be close or the fact that he occasionally seems so...human. But he's not going to hurt me. I know that, like I know my name or that the sun will always rise. He's the only soul who lived through that night with me, the only one who knows everything.

And he's the only one I trust.

---

Once Bianca had recovered some and left to redo her make-up, Faux Zoro took the stairs down from his trainer's living area to her place of work. His cape swished behind him as he descended, his eyes piercing easily through the gloom. He passed by the shelves of pokemon care items and into the storage room, where he quickly found the source of the distress.

On the other side of the locked door was a Ralts, curled up on the floor and trembling. The pokeball he presumably belonged to sat next to an open crate filled with many of the same. He let out a small sound of terror and curled up tighter. "D-don't hurt me! I-I'm sorry!"

"I am not here to cause harm, my young lad," the fox said gently. Though he himself did not need it, he found the light switch and flicked it on, letting light flood into the room. "I merely wished to see what had transpired here in the depths." He gestured toward the pokeball. "You seem to have learned an effective way to release yourself from your small haven. My apologies for any distress you suffered upon waking in such a strange, dark place. Am I to assume that your began a mental search of the above level in an attempt to understand your circumstances?"

Slowly, the Ralts processed the stream of formal language and then slowly nodded. "I'm sorry! I...I didn't mean to..."

Zoro gave a warm smile. "Of course you did not, lad. It is a rare and reviled one indeed who would. Do not worry about the lady's wrath for your actions. Simply do not repeat them."

The Ralts nodded again, then cast a careful glance upward. "Is...she okay?"

Zoro went silent, casting his gaze elsewhere.

---

The years haven't changed anything. That feeling that he's still there comes and goes; I'll think I see him and turn to see nothing, or feel like I'm being watched when there's no one there.

And some nights, in my sleep, I relive being thrown against the wall, feeling the air being forced from my lungs by someone I once considered my only friend.

Ghosts, bugs, bats, and other Halloween horrors are nothing, because I know what real monsters are, the ones who don't look monsters until it's too late.

I know real fear.

[Admiral Striker General]

XP Actually JUST 17 minutes; deadline was midnight HER time, not ours, silly Song. Still, on time all the same.

---

X3 So I guess it can't hurt anything to go ahead and dish out entry prizes, mm? If someone wants to do mine I'll do them for erryone else. |D ... XP And because of how Eggs work and since this is for fun, I'm gonna say WHY FUCKING NOT and give EVERY egg at least one increased chance of a color. x3 Of course that only ups odds and in NO way GUARANTEES that color, but it should make the hatching suspense even better. I'll also do normal odd rolls to see about addtional colors (since even purebreds will be listed as if two of the same species bred, and it's possible each was a different color, eh?). x3 Hatch times are randomly generated between 10 and 14 days.

Dare -
Species: Absol x Abundistic Pachirisu
Hatch: 11-15-11

Elayne -
Species: Houndour x Abundistic Houndour ("XD; I'm sorry I don't control the dice BUT HEY this actually COULD be fairly cool if done well or if you're lucky enough to get another color?)
Hatch: 11-11-11

Ink -
Species: Farfetch'd x Leucistic Farfetch'd (Note: In no way affects leek.)
Hatch: 11-12-11

Jay -
Species: Red Mienfoo x Numel x Tauros
Hatch: 11-12-11

Song -
Species: Red Stunky x Stunky
Hatch: 11-13-11

Tere -
Species: Indigo Whismur x Pansear
Hatch: 11-13-11

---

... X3 Also know what? Because I can, Kero gets an egg for hosting this for us.

Species: Leucistic Eevee x Woobat x Shiny Cyndaquil
Hatch: 11-11-11

(Note: Unfortunately because wings and arms are kind of the same body part, the only way to get a griffin-like creature would be to use a dragon which already has both arms/forelegs and wings, or to splice something like.. 'x3; Machamp x Lucario/Lopunny/etc x Woobat/Farfetch'd. 8> But you CAN have something with wing-'arms' which is also pretty badass. Like this sort of. x3)

[Lady Leaf]

I'm going to have the winners up by the time I get home tomorrow from work x3
Tonight I'm not feeling the best, however I'm working my way through them all.

[Lady Leaf]

[atrb=cellpadding,7px,bTable][bg=black] Halloween Contest Sen: *Clears throat* On behalf of Leaf I am here to inform you all that regretfully no one will be receiving prizes for this event. Also, Santa put you on his naughty list. Errr… I mean the Pumpkin King… or wait… does he a list? Umm… Never mind, scratch that. *Takes prizes and flees to the basement* Bwhahahaha … aha… …. Alright! Well, after finding, and locking Sen back up in Felis’s basement, I’m happy to announce you are all getting prizes! \o/ But before I tell you who won what, I’m going to explain how it works. I allowed everyone to win in everything they entered, however, you can only pick Two prizes if you won more than once. For those who won in the same event twice (it means there wasn’t another entry to fill the spot) you can only have the prize from the highest place you won. (For example, if won 1st and 3rd, you can only have the 1st place prize) Why? Because Sen did something to other prize. He’s like that. Anyway! With the wave of my wand I create a white pumpkin and the list of winners! The Winners! Spriting - Spooky Pokemon 1st Place - Tere’s Gallade 2nd Place - Elayne’s Ekans 3rd Place - Jay’s Torchick Spriting - Trainer Costumes 1st Place - Jay’s Jester Black Jack Spade 2nd Place - SG’s Battle Princess Kali (Sen: Yue might even have to fight off me 8U) 3rd Place - SG’s Nami with her hair bleached (No prize; Sen ate it) Drawing - Spooky Pokemon 1st Place - SG’s Creepy never sleep at night, make me cry, eat your soul, Zoroark 2nd Place - Ink’s Witchy woman (Sen: Be a Man! *Bonks Sen* Owie... ; . 3rd Place - Dare’s Vampire Mewtwo <3 <3 <3 Drawing - Trainer Costumes 1st Place - Elayne’s Jacktoria Vampires 2nd Place - Ink’s Mikey/Sanja 3rd Place - Jay’s Jack and Vicki! (Sen: ; -; He could suck my blood if he wanted!) Writing - Spooky Story 1st Place - Wind’s ‘Real Fear’ 2nd Place - Jay’s ‘Story’ 3rd Place - Jay’s ‘Second Story’ (No Prize - Sen hid it and can’t remember where)

[/left]

And now for the drum roll please, for this prize was really, really hard to pick.
However, with the hair on my chinny chin chin…
THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER

SongofWindchimes’s Spooky Story!
Yup, I loved it so much I picked it over the pretty, pretty pictures *Snuggles them all*


And for SG cuz no one did it yet;
Species: Melanistic Caterpie x Illumise
Hatch: 11 - 11 - 11
Sen: *Steals*
No! Bad Sen >U
Sen: *Slowly puts it back...*

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[Inkythulhu]

Wewt~!! Thank you Kero!! <3

Five tokens to Sanja, a Deino for Jen (male if possible?), and a Scrafty for Sigmund (female if possible, if I'm allowed to pick that?). <3<3

Aaaand, what the hell. x'3 The sexy Farfetch'd egg to Sanja as well. (SG, I love your dice. XD)

I hope this was the proper place to post this. ^^;;;; *slightly confused* Thank you again!! <3