#msa-secretsanta-2020

[burglarsonarceny]

hey @thesproutingartist ! here’s your gift for @msa-secretsanta-2020 !!

when i saw the design for lewthur, i thought, wow, that’s a good ghost. just the way lewis and arthur’s designs combine into what may be the best boy i’ve ever seen! that said i hope you and your partner have a very merry christmas and a happy new year 

[talifu]

Hello! This is my contribution for one of this year’s msa secret santa, @acornscorns​‘s @msa-secretsanta-2020! This is my gift to @vulpixen! I combined two of your prompts, ‘Lewis alive’ and ‘Arcade date’! I hope you like it!

Merry Christmas!

[mysteriouslyhopefulstranger]

The Final Test

((My Secret Santa FanFic gift for @solitaria-fantasma. You asked for Lewis to undergo a sacrifice test in a forest, so I placed the crew into the universe of the horror indie game, “The Cursed Forest.”))   @msa-secretsanta-2020

“How are you holding up, Lew?” Arthur asked.

“Much better now that the deadbeats offered a few hands.” Lewis straightened his posture as he carried as much as the sacred stones he could. Not that they were heavy for him; it was just that his arms could only wrap around so much.

“I just hope that this stone doesn’t grate my prosthetic too much.” Arthur looked down at the stone he was holding and huffed. “But better the stone than the skeleton.” He cringed as he looked over at the deadbeats carrying parts of the child’s skeleton. “Son of a bitch. It was supposed to be a simple investigation! An exorcism is one thing, but a fetch quest?! And while avoiding her ‘impulses!’“

“Again, it’s not her fault.” Mystery reminded him. “Corrupted souls barely have control over themselves.”

“Anyway, we’re almost done, right?” Vivi piped up, also holding a stone.

“Yep.” Mystery nodded. “Now we just wait-”

The ground rumbled as the trees cracked and groaned. Vivi and Arthur nearly lost their balances as roots and vines burst from the ground to block the path in front of them. The trees around them shifted and moved to form a new path.

“Ah, there we go.” Vivi smiled. “Onward!”

With Mystery leading the way to keep an eye out for traps, the team headed down the newly formed path.

It only took them about five minutes to find the stone altar. It seemed as though it was made rather shoddily. Normally, altars were hand made; this one was just a giant flat boulder with imprints, possibly for the sacred stones. Vivi came closer to get a good look. “Oh! They have numbers etched into the slots! This should be easy!” She carefully placed her stone down to check the bottom. “Ok, mine’s #3, sooo...” She searched the slots for her assigned number.

Arthur checked his. “Seven.” He scanned the altar and saw that his stone was to be placed at the top center. He set it down. “Phew! OK, LeWAAUUGH!!!” He screamed as he fell back. Arthur had looked up to see a black cloud of a skirt and feet, leading up to more black and a pair of glowing white eyes. The little girl showed up again; the very child whose soul was corrupted by a ritual gone wrong; the very child who called them over by crashing the van; the very child who trapped them; the very child who ordered them to perform this exorcism;

The very child who had also tried to kill them while they searched for the pieces they needed to do so.

Vivi and Mystery backed away from the altar and got close to Arthur, ready to defend each other. Lewis looked stern.   

“You’ve got everything?” A white streak appeared below the eyes of the cloud, and moved about as the girl’s voice echoed out of it.

“Yes.” Vivi said. “Now we just read what’s written in the paper, right?” 

“Yeeesssss,” The ghost girl lilted with a smile. “but there’s one more thing that needs to be done.”

“Oh God!” Arthur groaned, looking like he was going to cry. “ Don’t tell me we missed something!”

“Nope!” The corrupted ghost’s smile got bigger. “This is just a liiiittle test!”

Mystery sighed, “Let me guess: we have to figure out which object is truly needed, or something like that. And if we pick wrong, we die. Yeah, already did this shit.”

“Nnnnnope! ~ Nothing like that!”

Arthur opens his mouth to ask, only to feel his next words being choked in his throat. Along with any air that was trapped along with it. In fact, when did the skin on his neck feel this...constricted?! He put his real hand up to his neck; there was a vine wrapped around it.

Mystery heard his restricted protest and turned to look at him. “Arthur, what-?”

CRMBLE CRMBLE SHK SHKKKKKKKK!!!  

It happened so fast. Vines shot out of the ground, hoisting Vivi, Arthur, and Mystery off of the ground. They grabbed at their limbs, pulling them away from their bodies as if to rip them off of their sockets. Vines wrapped around their torsos, right where the ribs were. Mystery didn’t even have time to react and snap at the vines, for one had wrapped his muzzle tightly shut.

“NO!!” Lewis screamed, dropping the stones he was holding. In a flash of anger, his hands burst into flames. The deadbeats dropped their loads and prepared to attack. The corrupted ghost teleported in front of him, her finger wagging in front of his nose. “Ah, ah, ahhh! ~ You try anything, and I’ll kill them instantly.” She giggled and looked up at Mystery. “And if YOU try anything, I’ll rip your tails off!” Cue more vines shooting up from the ground and snagging each white tail. Mystery whined in pain.

Lewis shot his hand at the girl. She teleported out of range and cackled, “You must really want them to die! Well then, here goes!~”

Arthur let out a strangled cry as the vine around his neck tightened. Vivi screamed out as she felt the vine constrict her ribs and limbs, threatening to break bones. Mystery still could only whine as every limb he had was slowly being pulled apart.

“Stop, STOP!!! PLEASE!!!” Lewis begged. Their cries subsided as the vines slackened.

“Good boy!” The girl chirped. “Now, for the final test...you must choose which member of the team shall die!”

“Are you serious?!” Lewis roared, his hair glowing and whisping.

“Since when was this part of the ritual?!” Vivi grunted.

“Shut it, you!!” The ghost snarled, tightening the roots. Vivi squealed in pain.

“VIVI!!!” Lewis cried.

“Now pick!! Or I’ll kill them all! Ten, nine....” The roots slowly tightened again. Lewis panicked. Even the deadbeats were just flying around, screaming.

“...eight, seven, SIX....”

He can’t burn the roots without risking burning his loved ones, or without the risk of the spirit killing them by other means....

“...five, four, three....” Arthur’s face was turning purple, and Vivi and Mystery were tearing up as they continued to cry out.

....Wait. “a member of the team.” huh?

“TWO....”

“Myself!!” Lewis yelled.

The ghost stopped counting, looking surprised. “....What?”

“I choose myself!”

“Nnngggh, Lew...” Arthur gargled.

“Hey! I said..” The ghost started.

“That I should pick which member of the team should die. I’m a member! And in case you haven’t figured it out...” In a flash of fire, Lewis dropped his human façade, revealing his skeletal form, suit and all. “I’d like to see you try kill me, since I’m already dead!”

The ghost paused before smiling again. “I can just destroy your anchor!” She grew more roots, aiming at him.

Lewis flinched for a moment. But only for moment. “That would just make me disappear. You said that one of us had to die, not disappear.” 

“B-but you...That doesn’t...!” The girl sputtered. 

Lewis laughed, “Aren’t loopholes just fun?” 

The corrupted ghost looked like she was about to explode. With an angry grunt, she slammed the rest of the team down onto the ground, releasing them from the roots. “Alright, alright! I’ll call it a pass!” She faded away. “You’re no fun!” Her voice echoed as she pouted.

Lewis and the deadbeats rushed over to the team. “Are you all ok?! Anything broken?!”

Arthur was too busy coughing and gasping to answer. Vivi on the other hand, “Owwww.” She moaned, rubbing her ribs and limbs. “I’m gonna have bruises for months!”

Mystery curled up and rubbed his muzzle with his paw. “This was humiliating.” He growled. “This exorcism better be super painful. Let’s get this over with before something else happens.”

Arthur finally caught his breath. “God dammit! If I get bruises too, Uncle’s gonna have a stroke and a hernia before I do!”

Lewis lit a flame near Arthur to investigate his throat. “Yeeeah, a bruise it already forming. But other than that, nothing broken?” He put his free hand on Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur slowly stood up and moved his limbs around. Vivi and Mystery did the same.

“We can still move,” Vivi responded. “but it hurts a little.”

Lewis sighed, “Either way, the deadbeats and I will do the arrangement. You guys rest.”

“Fine, but I’m still reciting the words.” Vivi crossed her arms...and then winced since her arms rested on her ribcage.

“By the way,” Mystery laid back down, “that was some incredible quick thinking back there for someone of your attention span.”

“Ha.” Lewis rolled his eye sockets as he picked up the ritual stones one by one. “If there’s anything that I picked up from every horror movie I watched with Vivi involving deals with the devil, is that there is always a loophole in the contract based on certain word choices or in the fine print.”

“See?” Vivi turned to Mystery, smugly. “There ARE some accuracies in these stories!”

“But, what if she didn’t mix up the words or didn’t care about word choice. Would you have stood by your decision?” Arthur asked.

Lewis put down a stone in the assigned imprint. “...Yes.”

“But why would you-?!” Arthur started. Lewis turned around and glared at him. “Let me guess, you would’ve wanted me to pick you, right? Because you ‘deserve it.’ I’ve accepted that it wasn’t you back at the cave! Why can’t you?!”

Arthur lowered his head. “It...preyed on weakened feelings, right? So...if I had said something...”

“This was completely out of your control.” Mystery interrupted, sternly. “Hell, it took over me, remember? And I’m equivalent to that of a god!”

“And why should I pick someone that I love?” Lewis picked up another stone and put it down. “Why should I choose any of the ones that I love? Isn’t that obvious?”

Vivi smiled. “And you know that I would never, ever forgive if you did choose him.”

“That too.” Lewis chuckled. Arthur smiled as tears threatened to trickle down his face.

“If anything,” Mystery mumbled, “I should’ve-”

“Aaaaahhhhh!” Vivi pointed a finger at the kitsune. “Noooo! Don’t you dare go there, too! You’re my precious guardian pooch, and I’ll be damned if I lose you!” She scratched his ears. Mystery opened his mouth to protest her remarks, but succumbed to the blissful ear scritches and let it be.

“Aaaand done.” Lewis and his deadbeats floated back to examine their work. The little girl’s small skeleton laid in the center, surrounded by the ritual stones. Seeing her small frame made the team somber.

“God, looking at this now made me realize that I forgot this was just a kid who was dealt with the worst hand.” Arthur said.

“Yeah, poor thing.” Vivi sighed. “Lewis, you still got those instructions?”

Lewis fished out a piece of paper from his pocket and gave it to Vivi. Vivi scanned through it until she found the proper incantation. She recited the words as carefully as possible, making sure she doesn’t mispronounce anything.

There was a crash of thunder and an ear-piercing shriek, as a black mist hovered over the skeleton. The team stumbled back and ducked. Winds howled as the clouds above them formed a vortex high above the altar. It sucked up the black mist, leaving a small, glowing white orb. The orb began to rise up into the sky, and the cloud vortex dissipated. 

Silence. 

Then rumbling from the ground and the cracking and creaking of the trees; they were moving again, clearing away the dead ends and opening a path to the way out. 

Silence once more. The atmosphere felt lighter. Lighter enough to take a deep breath and savor it.

The curse has been lifted. The gang was free.

“....We did it. We did it!!!” Vivi laughed and hugged her boys.

“Oh thank God!” Arthur rolled his head back in relief.

“Now let’s scram. I’ve had enough of forests.” Mystery said.

The gang ran up the nearest path, with the living members fighting back the lingering pain in their legs, and they didn’t stop until they saw their bright orange van. They piled into it, collapsing into the back or onto the seats.

“Oh, vehicular transportation I’ve missed you!” Arthur almost cried, burying his face into the upholstery fabric.

“Another successful mission!” Vivi giggled.

“Alright, everyone settle, because I’m driving. You all still need to rest.” Lewis said.

“Ok daaaad.” Vivi teased before she leaned over from the back to give Lewis a kiss on the cheekbone. Arthur followed through after Vivi as he gave his keys to Lewis. Lewis blushed as he turned the ignition on. 

As they started to drive away, a young voice echoed into their heads:

“Thank you.” 

[vulpixen]

Forever

Summary: After all is said and done, Arthur, Vivi and Lewis take time for themselves as they plan what is to come for the mystery trio and their futures together. They are more certain than ever they want to be together and face anything that comes their way in life. Such as what they're going to do on their honeymoon after the wedding. And seeing what truly matters to the three. One year later…. 

It is an early morning in Tempo, and the first to wake up in the large king-sized bed is Arthur as he stretches and yawns while sitting up, being well rested more so nowadays. Next to him, Vivi snoozes with her plush turtle in one hand close to her chest. It always makes Arthur smile to see how adorable his and Lewis’ fiancée is while sleeping peacefully. And at the foot of the bed was Mystery stirring awake with a bark yawn and stretch of his form’s small legs. 

Despite the gang knowing what he truly is, they still regard Mystery as being a companion for a long as they all live. And now better with Mystery feeling comfortable to speak to them ever since what happened at Kingsmen Mechanics that eventful year ago. So much has changed since then; mostly for the better. 

Arthur and Mystery sniff the breakfast scented air of bacon, eggs and more, telling them that Lewis made breakfast and all that was needed was their presence. Mystery, too, looking forward to it like every morning before the trio have to go to their respective jobs. Even the hamster Galahad crawls out of his small burrow of his enclosure to sniff the air. 

Lewis having since returned to work with his parents at Pepper Paradiso and looking after his younger sisters when needed; Vivi still working as assistant manager at Tome Tomb; and Arthur working with his uncle and little assistant Galaham. The jobs they are content with performing for now.

 “Time to wake up the sleeping beauty,” chuckles Arthur, reaching over with his right hand to lightly shake Vivi since she forgot to set her alarm again to ring at seven. Vivi is not one to miss out on Lewis’ cooking. Arthur and Lewis knowing this all too well. “Good morning, hun. Hun, you don’t want to miss out on breakfast, do you?”

Vivi rises from her sleep, sitting up as she rubs her eyes to open more with the sand out of them. “Wouldn’t miss it for anything Artie.” Vivi leans in close to Arthur, her lips meeting his in a kiss. Despite the morning breath, it did not bother them much with it being quick as soon as it started. “Good morning to you, too, Mystery.” She reaches to pet her dog/kitsune’s head and scratch behind his ear. Arthur nodding at the canine companion and to his own hamster, not having forgotten about him.

Mystery bows his head at Vivi and Arthur. “That it is, Vivi and Arthur.” Mystery gets a good whiff of the air again before announcing to Vivi and Arthur. “Judging by the delicious scent from the kitchen, the morning meals are finished.”

“Awesome.”

 Vivi gets out of bed and makes her way to the closest and vanity mirror to dress for the day. Arthur doing the same as well as making sure Galahad is fed and gets fresh water before placing him on his shoulder to hold onto. Vivi and Arthur putting on their two respective engagement rings on each finger as Arthur puts on his arm with the ring Lewis proposed to him with already on the ring finger. 

Vivi and Arthur recall that day at the Pepper Paradiso where they and Lewis proposed to each other at the same time with two engagement rings each. Arthur’s are of his own craft of steel with topazes embedded into the band. Vivi’s bought hers custom made with three sapphires shaped into snowflakes on the white gold band. As for Lewis, his engagement rings he presented to Arthur and Vivi are rings of gold with the purple gems resembling roses engraved into the band and stone. The three had a laugh, but they each said yes on that wonderful day, overcoming their doubts and reaffirming how they truly feel about one another.  

Not long after, Arthur and Vivi are dressed in their usual wear and head downstairs and into the small dining room to see Lewis happily whistling a tune while him and the Deadbeats set up the table and place the full dishes and silverware there. Lewis appearing much like his former living self; even down to his eyes having life brought back to them without the darkened sclera and pink glowing rings. Lewis having since regained much of his former self again, bringing much joy to those he loved dearly like before. Lewis brightens to see Arthur and Vivi appear, as did Mystery, the much taller one of the team scooping up both his fiancée’s in a close embrace in his strong arms. 

“Good morning, my beloveds.”

“Good morning, Lew,” Vivi and Arthur greet their loving ghost, kissing his lips as he did theirs, tasting sweet peppers like he used to. 

The two, even Mystery, takes a seat at the dining table, Lewis preferring this over taking the food to their computer/gaming room. Even if Lewis cannot eat, he enjoys seeing his loves and Mystery enjoy his cooking. Though every now and then, if Vivi and Arthur permits it first, Lewis can possess one of them to feel those sensations again as if he were alive. 

At the table, the three discuss what comes next. Vivi having big plans for her men. The bluenette sets out a notebook on the table with an enthusiastic disposition. “Alright, guys! I have plenty of ideas on how to make our honeymoon fun in more ways than one!” 

Vivi opens the page to reveal illustrations and a long list of activities she wants to partake in, intimidating Arthur and Lewis as they skim through each line that consists of in non-specific order: paranormal hunting; surfing; parasailing; arcade; mini golf; escape room marathon; and it goes on since the location of their honeymoon is in one of the major cities in Japan. The wedding is in a few months from today and they still had not settled on what they plan to do when they go to Japan. 

“Uh… Vivi?” Lewis and Arthur speak up with nervous smiles. 

“Yeah?” 

Arthur being the one to express his concerns. “We’ll be there for a week if all goes to plan. Even if we don’t end up doing everything, we’ll all have fun and get to spend time together… as a family.” 

Then it is Lewis’ turn when he smiles. “That’s what really matters and maybe even encounter the supernatural most likely.”

Vivi gathers up the notebook in hand and lets out a breathing, brightly smiling at the men she loves. 

“You’re both right! This is real big trip and I wanted us to be prepared for anything. And I’d like to show you both where my family once lived while we’re there.” 

Arthur, Lewis and Vivi get up from their seats, coming together in a join hug between the trio of mystery solvers. Death itself will never part this trio. Their love will go on, forever, and ever, and ever.  A/N: Tagging @msa-secretsanta-2020 here. This is a secret santa gift for @polyskulls over on tumblr and I want to share my first Mystery Skulls fic here too! Hope they and everyone else here likes it! And Happy Holidays, everyone! You can also find it on my AO3 here!

[talifu]

Hi again! I’m a pinch-hitter for @acornscorns​‘s msa secret santa, @msa-secretsanta-2020! This is my gift to @mysteriouslyhopefulstranger​ (yes, again, guess I’m doing both your gifts haha)! I went with the dynamokinesis prompt, I hope you like it!

Merry Christmas!