it's almost halloween ?

//this is halloween//

"Y/N!"

Your head turns to the side so quickly you fear you may have whiplash. Someone you would have never expected to see in Halloween Town is walking towards you; the one and only Joshua Dun. You wonder if your mind is really processing all of this correctly...but as you peer over the shoulder of the approaching man, you begin to understand. Mouth opening, eyes widening, you take in the eight figures lining the side of the hall, all as familiar to you as the many versions of yourself. 

On the left side: Mikey Way, Tyler Joseph, Gerard Way, and Andy Hurley.

On the right: Brendon Urie, Dallon Weekes, Ryan Seaman, Patrick Stump, and an empty space you instantly know is filled by Josh.

Realization dawns in your eyes; you think you are getting it now. "Y/N, you've made it," Josh says, stopping just short of entering the space immediately around you that he practically lived within not so long ago. It has not been long since your life with Josh, yet it has simultaneously been ages since then. "Take your seat." 

Your eyes linger for a moment on each individual lining the sides of the hall. Every single one of them wears a smile filled with nothing but love and affection for you, and softly, you smile back. A chair appears in the middle of the walkway, between the benches where the various versions of you are seated, and you take your seat right in the center. As soon as you settle down, the screen comes to life, three words blinking into existence.

This is Halloween.

Leaning back, you watch your story unfold.

Mikey, who taught you loyalty and sticking with the right person no matter what. Tyler, who got you through the worst of your demons. Gerard, who taught you that conformity was not everything, to not assume but to live a little. Andy, who helped you learn to trust your instincts and break free of expectations to reach your full potential. Brendon, who was there for you in the discovery that overcoming one's worst fears cannot be done alone. Dallon, who assisted in accepting and embracing the ghosts of your past. Ryan, who taught you that sometimes those ghosts are better off left alone and helped you learn to keep moving forward. Patrick, who instructed that you didn't need to be the best to be spectacular, and to always be ready and unafraid for whatever life throws at you. Josh, who taught you that you are valid, you are special, and you deserve love, no matter what.

Nine lives, in chronological order, taking place in the same area and connected in multiple ways, all centering on the holiday that always resonated with you the most: Halloween.

On screen, you pass from the world in Josh's arms, and the screen goes dark, one final set of words appearing in the center.

In this town we call home, everyone hail to the pumpkin song.

As the screen goes dark, a peculiar tingling sensation spreads through you, setting your nerves on end. Slowly, your eyes travel the rows of benches, locking eyes with each and every you. Nine lives, nine reincarnations; you share a brief moment with each, and you think you truly do understand now. In each life, you existed because there were two people who needed you to. The love of each respective life needed you to survive the world, whether it was for their entire lifespan or just for a little while. And you needed them - to learn valuable lessons, to improve as a person, to become the best version of yourself. 

Halloween has brought you to this point of self-actualization, and you know that it must now see you off. It will be difficult to let go of all these experiences. Each of these men have been loved with everything in you, and it hurts to imagine leaving them behind. But the night is almost over.

Tingles run down your spine, and your eyelids close gently. Memories whirl through your mind, of all that you have lived, all who you have loved, all that you will soon let go. You take a deep breath, and upon opening your eyes, you discover that your previous reincarnations have disappeared from their seats on the benches. It is a little difficult to wrap your mind around, but you see the essentials of it. They are you, and simultaneously are now a part of you; they are within you, carrying all the lessons you have learned, helping you to ascend to your best self.

Now, you have a choice. 

You stand, turning slowly in a circle, locking eyes with each of them. Mikey, Tyler, Gerard, Andy, Brendon, Dallon, Ryan, Patrick, Josh. Each so perfect, fantastic, valuable; you could go with any of them, return to any of those lives, each wonderful in its own way. But you know that you will not. Their times have passed, but there is still more for you. You do not know exactly what is next, but you know that whatever it is, you will move forward and meet it head-on. Equipped with all that you have learned, you will be ready for anything.

Nodding to yourself, biting back nostalgia, you stride confidently down the walkway. Just before you open the door, you turn around to say one final goodbye, hoping they all understand how much you love them, how much they mean to you.

"Happy Halloween," you say, your voice echoing through the town hall, a sad, resigned, yet determined smile etched onto your face.

Just before you step outside, you hear the response from all of them at once, and it puts everything into two words.

"Happy Halloween."