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Chapter Text

It was a crisp fall day, on 1234567 Chestnut Street, and seven monsters were decorating their house for the upcoming holiday: Halloween. “I love this time of year,” Four chuckled, hanging a ghost on one of the tree branches. “It’s the one night of the year where we can act as wild as we want, and no one’s gonna be bothered by it!”
“Hmm, maybe some purple, here?” Six mused, hanging dark purple tinsel on the house.
“I got the last jack-o-lantern.” her sister, One, piped up, setting a jack-o-lantern on the porch.
A vampire-costumed Three looked the house up and down, and smiled, using a perfect Transylvanian accent, “Yes, this is perfect, for Halloween.”
Five giggled, thinking about the upcoming celebration, “Candy!”
“Yep,” Four chuckled, in agreement. “In seven days, it’ll be candy time!”
“I wonder what everyone else is doing, this season?” Seven mused, hanging up a glow-in-the-dark skeleton.
“Well, the house is all decorated, for the trick-or-treaters,” Two replied. “I guess we can take a look around the neighborhood, and see?”
“Oh, Mom probably won’t mind,” One added. “Just as long as we make it back, in time, for dinner.”
“Let’s go.” Seven smiled.

As the monsters strolled through the neighborhood, they found impressive decorations on most of the houses: jack-o-lanterns, fake skeletons, prop ghosts, and even a few spacemen. “Ooh, I bet those jack-o-lanterns look spooky, in the night!” Six grinned.
“And vampires,” Three chuckled. “This will be a season to remember.”
“Oh,” Seven gasped, looking at one front yard. “This house has a scarecrow.”
“Well, I know Halloween isn’t all about decorations and candy,” Two recalled. “We gotta find some costumes, for ourselves, too.”
“Well, Three already has this one covered,” Four nearly scoffed, rolling his eyes. “I’m sorry, ‘Count Three-cula’.”
“Come on, guys,” One reassured her siblings. “Halloween’s not for another week, that’s still plenty of time. “Besides, I already have an idea of what to be, this year.” she went on.
“So do I,” Six nodded. “I’ll need Mother’s help, for a few things, but I still know what I’ll be.”

A few minutes later, at the house, the monsters, besides Three, drew out what their costumes will look like; “Oh-hoo-hoo, this is gonna be good.” Four chuckled.
“I can’t wait until the big night.” Two agreed.
“Hope we can find the right stuff for our costumes.” One piped up.
“I know I’ll have to ask Three for some help, with mine.” Seven sighed.
“Why, Seven,” Three grinned. “I’d be delighted to help!”
“I’ll ask Mother for help, with my costume.” Six considered, looking over her design.
After a few seconds, Two had an epiphany, and piped up, “I just remembered something.”
“What?” One asked.
“I saw some kind of haunted house attraction, in town,” Two explained. “But it didn’t really look like something our friends would enjoy.”
“Hmm, you think we can make something better?” Four asked.
“Maybe,” Two replied. “If we can get the right stuff to pull it off.”
“Say,” One smiled, a bit. “Maybe we can use our costume ideas to help along, too?”
At that, Two perked up, and grinned, back, “I like your thinking, One.”
“Oh, that’s perfect!” Six nearly squealed, in delight.

Chapter Text

The next morning, the monsters, besides Three, set to work on getting their costumes together. Four helped Five create a giant prop barbell, labeled 5000 lbs., and Five giggled, “Me, strongman!”
“Heh, nice choice.” Four smirked.
With Six, she and Mom began making a lovely black dress, with a pointy hat to match; “Hmm,” Six mused. “I think I might look good, in black.”
“That All Hallows Eve plan of yours sounds like a wonderful idea, as well.” Mom smiled.
“It was mostly Two’s idea, but yeah,” Six clarified. “We’re gonna use our costumes as part of it.”
“Oh, how clever!” Mom giggled. “I can’t wait to see all my mushkas dressed in their best costumes, this year!”
“Oh, we’ll see.” Six nodded.
As Mom finished the last stitch in the dress, she held it up, and smiled, “All finished, my Sixlin.”
“This is perfect!” Six beamed, holding it up. “Now to try it on! “Oh, and paint my face, to see how it’ll look.” she remembered, before going upstairs.

A few minutes later, Three, still dressed as a vampire, awaited his siblings’ costume ideas; “Let’s see what this Halloween holds for us.” he chuckled, gleefully, rubbing his hands together.
At that, Five descended, wearing a leopard-print toga, carrying his prop barbell, and grinning, “Me, strongman!” He let out a Tarzan-like yell, beating his chest like a gorilla.
“Very clever, Five!” Three grinned, baring his false fangs.
“Well, Count Three-cula,” Four smirked, before making his entrance. “You may be a vampire, this year, but my costume is scarier! “Woooooooo!” he wailed, descending from the bedroom, dressed as a ghost. “It’s a classic!”
“Ooh, scary!” Five gasped, in amazement.
“Thank you.” Four smirked, behind the sheet.
“Oh, I got another classic, for ya!” Two called out, before descending, in a clown costume, and squeezing a novelty horn (*honk-honk!*). “People gotta have a few laughs on Halloween, right?”
“Good point.” Four mused, with a nod.
“Well, my costume is finally ready!” Six announced, before descending, in a witch’s costume, complete with stripey socks, a pointy hat, a large broomstick, green face paint, and glamorous makeup. “Yee-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!” she cackled. “I’m a glamorous Halloween witch, ready to make some new brews!”
“And there’s our handiwork, Sixlin!” Mom chuckled.
As she turned around, Six grinned, “Ooh, I do look good in black!”
“And what lovely stripes, too!” Three added.
“Well, One and Seven are the only ones left,” Two observed, turning to Mom. “Wait until you see their costumes, Mom.”
“I have a feeling their costumes are perfect, for All Hallows Eve!” Mom grinned.
“Well, we’ll see.” Four nods.
“Come on, One,” Six called. “Show Mother what you got!”
“With pleasure!” One called, back. “Stand back!” At that, One popped a smoke bomb, and she appeared, with a (*poof!*); she wore pink harem pants, a magenta tube top that revealed her midsection, a pink-striped vest, a pink-striped turban with a white feather, gold wrist cuffs, and tan, curly shoes. “Sure, Six has a mystical costume,” she smiled. “But you can’t get more mystical than this!”
“Whoa…!” Two gasped.
“One,” Four gasped, as well. “Y-You’re a…?”
“A genie!” Six nearly squealed, in delight.
“I hope people wish to have a good Halloween, this year!” One chuckled.
“I hope that Seven tries being scary, this year.” Four scoffed.
“You want scary?” Seven called. “I’ll give you scary!” At that, he descended, carrying his detached (and somehow glowing) head in his hands, but dressed in a dark cloak with an eerie cape, and he let out a maniacal laugh, “Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!”
“Whoa!” Four gasped.
“Surely, nothing can be scarier than the Headless Horseman?” Seven chuckled.
“How is your head glowing, like that?” Two asked.
“I found some glowsticks,” Seven explained, pulling one out of his neck knob. “And I figured they’d work.”
“Clever thinking, Seven.” Three nodded.
“Now, with our costumes ready to go,” Two piped up. “We can work on designing our haunted walkthrough attraction, at the park!”
“Don’t hurt yourselves, now, my mushkas.” Mom insisted.
“We won’t, Mom,” One reassured her. “We promise.”

That afternoon, the monsters set to work, building their walkthrough attraction, and some of the neighborhood kids were intrigued. “Whoa, monsters,” their friend, Mary, mused. “This looks like a groovy setup, so far!”
“Thanks, Mary,” Four nodded. “But it’s gonna be even better, when it’s complete.”
“Can I help?” Mary asked.
“Help?” One asked, back. “Uh, thanks, but no thanks, Mary, we want you to be surprised, when it’s finished.”
“Oh, I gotcha.” Mary understood, with a nod. “In that case, I can’t wait to see it.”
“It’ll be ready, by tomorrow night,” Two explained. “And be sure to tell everyone else, okay?”
“Sure thing, guys.” Mary smiled. “See you, tomorrow!”
“Yes, be sure to tell everyone about our Halloween gift!” Three added, with a flourish, before turning back to hammer another nail in a prop coffin.
“This is gonna be fun!” One giggled, gleefully, setting a bronze lamp on a table.
“Perfect, for Halloween!” Two agreed, blowing up some balloon animals. “What do you think, Four? “Are these amusing enough?” he asked, turning to his brother.
“Hmm,” Four smirked. “Add in a giraffe, and you’ll be set.”
“You got it.” Two nodded, before blowing another balloon, and twisting it into the right shape.
“Ah, that’s more like it.” Four nodded, back.
As Six rolled a large cauldron into her section of the attraction, Seven asked, “What’s going in the cauldron, Six?”
“Obviously,” Six grinned. “Candy, for all the kids.”
“Ooh…!” Seven gasped.
“And that’s gonna be the big brew.” Six winked.
“What a clever idea.” Seven nodded, writing out a sign, and setting it on a prop table. After Three set up a “coming soon” sign, the monsters returned home, hoping people won’t try peeking inside.

Chapter Text

The next day, the monsters continued to work on their walkthrough attraction, making sure everything was ready, for the upcoming evening. Mom made sure that things were in good shape, and even brought plenty of candy for both Three’s prop coffin, and Six’s prop cauldron. “I even added some giant lollipops, into the candy mix.” she explained.
“Oh, that’s perfect, Mother!” Six gasped, in delight. “The kids are gonna love this!”
“Ooh, and salt-water taffy!” Three grinned, baring his false vampire fangs. “Perfect to sink my fangs into!”
“And how long will this attraction last?” Mom asked.
“Just until Halloween night,” One explained. “Once Halloween is over, we’ll take it all down.”
“It’s gonna be hard,” Four admitted. “But it’ll be fun, while it lasts.”
“Almost ready, now.” Two grinned, stringing up some lights in his section.
“Yes, this may be early,” Three sighed. “But our friends deserve a grand Halloween, this year.”
“Ready!” Five piped up, making sure his prop barbell was in place.
“Now to wait until sundown,” One nodded. “Then this walkthrough will be ready for its first guests.”
“Let’s not forget our costumes, either.” Seven added.

Later on, dusk was approaching, and the monsters got into their costumes, ready to perform in their walkthrough attraction. “Okay, everyone knows what to do?” One asked.
“Yep.” Two nodded, giving a thumbs-up.
“I’m ready to go.” Six added, straightening out her pointy hat.
“Good,” Four grinned, making sure his sheet was on, straight. “So are we.”
“Ready!” Five piped up.
“Let’s go!” Seven nodded.
“Let the early Halloween fun begin!” Three announced, as the monsters prepared to leave.
“Good luck, my dougles,” Mom called out. “And have fun!”
“Thanks, Mom!” One waved, back. “We’ll be back, later!”

As the monsters reached the park, they got into position, thankful that no one else was there, yet; Three removed the “coming soon” sign, and replaced it with a “welcome” sign. “Now to wait for the children of the night!” he chuckled, gleefully, before getting into the coffin.
“This will be fun!” Seven giggled, unscrewing his head, and placing it on the table, before having his body sit in a nearby chair.
“The ‘brew’ is cooking up, nicely.” Six grinned, adding a smoke effect to the cauldron.
“I hope Mary told the other kids about this.” Two sighed.
“Well, here they come, now,” Four replied, hearing some chattering children coming their way. “Let’s get into position.”
“Everybody in place?” One asked.
“Ready.” Five nodded, back.
“Check.” Two added, giving a thumbs-up.
“Okay, let’s do it.” One grinned, as the kids got closer to the park.

Mary and four other kids entered the park, intrigued by the strange setup, and they wondered what lurked, behind the dark fabric. “‘Welcome to the Haunted Halloween Walk’.” a girl read aloud, observing the sign.
“This is gonna be far out.” Mary grinned, having a good feeling about what lay ahead.
As the kids ventured into the walkthrough attraction, they reached a room with a table and a bronze lamp on it. “‘Rub the lamp’.” a boy read aloud, observing another sign. “All right.”
With that, he rubbed the lamp, and with a (*poof!*), One appeared, in her genie costume, and announced, “I am the mystical genie of the lamp!”
“Wow!” the kids gasped, in amazement.
“If you kids wish for a great Halloween experience,” One grinned, gesturing to the path, on her left. “That wish is granted! “Just walk through there.” she went on.
“Wow, thanks!” a second boy grinned.
“One, you make for a groovy genie.” Mary added, making One wink, in response.

When the kids reached the next room, it was all lit up, with balloon animals, all around; “Step right up here, don’t be shy!” Two announced, wearing his clown costume and makeup. “Gotta have a bit of humor, on Halloween, right?”
“Yeah!” the kids cheered.
At that, Two honked his clown horn (*honk-honk!*), picked up three pumpkins, and juggled them; “Pretty crafty, huh?” he grinned, not missing a beat.
As the kids giggled, Two kept juggling, before catching all the pumpkins, and taking a bow; “Yay!” the kids cheered.
“You’re a funny clown!” a second girl giggled.
“Ah, but the show is just beginning, kids!” Two replied, gesturing to his left. “There’s more, down that way. “Oh, by the way,” he remembered. “You’re welcome to take a treat, from the box, as well.”
They opened the box, and were overjoyed to see what was in it; “Peanut clusters!” the first boy cheered. “Yeah!”
“Enjoy.” Two grinned, as the kids each grabbed a peanut cluster.
“Far out!” Mary chuckled.

“I wonder what’s in this room?” the first girl piped up, as they entered the next room.
The kids were surprised to find a rather large coffin, in the room; “Whoa,” the second boy gasped. “Who’s in this coffin?”
They got their answer, as the coffin’s lid opened up with a deep creak, and Three rose from it, dressed in his vampire costume, and baring his fake fangs. “Children of the night,” he chuckled. “Welcome to our inner sanctum!”
“Ooh…!” the kids gasped, in amazement.
“Hmm, it seems you don’t have proper containers,” Three observed, before handing them each an orange, plastic, jack-o-lantern-shaped bucket. “Now you can grab a handful of the spoils!”
The monster gestured to the inside of the coffin, which was filled to the brim with candy, and the kids cheered, as they grabbed a handful, for their new buckets. “Oh, giant lollipops!” the second girl nearly squealed, in delight.
“And salt-water taffy!” the second boy added.
“Enjoy!” Three grinned.
“Thank you!” the first girl smiled, back.
“This is great!” Mary giggled.
As the kids got their fill, Three grinned, wrapping his cape around himself, “Good evening.” With that, he lowered himself back into the coffin, and allowed it to close.

In the next room, the kids were greeted with a ghostly moan, “Woooooooo! “Who goes there?” Four asked, dressed in his ghost costume. “Friend or foe?”
“Friends, of course!” Mary chuckled.
“Well, I may be part of the trick,” Four chuckled, back. “But you kids are in for more treats!”
“Yay!” the kids cheered.
“Right this way.” Four went on, gesturing to the next room’s entrance.
“Awesome!” the first boy cheered.
Mary turned to Four, and winked, “You guys are doing great.”
“Thanks, Mary,” Four chuckled. “Now, get going, you don’t wanna miss the rest.”

In the next room, Five was in his strongman costume, and he let out a “Hoo-ah! “Me, strongman!” he said, flexing his arms, and making the kids laugh and clap. “Watch me lift 5000 lbs., with my tongue! “Stand back!” he grinned, before heaving the prop barbell over his head, with his long tongue. “Ta-da!”
At that, the kids applauded, and cheered, “Yeah!”
Five giggled, as he set the barbell down, gestured to his left, and said, “More treats, this way!”

In the next room, Six was stirring a ladle through her prop cauldron, and she let out a cackle, “Yee-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! “Come on in, my pretties!” she went on. “My new brew is just about ready!”
“What is it?” the second girl asked.
“Come closer, and you’ll see.” Six beckoned.
“Far out!” Mary gasped, amazed at the smoking effects.
“Now, if you’ll hold out those convenient buckets of yours?” Six asked.
As the kids held their buckets out, Six ladled generous amounts of candy, for each of them; “Wow!” the first boy grinned.
“I got a giant lollipop, too!” Mary gasped. “Groovy!”
“And peanut butter cups!” the first girl nearly squealed. “My favorite!”
“Oh, don’t eat them, just yet,” Six halted. “There’s one more room, to go!”
“Oh, boy!” the second boy grinned, beckoning the other kids to follow. “Come on, guys!”
“Six,” Mary giggled, making Six wink back. “You make a great witch.”

In the final room, the kids were intrigued by the eerie lighting, until a spooky laugh emitted from a table, “Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! “Welcome, children!” Seven grinned, as his detached head glowed, from the glowstick. “Surely, nothing’s scarier than the Headless Horseman, yes?”
“Whoa…!” the kids gasped.
“My horse is in the stable, right now,” Seven explained. “But I’m still here, to wish you all a Happy Early Halloween, this year.”
“Wow, thanks!” the first boy smiled.
“Will this still be here, tomorrow night?” the first girl asked.
“Of course,” Seven grinned. “Right until the true Halloween night.”
“Yay!” the kids cheered.
“You’re far out, Seven,” Mary chuckled, patting his head, and making him blush, slightly. “And what a great attraction, too.”
“You like it?” Seven asked.
“We love it!” the first girl answered, before kissing his cheek. “Thank you!”
“Golly…!” Seven gasped, blushing darker, at the small kiss.

As the kids finally exited the attraction, they babbled, excitedly, about the experience; “Wow, I wanna do it, again, tomorrow night!” the second boy cheered.
“Me, too!” the first girl agreed.
“I bet it’ll be best, on Halloween, proper.” Mary grinned.
The monster siblings overheard the kids, and all seven wore grins on their faces. “Good thing we still have more than enough candy to give out, for about four more nights.” Six observed.
“Clever thinking, with the pumpkin buckets, Three.” Four piped up.
“All in good faith, dear brother.” Three grinned.
“I think it’s time we went home, now.” Seven realized, screwing his head back onto his shoulders.
“Until tomorrow night.” Two nodded.
With that, One put up a “closed” sign, as she and her siblings gathered up to go home, for the night. As the monsters exited the park, one of the little girls waved at them, and called out, “Goodnight, and thank you!” All seven monsters waved, back, satisfied that the night was a success, and they also couldn’t wait, until the next night, to do it, again.

Chapter Text

Three more nights went by, and the monsters’ walkthrough attraction was the talk of the town, among the children; on the other hand, some bad news put a slight damper on almost everyone’s mood. A few neighbors claimed that someone destroyed their Halloween decorations, but no one knew who the mysterious “Halloween Vandal” was. “Oh dear,” Seven worried. “I hope the vandal doesn’t come after our place…”
“Whoever it is, they should be ashamed…” Two glowered.
“They’re probably just jealous.” Four scoffed.
“Just one more night, until Halloween,” One sighed, checking the calendar. “Hope it goes well, tonight.”

As the monster siblings played a game of oversized hopscotch, they overheard some kids talking. “The Halloween Vandal stole my candy, last night!” a boy frowned.
“Huh…?!” the monsters gasped.
“Stolen candy…?” Five gasped, in horror.
“The Vandal took my candy away, too,” a girl frowned. “Even my giant lollipop…”
“Something screwy’s going on, here…” Four glowered.
“We better check our attraction, to make sure.” One piped up.
At the park, the monsters checked each section, and everything seemed untouched. “All clear,” Two called out. “And my balloon animals are safe.”
“The cauldron still looks okay.” Six observed.
“And the coffin.” Three added.
“All okay.” Five acknowledged.
“Right,” One nodded, in relief. “Let’s hope it stays that way.”

After another night of entertaining kids, with their attraction, the monsters prepared to return home, when they suddenly heard an angry voice coming from a nearby yard. “What was that?” Two gasped.
“I'll see what it was.” Seven volunteered, unscrewing his head, and peeking in the noise’s direction.
In a front yard, a middle-aged woman, with auburn hair and a seemingly-permanent scowl, was smashing jack-o-lanterns, and stomping on the decorations, and it wasn’t even her yard. “Why waste time with Halloween?!” she growled, ripping the stuffing out of a scarecrow. “Kids don't even deserve candy! “And that dumb walkthrough, at the park,” she went on, stomping on the last jack-o-lantern. “What moron is giving out all that candy to those snot-nosed kids?!”
At those words, Seven grew angry and hurt, figuring it out; “So, that's her game, is it?!” he growled, reattaching his head.
“What is it, Seven?” One asked, concerned about her youngest brother’s mood change.
“I think I know who the Halloween Vandal is.” Seven sneered.
“Who?” Four asked.
Seven frowned, even more, as he remembered the woman’s name, “Our neighbor, Miss Tawny.”
“What?!” One gasped, in outrage. “What for?!”
“She thinks that kids don't deserve to celebrate Halloween…” Seven explained, his heart aching, with each word.
“Well, that's just rude!” Six gasped, in anger and disgust.
“I'll say it is.” Four sneered.
“She even hates our walkthrough attraction,” Seven went on, tearing up. “And called us morons…!”
“Who spat in her breakfast?” Three sneered, in disgust.
One, on the other hand, furrowed her brow, as if she was plotting something, and mused, “Hmm…”

When the monsters returned home, they still couldn’t believe that the mysterious “Halloween Vandal” was one of their neighbors, and a mean one, at that. “I can’t believe Miss Tawny would do such a thing…!” Seven sniffled, sitting on his bed.
“It’s like she can’t stand it, when people are having fun…” Four frowned.
“Isn’t there a way we can turn her in, to the police?” Two asked.
“Maybe,” One replied, still thinking about something. “And, if Miss Tawny is stealing the candy, too, we might get that back.”
“But how?” Six asked. “Tomorrow’s Halloween night, that might not be enough time.”
“I got an idea.” One explained.
“Will it work?” Seven asked.
“If we all work together, on it,” One went on, gathering her siblings together. “Here’s what we do…”

Chapter Text

Finally, Halloween arrived, and news of the Halloween Vandal reached Mom; “What fiend could do such a thing?” she glowered.
“We know who it is, Mom.” Two answered.
“Miss Tawny.” Seven added.
“Our new neighbor?” Mom gasped.
“Yep.” One nodded. “She thinks that kids don’t deserve to celebrate Halloween…”
“Hmm, doesn’t like fun, hmm?” Mom sneered.
“Apparently not…” Three huffed.
“One’s got a plan, though,” Four explained. “And I hope it works.”
“We just gotta work together, on this.” One reminded him.
“Right,” Two nodded. “Let’s gather up as much evidence as we can get.”
“Camera, check.” Five piped up, holding up a camera.
“Great,” One grinned. “Let’s go.”

As the monsters walked around the neighborhood, they snapped photos of every wrecked front yard they found, including a few photos of Miss Tawny actively smashing jack-o-lanterns. “You won’t ruin Halloween…” Six sneered, to herself. “Not for these kids…”
At the park, the monsters inspected their walkthrough attraction, and found that all the candy they had, for the kids, was gone. “Our candy!” Five gasped, in horror. “It’s all gone!”
“Stealing our work?!” Four snapped, putting his foot down. “That’s going too far!”
“No one takes away candy, on Halloween…” Three growled.
“I think I know what else we need.” Six sneered, again.

That evening, the monsters’ plan was coming together, and Mom even helped out, by grabbing a large jar of honey; “How sweet it is.” she chuckled.
“Perfect.” Six grinned.
“Ah, my old feather pillow.” Seven smiled, holding up a pillow.
“Smart thinking, Seven.” One encouraged.
“It’s almost time for trick-or-treaters to arrive.” Three observed, looking at the clock.
“I’ll take care of the trick-or-treaters, my dougles.” Mom replied, gesturing to a giant bowl of candy, by the door.
“At least that’s safe.” Four sighed.
“When are we gonna put that plan into action?” Two asked.
“Right now.” One answered. “Okay, guys, let’s go catch our vandal.”
“Be safe, my mushkas.” Mom reminded them.
“This is for our friends.” Three sneered, in determination.

At the park, the monsters returned to their walkthrough attraction and entered their positions. “We’re not morons…” Seven sneered, unscrewing his head, and setting it on his table.
“Surely, she’s bound to come here, again, tonight.” Four glowered, making sure his sheet was on, straight.
“I see her coming this way,” Two whispered. “And she’s got several buckets of candy with her…”
“That’s our thief…” Six sneered.
“Okay, guys,” One nodded. “Time to commence Operation: Tricks and Treats.”
“Ready.” Five nodded.
“Showtime.” Three hissed, before lying back in his coffin.
As Miss Tawny approached the park, she kept muttering insults, “I bet this attraction is ugly, just like those monsters.”
Six only growled, to herself, when she heard the word, “ugly”, but Seven whispered, “Be patient, Six, your chance will come.” Sure, Six knew that, but she was still sore about the remark, and couldn’t wait to deploy her part of the plan.

When Miss Tawny reached the attraction, she scowled, at the sign, “‘Haunted Halloween Walk’, ridiculous…” As she stalked into One’s section, she picked up the bronze lamp, and growled, “What’s so scary about this old teapot?”
As she threw the lamp on the ground, she kicked it, until One appeared in a puff of fake smoke, and growled, “Ah-ha! “So you’re the one who disrespected my lamp, and the trick-or-treaters!” she went on. “Now, prepare to face the consequences!”
“You can’t hurt me!” Miss Tawny retorted, trying not to sound scared. “I have diplomatic immunity!”
“What does that mean?” One asked, giving a funny look.
“Nothing you can understand, you monster!” Miss Tawny snapped, back, before going into the next room.
“There you are!” Two growled, holding up some pieces of smashed pumpkins. “You smashed my pumpkins!”
“Yeah, so what?” Miss Tawny retorted, again.
“And stole the peanut clusters I had, for the kids!” Two went on, pointing to an empty box.
“They don’t need candy!” Miss Tawny snapped, back.
“And not to mention you popped all my balloon animals!” Two growled, holding up a few pieces of balloon rubber. “You shouldn’t mess with a clown, if you know what’s good for you!”
“You can’t even touch me, you monster!” Miss Tawny snapped, before Two honked his clown horn, in her face (*honk-honk-honk!*), and she took off, into the next room, still lugging the buckets of candy. “Stupid monsters…” she huffed, before kicking the coffin.
It opened, with a low creaking noise, and an angry Three rose from it, baring his fangs; “Stupid, are we?!” he snarled.
“Not you, too!” Miss Tawny snapped, trying not to show fear.
“We all know what you did, you thief.” Three hissed.
“It’s not stealing, if no one needs it!” Miss Tawny retorted.
“Give the candy back,” Three hissed, again. “Or else!”
“No!” Miss Tawny snapped, still lugging the candy with her, into the next room.
“Woooooooo!” Four wailed. “Caught you with the goods! “We saw you destroying the neighborhood decorations!” he went on.
“Some costume you have,” Miss Tawny retorted. “You don’t even look scary!”
“Not scary, huh?” Four glared, before removing the sheet, revealing his real face, and growling. “Grrarrrrrgh!”
Miss Tawny let out a shriek, before scurrying off, still not dropping the candy, but Five stopped her, growling, “Oh, no you don’t! “Give it back!” he demanded, pointing to the candy.
“No!” Miss Tawny snapped, again, dodging the prop barbell and running to the next room, bumping into Six’s cauldron.
“There you are, you thief!” Six sneered. “Stealing my brew that was meant for the kids? “I now have to use a substitute.” she went on, dipping her ladle into the cauldron, and scooping some honey.
“Kids don’t need candy!” Miss Tawny repeated.
“They do, on Halloween,” Six retorted. “Which is tonight! “Now, give the candy back to the kids, or else!” she sneered, holding the ladleful of honey over the mean neighbor.
“Or else what?” Miss Tawny snapped.
“This.” Six replied, allowing the honey to drop onto Miss Tawny. “How sweet it is.”
The mean neighbor let out a shriek, in disgust, finally dropping the buckets of candy; “You big freak!” she snarled. “You ruined my hair!” She ran into the final room, where Seven ripped open the old pillow, and feathers stuck onto Miss Tawny. “What is this?!” she shrieked.
“Feathers, Miss Tawny,” Seven replied with a glare. “And we’re not ‘snot-nosed kids’. “That’s right,” he went on. “I heard what you said about our friends, and our project. “Who’s the chicken, now?” he sneered.

“Well, you got your candy back,” Miss Tawny growled. “But you still don’t deserve it!”
“Oh no?” Seven asked, feeling braver.
“No!” Miss Tawny snapped. “What’s the point of Halloween, anyway?”
“The point is for people to have fun,” Seven explained, reattaching his head. “To dress up, to raise the roof, and to have lots of candy! “It’s another reason for tricks and treats!” he grinned, before it disappeared back into a scowl. “But you, on the other hand, need to apologize.” With that, he grabbed her arm, and pulled her out of the attraction, where she stood before a crowd of giggling, dressed-up children. “Everyone,” Seven announced. “This is the Halloween Vandal!”
At that, the children booed Miss Tawny, as she stood, covered in honey and feathers, and Six announced, “And here’s something I think you all need, back!”
She revealed the buckets of candy, and the kids cheered, “Yay!”
“My giant lollipop!” a little girl cheered, holding it up.
“The treats have returned!” Three added.
“With a few groovy tricks.” Mary chuckled, dressed in a fortune-teller’s outfit.
“Operation: Tricks and Treats is a success!” One grinned.
“Hmm, not quite yet, One.” Two sneered.

Five minutes later, there came a knock at the police station’s door; an officer answered the door, and asked, “Yes?”
“Sorry to disturb you, Officer Quincy,” Two explained, revealing the honey-and-feathered Miss Tawny. “But we just caught the Halloween Vandal.”
Officer Quincy observed the woman, and chuckled, slightly, “You sure it’s her?”
“Positive,” One added, pulling out the photos. “And we have pictures, to prove it.”
“Looks like you don’t have any diplomatic immunity, Miss Tawny,” Four smirked. “Whatever that is.”
“Hmm,” Officer Quincy mused, inspecting the photos. “They’re a match. “Come on, guys,” he said, turning to his fellow officers. “Let’s book her in. “Vanessa Tawny,” he went on, cuffing her. “You’re under arrest for trespassing, destruction of property, and theft.”
Miss Tawny only scowled, as she was brought to her jail cell, and a female officer turned to the monsters, and smiled, “Thanks, monsters, for your help.”
“No problem.” Two nodded, back.
“Hang on,” the officer halted. “Don’t go away, yet!”
“What does she mean?” Seven wondered.
“I don’t know?” Six shrugged.
A minute later, the officer came back, carrying some candy in her hands; “Since it’s Halloween,” she explained. “I think you deserve a reward, well, seven rewards.”
“Really?” Four gasped.
“Gee, thanks!” Two grinned.
“There’s one, for each of you.” the officer went on, handing a piece to each monster.
“Mmm, yummy!” Five smiled.
“Ooh, a s’mores treat,” Six added. “One of my favorites!”
“Thanks, officer.” One smiled.
“Thank you,” the officer nodded. “And Happy Halloween.”
“Happy Halloween.” the monsters reply, waving goodbye.
“Should we try trick-or-treating, tonight?” Seven asked.
“I think we got our tricks and treats, already,” One chuckled. “And not just with candy, either.”

As the monsters walked home, some trick-or-treating kids paused, to thank them, for saving Halloween; “Now, this is a treat.” Four grinned.
“We should do it, again, next year.” Seven suggested.
“For our friends.” Five added.
“This might be my favorite Halloween, yet.” Six grinned.
All seven monsters were glad, as they strolled off into the night; “A Happy Haunted Halloween, to all,” Three announced. “And to all, a good fright!”