Shock cackled at Carver's remark and the Mayor's resulting embarrassment, then hooked her arm with the pumpkin creature's and cheerfully joined her best friend in heading for the pumpkin patch.
Jack just shook his head as he watched them go. Sometimes, he wished the tricksters were still children. Other times, he wasn't sure he saw much difference aside from the four of them getting taller.
"And-and stay out of trouble!" the Mayor called after them.
Jack gave a glance to the new pumpkin pile by the fountain, then headed for Town Hall.
"I don't think we have much to worry about, Mayor," he said reassuringly. "They've never caused too much trouble this close to Halloween, and after yesterday's stunt at the witches' shop, they've probably gotten out enough of that sort of restlessness to tide them over for two more weeks."
The Mayor skittered after Jack. His head swiveled again to show his smiling face, though he was still a bit nervous.
"I think you're right, Jack," he said.
From the path to the pumpkin patch, Shock ducked into a small nook just out of sight to eavesdrop. She smirked as she listened to their footsteps fade away.
"They haven't seen anything yet," she said quietly. "Come on. Let's make sure Barrel didn't break anything."
~~~
The day passed by slowly for the tricksters' tastes. Lock hung around the graveyard, with his bucket carefully hidden just inside one of the tombs. He'd brought some of his music notes to look through in the meantime. Barrel had his hidden in the pumpkin patch. At the very least, he could find a good pumpkin to munch on. Both of them watched the comings and goings of various citizens. Carver was free to assist whichever of them she pleased.
With Jack situated and still a while to go before the busiest time of the day, Shock met Barrel in the pumpkin patch and retrieved a walkie-talkie from him. He'd give one to Carver as well, now that Jack had checked the contents of her cage. With hers acquired, Shock headed back to the square. While it was still fairly empty, she climbed up to the roof of Town Hall and situated herself carefully to watch for both the square and the main residential area.
She had forbidden the use of the walkie-talkies until she gave the signal in order to maintain her position. Among the citizens' regular day-to-day activities, no one would notice her hiding in plain sight unless something - such as the crackle of a radio - got their attention.
The gloomy day spurned activity sooner than she expected. By noon, Shock was sure she'd seen everyone in the whole town pass by at least once - and now the square was bustling with unlife. She took care when climbing down, knowing to not bring attention to herself. Even so, one of the vampires spotted her.
"What were you doing up there?"
"Haven't you gotten your fill of trouble yesterday?" another one piped in.
Shock just smiled sweetly.
"Nothing."
That got a round of glares. She didn't care. Shock shoved past them with her usual unpleasantness.
"Check if you want," she said. "I didn't do anything."
Yet.
The vampires grumbled and went back to their Halloween preparations. Shock made her way to the nook by the gate. She leaned against the wall near it and lit up a cigarette, partially so a passing citizen would leave her alone, and partially to keep her free hand hidden under her halfway-crossed arms.
This was it, the final stretch. Citizens bustled around the square, carrying decorations, heading up the path to the pumpkin patch, and going in and out of the adjoining area where the witches' shop was undoubtedly getting a lot of business. Shock carefully focused on the pumpkin sitting on the edge of the fountain and concentrated on it. She brought the cigarette to her lips and subtly shifted her fingers on her free hand. The pumpkin rocked back and forth, until finally - sploosh!
A few monsters turned their heads at the sound, but the fog was already dispersing. Shock ran for the nook and grabbed Agnes' broom. She'd practiced a bit at home to make sure she could handle it, and sure enough, just as she planned, she was out of the gate within seconds, and high above the forget-me-lot fog just as quickly. Shock grinned as she watched the fog quickly encase the square, and with it, a good portion of the town.
Many monsters looked about in confusion at first. There wasn't supposed to a fog like this until Halloween! Their confusion at the fog quickly became confusion of whatever tasks they were doing as the forget-me-lots worked their charm. Shock pulled the walkie-talkie from her pocket.
"Halloween Town just got a severe case of amnesia," she said with a wicked cackle.
There was one final thing to do. While she was still airborne and a safe distance from the fog, Shock focused her power on Town Hall.
Slowly, the numbers reading, "017 Days to Halloween" turned until they read "000". Her part done, Shock headed for the pumpkin patch, while keeping an eye on the fog's spread. She'd be ready to warn Barrel (and Carver, if she was with him) if it spread faster than they were expecting. She'd also be able to see any stragglers.
