Later that day Bentley and Carmelita watched as everyone in town formed a huge line outside of town hall after Jack had finally left his house and explained that his plan involved everyone. The turtle and vixen, however, weren't interested in that, but by the fact that Sly had been seen along side the Pumpkin King. Both Bentley and Carmelita, after a few minuets, had finally been able to enter town hall, and sure enough, there was Sly standing right next to Jack as he was conversing with the Vampire Brothers. As they were talking Bentley and Carmelita walked over to Sly and see what he accomplished.

"Sly, can we talk to you for a moment?" Bentley asked as he pulled his raccoon friend to the side.

"Sure, what's yup spects?" Sly replied in his joking manor.

"Let me guess, it's another change of plan?" Carmelita questioned with a sigh.

"Well, define: change."

"A few hours ago you and I couldn't say his name without gagging, now you're helping him with this hair brained scheme?"

"Highly unlikely if you ask me." The Einstein turtle commented.

"Why's that, you jealous?"

"Well considering I'm the one who always comes up with the plans . . . wait, what, NO I am not jealous!" The turtle exclaimed flabbergasted as he caught himself from being off-topic. "I just want to know what your new plan is."

"Yeah, even though it was funny that you made Einstein (not counting the costume) here make a fool out of himself, he's right." Carmelita commented as she became serious. "There no way you're willing to do this willingly."

"Okay yes, what I'm thinking about is as straight as a horseshoe, but we really need to play along for now and hope he doesn't catch on."

"Why, what are you planing now?" Carmelita demanded with her hands akimbo on her hips as the raccoon looked around to make sure no one was listening.

"Well, obviously I was discovered by Jack last night as a recap." Sly replied as he recounted the previous night. "Well when he found me, he congratulated me on my hiding abilites, which coming from him . . ."

"Sly . . ."

"Sorry, well after he found he said tat if I help him . . . I'd be able to ride with him."

"You're helping him so you could ride in the sleigh?" Carmelita questioned incredulously as she stared at the raccoon in disbelief.

"Look, I know it sound ridiculous, but it's the only real way I can keep tabs on him." Sly defended as he turned away from the two.

"Sly . . . that's brilliant!" Bentley exclaimed, but caught himself before anyone saw. "I knew you had something up your sleeve."

"Okay how is this good, I mean what if Jack finds out?" Carmelita question once more not seeing any point

"Look, we're not left with a lot of options, so for now we have to keep quiet." Sly said as he looked into the vixens eyes with a passion. "Carmelita, even thoug we never see eye to eye . . ."

"She rarely does, unless it's with a parent, teacher, or law enforcement." Bentley remarked, but went unnoticed.

"The point is, I need your help with this as much as I need from my friends, please . . . will you help me?"

Carmelita was completely frozen as se stared deep into the raccoon's eye and saw how sincere he was being. Even they they were at odds most of the time and he was annoyingly flirtatious he was, she had to admit he was one of a kind, and this was one of the times he actually showed it. it wasn't until a few minuets of spacing out that she returned to Earth.

"o-okay . . . I will."

"So will I, good buddy, so will I." Bentley said as he placed a hand on his fiend's shoulder and was brought into a a big bear hug along with Carmelita!.

"Thanks guys, you're the best!" The raccoon said as a blush appeared on the vixen's face, even as he let them go.

"I just hope you know what you're doing Ringtail." Carmelita thought as her blush vanished.

"Let's hope this works." Bentley said as he straightened his lab coat.

"It has to, and we need to keep low profiles." Sly replied even though deep down he was in doubt, but pushed it away.

"How horrible our Christmas will be!" The Mayor said as the three turned back to Jack.

"No! How jolly!" Jack said as he corrected the cone-headed man.

"Oh, how jolly our Christmas will be."

"Something tells me that won't be a problem." Bentley uttered to which the others nodded

They then saw a few toys being thrown at the poor Mayor, who looked angered one minuet, but as he looked down he instantly became distressed.

"What are you doing here?" He questioned as three more children, two boys and one girl (at least Bentley though it was a girl) appeared in front of his stand.

"Jack sent for us." The devil-dressed boy replied.

"Specifically . . ." Continued the witch-dressed little girl.

"By name." Finished the skeleton-dressed boy as he licked his lollipop.

"Lock!"

"Shock!"

"Barrel!"

"Finally, I'm back!" Exclaimed a new voice, that somehow sounded familiar as it caught the attention of Sly, Bentley, and Carmelita.

Everyone turned to the doors to see another kid, but he was dressed differently, almost like a sort of wrestler. Not only that he was taller, pink, and well . . . a hippo.

"Jack, Jack, it's Oogie's boys!" The mayor said as he regarded the fourth. "And what appears to be . . . wrestler?"

"Not this guy again!" Barrel groaned inwardly.

"You're still following us?" Lock questioned with a scowl.

"I told you to get lost!" Shock yelled hoping the hippo would take a hint.

"And I told you, "The Murray" is looking for his friends and I will continue no matter how long it takes!" The hippo defiantly exclaimed with determination

"Murray." Sly, Bentley, and Carmelita shouted as the hippo, now Murray, noticed them approaching.

"Wow, that was fast, am I good or what?" Murray asked no one in particular.

"Murray, thank goodness you're alright." Said a relieved Bentley.

"Where've you been big guy?" Sly asked as he patted him on the shoulder.

"Yeah, do you know how worried we were?" Carmelita scolded a bit.

"Sorry guys, I looked all over that other town for you, but I ended up getting lost, so I tried to find my way back here, and now here I am. By the way did you know this place is called Halloween Town?

"Yep."

"Knew it already."

"Pretty much."

"Wow I am good at this." Murray said giving himself another pat on the back.

"Ah, Halloween's finest trick-or-treaters." The four heard Jack say as their attention was turned to him. "The job I have for you three is top secret, it requires craft, cunning, mischief."

"Amateurs Jack, don't make us laugh." Sly said as he and Murray high fived.

"Seriously his family are experts in that area." Carmelita chided a bit jokingly.

"They no push overs." Murray said with a nod.

"As I was saying . . . absolutely no one is to know about this, not a soul!" Jack said firmly as he pointed at the three. "Now . . ."

Jack then began to whisper a few things as the the Cooper group and even the Mayor himself was listening, he even held out his megaphone. As they all listened, Murray's eye went wide near the end of the speach.

"Got it." The Oogie Boys (and one girl) said as they were about to leave, but were stopped by Jack.

"Oh, and one more thing . . ." The Pumpkin King said as he pulled Lock back by his tail. "Make sure you leave that no-account Oogie Boogie out of this!"

"Whatever you say, Jack." Barrel said in a mock honest voice.

"Of course, Jack." Shock said in the same mocking voice as Barrel.

"Wouldn't dream of it, Jack." Lock said as mockingly as the other two.

Murray, however, knew better from experience with the Fiendish Five and Klaww Gang, plus he, Bentley, and Sly were darn good actors themselves at times. His theory was soon confirmed as he saw the three cross their fingers behind their backs. It wasn't until they left that he made one of the boldest decisions in his entire life. He adjusted his mask and gloves, the marched straight to the door.

"Murray, where are you off to?" Bentley asked as he noticed the hippo approaching the entrance to town hall.

"Guys I ask that you all stay here for "The Murray" is need elsewhere, but worry not dears friends I shall return . . . with victory in my grasp! Look out Oogie, cannonball!"

Sly, Carmelita, Bentley, Jack, and the Mayor could do nothing, but stare as the hippo rushed out the door and stood there in silence.

"Is he always this . . . Energetic?" Jack asked as he broke the silence.

"Like you wouldn't believe." Sly answered with a chuckle.


Murray followed the three mischievous trick-or-treaters into a secluded part of the Hinterlands and before he knew it he saw a giant, gnarled-looking, treehouse. He then watched at a safe distance away as Lock, Shock and Barrel entered a small cage-like elevator that seemed to be the only way into said treehouse. This was Murray's chance to run up to the treehouse where the elevator cage was, and though climbing was impossible, and he wasn't exactly the best climber, he could hear each and every single word as these started to sing.

Lock, Shock, and Barrel: Kidnap Mr. Sandy Claws?

Lock: I wanna do it

Barrel: Let's draw straws

Shock: Jack said we should work together

Barrel: Three of a kind

Lock: Birds of a feather

Lock, Shock, and Barrel: Now and forever

Weeee

La, la, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la

Kidnap the Sandy Claws

Lock him up real tight!

Throw away the key and then

Turn off all the lights!

Shock: First, we're going to set some bait

Inside a nasty trap and wait!

When he comes a-sniffing we will

Snap the trap and close the gate!

Lock: Wait I got a better plan

To catch this big red lobster man!

Let's pop him in a boiling pot

And when he's done we'll butter him up!

Lock, Shock, and Barrel: Kidnap the Sandy Claws

Throw him in a box!

Bury him for ninety years

Then see if he talks

Shock: Then Mr. Oogie Boogie Man

Lock, Shock: Can take the whole thing over then!

Lock, Shock, and Barrel: He'll be so pleased, I do declare!

That he will cook him rare!

Wheee!

Lock: I say we take a cannon

Aim it at his door and then

Knock three times, and when he answers

Sandy Claws will be no more

Shock: You're so stupid! Think now

If we blow him up to smithereens

We may lose some pieces and then

Lock, Shock: Jack will beat us black and green!

Lock, Shock, and Barrel: Kidnap the Sandy Claws

Tie him in a bag!

Throw him in the ocean then

See if he is sad!

Murray didn't like what he was hearing, not . . . one . . . bit. These troublemakers were worse than the Fiendish Five and Klaww Gang put together, if that's even possible! Would they really do all of those . . . those . . . totally uncool thing to Santa? That stuff was all meant for taking down giant monsters like Godzilla, or slaying vampires like Dracula, or ect. like the monsters in his favorite movies, tv shows, and comics! Not holiday icons like old Saint Nick! And just who was this suppose "Oogie Boogie" man, some sort of . . . well . . . monster?!

Murray: This Mr. Oogie Boogie

Sounds like the meanest guy around!

If I were on his Boogie list

I'd get out of town!

"Wait, what am I just standing here, I gotta do something!" Murray exclaimed as he ran off to prevent these brats from completing their evil scheme, but not before he still heard the three still singing their twisted song ringing throughout the woods.

Barrel: He'll be so pleased with our success

That he'll reward too, I'll bet!

Lock, Shock, and Barrel: Perhaps he'll make his special brew

Os snake and spider stew!

Mmmmm!

We're his little henchmen

And we take our job with pride!

We do our best to please him

And stay on his good side!

Shock: I wish my cohorts weren't so dumb!

Barrel: I'm not the dumb one!

Lock: You're no fun!

Shock: Shut up!

Lock: Make me!

Shock: I've got something, listen now

This one is real good, you'll see!

We'll send a present to his door

Upon there'll be a note to read!

Now, in the box we'll wait and hide

Until his curiosity

Entices him to look inside

And then we'll have him

Lock, Shock, and Barrel: One, two, three!

Kidnap the Sandy Claws

Beat him with a stick!

Lock him up for ninety years

See what makes him tick!

Kidnap the Sandy Claws

Chop him into bit!

Mr. Oogie Boogie is

Sure to get his kicks!

Kidnap the Sandy Claws

See what we will see!

Lock him in a cage

And then throw away the key!

It was then that the threetrick-or-treat brats rode into the Hinterlands in a walking wind up . . . bathtub?


It took some time searching around the Hinterlands, but Murray managed to find the seven Holiday Doors. The hippo did not Jack's plans for Santa Claus, not one tini tiny, microscopic bit, but what could he do, we was a 12 year old hippo boy dressed as a luchador, what could he possibly do? Suddenly, a thought came to his mind, and not just any thought; an idea! He then too out a flashlight (a necessity his mom forced him to take before he left) from his bag, held it over his head and made a "PING" sound as he turned it on.

"Murray, you are so brilliant, it hurts . . . all those evil doers that try to do harm to the innocent." He told himself as he knew exactly how to handle the situation and he was determined to see it through.

This had to work, it just had to, there was no way Santa Claus was going to be harmed on "The Murray's" watch, not now nor ever! It was at that time that Murray heard the wicked cackling of Lock, Shock, and Barrel approaching from afar, which meant one thing: it was time for his plan to go into motion! With a confident smirk, he rant to where the laughter was coming from and greet the trick-or-treaters . . .