...It's with great reluctance that I say that "Roll Back the Rock" had to be excluded. Unfortunately, it just didn't fit the new context. Hopefully, this is an acceptable substitute.

Chapter 8…

Meanwhile, Tulio and the other three monsters were waiting at the gas station. Alf was drooling over the snacks in the store, every single high-calory, low-nutritional food valued by customers and sugar-addicted children along the road. Legoshi and Fran had learned to just deal with the alien's hunger by now, but patience on some was wearing thing.

"C'mon, I'm starved! I've been fasting since lunch!" Alf pleaded.

Fran raised her fist as if preparing to thump the alien, but Tulio put a hand on her wrist, "No…no, not worth it."

Fran looked at Tulio, then her fist, then grunted as she slowly lowered it. Legoshi looked across the river.

"Hope they're okay." He said. He'd only been in the human world for a few days and, between traps and police, he was a bit…wary of it. His ears perked as he heard something. He looked over to see a small group of human, playing instruments and shouting about how they'd have to be prepared for the concert. He smiled as he remembered the fun he and the others had singing.

"Come on, just one Twinkie!" Alf said. Fran grunted as she pointed. Alf looked over and then laughed, "Oh hey! There they are!"

Coming upstream like a motorboat was, indeed, Ariel, Ben, and Miguel. The mermaid jumped out, showing they had someone else with them.

"They've got a girl with them." Legoshi commented.

"Great, turning into a little caravan already." Tulio muttered as he stretched and sat up.

"Everyone!" Ben said as he began ringing out his shirt, "I want you to meet my new friend, Alice Kingsley!"

Alice took in the new people—a wolfman, a lady with metal spikes coming out of her head, and some strange creature. She reached out and gave Legoshi's tail a few tugs. When this resulted in the werewolf letting out a surprised yelp, she paled and took a few steps back.

"Oh gee, wonder what she's thinking." Alf said, flatly.

"Don't worry." Ben said, putting a hand on her shoulder, "They're real monsters, but they're alright. Wouldn't hurt a fly."

"I'm Legoshi. Nice to meet you." Legoshi said, holding out his hand.

"Huh-huh-hi…" Alice said, timidly, as she reached out and shook it, "I mean…it's nice to make your acquaintance, Legoshi. Very nice to meet you."

"I'm Fran. Hi." Fran smiled.

"A pleasure, Lady Fran. Nice to meet you." Alice said. Fran smiled as she turned a bit red and grunted.

"She's so polite." Ariel beamed.

"Right, enough pleasantries. We've gotta get on the road or—"

"And I'm hungry-I mean, I'm Alf." Alf said.

"I'm Alice Kingsley. It's a great pleasure, Alf." Alice said, "Are you a…?"

"Alien, that's what I am." Alf said.

"Oh…so what planet do you hail from?" Alice asked.

"Tulio's right—enough with this tea party chatter." Ben said as he made to get into the truck. Fran simply grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him back out.

"Just a kid, Fran. Don't KILL him." Alf said. Fran only shrugged before dropping him.

"What's wrong with you?" Ben asked, "Just because she started…"

Alice gave Ben a smile. Once again, Ben found his objections evaporated as he began smiling. Miguel snickered as he shot Tulio a look. Tulio only sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Kids…" he murmured.

"Something up, Ben?" Legoshi asked, tapping Ben's shoulder.

"NO! NOTHING!" Ben yelled as he got onto the back of the truck. He unfolded the poster and held it out, "I think I found a way to get you guys into town without causing a riot!"

"So, to Gravity Falls, then?" Tulio asked.

"Yep!" Ben exclaimed.

"Just one step closer to Colombia and Chel…" Tulio murmured.

"And off we go!" Miguel exclaimed.

"Mystery Shack! Yeah!" Alf cheered as he, Legoshi, Ariel, and Fran got into the back with Ben and Alice in tow.

There was the screaming noise of a singer in the middle of a stage. People were chanting and cheering…and they were all in costumes. So, four actual monsters would blend right in. And that's what Legoshi, Ariel, Fran, and Alf discovered…with a zipper taped onto Alf's fur to add to the illusion.

"Hey, no one's looking at us." Legoshi said in amazement, "We blend right in!"

"And there's…so much music here." Ariel said, in amazement.

"Food's good, too." Alf said as he took a bite out of a candy apple. Fran grunted as she ate some cotton candy.

"See? This'll be too easy." Ben smiled as he led the four through the crowd until they got to the stage.

"Halfway to Colombia already." Tulio said, "I can already taste the coffee…"

"Why do you wish to go to Colombia, Mr. Tulio?" Alice asked.

"They're convicted felons." Ben said.

"No, we're not!" Tulio half-shouted.

"He's right! Technically, we haven't been CONVICTED of anything." Miguel grinned.

"I have a girlfriend there." Tulio said, firmly.

"Sure, ya do." Ben smirked.

"Why didn't I just boot them all out of the truck the moment we got into town?" Tulio murmured.

"Because you like us." Ariel said.

"No, HE likes YOU." Tulio said, pointing at Miguel, who only waved. Notably absent was anything resembling a denial.

"Come on, let's just get to the shack. It's not TOO far out of town, right?" Legoshi asked as they passed by the back of the concert hall. The only person there was a guy on a phone, looking quite panicked.

"Where are they?! They said they'd be here by now?!" he shouted into the phone before spotting the four. His look turned from fear to relief and then anxiety, "Never mind! Just found them here!" he hung up his phone and shouted, running over to Legoshi, "Where have you been?!"

"Uh…what?" Legoshi asked.

"Come on! We need you here!" he said, dragging him away. Ariel, Fran, and Alf followed after.

"Guys?" Ben asked, looking around.

"Do they always get into this sort of trouble?" Alice asked.

"You have NO idea." Ben growled, but was blocked by a door slamming in his face.

"You have any idea what's going on?" Ariel asked.

Fran grunted. Alf shrugged, "Yeah, that's probably it."

"Wait, what do you mean—?" Legoshi asked before being pushed onto stage.

"Thought there was a fifth member. Y'know, the vampire? Ah, you said he was a jerk, anyway." The man said, "Just sing your song!"

"And now, here from Sibiu, Transylvania, here to chill you to the bone is CREEEEEEATUUUUURE FEEEEEEATURRRRRE!" called the announcer.

"Apparently, we're a band now." Legoshi said.

"So, now what?" Alf asked. Ariel and Fran looked at each other and the mermaid smiled. Fran grunted as she walked to the drums. Alf shrugged as he went to the keyboard, "This, apparently."

Ariel picked up the microphone as Legoshi hesitantly picked up a guitar. He remembered what it was like when he did karaoke with the others. Hopefully, this wouldn't end with them arrested.

"Look, mommy! Monsters!"

"No, they're not. They're in costume."

"I can totally see the latex…"

"I wish they WERE real monsters…"

"Real monsters…"

"Wouldn't it be great if they were real?"

Those words reminded Legoshi of the wishes Jack showed them. Fran began to tap the drums and Legoshi began to play his guitar.

"Hey, that's them!" Ben said as he tried making his way to stage, but just couldn't get through the crowd.

"Wait, are they SINGING?" Alice asked.

"I think they ARE…" Miguel beamed.

That was when the song began.

Ariel: The house is kind of spooky,

I hear this eerie growl.

I spy this scary werewolf

And he lets out a howl.

I look a little closer and what do I see?

Big sharp teeth and red eyes staring back at me!

Legoshi, Alf, and Fran: Creepy creatures!

Ariel: Like in the movies I see!

Legoshi, Alf, and Fran: Creepy creatures!

Ariel: But they're not on TV!

They're right next to you,

They're right next to me,

And I like 'em!

They're as real as can be!

"They…do seem to be quite musically talented." Alice commented.

"I'd say so." Miguel nodded, "Just wish I had my own…"

He then darted away. Tulio smacked his forehead, "Oh come ON!"

"What?" Ben asked.

"You know that little voice you have that tells you to quit while you're ahead?" Tulio asked, "Miguel does NOT have one…"

Legoshi heard the people cheering and especially the children, who were actually singing along. He nodded and felt himself smiled.

Legoshi: I hear aliens a-coming, a saucer flies on by!

A sea monster's coming for me, no boating will I try.

A Frankenstein monster parades before my view,

I say it's great to know they're around, wouldn't you?

Crowd: Creepy creatures!

Ariel: Like in the movies I see!

Crowd: Creepy creatures!

Legoshi: But they're not on TV!

Fran: They're right next to you,

Alf: They're right next to me,

With a sudden strumming, Miguel walked up from behind, carrying a bass guitar. This helped balance the music out a bit. Without missing a beat, he joined in.

Miguel: And I like 'em!

Legoshi, Ariel, Fran, Alf, and Miguel: They're as real as can be!

Crowd: Creepy creatures all around,

In the air and on the ground!

Check your closet, check your sheet.

Careful where you put your feet!

"Hey, he's pretty good." Ben said as he, Tulio, and Alice tried making their way to the stage.

"Yeah. But the sooner we drag those monsters off the stage, the better." Tulio murmured.

Crowd: Creepy creatures!

Legoshi: Like in the movies I see!

Crowd: Creepy creatures!

Ariel: But they're not on TV!

Fran: They're right next to you!

Alf: They're right next to me!

Miguel got close to Ariel and touched her cheek. The mermaid giggled at this.

Miguel: And I love her!

I mean I love 'em!

Look at them all!

They're all amaziiiiiing!

As they finished, Legoshi made a final note and leaned over the stage. A little girl got close and pulled on his muzzle, feeling his fur.

"Hey, watch it." Legoshi said, warmly, as he patted the girl on the head.

Miguel yelped as Tulio suddenly pulled him off.

"I swear, one of these days, you're gonna get us both killed." Tulio said.

"Those aren't costumes, mommy." The girl said, beaming at Legoshi, "Those're REAL monsters!"

That alone made the entire crowd go silent. The children were all exclaiming "they're real!" with looks of joy on their faces. To them, it was a Halloween miracle.

To the adults, though…

"AAAH! REAL MONSTERS!"

"We're in trouble." Fran commented.

Screaming and dragging their children away before running out in a massive panic.

"This is going sideways!" Tulio said before he and Miguel were dragged away. Ben grabbed onto Alice and tried fighting against the pandemonium.

"SPLIT UP!" Ben shouted as he and Alice were slowly dragged away, "WE'LL MEET UP WITH YOU IN THE WOODS OUTSIDE THE MYSTERY SHACK! NOW RUN!"

"Where's the woods?" Ariel asked.

"I dunno. Do any of you?" Alf asked the few people who remained. The tape on his zipper then seemed to lose its adhesiveness, revealing without a doubt that these weren't costumes.

They screamed and ran from the now revealed to be quite real monsters.

"Guess they didn't know." Legoshi said. Fran grunted.

"Yeah, we all know that now, Fran." Alf said.

Legoshi's attention, though, was caught by another poster. This one was dark purple with a white clown face on it. A very familiar clown face. One that Jack had them familiarize themselves with. Legoshi slowly read out the title.

"Joker's House of Hilarious Horrors…" Legoshi read. The wolfman did a double-take at the name, "Joker?!"

"The bad guy!" Fran hissed.

"Oh no!" Ariel gasped.

"Now appearing in…the local forest of Gravity Falls?" Legoshi concluded, feeling an icy dread filling his gut.

"Not good! Not good at all!" Alf said.

"Ben! Alice!" Legoshi said.

"And Miguel! And…Tulio, too." Ariel said before Legoshi began grabbing her, Alf, and Fran before catching them in what could only be described as an amateur chokehold.

"They're in danger! We gotta help them!" he shouted.

"Hold it right there!" shouted a voice through a megaphone. The four turned to see a few police cars, "Get on your knees and put your claws up!"

Their PREVIOUS run-in with the law had left quite an impression.

All four screamed in terror and took off in different directions—Legoshi to the left, Ariel to the right (by hopping onto a vendor's cart and wheeling herself away), while Fran and Alf just charged past them.

The moment they left the venue, though, two kids walked by.

"Huh. Figured more people would be here." Said one, who had short brown hair and a hat with a pine tree on it.

"Well, y'know how these things get! OOH! Free cotton candy!" Said the other, a girl with braces and a distinctive sweater.

"Thought we'd find them here, since it's the best place to hide out." The boy said, "The bonehead could've just brought them RIGHT to the Shack, but didn't. Now, we've gotta track down those monsters. This has GOT to be his dumbest idea…and that's saying a LOT."

"Oh, c'mon, Dipper. It's FUN!" The girl said, "Think of it like a scavenger hunt! But why couldn't he pick a vampire?"

"Mabel, vampires are NOT cool. They're boring." Dipper said, flatly.

"That's what YOU say." Mabel said, slapping a poster over the one about Joker's haunted house. It now read 'Mystery Shack! New exhibit, coming October 31st! Genuine monsters!', "Can't skimp on publicity!"