Defeat

The sun was setting. A chill breeze came from the east, making the leaves to tremble. Lisa and Brian walked along the darkening path, breaths trailing behind them like ghosts. Brian wore a long brown duster, which concealed his sword and carbine. Lisa wore an elegant Chinese gown, her dao sword hanging at her hip. Her hair was in a bun, held together by two silver chopsticks.

"Are you sure we can get through the gate with all the security?"

"I should think so. With any luck, they'll think us nothing but anime junkies."

"What if they ask me what character I'm supposed to be?"

"Just say Yoko or Taki or some Japanese girl name and they'll wave you through."

"And you?"

"Either something from 'Castlevania' or 'Full Metal Jacket'."

" 'Alchemist', Brian. 'Full Metal Jacket' is a film by Stanley Kubrick."

Brian stopped for a moment, a strange look on his face.

"No wonder I got beaten up at the Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con!"

They passed through the gates with no trouble, and found Homer, Marge, and Eric sitting by the Five-H food booth. Homer was on his third linguisa sandwich.

"Hey," Brian said.

"How's our situation looking?" Lisa asked, sitting down at their table.

"Nelson and Dolph are here on police duty, but they brought silver ammo for their guns. Maggie is with Bart and Jessica, and Ned and Millhouse are shadowing them. Sideshow Bob is at the knitting booth in the exhibit barn, which is right across from the stage. And Mel is with Krusty at the Dunk-A-Clown."

"What about Alucard, and the Fat Tony's men?"

"Alucard is moving around, hiding in the shadows and looking cool," Homer said sarcastically, "And the Italians are over by the Sons of Sicily food booth."

Marge checked her watch.

"Its almost time Eric. Hurry up and finish your hot dog."

"Mom, why are carrying an enormous assault rifle?" Eric asked.

"Oh, this? Oh, well, like I said, I'm going this year as Sigourney Weaver from 'Aliens'."

"Then why are you carrying a katana and wearing a yellow outfit?"

"Well, I, uh, also wanted to go as the Bride from 'Kill Bill', and I couldn't quite make up my mind. Heh heh. Come on, honey, let's get you over to your dance friends. Heh."

Marge led Eric over to the stage.

"You guys still haven't told him?"

"How could we?" Homer whined. "Imagine, you're nine years old-"

"Eleven."

"Whatever, and you get told by your parents that your dad's old boss has risen from the dead and needs your blood to resurrect the King of the Vampires and bring about the Apocalypse. Its enough to give any kid issues!"

They walked over to the performance area, and sat down on the bales of hay to watch the dance. Eric's group was performing 'Thriller', with Eric and Felicia as the two key dancers.

They finished the dance. They bowed, and the audience applauded. A shot was fired. Marge raised her rifle, Homer pulled his shotgun from the hay bale, and Brian whipped his carbine out from his jacket. A group of armed men in black robes and hideous latex masks was charging for the stage. One pulled a pistol, and fired a dart at Eric, striking him in the shoulder. Eric whimpered and fell over. Marge aimed a burst at the man's face, shredding it. His fellows fired. Lisa flipped over the bale of hay and crawled to a nearby table. She flipped it over and called to the others. Brian, who had ducked under one of the hay bales, fired another burst at the attackers the dropped and crawled over to her. A second group came at Bart and Lisa, guns leveled at their faces. Homer saw and fired his shotgun, killing all four. Marge let out a solid stream from her pulse rifle, taking out the three gunmen.

A bullet whizzed past Marge's ear. Another group of armed men came running out from backstage, firing wildly. Marge turned and somersaulted to a nearby tree. She heard the bullets rattling the trees trunk as her assailents tried to hit her in vain, then Homer's shotgun as he fired at them from behind the table.

A trio of black sedans arrived in the parking lot, their passengers leaping out before they had even come to a full stop. They stormed up to the gate, shooting the woman in the ticket box. Seeing Marge hiding behind the tree, they took aim. A spray of bullets plowed into them.

"Take that, youze!" Legs yelled, his fingers squeezing the trigger of his Thompson gun. The Sons of Sicily had sprung into action, Tommy guns and Ak-47's blazing.

Another group of attackers came from behind the stage. Lisa took out her comm.

"Bob! Mel! Nelson! Anybody!"

"Lisa? Don't worry, I'm on my way."

Bob dropped his pamphlet about macramé and rushed out of the exhibit bar. He raised his semi-automatic rifle and fired, again and again and again. Nearly every shot was a kill.

The sun slowly passed below the horizon. The Simpsons and their allies paid no notice. In the exhibit barn, at the Blackhearst and Co. Mortuary and Funeral Home booth, the 'display' caskets burst open, their UnDead occupants leaping forth.

"What in the blazes?" the man at the booth exclaimed. A casket behind him opened, and the vampire inside pounced, sinking its fangs into his neck.

Bob turned and cast aside his rifle. He drew his katana and wakizashi and charged.

Homer heard a hideous screech. He looked to the sky and saw three black shapes hurtling towards the supine Eric. He took aim and pull the trigger. The shotgun clicked, but there was no blast. He opened the chamber and found that it had jammed. He threw the gun aside in anger. The shot went off.

"D'oh!"

He reached for his uzi. Before he could aim, a werewolf pounced upon him, its snapping muzzle searching for his neck. Homer's gun skidded aside. As he struggled to keep the deadly fangs away from his face, Homer heard the winged things squawk and dive. One caught Eric, seizing him in its talons. Homer tried to reach for his gun, but the wolf was too quick, snapping his hand. Homer's glove kept the beast from sinking its fangs into his skin, but the force of the bite was such that several bones broke upon impact. He wolf swung its head back to Homer's face, ready to tear his throat. A shot rang out above the din, and the wolf slumped over. Mel had felled the wolf. He opened the chamber of his rifle, inserting the special tracking bullet Professor Frink had constructed. He aimed at the winged monsters now fleeing with Eric. He fired. The bullet found purchase in one of the gargoyle's fleshy haunches.