Chapter 20: The Halloween Bash

At the Isle of Draco, three Dragon Council members (the African Dragon, the European Dragon, and the Dragon of Asia to be specific) and Camille, the Elemental Dragon Girl were reviewing the latest surprise inspections the Dragon Council made. "There's only one dragon left to inspect." Councillor Kulde, the European Dragon, stated. "The American Dragon."

"First, he lets humans know his identity; then his girlfriend turns out to be a slayer." Councillor Chang, the Dragon of Asia, commented in disgust. "I wonder what he'll do to disappoint us this time."

The other dragons decided to ignore her. "We all know what to do if we meet her, right?" Councillor Andam, the African Dragon, asked.

Meanwhile, at Canal Street Electronics, Jake Long had finished sweeping the shop. "Somebody's a happy kid." Fu commented upon seeing Jake's expression. "I know you don't mind doing chores in spite of your Dad's money but I've never seen you this happy."

"Dad's taking my sister and me for trick-or-treating." Jake explained.

"Kid, aren't you too old for this?" Fu asked.

"Any family outings are welcome especially for non-dragon related issues, Fu." Jake argued. "And besides, I can always say I'm helping Dad to watch over my little sister."

"The joys of being young." Lao Shi commented. "What will you dress like, Jake?"

"Dad's surprising me but I hope it's a Superman costume." Jake hoped. "Is that a bird? Is that a plane? No, it's the American Superman! What about you, G?"

"I am going as myself, young one." Lao Shi answered. "I'm only going along for sake of family time."

"Okay." Jake uneasily replied.

A pirate and a princess then showed up. "Pull yarrrrr anchors, scurvy cur." The pirate ordered. "Long John Long is ready to sail."

'And there is the goofy human I remember from the Eighties.' Lao Shi thought. "Happy Halloween, Jonathan." He greeted his son-in-law.

"Happy Halloween, Lao Shi." Jonathan replied and then turned his attention to Jake and Fu. "Happy Halloween to you too, Jake and Fu."

"Where's my costume?" Jake eagerly asked and Jonathan showed an… astronaut costume. "Do you like it, son? It comes with the perfect excuse to cover your face so your secret will be safe even if somebody recognizes me. However, it's not a real astronaut suit so, if you have to go to the bathroom, do it now."

Haley couldn't help but giggle at the idea. "Greetings, commoners. I am Princess Haley of Long." She then broke character. "With this costume, I'll get more candy than everybody else and none of those stupid apples."

"Haley, an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Lao Shi told his granddaughter.

"If father didn't want any doctors around, he wouldn't pay for house calls, Grandfather." Haley argued. "Where's your costume?"

"The old man is too cheap to buy any, kid." Fu replied and Lao Shi glared at him.

"It's a good thing you like apples, Grandfather." Haley commented. She really wanted to talk like a Princess.

Meanwhile, the Huntsclan was also ready for a Halloween tradition. "Huntsmen and Huntswomen!" The Huntsmaster addressed his subordinates. "This is Halloween! The only time of the year the magical creatures feel it's safe to openly show up and hope we humans will mistake them for people in costumes. However, we also have an advantage: we can also hunt around in full Huntsclan garb and humans who don't know about us will simply assume we're people wearing ninja costumes. The only interruptions they'll ever give us are in form of people telling us how good or bad they think our "costumes" are. For those who never hunted during Halloween before, don't attack any potential prey until we or they strike first. Mistakes will only serve to disgrace us like it happened to Huntsgirl's former Mythbiology teacher. Did you understand me?"

"YES, HUNTSMASTER SIR!" They replied.

Jake's group arrived at a first house to ask for candy. "Trick or treat!" They said and then Jonathan added "Hand over yar goodies, you scurvy cur."

"Ooh, how cute." A woman commented.

"Oh, this?" Haley asked with a cute smile. "It's just something I threw together."

"Not you, Princess." She answered. "I'm talking about that little boy dressed like a wise old Chinese man." Lao Shi tried to explain that he's not in costume but she interrupted him by pouring candy into Lao Shi's bucket. She then looked at Jonathan. "Normally, I wouldn't give candy to adults but there's something about pirates and your good impersonation deserves a prize." She gave him a bonbon. "Here's some space candy for you, cadet." She gave Jake three caramels and then gave Haley an apple without saying anything.

"No fair." Haley sobbed. "I'm the only one who didn't get candy."

"Haleykins, it was only the first house." Jonathan tried to comfort his daughter. "There must be people who'll love a Princess."

"Next time, dress like a Disney Princess from the most recent movie ever released." Jake suggested.

"I have a better idea, Jake." Haley replied with a malicious smile.

Meanwhile, Camille and the Dragon Council arrived at New York and resumed their human forms. "So, what should I expect from the American Dragon and his sacred training space?" Camille asked.

"Knowing him, a complete mess." Chang commented. "I won't be surprised if the place isn't enough of a mess to make us wonder if we got the wrong address."

"Honestly, I'm a little concerned you don't show faith on him." Andam replied.

Meanwhile, Jake's family was heading towards another door. "Haley, I don't think it's a good idea." Jake commented upon seeing her new 'costume'. It's the same as before except that she's wearing her dragon face.

"If a princess won't impress people anymore, a dragon princess certainly will." Haley commented.

"Aren't you worried about the Dragon Council?" Jonathan asked.

"What they don't know doesn't hurt them or me." Haley commented.

"And Chang thinks badly of me." Jake replied. They then knocked on the door.

"Oh, you're magnificent!" A man exclaimed.

"Thank you." Haley replied.

"Uh… I was talking to the wise old Chinese man here, scaly face." He clarified as he gave Lao Shi nearly as much candy as the previous person. He then gave Jonathan a chocolate doubloon, Jake a chocolate bar with an "Astronaut Bob" on the wrapping, and Haley got another apple.

"Astronaut Bob?" Jonathan asked after they left that house. "I haven't heard of products with his name ever since my last business trip to Tap Water Springs. That guy must know somebody there."

"I realize Haley was right about the best costumes reaping the best candy." Lao Shi commented.

"Would you like to wear my helmet to see if people will like a princess astronaut?" Jake offered.

"You may wear my hat and become a pirate princess, Haley." Jonathan added.

"I have a better idea." Haley replied.

"Where have I heard that before?" Fu asked with a deadpan tone.

Meanwhile, Camille and the Dragon Council arrived at Canal Street Electronics and found an empty place. "Are we at the wrong place?" Andam asked.

"Master Luong and his pupil must be solving a magical emergency somewhere." Kulde suggested.

"Or merely trick-or-treating like some stupid humans." Chang suggested in disdain.

"What do we do?" Camille asked. "We can't just stand still while we wait for them. It might attract unwarranted attention."

"Good point, Dragon Cooper." Kulde replied.

Meanwhile, the Longs had just knocked at another door. Haley was so desperate for candy she did some tap dancing and then slid to her knees and blew a stream of fire. "Trick or treat."

"Wow!" The man at the door exclaimed. "That old bald man with beard is fantastic, little boy!" he then poured lots of candy at Lao Shi's basket, gave Jake and Jonathan some caramels, and gave Haley an apple. At that point, she didn't even bother to look.

Meanwhile, the Huntsclan kept looking for magical prey. "Master, aren't you worried that dragons might spot us first?" Huntsgirl asked her master.

"Huntsgirl, the only dragons that would make me reconsider our current strategy are the Dark Dragon, who hasn't been seen in decades, and the Elemental Dragon Girl, who lives in France." The Huntsmaster answered.

Eventually, Haley finally figured out how to make people give her candy. Since the Lao Shi 'costume' was so popular within the neighborhood, she decided to dress like him and the trick worked. "Who knew all I needed for a great costume was some cotton balls, a couple of marbles, and a hollowed-out cantaloupe?" She asked Lao Shi as she removed her mask.

Lao Shi was 'glad' Haley was finally getting his… er, so much candy. Unbeknownst to either of them, they were witnessed by several kids who, seeing how much candy their costumes got them, decided to dress like Lao Shi as well.

After a long time looking for Jake and Lao Shi, Camille was starting to give up. "Can't we postpone the surprise inspection?" She suggested.

"You spoke too soon, Dragon Cooper." Chang commented as she pointed somewhere. "There's Lao Shi." She said and then approached him. "Master Luong, why aren't you at your sacred training space?"

"Who's Master Luong?" 'Lao Shi' asked with a voice Chang never heard before.

"Who are you?" Chang asked.

The 'Lao Shi' boy removed his mask, shocking Chang. "I'm just a kid dressed like an old Chinese man for Halloween."

"Why would you dress like that?" Chang skeptically asked.

"Everyone's doing it!" The boy happily answered and showed the several 'Lao Shi' cosplayers. "It's the hottest costume going."

"You gotta be kidding me!" Chang commented. "Where's the original?"

"Legend says the first one was hanging around with a pirate, an astronaut and a Princess, albeit some say the Princess was a fire-breathing tap-dancing dragon." The boy explained.

'So Haley turned out to be worse than her brother.' Chang thought with a frown.

"Chang, we're not the only ones trying to find a needle in a needlestack." Kulde commented as he saw the Huntsclan approaching another 'Lao Shi'.

A few seconds earlier, the Huntsmaster believed he found the American Dragon's dragon master. "So unprotected." He evilly commented. "He must have forgotten I know what his human form looks like." He then attacked 'Lao Shi'.

To the Huntsmaster's surprise, the old dragon screamed like a little girl. Then another 'Lao Shi' showed up. "Cool ninja gear." The boy exclaimed. "It all seems real."

The Huntsclan looked around and was just as astonished as the Dragon Council. 'Smart tactic, old dragon.' The Huntsmaster thought with respect for what he believed to be an enemy's strategy to mix with the crowd.

"Looking for us, Huntsclan?" Kulde asked the slayers. By then, the dragons were already on their dragon forms.

"The Elemental Dragon Girl?" The Huntsmaster asked in horror upon recognizing her. "Fire at her!"

But it was too late as Camille used her Elemental energy to unleash a burst that knocked down most slayers, Huntsgirl included. The Huntsmaster and the others who remained conscious were so scared they teleported away without trying to rescue their knocked down comrades. The explosion scared away the cosplayers and attracted the attention of the real Lao Shi and his family.

"What happened?" Lao Shi asked.

"We came here for a surprise inspection and instead caught some slayers." Andam answered.

Jake then took off his helmet. "Councillor Andam, is Rose hurt?"

"Not as much as she deserves, American Dragon." Chang replied with disdain.

"Are those dragons the Dragon Council?" Having never seen a Dragon Council member in dragon form before, Jonathan felt the need to ask.

"The one who said they came here for a surprise inspection is the African Dragon, the one who said Rose wasn't hurt as much as she deserves is the Dragon of Asia, the light blue dragon is the European Dragon, and the purple one with the gold markings isn't a Dragon Council member, Dad." Haley answered. "She's the Elemental Dragon Girl. No time for details right now."

"American Dragon, your inspection is postponed." Chang said and then turned her attention to Haley. "We'll have a conversation with you, fire-breathing tap-dancing Princess."

Haley knew she was in trouble.

Later on, at Canal Street Electronics, Haley and Lao Shi were counting their candy. Jonathan and Jake stopped because they got few candies. "One hundred and three, one hundred and four…" They counted until Lao Shi shifted his tail and knocked on the floor. Jake and Jonathan noticed it.

"Was that the door, Haley?" Lao Shi asked.

"Go check it, Jake." Jonathan ordered.

"Yes, father." Jake obeyed.

Lao Shi and Haley kept counting until it turned out the former had more. "I lost!" She sadly exclaimed.

"It's not about winning or losing, Haleykins." Jonathan commented. "It's about having candy and have so much you shouldn't be upset over people having more."

"Okay, Dad." Haley sadly commented.

"Now get to sleep." He told his daughter. "Your mother is picking us up next morning."

"You did it on purpose, Jonathan." Lao Shi accused his son-in-law after Haley left them alone.

"She had a lesson to learn." Jonathan commented. "Share some of your candy with the kids if you want but she has to know sometimes things don't go as planned. Just wait for a few days since she already has enough candy to last until Christmas."

"Point taken." Lao Shi commented.

End chapter.

Author's Note: Astronaut Bob and the town of Tap Water Springs are from the Angela Anaconda cartoon series.