Mikey whooped into the air. "Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!" The time was upon them, the best night a turtle could ever ask for. "We get to walk around with everyone and get unlimited candy!" Mikey shouted. "Best, holiday, ever!" For years the brother's had heard only stories of the beloved night of candy and costumes, but tonight was going to be the first night they would be able to actually WALK among the streets without worry of fear and exposure.

"Soon I shall bring honor to the greatest hero of all!" Leo shouted, putting the finishing touches on his costume. "Captain Ryan! No offense, Spidey, but you can't beat the classics."

"I getcha. Still brainstorming what I should wear myself." The hero in question replied as he looked over a computer. "Right now I'm just checking the Spider-Man forum's to see what kind of rumors that people think about me."

"What's the craziest?" Donnie asked.

"They think I stick to walls cause I'm a magnetic cyborg." Peter chuckled. "Beep boop, spider bot does not compute."

April leaned over. "Oh, they also say the 'I'm broke jokes' you make are because you're a sketch comedian. And another sizable portion that thinks you have your own spider-cave because your 'Tony stark level rich'."

"Oh sure, I swing into my secret spider cave all the time. Put my spider suits in glass containers and have my very own spider mobile." Peter rolled his his eyes.

"Isn't this your spider cave?" Mikey asked. "You already have a lot of stuff in here."

"Not that much." Peter said.

"The three gallons of web fluid in my lab beg to differ." Donnie countered.

"What, not my fault your guy's lair is more convenient for Spider-stuff…which I have to be DOUBLE careful of since the whole Falco mess." Spider shuddered. "I don't know what's more disturbing: Falco covering himself with rats, or Splinter having tea with my aunt." At least Peter was joking about it now… seeing him so close to snapping was super scary. "So, besides Leo, who's wearing what?"

"I'm going with my first superhero persona!" Mikey said, pulling out a large orange mask. "The Turtle Titan!"

"Really, I thought you were going as the amazing masked dork with underwear on his head." Raph sniceked. "Oh wait, that's Peter's shtick, never mind."

"Like your costume is gonna be any better?" The teen asked. "Or do you plan on going commando and saying the whole costume thing is 'dumb'?"

"No…I'm going to go commando, say it's dumb, and raise my sai at anyone that tries to laugh." Raph countered. "Completely different plan that yields way more results."

"Except for the people who think your weapons are props." April pointed out. "What about you Donnie?"

"It's split between either Reed Richards or Bruce Banner, both of which have done fantastic research and study into the effects of radiation, although one is more focused on cosmic rays while the other is more on Gamma."

"I'd go with Dr. Banner. Reed Richards is a lot more notable right now with the whole space mission going on." Peter said.

"To think I once thought aliens were cool….okay they kind of are, but the Kraang give them a really bad rep." Mikey said.

"Hey who knows." Leo patted his shell. "Maybe the next alien species we'll meet actually tries helping us."

"Well my Parker luck is zeroed out, so that could be possible." Peter noted. "Hey, check this out. One of the rumors say that underneath the mask I'm a ninja turtle."

"Well it would be an upgrade to how ugly you are in real life." Raph snorted. "Hey, there wouldn't happen to be a rumor that explains why he's so annoying?"

"Nothing in particular." April scrolled through the list. "One says he's a alien from a dead planet, one says he fell into a vat of spider venom and went insane, this one says he follows the morality system of a spider.."

"The what now?" Mikey asked

"What constitutes as good and bad." Donnie explained. "For a spider, it mainly summarizes their need to entrap and ensure their enemies ." He said. "If we're going by 'Parker luck' being real, then it could explain why everything around us goes sideways so quickly."

"Great, Spider bite amplifies bad luck too." The boy grumbled. "As if I needed anymore help ontop of Gwen and Harry being mad at me, the Kraang and Foot running around, and Gobby flying around who knows where?"

"Speaking of, are we counting Goblin and the Foot together?" Donnie asked. "They were working together at the party."

"Yeah, but then he spared us." Raph said. "Which is something the Shredder definitely wouldn't do."

"The one thing I hate about bad guys… there's always different levels of evil and insanity to deal with." Peter moaned. "Gobby strikes me as someone with his own agenda, he felt too far into creating chaos to feel like he would answer to anybody."

"So he and the Shredder aren't working together?" Mikey asked.

"It could be a case of mutual interest aligning for the moment." Leo pointed out. "The main thing shredder wants is killing us. We don't know what the Goblin wants, or even who he is."

"His glider looked very similar to Vulture's flight suit." Donnie added it.

"Like Oscorp?" Mikey asked. "Vulture was an old man mad at that Osborn guy."

"You don't think Norman's the Goblin, do you?" April asked.

"You guys already talk about him like he's a super villain." Raph pointed out. "Wouldn't be a stretch."

"Don't be ridiculous." Peter waved off. "Just because he had access to the Vulture tech … and high grade military weaponry … and performance enhancers that make him superhuman… and worked with Doc Ock, who made super villains …" His face slowly went from joking to contemplating. "…Oh shit."

"Language." Splinter spoke up as he walked into the room.

"So, we charging into his penthouse and demanding answers?" Raph asked. "I'm down for beating up billionaires on Halloween. It'd be like trick or treating. Except we're going to their house to deliver."

"That high up the food chain?" April asked. "We'd need hard evidence to put him in the slammer."

"Who said anything about jail?" Raph asked. "He's a crazy menace and we stop him before he does something else."

"Or we're jumping to conclusions and we're on the verge of charging into the office of a seemingly innocent man." Spidey counterd.

"Are you saying that because you believe it, or because of your friend Harry?" Leo accused.

"Can't it be both?" Peter asked, reaching over for his bag. "I'll go swing by and see if I can sneak out any info, it's almost time for my afternoon patrol anyway."

"You gotta be back before tonight though." Mikey said. "The Halloween party we're gonna have topside will be off the chain!"

"Right. See you then." Spidey waved off, swinging out of the lair.

"... Between the drugs and supervillain dad, Harry's probably gonna snap." April groaned.

"I'm more concerned about Peter." Leo noted. "He was just willing to kill Falco the other day, and now he's being told his best friend's dad's been trying to kill him for months."

"That's what I'm worried about, Peter's gonna blame the whole thing on himself." April admitted. "Anytime anything goes wrong, that's his first choice."

"Then that's why we gotta make tonight's Halloween bash the best one ever!" Mikey exclaimed. "Yo master Splinter, what are you gonna wear up top?"

"The time for Halloween is very different from where I'm from." He said. "It is a time where the mortal and unmortal link together, as spirits and ghouls roam free … so I will meditate and pray for your success." The rat said. "Given your likelihood of encountering trouble this night."

"How bad is it that we just automatically assume something wrong is going to go off?" Raph asked rhetorically.

"It's better than having overconfidence and being brutally reminded through torturous pain." Splinter shrugged. That was fair.

Tombstone sat, silent as his latest 'deal' spoke. "In one week you'll have your shipment." The one good thing about the Foot Clan? A global syndicate with many connections across the globe. Tombstone maintained control of the city due to his stranglehold over its entirety over the years. It left very little time to establish connections outside of his territory.

"Good. I'll make sure Shocker and the enforcers oversee it." And with Tombstone in current ownership of most of the 'super villain' criminals, he had something of value that the Shredder lacked. Sure, Osborn stopped making them and that was a problem … but there was enough for a good variety most people wouldn't question, and a few still held loyalties to him. And he still had quite a bit of leverage to make sure Osborn kept making villains.

"Wait, Shocker, like the technology I put my soul into-" There was the sound of blades being drawn on the other line. "Forgive me for speaking out of turn."

"New colleague, doesn't respect the hierarchy quite yet."

"It's always the rookies that are the most annoying to break in." Establishing respect was a turbulent process. It took decades to make it clear even mentioning him by name would be an automatic death sentence. And to think, he was once just a common street thug himself. "We'll discuss more a week from now." He pressed the disconnect button, cutting off man and leaning back.

There was very little leverage he had on the Shredder, but operating in Tombstone's city was more than enough … and if not, he'd make sure to handle the problem personally. A situation always required a firm touch when it became your problem.

There was a tapping sound from behind. He turned to see the Green Goblin knocking on his window. "See, waiting for a phone call to finish, that's manners. You could learn a thing or two."

Tombstone stared at the man's theatrical flair with unamusement. "I believe you came here because there's a point you wish to make?" While confident in his ability to defend himself, showing too much power at once would only put him at a disadvantage. It was better to salvage his humanitarian image if things got messy.

"Correct." The mad man leapt in through a window, he really needed to get that locked, as he walked over to the pool table. "You remember that thick skinned lackey of yours, Hammerhead, right?" The goblin cackled loudly. "So rude. I went through all the trouble making his kidnapping as personal as possible, and I haven't even heard one thank you." They grabbed the pool cue, spinning it around overdramatically as they aimed it at the balls, knocking them in.

"So you've taken my right hand man." He stated coldly as he watched the Goblin play. "I take it that you expect some sort of object in my possession in order to have him back?"

"Kidnapping for money? Please, the Goblin isn't so cliche." They cackled. "And let's be real, my dear old tomby, neither of us are the sentimental type. Where there's one loyal lapdog, there's always another." True … but loyalty always came at the cost of showing that you would repay said loyalty. Others ran away when it seemed like you'd ditch them at a moment's notice. "What I seek is a much grander prize, the throne to your empire! And good old hammy is going to hand me the keys."

"You say that like he ruled my empire." He pointed out.

The Goblin knocked a ball into the hole. "Do you really think a man that high on the food chain doesn't have any dirt I can't use against you?" He smirked. "The higher up you are, the more brutal the fall is. Hammerhead had been saving up a little nest egg for the future. A jump drive containing all information on every in and out. All your little dirty secrets ready for prime time!"

Tombstone didn't believe that … but the risk was too great. "So, I hand you the reins, you walk away with my kingdom and leave me broke?"

"I'll leave you a couple million, the Green Goblin is not a sore winner." The ball they hit didn't reach the hole. This caused the lunatic to blast it with a finger laser. "Midnight tonight at the old metal shop by the pier. Come alone, or my fingers might get a little buttery, and the drive might fall into more sticky and wall crawly hands."

His door was broken down, as two officers ran into the room with guns raised. "Freeze!"

"Looks like our time's up!" They ran back to their glider. "Blast you later, Big Man!" The Goblin gave that laugh as they flew away.

"Are you okay Mr Lincoln?"

"Perfectly fine." More than he could say for the Goblin … or Hammerhead for that matter.

Peter swung through the streets of New York, feeling thoughts flooding his head. Norman Osborn was most likely the Green Goblin. Harry's Dad wanted to kill innocent civilians without any care. The man who got away was able to provide the Foot with any funding they needed in return for whatever wacky scheme he was cooking. "What is my life?"

Sure they always joked that Ole' Stormin Norman was some real life James Bond villain, but they just chalked that up to his whole creepy businessman vibe. For him to be a bomb slinging maniac who drugged himself up on power and made super villains for funsies and money … that was a bit of a revelation.

"What would he even want?" Norman was already rich. It's not like he had anything to gain from taking control of New York's criminal underworld…other than pride and money-right, Norman was the kind of guy to claim onto both with stride. Still, it was just so…out of nowhere. Norman was as stiff as a piece of cardboard, and Gobby flung quips and puns like Halloween candy.

Unless that was all part of some elaborate con of building himself up over decades and getting all the power of New York in one fell swoop with two identities … nah, couldn't have been that long … right?

What was the play then? Find him, drag him to the police, pull off the mask and say the well respected billionaire just behind Tony Stark was a maniac? Gwen's dad might believe him, but the rest would just laugh it off and shoot at good old Spidey.

"Face it Spidey, you don't have any evidence beyond speculation." He muttered to himself. Speculation that made far too much sense, but speculation nonetheless. Maybe he was just getting paranoid. Aunt May almost biting it to the Rat King still had him on edge.

Besides, it's been weeks since the Green Goblin showed his ugly mug. It was probably just a one time thing-{Detonation} He flipped over, letting the familiar pumpkin bomb fly overhead. Of course, jinxed it. "So, you finally decided to show your ugly mug?"

The Goblin, possibly Norman, flew overhead. "Come now, on Halloween night, carrying pumpkins? It's like you don't even know me." He spoke, throwing some of those batarangs. "I've been looking all over for you."

"Same here, we must have just missed each other over the morning commute." Spidey quipped as he webbed the weapons around and slung them right back at the man. "Then again, you didn't leave an address or email for me. We could've had lunch and discussed the many ways I can send you to jail."

"Oh silly me, it must have been taped to the bomb by mistake." They cackled. "But don't worry, we can meet tonight. I have a thing with Tombstone going on and could use the company, he's a bit of a dull boy."

"Hm, that sounds tempting…I don't know, I don't want to be a third wheel for your date. You two make such an adorable psychotic pair." Spidey countered.

"Oh, and here I thought you'd be interested in a flash drive containing all his little misdeeds, my mistake." The goblin laughed. "It's a once in a lifetime treat I'm giving out at midnight at the pier!"

"An isolated location that's ripe for being rigged with traps being hosted by a mad man. Now why would I ever be skeptical of that?"

"Oh, don't be so glum, chum, tonight I'm calling trucies! Cross my withered decaying heart!" They crossed their fingers, firing off a beam of energy that the hero had to avoid.

"I don't know what culture you're from, but crossing your fingers is a sign of a backstab." Spidey commented as he tried to land a blow.

"And here I thought today's schools taught you young folk to be more accepting." Goblin chided, dodging and kneeing Peter in the gut. "Think about it, web head. Might as well help me clear the board if we're going to have our fun in the sun." They spun around, launching him off.

"You never gave me a time and place Goby!" They slung a line at the glider, trying to pull themselves closer.

"Oh you'll know where to find me when I give the signal." The man cut the line and flew out of reach. "Be there or be square! And come alone! I don't have enough party favors for your sewer pets!"

"Now that's just bad planning!" He got in the last word as the crazy bastard flew away.

Great, not only did Goblin, who may or may not have been Norman Osborn get away, and not only was Tombstone involved, Peter had to leave at any given time, once again flaking on Gwen and Harry. "Aggh, I hate this…" The tune of the itsy bitsy spider played on his now new t-phone. At least for once it didn't play in the middle of battle. "Yello. Spidey to turtle here, you're free to speak."

"Yo Spidey, you get ready for the Halloween party?" Mikey asked.

"Small delay on my costume." He said. "We spoke the Goblin's name one too many times and summoned him from his little den." He grumbled. "He baited me with dirt on tombstone and invited me out."

"You know it's a trap, right?" Raph brought up.

"Obviously, but he and Tombstone are both definitely going to be there, so it's a must show." Peter grumbled. "He said he'd show a signal; so now I got to spend most of the night looking for something gobliny."

"Then why not just stay in costume and go to the party? That way you stay ready and get to have fun." Mikey suggested.

"What, go to Halloween dressed as Spider-Man?" He asked. "That's kinda … I mean … wouldn't it be …" Shoot, it was actually making sense. "Not a bad idea."

"…Is the universe breaking? I feel like there's only so many times Mikey can be right before the universe implodes on itself." Donnie stated.

"Oh, I should totally make P-shakes for the trip! Every human is gonna love them!"

"It's balanced enough." Leo responded.

Gwen sighed as she sat down, sitting alone at the festival going on. "Just what I needed …" None of the gang showed up yet, leaving it just her for now. She tried calling Harry, but just got his voicemail all day. She tried calling Peter, but he wouldn't answer… then again she gave him the look about three times when he flaked…again.

But what else was she supposed to do? Harry needed them, he promised he'd show up, but once again he didn't do anything. He understood that he needed the pictures to help Aunt May, but first with Conners and now this? There was a point where some responsibility came before others.

The only mildly interesting thing that was keeping her from leaving altogether was Flash and the entire football team in cheerleader uniforms. Apparently Flash indeed kept up his end of the bet with Peter on prom, and somehow convinced his friends to follow along. How messed up was it that Flash Thompson was somehow more reliable than Peter?

Seeing how she still hadn't seen heads or tails of April either, she decided to give the girl a call. Heck, even Irma would be better than stuck at a party alone. "Please don't be a no show, please don't be a no show." She pleaded as she dialed the phone.

It rang…and rang… and rang for a minute before a click was heard on the other end. "Agh, still working the kinks out on this new phone." The voice of the girl in question grumbled. "Sorry about that. That you Gwen?"

"Yeah, hey April." She greeted. "On your way to the party?"

"Yeah, just got a bit of delay." The girl answered as she heard some voices in the background.

"Is Peter or Harry with you, because I haven't seen any sign of either of them all day."

There was a bit of shuffling, before she heard Peter's voice. "Hey Gwen, I was on the way and April's Aunt offered a ride, so we carpooled. I would have called but I forgot to charge my phone."

"Uh huh." She didn't buy that for a second, but for the sake of actually seeing Peter in person for once, she would accept it… for now. "Are you close by?"

"Yeah, we're coming by now. Should be in your area." She heard multiple bodies dropping behind her, turning to see Spider-Man, along with four giant turtles and April on the phone. "... Surprise!" He took off the mask, revealing Peter. "Great costume, right?"

"Yeah, if you wanted to make spider-man sound and look like a total nerd." The turtle in the red mask snickered.

"Aha! Finally someone that has common sense!" Flash didn't make a strong case given he was wearing a cheerleader's uniform.

"I see someone upholds their end of the deal." Peter smirked.

"I have an honor code to follow Parker." He chuckled. "Besides, I'm still tough enough to make this work."

"Yo Flash, you need to reapply your eyeliner, the sweat's making it fade." Kenny Kong, also in a cheerleader's uniform, called out.

"These are the guys that make fun of you?" The one in the purple mask scratched his head.

"I know, as a bully victim I feel embarrassed." Peter shook his head. "Gwen, these are April's crossside friends. Leo, Mikey, Donnie, and Raph."

"Hayooo!" The one in orange, Mikey, grabbed her hand and rapidly shook it. "It's so great to make new friends! Peter talks about you a lot, mainly that you're smart and give death glares."

"Does he now?" She glanced over at the boy in question with a raised eyebrow.

"I also say you're a really nice person, don't I guys?" Peter asked with sweat.

"Yeah, when you're not sulking in disappointment or shame after the so-called 'look'." The red one, Raph, chuckled.

She instantly sent Peter the look again. "You were not kidding." April shivered. "Stuff of nightmares."

"See, I'm justified in my terror." Peter explained.

"Hey Tiger." She turned to see Mary Jane in a witch costume walk over with a sultry smirk. "Glad to see you make it, and you manage to pull off red nicely."

"What, this, nah, I just threw this together at the last minute. Really embarrassing really." Peter blushed, and it irked Gwen. Was he into Mary Jane or into Liz? Make up your mind already!

She turned to the purple one, Donnie, with the same smirk. "Nice costume, the glasses really bring out your eyes."

"Tha-thanks …" He responded with a blush.

"So it's a redhead in general thing with him." The blue one, Leo, observed. "Huh…you and Peter have something else in common other than being nerds."

Well they seemed familiar with Peter … suspiciously familIar. "So … how come you two never talked about them?" Gwen asked April and him.

"We're Ah … homeschooled … and… a bit… Ah … sheltered." Leo spoke up before the two responded. "We've only been getting out recently, and it's a bit embarrassing.

"For those of us that have dignity anyway." Raph pointed over to Mikey, who was in line for face paint with some four year olds.

"I'm gonna look like a tiger!" The orange one shouted. "A face on my face! Radical!"

"…Well I can definitely see the sheltered part." Something about this felt off. And Gwen felt like she met these guys somewhere before. "Has anyone seen Harry or Irma … preferably the former?"

"I'm not that bad am I?" Everyone jumped at the sudden intrusion of the girl dressed up like …

"James Bond?" Peter asked.

"Agent Smith. From the Matrix?" Irma said, pulling down the tinted glasses. "I get to wear something I can see in and be stylish. And Spider-man? Really? Too easy of a choice. The ugly ogres behind you are more creative than that."

"Thank you rubber face, glad someone can see the good looks." Raph smirked at Peter.

"I literally called you ugly cause there's nothing good looking about you, cause seriously; it's horrifying. You'd cause little children to cry the moment they see you."

"…."

"Yeah, that's the normal Irma reaction." April chuckled.

"Hey guys, check it out!" They turned to see Mikey holding up a little girl, both of them wearing tiger face paint. "We match!"

"Marcy, don't grab onto strangers!" A mother shouted, wacking the boy with a purse as she grabbed the little girl, speed walking away.

"Well grown adults at least." Peter shook his head. "So Harry didn't come with you?"

"I haven't been able to get up with him all day." Gwen said. "I'm worried, Peter. What if he's blacked out in some alleyway?"

"Why would Harry be blacking out?" Irma asked.

"Uh….." Peter desperately began looking for a way out to avoid that topic, mainly due to Irma most likely to blurt out Harry's problems all over the place.

"Hey Petey.." Both fortunately and UNfortunately, the topic was diverted as Liz came up next, wearing a pirate outfit as she walked up to Peter. "Nice Spidey costume. You fill it out perfectly."

"Wha, nah, I'm sure it's going to be a one time thing." He waved off.

"Then I'll enjoy the moment while it lasts." The cheerleader got intimately close. "You can web me up any time."

Gwen did NOT need that image in her head. "So, what are you tonight, April?" She asked, trying to change the topic again.

"Just myself." She answered. "And by the looks of it, that's what you went with too."

"That's fine enough." Mary Jane said, placing an arm around April. "I think you pull off you quite nicely."

"Gaaaahhh." Donnie made some sort of dying sound before falling onto the ground.

"... I'm just going… to go clean this mess up." Leo grabbed the fallen turtle on the ground by the leg and dragged him away.

"Wow, your friends have some really impressive monster costumes." Liz said, holding onto Peter's arm. "Where did they get them?"

"... The Internet." Mikey answered. "It's a freaky place."

"Can't argue with that." Gwen nodded, looking upward. For the love of all things sane…please be alright.

Doreen Green watched as Casey Jones bobbed for apples. "Goongalaaa!" He shouted underwater, bubbles popping up into the air.

"Five bucks says he stays underwater too long and passess out." Jessica snorted as they watched the display in action.

"He's been under for two minutes already. At this point I'm starting to wonder if he's part fish." Doreen joked as the boy moved his head around wildly. "Would it be wrong if we just pushed him all the way in?"

"Well, it is halloween. The one night where you could get away with it." Her friend chuckled. "Not to mention most people would assume that he got himself killed with all the crazy stunts he does."

"True. Monkey Joe. Your thoughts?" She turned to her best friend.

"Chhttt." She would take that as 'let the boy drown.'

Eventually the boy came up with a red apple. "Ib I win?" He asked with his mouth full.

"Greens are winners kid, better luck next time." The carnie said. "Who else wants a chance at getting a green apple!? Win a stuffed animal as a prize!"

"Oh me, me, me!" Some guy in a turtle costume, who also wore an orange mask over his eyes for some reason, hyperly raised his hand and jumped. "I was born for games like this!"

"Calling it now… two minutes." Jessica called.

"Oh give the guy more credit than that… three minutes." Doreen said. The best part of Halloween was that it was universally one of the few times a year where they could get away with not caring about anything for the foreseeable future. School, crushes, home life, all of that was left behind for some good ole shenanigans.

"One dollar for entry, stay in as long as you want, but come up for air and you lose."

"Avenge me turtle bro!" Casey shouted. "For my little sis!"

"I shall, completely random stranger." The orange turtle nodded, handing over the money before diving his head into the barrel.

"Look at this brave little guy folks." The carnie grinned as the guy went deeper. "Wow, he's really getting in there." The carnie chuckled as the turtle guy went so deep he was up to his elbows in water. "Really… Really deep…"

"Wow, if he's that cocky then maybe it really will be three minutes." Jessica noted with surprise.

"Can he even pull himself out that far inside?" Doreen asked as the guy went so deep his waist vanished under the water. "Pretty sure even real life turtles would struggle to get themselves out."

"Chhhhttt." She would interpret that as 'Go giant green man! Go!'.

"Ah…okay kid, you can come out now…" The carnie sweated nervously. "Seriously, if you die it's gonna be reallly bad for business."

"Lawsuits, the vain of everyone everywhere." Jessica laughed. "That's why I'm going to be a private investigator. They can practically get away with anything that isn't murder."

"Pretty sure that's not how that works." Doreen contered.

"Ah, my sweet naive besty." Jessica smirked, ruffling her hair.

The guy in the turtle costume finally came up with a green apple in his mouth, spitting it out into his palm. "Man, it was so hard to get one of these things. For some reason it was tapped to the bottom of the barrel."

"...Ah.." Everyone that had participated in the apple bobbing competition before now starred at the carnie with angry, mob-like eyes. "... Oh, I wonder who… left the tape at the bottom of the barrel… so mysterious…"

"GET HIM!" Casey, who of course was carrying a hockey stick around with him, riled up the crowd as they began chasing the Carney off. "GOOONGGAAAALAAAAAAA!"

"Not everyday I can see an angry mob unfold in action." Jessica snickered.

"Well played, my turtle themed friend." Doreen smiled as she grabbed a stuffed lion. "Here's a prize." She tossed it over to the boy.

"Sweet!" He shouted, hugging it tightly. "Halloween is the best!"

"First time?" She asked. "Your naive wholesome happiness indicates this isn't something that happens all the time.."

"I um … What did Leo say?" He muttered, before snapping his fingers. "Homeschool, right. Me and my bros were homeschooled." That wasn't suspicious at all. "But yeah, we've never been to a shin dig like this before, which is such a crime! Who wants to miss out on a holiday where free candy is a requirement?!"

"Diabetics." Jessica answered bluntly.

"Those poor, sad souls." They shook their head. "I'm Mikey, nice to meet you." They held out their three fingered gloves. Doreen wondered how he positioned his hand inside so they all moved so lifelike.

"Doreen, and the brooding girl behind me is Jessica." She shook his hand happily.

"I don't brood, I sulk and analyze."

"Wow, you and Raph would get along great." Mikey smiled. "He always likes to snark. Mostly about me and Peter."

"Oh, you know Peter? Like…Peter Parker." The one thing that got Jessica out of her moody lifestyle, Peter Parker. Just talk to the guy already. From what Doreen saw, the nerd was practically being swarmed by girls that were, not to be mean about it, out of his league.

"Yeah, funny guy, cept the times he gets all angsty and moody. Sometimes I think he's one step away from dying his hair black and parting it against his face for the full emo effect." Mikey shrugged.

"Peter, the nerd, being an angsty emo?" Doreen asked. "Wow, and here I thought the angry mob was gonna be the funniest joke I heard all night."

"Chhhhttt." She would translate that as 'you sure? They already broke out the pitchforks and torches'.

"You got a pet squirrel?" The turtle asked. "That is so rad!"

"Actually he's my best friend, Monkey Joe." She rubbed his head as he leaned into the pet. "Been with me since we were young."

"Aw, I wish I had a fluffy creature I could carry around all the time." The guy in the turtle costume sighed. "But they're all scared of me."

"Don't worry, Monkey Joe never discriminates!" She presented her best friend in the whole world to her new friend.

"Chitter." The squirrel smiled … before biting the turtle's hand.

"OW! I thought you said he doesn't discriminate!"

"He doesn't. That's just how he gets to know you." Fifteen bite marks from their first meeting. Bestest friendship goals. "Now you're bonded for life through the power of love."

"And rabies." Jessica laughed as Monkey Joe scampered all over the turtle guy's shell, making him roll all over the place. "Mostly the rabies."

"Well Raph says I already have rabies, so it shouldn't be too bad." Mikey chuckled. "I love this holiday!"

"It is a fun one." She grinned. "Oh, do you mind if I ask some questions?"

"Doreen, it's Halloween." Jessica reiterated. "If we ask him if he's seen any mutants, it'll just be guys in costume."

"You're looking for mutants?" Mikey asked curiously.

"It's part of our whole paranormal exploration club that makes up the two of us." She clung to Jessica's shoulder. "You know, run up to them, ask some interesting questions about being a mutant, hope they're friendly enough to not want to kill us."

"Well girl, have I got news for you." He grinned, standing up. "You see, I'm-"

"AAAAHHHHHH!" The carnie ran pass them before he could finish as the Angry mob came in soon afterwards, making the turtle guy lost in the sea of pitch fork wieling people.

"I can only swim in water, not people!" He screamed as he was dragged away.

"Huh… wonder what he was going to say." Doreen scratched her head. He seemed like a nice guy. Definitely someone she could see as a future friend.

"So, to recap." Leo said as the group finally got back together. "I met some Space Heroes fans." Always a pleasure. "Donnie now has a crush on two humans, Mikey got a stuffed animal, and Raph now has a thing for caramel apples."

"So sticky yet so appetizing." Raph said as he took another bite. "How is sugar on top of more sugar so appealing?"

"One of life's greatest mysteries." Peter chuckled. "And just an FYI Donnie, if you're going to have a thing for Mary Jane, be aware that she's not one for commitment, cause there's going to be A LOT of flirting around."

"I know, I know." The turtle shook his head. "April is still the girl of my dreams, that I'll never give up on.."

"Because the other red head would scream if she knew the ugly mask wasn't a mask." Raph bluntly pointed out.

"Sure you're not just talking about yourself?" Peter smirked, dodging a hit from their angry brother.

"What part of I'm not into humans do you not get through that thick head of yours!?" Lots of people sent the angry turtle looks of confusion.

"Way to play it subtle Raph." Leo rolled his eyes. "You're causing a bigger scene than Mikey did with the angry mob."

"Hey, that wasn't me, I swear!" Mikey said. "The angry mob was just a byproduct of me uncovering an apple bobbing scam. What a shame, scamming people on halloween."

"Ah don't be too down Mikey. Carnies and scams go back since the dawn of time, constantly intertwined." Peter said dramatically.

"I take it you had fun too?" Leo asked.

"Well with Liz it's nice … Gwen/s just hanging out with April and Irma though. I kinda got nixed." Peter said with a sigh. "And still no sign of Harry either." The boy grumbled. "Even then I probably wouldn't even know what to say. 'Hey Harry, you're dad's a giggling lunatic trying to kill me. How do I know? Not important, let's eat some butterfingers'. Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue."

"Maybe if you ate butterfingers BEFORE telling him the bad news." Mikey suggested. "Junk food always softens the blow."

Raph wacked him in the head. "Look, I get it sucks, but stopping the mad man trying to kill us comes first. We go take down the Goblin before anything else."

"Right, with the 'signal' and 'location'." Leo air quoted. "I don't get it." He sighed. "What kind of signal are we supposed to be looking for anyway?"

GAAH

They turned to the familiar scream, as a green and orange pumpkin firework shot off in the sky. "What are the chances that's just a part of the show?" Mikey asked.

GAAH

It then showed a picture of a kebab of four turtles and a spider. "Nine to one on a no." Donnie assessed. "So we're really going to do this?"

"That's the job." Spidey groaned. "Come on … tonight we end this."

GAAH

And then it was a picture of a grave … well, at least Tombstone was definitely showing.