Man, I really like exploring the events of Operation T.R.I.C.K.Y from anyone but Numbuh 4's POV, huh?

Much like most schools in the area, Gallagher High School had been completely decorated for the Halloween season, with many of the school's bulletin boards now having Halloween theming and some small decorations filling the hallway or classroom. While less students dressed up than the Elementary school, a fair few had decided to show up in costume that day. While most just threw something together, others opted to put actual effort into their costumes.

And true to her nature, Firecracker fell hard into the second category.

"Nice costume!" A passing classmate commended her. Firecracker had opted to craft a rather well made yellow rabbit suit, which appeared to be falling apart and hosting a rotting corpse inside.

"Thanks. Cost almost as much as my last party!" Firecracker replied with a laugh as she stopped to let a couple of her classmates take pictures, even posing for several of them.

"So why all the effort?" The snotty voice of Chloe Reginason cut through everyone's good mood. Or at least Firecracker's.

"Well, Chloe, some of us actually like to put effort into our stuff and not show up in costumes obviously pulled off the rack at the local costume store," Firecracker replied as she crossed her arms and looked over Chloe's costume, which was the most stereotypical "hot witch" costume one could buy that could still be considered appropriate for school.

"How dare you!" Chloe snapped before storming off. Firecracker just rolled her eyes. Chloe was so annoying, but also not annoying enough for Firecracker do much other than sometimes stick fireworks in her bag.

She somehow still never figured out who it was.

"So, what's up with the costume?" Another teen asked. "Doesn't seem like your style."

"It matches my sister and her friends' costume," Firecracker admitted, doing her best to keep up a disinterested tone of voice. "Parents are making me watch them tonight when they go trick or treating." As if on cue, several of the teens began to offer her sympathy.

"That's rough," One teen commented. "At least you get some candy out of it."

"Always a plus," Firecracker admitted. That wasn't a lie. Since she couldn't really trick or treat socially anymore, going with Sonia and her friends was pretty much the only way she could enjoy it.

"Hey, bring some for the rest of us," Another teen joked. Firecracker laughed, but she knew she was keeping all her candy to herself. "Oh crap! Class is about to start!" This caused everyone to race for their classes. Firecracker merely chuckled. She had been outside the door for hers the whole time.

Later that night

"Alright squirts, you guys ready to have some fun tonight?" Firecracker asked as she put her mask back on. Sonia, Lee, Paddy and Tommy, all wearing costumes of their own and holding pillow sacks, began to cheer!

"We're gonna get so much candy!" Tommy, who was dressed like a bear wearing a tie and a hat. "I still don't get why I couldn't be 'The Tommy" though."

"It doesn't match the theme," Paddy, who was dressed like a somewhat damaged pirate fox, reminded his friend.

"Yeah," Lee said simply as he adjusted his purple rabbit ears.

"Guys c'mon! I want to go before it gets dark!" Sonia commented as she adjusted the fake chicken beak she was wearing.

"First things first, the rules," Firecracker said with a sigh. When the four kids groaned, she held her hands up. "Hey, hey! I don't want to do them anymore than you do! But unfortunately, I need to pretend that I'm responsible for this and your parents told me to do this. Unless you guys want to get stuck with one of your parents or older siblings!"

"Sorry!" Paddy said a little too quickly. Firecracker raised an eyebrow but didn't care.

"Alright, first things first. Stay within my sight. I don't need to lose any of you," Firecracker began, counting off on her fingers. "Second, wait for me before you cross the road. I know you guys are smart enough to look, but other people are stupid. So we need to be careful. Finally…" Firecracker smirked. "If you break the rules, I get your whole bag of candy."

"But that's not fair!" Tommy protested.

"Then don't break the rules and I won't have to take your candy," Firecracker replied. "Now let's get going!"

"Glad to know all my old favorites still give out jumbo sized snacks," Firecracker thought with a smirk. She and her little group had been out for a couple hours and had already managed to fill their bags a fair amount. Not everywhere had jumbo bars, but most still had plenty of candy. Either way, they'd have candy for days.

"Thanks for showing us all those houses, Firecracker," Paddy said. "You're way nicer than my older sister! She mocked me when I asked if she'd watch us."

"Sounds like it's not that hard," Firecracker noted with a chuckle. Considering some of the…delightful…people she knew at school, it seemed being a halfway decent older sibling in general was a rare talent to possess.

"Hey look! It's Sector V!" Tommy called out as he pointed down the street. Much to Firecracker's relief, they were right in front of her, meaning that when Tommy rushed off, she could still see him. Paddy, Lee and Sonia instead walked with her, meaning Firecracker didn't have to rush after them. "Hey Hoagie! Check out all my candy!"

"Where'd you get all those jumbo bars!?" Hoagie asked as he looked through his brother's bag.

"Some rich houses a couple streets down," Lee replied. "Sonia's older sister showed us."

"I've got a name, kid," Firecracker piped up as she crossed her arms.

"Hi fireworks lady!" Kuki cheerfully greeted Firecracker, who merely let out an amused chuckle.

"I'll accept that one," Firecracker noted with amusement. "Seems like you guys have been busy too,"

"Hard not to be!" Nigel, who was in a rare good mood, piped up. "I'm gonna have so much candy after tonight! And with most of the teens and adults busy, we can do what we want!"

"YEAH!" All the kids cheered, while Firecracker just smiled. God, she missed being that young.

"Hey, don't you guys have five people in your sector?" Sonia asked as she looked at the older kids.

"Numbuh 4 chose to…go by himself," Abby said with a mischievous grin, one that was matched by her sector. Firecracker knew that look well-a bet over who could get the most candy.

"Well, don't let us keep you," She replied. "C'mon guys." With that, she herded her own kids off. They still had quite a few houses to hit up.

"Why do some people still give out pretzels?" Tommy groaned as he pulled said bag out. By the time they'd made it back to the Baros house, all the kids had nearly full pillow cases full of candy and were eager to begin sorting or even just eating themselves into a candy coma.

"Because they fu…..freaking suck," Firecracker bluntly replied. She did not need other parents yelling at her because their kids started cursing.

"You got that right," Paddy agreed as he tossed another piece of candy into his mouth. "A lot of adults are jerks anyways. Let's just be lucky no one gave us any broccoli."

"Amen to that," Firecracker agreed as she took a glance outside. And promptly shoved her bag of candy away.

"Firecracker, what's wrong?" Sonia asked as she looked up at her older sister in concern.

"I've had too much sugar for tonight," Firecracker said bluntly as she blinked a couple times. Did she really just see a pirate ship sailing through the neighborhood?

…Yeah, she'd had too much sugar. And she was going to bed early tonight.

Happy Halloween everyone!