A long time ago, word used to go around that there were more frightening evils that lingered around troll village, even before the bergens..

Now you may be asking.. what could ever be more frightening than the bergens, possibly? Maybe a growlbeast lingering in the woods, or the classic Tarantacapuff..

Well, believe it or not, our sweet and joyous village was said to be at one point swarmed.. with spirits.

How and why? Well golly gee as if I know!

But what I do know though.. is that one has seen them before.. who they are is to be revealed when the time is right.

What you're about to hear, is the spooky dooky tale of how two ghastly spirits were able to transform a simple little trolling, into a terrifying ghoulish being..

So sit back, relax (or try to), and prepare to get nightmares that I will absolutely not be to blame for because nobody said you had to stay and listen!

And without further interruption,
Let's get started..

○●○

26 years ago,
October 31st, 1998

Inside a pod with glowing orange lights in the interior and outside along with surrounded festive decorations that included carved pumpkins, fake spiders and mini ghosts hanging around,

were the ecstatic and well-known family of five that were getting ready for a fantastic Halloween night full of treats and spooks!

Well, the boys were getting ready.

Downstairs was a slightly impatient Rosiepuff, dressed in a Trolley Poppins costume whilst tapping her foot on the ground, holding five glowbug buckets which was also their candy bags.

Sighing, she adjusted her hat on her head and reated her palm on her hip, looking up to the stairway she was standing in front of. They said they'd be ready in five minutes but of course they took eons longer than that.

"Boys! Come on it's nearly been twenty minutes what's taking you all so long!"

Upstairs in their room, the chaotic brothers were finishing up last minute adjustments on their costumes.

fwap! Went the sleeves on John's coat.

clutch! Went the glove on Spruce's hand.

whip! Went the cape around Clay's neck.

And zip! Went the onesies on Floyd and Branch.

Well– zip– zip– zip–

"Alright," John started in a low voice, slowly looking up into a mirror in front of him and smirking at himself, licking his thumb and wiping a smudge of makeup away on his cheek.

He would address his brothers in a slightly louder voice without turning to look at them.

"we all ready back there?"

"A-Awmost John!" Floyd said in a strain, trying to pull up his baby brother's zipper, "Branch's zipper is stuck!"

"What do you–" Spruce whipped his head around, "I JUST got it UNstuck!"

"I tried zipping it back up and it got stuck again!"

"Floyddddd—"

"Just take the costume off–" Clay said, not even looking in their direction as he flipped his cape around.

"But he loves crocko! And he doesn't have another costume!"

"Crockoooo!" Branch cheered, not knowing an ounce of what was going on.

"Throw a white blanket over him and poke holes in it then call it a day– or‐ night–"

"Somebody just fix the damn zipper!" John whipped his head around in a sneer.

Spruce took his hat off and snatched the baby up with his hair, putting him in his arms and zipping it up rapidly.

"If it happens again it's staying down and he'd gonna look like a wilted blueberry–"

"But he's not a bwue–"

"Shut your MOUTHHHHH–"

Floyd gasped, "That's a bad word!"

"...mouth?"

"Can we go noooowugh!" Clay whined and jumped around, slapping his arms on his sides, "I wanna scare people!"

"You're not doing that–" John immediately told him.

"And why can't I?" Clay turned to him with hands on his hips.

"Because one you're a superhero–"

"So?!"

"They're not supposed to be scary– and two, we're BroZone not ScareZone! We want people to remember our appearances tonight because they were cool not because we scared them! We can only be scary when it's relevant!"

"..when did we agree to any of that–" Spruce raised an eyebrow.

"You did– just now–"

"I thought we were trick or treating!" Floyd also chimed in sounding disappointed.

"We– are! But I just–"

"But JOHNNNN wants to be the boss as usual and have things go HIS way!" Clay crossed his arms.

"I'm being an older brother!"

"By taking away our fun?!"

"I'm not taking it away, I'm keeping it at a limit because we are a famous BOYBAND! Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?!"

"It's HALLOWEEN, we're KIDS, who CARES!"

"I do, and because I'm oldest my word is automatically against yours–"

"That's not how that WORKS!"

"Maybe not in YOUR world!"

"IN NO WORLDS DOES IT–"

"Can you guys like– I dunno– chill–" Spruce interrupted them.

"Tell him to first–" Clay grumbled.

"You.. okay–" John clapped his hands together and sighed, "you know what, you know what– let's just go– is everyone ready?"

"Yeah!" Floyd clapped.

"Been ready but yeah–"

"Yeah let's go." Spruce plopped Branch next to Floyd, the crocko baby giggling and clapping his hands.

"Great! Also Clay fix your cape–"

"Ughhhhhh you've said that like– a billion kajillion times already!" Clay adjusted his cape around his neck annoyedly.

"Well maybe if you would get it right I wouldn't have to keep repeating it–"

"Why do you keep BOTHERING me!"

"erM akshually I'm giving you advice, there's a difference–"

"Uhh, guys?" Floyd poked his fingers.

"It's just a stupid cape get over it!"

"Oh, oh well excuuuuse me for trying to help you out pretty boy!"

"I don't NEED HELP!" Clay raised his voice a little, yelling in his direction.

"Eep!" Floyd kneeled down and hugged Branch, the baby immediately hugging him back.

"John it's fine, just– knock it off–" Spruce got in between them, rubbing Floyd's back.

"Oh of course you just–"

John clamped his mouth shut before he could say anything more or worse and just sighed.

"know what, nevermind, it is fine–"

"Yeah, it is." Clay crossed his arms.

Spruce patted his shoulder gently instructing him to stop.

"Okay.."

John ignored everything that just happened and breathed out, adjusting his coat and turning away from them slowly to face their room door.

"..let's do this."

"Yeah we should– probably go soon because Grandma keeps calling us–"

"Shhh don't ruin the epic intro!" John whipped around and pressed a finger against Spruce's lips.

"Mmmmmfh–"

"It's giving Alvin and Simon–" Clay said, scratching behind his ear.

"Who?" Floyd asked.

"The chipmunks–"

"What chipmunks?"

"You– they're– we're literally– you're theo– nevermind–"

"Now," John spun around again and held his arms out, "positions everyone! Get your glowsticks ready!"

—

"Boysssss!" Grandma called once more from downstairs, "why did I just hear yelling up there?! Thirty minutes and we're not going anywhere!"

Silence.

Sighing, she shook her head and began to turn around.

"Alright! I don't know what's been taking so long but I am about to walk out the do–"

Suddenly, before she could even finish, the sound of a door swinging open rung through her ears.

Hearing it come from upstairs, she whipped her head around to see all the lights up there turned off, with nothing illuminating the dark but five glowing lights consisting of red, green, blue, dark blue, and pink being waved around slowly.

Knowing right away what was about to happen, she sighed again, nodding.

"Yeah, that's on me, I shoulda know—"

Another slightly bigger light suddenly flicked, and it was revealed to be a flashlight that John was holding to his face with a smirk.

Callin' all the monsters! He sang.

The flashlight was passed to Spruce.

Callin' all the monsters! Spruce sang.

The flashlight was passed to Clay and Floyd who held it together and sang.

Callin' all–
Callin' all–

Then it was last held in front of Branch's face as he sang as well.

Callin' all the monsters!

Sliding down the stairs in a single file line, they held their glowsticks in the air with wide smiles while singing together now.

Oh yea aye, oh!

Grandma chuckled and opened the door for them as they all excitedly took a single bucket from her before running out the pod one by one.

Oh yea aye, oh!
Oh yea aye, oh!

After stepping outside, they'd all look at all the exhilaration and happiness around them with trolls walking around in their costumes and putting up more of their decor.

Glancing at each other delightedly, they'd all start singing again as John would begin.

Heart thumps and you jump,
Comin' down with goosebumps!
He moved his sleeve and revealed his arm pretending like he was covered in goosebumps.

You dare to go there?!
Spruce slid in next to him, crossing his arms and bopping his head.

I'ma, I'ma get you so scared! Clay jumped over his shoulder, pretending he had claws and baring his teeth.

Floyd slid in front of all of them with Branch and sang while spinning around with him.

We're wantin' to! (yeah)
We're hauntin' you! (yeah)

We're wantin' to! (yeah)

Ehh, ehh!

If you stayed and too late, to be getting afraid

This scene extreme,

I, I, I, I'ma get you so scared!

Together the brothers came together and danced around each other.

We're wantin' to! (yeah)

We're hauntin' you! (yeah)

We're wantin' to! (yeah)

Ehh, ehh!

Clay began to walk forward slowly with a smirk, flexing his cape.

Gonna get your body shakin',

And wishin' you could just awaken!

The middle child did a mini backflip and slid back toward where his brothers were standing.

Here we go..

Posing together, all five of the brothers would stand next to one another and follow the same choreo.

Tonight all the monsters gonna dance!
We're comin' to get you!

Tonight all the monsters gonna dance!
We're comin' to get you!

Clay and Floyd slid between Spruce and John and they were both given boosts into the air by their older brothers in the opposite directions, Branch jumping out of Floyd's arms and landing in the center.

Clay landed next to Spruce and sang with him, shoulder to shoulder while smiling wide.

If you're only dreaming,
Why I hear you screaming?!

All together again they sang.

Tonight all the monsters gonna dance!

We're comin' to get you!
We're comin' to get you!

Callin' all the monsters!
Callin' all the monsters!

Turning to see Grandma walking a little ways away behind them, they excitedly ran to her and took her hands, pulling her with them.

Callin' all–
Callin' all–

Callin' all the monsters!

She let out a surprised yelp but laughed as they guided her to the more central part of the tree where most of everyone was.

Hearing their singing, trolls and trollings began to turn their attention towards them in anticipating curiosity, realizing just who they were as some began to smile excitedly.

"That's Brozone!" A yellow trolling wearing a tinkerbell costume told her two friends wearing an otter and spidertroll costume nearby who turned their heads to look as well.

Standing in a line the brothers would take turns singing while dancing out of the way.

You hide or you try,
John danced forward while moving his shoulders and slid away.

Kiss tomorrow goodbye!
Spruce tipped his hat and spun out of the way with a wink.

We thrill to your chill,
Clay shimmied out of the way and pretended to shiver.

B-B-B-Buckin' for a freak-out!
Floyd did a mini robot and pretended to pounce forward.

Branch jumped out of his hair and pretended to pounce forward as well, holding his arms out like he was baring his claws.

We're wantin' to!

His older brothers all surrounded him as they sang together again.

We're hauntin' you!

We're wantin' to!

Ehh, ehh!

The excitement in the crowd around them began to grow as they gave each other glances with wide smiles.

Looking to each other with a nod, the five brothers spread out and began to interact with the crowd, brewing up the excitement.

We might just bite underneath the moonlight,
Clay peeked his head to the sides of two trollings and raised his arms to the air pointing to the moon.

More fun if you run!
Floyd slipped between a group of trollings and jogged in place, smiling at all of them as they all joined in.

I-I-I-I'm I'm already chasin'!
John and Spruce slid past each other and took off with other trolls following behind them.

The brothers all met up with each other again and danced next to each other in the same choreo.

We're wantin' to! (yeah)
We're hauntin' you! (yeah)

We're wantin' to! (yeah)

Ehh, ehh!

Clay turned and started walking toward the crowd in a creepy but still dancing manner.

Gonna get your body shakin',

Wishin' you could just awaken!

Immediately he turned back around and ran back to his brothers, giving the two eldest high fives with both his hands.

Here we go!

Right after that, the crowd of trolls behind them began to dance as well, joining in behind them.

Tonight all the monsters gonna dance
We're comin' to get you!

Tonight all the monsters gonna dance
We're comin' to get you!

If you're only dreaming,
Why I hear you screaming!?

Tonight all the monsters gonna dance
We're comin' to get you!
We're comin' to get you!

Callin' all the monsters!
Callin' all the monsters!

Callin' all–
Callin' all–

Callin' all the monsters!

John turned around to face everyone and walked backward, making a wavy motion with his hand as if he was painting then pointed both fingers to his head.

Gonna paint it red,
inside your head..

head..
head..

Spruce (attempted) to moonwalk backward and slid next to John, tipping his fedora on his head before doing a little spin and standing on his tippy toes.

He slowly raised his other hand while waving his fingers around.

Like a demon choir,
playing with fire..

fire...
fire...

Gonna get your body shakin'..
Clay moved backward, holding his cape over his face to make it look hidden.

Wishin' you could just awake..
Floyd creeped from behind him, holding his hands to his face.

Giving each other a glance, they smiled at each other before Branch would pop out in the middle of them once more.

Tonight all the monsters gonna dance!

The rest of them joined in behind him, as well as the crowd once again.

We're comin' to get you!

Tonight all the monsters gonna dance
We're comin' to get you!

If you're only dreaming
Why I hear you screaming?

Tonight all the monsters gonna dance!

We're comin' to get you!
We're comin' to get you!

Oh yea aye, oh!
Oh yea aye, oh!
Oh yea aye, oh!

We're comin' to get you!

The brothers hit one final pose together with wide smiles along with all of the other trolls in the back, who began cheering not even a few seconds after.

Rosiepuff was also in the crowd clapping for her five little show offs, a proud smile on her face.

Turning around they watched as all they began to get approached by exhilarated fans, getting a bunch of compliments and praise.

"Awesome BroZone!!"

"I LOVE YOU SPRUCE!!!"

"Happy Halloween guys!"

"You mean BROZONEWEEN!"

"Cory get the f–"

"Naaah get outta here, we're awesome?! You guys literally KILLED it back there!" John gave a bunch of kids high fives and fist bumps as they passed by.

"Looove your costume! Hey, great vocals back there, MT would be proud!" Spruce winked and tipped his fedora to trollings by, hearing a few girls giggle every so often.

"Happy Halloween!! Happy Halloween!!" Floyd jumped back and forth and waved both of his hands around to those passing him by, getting "awwws" and "he's so adorable!"

Branch would pop from behind him every few seconds and did a little pounce before roaring, getting the same responses but twice as extreme.

"That's my little brother!" Floyd giggled, somehow not having realized they already knew that.

"Yeah yeah, they call me comic-book man," Clay lied making a name for himself as he flexed his cape with a smirk, "yeah, catch you guys on the flipside when I'm scopin out for DANGUH!"

"Comic-book boy?!"

Clay would turn on his heel after hearing a feminine voice speak to him, his eyes widening a bit.

In front of him was now a pink trolling his age with golden locks wearing armor that looked to resemble what a warrior princess would wear.

"I LOVE comic-book boy! He's so cool and talented and I actually got to meet him once!"

"Uh– oh!" Clay laughed awkwardly, "He's– real?"

"Of course he's real!" The girl smiled wide.

"Well I– wasn't, really aware of his existence until now I just– I kinda just– made up the na–"

"I'm standing right in front of him!"

It took the poor confused seven year old to understand what she was getting at for a second, even looking around once or twice to see if there was someone else nearby until he realized there wasn't.

Then when he looked back at her staring at him with that same smile he started to get a clue, and it all eventually made sense.

"Ohhh.. OHHHH HAHA YOU.. you.. you meant me didn't you–"

She simply nodded while still smiling, "I was wondering how long you'd take to get it slowpoke!"

"Aye aye aye alright Kesha calm down– and since we're making slick remarks I should tell you now that it's actually man, not boy." He snapped a finger in her face with pursed lips.

Yet he got no reaction out of her except an intense look of thought.

"Mmmmhhh– I dunno I like boy better it's cute!"

"BUH–PUH–PFFFFUH– CUTE?!" Clay sputtered, looking a mix of shocked and offended.

"Mmmhm!"

"Comic-book boy–!"

"Boy–"

"SHIT— MAN, IS NOT CUTE! He is a STRONG, INDEPENDENT, INTELLIGENT, UNAFRAID and EXTREMELY BUFF," Clay showed off the muscles he didn't have, "superhero who spends day and night~" he sung that part for some reason, "making sure that the fellow trolls of the world such as yourself aren't getting themselves KILLED! With.. terrible– comics–!?"

The girl blinked at him a few times before simply smiling.

"..cute! I don't need saving though, I'm a warrior." The girl showed off the muscles she DID have, "also hey look I'm wearing a cape too isn't that neat! We're twinsies!"

"Amazing– and yeah pretty much got that already Kesha–" he ignored the jealousy of her actually having muscles while eyeing her up and down, "but HERO TRUMPS WARRIOR SO– yeah you pretty much do need saving." He crossed his arms.

"Warriors can be considered heroes though!"

"WELL– YOU– YOU— URGGAGGHAHAHGGAGA–"

"Hehe! Well anyways Clay–"

"AGAHQDHQGQA–wait—" He stopped, realizing she just said his name, "you know my name?"

"Duhhh! You're part of Brozone, everyone knows you! And if they don't then, well– that's kinda sad but, you're like my favorite!"

"I am?"

"Well I mean all of your brothers are amazing but you're just soooo good with the background vocals and the footworkkk and also just really funny–"

Her voice started to get drowned out slowly as a small smile began to form on the child's face, his ears flickering in delight from what he just heard, staring forward at what he thought may have just been the start of a new friendship.

Both were stopped though when he was suddenly grabbed by the arm making him jump.

"NO PLEASE NOT TODAY NOT ON HALLOWEEN OUT OF ALLLLL DAYSSSS DON'T KILL MEEE!!"

"...not so brave now huh capeboy–"

"WUH–"

Clay whipped around to see a familiar troll wearing a white suit with a blue tie.

"Alright get over here superloser we're going trick-or-treating now–" Spruce held a small grip Clay's arm before looking at who he was talking to.

"What th– Spruce?! Don't call me that in front of–!"

"Oh hey Viva."

"Wh–" He went from confused to flabbergasted as he looked back and forth to the two constantly.

"Hi!" She waved.

"..you two KNOW EACH OTHER?!"

"Dude she's literally King Peppy's daughter–"

Clay's eyes widened as he turned to Viva and looked her up and down, making a connection in his brain he had no idea how he didn't make ten minutes ago.

"..yeah figures– wait so why didn't you call her the princess?!"

"Because she prefers to be called by her actual name?"

"And how do you know that?!"

"Becaaauseeeee we've talked?"

"SINCE WHEN?!"

"Maybe if you actually paid attention to your VIP fans after a show instead of flexing the nonexistent muscles you have in front of a mirror you'd know the answer to that– and she literally said that when King Peppy first introduced us to her when he invited us to his pod!"

"WE'VE MET?!"

"Yeah but you didn't really seem interested and kinda went away somewhere so it would make sense why you don't remember anything. I was hoping you'd remember me but I'm not surprised you didn't." Viva shrugged casually.

"BUH–BUH–BUTT—"

"Anywayyy uh– as much as I'd love to continue watching this my father aka your king–"

"Alright I GET IT–"

"–is waiting for me, but it was nice finally getting to talk to you Clay! See ya Spruce!"

"Uh– uh–"

"Catch you later V," He saluted to her.

She waved to both of them before running off, leaving both of them standing there.

After some silence Spruce smacked his lips before gripping onto Clay's arm again.

".....ALRIGHT let's go!" He said while quite literally starting to drag him away, the overwhelmed middle child not even reacting for once.

—

"That was fun earlier with the song! I LOVE Halloween!" Floyd giggled as he threw his arms out excited and wide.

Five or so minutes later, the group of five were all back with their grandmother as they walking around now.

"Alright my little mischiefs," Rosiepuff chuckled while walking up to them, "you've all had your fun, but now it's time for the real fun, hopefully not too many tricks but definitely a lot of treats!"

"YAAAAYYYYY CANDYYYY!" Floyd and Branch cheered.

"EVERYONE'S getting pushed when my eyes come in contact with the Hershey bars–" Clay inquired.

"I like skittles!" Floyd replied.

"Of course you do–"

"Okay okay, let's start trying to find the nearest pod– everyone alongside me please!"

Rosiepuff put her youngest Grandson in front of her so she could see exactly where he was, and held the fourth youngest's hand as the rest of them stayed by her side.

"Well since we're walking and talking now–" John started, "I gotta say that performance was.. eehhhhh probably one of our weakest–"

"What? Seriously??" Spruce looked over at him in disbelief.

"Ohhh here we go–" Clay rolled his head back and groaned, "can we just leave him here–"

"Absolutely not Halloween is one of the last days I need any of you to be separated from me or one another–"

"A friendly hawk'll just swoop down and snatch him up for dinner! Best Halloween trick ever amirite?!"

"Clay that's really enough–"

"What is weakest?" Floyd asked raising his hand.

"It means John hates all of us and doesn't appreciate anything we do meaning we should all run away with Grandma–"

"WHAT?!" Floyd shrieked so loud that nearly the entire neighborhood became aware of it.

"Oh for heaven's sake Clay!" Rosiepuff quickly covered Floyd's ears before shooting him a glare.

"What're you covering his ears for–" Spruce had his own ears covered from the shriek.

"What it REALLY means," John started again, shooting Clay a quick glare of his own, "is that Clay is stupid and doesn't know what he's talking about–"

"Mehmehmehmehmehmehmeh.." Clay mocked him under his breath.

"But also, as your oldest brother AND the leader of this band I gotta keep it real and unsugarcoated with you,"

"Gee you would think that he'd give his own brothers as much compliments that he gave to a bunch of strangers–"

John simply ignored Clay and continued his criticizing.

"sooo Spruce–"

"No-"

"–some of your notes and moves were pretty flat and it just kinda looked like you were either trying to copy me or follow behind me because you didn't know what you were doing—"

"I literally moonwalked, hit like five riffs and three high notes and nearly broke my back trying to keep up with you, what more do you want from me– and don't you tell us to follow behind you all the time anyway!"

"No excuse– anyways–"

"John.." Rosiepuff sighed in distress, "is this really the time for–"

"Clay–"

"Don't you even–"

"You were having a little too much fun with taking the lead and kept going off to the side too much, so– maybe loosen up on all that mkay?" He smiled innocently at him.

..

"Happy Halloween motherfu–"

"CLAY!"

"What? It's plastic." Clay lowered his hand that was in fact holding a plastic knife that he got from.. who knows.

"And Floyd– you weren't scary enough–" John criticized, "same with you Branch, step it up–"

"You realize he's a one year old right–" Spruce side eyed him while lightly pushing his baby brother to stay in front of him as they walked, his little giggles filling their ears.

"Yeah, and what happened to NOT being scary huh!" Clay squinted at him.

"I said we CAN be when it's relevant and at that time it was relevant–"

"Yeah whatever–"

"Anyway, he's a one year old that can sing and DANCE! If he can do all that then he has no excuse–"

"But– I'm not suppowsed to be scary! I'm a friendlwy unicorn!" Floyd cheered, throwing his arms in the air and accidentally bonking Clay in the head with his bucket.

"OW– watch where you swing that thing you oversized cotton ball!" He complained while rubbing the side of his head.

Gasping loudly, Floyd threw his hands to his mouth.

"I'm sorry Clay! I can kiss it for you!"

"No- no no no no wait it's fine I'm fine you don't have t–"

Not hearing his refusals he immediately began to reach over and try and kiss his older brother on the side of his head.

"Floyd I said no I SAID NO—"
Clay kept pushing and holding him back.

"Oh come on Clay let the boy kiss you!" Rosiepuff chuckled.

"Grandma do NOT encourage this I have a REPUTATION to uphold here!"

"Boy what reputation–"

"My thoughts exactly–" Spruce said, "and you've kissed my cheek before what's different about this–"

"BECAUSE YOU'RE MY FAVORITE!"

"Don't lie to me on the devil's birthday–"

"Wellll–" John spoke again, "you can't sing a scary song and not be scary while doing it–"

"God SHUT UPPPPP YOU JUST ALWAYS HAFTA–"

"John– we had fun," Spruce lightly nudged Clay's shoulder to quiet him, "shouldn't that be all that matters? It's LITERALLY Halloween!"

Still somehow not getting the sentiment, John continued to argue.

"Well I'm SORRY if I just think that we shou–"

"OOOOH, OOOOOOHHH!!! HAUNTED HOUSE HAUNTED HOUSE!!!!" Clay jumped while pointing to a haunted house coincidentally right next to the pod they were about to approach.

"CAN WE GO CAN WE GO?!"

"Uhhh–"

"NOOOO!" Floyd squealed, hiding in the hoodie of his onesie, "TOO SCARY!"

"...CAN ME AND SPRUCE GO TO THE HAUNTED HOUSE?!"

"Urrr?" Spruce sounded as confused as scooby doo.

"What about me?!" John complained.

"I.. Is that even a question– heck nah not you! You're bossy, inconsiderate, and you're gonna wanna do what YOU wanna do, you'll ruin it! Plus you're a scaredy cat too– "

John gasped, offended. "Am not times two! ESPECIALLY not the second one! The oldest can NEVER be scar–"

"Is that a clown?" Floyd casually pointed out in another direction.

"WHERE– WHERE?!" John hopped around and hid behind Grandma, "DON'T LET EM SEE ME!!"

"Oh, nevermind! It's just someone dressed up as Mario, hehe!"

"...how do you get that mixed up with–"

"Scaredyyyy!" Clay teased John, sticking out his tongue.

"Ughhhhh!" John got from behind Rosiepuff and stomped forward.

"You know what! Yeah Clay, AMAZING idea! Let's take a little haunted detour!"

"Now hold on a minute–"

"Mmmm I dunno John, what if you find more creepy clowns in there?" Clay suggested with a smirk, crossing his arms.

Immediately, the oldest shoved past him and stomped forward again towards the house, turning back towards them while pointing to it.

"We, are, GOING."

"...I'm only gonna agree with you because I really wanna see what's inside of that haunted house– GRANDMAAAAA–"

"Ughhh boys honestly, we haven't even gone trick or treating yet, can't you wait for just a little bit!"

"Trick or treating can wait, we're getting too old anyway!"

"For once– agreed–" John said.

"You're literally seven, ten and thirteen–"

"Exactly! Grown men!"

"...Clay–"

"COME ON Grandma pleaseeee! Heck, you can even just let the three of us go then you Floyd and Branch can–"

"Yeah not a chance–"

"I tried– BUT PLEASEEEE GRANDMAAAA! WE WANNA GO SO BAAADDD!"

"For the record– I never agreed to this–" Spruce held a finger up.

"You never disagreed either– so GRANDMAAAAA–"

"I'd really rather you not go in without my supervision– and I don't think you can even get in with even just John!"

"Kinda– insulting not gonna lie–"

"Nah checks out–" Clay patted his shoulder.

"You–"

"So then why can't you just come in with us?" Spruce asked.

"Wait you're on board now– I mean EXACTLY!"

"Because one, in case you forgot, I'm also looking after a literal one year old, and two, that would be unfair to your other little brother who doesn't even want to–"

"I'll go Grandma!"

"WHAT?!" They all turned to look at him in shock.

"Yeah! I'll go so everyone is happy." Floyd smiled wide.

"Damn, now I feel bad–" John murmured.

"Uhhh heh heh, uhh–" Rosiepuff chuckled nervously before bending down to his height and lowered her voice.

"Sweetheart– you wouldn't wanna ruin your costume would you?"

"What do you mean?" Floyd tilted his head.

"I mean, just– well I mean–"

"You'd piss yourself just by taking one step in there–"

"Clay!"

"Did I lie!"

"I can be brwave Grandma! Or- try to be! Besides, I'll have you guys with me!"

"Oh, Floyd.." Rosiepuff sighed, running a hand across his hair, "I don't want you to feel like you have to go, it needs to be fun for everyone."

"We can make it fun! Plus, we'll still have candy after right?!"

Rosiepuff chuckled and rubbed his back.

"Of course we will."

"So we're going?!" Clay clapped his hands together excitedly.

"Only because Floyd is willing to go, but we are all STAYING TOGETHER got that?! NO detours!"

"Yes ma'am," The three eldest nodded.

"Alright, well– I absolutely refuse to have Branch exposed to any of the horrors in there, so– come here baby–"

She reached down to pick up her youngest grandson then reached in her pocket and pulled out a blue raspberry ringpop binky.

She opened it and watched as he eagerly reached out to it with grabby hands and took it in his mouth, sucking on it while being rocked in her arms slowly.

"Awww!" Floyd smiled.

"..you just carry those around with you?" Spruce asked.

"Well obviously, for emergency purposes– and they work like a charm! He goes into a deeeeep sleep."

Just as she said that, the one year old was snuggled into her arm fast asleep, still suckling on the ringpop every so often.

"Like so."

She smiled down at him and kissed his forehead taking off her hat and holding him up to her hair and putting him inside.

"Alright you four, let's get this over with," She ordered the rest of them, starting her trek over to the house, "and I don't wanna hear any complaints when we get in there–"

"Yeauhhhh lessgo lessgoooooo!" Clay whispered and jumped excitedly as he followed behind his Grandmother.

"Hm, scaredy cat–" John mumbled, "scaredy cat my a–"

"Ahem."

"Myyyy apple– we'll see who's left walking out of here with a pee stained costume–"

Hearing him but not responding, Clay smirked as he began to mumble to himself as well.

"Oh yes we will."

○●○

Rosiepuff got all of the boys plus herself tickets to go inside of the haunted house, and soon enough they were walking down a trail already surrounded by many intimidating decorations like skeletons standing around and bats hanging from the ceiling.

"Try to enjoy, there's no turning back now, heheheheheheheeehhhh.." An actor they passed by would say in a rusty dried out voice.

"Right.. okay!" Rosiepuff slowly turned away from them, continuing to walk, "if we don't make it out of here, I know EXACTLY who to blame!"

"Oh come on Grandma," Clay replied knowing she was talking about him, "the scary parts are what make it so exciting!"

"You're saying that like you've been in one before–" Spruce looked over at him with a raised eyebrow.

"I haven't, but what I do have is full knowledge!" Clay poked the side of his head before winking at him, "You should try reading a book."

"...right–"

"Eeehh I don't know about this.." Floyd shivered, keeping as close to Rosiepuff as possible, "can we go back?"

"Floyd you heard the creepy weird dude," John replied, "we can't go back! We have to walk the rest of the way!"

"It's okay sweetie, just stay by me," Rosiepuff patted his head gently.

"Okay.."

"You know what– yeah!" John put his hands on his hips, "this was a perfect idea! By the time we're out of here we'll all be fully grown men with beards and hairy chests!"

"Oddly.. descriptive–"

"Alright squarenstein I'm tryna see the cool stuff so move it or lose it–" Clay quickly moved past him, continuing down the path.

"Ugh–"

As they continued to walk and eventually begin to pass trolls, smoke began to slightly fog up the area, and the lights started to get slightly dim and change color.

"We're starting to get deeper in.." Spruce mumbled, moving his fedora out of the way a little.

"Yeah.. GREAT!" Clay clapped excitedly, starting to pick up his pace.

"Remember, stay close!" Rosiepuff immediately reminded them.

"Yeah," John moved past Clay, "and follow after the LEADER!" Immediately the middle child sucked his teeth.

"Man if you don't–"

"Grandmaaaa can you pick me uuuup?" Floyd whined, reaching his arms out to her.

"Sure sweetheart." Rosiepuff reached down to pick him up in her arms.

"I'm sorry for not being brave," He mumbled into her shoulder.

"Floyd, you were so brave," She gently rubbed his back, "and you still are."

"Come on Floyddd," John turned to them, "what happened to it being fun for everyone?"

"Jonathan–"

"Need I remind you he didn't even want to come in here–" Spruce walked from behind John giving him a side eye.

"Well he did anyway so may as well make the most of it!"

"I don't– think that's the same—"

"John you don't know what fun is your idea of fun is ruining it for everyone–" Clay said casually walking past him.

"I do NOT–"

Everyone either froze or jumped when they heard nearby shrieks or sounds of the paranormal.

In front of them were two paths to go down, one to enter a foggy area with fake splats of blood covering the floor, and another with flashes of lights coming from it and decor like cobwebs and gravestones further in.

"Ohh noooo.." Floyd slowly moved his hoodie over his head, literally melting into Rosiepuff's shoulder at this point.

"Oh geez louise–"

"Woaaahhh," Clay's ears perked up slowly but excitedly, smiling wide and giggling in a low tone.

He heard the shriek once again and got more excited instead of jumping this time.

"It's coming from that way," He pointed in the direction of the flashing lights, "let's go!"

He started to make his way down there when–

"Nah actually I wanna go this way–" John suddenly said, going to the other path.

"Wh– hey!"

"Yeah?" He casually responded while continuing to make his way to the path.

"Wrong way pal, I wanna go THIS way!" Clay pointed to the other path.

"Well I don't– and I meannnnn I'm the oldest soooo I think I should decide where we—"

"If you say that one more time.." Spruce covered his face with his fedora.

"Grandma's the oldest–"
Clay corrected him.

"Oldest BROTHER–" John glared at him quickly.

"John I really don't think that's how that wor–"

"It does because I BELIEVE it does and that's enough for me."

"..yeah okay I'm makin my move–" Clay ignored John and started to go down the path he wanted to.

"NO– UGH– GRANDMAAAA–"

"Come on now boys," Grandma sighed and ran a hand through her hair, "this is the very last place we need to be arguing, so somebody make a choice quick so we can move on–"

"THIS, WAAAAAAYY–UGH!!" Clay pointed aggressively to the path he wanted to go down.

"Okay welll as I said I'mmmm the leader, and I say we go this way!" John smiled wide and proud, pointing into the direction.

"YOU– UGHHHH! Can't we just split up?!"

"You already know the answer to that young man–"

"Well I said we should go down my path first!"

"Well I was born first!"

"THAT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE ANY–"

"OHHHHKAAAYYYY!" Grandma shouted, grabbing the attention of a few other trolls nearby.

Immediately she lowered her voice before sighing heavily, calming down.

"If NO ONE can be cordial or figure out something fast, we are either going to cupcake sprinkles wrapper or EENIE MEENIE MINEY GO our way out of here!"

"If we play cupcake sprinkles wrapper the night is going to end as an unhappy Halloween–" John replied.

"You're making it unhappy right now–"

"Okay, okay, how about this instead– we let Spruce pick!"

"Buh-buh-buh huh–" Spruce looked over with a confused expression.

"Yeeaaahhh Spruceeee.. which way do you wanna go..?" Clay walked up to him slowly, subtly pointing to the path he wanted to go down.

John tried to walk in front of Clay to do the same thing but his younger brother pushed him, and he pushed them back and it just eventually turned into a pushing session.

"..can't Floyd make a choice too–" Spruce spoke up casually as his two brothers started getting close to having a full on fist fight.

"I can't risk both paths being picked again– and with how scared he is I really don't think he's gonna wanna–BOYS STOP THAT!"

"Well see I really don't wanna be involved with.. that—" He eyed the quarreling superhero and Frankenstein wannabes.

"Spruce please just make a choice so we can go!" Grandma told him in a growing frustrated tone.

"But then one of em's gonna wanna fight me!"

"Fine then– everyone wants to be difficult? I'LL pick! We're going down Clay's path!"

John was about to shove Clay again until he heard this mini announcement.

"WHAT?!"

Gasping, Clay moved John's arm that he was about to bite away from his mouth.

"AW HECKS YEAH! LET'S GO LET'S GO!"

"Please, immediately–"

Clay jumped up excitedly and ran inside, the rest following behind him except John, who scrunched up his face in pure annoyance as he trudged his way down the path.

"Seriously? What a freaking joke man.."

Going down the trail, the screams began to settle a little and noises like groans and whispers were heard, and more cobwebs were appearing, ghost-like figures beginning to appear on the sides as well as fog beginning to appear again.

Floyd lifted his head a little to see what was happening but still stayed low out of caution especially from the noises, trying to see what was happening.

At certain points more actors would begin to make appearances as well, giving them short monologues or descriptions of where they were.

"Beware traveler.. you are approaching some very ghastly trails up ahead.."

"Many powerful beings have roamed around here, and their presence is strong.."

"So we advise you explore carefully.."

As soon as they said that the group began to notice more gravestones appearing with different names on them.

"Woaaahhh.." Clay whispered, staring at the names engraved on them.

"Whatever–" John mumbled, barely paying attention.

"Are these based on real people or stories?" Spruce asked in a slightly quieter voice, starting to get a little intrigued and spooked himself.

"Yeah, yeah!" Clay excitedly jumped on Spruce's shoulders, "And just how powerful are they! Are they like– regular ghosts or– or poltergeists or demons?!"

"Eep!" Floyd squeaked hearing those terrifying words he barely knew the meaning off, hiding back into Rosiepuff's shoulder again.

"That is not for us to reveal.. but for you to ponder on your own.. for now you must continue on with your haunted journey.."

And just like that, the actor would disappear into the smoke and darkness for them to continue moving on.

"...COOL!" Clay laughed before climbing off of Spruce's shoulders and began walking again, his older brother following alongside him.

"Wonder if we'll get jumpscared by one!"

"No no no!" Floyd whined, gripping onto Rosiepuff.

"Let's– not bring that to life–" Spruce immediately told him.

"They're just spirits–" John walked a little behind them with his arms crossed, "what's so cool or scary abou–"

Suddenly, as they were turning a corner, a pop up ghost-like figure that looked like an animatronic would jump from out of nowhere and pounce toward John's towards direction, another shriek coming from it.

"WAAAAAAGAGHHHH!!!" Immediately he fell back on his butt, covering his face with his hands.

"Yeesh, that even gave me a chill–" Rosiepuff admitted, holding a hand to her chest.

"Is it over yet?!" Floyd mumbled a little louder this time, squeezing Grandma again.

"..yeah I'm starting to think some of those screams from earlier weren't just sound effects–" Spruce said.

"You think?!" John groaned, getting up and dusting himself off, "that was so uncalled for!"

"No way, that was cool AND hilarious!" Clay laughed at him before looking up at where the ghost figure was retreating, "do it again!"

"You just REALLY have it out for me tonight don't you–" John started walking again and shoved past him.

"Gee look who's talking–" Clay mumbled, following.

"Seriously," Rosiepuff sighed quietly, walking alongside Spruce, "what is with them tonight?"

"You're asking me like I know–" Spruce shook his head being just as confused with his brothers' continuous rivalry.

They all eventually continued their way on the trail, trying to ignore some of the tension that was slowly rising in the air.. and hopefully wouldn't continue to.