And the trick or treat trail reaches it's conclusion~

Part One: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/62836054/
Part Two: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/62836417/
Part Three: You Are Here

We finish this years spooky saga with Winnie's tale... aaaaand what you all were (probably) waiting for =P Petie being cute and embarrassed~

With that said please enjoy, thank you for reading, and have a Happy Halloween ^,^


Characters owned by me
Pokemon NOT owned by me


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PCA - Return of the Witching Hour
Part Three



“”Winnie? WINNIE!”
“Yes Mimi?”
“It’s your turn, remember? You’re kinda holding us up.”
“Ooooooh! Sorry~”

It probably had only been a few minutes of Hazel and Angelica bickering and trying to drag a still-doing-her-best-to-ignore-them Winnie into it… but it’d felt like hours to him and going by Mimi’s expression? She felt the same and had had to deal with this way, way too many times before. Her role as “Mother” in the coven popped back to mind… as she was living up to the title. Once she managed to get the hatterene and delphox’s attention both girls shrunk and promptly shut-up at the stern glare she gave them… there might have even been some impatient foot tapping for good measure… he couldn’t be sure-

Cause Winnie had swapped from humming to herself and ignoring everything to eagerly flying around the room like… well probably bias talking but “honey bee on a sugar high” came to mind. He could just barely make out her happily babbling about her story… and grabbing something? .. a LOT of something?

“… okay, when did you stash these here? Why? And how’d you do it without us noticing?”

“And why are you piling them around me!?” He added to Mimi’s question as… five, six… he wasn’t sure how many were being put behind him were he couldn’t see… and Winnine plopped even MORE greavard plushies down before bothering to respond. “They’re for my story of course~ Knew I’d be telling it to the lil teddy-“ a started protest left his mouth as her cold hands playfully smushed his cheeks before he could stop here “And I thought it’d be super fun~ Gonna donate them to go to kids in need afterwards… oh! And you can have one too~ You’re welcome~”

Tickling his chin, and dodging his attempt to swat at her hand, she finally stopped and floated back over to the other side of the cauldron… where the other girls looked… remarkably resigned to the fact she’d answered at best one of three questions. How much did all these cost anyway? And who would be nuts enough to give a girl like her that much disposable income? Heck the only upside was she was gonna donate them so it wasn’t a complete waste… aaaand he wasn’t sure if he wanted one or not. Jules was mostly okay with ghost plushies but did he really need one…?

“I got MY story from Palled~” the mismagius sing-song, twirling as she hovered over the cauldron and purple smoke started to billow out as he watched close to see what form it would take for this one “It’s an ooooold legend from long, long, looooong ago-“ As suddenly rather than the smoke taking shape it billowed downward and flowed to either side of him… and around the pack of plushie puppies whose head candles start to glow-

“I heard a click.”

“… I couldn’t make the smoke shapes okay? Gonna get it right by the time of the show.” Winnie quickly said, clumsily pocketing the remote he’d clearly heard that she’d apparently used to turn on the plushie’s LED lights “A-anyway… a legend passed from village to village~ Of dangers lurking in the distant hills at night… and lights tempting the foolish out into the dark~ My story is called-“

**************************

The Phantom Procession


There were lights in the hills he told the other villagers that morning at the well. A procession of flicking lights like people carrying candles out in the darkness that had vanished into the distance. He’d seen them last night with his own eyes. But no… he was young, his mind must have been playing tricks on him. Or he had too much to drink and imagined it. They wouldn’t believe him… and the elders. The elders of his village merely whisper of “Santa Compaña” and warned him, for the sake of his soul, to bar his doors, shudder his windows, and pay the night no further heed.

Santa Compaña… the holy company… a legend believed by doddering elders and foolish children he swore. No, this had to be someone among the living. Maybe the children of another village playing a prank… or perhaps even bandits moving in the darkness confident the old legend would hide them. No, he’d prove them wrong. All the ones who’d laughed at him at the well and whispered behind his back for trying to share what he’d saw. He’d show them all!

So that night he waited dressed and ready, staring out into the darkness of the hills for any signs. As the moon climbed and the midnight hour approached he still waited, his chaffed pride keeping sleep at bay, until finally? He saw it. The flicking lights in the hills! Two lines of them against the dark slowly moving in the night!

Not bothering to mount up and ride or bring his own lantern for fear it would give away his approach he dashed off. The moon lighting his path as he weaved through the brush, bare trees, and stone of the hills. The moon his guide and the flickering lights in the distance his compass as he approached as fast as he was able for fear they’d vanish again.

He only slowed as he got nearer to them for fear they’d hear him approaching. He planned to head them off and stop them in their tacks. He’d see who was leading this procession and why. Boldly standing in the open he watched the flicking lights get closer… and closer… and closer… until finally? A singular figure appeared in the distance, trudging ever closer.

He could only stare in confusion at the lone figure, pale and ragged even in the moonlight, shuffling towards him. He called out to them. Demanded to know where the others were. The ones who’d been carrying the lights. He demanded to know who they were. To give their name. But the glassy eyed figure gave no answer as he approached.

Finally losing their patience they stepping forward. They would get the answers themselves! But at they reached out and grabbed the stranger by the shoulder? The figure suddenly looked up to them, their glassy eyes suddenly alert… and grateful. The smell of wax filled their knows as the stranger, in a withered voice, breathed out five words…

“The Santa Compaña is yours.”

Suddenly they saw the candles. The lights they had been chasing… as they found themselves surrounded by greavard. All staring up at them expectantly. The lights of the candles on their heads flickering ominously as they felt something come over them… and their legs started to move. As their awareness faded they found themselves walking, leaving the former leader of the procession behind, as the ghosts followed them into the hills and the night…

Only to wake the next morning in their own bed confused and weary, unable to recall what had happened to leave them in such a state.

The village continued to whisper about them… but now out of concern as no-one laughed. No, they worried as they watched him slowly get thinner, paler, and more tired by the day. The doctor inspected him, the local wise woman gave him herbs and remedies, and people prayed for his health… but the elders still whispered. Whispered that the young man had been fool enough to seek out the Santa Compaña and was now doomed unless another fool took his place. But the villagers paid no heed to such an old legend…

Till at last the young man vanished from his bed in the night only to be found in the hills outside the village. His withered body lifeless and collapsed in what had to be an abandoned burial plot… for there were no legible markings on any of the two rows of headstones he was found among and no-one had any knowledge of such a cemetery having been in these hills before. Some wondered if they should lay him to rest among them… but the whispering village elders warned against it. Warning of more misfortune to follow if they tried…

And the next day? They found the small cemetery had vanished with the night.

**************************

“… your story was creepy… but why the HECK did you keep giggling during it!?”

“Cause it’s silly~”

“… either your sense of humor got dark fast or I’m missing something…”

“Oh! Well it’s silly cause greavard would neeeeeeeever ever ever do this~ If they’re moving in a pack it’s cause they’re following a houndstone~ Oh! And if they found somebody they’d wanna play fetch and get pets and belly rubs and stuff, not make them walk in a boring procession~ So this is just a silly silly old wives tale… old husband tale too~ Just an old tale~ Ooo~ Did you know a pack of greavards can be called a procession~?”

He wasn’t sure how long it’d been since Winnie’s previous ramble about ghost types… but he could already feel his eyes starting to cross as she continued to, again literally breathlessly, yammer on and on and on… aaaand promptly let out an eep as a greavard plushie lightly bopped her in the face. There was a flick of motion… as Hazel swished her wand and made a second puppy plushie pounce her. Followed by a third when she tried to resume talking… and a fourth seemingly just cause the delphox wanted to.

“Hazel! Stoppit!”
“Sorry Winnie~ We got one last important thing to do… can somebody hit the lights or do I-“

The lights suddenly flicked on.

“Thanks Angie~”
“You’re welcome.”

“We do? What?” Winnie asked, circling in the air around Hazel… and clutching a plushie light she was waiting for an excuse to bop her back “What’s the important thing? You told your story, Mimi told her story, Angie told her story, I told the best story-“ the others looked ready to protest that last one… as the mismagius suddenly let out an sharp gasp and-

“AAAGH! PERSONALSPACE!”

His yell was ignored as the ghost stayed close enough to almost kiss him and clapped her hands like an excited toddler “It means it’s time to see Petie’s costume!” She sing-song… and yelped as Mimi and Hazel grabbed her by her legs and yanked her back out of his face. Which he was grateful for... for all of three seconds. Then his brain caught up to what Winnie had actually said.

“… No. Nooooo no no no no-“

“Why’d we ask you to bring it if we weren’t gonna ask you to wear it~?”

“And that’s why I did!” He shot back, hopping to his feet and pointing an accusing finger at the slowking “Gimme a single good reason why I should wear my halloween costume for any of you!?” His words echoed off the gym walls for a moment… as Mimi’s gentle but undeniably smug grin never wavered even as she said nothing. The seconds stretched on without a response… aaaand he fidgeted as it was getting awkward. Finally when he lowered his pointing arm, and his guard, she replied.

“Because wearing a costume to get candy is the whole point of Halloween~?”

“… cheap shot…”
“Hey, ya didn’t say dirty tactics~ Good for you~ You learned more words~”

“… that… that aside…” he managed after a moment of composing himself “Why should I? You promised me candy last time… and… and a favor I think? Maybe? A-anyway… you already owe me candy! Why should I have to dress-up, besides the spirit of the season!” He quickly added, doing his best to glare as Mimi opened her mouth and quickly shut it with a coy grin “To get it?” He finished… resisting the urge to put his hands on his hips to try and look serious and determined. He’d learned through much trial and error that the pose just didn’t work for him.

“You don’t… but we’d appreciate it~”
“Yeah~ You play dress-up with your sister all the time… can’t we see your costume~?”
“Pleeeease~? Pretty pretty please teddy weddy be-“
“Winnie, again that ain’t helping.”

He felt the four set of eyes on him and tried to steel his will… aaaand felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment as he bit his lip for a moment before sighing “… no photos, no recording, no breathing a word of this to anybody… and no I don’t care if you breath or not your’e still na telling!” He quickly snapped pointing a finger at Winnie… who just giggled and made some hand gestures over her chest “Cross my heart and hope to be exorcised~ I proooomise~” as he didn’t bother to acknowledge it was different from the regular promise. At least this time she got to the point quick and he could get what she meant.

“… now I’m reeeeally curious what your costume-OW!”
“Angelica…”
“Didn’t have to smack me upside the head… I promise I promise…”

Mimi’s snort made it clear she felt the smack was rather warranted… as Hazel stepped up, doing her best to pose cutely with her hands behind her back as she sways back and forth “And I promise to… soooo… you’ll do it~? Really~?” she asked, not even trying to hide how eager she was as he rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, yeah… where’s the locker room?”
“Over there~ … waaaaait, you’re not gonna make Mimi promise?”
“She’s a witch with whatever capital letter she wants but I trust her more than the rest of ya… and can you blame me?”

He was met with mumbling, shifting, and doing their best not to meet his gaze as he sighed, shouldered his backpack, and padded for the locker room. He felt stupid agreeing to this… but they’d at least tried to ask nicely… and that whole “point of Halloween” argument was somehow stupidly effective in his mind. He was starting to wonder if he was a pushover as he set his bag on the bench and began pulling his costume out.

“No, no, no… you’re just too nice and empathetic for your own good is all~”
“Isn’t that a fancy way of saying pushov-AH!”

He spun around expecting to see Mimi standing behind him since he’d heard her clear as could be… and found the room empty.

“Psychic type, telepathic, set up a brief little connection so I can talk straight to your bear brain~”
“… wwwwwwhy?”
“Cause when you jumped into my arms earlier I noticed you weren’t in boxers or briefs.”
“…!!!”
“Calm. Down. I’m not going to judge. I’m not going to question. I’m going to assume there’s a reason. And keep it between us… which is why I’m mind messaging you.”
“… w-what?”
“You don’t have to do this. I was serious when you said you don’t. If you’re not comfortable with your costume… or if it’d give away your undies? You can just come out and let us know you can’t. I promise it’s okay and we’ll still give you the candy we promised. Alright?”
“… the costume won’t give it away… and it’s fine…”
“If you’re sure…”
“… waitaminute… don’t you already know if you’re poking in my head?”
“Do you know what apps somebody has whenever you text message them?”
“No?”
“Same thing here. Just getting whatever your thinking outloud~ Don’t wanna be spoiled on the surprise if you’re sure you wanna do it~ Just… come out whenever you’re ready, okay?”
“... You’re getting out of my head now?”
“Yup.”
“Then okay.”

He waited a moment… and when no more weird brain messages came through? He promptly shuddered and took a deep breath. He’d been too distraced to even THINK about her figuring out he was in diapers like that… he’d had nightmares like that before. And the whole telepathy thing was unwelcome and WEIRD even if this was… probably the best outcome he could hope for. He’d said he trusted her more than the other witches and he’d been telling the truth… now he just had to hope he’d made that call correctly…

Well… hope that and be glad he’d picked the costume variant he could get on and off without help. That… that would have been a whole new level of awkward he didn’t wanna consider. Tugging the hood over his head, and fighting a moment to get his ears through the holes, he took a deep breath and braced himself. This… this was nothing new. He’d been in dumb costumes… some even dumber… for people he knew less for worst reason before. He could handle this. It would be FINE…

Nope, he could still feel the blush on his cheeks. Pep talking wasn’t working. So time to just try and get it over with. Pushing open the locker rooms swinging door he stepped out into the open-

Aaaaaaand was completely unsurprised by the quadruple gasp and squeal that followed as he stood there in his bee costume. Dark colored tights, fuzzy yellow slippers, and a heavily padded yellow onesie with black stripes, a plush “abdomen” attacked to the butt complete with stinger, stiff wings attached to the back, and a hood complete with antenna.

The fact the next several minutes consisted of his costume being poked, played with, and gushed over also didn’t surprise him… mostly. Angelica cooing over it too was a little surprising… though he wouldn’t put it past her to be gushing over the burning feeling of embarrassment he was feeling. Of maybe she just enjoyed fear is all… he didn’t have a clue how any of that worked.

“Okay~ I HAVE to know… what on earth made you pick out THIS costume~? Bet? Dare? Attempt to extort more candy? Come on, spill~”

Aaaand naturally she’d been the first one to stop gushing and ask him a genuine question… as it looked like she was either struggling not to coo more… or trying not to laugh in his face. At this point there wasn’t any reason to lie and he wanted to get this over with so…

“Jules picked out a butterfly costume he really liked… and wanted us to go as a set.”
“… okay it’s still cute but now it’s getting a lil saccharine for me. Doing it for your brother-“
“He’s just my best friend. We’re not related”
“Is overly sweet and buddy bear I think you’re the ONLY one whose buying that~”

If they were mistaking Jules for a girl they were claiming they were related… he didn’t get that at all.

“So you’re wearing it to make your bestie happy~ That’s just too precious~”
“Buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz~”
“… I think we lost Winnie…”

He was tempted to make a crack to Hazel about how they hadn’t lost her, she’d just found his wings… but acknowledging the ghost girl happily singing to herself and making his costumes wing flap didn’t seem worth the effort. Not when there was something far more important to do. Or maybe he should make her stop… he wasn’t sure if the wings were breakable or not. Either way it was time to get what he was here for.

“Candy please?”
“Bzzzzt~ Wrong~”

Well she stopped… and was in front of him crossing her arms to make an X. He stared at the mismagius for a moment… and rolled his eyes as what she probably meant came to mind. He took a deep breath and… stopped short as he’d reflexively held out a bag that wasn’t there leaving him staring at his empty paws-

And an empty jack-o-laneted printed sack was shoved into them into them too quick for him to be sure which of them did it. Multiple things ran through his head at once… first? They’d really planned this. Second…?

“… you could fit me in this thing, is it for Candy or kidnapping?”

“Candy you silly~ … wait, cooooould he fit in this?”
“Noooot on topic… aaaand now I’m curious…”
“Would be fuuuun… buuuut shoving kids in sacks is a scare tactic too far for me~”
“Probably not something you should have said aloud little bear… and now shouldn’t you be sayings something~?”

“Oh… right.” He cleared his throat… and gave the smile he’d practiced over many years to get extra treats as he held the sack out “Trick or Treat~”

“Both~!”

He squeaked as Team Coven somehow managed to say that in unison… which admittedly wasn’t something he expected them to be able to do. He’d have been impressed… but the literal rain of goody bags, all halloween print, appearing right over him had distracted him. Stumbling back from craning his neck up to look at them he fell on his butt… aaand his costume embarrassingly squeaked a little, probably the tail, from the impact. Fortunately he was pretty sure nobody heard it over the sound of the glowing, levitating goody bags descending into the sack he was still holding dramatically and filling it up.

He continued to stare as the last bag delicately set itself on top of the stuffed sack… and promptly felt a light tap on his chin as Hazel used her wand to push his slacked jaw shut. “We’d been practicing that one~ More than the smoke even~” she purred, her smug fox grin almost from ear to ear… for a second before Winnine collided with her, pushing her outta the way with a yelp, to take up his field of vision.

“Ta-daaaaa~ Surprise teddy bear~” She sang, throwing her arms wide for emphasis before letting out a trilling giggle… and scooping the top goodie bag up and just about pushing it against his nose “See~? See~? Got you even more than candy~ Got spinarak rings, duskull rings, halloween rubber psyducks, fake zubat teeth-“ she happily babbled, turning the bag over and pointing out all the trinkets he remembers back from grade school halloween celebrations… she even swapped bags to keep pointing out the different ones.

“Heh~ I usually like to take my surprise flavored with fear… but awe doesn’t taste too bad~”
“Aaaaaw, getting sentimental on us Angie~?”
“Ha! That’s as likely as you taking off your shell Mimi.”
“Fair, fair~”

“… you realize I can’t possibly carry this, right?” His brain finally caught up with the action as he blurted out the first thought that came to mind while trying to push Winnie back a little “It probably weighs more than me… and if you think I can pull a strength of ten teddiursa plus two then you’ve got the wrong holiday. And how’d you get all this…?”

There was a moment of silence… followed by a snort sound and Mimi of all people covering her mouth to keep from laughing. “Sorry~ Sorry~ The… the mental image~” she managed to get out in-between suppressed giggles. Angelica gave a dramatic shrug as she slid over… and promptly put Winnie in an affectionate headlock, and he could tell the difference since Sarah had done it to him plenty growing up “Weeeell Winnie’s families loaded and while they can’t buy sense-“ the hatterene ignore the ghost protests at that comment “she can sure as heck buy a lot of other stuff~ We were already buying for the audience… picking up extra for you just seemed like a shortcut~ And the carrying thing… what’cha plan to do with the haul~? Selfishly keep it to yourself like a greedy little bear maybe~?”

“… share it with my team and probably my friends actually.”

“Yeugh. Way too schmalzy for me.” There was an eep as Angelica stuck her tongue out and unceremoniously let Winnie drop… and apparently the mismagius had turned off her floating as she proceeded to smack into the floor cartoonishly. “One of the other girls can help you with that. I’m out.” The hatterene said, turning around… aaaand stopping short as she notice Mimi managing to glare at her despite the giggle fit “… eeer… I mean… I’ll take clean up duty?” Angelica quickly corrected… and pouted as the slowking nodded approvingly.

“Ooooo! Ooooo! I wann-“
“Petie’s riolu brother is phasmaphobic, remember?”
“Ooooh, Lavender condition… well shoot. I’ll help Angie clean up~”

“… why? Why must you punish me Hazel?” The hatterene groaned from where she was starting to pack up the props… as the fox and the ghost both stuck there tongues out at her making her pout. “Aaaaanyway that leaves ME to help Petie deliver Halloween cheer!” The delphox said, dramatically placing her hand to her chest and looking all too pleased with herself… before flicking an ear to the side “Uuuunless you wanna come to Mimi~?”

“Oh just try and stop me~” the slowking said, finally having calmed herself down… as Hazel whipped her wand through the air once more. The sack proceeded to glow… and promptly be hoisted up by psychic powers to float next to her dramatically as she padded right up to him, extended her paw, and dramatically pointed towards the door with her wand.

“Then we’re off!”
“… I’m not leaving before I change back.”
“Shoot~ Well can’t blame a girl for trying~”
“Can to, I’m the one in the cute costume.”

There was another snort sound from Mimi as he looked at her trying to hold in her laugh, Hazel folding her arms in a classic “didn’t get my way” lil kid pout, and Angelica demanding Winnie pick up all her greavard plushies… as the mismagius was sticking out her tongue again… turning to waddle back to the locker room (and ignoring the harder choking noise since apparently the back view of his costume was too much for Mimi to hold her laughter in) he reeeeally had to be glad Halloween came once a year…

Cause hanging out with these witches was all toil and trouble.


The End.