In Town

In the mortal world Gwen had realized her children weren't home. In Halloweentown, a hunt was on.


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"Is there gonna be a Halloween party today, Grandma? Everybody's all dressed up." Sophie asked as they walked the streets of Halloweentown. Goblins, Ogres, Pumpkin and Witches roamed the streets on the busy afternoon.


"Well, this is the way we always dress, dear." Her mother explained.


Indy continued the explanation. "The people who started your Halloween just imitated our traditions." "Mortals see, mortals do." Came the teasing voice of her husband as they reached Town Square. She laughed taking the arm he offered.


"That's the way your mother ran into your father - by crashing a Halloween party!" Her mother finished reminiscing.


"He loved her witch's costume." Indy threw in with a smile. She remembered when they met and never would have guessed the change it would bring her life.


"Hello, Aggie. Hello Emrys'." Came the happy voice of a friendly resident.


"Hello, Sadie." Her mother called back as they waved.


Indy realized Dylan was happily humming the same time Marnie did.


"What are you so happy about?" She asked suspiciously. "I thought you didn't want to come." He simply smiled happily. "I decided this really is a dream, so why worry?" He said freely. The adults smiled, he would soon learn. At least he wasn't worried anymore.


"I like Halloweentown, But why do you have to live so far away, Grandma?" Sophie asked sadly.


"Well, there was a time when humans and monsters and witches and vampires and all the rest of us could be together." Her mother remembered. "It was the Dark Times,That was a bad mix, because humans feared us and tried to destroy us." She said sadly. Indy wasn't around for those times but all Halloweentown children knew the history.


"So we did our best to make them miserable in return, But it was turning us evil, which we are not!"


"So, they decided to create this world, our own world." Avan added.


"Oh, kind of like when Marnie and I got separate rooms." Dylan said not inaccurately. She pretended to not see Marnie smack Dylan's shoulder.


"Precisely, From that day on, we were able to settle down and have homes and children and jobs." Their group parted to make way for the Halloweentown Bowling team. "And an excellent bowling league." Her mother laughter.


"We get really good movies, like It's a Wonderful Death." Indy said as they turned the corner for the movie theater. "Oh, it's closed!" She said sadly seeing the signs and decrepit state. "They went out of business, mom?" She asked surprised. That never really happened in Halloweentown.


Just then her mother accidentally bumped into a friend of hers. The woman's outraged screech and dark face a shock to Indy. That woman had run charities in Halloweentown her entire life. Something was terribly wrong. She looked worriedly to Avan. He nodded knowing Harriet as well as she did.


Her mother's terrified face confirmed her worse thought. This is what had taken over Halloween. "Kids, here's some coins. Go get yourself some ice cream. The abominable snowman makes a mean sundae." She said with a playful wink. The kids happily took the money and ran in the parlor they stood in front of.


"It's just like all the others." Her mother explained once the kids were inside. "She was like a wild animal. She was fine not a few hours ago." Her mother was near panic. "If she's like the others by tomorrow she'll have disappeared completely. I've told Calabar but he.."


Indy had a terrible feeling. "You told Calabar your suspicions?" She asked worriedly. Whatever this was she wouldn't doubt Calabar was in the middle of somehow. "He's the mayor." He mom explained. "I thought if anyone could help it would be him. Without you two here I was limited on options." She said concerned.


"We don't know anything for sure." Avan reminded them level-headed as always. Indy nodded trying to calm and be reasonable. But something about Calabar had always set her crazy meter off. She was happy to take the human if Gwen's other choice had been him.


They went to gather the children. "Come along, children, but let's be real careful." Aggie said leading Sophie and Dylan outside. "And Marnie, not a wor..." she trailed off not seeing Marnie before spotting her across the street. "Oh, Marnie! She's found the brooms." Her mom said merrily.


"She's definitely a Cromwell." Avan laughed leading them across the road. Indy was well known for always having the newest in flying technology. Her mother had always been quite the flyer as well.


"Cool, Flying brooms, Wow." Marnie looked amazed at the broom store selection. "Oh, Grandma, look at these things!" She said happily at her new discovery.


"Yes, they are a bit more snazzier than when I was a girl." Her mom commented on the new colors and designs showcased.


"Can I get one, please?" She nearly begged them. "Please, Grandma? Please?" Now she begged. Making the adults laugh indulgently.


"Yes, well, it is the rite of passage for witches your age." Her mom agreed. "We have this one, Aunt Aggie." Avan said knowing his wife would be leaving with a new broom as well.


"Yes!" Marnie shouted hugging all of them. "Well, it looks like you got your eye on our WindSweeper 5000." Elvin the Skelton who owned the store came over. Is that a good one?


"Well, let's see here, Unibody construction, Whoo!
Chrome detailing, A microchip directional system,
Well, it's the top of the line!" He said his motions reminded her of his mortal cousin Elvis.


"If you think you can handle it." He said speaking of the advanced broom.


"Oh, handle it, This is a Cromwell you're talking to, dear." Her mother said affronted. Indy stepped up knowing Elvin hadn't spotted them yet. "Hello, Elvin." She said pushing her cloak over her shoulder ready to do business. He looked thrilled to see her.


"Lady Emrys! Sure has been a while since I've seen your pretty face." He said. Avan cleared his throat jokingly. "With respect." He said holding up his skeletal fingers. Avan nodded knowing it was all in good nature.


"She'll be an expert in no time." He said realizing who the girl was. "Check it out." He encouraged merrily.


"Well, um, how do you make it go?" Marnie asked softly. "Oh, you know, by magic." Elvin said. She knew he had to be wondering why a Cromwell was asking him. "Oh, right,I knew that." Marnie tried playing it off.


"How sweet, Buying little Marlie here her first broom, huh?" Came a voice to their side. Indy raised her brow unimpressed by the teenage creature that spoke to her mother and niece. Stepping up she made herself known to the child.


"It's Marnie." She said icily. She seemed to have stunned the boy for a moment. "Lady Emrys." He said confused. "This is a local boy, Luke." Her mom informed them. Indy made an unimpressed sound looking the boy over.


The boy seemed to gain some of his cockiness back when he answered. "Hey, don't sell me too short there, Grammy, I'm something of a big cheese around here." He gloated. If looks could kill this boy would be dead. Avan hurriedly grabbed his wife's shoulders. She never tolerated disrespect to her mother.


The boy stumbled back when she surged forward before Avan grabbed her. "Let me tell you something you little troll!" She said pinning him with her gaze. "I don't know what's happened to this town since we took leave. But I assure you hierarchy has been restored and you are no where in the ladder. My families created this world and you will not disrespect that in my presence. Is that understood, Luke?!"


He nodded before taking off running with what dignity he could scrap together. Which after tripping on a box wasn't much. "Wow, remind me not to make Aunt Indy mad." Dylan said laughing at the boy running.


Avan laughed as he wrapped his wife in his arms. "That's a general rule here in Halloweentown, Dylan." He teased. "She got her mother's temper." He said winking at her mom who blushed. Indy had calmed and walked back to Marnie. "So, which will it be?" She asked looking over the options.


"All right, now, If you want to be totally rad...
you've got to have the Day-Glo bristles." Elvin said showing the brightly bristled broom. "Now, the Purple Dragonfly here - it's awesome." Indy agreed she would be taking one home.


"But I prefer the metallic blue myself." He said motioning to his blue suit. "Uh, this one, It's perfect." Marnie said holding a bright yellow with orange bristles.


"Can I get it, Aunt Indy? Please, Uncle Avan?" She said looking back and forth.


"Well, you want me to wrap that up for you?" Elvin asked knowing he had a sale. "No, hand me that purple dragonfly and we'll be flying them out." Indy said happily.


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"Whoa! Grandma, this is so totally cool." Marnie said happily on the back of her new broom. Indy flew beside them. Avan stayed on the ground with Sophie and Dylan.


"Well, there's a reason why witches don't drive minivans!" Her mother joked.


"Well, how does magic make it go?" Marnie asked wondering.


"Magic is really very simple,
All you have to do is want something,
and then let yourself have it!" Her mother said happy to teach her granddaughter.


"Hang on tight, Let's see what this can do."


"Ooh!"


"Whoa!"


"Yee-hoo!"


"What a witch's life it is!" Her mom shouted making Indy laugh. No matter what it was good to be home.

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