Pidge balanced his plate on his knees as took his first bite and his second of his spider cupcake, his features smooth and serene with enjoyment. Hunk thought that in his hunger he hadn’t heard him. He took the last sip of his rotten apple punch. "Hmm…delicious." He then took a gummy worm and put it in his mouth. "Pidge, I’m gonna buy more punch. Want some?"

"No," he replied, wrinkling his little nose. "It looks yucky!"

He laughed. "Okay, I’ll be back in a minute. Stay here."

"Uh huh," he said, licking the chocolate frosting off his lips.

From their hiding place behind a line of bushes, Batman and Barney saw the fireman walked to the rotten punch stand, leaving the little doctor. A bag of goodies was close to him.

"The fat kid is gone, Your Majesty. Let’s attack," he said excitedly.

Lotor widened his eyes slightly. "Wait, I don’t want the brat to make a scene," he murmured back so softly, he could barely hear him.

Pidge ate the last bite of his spider. He was going to continue with the witch cupcake when a tiny movement in the grass caught his eye. He placed his plate on the bench, next to his Halloween bag. Then he dropped on his knees and went under the bench. "Cheddar, is that you?" he asked. "Did you follow us?"

"It’s now, or never," Lotor said, jumping out from the bushes. He grabbed the bag and made a quick escape.

Pidge stood up, scratching his head. "I taut it was Cheddar," he said. "I was gonna give him some of my cupcake." He shrugged and reached for his plate, when he noticed that his bag wasn’t there. He whirled around and saw Batman flying away with it.

"My bag! Batman stole my bag!" he cried, his eyes filling with tears. Hunk heard his screams and went to him.

"What’s wrong Pidge?!"

"Batman took my bag!"

The older boy widened his eyes in shock. ~I’m in big trouble now! I must find our friends before Nanny and Coran find out.~

He reached for Pidge’s hand. "Come on."

"Hunk," the boy said piteously. "I want my bag!" His round face was woebegone. His eyes brimmed over with tears that rolled down her rosy cheeks. Hunk felt his heart twist within his chest, but swallowing back his own emotions he said sternly to his younger friend, "We’ll find your bag, I promise."

After participating in the Broom Dance and pinning the Tail on the Black Cat, Keith, Allura and the rest went bobbing for apples, one of the oldest and most popular Halloween games.

"I’ll go first," Lance said. "So I can wipe off some of the slime from the costume."

The tub of floating apples was set on an old basketball court, where some spilled water didn’t matter. He got on his knees, with his hands behind his back, and with his teeth, tried to pick up a floating, bobbing red apple, so he could win a prize. Allura and Romelle looked on, giggling.

After fighting with the apples for a few minutes, he managed to bit one. He rose soaking wet, his clean face with a huge smile; he presented the token to the man in charge, who he gave him a package of Digimon trading cards.

"My turn," Sven said. He caught an apple in less time, and for his efforts won a little black bear. "This is for you, Rommy," he said breathlessly, water dripping from his face. She took the bear in her arms, and looked at her champion with warm eyes. She stood on her tiptoes, and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Svenny," she murmured.

"Y-you’re velcome," he stammered, blushing with his Princess’ praise.

Turning to Keith, Lance said, "You can’t stay behind. You must win something for Ally."

"I will," he replied, glowering at him.

Keith began ducking for apples in the tub of cold water, but they eluded them. Desperate, he looked up and locked gazes with Allura. He wanted so badly to win something for her. He shut his eyes in prayer. ~Oh please, I must bite one~

Allura noticed that the red makeup on his face was gone. She bit her lower lip nervously. ~Oh please, let him bite one~

He bent his dark head and continued fighting with the apples. And minutes later he won the battle.

"Yay! He caught one!" Lance shouted.

"You have won the pirate’s treasure," the man announced happily, and placed a cardboard chest in Keith’s hands. He turned to Allura and said, "This is for you."

She took the gift and held it close to her heart. He drew slightly away, and folded his hands behind his head; his cheeks were a deep shade of red. She opened the chest and found golden coins with a chocolate center nestled in golden tissue paper. Her blue eyes went wide with excitement. "Thank you, Kit. We’ll share this treasure, okay?"

"Uh- okay," he replied, as tongue-tied as ever.

"Let’s get some ice cream!" Lance said. "My treat."

"We better go," Sven noted, grinning conspiratorially at his friends. "Before he changes his mind."

"Just for that, you’re paying for your ice cream," Lance snapped.

Keith felt a bit better now that he wasn’t the center of attention. He turned around and started for the doors, when he saw Hunk and Pidge entering the section.

"What’s going on? Why is he crying?" he asked.

"I just left him for a minute to buy a cup of punch. When I was ready to order, I heard him screaming his head off. He says someone dressed as Batman stole his Halloween bag."

"Did you say, Batman?" Allura asked, stepping forward.

"Y-yes."

Sven bent down to Pidge’s level. "Was he dressed in a black jumpsuit with attached wings and a black mask, like the one on TV?"

"Uh huh," he answered tearfully.

"I knew that dingy bat would cause trouble," Lance said sharply.

Keith’s dark eyes narrowed in thought. "There’s no doubt, he’s the same one we saw at the Broom Dance."

Romelle knelt next to Sven, and taking a handkerchief from her white apron, wiped off the tears from Pidge’s face. "He can’t be too far. He must be hiding somewhere."

Allura could tell that he was only inches from a super tantrum. Her instinctive movement to comfort him was checked by Keith’s disapproving look.

"We’ll get you another bag," he told Pidge. "And we’ll give some of our candy."

"NO!" he cried, stomping his foot. "I want the bag Batman stole from me. He has my Lego Voltron!"

"Mr. Anders from the import shop gave each one of us Lego Voltrons," Hunk volunteered.

"And you know how much he loves to play with Lego blocks," Lance noted.

"We must act quickly," Sven said, gazing at his watch. "Our meeting with Coran and Nanny will be in thirty minutes."

Pidge stared at Allura for several seconds, his lower lip quivering slightly. "Don’t worry, Pidgey. I’ll find Batman," she said, and hurried off.

"Princess, wait!" Keith called out. "Come back!"