Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2 FRANKY AND SPROCKET HAD ONLY just started down the path when Franky's mom, Esmeralda, called out to him. "Don't forget that we're having a special scout campfire tonight!" she said. "Oh boy!" said Franky. "Will there be s'mores?" "S'mores and more!" she said. "But I need you to pick up some chocolate from the village. Those villagers make the best chocolate!" It's true, you know. Imagine the best piece of chocolate you've ever had. Do you remember how sweet it was? How rich? How

absolutely delicious in all of its chocolaty goodness? Now multiply that by a thousand. That's how good the village chocolate was. Esmeralda gave Franky some money for chocolate and off he went, leash in hand and a smile on his face. "Wait up, Franky!" said Vampyra. She flittered down from her bedroom window in bat form. "Vampyra!" called Aunt Belladonna. "Don't forget to pick up the graham crackers for s'mores tonight!" Vampyra wrapped her bat wings around herself and spun in a circle. One… two… three… POOF! She turned into herself— shiny, brushed fangs and all.

"Hi, Vampyra!" Franky said. "Woof!" said Sprocket. She wagged her tail very fast. She was excited to see Vampyra. "We're going for a walk," said Franky. "Want to come? I have to get chocolate for s'mores." "I'm getting graham crackers," said Vampyra.

They had just reached the covered bridge when they met Wolfy. But he was not alone. He had all of his little cub brothers and sisters with him. They chased one another around his feet and nipped at his tail and howled at the sky. "Hey, Wolfy, do you and your brothers and sisters want to come with us?" asked Vampyra. "We have to get chocolate and graham crackers for the s'mores tonight," said Franky. "Me too," said Wolfy. "Mom sent us to get marshmallows… and exercise." The cubs ran in circles. They leaped fallen logs. They climbed atop rocks. They had a lot of energy. "Woof!" said Sprocket. She wanted the cubs to pet her. And, of course, they did. Who would not want to pet a puppy? A fuzzy, cute, tail-wagging puppy?

Well… there is one person who would not want to pet a puppy. There is one person who would look at your fuzzy, cute, tail-wagging puppy and say, Bah! Leave me alone. And right now, he was in his crooked windmill, opening his special delivery.… "Behold!" said Baron Von Grump as he pried open the lid of the large wooden crate. "The very thing I've been waiting for!" "Caw?" asked Edgar. "Yes, Edgar, it is a mirror. But not just any mirror. This, my feathered friend, is the amazing, wondrous, spectacular, super- duper HypnoMirror! Just by gazing into this mirror, you will be hypnotized and under my control!" Edgar covered his eyes with his wings and looked away.

"Don't worry," said Baron Von Grump. "It's not on… yet." And then he smiled that poisonous-snake smile, just like before.