So, now it was Rook's turn. The city grew more menacing as the night drew on, with every corner dressed in ivy and light pumpkins, no shortage of rats and bats, and even spiders were starting to appear; big, black, spreading their webs wherever they could.

Nall hid in her shadow, green eyes peering out to occasionally remind her that he was there, ever vigilant and curious what she might have in store to top that. The Forgotten City was beginning to mobilise, but it was slow going; usually if they were under magic attack they would have very visible adversaries from Fairytale. But today was full of sneakiness, and so the council that ruled were no closer to knowing what was going on.

The imp didn't need to get involved in any of that, though. Fun as this was, she was interested in messing with some familiar Halloween sights. Yet, as she searched, she couldn't find a fancy dress party at all! Rook even went so far as to ask around, possessing the body of a large male feral skunk to engage in conversation with people. In a place where the citizens varied wildly to begin with, and with magic had a little bit more freedom in their appearance, the idea of costuming wasn't that strong.

Still, it wasn't long before she found a party going on, filling most of a small house with trees providing most of its structure. The heavy skunk paws of her current host knocked on the door, to be greeted by a young ferret. Rook was all prepared to change his thoughts and make him think they knew each other, but the mustelid seemed quite welcoming and let the skunk in without further question.
Even if the Forgotten City was more austere than the places Rook was used to, a party was still a party; critters big and small gathered in rooms of the cosy house, some on recliners and some on the floor and some guests able to sprawl on bigger guests. A big pitcher full of punch contained a weak little spell to loosen tongues and relax minds. There was even live music, provided by a pair of weasel-rats performing on a tall table to one corner of the room. They were so small and colourful, one yellow and the other blue, their eyes different colours and their fur striped and splotchy.

As to the people, they were a mixed bunch, and Rook as the skunk got to talking with people in the crowd. A young woman called Shirik looked to be a cross between a dragon and a guinea pig, and a very tall stripy dragon identified herself as Sunspot.
Sure, Rook could work with this! It just needed some decoration, both of the room and of its inhabitants. And a bit more dancing and some more snacks. Easy.
Rook excused herself for a moment, and moved to one side; she changed a few thoughts of her helpful skunky host before releasing him, to creep through the shadows of the party as a plume of thin smoke.

Decoration of the place would prove easier than she had first thought, and in no small part due to earlier mischief from both her and Nall; ivy and pumpkins and bats and spiders proliferated through the City, and a little encouragement from the magical imp sent some of that action her way. It'd be slow to start, the shadows would feel just a bit darker, colourful vines would gradually be nibbled away by blacks and dark greens and thorns and wicked leaves. Small orange fruits would be seen and then they'd grow into obvious pumpkins. This started to lick at the outside of the house, but what she really needed to do was get the attention of the host.

The ferret boy seemed to be running the party by himself, spending some of the time out in the front rooms and at other times retreating to the kitchen to clear glasses and prepare drinks. Rook took the moment to steal after him, her smoky wispy self surrounding the slinky boy. She took her usual impish shape once again, a paw clung over his face to get his attention, that mischievous imp essence tickled against the boy's furry skin, and she whispered delicately into one of his ears.

"Haven't you been such a good boy today? Such a helpful host you've been. But you know, you really should enjoy your party a bit more. I can help with that," she murmured, as her free paw turned in the air, conjuring up the smooth shape of a head without eyeholes.
It was made of shiny latex and clearly meant for a ferret in its shape, most of it purple with a black eye mask. It fit well as she pushed it onto the boy's face, where it stuck and clung and began to slip down, making him gasp as he raised paws and tried to pull it off.

"Mm, no, it won't come off. You don't really want it to, though, do you?" she encouraged him, as she created silky shiny gloves and pulled them on each of his paws. Boots came next, big and shaped like ferret paws, they slid on as the purple and black latex covered up his white fur, leaving him as a shiny toy-like ferret with bright eyes that gleamed and shone, and Rook whispered to him some more.
"Good ferret, that's right. Your name is Static, isn't it? This is your party, and by the look of things you really like costumes, don't you? What's say you help me make up some fun items for all of your guests to wear?"

Static's thoughts adjusted and he thought about this for a moment, giggling softly, nodding. "I.. Yeah, I don't know where you came from, but I like your plan. Let's see…"

---

"I haven't seen Static for a little while," said Sunspot, putting her glass down on a table and looking about the room. "Bit sudden. I'm going to go see where he is."
"I'm with you on that," said a wolf guy called Ralf, his ears twitching just a touch. "Maybe he needs some help in the kitchen."

"Alright then," nodded Shirik. "I'll be there in a few moments if you're not back." She was listening to a new arrival, a cat called Felinus who seemed very much on edge.
"Eee, be careful!" he hissed. "Something's going on in the city and I don't like it, something magical and strange…"
Felinus had been quite nervous since he got here, but his tales seemed much too fantastic. Perhaps he'd been out too close to Fairytale? Shirik continued to calm him as Sunspot and Ralf wandered towards the kitchen.

When they got there, the door opened and a few bats flew out. The sight was much different to the last time they had been here, now the kitchen was like a deep forest without any light, strange pumpkins grew in corners, bugs and critters crawled and rustled. It was spooky, and Ralf was a bit unsure about going onwards, but Sunspot wasn't afraid of a little darkness and in she went.

"Oooh, good evening," said Static's voice. "You know, I've had the best idea, I think we could make this into a Halloween party!"
Sunspot saw his shiny purple body and looked back at the door, but it closed all by itself. Ralf jumped at it, now it was behind him. "You know, this is a bit creepy, I'm not sure I like this…"

"I thought we should just get into the mood, you know. Um, I had a look about and Rook showed me some nice costumes, just to add a bit of fun." Static showed the different garments he'd been looking at, sat on the table. There were a few strewn about the kitchen but he was paying particular attention to two on the table. One was soft and shiny like he was, a slim fox's head in black and white. The other was not shiny but fuzzy, a big grey plush fox head. Near them also sat appropriate paws and tail, and a body suit folded up neatly.

"Well, these are my first two, and there's two of you. Could you give them a try?"
The tall dragon that was Sunspot looked at the shiny latex fox head, tilting it one way and then another. "It's maybe a little small."
"Nah, I bet it'll fit just right," said Static with a smile.

"Hey, you just going to put that stuff on?" said Ralf, surprised. Sunspot thought about it, and then she set the head down while she held up the body suit, working her way into it.
"Yeah, I think so. I'm curious. Aren't you?"

Ralf had to admit, looking at the plush fox head, he really was curious. Where had that come from? One moment he was a bit put off but now everything felt okay. Rook was still nearby, she'd set things in motion but the pair of them did just need a little helping hand to get into the spirit of things. As the wolf began to dress up in the oversized plush suit, Sunspot had her wings tucked around her and she was already clad in the slinky fox garment and pulling on the hands and feet. Static was right, they did fit really snugly after all! Calmly, she lifted the fox hood and pulled it onto her head.

Ah, every piece of the costume had been soft and welcoming, but the head completed it; she was snug in a way that she'd not often get at her size. Static went to help Ralf with his costume, and Rook appeared out of the blackness to again contribute her mischief whispers…
"Doesn't that feel good? Now you're in a costume it's time to get in character. You'll be a kitsune, a firey fox spirit, slender and warm and comforting, an old spirit but not without mischievous tricks to play on others."

Sunspot gasped, but suddenly her thoughts began to change and twist, fitting into the role she'd had described. Her body shrunk, as the costume took over; she couldn't feel her wings any more, and her tail split over and over, becoming nine long slinky shiny latex tails. Like Static, she was shiny through and through, and this felt like a great role to play at his party.

Ralf watched, but didn't have any time to object before Static pushed the fox head into his. The change here was much more obvious and immediate, as he began to shrink. Static giggled and spoke aloud, "A good choice, you'll now play the role of Trask, a good natured fox who also likes to play tricks. Plus, you've got the gift of toy magic, so you'll be bringing that to our party, isn't that lovely?"
Ralf squeaked and shrank, changing and getting smaller, down and down to be a good plush toy like the ferret had described, grey and white with little tiny wings. His tail plumped out and a big tag appeared on the top. Paws simplified into simple plush paws with printed pads, and yet he stayed quite mobile, too! Static picked up Trask and stood him on the table, examining the fox and looking pretty pleased with himself.

The door opened as Shirik came to see what was taking so long. She was closely followed by Felinus, who didn't just want to be by himself right now. Inside was still lovely and dark, with costumed mischief being wrought, the sleek kitsune and the little toy Trask getting quite used to their new selves.
Felinus looked at the pumpkins and squeaked loudly, hiding behind Shirik as the shadowy Nall shut the door, yet another pair for Rook to play with.

"Was it you with Quix and the pumpkins as well?" wondered Felinus, looking startled. "You- are you going to take over the City?"
"Just for Halloween," said Rook, grinning. "It's only a night, and I think everyone's having fun. Static and Kitsune and Trask seem to think so. Hey, maybe we should find a costume for you as well?"
"They are quite nice," said Shirik, stepping towards the sleek and shiny kitsune, but Felinus grabbed her hand. "Eee, don't you see, they're getting in your mind, you'll be trapped as well!"

"Hey, you," said Nall from behind them. The shadowy imp had been quiet, he hadn't wanted to get involved in Rook's scene setting, but she was changing his shape as she planned how to handle these two, and by this point he was itching for a bit of fun as well; he wasn't going to say no. Out of the shadows he came, his wings spread far, big green eyes and tall ears and slim claws, the very picture of an anthro bat, his hide shiny and fresh. "Whether or not you believe this is just for tonight, it doesn't change that you're stuck here." Grinning drew big batty fangs into view. "So you'll join in, and you may as well enjoy it."

Felinus froze at the sight of the spooky Nall creature appearing from the shadows. Shirik stepped back away from him, but then behind her there was Rook and Static, Kitsune and Trask, closing the gap between them.
"It'll be fun!" said Trask, with a happy smile. "You'll have never felt better, I promise."

Felinus was grabbed by Nall, those big wings wrapping the little kitten up as a costume was brought up for Shirik to look at. Shiny and latex, this one was bright blues and white, with a big slinky tail and a cute foxy head with long fangs. The draguinea sat on the kitchen table, and pulled the two white boots up around her feet, next stepping into the big bodysuit with its blue patterns and a little red hourglass on the base of the tail. Her own thinner tail slid inside quite easily, the whole suit feeling just as light and shiny as the others did. Next came the long paws, and Shirik paused for a moment as she looked at the fox-like face.
"Help, someone! Anyone?" Felinus was getting quite loud and Nall muffled him in wings, though he did squirm and try to escape those clutches.
"I dunno, if it's just for the night, actually this one looks rather nice," she said, placing the head atop hers. At once she felt very strange, tingly and shivery all over, a sensation that only grew as Rook spoke:
"That's Spinner, a spidox; part spider, part fox. You seemed shy today, but Spinner isn't; she's playful and confident and forceful, likes to exhibit and be in control. Ooh, you know, there's a whole party of people out there, and you're all turning out to be so playful and tricksy, do you think you can get everyone else all nice and costumed up?"

The room went up in a murmur of agreement, shiny and plush creatures alike looking at all the many character costumes, thinking and planning fun fates for the other partygoers. Felinus wriggled out of Nall's hold, only to find himself tangled in Kitsune tails, clung onto by Static, and Spinner span some slinky webbing just in case - while Trask looked through the costumes to find a good choice.
"We should start with Felinus, shouldn't we? How about this Sylveon plush suit?"

Against his will the little cat was bundled into the light, colourful costume. It was all one piece with a Sylveon hood, and Spinner found good use in her webbing to keep Felinus from struggling as each limb was put into the right place. The suit felt warm and cosy, and although he tried his best not to succumb to the same charm that had got everyone else, it was a difficult battle. Paws found themselves in Sylveon mittens, and the hood went over his head as the suit was zipped up. All the struggling ceased, as Felinus sank into the costume, it plumped him up and made him grow, as Static told him who he was:
"Bold and suave and stylish, you're Artie the Sylveon now, never without a plan, and you love making Eevees, don't you? Well, there's plenty of costumes here for you to make all the critters you could ever need… so long as you leave some for us, as well!"
Felinus squeaked just once, that description working its way into his thoughts and making itself real, indeed he was Artie. Tall, and plush, and dusting himself off a little, ribbons twitching as he had a smile on his face, he responded, "Well, if you are quick enough, then you won't have any problems, will you?" The group of mischief creatures opened the door back towards the party, bringing the dark forest decor with them. Truly, this was going to be a great party.

Rook felt her job was done here, so away she went with Nall following on closely. From above, it was hard to imagine the City had never seen a Halloween before, and costumers soon began to spill out of the house, keen to see who else really needed a change...