Rubens is questing! Episode 1/25

Bagel excitedly tried on his new bat costume all ready for Halloween! He had a little trouble zipping the costume up over his tum—perhaps he’d had too many helpings of his Mum’s delicious shepherd’s pie followed by apple crumble and custard! Bagel admired his reflection in the mirror. He cautiously experimented with a few fierce, bat-like roars but they came out as little more than squeaks.
Turning from the mirror, he was startled to see Rubens standing just inside the door. "Your mum let me in," explained Rubens. "I see you're all set for Halloween!"

Rubens is questing! Episode 2/25

Bagel and Rubens went outside into the crisp autumnal morning. They were greeted by a local pumpkin farmer making a delivery. The farmer said, “I see you’re ready to go trick or treating. Enjoy the candy corn!”
Bagel asked, “What is candy corn, actually?”

Rubens is questing! Episode 3/25

“Did I hear someone say: 'What is candy corn?' ”
Startled, Bagel and Rubens jumped. The corn-cob explained: “I’m Husky, the all-singin’, all-dancin’ mascot of the Dandy Candy Corn Company! Y’all come along with me now and I’ll give you a tour of our brand new factory here!”
“That sounds fun!” said Bagel, and he and Rubens eagerly followed Husky down the road.

Rubens is questing! Episode 4/25

“This doesn’t look like a factory!” remarked Rubens.
“Just come along inside and see our operation. Then we'll throw a tasting session!" replied Husky.
"Sounds good!" responded Bagel, and Rubens agreed!

Rubens is questing! Episode 5/25

Rubens and Bagel watched entranced the whole operation of producing candy corn. The factory produced five different flavours, plus a mix of all five together.

https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/candy-corn.htm

Rubens is questing! Episode 6/25

Bagel and Rubens sampled the candy corn in the splendid and ornate tasting room. Rubens slipped away to explore, and was presently heard thumping out Chopsticks on the grand piano in the presentation room next door. Rubens came back a short while later to try some more candy corn. "It got very cold in that room all of a sudden," he explained somewhat indistinctly through a mouthful of delicious marsh-mallow flavoured confectionery.

Rubens is questing! Episode 7/25

Husky grinned.
"It was probably the spirits of long departed classical composers rising up to haunt you!"
They all chuckled—but was it a case of many a true word being spoken in jest?
Had Rubens, Bagel or Husky gone back into the presentation room they would have had a shock at seeing what horrible creature was present there!

Rubens is questing! Episode 8/25

It was lunchtime, and the workers had all retired to the canteen to keep their strength up with soup, sandwiches and pie.
Meanwhile, unknown to anyone in the factory, the two spooks, flitting silently inside the kitchen, were using syringes to inject a substance into one batch of the candy corn!

Rubens is questing! Episode 9/25

Bagel and Rubens were invited to watch the automated packaging process, where the candy corn was wrapped in cellophane and labelled ready for distribution. They were each given a generous goodie bag to take away with them.

Rubens is questing! Episode 10/25

The final stage of the factory production that day had been reached. A lorry was loaded up with candy corn of all flavours to be taken to various shops and super-markets. The driver, entering into the spirit of the occasion, had dressed in suitably scary garb.

Rubens is questing! Episode 11/25

At long last, it was the night of Halloween! As night fell, excited groups of young pets clutching trick-or-treat bags trotted here and there, going up pathways to houses to be being given chocolates, sweets and candy corn by indulgent house-owners.

Rubens is questing! Episode 12/25

Husky roamed the streets with Rubens and Bagel, exchanging greetings with other pets as their paths crossed.
"Hey, cool sour candy corn costume!" Husky called to one tall pet.
Bagel and Rubens were having fun affixing pieces of candy corn on top of their teeth to look like fangs!

Rubens is questing! Episode 13/25

As the night got darker and a cold mist started falling, Rubens lagged a little behind the others, but was revived by some chocolate candy corn from their stash.

Rubens is questing! Episode 14/25

"We haven't tried the pink candy corn yet," remarked Bagel. "Let's have some now!" He opened a new packet and offered it round to his companions, then tried it himself. "Hmm. It tastes a bit strange—not like the stuff we had in the tasting room."
Husky was also looking doubtful. "This doesn't taste like our candy corn at all!"

Rubens is questing! Episode 15/25

Husky ate another piece, just to be sure. The landscape darkened and it became colder. Wreaths of mist appeared, interwoven with skeins of pink. Rubens hid behind a tree until Bagel, firmly suppressing his own anxieties, coaxed him out. "We must all stay together, Rubens. Don't worry, I won't let anything harm you!"

Rubens is questing! Episode 16/25

They followed the trail of pink candy corn. To their surprise, it led back to the factory. But what had happened? Strewn on the ground here and there were trick-or-treat bags, their contents, collected so happily just a short while ago, spilling out onto the cold ground.

Rubens is questing! Episode 17/25

Husky was appalled. "Go and fetch help," he told the other two. "I'm going inside."
There was a sudden flash of lightning. Bagel gulped. "We're coming with you," he announced. "There's safety in numbers!"

Rubens is questing! Episode 18/25

Once inside, the sound of wailing guided them to the kitchen. Cautiously, they peered through the partly open door.
A horrific scene greeted them. Several young pets had been captured, tagged, and were being forced to make batches of candy corn, into which the spooks then inserted their particular brand of poison. The formerly spotless, hygienic kitchen was a hideous mess!
Sibilant, yet piercing speech met their ears. "If you want to be let go in the morning, work harder!" hissed one spook.
"It will be sssuch a pleasure to push you out of the door after tonight, and not to have to lisssten to your ceassselessss wailing sssounds any longer," jeered the other in a brain-penetrating whisper.

Rubens is questing! Episode 19/25

Husky drew the other two back away from the kitchen door, formulating in his mind a comprehensive plan to fetch help and rescue the young pets. "Here's what we'll do," he whispered. But he had reckoned without Bagel!
The young hippo had never in his whole life been so angry! How dare those horrible spooks treat little pets in such a cruel way whilst plotting to harm them with their evil poison syringes! Without stopping to think, he flung the kitchen door wide and marched in. He drew himself up to his full height and summoning all his strength he took a deep breath—and roared with the ferocity of ten enraged lions at once!

Rubens is questing! Episode 20/25

The spooks saw a huge, roaring bat with glowing eyes and were startled and stricken. They took flight in shock!
Bagel turned to Rubens and Husky in amazement. "Where on earth did that roar come from?" he gasped.
Husky was speechless for a moment. "Perhaps eating the poisoned candy corn gave you a certain power?" he suggested.
"You mean it'll wear off? That's a shame in a way— it would be so handy sometimes!" responded Bagel.

Rubens is questing! Episode 21/25

All of a sudden the world returned to normal. Bagel, Husky and Rubens freed the young pets and led, or in some cases carried them, to the safety of their parents who had been frantically searching for them high and low.
What a happy reunion!
Once the effects of the adulterated pink corn wore off, the young pets forgot all about their horrid ordeal.

Rubens is questing! Episode 22/25

As dawn rose after a long, exhausting night, Bagel stretched luxuriously and said, “Well, I’m going home for a nice egg on buttered toast. Why don't you both join me? What's nicer than an egg on buttered toast?”
"Two eggs on buttered toast!" chorused Rubens and Husky.

Rubens is questing! Episode 23/25

They made their way back to Bagel's home.
“You found your voice tonight, in more ways than one, I think,” remarked Husky to Bagel.
"I do feel like I've grown up suddenly," agreed Bagel. "Perhaps it's time to stop relying on Mum and Dad to do everything for me and start to carve my own path."
They spent the rest of the journey discussing possible future career plans for Bagel and how he might become more independent.

Rubens is questing! Episode 24/25

Postscript: The candy corn factory resumed normal operation with extra security to keep out all spectres in the future and to allow all future generations of young pets the joy of their annual Halloween treats.

Rubens is questing! Episode 25/25

Meanwhile, Bagel and his two companions enjoyed a substantial early breakfast and recovered from the night's alarms.
"Thank you for coming with us, Rubens," said Bagel, and Husky presented Rubens with a gift to make up for the scariest Halloween ever!
Rubens has filled his bag with Spooky Treats! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also take part!