"Here you go, good doctor. Forty pounds of dark chocolate. Just what do you intend to do with it if I may know?” the candy shop owner asked as he brought the bag over. 

“It’s going to help me ask my beloved the ‘big question’.” Jekyll whispered in a giddy way, and he discreetly showed him the modest diamond ring. 

“Ah. Good luck.” the shopkeeper winked. 

“Uncle Henry, I found what I wanted!” Will called out as he carried various tins of candies, chocolates and cookies in his arms. 

“Now, Will, your mother was quite displeased with your last visit to the dentist.” Emily reminded him. 

“I’ll brush my teeth three times a day from now on.” Will smiled while not wanting to give anything up. 

Jekyll hid the ring and turned to them “Willard Jekyll, our agreement was TWO items. Do honour that agreement now.” 

“Aw... alright, Uncle Henry.” the young boy resigned as the shopkeeper put together a custom order for two teenage boys who stepped in. 

“And the same thing goes for YOU, Louis.” Jekyll then turned to his cockatoo who sat in a pile of goodies of his own choosing causing the bird to hang his head in disappointment. 

“I only want this please, Uncle Henry.” Emily showed him the box of almond bark. 

He smiled at the teenage girl “Heh, you always pick that, my dear. Will, Louis, have you narrowed down your-” 

“Young man, is this your idea of a joke? What do you mean you won’t be paying? You MUST.” the shopkeeper said to the boy with the brown feather in his hat. 

“I’m afraid I can’t, sir. I don’t have any money.” the boy confessed as the boy with red hair next to him snickered. 

The shopkeeper looked shocked “You don’t have any money?!” 

The boy with the brown feather in his hat grinned wide before grabbing the bag of candy and then running off with the boy with red hair. 

“HEY!! STOP!! STOP THAT BOY!!” the candy shopkeeper called out as the two boys bolted through the door. 

“Wait here, children!” Jekyll instructed them and he ran out the door after the boys. 

The boy with the red hair looked back to see the doctor running after them “Oi! We’re being pursued!” 

“I’d like to see him catch up to me!” the boy with brown feather in his hat called out in a cocky tone. 

“Challenge accepted... Hyde? Some assistance please?” Jekyll discreetly spoke to his shadow which morphed into the familiar silhouette of Edward Hyde that only could see, hear and interact with. 

“Turn to the right alley now and then turn left!” Hyde instructed him and Jekyll complied. 

The two boys noticed Jekyll change direction and then chuckled together thinking he had given up. Unbeknownst to them, Jekyll was being instructed to take a short cut by Hyde that would allow him to not only catch up to them, but also get ahead of them. 

“Now, go up the stair path and turn left!” Hyde instructed him with Jekyll complying “Now, go through this garden! Mind the rosebush!” 

“NOW, you tell me?!” Jekyll scolded him while narrowly avoiding the rosebush. 

“Now, keep going straight and stop! Stay hidden. I’ll let you know when those two come...” Hyde instructed the doctor who complied by hiding behind some crates. 

After about ten seconds, the two boys could be heard running over and laughing. 

“NOW!!” Hyde commanded and Jekyll tackled the boy with the brown feather in his hat to the ground rolling a bit as the bag of candy fell to the ground and its contents spilled everywhere. 

“Argh! Ow! Get off me, you goggle-face mop-headed fool!” the boy growled at Jekyll. 

“Now see here, you naughty young man you. Stealing is going to land you in-” Jekyll was stunned after lifting the boy’s hat and getting a better look at his face. 

This boy’s face was partially made of leather and his nose was made of wood. He did not appreciate Jekyll staring at his face though he took this opportunity to kick him abnormally hard in the leg. The doctor released the boy while yowling and hopping in pain, then the boy shoved him into a mud puddle. 

“Damn you, mop-head!” the boy scowled before picking up whatever candy he could alongside his friend and they ran off. 

“Good work, Pinocchio.” the red head could be heard saying faintly in the distance as Jekyll held onto his aching leg. 

“What... what the bloody hell was that boy made of?” Hyde groaned in pain. 

“Wood at least. Ow.” Jekyll winced as he held his leg. 

It was then that Louis found Jekyll while flying around the streets “Awk! Found him! Found him!” 

“Uncle Henry! Oh, Uncle Henry, are you alright?” Emily ran over and helped him up. 

“Ow!” Jekyll cried out in pain as he stood up and he grabbed his leg. 

“Oh no! Did those two ruffians injure you?” she gasped as he leaned against the brick wall. 

“I’m fine. I’m fine. It’s nothing I can’t handle or fix myself. I AM a doctor after all.” Jekyll felt his leg wincing a bit “It’s fine. Nothing’s broken though I think I will need a pack of ice for this.” 

Emily helped him walk despite his protests as Louis noticed Hyde as a shadow limping as well before following them. After a while, they made it back to the candy shop where Will and the candy shopkeeper were waiting. 

Jekyll limped in now able to move alone and looked them sheepishly “They got away.” 

“Aw, you’ll get them next time, Uncle Henry.” Will encouraged him as he sat down. 

“You should have called the police, you darn fool. Those boys could have been armed and judging by how you’re waddling, they did indeed get you good.” the shopkeeper pointed to Jekyll’s leg “You’re not Mr. Hyde, you know.” 

“I suppose Hyde is beginning to have an influence on me...” Jekyll muttered while taking a seat. 

“I beg your pardon?” the shopkeeper cocked his head. 

“N-Nothing! Just rambling! Ow...” Jekyll caught himself and grinned as he lifted his pant leg to reveal a terrible bruise on his leg. 

“Ouchies!” Louis winced while puffing slightly. 

“Good Lord, they were armed!” the shopkeeper gasped. 

“Actually, they weren’t. All the boy with the... feather in his hat did was kick me. Abnormally hard. Have you ever seen that boy around here before?” Jekyll asked while trying to be sensitive towards his assailant despite everything. 

“Oh, wouldn’t forget anyone with a face like THAT. I thought he was wearing a mask at first.” the shopkeeper dared to say out loud. 

“What was wrong with his face? Was he ugly?” Will asked curiously. 

“Will, that’s not kind.” Jekyll mildly scolded him. 

“He looked... unnatural. I could have sworn that half of his face was made of some kind of material. Leather I think and he had a wooden nose.” he went on. 

“Wait, was his name ‘Pinocchio’ by any chance?” Emily asked as she pieced things together. 

“I didn’t catch his name.” he scratched his head. 

“I did and it was indeed Pinocchio.” Jekyll admitted. 

“I should have known it was that devil. He’s the troublesome new student I told you about from Italy.” Emily groaned rolling her eyes “It seems his terror has spread here and now, your injury makes sense.” 

“It’s not an injury. It’s a bruise.” Jekyll reassured her as the shopkeeper handed him some ice covered in a cloth for his bruise. 

“Didn’t he somehow bring a donkey into your headmistress’ office before school started last week?”  Will asked while cocking his head to the side. 

“That among other vicious practical jokes... Anyway, Pinocchio was here and it’s not just his face that is unusual. His arms and legs are made of wood, leather and possibly other things.” Emily explained while crossing her arms. 

“You never said about... his features, my dear.” Jekyll pointed out. 

“That’s because MY mother taught me well. Unlike that beast.” Emily went on. 

“Language, Emily. Also, you don’t know Pinocchio’s situation. Maybe he has troubles at home and acts naughty as a way of lashing out.” Jekyll reasoned with her. 

“Oh, please! I got a good look at the little twerp. He’s not starving or being beaten. He’s just a run of the mill spoiled brat.” Hyde said to Jekyll in shadow form. 

“Don’t be like that.” Jekyll scolded him and he then noticed them all looking at him “... I mean... don’t be like that. Let’s try to make the most of our outing, shall we? Bring the sweets of your choice up to the counter, children. You too, Louis.” 

“I’ll give you a discount for attempting to catch those two.” the shopkeeper offered while smiling. 

“Oh, no. I couldn’t. You just lost a profit because of those two.” Jekyll politely refused. 

“Don’t be a fool, Jekyll. Accept the discount.” Hyde insisted to Jekyll in shadow form. 

“I’ll do no such thing!” Jekyll sternly said to Hyde and in doing so, made everyone stare at him again.