Fernkenstein's Monster

Fernkenstein's Monster is the first half of the 4th episode of Season 8. It first aired on September 18, 2003.

Summary
Fern's scary story is a little too scary — now the other kids are afraid of her. So she sets out to prove her skills as a writer by creating a story that's fun instead of frightening.

Plot
Arthur, Buster, Muffy and Fern are bored in the school canteen one lunchtime, as outside it's raining. Fern suggests telling really scary stories and everyone else thinks it's a brilliant idea, so that's what they do! Each child tells their story. Muffy starts off by telling one about a girl who gets her dress dirty, Buster tells the next one about aliens (surprisingly!), and Arthur's is about a boy who's pants fall down. No one, other than the Person who told the story, finds these scary! Then, it's Fern's turn... Earlier in the episode, Fern is seen reading a report about Frakenstein by Mary Shelly. This is how she comes up with her story about "the thing". It's set in a lab, where Fern's 'uncle' studies insects. It's a stormy night and her uncle's assistant has forgotten his umbrella so they search for one. They find and umbrella, but it turns out to be an escaped insect from one of the crates they had sent in. The 'thing' eats her uncle's assistant. This story terrifies Arthur and his friends, and they were all scared of Fern.

The library has a book fair and Fern donates all her 'scare your pants off' books. Buster, Arthur and Muffy turn up with garlic and Buster calls Fern the queen of darkness. Fern is outraged and says she isn't, but just at that moment, the lights cut out. They all run off, except Fern, who helps the librarian put the power on. The librarian said that she'd cut the power off when she'd plugged in the book sale sign.

At the end, Fern says to her friends that the 'thing' didn't have to be something scary. She says it could turn into a golden dragon, who knows the way to a cave of treasures (this satisfies Muffy). Or it turns into a friendly alien (for Buster), and finally it gives you flying powers and helps rid the world of evil (for Arthur). However, D.W, who was secretly listening, says that she'd ruined the 'thing'. Her and Fern walk off together discussing what horrible things the 'thing' could turn into.

Trivia

 * "Arthur's Underwear" is mentioned again, and is said to have happened months ago. This is one of several episodes to reference that incident. However, in this one, Muffy tells Arthur to forget the incident and move on with his life, acting as a nod to how much it had been referenced.