PLEASE READ!

Hey everyone, Kirby here with a not new story actually. I've been so busy with Ghost on my other profile that I've been gone a lot longer than I wished to be, and sadly I'm still needed over there. Don't fret though, for I bring a gift! I finished this back in December and I've been wanting to put it on fanfiction for a long time, but since there's no Ghost category I haven't been able to. But I'm taking my chances and I present to you all my first complete story, Ever Beating!

Now for other Ghost Fans out there this isn't 'cannon' because I wrote this before the profiles came out. So Arthur isn't 22, he doesn't live with Lance and he doesn't have Galahad, sad to say. Same with Lewis in that retrospect, so no Peppers guys! I'm still working on the kinks of trying to incorporate the actual cannon stuff to my EB world, but aside that!

I hope you all enjoy this story, and I'll try to put up a chapter at least once a week, but if you guys can't wait or want to see more of my Ghost stuff just simply pop over to my DA page, the link's on my profile!


To say this was a silent evening would depend on who you asked. In the small, sleepy hometown of our protagonists, the sun had retired beyond the clouds and was slowly drifting below the ground, cascading the sky in oranges and gold. Leaves had started to drop from their respective homes in the trees, ever blowing in the gusty winds that seemed to never stop.

At the outskirts of the town was a small diner, where the occasional weary soul found himself a place to get a good meal before continuing once more in their everyday lives. The place was barely busy at the moment, with a young waitress behind the counter texting on her phone, and a group of noisy young adults sitting at one of the booths. Empty plates and cups were scattered upon their table after having dinner.

"I'm telling you guys, we have to check it out!" The only woman of the three placed her hands on their table, determination glinting in her blue eyes. Her short, blue hair swayed with her outward motions, while her blue scarf, blue sweater and blue skirt covered her body. Long, blue knee socks and blue dress shoes covered what little she showed of her legs, and a pair of magenta specs rested on her face. "I mean, how are we going to sell ourselves as a mystery-solving group if we don't have anything on our resumes?"

Her eyes were fixated on her friend who sat across the table from her, who seemed opposed to the idea. His giant, spiked, orange hair with a small cowlick of black and orange sideburns swayed ever so slightly with his movement. He wore a long, oversized white T-shirt, which he rolled up the sleeves, an orange vest and two black bands on both of his wrists. Long orange pants covered his legs, while he rested comfortably in his black sneakers. He rested his elbow on the table, projecting his hand. "And end up like the rest of the people who also supposedly ventured in to uncover the truth? I like being alive, Vivi!"

He pointed his open palm in the direction of their last friend, who sat close to Vivi with an arm wrapped around her shoulders. "Come on Lewis, talk some sense into Vivi. This is way too dangerous!"

Much like the other two, he also was composed of mostly a solid color scheme. His poofy, short purple hair and purple sweater vest were practically the same color, as he wore a nice, light purple ascot tied around his white, long-sleeved dress shirt. His purple dress pants and purple tennis shoes covered the rest of his tan body. Like Vivi, his eyes also seemed playful and excited. "Vivi's right, Arthur. If we're going to make this our living, we have to start uncovering some mysteries."

"Yes! 2 out of 3, we're going!" Vivi bounced up and down in her seat, giggling with excitement before grabbing Lewis' cheeks and giving him a kiss.

Lewis blushed hard, looking away for a second before the two shared an actual kiss. Arthur looked the most dejected out of the three. "Lewis!"

The two let up, with Vivi being a little miffed as Lewis gestured a hand. "Come on, Arthur. I'll make sure nothing happens."

"Can you guarantee that?" Arthur slumped in his seat, arms folded and eyebrow raised. He wasn't usually this pouty, but he had to put his foot down sometime when it came to all of the dangerous stuff Vivi wanted to throw them into. Someone had to think about their health, right?

Lewis opened his mouth to retort, but hesitated for a second. "Yes. I promise."

"See, nothing bad will happen now. We have Mr. big, bad Lewis on the case now." Vivi wrapped one of her arms around Lewis' arm, smiling all the while. Lewis blushed heavily again at Vivi's comment, shoulder's tensing. "Besides, we always have Mystery if there is trouble."

Arthur's shoulders fell, glancing away. "I don't know, it takes a lot from Mystery these days for him to change to and from his kitsune form. I wouldn't want to tucker him out with something stupid."

"Well then we better not do anything stupid." Vivi glanced in Arthur's direction, a tongue sticking out of her mouth.

Arthur sat up, somewhat upset by the notion. "Hey, I don't always get us in trouble!"

"Yes you do, you big scaredy-cat!" Vivi couldn't help but laugh at Arthur's red face, burying her face in Lewis' arm. Arthur let out a huff of frustration, glancing to Lewis who only gave him a half-hearted smile and shrugged his broad shoulders.

"Here's your to-go meal." The three glanced at the waitress who had come around, a doggy bag in her hand as she set it down on the table. She then proceeded to take some of the plates and cups, setting them atop of one another. "Do you need anything else?"

Lewis glanced to his best friend and girl friend, who lightly shook their heads. He then glanced back at their waitress, politely smiling. "No thanks Del, I think we're good."

"I'll bring the check then." Del, after stacking everything to the best of her abilities, left the three to continue their chat. Vivi had already started for the to-go bag, snatching it up and rummaging through the inside. "Hm, let's see. Some slices of turkey breast, mashed potatoes. Oh, Mystery is going to love his meal!"

"Too bad he's not allowed inside." Arthur glanced out of the window that was adjacent to their seat, spotting his van. "Mystery would have loved to eat with us."

"Well he is a dog right now." Lewis also glanced out at the van. "I don't think I've ever seen him take on the form of anything else."

"Apparently Arthur has seen him change into a dolphin." Vivi, who was still looking through the bag said with half closed eyes.

Lewis quickly glanced at his girl-friend before confusingly at Arthur. Arthur sat back up, his cheeks turning a slight red. "I was like 10 and didn't know how to swim at the time."

Lewis' eyes lit up. "Oh, that's why you never come and swim with us!"

"Didn't?" Vivi rolled the bag back up, a teasing smile pulling at her lips. "You still don't!"

Lewis by then had pulled Vivi close to him, concern in his eyes when he saw Arthur blush even more and turn away, clearly upset. "Come on, Vivi. Lay off him."

Vivi pursed her lips, about to argue that it was just a joke, when she realized how Arthur was acting. Her eyes darted to the table, her smile fading to a frown. "Sorry Arthur."

"Whatever. Not everyone has to learn how to swim." Arthur turned back to his two friends, gesturing a hand for emphasis. "I mean, we don't even live anywhere near any bodies of water! It's not like it's life or death for me."

"Yeah, who needs swimming?" Vivi smiled once more, grabbing Arthur's arm before pulling him across the table. She also grabbed Lewis, pulling both dudes in for a big group hug. "So long as we have each other, there's nothing we can't do!"

"Heh, I guess." Arthur, who was seriously uncomfortable lounging half-across the diner table and arm being bent in the wrong way, couldn't help but let loose once more. He couldn't be angry with his friends for long.

"A-hem."

The three looked up once more, seeing Del starring at them with skeptical eyes. She held the check in one hand, stretching it out for one of them to take. "Your check."

Vivi let go of the two, clearing her throat and glancing away nervously. Arthur pulled out his wallet, about to take the check when Lewis grabbed it before him. He winked at Arthur. "It's ok; I'll pay for it this time."

Arthur smiled, winking back as Lewis quickly handed Del a 20. "Keep the change."

She tucked the bill away, still uncharismatic with her face. "Have a good night."

Del then turned and left, but before she left, Arthur could have sworn Del smiled at him. He didn't get long to think about it though, as Lewis and Vivi were already up and out of their seats. Vivi reached into Arthur's booth, pulling on him. "Let's go, slow-poke! You're making Mystery wait longer!"

"Alright, I'm coming! You don't need to pull so hard." Arthur lightly played, getting out his seat before lightly punching Vivi in the shoulder with a grin. Vivi did the same before taking Lewis' arm once more, the three leaving the diner.

By the time they stepped out, the warm colors in the sky had cooled down to a dark blue, with some stars already starting to peek out. Lewis pulled out the van's car keys, as Vivi raced over to the side door. "Shot gun!"

"Aw, what? You got it last time." Arthur briskly walked over to the van, as Vivi stuck her tongue out once more.

"But I called it first."

"I think Mystery beat you two too it." Lewis, who by now had reached the driver's side, motioned for the two to look inside. Sure enough, Mystery was laying comfortably in the passenger's seat, ears pricking up when he heard the three outside.

Vivi folded her arms, her mood not deteriorating in the slightest. "Not a problem, I get the middle seat then."

Arthur rolled his eyes, opening the back when Lewis unlocked the van. "Alright, but I get it next time."

"You better call it first then." Vivi's smile only got bigger when Arthur gave her a mildly irritated look, before it transformed into a playful smug smile.

The gang piled themselves into the van, Lewis starting up the car as Vivi made her way past Mystery to the middle seat. "Hey Mystery! Sorry we were so long, but look what we got you!"

She held the bag up for Mystery to see, before setting it on her lap to take out the contents. Mystery sat up by this time in curiosity, his yellow specs sitting on his nose as his spiky red and black hair jutted out, much like Arthur's.

Arthur strapped himself into the extra seat in the back, leaning over the seats to ruffle Mystery's hair. "Hey Mystery. You miss us?"

Mystery, who in reality was an all powerful being and probably wiser than all of them put together, simply let out a happy bark and wagged his tail. He loved everyone in the group, and while he loved Vivi the most for taking care of him as a pup, it was Arthur that he felt the most connected to.

"So I guess you're going to drop us off?" Arthur nonchalantly asked, feeling a lot better and calmer.

Lewis and Vivi glanced behind with confused faces. Vivi was the one to speak. "What? No, we're going to go check out that cave! Remember?"

"Wait, what?" Arthur then noticed Lewis driving the van away from the diner, making Arthur all the more nervous. "I thought we were going to do that another time!"

"Did you have anything planned tonight?" Lewis checked the rear-view mirror, seeing Arthur's shocked and increasing scared face.

"Well no, but-!"

"Then this is the perfect time to solve this mystery!" Vivi triumphantly put her hands on her hips; all the while Mystery was waiting for Vivi to give him his dinner. When he expected that wasn't going to happen anytime soon, he grabbed the bag himself with his teeth and poked his nose inside, smelling the contents.

Raising a fist in the air, Vivi couldn't help but yell, "The Mystery Skulls is on the case!"

Lewis blushed, raising his fist to join in as Vivi looked back. "Come on Arthur, what could possibly go wrong?"

Arthur could think of a lot of things. Fact, he could think of several hundred bad things that could go wrong, but he knew he was beat and wasn't going to get out of this. He sighed, joining in the fist bump. "Mystery skulls go."

"That's the spirit!" The three took their hands back, as Vivi bounced in her seat again. "I can just see the newspapers now! 'Mystery Skulls discover horrible secret to the many deaths in the Emerald Caves!' Think of the business!"

She smiled. "I tell you two, after this night, nothing will be the same."

Nothing indeed.