Author's Note: Hey, everyone. Since JusSonic got twatted by the banhammer, it's time for something original in this here section. Of course, that means I'll have to regain my Beta Reader status, but it'll be worth it just so I can avoid the same fate.
Disclaimer: The lives you see here are the sole property of their original owners. The only characters I own are my OCs.
Trial 0: Prologue
March 16, 2020. Garzooka, Kitty, Leslie, Prunella Deegan, Sonic the Hedgehog, Millie and Danny Fenton were studying the Raccoon Territory's native fauna. One species in particular had caught their attention…
"There it is," said Leslie "Volcanus smoozus, more commonly known as Saint Helen's flume. Only three of these plants remain in existence, and now the only one in Washington State is…
"All mine." An unknown, yet familiar voice said. Garzooka and the others turned to face the interloper to their expedition, only to come face to face with who they left for dead in the cold, unforgiving vacuum of space.
"Vlad?" Danny questioned incredulously. "I thought you were dead."
"Indeed I was, Daniel," Vlad replied, "but I struck a deal with a certain benefactor without whom I wouldn't have escaped."
Garzooka let loose a wry chuckle. "Sounds like Jack, Sin of Wrath has some explaining to do. No matter, as you're going straight to hell!"
"Oh, I disagree," Vlad retorted, shifting into his ghost form, which had significant modifications, the most prominent of which were black markings around his eyes and an eye like tattoo on his forehead.
"Well, that's new," Sonic commented.
"Gee, thanks, Captain Obvious," Kitty retorted. "Everybody ready?"
"I am, dear," replied Garzooka.
"You have to ask?" responded Danny.
"Ready anytime!" said Sonic.
"Let's do this," exclaimed Millie.
As Danny shifted into his Phantom form, Garzooka, Kitty, Millie and Prunella all assumed a fighting pose.
"Impressive," said Vlad, "But not enough to beat me and protect your precious flower. But for now farewell."
With that, Vlad teleported out of the area, leaving the others in confusion.
"…and he just disappeared. What's up with that?"
Sonic and the others had gathered at FentonWorks, discussing what had happened earlier that day.
"You sure it was Vlad, son?" asked Jack.
"No doubt about it, Dad," replied Danny. "Vlad is back, and planning something big."
Toonopolis, where every cartoon, comic, anime and video game character live, is divided into two areas: Greater Toonopolis, also known as the "rich side of town", is where the cartoon, anime and video game characters whose respective shows and games were still raking in the big bucks.
Cartoon, anime and video game characters whose respective shows and games were canceled and lived in the slums of Lesser Toonopolis, otherwise known who couldn't afford to live in the Sky High Ritzy Glitz Hotel, or could only afford to rent a crappy one-bedroom suite with the broken ice machine across the hall could only gaze at this twenty-story behemoth and hope that one day, they too will be able to afford to live there one day.
Our focus isn't on the slums, not now at least, but on Greater Toonopolis, the Sugar Bowl in particular. Millie and Tails were there, along with Prunella, Barbara "Babs" DeLaine, an Umbreon girl, Sue Ellen and Kalena Peters, a Minccino girl from Alola.
"I was thinking," said Kalena, "I want to check that old house on Green Hill and Elm."
"You don't mean the Pietimer house near Raccoon Territory," said Barbara with a shudder.
"Yes, the Pietimer house near Raccoon Territory. I want to go exploring."
"I don't know guys," said Prunella, "Francine heard from Fern who heard from Danny Fenton who read on Coach's Facebook wall that that place is haunted."
"Haunted?" asked Sue Ellen. "I don't buy it. Let's go and find out."
"Well, here we are: Pietimer Mansion. If anyone wants to back out, just say so."
As Millie opened her mouth to protest, Kalena opened the door and walked inside, the others following her. Millie sighed and joined the others. Suddenly, an unknown force closed the door, trapping the sextet inside.
"Millie, why'd you close the door?" asked Barbara.
"I didn't. Maybe Coach was right and this place is haunted."
"That's impossible," said Tails. "Ghosts don't actually exist."
"Oh yeah?" asked Kalena defiantly. "Well I say they do exist."
"So what do you propose we do?"
"Let's split up into two teams. First team to have proof that this house is haunted has to, I dunno, do the losing team's homework for a month. Deal?"
"Deal."
As Prunella, Barbara and Sue Ellen opted to check the second floor, Millie, Tails and Kalena were stuck checking the foyer.
"Okay," Kalena said, "We're looking for ghosts that look like this guy." Kalena pulled out a drawing she had made in Art class. It was of a Pokémon with a purple flame atop his head, its body made up primarily of white wax. The folded, melted wax lies over its left eye, leaving only the bright yellow right eye visible. It has a small smile.
"This is the ghost we're looking for?" Millie questioned incredulously. "He looks too cute to be haunting a place like this."
"I know, but don't let his looks fool you; he's a dangerous creature."
"This is stupid," Prunella complained. "We've been here for an hour and not one ghost to be found."
"Oh, no?" An ethereal voice asked.
"Oh, yes. Wait, did you say that?"
"Say what?"
"…Never mind, let's keep looking. What's wrong?"
Sue Ellen and Barbara, trembling in fear, pointed at what was behind Prunella: the creature from Kalena's drawing. "B-behind you," Barbara stammered.
Prunella turned around, only to find an empty hallway. Whatever was behind her had went into hiding.
"You guys, there's no one there. Stop fooling around and let's go find some ghosts."
As Prunella marched forward, Barbara turned to Sue Ellen. "You saw that too, right?" she asked the cat girl.
"Sure did. Anyway, Prunella's right; whatever…that was, it's gone now. Prunella, wait up."
As the two girls tried to catch up with their friend, the spectral candle-like Pokémon reappeared, unaware as to the situation.
Millie, Tails and Kalena had as much luck finding a ghost as Prunella, Barbara and Sue Ellen. Just as they were about to give up, Tails heard faint screaming coming from the second floor.
"Oh my gosh, the others are in trouble! Quick, let's help them."
"Do we have to?" Millie asked. "C-can't we stay here?"
"What's the matter, you scared?" taunted Kalena.
"No." In actuality, Millie was scared out of her wits. Her heart pounded as she thought about what the ghost was going to do to her and her friends.
As the trio rushed to where Barbara, Sue Ellen and Prunella were, they found what was responsible for frightening them: a Litwick. The Candle Pokémon didn't to scare the girls; it just wanted to play with them.
Looks like our story is heading off to an interesting start. What did Vlad want with the flume, and how does it connect to his revival? These answers and more will be revealed in the next episode of Gosei Sentai Nazoranger.