Hey! It's Kitsune again! Thanks to welshrose for reviewing! On a note, I wanna know which ghost in the Casper movies is your (the readers) favorites. They can be from any Casper movie. And now, on to the story.

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Title: Specter, My Protector

Summary: A young fleshie comes to Whipstaff and falls in love with one of the residents. When Stinkie gives her a ring that will let them stay connected no matter where they are, an evil bent on destroying Whipstaff's paranormal residents, kidnaps her and uses her to get to Whipstaff's REAL treasure.

Main Pairing: StinkieOC (gasp! an OC! Heh, no worries, people, no Mary-Sues here!)

Side Pairings: KatCasper, Onesided OCxOC

Chapter: 2

Rating: T for Trouble!

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Kat walked home from school around 3, finally arriving at Whipstaff around 3:25, 3:30 if her teachers kept her late. She got in he gate and was greeted by Casper, like always. Only, today, he seemed to be more excited. She finally questioned him when he got to the front door.

"What're you so happy about?"

Casper chuckled. "We have ourselves a guest," he said. Kat raised her eyebrows.

"Is it one of the Trio's friends?"

Casper shook his head.

"Someone from Mexico they contacted online?"

Again, Casper shook his head.

"A rabid squirrel?" (ROCK ON RABID CHIBI SQUIRRELS INC!)

Casper chuckled and shook his head. "You'll see." Kat quirked an eyebrow, but shrugged it off and continued through Whipstaff's foyer. She set her backpack down by the staircase, calling out, "Dad, I'm home!" She listened intently for any sign of life, or death, and turned in the direction of a loud, "In here, honey!" She walked briskly to the kitchen, where James Harvey sat at the table, looking over various letters—most likely this month's bills—drinking a strong cup of coffee. He looked at her and smiled.

Kat came over and kissed his cheek before sitting down, as well. "So, how was your day, Honey?" Dr. Harvey asked.

Kat shrugged. "Y'know. The usual. Casper said that we have a visitor, though," she said, resting her head on her fingers. "So, who is it?"

Dr. Harvey smiled at his daughter, then turned his head towards the other door, calling, "You can come out now." Nothing happened. Dr. Harvey frowned, waiting.

From the other side of the door, there was a, "What the Hell are you two doing?" It was obviously Stretch, because of his thick Boston accent. Two feminine voices squeaked and the door opened, with two bodies falling onto the kitchen floor. Stretch glared, his right hand resting on the doorknob. He'd opened the door and caused the two people on the other side of it to go sprawling out.

One was human looking, a girl with shoulder-length, dark, midnight black hair and grey eyes. She was a little taller than Kat, and was probably a year or two older. She wore dark blue jeans, a thin, black, long-sleeve T-shirt with a thicker, short-sleeve green shirt on top, and green converse. She stood, waving. "Hi, I'm Kelly Cardone, I'ma sorceress!"

The other girl, who looked a little human, rolled her eyes. "You're a witch." This girl had long purple hair and golden eyes, with black slits for pupils. She also had black, fur-covered cat ears and a long, smooth black cat's tail. Her entire body was lightly covered in a light grey fur. She had black arm-length gloves and leggings that ended as boots and a black tube top and short shorts. "I'm Midnight Shadow."

"She's a cat-girl," Kat pointed out. Midnight gave a little "Mya!" and her tail started to wag.

"I hope you don't mind," Kelly said, going over to shake Kat's hand, "But I had to come see the sea-cliffs and we ended up staying here. We don't really have a home."

"It's fine," Kat said, smiling, "Nice to meet you." Kat shook the other girl's hand. She put out a hand to shake Midnight's hand, but she just sat down on the floor. Kat, curious, outstretched a hand and scratched the cat-girl behind the ears, while Midnight purred, contently. Kat gave a sort of sighing-laugh.

"God, you're such a suck-up, Midnight!" Kelly laughed. Midnight hissed in her direction before standing up, putting her elbow on Kelly's shoulder and leaning on her. "Anyway," Kelly continued, "We met the, uh, Trio? Is that what they were called?"

Kat nodded. "Yeah, the, um, Ghostly Trio. That's them. So, where did you come from?"

Kelly thought a moment. "I honestly can't remember. Midnight, how long has it been?"

"I'd say at least five years, Kel," the cat-girl said.

"So, where've you lived since . . . ?" Dr. Harvey asked.

"Well, my grandfather used to say we travelled around all over the country like gypsies," Kelly said. "That's kind of what we posed as, too. You name a big city in the US, we've been there."

"Wow," Casper said, smiling. Stretch had snorted and vanished from sight. Kat suppressed a glare she'd felt building up. Stinkie and Fatso weren't so bad, but Stretch was just plain obnoxious, especially in the face of company. She didn't even want to know what transpired when Kelly and Midnight arrived. Or did she?

She stored that little bit of info at the back of her mind. She'd bring it up again at another time. She did want to know, just not when they could be plainly spied on by the Trio. She wasn't sure just how Stretch would respond, but she didn't want to take the chance that he'd vow ultimate revenge.

The rest of the day went uneventful, save for the fact that they got to know Kelly and Midnight a little better. The Trio had come down for dinner and did their usual helicopter routine entrance, made a few nasty remarks, but didn't get too rousy.

Perhaps, Kat thought, it was the fear that Kelly would be overpowering with her magical abilities she claimed to possess. Were ghosts afraid of witches? Ghosts didn't possess any real magical powers. Maybe they could walk through walls, and float in the air, but could they make potions? Could they transform a bag of marbles into a carrier pigeon? No, they couldn't, so far as Kat knew. Plus, the extent of the Trio's abilities was probably scaring the daylights out of whoever they came into contact with, besides their own little tricks; possession, dismemberment, shapeshifting, flying, etc.

Kelly and Midnight, in her cat form, walked back to their room. Midnight settled on the bed once more, staring at Kelly as she sat at a desk, writing. The cat sighed.

"I don't understand why you don't just use your magic to do these things. It'd be so much easier."

"Yeah, but it's the same thing as when I was studying alchemy," Kelly replied, "It's not as much fun if there's nothing to it!" She laughed.

A soft knock came at her door, and she turned to see Kat in the doorway. She smiled. "Hey,"

Kat returned the smile, "Hi, is it okay if I . . . ?"

"Yeah, sure! Come in, come in!" Kelly waved her in.

Kat turned, closing the door after her. She twiddled her thumbs together. "I hope I'm not being a bother, but I'm curious. What happened when you came here?"

Kelly smiled. "Well, I came to see the sea cliffs, and you're Dad was hospitable enough to invite me in. So, I was staring at the cliffs and then the Trio came in. The first two ghosts . . . uh, Fatso and . . . Stinkie! That's their names! Yeah, uh, they were pretty okay, but that Stretch! Pfft! He tried to throw me out the window!"

Kat's eyes nearly bulged out of their head. "What!? He did that?"

"Yup, picked me up and dropped me off the balcony," Kelly said, "But Midnight caught me on Broom."

"Broom? You mean a flying broomstick?"

"Yep!" Kelly said, whistling. The closet door opened and a broomstick flew out. Kat laughed. Kelly rubbed the broom's handle, and it gave little noises of excitement.

"It's like a pet!" Kat exclaimed.

It was Kelly's turn to laugh. "Yeah, well, it took a big spell to get it like this. You can't just manufacture a flying broomstick. It's strong magic that makes them fly, and I added the personality of a laborador retriever as an extra kick."

"Yeah," Midnight said, "And she couldn't use her magic for two whole months after that."

"Why not?" Kat asked.

"Magic drains the spirit. You need to constantly 'recharge', so to speak." explained Kelly.

"How do you 'recharge'?" asked Kat.

"Sleep!" Kelly smiled, "It's the same thing with normal humans. It's basically what helps them pass over. They build up enough energy that they can pass over instead of staying as ghosts. Of course, it's not only sleep that helps rechrage, there's eating and daily rituals and then there's the 'higher up' stuff, like prayer and that religious stuff. And then there's favors and deeds needed to accomplish in life."

"Ah, I get it," Kat said, "That explains why ghosts stay behind because of their unfinished business. They need to gain more energy in order to cross over."

"Yeah, sort of," Kelly said, "This is also why witches and warlocks use spell books or magic wands. It's because their energy needs a boost, so the books or wands provide that boost. They also don't use as much energy when they use wands and books, but it's usually the untalented or inexperienced trainees that use them most. I came so far down my family's line that I don't even need to use a wand! I just point," She demonstrated by pointing at Midnight, "And WA-LA!"

Before Midnight could respond, she disappeared in a puff of smoke and was replaced by a chicken. Kat applauded.

"But what's with the chicken?" she asked.

"I like chickens," Kelly shrugged. She pointed again at the chicken and it became Midnight again in a puff of smoke.

"That's pretty cool," Kat said, "So, why'd you want to see the sea cliffs?"

Kelly looked away, out the window. "Because . . . a family heirloom was lost. And I was sure it had fallen over here somewhere, but I can't even sense it."

"Heirloom? Like what?"

"Like an amulet," Kelly said, "It's been in the Cardone family for generations. It's . . ." She looked nervously to either side, then leaned in t whisper to Kat. "Promise to keep it secret?" she whispered.

"Yeah," Kat said.

Kelly frowned, suddenly. "If you break this, I'll turn you into a chicken."

Kat laughed. "Okay, I promise."

Kelly lightened up. "Well, that amulet is the source of the Cardone family power. It's been passed down to each generation of Cardones, and each person of that generation puts a portion of their magic into it. In case someone in future generations needs it, it's there. Like an emergency break system."

"And something happened to this amulet?"

"Precisely. You see, I have three aunts, my Mom's sisters. Their all greedy and mean, and they took out power they didn't need, but what they wanted. At that time, it was to be handed down to me. Well, they discarded the empty amulet. And I followed it, tracing it back to somewhere in this area."

"So, what happened to your aunts?"

"They were given the extreme punishment in our world. Unfortunately, they expended the magic, and there's none left, so we have to start over, starting with me. That is, if I find the amulet." Kelly said.

"I'm sure you'll find it, Kelly," Kat said.

"Y'know, you can call me Kel if you want," Kelly said, "Midnight does."

"Sure," Kat chuckled. "Kel. I like that." Kat and Kelly laughed a little. Midnight had fallen asleep. "Hey, I just had a thought!" Kat exclaimed. "Ghosts can go through walls and stuff . . . I bet they can go through water, too!"

"And?"

"And, maybe Casper can help you get your amulet back!"

"You think he would?"

"Oh, I know he would. He loves helping out people."

"He's not like his uncles, is he?"

"They are complete opposites," Kat said.

"You think we can ask this of him, Kat?" Kelly asked.

"We can try in the morning. I don't have school."

"Cool," Kelly said, getting up and walking to her boombox. "Got any requests?"

"What do you have?" Kat asked.

"Uh, Linkin Park, Evanescence, Eminem, and a bunch of other things . . ."

"Wow, kind of like what I have, too," Kat said. She shrugged. "Put on what you want. I don't mind. I'm sure it's good."

"You don't mind country, do you?"

"As in?"

"Trace Adkins?"

"Are you kidding? I LOVE Trace Adkins!"

And so, Kelly put on a Trace Adkins CD while they talked.

-

The next morning, Kelly got up late. She checked the clock. 10:30? Wow . . . she thought, yawning. She stretched out, climbed out of bed and got dressed, then walked downstairs. Midnight was already waiting for her, downstairs. Together, the two made their way to the kitchen for breakfast. Upon arrival, they found Casper already making breakfast for the Trio.

"Hey," Kelly said, smiling. The Trio (mainly Stretch) just glared at her. Kelly looked around. "Hey, where's Dr. Harvey?"

"He went out on business," Casper said, laying down a couple plates for them and pulling out their chairs for them. They sat and thanked him.

"And where's Kat?" Kelly asked.

Casper paused a moment, looking back at them. He turned back to breakfast. "She should be coming any time now." He floated back, laying a couple scrambled eggs, sausage, and bacon on their plates.

"Thanks, Casper!" Kelly and Midnight said in unison. Casper chuckled.

"No problem," the friendly ghost replied, going back to breakfast.

A few minutes later, Kat walked in, her hair a mess and she was yawning. "G'mornin' . . ." she grumbled, sleepily. The Trio snickered.

"Nice hair, Kitty Kat," Stretch taunted. Kat gave him a sharp glare, making him snicker even more. She sat between Kelly and Midnight. The three humans faced the three ghosts; Kelly across from Stinkie, Kat across from Stretch, and Midnight across from Fatso.

"Hey, Bulbhead!" Fatso called, over his shoulder to Casper, "Gimme the salt, would ya?"

"Okay, Uncle Fatso--" Casper began, but Kelly stopped him.

"It's okay, Casper," she said, "Let me get it." She glanced around the room, until she spotted the salt-shaker right on the counter next to Casper. She pointed at it, making it hover three inches off the counter, then come slowly to the table, floating in midair. She made it set itself in front of Fatso. The entire Trio, including Casper, gaped at her. She looked at them, strangely. "What?"

"Uh . . ." Fatso began, "Thanks?"

"No problem," Kelly answered.

'They never thank me for anything,' Casper thought, 'Maybe she can change that . . .'

"Hey, Casper," Kat said, once the little ghost was done making breakfast, "Do you think you could help us with something?"

"Sure, Kat," Casper said, smiling. "When?"

"Well, in a little bit, we'll wait until everyone finishes breakfast," Kelly responded. Casper nodded, sitting down for a plate, himself.

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"Alright, Bulby-Boy," Stretch said, "Time to clean up!" The Trio pushed their plates towards him, but Kelly waved a finger. The plates levitated and went to the sink. She stood.

"I'll clean them for you, Casper," she said, "Right, Midnight?"

"Good luck," the cat-girl said, until Kelly kicked her. "MYOUCH!!!"

"You're gonna help, you lazy-ass," Kelly smirked. Midnight rolled her eyes, standing and going to the sink with Kelly. Together, they began to wash the dishes.

Stinkie floated over. "Hey, why're ya doin' Casper's chores fer 'im?" he snarled.

"Something wrong?" Kelly said, then squirted him with the hose. The water didn't seem to go through him all the way, and he gagged. However, some of the water did pass through. "Oh, look at that. Midnight, go clean it, would you?"

"I've already got my paws full, Kel," Midnight scowled.

Kelly rolled her eyes. "Fine." She waved a finger, and the water on the floor evaporated before everyone's eyes.

-

Casper met Kelly, Midnight and Kat in the room Kelly and Midnight had been when they came here. Kelly stood by the balcony, gazing down at the water again. She turned and faced Casper.

"Casper, I need your help," she said. She waved him over, and he floated over to her. Kelly turned to look down at the sea. "Is it possible for ghosts to go through water?"

"Well, yeah, I guess," Casper said, "I've never tried, before, though."

-

Meanwhile, the Trio waited, invisible by the door, listening in on their conversation. The others didn't detect their presence, so it was the perfect disguise.

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"You see, Kelly's family heirloom might be down there," Midnight said, then went into better detail of the amulet and its history, explaining it as Kelly had to Kat.

"What happens if you don't get it back?" Casper said.

"I'm not exactly sure," Kelly said, "But I was told to get it back by my ancestors."

"Wait, you contacted them?" Midnight said, shocked and horrified, "That's necromancy!"

"It's just a little necromancy," Kelly said, sheepishly, squeezing her thumb and forefinger together and squinting her eyes. "Anyway--"

"Wait, necromancy?" Kat said, "As in bringing the dead to life?"

"Not really," Kelly said, "I wouldn't call what I did necromancy. Maybe a 'spiritual wake-up party'. But, they said I had to get it back, otherwise the Cardone family will perish."

"How long do you have?" Casper asked.

"Three weeks." Midnight said.

"I mean, I'm not exactly sure, but I thought I saw it fly and land over here," Kelly said, "So . . . could you help me get it back, Casper?"

"I'll try," Casper said, the flew off the balcony, doing a nose-dive straight for the water. He sped up in the end and flew through, with a splash. However, seconds later, he popped up again, gasping for . . . air?

"What's wrong?" Kat called down.

"I forgot to take a breath," Casper said, floating a little above the water, taking a breath, and diving back down.

However, he came back up a little later, flying right back up to the balcony. "I can't see anything, it's too deep and it's too dark. I can't get past 20 feet down."

"That's okay, you tried," Kelly said, "I could try to SCUBA down . . . if I knew how."

"We don't have to worry about it right now, Kel," Midnight said. "We should try to think of other things to do for the time-being."

"Yeah, but I don't wanna be a procrastinator," Kelly said, rubbing her arm.

"A what?" Midnight asked, dumbly.

"I don't wanna do things until the last moment!" Kelly snapped at her. She turned to Casper. "Thanks for trying, Casper."

"Sorry I couldn't get it. I couldn't really see down there."

"That's okay, we'll try another time," Kelly said, smiling. Casper smiled, and he and Kat left the room. Midnight and Kelly looked over the edge at the water. Kelly looked at Midnight.

"Are you kidding?" Midnight exclaimed, "I'm a cat! I don't do water!"

"Scaredy cat . . ." Kelly taunted.

"So what if I am! I have a right to be!" Midnight said, before she, too, padded out of the room, leaving Kelly to her thoughts.

-

"Pfft! Wouldja lookit dat, boys," Stretch said, once Kelly had left the room.

"Ya hear dat?" Stinkie asked, "She lost 'er family heirloom thingamajig."

"Too bad fer 'er, I say," Stretch said, "Come on, boys." He floated through the wall, followed by Fatso, but Stinkie stayed behind. He gazed out at the ocean, just like Kelly had. He remembered. When he was alive, he loved the ocean. This might even have been his room. It had the perfect view of the wide, blue sea. Who knew, it could have been . . .

What could have been . . .

Or what could be . . .

Stinkie stared, lost in his thoughts. The door creaked open behind him, and Kelly came in the room. He was still invisible, so she didn't see him. She went back to the balcony, staring out a while, before grabbing something out of the air and looking at it. Stinkie glanced, invisibly, over her shoulder, curious as to what it might be.

A tiny portion of glowing air swirled in the fleshie's palm. Stinkie stared, his gold eyes fixed on the substance. He was so fascinated that he didn't realise he was slowly becoming visible, with an arm reaching out to the stuff. Kelly jumped, whirling and facing the ghost with wide, frightened eyes. The glowing air was gone, and her hands her busy steadying her on the balcony railing behind her.

"Stinkie?" She breathed a sigh of relief. "It's just you. Thank the Gods."

"Huh? Oh, heh heh, sorry," Stinkie said, scratching the back of his head, nervously. "So, what're you doing here?"

"Oh, just . . ." Kelly started, going back to looking out over the ocean, "Just looking at the sea."

"Uh, if ya don't mind me askin', what da hee-haw was dat?"

Kelly glanced at her hands. "Oh, just . . . nothing." She sighed. "It's nothin', really. I just used my magic to heat some air until it glowed."

"How can ya do dat wit'out usin' a fire?"

Kelly shrugged. She turned, smiling, before walking towards the door. "See ya later, Stinkie." she said, before exiting. Stinkie stared at the strange magical girl. Then he turned to stare over the ocean once more.

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Hey, thanks for reading, now please review! Maybe I'll start on the next chapter, or maybe I'll continue finishing the next chapter of Ghost Lover. I may, I may not. I need to get away from that stupid writer's block I suddenly got for that story. Please review!