A Regular Day in the Ghost Zone
Ghostwriter awoke promptly at seven AM, Ghost Zone time, every day. Ghosts didn't need to sleep and eat like humans did, but it was such a normal thing for most of them when they had lived they kept up the routine after their deaths.
Since most slept a night cycle, it gave nearly everyone several hours of peace and quiet.
He had just gotten his morning coffee prepared when there was a loud strumming of an electric guitar.
Guess that meant Ember was awake.
"For the love of the Observants, Ember! It's too early for this!" He heard one of his neighbors, Technus, shout.
"Everybody's waking up from the night cycle, old man!" Ember hollered back, her voice likely amplified by one of her microphones. "Get with the program!"
"Just because I have white hair does not mean I'm old! I'll show you a program!"
Ghostwriter merely sipped his coffee as another early morning fight began. Yesterday it had been Aragon and Walker, and the day before that Skulker could be heard wrangling a giant ghost spider. That was what happened when everybody in the realm was passionate about their Obsession. Really, it was more common to hear fights in the morning than not. If you didn't hear anything, you were either deaf, or a really heavy sleeper by Ghost Zone standards.
Without missing a beat, Ghostwriter flew to the center of his library, where his circle of computers hovered.
Now where was he when he retired to bed last night? Oh yes! Finishing the edits to one of Plasmius's commissions.
Youngblood entered Dora and Aragon's castle without bothering to knock. Manners were for boring grown-ups.
"Hey, do you guys want to play alien invaders?" Youngblood asked the royal siblings, who were in one of the castle's many sitting rooms. Today, his outfit resembled an alien from one of those space cowboy movies with the light swords. "I'll be the alien invader chasing you guys around with my UFO, and you guys get to be the people that run away and scream."
Dora shook her head. "Not today, Youngblood. I have too much on my itinerary to play. Maybe some other day." She gestured to her brother. "I'm sure Aragon can play with you, though."
Aragon snorted from his seat where he was sharpening his axe. "After last time I played with him? No way! Kid came at me with a chainsaw because his theme of the day was 'horror movies' whatever the heck those are. Besides, I'm meeting with Skulker about improving our hunting and trapping equipment." He shooed Youngblood away. "Make Klemper play with you. I'm sure he's free."
The young ghost made a face. "I don't want to play with Klemper. He's annoying and never plays the games right."
"Klemper annoys everyone," Aragon retorted without a care. "Now beat it."
"Aragon!" Dora reprimanded her brother sternly before addressing Youngblood softer. "We truly are sorry. Next time perhaps?"
"That's what you all say!" Youngblood snapped, flying out of the castle in a huff.
Youngblood returned to his craft for the day, a large UFO like in the cliché alien movies. His shapeshifting ghost friend was waiting for him in the cockpit.
"Any luck?" His companion inquired, taking the shape of an alien squid for the game.
"No, apparently they're too busy." Youngblood spat, sulking in his seat. "It sucks being one of the only ghosts my age around here."
His friend wrapped a tentacle around his shoulders. "Cheer up. I'm sure some kid will die a miserable enough death and come back as a ghost soon." He happened to look out the cockpit's window. "Hey, there's Johnny riding his motorcycle. He doesn't look busy, so maybe we could ask him to play."
Youngblood peeked out the window and saw the rider in question. His childish pout turned into a devious grin. "Eh, he's already on the move. Why don't we turn his ride into a chase?"
His companion gave a toothy grin in answer.
"Come on, Cujo." Danny tugged at Cujo's leash. "Just do it already before Undergrowth-!"
"Too late!" Undergrowth roared, rising from the ground and pointing at the halfa and his dog. "How dare you and your pet trespass my domain just so your dog can soil my… well, soil!"
Cujo made a face of relief, and Danny scooped up the puppy.
"And that's our cue to leave! Nice seeing you, Undergrowth!"
"Phan-toooom!"
Ghostwriter printed out the finalized draft of Plasmius's commission, satisfied with his work.
"Technus! You did not just jack my stereo!" He heard Ember shout out his window.
"But I did! I, Technus, master of all technology, will make you grasp how unbearable your racket truly is!" The technology ghost cackled.
"My music? Unbearable! A racket! That does it, come here!"
The writing ghost bound Vlad's piece inside a book cover, which magically formed the title of the work on the front.
"Youngblood, cut it out! I'm not playing this game!" Johnny yelled outside.
Ghostwriter poked his head out the open window to see what kind of game Johnny was talking about, and saw the unlucky biker riding past his territory, with a UFO driven by Youngblood in hot pursuit. The child kept firing ectoblasts from his ship that Johnny barely dodged.
"Then why are you running away?" Youngblood taunted childishly.
"Because you're shooting at me, that's why!"
"Hold still so my roots can throttle you and your stupid mutt, Phantom!" Undergrowth demanded from another direction.
Turning his head, Ghostwriter spotted Phantom flying past with that ghost dog of his in his arms. He had to duck back inside and close his window to avoid getting decked by Undergrowth's vines. Once he was sure the danger had passed, he cautiously opened his window again.
So much chaos, and it wasn't noon yet. Just another typical day in the Ghost Zone.