24
October 1, 2016
The Haunted
Somewhere around fall is when it all happened. The toons and I were hanging out in the kitchen drinking hot chocolate. The weather was starting to become chilly.
"Man, was school cold today!" I exclaimed taking a large gulp out of my mug. The warmth coming from the drink made my body muscles relax.
"You're telling me." Commented Caramel "I thought english class would never end." Caramel shivered "It was so cold in there my tail was starting to form icicles."
"Tell me about it" Sonny agreed. "One of those kids put something in my lunch."
"What was it?" Sofia prompted.
"Well, I don't remember much after eating that sandwich. I only remember waking up in the nurse's office." Sonny shook his head shuddering from the thought.
Sonic who had been listening to the whole conversation chuckled softly. "You're talking about that again?" Sonic chuckled again. "Some of the students put cocoa puffs in your ham sandwich." He stopped snickering at the memory. "You got so hyper you accidentally bonked your head near the table." Sonic was now laughing hard. "You should've seen it Rudster. They literally had to drag Sonny to the nurse's office by his feet." I sighed secretly amused. A thought then dawned on me.
"The staff didn't see this did they?!" I asked horrified.
"What? No the kids dragged him out before any adult could see the incident." Sonic replied.
I sighed with relief. It was then I recognized Rocko reading the newspaper and mumbling loudly to himself.
"Hey Rock." I said noisily. "Whatcha reading about?"
Rocko didn't seem to hear me.
"Rocko?" I repeated loudly.
Rocko looked up. "Hm? What Rudster?"
"I said "What are you reading about?"
"Something about an old house in the everglades. There's been a rumor that once an elderly woman named Rose Maria who lived there all her life until one day she vanished."
"How'd that happen?"
"No one really knows. Some say it was natural causes or health problems. Either way the article says strange occurrences have been reported ever since Ms. Maria's death."
"The house?"
"Yep."
"It sounds cool," Sonic replied.
"It sounds scary and dangerous," retorted Courage shuddering from the article and not the cold.
"I'm with Courage," Scooby-doo padded to the little dog's side. "I wouldn't go in a haunted house for anything!"
Caramel was licking the dripping icicles off his tail. "What are ya talking about Scoob?"
"Yeah Scoob," Yugi said. "You go into haunted houses all the time!"
Scooby scowled at the boy. "Did I ask for your input anime?" He didn't wait for an answer. "No! So, mind your business."
Sofia glowered at the great dane. "Leave him alone Scooby! He was just telling the truth."
"And you should remember that Yugi is one of us," I growled. "Don't have me remind you again."
Scooby growled softly but remained quiet.
"Wow!" Rocko exclaimed suddenly.
"W-what?!" Sonic stammered sitting straight up. "What is it?"
"It says that whoever finds the source of these occurrences will be rewarded a million dollars!"
"Really?" Now I was interested.
The following day the toons and I used the computer to reach the everglades to find the giant house. It was an overcast day and we arrived in the woods. It was a little chilly, so I wore a jacket as we walked down the path. Martha and Charlie sniffed at a few pinecones and occasionally relieved themselves on a couple of trees. Three blue birds soared above us scouting ahead. Another blue bird-this one adult-called out to them.
"Any luck boys?" he asked.
One bird swooped down to him. "Not yet uncle Toucan. Puey and Susey are gonna try splitting up."
"Oh boy," Toucan Sam sighed. "Quisp can you go with Puey? I'll go with Susey."
The alien was about to leave but paused, "Uh, quick question which one is Puey? No offense but your nephews look alike."
Toucan Sam moaned a little annoyed at the statement but pointed in Puey's direction. Once Quisp took off and Toucan went after the other one the third nephew slowed his flight path staggering a little. Yugi noticed the young bird tiring and padded next to him. "You okay Louis? You look tired," Yugi said.
"Oh, I'm okay," Louis said, "I've just been flying for twenty minutes my wings are starting to get tired. Mind if I rest on your head for a while?"
"Sure, why not?" Yugi shrugged and Louis settled himself on the boy's punk rock styled hair.
By the time we reached the abandoned manor night had settled. The air was even cooler now as we made our way past the gate. I could see the flying toons circling the mansion waiting for us. The front lawn which was as big as a park was littered with dead leaves and-to our discomfort-tombstones were planted across the area, giving the place a sort of ominous feel. Not bothering to read the names on the stones we quickly rushed by.
"Hey Yugi," Louis bended his head upside down to meet the anime eye to eye. "You're not getting scared already…are you?"
Yugi snorted at the young bird's taunting." Of course not! I've seen scarier back in my time."
When we made it up the door nobody was willing to knock on it. Almost fifteen minutes went by, and I was starting to become irate. "For the love of Pete! Will one of y'all just knock on the freaking door?!"
A robot dog was shoved towards it and gulped nervously. Hiding a whimper Tinkerhound reached up and rapped on the side three times. The door creaked open slowly, but no one was on the other side strangely. I poked my head in scanning the large empty room.
"Hello?" I called out.
The echo resonated in the air causing the mansion to vibrate. Daffy walked and nudged my chair out of the way.
"Welp this is boring!" Daffy went in and rubbed dust off a piece of furniture with a finger.
The other toons and me, went in as well glad to be out of the cold but then disappointed when it was just as nippy as it was outside. It was pitch black and I couldn't see anything.
"Yeesh! Can somebody please turn on the lights?!" I complained.
"I can't see neither!" Daffy snapped.
"I'm looking for it!" Scooby growled. "If everyone would just shut up and let me concentrate."
We grew quiet after that though a few characters muttered bad-temperedly. A switch could be heard with a loud clank and the room soon lit up. The living room was covered in cobwebs and dust as large hungry spiders captured prey into the sinister traps. I heard a few toons gulp nervously. Turning to Rocko I asked, "Now what is it again we're looking for?"
The wallaby barely heard me. Instead, he was gazing at some of the weird paintings hung up on the walls.
"Rocko?" I snapped making the wallaby pay attention.
"What?" Rocko said distracted.
"What are we here for?" I repeated.
"Here for?" Rocko stared dumbly.
Suppressing a huff of frustration, I rolled into a dark hallway to explore things on my own. Footsteps were heard from behind and Tinkerhound scampered next to me. Feeling better now with an acquaintance we headed into the dark hallway the floor creaking from our footsteps. The hall was eerily quiet, and doors were left open, but it was too dark to tell what was inside. When we got to the end the last door creaked open catching us off guard. Glancing we shared a look before heading in that direction. I was heading in when I paused.
"Ya know what why don't you go in first TH?"
I nudged the robot dog forward with my wheel. Tinkerhound flashed me an annoyed look but treaded on, nonetheless. I peered from a safe distance waiting to see what happened. A sudden scream made me jump in my chair. Without thinking I rushed to find Tinkerhound on the floor whimpering.
"Tink what happened?!" I cried out.
Tink lifted his head slowly and murmured "Boo,"
I frowned feeling concern fade away and anger take place. "What's wrong with you?! Was that really necessary?!"
Picking himself up the Webkinz wouldn't stop laughing. "You asked for it."
The guest room was dusty, and a strange smell wafted in the air. The bed had looked like no one had made it in over a million years. Mom would have a field day if she saw this. The closet was empty nothing in there but a piece of paper. Tinkerhound picked it up and showed me it. Strange words were written on it and I began to read it out loud.
"'Orrako donnda piqii tonta'"?
I paused.
"What does it mean?" TH asked.
"How should I know?" I snapped. "I read'em I don't translate them."
Just then we picked up a scuffling in the closet that we hadn't heard before. Moving cautiously, I opened the door with my mouth but jumped back when Tinkerhound started whimpering loudly. On the floorboard a jeweled necklace of some sort laid there covered in dust. Confused on why Tinkerhound was making such a fuss I looked up and let out a whimper.
Meanwhile in the upstairs hallway Rocko and Daffy were rummaging around through old furniture. Rocko reached out trying to grab an object that was on top of a ledge too high for the wallaby to reach. Frowning Rocko used some cardboard boxes to help build up some leverage. Climbing up Rocko was able to reach the item which was a music box in red and blue colors. Daffy was picking up and staring at an old picture of an elderly woman with a scowled expression on her face. Strangely at the bottom of the frame words were in scripted.
"'No one must know'?" Daffy read aloud.
Before the duck could comprehend what, this meant a tumbling of boxes falling interrupted his thoughts. Turning Daffy saw Rocko's sneaker sticking out of the pile of boxes. Laughing out loud Rocko glared at the mallard.
"It's not funny!" Rocko shrieked.
"No, you're right," Daffy paused wiping away a tear. "It's hilarious!"
The duck was literally on the floor in hysteria while Rocko pushed the boxes off grumbling under his breath. Once Daffy recovered from his laugh attack, he noticed the wallaby holding a music box.
"Say where'd you get that?" he pointed at the device.
"Up there on the ledge,"
"I wonder what kind of music it plays."
The two characters glanced at each other mischievously.
"Only one way to find out," Rocko took hold of the handle and spun it.
A soothing and yet haunting melody began to play in the background. Rocko took his hand off the handle, but the box continued playing as if by itself. Suddenly musical instruments started floating up out of nowhere and started playing the same haunting tune. Daffy and Rocko stood still as statues freaked out by all this phenomenon. A tuba floated next to them and blared a gust of cold air in their faces snapping them out of it. Unable to withstand it any longer the toons ran down the hall screaming. Just as they were about to make it back to the living room a cascade of living furniture rose up and blocked their path. Panicking the characters turned around and tried to run back where they had come from only to be blocked by the haunted instruments. Completely surrounded the floating items streamed into the two terrified characters. Once they departed all that was left behind was a black feather and an orange sneaker.
In the dining room Yugi and Sonny were observing a long table with millions of chairs.
"Man, whoever used live here they sure knew how to dine!" Sonny commented.
"I'll say," Yugi agreed.
"So, what'd you guys find?" a high voice said from behind.
The two characters almost leaped out of their skins but relaxed when they realized it was SpongeBob coming up from behind. The sponge was accompanied with Sofia and Pikachu.
"Whoa SB don't scare me like that again!" Yugi panted.
"Sorry Yuge," SB shrugged. "But anyway, did you find anything?"
"Not much," Yugi looked around. "All that's around here are just an old painting near the fireplace."
"A creepy old painting you mean," Sonny replied shuddering. "That old man in it gives me the shivers."
Yugi glanced up and couldn't help but agree with him. Just then they heard screams that sounded familiar somehow…
Sofia gasped. "That sounds like Daffy and Rocko!"
"Come on!" Without waiting for the others Yugi ran in the direction of where the voices were coming from. By then the others had caught up and stopped at the sight before them. Standing in front of them was a band of ghosts playing musical instruments in harmony. The scene was too much for Sonny who fainted in fright while the others just stared in awe. The haunted band stopped playing once they noticed the newcomers.
Before anyone could speak or do anything Pikachu approached the phantoms and gibbered a greeting. One of the ghosts a young girl put down her flute and floated towards the Pokemon.
"Hi there," she said softly. "What's your name?"
"His name is Pikachu," Sofia said.
The young princess walked up to the young ghost as well. "I'm Sofia and that's Yugi, SpongeBob and the bird on the floor there is Sonny." She giggled.
"Nice to meet you all," said the girl ghost. "My name is Carla."
Around the time the ghost introduced herself Sonny sat back up rubbing his head.
"Wha…?" the bird slurred. "What happened?"
"Sonny," came Yugi's voice. "This is Carla."
The girl ghost hovered in front of the bird waving shyly. Sonny waved back inwardly creeped out.
"Don't worry," Sofia said as if reading the bird's thoughts. "She's a friendly ghost."
"Yeah, I'm not like those other ghosts." The spirit helped Sonny up.
"What are you ghosts doing anyway?" SB asked.
"We're putting on a concert," Carla said happily. "We've haven't had guests in twenty years since then."
"Twenty years?" Yugi's eyes rounded.
"But wait a minute," Sofia interrupted. "We heard two of our friends screaming. Do you know where they are?"
Carla's face suddenly lit up. "Oh! You must mean the tall black duck and the strange little beaver thing!"
"I'm a wallaby!" shouted a voice in the back.
The haunted orchestra scooted back to reveal Rocko and Daffy making their way towards the others.
"How'd you wind up with these ghosts?" Yugi asked.
"You have Rocko here," Daffy gave the wallaby a dirty scowl. "To thank for that."
Rocko was on the defensive. "Hey for the record we both agreed to play the musical box."
"What box?" Yugi asked.
"This box," The wallaby held out the silver item.
Yugi took the box and observed it.
"Where'd you guys find this?"
"In the hallway," Daffy said. "There's a lot of stuff up there."
"He's found the box!" Carla exclaimed.
Yugi looked at the ghost confused. Why did she sound so worried?
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"You fools!" she exclaimed. "How could you unleash this on us?!"
The toons were starting to get nervous and backed a few inches away from the girl ghost.
"I thought you were nice!" Sonny whimpered.
"I was until you released the creature!" Carla roared.
"What creature?" SB said.
But the girl ghost did not answer but stared at them coldly. The other ghosts had grown eerily quiet and were surrounding the toons. Pikachu tried to fling them away with thunderbolt, but the electric current went through them like mist.
"Uh Yugi?" Sofia trembled from behind. "What do we do? These ghosts look like they're not going to let us leave."
Yugi didn't answer and when Sonny turned his head to see what the problem was, he saw the teen's pyramid necklace started to glow. Eyes widened knowing where this was going the bird started nudging everyone away from the teen.
"Sonny what are you-?" Sofia started.
"Yu-gi-oh!" exclaimed a loud voice as Yugi was engulfed in a bright yellow light.
"What's happening to him?!" asked a panicking Rocko.
Sonny glanced back at the wallaby.
"Dark Yugi's taking over," he said grimly.
"Dark who?" Sofia asked.
The princess peeked over Sonny's shoulder as the yellow light died out. There stood Yugi but something was off. He glanced back and the toons noticed his eyes looked different.
"Did he just get taller?" Daffy cocked his head confused.
Dark Yugi spoke and the others were startled to hear a deep voice that hadn't been there before.
"No, I've always been this tall. Now stay back Sonny make sure no one gets hurt."
Sonny nodded but SB pointed an accusing finger at the impostor.
"Who are you and what have you done with the real Yugi?!"
Dark Yugi ignored the sponge and faced the mad ghosts. They circled around the other Yugi.
"You are going to pay!" Carla snarled.
"Heh!" Dark Yugi chuckled, "I don't think so."
The anime character reached out a hand and bright highlights flashed the whole scenery. The ghosts screeched and writhed as if in pain which was weird considering ghosts were beings that shouldn't feel any discomfort. An old man ghost pointed at Dark Yugi.
"He's not like those others!" the ghost shrieked and turned accusingly at the other characters. "This is your upbringing!"
"What?!" Daffy shrieked.
The other ghosts ignored the characters and scattered away into the darkness. Carla lingered and snarled at Sonny.
"This isn't over wretched bird!"
The girl ghost zapped into a painting on the wall and was gone. The coast being clear Sonny stepped aside. Almost immediately Daffy shoved roughly past him and squared up to this other Yugi.
"Alright "Yugi" if that's who you really are. Start talking! What was that-that thing you did to those ghosts and why does your voice sound older all of a sudden?!"
Dark Yugi however wasn't listening to Daffy's ranting. He was gazing around the ceiling almost as if in a trance. SB watched feeling a little creeped out.
"What do you think he's looking for?" SB whispered to Sofia.
"I don't know SB," Sofia admitted. "But if I had to guess it doesn't seem like he's like looking for something. More like he's trying to sense something."
Pikachu gibbered a question, but it was cut off by Daffy's caterwauling.
"HELLO? ANYONE IN THERE?"
The duck waved a hand in front of Dark Yugi's face. As if a switch had been turned on Dark Yugi snapped out of it but instead of answering Daffy he addressed the others.
"Find the others and solve the puzzle. Quickly!"
Rocko was about to ask what he was talking about, but a bright light shone from the necklace and engulfed the anime. The original Yugi was back and seemed relieved but weary.
"So uh," Yugi stammered. "Where to next?"
Outside the mansion some of the toons had decided to not come in and just hang around outside the courtyard or roof. Quisp and Sonic were sitting on the roof gazing at the gray landscape. A baby kangaroo joey hopped around occasionally slipping on some roof tiles making them fall to the ground.
"Geez," Quisp said, "Do you think this place has seen happier times? Like before it became...haunted?"
"Mm probably," the hedgehog shrugged. "But it must've been very boring if there was nothing paranormal about it," he smirked, "Eh? Get it?"
Quisp just gave a dry look in return. Joey scratched the back of his head not understanding the pun.
"That's a lame joke man!" came Gumball's voice from below.
Sonic peered over glaring.
"You're a lame joke man!"
"What?!" Gumball shouted.
Sonic laid back against the remaining tiles not bothering to repeat himself.
"So how do you think things are going on in there? Ya, think they found the answer to that riddle or puzzle or whatever?"
A faint snore told the alien that the hedgehog had fallen asleep. Joey hopped over and tugged the hedgehog's ear.
"Okay," he said miffed. "I'll just talk to the baby kangaroo instead."
Joey looked up from his tugging as if realizing Quisp was referring to him. But something else had caught the kangaroo's attention. Perched on a satellite dish was an owl so white that it almost seemed transparent. Reaching out a wing the owl beckoned the joey almost like an invitation. Joey hopped over to the satellite waving at the mysterious creature who stared down at him with piercing pale blue eyes. The owl hunched its feathers and launched for the joey talons outstretched. Joey was lifted into the air and flown into the foggy swamp. The beating of the owl's wings stirred Martha and Charlie. The dogs had been resting near the gates.
"Huh? You hear that?" Martha mumbled.
"Hear what?" Charlie murmured sleepily.
Back in the room Tinkerhound and I couldn't believe our eyes. A piano had materialized in front of us, and it was unsettling to discover it could talk!
"Hello there children!" it said in an eerily cheerful voice. "Thank you ever so much to awakening me. You don't know how long I've been dormant. It's so boring!"
We blinked as the instrument blathered on. I had no idea what it was talking about, but we were about to get our answer.
"What's your name?" I asked the piano.
"Why honey," it cooed. "It's Rosa Maria."
I gasped loudly and I glanced at Tinkerhound with equal surprise and confusion.
"But wait," TH whimpered. "The newspaper where we read about you said you were an old woman."
Rosa sighed and gazed into the distance wistfully.
"Ah yes," she breathed. "It's been so long since I've been human."
"What happened to you?" I asked. "How did you ah perish?"
"Die" seemed too blunt and straightforward.
Rosa didn't seem to hear me as she played a hauntingly relaxing tune. I yawned and out the corner of my eye I saw Tinkerhound drooping his head like he was trying to stay awake. To be honest I myself felt like I was starting to drift off.
"Yes," Rosa murmured. "Just let yourselves drift off and soon you can join the family."
The last part aroused me. "'Join the family?'"
"Why yes. Just look at the lovely portraits."
Paintings materialized in the air and despite my fatigue I gulped in horror. These "portraits" had frames of people who looked as if they had been trying to run away from something.
"Do you like it?" Rosa half-smiled. "You and your pet will fit in wonderfully. I've never collected a quad before but...my door is always open."
Behind us the door was creaking to close. Fighting off the soothing music I turned around and nudged Tinkerhound forward urgently with my front wheels. Sensing our apprehension, the door picked up the pace in its closing.
"Hurry!" I rasped.
Knowing only one of us was getting out of here I kicked the webkinz with my wheel and he went skidding in the corridor. I watched the door close...
Whap!
A hand shot out and grabbed the handlebar. I was pulled into the corridor as the door slammed shut.
"No-o-o!" wailed Rosa.
I looked at Yugi.
"Thanks man."
"Don't thank me just yet. We need to-hey wait who was that in there?"
"It was Rosa Maria!" TH announced. "She's become a piano luring sicko! She was going to lull us to sleep and put us in portraits!"
The robot dog took a breath after the announcement. Tinkerhound took off his hat fanning himself.
"Portraits?" Yugi echoed. "What does he mean by that?"
The door banged and splintered. Rosa was fighting to get out and if she did...
I shuddered and glanced around sharply for anything heavy enough to barricade the door. In the corner there was a shelf sturdy enough to buy us some.
"Help me with this shelf!" I ordered the two characters. "Then we can figure out this darn mystery and go home!"
"And have ramen noodles!" Tinkerhound added.
I sighed. "Yes, and that."
In the brief time we were talking a wide crack split down the door. We run directly to the shelf pushing it with all our might. The shelf moved slowly and even though there were three of us one of us was smaller than the other two.
"Urrgh! This is going to take forever!" TH moaned. "We'll never get it to the door in time!"
"Unless we can help," said a voice.
Charizard and Toothless were staring at us struggling.
"Huh that's weird," Yugi said, "I thought they couldn't talk."
"They can't," continued the voice, "I did. I escorted them here for help."
A light brown webkinz lion padded out from behind the dragons.
"Caramel!" Tinkerhound exclaimed. "What are you doing up here?"
"I heard you guys pushing something upstairs. So, I decided to get some heavyweight toons to help you with it," Caramel explained. "I mean I am just one small lion and hey why are you guys trying to move that-?"
A massive bash sounded, and we all ducked underneath the shelf trying to remain. "Remind to take you to parties," Yugi whispered. "You'd be able to spark conversation."
Caramel smiled oblivious to the sarcasm.
The piano floated out in the hallway rumbling.
"Oh chiiiilllldrrreen!" Rosa sang. "You don't have to hide from me. I just wanted to thank you personally for freeing me."
I thought back to the strange inscription I had just read out loud. Oh no. I thought. What did we just unleash?
Rosa wasn't finished though.
"Also, who were the kind fellows that played the music box awakening my powers as well?"
Huh? Music box? What's she talking abou-?
We yelped as our shelter was smashed away and Rosa leered over us.
"No matter you all will fit in just fine."
Toothless and Charizard snarled up at her fire at the ready.
"Rudi," Yugi said, "What does she mean by awakening?"
"I uh found this inscription in the room Tinkerhound and I were just in. I made the stupid mistake of reading it aloud."
Excepting an outburst, I underestimated Yugi whose eyes softened with sympathy but worry. I picked up on it. The dragons launched fireballs and slashed at the haunted piano. They weren't getting much damage done and it was only a matter of seconds before the webkinzs and I would have to pitch in and add our attacks as well. But there was one more thing I needed to ask.
"What do you think Rosa meant about this 'magical box' she was blathering about?"
The anime gasped as if he had just finished a puzzle in his head. The toon reached into his jacket and pulled out a silver music box. He showed it to me.
"This is what she meant! This is the music box that unlocked Rosa's powers! That's probably why Carla and the other ghosts were mad at us!"
I blinked at the box and back at Yugi.
"Sounds like you got some 'splaing' to do too but first-"
Smoke blasted in front of us, and I realized our discussion had come to a halt. The dragons had collapsed the last of their strength ebbing away. Tinkerhound and Caramel barked and roared at the instrument, but they might as well have been throwing paper airplanes at her. I sent a purple energy ball right in between the piano's eyes. Rosa screeched in fury temporarily blinded. Temporarily. Grabbing Toothless by the prosthetic tailfin with my teeth and TH and Caramel grabbing Charizard by the wings we hurried down the stairs.
In the dining room the ghosts played their instruments, but the tune had an anxious strum to it. Carla floated in frantic circles mumbling to herself.
"Ooh this is bad. .Very.Baaaaad."
"Yes!" snapped a clarinet playing ghost. "We heard you the first 70th time!"
Carla turned on him.
"And I'll keep on repeating it until those foolish mortals do something about it!"
"Aw why can't we let them become like us?" whined a trombone playing ghost. "When I become a ghost here, I was ecstatic! I don't have to worry about personal hygiene or homework anymore!"
Carla rolled her eyes. "Focus Gene! We need to find the flute in order for Rosa Maria to be sealed again!"
"Yes, but how?" Gene quipped.
A distant screech ripped through the air and a white owl flew into view. It had something in its talons. When it passed through the 'object' smacked against the window being of flesh and bone.
"Alp!" a random ghost greeted the transparent owl. "You brought us a meal...again."
Joey peeled his face off the window and pushed it open sliding inside and plopping on the dusty ground. The ghosts surrounded the joey as he held up something in the air jabbering excitedly.
"He's got the flute!" Carla gasped.
Alp nodded circling above and Joey acted out how the owl had told him that the mansion was in trouble and that he needed help getting the flute which was stuck in a mud puddle. Alp had explained this to the joey as they were flying. Joey retrieved the flute by using his tail to fish it out while Alp kept him aloft.
"Wow," Gene murmured. "Uh anyone know what he's miming?"
Joey paused sighing and hopped away.
"Hey where's he going?" a female ghost said.
We had met up with the others and explained what we knew.
"She's a piano?" Rocko snickered.
Daffy didn't even bother to hold in his laughter. I knew it sounded silly considering we were looking for a ghost lady not a ghost lady turned piano.
"Anyway, I think that's why Carla was upset about the music box," Yugi added to Daffy and Rocko, "You guys released her powers when you played that-that thing."
SB yelped fearfully and knocked it out of Yugi's hands.
"That thing is evil!" SpongeBob exclaimed. "It's e-e-e-e-vil!"
Sonny side eyed the sponge and murmured to me and Yugi.
"I think someone's been in the dark too long."
I murmured agreement and looked at the box. "Do you think if we destroy it that will put Rosa back to sleep?"
"Of course not!"
Two transparent shapes whirled above our heads. One was a girl, and another was an owl!
"Demon bird!" I screamed.
I backtracked and tried to hide unsuccessfully under Toothless's wing. The girl ghost looked at me funny.
"What's the matter with her?" she said.
Yugi glanced back laughing.
"Rudi's afraid of owls. Your friend's kind don't quite leave a good impression on her."
I was about to deny this and come up with some convincing lie when suddenly long tendrils burst from the wood panels and roped around us.
"Aah!" SB screamed. "What's happening?!"
The wicked sharp tendrils lifted us in the air but for some strange reason they didn't come near the ghost girl and owl. The vines roped around our mouths gagging us. One vine reached for Yugi's millennium puzzle and snatched it off!
"No!" Yugi's cry was muffled.
A rumbling voice bellowed through.
"I will not have magic interfere with my music!"
Cold air whirled around area and the furniture went flying in the room. Rosa floated ominously in the center but whisps of fog curled out of the piano and took shape. At what we saw we would've gasped if the vines weren't keeping our mouths shut. It was Rosa Maria but in human form! A middle-aged woman in a gorgeous dress but the glowing white eyes made her appearance less appealing. Pointing at me and Daffy the vines moved us in her direction and unraveled our mouths.
"Why are you bringing just me and not Rocko?!" Daffy demanded as soon as he could speak.
That turned out to be a mistake as the ghost snapped her fingers and the vines wrapped around the duck's bill again. Secretly I was kind of glad his restraints were back on. I swear sometimes that duck didn't know when to shut up! Rosa caught me smirking at Daffy and I stopped all shenanigans aside.
"Since you two freed not just me but my abilities as well you will be the first ones to join my portrait collection."
The spirit woman disintegrated back in the instrument and the piano hummed to life. The haunting tune played in the air, and I fought to stay awake, but this was like being in a cold classroom but worse! The characters struggled too but those efforts started to grow weak when the music increased in volume. Forced to concentrate on the tune we slumped limply in the vines' grip...until a cheery whistling was heard! I thought I had just hallucinated it, but the whistling picked up volume as well and I was able to wake up suddenly. Rosa rematerialized scowling searching for the source of the tune. Through the open doorway two characters came in. Woody was playing a silver flute with ease and Joey hopped and danced to the beat.
"They found the flute!" the ghost girl yelped.
Rosa writhed as pools of light popped out all over her. She raised a hand and one of the vines tripped Woody. The flute out of his hands and nobody to stop her we were about to become dead bait...again. The ghost owl swooped down and snatched up the flute. Rosa screeched and ordered the vines to attack the bird, but the effort proved inefficient since the owl was also dead.
"Bring it to me Alp!" the ghost girl commanded.
Alp flew over to her but when she tried to hold it the flute went right through her hand.
"Whoops." she said sheepishly, "Keep forgetting about that part."
If my hand worked, I would've smacked it against my forehead. The flute shattered into pieces upon hitting the floor. A mournful howl erupted from the ghost woman's lungs. A flash of light burst out of her and the vines holding us withered out existence. We fell to the ground in a pile panting not to mention we also landed on Woody and Joey.
"Wow that was some blast!" came Quisp's voice.
I looked ahead to see Quisp and Spyro pad in followed by the other toons that hung outside.
"What happened in here?!" Spyro exclaimed. The dragon took a step closer to the now smashed piano. "Uh was that always there?"
Knowing this was going to be a lengthy explanation the witnessing party got up and debriefed on the discovery of Rosa Maria and the strange activities around the mansion.
"There's still one thing I don't understand," Woody said.
"What's that?" I asked.
"What's up with the other ghosts?" the woodpecker gestured to the other ghosts floating and watching us. "What do they have anything to do with this Maria lady?"
"Nothing really," the ghost girl said. "The cemetery where we used to rest was shut down and well, we found this place and moved in. Of course, we didn't know about Rosa Maria til a month after we moved in."
"Did she make you her..." Rocko gulped shuddering, "...ghost slaves Carla?"
The ghosts burst into laughter for a long time. We tried to laugh along but it was awkward and phony and before I knew it, we burst out of the mansion not wanting to witness anymore paranormal activities.
"Bye!" Carla waved at the entrance. "Maybe we'll see each other again soon! Maybe we'll come visit you next time!"
The very thought sent me rolling further ahead of the toons.
The End!