Chapter 22: Pale Rider
A short time earlier,
Norman sat alone in his room, perched cross legged on his bed, his eyes closed and his breathing slowed. Suddenly, Norman's concentration was broken as he heard something tap against his window, which the late afternoon sun was pouring through. Opening his eyes and blinking in confusion, Norman looked over at his window as a pebble clinked against the glass panes. Standing up, Norman walked over to the window and looked down, quickly spotting Mabel standing below, waving up at him, her backpack slung around her shoulders, wearing a bright orange sweater with black spots that made it look like the grinning face of a jack-o-lantern.
"Mabel?" Norman questioned as he opened his window, "What are you doing?"
"I wanted to see if you could hang out!" Mabel replied with a smile and a shrug.
"You know I can't," Norman answered with a sigh, "I got grounded for running away the other night."
"I mean, I know that's what you said, but like, are you, like, "grounded" grounded?" Mabel questioned hopefully.
"Yes, Mabel," Norman answered with a small smirk, "I'm "grounded" grounded."
"So you can't leave the house?" Mabel asked as she quirked an eyebrow at Norman.
"Pretty much," Norman confirmed with a nod.
"Well, I mean, your backyard is technically part of the house, right?" Mabel suggested with a smile.
"I guess," Norman answered as his thick brows furrowed in confusion.
"Great!" Mabel exclaimed as she began walking around Norman's house, "I'll meet you there!"
Norman blinked in surprise as he watched Mabel leave before a smile crossed his face.
"Oh, I like her," Elaine suddenly spoke up as Norman looked over his shoulder and spotted his grandmother floating into the room, "She's got spunk. Reminds me of myself when I was her age."
"Yeah, she's pretty nice," Norman agreed as his cheeks began to glow pink, "I think she…she likes me."
"You think, do you?" Elaine replied with a knowing chuckle, "Well then, you better go talk to her, Romeo."
Norman chuckled at this even as his face flushed red, and he made his way out of the room and through the house to the backyard, where Mabel was patiently waiting for him.
"There you are!" Mabel greeted happily as she ran over, took Norman's hand and dragged him over to a more secluded part of the backyard, "Come on, I want to show you something!"
Standing next to Mabel, Norman's brows furrowed in confusion as he watched Mabel set her backpack, which was decorated with numerous rainbow and star pins and stickers, on the ground and open it up. Reaching into it, she pulled out an old, thick book with a six-fingered hand printed on the cover.
"Isn't that the spellbook your brother uses?" Norman questioned in surprise.
"Yep!" Mabel confirmed as she cracked the book open and began rifling through it, "I borrowed it when he wasn't looking."
"So, you stole it?" Norman asked uncertainly, "Are you sure that's alright?"
"Pfft, it's fine," Mabel replied with a dismissive snort, "Besides, is it really Dipper's? It's not like he wrote it or anything."
"Why did you take it?" Norman pressed, looking down at the notes written in a hasty scrawl, and the sketched pictures drawn on the pages as Mabel flipped through them.
"I just thought we might want to have a look at it," Mabel answered with a shrug, "I mean, with the way Dipper talks about it, I figured there might be some stuff about being a medium in here too. Stuff that might be able to help you."
"Wow, thanks Mabel," Norman answered with a small smile, "I mean, you didn't have to do this."
"And you didn't have to be so nice to me about my parents," Mabel countered as she looked at Norman and gave him a heartfelt smile, "I mean, I know you don't actually think my parents are going to show up as ghosts, but I really appreciate you letting me talk to you about them. So I wanted to see if I could return the favor."
"Y-You don't really need to do that," Norman replied as he looked away from Mabel and scratched the back of his head, "I honestly liked getting the time to talk to you."
"Me too," Mabel agreed, looking back at the book as her cheeks turned pink.
Norman looked back at Mabel, who still had her eyes cast downwards, and tried to think of what to do next. As he did, Norman caught sight of movement out of the corner of his eye. Looking over, Norman spotted his grandmother waving to him from his bedroom window, motioning for him to kiss Mabel. His face flushing with embarrassment, Norman motioned for Elaine to go away before he turned his attention back to Mabel.
"Uh, Mabel?" Norman said, prompting the girl to look up at him as he struggled to think of what to say next, "I was just thinking-"
"Hey!" a voice suddenly shouted, "There you are!"
Snapping their heads around to look at the source of the voice, Mabel and Norman spotted Dipper as he came running into the backyard.
"I should have known you'd come here!" Dipper shouted as he ran up and ripped the book out of Mabel's hands, "Give me that!"
"Hey!" Mabel yelled angrily, glaring at her brother, "That's not yours you know! You can't just act like you own it!"
"I might as well, I'm the only one who's been interested in it!" Dipper snapped back as he held the book away from her protectively, "What the heck did you want with it anyway!?"
"I was trying to see if there was anything useful for Norman in there," Mabel explained as she planted her hands on her hips.
"Oh, so you put her up to this!" Dipper declared as he suddenly rounded on Norman.
"What?" Norman replied in confusion before he held his hands up in front of himself, "No, no, no, I didn't put her up to anything!"
"Leave him alone!" Mabel shouted as she stepped between her brother and Norman, "God, did you really have nothing better to do today than follow me around, looking for your stupid book!?"
"This book might have the information to save this crummy town!" Dipper shouted back as he waved the book in question at his sister, "But all you care about is making kissy faces at whatever boy will give you the time of day!"
"Hey!" Norman suddenly shouted, "That's not fair!"
Dipper seemed to be taken aback by the normally quiet and timid Norman's outburst and blinked in surprise as he looked at the slightly taller boy.
"Look, I know that there's a lot of crazy things going on right now, both with ghosts and….well other stuff," Norman continued, pausing slightly as he glanced awkwardly between the twins, "But you guys can't go taking it out on each other. Trust me, I know what it's like to not get along with your sibling, and you two always seemed pretty close. I'd hate to see that happen to you too."
The small speech seemed to mollify Mabel, and she gave Norman a warm smile. At the same time, Dipper glared at the other boy, but seemed to think better of saying anything more.
"Well, ain't that sweet?" a new voice said, causing all three children to spin around towards the source, letting out startled cries of surprise as they did. As they did, they found the specter of a long dead cowboy leaning against the side of the house, casually smoking a cigarette.
"Here I was wondern' if I was gonna have to break up a scuffle before I could snatch ya all proper like," the ghost said, blowing smoke out of his nose as he did, "But looks like ya mended yer fences all on yer lonesome."
"Wh-Who are you?" Norman demanded as Mabel stepped behind him while Dipper clutched the journal protectively to his chest, "What do you want?"
"The name's Walker," the ghost replied as he tossed his cigarette away and drew a revolver from his holster before pointing it at the children, "And what I want is you three."
"You made a mistake if-" Norman began to say before a loud bang sounded through the backyard and he collapsed to one knee, clutching the other in pain, a hole burnt into his pants.
"Norman!" Mabel exclaimed in terror as she kneeled down next to him.
"Oh, I know all about you, spirit-talker," Walker chided as a green wisp of smoke rose from the barrel of his pistol, "And ye'll keep that ghost tongue of yers between yer teeth iffin ya know what's good fer ya."
Norman said nothing in reply, but the glare he shot Walker spoke volumes. As Norman continued to glare at Walker, he noticed something moving just behind the ghost and his eyes widened in surprise. This was enough to tip off Walker and the ghost spun around and drew his other revolver, leveling it at Elaine as the specter of the old woman dove at him, letting out a warcry as she dove at Walker. Before she could reach him, however, Walker pulled the trigger and sent a spectral bullet slamming into Elaine's shoulder, causing her to cry out in pain as she veered to the side and crashed into the ground.
"Grandma!" Norman called in a panic, trying to move to her side but stopped as his injured knee gave out from under him.
"W-What do you want?" Mabel asked as she looked at Walker with wide, terrified eyes.
"What I want is the three of you," Walker answered as he looked between the trio of children, "Well, I wanted four of ya, but I suppose I'll just have ta round up yer friend later."
"You leave Neil alone!" Norman snarled through his pain, quickly deducing who Walker was talking about. Norman and the twins went stock still however as Walker leaned forward and put the barrel of his gun against the medium's forehead.
"Keep yer ghost tongue between yer teeth, boy, or I'll cut it out," Walker growled as he leaned in close enough that Norman could smell the rot on his breath.
Leaning back, he gestured at the children with his gun.
"Now get movin'," Walker stated, "Seems like I've got other errands ta run once I'm done with y'all."
Later,
Night had fallen over Blithe Hollow once more, and the darkness seemed to hang particularly thick over the Mystery Shack, which reflected the mood of those inside.
"I can't find the kids!" Stan shouted as he stumbled back into the main storefront, a wild look in his eye, "They…they're not anywhere!"
"Norman's not picking up his phone!" Courtney exclaimed as she lowered her own cellphone and pulled anxiously at her ponytail with her other hand, "Ember, please, do…do you know anything more!?"
"It don't work loike dat, Courtney," Ember groaned from where she sat in a nearby chair, her shoulders slumped and her head hanging near her knees, "Oi'm sorry, but Oi…Oi can't just call de visions up whenever Oi feel like, it don't work loike that."
"God, Tucker, do you have any idea what we're dealing with here?" Danny questioned as he stood near the center of the room and ran a hand through his hair as he looked over at his friend.
"That one is pretty easy," Tucker answered as he looked up from his phone as he leaned against the front counter, "The ghost we're dealing with is probably this guy named Josiah Walker. Back in the Wild West days, he was a sheriff who was forced to become a bounty hunter after he was kicked out of the job for being too authoritarian, and even summarily executing a few people."
"Sounds like a nice guy," Wendy commented as she ran her hands over her face, "Why do we keep having to deal with these nutjobs?"
"Probably because the ghosts of psychopaths make the best recruits if your evil plan is to terrorize a town," Mike mused as he stood near Courtney, but looked hesitant to directly comfort her.
"This one ended up in Blithe Hollow after he tracked a pair of escaped slaves and their child here," Tucker continued, his expression turning stern as he spoke, "Things got out of hand when he tried to arrest them and he ended up killing all three of them. Unfortunately for him, the citizens of Blithe Hollow didn't think kindly on slavery or some random guy coming into their town and shooting people, so they tried, convicted and hanged him."
"Are you, are you, coming to the tree?" Ember sang quietly as she lifted her head to look at the others, "They strung up a man, they say he murdered three."
"Lot of folks think that song was about the whole thing, yeah," Tucker concurred with a nod.
"Well, at least this one's not a cannibal," Danny mused, "Though I have a bad feeling that's going to make him worse. Do we have any idea where he might be?"
"The Hanging Tree," Neil suddenly spoke up as he stepped through the door, Mitch following along behind him, "He took Norman, Mabel and Dipper to the Hanging Tree."
"Neil?" Wendy questioned with a baffled expression, "How do you know that?"
"Mitch?" Courtney asked, looking equally confused, "Why are you here?"
"I'm pretty sure I just got in a fist fight with a ghost," Mitch replied, looking as though he couldn't even comprehend the words he was saying, his voice rising with every word, "And uh, Neil tells me that I need to ask you guys what the HELL IS GOING ON!?"
A shocked silence fell over the room as the group glanced at one another, trying to figure out how best to address the new situation before them.
"Well, long story short," Tucker spoke up, after clearing his throat, "There's some kind of evil necromancer or something raising ghosts to attack people as part of some plan to raise the spirit of the Blithe Hollow Witch and destroy the town. One of those ghosts is an Old West bounty hunter who's already kidnapped Norman and his friends Mabel and Dipper Pines and tried to kidnap your brother."
"Also, Danny is the Phantom," Courtney continued as she pointed at the young man in question, prompting Mitch to whip his head around to look at her, "My brother and uncle can totally talk to ghosts, and Ember here is a banshee."
"And I've got a magic sword," Wendy spoke up as she held up the sheathed weapon for Mitch to see.
"You have a magic sword?" Courtney echoed in surprise.
"Yep!" Wendy replied with a cheerful grin.
"Jeez, does Tucker have some kind of magic power I don't know about either?" Courtney asked as she threw up her hands in exasperation.
"Nah, I'm just the info guy," Tucker answered with a shake of his head, "I did taze a ghost one time though."
"I think I need to sit down," Mitch said, running a hand through his hair as he visibly tried to process what he was being told.
"Welcome to de party, pal," Ember replied with a snort as she stood up and patted Mitch on the shoulder, prompting him to sit in her vacated chair.
"We need to get back to the crisis at hand," Danny said as he looked back at Neil, who was still lingering near the door, "You said the ghost took Norman and the twins to the Hanging Tree?"
"God, they're right outside my house," Mike fretted as he began moving towards the door, prompting most of the others to do the same, "Come on, we have to go save them!"
"Wait!" Neil exclaimed, holding his hands up as he stepped in front of Mike, causing everyone to freeze in place, "You can't all go!"
"Why the hell not!?" Stan shouted as he glared at Neil.
"Because the ghost said that if anyone but Danny goes, he'll kill Norman, Mabel and Dipper!" Neil answered fearfully, looking like he was barely keeping his composure.
Silence fell over the room at the news before slowly all eyes fell on Danny, who was looking at the floor with a pensive expression.
"Look, kid, I know you and I don't talk much but…" Stan began to say.
"I'll get Dipper and Mabel back," Danny said firmly as he looked over at Stan, before turning his gaze to Courtney, who was anxiously covering her mouth with her hands, "Norman too."
"You've got this, Danny," Wendy said as she leaned forward and placed a hand on Danny's shoulder.
"No doubt, dude," Tucker added with a confident nod.
"Knock him dead, Danny boy," Ember added with a smirk, "Well, dead again, Oi suppose."
"You realize this is a trap, correct?" Alistair questioned from where he floated next to Danny.
"Obviously," Danny answered with a smirk as he looked up at his ancestor, "But now we have the advantage, because they don't know that we know it's a trap."
Alistair blinked in confusion at this before shaking his head with a tired sigh.
"Who…who are you talking to?" Mitch asked, watching Danny speak to the apparent empty air by his head.
"Oh uh, the ghost of my ancestor, Alistair," Danny explained as he scratched the back of his head awkwardly, "He's kind of the source of my ghost powers."
Mitch stared at Danny for a moment, blinking in confusion and saying nothing. Slowly, he turned and looked at Courtney for confirmation.
"I mean, you've seen all the ghost stuff on the news and I've personally seen him, like, transform," Courtney replied, shrugging as she answered Mitch's unspoken question, "What he's saying is legit."
"I don't…I don't know if I can process all of this," Mitch commented wearily as he buried his head in his hands.
"I know it's a lot to take in, Mitch," Danny agreed as he placed his hands on his hips and sighed, "I'm sure the others will help you get a handle on this situation, but right now, I have to go get these kids back."
As Danny made his way over to the door, Mitch watched him with a pensive expression on his face.
"Why you?" Mitch asked, causing Danny to pause at the door, "Why does it have to be you?"
"Because it had to be someone," Danny responded with a shrug as he looked over his shoulder at Mitch, "And the right person in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world."
With that, Danny exited the Mystery Shack, leaving Mitch and their friends to think over what he had said.
Meanwhile,
The pale, waxing moon hung over Blithe Hollow, shining its light across the whole town, including the lonely hill upon which the Hanging Tree sat. Beneath its dark, bare branches, Walker stood with Norman and the twins, all three of whom were blindfolded, gagged, and had their wrists and ankles bound. As the three children stood whimpering to themselves, Walker loomed behind them, quietly whistling the Hanging Tree song while fashioning a noose out of a length of rope.
"You know that tune, spirit-talker?" Walker asked as he leaned down next to Norman, who shied away from the ghost as the boy felt Walker's breath on his ear, "It's been haunting me for centuries. I just can't seem to get it out of my head. Maybe if you sang it with your ghost tongue, it'd finally leave me be."
"Is all that really necessary?" Gideon asked from where he stood next to the Hanging Tree itself, watching Walker with an uncomfortable expression on his face.
"Last I checked, you called me back to the world of the living," Walker replied as he looked over at Gideon, "If you don't like the way I handle yer business, why'd you whistle me up at all?"
"In my young friend's defense," the creeping double voice said from behind the trunk of the Hanging Tree, "I am the one who suggested recruiting you."
"I should have figured," Walker replied as he finished the noose, "Still tryin' ta wipe this town off the map, huh?"
"It's only a matter of time," the voice replied, a smile evident in its tone.
"Do you think the Phantom will show though?" Gideon asked, uncertainly.
"He'll show," Walker confirmed as he tossed the noose over a thick branch hanging above, "Them hero types always do."
"But what if he doesn't?" Gideon pushed as he strummed his fingers nervously on the cover of his book, "Are we really….are we really going to hang a couple of kids?"
"Threats no good if you don't follow up on it," Walker replied as he took the now dangling noose and fitted it around Mabel's neck, causing the girl to whimper as she felt the rope tighten around her throat, "Ye turnin' yella on me, wizard?"
"No!" Gideon spat back a bit too quickly as the ghost turned its gaze towards him, "I just…I'm not sure this is the right way to go about it is all."
"This was yer plan, last I reckon," Walker growled as he turned fully to face Gideon, squaring his shoulders with the young man.
"I told you to bring the kids here!" Gideon argued nervously, "I-I didn't say hang them! And you didn't even manage to get all of them!"
"You questionin' my methods now, boy!?" Walker demanded as he began marching towards Gideon, prompting the young man to take a hesitant step back.
"Now, now," the haunting, double layered voice chided as it wafted in from behind the trunk of the Hanging Tree, its tone laced with a hidden edge, "Let's not fight. We're all on the same side here, right?"
The question caused Walker to stop in his tracks as he looked towards the tree, a visibly nervous expression spreading across his desiccated features.
"Right," Walker replied as he nodded towards the tree and stepped away from it, "I'll get back to it then."
"You do that," the voice agreed as Walker turned his attention back to the captive children.
As he watched Walker start fiddling with the nooses he had tied, Gideon let out the breath he had been holding and leaned against the tree.
"As for you," the voice snarled in Gideon's ear, causing the boy to tense again, "I thought you understood what needed to be done to accomplish our goals."
"I-I did," Gideon replied, "I do!"
"Then you better learn to accept what needs to happen," the voice growled, "Or else, it might be you who ends up hanging from these branches."
Gideon said nothing as he slowly lifted his gaze upwards and stared at the nooses swinging from the Hanging Tree.
A/N: Another quick chapter for this story, but obviously it's building up to some big stuff next time. Hope you all enjoyed it! As usual, feedback and critiques are always welcome, so please review! Later!