A/N: Okay, yes, I KNOW I have other stuff to update, but remember when I promised another Halloween fic? One of better quality? Well, here it is! 8D This time it stars Banjo and Kazooie, and I wrote it during the nights, in the dark, with nothing but candle lights, and while listening to the "Nightmare Before Christmas" Soundtrack. When you're in THAT much of an atmosphere, you tend to right good horror, so I have high hopes for this one. I just hope you enjoy it! Here's the first chapter!
A Monster Mansion Halloween: Chapter 1: Trapped
"Hurry, Banjo, I can see the next house!"
"I'm coming, Tooty! Slow down!"
"You sure she hasn't had any candy, Banjo? Cause she's sure full of sugar!"
"Hush, Kazooie!"
Halloween night. The streets were dark and misty with only a few streetlights to brighten up the area. But it's not like it helped.
Tooty skipped happily down the sidewalk in her cute little princess costume, unaffected by the creepy atmosphere as she swung her bag half-full of candy at her side. Her older brother, however, shivered in the chilly air, hugging his furry arms for warmth. His partner, sitting comfortably in her backpack, looked at the bear curiously.
"You ain't scared, are you, Banjo?"
Banjo jumped slightly. "N-no, that's crazy! I'm not scared!"
The breegul looked at him skeptically. "You sure? Cause shivering ain't a sign of bravery."
"Oh, shush."
The three covered a few blocks, but without quite realizing it. That is, until Kazooie looked around.
"Er... Banjo, do you have any idea where we are?"
The bear's stroll halted suddenly and fearfully, as his aquatic blue eyes scanned the area. "Uh... no..." he said timidly.
The street seemed to have grown darker, thought the same amount of lights lined up the street. Green mist outlined the round, silvery moon, and twisted, black trees hung over the sidewalk as if trying to reach down and snatch any unwary passersby. A slightly pungent smell wafted on the wind's breath.
Tooty looked back and stared at her frozen brother. "Banjo? What is it?"
"Err... D-don't you think we should turn back...?" he asked hopefully.
"Aw, but Banjo!" Tooty whined. "My bag's almost full!"
"Tooty, we really should..."
"Pul-leeeeeeeeeeeze?" She gave him the 'bambi-eyes' look.
Banjo tried to ignore the look, but he failed. His shoulders slumped as he sighed in defeat. "Oh, alright. One more block, and we're going home, understand?"
"Yay!" Tooty continued her happy stroll.
Kazooie chuckled under her breath. "It never fails; you always give in to that look!"
"Shut up," Banjo growled, regaining his composure.
A few minutes later, they reached the end of the lane, where a large gate and many thorn bushes sealed off the estate from the outside world.
"Wow," Kazooie commented. "Someone doesn't like visitors!"
"Well, no one's home, let's go now, Tooty!" Banjo quickly urged, lightly tugging on her arm.
"But Banjo!" she whined again, pulling away. "This is the last house, you promised!"
Banjo sighed in frustration, approaching the gate intercom slowly...
...while meanwhile, a certain someone watched the scene unfold in a pool of green slime, gleefully cackling.
"Yes, that's it!" she hissed in delight. "A little closer if you will..."
Unaware that they were being watched, Banjo was about to press a button on the intercom pad, when suddenly, the gate slowly creaked open. Banjo's eyes slightly widened in terror.
"Well, maybe I was wrong," Kazooie reconsidered.
Banjo looked inside past the gates to glance fearfully at a huge, gloomy mansion surrounded by a yard that hadn't been tended for years, it seemed.
"Um... Tooty, y-you wait here. Me and Kazooie are gonna check the place out."
It seemed like an odd request, but Tooty slowly nodded. As Banjo stepped inside the gates cautiously, Kazooie gave him a puzzled look.
"Hey, what was that all about?"
"Kazooie, look at the mansion and tell me if I'm crazy."
The crimson bird looked up at it, and in realization she gasped, "Mad Monster Mansion!"
"Exactly." Banjo sighed, wishing he was just crazy.
"It looks almost just like it!"
"TOO much like it. We can't risk Tooty's safety, but it won't hurt to check around to see if it's safe."
The person watching cackled in amusement. "That's what you think, foolish bear!" She grew excited as the duo slowly approached the porch. "Yes, yes, that's it, you two fools! Closer, closer, you're almost there!"
The old, wooden porch creaked and sighed under Banjo's padded feet. Slowly, he approached the heavy door, stepping on the "UN-welcome" mat. He soon noticed that his backpack was shaking.
"Kazooie? You okay?"
"I'm f-fine! Just keep going!" replied a shaky voice.
The figure grinned manically. "Yes, yes!"
Banjo slowly reached for the scratched-up doorknob...
"NOW!"
A loud clang through the yard, causing the two to jump in surprise. They turned sharply to find the large gates were sealed shut tightly. And on them was the painfully familiar face of...
"Grunty!" the two exclaimed.
The cackle of hers they had come to recognize echoed as soon as the gates' clanging sound faded.
"You buffoons!" her scratchy voice cackled. "You've fallen directly into my trap, and now you must endure a night of terror inside my mansion! HA!"
Kazooie grew angry. "You crooked hag! Come and fight us face-to-face, coward!"
But this only proved to add onto Gruntilda's amusement, as her maniacal laughter slowly faded, and they greeted with the howling wind.
Banjo sank in despair, sitting on the front porch and holding his head in withdrawn yet complete frustration.
Kazooie growled, then sighed. "Whadda we do now?"
"I don't know, Kazooie." The bear massaged his forehead tiredly. "We got all night here..."
"There's no way of getting out..."
"...And Gruntilda is watching our every move." Banjo finished, staring out longingly at the gate.
"So..." Kazooie looked in the opposite direction, up at the mansion. "Wanna go inside? I mean, we already know the place, so there won't be any surprises..."
Banjo looked up at Kazooie skeptically. "Kazooie, going inside is exactly what Gruntilda wants us to do!" He looked forward again. "We'll stay right here on this porch all night if we have to."
It seemed decisive enough, but suddenly, a thundering boom echoed up in the sky, and a drop of moisture plinked on Banjo's black leathery nose.
"Oh, no, you gotta be kidding me!"
As a sudden burst of rain fell down upon the two, Kazooie dove into the safety of her backpack.
"I don't think it's kidding ya, Banjo!" she cried out above the rushing rain. "Come on, let's get inside!"
Drenched in rain water, Banjo quickly pushed the front door open, and the two entered the mansion...
A/N: Ooh, this'll be fun! Mad Monster Mansion's my favorite level in the first game! And, yes, this was written last year, so it's not my BEST work, but it's certainly better than "Night in the Graveyard," THAT'S for sure. Well, please review!