On a peaceful, serene lake, surrounded by lush forests, a large castle sat on a tall island in the very center. The castle was incredibly old, and yet surprisingly well maintained. While no one had lived in the castle for quite some time, at the moment it was abuzz with activity. Men were pouring into and out of the building, carrying tech, generators, and all other sorts of gear. Most of the activity was situated outside the castle, just by the main gates. There, several makeup artists were there fixing up the makeup of an actress that was filming a scene for an upcoming movie: Lindsey Fair, Keith's mother.
"You were fantastic in that last take, Lindsey," the director told her, his tone indicating that he genuinely meant that. "I do want to give it one more take though, so take it slow and let those tears go."
"Got it," Lindsey replied.
"And Roger," the Director continued, turning to the lead actor. "This time, try and show a little more feeling here."
As the director gave Roger his instructions, Lindsey turned towards the edge of the set, giving a small wave. Just on the edge, gathered in a small group, was Keith, Kat, Helen, and all of the Mobians in their possy. Ella was with them as well, though she was dressed in a more historical outfit with her hair in braids. Amy took notice, giving a smile.
"Hey Ella, you look great."
"Gracias Amy. The set required some extras, but nobody was interested. When I volunteered, they jumped at the chance."
"Guess it helps when you know the lead Actress by name," Helen remarked.
"It really does."
"Quiet on the set!" the director called out, urging all side conversations to cease. "Places everyone! And… Action!"
Lindsey's character rushed over to Roger's character, her face a mask of anguish and heartbreak. She reached out for him in desperation.
"But Bret, what will I do without you?" She cried, her voice having a slight accent unlike her usual tone."You can't leave me now!"
Roger's character, Bret apparently, turned and began walking away.
"I need you, Bret!" Lindsey sobbed, tears beginning to fall as she reached out for him. "Bret! Please! Don't go!"
"Bret" ignored her cries and kept walking. Lindsey then began crying in earnest, reaching for Ella and burying her face in the maid's shoulder. The director smiled, happy with the take.
"And cut! Print it!"
"She sure sounds like she's into that Bret guy," Amy commented.
"Yeah, my mom is an amazing actress," Keith agreed. "Honestly, it's been awhile since I've been able to watch her work. Usually I just watch her films when they come out on DVD."
"Well, now you get the chance," Tails told him.
"Indeed," Lindsey spoke up as she approached the group. "I'm glad I managed to invite you out here to watch."
"Thanks again, mom," Keith replied as the two hugged.
"Oh of course dear. I feel I owed it to you after missing the party last time. Besides, I've just been dying to meet your new friends. I've heard through the tabloids that those amazing anthropomorphic animals were staying in my house. I will admit, I was a bit miffed you never told me, but considering all the good they've done for both Station Square and for you, I simply cannot stay mad forever."
"Sorry about that. I just know you have a thing against animals and-"
"Keith, it's quite alright. If you want to make it up to me, you can introduce me to your friends."
"Ok then. Well, here's Amy and Tails."
"It's an honor to meet you, Ma'am," Tails greeted.
"You're very talented," Amy commended.
"Why thank you. I must say you are absolutely adorable."
"If you want adorable, then let me introduce you to Cream, her Chao friend Cheese, and their friend Helen."
"Hey, where are they anyway?" Tails asked.
"What the-" the director let out. "Stop the footage!"
Everyone turned towards the director, who was going over the shot footage. At the moment, they were looking over Lindsey's scene, focusing in on the background.
"There!" He pointed at the screen, some bushes, where the top of Cream's ears and the handles of Helen's wheelchair could be seen. Keith gasped, turning towards the area to see that Helen, Cream and Cheese were happily making flower crowns.
"Like I said, adorable," Keith commented. "Just not always mindful."
"Don't worry about the shot, sir," the cameraman insisted. "We can edit it in post."
"Eh… alright, print it. Let's move to the next scene!"
Keith breathed a sigh of relief as he took another look around. He noticed that three notable figures were missing, much to his chagrin.
"Hey, where are Sonic, Knuckles, and Kat?"
"Sonic said something about looking around, then Kat decided to follow along," Tails recalled. "I think Knuckles tagged along to keep them out of trouble."
"Good luck with that."
…
Meanwhile, Kat, Sonic, and Knuckles were wandering through one of the sections of the castle. Kat had her arms over her head, cradling the back of her skull.
"As cool as it is to be in an old castle, it sucks that we can't explore everywhere because of the film."
"Maybe you can't," Sonic replied. "But I can look all over this place before you could even say action."
"Yeah right, and have the sound crew grumbling at us because of sonic booms screwing up their shoot," Knuckles pointed out.
"Ok, fair enough."
"Come on, let's go this way," Kat suggested.
…
Back outside, the film crew got ready for the next scene, with Helen, Cream, and Cheese present this time as not to get in the shot.
"Sorry we almost ruined the shot," Helen apologized. "I thought we were safe,"
"It's alright," Ella reassured. "Just stay close and keep quiet."
"Alright!" the director called out. "Let's start the rehearsal!"
Lindsey started running forward as the camera followed her.
"Please, Bret, don't leave me! Come back! What will I do? Where shall I go?"
As the camera followed her movements, he ended up hitting a pedestal with a strange hourglass talisman resting on it. On the top of the talisman was the carving of a crescent moon.
"What the heck is this thing?" He wondered, "Well, whatever it is, it's blocking the shot."
The cameraman took hold of the hourglass.
…
Back with the three explorers, they were suddenly beset with a wave of unease and wrongness. They all stopped in their tracks as strange laughter rang in their ears.
"What was that?" Kat asked.
"There's something… eerie about this place," Knuckles noted. "It doesn't feel right…"
"You're telling me..." Sonic shuddered.
…
"On second thought," the cameraman decided. "I'll just move the camera."
He released the talisman, moving to adjust the camera.
…
The sensation ended, the three explorers left shaking in their sneakers.
"Okay, that was beyond weird," Kat declared.
"You think that was part of the movie?" Knuckles questioned.
"No…" Sonic replied. "I think that was all too real…"
…
The cameras were rolling once again, Lindsey going through her lines. This time where the camera panned to follow her, the talisman ended up blocking the shot. The cameraman sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"This is beyond annoying… guess I'm gonna have to move it after all."
He pulled the talisman from the pedestal, setting it down beside it in the grass.
…
Back inside, the dark sensation returned, seemingly emanating from a darkened hallway in the castle.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Sonic commented.
…
Later that night, the film crew was inside the castle now. Lindsey was walking through the darkened halls, weilding a candelabra for light. As she walked down the dark, the sound designer continued fiddling with his equipment, looking confused.
"Sir, I'm picking up some sort of feedback."
The director let out an annoyed grunt.
"Cut!" he shouted.
…
The three explorers were still looking around, carefully avoiding where the shooting was taking place. They were also trying to find the source of the strange sensations that had been plaguing them.
"None of this makes any sense," Kat insisted. "I mean, sure I've always been one for the unexplained, but it's always been myths and stories. This whole thing is just… spooky."
"I don't get it either," Sonic admitted, looking out a window at the now empty courtyard. "But I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched."
"Oh good," Knuckles remarked. "Here I thought it was just me."
…
Back at the shoot, Keith was just chatting with his mom with Ella by his side. Over by the sound equipment, the sound designer and the director were looking everything over.
"How are we looking?" the director asked.
"Everything looks good on my end," the sound designer answered. "Let's try it again."
"Alright Lindsey, action!"
They began running the scene again, the sound designer growing more and more annoyed. He turned to the director, shaking his head.
"Ugh… Cut!" The director called out before flopping into his chair and rubbing his face. "This is why I hate filming on location."
"Let's wrap it up for the night, sir," the sound designer suggested. "I'll see if I can find the source of the feedback."
"Sounds like a plan," the director agreed.
…
Later that night, Lindsey had finally managed to get out of her costume. She ran a brush through her hair, untangling it from being in hair extensions all day. As she continued her nightly care routine, she received a knock on the door.
"It's open!" she called out.
The door opened as Keith entered, smiling at his mom.
"Just came to say gnight," he told her.
Lindsey smiled, getting up from her vanity and approaching him, pulling him into a hug.
"G'night my darling. I'm so glad you came. I've missed my little boy so much."
"Missed you too, Mom. see you in the morning."
They break up the hug and Keith ducks out of the room.
…
Meanwhile, the sound guy decided to investigate the halls they were filming in earlier to find out the source of the noise.
"I have no idea what that noise was, and I can't sleep until I find it."
…
Keith meanwhile returned to his room and only found Tails sitting on his bed and reading a book.
"Where's everybody else?" Keith asked.
"The girls are all sleeping in Ella's room tonight," Tails explained. "As for Sonic, Knuckles, and Kat, I think they're still exploring."
"Still?"
"I guess none of them can stay still for every long."
"I guess not. I just hope they don't get into any trouble."
"What kind of trouble can they get into?" Tails questioned.
…
Outside the castle, the three of them had vacated the castle and were now wandering around the courtyard.
"So,what do you think the deal is with this place?" Kat questioned.
"I'm not sure," Knuckles admitted. "I can't help but feel there's something unnatural here."
"Hey guys!" Sonic called out from across the courtyard. "Come check this out!"
The two ran over to Sonic, who had found the hourglass talisman on the ground. He picked it up, flipping it in his hand.
"Whatcha think? It looks kinda spooky."
…
Back inside the castle, the sound guy finally managed to find the source of the feedback. It seemed to be originating from behind a wall decorated with runes and carvings. As he carefully moved his microphone closer to the wall, the feedback began to become clearer, revealing to be some sort of child-like laughter.
"There it is! Sounds like some kids playing…"
As the sound guy continued listening, he was unaware of four, wild eyed apparitions manifesting behind him.. Just as he turned around, the being vanished from sight.
…
Up in her room, Lindsey was in bed, reading a book. The laughter from the strange spectres reached her ears, making her perk up.
"Keith?" she called out.
The laughter continued and her face became stern. Sliding a bookmark into her book, she got out of bed.
"Keith, are your little friends still up? It's getting late and we've all got to be up early tomorrow."
The laughter died altogether and Lindsey nodded.
"That's what I thought."
She turned back to bed, getting herself comfortable. She picked up her book, opening it once more. However, when she did, a large spirit came jumping right out of it, jagged black teeth and blood red eyes staring at her.
"Why hello there!" it greeted menacingly.
Lindsey screamed.
…
Outside the castle, Sonic, Knuckles, and Kat looked over the talisman, Sonic flipping it in his hand.
"There's a moon on this side," he pointed out before turning it over, "and a sun on this one."
"It has to be symbolic or something," Kat rationalized. "It is shaped like an hourglass."
Sonic looked back to the castle and saw several lights moving about.
"Wonder what's going on over there," Sonic commented.
Sonic then took off for the castle, leaving Knuckles and Kat standing in the dust.
"I hate it when he does that," Knuckles commented.
…
The entire castle was abuzz with activity, the entire crew scouring the castle. Keith and everyone else were also a part of the hunt, trying to find Lindsey, who had mysteriously vanished.
"Mom!" Keith shouted. "Mom, where are you?!"
Just then, Sonic came running up next to him.
"Keith, what's going on?" Sonic asked.
"My mom just disappeared from her room! I heard her scream but by the time I got there, she was just gone!"
"Freaky. Don't worry Keith, I'll help find her."
"Thanks Sonic."
Sonic sped off to start searching.
…
In another part of the castle, Ella, Helen, Cream, Cheese, and Amy were working together to look.
"Mrs. Kent!" Ella called out. "Are you down here?!"
"Mrs. Kent!" helen shouted. "Hello?!"
"Keith's Mom We're all worried about you!" Cream declared, Cheese chirping in agreement.
As they walked, they ended up going right past the wall the sound designer had discovered. The second they walked past it, that same, eerie laughter began filling the hall.
"Did you hear that?" Amy let out.
"Yeah..." Helen let out, pulling Cream into her lap as Ella put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "What is that?"
"It sounds like it's coming from behind this wall," Ella noted, knocking on it.
"Think it could be some sort of secret door?" Amy asked. "Old castles always have secret doors and stuff."
"If it is, then Mrs Kent could be trapped!" Helen realized.
"Amy, go run and get help," Ella insisted. "Get Sonic and Knuckles. Perhaps the two of them could tear down this door."
"Right," Amy agreed, preparing to run off.
She made it a grand total of three steps before a ghostly arm shot out of the wall. She stopped short, recoiling in fear as more arms began to come out. The laughter was getting louder and the arms were beginning to surround the group. In terror, they all just screamed.
…
Meanwhile, Kat and Knuckles regrouped with Sonic, who quickly got them up to speed on what had happened.
"Oh God..." Kat let out. "Keith's got to be worried sick."
"Meaning we gotta find her, fast," Sonic told them.
Suddenly, the screams of the girls reached their ears, all of them perking.
"Someone's in trouble!" Knuckles shouted.
"Right, hold on!" Sonic insisted.
He stuffed the talisman in Kat's messenger bag, grabbing her wrist and Knuckles' before speeding off as fast as he could.
…
Keith and Tails came running in, having heard the screams as well. As they rounded the corner, they were met with a strange sight. Helen's wheelchair was on the ground, tipped over and empty. Cream, Cheese, and Helen were nowhere to be seen, and Amy was struggling to hold onto Ella's arm. Said was was currently sticking out of the glyphed wall, several ghostly appendages trying to pull it in.
"We have to save Ella!" Amy screamed, straining to keep her grip.
Keith and Tails both took hold of Ella's hand, trying in vain to pull. Unfortunately, their combined strength was still not enough. They lost their grip and Ella disappeared into the wall. The laughter died down, the arms disappeared, and everything became silent. About that time, Sonic, Knuckles, and Kat came running in.
"Amy!" Sonic shouted. "What's going on? We heard screaming."
"We were looking for Keith's mom and all of a sudden, we were attacked by ghosts!"
"I knew there was something off about this place!" Knuckles realized. "This castle's haunted!"
"Well, at least that explains all those horrible feelings we were getting earlier," Kat rationalized. "Still, what would ghosts want with Keith's mom or the others? Are they mad about the movie?"
Just then, several small ghosts began poking their heads through the wall, laughing at the group. Amy screamed and recoiled, grabbing Sonic. Knuckles snarled, then punched the wall as hard as he could. The stone shattered, revealing a swirling, purple portal.
"What the-?!"
Just then, several ghostly hands shot out of the portal, aiming for the group. Knuckles and Sonic both moved in between the hands and their companions, attempting to fight them off. However, each punch and kick just phased right through them, much to the heroes' chagrin.
"We can't land a hit!" Knuckles snapped.
"How are we supposed to fight these things?!" Sonic shouted.
Just then, Tails cried out in horror as several ghost hands grabbed him and began pulling him into the portal. Sonic quickly ran to try and save his friend, but the fox disappeared into the swirling portal.
"TAILS!" Everyone shouted.
"Bring him back!" Sonic screamed.
The hands shot out again, with Sonic furiously rolling into a spin dash to try and take them out. However, they merely grabbed him instead. Knuckles saw this and quickly tried to intervene, but ended up getting caught as well.
"Knuckles!" Kat shouted.
"Sonic!" Keith and Amy cried out.
"Kat!" Sonic called out. "The talisman! It's got to be the key!"
Kat blinked, then quickly dug into her bag, pulling out the talisman. The spirits began trying to come at the remaining three, then Kat held out the talisman, the sun side pointed at them. They instantly recoiled, retreating back into the wall. Suddenly, the broken pieces of the wall started closing back around the portal. Unfortunately, it was closing around Sonic and Knuckles.
"NO!" Kat shrieked. "Bring them back!"
The wall sealed, the laughter died, and everything fell quiet. Kat dropped the talisman, pounding on the wall in desperation. She tried pulling on some of the glyphs, but nothing happened. In desperation, she turned to Amy.
"Your hammer! Use your hammer! We can get them out! We can-!"
"It won't work," Amy told her. "I've seen stuff like this before. That portal's sealed now…"
"No..." Kat let out, dropping to her knees and crying. "Knuckles..."
Keith knelt down and wrapped an arm around her.
"We'll get him back," He reassured. "We'll get them all back."
She grabbed him, holding him tightly as she cried.
…
The next day, the film crew was talking with the police outside the gates of the castle, explaining everything that happened.
"We searched for her all night, but Lindsey just disappeared," the director explained. "There's no trace of her..."
"Then it's happened again..." the officer let out with a mournful sigh.
"Again?" The director repeated. "This has happened before?"
The officer nodded.
…
Meanwhile, Kat, Keith, and Amy were investigating the place where the talisman had been discovered.
"This is the place," Kat announced. "It was just sitting in the grass."
"Someone clearly moved it," Amy pointed out, gesturing to a circle indentation in the pedestal. "And look, there's some sort of plague here."
"Appear with the moon, disappear with the sun," Keith read off. "What does that mean?"
"Well, if it's connected to this talisman, it might have something to do with the engravings," Kat suggested, pulling the talisman from her bag again. "See? Moon on one side, sun on another."
Keith took note of the markings before feeling something near the pedestal. He knelt down and placed his hand at the base of it.
"I think… I think there's a breeze coming from the base of this thing."
Amy and Kat bent down, placing their hands as well. When they too felt the breeze, they both got up.
"Maybe if we push altogether-" Keith began.
"Stand back!" Amy shouted, summoning her hammer.
She then struck the base of the pedestal, knocking it aside and revealing a hidden staircase.
"Or… that also works."
"Whatever's down there has to be related to the ghosts," Kat insisted, gripping the talisman tightly. "Let's go!"
Amy and Kat made a beeline for the stairs, though Keith was more than a little hesitant.
"Hang on guys, maybe we should tell the police. Whatever's down there could be dangerous."
"Keith, we've faced down robots on a weekly basis and you're afraid of ghosts?" Amy questioned. "Besides, Sonic and the others are counting on us to save them. We don't have time to waste."
"She's right," Kat agreed. "I'm not leaving Knuckles in that ghost portal. I'm going."
With that, the two girls began marching down the steps. Keith took a breath and quickly followed after them.
…
Meanwhile, Sonic finally started waking up. He looked around and saw the others that were taken, all unconscious and flowing in a strange, swirling purple dimension. The piercing laughter that had been following the ghosts was echoing all around as dozens of the small spectres began showing themselves.
"So… you're what all the fuss is about…" Sonic noted. "Why are you doing this?"
The spectres just kept laughing, then a massive spectre began to form. Its laughter was much deeper in tone, a bit slower, and all the other ghosts seemed to fly around it. Sonic was left speechless at the sight.
…
"I'm thinking of living on my own someday by renting a cheap apartment in Station Square," Amy said as the trio descended the long, spiraling staircase. "I don't mind if it's small, but I want to open a diner called Amy's Kitchen."
"Sounds pretty neat," Keith commented. "Maybe you can use some of those recipes Ella gave you."
"Guys, we're here," Kat announced.
"Alright, let's proceed with caution," Keith advised.
Just then, four ghosts suddenly appeared, laughing maniacally and charged at the group. Remembering how the ghosts had been spooked by the talisman before, Kat held it out again. The second they saw the sun engraving, they recoiled and took off. The three were surprised by how easily the ghosts were fended off.
"That's the second time those things were scared off," Keith noted. "Just what is this thing?"
"With any luck, the key to getting Sonic and everyone else back," Amy declared.
Snatching the talisman from Kat, she rushed towards the door the ghosts had appeared threw open the door and looked around, only seeing an empty room.
"Where'd the ghosts go?" Amy asked.
"No idea," Kat replied. "Maybe they jumped through a wall and escaped."
"Down there!" Keith pointed out, seeing the ghosts fly through another door down a flight of stairs.
The three chased after, coming right up to the door and walking inside. The room was completely empty, save for glyph covered walls and a small cubby centered on the back wall.
"Anybody here?" Amy asked, still gripping the talisman.
"Knuckles?" Kat called out. "Sonic! Tails!"
"I think the ghosts just lead us to a dead end," Keith surmised.
"But Sonic and the others have to be around here somewhere," Amy insisted.
Kat took a deep breath, then shouted as loud as she could.
"GUYS! CAN YOU HEAR US?!"
"Kat! Keith! Amy! Up here!"
The three looked up and saw Sonic looking down at them from some kind of strange portal on the ceiling.
"Sonic!" Amy let out.
"Don't worry! We're gonna get you out!" Keith shouted. "Are the others with you?!"
"They are! Listen, I think I know how to stop this, so listen closely!" For a moment, he fell silent, though his mouth kept moving. Then, he started speaking again, his words not quite lining up with his mouth. "The talisman needs to go in that hole in the wall!"
Amy looked over and saw the hole he was talking about. She approached, seeing a circular indentation just like in the pedestal.
"Is this what you mean?!"
Sonic began frantically shaking his head.
"That's the place! Just stick it in moon side up and we'll be free!"
"I'm on it!"
Amy started running over to the hole, but Keith stopped her.
"Hang on, something's not right about this."
"Yeah," Kat agreed. "Sonic's talking weird, and he wants the moon side up? I distinctly remember the plague saying 'Appears with the Moon, Disappears with the Sun'."
"Yeah!" Amy nodded. "When I put it moon side up, Sonic will appear! It makes sense!"
She pulled free of Keith's grip, much to his horror.
"Amy, wait-!"
Before Keith could finish, Amy placed the talisman down with the moon side up. Suddenly, blue energy started emitting from the talisman, creating a massive flash of light. As the light died down, the massive ghost Sonic encountered was floating in the center of the room, laughing deeply as several of the tiny ghosts flitted around him.
"What the… where did you come from?" Amy let out.
"Thank you Amy," the ghost replied in Sonic's voice.
"Hey! That was just you pretending to be Sonic?! You're gonna pay for that!"
"Run!" Sonic shouted, "That thing's too powerful! Just take the talisman and run!"
"Not a chance!" Amy replied, drawing her hammer. "This ghoul's gonna pay for tricking me!
Amy leapt towards the ghost and tried swinging her hammer at him, only for him to disappear, causing Amy to stumble onto the ground. Just then, the ghost appeared behind her and grabbed her.
"Amy!" Sonic shouted, banging his fists on the invisible barrier keeping him trapped.
"Let me go!" Amy cried, struggling in the ghost's grip.
As she struggled to get free, one of the smaller ghosts flew up to her and phased into her, causing her to pass out.
"Uh oh..." Kat let out. "Amy's just been possessed!"
As the large ghost set Amy on the ground, her eyes flashed open, revealing the wild, red eyes of the ghosts. Her smile wasn't her own either, her teeth jagged and black like the ghosts.
"In the name of King Boom Boo, you will DIE!"
She then started swinging her hammer at Keith and Kat, prompting them to scatter.
"Great! Just great!" Kat shouted. "We discover that the supernatural does exist on earth, and now it's trying to kill us!"
The two of them quickly found themselves trapped against the wall, Amy, King Boom Boo, and the other ghosts closing in.
"Amy, please don't!" Keith pleaded.
Amy raised her hammer to deliver another blow, but stopped before she could. Her smile was replaced with a nervous look, her eyes locked onto the talisman in the wall. Keith looked back at the talisman, his eyes going wide.
"Of course," Keith realized. "Appeared with the moon… disappear with the sun!"
Keith then grabbed the talisman and quickly flipped it around. King Boom Boo and his ghosts tried racing towards him to stop him, but Keith put the talisman back just in time, with the sun side up. A bright light began emanating from the sun carving while on the ceiling, a sun shaped portal opened up, depositing all of the captives onto the ground. While Knuckles made sure everyone landed safely, Sonic made a beeline for Amy. He gave her a hard kick to the back, dislodging the ghost and freeing her. She faltered, dropping her hammer as she fainted into his arms.
"Sorry Amy, I hope I didn't hurt you too bad."
Her eyes began flickering open, going wide when she saw Sonic.
"Sonic!" She let out, hugging him. "I'm so glad you're ok!"
"Not now, Amy! We still have to stop the ghost attack!"
She nodded, letting him go and reclaiming her hammer. Kat slid into a fighting stance, Keith doing the same, along with Sonic. The ghosts all charged at them, and they all moved to attack. Surprisingly, their hits actually caused damage this time, the ghosts becoming at least partially tangible. They all unleashed their own kinds of attacks until the only one standing was King Boom Boo.
"Bring it on, your highness!" Knuckles challenged, charging up from behind.
He, Sonic, and Amy began wailing on the massive ghost, Sonic taking a moment to turn to Keith and Kat.
"Go check on the others!" he insisted. "Make sure they're okay!"
"Right," they both replied before running off.
Sonic then turned towards Boom Boo and rolled into a spin dash, charging right at him. He was sent flying right into a wall, rocks raining down on top of him.
"That won't hold him for long!" Knuckles insisted. "We need to get out of here!"
"Right!" Sonic agreed, running off.
"Mom?" Keith let out, standing over Lindsey. "Mom, wake up!"
Lindsey began slowly coming to, seeing everyone gathered around her.
"Oh… my head… Keith?"
"It's me mom," Keith reassured, helping her up. "Come on, we've gotta get out of here!"
Everyone else was already on their feet, Ella scooping up Helen in her arms. Everyone began running, then Kat stopped, darting back for the talisman.
"We might need this!" she declared as she plucked it from the wall.
Everyone was running as fast as they could, Helen glancing back from her perch on Ella's back. To her horror, she could see King Boom Boo coming up behind them, literally eating the stairs as he went.
"It's coming after us!" She screamed.
"Time to pick up the pace!" Sonic declared, picking up Lindsey and dashing upwards.
Everyone continued running upwards as King Boom Boo drew every closer. As they got up to the entrance, Knuckles held back and gave Boom Boo one last massive punch to the face, knocking him back and giving the others time to escape. Finally, they made it back to the courtyard, where Amy wasted no time knocking the pedestal back into place. Kat slammed the talisman back into its slot. The entire thing began to glow brightly for a moment, then everything went quiet.
"Please tell me it's sun side up," Kat pleaded. "I had my eyes closed when I placed it."
Amy took a look, then winced.
"Uh… you put it down with the moon side up."
Kat let out a groan, stepping back.
"Aw man…"
"Well, this was certainly an interesting day," Lindsey spoke up. "Is this what you all get up to back home?"
"Only with less ghosts and more robots," Sonic answered.
"Hey!"
Everyone turned to see the film crew and the police run up to them.
"You're alright!" The director let out. "You had us all worried."
"Yes, well, my son and his friends had it all taken care of," Lindsey boasted, wrapping an arm around Keith. "His quick thinking got us out of that nasty situation."
"That's right impressive, son," the police officer commended. "No one has ever gotten away from the ghosts before."
"Well I-" Keith started to reply. "Wait, you knew about the ghosts?"
"Everyone around here does," the officer explained. "You see, this place sits on an ancient burial ground. When the man who built the castle heard legends about ghosts, he laughed and said they were nonsense. Then the man disappeared the first night he stayed here, and nobody ever saw him again."
From the windows, a few of the ghosts appeared for a brief moment, laughing maliciously before disappearing once more...