*Dances giddily around* It's here! It's here! Oh my goodness I'm so excited! Ever since hearing of Nightmare, I've been writing this chapter (particularly the end) and today...it is ready for revealing. But, first, we're going to have some quality time with our other ghosts and bots...seeing as how I'm going to be torturing them quite a bit in the upcoming chapters. Matt, Amanda, Sam and big Robby get to meet the Next Gen. But, without further ado...I present Nightmare.

Chapter 16

Mike watched the sun rise from the balcony attached to her mother's old room…just like she used to do when she was a child. The sun's rays started painting the clouds with its light…turning the sky a bloody scarlet.

"Red sky at morning, sailors take warning," Mike murmured as a strangely cold breeze ruffled her hair.

"The sky is bleeding" Gold said, materializing next to Mike, "Something bad is going to happen today,"

"I've never seen it this red," Mike whispered.

"You feel it too," Gold started, looking at her lighter half, "Don't you?"

"We need to convince my son that he can't come tonight," Mike told Gold, "Something's wrong…something's very, very wrong,"

She rubbed her arms, looking out as the sun's red form glided up from the horizon.

"And I don't like it…I don't like it at all,"

Spring held a strangely calm Emily as the sun shone through the open window.

"Not that I'm complaining," he murmured, holding his human's head close to his chest, "But why aren't you moving? Did your nightmares stop? Are you going to come back to us?"

"Still asleep?" Mike asked as she walked in.

"But calm," Spring told her, "I don't understand why…but she's so much more calmer than normal,"

"Where's everyone at?"

Spring looked up, his green eyes squinted as he tried to remember.

"I…think I heard something about your son taking them to see their…their…" the golden rabbit tried to think of the word, tapping his head with a finger as he tried to remember it before sighing, "Oh, the little versions of them,"

"Their nieces and nephews?" Mike asked.

"YES! THAT'S IT!" Spring beamed, ears perking up, "They said not to worry, they'd be using their fake names. But, if you wanted to go see them, they'd be at the park,"

"Thanks Spring, you're the best!" Mike smiled, hugging the blond and making him blush deeply.

Gold appeared next to her and smiled warmly at the other Spring Suit, hugging him just like Mike had and making his blush deepen.

"Thank you, Spring," she told him.

"Any time, Goldie," Spring mumbled, still blushing, "Just be careful, alright?"

"…Okay," Gold blinked, smiling slightly.

Mike's smile turned smug as she watched the two interact. She started snickering when Gold joined her at the door.

"What?" Gold asked.

"Oh, nothing…nothing at all," Mike chuckled, "You and Spring have been together for a while…right?"

"We were created together, I thought you knew this," Gold deadpanned, "Why?"

"Oh…no reason," Mike grinned, "C'mon, let's go find the others,"

Little Robby watched as his friends played around on the gazebo. James was currently playing his guitar like a pro, Matty was tweaking his soundboard and updating it, Mandy was trying her best to draw a couple that was currently getting ready to continue jogging and Max was tying up her shoelaces, getting ready to make another run around the park.

"Hey, guys, you miss me?" little Robby called, smiling as he walked up.

"Well, look who decided to come and see his old friends!" James snarked, jumping off the gazebo stairs, "I don't know guys…looks like a stranger to me!"

Mandy shook her head as Matty gave a raspy chuckle, straightening his headphones around his neck. Max got up and walked towards little Robby.

"I heard your grandpa went away for his health," she told him, "Are you…"

"Still at the place," the boy nodded, "He asked me to look after it for a while. Trust me, it's ok,"

"You're at home alone with those creepy-as-heck robots?" James snorted, "Man, if I were you, I'd be outta there like a mouse at a cat party,"

"That's what we've been trying to tell him," came an older, rougher version of Robby's voice, "But, he listens just about as well as his mother,"

The spirit put his good hand on little Robby's shoulder, making the foursome look at him, wide-eyed.

"Robby…I don't know about you, but he looks scarily like you," Mandy whispered.

"Guys, this is Eddie Fawkes, he's a…friend of my mom's," little Robby introduced, "He and my uncle were close friends…almost like brothers,"

"You sure he's not your dad?" James asked.

"JAMES!" Max and Mandy both yelled.

"WHAT!?" James protested, "I'm not the only one who thinks these two look way too much alike. After all…Ms. Schmidt didn't have red hair,"

"No, but my grandma did," little Robby told him, "I look a lot like my uncle. Mama never cheated on Charlie…can't say the same about him…but Eddie's a family friend,"

"Is it safe for us to come out too?" Sam's voice asked as the three other ghosts walked out into view.

"Um…ok…who are these?" Max asked.

"More of my mom and uncle Robby's friends," little Robby explained, "Sawyer Harrison and Mitchell and Amy Berenstein,"

"Nice to meet you," Matt nodded, smiling and barely showing his teeth.

Mandy cautiously looked over the blonde and brunet while Matty beamed and waved happily.

"Do I know you two from somewhere?" Mandy asked, eyes narrowed, "I feel like we've met somewhere,"

"Probably not," Amanda lied, remembering when she held the little girl in her arms when she was a baby, "We haven't been in the area for a long, long time,"

Mandy's blued violet eyes scanned over her namesake.

"Alright then…" she started, mentally making a note that she was going to ask her mother when she got him, "Nice feathers, by the way,"

Amanda's face turned a faint shade of red as she pulled at one of the stray feathers that poked underneath her hat. Little Robby had told her that that was the style for girls nowadays, so she'd be ok…but still, it was a little nerve-wracking.

"Oh, um…thanks," Amanda murmured, "Yours are nice too,"

Mandy's face light up slightly and raised her hand to the tan feathers braided into her hair.

"Thanks,"

Matt wandered closer to Matty, kneeling down and setting his backpack down carefully on the gazebo floor, throwing a warning look at the three pairs of eyes that looked out of it.

"So what's this?" Matt asked, sitting down next to his nephew, "Looks like you can make some nice music on it,"

Matty's hands flashed in a flurry of motion and Mandy translated.

"He says that he can," she explained, "He's been working on it since he can't sing and he wanted to live up to our uncle's name. Matty's mute…he can't speak, so he uses his soundboard to speak for him,"

Matty pressed a button on the sound board, a chorus of children's cheers rang from the speakers, making Matt smile.

"Can you show me some of your music?" Matt asked.

Matty beamed and nodded, pressing a few buttons and letting a sweet melody ring forth. Matt closed his eyes in contentment and listened, smiling.

"Pretty!" one of the Stooges whispered, making Matt pat the backpack.

"So, you play?" Sam asked, looking at James or more specifically…James' red guitar that had belonged to Sam himself.

"I'm pretty good," James nodded.

"Well…then I challenge you to a shred off," Sam grinned.

"SAWYER!" Amanda yelled.

"What?!" Sam demanded, "I just wanna see if he's as good as his uncle or grandpa!"

"Better, if what my mom tells me is true," James replied back.

Sam got that competitive gleam in his eye as he reached for the black guitar that he had strapped to his back. It had been a gift from Emily after the fire so that he could keep playing even though James had his old guitar.

"Oh yeah?" Sam grinned, "Prove it! I will warn you…I'm a pro. Been practicing since I could hold a guitar…eighteen hours a day,"

"You need to get yourself a girlfriend," James teased.

"Done that," Sam smirked, looking at Amanda, "Anything else?"

"So that's the only way you can impress her then?" James asked.

"You gonna talk all the time? Or are you gonna let your guitar do the talking for you?" Sam asked.

"Sawyer…" the red spirit warned.

"Bring it!" James grinned before starting in on a rich guitar solo line of a song Sam hadn't heard in a while.

Mandy, Matty, Max and little Robby all clapped while the ghosts clapped respectfully.

"'Back in Black'. AC/DC. Pretty good…for an amateur," Sam nodded.

"Amateur," James blinked, holding Sam's old guitar close like he was shielding it from it's former owner's harsh words, "Amateur!? Ok, your turn then!"

"Watch and learn, boy," Sam chuckled before launching into a loud, strong solo from one of his 'classics'.

James gave a wide grin as he watched his uncle strum the last chord.

"'Couldn't Stand The Weather' by Stevie Ray Vaughan?!" James grinned, "That was one of my favorites! And you played it like it was nothing!"

"Not that hard," Sam shrugged, "I've just had a lot of time to practice. It's one of my favorites too…my dad taught me that one when I was seven. He took me to the concert and I had to learn to play it,"

He looked at the guitar almost longingly.

"Do you ah…mind if I…?" Sam asked, his crimson gaze flicking towards the guitar.

"Just be careful," James warned, "It belonged to my uncle before he died in '87. I'm lucky I have it,"

Sam wrapped his hands around the neck of the guitar, putting the strap around his head and strumming one strong, warm chord, feeling the warmth spreading through his body…he felt like his heart would start beating again just from the one strum…but alas, it stayed as silent as ever. Sam gave a nod and unslung the precious item from his neck before handing it to James. He looked his friends before looking at the sky and then back at James.

"Well…I think we ought to be heading back," Sam said, putting a hand on James' shoulder, "Hey ah…keep on practicing. You'll be great one day. And…don't break my guitar kid. Take good care of her,"

He laid a loving hand on the red enamel, stroking it gently before walking off.

"Wait…what?" James sputtered as Sam disappeared down the path.

"Tell Sara we said hi," Amanda said, hugging Mandy tightly, "I was right, you grew up to be a wonderful person,"

"Keep on making your music Matty," Matt started, hugging the boy, "You'll be great one day too,"

They then followed Sam down the path.

"You and I better get going too, nephew," Robby said, gently squeezing little Robby's shoulder, "Your mother's going to get worried,"

"Yeah, you're right," little Robby nodded before waving at the others, "See you guys later!"

He and Robby started down the path only to get met by a copper haired woman in gold, who hugged the boy and kissed his forehead before walking off down the path.

The four friends looked at each other, stunned.

"I…I think we might need to call the Ghostbusters," James blinked, "Because I think we just saw ourselves some ghosts,"

That night…it stormed and it stormed terribly. Midnight had fallen and out of all the ghosts: Mike, Robby and Spring managed to get away from Marionette. Mike and Robby had found one of their favorite hiding places when they were children running away from Andrew in his drunken rages. Surprisingly, their midnight forms fit in the little crawlspace.

"I don't like thunderstorms," Robby growled, his tail flicking irritably as the lightning flashed.

"I've noticed," Mike said with a smile right as a loud clap of thunder crashed over the house, making Robby shriek and duck down, whimpering as he put his paw and hook over his ears, "Easy, Capt'n, it's ok. You're safe. We're safe. Marionette can't find us in this area I think,"

"You think, First Mate," Robby pointed out, whimpering as another crash rumbled over the house.

"Well…if the storm doesn't let up then yeah, she'll find us," Mike admitted, "But, at least lil' Capt'n isn't going to have to worry about the two of us,"

"Yeah just everyone else," the fox growled, ears flicking back.

A hissing screech caught the siblings' attention, making them freeze.

"She got Spring," Mike whispered.

"And you!" Marionette laughed as she appeared in front of the siblings.

Little Robby was not having a fun night. After hearing Spring's screech, he assumed that he wasn't going to be getting help from anyone. He'd been fending off everyone for nearly four hours and he was really starting to feel the strain of staying up all night for five nights straight. He knew it wasn't their fault, but still…he did not want to get caught by them.

"CoME plaaaaay wi-WItH uS!" a male voice called in singsong, "C-C-COme pLAyyyyyy wITh Us!"

Little Robby's heart rate went through the roof as another voice…this one female and lower than Chica's…answered.

"If y-yOuuuu doN't cOMe p-p-PLAaaaaAYYyyyy witH us…" the female voice sang cheerfully, "ThEN w-w-wE wi-WIlL k-k-k-KILL ME PLEASE!-ill youuuuu!"

"Mama!" little Robby screamed, then clapped his hands over his mouth in panic as the house went dead silent, "Oh no…oh nonononononono!"

There was a heavy thud as Gold's footsteps came closer and closer. The boy ran towards the door and tried to slam it shut only for whatever was on the other side to shoulder open the door, sending the boy flying to the other side of the room and to the floor, stars dancing in his vision as Gold stalked towards him.

"Asssshhhes…asSSSHHHhhhesss we aLLLL fall DOOwnnnnn!" Gold sang, head cocked to the side as she looked at little Robby, reaching forwards and picking him up off the floor.

"LET! GO!" the boy shrieked, pounding his thin fists on the bear's arms once, twice…and on the third hit…she let go.

Or rather…the suit fell to the ground while a slender, black shape stood in the position Gold had been just moments ago. Little Robby scrambled up to his feet and hugged the black shade.

"Mama…wake up! Please!" he begged, crying, "I know you're there! Please, wake up!"

He saw a flicker of glowing, holy white as his mother's eyes started to flutter open and her skin started washing with silver before bursting into smoke and getting sucked back into Gold. Little Robby held his flashlight at ready. He wasn't going to go without a fight!

Gold shot up with a gasp, golden eyes wide as she took in her surroundings.

"R-Robby?" Mike breathed, "Wha…what am I doing here? Oh…oh! She…she got me…"

"Mama," little Robby breathed in relief, running towards her and hugging his mother's furry form, "We have to get the other ones back,"

"What time is it?" Mike asked.

"4:15,"

"She's released them," Mike told him, "They'll be locked in the workshop…C'mon…let's go let them out. Then…we'll finish this once and for all,"

The two teleported into the hallway right before the workshop door. Mike gently nudged her son.

"Stay back, lil' Capt'n," she ordered, grabbing hold of the corner of the door and raking her sharp talons down the door, peeling the metal back from the doorway.

"MIKE!" six voices cheered (nine if you count the minions) as Mike tore down the door.

"C'mon," she called, "Let's get that Slenderman reject and show her who's boss!"

"You seem so eager to destroy me," came Marionette's voice from down the hall, making all the ghosts freeze and glare down at her, "But you're forgetting one thing,"

"And that would be?" Mike snarled.

"You kill me…and Emily suffers a fate worse than death," Marionette laughed, "Kill me and save yourselves but doom dearest Emily…or, let the boy die and I will release Emily, letting her come back,"

"You think…" Mike started, shaking in anger as her paws clenched, "That I…am just…going to let you…kill my son!? The ONLY FAMILY I HAVE LEFT!? FORGET IT!"

She raced towards Marionette, swiping at the slender being and tearing a bit of costume but causing no real damage.

"Oooo, temper, temper, Mikayla…you wouldn't want widdle Wobby to see his mommy angry like this,"

Mike shrieked and dove at Marionette, tackling her and the two rolled down the hall, flipping over each other until Mike gave a yowl of pain, releasing Marionette and staggering to the side, gasping.

"Mama?" little Robby asked, wandering towards his mother.

"What's h-happening…to me…" Mike groaned, grabbing her midsection as she fell to her knees with a loud clang and shadows started wrapping around her form.

"Robby…get back," Matt ordered, putting the little minions behind him as Mike gave a blood-curdling shriek.

The living child looked up at the bear…who actually looked scared.

"Why…what's wrong?" he asked.

"Mike…" Matt started, voice trembling, "Mike has a shadow form,"

Little Robby retreated behind his uncle as he watched helplessly. His mother shrieked in pain, thrashing and twitching on the ground as her fur started blackening. The boy winced and finally covered his ears as horrific snaps and crunches came from the steadily darkening spirit. He watched in horror as his mother's paws clenched and then snapped out with a sickening crack…like breaking bone, watched as her form turned more and more transparent, exposing Gold's endoskeleton as well as his mother's own burned corpse. Mike gave a strangled scream, sounding like she was choking on some heavy, dark liquid. Suddenly, there was a great snap…like a broken neck or spine or something of that like…and the tortured creature went still.

"…Mama?" little Robby whispered.

There was a smooth, dark gold laugh, a laugh that chilled his blood with the pure 'evilness' it possessed. The now black bear with a golden bow and top hat stood upright, scarlet eyes looking at the group with a mixture of curiosity and smugness.

"Mike?" the older Robby asked, being careful to keep his nephew behind him.

The bear gave a laugh and shook her head.

"Gold then,"

Once again, the bear shook her head, laughing…

"No," she chuckled, making the living boy shudder…it was still his mother's voice, but warped terribly so that it sounded deeper and more demonic.

"Then who are you," the fox demanded, baring his fangs as he gave a low growl.

"Call me…Nightmare," the black bear cackled, "And I have come to do the devil's work,"

She turned her scarlet gaze towards the living boy, who was starting to cry…he didn't want to see his mother like this…

"I think…I will start with him," Nightmare hissed, jabbing a wickedly clawed talon at little Robby.

"You'll have to…" the older Robby growled, but she cut him off.

"Go through you?" Nightmare sneered, "I was hoping you would say that,"

She rammed her paw through the fox and grabbed his spine, lifting him high as the red spirit shrieked in pain.

"Hehe, I can feel your spine…" Nightmare grinned, "Fragile thing…would be a shame if something happened to it…"

She tossed him aside, ripping out wires and gears and making oil splatter across the wall and her paw. Robby…didn't move. He just lay against the wall like a broken doll, head lolling as his eyes flickered weakly and his ears drooped. Nightmare raised her paw to eye level and licked the oil staining it, grinning and exposing what looked like blood-stained fangs.

"Stay down, dog," Nightmare chuckled before looking at the others, "Now…will any of you be getting in my way?"

"You bet," Sam snarled, form turning just as black as Nightmare's, and he charged her, shrieking.

"Get out of here!" Amanda yelled, gently pushing little Robby towards the room, "Don't come after us, ok? Promise us!"

Robby nodded, throwing one last look as his unmoving uncle as Amanda came to him, before sprinting towards the bedroom.

Mike has a shadow form and her name is Nightmare. Yes. I just did that. One person actually got it right (to that person, sorry I didn't say anything...I wanted it to be a surprise!). I gave everyone hints as to Nightmare in the following ways:

1. Emily said "I thought those two were the only ones" she was referring to Sam and Matt who both have Shadow Forms.

2. "She'll kill you if you beat her, if not...you'll do it for her," Emily was talking about Nightmare, not Marionette.

3. Marionette asks what Nightmare will do if "She tries to stop you?" She was talking about Mike, not Emily. To which Nightmare replies "She could not stop me just as you cannot," because how can you stop yourself?

4. Marionette is scared of her. She was scared of Mike when she was alive because Mike was the only one who could beat her.

5. Those moments where Mike is getting corrupted by Marionette the animatronic, sadistic lines are in bold italic signifying Nightmare, not Gold because Gold's lines are in bold.

I hope you guys liked it, if you did send in the reviews! (Along with ideas because I will need them eventually!) :)

Qui vállë tóquetë, ván tecë (If no review comes from y'all; no story comes from me)

Máriessë ar mára tecië

Farewell and fair writing

Elhini Prime signing off.