The LoudBusters 11

Ok my loyal readers here's crossover of a different type... This time I've added Ghostbusters to my Loud House story hybrids. But this is based off the Ghostbusters/Ghostbusters 2/Ghostbusters: The Videogame (Realistic version)/Ghostbusters: Afterlife timeline. What if during the stream crossing that defeated Gozer in the first film damaged the dimensional fabric between the Ghostbusters dimension and the Loud House? Sending ghosts in their world. Now ghostly activity is running rampant in Great Lakes City (with appearances by Ronnie Anne, Lori, Carl, Hector Casagrande, Carlota, Sid, and Bobbie). Foolish construction workers find the Doomsday Door, defying its advice as it unleashes an army of spooks to terrorize the subway system. This could be one job the group might not even come back from! Can they succeed? Rated K+ for mild innuendo, a dark tone/plot, scary monsters, or frightening monster descriptions.

Oh, and one last thing the chapter means Knock Knock in Spanish, fitting since The Casagrande's uses a lot of Espaniol.

- chapter 11 - Golpe Golpe

The Ghostbusters were on a night bust at the town bowling alley; Royal Woods Bowl was under attack by ghosts! The crowd the job attracted were holding their collective breath as the loud noises inside had every bowler's nerve on edge. Inside the team were fighting hard to wrangle the ghosts. And boy were they a weird bunch. The bowling balls & pins were now armed to the teeth, with teeth no less! Other spooks included possessed cycloptic bowling shoes with laces used like whips with the last spook a possessed shirt using its sleeves like spring loaded boxing gloves. Blocking their escape route through the front door Rusty led the charge to capture them, blasting them with his proton stream. "Ok guys! We got 'em now!"

The others joined him, using their streams to corral and contain the swarm of possessed sports gear. Once the horde was ensnared the team moved them up near the ceiling as Clyde calculated what to do next. "Careful now guys. Careful... Easy. Move them a tad more to the right."

As the team did what he said Zach got the trap ready. "Rolling in the trap... NOW!" He had it rolled along the damaged alley floor directly underneath the ghosts.

The trap opened sucking them inside, where they'll be trapped, forever. The whole team breathed a sweet sigh of relief, it was a hard job that night. Late too. As Stella looked around, she saw the place was wrecked, with a few fires burning along the back walls. Naturally Rusty just had to say something about it. "Like I said guys piece of cake, told you this was gonna be easy."

The Filipina simply cringed at that last wisecrack, but frankly she was too tired to care, in fact they were doggone tired. The second they exited the place the whole crowd erupted in cheers, which had the six of them all with huge smiles plastered on their faces. Watching as the crowd of people cheering for the Ghostbusters made Liam's heart melt. "I think they like us guys. Took a while."

Naturally Zach wasn't too sure, but his response was shocking. "I dunno, could be some kinda trap." Shocking to Liam that is.

As the group drove back to their HQ, aka their bunker basically fatigue was settling in all over them. "Boy will I be glad to be back at HQ I'm all wore out." Liam said, this time his turn to drive back to the bunker.

"Yeah, HQ. Peace and quiet." Stella agreed.

-HQ

Once there the bunker doors opened as Ecto-RW pulled full reverse inside, as the doors closed up. But peace and quiet wasn't on the night's schedule as a line of partly eaten food went the length of the HQ, where Munchie sat, well munching away. A rather frazzled looking Haiku stood nearby, her arms folded, looking very unhappy. Munchie, on the other hand, only looked at the team up for a moment, then started eating again.

"Peace and quiet huh?!" The redhead grumbled slamming the door.

Their substitute for a secretary Haiku wasn't happy with them after the job, since Munchie ate nearly everything in the bunker. "I honestly tried to stop him. I'll tell you something important right here right now, you don't need a secretary, you desperately need a babysitter, a whole funeral team of them."

The gluttonous ghost was even eating all of Rusty's mac 'n cheese bites. They were a gift from Lincoln's dad. "Munchie! Those were mine!" Rusty growled whipping out his Particle Thrower, ready to blast the ghost to kingdom come.

Quickly Zach and the others tackled and restrained him. "RUSTY WAIT!"

The womanizing redhead didn't care, he wanted some payback. He'd never liked the junk food scarfing spook and taking his mac n' cheese bites wasn't helping things. "GUYS JUST LET ME BLAST HIM! ONCE! ONCE I TELL YA! IS IT REALLY TOO MUCH TO ASK!?"

Quickly Munchie hid behind a nearby desk, trying to figure out how he'd get away from Rusty's wrath. So, her simply fazed partly into the floor. From a faraway desk Lisa scowled at Spokes ill treatment of the small gaseous entity. "No. Not yet Mr. Spokes we haven't finished our tests on him, and he's the only subject who'll sit still for us." Lisa mentioned looking over his spectral data. "This is an opportunity in science we can't allow to pass us by."

"Besides Rusty, I'm teaching him to fetch LJ's dirty socks." Lincoln added joking.

After seeing their point, the gang released Rusty from the dogpile, as they made a beeline to the Containment Unit and put the little jerks away. "Ugh... Science. Well, c'mon guys let's put these little nasties away. Be done with 'em."

Cautiously Munchie watched as the gang went to the Containment Unit level.

-Containment Unit level

As the group was readying the ghost's transference to the red-painted containment systems, only some internal bickering came about who turn to dump the trap. "Ok good ol' boy it's your turn. Put 'em away." Rusty said.

The shaggy redhead pointed out something important. "Me? You mean yours. I did Tuesday's dishes we traded chores remember?"

Grumbling Lincoln snagged the trap figuring he'd just do it himself. After all you want something done right... you simply do it yourself. He wasn't happy about their cowardice. "Never mind, I'll do it myself." Lincoln grumbled taking the trap from them.

"Works every time Liam." Rusty whispered to the farm boy, who was stifling a giggle.

Walking up the unit's large control panel pulling down the door as the apparatus for attaching the trap extend out. Lincoln inserted the trap, as the ghosts were transferred inside the massive machine. He retrieved the trap as the apparatus retracted, the boy pushed a few white buttons then pulled a nearby lever, with an almost flushing sound being made. A small light then glowed green, that meant all systems were good. "I'll never get what yer so afraid of. Now that these spooks are inside the Containment Unit, they won't be bothering anybody for a long time."

Yawning and giving his back a good stretch Rusty had only one thing on his mind. "And now to get some rest."

"And I'm gonna give my folks a call. Have 'em pick me up because I am whipped." Said Stella also stretching.

-meanwhile

Meanwhile miles away in Great Lakes City through the city metro line a crowded platform waited for the next train as another sped off onto its long route. However, in a newly drilled passageway, with more still under construction. At the larger, mostly completed end, there're tracks being freshly put down. Further on, it's a little rougher up ahead what with wires and metal sticking out everywhere at odd angles. Further into the darker far end of the tunnel something strange had been discovered.

There some workers dig with digging machines and pickaxes. Two of them, each examined a layout of the growing tunnel. The lead worker was going over a few last details of the job. "Okay, so once we dig another quarter mile, that'll put us in position to join up with Subway Tunnel #9. Then... "

He was cut off by one of the others, who found something odd. "Hey, Bob! Come take a look at this thing!"

The worker put a bookmark to remember where he was on the blueprints, then headed off toward his coworker, grabbing a flashlight as he enters the newest dig section.

Here, freshly dug dirt has been just pushed away revealing, in the bright glow of flashlights, what looks suspiciously like a door. A very, very old door, with strange markings and an odd, mouth-like design surrounded by weird hieroglyphics. The first worker asked the obvious question. "What is it?"

"Beats the heck outta me." The hefty second worker said.

As Bob the lead workman swung his flashlight along the creepy looking door, he noticed strange writing, almost something ancient or prehistoric. "Look... There's even some kinda weirdo writing on it. What's it mean?"

"Do. Not. Open. Until. Doomsday." A deep chilling voice answered, scaring them.

"Alright! Nice guess. How'd ya figure that?" Bob said patting his friend on the back.

"Who? Me? I didn't say nothin'!" The third worker with the bushy 'stache nervously admitted, he didn't say anything.

"Nahahahahah! Do. Not. Open. Until. Doomsday." The door repeated the warning for a third time.

"Uh, boss maybe we should do like it said?" The mustached worker asked his boss.

The idea of stopping because some weird door told them to worked Bob's one last nerve he had left. ''Are you nuts? We've got a huge subway tunnel to dig. We're not gonna stop just 'cause some nut door says so! OK move the drills in."

Suddenly the doors eyes glowed a bright green as it let loose a loud roar, loud enough to start the tunnel to start collapsing, as the construction boss gave his best order. "RUN FOR IT! AHHHHHH!" Bob hollered as all three tore out of there as fast their legs could carry them.

Now with the pesky workers out the way the door began laughing maniacally. Now the fun part of its job was gonna start. "HAHAHAHANANANAHAHAH!" The doors flung open unleashing long streams of animated spectral fire onto the train tracks.

-begin Show Must Go On by Anthem

Meanwhile another train had pulled into the station platform with Loud Lori & Bobby hurried along hoping to flag down the train conductor. "Hey, hey! Wait, wait for us!"

Lucky for them the driver saw them just before he was about to depart. "Wow we made it Babe."

"Yeah, we're literally lucky Boo-Boo Bear. Now get some seats picked out for us." She told as he went about finding literally the perfect seats, that and grab some snacks from a vending machine.

Taking out her phone Lori started texting, she heard from Leni Lincoln had started a ghost catching business, apparently it was doing pretty well. From the news nearly all Royal Woods was bustling with supernatural activity. Sighing, back in college Lori had enough trouble with Shanks. Oddly he'd been pretty calm as of now.

Several of the fiery streams hit the train she & Bobby were going to board, as the train car started to shake and convulse. The subway conductor suddenly screamed, alerting Lori's attention, seeing something she could never unsee. The train was alive with big evil eyes and a long, floppy, slimy tongue. "AGHHHHHH!" She screamed, terrified.

"Babe? What're you screaming for?" He asked stuffing some snacks in his pockets, but then he saw the possessed train. "ARGHHH!" Just like Lori he hollered too.

The possessed train let loose a loud shriek, shaking off the graffiti scribblings which gained a life of its own and chased after the crowd. The sound it made was like a scream, and it swiftly took off down the tracks like a rabid beast.

Up top on the city streets level, from the metro line entrance where hundreds of terrified commuters came barreling out of the entrance, chased by any number of possessed graffiti.

-back in Royal Woods

The HQ's phoneline rang, with Haiku answering it with her usual dry deadpan manner. "What? You say Great Lakes City subway is messed up? I don't see a difference any way up or down. Alright I'll call them. Let's rev up and roll out. What? Excuse me? No, I don't think our business has anything to do with your paper delivery route's issues. Yeah, well bye. Ok everyone let's roll.''

She hung up the phone and slammed her hand down on the alarm, as on cue the sirens blared alerting the team another job came up. Just as the team was getting ready for some good old-fashioned rest too. "Heh so much for our rest & relaxation Rusty." Zach grumbled putting his gloves back on.

"It's a conspiracy Zach I tell ya." Rusty grumbled.

"Hmm. Must be cursed by Haiku." Liam said offhand.

Lickety-split, the whole team suited up again and crammed into Ecto-RW. The bunker's the door slid open, as Ecto-RW raced out and away from Ghostbusters HQ to Great Lakes City. A three-hour drive just getting there, the team knew this was gonna be a long one.

-Great Lakes City

Finally, after a drive of three long hours the Ghostbusters arrived in Great Lakes City. Entering it they saw the station has changed... a lot. Dozens of jagged stalactites and stalagmites jutted out from odd angles, and a thin grey mist hung over everything. "I've talked with Stanly Chang; he told me whatever's happening is spreading throughout the entire metro line. If we don't stop it soon the whole city's gonna go crazy." Lincoln explained as the group slowly walked down the now slime ridden staircase.

The whole platform and station were covered in it, mostly it was dried but a few strings of it continued to ooze from the ceiling. Checking his PKE meter Clyde detected a definite presence there, though the source was at least ten further miles up. "Heh, neat. Looks like your room Zach.'' Rusty joked.

"It's like the whole subway is turning evil. Even alive. Boy guys this is great!'' Zach said, in truth he loved this job.

"Eh, love somebody who loves their work." Liam retorted.

A faint clanking sound was emanating from the far-left side of the tracks, something Stella noticed. "Hey? What's that noise? It's coming closer." Stella said looking up the deserted tracks.

A subway train suddenly sped down the tunnel, slowly stopping in front of the Ghostbusters. Naturally Rusty had to be a smart mouth about it. "Stella. That is what you call a subway train."

Glaring at him, there were days she wondered why Lincoln even kept him around. With friends like Rusty, she'll never need enemies. "Ahem anyways, but the mayor had the trains stop running. What's going on?'' Stella said aloud.

Seeing as how they might as well take the train ride Rusty told Stella to quit worrying. "Hey Stella, this is the big city nothin' stoppin' it! I love it! Let's get in."

But unbeknownst to the group boarding woke the living train up, it wasn't happy letting out a roar at its trespassers. As the train started rolling along Lincoln checked the PKE Meter. "This is really helpful. According to our PKE the center of the disturbance is ten further miles up. Using our ride, we'll get there in minutes.''

As the ride rolled along the lights flickered then went out. "Wonderful. Maybe when the jobs done, we can get something to eat in the city." Rusty suggested.

When the lights came back on though, the team saw they weren't alone. A huge horde of ghastly walking skeletons in tattered clothing filled their car surrounding them. The group did a collective gulp, Rusty stared down a few. "Y'know uh... on second thought we shoulda walked."

The horde of ghoulish skeletons kackled as they ascended on the team, only Zach gave the order. "Everyone light 'em up!''

Thus, the team started doing what they did best... blasting those evil phantom ghouls out to kill them to kingdom come.

-begin Its Terror Time Again by Skycycle

As a tremendous roar was heard the whole train shook from with the intense battle going on inside it. Up top on the city streets though pedestrians walking along the otherwise quiet street, down a row of four manhole covers... and suddenly, one after another, they're BLOWN right off the street and high in the air as the loud sounds of the ghostly train battle below rages, blasts of particle-beams and ghost-wisps blasting through the open manholes with each explosion. The pedestrians look on, wide-eyed, as the disturbance moved from one manhole cover to the next, heading down the street.

Just then the lead car of the possessed train burst out of the tunnels it soared high into the air, and guess which member of the Casagrande's 'just' happened to be across the street from there? Hector of course, Ronnie Anne's grandpa from her mom's side. He watched as it soared then slammed itself into another metro line entrance. A sly smirk was on his face. ''Hmm. Primo. Now that's the perfect thing to gossip about."

The possessed train landed with a thud on another section of tracks as the Ghostbusters continued to blast the evil hordes of skeletal spooks. The train kept speeding along zipping past another station as onlookers stared in shock. The tracks twisted and turned every which way as the train continued along its route until it entered a very spacious and creepy cavern. But it continued to speed along as the battle continued to rage, as now the undead monsters were getting thrown out the windows yelling all the way.

The cavern grew larger, it must be the finished station only it'd been given a ghostly makeover. As the train approached it a strange well-dressed blonde woman was standing there waiting. For what? Who knew?

The one the Ghostbusters entered, coming down the line. Only now the windows were blown out, the wheels were buckled, in short it looked like it'd been through a warzone. Even the eyes were shut, almost like it hurt to open them. It barely managed making it to the platform before grinding to a shuddering halt. The six triumphant Ghostbusters naturally had to rub their victory in. Rusty turned to look damaged train car interior over. "And let that be a lesson to you! Don't mess with us, man... we're the Ghostbusters!"

With that, he gives the doors a good kick. The snap right off their hinges as the group exits. Again, Lincoln check the PKE Meter for additional information. "Well, that's it end of the line. The source of the Great Lakes City disturbance is still another mile further up, it's sending out huge amounts of poltergeist energy changing the nature of anything it touches."

In a huge flurry of dust and debris, the entire train collapsed on itself... into a long, huge pile of scrap metal. "Well, I guess they don't make ghosts trains like they used to." Stella joked.

By this point Rusty noticed the strange lady, even pushing past his friends running up to her. "Ah, excuse me, miss?"

As Spokes came up behind the figure, her back was still them all. In his usual womanizing tone, which frankly came across as a come-on. "I really hate to bother you, but maybe you'd better let me... err us escort you outside. It's not safe in here. Nasty, nasty stuff. So, what do you say we uh... "

Suddenly, the figure turned... and they saw that this wasn't a lady, instead another ghoulish skeleton, dressed to the nines. "Um maybe you should swing by the dental office of Dr. Feinstein... Cuz it looks like ya need it."

Her jaw widened letting out a hysterically creepy laugh. With a roar, she explodes, fades out, as her clothes and wig drop, slowly to the ground. As a very spooked Liam backed away, he tripped over something. ''WHOA! What the ding dang heck is this here thing! Don't belong on the tracks... "

Intrigued Clyde went over him asking what he'd found. "What is it Liam? What did you find?"

The thing was like a pointy knee-high tombstone, or something you'd find at cemeteries or a burial site. Something Lucy once informed Lincoln about so he figured he'd take a look. "Dunno. Looks important."

"Whatever it is. Been buried down here for ages." Zach said brushing away several layers of thick dust.

The stone bore numerus ancient symbols carved into it, this thing was clearly something very, very old. Older than the city and even the entire state of Michigan. Maybe even the country. Liam asked if they could read what was carved into it. "Hey Stella, can you and Clyde read what it says?"

Taking out a device similar to the PKE Meter but combined with a video phone Stella scanned all that stone had inscribed on it. "Checking database of all known ancient writing. Still searching... Searching... Ah Clyde it's Sumerian."

"Can ya read... Sumerian?" Liam asked them.

Shaking her head Stella had to confess she couldn't. "No. She can't but with this little gadget we can translate it. That's the key reason Stella and I built it." Clyde pointed out.

Reading the translated carving Stella explained just what they were dealing with down there. "According to the stone, at the far end of this tunnel there's a doorway into... the nether regions. The door was hidden deep in the earth, not to be opened until doomsday, the end of the world. Only somebody opened it early. It's like breaking open dams... and it'll keep on spreading."

Being the guy who tried to translate all their fancy science talk into simpler terms Zach did just that. Translate. "Translation: the place where all the bad people go when they're dead." And Gurdle points ominously straight down. "Yeah, it's the bad place."

"Yeah? So?" Rusty asked getting how serious it was.

Everyone else's eyes went wide as saucers then made collective set of gulps. "Rusty... did Polly ever leave some sweaty t-shirts in your hamper too long, and then the whole hamper stunk like her t-shirts?" Lincoln asked him.

Glaring defensively Rusty replied. ''She might've... "

As Lincoln gestured around to their surroundings. "Well, the same thing here. Unless we do something to stop it the whole world will smell just like Polly's t-shirts, soon the whole world will be just like this... just like the nether regions. Eternal darkness. And the earth will be governed by ghosts."

"No more days at the beach?" Rusty questioned.

"Rusty. No more beach." Stella elaborated.

As Lincoln stood there just gazing at the level mist emanating from the end of the tunnel. "We've got to find that door and close it again... even if it means we never come back." He said cracking his knuckles.

As the team armed themselves naturally Rusty had to complain about it. "Ok guys but if I don't come outta this mess alive I'm gonna be very, VERY angry."

Slowly the group disappeared into the mist. The stone, sturdy as ever slowly changes shape, taking on features... of a ghostly face! Then started cackling! "Hahananah!"

"YAGH! And shut up!" The voice of a very angry Lincoln yelled as his proton stream blasting the stone to pieces.

Still deep in the tunnel system everyone asked why Lincoln did that? What the stone thing ever do to him? "Dude what did that stone thing ever do to you?" Zach asked him.

Even if the old thing was creepy and foretold the end of the world that didn't mean he had to shoot it, so Lincoln told them why. "It was laughin' at us. So, I shot it."

"I didn't hear nothing." Liam confessed taking a quick glance around.

"Lincoln yer startin' to lose it." Stella told him.

"Coulda sworn I heard that thing laughing... " Lincoln grumbled.

"Rargh... " The broken stone rubble groaned after getting shot.

-soon

For a bit, all there was to see is a dull grey, swirling mist. Then, out of it, come the Ghostbusters, weapons ready, eyes alert to any possible dangers. They stop to look at what awaits them. "So, guys let me get this straight... if we don't stop it, this is what the whole world is gonna look like?"

His friend Lincoln simply nodded, from their point of view all kinds of evil things were seen. Charred, blackened earth, with eerie stone faces carved into the surrounding subway tunnel walls. All around them were stunted, twisted trees with eyes, bubbling sludge filled pools, everything had a very creepy organic look. Whatever caused this REALLY go to town on it. Through whole massive nether-world cavern, were occasional, familiar-though-distorted things torn up subway tracks, signs hanging akilter, shattered doors, twisted railings, glass shards embedded into rocks, and so on.

After the shock of what would happen if the team failed in their job Lincoln knew his friends were gravely aware of the consequences if they didn't solve this. "After Doomsday, the end of the world, this was supposed to fill everything left behind. Somehow it was released early, and it's taking the world over now!"

Despite how weird this cavern looked the Ghostbusters kept reminding themselves this WASN'T another place... this was the same subway system after something very nasty has come in and twisted it into something ugly and evil. That was the power of poltergeist energy. As he looked over it all Liam spoke. "Yup. Creepy, ain't it?" Liam added.

"Gotta agree with Liam on that one." Stella admitted.

The group then come to a sudden halt, listening. Some kind of eerie sound. A steady beating kind of noise, like oars turning in the filth ridden water. "Listen! Something's coming! Over here guys, quick!" Clyde called to everyone.

They run to and hug alongside a damaged wall, proton wands drawn, ready to fight for their lives. As from around the corner in front of them comes, of all things, a floating boat twelve or so feet long give or take, being rowed along the air by unhappy ghosts. A ram's skull was built into the bow, as a skeleton apparently the boss wearing a long tattered purple trench coat with sunglasses, at the boat's prow leading them on through the underworld. "Look over there for dirt. And what's that? Oh sorry, MORE dirt. Hahahahahah! But that's all we've seen for the last 500 years, DIRT! Awahahahahah! Oh, don't row so fast, we've got all of eternity... " It taunted its rowers slowly fading into the mist.

Taking aim Lincoln was going blast the Tour Guide. Knowing how dangerous a confrontation might be right then, Stella, puts her hand on his arm, gesturing not to shoot. Grumbling Lincoln had the worst kind of indignant expression. "There's something you really don't every day. Let's move." He said.

As he got up a twisted tree's eyeball looked at him, which he blasted to bits with his proton gun. That got him a whole mess of dirty looks from his friends. ''It's not like I'm paranoid guys. Stop staring at me!" He yelled at the stone columns.

Despite being his friend Liam called him out on that. "Hey what do you think yer doing?! Watch where yer pointin' that thing!''

Sighing Zach had an idea about that, Lincoln was losing his mind. Sad. "Poor guy. He's cracking up. He's losing it." Zach figured.

"What're you eyeballing?!" Lincoln grumbled to one of the ocular growths on the cavern's rock columns. Unbeknownst to his pals the eyes snap shut. "Those rocks with the eyeballs... I don't like 'em staring at me."

"They're not staring at you Lincoln." Stella scolded him. "It's not all about you y'know."

-a nearby subway platform

Meanwhile at another subway platform, a normal one, for now, two commuters Carlota & Carl Casagrande stood at the edge of the platform, facing the tracks, and simply waiting for the train to come by. Carlota checked his watch. "Hmm the train is running late. Usually, it's on time... Hope nothing's wrong." Carlota said checking her watch.

Suddenly there's an oversized rumbling when a HUGE ghostly subway train speed by them. The front windows were wildly distorted, becoming its eyes as all kinds of skeletal ghouls dangled, leered, hollered, and yelled hanging out the windows, laughing like maniacs. Then it finally passed Carl & Carlota the platform is different. It's as gloomy, dark, forbidding and slimy as the one the team entered earlier, stalactites, stalagmites breaking through the tiled floor and ceiling. Slime was also dripping from the ceiling.

Also, the clothes of the two Casagrande kids were wrinkled, torn, or just plain shredded, the two were slathered from head to toe in dark purple slime. Glancing at his sis, Carl had to say something. "Yup there's something going on up the line." Carl pointed out spitting out some slime.

-nether-regions

Back in the nether regions an ocular growth opened and started watching the Ghostbusters walk on through. It blinked every now and then, curious as to what these mortals were doing down here. They usually avoided places like this. Oh well, it thought as it closed up again.

Tracking the signals Lincoln swung the PKE meter left and right, trying to get a fix on the strongest levels. The device's beeping continued in and increased, and the two prongs stick up at one point along the arc. Lincoln pointed that was the way and nodded for the rest to follow. As the Ghostbusters walk away into another cavernous tunnel Clyde checked his watch. "Oh, hey guys I just realized we're missing the news, think we'll get mentioned?"

''Nah. I think the world's got way more important stuff to worry about than us." Zach said as nice as the idea was, he knew bigger more important things were unfolding right then.

-Royal Woods

Ironically the groups exploits were all the rage back in Royal Woods the local tv station was buzzing with excitement, Patchy Drizzle himself reporting on the situation at his desk, caught in mid-sentence. "... the question on everyone's lips: Where are the Ghostbusters? Katherine?"

Reporting live on the scene in Great Lakes City was Rusty's stepmom Katherine Mulligan, Royal Woods top news woman. "This is Katherine Mulligan and I've been told the Ghostbusters drove from Royal Woods, entered the Great Lakes City subway three hours ago and haven't been seen since. And Katherine Mulligan wants to know what Rusty Spokes is up to and hopes he's safe."

Meanwhile at the Great Lakes City subway train depot, it was business as usual for Ronnie Anne & Sid. They'd been stuck there ever since the mayor stopped the metro lines. Her father though wasn't happy... He'd been on the receiving end of hundreds of angry commuters for the past five hours. Everyone was tired or cranky. Or both. "Oh, I'm bored outta my mind Sid. I can't take much more of this." The tomboy Latina complained her foot fiddling around with her skateboard.

"Can't help it. If the mayor shuts the trains down, it's gotta be important. Just wish I knew why." Her BBF told her.

It seemed the mayor didn't tell the city the whole story about the subway issue. The top brass figured it was better to keep the facts under wraps, so the city didn't panic. Ideas that would quickly blow up in their faces. The half Asian girl spotted something speeding out of the nearby tunnels. "Holy crow! Look at that! What is that!?"

Several of the streams of animated spectral fire howled and screeched sped along tracks, hitting several of the immobile train engines. The first had four sets of four taillights, two up top and two on the bottom under its door. The spectral fire contorted it into a giant mouth and the lights were now teeth! The monstrous train let loose an equally monstrous roar! Another train's lead car turned into a monstrous face, with windows as its eyes. A train with a green paintjob now resembled a monstrous toothed worm which growled and snarled at the train next to it. Its new shape had three long tentacled eyestalks, leftovers from its earlier function as searchlights, its huge, luscious lips completed its bizarre new form. Another train developed a gnarled maw of yellowed teeth with its face having an almost widow's peak above its evil windows.

The whole scene was disturbing from start to finish, as the girls silently thanked the stars none of the train monsters were chasing people. In fact, people seemed like a low priority to them. That is until a diesel locomotive's eyes glanced up at them. It let out a heavy growling grumble shoving its way to the overpass, gnashing its underbite cow-catcher-like jaws. The evil machine steadily slithered up the side of the pass, and by this point Sid was frightened. "Well Ronnie got any ideas?" Sid gulped.

"Running would be a good one." Her friend told as they ran off the overpass as fast as their legs could carry them.

The trains apparently motivated by hunger let loose a string of roars, growls, and shrieks and sped into the train tunnels making as much noise as they could until their tail ends vanished in said tunnels.

-underground

As Lincoln stopped short, holding the PKE meter up. He outstretched his arm to stop the following Ghostbusters, who were grouped up behind him. "We're almost to the doorway. See that?" He pointed just up ahead.

Within their point of view was a huge cliff-face... literally. It's a veritable stone face, its huge mouth frozen into a rounded shape, like it was caught the expression of surprise, or shock, or even possibly a yawn. Looking over the PKE Meter Lincoln continued. "It's right through there. Once we get past that, we should be able to see the doorway... and close it forever."

Strangely growing just up ahead on the side of a hill was a weird red tree-looking kind of thing, all while the Ghostbusters were appraising this. They take a couple of cautious steps forward, walking close by the weird tree thing. "I don't know guys. I don't like the looks of the place." Zach said gulping.

That was something Rusty could agree on. "Me neither. In fact, I got a better plan."

His friends were stumped on what his plan, that was Lincoln's job. "What?" They all asked him.

Then Rusty pointed his thumb in the direction they came from. "Very simple guys. We turn around, and run very, very fast back the way we came, and never, ever look back. See simple."

Shaking his head Lincoln knew they had to do this, if the city would survive the next sunrise. He starts toward the cliff, passing the bizarre tree thing. "Sorry. We gotta do it. Just wish I knew what was inside that thing."

And suddenly, the tree thing stirred, its knotted wooden face turning toward Lincoln Loud. The tree creature then spoke to them, its raspy strained voice matched its creepy appearance. "Yuwahhh! It is the Place of Lost Souls. All new spirits must pass through there."

This had Zach, who looked around, a little nervous. "But we ain't dead."

The strange tree thing simply gave them all a shrug. "Nobody's perfect. Oh, and by the way no one still alive has ever come out of there in one piece."

''See? I knew I wasn't gonna like this. Well guys... come on." Rusty gestured to turn tail and go back the way they came.

Instead, Lincoln continued on, with his team following after him. ''Have a nice day." The weird tree thing said as its eyes closed falling asleep.

As the Ghostbusters momentarily stop before the mouth of the cliff passage. Each puts a hand on the other's shoulder, a gesture of support. Then: they entered the dark passage, disappearing into the blackness within. To their backs the door opening started closed behind them. In the pitch-black darkness Clyde asked a very good question, in fact from his observation it didn't make any sense. "I wonder why they call it the place of lost souls."

Even Zach had to agree on that, thinking the exact same thing. "You know, I was wondering the same thing, I mean aren't they all ghosts?"

After a bit of thought Stella had her theory to explain their observations. "Well maybe this is where the worst ghosts of them get stuck because they're too horrifying for anybody to see."

Then, suddenly, the darkness around them was lit with rows and rows and rows of eyes, all different shapes, surrounding them in the blackness. "Stella... why do you always wait until now to mention that?" Rusty sarcastic asked her.

And ZOOM! The Ghostbusters, raced out of the darkness to a rocky formation resembling pathways of a maze. Each of team taking a different pathway through the winding pathways.

The passage where they all came together again was bizarre... only two of them were walking on the floor of the passage, another two walking on the roof, and the remaining two are walking along either wall, each of them at right angles to the one nearest them. They pause for only a bare second, then keep right on running as fast as their legs could go. By the exit was a gorge between two high cliffs... whose other side where all of the Ghostbusters except for their leader Lincoln emerge at a dead-end. They stop to catch their breath, with the sound of very ragged heavy breaths. It was a heck of a run, as they finally had a chance to take a breather, they took a few quick looks around.

But then Clyde noticed his friend was missing. "Wait a minute... where's Lincoln?"

Looking around Zach didn't see him. "I don't know... he was right next to me a second ago."

Then suddenly Lincoln approaches from a hole in the other cliff, on the other side of them, also dead-end. "Made it!" He said until everyone gave a strange glance. "What? Is my head on backwards or something?"

As the others look at him with considerable astonishment Zach tried wrapping his head around this whole thing. "Wait a minute... how can you come out of there, when you were with me, and we just came out of here?"

Even worse Lincoln's too was puzzled about the whole mess. "I... I don't know, really."

Shouldering his proton pack Rusty was ready to head out. "Well, we'll figure it out later. Now, come on, guys I've had enough of this. We've got a world to save, and it's about time we teach these jokers who they're messing with."

The entire team follow after Rusty, all but Lincoln move, his feet almost rooted to the spot. He lingered by the hole in the cliff the rest of his team came out of. He seemed about ready to look, or go inside the hole, but then stopped himself, shaking his head. "Nah, I'd better not. I might still be in there. Lisa would've loved this kind of paradox."

Then he walks off, slowly catching up with the others. By now the group had reached the Doomsday Door hidden behind one final turn in the passageway. From around the corner, brilliant light stabbed the dimness, changing color, almost like a strobe with energetic pulsations. A powerful category 5 hurricane force wind whips through the area, coming from the same direction as the light... from around the corner. The wind whips around their clothes and hair, as they cautiously approached the corner. As the Ghostbusters huddle up against this side of the corner, shelter against the wind. Taking a glance at his PKE meter, Lincoln knew this was it. The PKE surges being pumped out by the Doomsday Door were making the machine go crazy. It was a wonder it didn't overload and blow up.

Bracing his back against a damaged subway door Zach points to the light from around the corner, asked if this was it. The grand finale of their job. "Is this it!?"

Quickly Lincoln nodded, wind whipping his hair, clothes while Rusty stood there, looking determined. "Let's do it!" With a shared glance, they all braced themselves and stormed around the corner.

And the insane wind nearly knocks them off their feet. They cling to any kind of outcrop of shelter they could find, with plenty of big rocks to choose from they, and then they, see it: The Doomsday Door, having grown a lot bigger than it before. And the intense howling, powerful winds screaming out of the door. Flashes of spirits, streams of energy, and animated fireballs shriek out into the region beyond.

The interior dimension inside the doorway was so bright the team can barely look at it... the center of sheer, incredible power. The impression they'd get is that someone has opened the door to the Underworld... and it reminded Clyde of a leak in a pressure cooker, the contents are spilling out all over the place at high-speed. A veritable maelstrom of surging wind, light and sound. Scattered around are some of the tools and machines they'd seen earlier, now turned to stone, or weathered. And the talking door was thrown back on its hinges, barely hanging on.

Ever the smart alec Rusty had to joke about this. "Boy, some people sure know how to throw a party, don't they guys? This place is wrecked!"

"Hang onto something! Anything! It's like we're walkin' into a category 5 hurricane!" Zach hollered to his teammates.

Holding onto the damaged brick wall, old mechanical scrap, outcroppings against the wind the others did just that... take shelter from the insanely powerful winds. A swarm of living fireballs shoot past them, laughing maniacally. The massive power flow core pulsed with gigantic bursts of energy, wherever this thing came from it wasn't done completely remaking the face of the entire Earth. It was beyond scary, something Stella was really thankful for. "I'm just glad we don't actually have to go in there!"

Sighing Clyde confessed that was exactly what they had to do. "Stella... I'm afraid that's exactly what we're gonna have to do."

The reaction from the other four was what you'd expect, shock. "WHAT!"

As the group tightened together in their scorpion formation, against the wind. "Our only hope is yanking back everything escaping! It might just be enough to close those doors! But our packs don't enough power!" Lincoln said.

Flipping down his Ecto-Goggles Liam scanned the ghostly power core; the readings were almost off the scales. There was plenty of power inside it. "But there's plenty in that there power core!"

Based off his PKE Meter Lincoln saw the power flow core's energy output was significantly increasing every second. This was it, now or never! "Exactly! So, we have to tap directly into the center of the power flow core and hope it's enough to supercharge the equipment! The flow is going critical! If we don't stop it now, it's gonna be too powerful for us to close. It'll be the end of everything. Our friends, families, Great Lakes City, Michigan state, the whole world is counting on us!"

As Clyde glanced at the doorway in just behind him, then he looked to Lincoln. "But Lincoln... if we're inside when the door closes... "

Giving them all an uncomfortable look Lincoln stared down at the dirt, then back at his companions. They weren't just his co-workers... They were his friends. "We'll be stuck fellers, yeah! Up poo creek without paddles!" Liam said giving them the bad news.

The others reacted just like you'd think they would, in shock. This news would put a serious damper in Zach's future plans for the summer. "But... I just got season tickets to the Lions! They say this'll be their best season yet!"

Frankly Rusty was not happy about his pal keeping this important info from him. "Lincoln, you kidder... I'll bet you knew this all along, and just didn't tell us, am I right?!"

Gazing at the redhead Lincoln reluctantly nods. "It's our only chance! But I figured telling you the whole story... you wouldn't do it!"

His brow went up, as Rusty stepped back, and they all stand, forcing themselves to stand against the wind. "That's a terrible thing to say, L-Train! You're right, of course, but it's still a terrible thing to say."

As streams of ghastly fire zoomed past him and over his head Rusty Spokes was going to make his final stand here. As he glanced to the doorway, he was ready to focus. Cracking his neck, a little he was raring to go and get this thing done. "Well, if we're goin' out, we gotta do it in style! The Rustman's got an image to protect." He said pointing his thumb at himself.

As the Ghostbusters forced themselves to keep marching against the powerful winds a single line across the passage, their feet were blown out from under them. Still though they'd been knocked down they were still in this fight against the wind, continuing on their mission. On their knees they simply crawled and hauled themselves along, one tiny bit of progress forward at a time. Then another... and they are pushed even harder by the waves of force and wind from the doorway through which more powerful wind, electrical discharges, and finally the loud wailing screams of ghosts they crawled past. The force was building, putting out even more powerful winds. The Ghostbusters continued struggling moving forward, inch by inch, fighting the gale intensity winds, grabbing onto rocks, old pieces of mechanical remnants, anything, just to drag themselves forward another few inches.

As the team continued crawling/walking/or just pulling themselves along finally scramble to the bottom of the doorway, immense power surging past just overhead. With a mutual nod, they begin to climb, hand over hand, up over the edge of the doorway... as their faces go slack with amazement and numb shock. "What the...?" Clyde murmured.

"Huh...?" Zach said completely in shock.

"What the hootin' heck?" Was all Liam could say about it.

Then the whole team screamed at the top of their lungs in terror. "YUAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!"

From their point of view, they were gazing down into a huge deep crevasse and saw a creature composed of orange swirling fire clouds, black lightning, distant shapes moving through a dark vast void, one with all light vanishing within. The thing was a creature of sheer, utter desolation. To Zach's mind he recalled photos of the outer cloud surface of Jupiter, and he'd have something very close to this... supernatural abomination.

Grinning like a man possessed Rusty was ready to get this over with, but he had to admit these ghouls were full of surprises. Every day was something new. "Okay guys... I'm gonna admit it. I'm impressed."

As the six Ghostbusters took up their places: three on either side of the now-ginormous doorway, clinging to the sides or they'd be hurled off by the hurricane force air. They pulled out their particle beam throwers. "Ok fellers this is it! Let's get corral this stampede!" Liam shouted ready to do this thing.

The team switched on their nuclear accelerators, which hum to life. By now Lincoln gave the order. "Arm nuclear accelerators... now!" He yelled shielding his eyes against the powerful onslaught of wind and lights.

As the Ghostbusters each push a button on packs. Quickly the power indicators on the back of their packs glowed bright as day, moving further and further up. Their activation humming got louder! By now their particle-beam throwers were vibrating and bucking. They fought hard to keep hold of them. Once again Lincoln gave their order. "Full dispersion mode, wide angles... Wait for it... fire... NOW!" They do, immensely large waves of particle beams shooting out of their weapons, way more powerful than the usual.

Fighting against the recoil Stella yelled. "Whooooaaaaaa! Whose idea was it to reinforce the straps for the proton packs!?"

Despite being a rhetorical question Liam answered her anyways. "Lisa did it!"

Their collective target was the power core flow itself, the proton streams were absorbed into it, then redirected even more powerful than before speeding out the Doomsday Door. As the enormous particle beams shoot down the passageways and sent through the intersecting passageways. Steadfast Zach knew this wasn't gonna be easy but encouraged his friends to brace themselves & keep firing. "Hold on!"

In a quick series of events the vicious looking green ghost train came zooming along the tracks, when suddenly it's hit by the particle beams from behind. The beams crackled and surged along its body surface. The whole thing froze, the proton stream now having captured it. A subway platform was also bombarded by the particle beams, making it glow.

At another train depot hundreds of ghosts make a break for the outside world, only to be blasted by the emerging beams, falling onto the tracks twitching and crackling.

Back inside the Doorway dimension the Ghostbusters could barely hold onto their equipment. Now was time for part two of his plan, as for the third time Lincoln gave the order. "Okay, another second... Now! Activate capture mode! Pull them-in! PULL 'EM IN!"

The Ghostbusters hit another switch on their weapons, and the particle beams went into reverse, pulling everything back in toward them, when pulling in ghosts to capture them. The doorway passage was overflowing with energy streams like a giant spiderweb with energy bolts. The veins of energy flared, shimmered and crackled like an aurora.

The particle beams, reversed, flowing off the train, stripping the ghostly presence right out of it... in a motion like a banana getting peeled. In the subway platform the same thing: the ghostly stalactites and stalagmites retracted; the awful look of the place was peeled off as the particle beams reverses. The first Fireballs from earlier were yanked back along the rails, one after another, speeding back towards their point of origin, The Doomsday Door. The ensnared ghosts fought against the proton beams like dogs on a leash... then YANKED back inside.

The team looked to one another, worried as they hear a loud rumbling noise. Something Clyde noticed first. "Uh, oh... " Everything that got loose is now headed right back at them, in full force! The legions of ghoulies were a nasty horde of... things, swirling, growling, wailing, caught in the beams. It made him sick to his stomach, but he fought off the urge to puke. "Here come the neighbors!"

Still firing their particle beams as the surging mass of ghosts and other creatures comes pouring in through the doorway. The powerful winds were speeding toward them now, carrying the things in with them. As the ghoul parade was sent back to deepest depths of the nether regions the doors started moving back on their hinges, and CLOSING!

The Ghostbusters had to get out of there and fast! With the job finished Lincoln gave the order to get their sorry butts outta there! "That's it! Let's go! NOOHHH!" He said ready to switch off his pack only the central core was drawing them in too! He was being sucked towards it!

The rest of the Ghostbusters scrambled to their feet ready to save him. "Lincoln! GRAB HIM!" Stella yelled only she'd lose her footing next. "NOOO!"

Within seconds all of them floated off the dirt, being attracted to ghastly power core, via some kind of telekinetic or gravitational ability. As now all six of them were being dragged deeper to the dimension of the undead. While Lincoln was usually the planner Zach had one idea how to get them outta there. "Just one chance! Fire! Everything you guys got! Maybe it'll push us back! GO! GO! GO! DO IT NOW!"

They do exactly that, firing their supercharged proton streams in front of them, pushing them back with recoils of force. But the doors were closing fast, and they had no time to waste. "Hurry guys! The door's closing!" Rusty hollered.

Their flight in was stopped... and they sent int reverse, their equipment pushed them back toward the doors, faster, and faster and finally being sent shooting out the doorway. The Ghostbusters barely got out in time, as the doors closes with a loud metallic BOOM! The whole team was pretty rattled, tired, and hungry after their brush with the Underworld and landed in a sorry looking pile. The tunnel was back to normal, as expected.

But like in any situation like this Rusty just had to get one last silly one-liner in. "Hah! Hey guys, that was a riot, a real riot. Guys can we do it again?" Rusty asked.

The Doomsday Door again repeated its warning. ""Do. Not. Open. Until. Doomsday."

Grinning sheepishly Rusty confessed he wasn't serious. "It was just a joke dude."

-HQ Bunker

Finally, after the long, long drive back to Royal Woods the gang was frankly too pooped to poop. They were exhausted. Simply exhausted. They ended up pulling an all-nighter. In fact, in another hour the sun would be up. Plopping his butt at the kitchen table Zach told everyone just how whooped he was. "Boy, am I glad to be back at the Bunker. I could sleep for a week."

Seeing the time Stella figured calling her folks wouldn't really be wise. "Too late for my folks to pick me up. Lincoln mind if I go crash in one your sister's old rooms?"

From his easy chair Lincoln gave her the go ahead. "No problem, Stella. Considering the situation, I don't think they'd really care. Personally ask about Leni's room."

While everyone else discussed their fatigue Rusty had other ideas. "You guys' sleep. Me? I'm gonna raid that fridge and eat til sunrise."

But the second he opened the door; his mood just took a nosedive. Everything inside was eaten by Munchie. The spook's gut was stuffed silly and let out a big belch. "BURP! Hi dere." It waved to him.

"Munchie! Why you little...! GRRR!" Rusty hollered lunging at the spook.

Once again everyone had to dogpile on him, so he wouldn't harm the ghost, who glanced at him as it floated away. "Let me blast him! Geez! ARGH!" The redhead growled and fumed.

As the ghost fazed through a nearby wall, they released their grip on him. "Hey, take it easy on the poor spook Rusty. Take a chill pill or somethin'." Liam suggested.

As the only woman in the active group Stella tried talking sense into him. She was too tired for Rusty's attitude at Munchie. "Enough! Back off him Rusty, just because you had a bad day, doesn't mean you can take it out on Munchie."

Shaking his head, glaring, Rusty barked back at her. "I don't care! I don't like him, and I never will!"

Closing the fridge and being the only one who regularly saw a therapist Clyde thought he figured out the ghost's issue. "I think that's the problem. Perhaps he eats because he wants to feel accepted here, something Dr. Lopaz mentioned. Remember, he's a ghost staying with a bunch of people whose job it is to get rid of them. Honestly how would you feel Rusty?"

And they all walk off, leaving Rusty Spokes alone in the kitchen. Still maybe Clyde had a point he figured. The spook was staying with humans who caught and contained them.

-later

The other boy Ghostbusters were asleep, and Stella bunking in Leni and Lori's room... except for Spokes, who's simply sitting up in his bunk. Thinking. And thinking long and hard about 'something'. Finally, he gets up, heading out into the main room of the HQ. A very miserable looking Munchie sat there sniffling and grumbling in sadness. He saw Rusty Spokes there, looking over him holding some of Lynn-sagna. But before he gave Munchie his treat, Rusty waggles a finger at him... A stern warning. Quietly, he kept his voice so no would catch him doing this. "You say one thing of this to anybody I'll deny everything."

The ghostly glutton simply smiles with gratitude, and then he was fed the leftover Lynn-sagna. "Night, Munchie." Rusty said.

After that Rusty closed the door, leaving Munchie in complete darkness. Looking at the door the pudgy ghost let out a huge burp then started laughing a bit. Maybe the redhead didn't hate him so much after all he thought.

-to be continued

Ok everyone settle down... Boy that chapter was a long one. And pretty intense too. Not every chapter will be this long or dramatic. In fact, the next one is more lowkey. Having chapters with a smaller scope won't be all bad. This chapter was based off "The Real Ghostbusters" episode "Knock Knock" one of the shows best episodes and my personal fave. Mostly because I watched it constantly on an old cassette tape. Sadly, a newer VCR ate it. Then some years later YouTube came along, and I watched it all over again, loving it even more than when I was a kid.

Again, Lincoln's love interest, she will be completely original. And again, she won't show up until chapter 15. So, the chapter wasn't TOO scary, was it? Were the Rusty jokes funny enough? I'll do my best. I also have to ask how's the pseudo-soundtrack holding up? I thought "Terror Time Again" by Skycycle from Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island was a perfect fit. But what do you all think?

I hope you'll enjoy this story so please review it. Please read and review this and my other stories which range from: Yokohama Night Monsters, Power Rangers Dimension Legends, Loud House: Rise of Akira, ELG The Series, EL Digital Saviors, Cybertronian Invasion, Loud House Build Fighters, and Maverick Hunter KLN to satisfy your craving for bizarre crossovers. This is the bit where I mention saying good night, folks and take care this has been writer TURP signing off for the night. I hope you enjoy this new crazy story.