It was going to be another night at the House of Mouse, but tonight, Mickey didn't know what to do, whether to recycle the old cartoons for the guests or desperately find something else. He had to pay the rent to Pete which was getting quite desperate. Even Minnie was noticing it, the pain was impossible to hide. Meanwhile, all the guests arrived, eager for another fun night, ready for whatever was in store, but not Mickey. Mickey appeared on the stage, looking quite glum heading for the microphone to deliver the news. Before he could utter even a syllable, out of nowhere, as if summoned from another dimension, a huge bony arm shot out of a hole in the space/time continuum and grabbed Mickey and pulled him through in the blink of an eye. Minnie and all the staff and guests were wide-eyed with shock and disbelief. In just a few seconds another bony arm shot out and grabbed Minnie as well, then in the guests area, more arms shot out of nowhere and grabbed Donald, Goofy, and Pluto in quick succession, screams of horror were heard as they saw what was happening. Some guests too were grabbed as well, Moana, Simba, Nala, Aladdin, Jasmine, Rajah, Abu, Mulan, Mushu, all were grabbed as well. The entire clubhouse was frozen in a fear no one could comprehend…..
Z-Team's Tales of Horror
Episode 1: Who is Zack Burner?
The group found themselves being flung around in a dark vortex for several seconds, all they could do is scream and holler as they were being spun around getting transported to someplace they wouldn't even know or why they were sent. Just when all seemed lost they found themselves on some hard wood floor, in a dark, tight room, chock with candles and cobwebs, with a desk with bookshelves, no windows, but one exit which had double doors. Gathering themselves, everyone looked at each other in puzzlement and around, wondering why they were magically summoned to this dark place.
"Where are we?" asked Mickey.
"Don't know, but this place gives me the creeps" added Donald with a shiver. Pluto was nervous about the two lions.
"It's okay fella, we're not going to eat you" informed Simba calmly.
"We need to figure out a way to get out of here" added Nala
"And figure out why we were summoned to this creepy place" finished Moana. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.
"You'll get your answers soon enough….." boomed a mysterious voice, sounding like a mixture of Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Vincent Price, everyone turned their heads in the direction of the voice.
"Whoever you are, show yourself!" Donald squawked with anger. Everyone else nodded in agreement with rage in their eyes.
"Don't get all uptight, duck….." the voice continued. "I brought you all here for a good purpose, but if all of you want answers, you're going to have to pass some tests of cooperation, intellect, and resiliency, for the reason why I brought you all here is not for the cowardly or faint of heart."
"I don't know what sadistic game you're playing at, but none of us are amused. You got that?!" shouted Mulan.
"Keep complaining and you'll get nowhere, now you can keep doing what you're doing, and remain stuck forever, or you can follow my guidance and get out." The group's anger simmered a bit. "That's better, now to escape you're going to need to create an offspring, but to do that you need a mother and a father. Look around the room, see if you can find a way to encounter the father, it's in a manner you didn't expect".
"What on earth is he talking about?" pondered Aladdin. Before anyone else could give an answer, Abu leaped onto the desk and discovered a small, flask with a gaseous matter inside, he cautiously pulled off the cork of the flask. As he did, the gas escaped, everyone gazed in fear at what they were going to encounter next, the gas slowly took form, humanoid. When the form was completed everyone was more in wonder than in fright, for what appeared before them was the ghost of a beautifully dressed man with clothes from the 1800's, neatly combed hair and a mustache.
"Ah, the mortal living of the world needs my help, nevermore" the ghost spoke.
"Nevermore?" replied Mickey, his eyes and everyone else's eyes shot open with astonishment. "you….you're Edgar Allan Poe!"
"Correct rodent….now that you've found me I'll give you the next clue, as according to Zack Burner."
"Who is this Zack Burner?" asked Jasmine.
"Ah, he's the one who brought you over here to this place. Don't worry he's actually a good man despite his eccentricities." Everyone looked at each other with more puzzlement. "Now the mother is a woman who wrote a story about a man who puts together dead flesh, and brings his creation to life with lightning"
"Dead pieces, lightning…..." pondered Goofy. "Gawrsh, that sounds like Frankenstein to me!"
"Great! Now where is that book?" Mickey replied searching the books, which he eventually found, pulled out, and then opened up. In the place of pages was another flask, he opened it up without hesitiation. The gas in the flask escaped and slowly took the form of a woman in an elegant dress, and long hair.
"You must have found me fortunate ones…..I am Mary Shelley the author of Frankenstein."
"And now let us unlock the door for you…." added Edgar Allan Poe. The two ghosts proceeded to the door and then raised their hands, sparkly dust emerged from their hands and created a word that crossed over booth doors:
HORROR
As soon as the word was made, the doors opened up revealing a long hallway, dark, and barely lit with some candles on either side. Without any further delay the group proceeded down the halls, with the two author ghosts right behind, anxiously awaiting what was going to happen next, though they were all unarmed. Eventually at the end of the hall was a large room, standing in the center was a large feline creature with the body of a lion and the head of a woman, a sphinx.
"Welcome new recruits, by order of Zack Burner, you're next test is about the supernatural, if all of you can at least get my questions answered correctly, you can proceed to the next challenge" Everyone was nervous, but consented to the challenge. "For my first question, this one is for the male mouse, name off all the ways you can ward off or destroy a vampire" Mickey pondered the answers, but in a matter of seconds, he came up with the answers.
"It's the cross, sunlight, wooden stake, garlic, and silver"
"That is correct" the Sphinx replied with a smile. "Now for the next question for the duck, what other creature of the night would you use silver on to defeat it?" Donald wasted not time in answering the question.
"Werewolf"
"That's also correct. This next question is for the island girl. From the land of the rising sun, known as Japan, there is a sea monster called Umibozu, to get past the creature it asks you what is the most horrible thing that you know, do you say the creature or do you say life?" Moana was a little stumped with this question, but after a minute she gave her best guess.
"Life"
"Correct. The next question is for the Chinese warrior, from that same place is another aquatic beast, the Kappa, a mischevious creature that can be stopped with what two things? I'll give you a hint a long green vegetable and the element that brings warmth, light, and destruction." Mulan thought for a minute more on that question.
"Cucumber, one of them is a cucumber" whispered Mushu in her ear.
"Fire and Cucumber"
"Correct. This next question is for the Arabian thief. In the myth of Perseus, how did he defeat the horrible monster Medusa?"
"Uhhh, he looked at her reflection, and from there he decapitated her"
"Correct. This question is for the goofball, in the epic of Beowulf, the warrior defeats the hideous Grendel with what?"
"Gawrsh, I sure don't know that one, except that he'd wouldn't have a weapon in his hands"
"You are indirectly correct. And now for the last one for the lions, in Greek mythology a hero named Oedipus was riddled by a sphinx similar to me with the following riddle: What walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, three in the afternoon and is weakest when it has the most legs?"
Simba and Nala didn't know what to think, considering the difficulty of the riddle, until they saw Aladdin himself. Simba turned to the sphinx.
"It's a man!" Everyone looked astonished at his answer.
"You are correct great king!"
"How did you figure that one out?" asked Mickey.
"I think I know why" replied Aladdin. "A man is born walking on all fours, as a boy and a man he walks on two, at old age, he gets a cane, which counts as a leg. The time of day is metaphorical".
"You all are smarter than you look" smiled the sphinx, standing up and then walked over to the side. "Proceed to the next hall for your final challenge, hope your all combat ready"
"Oh yes, I'm ready to wipe the smirk off of this Zack Burner when I get my hands on him!" growled Donald with his fists up.
"Hold it Donald, remember what Mr. Poe said?" informed Mickey, stopping him.
"Oh right, we'll see about that….."
The group proceeded down the hallway, as they were halfway a creak was heard.
"In the next room, you have four insidious creatures I've caught that you all have to overcome. Before that, is an armory room, inside look for the weapons that have your name on it, don't worry I know all your strengths." The group did what the voice said. Inside on the right hand side was a rack with all sorts of weapons and the group wasted no time in searching for the weapon with their names on it, except for the lions, the tiger, dragon, monkey, and dog since they were just sidekicks. For Mickey a pair of brass knuckles, for Minnie a first aid kid durable enough to fit in her purse to make it hard, for Donald a spear, for Goofy a shield, for Moana an oar, for Aladdin a scimitar, for Jasmine a whip, and for Mulan a sword. Without any further delay the group proceeded into the next room, a very large room with a large ring, a sewer hole in the middle, there were two gates one on the right and one out in the back. As the group all entered, the gate behind them closed.
"Ready for your challenges? Hope you all got the courage to face your fears because this first challenge might drive you buggy!" boomed the voice. The group readied themselves with their weapons and got into fighting stances. The gate at the back opened up, a strange screeching sound was heard, in a matter of seconds a large striped beetle appeared. Minnie, Abu, looked a bit startled at the size and ferocity of the insect, but the rest charged at the beetle, whacking, slashing, jabbing, dodging any attempts bites, until Moana knocked the insect over onto its back allowing the Simba and Nala to pounce upon the bug squashing it instantly, plus squirting bug juice all over the place.
"Good job, but this next challenge might give you a sinking feeling!" The voice boomed again, water emerged from the sewer area at a rapid pace, it filled till the area was about waist deep, several characters had to be rescued and pulled above. The gate then opened up, and out emerged a blue blob like lifeform with an even higher pitched shrieking sound. Tentacles emerged from the perimeter of the shapeless mass, some of them had electricity on them.
"Cut off those electrical tentacles or we're all gonna get electrocuted!" shouted Mulan. Without any hesitation, she, Aladdin, Goofy, and Moana charged at the creature, attempting to cut off the tentacles, some were successfully, some missed. One charged tentacle, managed to get around Goofy's shield and electrocute him, stunning him. The Man O'war swfitly eluded it's attackers, heading for the others, stranded in the water. Simba and Mickey were pulled under without any warning, with a brief shriek of surprise.
"Simba!" cried out Nala.
"Mickey!" cried out Minnie.
The others searched for the unfortunate comrades, they emerged from the water, gasping for air as the tentacles wrapped around them. Pluto and Rajah came forward, and attempted biting at the tentacles to free them. Eventually after a struggle, the two were liberated, Moana leapt onto Nala and charged forward with her oar out. With one gigantic swing Moana knocked the jellyfish out of the water sending into the wall with a violent splat, emitting a mortal shriek as it splatted. The water then drained from the place.
"Doing great but the next challenge might wrap you up!" the voice shouted. Up from the ceiling a golden Egyptian coffin fell down, and in a matter of seconds it opened up revealing a living mummy, Rajah, Pluto, Abu, and Mushu shrieked the sight of the abomination, as it moaned and stumbled around. Mickey charged forward, delivering a few jabs and hooks to the monster, which barely affected it. Donald charged forward and jabbed the creature with his spear, which didn't phase it. Jasmine came forward and whipped at the creature, which did no effect. Minnie came forth, swung her purse at the mummy's head, which knocked it off, but it dangled on the neck, then magically reattached. The mummy bellowed swinging it's arms, knocking away the three. Mulan had an idea, she picked up Mushu, having him laying on her arm, holding her sword aloft.
"Ignite, now!" Mushu breathed some fire, setting her sword alight, and then charged forward, and aimed a terrific slash at the wrapped abomination, igniting it instantly. In a matter of seconds the creature was reduced to ashes.
"Excellent, but at your last challenge you might not stand a "ghost" of a chance!" the voice shouted. A gaseous form materialized in front of them, in a matter of seconds, it began to form a disembodied top hat wearing head with two hands, laughing manaically. Everyone stared in wide-eyed shock at the sight of this bizarre apparition.
"Ah some guests for some entertainment!" the ghost laughed. It pointed a finger upward and a cage from out of nowhere dropped onto the big cats and dog, trapping them. The ghost pointed with the opposite finger and two ropes from out of nowhere, wrapped up Donald and Goofy, like snakes, the duo struggled to get free for a bit before liberating themselves. Mulan, Aladdin, Mickey, Minnie, Moana, and Goofy had to work together to free their sidekicks. Then everyone charged at the ghostswith their weapons, but all just passed right through the ghost, who just laughed evilly at their attempts, and then waved his hands under, causing a buzzsaw to emerge from the floor heading for the heroes, who had to dodge immediately.
"Here, let me give you a hand!" shouted the voice. "Hold out your hand, Rodent Boy, I have something for you." Mickey reluctantly obeyed the voice, and from above, a pendant with ornate metal designs of birds, a lion and a dragon with a white gem in the center fell into his hand. Not wasting any time, Mickey held out the pendand, which glowed a fierce white aura, causing the ghost to recoil.
"Now for the grand finale…." the voice said again. From the above, a demonic looking skeletal treasure chest fell open. The voice then uttered some strange words, in a matter of seconds the ghost started to feel as though it was getting pulled into the chest, as soon as it happened the chest slammed shut, the skull out in front had its eyes glow red. Aladdin came forward and grabbed the chest. The gate to the right opened up, revealing a dark pathway. Without any further delay the group gathered up and proceeded down the hallway, which was almost pitch black save for two flames on opposite sides.
As the group walked past, more flames from opposite sides emerged as though to create a path, a quite long path. Eventually a large circle of flames created a small stage area, with a cauldron on one side, and a strange symbol on the floor. As soon as everyone, including the two ghost authors caught up, a jet of flame shot out of the symbol, surprising everyone, then slowly began to take the form of a human and then became completely normal looking, yet in real flesh and blood instead of animated, like the other. It was a young man in his 20's wearing a black business suit with a red tie, mirror sunglasses, and brown hair. There was an amused smile on his face, across his right shoulder was a sword in its scabbard.
"At last you have come great ones…..I see in your eyes you have no doubt guessed, I am Zack Burner" he continued his wry smile, but the captured weren't amused, getting angry at what he put them through, and attempted to charge at him. The stranger's smile dropped to a frown and swished his hand across, in a matter of seconds, a wall of heat appeared before the group, stopping them from attempting to harm them. "Do not cross if you don't want to get burned…." he said bemused.
"Why have you captured us?! Why us?!" shouted Mickey in anger, the others nodded in agreement.
"I've brought you all here for a good purpose, I was only testing you to see if you all could work together despite all your differences." Zack replied.
"Yeah sure, you tried to get us all killed twice!" squaked Donald with his fists up.
"That was all part of the test, and since you have all passed, let me tell you all the true reason why I summoned you all here…." He peered over to the cauldron and waved his hand upward. Fluid from the cauldron came out, yet stopped when it was high enough, creating a screen. Almost instantly, images of bloodthirsty plant monsters emerged on the screen. "These plant monsters were created accidentally by an unfortunate scientist, Dr. James Meeker, who attempted to help benefit the world, but created chaos, death and destruction with these abominations we call Plemlings." Everyone's anger dropped at hearing the news, except for Donald's.
"You're probably faking it!"
"Faking it? Maybe this should verify it all…." Zack pulled out another flask and immediately opened it up. A gaseous form emerged and then took the form of a humble, though guilty bespectacled scientist ghost.
"I hear you don't believe Zack Burner…..I'm Dr. James Meeker…..those evil plants he's showing you are my own creation." Everyone went wide-eyed with shock at hearing that. "And they are multiplying at an unspeakable rate for one purpose: world domination and destruction!"
"Gawrsh, sounds like Franken-plants to me!" replied Goofy.
"Perhaps you know of a way to stop them?" asked Moana.
"Yes I do, you can lob their heads off, shoot them in the head or chest region, use fire or the cold. I don't recommend using poison."
"Thanks for the advice! But you must depart from Zack's grasp." replied Minnie.
"Don't worry about me, I'm much safer with Zack than being free. Even ghosts aren't completely safe from evil." Without another word, he regrouped back into the flask, and Zack put a lid on it.
"I see you have brought with you the two ghosts of famous authors." Zack continued, pulling out two more flasks, both open. Without any delay, the two ghosts transported themselves back into the flasks, that were immediately closed up.
"Perhaps you could tell us about this?" asked Aladdin with slight anger and curiosity, holding up the skeletal chest.
"That chest is to capture 13 horrible, irredeemable, malicious spectres, and you just helped me catch one of them. The rest I'll explain later…."
"So do all of you think you're up for the job of saving the world? I can't do it alone, I need all of you and you all need me so what will it be?" Zack asked them. The group didn't know what to think, so they all huddled together secretly pondering whether to accept the task or not, being wary if it was a trick. Eventually the group came to a decision.
"We accept the task if this isn't a trick." said Mickey a little leery.
"I'm willing to help you, but only if this is all real." added Simba with an equally wary look, the group nodded, Zack smiled with glee at their decision.
"That's what I though you'd all say, so without further ado….." he swirled his hands around,creating a horizontal vortex, in front of them. "Jump through the vortex and be ready to defend, because right now, your clubhouse is under attack from the monsters! I will join you all shortly" Hearing that, the group immediately jumped into the vortex, without any second thought.
To be continued…..