//------------------------------// // Canterlot Phantom Project // Story: Canterlot High Chronicles // by Shadowsnake89 //------------------------------// "Alright, is everyone here?" Vice Principal Luna asks the assembled students that have gathered together at the school after hours. "Mystery Mint, Norman, Scribble Dee, Captain Planet, Golden Hazel, Heath Burns, and Blueberry Pie. I would like to thank all of you in advance for giving up some of your free time to participate in this project." "It's our pleasure ma'am."Hazel says. "And the extra credit to bump up my grades doesn't hurt either." Mystery Mint says under her breath. "What was that Miss Mint?" Luna asks. "Nothing. Just that we're going to have a great time, right everyone?" "It's gonna be far out." Captain Planet says, sitting on a beanbag chair he has brought. "This could be fun I guess." Norman responds. "Statistically the odds of this group working out are 500 to 1." Scribble Dee says as she jots down numbers on a piece of paper, pushing her glasses up her face every so often. "This is gonna be a home run, isn't that right?" Heath asks Blueberry Pie who silently responds by furiously nodding her head. "This project is to determine how well a group of people of varying backgrounds can get along." "Ma'am, not to be rude, but we all get along just fine." Norman notes. "Yes, but you've never been in a controlled environment, put into a position where you are forced together. And with that in mind I'll have to ask for each of your phones and wireless devices." This causes a minor outburst from the students before Luna's stern look makes them changee their tone, after which they comply as she holds a bag out and each one puts their items in. "You'll get these back at the end of the project." "That's three days from now. What if there's an emergency?" Heath inquires. "If you require any assistance Swing Shift, our new janitor is here all weekend as well." The group turn as they watch the old man with a long white beard and blue coveralls mopping at the other end of the hall. "I'll be fixin a few things around here." He says with a loose fitting tool belt. "Now I feel safe." Mint says sarcastically. "Also in case of an emergency situation, there is a panic button in my office to call the local authorities. Only use it in an actual emergency that Mr. Swing Shift cannot help in. Anything else will result in serious consequences, understood?" They all nod in agreement and shortly after the Vice Principal takes her leave. "Three days? This is going to be a piece of cake."Mint says, resulting in Blueberry Pie to pop up behind her with a huge smile. "A figure of speech Pie." The girl walks away, her excited smile turned into a dissapointed frown. "But there are all kinds of snacks and food in the school kitchen that Vice Principal Luna says is free for us." Scribble Dee explains, boosting Blueberry's spirits. "Groovy. I'm gonna whip you guys up one of my world famous meat free, dairy free, calorie free meals." Captain Planet says happily. After prepping the kitchen, the eco kid gets busy making his dish as the others talk amongst themselves. All of a sudden a faint clanging sound echoes through the school. "What was that?" Mystery Mint asks, looking around. "Probably just Mr. Swing Shift. He did say he was doing some work around the school." Norman says, playing a game of checkers with Heath. "So who wants to hear a story?" Hazel asks as the others gather around at one of the cafeteria tables. "Just don't make it too scary. Heath only brought enough changes of clothes for three nights." Norman jokes. "One time! One time and you'll never let anyone forget it!" He says, embarrassed as the girls chuckle at him. "Don't worry it's not that scary. It happened on the grounds of this school actually." As Hazel begins her story, Captain Planet arrives with a large tray of food. "Here you go guys. Eat up." The meal resembles small yellowish squares with some sort of paste on the side in dipping cups. "I call them Cap's super earthy entree." The others give them odd looks but each take one so as not to be rude. Blueberry is the first to taste the dish, tossing the entire thing into her mouth and begins to chew. She begins to slow down as the taste finally hits her tongue. Despite the poor taste, she forces a smile. The rest of the group take small bites of theirs and attempt the same. "Wow their really...something." Norman says, forcing the small piece he has bitten off down his throat. "Never had anything like them." Mint comments, fighting back tears in her eyes. "I've been served worst." Heath says, warranting an elbow from Mint. "What I mean is that these taste way better than those cheap meals from the vending machine." "These are the best thing I've ever tasted." Scribble says as she dips the food in the paste. The others can clearly tell she's not faking as she holds two more in her hand. "Glad you like them guys, I made loads more." Cap's comment causes everyone but Scribble to cringe slightly. "Oh sorry, didn't mean to interrupt your story." "No worries." Hazel says as she continues. "It all started over a hundred years ago in a small sea side town. In the town lived a local diver by the name of Horst Handlebar. He was one of the greatest scavenge divers around." As she continues her story, Heath casually slides his food in front of Scribble, who quickly eats it. "His talents did not go unnoticed and, unfortunately for him it attracted some rather unsavory characters. One of them was mob boss Chain Gang, who wanted Horst to help him find lost pirate treasure from a ship rumored to have gone down in the area." The students are so engrossed in the story they fail to notice the storm clouds descending upon the area. As Hazel continues the group is shocked as a bolt of lightning causes the lights to flicker as the ensuing thunder shakes the school. "Woah." Blueberry says simply as the others look upward as the lights flicker again. "No worries guys. It makes for a better atmosphere anyway. So where was I? Oh yeah. Horst refused because of the tight grip Chain Gang had on the town, but he was eventually strongarmed into it. After making the dangerous dive, he managed to bring the treasure to the suface. But he was double crossed by the mobsters and, after a long stuggle he managed to get away with the treasure and made his way inland to hide it. What he didn't know is that Chain Gang followed him to finish the job. Horst didn't survive the torture and never revealed the location of the treasure." "Chain Gang spent the rest of his days searching for the fortune with no luck. Some say it was pure coincidence that Canterlot High's foundation was being put down at the same time. Others like me say that's where Horst hide the treasure to keep it from the mobsters. And now creepy things happen after hours. Some say it's the vengeful ghost of Chain Gang, still searching for the gold, his signature chains rattling with every step." "That sounds awfully far fetched." Scribble says. "Well we're in luck. We have all weekend to find out." Hazel ends her comment just as a bolt of lightning and a crash of thunder strike. Everyone jumps and screams. The panic soon fades as they all begin to laugh. "That was a hoot." Mint says as she chuckles. "I thought you were really going to soil yourself." "Ha, yeah that would have been embarrassing." Heath says, attempting to hide his face. "Now if you'll excuse me." He darts off from the rest of the group. "Hey where'd Hazel go?" Cap says as the others look around. "Up here." They turn their heads up to find the drama student clinging to one of the pillars about fifteen feet up. "Curse my perfectly timed story telling. Can someone get me down please?" "I got this." Heath says as he returns, grabbing a baseball out of his bag and gestures for Captain Planet and Norman to stand under her. "Now this might sting a bit." "Wait, what are you going to do?" She questions, not being able to turn her head fully to look at him as he pitches the ball at her, hitting her in the rear. This causes her to release her grip as she yelps in shock and falls straight down where Norman and Cap catch her. She stands up, rubbing her backside. "Sorry about that Haze. Should have toned down that pitch." "It's okay. Just take it a little easier next time." She says as Mint hands her a pillow to sit on. "Pretty crazy story though." Heath says as the others gather around. "Can you imagine if the story was true? What if there really was buried treasure under the school? What I'd do with that." Mint says as she fantasizes about the rock star life she could live. "Hmm." Scribble thinks of all the high tech gadgets a fortune in pirate treasure could afford. Blueberry imagines a room filled to the brim with deserts. The others give her creeped out looks as she giggles, staring blankly ahead of her. "Anyway, what do you guys want to do now?" Norman asks as the lights flicker on and off again. The group look outside as the heavy rain beats against the window. "Well I don't know about you guys but I'm beat. Think I'll call it an early night." Mint says as she collects her things. "Think I'll crash in the library." "Yeah that sounds good to me." Norman says. "What about you guys?" "Nah, not me. We've got the whole school to ourselves. Think I'll get a little excercise in with a good run a few times around." Heath says as he starts to head off. "You know we have a workout room with a treadmill." Hazel states. "Yeah but when will I ever be able to run through school again without getting yelled at?" He says before running off. Hazel gives him a light smile that doesn't go unnoticed by Mystery Mint. "What was that?" The rocker asks with a smirk as the other girl blushes before walking away. Meanwhile the others are busy getting ready to sleep. "Hey guys I still have a few of these left if anybody wants them." Captain Planet says as he offers the tray of the earlier prepared food. The others cringe for a second before Scribble Dee pounces on them. "Thanks Cap." She says happily, tucking a few of the treats away for later. "Glad we dodged that bullet." Norman whispers to Blueberry who gives a simple nod. A while later the group are mostly fast asleep with the exception of Hazel who is sitting up in her sleeping bag. Mint rolls over and opens her eyes to see her. "What are you still doing up?" She asks in a whisper "Heath still isn't back yet. It's been almost two hours." "You know him. Probably wants to push himself extra hard." The rocker dismisses her friends worry. The familiar clanging is heard once again. "I just wish Mr. Swing Shift would knock it off. What is he a coal miner or something?" "I'm gonna go check on Heath." Hazel says as she gets up. "What? You got a crush on him or something?" Mint says as she can tell the answer from Hazel's face. "You totally do. (Yawns) Fortunately for you, I'm too tired to bust your chops right now. Just be careful okay?" Mint lies back down as the drama student goes off to find the athlete. She makes her way around the dimly lit school, occasionally calling out to locate the athlete. She eventually comes upon the open science lab door. She peeks inside and finds that the lights are not working. This puzzles her as she carefully steps inside, hearing a cracking sound as she steps on broken glass. "Hazel, Hazel down here." She looks over and focuses her eyes to see Heath Burns hiding in one of the ground level cabinets. "What are you doing in there?" As she asks the two hear the rattling of metal. "Hurry get in!" He whispers as she rushes over. Crawling inside, Hazel gets next to Heath in the cramped space as he pulls the door closed, leaving only a crack that the two can see out of as the mysterious figure walks by. They see a figure with a eary glowing green cloak accompanied with the source of the rattling, a collection of chains that shake each time it moves. Hazel takes the boys hand almost on instinct as the figure gets closer and closer to their hiding spot, causing Heath to look down for a moment before the two trade stares momentarily. The fading rattling and footsteps soon signals that it's safe to emerge as they peer through the crack and slowly inch out of their hiding spot. "Come on, we need to get to that panic button." Heath suggests as the two look down to find that they are still holding hands, only to separate a second later. "But what about Mr. Swing Shift?" Hazel asks. "Do you really think he can do anything against that spook?" "And the police will?" "I'll take my chances with the professionals." The two race to the vice principal's office and reach the button. "Okay let's do this." He presses the button and waits for something to happen and, after nothing does, he presses it several more times. Hazel catches his attention and points out that the wires to the button have been severed. "This is seriously not good." "What do we do now?" Hazel asks. "I don't know. We just have to...uh...uh." Heath begins to panic under the pressure. Hazel takes his hands and puts them into hers for a moment, calming him down. "Hey. It'll be alright. Let's just get back to the others and we'll figure this out together, alright?" She says softly as the two look into each other's eyes for a moment. The two stop as they have failed to hear the familiar rattling of chains behind them, turning to see a glowing hooded figure with the chains hanging off it. Back in the library, the other students are fast asleep, all tucked in their sleeping bags or under their blankets. A loud scream jolts everyone awake suddenly as they all jump up to look around. "What was that?" Scribble asks as Blueberry Pie pops out of one of the shelves, shrugging her shoulders. "What were you doing in...? You know what, never mind. Come on guys, let's see what that was." "Hey where'd Hazel and Heath go?" Cap asks as Mystery Mint sits up, stretching and yawning. "Burns was taking forever with his little jog and Haze went to check on him. They're probably making out as we sp...." She stops as the others look at her. "Well I think we should go find them. Am I right? I think I'm right. Let's go!" She says nervously as she leads the way and the others shrug their shoulders and follow. "It sounded like it came from this way." Norman says as they walk past the vice principal's office, that looks to be forcibly opened. "The door looks like it was knocked off the hinges." Scribble observes, getting down on one knee, surveying the damage. "Why would someone do that? The door was unlocked." "Look at this. Like someone rammed into it," The techie notes, observing a impression on the door. "from the inside." "So someone was locked in and smashed their way out?" Norman asks "Looks that way." "Guys, check it out." Cap calls as they look inside the room. "The line for the panic button got cut. And I found this." He shows them a piece of cloth. "That's part of Golden Hazel's skirt." Mint says as she looks at the others with a grim realization. "You don't think that...?" "I don't wanna be got by a phantom. I'm too beautiful to be chained. The ladies love me." Norman says hysterically, grabbing onto Mystery Mint's scarf. She promtply slaps him to get his focus back. "First off, I've never heard a man refer to himself as beautiful. Second, there is no such thing as ghosts." "But we've seen things from another dimension." He says as she slaps him again. "Third, don't interrupt me. And fourth, let's split up and go find them. Scribble Dee, you come with me and Norman. We'll cover the second floor. Cap, you and Blueberry check the office and the main floor. See if you can't get to a phone so we can call out for help. That cord wasn't cut by accident." She then turns back to Norman. "I'm sorry for slapping you." "It's okay, I needed that." Blueberry walks up to him with a smile on her face and raises her hand to slap him as well. "Blueberry, jokes over." He says as she walks back to join Cap. "You guys should also check with Mr. Swing Shift, he has to be somewhere in the maintanence area." "Alright everyone, let's get moving." Cap says as they split up. "Norman, Scribble, I'm gonna need your expertise on this one, just in case." The two trade confused glances before turning back to the rocker. A short while later the duo of Captain Planet and Blueberry Pie are busy checking the lower floor of the building and head straight for where they believe the janitor to be. The two move around the back halls of the building before finally coming upon an area where they find a large collection of heavy tools. "Woah, check this out. Sledgehammers, drills, a pickaxe, even a jackhammer. Like, Mr. Swing Shift must be doing some serious renovations." Cap says as the two look into a back room where they see a large part of the floor broken up and dug into like an excavation site. "Doesn't look like he's here though. We should go find the others." As he says this he hears the familiar growl of a stomach. "Maybe we should stop for a quick snack on the way?" Blueberry responds with a quick nod. The two make their way back to the cafeteria and Cap gets behind the counter. "Guess I'll whip us up something." Blueberry cringes as she thinks of the horrible experience on her taste buds from Cap's last snack. She kindly removes him from behind the counter and sits him down. "Oh, you want to make something? Groovy." He sits happily as she gets to work on a sub topped with every thing she believes a great sandwich should have as the eco kid watches in amazement. By the time she's done, the sandwich is almost two feet tall. "Now that's a good looking sandwich."He says as he puts a bib on and the two prepare to dig into the so called "snack". Just as they are about to bite into it they hear a rattling behind them. The two look up to see the glowing hooded figure, it's chains held out toward them. "Zoinks, it's Chain Gang!" Cap exclaims as he and Blueberry sweat nervously. "Want a bite?" He asks as the two hold up the sandwich before slamming it into the ghouls face and running off, Blueberry stopping to grab a pie for herself. Chain Gang wipes the food off and pursues them. They race around the halls of the school, doing their best to give him the slip. "Did you ever notice that all the halls in this school look the same?" The duo dash to the main hall and run up the left stairwell into the first door they can reach. Chain Gang follows but, as he prepares to open it the two open a door on the first floor on the opposite side, running across to a door just under him. He quickly dashes down to open but again finds that they have appeared upstairs again on the right side this time and run across to the left door. He runs up yet again as they run out of the bottom left door and, for no real reason run back in again. The phantom finally has enough and chooses a random door to open. He slowly opens it and peers in, receiving a surprise pie to the face as the two run past and back upstairs. "Alright, good job. If anyone is here this will catch them." Mystery Mint says as she, Norman and Scribble look over the net trap they have set up on the ceiling of the hallway, a thin trip wire being the trigger. "I wonder if the others have found anything." Norman wonders before spotting the other two students rushing down the hall in a panic. "No, wait!" the three shout as Cap and Blueberry hit the trip wire and get caught in the net. As they struggle to get free, the others stand over them in annoyance. "Great, you ruined our trap." "Well, what do you have to say for yourselves?" Mint asks as the duo look with fear in their eyes. The others turn to see Chain Gang racing down the hall. "Jinkies!" Scribble shouts as the three run off with the phantom in hot pursuit. They are chased all over the second floor, criss-crossing through the various classrooms. Chain Gang loses track of the kids and simply stands in the middle of the hall, scratching his head only for the trio to run over him in a haste. He jumps up and continues the chase. "Why did I wear these boots? They're completely useless in running away from a ghost." "You said you didn't believe in them." Norman corrects the rocker. "Just shut up and run!" She says as they race past where they initially set up their trap, now void of the other two, the net stretched across the hall from one door to another. As Chain Gang makes his way down, Cap and Blueberry surprise him by quickly lifting the net from each end, causing him to become entangled in it. "Good work you two." Norman says as they approach the now captive pursuer. "Let's see who this really is." He pulls on the head and pulls it off to reveal the face or rather faces behind the whole ordeal. "Snips and Snails?" They all say in unison as the two chuckle nervously. "What are you two doing here?" Mint asks. "What? It was just a little harmless joke." Snips says. "And we were pretty upset that Vice Principal Luna told us we couldn't participate after the accident in the science lab last week." "What did you do with Hazel and Heath?" Cap asks. "Oh them? We scared them one good time and they ran away. Heath has a really high pitched scream when he's scared." "Okay I get that you guys are stupid freshmen but did you really have to cut the panic button? What if there was a real emergency?" Norman asks. "Uh we didn't." Snails says after he and Snips look to one another. "I did." Swing Shift says as he comes up behind them with a pickaxe and rope. "Get on the ground." He orders as the group comply. He then ties them up and takes them to the utility closet. "I thought this would be simple, but of course, kids had to be involved." "You're the weirdest creepy janitor I've ever met, and that's saying something." Norman says as the janitor turns to them again. "I'm no janitor kid." He reaches down and pulls off the beard and throws off his uniform, the girls quickly closing their eyes. "False alarm. He still has clothes on. He's also a she apparently." Cap says as they open their eyes to see a light-blue skinned woman with darker blue hair, wearing a black cat burglers outfit. "Yes it is I, Rough Diamond!" She receives nothing but silence from the kids. "The most talented thief in this dinky little town's history?" She says trying to jog their memories. "Oh yes I remember reading an article in the paper a while back." Scribble explains. "You were wanted for a string of robberies. But you were arrested." "Yes for breaking and entering. As I was never caught with any of those items I couldn't be charged with those thefts." "That's because you hid them under the school." Cap says. "That is correct my eco friend. When you had that little addition put on I had the brilliant plan to bury them in the dirt as the foundation was set so I could come back for it later." "So you took the job as the new janitor so you'd have and excuse to be on school grounds after hours and dig it up." Scribble finishes. "Right, and now I'm but a few shovels full of dirt away from a fortune. And now I'll leave you all here. Don't worry, someone will be here in two days to get you out and by that time I'll be well on my merry way." She turns confidently to see the flashing lights of police cars outside as they quickly kick the front door in. "Freeze!" An officer shouts as her smile fades and she slowly puts her hands up. The other officers storm in and help untie the other students. "The cavalry has arrived." Heath says being carried by Hazel, the two soaking wet from the rain. The others give them odd looks. "I sprained my ankle and Hazel was nice enough to help me." Principal Celestia arrives a short time later and addresses the students. "I'm so glad you're all safe and I have to commend all of you for your quick thinking. Snips and Snails, I don't recall approving you two for this project. Care to explain?" The duo begin sweating, knowing full well the consequences. "They were passing by the school and thought something fishy was going on and came to check on it." Mint says, making up a story on the fly, nudging Snips slightly to help collaborate. "Uh, yeah. We saw that one of the doors was open and just wanted to make sure that everything was alright." "Then it seems some thanks are in order. Next time be sure to call the authorities so they can handle it." "Yes ma'am." The freshmen say in unison. "Unfortunately because of this I'm afraid we'll have to temporarily put this little project on hold." "And just when things were starting to pick up." Mint says. "I've got my van parked outside if you guys need a ride." Cap says. "Hey why don't you all crash at my place for the weekend?" "Sounds like a good time to me." Norman says as the others agree. Grabbing their things they begin to head out. "You guys coming?" Cap calls out as a confused Snips and Snails run to join them. "So I hope this didn't kill the mood." Heath says, still in Hazel's arms. She promptly drops him. "The mood was killed when I had to carry you fifteen blocks in the rain." She says as she walks to join the others, Mint giving her a surprised look. "Turns out he's not exactly my top. Plus he screams like a girl." The two share a chuckle as everyone piles into the van.