//------------------------------// // Chapter 17: I Use To Call You My Brother. // Story: Monster-bumps // by Napalm monster //------------------------------// "Dead!" Aiden yelled. Aiden stomped down the stairs, grimacing as her hair was a mess. She had all manner of gum stuck in her hair. She gritted her teeth looking for the skeleton responsible. "HA-HA-HA!" Dead chortled, "Hey Aiden, nice hair. Gum is a good look on ya." Aiden growled, it had been four weeks. FOUR WEEKS. She had to endure the skeleton that looked like her little brother. Every now and then when Mr. and Mrs. Shiverriba left home for work. Ralph would release his so called 'best friend' and he would be nothing but a nuisance to her. She tried to put up with him, she really did. For her brothers sake. But he was so annoying. He couldnt stop pulling pranks on her, he also kept moving their mom and dads stuff and put it in her room where she would get in trouble and get grounded. She was almost tempted to smash his skull, but he would just regenerate it. "Will you stop putting gum in my hair while I sleep!" Aiden yelled, tugging her green hair, "I'm getting sick of these stupid pranks and if I find gum in my hair again, I'm gonna-" "Do what?" Dead inquired, "We both know you won't do a thing to me." Aiden growled and clenched her eyes, "Just don't do it again!" Aiden turned to the bathroom to begin the removal of her hair along with gum. Dead just smirked. Watching her miserable, made him giddy. He couldn't help being bad, he was written that way. Dead walked into the kitchen and his grin grew when he saw Poison Thorn with a watering pale and began pouring it over him. "Poison ol' buddy ol' pal, how are ya?" Dead asked. Posion Thorn just let out a few small growls, expressing he was just fine. He then resumed pouring water over himself. "Cool," Dead said before he began raiding the fridge, soon Aiden came in the kitchen. "Has anyone seen the scissors?" She asked. Posion Thorn then angrily growled at her. Green vines began slithering upwards as the plant monster bared its teeth at the eldest Shiverriba. "Wha?" Aiden said, taken back by the sudden hostility, "Poison Thorn? What's wrong with you?" Poison replied with more animal growls before he shot a vine from his hand which snared Aiden by her ankle raising her up as she began screaming, dangling. Meanwhile Dead was laughing at her. "What going on her-" Ralph paused when he walked into the kitchen and his eyes widened to see his sister screaming loudly with Poison Thorn dangling her in midair. He ran up to him, "Poison no! Stop! Bad monster plant! Bad!" Poison Thorn merely growled and rolled his eyes before dropping Aiden with a resonating thud. Dead kept laughing at the green haired girls misfortune. "HA-HA-HA-HA! Oh my god, you have the funniest scream ever! Aaaaah! Help me! Save me!" Dead made a poor impression of Aiden, he turned to Poison, "Good one Poison, HA-HA-HA-HA!" Aiden was still on the floor, she groaned and turned over on to her back, with her arm draped around her stomach, glaring at Dead, "Dead! That is not funny! I almost would've been killed by him!" Dead continued laughing, undaunted, "And that's what makes it even more funnier! HA-HA-HA-HA!" Aiden narrowed her eyes, and kept giving the laughing skeleton an ire look. Ralph spoke, "Maybe take it easy on her next time Dead, she's not like you who can survive getting crushed under a steamroller." "Oh come on that joke was hilarious, you should've been there daddy." Dead smirked. Ralph shook his head, "I'm serious, don't kill my sister! Okay?" "Can I Atleast put poisonous scorpions in her panties?" Dead asked, with a puppy dog face. "No!" Ralph shouted, this time serious, "No poison, no explosive, no mutilation. Basically anything that can seriously hurt a human." Dead scoffed, leaning his elbow against the table holding his head, and looking away, pouting, "Your no fun." Ralph sighed exhausted before shuffling away, hunched, "What am I gonna do with you..." Ralph entered the bathroom to see Aiden cutting off her hair with the remains of Deads latest 'genius' prank. Aiden purposely ignored him out of spite. She didn't wanted to hurt his feeling, but Aiden sort of hated Ralph for creating Dead. He had been nothing but torture for her, but she forced herself to put it up for Ralph's sake. "Come on Aiden don't give me the silent treatment." Ralph begged, she then pouted, sticking her nose up and closing her eyes. "What did I do?" Ralph asked, looking dispirited. Aiden sighed, "It's not what you've done, it's Dead. I could've handled a few of your 'friends' but Dead is too much. And it's not just Dead. Poison Thorn, those Tooth Fairies, that primodana, Arachnida. They've all been acting all....all-" "Rowdy?" Ralph finished, "Yeah, I've been noticing it to. And getting them back in their books has been a challenge when ever mom and dad are around. Last time I tried getting Arachnida back in her book because mom and dad were in the house, she insisted on eating them so the other monsters wouldn't have to go back in their books. So they could be free all the time." Aiden gawked at Ralph, perplexed and shocked, "T-that's horrible!" "I know, but she insisted. Anyway I locked her in her book before she could attempt anything. Maybe a few days in there will give her time to cool off." Aiden tilted her head down, "Your monsters are really becoming more malevolent. If this keeps up..." Aiden sighed, trailing off and rubbing her forehead, "I don't know what we're gonna do." "But they're my friends," Ralph said, "I can't abandon them." "Well, we're definetly gonna need a contingency plan incase they do go..." Aiden paused, looking for the right words, "....Rogue." "I think it's time to get rid of my pen." Ralph said sadly. Aiden looked at him in shock, "B-but, you love that pen. Why get rid of it?" "Because I can't trust myself with it. I'll just write more books and more monsters. And if anything happened to you and mom and dad, then I would never forgive myself. You three are the only real people who love me." Aiden gave Ralph a small forced smile, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a tender embrace. Ralph didn't hesitate to hug her back. "I'm sorry I forced you to make this decision." Aiden whispered over Ralph's shoulder. "It's fine, I have more than enough friends." "one question though," Aiden asked, "Where are you gonna hide the pen?" "Far away. You said dad is taking us on that cross country road trip, right?" Ralph asked. Aiden nodded. "Well, I'll take the pen with me and once we're enough away from home, I'll bury it somewhere." "What about Dead and the others? What are you gonna do if they do go rogue?" "We'll....." Ralph trailed off and glanced down, looking melancholy, "If they do get out of control, then the books are still an option. But we'll discuss it once we cross that bridge." That night before Mr. Shiverriba decided to take the cross-country trip, Ralph began packing all his essentials for the trip. While Dead watched him from the bed, his creator already explained what was happening. "So, your gonna be gone for how long?" Dead asked. "Well it's a cross country road trip, so maybe weeks, I don't know really." Ralph said, continuing to fold his clothes into his suitcase. "B-but what about me?" Dead asked unnerved, "Your taking me with you right?" Ralph shook his head, "I'm sorry, the RV dad bought is pretty small. There's a strong chance Dad will see you and I can't risk that." Dead groaned and hunched over making another pouty face. He grinned and then looked at Ralph, "Atleast bring me a souvenir." Ralph paused and glanced over at him. Silent for a moment. He then chuckled, "Sure thing, pal. I will." Dead glanced back down, "Do you think we'll always be friends forever?" He inhaled unsure of the answer or what the future may have instore for both of them. But he did know, he was gonna to make an effort to never lose Dead as his friend, "I hope so Dead." Dead then walked up, picked up the Bone Orchard manuscript and looked over his shoulder one last time to Ralph, "I'll be waiting for you right here....Daddy." He winked. Ralph chuckled, before Dead opened the book sucking him in, in a small blue vortex. The book dropped with Dead inside. Ralph walked over and picked up the book before carefully concealing it in a drawer in his closet to keep safe and sound. Before Ralph left his room he picked up one manuscript, titled: "The Haunted Monster Truck." It had been three weeks. Ralph, Aiden, and Mr. Shiverriba were enjoying their trip as they began sightseeing all the place they've been to. Aiden was finally able to relax and put her feet up without worrying about Dead or any of Ralph's monsters terrorizing her. And Mr. Shiverriba enjoyed spending the past weeks, bonding with his eldest daughter and youngest son. But through it all, Ralph still couldn't get his mind off of Dead or the other monsters. He couldn't stop thinking about their recent behavior. These monsters were the best thing to happen to him in while, and if they went rogue. Would he really have to lock up everyone? Arachnida? WildWire? Jack? The mad mummy? What about Dead? Would he go rogue? He's been acting awfully nasty to everyone except him. Mostly towards Aiden, but why? Could it be the way he wrote them? He did write them to hate all humans except him. Is it possible he wrote his feelings of misanthropy into them making them hostile against anyone but him? They did kill a lot of the human characters in his books. And they've been getting more stubborn about going back in their books. Soon enough they won't want to at all. "Hey Ralph!" Mr. Shiverriba called, earning Ralph's attention, "We're coming up on the next town." The RV passed a sign on the road into town, which read: "Canterlot City." Ralph looked out the windows and saw a couple of citizens. They all looked so happy and cheery, not like his town which had everyone alway in a rush somewhere without acknowledging others to even say hello. Ralph sort of liked this town. The RV then parked near a motel right near the edge of town. "Hey Uhm, there are no ants here? Right dad?" Ralph asked anxiously. "For the last time weirdo," Aiden smirked playfully, "Ants aren't gonna swarm you in your sleep." "Okay, just checking." Ralph said quickly. Ralph quickly exited the car. Not paying attention Ralph turned around and accidentally bumped shoulders with a girl with large orange puffy hair wearing a purple hoodie. "Oops, I'm sorry ms, my bad." Ralph apologized. The girl simply gave him a small grimace, "Yeah, so it would seem." The girl grunted and was joined by two other girls, one purple with pigtails, green streaks on her hair. The other was blue with a ponytail with purple streaks. All wearing red pendants. "Jeez," Ralph muttered, "Rude, much?" "C'mon kids!" Mr. Shiverriba called, "The motel room is waiting." Ralph trembled nervously, hoping for no ants to be hiding underneath his bed That night while everyone was sleeping, Ralph held the "Haunted Monster Truck" manuscript and crept into Aidens bed and shook her silently. Aiden stirred in her sleep, murmuring a few things in her sleep before opening her eyes. "Ralph?" Aiden asked, rubbing her tired eyes, "What is it?" "I need your help with a problem." Ralph whispered. "I am not going to check under your bed for ants. Your being ridiculous, go to sleep." "No it's..." Ralph trailed off, his eyes darting to their sleeping father, "Another problem." Aiden raised a brow, her eyes then widened, "Oooooh, did you wet the bed?" "No!" Ralph whisper yelled, looking embarrassed, "The pen, I think we're far enough from home to burry it." "Where?" "I'm not sure but I need your helping finding a place." "Fine, let me get my socks and shoes on first." Once the two Shiverribas were dressed. Ralph quietly crept outside before closing the door silently. Not to wake up their dad. "Okay let's go." "Where? In case you forgotten. I'm too young to drive yet." Aiden reminded. Ralph smirked, "That's why I brought this." Ralph pulled the Monster Truck manuscript. He unlocked it in the parking lot before throwing it somewhere with a lot of open space. The monster truck honked a few times, it's head lights piecing through the night. The Shiverribas climbed up and entered the driver and passenger seat. "Take us somewhere far away." Ralph ordered. The Monster Truck let out a couple of beeps with its horn before starting the engine on its own. Driving out of the parking lot of the motel into Canterlot. After a while, the Monster Truck passed by an abandoned mine and factory which looked perfect for hiding. Ralph pressed the brakes stopping the possessed truck. "You wanna bury your pen here?" Aiden asked. "Why not?" Ralph shrugged, "It's pretty far." "Okay," Aiden said hesitantly, "Let's go before dad notices us gone." Ralph and Aiden quickly exited the Truck and went inside the mines, following the large track and lanterns that illuminated their way. After a bit of aimless wandering, the two Shiverribas found a catwalk with a few construction tools and girders that looked like they haven't been touched for a while due to the dust on the surface. Ralph then found the right spot and began digging up a spot near the catwalk. "Goodbye..." Ralph said sadly, a bit depressed to say goodbye before dropping the pen into the hole, "My......oldest friend." *Two weeks later* Back on the other side of the country at the Shiverriba residence. Mrs. Shiverriba was cleaning the house. She moved upstairs to her sons room. She spotted the heap of manuscript her son inherited his time on. Her curiousity soon peeked. Ralph never really liked it when other people read his books. She knew they were horror books, but surely they can't be that bad. She always imagined Ralph would one day be a writer. Her curiosity soon grew overwhelming, she wanted to read atleast one story. Besides things have been dull since her husband and two kids left. And they were going to come back from their trip in two days. Just one book. Mrs. Shiverriba picked up one titled: "The Zilther Beast." She opened in it slightly, eager now to read about it. Outside the house a jogging a couple ran on the other side from the Shiverribas, they stopped when they saw a blue light flashing from the window. Followed by loud screaming. The Shiverribas crossed the border into their town. After the trip everyone had a good time. Aiden took some really interesting photos, Ralph enjoyed the trip himself. He even picked up a snow globe with a skull inside for Dead. He was eager to see his reaction when they arrived. Maybe he would let him out after his parents went to bed. He was so excited to see his friend after so long. On the way, Ralph decided to put some music on. He scrolled through the stations but couldn't find anything he liked. He then landed on the news of his hometown. “Attention, this just-this just.....” The radio turned to static suddenly, ”I don't know how to describe this folks but monsters have invaded the city!” Ralph and Aidens eyes widened in pure shock and horror as both their faces went pale. They turned up the radio volume hearing the anchor. ”Folks I know this sounds crazy....I wouldn't believe it if I wasn't seeing it my.......self...” The radio kept getting interrupt by static, “The police has done all it could....b....but......they-they don't seem to be dying....they're invincible.....the army has tried missles on what appears to-to, be a giant....octopus man.....I'm not s-s-sure what it is......but it's massive and destroying everythin........Thankfully their has been no fatalities.....but hundred of citizens have been hospitalized.....citizens had been informed to evacuate the city immediately.....” The man paused, suddenly their was the sound of growling in the background. Followed by screaming. "Oh my god no! Stay awa-" There was nothing but feedback before the transmission ended. Ralph felt his heart fall to his stomach. "Oh no...." He muttered. "HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!" Dead laughed, standing on top of a destroyed car watching the city burn and the monsters destroy everything. "Wait until Daddy sees this!" He screamed. He watched as the Zilther Beast blast an entire building before it came crashing down, kicking up a large cloud of dust as it soon swooped through the town. The monsters continued rampaging. The Mutant Mantis destroy buildings by swiping it claw against it, Jack created more pumpkin heads and began throwing their heads like molotovs at nearby gas stations. Tooth Faries began swarming an orthodontist building. It was massive panic as all the citizens evacuated. More zombies poured into the streets grunting and moaning loudly. Winter blowed his ice breath across town freezing all the buildings and some citizens in ice. A searchlight then flashed over Dead as he turned up to see a police helicopter hovering over him. He put his index and thumb to his lips, letting out a shrill whistle. The police helicopter was quickly attacked by Queen Bee as she ripped the blades off the chopper before it plummeted creating a big explosion in the distance. Dead just laughed. "HA-HA-HA-HA! I hope you got helicopter insurance! HA-HA-HA!" Dead stopped his laughter when he saw a familiar black hoodie running up to him. Dead smiled at his creator. "Daddy, your just in time for the show." Ralph just looked at his best friend with eyes widened, his mouth agape, staring at him in shock and disbelief, "What have you done!?" "Oh, well I got bored waiting for you. So I decided to throw a party, mind the mess HA-HA-HA-HA! The cleaning lady won't come till Monday. HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!" "Do you realize what you've done!" Ralph exasperated, "You've all exposed yourself!" "So?" Dead shrugged, "You created us. Why do that just to hide me- I mean us, away? like some mistake? I'm not a mistake!" Ralph narrowed his eyes at his former best friend, "The only mistake was letting you out into the world where you could hurt people!" "You made me to get revenge on 'people' all of them! for ignoring you! That's what I'm doing. All of this is for you daddy." Ralph shook his head, "This isn't what I wanted Dead!" "Well guess what daddy." Dead said emphasizing the word. But unlike before it was filled with malice and hate, "This is what I want now! So you can either stay out of the way and let me have my fun! Or else you'll be caught in the crossfire." Ralph eyes began filling with tears. He knew something like this would happen. Just not something like this on a grand scale. He looked around, fire spreaded across town, cars and buildings looked destroyed. This was his fault. People were suffering because of him. He had to stop this before someone got seriously hurt, or worse. "Please Dead, stop this!" Ralph begged, tears already running down his cheeks, "All I wanted was to have a friend. Please Dead!" "Sorry, but your either with me or against me!" Dead said before turning back to the carnage on the street, Ralph expression turned into an angry glare, tears still ran down his face. He knew what he had to do now. It was clear. Ralph ran back to the house, where both his dad and Aiden were there. "There you are!" Mr. Shiverriba exclaimed raising from his seat, "Where have you been its chaos out there!" Ralph sniffled, "I'm sorry Dad but I have to fix this mess." Ralph said before running upstairs to his room. Aiden quickly followed. She ran in to see Ralph picking up the opened manuscripts one by one. "What are you doing?" Ralph eyes narrowed as he looked at his sister with a sullen expression, he walked up to her giving her a heap of his manuscripts. His tears already dried. "Come." Ralph said, before exiting the room carrying the other half of the manuscripts. "Ralph where are you going!" "To fix this, and I need your help Aiden." Ralph said before running down stairs past his dad back into town with Aiden following him close by. With the manuscripts in hand, Ralph had instructed Aiden to pursue the monsters of the manuscript she held to capture them all. Aiden nodded ran in the opposite direction, holding the manuscripts. Ralph ran in the other direction. One by one Ralph and Aiden had been able to capture the monsters with relative ease. Had they not had the manuscripts it would have been more of a challenge. But both Shiverribas had been able to capture the monsters back into their books with no problem. Jack, WildWire, The Wolf boy, the Terrors The Mutant Mantis, Killer Frosty, Poison Thorn, Zilther Beast, and the Nine eye beast. One by one all the manuscripts had been completed with all their monsters returned. Ralph just need to confront one last monster.... "No-no-no-no!" Ralph heard a familiar angry voice. He turned to see Dead standing on the roof of a car with an angry grimace. "Your ruining everything!" Dead yelled, still standing on the car, gazing down at his creator, "WHY!!? You created us to punish people, we have our chance now!" Ralph shook his head, "I only wanted to punish those who deserve it!" "Everyone deserves it! You know these people will only disappoint you everytime! And you created the one thing to help settle the score and you choose to revoke us!? ME!? Nobody rejects me!!" Ralph whimpered, tears once again falling, "Please! Your my best friend! Don't make me do this!" "I did this for you," Dead muttered, looking at Ralph with disgust and disdain, "I did all of this for YOU!" "You hurt my family!" Ralph replied. "Because they don't understand what we have, they wouldn't truly accept this gift you have, and they would take it away!" "Your wrong!" "Am I?" Dead said contemptuously, "Your sister never wanted us around, she only pretended to, because she knows how lonely you are!" Dead pointed at him. "She pitied you, she would have eventually told your mom and dad and we would have all been taken away!" Ralph hung his head, letting tears fall down from his face on to the pavement. He had to end this dispute, and say goodbye to Dead. Before something worse happened. "I'm sorry." Ralph whispered softly and he took out the Bone Orchard manuscript. Deads eyes widened, "Wait wait wait wait wait -- what are you doing? Ralph what the hell are you doing with that?" Dead stuttered nervously, backing away scared, as Ralph then took out the key. "No-no please! Please don't do this!" Dead begged. Ralph pressed the key in the hole and turned the lock, making a pop resonating click sound that echoed throughout the air. More tears assaulted Ralph's face as he sniffled loudly. He really hated doing this to Dead. "No Ralph, you-you don't know what it's like in there!" Dead pleaded, backing away further slowly. Ralph ignored his pleads and let the lock pop open free. Dead flinched when he heard the lock go up, he then kneeled down to illustrate how desperate he was to not go back in. "Please I'm begging you....daddy." Ralph just raised his head with his eyes red from tears. He sniffled a few times giving him an apologetic look. Before doing what needed to be done. "I'm.....so sorry......son." "Please don't send me back there!" Dead said. But it was too late. Ralph opened the book and a spiraling blue light of energy was aimed at Dead which enveloped him. Ralph held the book tight from both sides as he watched his best friend get sucked in. Dead expression quickly shifted to an angry venomous glare, filled with hate towards his creator. "You'll regret this!" Dead snarled, as he was lifted up by the vortex, "Next time I get out....I'm coming after you and your stupid sister!" Ralph turned his head away and closed his eyes as Dead began turning into ink before returning towards the pages on the book. Once all the ink flowed back inside Ralph slammed the book tight with Dead inside. Ralph stood there for a moment. Hugging the book with his friend inside, he kneeled down on his knees and just let the tears fall down. The one person he thought he could trust, along with his family. Was gone. It had to be done. It was the right thing to do. But why did he feel like he just betrayed someone who trusted him with his life, and stabbed them in the back repeatedly with no remorse. He remained there. Silent on the street, still hugging the book. He let the tears flow down his cheeks. He was alone. Ralph heard the sound of police sirens approach, but he didn't care. He didn't move an inch. He just stayed there. He lost someone he called his brother. In the distance you could see the snow globe that Ralph had plan on giving him as sign of their friendship. Shattered, liquid leaking out, with the skull just laying there on the street. Glass surrounding it. Broken. That was what Ralph felt like. Inside.