A Day Off
It was a quiet day at the Ghostbusters' Headquarters. Specter Tracker and Spook Lister were talking about Ghosts, Techno Whiz was working on their carriage the Ecto 1, and Hot Shot was sitting in his bed reading a magazine. For the Ghostbuster's Headquarters is also their living space with four beds and a changing station for the Ghostbusters had uniforms they wore.
"I'll see if there's anything to do today." Hot Shot said as he placed down the magazine in his deep voice. He then went down the fire pole and went over to Telly's desk and saw the Unicorn receptionist using a hoof file.
"Hey Telly, any important calls?" Hot asked.
"No." She replied as she filed her hoof.
"Alright. Any other calls?" He asked her.
"No Hot Shot." She replied. He then groaned and went to where Specter was which was upstairs. He went in the room which was the break room and Specter saw him.
"Hey Hot Shot. What's up?" Specter asked.
"Hey Specter, since there haven't been any calls today, I was wondering if I can get the day off." He replied.
"You know somepony can call us at anytime Hot Shot." Specter said.
"I know. But it's rare that we get a call. So just allow me to get a day off. If somepony does call, come pick me up with the Ecto 1." Hot Shot said back. Specter thought about it for a minute and then gave him an answer.
"Alright Hot Shot. Just remember, wear the uniform while out. In case somepony calls." Specter said. Hot Shot then gave him a toothy smile.
"Sweet! Thanks boss!" Hot Shot said happily. He then ran downstairs and out the door of the Headquarters which had a ghost with a red no sign covering it.
"Finally. A day with no ghosts." Hot Shot thought happily as he walked around Ponyville. He moved to Ponyville a few weeks ago and joined the Ghostbusters when he heard about them. So then as he walked around Ponyville, he saw a mare with grocery bags dropping things. She was a Unicorn with white fur and a purple curled mane and tail. Her eyes were the color of sapphire and her cutie mark was three diamonds. He started to walk over to her and when she dropped a cantaloupe, it rolled over to his boot covered feet. He then picked it up and walked over to the mare.
"Excuse me miss." He said. She turned and saw the Dragon with the cantaloupe in his claws.
"I believe you dropped this." He said as he passed her the melon.
"Oh thank you." She said happily as she grabbed with a blue magic.
"Do you need any help with those miss?" He asked her.
"Yes. I really do need some assistance." She replied. Hot Shot then took a bag off her hooves and followed her. When he saw her home, Hot Shot saw a sign in front of it called 'The Carousel Boutique'. She then opened her door and he followed her inside.
"Just set the bags down." She said as she did the same. He did as she said and placed the bag on a table.
"Thank you Mister...oh my goodness. I've never caught your name." She said in shock.
"It's okay. Name's Hot Shot. And your name is?" He asked her.
"I'm Rarity. It's nice to meet you Hot Shot." She said as she stuck out her hoof. Gently taking his claws, he held her hoof and gave it a peck making Rarity giggle. He then released her hoof and looked around her home.
"Might I ask why you're wearing that jumpsuit?" Rarity asked him as she looked at his suit.
"It's my work uniform. I'm a member of the Ghostbusters." He replied.
"Oh. I've heard of you. I heard about the Slime Ghost you captured at the Ponyville Hotel." Rarity said as she recognized the symbol on his sleeve.
"And yet after thirty baths, I still couldn't get the slime off me." He said as he shuddered. Rarity couldn't help but let out a giggle.
"Thank you again Hot Shot for helping me with my bags. I wish some ponies could be like you." She said with a smile.
"No problem. It's my job to help ponies. And I love helping." He said back.
"So have you captured any other ghosts besides the Slime Ghost?" Rarity asked as she sat down.
"We've captured a few. Like the Ghost at Ponyville University's Library." He replied as he sat down as well.
"I never knew Ponyville University had a ghost in it." Rarity said in surprise.
"Well it was deep into the Library where nopony really goes. So me and my friends had a good place to catch it." He said back.
"So who do you work with?" Rarity asked.
"Well...believe it or not, I'm the only Dragon with my friends and partners. Specter Tracker's my employer and my best friend who's an Earth Pony. Techno Whiz the Unicorn is our team's inventor and he's created all our Ghost catching gadgets. Spook Lister is our Pegasus who can list and name any Ghost. And then there's me. Just the new Ghostbuster." He explained.
"Interesting. And you designed the uniforms yourselves?" She asked as she looked at his jumpsuit.
"Yeah. I know that they probably look dumb. But you can explain that to Specter. They were his idea." He replied. Rarity chuckled.
"It's good looking Hot Shot. I must say that it really suits you." Rarity said.
"Thanks. Well, I'm gonna head out. Goodbye Rarity." He said as he headed for the door.
"Goodbye Hot Shot." She said back. Hot Shot then went out her door and walked back around Ponyville. And as he walked, he was whistling a small tune he heard.
Youtube Video
A large growl emerged from his stomach as he walked.
"Man I'm hungry. I guess I'll grab some grub." He said to himself. He then walked to Sugarcube Corner and hoped nothing wierd or bad would happen.
As he was walking to Sugarcube Corner, he noticed ponies staring at him as if he'd hurt them or something. But he ignored them and moved on. He then after what seemed an eternity of walking, he found Sugarcube Corner. It wasn't really hard to miss a building made from sweets. When he entered the building, the smells of the sweets hit his nose like a torpedo making his mouth water. Then when he went to the counter and rang a service bell, a flash of pink zoomed down to him very quickly. When the flash stopped moving, Hot Shot saw it's cause. It was a mare who was entirely pink but different shades of it, her eyes were bright blue, and her cutie mark were three balloons.
"HiI'mPinkiePieandwelcometoSugarcubeCornerareyounewhereI'veneverseenyoubeforesoyoumustbenew." The pink pony said quickly. Hot Shot thought that she had a hyper squirrel for vocal cords.
"Um...I'm sorry if I offend you miss, but can you speak a little bit slower please?" He asked her.
"Oops. Sorry. Let's start over. *Ahem* Hi. I'm Pinkie Pie." The mare replied in a slower voice that Hot Shot could understand.
"Nice to meet you Pinkie Pie. Name's Hot Shot." He said back.
"Nice to meet ya'. I've never seen you around, are you new to Ponyville?" She asked in a bubbly voice.
"Moved here a few weeks ago. Employment really makes you move." He replied.
"Who do you work for?" She asked in curiosity.
"I work for the Ghostbusters." He replied. Pinkie Pie then gasped and gave off a big smile.
"Oh my gosh! I'm a huge fan of you guys! I've heard about you when you caught Ponyville University's Librarian Ghost! And that Slime Ghost you caught at the Ponyville Hotel!" Pinkie said happily and loudly.
"Well it's nice to meet a fan. We really don't have a lot of them." Hot Shot said with a little smile.
"What?! Who wouldn't want to be a fan of you guys? The Ghostbusters are the coolest ponies and Dragon there is." Pinkie said.
"To answer your question Pinkie, ponies who don't believe in ghosts." He said to answer her question.
"Well to Tartarus with them then. If you guys catch ghosts, I believe in them." Pinkie said angrily.
"Thanks Pinkie. And can I ask you something?" He asked her.
"Sure. What is it?" Pinkie asked in replying.
"Well...when I was walking this way, everypony was staring at me like I'd hurt them. What's making everypony so nervous around me?" Hot Shot asked.
"To answer your question, a few years ago, a Dragon that lives here named Spike grew to your size and bigger and hoarded everypony's things. So I guess you just worry them a bit." Pinkie replied.
"Well how can I make them like me and not fear me?" Hot Shot asked.
"I could throw a party and invite everypony. So they can get to know you a whole lot better." Pinkie suggested.
"I'd like that Pinkie." Hot Shot said with a smile. Pinkie then gave of a squee as she gave him a big smile.
"Great! Oh. And would you like to get anything while you're here?" Pinkie asked him.
"Ten Oatmeal Cookies please." He replied as he reached into the pocket of his jumpsuit.
"That'll be twenty bits. But since you're a Ghostbuster, I'll give you them half off." She said with a little smile.
"Thanks Pinkie." Hot Shot said happily. He then gave her the bits.
"I'm gonna have to bake them. So you'll have to wait a bit." She said as she bounced into the kitchen.
"Alright." He said back. He then watched her bounce into what was most likely the kitchen area. He then stood around and observed the interior of the house and saw pictures of a mare and stallion holding children. And then a blood curdling shriek came out of the kitchen. Hot Shot then slid over the counter and ran into the kitchen area where he saw Pinkie frozen in fear.
"Pinkie, what wrong?" He asked. She then took a hoof and pointed into the air. Hot Shot aligned his vision with her hoof and saw why she was scared but it made him groan. It was a ghost wearing Chef's attire. He was green was a Unicorn with dark eyes, big long teeth, a long mustache, and a crooked smile. Hot Shot watched it grab a knife with it's undead magic.
"Uh-oh." Pinkie said as her pupils shrunk. And then the ghost threw the knife at Pinkie Pie.
"Look out!" Hot Shot yelled as he grabbed Pinkie. He then yanked her out of the way and watched the knife stab the floor where Pinkie Pie stood. Then the two ran as fast as they could out of the shop and slammed the doors behind them.
"Pinkie, is anyone in there?" Hot Shot asked.
"No. The Cakes and the Twins went out for a bit. It was just me." She replied.
"Alright. Keep those doors closed and make sure nopony goes in there. I'm going to grab my friends and my gear." Hot Shot said. He then ran as fast as he could back to the HQ to get ready.
On my day off too.
Cooking Problem
Hot Shot ran full speed back to the Ghostbusters HQ to get his friends and gear. For he and Pinkie found out that Sugarcube Corner was haunted by a Unicorn chef who wanted to turn him and Pinkie into sweets. Then as he was a foot in front of the door, he tripped on a loose shoelace and began to roll like a bowling ball. Hot Shot then bursted through the doors of the HQ and rolled into the building until he slammed into a wall. Specter, Techno, and Spook saw the Dragon and ran towards him.
"Hot Shot, are you okay?" Specter asked in a worried voice. Hot Shot then got off of the wall and back onto his feet.
"Sugarcube Corners has a Ghost and it attacked me and a worker." Hot Shot replied. Then the three Ghostbusters gave the Dragon a smirk.
"Um..why are you looking at me like that?" Hot Shot asked in a scared tone.
"Hot Shot, me and the boys decided that if we ever had a ghost, you'd take it on." Specter replied.
"What?!" Hot Shot asked in a surprised tone.
"He means that we've made a challenge to prove that you can be a true and great Ghostbuster. All you have to do is trap the ghost without us helping you." Techno replied.
"You mean me, a lone Ghostbuster who can barely work a Proton Pack, catch a ghost?" Hot Shot asked.
"Yup'." The three Ghostbusters replied. Hot Shot then swallowed a hard lump in his throat.
"Why me?" He thought sadly. He then grabbed his Proton Pack, strapped it onto his scaly back, and then ran back outside and to Sugarcube Corner. When he saw it, he saw Pinkie guarding the front door. Pinkie saw him and smiled.
"Finally you came back!" Pinkie screamed happily.
"Sorry about that. My boss decided to make a challenge for me." Hot Shot said back.
"Oh. What's the challenge?" Pinkie asked.
"I have to catch the ghost by myself. I'm just a rookie but I think I can do it." He replied boldly.
"Alrighty. Anything I can do to help?" Pinkie asked.
"Yes actually. When I go in, close the door behind me. And let me back out when I knock on the door three times. And make sure nopony goes in here besides me." He ordered.
"Okie Dokie Lokie." Pinkie said back with a smile. Hot Shot then slowly opened the door of the shop and walked in. Pinkie did as he said and quickly closed the door behind him.
"At least she listens." He thought happily. He then slowly walked around the place as it was dark for the Ghost turned out the lights. But luckily he had a custom built headset which was also the P.K.E tracker that had night vision for a situation like this.
"Thank you Techno Whiz." He said quietly and happily. Hot Shot then turned on the Specter Vision which allowed him to pick up traces of a Ghost. He looked around the main part of the shop and saw nothing.
"I guess there's only one place that he could be." Hot Shot whispered as he climbed over the counter. Then as he opened the door to the kitchen, he saw green ectoplasmic trails on nearly every part of the kitchen including the stove, knife set and utensil rack.
"Guess this is where a Chef Ghost would normally be." Hot Shot whispered. He looked around the kitchen until he saw the Ghost mixing ingredients in a large bowl.
"Alright. Techno said that Ghosts can be taken by surprise. So all I have to do is remain quiet and ready the Proton Pack." Hot Shot said as he remembered what he learned. He flipped on his Proton Pack making it release a small hum. He then grabbed the pack's firing end. He then shot a stream at the Ghost and hitting it making it scream.
"Yes!" He shouted. He then yanked the Ghost around the kitchen with the proton stream weakening it. But then it grabbed a knife with it's magic and threw it at Hot Shot.
"Yikes!" He screamed as he ducked. The knife then stabbed a wall. Hot Shot then fired another stream and it hit the Ghost again. Then he slammed the ghost into the walls and roof making things fly around. But then the Ghost grabbed a frying pan and it hit Hot Shot in the head making him release the stream.
"Ow!" Hot Shot screamed as he rubbed his forehead. He then heard the Ghost laughing at him as he rubbed his head.
"Why you little-" Hot Shot started angrily. He then turned his Proton Pack onto full blast and shot the Ghost. It screamed as Hot Shot slammed him into the floor and then after a couple of slams, the Ghost was out of energy.
"Now for the final ingredient." He said as he pulled a trap from his pack. He then slid the trap right under the Ghost and when it opened, a cone of energy began to suck the Ghost up. Using the proton stream, he held the Ghost steady as it was sucked into the trap. The Ghost then let out a final scream as it was sucked fully into the trap and the lids closed on it. Hot Shot placed the firing end of his pack away and walked towards the steaming trap.
"Well, today's special is one steaming, trapped Ghost. Soups on." Hot Shot said happily as he picked up the trap. He then turned on the lights and went to the door and knocked three times. Pinkie opened the door a little enough to poke her head in.
"Is the Ghostie gone?" Pinkie asked him.
"Actually, I've got him right here." He replied as he pulled the steaming trap into view. Pinkie then gave a big smile.
"Oh wow! You caught the Ghost by yourself!" Pinkie said happily.
"Yes I did." Hot Shot said boldly.
"Oh. The Cakes won't believe that you caught a real ghost!" Pinkie screamed.
"Actually we do Pinkie Pie." A male voice said. The pony and Dragon turned and saw a stallion with yellow fur and an orange mane and tail along with a mare with blue fur and a pink mane and tail walking towards them.
"Mr. Cake. What do you know about the Ghost?" Pinkie asked.
"Well me and Mr. Cake have been noticing strange things happening around the shop. Like green slimy goods in the kitchen late at night. I always thought that a Ghost might of been the cause." Mrs. Cake replied.
"Mr and Mrs Cake, who did you buy the shop from?" Hot Shot asked them.
"It was empty when we bought it. The ponies said the owner died in the shop when he had a heart attack." Mr. Cake replied.
"Well looks like I caught the old owner." Hot Shot said as he held up the trap.
"Thank you so much. How much do we owe you?" Mr. Cake asked.
"A hundred and twenty bits should do it." Hot Shot replied. Mr. Cake then pulled out a bag of bits and passed it to him.
"Thank you Mr. Cake. Now if you see anything strange again in your shop or around here, just give us a call." Hot Shot said as he passed him a business card.
"We will." Mr. Cake said back.
"Well, I gotta get back to the HQ. It was nice meeting you." Hot Shot said as he began to walk away.
"Goodbye." The three ponies said in unison. Hot Shot then began his walk back to the HQ and wondered how much his bosses bet that he couldn't catch the ghost.
