The Ghost At Ponyville Elementary
It was a dark night, the cold wind blew the tree branches, scratching against the glass windows. Howling in the storm could easily be heard even with how heavy the rain pours down onto the school roof. A quiet place at night with a storm blowing outside could make anyplace creepy.
An old stallion, a light brown coat with his mane turning silver and grey. Sweeping the empty halls of Ponyville Elementary, the bangs and the rattling were nothing new, this school has always needed some more money so the whole place to get remolded and have even more children than just a few classes.
Tick, scratch, bang.
Tick, scratch, bang.
Tick, scratch, bang.
He kept hearing it. Something was ticking, something was scratching against the walls and something was pounding at the doors. The old stallion paused for a moment, his worn down tired light blue eyes searched the area. A straight path, there was no pony either in front or behind him.
He let out a soft sign of relief, nothing. There couldn't be anyone here, only teachers and himself had keys to this school. He kept hearing it, this time a cold breath ran down his back, he could feel something staring at him, something watching everything he is doing.
"It just the wind and the branches outside. Nothing to jump at." He told himself, trying to calm his own nerves.
A pair of red eyes lit up the dark ceiling. He thought he has seen everything that this old town could throw his way. Above him was something terrifying. It fell to the ground, it stood much taller than any pony in this rustic town he called home. Its eyes were blood red, the mane was long, covered most of the face, only the glowing eyes could stand out.
It floated off the ground, the old stallion could see through the body. Lockers began to slam open and close at a rapid speed, sharp teeth grin at him. The mane flew up showing the face of the ghost, with a final scream all that was left at the screen of the crime was the statute of the old janitor with his face forever frozen in terror.
A lit giggle could be heard by the pleasure of what pain this creature bought. A howl in the wind, there was no trace this ghost was ever there beside the old statute of him. His last scream could easily be heard through the halls as it echoes even with him frozen in stone.
New school year, means new and finally some friends. A messy red mane shot off a bright green pillow right when the sun began to rise over the hilltops just a little past the rustic town of Ponyville, bright cream yellow hooves trotted on the ground as the young filly ran to get everything ready.
Today was a new year. Today she could finally have some pony to talk to, some pony to listen too, and maybe solve some mysteries with. Young Apple Bloom, the youngest member of the Apple Family was always up to solve some strange things that may go bump in the night.
The case of Santa Hooves, the mystery of the disappearing apples and the mystery on why she can't have Sugar Cube Corner every day. She placed the bright pink bow on her apple red mane, her late mother always did say she looked like the cutest thing in the world wearing it.
Apple Bloom lifted her head, drying away the tears. It has been a year since her mother, Pear Butter and her father Bright Mac, disappeared into the night. Not a word was spoken between the apple family about them, it was something that just bought pain and sadness to every pony here.
She gave a light smile to herself, her reflection looked at less good enough. Her coat didn't have too much mud on it, just spots and the bottom her hooves have a tiny bit of sprinkles of mud. Her mane was at less clean, it wasn't combed at all, but at less, there were no knots in her hair that made her tug and pull.
Her tiny hooves rushed down the wooden stairs, giving her granny, older sister and brother a kiss on the cheek with only an apple in her mouth as she rushed to school. There was no way she was going to be late for this day.
She did feel a little sorry for pushing past that grey filly, but stopping to say sorry, picking her up, and talking would waste far too much time.
Apple Bloom stopped in her tracks, seeing some royal guards carrying the old janitor encased in a stone statue of himself. Some of the teachers were talking in whispers.
"This is the third attack by the ghost of the school. We have to cancel classes and send every pony home! What if a student gets attacked?" One of the teachers whispered Apple Bloom dived into the bushes to listen closer to the conversion.
The worried one was Mister Spirit the only stallion of the group, a unicorn with a bright yellow mane that was tried in a knot and his coat was a deep shade of lime green. His eyes were filled with worry, his teeth were a little yellow and he was known as Mister Camembert since he always smelt like it during all his classes.
"We can't cancel the school. If we do, we'll have to close it down for good. Not enough students live in Ponyville let alone come here. If word gets out about the Ghoul then we better just file for bankruptcy now."
Ah, Scarlet Shadow, the only pegasus teacher on the grounds. Teaches how to fly for any pony who wants to learn it, Apple Bloom hadn't met a pegasus who could fly, plus does history and maths. She was the meanest of the bunch, she would always keep classes behind and gives out pop quizzes almost every week. It was a little bit ridiculous and there were rumors floating around about her getting fired.
"I agree. But, until the ghost attacks a student then we should still teach them. We can't let fear control us and we just have to make a buddy system until the ghost is caught."
Last, the only earth pony and the sweetest teacher Apple Bloom had ever met. Miss Cheerilee, her bright smile, the fact that she didn't treat any of the students as a bunch of kids, but rather friends. Most of the students came to her for problems and just wanting to see her. There were some heartbroken colts that knew they'll never be with her. It just made Apple Bloom giggle.
"I guess you're right. We should inform the parents and see if we can get rid of this ghost that has been haunting the school." Mister Spirit spoke, his voice sounded dry and sore. Almost like he stayed up late last night.
Scarlet Shadow released a soft yawn from her lips. "Yeah, the attacks only happen during the night. So if we don't have any pony around during the dark then everything should be fine. I hope." At less, she sounded worried, even if it did sound a bit forced.
The teachers all nodded at each other and headed inside just for Apple Bloom to roll out of the bushes and hit something. Her eyes worried in fear looking up to see an orange pegasus with a wild messy mane that didn't look like it was ever met a comb, but only the wind that rushed through it.
"Hey, are you okay? Do you like hiding in the bushes for no reason?" The pegasus filly asked, giving a devilish smirk to the earth pony.
Apple Bloom shot up and rubbed the back of her head and let out a small chuckle.
"No, I was just listening to the teachers. They said something about a ghost haunting the school." Apple Bloom spoke
This pegasus filly was quite the jumper, one moment she had a cool head and rested on the ground, next she was shaking and hugging the branch of the tree. A snap could be heard, Apple Bloom only closed her eyes hearing the bang against the ground. Next time she opens them, there stood the pegasus with leaves in her mane and still shaking in fear.
"I rather not have any ghouls, ghost, werewolves, vampires, or anything trying to attack me. No monsters, I can't stand them." A rather high pitched voice could be heard and there went the pegasus to attack the unicorn in a hug.
Apple Bloom shook her head and went inside the loud bell had already begun to ring. The class was small only fifteen students in total, each teacher did have about fifteen students. It wasn't that big of a school, and with that friendship school that Twilight was planning on building it seems like this is going to start collecting dust soon.
Miss Cheerilee gave a smile to the class, holding a piece of paper in her hoof, reading it over before turning back to her small class. Apple Bloom gave a look to that pegasus from before who was chatting to her unicorn friend, a pure white coat really did stand out from the rest with her purple and pink mane curled with a soft giggle into her hoof.
"Class, as many as you know. Our janitor got turned to stone by a ghost that roams the halls at night. For safety, every student will be in a group of five until the ghost is dealt with. Now, the first group is Rumble, Dinky, Pop Fly, Twist, and Cozy Glow."
"The second group will be; Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon. Before I go on, I must make this clear it best to become friends with your group, since we don't know how long it'll take until the ghost goes away." Cheerilee stated before going onto the list.
Apple Bloom made it to the small group of fillies, her new friends. Maybe, if they didn't like apples then the young apple farmer might ask for a trade with the other students. There were the pegasus and unicorn from before, the grey earth pony she knocked down on her way here and of course Diamond Tiara.
"Well, until the ghost goes away. My name's Scootaloo." The pegasus puffed out her chest
"Please, it just a fake. There no such thing as ghosts. As for me, I go by Silver Spoon, it a pleasure to meet every pony."
"Sweetie Belle, I'm Sweetie Belle. Also, Scoots here is my best friend in the whole wide world!" The unicorn then pulls the pegasus into a hug, pressing their faces together.
"Diamond Tiara, it not going to take long. Once my daddy finds out that this place is haunted, the school will be shut down faster than you can say 'Friendship is magic'"
"Well, ah Apple Bloom. This just sound like a mystery to me, ah think if it is a fake then let's prove it."
The four others turn to her, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were shaking in fear. Diamond Tiara raised her eyebrow at the young apple farmer while Silver Spoon fixes her glasses from falling off.
"If we do this then we'll be famous!"
"Or better, the school doesn't get shut down and I don't have to spend all my time at my aunt's place that smells like wet cats." Scootaloo blocked her nose and stuck out her tongue.
Sweetie Belle gave her friend a light push. "It not that bad, not like Mister Camembert." The girls let out a giggle
"Well, I guess we got a mystery on own hooves." Apple Bloom spoke with pride.
"The first place we should look is where the attacks had happened. See if we find any clues about the ghost. It not like we can ask any pony since whoever looks at this 'ghost' is frozen in stone. Most likely unicorn with powerful magic." Silver Spoon explained
Everything felt at less a bit normal in the blocked off the hallway, some of the lockers were opened, it seems like the ghost was looking for something. Apple Bloom looked around the area was a little too big for one group to look around to find all the clues that maybe show up.
"Alright gang, it best if we spit up and look for clues. Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon and I will look around here, while Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, you two go a little up north to see if you can find anything about this ghost."
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle began walking north leaving the rest of the girls alone to work. The two friends noticed the wet floor and golden bit on the ground.
"Why is so wet here? All the pipes are underground" Scootaloo stated
A hissing sound came from the darkness, Sweetie let out a nervous chuckle.
"Maybe it just a friendly snake that found its way inside." She tried to make herself believe.
The hissing grew louder and louder, a light fog began to cover their hooves. The pegasus and unicorn duo looked at the side to see the pure white ghost. It looked a lot like a mare, with the long mane that was hanging past the fog, the pair of glowing red eyes. The fact that the head to move like there was no neck, or how it giggled like a little girl.
"Zoinks, it's time to run!" Scootaloo shouted
The pair bolted away, the ghost giggling while giving them a chase, the pair of friends turn down the hall, bumping into the wall. They could hear the ghost scratching against the walls, the two friends hugged in fear. The light giggling was getting louder as the ghost flew towards them.
"Follow my lead." Scootaloo whisper in Sweetie Belle ear.
The ghost was flying right at them, stopping just in time to see Scootaloo wearing a pair of dark sunglasses, a bright blue shirt, a badge that readied Hall Monitor, with her blue cap on backways. While Sweetie Belle was chewing on some bubblegum, she too wearing the dark sunglasses, her cap was much clearer, with the blue blazer and she strikes out her chest in pride, wearing the badge.
"Hall Monitors. Do you know how fast you were flying?" Scootaloo asked, the ghost titled its head and let out a small 'huh'
"You make me sick. Just because you're a ghost, you think that the rules don't apply to you. Is that right?" Sweetie Belle asked
"If you are going to haunt this school then you should follow the rules like every pony else. Every pony should be treated the same. Now you've been caught running, well flying through the halls at tops speeds." Scootaloo began writing down before slapping the ticket on the ghost.
"You've also been caught trapping ponies in stone. I don't think it a rule, but it's not nice." Sweetie Belle spoke, slapping the ticket on the ghost again.
The ghost then lets out a loud scream at the two fillies, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle turn to each other. The unicorn shook her head to the side. Spitting out her gum, lowing her sunglasses slowly to look the ghost straight in the eyes.
"Yelling at two hall monitors. That two more tickets and now that you have three or more that means... What does that mean Agent Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked
"It means a trip to the principal office and two days of detention. Sorry, Miss Ghost. But rules are rules, now float your way to the principal office now!" Scootaloo pointed her hoof straight ahead.
"Yeah, and we better not catch you run- I mean floating at high speeds in the hall again." Sweetie Belle spoke
The ghost hung its head in shame, floated off in silence. Covered in tickets, the ghost mare pauses for a second, realizing that the school doesn't even have hall monitors. The creature turns to see the pair of fillies gone, it lets out a scream that echoes through the empty halls.
Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Apple Bloom looked at Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both out of breath.
"Did you two find any clues?" Apple Bloom asked
"We ran into the ghost, then we sent it or her to the principal office for floating too fast in the halls," Scootaloo said, holding at her hoof.
"When the ghost attack, there was a light fog and before the ground felt a little wet and a golden bit on the ground." Sweetie Belle added.
"Good job girls, I think we found our first clue." Apple Bloom said
"Let's check the teachers' offices. I'll look through Mister Spirit, Silver Spoon, and Diamond Tiara you two check Scarlet Shadow, finally, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle check out Miss Cheerilee office. Until the monster is proven fake, then any pony could be this ghost." Apple Bloom explained.
The door of Miss Cheerilee's office slowly open Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked around the dusty office, it was that big, about a little bigger than a closet. Sweetie Belle looked through all the test papers and notes about some of the students. Scootaloo was looking through the mess on the ground.
"Hey Scoots, look at this." Sweetie Belle spoke
Scootaloo trotted close to her best friend, looking at all of the overdue bills mailed to Cheerilee, for phone, water, power.
"Wow, Miss Cheerilee really need to pay her bills," Scootaloo stated.
"Well, a teacher doesn't pay much. Plus there not many students coming to this school. I'm not that surprise." Sweetie notice
"Hmm... strange. If Miss Cheerilee was the ghost and the rest of the teachers leave or if she somehow stops the ghost." Scootaloo started
"Then she'll get a pay raised. Plus there was that bit we found before the ghost attack."
A cold breath ran through their manes, the unicorn and pegasus fillies turns to see the ghost floating behind them. The fog covered their hooves, the ghost's mane began to float up, in a puff of dust the two fillies were gone in a flash of light.
Out of breath, the two fillies held their backs against the door of Scarlet Shadow office. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon looked at the two with raised eyebrows.
"Why do we always run into the monster?" Sweetie asked
"Wait, you saw the ghost again?" Wonder Silver Spoon
"Yeah, and all of Miss Cheerilee's overdue bills. What have you girls found?" Scootaloo asked
"The same bit that Sweetie Belle found before, nothing else is here. Well about the ghost and anything that Scarlet Shadow would be the ghost of Ponyville Elementary" Diamond spoke
The door open caused Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo rolled outside, Apple Bloom looked down at the unicorn and pegasus. Diamond and Silver stepped over the pair of fillies on the ground.
"All I found in Mister Spirt office is bags of cement, he has been meaning on fixing the outside to make it safer." Apple Bloom spoke
"Or it could make pony statues without the use of magic." Silver Spoon added
"It's best if we go to the library to see if we can find out about our school phantom." Silver Spoon spoke, the girls gave a nod.
The place was open to them, with every pony outside enjoying the sunshine while the five girls looked through different history books about their ghost problem. Scootaloo fell asleep when she opened the book, Diamond Tiara seemed to take a small glace at the paper before turning.
"Girls, I think I may have found something. A filly called Shadow Wails, a quiet filly, she was shy about talking to any pony and every pony made fun of her and her eyes, it says they were red and blue. Her mane covered most of her face, only having her multi-colored eyes standing out. Until one day the boys decided to play a small prank on her, locking her in the girls' bathroom for the night. But, well sometime during the night, a pipe broke filling the room with water. The next day the teachers and students found her lifeless body dripping wet, no pony knew her, but it does say that she might return to take revenge on the bullies who drown her."
"The Ghost of Shadow Wails, but that doesn't explain the fog or the bit. It does explain the water, all I don't understand is how can she turn ponies to stone?" Diamond Tiara asked
"Wait," Scootaloo spoke, rubbing her tired eyes. "The Ghost has two red eyes. Sweetie and I both saw it, but Shadow Wails have one red eye and one blue eye. It can't be the same ghost."
"Meaning that this ghost is a fake. It about time to trap this fake, we just need to lure it out." Apple Bloom said
"We need bait. The monster seems to only focus on Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle." Silver Spoon spoke
"I do still have the bit," Sweetie said, pulling out the solid gold coin.
Silver Spoon looked at the small bit, the grey earth pony gave a smile. Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Apple Bloom all looked towards the pair of best friends.
"Wait, we're going to be the live bait?" Scootaloo was distress
"What if the ghost turns us to stone?" Sweetie asked, getting closer to Scootaloo
"Trust us girls. That ghost won't turn any of the students into lawn ornaments. Now here's the plan." Apple Bloom brought every pony closer.
Whispers and muttering between the group, as the plan and an unseen friendship, began to form between them.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle walked down the halls, each carrying golden bits. The scratching against the window and the locker, their hooves splashed in the puddles that were left on the ground.
"Well Belle, it great that no pony else knows about all these rare bits that we found we could be rich for the rest of our lives," Scootaloo spoke rather louder than normal
"Yeah, you're right. Anything in Equestria could be ours with this type of gold, we'll live like Queens for the rest of our days. It's a good thing that there's no ghost roaming these halls wanting to steal them from some unarmed fillies that are all alone." Sweetie spoke at the same volume as Scootaloo.
Their voices echo through the empty halls. A light fog began to cover their hooves, a cold, and icy breath ran down their backs. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both turned to look at The Ghost of Shadow Wails her sharp grin stood out of her mane. The pair of friends looked at each other and nodded, before bolting off.
Giving a loud wail, the Ghost of Shadow Wails chased after the pair of fillies, Sweetie Belle gave a nod to Silver Spoon, who nodded at Diamond Tiara and Apple Bloom. Scootaloo knocked down one of the stands for the net, while Sweetie's tail slapped another one.
Jumping over the net covered by the light fog, the Ghost of Shadow Wails let out another scream before getting caught by the net. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle grin at each other, bumping their hooves together.
Two royal guards stood outside with Twilight Sparkle looking at the ghost, rubbing her chin and turn to the fillies who caught the ghost.
"If it's a fake, then why wait to unmask this ghost?" Twilight asked
"To make sure the ghost doesn't get away, now let's see who this Ghost really is." Apple Bloom said
She places her hoof on the mask pulling off, Miss Cheerilee face under the mask. Every pony let out a small gasp with a few 'how's' 'why's' and 'when's'
"Well it was the first clue was the fog, a light fog just enough to cover Miss Cheerilee's hooves so it'll look like she was floating, it also left puddles of water in the halls. The second clue was a small bit made a thousand years ago, it was pure solid gold, unlike the bit that is just painted. There might be more underneath the school, so Miss Cheerilee decided to scare every pony away so she could look through the lockers and the wooden floorboard" Silver Spoon spoke
"With low students, her bills were becoming unpaid, soon she would've lost her house and have to think of something. She found a couple of bits that could have fixed the whole school, and the stone statues were made out of cement and wooden lives size dolls of grown ponies. While she hides the real ponies in the hallway that she was haunting so no pony will find them until she was finished." Apple Bloom finished, Mister Spirit and Scarlet Shadow bring out the old janitor.
"I would have gotten away with it too if you kids didn't interfere and hinder my plans."
"I think the word you're looking for is 'Meddling'" Twilight whisper to the former teacher
"Yes. I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for you meddling kids!" Miss Cheerilee shouted in anger.
"Why do I have a feeling that we're going to be hearing that a lot." Apple Bloom said
"If we keep doing this?" Apple Bloom turns to the others.
"I'm in." Silver Spoon spoke with a smile.
"Me too, it was rather fun and daddy wants to me to make more friends." Diamond said
Sweetie and Scootaloo gave a smile to each other. "We're in. As long as we're not always the live bait." A burst of light laughter filled between them.
"Then it sorted, The Mystery Club."
Author's Note
I blame my Scooby-Doo month for this. At less it better than the Gabby x Spike story that I got bored of and was only going to write the ending. I highly doubt that I'll make another chapter, that's why it's marked as complete. I may if bored one afternoon come back to see if I feel like writing a new chapter. But, there's not going to be any new stories done by me.
I also noticed the lack of Scooby-Doo crossovers on this site, there was one that I can't remember the name of, where Scootaloo got transported to the Scooby-Doo world, but other than that it's hard to find them without a Scooby-Doo hashtag.
