G5 Adventures in Spooky Buddies

The Buddies (more specifically B-Dawg) and all three of the Pippsqueaks thought they released the Howlloween Hound from the mirror in the manor, when it was really Pipsqueak and Aurelia that they had seen.

But, there would be time for figuring stuff out later.

Right now, they had to get ready for trick-or-treating with the Buddies’ kids and the Mane 6... and hope they didn't find out about what they had potentially done back at the manor.

XXXXXXXXX

Since she promised to help Billy with his report, Zipp decided to go with Billy and B-Dawg back to their house for a while, and the Pippsqueaks wanted to tag along, to see if they could glean any information on the Howlloween Hound so they can kick its tail back into the mirror.

They ran down a street filled with spooky decorations, and Glory turned to B-Dawg, who was running behind them. “Come on, B-Dawg!”

“Let’s go, boy!” Peach Fizz urged playfully, since B-Dawg couldn’t talk in front of Billy for obvious reasons. They all walked into Billy's and B-Dawg's house, where Billy's mom was preparing food for the celebration later that night in the kitchen. “Hey, Mom,” Billy said as he hurried to the kitchen. “Oh, hello dear,” Billy’s mother greeted before she looked over at the ponies next to them. “Are these some of the pony friends you told me about the last time you saw them?”

“Yeah. This is Zipp, Seashell, Peach Fizz and Glory. Guys, this is my mom. Either way, we gotta get ready for trick or treating. Did you pick up the costume?” Billy asked, getting straight to the point. “I sure did,” his mother answered. “It's right over there on the table. And I bought a matching one for B-Dawg as well.”

“Sweet,” Billy said in excitement, walking towards the dining table to look inside the orange bag, only for his stomach to fall. He pulled out a bunny costume that rang with a bell. Zipp snorted upon seeing it, trying to hold back laughter while Billy looked over at his mother. “Mom?”

“Isn't that adorable?” Billy’s mother asked with a smile. “You are just gonna be the cutest little hip-hopper out there.”

Zipp couldn't help it any longer. She burst out in laughter, falling to the floor holding her stomach, making Billy blush in embarrassment. “M-Mom, I said hip-hop rapper, n-not…” Billy paused, looking down at the costume. “...hip-hop rabbit!”

Zipp started laughing again, tears filling her eyes from laughing so hard, picturing Hip Hop Billy in a bunny costume like Izzy.

Billy looked at Zipp, completely embarrassed. “I mean, are you trying to completely ruin our street cred?” Billy sighed to his mom, putting the bunny costume back in the bag, B-Dawg barking in agreement. “I'm sorry, we cannot wear these.”

“Billy,” his mother scolded, “you two would look adorable as bunnies.”

“And it doesn’t help you’re laughing at it, Zipp,” Glory crossed her hooves, causing Seashell and Glory to look down at him in disdain. “I'm… I'm sorry…” Zipp said in between chuckles, wiping tears away with her hoof. “But… I mean… c'mon! That bell is everything. Besides... your mom is right about one thing. You guys would look adorable as bunnies.”

Billy looked at Zipp, twisting his lips. He groaned, looking at the bag with the bunny costume, picturing the entire neighborhood laughing at him like Zipp did, but theirs wouldn't be as well-meaning as hers was. Especially Rodney and Skip. They'd have a field day with him if they ever saw the two of them like that. He could bet he'd be called Peter Rabbit for the rest of the year, if not until the day he graduated high school. Maybe even after. He'd never live it down.

He grabbed the scepter he got from Sheriff Dan, when an idea struck him. Maybe… maybe he would have a good get-up for Halloween this year after all. One that didn't involve a bunny costume.

Sure, it wasn't as cool as a hip hop rapper, but it would do. It'd do rather nicely.

And, he was sure Sheriff Dan wouldn't mind. After all, it wasn't like that thing really was magic or anything. Just some old man's staff or whatever.

He went off to his room with B-Dawg in pursuit, causing the Pippsqueaks to look at Zipp scoldingly before they decided to follow.

Now, Zipp felt sort of bad for how she laughed at the thought, and hoped there was something she could do to make it up to him.

XXXXXXXX

“Hold still, B-Dawg!” Seashell said with a struggle as she and the rest of the Pippsqueaks tried to get B-Dawg into his bunny costume. “We can't get this in you if you keep wiggling!”

“No way you gettin’ my tail in that tacky get-up,” B-Dawg said, and he was only talking because Billy was out of the room, putting on his own costume. “If you think it's so great, why don't you wear it?”

“B-Dawg, come on! Billy told us to help him out by putting this costume on him!” Peach Fizz said as she tried to help her friends. Suddenly, an idea came to Glory. She ran downstairs and grabbed a dog treat, running back up and holding it in front of B-Dawg. She didn't expect him to behave for the treat, but it may just be the distraction her friends needed. “What if we give you a treat if you sit still?”

B-Dawg didn't seem amused by the action the pegasus filly was taking. “Yo, who do you think I am? Budderball? If you think I'm just gonna sit still because you got some lousy treat in that hoof of yours, you best keep on dreamin’ yo. Seriously, how gullible do you think–”

While B-Dawg was busy lecturing Glory, he forgot to keep moving to keep the Pippsqueaks from putting him in the costume. However, he stopped mid-sentence when he realized that was the hustle all along. To get him distracted so they could put him in it. “Nice thinking, Glory.” Seashell complimented with a smile, to which Peach Fizz agreed. “Yeah. I never would have thought of it.”

“Yo, c'mon. Did I just get hustled by a filly?” B-Dawg groaned, clearly not happy. Glory shrugged, tossing the treat to B-Dawg. “It isn't my fault you fell for it.”

B-Dawg ate the treat, but he was clearly not happy about being dressed up as a bunny… especially when Billy came out of the bathroom, wearing a black wizard robe and holding the staff he got from Sheriff Dan. “Check it out, dawgs,” he said to the others before speaking in his best wizard voice. “I present to you… Warwick the Warlock, at your service.”

“Ooh, looking sharp!” Seashell said with a smile. However, B-Dawg's only response was a humiliated whine. “I'm sorry, B-Dawg,” Peach Fizz frowned. “But… it really isn't that bad.”

“Yeah… you can be like a… cool rapping bunny. Like… the Bunny Bop from Pipp's video,” Glory added. “Pipp did the pony hip hop based off the bunny bop,” Seashell corrected. Zipp smiled fondly as she came into the room. “Ahh…memories.”

However, B-Dawg only put his paw over his face with a whine, clearly not feeling better about the situation. Billy sighed, feeling bad for B-Dawg. Hoping to help him feel better, he grabbed the manila file from his desk and opened it, setting it on the bed. The Pippsqueaks and Zipp gathered around, intrigued, Zipp with her flypad.

“This must have been what the warlock looked like,” Billy said, pointing to a picture of a man with long hair and a beard and cloak. Zipp looked at the photo beside it, grabbing the magnifying glass from Billy. “Hey, that must be the boy from the story. You know, the one with the pup. What was his name again?”

“I think it was Joseph?” Peach Fizz said, thinking back to the story. “Hey look! There's an address!” Seashell exclaimed, pointing at it. Billy took the magnifying glass from Zipp, leaning in closer to look. “Yeah. There is. 2332 Pine Lane.”

He looked up at the ponies and B-Dawg. “I wonder if he still lives there?”

“It was like, 75 years ago, Billy. He's probably like, a bazillion years old or something,” Zipp pointed out. “Yeah, you're probably right,” Billy agreed with a shrug. “But maybe, if you could talk to him,” Peach Fizz said, “that would make it the easiest project ever!”

“Yeah, and maybe they found a way to fight back the Howlloween Hound!” Glory said, jumping up and down, hope blooming inside her. She stopped when she realized what she said and her eyes widened, Seashell and Peach Fizz glaring at her. Glory chuckled nervously. “You know…for uh… research purposes…”

Zipp narrowed her eyes at Glory, her detective instincts tingling.

What could those fillies be up to?

XXXXXXXX

Later that night, Rodney and Skip decided to head back to the manor and find something that would scare the wits out of the Buddies' kids and their new friends, even though no one had got into the manor in 75 years. “It's kinda creepy,” Rodney said as the two boys approached the manor, holding flashlights since the sun was going down.

The two approached the manor door, before Skip crouched down with a crowbar, trying to lift one of the wooden planks that had been used to board up the manor front door, while Rodney held the flashlight so Skip could see what he was doing. “Hurry,” Rodney urged, glancing around, more nervous about getting caught than about any ghost story. “Almost…” Skip grunted as he tried to pry up one of the boards, eventually doing so. “Got it.”

Suddenly, a cat yowled, scaring the heck out of Rodney. He jumped, yelping and pointing the flashlight towards the direction of a black cat. Skip looked up at the cat, scoffing. “Dude, chill. It's just a dumb cat.”

Skip tossed the crowbar he was using at the cat, scaring it away. And seeing that there was no one else that could stop them or slow them down, Skip and Rodney slowly entered the manor. “Whoa…” Rodney muttered once he entered the manor, his eyes wide as he looked around, using his light to see. “Aurelia,” Pipsqueak called as he caught sight of the two young boys who didn't look older than thirteen. “More visitors.”

Aurelia quickly cloaked herself and hurried to see what Pipsqueak was looking at. “Hmm… looks like two human boys, a few years older than… Joseph was that night.”

The two of them grew silent at the mention of Joseph, their hearts growing heavy. It had been 75 years since they had seen Pipsqueak's owner... and they both missed him terribly.

Even though it pained him, Pipsqueak hoped Joseph was able to move on, and find a new buddy, even if that buddy wasn't him. All he wanted was for his boy to be happy.

The boys oohed and ahhed as they explored the manor, with Pipsqueak and Aurelia trailing them.

But their fear began to rise when Rodney and Skip entered the room where the mirror was.

The boys explored the contents of the room first, looking at mysterious bottles of potions and reading titles of the spellbooks, saving the mirror for last. It really was as though the house was frozen in time, somebody living there one minute, only to be gone the next, and nobody came in after.

There was sure to be something to scare the kids from class in there... they were sure of it.

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, as the sun had fully set, the Buddies, their kids and the ponies had all gathered together outside Billy's house, with Billy now in a complete wizard costume. “With the Howlloween Hound, I will control the world!” Billy said in a mocking Warwick like voice, cackling dramatically, making the others laugh. “Wow… that was impressive,” Hitch said with an impressed smile. “Thanks, dawg,” Billy responded back. “Whoa, check out the scepter! It's glowing!” Zipp said, pointing at the scepter and taking pictures with her FlyPad. “Zipp's right. Look!” Alice agreed, a shocked look on her face. “Do you know why?”

“Huh…I don't know…” Billy said, inspecting the scepter. “Maybe it has batteries or something.”

Misty took a step back. She still got bad vibes from that thing and she didn't trust it. It felt… similar to the kind of magic Opaline used. Dark. She didn't know if it was a real feeling or just paranoia from her life with Opaline, but she sure as heck didn't want to find out!

Meanwhile, with the Pippsqueaks and with the Buddies, Mudbud (dressed as a pirate) spoke up to B-Dawg, trying his best not to laugh. “Argh, matey! Does the B stand for bunny?”

Budderball (dressed as a superhero), Rosebud (dressed as a princess) and Buddha (dressed as an alien) joined Mudbud in laughing at how B-Dawg was dressed. “This ain't no ordinary rabbit costume, dawgs,” B-Dawg stood up to his siblings. “It's a killer rabbit. And those things are da bomb!”

“Okay, guys,” said Izzy. “Let’s go score us some sugar!”

“Oh yeah!” Glory cheered. “You know,” Sam then added, dressed as an alien just like Buddha, “there are healthy alternatives to sugar, too. My family is handing out homemade almond raisin granola!”

The whole group was silent for a moment as they all stared at Sam. This was Halloween. This holiday was made as an excuse to eat unhealthy candy. Eating healthy on Halloween was, like, a sin.

Well... a sin to everyone except Sunny, that is. “Hey, that's a great idea, Sam,” she smiled. “You know, that would've been great in my 'No Junk Food' campaign back in Maretime Bay!”

“Okay, no offense,” Bartleby raised his hand, “but I vote we skip Sam’s house.”

"Yep."

"Me too."

"No way, Jose."

"Seconded!"

Every kid and every pony, except for Sam and Sunny, raised either their hand or their hoof at this, confirming the decision. And for a moment, Sunny looked almost as disappointed as Sam. “Sorry, Sunny,” Hitch apologized. “I know how important that campaign was to you, but majority rules.”

“Come on! If we don’t hurry up,” said Seashell, “we’re gonna miss out on all the good stuff!”

And that’s when the group set off, the full moon shining brightly above them.

XXXXXXXX

Back at the manor, Pipsqueak and Aurelia watched intently as Rodney and Skip piddled around the room when Rodney found Warwick’s hidden potion cabinet in the wall. He picked up one of the potions, bringing it close to his flashlight to try and read the faded dusty label. “Rodentus… trans… something…”

But as he looked around, Skip noticed something strange happening to the mirror in front of him… like something was emerging from within it. “Rodney…?!”

“What?!” Rodney asked in frustration. Rodney turned around and pointed his flashlight at the mirror, freezing in fear when the shape in the mirror became clearer. As the figure seemed to come closer, the boys could see that it was a man neither of them recognized, accompanied by a hound with ghoulish-green eyes.

Then, much to the boys’ utter shock and surprise, the figures in the mirror actually came out, turning from simple reflections to real life beings, both the man and the hound.

The man, known as the evil Warwick himself, was the first to speak, being on his hands and knees from being trapped in the mirror for 75 years. “We are… free!”

Aurelia gasped quietly from where she was cloaked and below where Pipsqueak was floating. “Oh no!”

Warwick stood up, wiping away the nonexistent dirt. “Ugh… it was horrendous in there!” he groaned and cringed as someone would do if they were in a room full of cobwebs. But a second later, he stopped wiping himself when he noticed Rodney and Skip standing in fear not too far away. “Are you the ones that released us?” Warwick asked, reaching towards the two boys. The two of the stuttered and stammered, too afraid to say anything coherent. “Speak up!”

Warwick's shout caused Rodney and Skip to gasp in fright, unsure of what to say or what to think. They were about to say something when Warwick seemed to notice something. “Wait a minute,” he glanced around, before turning back to the boys. “Where’s my staff? My book?”

He then pointed an accusing finger at the boys. “You've stolen them, haven't you?!”

However, Rodney and Skip were so frightened, they could neither confirm or deny this statement.

Warwick then grabbed the bottle from Rodney's hand and opened it before pouring the contents on the boys. “Ratius rodentius!”

Then, the two boys' human bodies disappeared as their clothes dropped to the floor, and Rodney and Skip had been turned into rats!

“Oh no! What happened to us?!”

“Let’s get out of here!”

And just like that, the two rats scurried off into the darkness. “Now... they won't be able to warn the rest of the town,” Warwick said before turning to the Howlloween Hound. “We must finish the spell.”

“I can smell the blood of the five puppies we need,” the Hound stated. “They have been in this room.”

“Oh no!” Pipsqueak yelped before he and Aurelia retreated from the room before they were spotted.

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, Skip and Rodney, now trapped in their rat forms, scurried down the manor stairs as fast as they could. “Hey, watch where you're going!” Rodney said with a scowl. “That's my tail!”

“Will you zip it?” Skip said seriously. “We have to find help!”

That was when the cat, the very same black cat that had scared Rodney and Skip threw a crowbar at, came in through the small hole they had made by prying up the wooden board.

Both rats… er boys… froze when the cat started talking. “You'll make a great Halloween treat.”

Both boys’ eyes widened, not sure whether they were more shocked that a cat was talking or afraid that the cat planned to eat them.

Afraid, they decided. Definitely afraid. “We… we were just kidding,” Rodney quickly tried to explain. “Y-Yeah, we… we love cats! R-Really!” Skip added. That was not enough however when the cat yowled at them. A look in the cat's eyes must've said it all because both rats ran down the remaining stairs and into a neighboring room.

They were safe for now… but they weren’t sure how safe they were going to be when the cat or Warwick and the Hound returned.

XXXXXXXX

Warwick made the boards on the front entrance of the manor explode into nothingness before he and the Hound stepped out of the manor and into the vast world beyond.

The front yard was foggy, and in the distance, the sound of an owl could be heard hooting. The full moon rose high in the sky, adding a ghostly glow to their surroundings. “Oh,” Warwick then sighed, “the manor has seen better days.”

Hoot the owl sat on the tree branch nearby, not believing his owl eyes. “Hoo hoo! Master, it’s true! You’re back!”

Warwick eyed the owl with a frown upon his face. “Yes, Hoot, you moronic birdbrain. Go and find my staff. Nothing can happen without it. It'll be illuminated by the moonlight.”

“Yes, Master,” Hoot responded before flying off, leaving Warwick and the Hound to head off in the direction of Fernfield. “Hoot will find the glowing staff,” Warwick told the Hound, “and I will find my spell book.”

However, the duo were unaware that Aurelia and Pipsqueak had been watching them when suddenly, Aurelia thought of something. “Hold on a second, Pipsqueak… if they can leave… maybe you can too!”

Pipsqueak looked at her in surprise. “You think so?”

“Only one way to find out!”

Deciding to test Aurelia’s theory, Pipsqueak floated out of the manor and into the open after all those years. “I’m free! Yes!”

“Good thing too-- I wouldn’t have gone out there without you,” Aurelia said with a bold smile, before turning serious again. “Okay… we better go and warn those puppies!”

And so, Pipsqueak and Aurelia decided to follow Warwick and the Hound from a safe distance, hoping to stop their evil plans before they went too far.