Chapter 199: Chapter 199 Scaring older ghosts
Blaze sighed, though the corner of his mouth curved faintly as he watched his son dart around him like a fiery comet. "Calm down, little one," he rumbled, but Drake was far too happy to listen.
"Dad said YES! Dad said YES! I’m going to trip!! I’m going with Boo, and Lucien, and everyone!!!" Drake shouted, twirling until he nearly knocked into his father’s wing again. "I promise I’ll be best dragon!"
Blaze gave a long exhale, his massive wings steady as mountains in the sky. "Then you had better keep your promise, or you’ll answer to me when you return." His red eyes glinted.
Drake gulped, but his grin never faded. "Yes, Dad!! Promise-promise!!"
He spun one last time before zooming down toward the cliffs, already planning how he’d brag to his mama that his dad had agreed.
******
Meanwhile, Boo was floating aimlessly through the old white corridors, humming to himself, until he spotted the main elder sitting at a low Japanese-style table. The elder had a candle lit beside him and a scroll stretched out in front of him, reading with half-closed eyes.
Boo plopped down on the other side of the table, upside down as usual. "Hey, Oldie!!" he greeted cheerfully.
The elder didn’t even look up, just gave a small nod. "What do you want to ask, Boo?"
"Oldie! I want to go to school trip!!" Boo announced, puffing out his little ghostly chest with pride.
"Go," Oldie said flatly, still reading, as if Boo had just asked for permission to drink water.
Boo blinked, surprised. "So easy? No scary test? No spooky oath?"
"Go," Oldie repeated, flipping the page of his scroll.
Boo clapped his hands. "Yesss! Okay, then Oldie, will you prepare bag of clothes and food for me?? Teacher says we have to bring things!!"
The elder finally looked up, his candlelight flickering across his wrinkled face. "Ask Goldie for that."
Boo gasped dramatically, clutching his head. "Goldie??! Nooo! Goldie puts cabbage in everything!! Boo can’t eat cabbage, Boo will die again!!"
The elder sighed, muttering, "You’re already dead..." before going back to his reading.
Boo floated away spinning, muttering to himself. "No cabbage... Boo must survive this trip... maybe Boo should just pack haunted cookies instead..."
Boo floated determinedly down the long corridor until he reached the great White Room. It was wide and glowing faintly, with several older ghosts gathered around a round stone table. They were murmuring in low, serious tones, discussing "grave" matters about the ghost world.
Boo, however, had other plans. He zipped inside and suddenly flipped upside down right over their table. "Boooooo!" he shouted, dragging out his voice like thunder. "The banana ghosts have come to steal your teeth!!"
The older ghosts jumped, one even dropping his scroll with a startled wail. Another ghost clutched his chest.
"Boo!!" Elder Whitebeard barked, his wispy hair floating angrily. "How many times must we tell you, this is a place of council, not your playground!"
But Boo just spun in the air, laughing until he hiccupped.
"Hehehe, did you see Elder Frowny’s face? You almost melted!! Boo is master of scary!"
One stern elder groaned, muttering, "Child... you nearly gave me my second death."
But the youngest of the older ghosts chuckled softly. "His tricks remind me of when I was young. Mischief keeps the spirit sharp."
Boo puffed out his chest, floating proudly in the air. "See?? Boo is doing important training! Boo will be greatest haunter ever! Even human teacher Alina gets scared sometimes!!"
"Don’t drag outsiders into your nonsense," Elder Whitebeard said, rubbing his temples, but Boo was already spinning happily toward the ceiling, chanting, "Boo scary~~ Boo scary~~ Boo will haunt everyone’s snacks!!"
Boo was still spinning proudly near the ceiling when suddenly—SWOOSH!
A glowing fishing-rod-like weapon shot through the air and hooked right around Boo’s middle.
"Waaahhh!!!" Boo squealed, flailing his little arms. "No fair!! Boo wasn’t ready!!!"
Behind him loomed the Big Elder Ghost, taller and scarier than all the rest, his face stern like a thundercloud. "How many times, Boo!" he thundered, pulling the fishing rod string tight and reeling the little ghost in like a slippery fish. "This is a council, not your circus!"
"B-but Boo was just practicing scary!! Boo was doing training!!" Boo protested, wriggling helplessly as he was dragged across the floor. "Let me goooo!! Boo is innocent ghost child!!"
"Ha! Innocent? You scared Elder Misty into hiccuping for ten minutes straight!" one of the elders barked.
"And Elder Whitebeard’s wig nearly flew off!" another added, pointing an accusing finger.
"Lies!! Boo is cute, Boo is soft, Boo only wanted to share his school gossip!" Boo pouted, folding his little arms even as he dangled on the glowing hook.
The Big Elder Ghost didn’t budge. With one strong yank, he slung Boo over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, ignoring the little ghost’s protests. "Enough. Back to your room."
"Noooooo!!!" Boo wailed, pouring dramatically, his body going limp like a rag doll.
The older ghosts sighed in relief as the Big Elder marched out with the still-whining Boo. The sound of his voice echoed down the corridor:
"BOOO IS BEING MISTREATEDDDD!!"
***
"Mom, I want to go on trip which they are taking soon!" Felix said eagerly, adjusting the neat buttons on his light brown shirt. His father wasn’t home—busy with patrol—so it was just him and his mother in the room.
"Trip?" Aine blinked once, then her eyes widened in sparkling mischief. "Baaaaby, can I come toooo?" She clutched her chest like she’d just heard the most important news in the world, her long hair spilling over her shoulders.
Felix’s jaw dropped. "No, Mom! It’s only for us kids!" He nearly stomped his foot, his cheeks turning red in frustration.
"But how can I let my precious son go without me?" Aine gasped, falling back onto the cushions with a dramatic sigh. "What if you forget to eat? What if no one reminds you to comb your hair? What if your friend doesn’t share his snacks?" She flung her arm across her forehead like a heroine from a tragedy.
Felix groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Mom, I’ll eat. Teacher will remind us. And there’s definitely snacks. You’re overreacting!"
Still, Aine peeked at him through her fingers, her lips twitching with a sly smile. "Overreacting? I was about to faint from the thought of you going somewhere without your poor mother!"