Mike and the Haunted Castle: ThomasNATION Fanstory
October 31, 2020
It was the morning of Halloween on Sodor. The stations were all decorated in spooky colors and lights, especially at Arlesburgh Harbor, which was going to host a massive costume party that night, and when it came to preparations, Sir Topham Hatt needed all the help he can get, especially from the Miniature Gauge engines, who were waking up to greet the day. Rex, in particular, was quite excited.
āHappy Halloween, fellows!ā he yelled out as he woke up.
āIs it really Halloween already?ā Bert yawned. āIt feels like just yesterday it was Easter.ā
āI know!ā Rex squealed in delight. āNow, come on, we need to deliver all these decorations to the harbor for the costume party!ā
Mike scowled. āI will never understand the appeal of Halloween.ā
āWhat do you mean, Mike?ā Bert asked, curiously.
āWhat do Iā¦ā Mike grumbled. āLook, I just find that Halloween is merely a marketing ploy made up by corporations in order to increase sales for candy, pumpkins and costumes.ā
āOh, come on, now, Mike!ā Rex encouraged his friend. āThatās not the only reason people celebrate Halloween!ā
āAnd why is that?ā
āThis is the time of year where all of Sodorās ghouls and goblins rise from their graves, seeking the nearest mortal souls andā¦ā
ā...and what?ā Bert asked, slightly scared.
ā...and EATING THEM!ā Rex yelled. As Bert yelped, Mike rolled his eyes.
āOh no, Iām so scaredā¦ā Mike groaned, sarcastically. āLook, you guys do what you like, but I donāt want anything to do with Halloween, end of story.ā
āRise and shine, engines!ā Mr. Fergus Duncan greeted his engines. āNow, we have 14 hours until the costume party, so I need every one of you to be helping with extra deliveries. Starting with you, Mike, I need you to take boxes of candy, pumpkins and costumes to the harbor by 10.ā
āSee what I mean, Rex?ā Mike grumbled. āThatās what I hate about Halloween the most: how shameless it is!ā
Now, thatās not true. Mike did dislike how it seemed like one big marketing scheme, but that wasnāt it. It wasnāt the candy, or the pumpkins, or even the costumes. It was just that Mike wasnāt an easy engine to scare, and after years and years, Halloween after Halloween on the railway, itās gotten rather old. Why was this a problem? Well, if you didnāt scare easy on Halloween, would you want to be working with an engine like Rex?
As Mike puffed through the countryside, he started to hear a strange rustling. He looked around, and saw a strange shape take form. Mike rolled his eyes. āRex, I know thatās youā¦ā
Rex emerged from the bushes next to him as they came to a junction. āHow did you know that?!ā
āYou pull this same predictable prank every yearā¦ā Mike groaned. āand every year, the same thing happens. You say boo, Iām not scared, rinse and repeat.ā
āOh, come on, Mike!ā Rex said. āBesides, if you really want a good scare, then the haunted castle is right up there!ā
Rex turned his attention to a strange junction, one track leading to a creepy castle.
āThe only scare Iāll be getting in there is from how not scary it isā¦ā Mike groaned.
What is the haunted castle, I hear you ask? Well, itās very self explanatory, but nobody knows its story. Nobody knows how the castle became haunted to begin with, but all anybody knows is that those who enter never return from the ghostsā cold, dead grasp.
Rex scoffed at Mikeās unwillingness. āHow do you know thereās nothing in there?ā
āBecause people make this story up all the time, Rex.ā Mike groaned. āThe mine is haunted. The shed is haunted. Brendam Docks is haunted. You get the ideaā¦ā
āWell, if youāre so sure that nothingās up there, then why donāt you have a look?ā Rex teased.
āMaybe I will.ā Mike scoffed as he rolled away.
Back at Arlesburgh West, Mike was telling the story to Ryan.
āCan you believe him?ā he chuckled. āHe really thinks that the castle up on that hill is haunted!ā
āWell, I donāt know, really.ā Ryan mumbled. āDo ghosts really exist?ā
āOf course not, Ryan.ā Mike reassured the naive purple engine. āTheyāre all just silly make-believe.ā
Then, Bert approached, having overheard the conversation. āAre you sure? Because every time I pass that castle, I keep hearing this strange wailing sound.ā
āOh, Iām sure thatās just the wind.ā Mike scoffed.
āI wouldnāt be too sure,ā said James as he approached, again overhearing the discussion. āRex told me that every night, a strange, luminescent light looms over the castle.ā
āCome on, Jamesā¦ā Mike scoffed again. āIām telling you all, there is no such thing as ghosts.ā
āI wouldnāt be so sure,ā James said. ālots of engines on Sodor have spotted ghosts. Just ask Diesel and Duncan.ā
But Mike just rolled away, taking no notice to their claims and chuckling to himself.
A full moon shone over the island that night, and the costume party at the harbor was in full swing. Mike, of course, was not taking part and was heading back to his shed. Then, he approached the junction that led to the haunted castle. He rolled his eyes and chuckled slightly.
āHaunted castleā¦ā he thought to himself. āThereās no way that place is hauntedā¦right?ā
He started getting a bit curious, and thatās when he started to hear the strange wailing that Bert was talking about. He looked around, to find nobody there.
āHmā¦ā Mike pondered. āIām sure nobody would mind if I had a little peek.ā
And so, his wheels slowly started turning onto the other track, and into the grasp of the haunted castle.
On the track to the castle, the landscape started getting foggier and harder to see. Mike just about caught a glimpse of the castle through the mist. There was a strange luminescent light around it, just like James said.
āHuhā¦ā Mike said as he looked at the glow. āThis castleās obviously not haunted, but I have to respect their efforts.ā
As Mike approached the castle, the wailing noise started getting louder. And slowly, but surelyā¦he got in. The castle was empty, rustic and cold. A chilling breeze blew in Mikeās face as he entered. It was entirely empty.
āHello?ā Mike asked as he moved closer into the castle. He moved a little bit closer, and then the castle gate slammed down, slightly startling the old engine.
āUhā¦who goes there?ā asked Mike, as he beckoned forward. Then, the blue light from outside started flickering from inside.
āWHO DARES TO ENTER MY CASTLE?ā screamed a deep voice.
āHE WHO ENTERS MY CASTLE SHALL PERISH SLOW AND HORRIBLY!ā the voice called out. As the voice spoke, Mike noticed a familiar shape in the shadows and stopped feeling any form of fear.
Then, Rex emerged from the shadows. āWhat? How did you know?ā
āCome on, now.ā Mike groaned. āIt was a good prank, but itās not good enough to frighten me.ā
āOh, alright.ā said Rex as he fessed up. āI was the ghost, I just wanted to give you a little scare.ā
āWell, you werenāt that successful, but I appreciate the effort.ā Mike chuckled. āSo, what was with the glow around the castle?ā
āThat was just a spotlight!ā
āAnd the wailing?ā
āRecord player.ā
āAh.ā Mike said as his driver pulled the mechanism to lift the gate. āSo, what, this castle isnāt haunted?ā
āOf course not!ā Rex laughed. āYou said it yourself, ghosts are all just silly make-believe!ā
āGET OUT!!ā the voice screamed. This time, Mike chuckled to himself.
āUh, Mike? Thatā¦wasnāt me.ā
Then, Mike felt something new. Something he hadnāt felt in ages.
Mike felt scared. He and Rex bolted out of the castle at full speed, screaming until they couldnāt breathe.
At the costume party, Mike and Rex were telling the story of the haunted castle to their friends.
āWhoa, so there really is a ghost up there?ā Ryan asked.
āWe donāt know what we heard, really,ā Rex replied. āit couldāve been anything up there. But the real question is, Mike, do you still not like Halloween?ā
āYeah, I still think itās a bad holiday,ā Mike replied. ābut I guess it can have its moments.ā
Rex chuckled, both about Mike and his little prank.
And the voice in the castle? Well, no one knows for sure, not even Mike or Rex. Maybe it really is a ghost haunting the depths of the castleā¦or it could just be Bert, playing a trick on the two engines.
āWhat?ā Bert asked as he emerged from the shadows. āIām allowed to have fun on Halloween too!ā
āHappy Halloween, fellows!ā he yelled out as he woke up.
āIs it really Halloween already?ā Bert yawned. āIt feels like just yesterday it was Easter.ā
āI know!ā Rex squealed in delight. āNow, come on, we need to deliver all these decorations to the harbor for the costume party!ā
Mike scowled. āI will never understand the appeal of Halloween.ā
āWhat do you mean, Mike?ā Bert asked, curiously.
āWhat do Iā¦ā Mike grumbled. āLook, I just find that Halloween is merely a marketing ploy made up by corporations in order to increase sales for candy, pumpkins and costumes.ā
āOh, come on, now, Mike!ā Rex encouraged his friend. āThatās not the only reason people celebrate Halloween!ā
āAnd why is that?ā
āThis is the time of year where all of Sodorās ghouls and goblins rise from their graves, seeking the nearest mortal souls andā¦ā
ā...and what?ā Bert asked, slightly scared.
ā...and EATING THEM!ā Rex yelled. As Bert yelped, Mike rolled his eyes.
āOh no, Iām so scaredā¦ā Mike groaned, sarcastically. āLook, you guys do what you like, but I donāt want anything to do with Halloween, end of story.ā
āRise and shine, engines!ā Mr. Fergus Duncan greeted his engines. āNow, we have 14 hours until the costume party, so I need every one of you to be helping with extra deliveries. Starting with you, Mike, I need you to take boxes of candy, pumpkins and costumes to the harbor by 10.ā
āSee what I mean, Rex?ā Mike grumbled. āThatās what I hate about Halloween the most: how shameless it is!ā
Now, thatās not true. Mike did dislike how it seemed like one big marketing scheme, but that wasnāt it. It wasnāt the candy, or the pumpkins, or even the costumes. It was just that Mike wasnāt an easy engine to scare, and after years and years, Halloween after Halloween on the railway, itās gotten rather old. Why was this a problem? Well, if you didnāt scare easy on Halloween, would you want to be working with an engine like Rex?
As Mike puffed through the countryside, he started to hear a strange rustling. He looked around, and saw a strange shape take form. Mike rolled his eyes. āRex, I know thatās youā¦ā
Rex emerged from the bushes next to him as they came to a junction. āHow did you know that?!ā
āYou pull this same predictable prank every yearā¦ā Mike groaned. āand every year, the same thing happens. You say boo, Iām not scared, rinse and repeat.ā
āOh, come on, Mike!ā Rex said. āBesides, if you really want a good scare, then the haunted castle is right up there!ā
Rex turned his attention to a strange junction, one track leading to a creepy castle.
āThe only scare Iāll be getting in there is from how not scary it isā¦ā Mike groaned.
What is the haunted castle, I hear you ask? Well, itās very self explanatory, but nobody knows its story. Nobody knows how the castle became haunted to begin with, but all anybody knows is that those who enter never return from the ghostsā cold, dead grasp.
Rex scoffed at Mikeās unwillingness. āHow do you know thereās nothing in there?ā
āBecause people make this story up all the time, Rex.ā Mike groaned. āThe mine is haunted. The shed is haunted. Brendam Docks is haunted. You get the ideaā¦ā
āWell, if youāre so sure that nothingās up there, then why donāt you have a look?ā Rex teased.
āMaybe I will.ā Mike scoffed as he rolled away.
Back at Arlesburgh West, Mike was telling the story to Ryan.
āCan you believe him?ā he chuckled. āHe really thinks that the castle up on that hill is haunted!ā
āWell, I donāt know, really.ā Ryan mumbled. āDo ghosts really exist?ā
āOf course not, Ryan.ā Mike reassured the naive purple engine. āTheyāre all just silly make-believe.ā
Then, Bert approached, having overheard the conversation. āAre you sure? Because every time I pass that castle, I keep hearing this strange wailing sound.ā
āOh, Iām sure thatās just the wind.ā Mike scoffed.
āI wouldnāt be too sure,ā said James as he approached, again overhearing the discussion. āRex told me that every night, a strange, luminescent light looms over the castle.ā
āCome on, Jamesā¦ā Mike scoffed again. āIām telling you all, there is no such thing as ghosts.ā
āI wouldnāt be so sure,ā James said. ālots of engines on Sodor have spotted ghosts. Just ask Diesel and Duncan.ā
But Mike just rolled away, taking no notice to their claims and chuckling to himself.
A full moon shone over the island that night, and the costume party at the harbor was in full swing. Mike, of course, was not taking part and was heading back to his shed. Then, he approached the junction that led to the haunted castle. He rolled his eyes and chuckled slightly.
āHaunted castleā¦ā he thought to himself. āThereās no way that place is hauntedā¦right?ā
He started getting a bit curious, and thatās when he started to hear the strange wailing that Bert was talking about. He looked around, to find nobody there.
āHmā¦ā Mike pondered. āIām sure nobody would mind if I had a little peek.ā
And so, his wheels slowly started turning onto the other track, and into the grasp of the haunted castle.
On the track to the castle, the landscape started getting foggier and harder to see. Mike just about caught a glimpse of the castle through the mist. There was a strange luminescent light around it, just like James said.
āHuhā¦ā Mike said as he looked at the glow. āThis castleās obviously not haunted, but I have to respect their efforts.ā
As Mike approached the castle, the wailing noise started getting louder. And slowly, but surelyā¦he got in. The castle was empty, rustic and cold. A chilling breeze blew in Mikeās face as he entered. It was entirely empty.
āHello?ā Mike asked as he moved closer into the castle. He moved a little bit closer, and then the castle gate slammed down, slightly startling the old engine.
āUhā¦who goes there?ā asked Mike, as he beckoned forward. Then, the blue light from outside started flickering from inside.
āWHO DARES TO ENTER MY CASTLE?ā screamed a deep voice.
āHE WHO ENTERS MY CASTLE SHALL PERISH SLOW AND HORRIBLY!ā the voice called out. As the voice spoke, Mike noticed a familiar shape in the shadows and stopped feeling any form of fear.
Then, Rex emerged from the shadows. āWhat? How did you know?ā
āCome on, now.ā Mike groaned. āIt was a good prank, but itās not good enough to frighten me.ā
āOh, alright.ā said Rex as he fessed up. āI was the ghost, I just wanted to give you a little scare.ā
āWell, you werenāt that successful, but I appreciate the effort.ā Mike chuckled. āSo, what was with the glow around the castle?ā
āThat was just a spotlight!ā
āAnd the wailing?ā
āRecord player.ā
āAh.ā Mike said as his driver pulled the mechanism to lift the gate. āSo, what, this castle isnāt haunted?ā
āOf course not!ā Rex laughed. āYou said it yourself, ghosts are all just silly make-believe!ā
āGET OUT!!ā the voice screamed. This time, Mike chuckled to himself.
āUh, Mike? Thatā¦wasnāt me.ā
Then, Mike felt something new. Something he hadnāt felt in ages.
Mike felt scared. He and Rex bolted out of the castle at full speed, screaming until they couldnāt breathe.
At the costume party, Mike and Rex were telling the story of the haunted castle to their friends.
āWhoa, so there really is a ghost up there?ā Ryan asked.
āWe donāt know what we heard, really,ā Rex replied. āit couldāve been anything up there. But the real question is, Mike, do you still not like Halloween?ā
āYeah, I still think itās a bad holiday,ā Mike replied. ābut I guess it can have its moments.ā
Rex chuckled, both about Mike and his little prank.
And the voice in the castle? Well, no one knows for sure, not even Mike or Rex. Maybe it really is a ghost haunting the depths of the castleā¦or it could just be Bert, playing a trick on the two engines.
āWhat?ā Bert asked as he emerged from the shadows. āIām allowed to have fun on Halloween too!ā
About the Author: JF the LOLZOR
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