Spooky Buddies Junior Novel (6 page)

M
r. Johnson and the kids walked toward the manor's front door. Mr. Johnson was holding a large book.

As they looked up, they saw strange lights flashing in the turret. Ghostly shapes flew out of the windows in every direction.

“Oh, no!” Mr. Johnson said. “They've opened the portal. Now all Warwick needs to do is complete the spell and it will remain open forever. All good will be overcome by evil. But we can still stop it.” He took a large cross out of his coat. “Stay close to me, kids.”

They had to find the Buddies before it was too late!

When they entered the manor, Warwick was waiting for them.

“We have your book,” Mr. Johnson told him.

Warwick didn't want to waste any more time. The moon would be setting soon. “Hand it over,” he ordered.

“Where are our Buddies?” Billy asked.

“Oh, they're around here somewhere,” Warwick said.

He reached for the book. But Mr. Johnson held up the cross to stop him.

Warwick sighed. Why did nonevil people have to be so stubborn?

“As you wish,” he said. “Follow me.”

He flew up the stairs. Mr. Johnson and the kids followed Warwick into the turret room. “Where are the Buddies?” Billy asked.

“They were right here,” Warwick said. “But you're too late.”

He pointed his staff at Mr. Johnson and shot a beam of magical energy at him. The magic knocked Mr. Johnson off his feet. Warwick grabbed the book from him.

“Now I will finish the spell, and the creatures of the netherworld will be here forever! I will rule the land once and for all!” He cackled with glee and opened the book. “Wait a minute,” he said, a confused look on his face. “This isn't my spell book!”

Taking advantage of the warlock's surprise, Mr. Johnson grabbed Warwick's staff and tossed it to Billy. “Billy—the spell!”

“My staff!” Warwick howled, struggling to get past Mr. Johnson.

Billy pulled the real spell book out of his backpack and opened it.
“Protectus!”
he chanted.

The staff fired a magical beam at Warwick, knocking him back.

Meanwhile, the Buddies were trying to sneak out of the manor. But the Hound caught up to them in the kitchen.

“That's it, you miserable pups,” he growled. “Nowhere left to run! I'll have all your souls now.”

Luckily, B-Dawg had an idea. “All right, dawg. You win,” he said. “But take Budderball first. He's the plumpest.”

The rest of the Buddies gasped.

“Silence!” the Hound ordered. “I don't care who's first.”

“Trust me,” B-Dawg whispered to the others. “I've got a plan.”

“B-Dawg has a plan?” Rosebud whispered, surprised.

“I can have a plan!” B-Dawg said defensively.

The Hound began to howl. Magical green energy came out of his mouth and drifted toward Budderball.

But at that moment, B-Dawg started dancing. He spun and jumped and danced so furiously that all the dust that had built up in the house over the years came swirling into the air. The Hound started coughing.

“Ugh!” the Hound cried, trying to suck in some fresh air. But as he breathed in, the green magical energy got sucked back around him!

“No!” the Hound cried. “This can't be happening!”

But it was. The magic surrounded him—and before the puppies' eyes, the Hound turned to stone! The Buddies couldn't believe it!

“That was totally wicked!” Mudbud exclaimed.

B-Dawg smiled. He knew he had it in him.

In the turret room, Billy's spell was keeping Warwick away from him and his friends. But for how long?

“Hand me the staff, boy!” Warwick ordered.

“No!” Billy closed his eyes. He was scared out of his wits. Could he do what he needed to do next?

Mr. Johnson looked out the window. The sun was breaking over the horizon.

“Quick, Billy!” he urged. “The sun is rising. Say the spell!”

Billy held up the staff. Sunlight bounced off it and hit the mirror nearby.

Just then the Buddies rushed in. But Billy hardly saw them. He was focused on the spell book.

He read one of the spells out loud.

“No!” Warwick yelled as Billy recited the last line of the spell.

The mirror lit up, and spirits came flying toward it from every direction. The mirror was sucking them in as if it were a magical vacuum!

Warwick fought the pull of the mirror. But it was too strong.

“Drat!” he cried. “Not again!”

He tried to grab Mr. Johnson. But the man stomped on the warlock's foot.

Warwick yelped in pain. All of a sudden he noticed that Mr. Johnson looked familiar. And that foot-stomping definitely
felt
familiar.

“It's you!” he exclaimed, realizing that Mr. Johnson was Joseph. “I'll take you with me this time!” He grabbed Mr. Johnson, dragging him toward the mirror.

“Mr. Johnson!” Billy yelled.

Just then, the stone statue of Pip came back to life, thanks to the power of Billy's spell. Pip saw what was happening and leaped forward, knocking Warwick and Mr. Johnson apart.

“Nooooo!” Warwick wailed.

The mirror grabbed the warlock and pulled him in. He clutched the edge, trying to stay free. But the magic was too strong. Warwick lost his grip and tumbled into the mirror, disappearing just as the magical light faded away.

A second later the room was normal again. Mr. Johnson looked down at Pip.

“You saved my life,” he said.

Pip barked and jumped up joyfully.

Then there were several other barks. It was Pip's brothers and sister! Their stone forms had been sitting in the turret room all along. They'd come back to life, too!

Hoot also returned to normal. He hooted happily.

“Thank you, Hoot,” Pip said. He knew they couldn't have beaten Warwick without the owl's help. “Now my brothers and sis can be reunited with their kids, too.”

All around town, the evil magic was reversed. Zelda and Deputy Sniffer returned to life. Sheriff Dan changed from a monkey back into a man. Rodney and Skip turned back into boys. All the townsfolk woke from their spells.

In the turret room, Mr. Johnson lifted the staff. He smashed it down on a table. The gem shattered. A moment later, a crack formed in the turret's mirror, then another. Finally the whole thing fell to pieces! Warwick would never be able to return.

Then Mr. Johnson picked up his puppy, Pip. Pip licked his face happily, and Mr. Johnson smiled.

“Come on, everyone,” he said. “Let's get out of this evil place.”

B
illy stood at the front of the classroom. Mr. Johnson, Pip, and the Buddies were at his side as he finished his history presentation. “And so the evil warlock was sucked into the mirror, never to be seen again,” he said. “And Joseph Johnson was finally reunited with his long-lost puppy, Pip. The curse of the Howlloween Hound has been lifted, and Fernfield is now safe forever.”

The class applauded. Mrs. Carroll smiled.

“That was quite the story, Billy,” she said.

“It's more than just a story, Mrs. C,” Billy said. “It really happened. Just ask Rodney and Skip. They were total heroes. Right, guys?”

Rodney and Skip looked sheepish. “Every word of it,” Skip said sarcastically. “Especially the part where we
didn't
get turned into rats.”

“Well, that was a very thorough presentation, Billy,” Mrs. Carroll said. “You get an A-plus for your efforts. Congratulations.”

Later, the kids and the Buddies stood beside an old van with Mr. Johnson and Pip. Mr. Johnson had packed up the car with his belongings.

“What are you going to do now?” Alice asked Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Johnson smiled. He looked much happier now.

“I tracked down the owners of Pip's brothers and sister,” he said. “They live all over the country now, so we're going to visit them.”

“It's great to have a new
leash
on life,” Pip added jokingly. “But I'll miss you, Buddies.”

“Yo, we'll catch you on the flip side, dawg,” B-Dawg said.

“I think what my brother means,” Buddha added, “is we'll never forget you.”

Pip smiled. He would never forget the Buddies, either. With that, Mr. Johnson and Pip climbed into their van. As they drove off, the Buddies and kids waved good-bye. And above them all flew Hoot, very happy to be free—and especially happy that the Buddies had rid Fernfield of the curse of the Howlloween Hound once and for all.