In His Little 80s Eyes
As the kid looked back, the area seemed to change. The once realistic rooftop was now the 1980's animated cartoon version of itself.
"God this kid lived in the 80s too much." A voice called out from the smoke.
"We're to blame for that, but c'mon, you have to admit, we look pretty cool right now."
"Fiddlesticks... wait! I can't swear!?"
As the smoke cleared, the kid's eyes lit up to see his older counterparts armored up like the hero and villain of the G1 cartoon he loved. As the kid fired off orange bolts of energy at Kelstone as the armor had vanished and helped build theirs. The hoverboard in its 80s theme was all he had.
"This sucks." Said the Ghost version looking at his armor. His armor was a green, beat-up pickup truck.
"It's how he sees us." Said the college version of the Grey Ghost. His armor was that of a red, orange, yellow sports car.
"Easy for you to say. He sees you like a sleek cool guy with a cool paint job.
"More like who we are. You come off mean, but it's out of a place of love."
"Right. Enough chit-chat. Let's burn some rubber!"
The Hot Rod and Beat-Up Pickup laid down some thick tire smoke as they raced to help the kid.
"Let's work together..."
"To put this kid's mind at ease and save the freakin day!
As Kelstone, reimagined as the villain of the show, looked up, the two transformed and began attacking him.
"Hold on kiddo! We gotcha!"
Kelstone fired off the cannon on his arm and struck the college version on his side as the two pressed their attack.
"I gotta hand it to ya kid. I love this sweet cannon. Now, let's watch them die together! SHALL WE!"
However, as the two merged back together, Mcginnis and the Illiniwek entered the field. As they examined themselves and attacked Kelstone, the two-merged versions had finished and emerged through the smoke as a red and blue semi-truck.
"Now this I can work with." ~ "Hey now, stay focused! We have a job to do!"
As Mcginnis and Sam looked up, the red and blue truck transformed to represent the kid's version of what they'd be if they worked together. They tackled Kelstone away from the kid and engaged him in a standoff.
"Grey Ghost!"
"One of us takes Sam, the other shall fall."
"So eager to throw your life away so recklessly, are we?"
"That's something you should tell yourself."
"I'll crush you and then the kid!"
Kelstone tackled the Grey Ghost into the center of the roof. They separated and Kelstone chucked a sliver of broken roof at them. It pierced their side, but after dodging a cannon shot, the Grey Ghost knocked the cannon off of Kelstone's arm while Sam talked to the kid.
"You're..."
"Younger him. Surprised?"
Sam looked up to see Kelstone deepen the puncture wound on the Grey Ghost's side but was knocked away from him. They soon entered a grapple that resulted in the Grey Ghost throwing Kelstone away from him.
"Come on Ghost! Finish him off! Do it now!"
Mcginnis looked around at the unfolding scene before him. "Wait... I've seen this episode... KID! TURN OFF THE IMAGINATION FIELD!"
As the kid realized his stock plot was about to cost the Grey Ghost (incomplete), everything, he tried but couldn't.
"No more of this, Ghost! I beg you, give me your mercy!"
"You, who would steal Sam without mercy, now plead for it? I thought you had a stronger core than that." Said Kelstone, reaching for the cannon. However, the kid broke away from Sam, lunged, and tackled Kelstone.
"No you don't, pretty man stealer!"
"Kid! Get out of the way!"
Kelstone fired the cannon repeatedly into the Grey Ghost's, (Incomplete-Form), open wound. "Fall! Fall! I DEMAND YOU FALL!" The Grey Ghost took the second and third shot before falling over injured.
The Kid was tossed away from Kelstone as he stood over the now kneeling Ghost. The kid had tears running down his face realizing his imagination field had just cost the two best versions of himself their strength.
"I have waited an eternity for this... an eternity to take Sam for and this wretched kingdom all to myself... it's over Grey Ghost.
However, as the Grey Ghost, (Incomplete-Form), stared into the kid's eyes and then into Sam's, he mustered the last of his hate-powered will, clasped his hands together, and breathed weakly.
"NEVER!" The Grey Ghost sent his clasped hands into Kelstone's chest, sending him over the side of the building. As the imagination field's abilities were no longer around him, Kelstone reverted to his real form and was impaled by a tower's roof rod, killing him.
The Prince and the others watched as the Grey Ghost stood up shakily. However, rather than follow the plot of the cartoon episode, the Grey Ghost clasped his bloody side and walked unsteadily toward them.
"But... how?"
"Kid," The Grey Ghost said laboring in breath, "reality doesn't follow such stock plots. Besides...", The Grey Ghost groaned in pain holding his side tightly, "I've experienced worse. Now, let's take down the field and re..."
The Grey Ghost crumpled to the ground. Mcginnis and Sam helped catch him as his body exhaustedly struggled to maintain functionality.
"QUICK! CALL DR. SUE!" Shouted Mcginnis.
"Stay with me... please don't leave me..." Said Sam softly as he cradled the Grey Ghost's bloody head. As Dr. Sue and Archie arrived, the Grey Ghost struggled to maintain consciousness, eventually fading out, as the kid looked at him, eyes full of pain and regret.
As they arrived at the Banshee hospital, the King crushed a steel tray. "If I had foreseen this... he'd..."
The King felt Archie's hand on his shoulder. "He's strong. Don't you start doubting him, you hear? I have ordered the Liberty Union soldiers to act as peacekeepers as things settle down. Who knew weddings could be this crazy?"
The two leaders sat in the waiting room as Dr. Sue and the Banshee doctors repaired the Grey Ghost.