The Infinity Stand-Off

King Harris adjusted his cowboy hat as he stared intently at Casper the Friendly Ghost, his lifelong childhood friend.

"I never wanted it to end this way," The King said, in his sultry sweet voice. "When I met you, you were alone and afraid. I gave you a home, Casper. I put a roof over your head. Was that not enough for you?"

"I'm sorry, Harris. But there's only room for one cowboi in this town." Casper stretched out his arms slightly to assert his dominance. "You messed with the wrong friendly ghost." 

"Then I'm afraid you leave me with only one choice" The King squinted his eyes as he reluctantly pulled out his bullet yeeting device. "Prepare for your second death, old friend."

Casper chuckled half-heartedly as he slipped a small orange water gun from his back pocket. He clicked his leather boots together. "Let's get this show on the road, partner. Besides, how do you expect to win? I have a water gun, you coward. Your bullet yeeting device is no match for me."

King Harris smirked mischievously as he pulled out an Uno Reverse Card out of the inside of his sleeve, but before he could place it down, Casper squirted his gun in the king's face.

"No u." He said, "I win. Ecks Dee."

As the victorious ghost turned to leave, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching behind him. 

"Leaving so soon?" said a horribly familiar voice.

"No...." whispered Casper, "It can't be...." 

He whirled around and found himself face to face with the one and only Tim Burton, Johnny Depp at his right side. 

"You're alive!? I thought I weeded you out years ago." 

Johnny let out a loud laugh. "You didn't think it would be that easy, did you?" 

Tim Burton put a hand on his partner's shoulder. "We're here to address some... unfinished business. I'm sure you understand."

After a long pause of silence, Casper finally spoke. "So be it. If it's trouble you want..." he squirted water right at Johnny's left pinky toe, "Then it's trouble you'll get."

Johnny fell right into Tim's waiting arms. "NO!!!" Tim shouted. "HE'S ALLERGIC TO WATER, YOU DEMON!!! HOW DID U KNOW!?"

"Shh...." Johnny said quietly. "I knew my day would come. If we're being honest with ourselves, our time together was never meant to be peaceful. I knew that if I chose a life with you, I would never stop fighting. But I was okay with that. Because I would be fighting with you at my side." He coughed as Tim applied pressure to his pinky toe.

"No, no, no...  you're gonna be okay. You're gonna make it through this. You can't... " he sobbed, "You can't leave me. Who else is going to star in literally all my movies?" 

Johnny chuckled, "I'm sorry Timmy, but you gotta let me go. It's time." 

Tim watched as the last bit of life drained out of Johnny's eyes. He laid him gently on the ground before standing. Casper shook his head.

"He was a good man, that Johnny." He said, "It's too bad he had to get involved with someone like you. If he hadn't, then maybe he would still be alive."

Tim glared at Casper, "You did this. You monster!!" 

Using only one percent of his power, Tim Burton summoned the Infinity Gauntlet onto his hand. It glowed brightly, like a divine being sent from heaven above. Casper's eyes widened at the sight of it. He dropped to his knees in an instant, putting his hands together, almost in prayer.

"Please, I'm begging you... spare me... I'll do anything. I'll give you anything you want, I promise." 

Tim only shook his head at the pathetic thing before him. "This one's for Johnny." He snapped his fingers and Casper faded away. 

                                                                                    * * *

Downtown Canada had never been more peaceful after the deaths of the three most infamous crime bosses. People stopped sleeping with one eye open, stores stopped investing in highly priced security, the criminal underworld grew a lot less jittery. 

There had been chatter of what occurred on that day, The Infinity Stand-Off is what they'd been calling it. Different stories had been tossed around back forth so many times, it was hard to decipher which was the truth. Only one knew for sure.

Tim Burton spent the rest of his days in bars and taverns, drinking away his troubles. He never had another good night of sleep after the death of Johnny Depp. But of course, for every closed door, another one opens. Having been one of the late King Hariss's apprentice's in his early days, Tim inherited everything he had. As stated in the will. It appeared that the man had been anticipating his death after all. Tim had been dwelling on that thought for months now, the king always had a nose for betrayal, but he never thought the old dog could sniff out a ploy as complex as this one. Unless... 

The wooden tavern doors squeaked open behind him. Tim turned in his seat and saw Barney standing before him. King Harris's son. 

"He had insiders intell, didn't he?" Said Tim, "You only pretended to be Casper's watchdog. Or should I say, watch dinosaur?"

Barney smiled a toothy grin. "Smart cookie. But you figured this one out a little too late, didn't you? You just couldn't wait to end the old man's life."

Tim almost choked on his drink. "Wait, you think I killed him? Why would I do that? I loved that dirty scoundrel."

"But you loved the money more. I don't know how you found out about your inheritance, but me and the boys know you've been planning to skip town with that buddy Johnny of yours. Harris's death provided just the right incentive. You had means and motive." 

"I didn't kill the king, Barney, you have to believe me. You know me, man. Harris practically raised us as brothers..." 

Barney cracked his knuckles and started making his way toward Burton. Tim sighed and downed the last of his whiskey. From beyond the grave, he could almost hear Johnny's voice whispering to him, "Mess him up, Timmy."

"I will Johnny, I will."

(The End)