Hostile Relations

Valerie recently found out that her mother was not human and was in fact Ember McLain during her last cycle. As a result of this and her Technus supplied suit Valerie Grey was classed as a ghost, and now acts as the head of law enforcement for what little law there is in the ghost zone..

Plasmius looked around this realm noticing nothing odd, not even the fact that the wall paper represented one of his pawns blasting the other. He opened the locked case and carefully removed a string from the guitar.

"There, the last bit I needed for my new plan to win Danny and Maddie from the idiot Jack. There's just one thing I'm wondering. Where is everyone? What's so interesting they'd leave their personal realms unguarded? Still rescuing Maddie from that incompetent fool Jack is more important."

Vlad smiled. Despite both Jack being both incompetent and merely human and Daniel being far weaker than him, there was no way he'd want to face both of them at the same time, especially if Jack seemed to get one of the sudden bursts of usefulness he was prone to. Now it was time to play the loyal family friend again. Daniel would not stop him this time.

--

Walker looked at the fleeing Phantom. He'd have to wait until later to deal with him. If the Observants had declared safe-conduct, then he'd give it to him. It wasn't as if there was anything that could stop him from going after that criminal once the safe conduct had lapsed. Wait a second wasn't he heading towards the Red Hunter's realm?

"This must be a mistake..."

A guitar buzzed him. "It's genuine. Val's your boss now."

Walker was so surprised he didn't even bother to arrest Ember for her flagrant violation of the rules. Still Valerie Gray did seem to be an enforcer after his own heart. Maybe he'd finally get permission to use his new invention to hold Wulf.

"Ah. Walker I want some words with you, about how many times dangerous prisoners escape from your jail. I have a solution that while you won't be happy about it should solve the problem. I will hold Wulf."

"You can't stop him from escaping that way. We should use my new invention."

"Walker how many ways have you tried to stop Wulf from escaping? And how many times has he managed to escape? And every time you put him with more dangerous villains. The best thing to do is admit we can't hold him. Oh, if he misbehaves badly enough I'll give him back to you, to do what you like with, but only if."

This was not good. This was not the Red Hunter he had expected. He expected one who lived for punishing ghosts as much as he did. And with how much she and Ember were connected to humanity the Real World items embargo would be removed.

"The Real World items embargo is going to be replaced with a lesser Human-World import duty. Smuggling will still happen but that should tone it down. By the way I advise learning Esperanto. If I can get Wulf to work with me, he'll be your boss."

Walker walked out of Valerie's realm, complaining to his guard Bullet. "Hoist by my own petard. I proved Val was a spirit, hoping she'd attach to vengeance and be an annoyance to that criminal, but instead she's my boss. If only she had won her case."

Walker promptly tripped over something. Only three ghosts would be able to get away with this. And since Clockwork tended not to be so immature, and the other was back in his haunt. "Show yourself you yellow-bellied custard!"

Youngblood became visible, and he looked carefully. "I'm rather annoyed with the Red Hunter as well. Neither of us has any love for the other. You create too many rules."

"And you can escape my power too easily. But for once we have a common enemy. But why can't you deal with her yourself?"

"Why can't you? There are rules even I cannot break. She's family."Youngblood makes a face of disgust. "Both of our powers allow us to twist rules. But if instead of twisting rules for ourselves..."

"We twist them for the other..." Walker smiled thinly. "This might just work."

-----

Danny arrived back in Amity Park. Time to call in on his cousin, who was staying at Damon's for some reason. Still Danny would be willing to be that Clockwork had forced the cousin alteration through in the round of memory alterations, even if he had been against them. He was surprised when Dani barrelled into him.

"Dad's up to something again. He's playing the loyal friend."

Danny sighed. Whenever Vlad started spending time around Danny's family it meant he was up to something, usually trying to kill Jack and occasionally Jazz, so that he could marry Maddie and take Danny as his son.

"Daniel."

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm planning to alter reality to my very whims." Vlad stated before laughing without any humour. "Actually I came to see Daniel. I've always enjoyed playing chess with him."

Daniel winced as another misdirection easily came from Vlad's lips. However Jack had almost instantly presented a chessboard and pieces at that. Vlad and Daniel sighed; they were going to have to do this.

Vlad had to keep his level down of course, but Daniel was performing far better than expected. It was almost as if he had been getting lessons from someone. But there was no way to do so. Why was this strange discontinuity where he was in human form across from the Red Hunter? He always was ghostly with ghosts and human with humans without exception. And why was he so friendly with someone who had stolen so many of his Hunting Suits anyway?

---

Ghost Zone.

"How's it going, Ember?" Valerie asks.

"I got a lot of permission from varying bands. I actually have a full concert. I'm going to show that even the smallest Ember can set the world alight..."

"Don't overdo it. It's just a concert." Val reminded the Spirit.

"Not a plan to take over the world." Ember grouched. "It isn't fair."

"You know why you got banned from these visits. You overdo things. Now, I can't protect you from Hunters if you go overboard. You do know that?"

Though not liking the reminder, Ember did understand and so nodded. It was time to head back to the most haunted place on Earth: - Amity Park.