Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom, or any characters, voices, etc. involved with it. DP belongs to Butch Hartman.

Good day, loyal fans! As you may have guessed, this is the sequel to "The First Portal", finally involving our well-known and loved hero of Amity Park, Danny Phantom himself.

To anyone reading this who hasn't read "The First Portal", the prequel to this story, I strongly recommend that you do so. It gives a lot of background information. Plus it's a good read.

As always, leave a review, I'll send a reply, so enjoy!

"If we knew what a number of people are actually dead and what a number of these dead people govern our lives, we should go mad with horror."

-George Gurdjieff

(Tir): Gift & Curse

It was dark. I don't mean empty street, middle of the night dark, I mean bottom of a bottomless pit in the back of a cave at four in the morning dark. I was in human form, and as I took a step forward my hand touched a cold, slimy, rough surface, as frigid and unyielding as stone. I pushed against it, hard, trying to go intangible, but nothing worked.

"Let me out! Let me out!" I howled, slamming my fists against the hard surface. Finally, as if someone had heard my plea, a section of the wall gave way. I could barely see in the gloom, but as I stumbled along I got the feeling that I was being followed. As it intensified I started to feel my way along the passage more quickly, panic fighting to take control of my mind.

I am the terror that stalks the night, a strange, hollow voice echoed, My presence haunts every rock and stone. Deceit is my shield, fear, my sword. You are no match against me, little one. Your doom is decided.

The second I heard the voice, my mind froze. In all the cosmos nothing else filled me with such stark terror. For all it was worth I ran, sprinting through the darkness, slamming into walls, as the passage slowly began to glow with a quiet green light.

I am terror embodied. I am the darkness in your heart. I am the manifestation of your anger, your doubt, your shame, and the very terror that is pumping the blood through your veins…

I wasn't listening to the words anymore, I just ran, trying to escape that voice. No matter how hard I tried it just grew louder, and the glow ever more bright.

I have taken all you hold dear. Your blood, your heart, even your very soul. What else can be taken of you, I wonder?

Finally the passage opened out into a cave, though it was no security. I could feel the warmth drain from the air, my last hint of security, vanished. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, he appeared.

Floating before me, his palms glowing a dangerous green, grinning a vile, soulless grin.

Ah, but what else can be taken from the living dead, he growled as his palms shone like deadly stars, But their lives? There was a huge blast of light, then nothing. I could feel myself screaming, but I realized I had no mouth with which to scream.

"Tir? Tir!" I heard a familiar voice calling. My eyes snapped open, and I freaked out when I saw only darkness. "Tir! Tir, it's okay! It's me! It's Ronnie!" I could feel a pair of warm arms wrap around me as Ronnie started stroking my hair like any mother would have. I swear, I don't know where I'd be without my sister.

She was one of my last ties to reality, the one person that really helped take some of the weight from my shoulders. I didn't know what I'd do if I lost her. Finally, after I'd relaxed a little, she released me, but still kept one arm wrapped around my shoulder. I appreciated the gesture.

Of all the people I'd ever known, she was the one person I felt I could spill everything to without any embarrassment. Well, maybe a little.

"It was that dream, wasn't it?" she asked knowingly. I nodded, unable to find words to describe how I felt. I'd never told her exactly what my dream entailed, but I think she had a pretty good idea. I don't scare easily, and not without good reason.

"I'm not going to lie to you, Tir, I can't know what it felt like to go through that," she said softly, "It must have been horrifying. I was scared the minute Mom and I found you two there, and Phantom was gone."

"You've done things that most people can't even imagine, and seen what most people couldn't believe. If there's anyone I know that has earned a rest, it's you." I nodded, more sad at the moment than anything.

Thanks to that nightmare many of the bad things that had happened to those around me came rushing back. I agreed with Ronnie, I couldn't have done anything about Dad, but I couldn't help feeling that Tai's death was my fault. If I hadn't let him get involved he may have lived. Ronnie got up to go, and gave me a kiss on the forehead before she whispered, "Goodnight." I nodded, feeling lousy about myself.

I got off the side of my bed, opened my window, and with practiced ease, climbed onto the roof. Working my way along the ridgepole I came to the apex of the roof, on the very edge of it, about twenty feet off the ground. Without even thinking I threw myself over the edge, my entire body crackling with energy as I transformed. You see, I am no ordinary fifteen year old.

One year past I stumbled upon the untold power of a Ghost Portal, and it gave me the ability to shift between my human self, and what was presently the form of a great gargoyle. Regaining my sight, a power I retained only in my ghostly form, I spread the pair of formidable wings on my back, and with a mighty gust, thrust myself into the air.

Unlike true flight I could only maintain movement in my wings for a brief period. Fortunately the strong membrane between each 'finger' was more than enough to catch even the weakest updrafts and wind currents, and I was soon soaring high above my home. Usually the experience was exhilarating, but I was focused on other matters at that moment.

"What am I?" I said to myself, I'm both a human, and a ghost, and yet, I'm not. I was just some sort of accident, some beast born of a freak accident that involved my father's murder.

Phantom, I glowered, remembering the name of my attacker, He's the cause of all this. He's the one that caused me this grief, this pain, this guilt.

"I swear, upon my own soul, that I shall find the one that did this to me. And I will make him pay."

OOOOO(Ronnie)

It was bright and sunny when I got out of bed. Sunlight poured into my room, lighting up the place with a warm glow. I felt warm and wanted when I awoke, kicking my feet out of bed and humming to myself as I prepared for work. With the town's reconstruction nearly complete, there were fewer workers, but still enough to give a pretty young waitress some generous tips.

I dressed and went down stairs, where to my surprise, Tir was already up and about, whilst mom was preparing breakfast. She wasn't Martha Stewart, but she was trying to make up for lost time, and that's a good thing.

"Good morning!" I grinned cheerily, leaping gracefully down the stairs and expertly stopping just short of crashing into Tir's chair. Umbrus rose from his usual spot under the table and greeted me as only a dog can.

"Calm down, Ron," Tir said with mock irritation, "And stop smiling. You're not getting a tip from me." If I hadn't been in such a good mood I would have glared at him. No one ever called me 'Ron'.

"Breakfast is ready!" mom interrupted, placing French toast and eggs on the table in front of us. We sat down and started eating while the radio played in the background.

"I don't believe it, mom!" Tir exclaimed, cramming as much food into his mouth as he could, "This is delicious!"

"And what's so believable about that?" mom asked as she cocked an eyebrow. Tir almost choked, and reached for his glass of milk. Just as he was about to reply to mom's inquiry, something on the radio caught our attention.

"Today, citizens of Amity Park are standing in front of the Town Hall for the unveiling of a new monument. Over to Stan Bovichu, coming live from Amity, go ahead Stan."

"It is amazing, ladies & gents!" Stan exclaimed, "In recent news, as some may have heard, Amity has seen some dark times in 'ghost hunting'. The spectral menaces have made several attempts of conquest over this city, but only one thing has stopped them, and that's why we're here today."

There was a huge cheer in the background, and Stan continued, "And just now the unveiling of Phantom Monument has taken place. Yes, this stalwart young specter has stood up against the forces of evil, and upheld the light in the lives of these people. Though little is known about Phantom, we honor him today, for his loyal, if not courageous service. Back to you, Shikaro."

Everything was silent. In our entire house, not a breath could be heard. Though it came only a split second after Stan signed off, the sound of shattering glass made the silence seem like hours. Both Mom and I whipped around to see Tir.

The shattered remains of his glass were all over the place, some still clutched in the white-hard knuckles that shattered the glass in the first place. A shard of that glass had impaled the radio, keeping it from voicing another word ever again.

His whole body was trembling, tense, and his jaw bulged dangerously. I could actually see a ghostly white aura surrounding him, and his normally cloudy eyes burned so brightly I almost had to look away. His body showed anger, but his eyes reflected the pain and frustration he felt.

I don't think he even realized it, but after a second or two he let loose a roar that shook the very foundation of the house. After it subsided I heard Umbrus whimper like I'd never heard him do so before. It sounded desperate.

"Tir-" I said comfortingly, reaching a hand out to him, but he was out the door in a second, leaving both me and mom in silence.

OOOOO(Tir)

I ran. It didn't matter where I ran to, I just ran.

It's not fair! I screamed to myself, That, that.. thing, that murdered my father and altered the course of life as I used to know it, was being glorified for his alleged acts of heroism.

It was just too much for me to bear, and I was lucky that the streets were still pretty empty, otherwise I'd probably have met my end at the wrong side of a steering wheel. Barely realizing anything was there I slammed my fist into a tree, and broke it off like it was a twig. I blew off my frustration by tearing the fallen tree to pieces with my bare hands.

Finally, after a maddened frenzy, I collapsed to my knees. My hands were rubbed raw from my exertion, and my anger had finally given way to the grief that lay beneath it.

I didn't even realize someone was there, not until my sobs had died down, and a soft voice said, "For one so strong you feel much." Something about that voice made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and my eyes sparked.

"Who's there?" I asked rising to my feet. Then, realizing what I'd done, I immediately blurted, "It's not what you think! I- I..."

"Do not worry, spirit child," the voice said quietly, "We know of your secret, that you walk the fine line between one world and the other. I am one whom has been chosen to help you, to give you those things which you shall need in your time ahead."

I considered this for a moment before the same voice said, "If you would oblige us..."

I had a thousand questions on my mind, but I was to thunderstruck to ask. This guy knew who I was, what I could become? Where had I gone wrong? And who the hell was us? Without even thinking I transformed, feeling the familiar wave of energy spread from my middle speedily out to the tips of my fingers and toes. When I beheld the one whom had spoken to me, I was surprised. He was small and hunched over with age.

A long, flowing white beard came down almost to the ground. His skin was pale blue, with a pair of shimmering red eyes adorning his face, with a black scar just under the left one. His cloak, a deep shade of purple, concealed him for the most part, but what caught my attention was his rather odd staff.

It stood perhaps a foot taller than he, with a timepiece in its head. It glowed with a gentle, brassy sheen, as if it glowed, but it attempted to conceal the fact that it did so.

His voice, while I could tell before that it came from a person whose years far surpassed my own, still had a good hint of authority, a glimpse perhaps into the splendor the old specter had enjoyed in younger days. Behind him stood three figures, each dressed in a cloak that hung over their faces.

One, the shortest by a wide margin, though by far the broadest, was wearing a black cloak. The second was considerably taller, and thinner, though by no means what most would consider thin. He wore a gray cloak. The third, taller still, was the height and build of the average person, and was dressed in white, though his face as well was shadowed in darkness.

"Perhaps you are wondering why we happened to be here at this very moment, seemingly appearing out of thin air, without your sixth sense tipping you off, or why we know who you are, and what you are capable of," the purple-cloaked ghost said, as if reading my mind. I recoiled in surprise as he shifted in appearance from an aged old man to one not far out of his prime.

"Uh, yeah," I answered dumbly, "So, why are you here?"

"To help you with the task ahead, Yurei," he answered. Nodding to the figure in white, he stepped back. The figure stepped forward, and as he stopped no more than a foot or two away from me, he removed his hood. He seemed to be a somewhat aged old man, yet there was strength in him, I could tell by the look in his deep green eyes. They bore a quality of determination that I hadn't ever seen before.

"I am Landar, born in the ancient land over eight thousand years ago," he said with an enormously powerful voice, "Once I was shaman, and savior of my people." He reached into a package on his belt and handed it to me. "To you child, I give the Heart of Jericho. May its ancient might protect your form from harm as it so chooses."

In the package he handed me was a small black arrowhead-shaped stone, like Obsidian, only it had numerous designs of gold, red and blue enameled into its surface. A small hole near one end secured a red cord that allowed him to hang it around my neck. I noticed, however, that as soon as it was placed around my neck I phased back into my human form, as if it was some sort of reflex or something. I couldn't see at all.

I did notice however when the second stepped forward. It was odd though, because first off it sounded like a woman, and second I heard the voice inside my head.

To you, child of mixed spirits, she said as she placed it around my neck, I, Yuah of the Ancient race, give the Eye of Raptis, talisman of the most ancient of spirits. May his Eye guide you to see that which is hidden.

I transformed back into my ghost form as the Eye was placed around my neck. I felt around my neck, and was surprised to find that only the Heart of Jericho was around my neck. I took it off for a second, and saw an intricately crafted golden clasp, within which was held the largest topaz I'd ever seen, but it was merely the outline of the Eye. It was the Heart of Jericho that I held in my claws. I looked at the four figures standing before me.

"Uh..." I mumbled to the one in grey, "Are you going to give me something too?"

"But I have already given it to you," he answered. He then raised a hand, and the three figures disappeared from sight. As the ghost in red was about to disappear as well, I asked him, "Can I at least know your name?" He gave me a long, knowing look, as if he'd heard that question before.

Turning to me he said simply, "I am Clockwork, Master of Time, knower of everything that was, everything that is, and all things… that have not yet come to pass." Just as he started to fade away he added cryptically, "Beware the evil one, Yurei. Beware."

OOOOO(Ronnie)

I had decided to call in sick that day. Mom was almost in shambles, and Tir hadn't come back after a full hour. Umbrus was whining, as upset as when Tir had first run out of the house.

"Mom?" I asked. She was kneeling on the ground, cleaning up invisible bits of glass. I could tell that part of her thought this entire mess was her fault.

"If it weren't for you, mom, Tir would never have become who he is, and we'd all be dead now," I said to her, gently removing the broom and dustpan from her hands. She seemed ready to break, so I added, "I'll go look for, him, okay?"

Just then the door flew open, and I whipped around and saw Tir standing in the doorway. He was a sight to behold. There was an aura about him that would give you the impression that he had something to say, and would let nothing stop him from saying it. He opened his mouth to speak, and his voice sounded so powerful that it almost forced me to listen.

"I think it's about time for a vacation..."

XXXXX

And there's the cutoff, folks! Normally I'd go farther, but Jarvis, the bard, master of dramatics, and the pain in the in my head, insisted that I cut it here, just to leave you all with questions. Until next time! (Psst, don't forget to leave a review, or I'll hunt you down! That's right, I'm talkin' to you, Doug!)