Sanctuary

-P-

I flew at my top speed but still, it was not enough. They were gaining and their aim was getting better. Ecto-blasts shot passed me too close for comfort. Walker's goons were shouting and the infant in my arms was wailing. I needed to lose the ghost warden and his enforcers fast.

Taking a sharp left at some floating boulders I start to work through the routines father taught me-loop, dash right, up twist and coast. It seemed to work. I got enough distance between us to give me some space to think. Frantically skimming my surroundings I looked for something, anything, to use to hide from my pursuers. Nothing but black, purple sky and unnatural green energy swirling of the Ghost Zone around me, maybe a few rocks and floating doors in the distance.

Cursing, in my mind, I turned to speed away in some random direction when a shimmering caught my eye. Hope crashed into my chest and I dove towards the shimmer, the group that brought disgrace to authority figures and law enforcers everywhere followed close behind. As I got closer, the illusion of empty space faded revealing a rainforest like jungle. Praying the owner would not mind me intruding, I dipped into the canopy weaving between the trees as fast as I could. In the back of my mind, I knew they would. Whom ever's home this was didn't go through all the trouble of covering their island in an illusion for the sake of it. Ghosts were selfish and possessive creatures, after all, I knew I was. Flying silently I coasted for a bit. More at ease now that I had something to block my hunter's view of me. Coming up to a kind of raveen I dipped into it, following the river at the bottom. Looking around for refuge I darted into the first hiding place I could find. Which just happened to be a small cave-like enclosure the entrance disguised with a well-placed boulder. I crouched down in the cave resting pressing the wailing infant into my chest as I attempted to comfort him. It only partly worked I prayed that the sound didn't carry.

I closed my eyes, listening for my pursuers best I could. My breath slowed, the child in my arms quotes. I didn't hear anything. Opening my eyes I scan my hiding place. Almost immediately I spotted an irregular shape among the boulders. I make out a large perfect rectangle darker than the rest of the cave. my enhanced ghostly vision could only help so much. My eyes widened when I recognized the white insignia on the black door. I found it. I couldn't believe it. Father and I had been searching for months ever since we heard of its existence. And here it was, on some random island hidden between rocks. Despite the dire situation I couldn't help but roll my eyes. That was so him, idiotic and yet at the same time brilliant.

The sound of men shouting at each other came from outside. All from different angles. Damit! I trapped myself. I almost facepalmed. Come on Phantom you are smarter than this. For the millionth time, I blamed my original. There was no way out! Walker was going to catch me, lock me away, and take the kid! I would never see father again and if I did, he would destroy me for losing his only son. Despair and panic fought for dominance. Despite knowing there was no way out I desperately searched anyway. My eyes zeroed in on the door.

Maybe he wasn't home? He would probably help me even if he was, he was stupid like that, but did I have time to knock and wait for him to answer? Let alone plea my case? He had to have some kind of security or defense mechanism, all ghosts did… yet he wasn't exactly a ghost.

"Let's check this one."Came a voice far too close for comfort, snapping me out of my musing. As if that wasn't enough it not only startled me but my jerk startled the baby causing him to start getting louder. It all happened virtually at the same second imminent triggering some kind of ghost equivalent of adrenaline. I was leaping towards the door before I knew what happened.

There was no time for anything but action. I grabbed the handle, sending a prayer that I was close enough to my original that nothing would attack me. It turned effortlessly and I was able to fling the door open before I collided with it. Skidding to a stop I turned on my heel and slammed the door shut behind me and bracing against it with all my weight.

Idiot! Again! I just slammed the f-ing door. Walkers goons were definitely going to find it now. I just unintentionally guided, one of my original's worse enemies literally to his doorstep. Daniel was going to be pissed. He would probably throw me back out there as revenge. Not knowing what else to do I continued bracing myself against the door waiting for the Officers of the Rules to try to barge in..

Crunch!

Eyes snapping open I instantly focused on a girl and a boy both about 12 years of age, with matching mouse brown hair; the girl's pulled back with a headband the boy's hidden under a furry winter hat. They had the same eyes and nose, most likely siblings. The girl wore a rather goofy shirt that looked to be some kind of scissors dancing with a ruler and a casual skirt with leggings. The boy had blue shorts red shirt and his hand was in a chip bag. Both looked very comfortable on a worn down couch ignoring the cartoon that was playing on the old box television in favor of gazing at me.

"What are you doing?" the boy asked me with a confused expression.

"Bracing the door shut," I answered bewildered. I didn't recognize either of them. What were they doing in my original's lair?

"Why?" this time the girl asked with a wide and braces filled grin

"Because I accidentally led Walker and his officers here and they are going to start trying to break the door down any second now." Tensing as I said it. Realizing I had been letting my guard down while talking to them.

The boy's eyes narrowed in suspicion. His sister continued eating the chips in his hand completely at ease. But besides that, they didn't react. I was used to humans being calm around me, they usually confused me for Daniel, but I expected some kind of reaction to what I had just said.

"You're that full-ghost Phantom clone Vlad Masters made of Danny, aren't you?" The boy demanded as if he had revealed a great mystery or caught a murder.

"…Yes?" Seeing no reason to lie " but I don't see how that matters right now." Looking back at the door I asked: "Is there a key or some other way to brace this thing shut?"

"Nope." The mystery girl shook her head happily as she moved to kneel on the couch and look directly at me. "But you can stop trying, whoever was chasing you is long gone." She said waving enthusiastically for me to come over to her. "Come watch 'Ghost Harassers' with us and laugh at everything they get wrong." She looked at her spot kneeling on the couch to look back at me, her smile inviting, her eyes pleading and her hands jerking as if she was about to drag me over.

"How do you know?" not moving from my spot, glancing at the door at my back.

"The door disappears when it isn't needed." The boy answered, paused "or something like that. Ellie- uh Danielle, tried to explain it to me once."

"Oh, so your Danielle's friends," I said edging away from the door slightly. Still ready to jump back if necessary. The name left a bitter taste in my mouth. Danielle, the first somewhat successful clone, but in the end, she had betrayed father in favor of joining our original.

"Yeah. We met last summer when she got trapped in the town we were staying in. She takes us traveling when we can get out of school." the girl supplied.

So Danielle had friends. Interesting! I stored that tidbit of information away for father later. Glancing at the door I realized that what the boy said must be true, Walker's goons would have broken the door down by now. Relaxing slightly I turned to take in the rest of the lair.

It was spacious while still managing to feel comfy. The room was a circle instead of a rectangle. The entire room appeared to be made of solidified ice. Either left bare or with ectoplasm embedded in it causing it to shine radioactive green. The ground took on a whitish hew the walls were varying blue and the huge lava lamp like pillar in the center of the room showered ectoplasm green and provided the majority of light across the area

The living area that Danielle's friend occupied was to my right as my back was pressed to the front door. It included a coffee table, a few end tables and lamps scattered between a rather large couch, two lazy boy recliners and some beanbag chairs for sitting; all centered around a larger but outdated television, shelving that was cut into the ice walls. The shelves housed an impressive amount of DVD's, gaming stations and games. The area was defined by a large black rug that took up room in the center, accented the space.

Past the living area along the wall was a handful of random mitch matched doors, each was made of a different material and decoration, none of them matching any kind of color scheme or theme that I could see. They all were pressed too close together to have anything but a small closet behind them.

To my left was a library area. The wall was completely carved out to make shelving to hold the many many diverse selections of books. There were books of all size, shape, age and at least three languages. Everything from comic books to Shakespeare seemed to be up there. Scattered around the shelf wall stood chairs, loveseats, a table and an old desk or two. Another black rug defined the space the same as the living area only this one was rectangular.

Where the shelves ended a large oval mirror stood in place on the wall, with antique border. Even from here I could see a shimmer in the glass identifying it as something ghostly made. I made a mental note to investigate it later.

Past that stood a humongous kitchen. Actually, two complete kitchens stood side-by-side with no space between them. It like the rest of the furniture seemed to be either heavily used or hand-me-downs. The cupboards and countertops were made from glass-like ghost kitchen were accented with cool blue inlace in the ice, the other radioactive green.

Both kitchens were fully stocked with there own pans, tools and utensils, sink, refrigerator, oven, stove. The utilities seemed to be the only brand new items in the room they too held vanes of either blue or green. A long ice bar/island stretched completely in front of both kitchens and was the only location that had green and blue intermingling in a stylishly way. High bar seating faced into the kitchen. The chairs as well were made of white ice and a mixture of blue and green that matched the counter in front of them.

The Lava lamp like pillar in the center of the room was rather fat seemingly breaking up the space between each area. Unlike the other ectoplasm embedded ice, The energy was moving within it. The radioactive green ectoplasm glowed and swirled, like in the openness of the ghost zone. The pillar gave off a surprising amount of light, enough to illuminate the entire room in an unnatural night light glow. There seemed to be floating white glowing crystals floating above the living area and myself, now that I noticed it.

The bright crystal-like floating light drew my eyes up to the ceiling if one could call it that. The air above us seemed to disappear into a kind of black mist above our heads before morphing flawless replica of a crystal clear night sky.

The lair seemed to somehow be magical and homey. And despite all the ice the place didn't seem cold. My muscles relaxed, my core's humming decrease, and my unnecessary breathing slow and stop altogether. Even though the logical side of my brain knew I was in enemy territory, I felt calm and safe. I should be getting out of here or scouting for weaknesses, but instead, I found myself gliding over to the couch and sitting next to the friends of one of my enemies.

The bundle of infant settled on my lap. He had been thankfully quiet after we took cover in the cage. Too quiet I suppose. His pudgy baby face was still buried into my chest, so all you could see was his pasty white skin and fuzz of black hair. His sobbing stopped but he was still taking shuddering gasps of air. I rubbed his back awkwardly trying to calm him down. I had ZERO experience with kids let alone infants. I had never even been a child myself. Heck, I had never been human. I was kept unconscious until I was fully formed as a teenager. Of course, that had been the plan for my…brother… too but that obviously hadn't gone as planned.

Slowly his breathing slowed as well, and he turned his face outward to take in the new environment. Throughout his investigation, his fists stayed clenched onto my shirt and his head all but laying on my chest. both of Danielle's friends catch his eye. The boy once again was cautiously calculating but softly. the girl obviously saw him as the cutest thing ever but was thankfully keeping her distance for now. They had to know the boy or at least guess who and what the baby was. I fought back a sigh. We had hoped to keep him a secret until father's plan was in full motion or at least until the infant was old enough to leave his pod.

"I suppose it would be pointless for me to ask you both to not tell Daniel or Danielle about him?" I asked sheepishly.

The boy looked up and we locked eyes but it was the girl who answered. Jumping up and waving her hands around dramatically the movement frightened my brother and he buried his head back into my shirt with a squawk. "Nope. You know why? Because Danny and Ellie already know."

At the sight of my confused look, the boy explained. Said boy obliged even toned. "Danny knows everything that happens here, you and the baby wouldn't be able to enter if he wasn't okay with it. Ellie is with him right now so he probably told her."

I blinked and took that in, part of me was surprised that my original would allow me into his Lair so readily without even an explanation. But I didn't doubt that Danielle's friend was telling the truth. It certainly explained the lack of hostility on the two siblings part. I had a feeling that any friend of Danielle's would act to defend themselves and their friend's home. The boy especially had a look in his eyes that said quite plainly he would not have any qualms about attacking me should the need arise.

"You must have been really desperate." The girl said.

"What do you mean?" I asked a bit insulted but covering it up by rubbing my brother's back as he rubbed his eyes with little hands not quite making a fist.

The girl looked me right in the eye, speaking adamantly. "Danny doesn't let his lair door appear to just anyone. Only people with special permission are able to. You were probably given emergency permissions so it would only appear for you if you were crazy desperate."

"Mabel!" shouted her brother, elbowing her in the ribs. "Don't tell him that. He's still the enemy."

"Aw, come on Dipper. I'm just answering some questions and you know he had to go through something horrible."

"That doesn't mean we should tell him everything, Mabel. It could come back to hurt Danny and Ellie later. You like coming over here don't you?"

'Mabel' blew a raspberry. "of course I do. Especially with our air conditioner broken at home."

"Oh definitely." Dipper agreed. "But if you like it here then don't ruin it. You know how Danny is about security." Dipper waved his arms around in gestures. "He may be willing to help Phantom out when he needs it but that doesn't mean he is going to compromise his lair."

Mabel sighed. "All right."

Dipper nods, crossing his arms and shooting me a suspicious glare before refocusing on the long-forgotten show.

Mable apparently does not stay down for long. "Hey can I make some him baby clothes?" she asked pointing at my brother suddenly excited. The infant was steadily growing more and more limp in my arms. The calm environment finally effecting him coupled with the crash of adrenaline and fear he experienced and It wouldn't be long now before he was completely out.

"I still don't have a ton of experience sewing. Mom and Dad think I'm too young so they only let me knit, even though it is too hot to wear sweaters back home. But when we lived with Gruckle Stan he said it was fine, so I taught myself how to sew over the summer. I've been sewing my own clothes for a while but I haven't made any baby stuff. I'm pretty sure it's easy enough just miniature clothes." the Mabel girl spoke fast and excited flashing her braces and adorable smile everywhere.

"Uhhh" I muttered trying to process what this girl was saying. "Sure I guess."

"Yes!" Mabel exclaimed jumping up throwing two fists in the air before rushing out of the living area and up the stairs.

I did a double take. a rather magnificent white iced stare cased with glowing green railings stood between the kitchen and the wall of doors. A crystal light hovered above Mable's head following her upstairs before it fades into the black fog-like ceiling. The ecto lava lamp pillar must have blocked it from my view when I first entered.

I was caught off of my investigation when the door opened and shut. Both Dipper and I turned to see Danielle had entered. She was in human form, her hair black long and loose underneath her cap. She had her jacket tied around her waist revealing a shirt that, going by the amount of sparkles and sequins in the words labeling her as 'Ellie' must have been made by the seamstress Mabel. 'Ellie' walked over, dropped a plastic shopping bag at my feet" Danny said you brought an infant. We don't really have that kind of stuff lying around but that should tide you over for tonight." My 'sister' steadily avoiding my gaze and settling on Dipper's other side instead of the space Mable had vacated right next to me just moments before.

I was somewhat grateful for the distance and mild hostility. While both of us were clones of Daniel and created by the same man, we could not be any more different. That coupled with the fact that I had only ever interacted with her while attempting to capture and/or destroy her made things rather awkward, to say the least.

Dipper promptly engaged in a conversation with her informing her of Mabel's plan for making baby clothes and discussing what the others were picking up.

Hesitantly peeking into the bag at my feet I saw It was mostly filled with a large box of disposable diapers, baby wipes, and a stuffed animal lion and a few other things that I didn't really understand what they were for.

I caught bits and pieces of their discussion. "Luckily Tucker's pack rat tendency means we already have a crib from his 'babysitting fiasco'. Danny got pulled away for a fight but Sam and Jazz are shopping wale Tucker digs out more of his old stuff from there flower baby assignment back in freshman year."

"You didn't need to do all of this." caught between expressing how relieved and grateful I was and my worry over how serious they were taking the situation. I was well in over my head with this, being forced to care for a child with no idea what to do, no home, no guidance, and no supplies. Today had been so hectic I hadn't thought of any of this. But how long did they expect us to stay here? Would they even let us leave?

Danielle shrugged eyes still locked on the television screen. "Danny is addicted to being prepared, so it's not like it will be a complete waste once you leave."

I glanced up at my sister but she refused to meet my eyes. Was she lying? Surely Daniel would not let one of his clones go back to our creator. He had tried constantly to get me to betray father and join him, but I had never wavered. If I had any chance of going back to father I should probably go now. But if I did where would I go?

My brother was completely unconscious, in my lap giving a rather convincing impression of a wet noodle. We both needed to crash somewhere safe from both father's enemies and Daniel's. Daniel's lair fit that criteria perfectly. If father and myself could not find it after months of searching then the odds of some other enemy finding it wale we were staying here was slim to none.

The fact that they were not equipped to house an infant was the deciding factor. As far as I knew none of father's safe houses were accommodated for babies. That moment if I did escape now and make it to one of them I would have to do it myself. Which I wouldn't know what I was doing. Mable was right, I was, and still am, very desperate. Might as well not look a gift horse in the mouth and deal with escaping later.

Slipping the bag's handles around my wrist I supported the infant clone the best I could. "So where is this crib?" I asked.

"Should be upstairs. I think Danny mentioned putting you both in the same room for now." Danielle answered munching on chips eyes glued on the television in front of her.

"Which room?" I asked standing trying to juggle the limp being and bag.

Dipper waved me off. "It will be labeled as yours. You'll recognize it. Everything should be set up and ready to go."

I paused. "I only just got here. How could a room be set up?"

"It's Danny's lair, he can shape and mold it at will, no matter where he is. And as long as he has the supplies needed to make up a room, he can transport them and manipulate them however he wants. The room was ready for you minutes after you entered."

"Right…" well that made escaping all but impossible. For now, I focused on getting to the room without dropping my brother. I was about a meter away from the living area when I paused. "Thank you." I murmured quietly. I saw Danielle give a small nod out of the corner of my eye. Dipper did not react, probably had not heard. With that off my chest, I imminently moved the rest of the way to the staircase.

The second my foot touched the bottom stair, the green railings glowed brighter. The two lights following above me gave just enough light for me to see where I was going. Even as I walked up into the black fog. It felt like I was standing in space. There was nothing but stars and black all around me. I could only see a few steps in front of me and the glowing railing. That disappeared into blackness, stars, and nebulas.

It was so calm and quiet, I felt as if I was in a daze as I rose to the second story. The stairs ended and I was on flat ground. Turning and looking down, I was a little surprised that I could see the room below. Danielle and Dipper were turned to each other talking adamantly ignoring the show they had been absorbed in when I was downstairs with them.

Turning back to the landing I was once again surprised that I could see. It was like normal darkness and I could just make out the shape of a railing circling the balcony. The circle wall held countless mismatched doors lined up. Like on the first floor these doors were much too close together their frames almost touching. On a handful of the doors, a dim light hung over top illuminating the designs on each one.

Some doors had different emblems or logos. One looked like it was painted by a four-year-old. Another was completely covered in stickers. One of the stranger one's seemed to be a vault door, another wove together of living bamboo. Eyes skimming over the doors my eyes fell on one that had a light illuminating it. I immediately started walking towards it. The door was normal and stained dark except it had a White PM emblem painted on it on it, eerily similar to that of the Danny Phantom symbol.

The room on the other side was nothing like my room at home. It was smaller, but seeing as I grew up in a mansion this room would probably be generous by most standards. On the right back corner stood a fully made twin sized bed, next to an end table with a lamp and alarm clock.

In the other corner stood an old rocking chair. Just to the left of the door stood an old crib, next to that a changing table. Everything was banged up and obviously well used. Father would probably have a heart attack at the thought of putting his precious son in such a thing. But what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

The room was simple, very simple. just the bare necessities. Not a look I was used to but right now I was glad to have anything at all. My fatigue starting to get to me and my body ached from simply from seeing the bed.

My autopilot took me across the room before I realized I should probably put him in some clothes first. I hadn't had time to do anything but wrap him in one of Father's lab coats. He was completely limp on the changing table. I didn't hold it against him. Being 'born' into the body of a one and a half-year-old only to be dragged into the Ghost Zone, only to be chased and fired at by ghosts that wanted to lock you away for eternity had to be stressful beyond belief. Especially when you had no concept of what was happening.

Shifting through the supplies Danielle bought I stuffed them on the shelf underneath, opening the diaper packages with my powers. I worked on getting it on my brother without him waking. Not the easiest challenge. Thankfully all I had to do to undress him was unwrap him from the coat.

The diapers were at least easy to use. Although I wasn't sure if I put it on backward or not. By then I had had enough and decided to forget pajamas and just laid him in bed on his back, setting the toy lion in after him. Floating over to the bed I collapsed on top of it not bothering to undo the blankets and sheets.

A strange new smell filled my nose. The blankets scratched against me in a way my sheets and blankets back home never did. My mind flooded with images of home and I wondered if it was still there or if it too had been destroyed along with the lab. That was my last thought before drifting off to a much needed but fretful sleep.

-)(-

So it's been a while. Don't really have an excuse other than I apparently needed a break. But now I'm back. So let's see where this goes.

I made this story ages ago but… I don't know I feel weird about it. At any rate, it wasn't doing any good picking up metaphorical dust on my computer so I figured I would throw it out here and see what happens. Most of it still needs to be edited and touched up so I don't cringe, but that is all that really needs to be done so hopefully I can kick this one out faster than I have been.

But I make no promises.

As of right now this story is completely independent it may tie into a story I am going to write but even then it will take a while before Phantom and his brother show up.

I had not originally planned for Dipper and Mabel Pines (from 'Gravity Falls') to make an appearance but the character I originally had reminded me of Mabel and that got me thinking. So I decided to go with it. I'm not sure if they will make another appearance or not. If they do it won't be super significant.

-P- Phantom's point of view

I do not own 'Danny Phantom' or 'Gravity Falls'