Parallel Illusions
-Phantom-
Phantom sighed as he dodged a stray ecto blast thrown from someplace off to his distant left. Sounds of fists hitting metal, blasts, explosions, and shouts echoed through the purple green abyss that was normal scenery for the zone. He frowned as he heard the supports of the building behind him crack from the force of the blast. Turning, he noticed that yet another building looked ready to collapse. But that was nothing compared to what the rest of the surrounding area looked like. The one school building the zone offered, the hospital, the concert hall, everything was in ruin, the place long abandoned by its inhabitants years ago. This building had been the last, and by the looks of it, was going to match the rest of the town very soon.
Phantom growled to himself as he forced his eyes to turn away from the disaster area. Things hadn't always been like this, couldn't have always been like this. Whole communities had been erected in times of peace, it wouldn't have been possible in the midst of a war like this. But he could hardly remember a time where there had been no fighting between ghosts. Ghosts didn't hang out anymore, ghosts no longer confided in friends for support. It was an every ghost for himself zone out there, and the war was only going to get worse before it got better.
The old ghost king, Pariah Dark, seemed to be the only ghost with the power to enlist a credible number of ghosts to his ranks. He united them with their fear of him. It was that same fear that broke apart the defenses of the allied groups against him. They were alone despite their common cause.
Phantom felt fortunate to still have someone to talk to, even in times like these. He continued to fly off in the direction he had originally intended before he became distracted. Clockwork was like the father he had never known. He took care of him and took him under his tutelage when Clockwork had found him alone without a sign of his parents anywheres. He couldn't even remember what his parents looked like. But he imagined that they looked a lot like him.
Phantom had short, messy white hair that refused to be tamed and startling bright green eyes. He had slightly tanned skin and looked remarkably human in shape. He had two arms, two legs, two eyes, two ears, a nose, lips, and body. He wore simple black cargo-like pants held up by a white belt, white boots, a tight black shirt, and a loose brown cloak he received from Clockwork himself. Occasionally, he wore white gauntlets to match his boots.
He touched base a moment later on the familiar island that held the only comfort he had ever known. Phantom shifted his neon green gaze around the perimeter for any signs of invasion from the king's forces before stepping to the keypad that controlled the defensive energy shield. This place, by far, was the safest place in the ghost zone. He typed in the password that only he and Clockwork knew and watched the shield create a portal just large enough for him to slip through. It closed behind him automatically when he entered.
"Ah, Phantom, how was your trip?"
Phantom smiled at the sound of the fatherly voice and turned to greet the other ghost.
"As well as ever, I suppose," he responded back, "another fight has broken out near the ruins of Ghozo."
"As to be expected," Clockwork said. The ghost nodded, his form shifting between that of a young ghost, middle aged ghost, and old ghost frequently. He raised his staff and Phantom closed his eyes simply to help isolate that ticking sound that came from the clock originating from his mentor's stomach. The ticks were soothing reassurances to his ears.
"Phantom," he reopened his eyes to look at him. Clockwork was giving him a calculating glance. For most, it would seem unnerving, but with Clockwork, the ghost who could see and control all time, Phantom was used to his strange quirks.
"Yes, Clockwork?" he asked carefully. Even so, there was a small measure of caution to be had when Clockwork got into this kind of mood.
"I need you to deliver a message for me."
Phantom blinked in confusion, floating closer to better hear his words. Clockwork chuckled softly and extended his hand instead, holding a note.
"I need you to deliver this to Dora Aragorn. She is in charge of the science facilities set up on Earth for the power retrieval operations."
"Earth?" Phantom shook his head in disbelief. The older ghost merely smiled.
"Yes, they are the key to the end of the war."
"But they're fighting their own battle there, right?" Phantom clarified.
Clockwork nodded, his expression suddenly pensive.
"A war forged on assumptions and misunderstandings is not a true war but a tragedy."
He held out the note towards Phantom again. Phantom hesitantly grabbed it from him.
"Good luck," he said mysteriously. Phantom nodded, clutching the note close to him and blasting off with a burst of speed.
Little did he know that he wouldn't be seeing Clockwork again for a very long time.
Author's Note: I wrote this chapter a while ago... . ...Too lazy to edit though...
