Chapter III: Unknown Territory
LB
"LB do this LB do that." I grumbled as I arrived at Gimmick's. I jumped up on a barrel so I could a view inside. The kid looked any normal perloon. "Maybe Twixel was wrong," I said as I heard someone coming.
"You said you found him in the woods?" the wood sprite said as she and the octopede walked inside. She flies up and examines him. "Hmm, there is something odd about him," she asks him where in Grundo he's from? He says he's not from here but can't remember much else.
"He said something about a couple married inventors," Teddy explains as the little creature examines him.
"LB!" Twerp's voice came through the bracelet on my leg. "What is going on?" I roll my eyes saying that flying pest of a wood sprite is examining him. "Leota? If she's involved he must have some kind of magic. LB I want you to come back." I ask him what for? "So we can plan our attack."
Dani
"Cousin!" I cried out as the Specter Speeder arrived outside the tower. "How did this happen?" Tucker explains that he had been fighting Vlad and the fruit loop was in sadistic mood. "I should have been there for him," Tucker said even if I was there it would have done no good. "Still...,"
Jazz carries Danny into the tower where Clockwork is waiting for him. "Do you really think Clockwork can help him. He's not exactly a healer." she asks as he leads them to a spare room on the bottom floor. The old ghost examines the boy and says that he is barely alive. "So he's still...?" Clockwork nods. He tells her he's in a healing coma and needs time to heal. "Well let's hit the fast forward button."
"I can't do that," Clockwork says his head hung low. "It's too dangerous" Tucker looks at him shocked. "These things take time and can't be rushed. Not only does his body need to rest but his mind too."
While they are talking I race into the library. "I remember reading a ghost who deals with sleep," I take out a book of ancient ghosts and flipped through the pages. "Sleight-of-hand, Soliloquy, ah here it is sleep. The ghost of sleep is called Nocturne...but it doesn't where were in the Zone he's at."
"Nocturne doesn't live in the Ghost Zone. He lives in the Empire of the Night," my mentor's voice said as he floated up to me. "I must commend you Danielle. It was brilliant but doomed to fail." I warn him he's starting to sound like the Observants he hates so much. "I am being realistic. These thing's can't be rushed. That won't stop you," he tells me that at the far end of the Zone is Lake Erebus and beyond that is the Empire of the Night.
"How do I get across the lake?" Clockwork says there's a bell on the shore. I ring it once and Morpheus will appear in his boat to take me to other side. He warns to be careful as I will see things that I have hidden deep in my mind. Fears and memories I'd rather not relive. "You trained me well," Clockwork smiles and wishes me good luck. "Just take care of my cousin tell I get back." the master of time nods and hands me map.
Newton Gimmick
"There is some kind magic about him," Leota says flying around D's head. His green eyes followed her intently. "You said you don't remember how came here?" she asks curiously.
D took a breath and closed his eyes, "I think I see something," he said thinking hard. He says he remembers being in a jail cell and being tortured. "All I can see is red eyes." I frowned at hearing those words. It's just as I feared. "What's wrong Gimmick?" he asks opening his eyes again.
"From what I can tell it sounds you were in M.A.L.V.O prison. No doubt to extract whatever magic you have inside." the boy's eyes grew wide in terror. "Not to worry D. We will keep you safe. I've had experience with M.A.V.O and will do everything I can to keep you safe." D smiles and thanks me.
"Can you try and focus your magic," Leota asked curiously. "Close your eyes and imagine the power gathering in one spot like in your hand." D follows her instructions and says he can feel something in him. "Look at his hand," she points to his right hand which is now glowing bright green.
"What does it feel like?" Teddy asks curiously. D says it feels warm and cold at the same time. "Do you remember how you got this magic," he shrugs saying he can't remember anything that would cause this.. Teddy asks D if he'd let me help him. "I promise you it won't hurt," D looks nervous and nods.
"I have been working on a helmet that probes the subconscious for repressed memories," I explain picking up the helmet. "All you have to do is just relax," I carefully place the helmet on his head and hook it up the machine. I was about to throw the switch when I heard something outside.
"That didn't sound like a cannonball," Grubby said as he races to the window and looks out. "I don't see anything," he says as I tell him to be careful as it might be a M.A.V.O agent coming for D. "Don't worry we'll protect him"
Clockwork
"The ghost girl did WHAT?" the Head Observant gasped. I told him that she went to the Lake Erebus to seek Nocturne's help. "No mortal has ever made the journey. Do you know the dangers she could face?" I rolled my eyes and told them I wouldn't let her do it if I didn't know what was in store. "You've finally done it. You've doomed the whole of creation."
"No, that's your job. I thought you would be happy now your...," the ghost glared at me warning to his say his mother's name. "My apologies I forget I'm the heretic," the one eyed ghost did not like my humor. "This will be a growing experience for her." He warns me that if anything happens to her it will be my fault. "Mea Maxima Culpa," I said bowing my head.
"Maybe I can calm the council. What is the boy's condition?" I assure that Daniel is fine and resting comfortably."Why didn't you warn him not to go out on that day. You know it was the ann..." I tell them I have no control over what he does. "You know full well that...never mind," he vanishes leaving me to tend to the boy.
"I've never seen them so mad," Tucker says as I teleport into the room. I check Daniel's vitals. "What type of dangers will she face?" I sigh and told him not to worry about it. "How long does...," just then I sensed something. "What is it?" I tell him that Vlad is spying on us. "Don't worry we'll deal with Skulker," he says taking an ecto pistols and leaves to face the hunter.
Vlad
"If I were you shef I would go see a doctor that wound might get infektad," Anacletus says pointing to wound on my forehead. I thank him for his medical advice and tell him I have bigger concerns. I tell them my trackers show my prodigal daughter was heading towards the far edge of the Ghost Zone. "What's the big deal?"
"The 'deal' is that no one ever goes that far. My research shows that beyond the Zone is realm called the Empire of Night." The ghost vultures look at me confused. "According to legend in that Empire is an artifact called the tiara of Nyx." They look at me and ask why would Nixon have a tiara. "Not Nixon you dullards, Nyx the ancient goddess of night." The tiara is said to give its wearer the power to control the powers of darkness.
"Why would the ghost girl want di kroyn?" Acacius asks curiously. I don't know why she wants it but I want it first. I order them to follow the girl and stop from getting the crown. "whatever you say shef," they phase out of the room.
Once they are gone I teleport into the dungeon. I walk up to wall holding the cocoon and remove the slime from Ms, Manson's face. "If you come to get info out of me you won't get it," I tell her that I don't any information from her. She struggles to to break free of her prison.
"It's useless to resist my dear," I tell her as she glares at me. "Still think Daniel will come to your rescue?" she remains silent. "It wasn't supposed to come this. Daniel was supposed to be...," she starts laughing,
"Cry me a river Plasmius. I'm not falling for your sob story." she hisses. "You could have been a mentor for Danny inst...," I clench fist and tighten her slime prison. I tell her to be silent. "Go ahead Fruit Loop, squeeze the life out of me. I dare you!"
I take a breath and laugh, "clever, trying to goad me into killing you," I told her amused, "but it's not going to to be that easy. My dear..," she spits in my face and tells me to go to Hell. I feel my anger rising but phase out of the room to cool down.
Tweeg
"Tweed you are not going to believe this," LB says racing into to my lab. "This kid might your golden ticket if you know what I mean." I tell him I do and soon I will have the key to turning buttermilk into gold."uh no Tweeze he's M.A.V.O property. If you capture him they might offer a reward and maybe even make you a member."
"Yes, yes, but that boy knows the secret and I am going to get it." I tell him mixing a potion. The idiot tells me this is more important than my stupid formula. "That formula will make me rich. Yes dolt I said me not us." The bounder asks me just how I am going to get him as Gimmick and his friends are watching after him. "I am glad you asked," I picked up phial. "I am working on a disguise potion. One that will allow me to enter Gimmick's house and capture the boy.
"You sure that's a good idea. You know what happened the last time you made a potion," LB says as I laugh. I am happen to be an excellent alchemist. "I'm still coughing up feathers that says otherwise." I ignore his remarks and prepare the potion.
"All I need is too add Bittermold," I place the weed into the phial causing it change from red to blue and foam. "Perfect," I swallow the potion ut start to choke. "I know why they call this Bittermold now," I coughed trying to forget the awful taste. "Now all I have to do is sneak in and take the brat. Come LB we have work to do."