Somewhere else in the Ghost Zone, the two Guardians of Fun and Imagination were floating around the eerie ecto-place. Jack kept a good hold on Kate around her waist while flying around.
"Not scared, are you, Jack?" asked Katherine, her voice had that hint of snide.
"Pffft, please. Who do you take me for? The Easter Kangaroo?" Jack scoffed, showing that he wasn't afraid. "Come on, Kathy. I don't see what the big deal is in here. It's not that scary."
Just then, a wispy green ghost with big red eyes flew by Jack with a horrid shriek, making the Guardian yelp and squeeze onto Katherine tighter.
Katherine, whom didn't even flinch from that, just gave a knowing smile at the Spirit of Winter. "You were saying?"
Jack eased a little on his hold with Katherine and continued flying. "Okay, for your information, I wasn't scared. I was caught by surprise from that unexpected ghost," he defended, only to smile deviously. "I got to remember to use something like that on Bunny, one of these days."
The Guardian of Imagination just chuckled lightly. "Don't feel too bad, Jack. I was jumpy when first being here, too."
"You actually used to come here?" Jack questioned, slightly amazed that someone like Kathy would visit a spooky place that's like another dimensional world for the Boogeyman.
"Um…Yeah," Katherine sheepishly admitted. "Remember that story book I got out from the Forbidden Section last night?"
"The one the Man in the Moon chose for you to read? Yeah, what about it?"
"Well, you see…I actually know Ghost Writer personally. Along with a few other good ghosts here," Katherine explained. "Long ago, before meeting the other Guardians and Lea personally, I used to come visit the Ghost Zone to explore and record what was extremely important. Along the way, I found more than just new ancient artifacts, spells, and creepy locations. I found friends that were considered as a second family to me. We would go on adventures around here, train for future battles, or just hang out for fun and relax."
Jack looked over to see Kate smile a bit on the memory, only for it to drop. "So, what made you stop?" he asked.
"I…I'd rather not say," Katherine reluctantly answered. "But that's not important. We came here to rescue our friend and that's exactly what we're going to do."
"INCOMING!" A voice screamed. Jack and Katherine turned at the last second to see a pale ghost girl hurling towards them.
Acting quickly, Jack gently pushed Katherine away and let that ghost crash into him. Luckily, Kate wasn't too far away from him.
"Lindsey?" Katherine questioned, getting a better look at the ghost.
"OFF!" Jack grunted, pushing Lindsey off him.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Lindsey said frantically. "I'm still getting used to flying! I tried walking, but a bunch of skeletons tried to grab me! I was so scared I took off flying and lost control!"
"Skeletons? I thought this was a place for ghost," Jack replied, seriously confused. "And I thought Pitch's lair was disorienting ."
"Lindsey Bates. Friend of the legendary Danny Phantom. This is truly an honor to meet you personally," Katherine greeted.
That surprised Lindsey. "Huh?! How do you know my name?! Who are you guys?!"
"I actually have no idea who you are. I'm just a tourist," Jack remarked, pointing at his Guardian friend. "She's my guide here."
"I am Katherine, Guardian of Imagination and Mother Goose," Katherine answered. "The boy you crashed into is Jack Frost, Guardian of Fun."
Lindsey shook her head in disbelief. "Say what?!" She sighed in annoyance. "This day could not get any more bizarre."
"Weirder than flying green ghosts?" Jack questioned.
"What my associate is trying to say is, perhaps you can explain what happened," Kate replied.
"Okay, long story short..." Lindsey took a deep breath. "My friend, Amorpho, and I are were going to see our friend, Frostbite, to find out about my ghost powers but I somehow sensed that someone was in trouble at the Fright Knight's castle. Turns out, he kidnapped an innocent human to lure me into a trap, but I didn't fall for it!" She gasped for air when she finished.
"Innocent human?! Did it happen to be a girl with blonde curly hair and a tiny wooden toy?" Jack asked.
Lindsey blinked. "Yeah, how'd you know?"
"That's our friend, Lea!" Jack exclaimed, quickly grabbing Lindsey by the shoulders and shaking her. "Where is she?! Is Lea okay?!"
"Get it together, Frost," Katherine said sternly to Jack before facing Lindsey. "Sorry. We came here to look for our friend, after we heard she was kidnapped by the Fright Knight while she was sleeping in her room,"
"Well, my friend, Amorpho, managed to help her escape that tin man," said Lindsey. "Perhaps he took her to the Far Frozen for safety."
"I don't know who Amorpho is, but you had me at something frozen," Jack replied, already letting go of Lindsey.
Kate facepalmed, lightly groaning. "Of course. That shapeshifting ghost can be something else."
"I'll say. We better find this Lea before Amorpho scares her half to death." Lindsey looked around. "Um..."
Jack frowned. "Don't know where the Far Frozen is, do you?"
"Nope," Lindsey said quickly. "Amorpho was my GPS before all this happened."
"Guess I'm guiding two people now. At least now we know Lea is placed somewhere safe within the Ghost Zone," Kate stated.
"Do you know where the Far Frozen is, lady?" asked Lindsey.
"Sure do. Frostbite happens to be one of my good ghost friends here," Katherine smiled, now lost in thought. "Huh. I wonder how he and his people are doing? It's been ages since I last visited,"
"Then lead on, Kathy!" said Jack. "And hurry!"
"Just go straight. I'll give you the directions," Katherine said, holding on to Jack. "After all, I can't fly like the rest of you."
"Good point," said Jack, forgetting that Katherine doesn't fly, unlike himself and his new ghost pal.
Lindsey took Jack's other hand before feeling herself takeoff forward. "Yikes! Your hands are like ice!"
"I think I speak for everyone when I say, 'Duh'," said Jack.
Katherine held back a chuckle. "He is Jack Frost, after all. Brings more than snowballs and fun times."
"True," Lindsey shrugged. "So how long before we get to the Far Frozen?"
"Not long! We're here!" said Katherine, pointing at a freezing cold wasteland that's just below them.
Lindsey felt very foolish when they were already at the frozen world. Are you kidding me? she thought. It was here this whole time and I didn't even know?!
"Whoa! Now that's a Winter Wonderland!" Jack exclaimed, seriously amazed as he flew down for a closer look.
"Wait until you meet Frostbite," Kate remarked.
"Frostbite?" Jack raised an eyebrow at that, avoiding some icy obstacles at ease.
"Don't worry. He may look like a monster, a terrifying monster. But he's just a big pussycat," said Lindsey.
"And that's saying something, coming from a halfa like you. To think, you used to have a fear plus dislike in all things snow and ice until Frostbite showed you how fun they could be," Katherine remarked, giving a small smirk on that story. "Not to mention completely terrified of him the way Lea reacted when meeting Phil the yeti or North the Guardian of Wonder for the first time."
"Is anyone else confused?" asked Lindsey.
Jack raised a hand.
Katherine chuckled. "Don't worry about it, guys. Here we are!" The three friends landed their feet on the frozen ground.
"Finally! No more flying!" Lindsey yelled to the sky.
"Hey! What's wrong with flying?" Jack questioned, not sure if he should be offended about that.
"Focus, everyone. If I'm right, Frostbite and his people should be up ahead," Katherine firmly stated, already taking the lead.
As they walked forward, the three teens made it to Frostbite's icy village. However, there didn't seem to be anyone around.
"Where is everyone?" said Lindsey. "There's usually a lot of Frostbite's kind around here."
Just then, the sounds of ice being sliced, cracking sounds, and cheering were heard. They were heard again every five seconds.
"What is that?!" asked Katherine.
Jack smiled, now taking the lead. "I'd know that sound anywhere! Follow me!"
The gang followed the sounds to an ice rink arena and spotted Lea playing ice hockey with the yeti-like ghosts.
She also appeared to have on a white sapphire Winter dress that was above her knees, gray legging pants, and midnight blue snow boots with white fur lining on top. Around her waist was something similar to the yeti-ghosts' arm bracelets but more light purple and in the style of a belt. She also had on an icy blue hood and poncho that is above her elbows with white fur lining as well plus an ice crystal holding it together. Her other accessories include fingerless winter gloves that match the color of her dress and the same fur lining around her wrists. Even her crystal bracelet was still on.
The three teens were amazed to see a crowd of yeti-ghosts cheering and enjoying the game. Along with watching Lea in new winter clothes using a metal-like hockey stick with ice to play.
"Guess Lea has been enjoying herself here," Katherine noted, unable to stop smiling.
"Huh. Guess she didn't get scared to death after all. Respect." said Lindsey.
"Oh, trust us. Lea may start out scared, but she easily gets over it," Jack remarked.
"And she's a fan of all things Winter, icy, and cold. So, basically, being at a place like the Far Frozen for Lea is like a Winter Wonderland," Katherine furthered explained.
"Hey, Lea!" called out Jack, waving to his friend to get her attention.
Once hearing a familiar voice, the blonde teen turned her head and gasped.
"JACK?!" Lea swung her stick, her puck hit the goalie yeti right in the gut. "HOLY ICICLES! JACK!" Lea dropped everything and rushed into Jack's arms.
"Whoa! Easy, Hockey Girl," Jack teased, chuckling as he hugged her back before letting got. "Glad to see you, too."
"Jack, Kate, I knew you'd come and find me!" Lea exclaimed, super happy to see her Guardian friends again.
"Of course. As if we'd leave you alone in danger. But it would seem that you already made a few new friends that helped you out," Katherine stated.
"You have no idea," Lea replied. She then saw Lindsey looking at her. "Oh, hi. I don't think we've met personally. I'm Lea. What's your name?"
"Lindsey. What's up?" Lindsey waved. "So, have you seen a ghost in a black trench coat and no face around here?"
"You mean Amorpho? I think he's somewhere in the crowd holding Nightlight," Lea answered. "At first, I thought he was some faceless ghost creep who wanted to steal my face. But, after knowing him, Amorpho's actually not so bad. And he, along with Frostbite, seems to find Nightlight very intriguing."
"Yikes! I wouldn't want Amorpho steaking my face!" Lindsey blinked. "But then again, he can make his face whatever he wants."
"Make his face whatever he wants?" Jack asked, not sure if he heard correctly.
Lea nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah, I already realized that, before Frostbite gave me these new warm clothes. He imitated Nightlight and almost fooled me, if he hadn't given himself away immediately."
"How so?" Katherine asked.
"Well, for one thing, Nightlight can't talk nor does he have red eyes. I might have grabbed some nearby ice-metal and whacked him away from me," Lea admitted sheepishly. "I swear, I didn't mean to. It was a quick reaction."
Jack couldn't help but laugh at that scenario. "Oh, man! Can't believe we missed seeing that!"
"Indeed." said a voice behind Jack.
The Winter Guardian turned and gasped when seeing Amorpho holding an ice pack against his cheek. Along with Nightlight on his shoulder waving hello.
"WHOA!" Jack jumped back at the sight of the faceless ghost.
Lea winced slightly when seeing the faceless ghost again. "Again, I am really sorry I smacked you, Amorpho."
"Nice to actually see you, Amorpho. Glad to know that you're still mischief yet playful in your artistic creepy way," Katherine remarked.
"And you two have half a second to stop talking before I get angry..." The annoyed ghost warned.
"Take it easy, buddy. They're not the bad guys here." said Lindsey. She put a hand on her ghost friend's shoulder.
"So, you managed to escape the Fright Knight?" Amorpho asked. "I'm surprised you're still in one piece."
"Yeah, it's weird. He dropped a bomb on me, offered me a deal he thought I couldn't refuse. But I did...but for some reason, he took it awfully well. I thought he was gonna end me."
"That is surprising. Even so, whatever deal Fright Knight tried to offer you, I'm glad that you didn't fall for it. He's a dangerous ghost in this world," Katherine replied.
"I'll say. Can't believe he tried to scare me to death. I don't even know him nor am I from this dimension," Lea replied.
"You knew that this wasn't part of your dimensional world?" Jack questioned.
"Well, yeah. Mysterious portals. Realm full of ghosts. A savior that's half human, half ghost in both here and the human world. It's definitely another parallel universe," Lea replied, picking Nightlight up from Amorpho's shoulder and placing it on her own. "If I hadn't gone through danger and alternate dimensions recorded from Kate before, I'd probably lose it by now,"
"True. But you seem to have handled the situation well on your own," Katherine stated. "Especially when coming across a few good ghosts here."
"Definitely. Once I realized it was just Amorpho and apologized, Frostbite came and asked what kind of skill I just did. I explained to him it was from one of my favorite sports and I use it a lot for either defense or fun," Lea clarified. "Turns out, Frostbite and his people never even heard of hockey and asked how to play it."
"And that's when you began taking it outside at the arena and played from there until we showed up?" Katherine concluded.
"Pretty much. They happen to get the rules and technique of this sport down very quickly than I expected,"
"You know, I'm not even surprised about all of this. For a tribe of ghost-like yeti warriors skilled with medicines and technology that have lived in a frozen wasteland for nearly a millennium, Frostbite and his people do try to find their entertainment where they can get it when things get dull," Katherine stated with a smile.
Heavy footsteps were heard and Frostbite came into view. "Ah, Lea! There you are!"
"Frostbite! These are my friends I told you about. Katherine and Jack Frost," Lea introduced.
"I see that! The Story Keeper and Bringer of Winter! How wonderful it is to see new and familiar faces,"
Jack turned and became even more surprised. "Whoa! It's like seeing a better version of Phil," he replied.
Kate held back a chuckle before giving a pleasant smile. "Hello, Frostbite. Very nice to see you again. Thanks for looking after Lea."
"My pleasure! Lea, how would you like to see a little something we've been working on in the lab?" Frostbite offered.
"You bet!" said Lea, very excited.
"Ghost-yetis who have their own lab and know how to have fun? This I have to see," Jack said, smirking as he followed his friend.
Katherine, Lindsey, and Amorpho just walked slowly behind.
Not too long, Frostbite brought his guests to his lab. " Behold, Lea, our greatest invention to date!"
Lea gasped in amazement when being at the lab. The place was an icy cave but with high-tech inventions being tested by other yeti-ghosts.
"It's like being in a Sci-Fi Winter movie scene," Lea replied.
"This just became one of my top ten favorite places to hang out at now," Jack said, studying the place while putting his staff on his shoulders.
Just then, Lea finally took notice of what Frostbite wanted to show her. It looked like a small pole in the shape of any normal weapons, only sleeker and shinier. Similar to ice.
"What is that?" Lea asked, getting closer for a better look.
"This is the Crystal Shifter!" said Frostbite, now picking it up and handing it to Lea. "It can become any weapon you envision it to be!"
"Whoa, seriously!? Does it even work?" Lea asked, already grabbing it with her right hand and feeling it with the other.
"Well, give it a try. Imagine what weapon you want in your hand. Then, give it a squeeze in the middle," Frostbite instructed.
Lea imagined what she wanted. She gave it a squeeze and, in an instant, the staff became a hockey stick!
"No. Way! Frostbite, this is beyond amazing!" the blonde teen exclaimed, giving the Crystal Shifter a small spin to get a better feel of it.
Jack couldn't help but grin in slight admiration. "Looks like someone found her perfect weapon match."
"Come on, Jack. This may seem neat, but it's not mine," Lea reasoned, already giving it another squeeze to turn the Crystal Shifter back to its original form. "It belongs to Frostbite's people. I'm not even sure what it's made of that gives the Crystal Shifter its abilities."
"Ghost ice. What else?" asked Frostbite with a fanged smile. "I guarantee you that this will come in handy for the future! And I definitely want you to have it."
Lea looked at the weapon. Perhaps Frostbite was right. In a world where spooky, nightmarish ghosts were real, she had to defend herself somehow. "You know, I think you have a point. I'll take it."
"So, now that that's taken care of. How do we send Lea home?" asked Jack.
"Leave that part to me," Katherine replied with a smile, whom was with Lindsey and Amorpho.
The Guardian of Imagination opened up her satchel and brought up the book that showed the Storyteller's mission with her right hand.
"Whenever a story is complete and has its good ending, this should send all four of us back home to our world," Katherine explained, counting Nightlight.
"In that case, I better say my goodbyes to the new friends I made," Lea replied, already hugging Frostbite. "Thanks for looking after me, Frostbite. And thank you, Amorpho and Lindsey. I definitely owe you two for saving me from Fright Knight."
Lindsey blinked in realization. "That reminds me..." She delivered a hard slap to the back of Amorpho's head, knocking his hat off.
"OW!"
"THAT was for literally throwing me into my worst fear!" Lindsey snapped.
Frostbite chuckled and gave Lea a hug. "You're welcome to visit us anytime you want, Miss Lea."
This scene made the Guardian of Fun smile caringly. He was glad that his human companion made another icy friend from another world.
"You know, I'm actually gonna miss this place," Jack admitted to Katherine, putting his staff down to lean his weight on it. "Maybe one of these days, we can come back and visit."
"Well, I'm not sure about staying here for long. Especially since it's in the Forbidden Section and all," Katherine shrugged, still weary of that option. "But yeah. Maybe."
"See ya around, buddy," Lea replied with a grin, already finishing her hug and regrouping with her Guardian friends after saying her goodbyes. "Okay, Kate. I'm ready. Let's go home."
Nodding, Katherine used her left hand to open book…only to have it still shut closed. This caused Kate to open her eyes and look at the book in confusement.
"Uh, Kathy? Anytime you want to open that book and get us out now," Jack replied.
"That's what I'm trying to do," Katherine specified, struggling to open the book by slightly grumbling. "It…Won't…Budge!"
"Uh, okay, Kate. You can stop joking," Lea chuckled nervously, really hoping this was all just a prank.
After stopping her book opening, Kate sighed from exhaustion and looked up with a worried plus petrified expression. "I'm afraid that I am not. I think we're stuck here."
"WHAT?!" Jack and Lea exclaimed together in complete disbelief.
