It was kind of 'treason' to be bringing home a ghost that was, in essence, trying to kill him, but Danny Phantom was not that stupid, Amber may have tried to deflect, but her swift change had brought on a fever, she was feeling hotter than normal, and he made a small promise to look after her for the most part as he settled back down and tapped the door with his foot. "Coming!" A voice called out and, before long, Jazz opened the door and smiled before it slipped away and she spoke. "What happened?"
"Our mystery figure struck again, this time he nearly got Tucker and me..." Jazz nodded as Danny brought Amber in and laid her on the couch. "Ember stood up to him, but now she is running a fever, her change must have overloaded her core or something."
"Got it, you just... keep being you and cool her off, I'll make some soup for her to have." Danny nodded as Jazz left and Sam entered, taking a look as she walked over and spoke.
"That Amber?"
"Yep!" He answered with a resounding pop as he used his ice powers to briefly cool her down as Sam crossed her arms.
"Wow..." She answered before she continued. "Hard to think that this is the same rock star that nearly, indirectly, lead to my death from a fall above."
"Yeah..." It was just small talk and both were unnerved with it before Sam spoke again.
"In any case, I checked through the records that I could get a hold on, but nothing is turning up about our mystery face, not even the weapons are suggested or mentioned." Danny nodded as he continued before he grimaced, a hiss from the mouth drawing Sam's attention as she spoke. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine... I think..." Danny answered, but a roll of a shoulder resounded in a loud pop or crack and he grimaced as Sam was taken by it. "Guy punches REALLY hard somehow, even worse somehow."
"Then you should probably..."
"No... I need to keep the fever down until Jazz comes back." Sam sighed as she headed for the kitchen and spoke in a whisper.
"I guess I have come to love your sense of duty... but can we even call it love if one is still as clueless as ever... while the other just feels conflict?" She shook her head as she headed out, Danny breathing before he released, too short to cause a sizable change in temperature, but it was still enough as Jazz returned with the soap... and a glass of water as she set the bowl down on the table and offered the glass.
"Drink." Danny grimaced to the tone as he took the glass and started to drain it as Jazz sat down, Amber breathing more normally... if she was just like Danny now. The older sister rested a hand on her brother's shoulder as she started. "You know... I think this is the first time I have ever seen you look so... beaten, Shulker would give you a workout with the rest of the spooks, even Undergrowth and Vortex was like a pushover once you figured it out."
"Yeah, and that's what I need to do here and now..." Danny stood up, shakily, before dropping down in the chair close by. "...Figure out who exactly we're dealing with and why are they attacking Amity, or rather, me now?" He shook his head as he had no idea who would even be attacking him now, Valerie is out for the count, the GIW were subjected to molten material, some actually surviving, but were traumatized from the experience, and his folks were in the hospital for the same attack on the Red Huntress. He didn't want to know what would happen if any of the ghosts came out to fight with only Danny in sight. "We need to figure this out..."
"Yes, and I have a minor lead." Jazz spoke as she headed upstairs and back down with her laptop and started to bring up some files. "During that last move, the figure moved out of the old sewage line, a corridor of tunnels and passages under Amity itself." Danny looked at the map that spread out before them and, while most of it was unexplored, it was a start. "It's just a theory, but I think that our guy is using the tunnels to slip in and out of Amity at will, he doesn't even need to just randomly appear when he knows when to hit."
"But how would he know where to go?"
"That I have no clue, maybe with some ghost detection or a beacon that could be leading him to you or other places?" Jazz shrugged as she continued. "All I know is that we could be in trouble again, has Tucker called back?" Danny shook his head as he flipped out his phone with reverting back to Fenton.
"He hasn't called back... but he did leave a message that said that he made it back to his house, it just came down to convincing his folks that he was not involved with the craziness downtown." Jazz nodded as Sam returned, each of the three taking turns watching over the unconscious Amber, even noticing that the cold white of her skin started to change to a peach teal color, the 'color returning to her' as one would say before Danny paused and he spoke. "You know... maybe we do have a source..." Both Sam and Jazz looked at him as Sam asked.
"Who...?"
"Clockwork." Danny said as he stood up and continued to the near reject. "It is not changing anything, I just want to know what he knows about our mystery foe and the Fenton Portal is engineered to close and open to our presence besides the usual 'open state' and 'DNA scan' thing, right Jazz?"
"OUR presence being the Fenton siblings, not Phantom's..." The older sister paused before she answered. "Though, that does make sense, if this 'Clockwork' has seen the time and lives of everyone, then he should be aware of this attacker and maybe we can see if we can get him to guide us on a path that could help out, I know for a fact that Amity is not going to stand for very long with some of our more 'experienced' ghost hunters in the sick rooms."
"Then we have to do something about that." Sam spoke as she turned to Amber. "What about her, I don't think should leave her here." Danny gave a look and, though he would rather Amber stay put, he didn't want to face a free Ember McLain, even if the Thermos worked her.
"We'll need to take her with us, that is the only chance we got of keep Ember close and out of Amity Park for now, until we can get her to wise up or back in the Zone." Both nodded to the thought and loaded up into the Fenton Speeder before heading into the Ghost Zone, Amber part of the adventure as no one else was going to enter the house at any point in time...
Amber stirred and blinked a few times as she looked forward to a green sky... behind a glass pane? She blinked a few more times before she realized that she was in a vehicle, some form of speeder or whatever like from that one smash series of movies 'Stellar Conflict' as she roused herself enough to find that she was not alone as someone spoke. "How are you feeling...?"
"Gross..." She glanced to the side to see Danny and the other had that one goth girl, Sam something, and in the driver seat was that one red-head girl, Danny's sister, she believed. "So why am I in this thing, strapped down for who knows what?"
"We are taking a short trip to find out more about our 'common' foe, the thing is..." Danny spoke up before he leaned forward. "Take this next left, his place should be up ahead after that." Amber hummed in confusion before her eyes flew open to the massive structure that they were coming up, her blood really felt like it froze in her veins."
"C-C-Clockwork!?"
"We just need details, we wouldn't be long here, Amber." Danny answered as he switched to Phantom and flew out as Amber just suffered a minor panic attack and fainted, due to her human change making her more timid, Sam and Jazz sharing a look as the goth spoke.
"You would think that someone devoted to controlling the world, they would be more stable about someone like Clockwork."
"Yeah, I thought so too." Jazz and Sam shared in chatter as Danny flew up and knocked before the door swung open and he floated in, looking around before calling out.
"Clockwork? Are you here?"
"I am always here, Daniel." Clockwork spoke as he slipped by a few of the pillars and spoke. "I only have need to leave if I am called or otherwise."
"Right... sorry." Danny rubbed his skull as he spoke. "I came to..."
"Find out about your new foe, I know as you know as well..."
"You know everything..." Danny nodded as Clockwork always a smile and lead Danny through as he spoke.
"I know the youth and how he inspires terror and fear among the residents that make their home here, but his reasons are more good-natured than anything he could muster against all that face him." Clockwork waved his staff and the doors opened to the many mirrors and images that flickered by. "I would interfere if it was truly a need for harm, grave enough to warrant a cease of life. However, his actions show a different sense of the being, he would rather harm than kill, study than destroy... test than purge."
"What about the GIW?"
"Oh, please..." The figure shifted to his old man form as he continued. "I would have dealt with them in time and if the Observants hadn't been so stubborn, the 'Guys in White' have pushed my patience too far when their plan to destroy the Ghost Zone came to pass, certainly prevented by your efforts with others." The young man continued before switching to the baby form. "Still, arrogance and naivety of their kind has only made me more... disappointed with them, if only someone had explained it out to them that destroying us destroys Earth as well." The being shook his head as he continued. "However, back to our interloper, there is talk that he is constructing a Ghost Portal into the Zone, a third of its kind, and that could be trouble as he seeks you or others of your blood to uncover a secret made hidden from time and fear." Danny gulped as he nodded as Clockwork turned and rested a hand on the halfa's shoulder. "I can not reveal his name as this will give the Observants a name to hunt down, but your service is direly needed here and now."
What!?" Danny exclaimed as he asked. "What's going on!?"
"Your presence here is a heaven-sent for a crown troubled by sibling feud, your conflict drawing the earth's terror with it to halt the hate seeded in blind pride, but be wary as the ancient of life's heir will be seized and taken away, keep kin close and guide the flame's heart..." Whatever that meant, Danny didn't know fully as the staff tapped the ground and Danny's covered his eyes before he was returned to the Speeder... buckled in as Jazz asked.
"Hey, where do we..." She paused before shaking her head. "Wait, did I already ask that question...?"
"Not really." Danny answered before he continued, finding that they were far away from Clockwork's tower, just around the time when Jazz asked where they needed to go. "In any case, we have some trouble to see, do you know Princess Dora?"
"Somewhat..." Jazz shook her head as Sam looked at Danny before she realized that he must have met Clockwork, but he rewind time back to the point of some point. "But shouldn't we...?"
"Clockwork can wait another time, I just got this feeling." Jazz lingered in her gaze at her brother before revving the Speeder and it took off as she spoke.
"Okay, so we don't have the details of our new guy, but why are we going to this Dora?"
"I think we are going to find out, just know that I got the details from a good source, just... don't think too hard on it." Jazz groaned as she replied as the Specter Speeder headed for the Kingdom of Dorathea, renamed to forget the trauma of Aragon, at least that's what Danny believed when he visited her here and there.
"You know that I need to think things through and overthink them, Danny, just going to this Dora without a full reason is not helping me keep me head on tight."
"Trust me, Jazz." Sam answered as she leaned forward and answered. "Danny is not that reckless, Dorathea is a good person... she has viable reason to be." Jazz let it go as they continued through the Zone before they found the section that would have Dora's Kingdom. Danny nearly sprung up as he saw the smoke and fire, Dora was in trouble and he needed to jump in.
"Get ready, we are going to see some action." Sam and Jazz nodded as Danny changed again and zoomed out, Amber stirring as she mumbled.
"What is happening...?" She saw the blazing place and narrowed her eyes, where was she and what was happening here?
Dorathea panted as she was hard-pressed to keep Aragon's forces back with what little of her forces could help keep the ranks back, now she wished that she had seen it beforehand and stopped it, but her brother had returned with a collection to take the throne, to bring the kingdom to the tyrannical reign and medieval darkness. She gripped her side as one of her knight rushed over. "Princess! We need to retreat!"
"We... We can't..." Dorathea grimaced as she tried to get up in vain. "If we leave now, then my brother will revert everything that I sought to undo of his agenda... we need to stand firm to his machinations..."
"Oh, dear sister..." Both the knight and Dora looked to the end of the hall to Aragon, smirking evilly before his form changed to the black dragon. "You amuse me deeply, but now is the time that I take my kingdom back."
"You... can try, brother Aragon...!" Dorathea replied as she changed and they two clashed as Dorathea's forces tried once more to fend off the horde against them, the dragon battle shifting to the darkened forest, Dora trying hard to fend off her brother, but a tail whip from behind and she crashed into the forest as Aragon gloated.
"I am the superior blood of the throne, you have no right to take my power and I will remind you of your place in this world!"
"Not cool, Darkly, she is doing better than you!" Aragon swiftly turned back as Danny charged in and smashed Aragon aside with a few ectoblasts to pummel him into the distant ground. "What are you doing back here, I am pretty sure that you were exiled or locked up."
"Insolent whelp!" Aragon roared as he took flight again. "This is mine, all mine, and I will dictate what happens in my kingdom, you will kneel before a true ruler!"
"Sorry, but I don't do royal idiots." The dragon roared and made to crush Danny, but he needed to keep him occupied long enough that Dora could escape and recover. "You call that authority, royal breath, you are nothing but a spoiled prince who can't see past his own ego."
"Silence, I will destroy this false world that my foolish kin has made and I will take what is truly mine!" Danny didn't want to admit it, but he was one versus a dragon and he didn't have backup in the first place, what exactly compelled him to just fight a crazed dragon? He paused in the thought, Dora was a friend and a darn good one, she wanted freedom and he gave it, she wanted to be free from the reign of her brother and his oppression, he did it to both free a frozen kingdom and save Sam. But now he was in deep with no armor to block the attacks, no points to strike without getting burned or crushed, and Dora was out of the running with the number of injures and wounds she got.
He pondered too much before a claw snatched him and he struggled to escape as Aragon ranted. "You are nothing compared to my power, I am the supreme being into this land and you will submit!" Danny could see the Jazz and Sam were doing their best to fend off the legions, but the castle was getting overwhelmed again and they needed some help. "Submit or die!"
"I got a different opinion, back off!" A strum rang out and Danny was saved with Aragon getting blasted away, his gaze turning to the floating rock star as she zoomed to his side. "Hey, Dip, what's this guy's problem?"
"Um... long or short...?" She gave a disproving look as she spoke.
"Short, please..."
"Basically, arrogant prick who is against females, seeing them as tools or objects, and former ruler of this place which was frozen in medieval times because of him."
"Oh..." The answer was followed with a sigh as she glanced back to the rising creature. "You know, I just wonder EXACTLY how you deal with these things."
"That is a question of WHAT you are talking about, my event of getting into big fights or my choice to step into trouble to resolve it."
"Your hero complex, mainly." Ember chuckled as she readied for battle with Danny smiling as well. "Let's just put the former king out of his disillusions."
"A wench stands against me!? You will know your place at my feet!" Aragon charged as both divided and attacked with blasts and powers as Ember countered.
"You're not in charge of my life, I make my own destiny!"
"So It's time to put you out to the caves!" Danny and Ember actually worked well in their improv tag-team, forcing Aragon back big time while Dora took to the sky and back to the kingdom before they overstepped their position. Aragon seemed to have extra forces in reserve and they stepped in too far as Aragon laughed, both going back to back as Ember spoke.
"So, what's the plan now, Dip?"
"I don't know..." Danny looked about the forces that now had them cornered with Aragon smirking. "I was expecting Aragon to have conscript all his forces to the castle, but to have backup just makes this harder than it should have been." Danny rounded about with Ember before the onslaught started. "What are the chances for us here?"
"That depends!" Ember shouted as she took down a axe-wielder before smashing a lancer and using him as a board over the crowd as the gap between the two of them started to increase, likely to divide them enough to make them easy pickings for Aragon's return to combat. "Are you asking me to be your girlfriend or as your partner here!?"
"As friends!" Danny shouted back as he shielded with some ice bracers against some blades and sweeping under before he clashed once more and shattered weapons like a pro. "Maybe it will be short-term or long, but I can't do anything to you as you are human again, not just a ghost, besides I would prefer to have backup in other people, not just my friends or my sister."
"Good, actually..." Ember answered as she slipped under and axe and decked the guy, impressing herself with her newfound power and strength against the numberless minions. "I would have gone solo, but whatever the Doc gave me, has changed me too, I feel more timid like the world is not mine anymore and I have no reason to do anything in it." Ember growled as she swung again, getting clipped, but giving the attacker a nasty hit in the head, despite the armor or helmet. "We'll talk later, if we get out of this alive!"
"I fail to understand that question at times." Ember rolled her eyes before both slammed into the other, clearly biting off more than they could chew as Aragon gloated once more.
"How your fool hopes have fallen, you two will serve me well in the dungeons and in my service, all will be as it shall, this land is mine and will forever be mine!" He cackled with glee before a loud boom echoed, the back end of the army being torn apart and Aragon stopped to glare back at the level of destruction before a familiar voice to Phantom and McLain spoke.
"Wow, and here I thought that humans were the only prideful creatures I could ever know." Decked out in energized armor, like a power suit, stepping through the trees that was alight with fire from both the dragon's duel and the pair's attempt of fighting the attacker off, was the one they called the Doctor as his fists glowed with energy and his rebreather puffed out a vapor, countering the effects of the Ghost Zone somehow. "But an actual dragon ghost...? I will take my time with your sorry husk of skin..."
This is just to say in advance, if any want to speak about it.
I was going to do a single chapter covering the siege or attack for Aragon, but it grew a bit lengthy for a single chapter, so it will be finished in the next chapter, also Sam will be abducted by Undergrowth, I just need to figure out if I am going to embed ghost genes into Sam as a permanent effect of bonding with Undergrowth's powers or something else.
Also, looking at the hazmat suits of Danny Phantom, they are sad, but they are for humans tampering with ghosts in their world, the Ectosuit is a good way for humans to enter the Zone freely, but it could use a bit more work and understanding, thus the power armor, think Iron Man (Sad about that, never saw, but feel the pain) or Warmachine. That is all to say for now.