Ember's Realm

Ember woke to a green and haunting sky. Her daily reminder of her place in the Ghost Zone. She sits up on her bed and yawns. 'I feel a lot better now. A nap was just what the doctor ordered. Okay, now what should I do today.' Ember pondered as she looked at her guitar. Out the corner of her eye, she saw a rose sitting on her nightstand.

"A white rose?" Then, everything came back to her. 'I have a week to share the news but, it's better to get it over with today. That way I can spend more time enjoying myself.' She hopped out of bed.

'I should go tell Kitty first.' At that moment, she heard a knock at her door.

'Now, who could that be? It better not be Skulker!' Ember grabbed her guitar ready to fight. She flew downstairs and opened the door. Her anger dissipated as she saw her friend Kitty floating before her.

"Hey girlfriend. How are you feeling today?" asked Kitty.

"Much better. Thanks again for yesterday. I was seriously upset with that idiot."

"No prob. That jerk doesn't deserve you anyway. You'll find someone better." Ember just blushed as she thought of a certain ghost boy.

"Yeah..., I will." Ember said with a small grin. Kitty saw her friend's reaction. 'Now who is she thinking about?' Kitty thought.

"Oh yeah, Ember do you have the CD I let you borrow?" Ember came back to reality.

"The instrumental track. Yeah, it's up in my room on my dresser. You can head up and get it while I make some breakfast." Kitty nodded as she entered and floated upstairs to her friend's room. Ember went to the kitchen and started cooking.

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"squealed Kitty. Ember dropped everything and rushed upstairs. She entered her room and saw Kitty with her back to her.

"Kitty, what in the world is wrong? Is it that tin can Skulker?" she said looking around the room. Kitty turned to Ember with a huge smile on her face. "What are you smiling about.." 'Oh no, the rose!'

"Kitty, it's not what you think!" Ember said lowering her guitar.

"Emy, where did you get this rose from? I know you didn't go out and get it for yourself." Kitty said raising her eyebrow.

'This can't be happening. I can't tell her baby pop gave it to me' "Yeah, I did get it for myself. Is there a problem with that?" Ember said folding her arms looking fiercely at Kitty.

"Ember, we are friends. The best of friends I might add. And as your besty, I know when you're lying."

"No, I'm not. Why would I lie? I got it to cheer myself up and that's it." 'You're not going to break me.'

"I know because you love roses but, you said you would never get them yourself because they die eventually. You prefer pictures over the real thing. So, after all these years, you expect me to believe you got one for yourself."

'Dang it Kitty! Why can't you just believe me and let this go! She's going to keep pressing until I confess. I guess I should come clean. Besides, I can't tell her what happened without all the details.' Ember sighed and said. "The dipstick gave it to me."

Kitty's eyes opened wide. "What! Danny Phantom gave you a rose." Her mouth just hung open. "But, why? You guys are enemies. You two have never had a decent conversation before. How did he even know you liked roses?"

Ember looked down smiling. "Because I told him." she said softly.

"Wait, wait wait wait! You mean to tell me you told him you like roses? Why did you.." Kitty paused as she looked at her friend. 'Is she smiling?' "Emy, do you like Phantom?" That triggered Ember's blush as she turned around.

"No way, I don't like him. He's my enemy! Not in an thousand afterlives." 'My kind and caring enemy.' Ember thought.

"Uh huh, well you've got some explaining to do girl." said Kitty as she grabbed her CD.

"Okay, let's eat and I will tell you everything." Both girls went downstairs. Ember cooked and told Kitty everything. From Danny and her talking to Clockwork's message of impending doom. Kitty just sat perplexed.

After they finished eating, they sat in the living room. Kitty was quiet as she processed everything her friend told her. "Ember, do you like Danny?"

Ember looked at her as Kitty looked back. "I'm serious, do you like him?" Ember twiddled her thumbs as she thought about how he was nice to her despite all she had done to him and Amity Park.

She sighed. "I don't know. I mean he's really sweet, caring and thoughtful. I never would have thought he would be such a great guy. He decided to help me even though he was fighting his own grief. I.." Ember was cut off as Kitty hugged her. Ember was caught off guard. They separated and Kitty had a huge smile on her face.

"What?" asked Ember.

"Girlfriend. You like Danny. There is no doubt about it." Ember looked at her shocked.

"What do you mean?" trying to deny her accusation.

"Em, you do. The way you're talking about him shows that you like the kind of person he is. He decided to put his own feelings and your past fights aside to help you. I mean I always knew he was a sweetheart from when I overshadowed that shallow chick at his school."

Ember recalled that event. She overshadowed a girl to make her boyfriend Johnny jealous and she told her about everything the dipstick did for her. He made her feel like the best girl in the world. Ember was surprised about how much of gentleman he was but, she just forgot about it until now. "Anyway, he's a great guy and it's okay to like him."

'I'm not so sure Kitty.' "But, why is it okay? We're enemies. He's the hero of the world and I'm an evil rock star."

"Does Danny see you that way?" 'I guess not. He never treated me like I was evil. Especially last night, he would have beaten me up and thrown me back here for sure if he thought that.'

"Even if he didn't think I was evil, I doubt he would like me back."

"Well, who says so? You're only saying that because you're disqualifying yourself. If Danny held those things against you, then you wouldn't have that rose in your room." Ember just stared at her friend as her words made more sense. It was kind of scary.

Kitty saw her friend's face and said. "I'm a hopeless romantic Emy, you know that. You two are just so cute." A smile came on Ember's face but disappeared.

"But, what should I do then. I can't just walk up to him and say " I like you dipstick". That probably wouldn't go to well."

"Em, just do what you've been doing. Show him the other side of you. You two may have more in common than you think. It takes time and you guys seem to have plenty to get to know each other."

"Yeah, thanks Kitty." Kitty placed an arm across Ember's shoulder and brought her close. "No prob girlfriend. I want you to be happy and if he makes you happy then I will help in any way possible."

"So, Kitty. Keep this on the down low. We don't need everyone knowing about the Dark King or Danny. If you do, I will burn all your possessions." said Ember with an evil grin.

"My lips are sealed and don't you dare think about burning my stuff." Kitty said as they laughed. "Oh by the way, do you have a plan to get closer to Danny?"

Embers cheeks turned red and looked at her friend baffled. "No, I've got other things to worry about. I don't have time to think about that."

Kitty shook her finger in front of Ember. "You have a week to figure out what you want before all this happens. What if this is your only chance to really find out if you truly have feelings for him? You never know what tomorrow brings."

"Okay." 'But, I don't want to make this more awkward than it needs to be.'

Ember sighed. "I guess I will never know until I try. What should I do?"

Kitty sat in silence as she thought to herself. "Well, why don't you spend a day with him? I mean you guys could hangout. It's a chance to get to know him." 'How will I get him to spend time with me?' Ember remembered what she told Danny. "Wait, he owes me a favor!" Ember said with excitement.

"He does?" Kitty asked confused.

"I told him he owes me one for agreeing to help him and I would let him know what I wanted when I thought of it."

"That's it girl. Tell him you want to hang out with him."

"Okay, I will let him know tomorrow."

"Hold on." Kitty said. "You should tell him today and give him time to think about it. Being the hero takes up all your time." Ember shook her head.

"No way, I can't do it today. We just came up with this plan." Ember stood up.

"Emy, you need to get over your fears and go talk to him. How else will you know? If you don't do it now, he may become busy tomorrow. I will even come with you."

"Really?"

"Of course. That's what friends are for." Ember let out a huge sigh and said, "Okay, let's do this."

Kitty and Ember flew towards Danny's portal. As the portal was in view, Ember looked at the swirling vortex. 'It's now or never.'