Old and New Love
By: Wilona Riva
Disclaimer: Danny Phantom belongs to Butch Hartman, Nickelodeon, etc.
Spheres and Hunters and Ghosts, Oh My!
The sphere floated into the hands of the Clockwork Chronos, Master of All Time, Keeper of the Time Stream, and servant of the Observant Council. He examined the tiny flickering images and smiled at the love Desiree showered on the young prince.
When he had plucked the young prince from the core of the Ghost Zone and sundered him into his mortal and spectral aspects, he had sought suitable parents for both halves. The hunters, Jack and Maddie Fenton, would give him the knowledge of the mortal plane and the fighting skills he'd need to survive, all the while nurturing the part of him that allowed him to keep a cool head, a keen intellect, and a heart of love.
He had taken a wisp of the cores of the Ghost King and Queen and melded them with Daniel's spectral core and implanted it within the womb of the queen. Prince Phantom learned from his spectral family and friends about the spirits of ghosts and how their powers were developed from youth on. He learned to respect authority, how to guide nations, and how to be ruthless and gentle when needed.
He examined the tiny flickering images again.
Desiree had done well.
Maddie Fenton and Tucker Foley gaped at the awesomeness that was Pariah's Keep. Two thralls near the entrance moved aside to let them and the Nightmare Paladin pass.
"This place is so cool!" Tucker exclaimed.
The Fright Knight turned inquisitive amber eyes on the teenager. "Impressive, isn't it?"
"Yeah, hey!" Tucker's arm passed right through the wall. "What the heck?"
"In the ghost world, humans are the ghosts," the Fright Knight replied. "Follow me. Quarters have been set aside for you."
"What is it now?" Plasmius growled at the metal robotic ghost kneeling before him with flaming green flames styled in a mowhawk.
"You asked me to locate a suitable mate for Prince Phantom," his best friend answered. "I traveled to Perennia and discovered that the Ancient known as Undergrowth has a daughter the same age as Prince Phantom. Her name is Ciarda, meaning 'dark'. She too has underwent her rite of passage."
"Wherever did you find them, Skulker?" Plasmius asked.
"In the human world disguised as humans," Skulker replied, punching a button on his arm, a holographic imaged appeared showing a familiar family. "These are their human guises; the woman is Pamela, a human consort-Undergrowth keeps her for imagery's sake. He alters her memory with spores from his children."
"There's something you are not telling me," Vlad answered, folding his arms.
"Undergrowth's offspring is often seen in the accompaniment of your whelp when they are in human guise. She knows of his spectral form, but he does not know of hers. This, I have observed myself."
"I will speak to Nicole of this arrangement further. Go to the armory and take from it three items from the farthest table on the right. That is the price we agreed upon, is it not?"
"Yes," Skulker agreed. "Shall I make the arrangements for a meeting?"
"Yes," Plasmius told him. "Do so at your earliest convenience."
Author's Note: Okay, one more chapter and an epilogue to go.