Danny blinked in surprise. Queen Mariah Dark. The queen of the Ghost Zone. He shook his head slightly and frowned at her.
"If you're the queen of the Ghost Zone, how come I've never heard of you?" Danny asked slowly. The queen raised an eyebrow.
"You know every ghost in the zone now? Besides you have heard of things I've created," the queen countered. Sam, Tucker and Jazz lowered their weapons, safety still off but no longer pointed at the queen.
"Things you've made?" Danny repeated confused. The queen smirked and nodded.
"I make gifts for ghosts that catch my eye. Who do you think made the Infi-map and Clockwork's staff and time medallions? I gave Skulker his original battle suit, and I must admit he has improved it brilliantly over the years. I gave Ember her guitar and Dora and Aragon their amulets. The Reality Gauntlet, an experiment of mine that unfortunately fell through a portal along with a crystal ball that I believe was recently used by a human called Freakshow. The Spectral barometer the Observants used to control Vortex. Johnny 13's bike and many other items used by numerous ghosts," The queen explained with a hint of pride.
"Then why didn't Ember tell me about you when I asked her about an hour ago?" Danny asked. The ghost laughed softly.
"I rarely deliver my gifts in person and I rarely inform the ghost that I was the one to give it to them. I merely enjoy creating and my creations are better used than sitting in some dark corner of the Ghost Zone gathering dust," the queen answered. Danny frowned as he took in what he'd been told. It would make sense, those items weren't attached to any ghost in particular. He'd driven Johnny 13's bike before, not that his mother knew that. He'd used Ember's guitar as a sword against Youngblood. The Infi-map could be used by anyone as could Clockwork's time medallions. Danny had never really thought about how those items had come into being before, but it did make sense that there was a powerful ghost hiding somewhere in the Ghost Zone making spectral items now that he thought about it.
"I always thought that those items were formed by the ghosts that used them. I mean Ember uses her guitar to channel her music ghost powers and Johnny uses his bike to get everywhere," Danny commented. The queen nodded slowly.
"In a way they did. My items don't create power Danny, I can call you Danny right?" the queen began. Danny's eyes widened in surprise at the queen's question and nodded to her uncertainly. He still wasn't entirely sure if he should trust this ghost but she didn't seem to be a threat. At least not for the time being.
"Thank you. As I was saying, my items don't create power, they merely enable ghosts to channel their powers better and extend their power further. For example, Clockwork's staff enables Clockwork to manipulate all of time anywhere he is. Without it, he can freeze time and restart it. He may be able to rewind events to a certain degree, but with his staff, his natural powers are amplified and focused. Similar to Ember's, she can use her voice instead of her guitar to channel her powers but her voice would eventually wear out. Her guitar won't. So you see, my items help ghosts rather than create them," the queen explained. Danny nodded slowly.
"So another ghost could take one of those items and use it for themselves in theory. So if I was holding Clockwork's staff, I could control time," Danny replied curiously. The queen raised an eyebrow and shook her head.
"Not exactly. You'd have an amount of control but not nearly as much as Clockwork," the queen answered. Danny nodded, deep in thought.
"Er, sorry, but did you say you were called Mariah Dark? Like Pariah Dark?" Tucker interjected nervously. Danny's eyes widened in recollection. The queen scowled.
"I did, but let me assure you, I am nothing like my brother. I may have given him the Ring of Rage and the Crown of Fire, but I didn't approve of his methods of gaining control. I made the Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep and rallied the ancient ghosts to lock him inside it," the queen affirmed in a sour tone.
"Your brother?" Danny repeated and gave Tucker a slight nod in gratitude for recalling the name. Tucker smiled weakly in recognition.
"Yes, my older brother. I gained my title after he was locked away. However I never truly wanted it. I merely wanted to create. However there was no clear "winner" in our battle against my brother and so I was appointed his successor. The other ghosts have faded away now," the queen explained with a touch of sadness.
"Faded away?" Jazz asked cautiously. The queen glanced at her and nodded grimly.
"Ghosts don't die necessarily. But if they lose the will to go on or lose their reasons for existence, they fade away into nothing. It happens to many old ghosts especially ghosts that form to watch over something that dies. It is a slow and pitiful sight," the queen elaborated.
"I'm sorry," Jazz offered. The queen shook her head solemnly.
"It was a long time ago now and one time allies do not make friends. I prefer to keep looking forwards," the queen retorted. The queen turned back to Danny and smiled warmly.
"Which brings me back to the reason why I am here," the queen commented.
Yeah, I love leaving things on cliff-hangers. You should probably be prepared for quite a few of these.
But that's a bit about who Mariah Dark is but not what she wants. Any guesses?
Let me know what you guys think of the story so far.
And so, until the next chapter.