Time Masters Apprentice
Chapter Ten: Human World Surprises
Danny's POV
When I stepped out of the other side of the portal, I looked around and noticed that I had landed in an empty alley way. I felt my cloak gently brush around my feet with my slow and cautious steps. This was the first time in almost two whole years that I had been in the Human Realm, much less Amity Park. I'll admit that I was nervous and a bit jumpy.
Once I was five steps away from the portal, it shrunk away and vanished, leaving me stranded. I could always make another one, but that takes too much energy. Making natural portals is no joke. They take skill, energy and concentration. It took me about seven months to create a portal big enough to fit my hand through.
But having the Master of all Time teaching me, means that I was being given a lot of patience. I'm the type of learner, when under a lot of pressure and stress, I tend to lose focus and get confused. Thankfully, Clockwork has been teaching me how to work and focus even under extreme stressful conditions. I'm not very good at it, but I have gotten better then how I was in the beginning.
I pushed all train of thought away and slowly walked to the entrance of the alley, peaking around the corner and out into the streets. They were fairly empty with only a few humans walking up and down the side walk. Nothing I would have labeled as a threat. I turned invisible and took off into the sky, pulling out the piece of paper Clockwork had given to me with my new home address.
I looked down and tried to find out where it was from here. My new home was placed at 130 Ray court. I've never heard of that street before, which must mean that it had been built after my death. Good, means that it was fairly new. No rundown apartment with roaches as roommates for me. I have to thank Clockwork again when this is all over.
I looked down, scanning the area with my critically trained eyes for anything that might: A) help me find this house, and B) be considered a threat.
After flying around for about ten minutes and having no luck in locating my home, I sighed and landed on the sidewalk, still invisible. I use to love improvements when I was a hybrid, but now I can't help but hate them.
Where the hell was 130 Ray court?
I looked down at my outfit and couldn't help scowling. I could always ask someone, but they would more than likely run at the sight of me.
Blast.
I stood there thinking for a few seconds on what I could do. I could always keep flying around till I find my street, or I could lose the cloak and a few other things to try and make myself look as human as possible.
After a moment of thought, I decided to go with the later. I reached up and unclasped my cloak, pulling it off, then rolling it into a ball and took off my over shirt. I had a black muscle shirt underneath for training, so I could always walk around with that till I got home and either went out shopping for some more clothes or use the ones Clockwork said were at the house for me.
I tucked my cloak and shirt under my arm before dropping my invisibility. I walked to the nearest shop to ask for directions. It was the local book store and café that Sam always used to go to. The Skulk and Lurk. I cautiously stepped inside, feeling absolutely naked without my cloak in public. I looked around, running a hand through my black and white locks of hair, feeling a bit twitchy and, honest to god, scared half out of my wits. I slowly approached the store clerk at the desk, whose face was hidden behind a book.
"Uh, excuse me." I said, making my voice sound as calm as possible.
The book was lowered and I was met with a pair of beautiful lavender eyes. I felt my body freeze and my breathing stop.
"Yes? How may I help you?" She said with a serene smile as she looked at me.
"S-Sam?" I stuttered out in my shock. This could NOT be happening!
Sam raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Yes. Do I know you?"
"Uhh…" I mentally kicked myself for my stupid reaction. "Uh, no you don't, but I saw the name on your name tag so… I assume your name is Sam…right?" I said, quickly coming up with the best excuse that I could, gesturing weakly to the name tag on her black shirt.
"Oh," She said with a relaxed smile. "Yes, my name is Sam. So, how may I help you?"
I rubbed the back of my neck nervously, greatly regretting coming in here. "Um, I was wondering if I could get directions." I told her. I studied Sam as I spoke to her, my gaze roaming over her figure taking in every detail. She had grown about three inches in the past two years and her jet-black hair was grown out, now waving gently past her shoulders reaching to her shoulder blades. She was —clearly—still into gothic culture because she was wearing very dark blue jeans and a studded black belt around her waist. Her shirt was black with toxic green strips going down her sleeves and a toxic green radioactive symbol in the front. Her classic black combat boots were poking from under the leg of her jeans, apparently she still held great appreciation to that kind of footwear, and if I hadn't been so nervous I would have grinned at the thought.
Her smile brightened.
"Oh, sure! I know this town like the back of my hand. What place are you looking for?" She asked, closing the book and placing it over the counter.
Of course you do. You, Tucker and I used to walk, or in my case, fly all over the town every day almost two years ago.I thought. "Really? Thank you." I said forcing a smile on my face. "I'm looking for Ray court." I told her.
"Ray court?" She said both eyebrows rose. "Those are some new homes down that road. Pretty expensive too. In the 500's." She told me. I felt my own eyes widen. Those must be some pretty nice houses for them to have so expensive. "But, Ray is about two miles away from Casper High School. You go north bound down the road from Casper high and turn down Waterford. Keep going down till you get to Sky court, turn right down Sky court for about six streets and Ray court should be on your left."
I smiled at the directions. "Thanks. I don't know how to thank you." I told her.
"No problem. So are you new here or something?" She asked curiously.
I nodded my head. "Yeah. I was looking for my new house and somewhere along the way I got lost." I said sheepishly and rubbed the back of my neck again nervously. My tension was slowly melting away, but I was still on guard, not wanting to risk my identity.
"Ah, that's understandable. You going to Casper High? You look to be about fifteen or sixteen years old."
I nodded my head. "Yeah. I'll be attending Casper beginning on Monday."
Sam chuckled. "Cool. May I ask your name?" she said, relaxing back into her seat.
"D-Daniel Time." I told her, stuttering over my name slightly from the nerves. I was still skittish about people making any connection between me and Daniel Fenton or Phantom. Even Timegear was at risk of being exposed while I was here.
Sam's eyes seemed to lose a bit of their light. "Daniel…" She said softly to herself, sounding heartbroken. The moment I heard the despair in her voice I wished I could give her a soothing hug. That kind of grief didn't suit her at all.
"Yes. Is...Is there something wrong?" I asked, even though I already knew what was wrong.
She sighed softly. "No, not really. It's just… I used to have a good friend named Danny, but two years ago he went missing…"
Hearing her talk, I had no problem forcing sadness into my own voice. "Oh, I'm sorry."
Sam sighed and waved it away weakly. "It's fine…it's just kind of hard to deal with…he was one of my only two best friends."
This time I was unable to stop myself from reaching out and placing and comforting hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. When her tear filled gaze moved up to my blue and green eyes, I gave her a warm smile. "It's okay. Maybe he is still out there somewhere." I told her, not understanding WHY I was saying that. This could jeopardize the whole mission. But for some reason, it felt like the right thing to do.
Sam's lavender eyes searched my face and eyes intently, as if looking for something. I didn't flinch or look away from her gaze, only stared back into her purple eyes. After a moment, she sighed, looking away. "I hope so too. I don't know what I would do if I found out he died…I don't think I could bear it."
I sighed softly and removed my hand from her shoulder, my core heavy with regret. Sadly he was dead – I was dead. "Death is always hard to accept. But it is sometimes best to move on and give them you're hope and love, even after death. It lifts their strength and it would make them happy to know that you are still cheering for them, even in the afterlife." I told her gently, giving her a tender smile.
Sam looked back up at me with a weak smile of her own, seeming slightly relieved. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Thank you D- uh what should I call you? Danny, Daniel or Dan?"
I shrugged "Whatever you want." I told her.
Sam nodded faintly. "Alright…I'll call you…Dan, if you're sure that doesn't bother you."
I shrugged. Honestly I use to be greatly offended when someone would call me that, but now I could care less if she called me Dan or not. I know that it is the name of my alternate self, but Clockwork had told me that I was no longer at risk of turning into him, and that I had no reason to be offended if I was ever called that way again. It was just a name after all. "I don't mind."
She smiled. "Cool. The other Danny hated being called Dan. But you look more like a Dan with your hair and eyes. Like both of them by the way. Are they natural or fakes?" She asked.
I chuckled softly, slowly relaxing into the conversation. "Both are natural. Glad you like them though."
Sam smiled and nodded. "No problem. I've always been the girl that went with uniqueness. Normal is SO overrated." She said with a grin, obviously happy with the change of subject in the conversation.
I laughed. "Ahh, that's good then. I don't need people calling me a freak on my first day in town." I told her with a playful grin. It felt so good to let myself go after so long of having to be the wise, calm and reasonable Timegear, and act like a teenager again. But sadly that had to come to an end. I looked down at my wrist watch. "Well, Thank you for the directions Sam. But I think I need to be heading out." Sam looked a bit sad that I was about to leave, so I offered her a warm smile. "But, I'll see you at school, right?" I know I probably shouldn't be doing this, but for some reason I just couldn't seem to make myself care.
Sam's eyes brightened once again and nodded. "Alright! You can also meet my other friend Tucker. Just to warn you, he is a very big techno-geek." She said with a grin.
I nodded. I am well aware of Tucks obsession with electronics. I thought with a chuckle. Out loud I told her, "I'll be looking forward to it. Have a good day, Sam." I turned and left the store, a bit quickly, and went into the alley beside the store before taking off into air turning invisible at the same time, going in the direction Sam told me that Ray court was located.
I followed her directions and arrived at Ray court about 15 minutes later, seeing the buildings that were lined before me on either side of the road. I blinked at the houses and their structure. They were all two-story buildings but each one was different from the other ones. Some of them had wrap around porches while others just had a patio deck out front. A few even had balconies on some of the second story rooms.
I landed on the ground and walked down the road both looking at the styles and looking for my house's number. The structures were fairly spaced, almost four acres between each house and were separated by white fences that added beautiful elegance to the yards. A good thing too: because I like my privacy. Living at Clockwork's Tower for two years make it to were you 'prefer' to be left alone and in peace. I could understand why he kept his tower in a secluded part of the zone.
I passed about five houses before I finally spotted 130 Ray court. I trotted up to the front yard and stared at the house that Clockwork bought for me. My eyes widened. The house was white with a gray stone structure around the front side of the house. The gray stone with the white seemed to work in harmony together to make the house look both welcoming and relaxing at the same time. I felt a huge grin break across my face as I walked to the front door. The house wasn't huge-huge like Sam's, but it was definitely bigger then my parents' house.
I reached into the bag that Clockwork gave me, which was hanging on my belt's loop, and pulled out the key. I glanced both excitedly and nervously at the door, before sliding the key into the lock, and twisting it. I heard the lock click and I opened it, stepping inside.
I looked around in awe at the room I had stepped into. The living room was already furnished with a black couch pushed up against the back wall with an oak wood coffee table in front. The walls and carpet were a pure white and the carpet seemed soft enough to sleep on. There was a thirty six inch flat screen TV on the other side of the room hanging up on the wall.
At seeing this room, I was dying to see the rest of the house, no pun intended. I walked around the house, exploring and making simple observations. The place had four bedroom, 3 baths, and a basement as well. The basement was as big as the house was and reminded me of my parents' lab. I was personally happy about the basement because it gave me a place to practice my powers without drawing attention to myself.
I also noticed Clockwork left a few notes attached to some things throughout the house, giving me some insight or information on certain stuff.
The last room I stepped into was my bedroom. It was the same color as my room in Clockworks' Tower. The bed was a full size with black satin bed sheets and a black comforter. The night stand was oak as well, as were most of the wooden furniture in the house, with a lamp and an alarm clock sitting on it. I walked over to the bed and placed my cloak and shirt down on it and looked around the room for the closet. I saw it a few feet away from the window beside the balcony. I walked over to it and pulled it open, looking at the clothes that Clockwork said he had placed in there for me.
Black jeans, white shirts and a black jacket were hanging up on some clothing hangers. There were just enough clothes hanging to last me about a week. I knew I was still going to have to go out to buy me some more later on, but in the meantime, this was fine.
I am DEFINENTLY going to thank Clockwork for all of this. I thought with a smile. Clockwork was like a second father to me. Always looking after and taking care of me. To be honest, he was starting to rival against my human father, Jack.
Sighing softly I closed the closet door and walked back over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it. I was going to have to hang up my cloak and my Timegear shirt, but I wanted to relax first.
I looked at the clock on the bedside table to see that it was 5:32 pm. I was already tired from flying around the town and talking to my long lost friend that I hadn't seen in almost 2 years.
Taking a deep breath, and slowly exhaling it out through my mouth, I kicked my boots off and placed them by the door. I walked over to the closet and hung up both my shirt and cloak before I started to get undressed. I kept the Medallion on around my neck, not going to risk taking it off due to Clockwork's warning about setting off Anti-Ghost alarms in a three mile radius. The last thing I wanted right now was being attack by a bunch of ghost hunters.
Once I was down to my boxers, I walked to the light switch on the wall and flipped it off, then used my ghostly enhanced vision to walked across my room and find the bed, climbing under the covers and closed my eyes, relaxing. It might be only five o'clock, but I was wanted to get a good night's rest so that I could wake up by midnight and take a flight through the town.
Over the past two years; I have needed less and less sleep. I now only needed to have five hours of sleep to wake up fully charged. I also no longer needed to eat food, but I still sometimes enjoy the pleasure of the flavors on my taste buds. Life was so much more different as a full ghost then a human or a Halfa.
I took a deep relaxing breath, and slowly released it, letting my muscles unknot and relax into the soft bed. Within minutes, I was sinking into a dreamless oblivion.