Hey readers! I am finally back with another chapter, and I hope you haven't forgotten about this story. I know it has been a while, but I can explain, and I will. In tge outro, but for now, enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 25

Jason couldn't believe what has just happened. One second, he'd just defeated one of the most powerful ghosts in existence, and the next, that same ghost seemed to be transforming into a much smaller figure wearing torn and dirty clothing. The man stirred slightly as the rings dissipated, leaving the living room in a tense silence. No one knew quite how to break the silence, but the sound of a the stairs creaking did the job well enough.

All heads turned to see Jack and Maddie Fenton coming down covered in dust and splinters. At that moment, Team Phantom and Vlad realized their restraints had disappeared as Malbenita's ghost form had. Quickly standing up and brushing themselves off, neither party could resist a look of confusion.

"What are you all doing in my house? Well, except Jazz, . . . Wait, why are you still up?! And Tucker, what's going on?!" Jack asked, flustered after being beaten by a ghost and furious at being out of the loop.

Danny cleared his throat and stepped forward. "First, this is Malbenita," he waved towards the unconscious figure. "He is is the alleged brother of Pariah Dark, the former King of the Ghost Zone. He was released by some knuckle-headed idiot," Vlad steeled himself to prevent his fury from overtaking him and flinging himself at the younger Halfa. "We banded together to stop him, and brought him here to the Human Realm because he was growing stronger by absorbing the ambient ectoplasm. After that -"

"What happened to your costume?" Jack asked, always one to focus on the essentials.

Danny sighed at his father's question. "I was given some ghostly artifacts that belonged to the previous Ghost King with some modifications. That is why I have this armor. Anyways, after that we came here to borrow some of your technology, your daughter assured us you wouldn't mind." Jazz shot him a look, knowing she would be spoken to about it later, which Danny intentionally ignored.

While his words began to sink in, Danny had to use every ounce of control in his being to not tackle his parents in hug; he was extremely relieved that they hadn't been too seriously hurt. However, he noticed his mother's thoughtful expression and felt the question on her mind with his telepathy.

"Yes?" he said, knowing that if he simply answered, he would only draw more suspicion towards the matter.

"Well, when he burst into our room, he seemed much larger and more imposing, more ghostly, I suppose, and now he looks like an ordinary human. How can this be?"

"I can answer that," replied a voice as a blue clock face appeared. The hands swung in opposite directions and met at "twelve-o'-clock", and the entire thing became a swirling blue portal from which Clockwork exited. He smiled as his entrance disappeared. "I do know everything, after all."

After the initial shock of his sudden arrival, everyone followed Clockwork into the living room and got comfy. The Master of Time shifted to his Elder form as he began.

"Several millennia ago, before the event referred to as the Great Flood, there were many people living throughout the earth, and among them were two who would cause waves throughout time with their involvement with ghosts. A man and his wife were caught in a riot, resulting in the latter's death. As he carried his wife's corpse home, unsure of how to tell his child his mother wouldn't wake up, he was unaware that she was far from gone. Moments after her demise, she awoke in a strange place of swirling green sky and purple earth. Her first thoughts were of how she came to be there, and as her memories returned, she realized she had died, yet was still somewhat existent. Deciding to ponder the matter later, she began to search for a way back to where she came from.

"After what felt like an undeterminable amount of time, she began to lose hope of ever seeing her husband and young boy again. Falling to her knees, she remembered their little home, and longed with all of her being to be there. Immediately, a green light flashed before her, startling her from her former state, and before her lay a swirling portal through which she could see her husband standing dumbfounded at her. Not being too sure herself, the woman reached a tentative hand towards the portal and marveled as her beloved did the same. To their amazement, they each pushed through and came out the other side, and in her joy, the woman jumped through and toppled her husband.

"The family, now reunited, soon welcomed a new member who had strange abilities upon his birth earning him a name meaning 'cursed'. The modern form of this name is Malbenita."

Everyone sat in silence as this new information sank in, but then a thought entered all of their minds which shattered all solemnity.

"So wait,"Maddie interjected. "You mean that human and ghosts can -"

Clockwork nodded. "Yes."

Ignoring the mixed emotions the humans and half-ghosts displayed, he gestured towards the heap that was Malbenita. "The parents died soon after the boys reached their teen years, and they visited their parents in the Ghost Zone often, their parents having become the King and Queen of the Ghost Zone -"

"Why did they become the rulers of the Ghost Zone?" Dani asked.

"Let's just say it was meant to be," Clockwork answered. "Now, soon after this time, the whole Earth was overcome by a global flood, and -"

"Hey, the Ghosts 101 textbook talks about that," Sam said, hearing Jason think the same thing through Danny's link.

"Yes, it is. I was the one who wrote that section, Ghost History. So then you must know what happened next." He noticed everyone except Danny nod. "They can explain it to you later," Clockwork said.

"Now, what do we do about him?" Valerie asked, returning everyone's attention to Malbenita.

"Well, we could -" Maddie and Jack began.

"I don't think so," Clockwork replied. "He must be returned to his rightful resting place, in the Sarcophagus his brother sealed him in." Ignoring the disappointed expressions of the former, he turned to Team Phantom and Vlad. "I think you better get him back there."

"Not you two," Maddie said, pointing to Jazz and Tucker. "You two need to get to bed, it is a school night, or day, regardless. Tucker, I will call your parent's and let them know why you are here."

With that, the rest entered a portal Jason formed and returned to Phantom's Keep.

After, they got Malbenita situated, the lid was closed and the painting fixed, leaving the hallway as it had been just hours ago. While everyone else began to depart, Clockwork pulled Jason aside.

"What is it, Clockwork?" he asked, knowing that if the Master of Time needed to have a private chat, it was probably important.

"There is something you need to know, regarding the 'accident' a couple of weeks ago." Despite his growing fatigue, Jason perked up at the mention of his disappearance. "It wasn't random, as I am sure you understand now, but there is more to it."

"Okay," Jason replied, wondering what Clockwork was getting at.

"There was something desired that led to it, all the work of a seemingly careless wish."

"A wish? What is this something to do with other supernatural beings? Let me guess, unicorns? Pixies? Genies?

"Yes."

Jason's grin faded. "Wait -" But as he spoke, he realized that the omniscient chronokinetic specter had made departed. Sighing, he teleported back to his room and transformed back to his human form and flung himself down on his bed, not even bothering to change. He knew he would have to pick up his drawing stuff when he got up, but he would worry about that then. As he drifted of, Clockwork's words came back to him. A seemingly careless wish . . .

Alright so, time to explain myself. Back at the end of August, my first semester of college started, which is the biggest eeason why I have had such a hard time writing this chapter: to clarify, homework and lack of inspiration. Another reason was having to revise this chapter a few times because I forgot how I planned to write it before. Finally, I was constantly visited by my old enemy: Procrastination. However, I finally managed to get this done the other night, and Chapter 26 (which I finished a month ago at work throughout collective breaks) will be uploaded shortly.

I hope this was worth the wait and that you are ready for a change. I will be starting a different story soon, and in the meantime, why not check out my new YT channnel? I don't have much for content yet, but I am planning some special stuff for Halloween (if I can find time to record). My channel is called Prof_Jake_MQ (my Minecraft username). Now, I believe that is everything, so please favorite and/or follow this story if you like it, and please leave a review if you'd be so kind. That is all for now, see you in the next chapter!