A/N: Hello everyone. Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, whichever you prefer. Thank you Shiranai Atsune for following this story and me as well. I will also like to thank all of you for your continued support and for reading still. So without further ado, here's the next chapter. Oh I want to do something special for the 30th chapter, but I have no clue. So if you have any suggestions, I'll do that as an extra bit at the end.
Terra straightened her shoulders in front of Clockwork not caring if the other ancient ghost thought her foolish. The clocks in the rotunda ticked in the background keeping the tower from silence. "You can't keep them in your game," Terra said to the time ghost. She held her head high ready for whatever the other ghost would throw at her.
The currently elderly ghost looked disappointed, "I had everything under control. Because of your actions, Pariah is tearing the Ghost Zone apart while the only two who can fix it are searching for a half-ghost who is running." Clockwork didn't shout but the tone of his voice was clearly stressed like it took everything he had to keep his cool. Terra knew that Xaoc and him had always been at odds and Clockwork was willing to do anything to stop the other. Clockwork pointed to the current time the movement of his hand drew Terra's attention. The portal shifted to a vision of the Far Frozen melting, its white peaks crumbling. The ice giving away in swirls of blue energy as glowing bodies flew away from the collapsing kingdom. Green skeletons were chasing down the survivors while others dotted the remaining white expanse.
Terra's form turned ice white as she looked down feeling slightly ashamed that everything seemed to be crumbling. Her eyes focused on the white icy crystals on her dress that would have matched the formally thriving Far Frozen. She closed her eyes willing her form to switch to her green spring like form. She looked up back to the portal. The scene changed from the Far Frozen to a familiar halfa. The woman held a smaller ghost within her clawed grip. She grinned a fanged smirked that didn't contain any humanity, her red eyes just shy of manic glee. The small ghost in her hands squirmed desperately green ecto-energy swarming around its struggling form. "That's the person you saved. She is just as bad as the first halfa. A selfish human who would sooner run than face Pariah or Xaoc," Clockwork said. "She isn't a knight, rook, or bishop. She is a pawn; a piece to sacrifice to save other pieces. It isn't a nice way of thinking, but I must think of the greater good."
Terra looked at the time ghost in disbelief. While the woman seemed a bit unhinged at the moment, Terra had faith in the halfa to turn around and join Danny to fight Pariah. "But pawns when battle worn become stronger than before," Terra countered. She looked back at the woman in the portal and hoped that she would remember who she was.
Clockwork grinned, "Indeed they do." Terra looked at the ghost finally understanding him. The ancient ghost didn't ask for this assignment that came with difficult sacrifices, but he did it anyways.
DP~DP~DP
Catalina released the ghost in her hands. The green blob jetted away looking over its shoulder once before Catalina turned away from it gathering energy to also careen herself away to hide. She slid to a stop on an empty island digging a pair of trenches into the soil. The halfa brushed herself off before padding away from her landing spot. She looked over her shoulder once narrowing her red eyes when she sensed the faint energy of her pursuer. Catalina dove into the underbrush lowering her energy to hopefully blend in.
She kept her eyes trained above her as the energy signature became stronger and closer. Catalina watched as the blue-haired female ghost stopped above her hiding spot. The female halfa lowered herself to press herself against the ground. The undergrowth making the smallest of rustling noises. The gray-clothed ghost turned her head downward. Two pairs of ruby red eyes met. The halfa's eyes widen in shock. Catalina rolled to the side as an ecto-blast pummeled the foliage that previously hid her. The female halfa was on her feet running in a zig-zag formation as the ghost shot at her. Catalina launched herself into the branches overhead. The attacker's ecto-blast creating a small crater where her feet left the ground.
The woman swallowed knowing that she was running on empty. Her eyesight was already starting to blur and her head spin. She shot a weak blue blast at the ghost which fizzled out before it even reached her. The other ghost smirked as Catalina's face fell.
DP~DP~DP
Eris grinned at the trapped weakened halfa. She couldn't wait to return to her master with the Ring of Wrath in one had and the head of the halfa in the other. Her master thought it best for her to eliminate the one contingency to his plan, but in order to do so she had to relinquish his disembodied core. This infuriated Eris and made her more determined than ever to destroy the halfa. After a week of hunting, she had finally cornered her. The halfa was obviously exhausted which didn't surprised the ghost; the female had not the opportunity to rest. The female halfa was dodging the best she could as she dashed through the branches in an attempt to throw the ghost off her trail. Eris could see how heavy each move was as she jumped through the branches.
The woman landed on a thinner branch swaying as she tried to regain her balance. Eris took her opening gathering pink energy to her hand and electrifying it. The woman turned as the attack buzzed toward her. The pink energy struck her in the stomach sending her to the ground roughly. The halfa's mouth was a perfect circle as the air was forced from her lungs. She arched her back as electricity jumped over her form and a loud scream filled the air. Eris landed with a soft thud next to the incapacitated ghost. The ghost gave a smug grin holding up a hand sparking with electricity.
DP~DP~DP
Vlad looked only once to Danny who flew silently. The older halfa turned his attention back to the boo-merang that remained locked onto its target. The billionaire didn't ask, but he knew that the teen was as grateful as he was that the tracking device was still locked onto its target. The beeping grew louder and more frequent. Vlad grinned as he could feel the small flame of the woman's energy.
"Can you not smile like that?" Danny asked, "It looks creepy." The teen smirked at his own dig.
"I can finally sense her," Vlad said as he sped up passing the boo-merang.
"Hey, wait up, fruitloop," Danny called as he also sped up.
Vlad only looked behind to reply, "Turn off the boo-merang so Catalina won't meet a steel boomerang." The millionaire turned back focusing on the little flame feeling relieved that Catalina was so close. He could see a small forested island ahead. The land approached quickly as the man neared. He saw a flash of pink light and he mentally berated himself for not noticing the other ecto-signature.
The joy and relief he felt was replace with rage as he quickened his pace to Catalina's position. As he passed through the dense forest he saw a larger pink flash. Vlad watched as a blue-haired ghost landed next to a paralyzed Catalina. The ghost held pink energy in her hand. The billionaire narrowed his gaze as his anger was directed to this unknown ghost. The attacker struck, but was met with a pink shield that Vlad threw up around his assistant. Both females' red eyes darted to him reflecting shock and displeasure.
The ghost turned to face Vlad as he dropped the shield. "I am feeling generous today so I'll give you exactly three seconds to get yourself away," Vlad threatened with a low growl. The ghost didn't seemed phased, but Vlad's attention was on Catalina who got to her feet slowly. She was swaying slightly but she didn't look relieved to see him. The man was slightly hurt that she didn't flash a smile, but he didn't have time to think about that; the ghost's time was up.
The billionaire gathered electrical energy shooting a large bolt at the female ghost who jumped away from the attack and Catalina. The ghost retaliated with an attack of her own. Vlad dodged by duplicating and separating. Both him and his duplicate flanked the ghost with a pair of glowing fists. The ghost teleported above Vlad with a smug look on her face which Vlad was determined to wipe off her face.
He teleported as well shooting a blast at his duplicate who used a shield to reflect it at the ghost. It struck home sending the ghost spinning through the air. Vlad shot her again sending her spinning in the opposite direction. The ghost teleported and Vlad searched for the enemy. He found her shaking her head trying to clear it. Vlad gathered energy to his legs charging up to the female ghost with a fistful of energy. The female ghost didn't have time to react as his hand reached into her chest, his fingers tightening around her core. The billionaire pulled his hand back; a red hot ball of energy was in his fingers.
The female ghost didn't have time to react before she started to fade away. Vlad let the core in his hand dissolve into the air with a huff. That should teach any ghost who would dare harm his Catalina. The billionaire turned to look for the woman. "Hey, Vlad. Look I found Cat," Danny's cheerful voice called out. Vlad turned to respond to the teen.
The white-haired halfa was waving him down. Catalina was sitting against a tree the same displeased look on her face. Vlad padded to the pair lowering himself so he was eye to eye with her. "How are you felling?" Vlad asked concerned.
The woman shrugged, "As well as I could be." Vlad straightened to his full height and offered his hand. The woman narrowed her eyes at the offered aide, but didn't take it. She got to her feet on her own. The three were silently staring at each other; Vlad and Danny not knowing how to speak with the woman.
"Are you coming back, Cat?" Danny asked. "We have both been worried about you... Don't deny it, Vlad," Danny added. Catalina looked at him one eyebrow raised.
"What about your mother, Danny? I am sure she wants me on her lab table," Catalina responded crossing her arms around her stomach as if to protect herself.
"I told her everything. She's not going to hurt you," Danny responded quickly.
The woman thought for a moment before speaking up, "Then there really isn't a reason to stay here then." As she took a step toward the two, she lurched forward and Vlad caught her. He tightened his hold on the frail woman.
