*WARNINGS: body horror.*

Hand Over the Map - Phanniemay Day 18: Frostbite

Frostbite was halfway back to the caves when the alarm rang.

He'd been inspecting an avalanche slide on the outer edges of the Far Frozen, but when that shrill bell sounded, he began to run as fast as he could back to home base. A flurry of thoughts began to pour into his mind as to what the trouble could be, but none of them even compared to what he found when he reached the edge of the village.

About a dozen of his people laid in the central clearing. Some were injured and struggling to sit up or bravely help others, while others laid motionless in neon-green snow.

Frostbite's core thudded in his chest. Someone, or something, powerful enough had just harmed his village, and he hadn't been around to protect them.

A blast from one of the caves caught his attention. He realized it was their "Treasure Cave," the home of the Infi-Map, and raced towards it. He was determined to stop and catch the intruder if they were still there before they could harm anyone else. Or steal the map.

He ran all the way towards the back of the cave, but stopped when the Infi-Map's golden treasure chest came into view. All around it, more of his brothers laid still on the ground, losing more ectoplasm than they could afford to lose. Above one of them, eyes glazing furiously and feet giving one final swift kick to their innocent victim, stood Vlad Plasmius.

Frostbite narrowed his eyes in accusation. He remembered the last time he'd met the older halfa, and how he and a few others froze him to get back their Infi-Map. Fortunately the item was still in its chest, able to be unlocked only by Frostbite and a few others.

Still, the snow creature wasted no time in zapping Plasmius with a blast of ice, freezing him on the spot. He may have been able to overpower his victims somehow, but Frostbite had the element of surprise on his side. Now he just needed to lock Vlad up quickly and help the others.

Suddenly an ecto-blast hit Frostbite in the back with enough force to send him crashing to the ground. He could already feel the ectoplasm pooling into his fur, and he growled in pain.

"Ah, nice try, Frostbite," Vlad's voice rang out. His form came into view as Frostbite turned over. "I figured out of all the snow-freaks here, you would be the only one smart enough to spot a duplicate. Shame. Guess I was wrong."

"Leave now," he ordered. "You've done enough damage already."

Vlad floated closer to him, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Ah, but I haven't gotten what I came for yet, and I need you for that."

Before Frostbite could even process his movements, Vlad shot a hand out and fired a stinging ecto-blast that seemed to stun him. Another duplicate appeared above his shoulder, a plasma sword materializing in his hand.

Frostbite couldn't dodge it in time. With one swinging thwack, the duplicate chopped his left arm off at the shoulder.

Snow fell from the cave walls as he roared and howled in pain. He could barely register what Vlad was doing it hurt so unbelievably bad. Yet he continued to watch as the halfa reabsorbed his duplicates and lifted the decapitated arm of ice over to the golden chest on the stand, using the hand to unlock it. The arm was then tossed aside like a wrapper.

Vlad lifted the map out of the chest and beamed. "Finally! I have the Infi-Map! And there's no one to give you a hand to stop me." He laughed smugly to himself at the pun.

"No one except me, Fruit Loop."

Frostbite and Vlad both whipped their heads towards the cave opening, where Danny Phantom floated. In one fluid motion, the teen sent a blast of ice in Vlad's direction, much like Frostbite had, only his target was able to avoid it this time.

"Oh puh-lease," Vlad muttered. "I have the map now, Daniel. Give it up." He unrolled the map wide in front of him, and it lit up as he gave it directions. "And to that I say, good-bye frozen wasteland, hello VladCo satellite in space!"

The map glowed brighter and zipped off down the cave opening with Vlad in tow. Danny could barely graze him in an attempted grab, He grit his teeth with a frustrated noise, but turned back around and settled near Frostbite's side.

"Frostbite, are you okay?" Danny asked, trying to figure out how he could help.

The creature pushed him away with his good arm. "I'll be fine, Danny Phantom. But you need to stop Plasmius and get the map back."

The teen glanced down at the puddle of ectoplasm on the ground. "But your arm..."

"I'll be fine. Just go get the map and bring it back. Go, before the map's portal closes!" he urged, mustering a reassuring smile for him.

Danny stood hesitantly, and then floated up into the air in a moment of decision. "I'll be right back to help you guys," he affirmed.

Frostbite watched him speed off in pursuit of Vlad, then closed his eyes in pain and exhaustion. He was confident Danny would return victoriously with the map and save them.

After all, he was the Savior of the Ghost Zone.

Well look at that! I've gained a day back, all while managing to make this little scene-insert that could be both a prequel to "Phantom Planet" and a way to either avoid it entirely and/or make it tons better, potentially.