None of the death certificates they had set aside were about anyone named Beasley. This was both a relief and a frustration as they didn't have to keep the certificates, but they also hadn't found Box Ghost's human identity. So, they decided to go back to the old drawing board, but as they had more information to work with, they set aside time to do so with far higher spirits.
Danny downloaded his video of him dodging Dash onto the computer and had to stop it just a couple of minutes in. It really made him sick. But, with a little video editing here and there... and while he didn't have a whole lot when it came to video editing, some of the free stuff he found on the desktop weren't half bad. It was kind of surprising, actually. Due to his lack of experience, he had no idea how well any of it would turn out, but he found he rather liked working on it. He would have enjoyed it more if the computer wasn't so old and slow...
Life went on, after that. A couple more ghosts came out of the zone, but Danny was able to catch them fairly easily, and that was that. Of course, that was before he came upstairs one day after escaping his father in the basement to find one Dash Baxter in his kitchen, studying with his sister.
He blinked. Shook his head, turned right back around and went back downstairs. He was not going to deal with Dash, and he'd talk to Jazz about warning him about things like that later. His 14-year-old mind did not take to surprises like that well. Stupid puberty.
It wasn't until his father showed him the Ghost Weasel that he remembered what this had all led to. He wondered if it would still be the same. He also wondered why they needed a ghost containment device when they had a veritable row of Fenton Thermoses (some of which were actually full at this moment, not that his parents had noticed, thank goodness).
"Blast," his father said, as he pried at the junk stuck in the nozzle of the half-vacuum, half-Fenton-Thermos, "I'll got the Fenton Dislodger!"
Danny watched him go, then sighed, walked over to the wall and unplugged it. He was glad this one was still running on electric energy, at least in part. Later on, he would have had to phase his hand through to the actual motor and shut half of his parents' inventions off there. Then, he calmly took the Fenton Thermos out of the nozzle and set it on the counter before walking over to the portal. He studied it for a couple of seconds before reaching up and pushing the button.
He transformed as the door opened and... nothing happened.
Danny frowned. Then he looked over his shoulder. If his father came back to find the lab empty, he'd likely just assume that his son had left while he was gone... although his father could also be in the lab for hours and getting back to this world through this portal might be more difficult...
Still, he wanted to seek a couple more ghosts out and start feeling around for tentative alliances, like the one he'd been planning on trying to make just now. It was a bit of a wake up call that he couldn't just rely on his past information. Not that he hadn't known that already, but it was still a bit jarring. He took another look behind him at the stairwell where his father had vanished, then fished in his pocket. If he concentrated enough, anything he'd had on his person when he'd transformed could be reached in his other form, and so he felt around for... There.
Pulling out his cell phone, he shot Jazz a quick text. He hit the send button just as his father called down that he was returning. Danny extended his arm away from his body, allowing the joint to become mist, and hit the close button, then retracted it quickly as he heard his father clomp down the stairs. The doors closed, leaving Danny in the Ghost Zone with no way to open the portal back again. Usually he could knock a certain way and his parents (currently, only Jazz) would let him in. He frowned. Perhaps he hadn't quite thought this through... He hadn't been that reckless for years now. Was that also part of his developing body and brain? He sighed. Maybe he could go to Clockwork for help? It wasn't like Danny needed an excuse to go and see his friend...
"Child!" a familiar voice called out to him and he turned to see the form of a ghost floating up to him. While the look was something Danny remembered, it took him a minute to really recognize the ghost as Technus hadn't looked like that in... well, fifteen years. "You just came through the unnatural portal! Tell me, are you the half-ghost I have heard so much about?"
Danny blinked. "Um... yes? I think so? I am half-ghost..."
"I am Technus! Master of Technology! And I have come today to have a look at the magnificent portal! Tell me, how does it work?"
More blinking. "Wait... you... just want to look at the portal? That's it?"
Technus turned to look over his shoulder at Danny blankly. "Yes. Why else would I seek you out?"
Danny opened his mouth, then decided not to give Technus ideas (as he had the first time). The guy took them and ran with them... er... flew with them. Very quickly.
It took him a couple of seconds to come up with something else. "To seek out an alliance, perhaps?" he asked hopefully.
Technus just stared at him for several seconds before bursting out laughing. Then he raised his arms over his head, posturing. "I, Technus, Master of Technology, need no alliances!"
"Oh," Danny said, deflating a bit. Then he thought some more. What would he have that Technus would want?
Oh, Jazz was so not going to like this.
"Not even if I could offer you residence in the human world?"
Technus froze as the processed, then he turned and looked suspiciously at Danny. "Why would you offer such a prize?"
Danny scratched the back of his head nervously. "Well, you may not need alliances, but I'm a pretty new ghost, and alliances are something I'm seeking."
"Are you not powerful, as a half-ghost boy?"
"Well, yes, but power isn't everything. I'm sure you, of all ghosts, know that smarts trump brawn and power every time."
Technus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "True, true."
"Plus, I'd really like some technology that I have ideas for, but not the skill to build. I give you residence in my haunt, you live by the rules and produce the occasional piece of tech I give specs on. Or your closest approximate. I'd ask for a reasonable deadline, and I'm sure we could find a good, abandoned warehouse down by the dock where you could work to your heart's content."
He could tell the other ghost was tempted by the way he leaned forward, still suspicious, but eager.
"Is that all?"
"Well, you'd have to sign a form saying you'd read and understand my rules," Danny quickly amended. Then he dug in his other pocket for the small list he'd started carrying around. He brought out a folded piece of paper and handed it over to the technology ghost. Technus gingerly opened it and then began to read over it.
After a little while, he glanced up at Danny. "Are these the only rules to your haunt?!"
"Well, yes, for now. But if I changed them, I'd have to give you advanced notice. Also, exerting any sort of control over equipment you or I don't own would fall under 'harming humans'. You can only control tech that belongs to you. Only with permission could it be anyone else's, and I'd prefer you didn't let people know you're a ghost, for your safety as well as theirs.
"I know it might seem very restrictive, but I'm pretty sure your, er... obsession," he decided to be a little cautious mentioning it, just to be safe, "has something to do with the modern world, if you're a technology ghost."
"Very observant, child," Technus said, sounding both approving and annoyed. Danny wasn't sure how he pulled both off.
He sighed. "Look, I just want to give you a chance, but I need to make sure I'm not putting anyone else in danger. I'll need your signature and you word, and believe me I will hold you to it."
The other ghost regarded Danny for several seconds. "So, you'll let me live in the human world and do whatever as long as it doesn't hurt any human," he said.
Danny sighed. "Or other ghosts."
Technus raised an eyebrow. "Your obsession lies with protection, doesn't it."
Somehow, hearing it still felt like he was socked in the gut, but he didn't let himself even flinch. He did look away, though. "Maybe."
"Will you tell me how this amazing portal works?!"
Danny thought for a couple of moments, knowing very well that he didn't trust Technus and for good reason. "I don't know everything about it, but what I do know I can tell you," he finally conceded. Danny could likely parse out most of what went into building the portal if he really wanted, but he'd never really had a reason to try and do so. But he'd be willing to offer an olive branch if he could secure another alliance.
"Hmm. I will consider your offer, child!" Technus said. "For now I will study this marvelous contraption!"
"Okay," Danny said, smiling. "I have a couple of things I need to do anyway. Have fun. Just remember, if it opens, there are ghost hunters on the other side of it and they have ways of protecting against and harming ghosts." Better to not mention technology right now.
Technus hummed, although Danny wasn't sure he'd heard him. Still, he decided that retreating might be the best option at the moment.
"Later," he said as he flew away. He glanced over his shoulder after a few seconds of flying, finding that Technus was watching him, considering. Danny wasn't sure exactly what that meant. It could mean that he was wondering just what he could get away with, or it could mean he was seriously considering the offer.
Danny kept flying away. That alliance could have so much potential... but it could have a lot of issues too. Technus was one of his more dangerous enemies in his previous life simply because of the widespread technology on Earth. Letting him loose in Amity Park would be like... well, like Undergrowth let loose in a forest somewhere.
He wondered for a moment how an encounter between Undergrowth and Technus would go... he put his money on Undergrowth, but not because Technus didn't have the resources or power to do his own damage. He just... didn't tend to think on a big-enough scale. If he ever got smart enough to try and infect the internet... Not just a stupid game, but the actual internet... Danny shuddered.
He made a mental note to figure out Technus' root obsession (because while it likely had something to do with technology, he doubted it was really that broad) and keep him invested in fulfilling it.
xXx
Danny had been to this particular door a couple of times in his previous life, but he'd never really gotten along with its occupant. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Actually, the occupant had never really gotten along with him. He could certainly hold a grudge. Once Danny had a chance to really sit down and think about it, he'd found it rather sad, because he was sure this ghost would have been a good ally. He was, after all, far more powerful than he let on. The fact that he didn't go after Danny despite the fact that the ghost had never forgiven him actually said a lot about his character.
So, it was with no small amount of anxiety that he lifted a hand and knocked on the door.
Then he waited.
And waited.
And waited.
And had just decided that the ghost wasn't home when the door opened.
"Oh, you're here," Danny said, a little surprised.
"Yes, this is my lair."
"Heh, right," the half ghost replied, then stuck out his hand. "Nice to meet you, Ghostwriter. I'm Danny Phantom."
The other's eyes widened a bit. "The half-ghost?"
Danny blinked. "It's gotten around this far already?"
"I'm not stuck in my lair all the time."
"Oh."
They sat there in silence for a couple of moments before Ghostwriter spoke up, sounding a bit annoyed. "I was in the middle of writing something."
Danny started a little. "Oh, right. Sorry. I... well, I've heard about you, too. Heard you're a pretty decent guy and, well, I'm kind of new and don't know much about the Ghost Zone... I was wondering if you could give me some books on the history of the Ghost Zone? Maybe some laws that I might need to know?" He'd already read most of the books Ghostwriter could give him, but not in this timeline, and he wanted a good reason as to why he knew as much as he did.
And if he could ally with Ghostwriter in the mean time, all the better.
The annoyance on the writing ghost's face vanished, then he seemed to study Danny for an uncomfortably long amount of time.
"Um... I can leave if that isn't okay," he said, cursing his 14-year-old body and brain for the insecurity flooding through him. Why couldn't he over puberty by now? It really was a pain.
Ghostwriter shook his head, as if coming out of a reverie himself. "Far be it for me to discourage ghosts from learning. Especially since you asked politely. Not every ghost seems to understand how far a nicely worded request can get them."
"Yeah, I learned that lesson a while ago." Oh, the irony.
He followed the Ghostwriter up to one of his many shelves and waited patiently as the other ghost began searching them. He pulled out a couple of books and turned to Danny. Before he put the books in the half-ghost's outstretched hands, he narrowed his eyes into a warning glare.
"You take care of my books, or I'll make you regret it, understand? I don't care how powerful you are."
Danny swallowed and nodded. "I believe it."
For some reason Ghostwriter's eyes narrowed even further and he leaned forward.
The half-ghost almost panicked. Ghostwriter was definitely not acting like himself.
"I won't let them get hurt, promise!" Danny said.
Ghostwriter nodded and turned back to the shelves. The half-ghost let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. In his mind, Ghostwriter was almost as powerful as Clockwork as he could quite literally change reality... Definitely in the high 80's on the GEV scale. Might even be in the low 90's. Danny had never really been able to decide.
Staring at the back of the ghost's head felt a little awkward, so he looked around the room for a distraction. His eyes fell on Ghostwriter's keyboard floating above a small platform off to one side. Danny took a moment to study it appreciatively. The last time he'd seen this one, he'd blown it to pieces. Apparently that had been part of what had ticked Ghostwriter off in his previous life, as the keyboard had taken him quite a while to manifest, and wasn't an easy construct.
Part of Danny had been sorry for the loss of the complex tool, but part of him still shuddered and wanted to destroy it here and now. It wasn't quite the Ring of Rage or the Reality Gauntlet... but that didn't mean it was dismissable as a threat. It had made Danny and his family (and friends) talk in rhyme, for goodness sake.
Still, despite the utter pain it had been, he'd been ultimately grateful to Ghostwriter for his little 'lesson', even if the sheer power the ghost wielded came awfully close to terrifying Danny. He was glad someone like Ghostwriter had gotten that kind of power instead of someone like, say, Walker.
"The story's not done 'till the lesson is learned," he muttered, a small smile coming to the edge of his mouth.
"What was that?"
Danny looked back at Ghostwriter to find him floating right in his face again. He yelped and fell back, not activating his flight on the way down as he was too focused on making sure the books in his hands weren't damaged. In a few seconds, he sat on the floor, clutching the tomes to his chest, and very grateful that they looked just fine. Then he glared up at the ghost.
"Dude, what the—" he stopped. Ghostwriter floated over him with an intense expression, arms crossed.
"Who are you, really?"
Wait, what?
"Huh? I'm Daniel Phantom. Danny Fenton in my human form."
"I know that phrase. I never use it in my normal poetry, but I have used it before. The last time was over a century ago. Certainly long before you were born as a human or a ghost. We still have no actual proof of reincarnation, and even if we did, the process would undoubtedly take far longer than that..."
Danny's eyes widened and he swallowed past the lump in his throat, unsure of what to say.
"So if I eliminate the impossible... Wait... You're one of Clockwork's!"
Could Danny help it if he spluttered? "I'm.. but.. I... you..." Then he paused for a moment and thought about it. "What do you mean 'one of'?"
Ghostwriter snorted. "Every couple of decades he'll find someone he needs to save for the good of the world, usually from themselves." Danny wasn't sure how to respond to that. Part of him felt relieved that he wasn't the only one who had needed Clockwork's help. Another part of him, a part of him that was used to attention, felt a bit disappointed that he wasn't the only one. And still another part was shocked that Ghostwriter, of all people, knew that about the time ghost.
"That also makes you a rather important part of the future," Ghostwriter continued thoughtfully. "Did he send you here?"
Danny blinked. "No. I mean, I'm sure he knows I'm here, it's Clockwork, but..."
"He isn't the one who told you about me?"
"No..."
"So, you really are from the future, then?"
He felt his mouth drop open and he gaped like a fish for far too long.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'. You can't take my books back to the future." He paused for a moment, "Unless my lair gets destroyed somehow and you're doing this to save them."
Danny hurriedly shook his head and floated up off of his backside, landing on his feet. "No, no. I'm not going back to the future."
Ghostwriter's eyebrows rose. "You're not going back to the future? Then... Clockwork really didn't send you?"
"No," Danny replied, sighing. No use denying it now. "My time travel was an accident."
"There are no accidents when it comes to Clockwork," Ghostwriter said dryly.
Danny sighed. "He knew I was coming back in time, but chose not to stop it. That doesn't mean he caused it."
The other ghost rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I see. I'm guessing you and I had an... altercation in the future."
The half-ghost frowned. "What makes you say that?"
Ghostwriter snorted. "Do you know how many people actually respect my powers until they see them in action – or at least have them thoroughly explained?"
"Um... not many?"
"None, as far as I know."
"Oh." Danny's frown deepened. "But... you can change reality."
Ghostwriter smiled a little smugly. "Under certain circumstances. Now, I think you know most of this already, am I right?" He asked, pointing to the books Danny still held.
Why did this ghost keep catching him flat-footed? "Um, yeah. I... actually wanted to borrow these so my sister could read them. I also wanted an excuse as to how I know it."
"I must have really respected you," Ghostwriter said, shaking his head.
Danny snorted. "Not particularly."
The other ghost looked skeptical. "I wouldn't have let you borrow anything if I didn't respect you."
"But..."
"Didn't mean I had to like you. Although I cannot see why I wouldn't. You seem like a pretty decent person."
Danny looked to the side, feeling his cheeks darken. "I'd... prefer not to talk about it."
Ghostwriter scoffed in amusement. "No, I suppose you wouldn't. Now, tell me why you're really here."
He didn't want to say it, feeling like he was far too much at a disadvantage. He swallowed his pride anyway.
"I... was hoping to speak with you about an alliance."
"Hmm," Ghostwriter responded. "I see. I don't often ally with other ghosts. I want to share my knowledge to all who wish to pursue it."
Danny shook his head, "I have no problem with that."
"Even if it were an enemy of yours who came to me?"
That brought him up a little short. After a few moments, though, he responded, determinedly. "If an enemy is coming to you for information about me, then that might be a different story, but when it comes to regular knowledge, no. I have no issue with that. I wouldn't want to get in the way of... well, your obsession."
"You speak of obsessions easily," Ghostwriter said. "Normally it's rather taboo."
"Yeah. I think that we should speak of them more with people and ghosts we trust. How can people help you if you don't tell them anything?"
"Hmm."
Both of them stood in silence for what felt like forever.
"I will consider your proposal. In the meantime," he looked up and yelled out, "Clockwork?!"
To Danny's surprise, the time ghost appeared in the middle of the room. "Ghostwriter. Daniel," he said, nodding to each in greeting.
"Thank you for coming," Ghostwriter said in a polite but firm voice. "Now, would you mind taking your subordinate and my books to his lair safely."
Clockwork raised an eyebrow in amusement. "You will allow your books to leave the realm?"
Ghostwriter froze. "Leave the realm? What do you mean?"
"Oh, I live on the other side of the permanent portal. I thought you knew that," Danny said by way of explanation. He said it carefully, showing he was more than willing to give the tomes back if there was an issue. He really felt the need to do a lot of placating here. Of the ghosts in the room, he was the weakest at the moment, and he knew it. It was an unusual feeling.
Ghostwriter shot them some unreadable looks before taking a deep breath. "You have one week, and if they don't come back, I'm holding you responsible, Clockwork."
That bothered Danny and he found himself speaking up. "No."
The writing ghost turned to him, not pleased. He waited for Danny to explain.
"I may be a new ghost, but I'm old enough as a human and aware enough to deal with my own consequences. Clockwork hasn't made any claim to me in any mentor-ship or other capacity I know of, except as a friend," he smile at the time ghost, then turned back to their host, "so he should not be held responsible for my actions." He held his head up, staring both of the other ghosts down, refusing to back away.
"You would even protect me, Danny?" Clockwork asked, amused.
Danny felt his cheeks heat up again and had to consciously stop himself from looking away in embarrassment. He'd been doing that too much lately.
Before he could answer that, though, a snort from Ghostwriter had them turning to him. He saw their expressions (especially Danny's, apparently) and then doubled over, laughing.
"Alright, I'm beginning to see why you like this kid," he said to the time ghost, still snickering and holding back chuckles. "Very well, then, take the books. Take them out of the realm, even. Just know, I will hold you accountable for any damage."
Danny found himself smiling. "Yes, sir." And if he said it a little more flippantly than he really meant to, Ghostwriter didn't seem to mind.
"Um," Danny turned a little sheepishly to Clockwork. "I... may have accidentally locked myself in the Ghost Zone... could you help me get back?"
Another snort from Ghostwriter, who had gone back to straitening the books on his shelves, had Danny glaring at the back of his head in annoyance. He didn't think it was worth saying anything, though, and turned his gaze back to Clockwork, pleading.
"You know you cannot rely on me every time."
Danny sighed. "Yeah, I know. More than you realize, I know."
"Hmm. I think you truly do. Very well. This once. You really should make a lair and connect it to your world."
The half-ghost felt his lips tighten a little. "I can't risk that someone else might be able to sneak through any back-door I create. It's hard enough to protect Amity with just my parents' portal."
"There are ways to hide and protect your lair," Ghostwriter said, looking a little amused himself, although Danny couldn't for the life of him figure out why.
"Indeed," Clockwork agreed.
The half-ghost opened his mouth to protest, but then closed it again as he thought over their comments. "Wait... would you – either one or both of you – be willing to help me find ways to guard and protect it... if I made one?" Because if anyone could, it would be the ghost of time and a ghost who could affect reality.
"Perhaps," Clockwork replied, vague as ever.
"It would be knowledge you would ask of me. I don't see why not," Ghostwriter replied.
Danny blinked. "Um... okay, I'll... think about it."
He'd never had a lair before. Never really needed one. But if he had his own portal from this world to the real one... was that how Box Ghost kept somehow sneaking past his parents? He'd consistently shown up for years, even when they'd set up some pretty hefty defenses around the portal. Although, why he hadn't shown up as much before the activation... or had he? Huh. Danny hadn't really paid attention to his parent's rambling before that, so he potentially could have.
"I expect those books back next week," Ghostwriter warned again as he floated past them and to his writing desk (Danny wasn't really sure what else to call it).
"Alright. Thanks," the youngest ghost said with a small smile before turning to Clockwork. Before he said anything, though, he paused and turned back to Ghostwriter.
"By the way, I'm helping the Box Ghost find a box he's looking for. It would be something a little unusual, we think... although that's the best I can come up with right now. Have you seen anything?"
The writing ghost raised an eyebrow. "A little vague, isn't it?"
Danny shrugged. "Better than nothing."
Ghostwriter conceded the point with a shrug before he began to rub his chin thoughtfully. "I know of several... interesting boxes littered around the Ghost Zone. I could put a list together for you by the time you bring those back if you'd like."
Danny couldn't help it if his grin felt a bit wider than normal. Ghostwriter from his time wouldn't have offered. As far as Danny was concerned, this wasn't just a step in the right direction, it was a plane-ride.
"I'd really appreciate it. What would you like in return?"
Ghostwriter just waved him off. "I told you, I like sharing knowledge. This will give me something to focus on."
Danny frowned, hesitant. "Are you sure?"
"Most assuredly."
"Okay," the half-ghost conceded, "but if you need anything, you can always ask me." Ghostwriter answered with an acquiescing nod, and Danny turned to his mentor again. "Whenever you're ready."
"Danny," Clockwork said, mock admonishing, "I'm always ready."
With that the two of them vanished from Ghostwriter's lair. The remaining ghost stared at the ares they'd been occupying for a little while before he looked down at the book he'd been writing. He wouldn't give up on that, but... he definitely had a new idea.
Smiling, he put that project aside for now and quickly began outlining this new story.
xXx
Okay this is being uploaded unbeta'd because I can't seem to get ahold of my beta reader. :( (If you're reading this and haven't gotten an e-mail from me, hon, please e-mail me back, kk?) So, just a warning.
Also, I love your comments, guys! Thank you so much, and I read every one of them! I can't always get to answering them, though, so my apologies. I tend to answer my ao3 comments more (because I can answer them all with just a click and in one place and it seems less daunting to my silly brain), so if you want a response, you may want to comment there. But I still absolutely love and appreciate ALL of your support! This fanfic has several hundred followers and favs and it just warms my heart, so thank you! :D
And yes, Ghostwriter figured it out. *evil laugh* I just think he's a little underestimated, is all. :D Anyway, let me know what you think!