Disclaimer: I still don't own Danny Phantom. Nickelodeon and Viacom do, and they are very big companies armed with lots of money and lawyers. Since I'm not making any money from this and I never will be, there is nothing for the law-ninjas to sue out of me.
Author's Note: Oh ye gads, you guys have NO idea how much trouble this chapter gave me. Between finals a couple weeks ago and just a bad case of writers' block (which I'm sure my sister's recent ankle surgery had nothing to do with), I managed to leave everybody hanging for way too long again!
Chapter 18: The Hunt and the Hunted
"You know that sanity is not as it was meant to be
And now that misery has taken a new stand"
-"My Spirit Will Go On" - Dragonforce
Danny stood gaping for several long moments after the portal had spun to nothing. Did Dan honestly think he could fight something like Maghnus all alone?
Then again, did you honestly think you could fight Pariah by yourself, even with the power suit?
Danny tried to ignore that particular point. The facts were clear; Dan could not possibly hope to win against Maghnus, and he had to know that. So what did the flame-headed ghost intend to accomplish on his own against the tyrant? He paced in front of the memorial statue, trying to figure it out. He'd barely spoken with the other ghost, how could Danny possibly guess what Dan's intentions were?
"Oh, duh!" Danny slapped himself. I shouldn't be asking what he's doing. What would I do in this situation?
That was simple enough; he'd be trying to stall for time. He would be flying into the face of danger, throwing everything he had at Maghnus; and all to buy as much time as possible for his friends to find the solution. They knew the solution now, it was just a literal matter of finding where the heck it was. Danny knew he no longer had anywhere near the strength to make an attempt at stalling something like Maghnus, and he would be wasting his effort if he tried.
But he could bring the news to the others, and help find that solution lying hidden and buried in the rubble.
--
Dan perched invisible on a tower wall like some sort of misshapen, oversized crow, surveying the activity below. He certainly isn't wasting his time, is he?
It was tempting to just fly in and start blasting, but that tactic would only end badly for him and do little lasting damage, if any for Maghnus and his forces. For the time being, this was not a fight of brute strength, but rather one of cunning and stealth. Dan had managed it in his youth, when he couldn't overpower Pariah and had instead outwitted the stronger ghost. Since then he'd had little use for strategy beyond "fly in and destroy everything within at least a mile."
He couldn't fight Maghnus directly, not yet. Given time he would continue to grow stronger, though he suspected it would take decades at the least to come even with the tyrant's power; unlike the few years it took him to match Pariah. Even then, he would need to make Maghnus weaker in order to secure victory. Against Pariah, that had been achieved by stealing the Crown of Fire, and then forcibly taking the Ring of Rage. Getting that piece of the Greater Ascendancy from Maghnus would be far more difficult, perhaps even impossible without having the Reality Gauntlet.
Helping the others find that would be productive... maybe. Dan knew that the Ghost Zone would probably freeze over before any of them would let him have the device; and he couldn't really blame them for it either. Besides, there was no guarantee that Maghnus would leave them alone long enough to find the blasted contraption.
Dan studied the battalion working below. He had passed several such gatherings, each one much like every other; a battalion of veiled ghosts, usually with a squadron of the ghostly beasts. Each was setting up an outpost, complete with outer walls, watch towers, siege equipment, and all the other accouterments of a military operation. Maghnus was rapidly expanding and securing the territory he claimed, it would only be a short matter of time before the huge ghost found one of the portals.
Assuming, of course, that nothing interfered with the territorial expansion.
I'll have to keep Maghnus focused on me. Dan decided, shifting slightly as he prepared to move. I have one advantage that he doesn't, since I can make my own gateways to and from the Ghost Zone. If I start attacking his military infrastructure and then getting away by portal before he can arrive, that should keep him guessing and distracted since he seems to think I know where his precious gauntlet is.
As an added bonus, he would get to destroy stuff again; and that was a major point in favor for his chosen plan.
Rising to his feet, Dan turned visible again, taking a deep breath before commencing the first raid of many to come.
--
"What is he doing?"
"Did Clockwork know this was going to happen?"
It was not their usual haven, the Observatory since abandoned and left to the ravages of Maghnus and his forces. Instead, the Observants had scattered to the far corners of the Ghost Zone, taking what gear they could carry from their old headquarters in the vain hope of continuing their observation of events. With their security forces wiped out and their own numbers easily halved in their one disastrous encounter with Maghnus, it was all the Observants could do just to avoid being discovered, any refuge purely temporary.
The pair of one-eyed ghosts watched through a portable distance-viewer, mono-eyes wide as they watched Dan level an outpost with a short blast of the Ghostly Wail before moving in to annihilate the survivors by hand. At various hideouts scattered throughout the Zone, other one-eyed ghosts watched the same scene unfold. Dan rampaging unchecked had been a cause for fear and concern before, when the destruction of Amity Park had been the fire-headed ghost's only goal; now the carnage unfolding brought the exact opposite, perhaps a glimmer of hope that the rampage wouldn't be stopped.
"Clockwork surely planned this all along." One of the Observants stated quietly. "The pawn he spoke of before, most likely."
The outpost destroyed, Dan vanished in a flash of green, causing a brief flutter of surprise from the ghosts observing. A few moments later the viewers recalibrated themselves, showing Dan stepping through a portal hanging suspended in midair over a random city. Another portal opened a moment after, and once again the Observants had to wait briefly for their observational gear to lock onto the tall ghost again. When the image steadied, Dan was laying waste to another outpost with all the ruthless efficiency he'd mastered over a decade of unchecked rampage.
"He could prove useful." One of the Observants noted quietly.
"We can't trust the fate of the entire world to him!" The other protested. "In a battle of evil against evil, no matter who the victor is, evil still wins!"
"That is true, however we could still use him." The viewer shifted to show the ruins of Amity Park, particularly the bustle amid the debris of what had once been a prison. Several humans, accompanied by two large dragon ghosts, were busily digging through the wreckage in a vaguely orderly search. "While he is busy fighting Maghnus' forces, they are looking for the Reality Gauntlet."
"The girl hasn't been able to fight him for years now."
"True, but the Amity Park Ghost Patrol has better weaponry than they had before... and if they get the gauntlet and deal with Maghnus, she'll likely turn that power against him afterward." The ghost looked as though he would be smiling if anything more than his single eye was visible above his collar. "Provided Maghnus is kept distracted from the human world until the humans find it."
"It is a plan with too many risks. What will stop the humans from abusing its power the way Maghnus does?"
"We cannot afford to wait until a completely risk-free option presents itself. Time is a luxury we no longer have if we wish to have any say in events. Our tools are limited and we have to make use of what we can."
A moment of silence passed between the two.
"Well? What do you propose then?"
"Simply enough, that we assist Phantom in his current efforts." The ghost's tone carried a smug sort of satisfaction. "He appears to be targeting Maghnus' forces and forward bases right now. Surely he himself only knows the location of a handful of them... information we can provide him; like the hand that guides a sword."
"A more apt metephor would be the hand that lights the fuse and hopes that the weapon doesn't blow up instead of fire properly." The other sounded thoroughly doubtful. "But I see the merits of such a plan, though I have my reservations about the attendant risks."
"As do I, but our options are severely limited since Clockwork's disappearance. Given the attack on his tower, it seems likely that Maghnus got him. Especially given that Danny Fenton found the Master of Time's staff; it is unlikely he would abandon that in an escape."
"So we are decided then?"
"It would seem so."
--
"On the count of three, pull!" Sam hovered above a particularly large beam, guiding Tucker and Dora in moving the debris. "One... two... THREE!"
The two ghosts were both in dragon form, and on the goth's signal pulled the warped steel beam up, raising another shower of dust and pulverized concrete powder over the area. Stepping carefully to avoid tripping on the wreckage or other workers, they dropped the thing on a new pile of debris well outside the area that the gauntlet was suspected to be in.
As soon as the dragons were clear, Valerie and Paulina swept the newly uncovered mess, a somewhat ungainly scanning device held in a makeshift sling between their jet sleds. Nearby bulldozers roared away, removing the smaller debris from areas that had been deemed clear of any trace of the gauntlet. The two hunters paused over a particular concrete boulder, frowning.
"The scanner's getting a faint reading... probably something underneath this thing I'd guess." Valerie checked the device, then the boulder.
"Easy way to check while we wait for the heavy lifters to get back." Sam dropped from her aerial vantage, landing atop the boulder in question before turning it and herself invisible and intangible. "See anything?"
The two humans hopped down from their sleds to get a closer look, fussing with the lightweight wreckage that they could move. After a few moments Paulina let out a loud gasp, grasping at something in a bunch of small stones.
"I think I got something! I always knew being able to spot something expensive at a hundred yards would come in handy!" The Latina crowed, holding her prize aloft.
"Well what is it? And could you move so I can stop holding this thing intangible?" Sam muttered with some irritation.
Paulina's prize wasn't much to look at, a clump of concrete grit and pebbles that must have settled together in a loose conglomerate over the years of exposure to the elements. As the group stepped clear of the boulder, all eyes turned to the unimpressive bit of rock.
"That's your big find?" Sam raised an eyebrow doubtfully.
"Hold on a minute!" Paulina waved the goth's doubt off, breaking chunks of grit and pebbles away from the thing.
A few moments of work revealed a red stone, its surface dulled by a decade of dust. Through the veiling of dust however, there was no doubt that it was a cut stone, the daylight striking a glimmer wherever the dust was thin enough.
"This look like one of the gems?" Valerie flagged over the former Guys in White agent.
"Let me see..." He took the stone, rinsing it off with a bit of water from a bottle he was carrying. The water made quick work of the remaining dust, revealing brilliant red gleaming in the sunlight. "... Definitely, this is one of the Reality Gauntlet's gems!"
"Alright, then we can probably assume the rest are nearby!" Sam gave a cheer.
"Then let's get going!"Valerie shouted, turning to the bulky scanner with renewed enthusiasm.
--
"Say hi to oblivion!" Dan smirked, ducking through a portal after leaving another outpost in ruin.
He paused for a short break after closing his temporary portal behind him, feeling pretty good about the entire affair. Three outposts down, and the fire-headed ghost was just getting started!
It's almost too easy! Dan smirked to himself, the expression turning to a thoughtful frown. Way too easy. There ought to be more opposition than I've had so far. Am I really catching them so off guard?
That wasn't the only issue the tall ghost was facing with his scheme. He was already low on new targets to take out. Further scouting would mean two problems: the risk of Maghnus catching up to him while scouting for new targets; and the chance of the tyrant finding a way to the real world during the lull in violence.
I'll just have to take my chances. Dan grumbled to himself, ducking back into the Ghost Zone. Either I'll find something else to blow up, or it'll come and find me.
"There you are."
Not expecting anyone right on the other side of his portal, Dan whirled in surprise, ecto-blast formed and ready to launch.
"Wait, don't shoot! We're not here to fight you!"
Dan pulled his blow just in time, glowing fist stopping just inches from the cringing faces of a pair of one-eyed ghosts. It didn't take him long to recognize them for Observants, and the knowing did little to soften his harsh expression. Still, he pulled his fist back and stood glaring with his arms crossed.
"What do you want, and with me of all people?" Dan growled at the pair.
"To assist the destruction of one Maghnus Dark, actually." One of the two Observants managed to stand upright and look the fire-headed ghost in the face.
"Whatever happened to watching but never interfering?" Dan sneered. "Oh wait, that's right; your idea of non-interference is to natter at Clockwork until he meddles for you."
"I assume that you are unaware of what Maghnus has done to our organization." The other Observant spoke up, though he remained slightly behind his cohort. "Our numbers are nearly halved from our attempt at stopping him. We have little other choice than to put our faith in the strength of others to take him down."
"Oh, this is just rich!" Dan started to snicker as if he'd heard a joke. "Asking your worst nightmare to bail you out of the hot seat!"
"Not exactly." The bolder of the two ghosts interrupted Dan's laughter. "You are already attempting to fight Maghnus, and we have information that would be of use in your campaign against his forces."
Dan raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."
"It seems you're targeting Maghnus' forward bases and military outposts, rather than target the tyrant himself. Powerful though you are, you've only the one set of eyes with which to search out your vic- I mean, targets." The one-eyed ghost corrected himself.
"Duplication techniques notwithstanding, that is." The fire-headed ghost corrected with a smirk. "I see your point. What are you offering?"
The one-eyed spook would probably be grinning if his tone of voice was any indication. "Access to our entire network. The rest of the Observants are... well, observing... as we speak. We can provide you a considerable list of where Maghnus' forces are located to decimate at your leisure."
The other eyebrow joined the first in an elevated position before Dan spoke, suspicion lowering his voice. "And what's the catch? I doubt you're offering me this out of the goodness of your hearts."
The two Observants glanced at one another before the bolder one spoke up. "There is no catch. We want Maghnus gone, or at least weakened; and it seems you're the best chance of that goal being achieved. No other ghost in the Ghost Zone can come anywhere close to you in strength, and there is certainly nothing in the human world that could compete with you, let alone with Maghnus."
"I'm glad you finally figured that out." Dan preened at the appeal to his pride. "It only took you what? Ten years?"
"Yes, well-" The more timid of the two Observants fidgeted. "-things do change-"
"I'll accept the help, on one condition." Dan interrupted, back to business.
The two Observants shared uneasy looks with one another. "A condition?"
"How do I know your locations aren't some sort of trap? After all, I don't have any real reason to trust anything you tell me, given your... prior position... in regards to me." Dan smirked wickedly, one fang showing. "So my condition is that one or both of you tag along."
"What?!"
"You heard me." Dan stated flatly. "If it's a trap, you'll get dragged down with me. If you're not setting me up... well then, you'll have front-row seats to observe the carnage. Doesn't seem like a bad deal if you're being honest."
The two Observants huddled briefly, the muted sounds of an argument reaching Dan's pointed ears. He smirked, it was the perfect way to verify this information they suddenly wanted to be oh-so-helpful with. If it was a trap, they would be unwilling to go with him, and he doubted they were so selfless as to take one for the team just to get him to walk into a trap.
The muted debate ended and the two Observants stood straight, once again facing Dan.
"We agree to your terms."
--
"Sire, we have begun to receive reports of resistance!" A bulky skeleton ghost clad in spiked armor announced, bowing before the throne that had until recently belonged to Tucker and Dora. "A number of our patrol outposts have been decimated without warning!"
Maghnus leered down at the flunky, red pupils ominous in dangerously narrowed black eyes. "And who is it that dares defy me?"
The goon shifted awkwardly under the tyrant's glare. "There... have not been any survivors to tell of it."
The giant ghost stood silent for a long moment, dark stare boring holes in the unfortunately lackey who knelt trembling and awaiting a response. There were not many that Maghnus knew of that would be capable of the wholesale demolition and hit and run tactics. Clockwork could hit and run, but as far as any knew, the Master of Time was not powerful in a destructive manner; and besides, he had disappeared, presumed destroyed in the siege on the clock tower. There was that fire-headed ghost that had to hold the secret to the other gauntlet's location; he was certainly capable of both the mobile tactics and the grandiose scale of the demolition.
"Prepare my personal guard. I suspect I know who is behind this malfeasance, and I swear by my rightful throne that for this trespass, he shall pay!"
Author's Note: Once again, I am so sorry about the delay! For some reason a lot of this chapter, the final short scene with Maghnus especially gave me all kinds of grief. Though with school done now and everything, I should hopefully get back to a reasonable update schedule. I hope. Gotta get the house cleaned up for company in the next few weeks, plus Anime Expo is coming up. After THAT at least, I know my schedule is wiiiiide open.
And as always, many many thanks and virtual fruit smoothies to my super-cool reviewers: Phantom-Akiko, unposh brit, Eleirah, Fulcon, Selofain, TPcrazy, Moony's Metamorphmagus, Akino Ame, Kitty Kyinsky, Anne Camp aka Obi-quiet, Enray, Luiz4200, Sukoru, i AM the Random Idiot, Angelic Kittens, and Granite Ghost (and yes, that is the longest review ever! :)