Secret Spy Guy: I really like this idea, and if people like it too, I might make it a fic. So...yeah...It's AU...yep
I need a better name for them than ice dwellers, and Danny needs a cool forgeiny name too, but I suck at those.
Discalimer: I don't own Danny Phantom
Through a snowy and desolate wasteland, two lone figures tread, carrying large packs on their backs. Only goggles and thick brightly colored parkas protected them as they tread through the icy storm. The one belonging to the male was orange, the female's turquoise. Their heavy boots tromped through deep snow up past their knees. The woman turned to her companion, worry apparent on her face.
"The sun's doing down!" She shouted over the whistling winds. "Jack! What'll happen if we can't find shelter?!"
The man smiled weakly, wiping snow from his mouth.
"Don't worry, Maddie!" He called. "According to my charts, there is a cave right up ahead! We'll be there in no time!"
Maddie seemed to accept this, as she fell to silence, trudging along through the raging blizzard. Jack walked in front of her, shielding her small body from most of the wind's force.
"I think I see it Mads." Jack said, taking his wife by the arm. "Up there. The cave."
Even through the white wall of snow, a faint black blur could be seen. Maddie felt relief pour through her as she ran forward, trying hard not to trip over the thick snow.
They would be there soon.
The mouth of the cave was of medium size, just big enough to let Jack squeeze through. The two shed their packs, undoing the zippers and taking out various items, setting them carefully on the ice. Jack took out the poles of a tent, forcing them into the frozen ground. Maddie smiled warmly at him, before turning to her own unloading. She took out a small glowing green sphere and set it on the ice. After a few moments, it burst into chartreuse flames, casting shadows over the ice covered cavern.
"That thing is really nifty." Jack chuckled. "I'm so glad you found it."
"I am too." Maddie grinned. "We'd be dead without it."
Jack turned back to his own work, leaving Maddie in her own thoughts. She stared at the tunnel that led into the other part of the cave.
What was back there?
"Jack?" She asked, getting to her feet. "I'm going to explore a little. See if there's any artifacts."
"Alright." The man replied, fishing around in his pack and taking out a small lantern. Maddie grinned, taking it from him, and turning it on.
"I'll be back soon sweetie." She cooed, pecking her husband on the cheek. Then the woman turned, and headed away through all the twists and turns of the tunnel. She made sure she remembered landmarks so she wouldn't get lost. This was just one of many caves in the area that she had explored. By now she was an expert.
She was careful not to slip on the icy path, running her hand gently over the frozen formations around her. No matter how many times she walked through these hidden places, they always struck her as beautiful and enchanting. The way the light from her lantern danced over them. It was spectacular.
It was then that a glint caught her eye.
Turning, Maddie cast light on the area, her eyes widening as she spotted something metal frozen into the ice. After closer inspection she saw what looked like a decorative silver band, large diamonds encrusted into the surface. A smile grew on the woman's face as she took a small pick from her pocket. Chips of ice landed on her coat as she cut away at the frozen crystal. Soon the artifact was free. Maddie felt happiness travel through her as she turned the band over in her hands, running her fingers over the strange inscriptions.
It had to belong to the ice dwellers.
She grinned as she pocketed the artifact, scanning the area around it with her lantern.
Another glint.
This one was a little further down the frozen path. Maddie chuckled, pushing forward through the ice. Excitement boiled inside her as she spotted another band frozen in place. She reached down with her pick, ready to free it from its icy prison…
When she saw something that made her gasp.
She saw pale blue fingers encircling it, holding onto the band tightly, frozen forever in that position.
Slowly, Maddie's eyes traveled along the arm, past a chest, and to a face.
She let out another gasp as she saw it.
It was the face of a teenage boy, his skin pale blue, his hair bleach white. His mouth was slightly open, his eyes shut tight, giving him a peaceful look.
The woman's gaze traveled to the elaborate silver band surrounding his neck. More strange symbols adorned its surface, resting over a shirt made out of some kind of animal skin.
Maddie reached a hand out to touch his icy prison.
This had been the breakthrough they had been waiting for.
The first discovered proof of ice dwellers.
The woman's eyes wandered to the silver band grasped in his frozen fingers.
She wanted to show it to Jack.
Taking her pick, Maddie began hacking away the ice in huge chunks, intent on getting to the artifact soon. With one final blow, the frozen crystal broke away from the boy's hand, showing his bluish flesh. The woman smiled as she reached out for her target, her fingers encircling it.
But as she got close, the hand gave a twitch.
Maddie let out an involuntary yelp as she pulled away, staring as the boy's own fingers began to move back and forth, becoming more fluid with each passing. Then they wrapped tighter around the band, holding it close to his palm.
"Oh my gosh…" Maddie murmured, regaining her courage and trying to take the metal bracelet once more. A gasp escaped her lips as ice grew around it, preventing her from trying again.
"Fascinating." The woman smiled, taking her pick in her hands.
This boy was alive.
She threw all caution to the wind as she continued, freeing the ice dweller's face, chest, arms and legs. It took forever, but finally she managed. Her heart went out to the small boy as he lay there, more ice reforming in his hand.
Even in his subconscious mind he knew he had to protect that band. What was so important about it?
Maddie got to her knees, using one arm to support his back and the other winding under his legs. She then slowly lifted him from his former prison, careful not to wake him. For a moment, his eyes flickered open, showing a pale gray. Maddie tread slowly, smiling down at him.
"Your band is safe." She whispered. "Go back to sleep."
As though reassured, the boy's eyelids fluttered shut and his face became peaceful once more. Maddie allowed herself a small chuckle as she stared at him. So little. How old could he really be? And what was he? He obviously wasn't human. If he was human, he would be dead. It was puzzling indeed.
Jack grinned broadly as he placed the last hook of the tent around its pole, and stepped back to admire his work.
Done.
The man hummed merrily to himself as he settled around the green fire, taking his black gloves off for a moment and setting them aside.
"I wonder if Mads found anything…" he mused to himself. His mind wandered as he pondered of why she was still gone. It was then that his ears picked up the sounds of footsteps. She was back.
"Maddie." He smiled, putting his gloves on once more. "Did you find anything? Any artifacts…"
The man's face fell as he saw the boy held in his wife's arms. Maddie didn't say a word as she set him on the ground near the fire. Jack stared at him in awe before turning back to his wife.
"Mads? Is he dead?"
"No." The woman replied, shaking her head. "He was moving his fingers, trying to protect that band. I found one like it a little ways away. Want to see it?"
Jack nodded greedily, taking the silver thing from his wife's hands.
"Look at those gems." He smiled. "They have to be worth thousands of dollars…not to mention the silver. Do you think they had the recourses here?"
"I'm not sure." Maddie replied. "That's likely, considering he has another on his wrist. And a similar one around his neck."
"This is a breakthrough Maddie." Jack grinned. "A real breakthrough."
Their attention shifted when they heard a small murmur. The boy had begun to breathe, air coming in rigid gasps. Maddie went to his side, tipping his head back slightly to open his throat.
"There…" She cooed. "You haven't had air for years."
"How long do you think that is?" Jack asked, kneeling by her side.
"Who knows…maybe a hundred years…or more." The woman whispered, running her fingers through the boy's spiky hair. "He's truly a marvel. A wonderful discovery."
"You're going to take him back with us, right?" Jack asked.
"Yes." Maddie replied. "Think of all the things we could learn from him. Think of all the things we could learn about the ice dwellers. He could be the last of his kind…unless they're all frozen somewhere. He could tell us that."
"We'd have to cut our expedition short." Jack murmured. "Would you do that?"
"Yes. We have to get him back as soon as possible. While he's still asleep." Maddie smiled. "We'll set out first thing tomorrow. How does that sound?"
"Very good. This is better than anything else we could ever find." The man chuckled to himself.
"So much better."