Danny couldn't find Cujo, again. He always assumed the green pup was just sleeping somewhere and couldn't hear him but he also worried that one of these days he'd learn the Cujo had managed to escape.
After checking the second floor, attic, and first-floor Danny made his way to the basement, calling out for his dog. The lab was empty except for a containment unit housing several lesser spirits. The green blobs leered at him through the glass, unable to escape and clearly resenting their captors.
A scratching sound made Danny turn. It was coming from the portal. His brow furrowed as he tried to figure out what could make a noise like that. He got his answer when a green fluffy head poked through the door, yipped at him and squirmed the rest of the way through the thick metal barrier.
Danny's mouth hung open. "You can still dig through that?"
Cujo bounced up to him and gave Danny a gentle headbutt before circling his legs excitedly.
Danny knelt down to scratch the pup's head when a hollow clash rang out from the portal.
Cujo's ears perked up and then he turned tail and ran up the stairs.
"What did you do?" Danny asked accusingly as Cujo disappeared around the corner. The pounding from the other side of the portal door rang out again.
For a moment there was silence, then something glowed near the center of the barrier and in the next moment, the doors were thrust open. Blue flames completed flooded the frame and a furious voice roared in Danny's direction.
"YOU!"
Danny barely had time to transform before the angry spirit flew across the lab, grabbed hold of his hazmat suit and slammed him into the nearest wall.
"Your dog ruined my favorite guitar!" Ember's eyes were ablaze with raw fury as she snarled at Danny. "You owe me a new ax!"
"I thought he ruined a guitar."
"Same thing," Ember growled and dropped Danny on the floor.
Danny guessed ax was rocker talk for guitar, probably. "Look I'm sorry my dog ruined your...ax, but I don't think I can afford to replace it. I'm not exactly loaded with cash."
Ember's hair flickered as she crossed her arms. "Not a problem," She sneered. "My guitar was specially made in the ghost zone, and we don't take cash there."
Danny was confused, but also a bit relieved, "ok so what do you take."
Ember shrugged and grabbed Danny's suit again. "Depends on the ghost. In any case, you're coming with me."
Danny pulled back as Ember attempted to drag him to the ghost zone. "Wait you want to go now."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Ember sneered her voice heavy with sarcasm. "Is this a bad time?"
Danny tried to think if there was any really good reason he had to stay behind, but considering how angry Ember was, and the fact that, as Cujo's owner, he was sort of responsible, he really couldn't refuse.
"No, no, now is good."
"Good," Ember said bitterly. "Come on."
This time Danny didn't resist as she yanked him into the ghost zone.
"So, uh, what exactly happened?" Danny asked. It would have been awkward to just fly in silence.
"Your mutt used my instrument as a chew toy. End of story. Usually, no one minds him running wild but…"
"Wait how often does he come here?"
Ember raised an eyebrow. "You didn't know? Seriously he's always running around this place. We thought you let him loose on purpose."
"Uh, no. He's supposed to be contained at home except when we go on walks."
"Well check your perimeter kid because that mutt gets out all the time."
Danny was beginning to worry about who else Cujo had upset.
The rest of the way they flew in silence. Finally, they arrived at what looked like a grungy city version of New York. It was packed with ghosts and Danny was pretty sure he saw at least seven different criminal acts before he and Ember set down in a back ally.
"What is this place?"
"Necropolis," Ember replied. "Not the boring one from your history class, this place is way better."
Danny doubted that as he followed Ember through a side door with a neon skull dripping from the sign. Heavy metal and screeching wails echoed on all sides and Danny was pretty sure everyone in this place had multiple tattoos and piercings.
Ember led the way to a counter and Danny could see a large collection of instruments behind it, all of them glowing a different color.
"Yo Ricky," Ember called to the balding ghost behind the counter. "I need a new ax, this guy is paying." She jabbed her thumb at Danny."
Ricky looked Danny up and down. "He don't look like he can handle it." Ricky drawled.
Ember snorted and crossed her arms with a smirk. "Oh, he can handle it."
Ricky shrugged. "If you say so flame girl."
Ricky motioned for them to go around and Danny followed Ember into a back room.
"Ok, I know I asked this before, but what exactly am I paying with?'
"Ricky's all about the music," Ember smirked. "You want one of his instruments you gotta sing."
"Sing! Uh, now might not be the best time to let you know I am not a great singer."
"Doesn't matter. You just gotta put your ghost energy into your voice and let Ricky capture it in this device of his. He uses that energy when he makes the instruments. It's what gives them their kick." Ember then fixed Danny with an excited leer. "I know for a fact you have one hell of a ghostly wail."
Danny was wondering if this was such a good idea after all. "One problem, when I use my...wail, things tend to end up seriously trashed."
"Oh, I'm aware."
Danny had no response.
Ricky brought in some sort of giant tuning fork with a crystal and then proceded to set up a huge metal disk behind it.
"There you go Ember. Let's hear those notes and then we can get you a new ax."
"Well," Ember said motioning to the device. "You're up kid, let's hear those vocals."
Danny positioned himself in front of the device and took a breath. Seems there was no going back now. Bracing himself, Danny let his ghost energy build in his throat and his voice cry out, flooding it with strong feelings pain, fear, and desperation.
The room shook and the device trembled so much Danny thought it might break. Both Ember and Ricky had their ears covered.
The sound faded and Danny bent double, concentrating hard to keep his ghostly form after expending so much energy. To his surprise, the room was still in one piece.
Ember laughed and slapped him hard on the back, "That's what I'm talking about."
Ricky was wiping sweat from his face. "You weren't kidding flame girl. He could handle it."
"So, we done?" Danny asked.
"Yeah, we're cool kid. I'll see you around."
Danny did his best not to look as tired as he felt when he walked out of the building. He wobbled only a little as he took to the air and headed home.
"The first thing I'm doing when I get back is getting mom and dad to reinforce the doors of the portal."