Sorry, but Since this is my newest story, it's not at the top of my update list. I apologize for making you wait, and this chapter isn't very long, but it's important, and I hope you enjoy all the same.=^-^=

Ch. 12 - The Two Watchers


When Doyle brought Zak back into the ship Drew was the first to meet them. Doc wasn't very far behind, but couldn't even attempt to break through the hug his wife was giving their son. "Oh, Zak!" She started in relief. "You don't know how happy I am that you're okay." She then held him away with a stern expression. "What were you thinking!?"

"Those Rocs could have torn you limb from limb." Doc added in.

"I was thinking of cause and effect." He revealed as he held his claw.

Doyle gave a nod. "Yeah, those birds won't be coming back."

Drew raised a brow. "You mean you used your powers to do that? Is that how you were riding on the Roc's back?"

"And I got the lead Roc to leave." Zak explained. He then looked towards his dad. "I think I get it now. I've been thinking of my powers from the wrong angle."

Doc seemed intrigued. "So you worked it out on your own?"

"Sort of… The bird did give me a hint."

Doc looked puzzled by the statement as Drew stood up. "I'm glad you seem to be figuring them out, Zak, but that was still one of the most reckless things you've ever done!" She scolded, but with a less stern expression. She then turned to Doyle. "And I can't believe you did that!" She now seemed more angry at him then she ever was at Zak.

"Hold on…." He defended. "Zak said he had a feeling." He then looked down at his nephew. "He's got good instincts."

"I'm sorry, mom, but I needed to do it." Zak apologized with a confident tone. "My powers had been giving me nothing but trouble since Antarctica… I needed to work out the problem." He then turned to his dad. "Just like dad said."

Drew then let out a sigh. "Well, do me a favor honey, next time you follow your dad's advice, try not to do it so recklessly." She requested as she rubbed his head. She then turned to Doc. "So what are the damages?"

Doc turned to look over his computer screen. "Some minor damage to the solar cells near the front. I'm thinking a short stop in Morocco wouldn't hurt. The last thing we need is a power failure during a fight."

Drew nodded in agreement. "Good point."


After his parents settled down, Zak was able to get away without being punished, much to his own delight. He quickly made his way to the occupied guest room where Danny was working with his phone. Fiskerton was looking over his shoulder as if reading it, but seemed rather lost. "Hey, Danny." He called out as he entered. Fisk looked over to him and waved. (What's up?)

Danny looked up from his phone and quickly stashed it away. "Hey, Zak, I guess your mom and dad didn't put you under house arrest."

Zak shook his head. "No, but I think my mom was thinking about it. I think she's just glad I didn't get hurt."

Danny gave a nod. "Probably…. So what did you need?"

Zak seemed a bit hesitant to respond before pulling out his claw and looking at it. "Thanks for the help with those Rocs….. They really could have torn me limb from limb if you hadn't come out to help."

Danny raised a brow at the gesture. "No problem, Zak, after all, they attacked the whole airship. I would have gotten involved anyway."

"Good point…." Zak agreed as he laid his claw over his shoulder. "But I also want to thank you for the advice…. Believe it or not, my dad was trying to tell me something like that before the birds attacked, but I was too angry to listen."

Danny chuckled. "I know the feeling."

"Yeah you do….. that's why I want you to help me with my powers."

Danny was caught off guard by the request. "You want me to what?"

Zak looked serious as he explained. "Remember Argost, from our house?"

Danny's expression became annoyed. "Oh yeah, that creepy TV guy."

Zak nodded. "Yeah him. After this big fight in New York I was really frustrated with my powers. They only caused me problems even when I tried to use them for good." His expression started to show guilt as he continued. "That's when Argost offered to help me with them."

"Offered? That had to be trap." Danny declared with anger on his face, though not directed at Zak.

"Yeah, he let me know it was for his own advantage too, but who else could I ask? My parents didn't know any more than I did about them. The Nagas wanted me to wage war on humanity…. The Secret Scientists want to freeze me in cryogenic stasis….." He lamented with a sigh. "Argost knows more about cryptids than my parents." Fisk gave him a surprised growl as he pointed at him. "Come on Fisk, you know he does. He's always got something new up his sleeve about Cryptids." He then let out a sigh. "He was going to give me lessons through his show."

Danny seemed to understand now as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "Okay, that's why you sneak out at night to watch it. Your parents won't let you, but it's the only way he can really talk to you."

"Basically." Zak confirmed as he heaved another sigh. "But I know he can't be trusted…"

"You're right. He's got creep written all over him." Danny agreed as he thought back to his short encounter with the man. "Especially with how he used that amulet. That thing made me transform before I could even blink, I couldn't resist. That's never happened before."

Zak wore a curious expression. "I forgot about that…."

"No way I could." Danny said as he crossed his arms. "But anyway, you want me to teach you how to use your powers? You said it yourself that I couldn't know how your powers worked."

"But you were still able to help me with the Rocs. I'm not expecting you to know everything…. Just help? I'm thinking Epsilon may have been right when he said I could learn more from someone my own age… or close to it in this case." Zak explained as he placed his claw back on his belt. "You don't have any problems with your powers, and you've only had then for a year. I've had mine my whole life, and I barely know how they work."

Danny seemed to think over the request seriously before what the ghost cat said about Argost came back to him. "Please ghost child, you mustn't allow this to pass! I know you see him for the villain he is!" So far she seemed to be nothing but helpful, and he had to agree with her on Argost. He then thought about how Frostbite had helped him with his ice powers. If he hadn't, Amity Park would probably still be a jungle and he could have frozen to death.

With a few more moments of thought he came to a decision. "Alright." He answered. "I guess I can help you try and figure them out, but you're going to have to figure out the problems before I can try and help with a solution. My powers are still pretty different than yours."

Zak pumped his fist. "Yes!" Fisk clapped from the side with a pleased expression.

"So where do you wanna start?"

Zak paused a moment. "Well…. You already helped me understand why I was having trouble controlling my powers recently. How did you know that was the problem?" The preteen inquired as he took a seat on the floor. Fisk mimicked the action as he listened in.

"Well….." Danny began with slight hesitance. "I had the same problem in the beginning." He revealed in slight embarrassment. "My first month was anything but control, and it's a wonder I was able to keep them a secret at all from my parents. I was so scared of them, and my parents finding out. I would phase through the floor, doors, and out of my own pants….." He grumbled in distaste. "I couldn't control when it happened or where. The more I used them though, the more I realized they were only as dangerous as I let them be. My friends were able to help me keep that in mind." He held up his hand and made it intangible. "Just because I was part ghost, doesn't make me evil or a monster. The powers were a part of me, and I was still me." He finished as he made his arm tangible again. "If you get what I mean."

Zak seemed to understand with a relieved expression. "Yeah… I think I do. What I can do doesn't change who I am." Fisk pat him on the back with a growl of praise. (Of course not.)

"In the great words of Batman, 'It's what you DO that defines you.'" Danny added in with a laugh.

Zak joined in on that one. "Nice."

Danny then let out a breath before becoming a bit more serious. "I also understand how you felt when that Argost guy offered you help."

He admitted to the surprise of both Zak and Fisk. "What do you mean? Some creepy guy offered you help?"

Danny nodded. "Yeah, he's also half ghost like me."

Zak jumped at the news. "Another one?! How many are there?"

Danny paused a moment. "Well, three to be technical, but me and him both got our powers the same way. He was the first half ghost. When he found out about me, he told me he'd help me, teach me everything he knew but…. The price was too high. He wanted me to turn my back on my family, and there's no way I was going to do that."

Zak now felt even more guilty as he slumped in his own lap. "So I basically did that by accepting Argost's help…"

Danny was quick to correct him. "No, Zak. Plasmius wanted me to renounce my dad and join him. You only let Argost try and teach you even if your parents would be against it. Those are two different things. I know you enough to say if you were given the same choice as me, you would have turned him down."

(That's right) Fisk agreed with a growl. He then gestured to the both of them. (You are the same.)

"I guess so…" Zak seemed to only half agree. "It is a pretty similar issue." He then seemed to remember something as he turned back to Danny. "By the way, I wanted to ask you about last night. What were you doing in the gym? Me and Fisk saw you just standing in there with a staff."

"Yeah I know. Then I followed you to find you watching TV." Danny informed.

"So you did notice us…. I guess that explains how you found out."

Danny nodded. "Yeah. I may not have looked like it, but I was pretty aware of my surroundings at the time. I was doing something my friend Thuban taught me. He calls it Sensory Meditation." He then held his hands out in front of him as if he was holding the Bo staff. "You focus all your normal senses internally and allow your sixth sense to interpret the world around you. At least that's how he explains it. I use it to focus my Ghost Sense."

"Your power to sense ghosts right?" Zak inquired as he remembered the subject.

"Yeah, at first I could only know one was nearby, but now I can home in on it. I can now tell how many, where, and in some cases, how strong a ghost is when it goes off." Danny stated as he listed them off. "While knowing a ghost is nearby, just that isn't always enough. By focusing that sense, I was able expand on it."

Zak seemed strangely curious at the subject. "So you don't have to see them to know they're around?..."

"Yeah." Danny answered as he saw the boy go deep in thought. "Sorry if it still sounds weird, but I don't know any other way to explain it."

Zak shook his head. "It doesn't…. mostly." He scratched his cheek as he thought a bit more. "Exactly how do you do it?"

Danny furrowed his brow. "Uh…. I don't, it's automatic really."

"No the meditation thing." Zak corrected.

"Oh….." Danny realized as he scratched his head. "Well, I focus my thoughts on how I feel when my Ghost Sense activates. Everything else should be blocked out; sound, smell, sight, touch, ect… What you focus on should be something of an instinct or something practically involuntary. It's supposed to make it more related to the sixth sense or something. That's why I decided to use my Ghost Sense." Danny tried to explain with shaky confidence. "I'm probably not the best at explaining it…."

"You're right….. that does sound weird." Zak agreed with a laugh.

"Hey, you asked." Danny shot back in a tease.


Several hours later, land was just beginning to be visible on the horizon. Fiskerton leaned over the rail in excitement with Zak at his side. "Yeah, I'm hoping to check it out too." He then turned towards his mother who was standing just behind Doc in the pilot's chair. "Hey, mom, can we go check out the town?"

She didn't seem too enthralled with the idea as she watched the map on the screen. "That doesn't sound like a good idea, Zak. You should stay in the ship in case we have anymore uninvited guests." Her irritation was more than justified with how their last few days have been going.

"I have to agree with your mother, Zak. Just stay close and we'll be back in the air by morning."

Zak was instantly disappointed as he slumped over the railing. "Aw come on! That long?" He then turned to the equally disappointed Fiskerton. "What are we supposed to do all day?"

"Hey, Zak, you commin?" They both turned to Danny who was already headed over the door of the hanger.

Zak let out a sigh in boredom. "I wish…."

The ship gently set down as Danny made his way over to the boys. "What's up? You're the one who said we should go into town."

Fiskerton waved him away with a sulking expression. (You go ahead…)

"Sorry, Danny, but going into to town is probably not the best idea right now. We don't need anyone getting curious about the airship."

Doc nodded as he stood up. "You should stay away from the town too."

Though a bit disappointed, Danny didn't really seem all that torn up about it. "Hmmm? I guess you have a point. Oh well."

"Really? Just like that?" Zak wined as he turned to the older teen. "We're stuck here till tomorrow, and you want to stay inside the whole time?"

Danny gave a shrug as he turned back to the door. "Who said anything about staying inside?"

Both Zak and Fiskerton traded confused glances. "Outside?" Zak stated as he slowly realized what he meant. "Oh right!" He dashed after Danny and Fiskerton quickly followed. "Don't worry mom, we'll stay away from the town!"

"Now hold on-" The boys were gone before Drew could finish her protest. She let out a sigh as she reached up to her hairline.

"Would you relax, Drew." Maddie suggested as she entered the room. "I'm sure it'll be fine. Danny should be able to keep them out of trouble."

"It's not just that I'm worried about though." Drew revealed as she relaxed a bit more. "But, I guess I can settle."

"We should concentrate on getting those solar panels repaired as soon as possible." Doc dictated as he passed them and headed to the main hall.


Danny, Zak and Fisk quickly found their way to a secluded part of the shore. "Coast is clear here!" Zak declared as he took a good look around. "And the ship's only over that ridge."

"See, what'd I tell ya?" Danny reiterated as he morphed into his ghostly persona.

"You didn't really say anything though." Zak mused back.

Danny gave a shrug. "Yeah, but you got what I meant. Besides, you would have snuck off to the town anyway if I didn't right?"

Zak raised a brow. "Maybe…" Fiskerton chuckled at that. (He's right.) "Anyway, so what kind of fun can we have out here huh?" Zak began as he paused to think it over. He then looked over the sand of the shore. "Maybe build a sand fortress?" Fiskerton was nodding at the idea before having a wad of snow splat in his face. (Ahhh!) "Where did…." Zak trailed off as he turned to Danny who held a snowball and wore a mischievous smirk. "Game on!" He finished as he held up his claw. "Come on, Fisk!"

Unknown to the trio on the beach, two others were watching over them. "It seems they're getting closer." Gaia turned from the observation lens and raised a brow. "You were right." She then chuckled.

"I hope that doesn't come as a surprise." A deeper voice responded from the shadows.

"Oh course not. I'm no fool." She then turned back to the viewing screen.

Zak had just grabbed one of the snow balls and was now swinging it back at Danny. Gaia couldn't help but smile warmly at the sight. Despite all that had happened to the boys, they could still have fun. Fiskerton had gathered up some sand to make sand balls to counter Danny's snow. Her warm smile slowly faded, however, as she began to notice something off in the scene. Fiskerton held up a very large ball of sand to throw onto Danny who was just knocked down by a quick kick by Zak. "Now, Fisk!" The Lemurian was just about to toss it when Danny suddenly grasped his chest in apparent pain. "Danny!?" Zak called out in worry while Fisk dropped his weapon to see as well.

The halfa took a breath before quickly forming a snowball and hurling it at the Lemurian. "Psych!" He then quickly threw one at the off guard Saturday for good measure. "Oldest trick in the book, guys!" He declared with a smirk.

Both Zak and Fisk shook the snow off with frowns. "Aw man! I can't believe I fell for that!"

"You both did!" Phantom added in as he floated up in a laugh.

Gaia looked on with a serious expression. While Danny seemed to be holding his stomach, he was really still gripping his chest. "The connection is growing stronger." She mumbled to herself before turning back to her company. "By the looks of things, it won't be too much longer before it's complete." She then let out a sigh. "But you wouldn't tell me would you? No, he's your charge after all, as Kur is mine. I trust you know what you're doing." She then turned back. "You would know what's to come more than anyone now wouldn't you, Clockwork."

The elder ghost floated up behind her with a grin. "I'd imagine so." He responded with a chuckle. "But even time is not set in stone, Gaia."


Like I said, important but short. I hope you enjoyed, and will leave a comment below.=^-^=