Been holding this one for a bit just trying to get the finer details straight so I don't screw them up. I have so many little plots going through my head I get them mixed up. LOL.=^-^=
Ch. 16 - Ancient Allies
"I am relieved we were finally able to find you." Ulraj stated as he and his guests sat comfortably inside the palace.
"I'd imagine, but I'm still having trouble figuring out how that happened. How could three days have passed for you, and only one for us?" Doc asked in bafflement. Ulraj had apparently lost them after the storm, and even the sea serpent was swimming in circles until that morning.
Doyle shrugged. "It's not worth the headache in my book. We're here, things worked out."
"True enough, Doyle, but I'm pretty curious myself. Maybe it had something to do with that island we were on?" She then turned to Maddie who was looking over one of her scanning devices. "What do you think, Maddie?"
She didn't look away, but raised a brow. "Well it could have been the hot spot we were in. Space is already proven to warp at times within one after all. What's not to say time doesn't? I couldn't really say though since Jack and I have yet to encounter that particular effect." She took another moment before stashing the device away. "In locations like that, the border between our worlds can warp."
Drew nodded. "This is what you mentioned before with Jack right?"
Maddie nodded. "Yes, and the Ghost Zone operates far differently than our world." She then turned to Danny who was over by Zak and Fisk laughing at something.
"And then he-"
"Danny." His mother called while waving him over.
"Yeah, mom?" He responded as he broke away from the boys in favor of his mom.
"I'm going to assume you've been inside the ghost zone more than a few times. Have you ever had a problem keeping track of time?"
Danny raised a brow at that one. "Keeping track of time? I usually bring my phone so-"
"Not quite what I meant, Danny." His mother interrupted to clarify. "I mean, have you ever experienced time differently in different parts of the Ghost Zone?"
Danny crossed his arms to think about it. "Well…. Not that I know of. Even ghosts keep track of the year….. I guess though, it would depend on where you came in or left the zone." He noticed the confused expressions immediately. "Uh… you know, different portals?"
Drew sat back in her chair. "But when Maddie and I got pulled into it, we didn't lose any time."
Danny shook his head. "Ah no, that's different. You two were in the main part of the zone. That big green void. You may have noticed that void wasn't completely empty right? Maybe a door or two?"
"I think… maybe I did see something like a door?" Drew admitted as she thought about it.
"And there was that tower we were standing on when Gaia showed up remember?" Maddie pointed out.
"Yeah, realms in the zone. Time can change in certain realms. In Eragon it was 1600 right up until recently. You bring a clock in there and it is dead for all intents and purposes, or was. Then you have to be careful about going through a random portal cause you never know when you'll turn up."
Doc leaned forwards. "What do you mean by 'when' we turn up?" As a scientist, this whole concept was trampling over all he used to trust in. Nothing was making solid sense anymore.
"Well portals to the Zone aren't just everywhere but every when too. I got to see the first airplane take off at Kitty Hawk when me and my friends were chasing Plasmius through the zone." He smirked just thinking about it. "I was actually in that picture they took for the paper, but I stayed invisible for it."
Doc raised a scrutinous brow. "Back in 1903? You're joking." He declared having already been forced from his comfort zone scientifically.
Danny simply shrugged. "I'm not gonna force you to believe me. It doesn't really bother me one bit if you don't." It really didn't matter since this was expected and irrelevant at the moment. It was only an example he was giving.
"Who's this Plasmius you were chasing?" His mother asked curiously.
"Oh him, don't you remember him?... uh…. Wait, he's the Wisconsin Ghost. That name ring a bell?"
The ghost hunter was instantly agitated by the memory. "Oh that piece of putrid protoplasm. I remember him from the reunion at Vlad's." She almost growled out.
"Yeah, that creep stole a special map from the FarFrozen, and we had to get it back."
Ulraj immediately shot both hands on the table as he stood. "Hold on! Did you say the FarFrozen?" He asked thinking he may have heard wrong. "As in, you know them? Where they are?"
Danny raised a brow at him before remembering that Ulraj had mentioned them before. "Yeah… right, I remember you saying something about how your people used to trade with them a long time ago right?"
The kumari nodded enthusiastically. "Yes I did. My people owe much to their generosity, and knowledge. Are you saying that the FarFrozen are still alive? Where have they been all this time?"
Danny furrowed his brow with an amused expression. "Well…. No and yes? If you're talking about the same FarFrozen I am, then yeah I know them. You remember that ice puzzle right? It was given to me by a FarFrozen."
Drew crossed her arms at the information. "Who exactly are these FarFrozen you both seem so happy about? Some ancient civilization?"
Ulraj nodded with a gleam in his eye. "Yes, a brilliant people! As a matter of fact, according to our history it was they who first allowed us to maintain a moving city." He snapped his fingers to gain his attendant's attention. "Bring me the Treasure Scroll." The attendant bowed and headed off to get it.
"They're the ones who hooked you up with the sea serpent?" Doyle asked with a smirk.
Ulraj didn't look amused. "No, that was something improvised later. The system they provided allowed the city to submerge and surface at any time. That is how we were able to begin trading with other lands without the fear of invasion."
Danny rubbed his chin. "That's really weird. I've never heard of them doing stuff like that…. Though it sounds pretty plausible too now that I think about it. Friendly and festive describes them pretty well."
"I bet Abby could tell us about them right? She's an expert on ancient civilizations." Zak interjected with a smile which quickly dashed away. "You know if she didn't go all evil mercenary on us…. Never mind…" Fiskerton shook his finger at the boy and Zak simply shrugged at the lemurian.
The attendant soon entered with a large ancient scroll which seemed very well cared for, and placed it gently on the table. Ulraj wasted no time in rolling it out with care to show the bizarre scribbles it held. "This was a special treaty made between our peoples to preserve our friendship even if war were to come to one of our kingdoms."
"This thing looks like a kindergartner had a drawing contest with a monkey." Doyle stated as he pointed to the unnatural script.
Drew raised her brow at the ludicrous description before looking to the paper. "While I don't agree with Doyle's…. interesting description, this isn't a language I'm familiar with."
Ulraj wore a cocky expression as he crossed his arms. "Of course not since it is not a surface language used today." He then pulled out a familiar green gem and set it over the paper. "If looked upon through this special gem, however, it reads out in the oldest Kumari Script." He explained as the scribbles changed shape under the green gem.
"Wow, it's like a secret decoder ring." Danny stated with a laugh.
"I have a question." Doyle announced as he rubbed his chin. "If these FarFrozen guys are so smart and helpful, maybe we should see if they'd help us with Agent Persistent, and those other dorks."
Doc sat up with a smirk. "Now that's an idea. We need to get back the airship, and investigate those ruins on the island." He then turned to the halfa who was looking over the paper. "What do you say, Danny?"
The teen looked up at him with a raised brow. "Asking them to help?"
"It's no secret we need help. Most of us don't even have any weapons." Doyle laid out for the halfa.
"Well…." The teen thought aloud at the proposition. "I guess I could ask, but I'd need to borrow your special gem, Ulraj."
The Kumari was more than agreeable as he held it out to him. "Not a problem…. As long as you let me come see them as well." He added in with an excited tone.
"What would you need the useless rock for?" Doyle asked with a laugh.
"Priceless heirloom." Ulraj corrected at the disrespectful tone.
"Don't tell me…." Doc began to grumble with a dreadful expression.
"Hey, if you know a quicker way to the Ghost Zone, I'm all ears." Danny shot back as he held up the large gemstone.
"So these FarFrozen…. They're ghosts?" Maddie inquired to her son as he placed the stone on the ground.
"Yeah, and they're friends of mine. No worries, mom." He then morphed on the spot. "So, I imagine we should go sooner rather than later?"
Ulraj, while curious about the transformation, instantly shot to the halfa's side. "As soon as possible! Do you know how the door works?"
Danny took a side glance at the gem. "Eh, I figured it out." He then blasted it with his ghost ray, and it exploded with light. A portal formed in seconds much to the amazement of everyone, but Danny. "You said it needed a special kind of energy right?"
"I need the patrols to be very careful for the upcoming storm. It may be the last of the season, but that does not mean it will be an easy one." The Lord of the FarFrozen advised as he stood before a squad of his loyal people.
"Aye sir! I understand." Tundra, leader of the squad, replied. "We will be sure to have the castle secured and ready for the Union Festival." Frostbite nodded, and Tundra responded by striking his fist to his chest. This act was mimicked by the other warriors before they filed out behind their leader.
Seconds after they left a new FarFrozen entered to address their leader. "Ah, Arctico! What news of our guests have you brought?"
"The Great One's companions have informed us that the Great One will be unable to attend due to travel. It would seem his mother has taken him on a trip, and they do not know when he shall return. I have received word that Queen Dorothea will be arriving shortly with her escort, but Lord Igneous has once again declined our invitation."
Frostbite seemed cross but shrugged it off. "I expected as much, but it is quite disappointing. The greater loss is that the Great One will not be able to enjoy the festivities. It is his actions, after all, that allow us to continue this tradition in the original location."
Arctico nodded in agreement. "I share your disappointment sir, but only for the Great One. I doubt Lady Glacia would have been so happy about Lord Igneous attending despite our reconciliation."
Frostbite wore a smirk at that. "True, but it would be rude not to invite him. The fact that I sent several invitations was to express our desire for a better relationship. I will not send anymore though, since he has more than made his point. Please let me know if any more guests arrive. I must see to the other preparations."
"Sir!" Arctico slammed his fist to his chest in salute before leaving the room.
Danny stepped through the portal first of course since he needed to check on where they would come out. The fact that he stepped onto a solid surface was good, but inside a place he'd never seen before. It was dark, but he could still tell the old stone walls around were old. The next thing he noticed was that it was cold. His ice core gave him invulnerability to extreme cold, but he could still tell when it was cold or not. A few steps towards a doorway told him there was ice on the floor, and perhaps even some snow. "It doesn't look dangerous…. Maybe we're close to the FarFrozen already?" A few steps out into the hall told him he was closer than he thought. A break in the wall of the ruin displayed the familiar frozen peaks of the FarFrozen. "Sweet!" He pumped his fist before flying back to the portal. He was just about to go back through when a jolt of pain shot right through his chest out of nowhere. It was nothing like the others, and it had him on his knees in seconds. He gripped his chest with a cry of pain that ended with him unconscious on the stone floor.
Though the cry echoed around the ruin, the sound did not pierce the portal. Despite this, however, it did receive a reaction. Just on the other side, Maddie seemed suddenly restless waiting for her son to return. She couldn't quite place what it was, but something was bothering her. It had only been a few minutes and yet she felt it had been too long. She furrowed her brow as she thought about it. She tried to tell herself Danny was fine, that he knew what he was doing, that she may cause a problem if she went through before he returned…. "Maddie?" Drew called from her left. "Something wrong?" She understood her worry since she was a mother too.
"No… But maybe I'll just take a look? Just to see what's going on." Maddie responded as she stepped up to the portal.
"Sure that's a good idea? Danny said there was a good chance the portal would let out in the middle of nowhere. You could fall into the infinite void we saw before." Drew cautioned.
"Well, I won't walk through… just look." Maddie then did just that as she passed her head through up to her neck. When the others saw her dash through not even a second later they began to get uneasy.
"Maybe we should go too?" Doyle suggested as he walked up. "Might be something wrong, and they could use some help."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Zak said as he dashed through the portal without a second thought. After that they all followed one by one.
Once on the other side they quickly took note of Maddie who was kneeling over her son on the ground. "Danny! Wake up!"
Drew made her way around to see the teen unconscious in his mother's arms. The woman seemed distraught with what to do. "What happened to him?"
Maddie shook her head. "I don't know…. He was like this when I looked in, but I can't tell why…. He doesn't look like he was attacked." She tried to explain as she held him close.
Doc and Doyle took a good look around the chamber while keeping their guard up for whatever could have gotten Phantom down in so little time. "Geez, it's freezing here." The ex-mercenary complained with agitation.
Zak and Fisk were standing beside their mother right when a puff of cold air escaped the halfa's mouth. "Wasn't that….?" Zak looked to the lemurian who seemed puzzled.
"I think I hear something…" Doc informed with a hushed tone. He peered out into the hall and was immediately greeted with a roar of anger.
"Trespassers!" The FraFrozen bellowed as he swung down his spear upon the human. Doc parried with his arm, but was knocked back by the ghost's raw strength.
Doyle quickly jumped to his aid as he grabbed the beast from behind. "Back off you abominable snow freak!" The FarFrozen ripped the man from his back and threw him at Doc. He then roared angrily as he pointed his spear once again.
Both men stood to fight, but before they could strike back Ulraj came between them. "No, Mr. Saturday please!" He requested as he turned to the FarFrozen still poised to strike. "Noble FarFrozen, please stop your attack. We are not trespassers. These humans are with me, and I am Ulraj, king of the Kumari." Despite his outer confidence, he was very uneasy inside. Their peoples may have been allied centuries ago, but who knows what could happen now.
"That's a FarFrozen!?" Doc asked in a hushed but bewildered tone.
"Looks like…" Doyle grumbled in response.
The FarFrozen looked at the young kumari curiously before retracting his weapon. "A kumari…. Kumari…. Kumari Kandum!" He finally finished as he remembered why the name was familiar. The young man did indeed appear to be of the kumari race, though it had been some time since he had seen one. "You are King of Kumari Kandum young one? Please excuse my behavior your majesty." He expressed with a bow. "But had I known of your coming, I would have been far more hospitable in my greeting."
Ulraj quickly reciprocated the bow with relief. "No, it is my fault for coming unannounced. You see we only-"
"Tundra! Did you hear that yell just now!?" Polaris shouted from behind Tundra as he barreled towards them. "Was it an intruder?" He asked as he looked over the strangers before his leader.
"Calm yourself, Polaris, it was a false alarm. Please greet his majesty, Ulraj, with your respect." Tundra instructed as he gestured to the young kumari.
Polaris raised a baffled brow. "His majesty who?" He then approached the young man curiously before noting the others inside the room to his left. "And just who are they?" He wondered as well as he looked past the defensive lemurian to see the two women near the portal. "…is that….. Danny!" He suddenly cried as he pushed both the young boy and Fiskerton out of his way. "Tundra, it's Danny! Something has happened to him!"
Tundra's annoyance at Polaris' disrespect was immediately dismissed at the revelation. "Are you sure!?" He called back as he followed him into the chamber.
Polaris was kneeling down just beside the very baffled Drew as he looked over the poor halfa. "Yes I am!" He reached out a claw which caused Maddie to pull her son away in response.
"What do you want?" She asked in a calm but icy tone. She didn't want a ghost anywhere near her son if he was hurt.
"Please, I only wish to help him, human." The FarFrozen tried to convey.
Tundra stood just behind Polaris and looked over the teen. "We must get him back to the village at once." He then pulled a small communication device from his belt. "I need all FarFrozen to report to my location immediately. I have found the Great One, and he is in need of medical attention."
The entire group was easily transported with the use of the FarFrozens' hover carts since they were made to carry heavy loads. The fact that these ghosts had such technology was a little more than surprising to several of the group considering the fact that they had been attacked with something as simple as a spear. That added to the fact that the village they were heading too looked less high-tech than the village they visited back in Greenland, only made it more astonishing. There was a small group of the FarFrozen waiting for them as they halted at the village's center. The one at the forefront wore a blue cape, and was obviously the leader to anyone paying attention. "Where is he?" Frostbite asked with a serious tone as Tundra hopped out to salute him.
"Polaris has him in the other craft." The aforementioned FarFrozen held the boy carefully in his arms as he jumped from the craft.
"I shall take him to the infirmary, my Lord."
Frostbite nodded to him. "Good, I have already made preparations."
"Sir, what shall I do with the others? These humans, and King Ulraj?" Tundra asked with serious expression.
Frostbite looked over to them in contemplation. They had all filed out of the crafts, and one of the women was even following after Polaris. "Take them to one of the Gathering Halls, and I want them under tight surveillance. We do not yet know the nature of these mortals. I will come and sort out the business of them as soon as I am able. Aside from that, treat them to your best judgement."
"Sir!" The FarFrozen responded as his squad member began to gather them together.
"You are not allowed inside there, human." One of them ordered as he grabbed Maddie by the shoulder. She instantly flipped him in a mostly reflexive attempt to keep up with her son. That seemed to surprise the other ghosts who immediately became somewhat hostile. "It would be unwise to continue this path, human. We do not wish to harm you." Tundra declared with a stern tone.
"The only unwise thing I could do here is allow ghosts I've never met to run off with my son! I don't care if you're supposed to be his friends!" She shot back as she took a defensive stance.
"Then I have no choice, you have been warned." Tundra motioned for his men to surround her.
"Hold on, Tundra!" Frostbite suddenly ordered as he stepped past him. "I shall handle this one, and you will take the others into the Gathering Hall." He then turned to the unsurprisingly hesitant Fenton as she eyed him warily. "Please allow me to guide you to where he has been taken, and accept my apologies for the hostility, Mother of the Great One." He finished with a respectful bow. Now Maddie's guard was completely shattered by the ghosts' humble gesture. She watched him with confusion as he headed towards the cavern that her son was taken in. "If you would follow me?" She took one look back at the others who were just as confused as she was. The other FarFrozen had begun guiding them to a different cavern, but they didn't make any efforts to resist. She then turned back to her furry guide who wore a benevolent smile. She took a breath and followed him. Danny had claimed they were very friendly, and helpful. Even Ulraj held that opinion, so she really needed to stop with her ghost paranoia. 'Not all ghosts are evil' She thought to herself. A few days ago she would have laughed at herself…. A lot has happened in these few days. "I hope that I can show you that we wish only to help the Great One, not to harm. Your trust is not misplaced with us." Frostbite informed as he lead her down an icy hall.
"I never said I trusted you, ghost, but my son trusts you." She responded with a cold tone. Trust has to be earned after all. She'd wait to see just how helpful they wanted to be…. And that thing they kept calling him… Great One? She wasn't sure of anything, even why he was called that.
Frostbite stopped in front of a metal door and pressed the button on the side. They opened with a silent motion to reveal a very high-tech medical center. Danny was easy to spot with the group of FarFrozen huddled near his bed. They had already begun looking him over with scanning devices, and had him hooked up to a bedside monitor. "Please feel free to observe but I ask that you do not interfere." Frostbite requested as he gestured to the halfa. He then approached the bed himself while Maddie stayed near the door. "What do you have so far? Anything?"
A FarFrozen of a smaller frame approached from the bedside monitor. "Nothing so far, my Lord, but we have yet to get a core reading. Something seems to be interfering with our sensor." She explained as she struck her chest in salute.
"Interference? What could be causing such a thing?"
"Lord Frostbite, I found something inside his suit." A FarFrozen called out as he finished unzipping Danny's jumpsuit. "It appears to be a small metal disk." He picked it up easily, but nearly dropped it once he noticed the prominent irritation it helped conceal. "My Lord… I think you need to see this…"
Frostbite approached curiously to see the dark green rash that sat square on the teen's chest. "It has gotten worse." He stated with grave tone. "Permafrost, try the core readings again. We need to check on whether they are stable now." He then turned to another FarFrozen who was holding the metal device found on Danny. "Hail Stone, I want you to look through whatever data we have on the physical manifestations of curses, and boons. I do not believe this is a natural ailment."
"A curse?! You think Danny was cursed!?" Maddie suddenly asked from behind. "What kind of diagnosis is that supposed to be?"
Frostbite took a breath before turning back to her. "It is not, I simply wish to cover as many possibilities as I can. When the Great One came to me last week about the rash, I had very little to go on as to its cause. Based on how it appears now, I merely do not wish to throw out the possibility. I implore you to remain calm." Considering his worry, and the mother's demanding tone, the fact that Frostbite remained calm only showed his leadership experience.
"H-He came to you before? How long has this been going on?" Maddie asked with only worry in her tone.
Frostbite seemed pleased that she was no longer angry. He directed her away from the occupied bed and to the other side of the room where they would stay out of the way. "Please have a seat, Honored Relative." She took the offer and sat on the unoccupied bed. "As I understand it, you were unaware of the Great One's actions under his Phantom persona correct?" Maddie nodded with a disheartened expression. "And I should also assume that based on what you just asked that you have only recently learned of his secret?"
The scientist nodded again. It had only been a few days for them, and she still only knew as much as Danny wanted her too…. Or he would've said something about this. "Do I even know him anymore….?" The more she learned about him the more she realized she didn't know about her own son.
"Of course you do." Frostbite corrected with a grin. "You are his mother. When a child begins to keep secrets from his parents it is their way of becoming independent. While not all secrets are a good thing, you should still be proud that he tries on his own. You, of course, being his mother, would have noticed subtle changes in him. You are not to be blamed for being unable to read his mind." He then looked over to the young halfa as he was cared for. "I am sure that you know him better than anyone else. I am very positive of that. There are things about a child that only the mother will ever truly know."
Frostbite's wisdom seemed to make her feel better strangely enough. There was something about his tone that seemed so careful, and sincere. "Thank you uh… Frostbite was it?"
He nodded. "Yes, and you should think nothing of it. I am merely conveying my honest opinion."
Maddie shook her head in amused disbelief. This situation sort of reminded her of that other ghost who came to Amity Park, Pandora. She was only there for a couple of hours to help sort out some crazy infestation, but she never seemed evil. Even more surprising was how Jack never even made a single hostile move against her despite his wild tendencies. She had simply filed that under a strange occurrence, but now… was it so strange? She let out a breath and turned back to her son. "Now what were you saying about this rash of his?"
Frostbite tapped his chin in thought. "Ah yes, the Great One came to us last week about it. At the time it was a minor discoloration and claimed that it itched occasionally. Since it is only present in his ghost form he thought that we would be able to identify it." The FarFrozen then let out a sigh. "Sadly that has not been the case. No ailment that we are familiar with gives these symptoms specifically. Of course once we have his core readings we may be able to better understand exactly how it is affecting him though we may need more data still. We only have the readings from the previous week, and what we can gather now." The furry ghost seemed a bit disappointed by their lack of progress, but he could only do what he could.
That revelation sparked an idea in Maddie's mind as she remembered the sensor they had taken off of Danny. "So what you're saying is, if you had more data you'd have a better chance of figuring out exactly what happened to my son?"
Frostbite raised his brow. "Ah yes, we would indeed, but as I said before, it is something we do not have at the moment."
Maddie rummaged through her suit pocket. "But I might." She stated to the confusion of the FarFrozen. "That sensor that was taken off Danny, it was mine." She revealed as she pulled out her scanning device. "It has been taking readings for over 24 hours now. Could you use this?"
Frostbite looked at her in astonishment as she held out the device with a hopeful expression. He slowly took the scanner from her and looked it over. "You have been taking his core readings for the last day? Were you actually aware of his condition then?" He asked in confusion.
Maddie shook her head. "No I was…. I was worried about his powers. How they affected him, and he'd been acting… I felt he was hiding something and it had something to do with his powers, so I asked him to let me scan him."
The FarFrozen seemed to look at her strangely a moment before looking back down at the device. She seemed a bit disheartened before seeing a grin cross the ghost's face. "This is most helpful, Honored Relative to the Great One! I will see that this is put into our system immediately." He then suddenly hugged her out of nowhere lifting her from the bed in the process. "Thank you!"
She was set down quickly enough though it took her a moment to take in the sudden action as it was. She sat back down as she calmed her surprise. "No…. I should thank you." She looked up to him with a sincere smile. "For helping my son."
So there we go. I've been really working this one because of all the little details I've been embedding in it. Please let me know if something sounds confusing since I already found 3 weird inconsistencies while I checked it over just be fore submitting. I fixed them, but there may be more. I hope not...
Anyway, so the secret decoder ring thing was a suggestion from my dad. He was one of those dorks who ordered one from the back of an old comic book once. Also, if anyone is curious about what a Flizard is just let me know and I'll include more info about them in the next chapter. I use these ghosts in lots of my stories though, I'd imagine a great deal of ya'll already know what they are.
I hope ya'll enjoyed, and you never know... I may just update again next week. "hint hint" Of course I may just forget, but if ya'll remind me? "hint hint" Anyway, comments and opinions are welcome below!=^-^=
