Chapter 2
Nick Fury was having a helluva time. Since the Battle of New York, he's been overly careful just in case more aliens came back. And the Council breathing down his neck didn't exactly help, either, but even so, he was going to do what he knew was right. Not what some old white people were gonna try to tell him to do.
He had every satellite and computer at his disposal looking for any weird, foriegn messages, whether it came from a human or alien. His priority was protecting this Earth, and he was going to do everything in his power, and then some, to do so.
That's why, when S.H.I.E.L.D. intercepted a message from some white haired guy, his guard was higher than ever.
When he told Agent Hill to play the footage, a man with white hair, tan skin, and blazing green eyes entered on the screen. He almost seemed nervous, but judging from the small scars on his face and the crown on his head, Fury knew he had seen war. Eyes like that don't blaze without experience behind them.
"Hello, uh, government people. To be honest, I'm not really sure who's going to get this video. But anyway, my name is King Phantom. I live in a realm called the Ghost Zone, where ghosts get to live their second life, and is only accessible by us.
However, I haven't had my ear to the ground lately due to some rebuilding. I've only just heard about the alien invasion that happened in New York, and I would like to formally apologize that I wasn't there to help. I know that some new team, the Avengers, saved the day, but still.
All of that being said, humans and ghosts haven't really had the best relationship. I would like to extend a hand of peace. That way, if you need me I'm there, or vise versa. With help from your side I can keep my ear to the ground a little more often, and help out when I'm needed.
If you would like to make a meeting so we can talk face to face, call T-420-69 from Amity Park, Illinois. He'll help your technology be more compatible with ghosts.
I hope to see you soon."
The video cut out.
"Rewind it. Anytime is fine."
Hill did so without replying, and an image of the King Phantom shot up. His eyes were closed, and his hand was behind his neck. Behind him was a stone wall, with a large bookshelf on it. Some of the books he could read, but some of them were in a language that he had never seen nor heard of before. There was a window next to it. There was no glass, just a hole in the stone, suggesting that it was some sort of castle or hut. The scenery outside of it was odd. Instead of a blue sky with clouds, it was just a bright green, swirling mass.
On top of Phantom's head was a crown of ice. There was a bright emerald encrusted in the center of it, but other than that it was just your standard ice crown.
"What are you thinking, Sir?" Asked Hill.
"I'm thinking we call in the Avengers and see if they would like to be transdimensional ambassadors."
"So, are we really just going to believe that ghosts exist?" Steve asked.
"We just fought an alien army, do you really think that there isn't a possibility that they exist?"
"They do, Captain," Thor said. His voice was grave as he stared up at the picture of this King Phantom.
"There have been tales of this one, all over Asgard recently. On Asgard we call the undead draugrs. They curse everything in their path, and they reek of death. When faced with one draugr, we must tread lightly. However, when faced with its king," he gestured towards the screen, "we must not trust it. We must never be unarmed, and if we are to invite this thing into Midgard, we need to have a plan to stop it.
This is the one that defeated Pariah Dark, who had ruled the realm of the undead for a millennium before being defeated by this one. He has great power. We must be ready for anything."
"Well, way to be a party pooper," Tony said, in a poor attempt to lighten the mood.
"I think Thor is right," Steve said. "At the very least we need to be ready in case things go sideways."
"How do we know this guy isn't a lunatic?" Natasha asked. "He seems to...Meh, to be a king."
"Ghost or not, this guy looks like he genuinely wants to help. I say we take him up on his offer and meet with him," Bruce said.
"Wish we could just go back to the aliens," Clint said with a sigh. Natasha rolled her eyes and signed something to him. It must have been snarky, because he looked mildly offended by it for a moment before going back to not caring.
"I'm going to contact him and set up a meeting with him through his contact in Illinois. I'll let you all know when it is. I expect at least most of you to show up," Fury told them. He was looking at the screen, his hands behind his back. He seemed tense, but determined nonetheless.
Hopefully this wouldn't bite him in the ass later.
"Jesus, it really hasn't changed at all, has it?" Danny asked as he held Valerie's hand. They had decided that they needed a small break, just for a few hours, and came to Amity. This would help them both relax, and take Danny's mind off of the message he sent the day before. They still had to be careful though, just in case his parents were driving around.
"I think it's really cool that you're trying to befriend your childhood crush."
Danny immediately turned bright red, sputtering as he said, "W-what? No. What childhood crush?"
"Big, blonde, and died in 1943. You really do like the older ones, don't you," Valerie said with a smirk.
"Please," Danny rolled his eyes. "You're only a few months older than me, that doesn't count."
"It does when I want to win arguments."
Danny just laughed, bumping into her playfully. He would honestly give anything to keep this moment alive for as long as possible. They had gone on dates plenty of times in the Zone, but there was something about being back on Earth that was just so refreshing, and having Valerie by his side made it even better.
"I didn't realize I would even miss this place, to be honest," she said. "When we were teenagers I always kind of hated it. But now, it just reminds me of the good old days, before the war and alien invasions."
"Yeah, I get what you mean," Danny said. "Patrol is definitely something I don't miss."
"I do kind of miss the cat and mouse aspect of our high school relationship. Parts of it were pretty fun."
"Ah yes, how could I forget the many times you tried to kill me," Danny said dryly, but there was amusement in his voice.
Valerie smiled up at him, laughing as she hugged his arm as they continued walking. The sun was hitting the skyline just right, and it lit up the sort of tall buildings beautifully.
"We should do this more often," he told her.
"Why do you think I've been trying to get you to do it for months now, Danny? Always cooped up in that stupid castle."
Before Danny could make a retort, Danny's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and opened the message from Tucker that was blinking at him.
From: Bitch Knickers
Hey man, shield is gonna call you in a second so be prepared. I just helped them update their tech. Tell Val I said hey
"Tucker says hi," Danny told her. "And I've got to turn into Phantom for a second."
Valerie nodded and let go. Danny ducked into the alleyway across the street and transformed. Just in time too, because when he was just finishing up his phone started ringing.
He answered it, lifting the screen up to his face so that they could see him.
"King Phantom," said a bald guy with an eye patch. "My name is Nick Fury. We accept your request of peace. When would you like to meet up?"
"Uh, I'm available the day after tomorrow. Does that sound good?"
"My schedule is already cleared," he replied."I'll prep the Helicarrier for your arrival. It'll be over Manhattan, New York." Danny smiled.
"Cool. I'll see you then." He gave Fury a two-fingered salute and then hung up. He ran back to Valerie, as Fenton, and kissed her cheek.
"What was that about?"
Fury stared at the screen. He wasn't in his castle somewhere, he was back in the human world. Fury could tell by the sound of cars and the brick wall behind the ghost king. He was also using a cell phone, judging from the fact that this motherfucker thought it was okay to film himself vertically.
He sighed as he looked to Hill, who looked just as exasperated as him.
"What the fuck?"
