(Author's Note: Well, howdy, y'all! I've finally put in the second chapter. This one may be a bit short, since I am saving some details for the third and fourth chapter. Also, I'd like to thank my real-life friend, Jess (aka PrincessHayLin), for giving me some ideas for this fanfic and my to-be Avatar: Last Airbender one. In case you watch the show, it's might be about me and some friends (including Jess) getting stuck in the Avatar's world, or it may be about a bounty hunter, and her hunted. I am also planning to write a sequel to this story, which may be called The Spirit Door. Anyways, read, enjoy, and don't forget to review!)
Chapter 2: Raven
Amity Park: 16 Years Later
When Danny woke up, he was still on Shruikan's back. At first, he panicked when he noticed he was up in the air in human form, so his first defense was to go ghost. Then his thoughts from before his fainting came back to him: fighting Voltron, meeting Shruikan, and entering the wormhole. Embarrased, Danny transformed back to his old self. Shruikan, noticing his little scene, laughed in his deep dragon voice, and said, "I see you're finally awake, Danny." Then Shruikan began to descend over a forest. In the distance was the familiar Amity Park, only its buildings were towering and white, there were lanes of flying cars, and the city was about twice its original size. The same park was still there, green as ever, with kids walking their robot dogs or whizzing by on flying scooters. Shruikan said, "Welcome to the future."
Danny stared in amazement at the city before him. He had been to Amity Park in the future before, but his evil self had already mostly destroyed it. Now it lay before them, a sparkling white city with a large glass tower at its center. However, Shruikan turned left, towards the outskirts of Amity, and descended upon a large, mowed field. They were in someone's estate, with a mansion that looked eerily similar to the White House, and rose gardens lining the half-circle road to the mansion. However, it looked empty and foreboding. "Where are we?" the boy asked in amazement. Nudging Danny with his snout, Shruikan said, "We are with a dependable fellow. Our view is blocked and protected by his walls." He directed his snout to the eight-foot-high, solid concrete walls, their tops lined with electric wires.
Danny slid off Shruikan's back, and the black dragon transformed into his ghost form. Landing beside him, Shruikan said, "Follow me." The necromancer then walked up to the mansion's front double doors, and then stopped. Danny followed him, and asked, "Who are we meeting?" Shruikan continued to stare straight ahead as the door opened and played the recording voice, "Welcome. Mr. Foley will be with you in a few moments." Danny was shocked as Shruikan went inside, and he did the same. The mansion's main hall was lined with red carpet, and there was a gushing waterfall and pool at its end. Closed doors, a cathedral-like ceiling, and the doors shutting behind them surrounded them. Just then, a tall, muscular black man came out from a door a few feet away.
The man was tall, thin, and wearing a white tuxedo suit, complete with fancy black shoes and his old orange cap. The man was holding a shiny white PDA in his right hand, and turned to face them. His eyes were closed as he said, "Welcome to Tucker's Machine Makers 9000, how may I-" just then, he opened his eyes, and the PDA he was holding immediately dropped to the floor. The future Tucker's mouth was agape, and he was clearly in shock. Danny was, too, and he asked in surprise, "Tucker?"
Tucker asked disbelievingly, "Danny? Is that you? I just have to make sure you aren't some hologram-" Just then, Danny ran up to the future Tucker and hugged him. Tucker was surprised again, hugged him back, and said, "So you aren't a hologram- and you're probably from the past- but how could you get here without a Time Medallion?" Shruikan let out an a-hem noise from behind. Tucker noticed him and said faintly, "Oh. It's you." Shruikan, walked to face the black man, and said gravely, "Yes, Mr. Foley, it's me. But there's no time for that now. Where is the girl?"
Tucker glanced at Shruikan and Danny with a solemn expression on his face, his look almost one of pity. He said, "Okay, but she doesn't like to be disturbed. The most time she's ever allowed-" Shruikan interrupted, urging, "Take us to her now." So, Tucker began to walk, and the two followed him. They went up the stairs three stories, went past at least five hallways, and even one office with people working on high-tech computers. It seemed like an eternity until they reached a door at the other side of the mansion, and Danny felt his legs were going to drop off at any moment. He had wanted to ask a million questions, but when he opened his mouth, Shruikan had glared at him. The magician then hissed to him, "Don't say anything yet."
The future Tucker proceeded to open the door- the room inside was very dark. It looked like a bedroom, and a slim figure was sitting in the far corner. Its head turned around to face them, revealing icy blue eyes. Shivers ran up Danny's spine as he recognized the girl from the vision. "Why have you come?" she demanded in a cold voice. Tucker turned on the lights, and said, "Sweetie, I'd like you to meet some
guests-" But he stopped, realizing Shruikan had vanished. Danny followed his gaze, thoroughly surprised. Where did he go? the boy thought, bewildered. However, Tucker continued, "Ahem. I mean a guest." The girl looked at Danny, and their eyes met. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as the girl stared at him with almost identical eyes as his own. It was very uncomfortable; Danny felt as if she were looking at his very soul. Tucker said, "Raven, I'd like you to meet a...friend of mine. His name is Danny Fenton." Then, he opened the door and left.
Raven, the girl, nodded, closing her eyes and sighing. Danny took in her features: she had long, uncombed, ebony hair, a weary face, and was wearing a black sweatshirt with a black skirt and boots. She was skinny, and didn't look that athletic. She looks very familiar, Danny thought as he studied her. Almost like someone I know. Then a question came to his mind. "Are you a Goth?" he asked Raven. The pale skinned girl smiled, her eyes flicking with amusement. She replied sarcastically, "How did you know?" Danny felt much more comfortable around her now, so he went and sat on her bed (a black one, of course) next to her. "So...I guess we haven't had a proper introduction. I'm Danny Fenton," he said, holding out his hand. Raven just stared at his hand, and said, "I'm Raven. Just...Raven." Then she turned around to face her window.
Danny, for some strange reason, felt pity for the girl. It's like she's hiding something from me, he thought. Trying not to pry too much, he asked carefully, "Why are you here? I mean...you're not Tucker's- I mean, Mr. Foley's- daughter, are you?" Raven, turning around to face him again, said faintly, "No. I'm not really his...daughter." The last word she said sounded funny to Danny. Then, getting a far away look in her eyes, she began, "Mine has been a harsh life. I have no known parents; my true mother abandoned me at two." Danny was sad and a bit shocked. "I'm sorry," he said apologetically. Raven locked his eyes again, giving him an angry stare. "Never say those words again," she whispered, her eyes filling up with tears. A small one trickled down her cheek as she told Danny her tale.
She began, "I have only been with Mr. Foley for two short years. Before that, I was in an orphanage." Then, turning away from Danny again, she continued, "I have no memories of my mother- only that her eyes were quite different from mine, and she once loved me very dearly. But there was always this other kid with her, about my age..." Raven faltered for a moment, and then continued, "I stayed with her until a week after my second birthday- and then she abandoned me at the orphanage." Her words were full of anger and hurt. Danny felt his own eyes brim with tears. "I...grew up at the orphanage, and it was m-my only home. Even there, they treated me like scum. I felt like I wanted to die, just to get out of my misery...until Mr. Foley came along."
Raven's depressed mood began to lift, and Danny's with it. She said, a bit proudly, "He came, and took me away from that awful hellhole. Ever since then, he's treated me like a princess- but I rarely see him, and he looks at me funny whenever he comes." Then, pausing for a moment, added, "Like I'm some sort of person from his past or something..." Danny swallowed hard when she said it. He began, "Um...well, about that...you see..." he fumbled, groping for the right words to say. He was about to tell her that he was actually from the past, but suddenly, the window crashed open.
Screaming, Raven ducked and covered her head with her arms. Danny was forced to get down next to her, yelling, as thousands of pieces of sharp glass fell like acid rain. Soon, however, the dangerous downpour stopped, and a menacing, familiar laugh came from behind the two. "Well, well, well...if it isn't young Daniel. It's been a long time since a saw you last...after you abandoned your friends." Raven glared at him, her icy blue eyes suspicious and accusing. The figure continued, "However, I've come for a much bigger prize." the voice said.
Turning around, Danny and Raven saw who it was. It was the same one who had been with the Fright Night in the vision. No way! It can't be! Danny thought, his mind racing. Raven said darkly, "I don't know who you are, but you'll be sorry for that." The figure, laughing again, said sarcastically, "Well, little girl, we'll just see about that..."
(P.S.- Wow, I can't believe I just wrote that. Isn't it obvious whom the mystery figure is? Sorry, you'll have to wait for what happens next, since the next chapter takes place in the present. Anyways, don't forget to review- I sorely need suggestions and comments. So we've met Tucker, but where's Sam? Where has Shruikan gone? And why does Raven seem so familiar to Danny? Find out in the next chapter of The Shadows of Time!)