Chapter 9
I didn't relish going back into the ghost zone for the second time in my life. I had had quite enough of it the first time. But I cared about Emily too much to let my fears stop me. Besides, if Emily could do it, so could I.
We all entered the ghost zone a little nervously. Not even Emily was quite sure exactly what we were doing, why we were doing it, and what we'd find out. Emily and Danny led the way, and Emily, who competed with Tucker in the most talkative category, was unusually quiet.
Every so often Danny and Emily would stop and consult Little Known Ghosts and the map of the ghost zone that Danny was in the midst of making. Between the two references, we could basically figure out where Isabelle was likely to be.
About the tenth time we stopped, Danny finally spoke.
"According to our references...Isabelle's lair should be right about...here." We all looked up. In front of us was a small house-apparently made out of ghost energy. Above it was a sign, in big shimmering blue letters: ISABELLE'S LAIR...COME TO ME AND I WILL HEAL YOU. Emily let a small whimper of fear and anxiety escape her, and I put my arm around her.
Danny slowly pushed open the door. Inside was a small room dimly lit with a blue, ghostly light.
"Um...hello? Isabelle?" Emily called softly. She was trembling badly. Suddenly, a ghost came gliding out. Isabelle.
"Why, hello there. Emily Link...or should I say Silver Lining. I have been expecting you."
Emily's eyes opened wide, and she seemed lost for words. Finally, after a few minutes, she found her voice.
"How do you know my name...or names?" Then she turned to us. "Silver Lining is my ghost name." she explained. "My mom used to call me that...because I could always see the good in every situation...the silver lining in every cloud."
Then Isabelle spoke.
"I know many things about you, Emily. Much more than you think." Isabelle started pacing in front of her lair, speaking rapidly, as if she was eager to get all her knowledge out.
"I didn't give you ghost powers, Emily. That's another ghosts' job, a ghost who shall not be named at this moment. However, I am in charge of giving the halfas that look promising additional powers. Healing powers."
"Like me." Emily whispered. Isabelle nodded.
"Yes. Like you. But when I prepared to give you your healing powers, something went wrong, something unforeseen by me or any other ghost in the ghost zone. It is this incident that caused the condition that you mortals call cerebral palsy."
"I could've healed you, of course. But I was intrigued. I wanted to see how you would cope with being unique in more than one way...being a 'ghost contradiction' as you so accurately put it. And you have flourished. Oh, yes...you have flourished. A little too well. Because of your friendship with Danny Phantom." Isabelle looked at Danny.
"Your powers have become so developed and so useful that you have started to become a threat to other ghosts. It is this reason that Vlad Plasmius is now on a tireless hunt for you. Especially your healing powers. They have become the most powerful healing powers in a halfa I have ever seen. Most halfas who have healing powers are never even aware they have the additional gift unless a dire situation, like the illness of your mother, occurs. You are not only aware of your gift, you are using it. Your healing powers are second only to mine."
Emily blushed at this last statement. But her next words were barely a whisper.
"Will...will Vlad kill me?" Isabelle hesitated, then spoke slowly.
"I wish, Emily, that I could say otherwise. But, alas, I cannot. Unless the ghost contradiction is corrected, unless the balance between disabled and non-disabled is tipped in one direction or the other...Vlad will kill you. And he will do it soon, I warn you."
"I am willing to give you my precious necklace for a few short hours. It cannot make you more disabled, as can be done...that half of the necklace belongs to my fool sister..." I suddenly realized that Isabelle's necklace contained only half of the beautiful blue stone. "but it can make you not disabled, at least for the time period you wear the necklace. Here," Isabelle fumbled with the clasp of the beautiful necklace, then let it drop into her palm. "use it well."
Emily reached out a shaking hand and accepted the necklace. I knew she was wondering, like the rest of us, what new puzzles and discoveries this necklace would bring.
"Good day." Isabelle smiled gently and watched as the four of us left.
We made our way to a more familiar part of the ghost zone that was empty, at least for the time being. Then, I helped Emily put on the necklace. It clashed with the hot pink of her jumpsuit, but somehow the stone was beautiful anyway.
"Well?" I asked anxiously as I finished putting the necklace on her. "How do you feel?" Emily was gazing, open-mouthed, into the distance.
"It's...amazing." she said finally. "I've...never felt this way before. I...I'm free." There was a kind of wild excitement in her hazel eyes, and I felt an excited shiver go down my own back. It was true. Emily was-for the first time in her life-free.
A/N: Ooooh did you like it? I'm planning on making the next chapter the last chapter. Maybe I'll split the ending up into two chapters, I don't know yet. But I am going to make a sequel. I'm already planning the plot...I love fanfiction. As for my other stories, who knows. I'll probably update Circle of Light sometime soon...But I am going to finish all my stories. I vow to NEVER leave an uploaded story unfinished. I'll finish them...eventually. Anyway please read and review!