WoM- Did you know that it's actually addictive to write on the computer every single day? I swear, a week without a computer and I felt ready to die! 'crying' Anywho, while I go off to join Fanfic-Addict Anonymous, you go ahead and enjoy this chappie!

"The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax."

-Albert Einstein

(The quote itself isn't as funny as the fact that he's the one who said it.)

Scene 9

"Well, that's the main reason I came," Danny said dryly, crossing his arms. He relaxed in the presence of the ghost, though. Clockwork was one of the few that treated him respectfully despite his young age and the fact that he was more of a ghost hunter then a ghost.

Then again, the ghost did know things about Danny that he himself did not know yet…

"About the group of Pyrokinetics," Clockwork clarified. "And about what the ghost Sparks told you." It wasn't a question. Clockwork knew that was why Danny was there. Just as he knew the boy would come that night looking for answers.

"Yeah," Danny sighed. "None of it made any sense."

"Yes it did," Clockwork said softly, "And that's why it scared you. You understood what the young ghost was saying. What's more, you agreed with her on most things and it unnerves you."

"I don't want to be like them," Danny sighed.

"You don't have to be to share some of their ideas." Clockwork told him, "There are many different approaches to the same problem, even if people agreed about the cause and dangers of that problem, they don't have to agree on how to fix it."

"Yeah, but…" Danny hesitated for a moment, "…Sparks mentioned something about knowing more about my powers, about why I have so much power compared to full ghosts that've been dead longer."

"You have more power BECAUSE you are not full ghost," Clockwork answered, "Danny, why do you think ghosts try to get to the human world all the time?"

"I dunno. I always just thought it was either to bug me or take over the world." Danny shrugged. "At least, that's the way it is now…"

"Energy," Clockwork said, "Ghosts need energy from something in the living world to sustain themselves. Once they die, they are incapable of creating energy for themselves."

"Guess that makes sense…" Danny said thoughtfully. Then it hit him, "Wait… THAT'S why my powers keep coming at me so fast! Because I'm not dead like they are!"

"Exactly," Clockwork said, smiling, "You draw energy from yourself, independent of any outside sources. Other then Vlad, you are the only ghost who can say that."

"Is that why my powers keep coming at me so fast?" Danny asked.

"And why it was so difficult to use your powers at all, at first," Clockwork nodded. "Once your body was used to the energies and realized what kind of power it needed to keep them, it began producing more and more of that energy, Which is why you've gone from collapsing from exhaustion after facing the Lunch Lady to facing down Pariah Dark on your own."

"Is it the same for Vlad?" Danny asked.

"Not quite," Clockwork said, frowning. "Plasmius was hit by a different wavelength of energy then you were, Danny. That's why it changed his human appearance before he obtained ghost powers."

"What does that mean?" Danny asked, confused.

"I can only tell you that much," Clockwork said apologetically. Danny sighed.

"Meow!" Danny froze at the familiar cry.

'It can't be,' He thought numbly, 'There's no what she could follow me into the ghost zone, no way…'

But sure enough, there Sable was, purring and rubbing against his leg affectionately under Clockwork's amused gaze.

"How did YOU get here!" He asked, his eyes widening. The only way he could get to Clockwork's Tower was with the Time medallion. How the cat had found him in the infinite expanse of the Ghost Zone on her own in such a short amount of time…

"I see," Clockwork chuckled, "Well, this is an interesting turn of events…" Danny felt color rise to his cheeks as Sable took her favorite perch on his shoulder.

"My friend found her," Danny mumbled.

"Did she?" Clockwork asked, "Or did this feline find you?" Danny blinked in alarm.

"What?" He asked over Sable's purring. It was then he noticed that his cat was completely relaxed in Clockwork's presence, unlike she was with his friends in the Human world.

"Your new friend there can trace her bloodline back to that of a certain family of cats from Egypt." Clockwork explained. "She is a spiritual guide, a guardian of lost souls, if you will. And it appears she's chosen you as her partner."

"I don't get it," Danny frowned, "What can she do?"

"Obviously create a direct, personal portal to any ghost in the Ghost Zone for one," Clockwork explained, smiling, "And she judges the spiritual balance of the dead, to see how tainted they have become. Her powers are probably stronger here, where none of the petty tribulations of the living spirits cloud the air."

"That explains a lot," Danny said dryly, giving Sable a look.

"She could be a powerful ally, especially if you can figure out how to communicate with her." Clockwork said, "like you, this cat has a lot of latent abilities, which she can only call upon when her partner is near."

"So that's why she follows me to the ends of the earth!" Danny exclaimed. Clockwork chuckled.

"As I said before, she is a guardian," Clockwork said, bemusement clear in his tone, "And since she chose you as her partner, she would rather die then see any harm come to you."

"But why me?" Danny asked, "Why not Sam or someone?" Sam's the one that saved her…"

"But you are the one she was drawn to," Clockwork explained, "She's been looking for you her whole life, Danny, and now that she found you, she will stand beside you whenever she can."

Danny sighed, tempted to ask more questions on the subject before he realized he was nearly out of time. Deciding that it would be easier and safer to find out about Sable on his own then it would be for the pyros, the young halfa turned the questions back to the original subject matter.

"Look, about the pyros…"

"You need to know what they want," Clockwork said bluntly.

"They keep saying something about getting humans to acknowledge the truth, or something like that…" Danny sighed.

"The truth of existence." Clockwork clarified, "The truth of the undead."

"What's that?" Danny pressed. Clockwork frowned and shook his head.

"I'm afraid the is something you need to discover on your own," He told Danny, "I've been forbidden from revealing such secrets by the Ghostly Council." Danny sighed in poorly concealed disappointment. "besides, I'm afraid you have other concerns right now."

Danny stared at the Master of Time in bewilderment as the ghost floated to his portal into the living realm, which cleared away to show Derris outside the bathroom, knocking on the door.

"Hey Dan, you okay?" The movie star called. "You're still alive in there, aren't you?" Danny felt himself pale when he saw the star knock again.

"Damn!" He cursed, grabbing his medallion. "I gotta get back there! Thanks, Clockwork!" And, before the other ghost could respond, Danny was gone in a flash of light.

When he reappeared in the bathroom, Sable let out an angry yowl, irritated at not being warned of the sudden return trip.

"Danny?" Derris said, sounding confused.

"I'm fine!" He yelled, turning the water off and opening the bathroom door, "I just had to catch Sable. Apparently she followed me again…"

"Oh," Derris said, looking confused. "Uh, I see… Well, your friend Tucker just called. He said something about a homework assignment that's due tomorrow." Danny's eyes widened in horror.

"Oh, man, I completely forgot!" He yelled, dashing off to his room. Derris shook his head as he watched the younger boy go.

"Weird…" He muttered before shrugging and heading into the bathroom Danny had just vacated.

Sam gasped in surprise as Electra's attack caught her off-guard, sending both girls crashing to the pavement. She recovered quickly though, and with an enraged growl, she forced the girl underneath her, her hands at her throat.

"You're dead, Manson!" Electra screeched, struggling against Sam's grasp.

"Not before you!" Sam countered. She yelled in pain when Electra kicked her in her stomach with all her might, knocking the breath out of the Goth long enough to force her off. Then, without pausing to catch her breath, Electra punched Sam right across the left cheek.

Sam grunted in a mixture of pain and shock before she manage to twist around to avoid another blow, planting her elbow into Electra's stomach as hard as she could. The starlet screamed in pain, grabbing a handful of Sam's hair and yanking.

"Ouch, that's gotta hurt…" A voice said conversationally, making both girls freeze mid fight. They turned to find a specter floating in mid air about five feet from them, smirking in amusement. Sam recognized the ghost instantly, though they'd never met.

"Sparks?" She said, stiffening. She let go of Electra, who did the same in the face of this new threat.

"Who are you?" Electra demanded, glaring heatedly at the ghost.

"Wow you're bright," Sparks snorted sarcastically, "Sally Jr. over there just said my name,"

'If it wasn't for the fact that she hits on Danny every time she sees him, I'd really like this girl right now,' Sam though absently as she heard Electra sputter indignantly.

"What do you want?" She demanded out loud, glaring at the pyrokinetic. Sparks smiled coldly back at her.

"I've got a message for Phantom," She told the Goth, "If he wants to know what we're doing, he's to come to the Park at midnight tomorrow, alone. Inferno will talk to him there, just talk. So long as he doesn't attack us, we won't touch him."

"Why should Danny trust you?" Sam demanded angrily.

"Because we haven't lied to him about anything," Sparks responded bluntly, "Which is probably more then most humans can say."

"That's not good enough for me!" Sam said coldly. Sparks sighed, looking plainly annoyed.

"Look, I can't lie to another ghost, okay?" She said irritably, "It's part of the magic that binds me to Inferno, so there's no deception among our ranks." Sam frowned. She had to admit that was pretty smart of the ghost…

"Your leader has trust issues, doesn't he?" She asked out loud in a dry tone.

"You would too, if you knew what humans are capable of," Sparks said irritably. Then, in a far colder tone, she added, "Or maybe you already do, but you just refuse to acknowledge it like the rest of your race." Sam glared at the ghost coldly.

"You know, you were human before too," She reminded the ghost.

"A stage I'm happy to say I grew out of," Sparks countered, "Now are you gonna give Phantom the message or not?"

"Fine," Sam said sullenly.

"And remember, not to follow him," Sparks added. "We see more then one living person there, and we'll attack no questions asked."

"I get it, okay?" Sam glowered.

"Just making sure," Sparks shrugged. Then, just as suddenly as she'd come, the ghost faded from sight. Sam scowled.

She'd only had one conversation with the girl, and yet Sparks had already become her least favorite ghost. The girl was hostile to the living for no apparent reason, and there was something about her that Sam didn't trust in a second.

Besides, she was always hitting on Danny. If anything annoyed her, it was that.

"So, that's what it was all about…" Sam felt her face drain of color at Electra's voice. She'd completely forgotten about the actress in her haste to deal with Sparks. Turning slowly, she found Electra's unwavering gaze fixed on her.

"W-What are you talking about?" Sam asked, her heart pounding. Maybe this was all still salvageable…

"You know what I'm talking about," Electra said, smirking, "it explains everything. Danny's jumpiness, The secrets you three keep dodging around, Danny's weird breath thing, AND the fact that you even just called Phantom Danny just now!" Electra's grin widened mercilessly. "Phantom is Danny, isn't he? Your little boyfriend is the Ghost Boy of Amity Park!"

Michael frowned curiously as he rewound his tape again.

"Interesting…" He murmured, pressing the play button.

"I just had to catch Sable. Apparently she followed me again…"

"What's so interesting, sir?" One of the director's assistants asked curiously. "The cat's been following him religiously since he got it." Michael blinked, then waved a hand absently.

"Nothing, nothing," He said, "Can you get me some coffee? It's gonna be another late night for me…"

"Yes, sir," The man said, standing and leaving his boss all alone. Michael paused the tape just as Danny and Sable passed Derris, rushing off to their room. He sighed, frowning slightly in a way that made his forehead wrinkle.

"What kind if kid goes into a shower and comes out just as dry as he when in?" Michael wondered out loud. He examined Danny's face again. "Hmmm…"

WoM- I know this is a short chapter, and I'm really sorry. I just don't have time to write more! That's not gonna sate the bloodlust though, is it? 'cringes away from murderous reviewers.' Hehe… Wowlookatthetimegottago! 'runs away,'

Thanks to;

Master of Procrastination

Tetsukon

epobbp

xOxCrissyBabe

Purple Person

cakreut12

Anne Camp aka Obi-quiet

SalanTrong

Petitio Principii

WhiteMoonDragon

random-idiot-v2

Kikiness

Sqweakie the Wonder Mouse

Firefury

PheelyForEva223

purrbaby101

DxS iz ze COOLEST, lol

conan98002

Kuki Salazar

Light Dragon SunsSong

Bluemystgirl

Spirit of Zurvan

Inumaru12

the sleep warrior

Hash-Slinging Slasher- HI

phantomshadowdragon

Tazzel Quickbow

Alexa Daley of Lathbury

Luna Weasley and Hermione Potter

Galateagirl

reallyawesomekid

HarryGryffinGirl

Next update; January 12th

See you then!