Ok ok ok so I know I said I'd only be posting three chapters during my absence but this chapter was my favorite back when I wrote it in the original and it's still my favorite so I decided to post it since I love it so much. Enjoy! Lemme know what you think of our favorite master of disguise ghost's appearance!

Chapter 10: Amorpho

Flying through the halls, Danny held a tray covered with bagel halves with the tiny forms of sentient cheese screaming up at him as he made his way through the halls.

"Oh Danny!" A voice called to him, catching his attention and causing him to turn back toward the lobby.

He didn't even notice the figure fly past him, floating on their way in the direction he had been heading toward the music lounge.

—-

Mavis and Johnny had just finished another run through of her song when Danny had returned to them.

"Oh hey!" The vampiress jumped down, smiling at the ghost boy only to pause. "Where are the bagels?"

"Whatever do you mean?" 'Danny' asked, giving a charming grin.

His voice was wrong. It didn't sound like the sweet boyish voice that Mavis had grown to love over the past week. It sounded deeper and smoother.

It wasn't Danny's voice.

Nor were those his eyes….

"Who are you?" Mavis demanded, her demeanor changing completely from sweet to dangerous. "You're not Danny."

"Oh so that fellow is in the castle?" Not Danny said, holding a hand to his chin with a smirk. "How interesting. He's a long way from the town of everything spooky."

His attention seemed to return to where Mavis was glaring at him, his red eyes shifted to where Johnny was still sat on the stage, watching the interaction in what looked like fear but by the way the red head's eyes shifted from Not Danny to Mavis, it was clear he wasn't sure who to be more afraid of. Taking a step back and letting his form switch back to what looked like a faceless form with a white coat, black gloves and a black hat, the strange ghost took a dramatic bow.

"Call me Amorpho. Master of disguise and actor extraordinaire!" He straightened and seemed fairly proud of his introduction. "I was passing by and figured I'd explore this romantic looking castle. But I assumed that the ghost boy wonder was back in Halloween town."

Mavis crossed her arms, her glare not letting up as she watched the dramatic ghost.

"You're using Danny's form? Why?"

"Who else would be better other than the Ghost Prince of Halloween town?" Amorpho asked. "He never leaves the town and is the perfect form for my magnificent self!"

"Whoaa Danny's a prince? That's so cool!" Johnny piped up, seeming to have fully recovered now that Mavis' more dangerous aura vanished to just irritation.

"Well he's here so-" Mavis started as several things seemed to happen at once.

Amorpho morphed back into Danny's form.

The ghost boy in question showed up with the tray of bagels in hand.

And Johnny tripped on a stack of paper they had left on the floor.

"What the?"

"Danny!"

"Ah that's my que to make an exit."

"Whoa!"

"Johnny!"

As Mavis moved quickly to catch Johnny, Danny dropped the platter and took off after the copy of himself, flying through the wall. The vampiress tried her best to help the redhead up as fast as she could without either of them ending up on the floor. She had to help Danny.

"Come on, Johnny! We gotta go after him!" She demanded as Johnny had finally managed to find his footing.

"Ok ok! I'm coming!"

—

It had been a few hours of chasing his slippery double around and Danny was starting to get frustrated. How the heck could this guy slip away so easily? There had already been several times where Danny had chased him through a wall expecting him to be on the other side only for the ghost to be gone. Danny had even tried to sense the ghost like he had learned back in Halloween town but that had only helped just enough that the ghost boy didn't completely lose track of his copy in the giant castle.

Strange enough though was that the copy was staying in the castle the entire time. There had been a couple times where Danny had thought that he had cornered the imposter only for him to duck down into the floor instead of taking an easier path out the window.

Whatever. As soon as Danny got his hands on this other ghost, he was getting answers.

He found himself in an empty hall, looking around with his senses on high alert.

"Gah! Where'd I- He- It- Go!?" Danny exclaimed, turning to a mirror and smacking his face into it. "Ow!"

He paused and straightened himself out, holding a hand to his head to soothe the pain that running into the surprisingly sturdy mirror had given him as he rolled his eyes, internally scolding himself for getting so carried away.

"Duh"

"Danny!"

He turned to see Mavis running toward him, her eyes wide with relief as she stopped in front of him. Something told Danny that she hadn't even noticed that a certain redhead was currently gasping for air in the lobby and not right behind her.

"Did you catch him yet?" She asked, looking around as if the mystery ghost would suddenly appear.

"Not yet." Danny shook his head and set a hand on his hip while he ran his other hand through his hair in his frustration. "He keeps managing to slip through my fingers."

"His name is Amorpho. He introduced himself when we realized he wasn't you." Mavis explained. "He had mentioned you and that he knew you were in Halloween town."

Danng nodded at the information. Something about this Amorpho seemed familiar to him but he wasn't sure who exactly he was. He knew he was a ghost and that he was currently using the ghost boys form to walk around in. He had to get his hands on him.

"I don't know how I can catch him, Mave." He sighed. "This guy is good but he won't leave the castle."

"Maybe-" Mavis started only to pause as they both watched Johnny run over to them.

"Danny…" he said, gasping for breath. "He's in the lobby. Talking to your parents."

The vampiress seemed to only just notice that the redhead hadn't been following her but she shook it off at his news. Neither of them had a chance to say anything before the ghost boy shot off into the direction of the lobby, determined to catch the imposter.

Appearing in the lobby, Danny scanned over all the monsters in the area. He froze and became completely invisible as soon as he saw his double, who was currently standing on the other side of the lobby, speaking to his aunt and uncle.

'They're replacing me...' Danny shook his head and pushed that thought away, knowing that could never happen.

Thinking quickly, he phased down into the floor and flew over to where he would be underneath his aunt and uncle with the stranger, silently listening into their conversation.

"Danny, you're acting very strange… Your eyes are bright red." He could hear his aunt say.

"Yes," Jack said, his voice sounding less concerned and more suspicious of the ghost boy imposter. "We thought you were over with Mavis and that Johnnystein boy. What are you doing roaming out the castle?"

Danny didn't let his double speak. He reached up through the floor and grabbed the imposter's ankles, turning him intangible as well and yanking him down through the floors. He continued pulling until they found themselves in what looked like a dungeon with stone walls and several hallways leading off in several directions. His hands burning bright green with energy, Danny glared at his imposter, silently daring him to try to escape.

"Alright Amorpho, cut the act and don't try to run. I'm done with this game of hide and seek." He almost growled, noticing how the faker grew more weary at the sight of his glowing energy. "I want answers. Who are you and why are you using my form to travel around?"

Amorpho seemed to silently weigh his options before he gave up and morphed back to his original form. A long black cane with a metal ball at one end appeared in his hand and was swept through the air as he took a deep, dramatic bow, his smooth voice speaking as in renaissance times.

"My apologies, ghost prince. I was unaware that you were in this castle and simply wanted to show my favoritism the best I could. Imitation is the best form of flattery after all." he said smoothly.

"Then why did you run and how did you slip away from me so easily?" The ghost boy demanded.

"Never meet your heroes?" It was more a question than an answer as Amorpho shrugged.

Danny only glared, not interested in tricks. The faceless ghost didn't seem to have much fight in him as he only slumped and moved to rest both his hands on his cane.

"Fine. I was looking for a new haunt. The only one is boring now that those ghost hunters are gone and the town is all sob stories about their fallen hero." He shrugged as if it was such a bother to him. "It's true, I didn't know you were here but I do know that Plasmius is lurking around the forest surrounding the castle and I didn't want to take any chances. He packs a mean punch, worse than you could ever do."

"What do you know about Plasmius?" Danny demanded.

"Other than the fact that he's looking for you? I know he's a far way from that dreary mansion back in Wisconsin."

"Why would he be looking for me? Is he my father?" The ghost boy decided to try, even if this ghost decided not to give him an answer, he'd at least get something from him.

"You're father? Of course not!" Amorpho actually had the sense to laugh at such a question to Danny's irritation. "No no, dear boy. He definitely has the obsession with you being his father, yes. But he's not. Far from it, indeed. The two of you used to be enemies."

"Then why would he-"

"Listen, boy. I apologize for dining and dashing but I really must be going." The ghost cut him off, bristling as if he had just felt a chill run down his spine. "I fear I'm already in enough trouble with what I have told you as it is so I should really make my exit. Ta ta!"

"Wait! I still-" Danny held out a hand to try to catch the faceless ghost only for him to morph into the shape of a small mouse and scamper off into the darkness of the dungeon.

He had already chased the ghost around for hours today already, the ghost boy just didn't have it in him to do it again. Besides, he already had one of his biggest questions answered of if Vlad was his actual father or not. That was enough.

Now, he figured he should go and sort things out with his aunt and uncle and Mavis.

Flying through the concrete and stone of the castle floors, Danny found himself back in the lobby and after a quick glance around, he flew over to where he saw his aunt and uncle standing with Mavis and Johnny, the latter looking as if he finally caught his breath.

"Danny!" As soon as he had landed, he found himself wrapped up in the arms of his aunt Sally, who would've squeezed the life out of him if he wasn't already, you know, dead.

"Aunt Sally…" Danny muttered as best he could, slightly embarrassed by his aunt.

As she released him (not fully before completely looking his face over for any signs of distress or injury) Jack spoke up, his voice concerned but knowing. Neither of them had told Sally about the whole 'other ghost claims to be Danny's father' bit. Danny had also chosen not to tell Mavis about that either but she knew the ghost was after him.

"What happened?" The pumpkin king asked.

"Another ghost." Danny explained. "He was pretending to be me. Said it was because he was a fan. But he knows the ghost in the forest."

"And?" One of Jack's eye sockets elongated in a way raising an eyebrow would look if he had had eyebrows.

"The ghost's claim was a lie."

The pumpkin king nodded in understanding as Mavis and Sally exchanged a look of questioning since neither really understood what exactly the two were talking about.

"And if this copycat ghost was lying?" Jack asked.

"I don't think he was." Danny shook his head and crossed his arms. "He actually thought it was funny that I would think Vlad was telling the truth. Apparently we were enemies, Vlad and I. But I'm part of his obsession."

"Interesting…" Jack raised a hand to his chin, his eye sockets forming a contemplative look.

"Jack, what are the two of you talking about?" Sally asked, frowning at her husband. "What lie?"

But the skeleton was already lost in thought, his creative mind trying to decipher the plan that this Plasmius was enacting. Unfortunately, when the pumpkin king was like this, not much could be helped when it came to getting answers out of him. Sally, knowing Jack better than most, realized this and gave a huff.

Danny tried his best not to shrink under the scrutinizing eyes of his aunt and Mavis.

"Listen, I will be getting answers at some point, young man." Sally said, taking on a motherly scolding tone that made Danny's attempt to not shrink fail.

Mavis gave a sigh and took Danny's hand in hers, deciding to give the ghost boy a break. She sent Sally a look that said 'I'll handle it' and the ragdoll woman nodded and took Jack's arm. Johnny, who was still watching the situation, couldn't help but be reminded of a show he had watched back in one of the hotels he had stayed in during his travels. Or at least a scene from it where the husband was being scolded by his mother while his wife was standing by.

"Here, let's go up to the roof and get some fresh air." Mavis gave Danny a smile but it felt a bit more like an ultimatum. Either stay here with your aunt or come outside with me.

"S-Sure…" Danny nodded, letting the vampiress lead the way.

"Sorry, Johnny. It'll just have to be the two of us." She said to the red head, who raised his hands in an almost protective gesture and sent a look of pity to the ghost boy.

"That's chill with me. I gotta go find Drac anyway."

"Perfect. See ya!" Mavis called as she dragged the ghost boy along towards the stairs.

—-

Later, the couple found themselves sitting on the roof of the castle, looking up at the stars.

"Listen, Mave. I just want to sit and relax for a minute, ok? I'll tell you everything later. I promise." Danny said, deciding to bite the bullet, leaning back on his hands.

"It's fine. I trust you." Mavis smiled at him, a sweeter smile this time, as she hugged her knees. "I was just trying to get you away from your aunt. She didn't seem very happy."

"Y-Yeah… Aunt Sally can get pretty scary when she wants to. Scarier than Uncle Jack. And that's saying something."

Mavis gave a laugh before the two let silence come over them. Sitting on the roof, the comfort of just being together just felt right. The vampiress turned her head slightly to look at the ghost boy, who had fully laid back with his eyes closed for the moment. His white hair seemed a bit more dull now that it was nearing the time to go to bed. She noted that the glow that seemed to surround him showed off just how well rested he was. If he had just woken up, it was almost solid from the hardly blinding brightness but if he was exhausted, the glow was almost completely gone. It was the same for his eyes.

She really liked watching him. Or just looking at him.

She figured it was because of the zing that caused her to come to like him so much. But she couldn't help but feel that it was also just the air of protectiveness that he carried with himself. Mavis had been reading about ghosts the other night when she had discovered how every ghost had an obsession. She had been trying to figure out what Danny's obsession was and decided it may have something to do with protecting. The vampiress would ask him but she wasn't quite sure yet if it was an insult or not to ask about a ghosts obsession.

So she went with something else she had been curious about.

"I've always loved looking at the stars... They're so far away and beautiful and can probably see everything." Mavis started, turning to look up at the starry sky.

"Um, actually, dad? I want to be an astronaut."

"Yeah." The ghost boy agreed, warmth growing in him at the memory. "This is definitely one of the best views I've seen. We don't get much for starry sky's back in Halloween town since the fog usually blocks them out but if you go out far enough into the forest, the view is almost as good as this one."

"When I was younger, I used to imagine myself going out and grabbing one of those stars. Just to keep with me."

"You'd keep it here? At the hotel?" Danny asked, turning to look at the girl.

Mavis shook her head, her eyes seemed to sparkle just as much as the starry sky as she watched a shooting star fly through the sky. The ghost boy felt butterflies in his stomach at the sight of her. The moonlight seemed to reflect off her dark hair and compliment her porcelain skin.

"No, I'd let it take me far away."

"Where would you want to go?"

Mavis released her knees, letting her legs fall to the side as she turned to him, taking a postcard out of her pocket and looking at it for a few seconds before handing it to Danny. It was worn and frayed around the edges and had long since acquired a yellow tint to it from age. The image of a sunrise was covered slightly by words that said 'Greetings from Hawaii!'.

"Paradise." Mavis smiled. "It's where my mom and dad met."

"I've never been to Paradise either." Danny said as he handed the postcard back to her. "Maybe one day, I'll take you there."

"Really?" The vampiress asked, her eyes widening in excitement.

"I'll make you a promise."

The two of them reached up and locked pinkies in the promise. Mavis' eyes were watering slightly as she released his hand and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. She loved the feeling of his arms as he returned the hug, wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Thank you." She whispered, the promise making her grow to love him even more.

"Don't thank me yet." Danny joked, trying to fight the heat gathering on his cheeks and ears. "I still have to convince your dad to let me take you to Hawaii."

Pulling back, she set her hands on his shoulders, meeting his eyes with adoration in her own bright blue ones. He had released her and let his hands fall to her waist.

"I've never met someone like you before." Mavis said, her tone soft and loving.

"I've never met anyone like you before either." Danny found the words coming out easier than he had expected since the fluttering butterflies in his stomach were seeming to grow and spread out over his entire being, making him feel like he was floating.

He hadn't even noticed that he was floating until the vampiress took her hands from his shoulders and gave a giggle at how high he had already gotten. Seemingly brought back to earth, he dropped back onto the hard roof, rubbing the back of his neck in his embarrassment.

"I'll have to keep a string tied to you so you don't float away too far." Mavis teased, turning to sit beside him close enough so their shoulders touched.

"You wouldn't have to worry about me flying off because I'll always come back to you." Danny found himself saying, leaning on his hands and leaning back slightly so that Mavis could lean against him more.

Both teens blushed at his words.

The two let silence overcome them again. Mavis thought about the promises he had made, one intentionally and the other unspoken between the two of them. She knew she wouldn't have to voice it for him to know that she felt the same.

She'd always come back to him.

As the silence settled, the vampiress was reminded again of the question she had meant to ask. She scolded herself slightly at the idea of getting distracted but was also happy that she had gotten so distracted.

"Hey Danny." She tried again.

He turned to her, giving her his attention with a small 'hm?' in a sign that she had his full attention.

"You know how ghosts work, right?" Mavis asked.

"I have a pretty good understanding, yeah." He nodded. "Why?"

She bit her lip again, her voice soft and careful.

"My mother died back when I was a baby. She was a vampire like me and my dad and she sacrificed herself so that my dad could escape with me when the human villagers had attacked their home. Would… Would you happen to know if my mother came back as a ghost like you did?"

Danny stayed silent for a few beats, as if absorbing the information and then the question before deciding on the best way to answer. Mavis was nervous. She had no idea if it had been a bad idea to ask this question in the first place. She knew ghost deaths weren't exactly fun to talk about. The ghost boy looked over at her with calculting eyes. He had fully sat up and criss crossed his legs.

"Yeah, I know how it works. But it's usually different depending on the person." He explained. "The intention of someone decides on whether they come back as a ghost or go on to the beyond. If someone had a strong enough obsession, then that turns them into an almost full solid ghost like me. Most times, it's without our memories of life. It's kind of like a version of reincarnation. Or if they're intention is aimed towards not wanting to die, they come back as a spirit. Not fully a ghost. Almost completely translucent but they're more the memory of themself when they were alive than anything."

Mavis nodded as she absorbed the information as best she could. Taking her nod as a go ahead, Danny continued.

"But then there are times when the person is accepting death or just not putting up a fight. Then they go off into the beyond. Where that is, I wouldn't be able to tell you. If your mother had sacrificed herself for you, I'm willing to bet that she didn't become a ghost or a spirit. She was willing to lay her life down for you." He paused for a moment. "Even if she had come back as a spirit or a ghost, she wouldn't be your mother anymore. She'd be a memory and there's no saying how she would be different."

Mavis nodded and gave a small 'thanks' for the information. The ghost boy watched her for a few moments before he decided to just let her absorb the information. He set his hand on top of where hers was resting on the roof in an effort to remind her that he was there when she was ready. Silence covered the two yet again as they sat and enjoyed the stars for a bit longer, the sky already beginning to take on a golden glow from the sun.