Hello! Thank you for reading! This story now has over 400 followers. It's crazy, knowing that there are at least that many people reading this story, reading every chapter.

As a side note, I am currently doing rather well with NaNoWriMo. I've got an average word count of about 2200 words per day, and I feel like my story is progressing nicely. I know I've already asked this, or similar things, but would anyone be interested in reading it on FictionPress when I'm done? Or does anyone know of a better place to post original fiction? Thank you for your help!

StoppableMailman: I update on Fridays and Sundays, and on rare occasion Tuesdays. In practice, I do often post on Thursday and Saturday evenings, but that's just me doing the Friday and Sunday posts early. The plot point was one that I had considered, but, well, you'll have to see. (Cue evil laughter.)

Tala de Ala: Thank you for the positive feedback! That really was something that I worried about. I don't always do subtle well.

Great: I know! Poor Maddie. Her world is going through a paradigm shift and she has no idea how to deal with it.

Kimcat: Yep. That's a thing I considered doing, but Maddie is making some progress, you know?

Extra thank you to all reviewers! Getting that notification brings me joy!

Feedback is always appreciated!

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Chapter 85: Conium

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Danny, both of them, woke up hungry.

Fenton blinked himself awake. He had practically tied himself up in the blankets, and had curled himself completely around Phantom, who was squished up against Danny's chest. It was like he was trying to get back in, back to where he was meant to be. Phantom was barely breathing, of course, which sparked a tiny panic in Fenton, until he remembered that, oh, yeah, he was a ghost. He shouldn't be breathing at all. Phantom was purring weakly, however.

Fenton curled down farther, which was really the only motion he could make, wrapped up like he was, and nuzzled the little Phantom. (He wondered if this was going to cause some weird split personality issue later on. He was having trouble both emotionally remembering that this was part of himself, and remembering that he wasn't as connected as to that part of himself as he usually was. The way his Obsession kept trying to latch onto something, someone, who wasn't really there, didn't exist as a separate entity, was becoming a little distressing.)

Phantom squeaked, mumbled unintelligibly, and yawned, displaying sharp canines. "Food?"

"Mhm," said Fenton. "Needing that."

"Mm," agreed Phantom. He wormed his way out from the blankets, freeing Fenton to do the same, although Fenton was much more careful doing so. Fenton had all those wounds to deal with, after all.

There was a yeti standing by, supervising Danny, making sure that neither of them ran off. Phantom was perfectly fine with walking, or, more accurately, flying, but there was apparently some risk to having a large physical separation between Fenton and Phantom. This was news to Danny... Or, at least, it felt like news. He supposed that he could have been told earlier, and then forgotten. He knew that he hadn't been functioning very well before the operation. Separation. Whatever.

The yeti, who was a kind of apprentice to the doctor (things worked differently here than in back on Earth), helped Danny get ready for the day, and got Fenton into the wheelchair. After that, though, Fenton insisted on wheeling himself around. He had to learn, he reasoned. It had nothing to do with wanting to challenge Tucker and Sam to a high-speed wheelchair race in the near future. Nope.

The yeti directed Fenton and Phantom to the communal eating hall. Sam and Tucker were already there, glaring at each others' food choices, not eating. The problem, from what Fenton could see, seemed to be that they couldn't tell what was a meat and what was a vegetable, and had been too stubborn to ask. Usually, this wasn't a problem, they had been in the Far Frozen often enough to distinguish the two, but usually they weren't around for breakfast. The food choices for breakfast were a lot different than the ones for dinner, or lunch, or brunch, or that one meal the yetis had that happened in-between dinner and lunch.

The situation was especially funny, because both meals were comprised entirely of vegetable matter, and were really quite similar. Danny had spent considerably more time here. He knew what was what. They were the Far Frozen equivalent of pancakes and waffles.

"Hello," said Danny, wheeling up to the table and swiping a bit of food from each of their plates.

"Hey, Danny," said Sam. "Did you guys sleep well?"

"I slept okay," said Fenton.

"Me, too," said Phantom, stealing more food from Tucker's plate.

"I think that Grandfather put something in my drink before he left," said Fenton, casually.

"Really?" said Tucker. "That doesn't bother you?"

"No? Should it?"

"I don't know."

"Probably not. It sounds like you needed it," said Sam, "and the last time you were asleep without drugs you were having some pretty awful nightmares."

"Oh, okay."

"Yeah, so, Danny," said Tucker. "Do you know what this is, dude?"

"Yeah, it's, um, basically pancakes. It's a plant, squished up, turned into batter, and fried. Sam's is the same, except her's is baked. It is ghost stuff, though, so, I don't know." He shrugged. "Maybe you should see if there's like, human food around? This is probably fine though."

"Tastes fine," said Phantom, munching on more of Tucker's food.

"It does taste fine," agreed Fenton.

Then, of course, a whole troop of yetis came out of the kitchen bearing food. Mostly a kind of broth with long noodles, the equivalent of cereal. Fenton, Sam, and Tucker were given bowls with wheat noodles. Phantom was given one with more ectoplasm in it. Danny ate it very enthusiastically. Sam was a little more subdued, but warmed to it quickly, saying that it was very much like pho. Tucker was more hesitant, but he was hungry, and they had put meat in it.

Frostbite came and joined them then. Phantom jumped up onto him, burrowing into his fur. Frostbite laughed deeply, indulgently, and petted the small ghost.

The rest of breakfast was nice, peaceful, uneventful. The food was good, and was probably better for him than eating the 'pancakes.' It was certainly lighter, and his understanding was that lighter food was better after a person was sedated. Not that he was a doctor, or particularly well versed in sedative side effects beyond those of the sleep-darts Skulker used and whatever gas Vlad kept using.

But then a yeti came up to the table.

"Chief Frostbite," he said, inclining himself slightly. "Great One. There is a visitor for you."

"For me?" asked Fenton, confused. Everyone who knew he was here would just be shown in... Wouldn't they? Clockwork, Pandora, and Nephthys were all well known. Maybe it could be someone from the hospital? Or one of the Gracious Ones? Or Adrestia? Sam and Tucker had mentioned them this morning, while filling him in on what had happened while he was unconscious. Maybe he meant a visitor for Frostbite?

"Yes, Great One," said the yeti. "He called himself Hemlock."

Fenton blinked, then smiled. "Really? Hemlock? He's here?"

It was the yeti's turn to blink. "Forgive me great one," he said, "but how do you know this man?"

"Isn't he your lawyer?" asked Tucker, pulling out his PDA.

"Advocate," corrected Fenton absently. "And, yeah. He just came up to me one day and told me that he was going to be my advocate and he wasn't going to take no for an answer."

"Right," said Sam. "But wasn't that when you got wrapped up in that thing with the Feathers of Ma'at?"

"Yeah. So I guess that I needed an advocate that time." Fenton glanced at Phantom. "We needed an advocate?"

"Show him in," said Frostbite.

Hemlock was a fabulously ugly man in a crisply pressed green pinstripe suit. He was balding, and wore a long, curling beard. His eyes sparkled when he caught sight of Fenton and Phantom.

"Ah, little one, it is good to see you again, although we might have hoped for better circumstances, hm?"

Phantom giggled, and ran up to him, hugging the man's leg.

"Here is the very little little one," he said patting Phantom on the head.

"Hello, Hemlock," said Fenton. "How did you know I was here?"

Hemlock picked up the little Phantom, and walked forward, to the table. "You are my client, and you are currently involved in the largest case the Realms have seen in years. Even Vortex's trial did not cause such an uproar. I would say that knowing where you are is the least of my duties."

"It isn't like I pay you," said Fenton, still bemused by the whole situation.

"Money," said Hemlock, waving his hand dismissively. "Dear one, in this country I may live on the air itself, and air alone. All that is left is to feed my mind. Although, I do wonder why you do not rise to greet me?"

"Broke my ankle. The doctors don't want me to stand on it."

"Ah, physicians. A necessary bane of heroes everywhere."

Fenton blushed. "I guess."

"Now, I do need to talk to you, the two of you," he smiled, "about the outcome you would like for the trial. I would also like to offer the services of some of the more junior members of my community to your friends." He inclined himself slightly towards Sam and Tucker. "I would make the offer to you as well, Chief Frostbite, but I understand that the Far Frozen has its own advocates?"

"Indeed," said Frostbite.

"Well, then. I don't suppose that you have a place where I may speak to the little one and the little little one alone?"

"I'm not that small," complained Fenton.

"I am," said Phantom, arms still wrapped around Hemlock's neck (he was enjoying being small). "Can we bring Sam and Tucker?"

"Anything you want, dear one, I am at your service, in this instance."

Fenton looked at Sam and Tucker. "You guys don't mind, do you? I know of dumped a lot of stuff on you already this... Week? Has it even been a week?"

"No idea, dude," said Tucker.

"It's more like we were all dumped into this stuff and then you fished us out," said Sam. "You aren't a problem, Danny. And this could be fun, right?"

"Actually, most likely not," said Hemlock.

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"I'm not allowed to go with you," said Jazz.

"Why?" asked Maddie, her voice pitched low, glaring at the ghosts in the room.

"Somethin' to do with witnesses and corrupting testimony," said the ghost that had called herself Alex. "I'm not a 'legal professional,' and it sounds like crap to me, but, like, whatever. Not my problem. Yours."

"Uh, not yours, Jazz," added Tess. "This is just, you know. Procedure stuff. I mean, Ereshkigal themselves vetted you and, well, you've been given an honor, you know? Like, seriously." She flicked a stray braid back over her shoulder. "I don't think that somethin' like that has happened in, what, a thousand years? Two?"

"Sounds right," said Meg. She had been a bit more subdued than before.

"I'm a little more concerned about what's happening right now, sorry," said Jazz. "You're going to take me back to Danny, right?"

"Yep," said Meg. "Look," she said, noticing the look on Maddie's face. "This's just the same as in your world, right? Laws against, uh, messin' with witnesses?"

"Witness tampering," supplied Jazz.

"Yeah, that. If you stuck together, there'd be people who would say that you threatened this kid."

"Jazz is my daughter, I'd never-"

"Yeah, yeah," said Tess, "we all know how you treat your kids. Give it a break."

"If it makes you two argue less," said Alex, "we've got your husband. You know, the giant orange dude? And we've got legal representation set up for both of you, in case you don't wanna be co-defendants or whatever. But, seriously, we'll take you by force if we've got to. No pressure."

Maddie pursed her lips. "Fine," she said venomously. She turned back to Jazz. "Tell Danny that I love him. Tell him that I'm sorry. Please."

"Of course," said Jazz.

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"That simply isn't going to work," said Hemlock.

Fenton frowned. "Why not?"

"Think, dear one, are the charges leveled against your parents untrue?"

"No," said Fenton.

"Are you going to lie to the court?"

"No," grumbled Fenton once again. (Phantom was too distracted by the shiny buckles on Hemlock's bag to be any help.)

"Do you think your sister will, or your friends, or any of the many witnesses to the crime?"

"Some of them will."

"But all?"

"No."

"Then don't you see, dear one, what the conclusion will be? And you know how people will react once something so egregious comes to light."

"But I'm the one who was affected, I'm the one that was hurt. Shouldn't it mean something, if I say I don't care? If I say I don't want them to be punished?"

"It will mean something," said Hemlock, kindly, "but put yourself in the position of the people who will be making the final decision."

"We don't even know who those people will be," mumbled Fenton into the table.

"No, we do not. Not in detail. But we can make generalizations. They will be fair-minded. Impartial, or at least as impartial as can be found, as can be agreed upon. Do you think that they would let off your parents with only a warning, knowing the damage that they could do, the damage they have done to you, their own child?"

"No, I guess not."

"Then, what is the next best thing to do?"

"Find a punishment we can all live with," Fenton mumbled, still face-down on the icy table.

"There we are," said Hemlock, gently. "Now, there are several options, but I think that you would prefer one that brings them back to the human world with you?"

"Yes," said Fenton, peeling himself up off of the table. "Nothing too intrusive. Oh, and, um, alive."

"Hm. Alright. I think indentures might be the best choice. Are there any ghosts that you would trust with them? Long term."

"Clockwork," said Fenton instantly. "Pandora. Dora. Frostbite, of course. Um. Yeah. I think that's probably it. Mm. Nephthys, maybe." Danny liked Nephthys, but she was the Master of Death, and she had not always had the best of experiences with humans.

"Very good. We will have to discuss strategy with them as well, of course. Now, another possibility would be angling for trial-by-combat, but that is awfully risky, especially considering all the available potential champions."

"Okay, I'll try to remember that."

"I would not recommend trying to set yourself up as their champion, little one. There are enough people in this world who would like to cause you harm, and they do not care if harm is dealt physically, or by harming your parents."

"Okay," said Fenton. "What else?"

"A number of things... Once Lord Clockwork is involved, our options really start to open up." He rubbed his hands together. "Time is not a constant. A life sentence can be served in a heartbeat."

"I... I don't think that I like the sound of that..."

"Ah. A last resort, then?"

"Yeah."

"I see. I would like you to keep that first option in mind, but I will be researching other options as well. Now," Hemlock flipped his legal pad to a new page, "you are involved in another trial. Or, perhaps I should say, another set of trials."

"What?" exclaimed Fenton. "What are you talking about?"

"Uh, Danny," said Sam. "You do remember the reason you're so beat up right now, right?" She paused. "You know, the agents?"

"Oh. Yeah. Them."

"This will be much more straightforward. I am assuming that you do not particularly desire for them to be let off easily."

"Not really," said Fenton, slumping over the table once again. "I thought that all of the ones that went after the Core were killed, though?"

"Mhm. Likely not, in fact, but they belong to Ereshkigal now. They are far, far beyond the jurisdiction of the courts. No. What will occupy us are the creatures that did not make it so far. The ones that you defeated in and around your lair. Have you named it yet, by the way?"

"No," said Fenton, slumping down onto the table once again. "I don't really care what happens to them, as long as I never have to deal with them ever again."

"Very good," said Hemlock. "However, there is another issue with those trials."

"Of course there is," said Fenton to the table.

"There are those who might use this as a pretext to declare war on Earth."

"Oh. Yeah. That would be bad. Can we make that... Not happen?"

"It is rather unlikely, but I thought that I should warn you of the possibility."

"It wouldn't be so bad if it was just a war against the GIW, would it?" mused Sam.

"It'd snowball," said Danny. "They're part of the US government, remember?"

"Ugh. Yeah. I forgot about that."

"Could declare them wolfshead, though. Outlaw. Unprotected."

"Excellent thought," said Hemlock. "That may be just enough of a compromise to work."