Hello, everybody. I hope you're all being healthy and safe this week. Don't let the stress get to you! You can only do what you can do.
I'm glad you guys are enjoying Dan's redemption arc. :) Not much of him in this chapter, though.
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Chapter 188: Glass Eye
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"Ah," said Clockwork. "My lab."
Danny bent to pick up a shard of glass. When he looked through it, he could see the lab whole. His fingers started to tingle, and he dropped it. "Did the Observants do this?"
"No, it was you and Vladimir." Clockwork pursed his lips. "No, that's not quite right..."
Was it just Danny, or did he look a little bit older? Younger? It was weird, not seeing Clockwork shift ages for such a long time. Sometimes he'd go a few hours in his adult form, that seemed to be his favorite, but even then, he tended to vary somewhat.
"No," continued Clockwork, "the other one..."
"Dan did this? Why?"
"Your brother is going through a rough patch, it seems."
"He's not my brother," said Danny. Danny wasn't sure if there was a word for the relation they did share, but Danny certainly hadn't chosen to name Dan his brother.
"Oh, yes, not yet. Not yet." He sighed and fiddled with the broken glass in his chest. "I apologize, Daniel, it appears I won't be able to show you your family after all."
Danny sucked in his bottom lip. He would have liked to see his family and friends, but, in light of Clockwork's condition, he hadn't asked. "That's okay," he said. "Grandfather, is there anything I can do to help with, um," Danny gestured to Clockwork's chest, "your clock?"
"Maybe," said Clockwork. He didn't elaborate.
"Grandfather?" prompted Danny.
"Oh, Daniel!" exclaimed Clockwork. "I did not... I did not see you there. When... When did you get here?"
"I've... been here the whole time? I came here with you?" said Danny, cautiously deciding on honesty.
"... That's right. Thank you, Daniel. I... had lost track. I think- I think I had better... go lie down." He put his hand heavily on Danny's shoulder. "Could you-? Wait."
"What is it?" asked Danny.
"Not everything is broken." He flew into the room, hovering over the broken things. His tail lashed anxiously. "A mirror, and a hand lens. You will need them. Or... Some version of you might need them. I can't- I can see, but not-" He put his hand over one of his eyes, and groaned. "What is wrong with me?"
Danny didn't really know exactly, but Nephthys' explanation had given him a loose understanding. "I think," he said, "you're dealing with your Obsession being weird, and also all your powers coming back to you. So, I don't know if it's anything wrong, really, just, you know, stuff you aren't used to." He licked his lips. "Maybe we should go somewhere you can lie down, though. This isn't the best place." He gestured at the ground and all the broken glass.
"You're right," said Clockwork, as if this was a revelation. "Have I ever shown you my room?"
"I mean, I've seen it," said Danny. "I know where it is." In a manner of speaking. Long Now was weird. Danny swore hallways, doors, and rooms moved when he wasn't looking, and that Long Now liked to mess with people as much as Clockwork did. On the other hand, he had a feeling that it would be more accommodating today.
"Capital idea."
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Azalea had not come back.
Jack and Maddie weren't completely abandoned, of course, but the ghosts who brought them food and took care of other necessities weren't inclined to talk. This meant that the two humans were left with little to do but sit around and look at the documents Azalea had left behind, few of which were in English.
Maddie traced her finger over the lines of a script she was sure had no human origin. For the thousandth time, she wondered how she could have been so wrong. For the thousandth time, she wished she could see Danny and Jazz. Danny or Jazz. Either one. Together or apart.
What had that sound been? Sounds, rather.
She and Jack had talked about it. Speculated. It had been like thunder, and, according to their theories, there could be weather in the Ghost Zone.
But what good were their theories, anyway?
There was a sharp rap at the door.
"Come in," called Maddie, listlessly, expecting it to be a ghost with food, or clean clothing.
It wasn't. It was Azalea and Wolfsbane, and they looked troubled.
Jack got up from where he was lying on the bed. "What happened?" he asked.
"It is complicated, and it will affect your trial," said Wolfsbane. He looked down at the papers spread on the table. "Azalea, this is where you left the paperwork."
"Oh, yeah, uh, heh, I guess I forgot I had it when the storm happened." She started to gather up the scattered papers.
"So, it was a storm," said Maddie.
"Yes, but not a natural one." Wolfsbane stroked his beard.
Maddie resisted the urge to tell him that nothing here was natural. It was just an ingrained habit, anyway. She had come to the realization her previous point of view was wrong, or at least not as nuanced as it needed to be.
"Storms can happen here, you understand, but ghosts impose their will on their surroundings. Especially when it comes to their lairs. This place is built on the combined lairs of the members of Libra." He tapped the table. "For a storm to happen here, Libra must either allow it, or the cause of the storm must be stronger than Libra."
"We're pretty sure Libra didn't just let the storm happen," said Azalea, "which leaves the later."
"There are not, as you may imagine, many ghosts stronger than all of Libra combined. Only the Ancients come close to being that powerful."
"Undergrowth and Vortex couldn't do it," said Azalea. "It's my understanding that you've even encountered the two of them? They invaded the human world."
"Yes," said Maddie, thinking. "The storm ghost and the plant ghost. Danny fought them." Alone. Both times. Or, at least, without Jack and Maddie supporting him in any meaningful way.
"Fright Knight might be able to, at the peak of his power, but it isn't Samhain. Lord Nocturne has denied responsibility. That leaves Pandora, Clockwork, and Nephthys. All of whom are close to your son."
"Oh," said Maddie. "You think he's in danger." Beyond having disappeared.
"That is unclear at the moment."
"But why would they cause a storm here?" asked Jack, confused.
"It wasn't here. At least, it wasn't only here," said Wolfsbane. "There are reports of storms from as far away as- Well. You wouldn't recognize the name."
"Far away, anyway," said Azalea, "and there's a guy I know from the Library of Tongues who does ectosignature readings-"
"He isn't a terribly reliable source."
"-and he says that he's pretty sure Lord Clockwork and Lady Nephthys caused it."
"But why?" asked Jack, again.
"We're not sure. There is another complication. The storm should not have been that large. The scale indicates that the Realms have no king."
"And... how does it do that?" asked Maddie, after a moment.
"Well, we aren't philosophers, we're advocates, but-"
"We are philosophers," interrupted Wolfsbane.
"What?"
"We are philosophers. You studied with Hemlock, before he died."
"Huh," said Azalea, putting a finger to her lips. "I guess we are. How about that?"
Wolfsbane sighed deeply. "Unlike with mortal rulers, the King of All Ghosts acts as a control. Without a king, events like the storm run wild, and spread much farther than they should, and other aspects of our reality become... difficult. Eventually, the Realms as we know them would cease to exist, and even your world would crumble. Since the second defeat of Pariah Dark, there has been speculation that we have entered an interregnum. This confirms it. There is, as you might imagine, quite a bit of fear and panic occurring at the moment."
Somehow, Maddie couldn't bring herself to care much about the impending end of the world. Her world had already been on the brink, figuratively. What did it matter if the metaphor became literal?
"Just pick a new king, then," she said.
"We can't," said Azalea. "That's the Ancient's job. You see the problem?"
"Not really," admitted Maddie, rubbing her head.
"Something has happened to Lord Clockwork and Lady Nephthys. Something big enough to make them expend that kind of power and cause that kind of disruption. Without them, a new king can't be chosen," explained Azalea.
"There is also the issue of the most likely candidate for the throne."
The pieces clicked into place for Maddie, and she groaned. "No."
Wolfsbane spread his hands. "Even if the rumors and speculation are incorrect, even if they are not confirmed, they will color the trial greatly."
"Danny's not even a real ghost!" said Maddie, throwing out her hands in frustration.
"He has a core, so he's real enough," said Azalea. Her eyes were bright, and the line of her mouth wavered.
Maddie had the distinct impression that Azalea was enjoying this. Greatly.
"Wait," said Jack, slowly, looking between Maddie and the two ghosts. "How did we get from the Ghost King to Danny? Did I miss something?"
"They're trying to say that- that other ghosts think Danny might be the next king of the Ghost Zone," said Maddie in tones of disbelief. "Why do they think that?"
"That's a longer story..."
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Before leaving for the Panopticon, Pandora purchased a box. A large box, one that would, possibly, be better labeled a chest.
She then spent a small amount of time modifying the box. Part of her begrudged this immensely, but she knew it would save her time later. Besides, her traveling companions had to make arrangements of their own. Danielle needed food and other necessities. Dora had to give instructions for while she was gone, and decide whom among her people should join them, if any. Cynosura, the navigator, had to plot a course. All of these things took time.
(Iceclaw was not coming. He had left for the Far Frozen, to tell Chief Frostbite what had happened. It was possible, however, that representatives of the Far Frozen would join them at the Panopticon.)
The box was not her best work. It would not contain a great deal of evil or many powerful ghosts. It would, however, do the job.
Their party left not long after she finished her modifications. The smaller, slower members rode on Dora's back. Pandora flew on her own. They believed this would be the fastest way to travel to the Panopticon.
The headquarters of the Observants had once been near the Black Castle, also known as Pariah's Keep. Since Pariah's descent into madness and fall, however, it had been moved. It was still moving, albeit slowly, as the Observants sought to distance themselves from their former benefactor.
Thus, the Panopticon was far from the area that had suffered most from Pariah Dark, which was known alternately as the Barrens and the Wastes. It was farther from the Time Locked Lands and the current location of Mattingly.
The area was called the Country of Eyes, after its principle inhabitants and the décor they favored. Other ghostly communities had left, after the Observants moved in. Very few wanted to be neighbors with them.
No one liked the feeling of being watched all the time.
There were few portals leading towards the place, as well. The Observants liked to control who had access to the Panopticon. Heavens forbid that they should actually have to hear a case.
But Cynosura was very good at her job. Pandora had only brought the best with her, on her rescue mission. She found a course that took them from the outskirts of the Time Locked Lands to the edge of the Country of Eyes.
From there, they flew swiftly and cautiously. This was enemy territory. They weren't going to the Panopticon to merely file a complaint, although, in broad strokes, that was exactly what they were doing. No. They were going to challenge one of the oldest and most powerful institutions in the Infinite Realms.
But, yes, they were going to start by filing a complaint, and if they could file it without it coming to a pitched battle between their side and all the Observants present in the Panopticon, so much the better.
Pandora did not knock on the doors. She pushed them open with two of her hands, the other two holding weapons at the ready.
The Observants inside either froze or scattered, vanishing as they did so.
"We have come for an audience with Issitoq," announced Pandora.
An Observant faded slowly into view. They were newly inducted into the order, enough so that they still had two eyes and a modicum of individuality.
"Lord Issitoq is not present at the moment. He left to deal with another matter," they said, almost managing to keep their voice smooth. A tremor betrayed their fear. "Perhaps you could leave a message? If I could have your name?"
Pandora examined the Observant neophyte. Did they really not know, or was their ignorance feigned?
What did it matter?
"I am Pandora, Ancient Master of Hope. And you should hold tight to the hope that Issitoq regains his senses, or things will go very poorly for you."
It may have helped, somewhat, that all the Observants currently in were either the old and oathbound, who had been defeated by Loxias, or those few who were too young to have started to change their forms to better resemble the Observant 'type.'
It was... suspicious. Highly suspicious. Where could Issitoq be? What was he doing?
In the waiting room of the Panopticon, surrounded by half a dozen utterly furious ghosts, Pandora stroked her box.
Across the room, the Observant serving as secretary blanched.
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It took surprisingly little time and little convincing to get the whole Realm of Elysium up in arms. They knew Danny, true, and their queen was involved, but for the entire population to decide to just go, was weird.
Especially since they didn't just get up and go to get Danny from the Tower.
"It's different," said Eurycleia, Pandora's seneschal. "This isn't a fight. At least, most here do not expect it to turn into one. It's a protest."
"Well, that's a stupid thing to expect," said Sam, bluntly. She was too tired and annoyed to play nice.
Eurycleia shrugged. "Perhaps. But not only will it convince them to go, it keeps me from exceeding the authority Pandora granted me."
The citizens of Elysium were launching themselves from the island, both in boats and under their own power. Sam thought she might have even spotted a biplane, but she wasn't sure.
"Your vehicle is about to leave," said Eurycleia. She nodded to the giant teacup-and-saucer combo waiting at the docks. "You should go."
Sam sighed. "You really won't let me go with them?" she gestured at the ghosts departing for the Panopticon.
"You know, Tucker actually tried to bribe me."
"With what?" asked Sam.
"Setting up a computer network for Elysium. I said no to him, too." Eurycleia shook her head, and pointed down the dock. "Please, leave this one dangerous thing alone."
"Alright," muttered Sam. "Thanks for helping, anyway. I hope you find him." She turned and stomped down the dock to the teacup, which was pink.
She'd done a lot of weird things before and since Danny had half-died. Riding through the Ghost Zone with her class in a giant pink teacup was one of the weirder ones.
"Hey," she said to Jazz, as she claimed a place on the saucer. "Do you think we can convince anyone at Libra to take us to the Panopticon?"
