Ch.7
Star and Kwan wondered out of the Medical Wing, a little while after the Brown Hunter had. As they walked down the hall, they went through a set of doors that led into the dining room. They looked around for a minute before walking out the door opposite the one they had come in. They continued to wonder around, not running into any guards or maids as they walked. They wondered into a hall of pictures. Star stopped and looked at a plaque.
"What does it say?" Kwan asked as he walked past her and looked at a picture of the previous King and shuddered as he remember the incident all those years ago.
Star looked between Kwan and the plaque, "It says, that this is the hall of rulers. It has the pervious rulers of the Infinite Realms on this wall," She said pointing to the wall she was standing in front of, "and rulers of other Realms throughout the Infinite Realms on the other." She finished as she pointed to the wall opposite of the one with the plaque.
Kwan nodded, "I think this is Pariah." He said pointing at the painting causing Star to walk over and look too.
She shuddered, "Most defiantly. I could never forget that face." They slowly moved down the hall, looking around at the different pictures. Star smiled, "These are pretty cool looking."
Kwan nodded in agreement, "I wonder why Phantom and his wife aren't up." Star shrugged.
"Let's go see the gardens." Star said looking at Kwan.
He smiled, "Ok. Val did say the Queen was good with plants. I bet there are some cool looking ones." He looked around and didn't see a door, "Which way do we go though? I don't even know where we are."
Star sighed, "Didn't the Brown Hunter say there would be maids or guards everywhere?"
Kwan shrugged, "I guess we just keep walking until we find a patio door, maid, or guard. Or find the doors." The pair started walking back down the hall. They kept walking and looking around until Kwan stopped. He stuck his arm out causing Star to run into it.
She looked up at him confused and was about to say something but noticed his wide stare down the hall. She turned to look at whatever he was looking at. Star's eyes widened too as they saw Mr. Lancer standing beside a young girl in a formal gown. She had black hair and blue eyes with a small green crown on her head. Mr. Lancer looked down at the little girl, "So you're a Halfa too?" He questioned.
The small girl smiled and nodded as a white ring formed around her waist. The ring split in two and traveled in opposite directions, spreading over the young princess. Her long black hair turned a glowing silver. Her eyes a neon green and her skin became paler. The pair's jaws dropped as a miniature Danny Phantom now stood in the little girl's place.
Lancer let out an impressed sound, "She really does take after Daniel, doesn't she?"
Star and Kwan's eyes bulged in shock as they saw Danny Fenton's older sister move to stand in the archway, in front of the teacher and child pair.
Jazz smiled and laughed as the girl turned human once more, "Yea, she does. We're pretty certain she'll gain his ice powers. Though, the most she can do now is transform, float, fly and turn intangible."
"Fascinating." Lancer said looking at Jazz.
Queen Samantha came around a corner further down the hall. Kwan and Star tensed, finally realizing they must be in the East Wing. As the Queen walked, a green ring formed at the tip of her foot and got larger as she walked through it. As the ring passed over the Queen, Sam Manson appeared in her place. Star and Kwan darted back around the corner they'd come from. They pushed themselves as flat against the wall as they could. They were terrified and frozen in place by all the information they'd just learned.
They could hear Sam come to a stop before she spoke, "Danny still hasn't woken up yet. We might have to take him to Frostbite's land." The pair in hiding looked at each other. They remembered seeing a large, white, fuzzy monster, in one of the realm ruler pictures, named Frostbite.
Jazz sounded concerned, "Did you guys use that much energy ending the war?"
Sam continued to speak, concern clear in her tone as well, "We must have… Though, I don't understand why I'm able to be up already. He's not running a fever or showing any other symptoms… but… I'm worried."
"Mommy, Daddy will be ok! He's just tired, Uncle Frostbite can help!" Came a young, cheerful voice.
Sam sighed, "I'll go call him then. Danielle sweetie, I want you in ghost form for dinner alright. You can go with Aunt Jazz but you need to be in ghost form."
Star looked at Kwan and mouthed, "We need to get out of here." Kwan nodded.
The pair quietly and stealthily moved further down the hallway before bolting down the way they came. As they ran they found a pair of terrace doors and hurried out them. When they finally stopped to breathe, they'd realized they found the palace gardens. Star collapsed onto a bench and stared up into the swirling green sky.
Kwan paced in front of her, freaking out. "What the hell did we just hear and see?!" Kwan practically screamed, voice cracking in the process.
"Something I don't think they wanted us to know." Star breathed still in shock, not looking away from the sky.
Kwan looked at her, "You saw that too right? You watched a little human girl turn into a ghost! Not only that! But she looked just like phantom! And… And Sam! The freaking Queen turned into Sam! Sam's the freaking Queen and we bullied her!"
Star looked at him, "That means the Danny she was talking about is the King. And that little girl must be princess Danielle. Plus Mr. Lancer said she looked like 'Daniel'. He only calls Danny Fenton that… And the little girl looked just like Phantom and Fenton. Which probably means that Danny is Phantom." Kwan's eyes widened more and he dropped to the ground in a heap.
They sat there in silence for a little while still trying to process what they learned. Star finally let out a breath, "We have to apologize to them. Even if they don't forgive us, they should know were sorry." Star said looking down at her hands.
Kwan nodded, "We really should've done it sooner. It's not right to bully people. Let alone, as much as we did them."
"At least we stopped. And tried to get the others to stop, but you know how they are. But we should've still tried harder." Star said and Kwan nodded.
"How exactly are we going to tell them we know. Didn't the Brown Hunter threaten our lives?" Kwan questioned as he shuddered.
Star thought for a second, "Remember what the Brown Hunter yelled at Maddie Fenton in the Medical Wing? He called Phantom his brother. And if Phantom is Danny, who's the only guy Danny's always around?" She asked looking at Kwan.
Realization dawned on his features, "Tucker…" He breathed amazed, then thought of something, "Then that would mean that Valerie is the Red Huntress! So, not only are Danny and Sam half ghosts and freaking rulers of an alternate dimension, with a kid! But Tucker and Valerie are the Brown and Red hunters! Plus, he said they are ambassadors! And those green eye ghost things called them royal guards!"
Star rubbed a hand down her face, "Just how stupid could we be? I'll give it to Tuck and Val, they look completely different when they're fighting. Sam too a little bit, but Danny? Could he have been more obvious? Fenton, Phantom? Nothing about him changes like it does on Sam. I mean no one ever saw her in anything other than black and purple. But she's covered in green, plants, and freaking fire! But Danny the only difference is his freaking hair and eye color!"
Kwan groaned and laid back on the ground, "Don't forget that weird echo when they talk."
Star nodded, "That too, but he still sounded the same! Just had a weird echo."
"I have no clue how no one's figured it out before now…" Kwan said looking at Star.
She frowned, "Mr. Lancer did. Apparently. He wasn't the slightest bit fazed by Sam or the princess, or Jazz!"
"I guess if Danny's King… that would make Jazz a princess too. Which makes so much more sense as to why she's here in the first place." Kwan reasoned looking back up at the green, swirling sky.
Star groaned, "This is a lot to process." Kwan nodded.
After a few minutes in silence Star stood up from the bench, "I'm going to go find one of them. I want to apologize."
Kwan moved to stand too, "Me too. Let's go." With that the pair headed back in the terrace doors and retraced their steps through the halls they'd fled down earlier.
As they got closer to the East Wing, they started to get a feeling of apprehensiveness. They turned the corner into the hall where they had first seen Lancer, Danielle, and Jazz. No one was there this time. The pair slowly made their way down the hall and noticed that this section of the castle held family, friend, and group photos.
"Kwan look! It's their wedding!" Star said excitedly pointing at a set of pictures.
Kwan moved over to look at them and his eyes widened. The first picture was of Tuck and Danny, with their arms around each other's shoulders and in fancy suits. Tuck had a thumbs up with his free hand and a goofy, happy smile. Danny's blue eyes were glowing in happiness with a matching smile. Danny had on a black suit, with a white shirt and shoes, and a neon green tie. Clear Phantom colors. Tuck had on a white suit with a black shirt and shoes, and a light blue tie. Their suits were exactly opposite. With their new knowledge, Kwan and Star could tell they symbolized both sides of Danny.
The third picture was of Sam, Val and Jazz. Sam was in the middle, with Jazz and Val on either side, with their arms linked. Val and Jazz also had their free hands holding a thumbs up and they each had extremely happy smiles. Sam's dress was a mermaid style, halter top. It was light purple with a black spider lace overlay and she had on black spider lace gloves. Her hair was half down, half up and curled in big ringlets. She was beautiful. Val was in a beautiful long, strapless light blue dress. Jazz had on the same dress only light green.
The middle picture was the one, the pair were most amazed with. It showed a human Danny and Sam, facing each other, in the middle of an alter with a green vine archway above them. Tuck was behind Danny with a gentle smile. Valerie and Jazz were behind Sam with the same smile as Tucker. Between the pair in the middle, was a bule ghost with a purple robe on and a clock system in his chest. The pair recognized the ghost from the hall of rulers. He was called Clockwork and he was the Master of Time.
The most interesting thing about this picture was that it had two halves. The part on the left showing a human Danny and Sam. The right was the same picture but it showed Sam and Danny transformed. There was also a white and green ring showing at the bottom edges of the picture. The archway had changed slightly and was covered in multiple different types of flower, of varying colors.
"This is amazing…" Kwan breathed.
"It really was something." Came a voice from behind them making the pair jump and scream. They quickly turned to see Jazz with a cocked eyebrow and a frown, with the ghostly young princess in her arms. Mr. Lancer was beside her, with a look of disappointment.
Mr. Lancer crossed his arms, "I thought you were told to not enter this part of the castle."
"We were…" Star started, "We didn't mean to end up here, the first time. But we wanted to talk to Valerie, Tucker, Sam and Danny." Mr. Lancer and Jazz glanced at each other.
"We… we umm, saw you guys," Kwan said gesturing to the three in front of them, "in this hallway earlier… we… know about Sam and Danny…" Kwan trailed off at Jazz's intense stare.
Jazz watched them closely, "So you've already been here once. Where did you go?"
"Into the gardens… It was where we were trying to go in the first place. But after, finding out… we ran." Kwan answered shaking slightly.
Star looked at Jazz, "We aren't lying, it was an accident the first time. We really didn't run into any guards or maids as we walked around. And we definitely didn't mean to run into you guys talking in the hall…"
"But when we saw you guys there we freaked out and hid. Tucker did threaten our lives after all. I know it wasn't cool to ease drop. And it really wasn't intentional. But now that we know… we wanted to apologize." Kwan cut in.
Star looked between Lancer and Jazz, "Properly. To all of them. We were really mean to them. For no good reason, and it wasn't right. We want them to know that, even if they don't forgive us. I'm not looking for forgiveness, I just want to try and make it right."
"Same, and to thank them. For saving our lives more times than we can count at this point." Kwan said looking at Jazz with determination and calming down slightly.
Jazz studied them for a minute in silence. Then looked at Lancer who held a thin lipped cautious expression. Jazz let out a sigh looking back at the pair, "Alright." She said as she let go of Ellie who floated up until she was at Jazz's eye level. Danielle was quite but was also watching them closely. Her gaze made the pair slightly nervous.
Jazz caught their attention again, "Tuck and Val did say you two seemed to have the most change of heart the past year. So, I will take you to them. They can decide. If you heard, what you say, then you should be aware of their position." Jazz said in a serious tone.
The pair nodded, "Their Ambassadors and Royal Guards." Star said.
Jazz nodded and turned to head further down the hall. Lancer right beside her. She looked over her shoulder at the pair, motioning for the pair to follow, "It will be a while before you can see Danny. He's still out cold."
Star watched as Danielle flew so she was beside Jazz, before speaking, "I heard Sam say that he used to much energy, because of the war."
Jazz nodded, "Yes, though the circumstances are odd. He should be awake by now. Even if he did use his command."
Lancer looked at her curiously, "Command?"
"Yes. As King, Danny has the power to order anyone in the Infinite Realms to do anything. Sam can too, but hers is more on the side of forcing them to say something, or not allowing them to lie in her presence." Jazz explained as they turned a corner.
"That's amazing!" Star said amazed.
Jazz laughed, "It really is, but it takes a toll on their bodies when they do it. Which is why they don't do it often. But they had to use it against the Observant's, to end the war quickly the other day. The problem is they both used their power. So if Danny's in this condition, Sam should be too. But she's fine more or less."
Kwan put a hand to his chin, "That is odd. From what we saw on the island, Sam was super powerful. Danny should be as well. Especially after all the things we've seen him do over the years. And given Sam's 'I'll fight you' personality, I doubt she'd be lax about using her powers, especially when it comes to Danny, Val or Tuck needing anything..."
Jazz looked over her shoulder at them, "You seem to know them fairly well, for people who never really interacted with them."
Star let out a nervous laugh, "Well honestly, freshman year, Kwan "dated" Sam for a little while, and I "dated" Tucker. Plus, Valerie used to be one of my closest friends. I'm still sure she still knows more about me than Paulina does. So, we'd know them better than others would, but not well enough to be considered friends."
"Surprisingly though, you are the only people we wouldn't kill on the spot, for learning the secret." Tucker's voice rang from behind them. Kwan and Star froze mid-step, terrified. They slowly turned to see Tuck in a brown and yellow, formal soldier looking suit. Val was in a similar suit but hers was red and black. They both had swords on one hip and what looked like their ecto-guns on the other hip. The pair gulped. The words of Tucker's warning earlier weighing on them.
Jazz's laugh knocked the pairs out of their scared stupor. She turned around and walked towards them but Danielle floated back to the ground beside Mr. Lancer.
Tuck looked at Jazz with a raised eyebrow, clearly questioning why they were there. Jazz rolled her eyes, "I was bringing them to you two. They have something they want to say." Jazz said turning to look at the pair.
Star clenched her hands together before bowing, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry for how badly I treated you, when you guys risked your lives to protect our ungrateful as…" Star glanced at Danielle, "Butts." She looked back up at them pain in her eyes, "I'm not looking for you guys to forgive me. But I wanted to apologize and thank you for protecting us for so long…"
Kwan bowed too, "I'm sorry too. I really treated you and Danny badly. I shouldn't have done it. I knew it was wrong, but I didn't stop the others and I should have. I owe all of you my life for how much you've protected mine and everyone else's. So, thank you for everything. Like star said, I don't care of you guys forgive me but… I had to apologize and thank you."
Star and Kwan could feel their eyes but didn't dare to move. Tuck and Val stared at them for a minute before sighing. "I really wanted to pretend to be mad, but dam you've made it impossible now." Tuck laughed lightly. Star and Kwan looked up at him with wide eyes.
Val smiled at them at their shocked faces, "You guys didn't need to thank us. But we do thank you for your apologies."
Star stood up straight and stared at them amazed, "You're not mad?"
"Nah not really, we've gotten over it. Besides you guys have changed a lot this past year. So we know your genuine." Tuck shrugged, "But since you know the secret now, we have to kill you."
The pair gulped terrified before Val elbowed him, hard, in the side, "Leave them alone. They probably think your serious." Val sighed, "Sorry about him, he's sadistic sometimes. You're not going to die. But we do ask you keep the secret. Much how Mr. Lancer has agreed to." Star and Kwan looked at Lancer who nodded and they nodded as well.
"Of course. Is there anything we can do to help?" Kwan asked.
Tuck rubbed his neck, "Not at the moment. The only thing we've got on the table at the moment is the class. Danny's still out but nothing we're doing is helping. We also have to tell Sam about this. The one thing you two can do, is help us keep and eye on this little troublemaker." Tuck said moving to rub Danielle's head.
She huffed and floated up to his eye level, "I don't cause trouble!" They all laughed.
Star smiled at seeing her old friend and Tucker so relaxed, "We'll help. Sam said she needed to stay in ghost form, right?"
Jazz nodded, "Yea. Speaking of which, we need to head to the dining room. Food should be out soon. Sam will meet us there and we'll explain then." Kwan and Star nodded and the group headed down the hall. As they walked, Sam turned a corner and almost ran into them. Danielle smiled and floated up to her mother. Sam gave her a gentle smile and held out her arms so Ellie could settle into them. When Sam looked at the group, she immediately noticed the extra people and looked to her friends with a raised eyebrow.
Before Jazz, Val or Tuck could say something the pair bowed, "We are so sorry for how we treated you guys. Well everyone really but… you're the first ones we wanted to apologize to." Star said and Sam studied her carefully.
"We know we should've apologized sooner. Honestly, we know we were horrible people, but we want to try and make up for all the bad we've done. Please don't kill us." Kwan added still scared of the group in front of them.
Sam rolled her eyes at Kwan's last comment and looked at Tuck, "We really need to have a talk bout this sadistic streak of yours." The pair bowing glanced at each other but didn't move. Sam looked at them before sighing and giving them a soft smile, "I'm not going to kill you. We don't do that. But I will accept your apology. Though you don't have to thank us for protecting you. Its what we do."
"Your not mad either?" Star asked looking at her amazed.
Sam shook her head, "I got over that a long time ago. Not really worried about bullies when I have a dimension to run."
Star couldn't help but laugh, "I guess it really wouldn't be, huh?" Team Phantom shook their heads.
"Is there anything we can do? Tuck, Val and Jazz said to just help watch the princess." Kwan said looking between everyone.
Sam nodded, "Yea, just need you guys to help keep and eye on Ellie."
Jazz looked at her, "How's Danny?"
"He's much better now. Frostbite says he is recovering slowly because of the lack of ice and cold. But he said Danny should be up in a few hours." She explained.
Tucker chuckled, "Instead of a sauna, he needs an ice box."
Sam sighed, "That's true though. There's hardly anything in this Castle that can help him. I mean this palace is surrounded by plants and basically every room has fire. But the only ice is in the kitchen."
"Umm… What are you talking about?" Star questioned.
Sam looked at her, "So every ghost and Halfa have cores. Like what I said on the island, cores function as a ghost's heart but also serve as our power sources. Danny's core is made of Ice, like Frostbite's. Mine is different, it is both plant and fire. So, either or both can help me recover but there isn't any ice near here for Danny."
Jazz put a hand to her chin, "Now that I think about it, both you and Danny have been recovering slower since staying in the Ghost Zone. But every time you're in Amity and come here to heal, it basically heals instantly. So maybe you heal faster when you come here from Amity because of the lack of ecto energy, in Amity."
Val crossed her arms, "That doesn't explain why they're healing slow now though."
Tuck put a hand to his chin like Jazz, "It actually might. Think about it, if there is a lack of ecto energy in Amity then they would become energized by the sheer amount of ecto energy when they came here. But they have been staying here, in the GZ. They're body's may have become adjusted to the constant ecto exposure and now need extra things to draw energy from. Like the plants, fire and ice."
Sam nodded, "That's along the lines of what Frostbite said too. But he said us using our commands pulled on our cores more than anything else had."
"I'm not surprised about that." Val said looking at Sam, "You guys did use them at least 6 times between you." Tuck nodded at Val's words.
Sam sighed, "Well hopefully, we won't need to use it again."
Val put a hand on her shoulder, "Hopefully. Now that all the Observants are gone, we have the new council and Clockwork is watching him, things should balance out." Tuck nodded again.
Sam smiled at her, "With your help, of course."
"Always." Jazz smiled at her.
Sam looked at Ellie, then the rest of the group, "Alright let's head to the dining hall." She looked back at her daughter, "You my dear, need to be careful what you say around these people. They don't know about halfa's and only the people right here, and my family, know about who me and your daddy are, ok."
Danielle looked at her confused for a minute then nodded, "Ok Mommy."
Sam turned around and headed down the hall and the others followed. As they got closer a green ring appeared at Sam's feet, and like earlier, it spread over her and changed her into Phantom form. Kwan and Star stared at her for a minute, amazed at seeing the change up close. Before shaking their heads and just going with it.
As they entered the dining hall Frostbite came in through a door further down on the same side. Kwan and Star gasped as a giant Yeti beast walked over to them. Sam looked up at him, "How's Danny doing, Frostbite?"
"He is better my Queen. The ice is helping him recover quickly, the Great One should be awake very soon." Frostbite explained. Team phantom sighed in relief.
Frostbite noticed the two teens staring at him and looked at them curiously. Star looked up at him, "Could I please pet you Mr. Frostbite?" Frostbite laughed before nodding.
Kwan looked up at the giant Yeti, "Could I too?" He nodded again with his big toothy smile. The team couldn't help but laugh at Star and Kwan's amazed faces as they petted their Yeti friends' arms.
Star and Kwan kept asking Frostbite questions and Mr. Lancer would join in every so often. Not long after, the class and Maddie began to come into the dining hall.
Sam turned to the group and smiled at them, "Welcome. Dinner will be out shortly please, have a seat." Many of the class members nodded and moved to sit down. Maddie looked over at the queen and noticed the young girl in her arms and gave a sad smile. Then looked around at the group around the queen and her eyes widened as she saw her oldest child.
"Jasmine?! What are you doing here? How did you even get here?" Maddie almost screamed in surprise.
Jazz glared at her, "None of your business Maddie." Maddie shrunk back and slowly moved to sit down at the table.
Tucker looked at Maddie then at Sam and Jazz. He sighed and looked at Star and Kwan, "Could you guys take Ellie to her seat?" They nodded.
Star reached for Ellie, "Come on Ellie, I think your Uncle Tuck needs to talk to you mom and aunts alone." Ellie looked at Sam who nodded then floated out of her arms and into Stars.
Kwan smiled at the little girl, "Which seat is yours Ellie?"
Ellie smiled at them and point to a chair to the right of two chairs at the end of the table, "Over there beside Mommy and Daddy's chair." The pair moved to the table and set the young girl in her chair before moving to the opposite side of the table and sitting down.
Jazz, Sam, and Val looked at Tuck confused. "What's wrong babe?" Val asked.
Tuck sighed and glanced over at Maddie before looking back at them, "Maddie… asked me something when I was in the medical wing earlier."
Jazz narrowed her eyes, "What happened Tucker?"
"She… asked for another chance." All the girls looked at him confused and stunned. Tucker sighed, "She said, she wanted to talk to Danny. To apologize to him, without weapons or containment devices. Just talk."
Sam crossed her arms, "I highly doubt that. She is just trying to play us. How could you believe her?"
Tucker looked at Jazz, "She was crying." He whispered.
Jazz's eyes widened as she stiffened, "Are you serious?"
Tuck nodded, "And half the class saw, and the Doctor."
Sam glanced at Maddie, only to see her face full of emotions. The most noticeable being sadness, "She… doesn't do that often…"
"No kidding. I've been friends with Danny since we were kids and I've never seen the woman cry." Tuck said crossing his arms.
Jazz glanced and Maddie as well, "The last time she did… was when there was a fire in the lab when Danny was like 3. Neither of them could find us and the firemen had to drag them out of the house. I had heard the explosion and drug him out of the house and into the alley behind a dumpster to keep us safe. After the sirens had been cut off was when I heard them screaming our names and came out. They were both in pieces, I've seen Jack cry a few more times, but Maddie… hasn't cried since then."
Val put a hand on Tuck's bicep, "Maybe, she does actually feel bad about what she did to Danny…"
Tuck looked at her concern written on his face, "I'm just not sure, if we can trust them. After what they did. But then again, she's never asked for a second chance… or wanted to put down her weapons."
Sam looked back at him, "We'll have to talk to Danny about this first. It's his choice. He's the one that went through it." The others nodded and Sam looked back up at Frostbite, "We have a spot for you if you want to eat Frostbite."
Frostbite smiled, "Thank you my queen."
