Maddie grabbed another blouse from the closet, holding it up in front of her while looking in the mirror. "Hmm." She walked back to the closet and pulled a fourth shirt out.
"Maddie, they all look fine." Jack complained from the bed.
She pouted. "I just want to look good. When was the last time we went on a date? Or out with other people for that matter?"
"It has been a while." Jack admitted. "But I think you look good in spandex. You have a great body honey, the suit accentuates that. And blue brings out your eyes."
Maddie smiled at the compliment. "I don't think a ghost hunter jump suit is appropriate attire for a get together with ghosts. You might appreciate the suit, but they won't." She set the shirts on the bed next to the other two before looking over them again. Her eyes paused on the blue one she'd just taken out. "I was thinking of wearing jeans… maybe a blue shirt with them would be too much like my suit."
Jack sighed before flopping back against the mattress. 'What is with girls and clothes? Seriously, Maddie isn't usually like this!' "Mads, you know you don't have to impress me right? I know you want to make the date feel more special by dressing up, but just wearing regular clothes is gonna be a chance of pace and you look good in everything."
He watched Maddie pick up the lavender top she'd originally grabbed and walk back to the mirror. "I guess this one's good."
….
Danny flew invisibly into the ticket booth looking for a roll of wrist bands. He found the box containing the supply for the next month right behind the teenager manning the counter. Carefully, he unwrapped two of the correct color and flew back out.
He felt a little guilty about taking them without paying but he Johnny and Kitty would just sneak onto the ride without them. Either way the park wasn't going to be making money from them going on rides. At least this way was easier on everybody.
"Here. One for each of you."
"Thanks kid."
"You know we did bring money, right?" Kitty asked peeling the nonstick tab off the band. She deftly wrapped it around her left wrist, sticking the adhesive end firmly on the fabric.
"How did you get money? Why did you get money?"
"We didn't steal it if that's what you're asking." She replied offended. "Johnny's always tinkering with his bike so he knows them pretty well. He found a guy that needed some work done and he did it."
Kitty watched Johnny struggle to put the band on and swatted his hand away before doing it herself. "And we wanted to have some money to spend here. Overshadowing doesn't solve everything. I can't get a caricature or my face painted by stepping into the artist. I also didn't think your parents would apricate the blatant display of powers."
Danny looked at her impressed and Johnny grinned. "There's a lot more to my girl than just looks." He said. "Thanks babe."
"Just try not to get into any trouble."
"You're not gonna break the deal if trouble finds us are you?"
He really hoped there'd be no trouble. His parents had agreed to leave behind their weapons, though Danny was skeptical that neither one would bring at least a small ecto-gun or lip stick blaster. "If you don't cause it, then I'm not holding you responsible. Good luck." He said flying off.
…..
Maddie put her head in her hands as she watched Jack drive up the lawn. If she was being honest, she knew it would come to this. Myrtle's Peir didn't have much in the way of parking and it was summer- obviously there were going to droves of people and no available parking spaces.
"Right in front of the gate! Can't get any closer than this without driving into the park itself." Jack boomed cheerfully.
She noticed the security guard at the gate giving the RV a disapproving frown. "It certainly is convenient." Maddie said weakly. She wasn't going to bother pointing out that they were parked illegally; she'd had that conversation too many times to count and it never led anywhere.
The two Fentons left the RV and made their way up the grassy area to the front gate where the security guard was stationed. Maddie gave the balding man a tight smile as they walked past while he just narrowed his eyes. She hoped there wouldn't be a ticket on the windshield later.
"When was the last time we came here?" Jack asked, looking around grinning madly. The sight made her smile. Her husband really was just a kid at heart. Jack loved going on the rides, playing games and stuffing himself with food. They'd gone on so many dates to various amusements parks over the years.
"We came here to celebrate when Jazz graduated Middle School." They'd had a blast, metaphorically speaking since there were no ghost attacks back then. They stayed so late that the park closed and one of the guards had to escort them out.
Maddie scanned the crowd looking for the ghosts they were supposed to be meeting but coming up short. "I guess they'll find us." Despite knowing them well enough to apparently set up the double date, Phantom hadn't told them much about who they'd be meeting, much less what they looked like. She found the lack of information a little disconcerting. He was usually more forthcoming with her.
"I remember him saying we should meet them by the ticket booth." Jack explained starting to walk in that direction.
He made his way through the crowd with Maddie trailing him, keeping an eye out for any couples that stood out. His eyes paused on a guy he thought looked familiar but couldn't place.
The blonde was sitting on a bench saying something to a green haired girl who was laughing and shaking her head. Jack shook his head and kept walking towards the booth. 'Might as well get our tickets first. We have all day to find them.' He thought stepping into the back of the line of waiting people.
"Should we buy a sheet or bands?" Maddie asked looking at the prices plastered across the top of the pastel yellow stall.
"I guess it depends on how many rides we wanna go on. It's forty tickets per sheet and most of the rides are four or five tickets so if we each got one, we'd get about eight rides or so."
"Hmmm…. We're going to be here all day and it has been a while, and if I remember right, the roller coaster was more tickets and you went on that at least a dozen times with Danny and Jazz. That's all your tickets right there. We might as well go with the wrist bands."
With the line only being half a dozen people or so it moved quickly. "We'll take two wrist bands." Jack told the attendant when they made it to the window.
The redheaded teenage nodded and ripped two purple bands off the roll next to him. "That'll be $31.50."
Jack fished a twenty, ten and two singles out of his wallet and handed them over. Wes, according to the scribbled name tag, took the money and gave Jack the two wrist bands along with two quarters. "Enjoy your stay. Next in line." He called as the two Fenton's walked away.
Maddie wrapped the purple fabric around her wrist before helping Jack put his on. "Well. I guess now we just wait for them."
Jack frowned. "Phantom said most of these nice spooks stay in the ghost zone. How would they know what we look like if they've never met us?"
It was a good point. Maddie figured the two ghosts had either seen them in passing or that Danny had given them a description, but the most memorable trait they'd be going on was probably 'humans wearing brightly color spandex'. Which they currently weren't. Maybe they should have brought the ghost finder.
…
Kitty watched the two Fentons walk away from the ticket booth. Even out of costume they stuck out. Jack was so much bigger than the people around him and Maddie had an air about that just seemed… off. For a normal human at least. She moved with the grace of a dancer and the determination of a soldier. It was an interesting combination.
The biggest tip off, what made her turn around in the first place, was the lingering presence of ectoplasm on them. She wasn't Danny. She didn't have a 'ghost sense' that spit frost whenever other ghosts got too close. In fact, she didn't know anyone else that manifested ghost detection in quite that way (even the one yeti from the Far Frozen she'd talked with about nail files). There was just a faint feeling of energy she could sense nearby and if she concentrated, Kitty could pinpoint where the lingering traces where coming from.
"Finally showed up." Johnny said following Kitty gaze. "Guess we should go over and say Hi."
"Johnny." She said before he could get up. "I've wanted to come here with you for a while now, and if we behave and enjoy ourselves then we get to have another nice date anytime, anywhere we want." Kitty gave him an imploring look. "I really want that."
It wasn't hard to get what she was asking. He caused as much trouble as Shadow sometimes and she didn't want that, not today. Johnny looked in her eyes and saw how much she wanted it; to go on a real date in the human world again.
They visited places in the zone; markets where she could shop, unclaimed lairs perfect for a day of exploring, secluded jungles with a nice ambiance (discounting some of the man-eating plants that lived there).
He rode all over with her finding new things to do and places to be, but Kitty had always wanted something more, something different. She yearned to go to the human world. And as much of a pain in the ass as he was to her at times Johnny really did love her. She was his little kitten and he'd do anything to make her happy. If playing nice and being personable with the brat's parents was going to make her happy then Johnny would do it in a heartbeat.
"Hey." He said softly stroking her face. "Hey, you remember how much of a gentleman I was when I first swept you off your feet? How cool and smooth I was?" She snorted at him and Johnny was almost offended, almost. "Why don't we go back to that, Kitten? A proper date. A proper first double date." He gave her gentle kiss on the lips. "What'cha think?"
"I think you're a dork." She replied softly, a small smile lighting up her face. "Come on."
She stood up and brushed off her lap before opening her little pocket mirror and double checking her make up. Satisfied she slipped the mirror back in her pocket and turned around to wave at Maddie and Jack.
It took them a minute to notice the movement, but once they were spotted Kitty grabbed Johnny's hand and strolled towards the other couple.
Jack saw the two people weaving through the crowd towards them and frowned. 'I swear I've seen that guy before.'
Maddie took one look at Johnny and immediately recognized him. 'That's the guy that was trying to hack into the portal using Jazz… at least now I know why he was interested in it.'
"That guy looks familiar." Jack whispered.
'Well. I suppose it's better to get this out of the way up front.' She thought as the ghosts finally stood in front of them.
"You're the young man that dated our daughter Jasmine for a short while." Maddie said evenly.
Jacks eyes widen in realization. "You tried opening up the Fenton portal!" He said accusingly.
Johnny winched. "I was, uh, um…"
"He wanted to open it so that I could come through. He wasn't looking to hurt it or anything." Kitty explained trying to defend her boyfriend.
"And Jazz was just a means to an end." Jack said heatedly. His poor Jazzy Pants. Her first boyfriend, short lived as it was, had only been using her.
"No, no. I really liked Jazz, I just-" Damn. Dealing with parent had never been his strong suit. He didn't remember much from before his death, but Johnny had the distinct impression he'd dealt with a lot of angry fathers in his past life.
"Look, I'm sorry about trying to use your portal and I'm sorry about pursing Jazz without your permission. That was unfair to both you and to her. She really is a great girl and I never meant to hurt her."
Maddie saw Kitty subtly rub Johnny's arm and sighed internally. She wasn't particularly happy with the ghost. Breaking into the lab and trying to get access to the portal was bad enough, but he'd involved Jazz in all that nonsense as well.
She never said anything, but Jazz was her daughter and Maddie could tell she'd been upset, muted as it was. Jazz had never snuck out of the house before (she was such a stickler for rules), clearly she liked him. When Johnny just disappeared without a trace she'd moped for a week.
It bothered her as much as it bothered Jack but Maddie was hoping to avoid a fight today, so she beat down her frustration with the ghost who had intruded her home and hurt her daughter.
"I appreciate the apology. Perhaps later you could apologize to Jasmine as well." Maddie said neutrally.
Johnny looked from Jack to her. "Of course."
Kitty looked them all over and took a deep, collecting breath. Why did she have to be the voice of reason? "We all make mistakes, that's just the way life is, but it doesn't do any good fixating on the past. I know you and Johnny didn't get off on the right foot but he's not a bad guy. Maybe instead of judging one another, we could do something and get to know each other." She paused for a moment trying to think of a suggestion. "I saw a haunted house earlier that looked fun. Why don't we start there?"
Instead of waiting for a decision to be made, Kitty started off in the direction she knew the house was located. "I think they're corny." She admitted, feeling the Fenton's presence following hers. "But it's part of the appeal. Horror really isn't my thing so if they were actually scary I wouldn't want to go in."
"It's a fun house Kitty, not a haunted house. The one you're talking about is literally called Jason's Fun House."
"It's both. I heard people screeching when we walked by it before so there's some kinda spooky part to it, but since it does say fun house it can't be that bad. It was probably a bunch of little kids that are scared of the dark."
"Guess that won't be an issue for us."
"Of course not. Why do you think I wanted to check it out?"
Maddie could see a large building in the distance and sure enough Jason's Fun House was painted in bright red at the top. 'Gee, I wonder which Jason they're referring to.' She thought sarcastically, hearing a few screams coming from the attraction.
When they got to the fun house, they flashed their wrist bands one at a time to the attendant before stepping through the dimly lit doorway. It was dark inside. Almost too dark to see but the glow emanating from the two ghosts brightened the room enough for Maddie and Jack to see reasonably well.
Jack looked around, taking in the various red spatters on the walls and the spiderwebs littering every corner. It seemed the decorator had been going for a cross between abandoned and murder scene. "This doesn't look like any fun house I've ever seen." He commented eyeing the fake corpse near the center of the room. It was clearly fake but the entrails spilling out of the ripped open stomach looked realistic enough to unsettle Jack. He'd never done well with gore.
The four walked through the room and as soon as Kitty got close enough to the body it jerked upright towards with bloodcurdling shriek.
Kitty squeaked at the sudden movement and noise. "Now that's just rude." She hissed at the animatronic right before slapping it across the face.
"I bet that taught him." Johnny remarked as the thing slowly sunk down.
"Shut up!" Kitty snapped.
The next room wasn't any better. It was a grated floor filled with the sound of hydraulics that no one knew what to make of until a ton of small, stuffed spiders rained down from the ceiling.
Everyone shrieked at the sudden, unexpected contact.
"Hey!" "Oh my God!" "Still think this is a fun house Johnny?!" You thought it was one too!"
Soon enough the down pour stopped and everyone dusted the little black furies off themselves. As they brushed the spiders off, Maddie noticed the creepy toys falling through the grates and moving on a little conveyer belt underneath. 'These get recycled.' She thought mentally putting the pieces together. 'I guess they'd have to. It'd cost a fortune to replace them every time a person stepped through here.'
The rooms didn't get better.
Realistic looking ectoplasm and blood seeped down the walls of one room. Followed by chainsaw wielding zombies in the corridor. A trap door dropped them several feet into a ball pit underground, which was probably the tamest thing in Jacks opinion. After climbing the steps to get back to ground level the door slammed shut and the walls started closing in. Which was bad enough until the spikes popped out.
"This can't get any more cliché!" Maddie yelled frustratedly.
Without any prompting Kitty grabbed Maddie's hand and Johnny reached for Jack's shoulder, both ghosts turning their human intangible. The two Fenton's, recognizing the feeling from the intangibly spray, didn't make any move to dislodge the ghosts grabbing onto them.
When Maddie was beginning to question how the attraction hadn't been shut down the walls stopped their advance. Everyone stood still waiting to see what would happen next. A heavy sliding sound, like rock on rock, filled the air as a door on the wall opposite from where they had entered appeared. Kitty and Johnny let go of Maddie and Jack and dropped the intangibility. The group slowly made their way towards the outside light.
"I'm picking the next ride." Jack announced as they stepped out of the fun house.
No one made any objections.
…..
Hanging out with the ghosts was different than what Jack expected. It felt normal, like hanging out with the friends he used to go out with back in college. Kitty's tongue was sharp, sharper than Maddie's, but she had the same caring touch and thoughtfulness underneath the rough exterior.
And Johnny… well Jack pegged him as a complete asshole but he was surprisingly thoughtful when it came to Kitty. He held open all the doors on the rides for her. Told awful jokes trying to get her to laugh and Jack caught him several times subtly eyeing souvenirs he knew weren't meant for himself.
It didn't erase what happened. Jack was still angry that a ghost had tried accessing the portal. He was furious that his daughter ended up getting caught in the middle. But while the actions were bad it seemed that as a whole, Jack had misjudged the person. Johnny really wasn't a bad guy.
"Oh! Look they have tarot readings here!" Kitty exclaimed spotting the small darkened tent. "Why don't we get our fortunes told?"
"Sounds like fun." Maddie agreed easily. As much as she was a scientist, Maddie did believe in things that science couldn't explain, or at least couldn't explain yet. It had taken years to prove the existence of ghosts and there were still people who didn't believe despite the extensive proof she and Jack had collected.
Ghosts had taught her that the supernatural existed. That other worlds and beings of immense power were real. Her own son was a walking dichotomy between the living and dead. Tarot readings seemed tame in comparison. Besides, who was she to say that some people couldn't have an innate ability to predict the future using cards as a medium?
Johnny shared a look with Jack. "Why don't you two do that and, we'll…" He looked around trying to find something he figured Jack wouldn't object to. 'Bingo.' "We'll try our hand at some of the games over there." He said pointing to a row tents decorated in lights and prizes.
Kitty nodded. "We'll meet you over there when we're done and then we can grab something to eat." She said grabbing Maddie's hand and leading her toward the tent.
Jack looked at the retreating woman before staring at Johnny. "You guys eat?" Whoops. That was probably ruder than he meant it to be.
The ghost shrugged. "We don't need to… or at least not in the same way you do." He amended. "We feed on ectoplasm. The zone is rich enough in ambient ectoplasm that it just bleeds into you. As long as you're there, you don't actively need to seek it out. It's different here though. Any ghost spending a lot of time in the human world would need a steady supply or they'd shrivel up."
Jack wondered where Phantom 'ate'. He guessed the basement by the portal probably had a decent amount in the air but he didn't usually see Phantom hanging out there. "How would you go about doing that?"
"Hm?"
"If you wanted to stay a while longer and you needed more ectoplasm, where would you get it?"
"Oh, well… uh…. I haven't needed to before but, you guys have a lot in your house. I mean just being in your basement would help. For a more dire situation you could ingest some of the ectoplasm lying around in your lab. I saw a vat of denatured ectoplasm, that'd work. And your weapons have a more charged version. That'd work even better."
But Jack couldn't remember any ectoplasm going missing. It's not like it was inventoried the same way stores checked merchandise but it was radioactive so he and Maddie tried to actively keep track of it. And unless he hung out in the lab at night when they slept, Jack knew Phantom didn't typically stop by during the day. Things just didn't add up when it came to him.
Speaking of…. "Can I ask you something?"
"About ghosts?" Johnny guessed. "Sure. But can we do it over there? I actually did want to play something." He said walking towards a specific tent.
Jack followed. "Do you know how to mask energy?"
"Mask?"
"Like can you turn it passive enough to get through a ghost shield." He clarified.
Johnny frowned. "I don't know if masking is the right word for that. I know a few ghosts that can mask their energy to avoid detection. It isn't a common trick but it's far from rare. Most ghosts, me and Kitty included, can detect ectoplasm. In the human world you have to in order to survive. In the ghost zone it's more about being able to judge strength and avoid picking a fight you can't win." He stopped between two games looking back and forth between the prizes hung at the top, contemplating what he wanted to try winning. "But hiding your energy doesn't make it passive and isn't gonna get you past a shield. Where'd you get that idea?"
"I was talking to Phantom a few weeks ago and I wanted to know how he gets around our shields. He said there a few other ghosts he knows that can do the same." Jack explained not seeing a reason to lie.
"Makes sense." Johnny supposed for Phantom at least, his method of getting around ghost shields could be considered 'masking'. It also explained why Jack had mentioned turning energy passive. The kid's energy probably laid dormant while he was in his human form. The combination would be enough to slip through the standard shields.
As far other the other ghosts, Johnny had a few guesses. He knew Clockwork could get through anything. He was one of the most powerful ghosts of all time. Johnny didn't think it was physically possible to keep him in or out of something. If nothing else, Clockwork could outwait a prison and let time erode it. And he had a passing familiarity with Wulf. His claws could cut through anything, Walker's prison walls included.
'I think she'd like one of those.' Johnny decided stepping up to a tin can game. Ten cans stood in a pyramid shape on a platform about 12 feet away from the counter. Four on the bottom, with three on the next row, two on the row above that and one on the very top.
The vendor looked him over. "It's five bucks for 3 balls. If you can knock over all the cans with one shot you get a tier 1 prize." He explained pointing to the large plushies touching the top of the tent. "Two balls is tier 2," he pointed at the middle row, "and if you use all three it's a tier 3. If you don't knock all the cans you don't win a prize, but you can always try again. You can also exchange several smaller prizes from bigger ones. Two tier 3 prizes equals a tier 2. Two tier 2 prizes equals a tier 1."
Johnny reached around in his pocket feeling for the crumpled bills he had stashed there. "If I buy a few games up front is there a discount?" He wasn't sure how many tries it was going to take to get one of the big prizes and he had a limited amount of money.
"I'll give you five games for $20. Sound fair?"
Johnny nodded and handed the man a twenty dollar bill. The vendor pulled three balls from under the counter and set them down. "You friend wanna play to?" He asked nodding his head towards Jack.
"I'm good." Jack said stepping a little closer to watch. His coordination with throwing things had always been atrocious. He wasn't looking to waste money while making a fool of himself. At least he had practice with shooting. Maybe if they could find a target practice game he'd try it.
As Johnny picked up the first ball and tossed it in the air a few times testing its weight Jack considered the ghosts words. He didn't understand how something that apparently shouldn't add up, somehow did just because Phantom's name was mentioned.
"Johnny, why did mentioning Phantom's name clear up the confusion? The question didn't seem to make sense until I told you that I was talking to him." The first ball just missed the bottom most row of cans.
Johnny picked up the second one and took aim. He gave it a good, solid throw. It hit, but higher up, only knocking the top three cans. "Well, I know how he does it and for him, it's a fairly apt description. It's just… he's one of only two ghosts that can do it." The third ball hit the bottom. Another few can fell over but two were still standing.
The attendant picked up the cans and rebuilt the tower before placing another three balls in front of Johnny. "And Phantom isn't your average ghost. You can't always make generalizations and include him." He threw the ball and it hit sending half the can scattering.
"But why? What's so special about him?"
The next ball took out another few cans, leaving Johnny fairly certain he could win a prize this time. "That's not my secret to tell." He said throwing the last one. It missed, having fewer targets to hit. "I may not like the twerp much but I respect him. Telling you what I know would be going behind his back and that's not something any of us plan on doing."
It was a little warped, but there was an honor code among ghosts. Anything to do with death was especially private and left alone.
"Wait." Jack said latching onto Johnny's phrasing. "'Any of us'? How many ghosts know about this secret?"
Three more balls were set down. 'Whoops.' Johnny thought to himself. 'Probably more information that I should have given.' He ignored Jack's intense stare for a minute and focused on the metal cans in front of him. 'It's just like bowling. If I can hit it hard enough the falling cans should be able to knock the others.'
The ball hit dead center and punched a hole though the center of the can tower. Only the middle of the three cans fell. Somehow the two cans sitting on the level above slumped into each other supporting themselves and the can on top.
The middle aged man running the booth whistled. "Never seen that before. Looks like those tablecloth tricks where the plates don't get disturbed."
He threw the other balls and managed to knock over all the cans between the two of them.
"That's a tier 3 prize. Anything from the bottom row."
There wasn't much he though Kitty would like. She wouldn't want a donut or an emoticon. "I'll take the Hello Kitty."
The man handed Johnny the cat plushie, who in turn handed it to Jack, before setting the cans back up.
"How well known is this secret?" Jack asked again frustrated with the lack of response.
Johnny sighed. "It's pretty much common knowledge among ghosts. I mean, I don't know how many know about it firsthand versus just hearing it through the grape vine but, it's something most ghosts know." He admitted. To be fair, the secret of human hybrids existing predated Danny. The rumors had been getting spread since Vlad's accident.
"You got two more games including this one son." The vender said putting the three balls back on the counter.
"If it's such common knowledge why can't you tell me? What's the big deal?" He asked heatedly.
Johnny's eye twitched. The ball hit forcefully and knocked half the cans over. The other ball was thrown, plowing into the remaining metal.
"That's a tier 2. Pick anything you want from the middle row."
The Pokémon were kinda cute, but he didn't bother trying to figure out which one Kitty would like best. It didn't matter since he planned on trading it in for one of the big prizes. Assuming he didn't somehow manage to knock the can with just one shot and win one on the next game. Or completely mess up and not knock over all the cans.
"I'll take the grassy looking hedgehog."
"That would be a Shaymin." The man said climbing up to grab one. "These and the Pachirisu, those are the squirrely ones, are the most popular tier 2s."
Johnny accepted the flowery Pokémon before turning around to face Jack. "Look. I'm sorry you feel bad about being left of the loop but I already told you; it's not my place to tell you. If you wanna know something, you need to ask him. It's as simple as that. How would you feel if I wanted to know something about your lab or your inventions and after you refused to tell me, I tried prying it out of Maddie? You'd be annoyed and angry. And if your wife ended up telling me something then you'd be mad at her too because that would be going behind your back." He handed Jack the second plushie. "It's personal. And you gotta respect that. When he's ready, when he feels like he can trust you with the information, he'll tell you. The brat's a good kid Jack, you should trust him."
Jack watched the teenage looking ghost pick up one of the balls and hurl it at the metal pyramid. It nicked the very bottom can on the right at a high enough speed to knock it and another three cans that suddenly lost their support over.
He supposed he was being unfair to Johnny expecting him to betray Phantom's confidence, (especially if the two were friends) and to Phantom for trying to get information he clearly didn't want Jack to have. It said something though; that ghosts could care. Johnny cared about Phantom. About protecting his secrets and keeping his trust. It was something Jack would have never believed without the evidence right in his face.
"Alright. You can pick another tier 3."
"Actually…" he motioned Jack closer. "Can I trade the two tier 3s for another tier 2? And then can I trade those in for one of the big ones?"
"Well those are the rules. What were you looking to trade 'em in for?" The guy asked as Johnny took the two plushies from Jack and held them up for them to be returned.
"I was looking to get a Catpachino. My girl likes cats. Kinda fitting since her name is Kitty."
The vender hung up the Hello Kitty and Shaymin before unhooking the large Catpachino from the top of the tent. "I suppose so. Does she like coffee to? Or is the appeal just the cat part?"
"Yeah she loves coffee. We both do." He explained gently accepting the prize.
"You boys have a nice day and I hope your lady friend likes the plushie." The man said smiling at Johnny.
"Thank you, sir."
Jack walked with Johnny perusing the various games.
"What are you looking for?" Johnny asked noticing his companion searching for something.
"A shooting game. I can't not win something for Maddie now and that's probably my best bet."
"You can always buy her something."
"You could have to."
"Fair enough." Johnny squinted. "The one on the very end, I think that's a BB game. Will that do?"
"I hope so."
….
Maddie stepped into the tent, following Kitty through a beaded curtain back into a dimly lit space. A veiled woman with dark skin and grey hair sat hunched over a small, silk covered table.
She looked up, smiling at them, and Maddie noticed her eyes were mismatched. One a deep brown, the other a lighter hazel. "Welcome ladies. Have a seat." She said gesturing to the chairs in front of the table. "Which one of you is first?"
Kitty looked at Maddie who shrugged. "Guess I am." She said sitting down.
"My name is Kaya. What is you name dear?"
"I'm Kitty. This is my friend Maddie."
Kaya nodded. "Have you ever had a reading done before?" She asked grabbing a dark navy bundle from under the table and pulling a deck of cards from it.
"Uh… A long time ago."
Kaya held out her hand invitingly and Kitty tentatively grabbed it. "I see." She said closing her eyes. "Decades ago. Perhaps before my time as a reader when you were a younger being." She let go of Kitty's hand.
The two women stared. "Is it so shocking that a physic who can read the future might possibly be a medium who can speak to the dead? This is Amity Park, I don't advertise that skill but at other fairs in other towns I do offer it."
Kaya started shuffling the cards. "Now, did you have a specific question in mind or were you looking to do a general reading?"
Kitty bit her lip. She didn't have any pressing concerns that she wanted info on. The tent had caught her eye and brought back some nostalgia. Back when she was a young ghost, before she had stumbled into the ghost zone, she had accidently come across a tarot reader. It was a younger woman than Kaya, much younger.
The blond had beckoned Kitty over and offered a free reading, claiming she looked like she could use the direction. Kitty hadn't believed in that kind of superstitious nonsense but the fact that the woman could see her when so many others couldn't was enough to draw her over.
She was told that a boy, similar to her, would come into her life in the next few months and together they would travel to a place beyond imagination. Almost two months later she had found Johnny. Shortly after that they were drawn to the ectoplasm of a natural portal and they found themselves in the ghost zone. The experience had been enough to make her reconsider her opinion on tarot reading at least.
"Just a general reading I guess."
Kaya nodded. "I need your energy to read your future. Think you can gently channel some of your energy around the cards?" She asked handing the stack to Kitty.
The green haired ghost accepted it and focused. She gathered energy around her hands, letting it calmly flow over and around the cards.
"Good. Now when people have a specific question in mind they shuffle the deck while concentrating on it. Because you don't have one, I'd like to have you pick a significator. That card will be the lens through which the rest of the reading is done. Take your time and feel the cards. Pick one from wherever in the deck you feel drawn to and set it face down."
Kitty cleared her mind, focusing on the weight of the paper in her hand. Her fingertips brushed the cards back and forth. Finally, she pulled a card near the bottom and placed in on the table as instructed.
"That is your significator. I'd like you to choose another three cards and place them under it, all face down."
When the last card was laid down, Kaya took the deck back and set it off to the side. She flipped the first card over. "The lovers." She said smiling. "I take it something was on your mind when you were channeling your energy. An old memory perhaps?" She didn't wait for an answer before flipping the first of the three cards.
"The hanged man. Despite the name, the card doesn't have a connection with death. In fact, it isn't inherently a negative card. It represents hanging in limbo. In a good place, that can be a positive thing, showing stability and safety. For you though, this is stagnation. I sense frustration with a lack of progress in a very long-term relationship. It feels like a good relationship. Stable, committed, genuine. You both care very much about each other but you've become stuck. Perhaps this is because you don't know where to go or what more you want? I suggest taking some time to think about what you want from your relationship and where you'd like it go."
The next card flipped. "The chariot. This card signifies that effort and the reward to be reaped from it. You two have been on a long journey, both metaphorically and literally and there is still much to come. I see hesitation in you, little doubts in the back of your mind. But there is also determination. You want this relationship to work and you are willing to put in the effort. If you can set a destination in mind, figure out what you want and keep your commitment you will move forward to where you want to be.
The Sun, how fortuitous. It's one of the most positive cards in the major arcana and shows success. I can you going on a trip, a short getaway, and you will find commitment there. It will deepen your relationship and banish those fleeting doubts. This commitment will start your journey together anew. Your path may change from how it is now and I foresee new challenges, I cannot tell big or small dear, but things will work out for the best. In the end you will be happy with the outcome."
Kitty looked pleased with the reading. 'I bet that getaway is our private date but… what exactly is supposed to happen that's gonna 'start our journey together anew'?'
Maddie watched Kaya take back the cards and shuffle them into the deck while glancing at Kitty from the side. She seemed to be thinking about the reading, something obviously clicked together for her but there was another piece that had Kitty stumped. Maddie wondered what her own reading was going to be like.
"Would you like a general reading as well or was there a question you wanted guidance on?"
While the question was expected, Maddie wasn't sure how to respond. Several things danced in her head at once. Jazz was going to college and moving out of the house. Maddie knew from experience how life changing those years could be and she worried but… while Jazz was sheltered socially, she had a good head on her shoulders and more common sense then the rest of the household combined. It was Danny that caused her the most anxiety.
Could she ask about his future? If he was going to face any life threatening battles? If she would be able to help? Maybe that was a bad idea to ask in front of a ghost and someone that could probably see the connection between Danny and Phantom. Perhaps she could gear it more towards his educational future? She didn't dwell on it as much as she did his health but Fenton's always valued education and that was an area Danny tended to struggle in.
Her own future was a curiosity. Were she and Jack near a breakthrough? Would they be able to explore the ghost zone soon or have the fruits of their labors pay off? The ecto-skin was a hard won success but it was only the first step. She was looking for to evolve it into a body suit. A second skin that would increase her abilities.
The elderly woman tilted her head examining Maddie. "Too many things?" She guessed sensing the indecision. "Perhaps a general reading. Whatever weighs most on your mind will affect the significator and can be read."
Maddie nodded at the advice, accepting the deck. "So I just focus on the cards and pick one?"
"Clear your head first, as best you can, and picture the energy in your body flowing into your hands and into the cards. Fill the cards with your energy for a minute, then choose one."
Maddie sat relaxed with the cards in her hands and eyes closed. She tried clearing her head as she visualized energy going from her to the decorated cards. It was like gathering energy for an ectoblast she decided.
There wasn't a clock to keep track of time but when it felt like a minute had passed Maddie ran her thumb along the side of the cards, feeling for one she liked. She ended up pulling one from just above the middle and set it on the table like she'd seen Kitty do.
"Now, pick three more and place them under the significator."
Maddie took her time choosing the cards, waiting as she touched the edges for ones the felt just right until there were three more cards on the table.
"Ready?" Kaya flipped the significator. "The Empress. She represents the mother. The reading will tell about your family and home life."
'I guess if you include my work under homelife that covers everything I was wondering about.' Maddie thought impressed.
She watched as the first card turned over. "The magician. He shows commitment through action. Someone your love will place great faith in you by sharing something with you. This will lead to a deeper understanding and better communication. He also represents creativity and success." Kaya closed her eyes. "You are a scientist… an inventor. You have worked long and hard on a project that has finally borne fruit, but it is only the first step. There is so much more to come." Kaya opened her eyes. "The person you connect with help you with this endeavor and together the creation will be realized."
The next card turned. "The hierophant. He is the bridge between worlds, matter and spirt, and shows the two connecting, merging. I sense for you this card is very literal. You will travel to another place, a world if you will, remote and untouched by humans. This place… I see nothing but green. Perhaps a forest or jungle? The hierophant is a symbol of education, a merging of ideas and knowledge. This experience will open your mind and shift your perception."
Kaya flipped the last card. "The wheel of fortune. It marks the halfway point of the fool's journey. Your life has reached a turning point and is about to enter a new phase. Usually the next half of the journey is a positive one; I believe this to be true for you as well. There will be new challenges and obstacles, perhaps more difficult than ones you have already faced, but you can overcome them and reap greater rewards."
Finished with her piece, Kaya gathered up the cards and gave them a quick shuffle before placing them back in the velvety bag.
"Did either of you have any other questions? Maybe a clarification on something I saw?"
Kitty bit her lip before deciding to ask, "Do you know where my trip is going to be?"
Kaya motioned for Kitty's hand again, closing her eyes as the cold hand slid into hers. She was silent for a few moments. "A place with sand and water. It could be a beach or island or even a simple lake." She said letting go of Kitty's hand.
With no other questions, the two dug out the money to pay Kaya for their reading before thanking her and leaving the tent.
Kitty paused outside looking at something Maddie couldn't see. "I say we hit the food carts then find a table while we wait for them." She said heading towards a group of food vendors.
"How are they going to know where to find us?" Maddie asked remembering that the picnic tables were on the other side of the grounds.
"Johnny can sense where I am, so as long as you stay with me and Jack stays with him, we'll be able to meet up."
"Can he feel you because you're the only ghost here or can he differentiate between ecto-signatures?" She asked intrigued.
"He can pick me out from other ghosts but that's because we've known each other for so long."
"Can all ghosts sense signatures? Or is that more individual?" She hadn't planned on picking Kitty's brain (or Johnny's) because she thought it might be impolite but if they were already on the subject she'd take what she could get.
"Depends. All ghosts can feel ecto signatures but being able to tell things apart, like if a strong signature was really just a swarm of weak ghosts, is based on sensitivity. If you're good enough you can size up strength, core type, age and a whole slew of other things. But that kind of sensitivity is rare. I don't actually know anyone who's that good; I just know that it's possible." She added with a shrug.
"So Johnny… he's sensitive?" Maddie wasn't sure what the baseline was. What the average ghost could feel. And maybe 'average' was subjective. Weak or less intelligent shades might have a different sensing range compared to stronger, more intelligent ghosts. It was humbling to realize that she and Jack knew basically nothing.
The question made Kitty laugh. "Oh he can be sensitive aright, but as far as ectoplasmic sensitivity he's nothing special. I'm way more sensitive than he is. I can feel the ectoplasm on you and Jack, it's how I could tell when you guys showed up and where you were. Johnny can't do that."
"What ectoplasm?" Maddie asked surprised. She knew they ended up covered in the stuff on a regular basis but she figured anything residual would stay on the jumpsuit. That was kind of the purpose of wearing them- it stayed on the suit, not their skin.
Kitty raised her eyebrows. "Your house is saturated with it. The walls, the air. Everything. Considering you have a permanent portal to the ghost zone in your basement it's not exactly a surprise. Anything in your house, people included, would have traces of it." She looked at Maddie's expression. "You didn't know? I thought you had devices that detected that kind stuff."
"Since most of our inventions are made in the basement next to the portal, they're calibrated to ignore low levels of back noise. They wouldn't be able to function otherwise."
"Makes sense." She walked up to a candy cart and looked at the menu. "Can I have two cotton candy's and a funnel cake?"
"You want any toppings on the funnel cake?" The woman manning the stall asked.
"Just powdered sugar please."
"Sure thing Hun, that'll be $13. The funnel cake'll be ready in a minute." She explained.
Kitty looked through her purse while the woman fried the batter. "You and Jack gonna want anything? He seems like he has a huge sweet tooth."
Maddie sighed. Saying Jack had a sweet tooth was a bit of an understatement. When it came to fudge, it bordered on obsession. "I'll get him some fudge... I just have to find it first." She replied noticing lack of said sweet on the menu.
"If you're looking for fudge and chocolate stuff, there's a cart next to the Grease Truck. That's probably your best bet." The vendor replied from the back. "There's an assortment of chocolate dipped items here though if you're interested."
Maddie glanced at the chocolate covered rice krispies. She loved making the treats as a child and happened to like chocolate. "I'll take a chocolate rice krispies."
It only took another minute for the funnel cake to finish frying. Then it was placed on the counter with two bags of cotton candy. The rice krispies wasn't wrapped so the woman directly handed it to Maddie before accepting the money from pair. "Come again."
They walked for a bit, past various rides and vendors, to the picnic area. Most were taken, but there was an open table under an oak tree that looked more worn than the rest. "Did you wanna ask me anything?" Kitty inquired setting the food down.
"What do you mean?"
"You're a scientist Maddie. I'm honestly surprised you haven't peppered either one of us with questions." She replied opening a bag of cotton candy and taking a bite. "You're not curiosity about anything?"
"I figured it would be rude. I'm not exactly an expert on ghost etiquette."
"Well it's not polite to ask how someone died or obsessions but other than that, most things are fair game. And we have some time to kill before they meet up with us."
"Alright." Maddie opened up her own snack and took a bite, enjoying the chewy sweetness of the marshmallow and the hint of chocolate. "Are pairings and communities in the ghost zone common? I always thought ghosts were solitary and because of their territorial nature. I didn't expect to find a couple much less go on date with one."
"That based on haunted house research where there's only one ghosts who chases everyone else away?" Maddie blushed at the remark but didn't deny it. "It's not uncommon." She said in reply to the original question. "There are plenty of kingdoms and organizations throughout the zone. The Far Frozen, Elysium, the Observants, Libra. As for 'pairings', ghosts are just like people. Some never leave their lair. They like being by themselves. Others want to socialize and have friends. Those that do can have a few or a lot. It's a very induvial thing. I meet Johnny when I was a young ghost and we just stuck together."
'Just like people. Danny's been saying the same thing for months.' "What about you? Do you have your own lair or do you live with other ghosts?"
"I have my own but I'm not in it a lot. I like going places and seeing things so me and Johnny usually have to find a place we can stay. Sometimes we crash in someone else's lair other times we find a deserted rock and rest on that. It is nice to go to my place when I need some alone time though. We get on each other's nerves from time to time. What about you? You live and work at your house. That's gotta have its own challenges."
"It does. There's no commute and no boss but there isn't really a separation of work and home. Lab samples end up in the kitchen, prototypes and parts spill all over the house, sometimes one or both of us will fall asleep in the lab and other times we're looking at blueprints in bed. Life just blurs together a lot of time especially when we get absorbed in work and it's hard to stop. I know it's not healthy for anyone in the house; me and Jack get burned out and Danny and Jazz sometimes feel like they're taking a backseat on our priorities list."
"You don't go out much do you?" Kitty guessed.
"This is the first date me and Jack have gone on in years. The last thing that came close was when went to a fudge factory a few years back when Danny and Jazz had an overnight middle school trip. I never realized how much I missed it."
Kitty sat quietly munching on her sugar while studying Maddie. "You've changed."
"Hm?"
"I don't come here much, and Phantom certainly makes sure my visits aren't as long as I'd like, but I've seen you around. I didn't think you'd ever just take the time to sit and talk with a ghost. Not like this."
She didn't ask what had changed and Maddie could almost hear an accusation in the statement. A suspicion in mind that Kitty didn't want to pry at. "Things change and so do people. It's not always for the best but... I realized that what I thought was wrong and I'm trying to do better."
Kitty nodded at the answer before focusing her attention on the approaching ecto-signature. "The guy's will be here in a few minutes. They're finally leaving whatever game they were playing." She said figuring Maddie might appreciate the information.
Sure enough, Jack sat down next to her just a few minutes later and Johnny next to Kitty.
"Hey Kitten, I won you a little something." Kitty raised her eyebrows. "A Catpachino! Look how cute it is!" He exclaimed.
"I love it." She replied hugging her boyfriend. "Two of my favorite things rolled into one."
Jack nudged Maddie. "I won you something to. I don't know if you'll like it or not. I mean you're more of a practical gift person and you don't like stuffed animals much but it's the thought that counts. So I thought..." He pulled a Phantom plushie from behind his back, handing it slowly to Maddie. "I know it's a kinda lame and with all the Phantom memorials around the town, maybe even cliche, but I figured we could give it to Jazz or Danny if you didn't want it."
Jack rambled when he was nervous, although Maddie didn't see why would be now. It was a wonderful present. A little plushie of her son as his hero counterpart. "I think it'll look nice on the dresser next to the stuffed bear Jazz made."
"So, you ladies can see what we were up to. What happened with you? How'd the reading go?"
"Good. I think. Kaya said we're going on a little get away soon and we'll find something we're looking for."
"You think it's the trip we were discussing? The favor the brats giving us?"
"She did say it was by sand and water and we were talking about going to a beach so I'm going to assume so."
"What's the thing we're supposed to find. Did you lose something? Do I lose something?"
"Maybe you'll find that suave exterior you were talking about earlier."
"Now that's just mean." Kitty started laughing at him and Johnny smiled at the sound of it. "What about you?" He asked turning to Maddie.
Maddie fiddled with the plushie in her hands. "Someone close to me is going to entrust me something important and afterwards help with a project. I'm also going to a remote place filled with green that will shift my perceptions and I think these two things are supposed to mark a new phase of my life."
Jack glanced from Maddie, to the ghosts and back again. It seemed like their reading had been a confirmation of some sort. He wondered if Maddie understood any of her's. "Do you have any idea what that means?"
She did. She had several theories as to how all the pieces clicked together. Maddie only knew of one big secret that would somehow change her relationship with said person. And there was no one else that would be of help with the project she thought Kaya had been referring to. If she got the ecto-skin working she was looking to start exploring the ghost zone which fit the description of green and untouched by humans.
"I think the green place is the ghost zone." Maddie replied focusing on that bit. "I guess us finally exploring the ghost zone after all these years could be considered the next step in our lives."
"What about the other thing? You said someone would trust you with something and then help with a project. Who could that be? It's not like there are any other people that could help with our inventions... I guess Vlad might have some insight. Maybe it means he's going to reconnect with us and take up ghost hunting again!" Jack exclaimed thrilled by the prospect of have his old buddy by his side again.
Johnny and Kitty exchanged a look. 'I don't think he ever stopped.'
"Maybe." Maddie agreed. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
Jack got him and Maddie lunch while Johnny and Kitty ate the funnel cake and cotton candy. It was a nice lunch made even nicer by the live music set near the picnic area. It was a band none of them had ever heard of, Julie and the Phantoms. Maddie thought the name was appropriate for their town, especially after Kitty told them that the guys in the groups were actual Phantoms.
"Don't worry, they're not like Ember. I think there's more ectoplasm on you guys than the three of them combined. That girl singing is the only reason you can see them. She's gotta be some kinda of medium or their tether."
The band that relieved them wasn't nearly as good, but they put on a better performance that was still entertaining to watch. When that band finished up the four of them decided to leave the picnic area and head to a souvenir tent.
It was fun to browse through but Maddie didn't think she or Jack would buy anything. He had been right before; she wasn't the type to collect useless junk. Occasionally she picked out sentimental reminders of places they visited but they didn't need a magnet or postcard every time they went to Myrtle's Peir.
She was mostly done looking through the sunglasses table (she really could use a pair but Maddie preferred her infrared/night vision goggles and the store a few blocks over from FentonWorks had better quality pairs anyway) when she saw Kitty browsing the skirts with a sad, wistful look.
"Hey Kitten, look what I found." Johnny held out some small jewelry charm that made Kitty snort.
"Ghost rider? Really? You're so much more handsome than that flaming bald guy."
"You don't think it's funny? I was gonna put it on my bike."
"Johnny you can put that on your bike, it's not gonna stay."
"I'm gonna get one of the bracelets they go on. Whenever we go places we can grab a little something and add it on. It'll be a nice little reminder of all the places we visit and it won't take up much room."
Kitty frowned at him. "Johnny... it's material. How long do you think you can get it to stay on the bike? It's a nice thought and I love it, I really do but I just don't see how it's gonna work. Non of this stuff is phase proof. I'd love a new skirt but it would be exhausting concentrating on it all the time. Physically it would be doable since it's on me but you're not always with your bike."
"I guess I didn't think about that."
The defeated expression he had hurt to look at. "What if we get it and keep it at my place? I know we don't hang out there much but we could always leave it there. It's harder for real world objects to pass through doors."
Maddie, overhearing the conversation, walked over. "I can make it phase proof if you'd like?" She offered. "We do it all the time to our weapons and containment units, it's not a big deal. I could even do it tonight and have it ready in a few minutes."
"That'd be great. Thanks Maddie."
"You're more than welcome. If there was any clothing you wanted I could do the same." She said remembering Kitty's comment about the skirts. Kitty hesitated for moment before turning back to the rack and grabbing two skirt. Those in hand, she stepped over to a different rack and grabbed a jacket she had eyed when they first entered.
"You can get clothes in the ghost zone, they have bazars that sell more than you could imagine but... I don't like a lot of the styles. There are so many things from different cultures and time periods that're just funky looking. This is more what I prefer to wear."
Yet another piece of interesting information. It made sense Maddie supposed. Seamstresses that died would recreate what they remembered. She wasn't an anthropologist but the thousands of years of history that she could see through various item artisans created and sold sounded fascinating. Maybe she could go to one of the bazars Kitty had mentioned. She said as much. "Maybe in return you could show me one of those markets? I'd love to see one."
Kitty looked surprised at the request but nodded. "Sure. We've traveled a lot so I know some great places to see I think you'd enjoy."
Johnny paid for their wares and the four of them left the tent. They spent another few hours walking around, browsing local 4H projects and periodically going on rides.
When the sun starting setting and everyone was getting tired of walking, they decided to hit one more ride; the Ferris wheel. Jack complained about the long line and Johnny thought it was such a cliché, but Maddie and Kitty insisted. They both wanted to see the fair ground lit up in the fading sunlight. Maddie especially wanted to end the date properly, who knew when she and Jack would get out of the house next?
The wheel made three slow rotations before stopping at the top. The sight was breathtaking; the bright tents and colorful lights from the rides mixed with the warm, deep orange sunlight creating a magical glow. She couldn't help herself. She leaned over, giving Jack a long, slow kiss.
Her eyes wandered to the gondola in front of them where Kitty leaned in Johnny. 'Just like us.' She thought.
A/N:
I managed to recover about half of the chapter from my laptop after it got reset. Even with not having to start from scratch it took time to finished and do some minor editing. Free time right now has just disappeared for the most part. I got a job and the hours suck; it's an hour away and my shift starts at 10:30 so I don't get out until 7pm at the earliest. Last night I left at 8:20 and didn't get home until after 9pm. I enjoy not getting up at the crack of dawn (my boyfriend has to get up at 5am for work) but I'm not a morning person and my evenings are so short now.
Chapter notes:
1) Myrtle's Pier. There is an amusement park we see in the show but I don't remember it having a name so I figured Myrtle, like moaning Myrtle from Harry Potter, would be appropriate. It also reminded me of Morey's Pier which I've visited many times in Wildwood NJ.
2) The tarot reading feels like really obvious foreshadowing and it honestly is. I wanted Maddie and Kitty to have some alone time where they could talk and it was a way from them to separate so the guys and girls could have their own conversations.
3) Kitty mentions some places in the GZ including Libra and Elysium. I took them from another fic, Mortified. Elysium is Pandora's lair and Libra is a GZ legal entity.
I don't respond to most comments but I read every single one and they make me so happy to see. Please let me know what you think!
~May