Night Wind
By: Wilona Riva
Disclaimer: Butch Hartman does; I don't.
Emmy
"Oh, Emmy!" Sidney called over the sound of the guitar solo he and Phantom heard as they glided through the trees to a quiet glade by the brook he'd known when he was alive. True, there were less trees and a playground nearby, but mostly wooded. At least the brook wasn't polluted with human trash floating in it, like the one on the other side of town, he'd explored.
Ember looked up and finished her number, then wiped her brow. "Wow, it's hot!"
"Your hair is made of fire," Sidney pointed out.
"You," she emphasized, pointing a finger at him, "need singing lessons. So who's the new guy? Never seen him around before."
"He's a newbie to the human world," Sidney said, suddenly afraid of her. Or rather, her boyfriend, who was always nearby, with a wicked sharp knife in his arsenal. "Uh, Skulker isn't anywhere nearby, is he?"
"No," Ember answered. "Voluntarily surrendering your pelt, dipstick?"
The new ghost frowned, then signed a few complicated symbols to the grey-skinned ghost.
"Phantom, that's the sign for a giraffe," Sidney corrected. "The word you are looking for is 'long-winded', not a long-necked animal."
Phantom glared at him.
"So, again, dweeb, who is the newbie?"
Phantom answered her then. I am one of the Night Queen's phantoms, ryu. I am looking for the sixth and seventh of my kind.
"What? Can't you talk?" Ember jeered.
"It's complicated," Sidney said. He looked exasperatingly at his friend. "He doesn't really have a name like we do."
"Not have a name? What kind of ghost is he? All ghosts have a name inherit from their formation."
I am Phantom. I have no name.
"Like I said, Emmy, it's complicated. His own people call him 'Phantom' because he has no name. He is one of the Night Wind; the part of your people that was cursed by the Ancients."
Phantom sucked in his breath sharply at this revelation. She is Night Wind, not ryu?
Ember smiled wickedly at him. "So, you are one of Lunaris' lackeys, huh, Phantom?"
Before Phantom could respond, a human female's voice came through on a loud speaker. "Danny, time to come home, sweetie. Danny, come on, sweetheart, we can talk about this."
Phantom scowled.
"So," Ember whispered, moving closer, "you do have a name. Nice to meet you, Danny Phantom." With a swirl of aqua-black flame, she was gone.
Sidney jerked his head in the direction of the headlights that were headed right for them. "Don't know what argument you got into with the hunters this time, dude, but you're busted. Time for me to skedaddle."
Left alone, Phantom waited for the hunters, who burst into the glade, jumped out of their overlarge vehicle, and embraced into into a tight, embarrassing group hug.
"Please, Danny, don't run off like that again. We're sorry, but it's school regulations."
"Beside's you want to look your best when we meet Vladdie at his castle in Wisconsin in a few days," Jack added, cheerfully.
"WHAT?!" Phantom's outburst exploded. "I can't go there. He's a half-ryu!"
"Way to go, Dad," Jazz's voice sarcastically said from the vehicle, where she was half-silhouetted in the light. "He doesn't know what a 'reunion' is, yet, and you expect him to know everything. Phantom has led a sheltered life in his world."
An amethyst ecto-ray hit the side of the RV, rocking it back and forth slightly. Jack and Maddie whipped out their ecto-guns ready to fire on the ghost who dared to attack their family. A little girl and boy, not much younger than Danny, grinned cheekily back at them.
The Clockwork Chronos knows about the upcoming trip. He told her you will need help. Dusk and I volunteered. Moon and Bell will be a whistle away, should we need them.
She's leaving nothing to chance, I take.
Correct, Twilight signed back. You'd better explain things to the hunters before they shoot us.
Phantom nodded. He turned and looked at the hunters and their daughter, who had climbed out of the rocking vehicle and was now standing by her parents' side. He touched Dusk, then Twilight, then bowed in respect to the hunters. "The Queen of the Night Stars has been informed of your journey to see the half-ryu, and offers the services of her phantoms as protection. You are highly favoured."
"Okay, little bro," Jazz broke the silence. "It's time for bed. You've had enough excitement for one evening."
"And you still getting a haircut, young man," Maddie added sternly. "Now, all three of you, get in the Assault Vehicle."
We'll fly, thank you, Phantom signed, then soared up into the night air. Looking over his shoulder at his brother and sister, he beckoned them to follow him. Dusk and Twilight joined him; their glowing forms flickering through the midnight-hued tree branches.