Chapter 3 "A Saturday Lost"
Greetings my dears and welcome back. Though I am unsure how welcoming I can be for there is trouble in my crooked house this night. It seems while I stood guard by the fire telling tales one of the children fell Ill while playing marry games with one of the others.
Get your minds out of the gutter I'm talking about the 11 years olds my dears.
Gwendolyn lay there in her bed with Zak holding her hand. Lyn and Kirby exchanged dire looks as I stand over the girl.
"Not one ounce of Mana in the girl not any longer that is. Dear Zachary, what were you two up to?"
The boy looked up at me with ancient eyes and spoke like a showman from golden age Hollywood.
"Why great Eon Prime? The reason anyone questions a dragon! To learn secrets lost to the ages of course. This girl wanted to know how to defeat an ageless predator at its own game of course! I fear she found the thing inside her at last and consumed it. What can I say you are what you eat and that creature within her was hardly what I'd call alive."
Then for just a moment unimaginably thin, he's a boy again.
"You can help her right?"
I try to sound maternal. I'll never have children of my own not now but I try to be there for my young ones truly.
"I certainly intend to try young Saturday. Lyn, Kirby, I'm going to need a favor from each of you. Feed her Mana but just in tiny amounts no more like feeding a baby bird with an eyedropper. Then I'll need ghostfreak."
Kirby and Lyn just exchanged wordless nods and went to work. She knelt by the bed, took the hand of the girl so very much like her but so very different, and closed her eyes. The star-shaped tattoo on her face twinkled in time with the crystal on her neck.
Kirby spoke.
"Anyone that doesn't need to be here should maybe go out in the hall this is going to be hard to look at."
None of us moved but it's kind he warned us.
In a flash and a whisper, Kirby was gone.
"Ghostfreak."
We should have listened the thing's head was upside down and it was all claws and tentacles. Anyway, the mouth opened and a tentacle reached out touching Gwendolyn's cheek.
"Nothing. She is cut off from the ghostfreak hivemind totally. Removed from that ectoplasmic web she has no way of storing or processing life energy."
I frowned knowing how bad this is.
"Can you manipulate her like a ghostfreak minion, and grow webbing of your own?"
The thing that is also Kirby turned its head right side up I think to try to disgust me less. It failed.
"I suppose but I will not be able to bond her to me the link will just dissolve when I time out."
One day dear Kirby will learn it's not all about him.
"That's fine Kirby. I need internal webbing that can support a power source. Then, Zak, you'll need to run an errand for me."
He looked up at me with that desperate hope in his eyes only a child can have. Gwendolyn's been good for this boy I can tell. If only she'd done as well with William.
"What do you need me to do?"
I smiled I can't help it.
"There are Phantoms in Amity park only partly human. One of them was a deeply flawed clone and needed medicine to stabilize her. If Gwendolyn is like anything on earth it's her. Find more of whatever they gave her and bring it back. It should be at Fenton Works."
Turning to leave I speak to Zak as I do.
"You're on your own for a ride my boy. Be careful near those Phantoms, there is a time walker that watches over them. He is very possibly the most powerful among us and it will be all I can do to hide you from him."
I'll never know what happened after the door closed behind us. I was too focused elsewhere to check. I'd imagine those two still being new to my home, and not yet feeling like a member of "the family" as it were, had a dreadful idea. One or both of those lost young people saw an opening to grab power and the security that comes with it.
"Ultimate ghostfreak."
"Kirby, what are you doing?"
In my armor and again walking in eternity once more. I watch young Zak walk out the back door his claw artifact in hand. He remembers to close the door like a good boy. Then he walks out into a forest the brothers Grimm would have a field day writing about.
Ten minutes in and he can see nothing but something can see him. It seems that the thing that caused all that ruckus the other night has caught his scent. If the boy cares he doesn't show it. He's in truth using his powers to clear a path through the other unkind things that dwell there. Giant spiders wolves and other things. Darker things that walk like men when they have a mind too. Whatever is following him I can see clearly, but none of the nasties out there bothered it either.
By the time he reached the Forest door atop the old burial mound, it was on him. Coming up behind him like a wolf in the night. Zak fell into a forward roll as Tsul 'Kalu the ancient Cherokee spirit of the hunt smashed his stone ax down on the spot the boy had just been standing. Zak was on his feet and facing the man-beast.
What the boy couldn't see through the haze of dirt kicked up by the blow I could see clear as day. The left side of the creature's face was gone only bone and an empty eye socket remained. This twisted realm has made this creature's immortal existence into a curse sad really.
"Greetings and Bienvenu ancient Hunter. I am pressed for time shall we simply part ways in peace I have no quarrel with you today."
The fog of debris parted as the greatest hunter of story and legend walked clearly into view. I was far too wary who might be watching to help, even hear. Poor boy, I hope I don't need to send someone else in his place I've rather gotten used to him.
The beast let out a sound halfway between a roar and a Cherokee battle cry. The blood of everything in earshot myself included went cold. Zaks' eyes flashed with an ancient power that scoffed at inconsequential things like time. A tiny sliver inside that boy really is immortal in a way I don't think even that Paradox monster is.
Zak raised the claw to a ready position like a swordsman.
"Last warning I don't have time for you today."
It changed him Zak just sidestepped him and smacked him in the rear with the claw.
"Too slow, and I've spent too long in Weird World to be any nicer I'm sorry."
The think uprooted a tree older than any or all of my children and tossed the mighty oak at the boy like it was nothing.
Zak dropped flat against the ground and it sailed right over him. When he rolled to one side to get up the ancient thing not entirely human or cryptid was looming over him. Zak just smirked.
"Fulminus venite!"
Black lightning fell from the broken sky and struck the hunter down. Zak stood and the dance of the immortals was over almost.
Zak sounded just like Argost and I was a little sad.
"The old lion looking for a good death hu? It would be tragic if it wasn't so pathetic. I live in a macabre manor house with a library instead of a TV. There are at least a few books of magic about. From time to time I even read one.
And here I thought he was reading those Potter novels I brought back from dimension 27 where Harry kills Ron to be with Harmony. He must have been trying to impress our little Gwen.
The boy then touched the claw to the corps and white light ran up the length of it, then up Zaks' arm and all that is or was Tsul 'Kalu was gone. Power passed from one immortal to another, and endless existence was absorbed into another. Some say KUR came to earth with his children long ago to battle her brother Diagon to claim his power thusly.
Yes, dears, having a Zak Saturday around gives me a back plan if the monster that took my heart returns one day. My main weapon is well let's save that for later, shall we?
The boy turned away and with a muttered word the portal at the open mound opened.
The city of Amity Park.
Eighteen months after the phantom "Planet incident".
I watch Danny Fenton creep into a dark room like he expected to find something horrific inside. He did, depending on your perspective.
Danielle his underage clone was curled up under a blanket with a box of fudge in one hand and an old tablet pc in the other. She looked like she'd been there all week.
The boy tried to sound parental.
"Dani you've been up here all week. Put down the tablet and the fudge. It's just you and me while Mom and Dad are dropping off Jazz at college. You and I are making dinner."
The young girl looked up at him with some fudge on the corner of her mouth.
"No thanks I have fudge and YouTube."
Danny Fenton did the unthinkable. He pulled out his cell phone and pressed a button on the screen. Danielle looked at the tablet in abject horror.
"No INTERNET?!"
She looked up at him with murder in her glowing green eyes.
"You MONSTER! Give it back!"
"Kiddo I'm sorry you got dumped, but it happens."
The girl curled her lips into a snarled and snapped.
"How would you know?! You've had exactly ONE girlfriend and your parents signed her Christmas card "Happy Holidays to our future daughter in law"!"
Danny shrugged and two ghostly clones of himself picked the girl up by her arms and floated her down the hallway. She moaned as only a 13-year-old can.
"I haaate you, Danny."
Getting to the kitchen Danny tossed a bag of frozen food to her.
"Ok, this has broccoli in it so it's got to be healthier than what you've been living on. After we eat we are going to …."
Danny got cut off by the doorbell.
"I'll be right back, find a clean pot with a lid please."
Danielle tossed the bag of frozen food over her shoulder and followed Danny silently.
Zak sat on the steps outside Fenton Works and tried to make the aching feeling from the fight with Tsul 'Kalu seem worse than they were. He remembered I think this place from his own world a list of Secret Scientists his parents told him were trustable. It's a long shot, but it is not like TIME is on our side.
Ironic really, being a time traveler always seemed to be like being a wizard in a fairytale. Wizards in fairy tales have no rules, like the real wizards I've met my fellow time travelers just play by a different set of rules than most. The rules, however, are definitely there, just unseen by those that don't walk in eternity.
What's that? No dears I'm not a wizard, I've just worked closely with one or two for a long while.
Danny opened the door and I was powerless to do anything but try to block out the vision of an old ghost I know for a fact is more powerful than that monster Professor Paradox that took so much from me. He saw Zak looking like he just got into a fight, and he had. Danielle peeks over Danny's shoulder and jumped through the boy, to catch Zak as he fell.
Zak looked up at her and I have to admit put on one hell of a show. He leaned on her heavily, guessing she was stronger than she looked.
"Greetings and Bienvenue lovely Phantom. I could use a hand if you don't mind?"
Danielle half panicked.
"Oh NO CALL A DOCTOR AND A SURGEON CALL A DOCTOR WHO IS ALSO A SURGEON!"
Danny rolled his eyes.
"Dani you really are 13 and 2 all at the same time. Get him downstairs, I'll get the first aid kit and meet you there."
The pair limped off and oh no. Work fast my little Saturday. Danny took out his cell phone and dialed a number.
"Aunt Drew it's Danny. Hay I know Zak needed to reschedule his play date with Danielle because you guys had that sewer monster thing to deal with. The thing is Zak just showed up ALONE at our place looking like he'd just been in a fight. It doesn't look too bad so please don't worry. I'm going to take a look at him in a minute, please call me when you get this message."
Zak sat on an examination table across the room from the ghost portal. I can feel the power in that portal even here between two ticks of the clock. Power enough to change the world in the hands of marginalized lunatics on the fringe. Such a waste.
The young girl neither entirely human nor ghost fretted over him in a way only one with a first crush can.
"Ohh M Gee You look like you got into a fight with a bear! Was it a cryptid bear? Did it hurt you? Is it still around I'll smack him around!"
The boy's act I admit was a bit forced but it worked because she was after all young and hadn't done this dance before.
"I know you would. You tough girl I kinda like that."
Dani I may have to go looking for a version of you at some point. The way she blushed when he gave that lame line was just too much. Shame none of us have the time for this. The older boy walked into the room with a first aid kit that was the size of a professional mechanics toolbox. He set it on the counter and turned to the pair. My heart, my poor heart skipped a beat as he spoke.
"I need to run a scan to check for head trauma. Why don't you uum you know go get cleaned up."
The girl raised an eyebrow and Zak gripped the claw tightly. Danny worked a nearby control panel cool as ice I have to admit.
"Kido you're wearing one left sock, a pair of dirty rainbow dash pajama bottoms, and a t-shirt with half a candy bar worth of fudge on it."
The girl's face went flush with embarrassment, she turned invisible and ran from the room in childish shame.
"Oh M Gee I haven't had a shower in two days!"
Danny looked over at Zak gritting his teeth into a fake smile.
"That was a mean thing to do to someone man."
Danny walked over to Zak and put his hand on the claw. I've never seen him let anyone touch that thing, not even me. The older boy spoke.
"Mind if I put this over there? It's getting in the way of the scanner. I have to power down when I go through it."
He let it go, I have to admit it was the right call considering the circumstances. If only he'd known the poor boy. If only I could have helped.
Danny set the claw down on a table half a room away. Zak watched him open the tackle box-sized kit and his eyes narrowed on a bright green compartment with the ghost girl's silhouette on it.
Danny lied, the clever boy. Damn him.
"So Sarah has gotten all broken up you too had your little fight or whatever. You didn't do something stupid like getting beaten up to get her to forgive you did you, Zak?"
My poor boy tried I'll give him that, but he'd never met this ghost girl.
"Sarah's a special girl and…."
Danny reached to his left and hit a large red button and Zak found himself inside a glowing square force field cutting off his response. To his credit, he didn't break character just yet.
"Umm Phantom?"
Danny powered up into his ghost form and the room flashed with rings of green ecto-energy. He held up his cellphone to Zak. There was a picture of a muck-covered Zak Saturday standing next to his mother. The boy was older, a bit taller, and dressed in some kind of hard armored suit.
I couldn't read the text clearly but it was in bright red letters.
Danny spoke his words full of dry sarcasm.
" "Danielle" is my cousin's name actually. So you are Zak Monday hu? That's original let me tell you."
My Zak stopped acting his eyes glowed with an otherworldly fire, Argosts mannerisms working their way into this speech pattern.
"No just a rougher Saturday than most. I'm only going to say this once dear Phantom. I require medication for someone part ghosty just give it over and I'm gone. You will never lay eyes on me again sir."
Then the ghost boy said the wrong thing. How very rude of him.
"Anyone ever tell you that you sound like that guy from that old show Weird world? V. V. Argost I think."
Zak lost his temper and four tiny newborn Lufferlang spiders descended from the ceiling of the lab. One of them landed right on Danny Phantom's face. The boy screamed an otherworldly scream that cut through the barrier between realms enough to make my ears ring. Zak raised his hand and the Claw floated from the tabletop and hit the off switch for the forcefield. Danny rolled on the ground ghostly cold billowing from his mouth turning the lab into a winter wonderland. Zak picked up a nondescript cylinder from the first aid kit and walked for the door claw in hand.
"Bonne soirée my dear Phantom. Do be careful Lufferlang spiders get ravenous in the cold."
Upstairs Danielle was in the shower and she thought she might have heard something, but ignored it. She did after all need to look good for her boyfriend rather fast.
I put the needle into Gwendolyn's arm myself. Her pretty red hair turns white, and she slips into a peaceful slumber. In an hour or so Kirby tells me the webbing is holding and the needed ghostly bits are growing in nicely.
My guard goes down eventually and I remove my armor. If the ghost of time had noticed he'd have made his presence known by now I think if he was going to. My smile is a wide, genuine thing that hasn't been so in longer than I can remember. I hug Lyn Kirby, and Zak all, then promise them a gift for keeping my littlest charge going. Zak sits up with Gwendolyn for the night. While the rest of us retire at last.
For once all is right with the world in my crooked house this night.
I never noticed Clockwork the Ghost of time, looking down on us all from overhead.
Next: "The girl that wasn't there."
Note: Thanks again to my beta reader drwhofan13.
Note number 2: Danielle living with the Fenton's was something that would have happened had the Danny Phantom show continued. Just consider Danny and company as having had another season or worth of adventures we didn't see between the end of the show and them appearing here.
Note number 3 cleaned up a few things.