Danny P.O.V.
The Spectre Speeder was approaching the tower fast. I instinctively pulled my hood up. Clockwork said that no one would piece my identity together by my looks, but I pulled my hood up anyway. For some reason, I felt safer with my hood up. When it's down, I feel naked without the comfort of the shadow over my face.
As the speeder landed, 3 figures emerged. My sister, my best friend, and my beloved exited the speeder. They ran towards the time windows, probably expecting to find Clockwork, but they were quite obviously surprised to find me, rather than my guardian. As they approached, I took an unneeded deep breath, and calmed down. They stopped a few feet in front of me.
"Good morning, Jasmine Fenton, Tucker Foley and Samantha Manson." I greeted them in a kind voice.
"How do you know our names?" Tucker asked me.
"I know a lot." I replied with a grin, adding my own spin on Clockwork's catch phrase.
"Who are you?" Sam asked.
"I am Timeforge, Clockwork's apprentice." I answered.
"What can I do for you?" I asked, knowing full well why they were here.
"If your Clockwork's apprentice, you should know why we're here." Jazz shot at me. I chuckled.
"Indeed I do, but I thought I would let you talk anyway." I replied.
"What happened to Danny?" Sam asked me with a bit of anger in her voice.
"You saw his body; he was killed about 15 hours ago." I answered in a deadpan tone. Sam looked at me with angry, but teary eyes.
"I meant how? And by who?" she hissed.
"He was shot in the chest, destroying his ghost core, and puncturing his human heart. As for whom, I cannot say." I replied.
"Can't or won't?" Sam asked with venom in her voice and tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Both." I replied in a monotone voice. Sam lost her patience and aimed an ecto-pistol at me.
"Tell me what I want to know!" she yelled. I didn't move.
"I cannot." I replied, still in monotone. Jazz and Tucker had were tearing up as well now.
"Liar!" Sam yelled and shot at me. I held up my hand and created and ecto-shield, easily blocking the blast.
The smoke from the blast and revealed me, unscathed, to my friends. I dropped the shield and put my hands in my pockets.
"I do not appreciate being attacked in my own home." I told them bitterly.
"And I'm certain my master would agree with me when I say, please leave our tower." I continued and turned around.
"Wait! Timeforge!" Jazz called for me. I turned and faced her.
"Can you at least tell us where his ghost is?" she asked me. I thought for a moment.
"The Halfling will not become a ghost." I replied, lying through my teeth. All of their eyes widened.
"I am sorry for your loss, I really am, but I've only been dead for 6 months, and contact with hostile humans is not something I want to handle right now. Please show yourselves out." I said with slight frustration in my voice, being sure to show my fangs. Jazz nodded, a little unsettled, and helped the now kneeling Sam up and they went back to the speeder. When they were gone, I lost it. I burst into tears. I wish I didn't have to do that, I really do, but Clockwork said no one can know about me yet.
I pulled myself together, and went to my room. After a hot, 9 minute shower, and reading the book Clockwork gave me for about an hour and 21 minutes, I heard a knock on the door.
"Come in." I said in monotone. The door opened and Clockwork entered.
"Nicely done Daniel, you threw them off your trail well." He said. I nodded in acknowledgement, not quite taking that as a compliment. I hated having to do that.
"Worry not, Daniel. You will see them again, I am certain of it." He comforted. I looked at him with a grateful smile.
"Thank you Clockwork, that helps." I said. He smiled back.
"I will leave you to your book. Don't forget about your telekinesis." He said and left my room.
~1 week later~
The past week has been hard for me, but it's been getting easier. I'm in my room at the moment, reading the final book Clockwork gave me a week ago. He and I just finished a lesson on the Ghost Zone's history. After 37 minutes of reading, I placed a bookmark in the book and practised my telekinesis a little. It was easier now, even after only a few tries. I couldn't levitate anything that was bigger or heavier than a book though. Not without a major dizzy spell and/or headache. After another 52 minutes of levitating books and other small objects, I looked over to my naginata, and decided to try it out. I picked it up, and exited my room.
I walked to the main room and found Clockwork reading a book.
"Clockwork." I said to get his attention. He looked at me.
"I'd like to try out the weapon you gave me, do you know somewhere I can go?" I asked. He nodded.
"Pariah's old keep has a training ground, it is still empty, so you don't have to worry about hurting anyone or doing any damage to anyone's property." He explained.
"I'll be back in a few hours." I told him and flew off.
"Daniel!" he called after me. I turned and faced him
"Yes?" I responded.
"Channel your energy into the weapon, and then absorb the energy back. It will make carrying that weapon easier." He told me I nodded and complied with his instructions. The weapon glowed green and shrunk into the shape of a small black flute.
"Cool." I muttered.
"Thanks Clockwork! This weapon is very much to my liking!" I called out to him and took off to the keep after clipping the flute to my belt.
I flew for half an hour, and arrived at the keep.
"This sure brings back some memories." I thought to myself as I remembered fighting Pariah Dark. I unclipped my flute and channelled my ecto-energy into it, making it grow into a naginata.
"Never gonna get over that." I whispered as I entered the keep and headed to the training area. My weapon was surprisingly easy to use. I could swing it fast, the blade cut through practically anything, and I can channel my ice energy into the blade, and create crescent shaped waves of energy that freeze whatever they hit. All in all, WingBlade is a pretty badass weapon. Yes, I named it WingBlade.
I practiced for another 2 hours and 27 minutes before I decided to head back to the tower. I turned WingBlade back into a flute, clipped it onto my belt and flew off towards the tower. As I was flying, I noticed that it was a lot easier to control my flight patterns than it used to be.
"Must be part of being fully dead." I mused. I landed outside the tower and entered, greeted by the sight of Clockwork speaking with 2 of the observants.
"Ah, Daniel, welcome back." Clockwork greeted.
"Thank you Master." I replied, remembering what he said earlier. I turned to the observants and frowned.
"So, these are the one-eyed jackasses who wanted you to kill me some time ago?" I asked with venom in my voice. I really didn't like the observants, and made no effort to hide it.
"You will show more respect, boy." Observant 1 hissed at me.
"It's difficult to do so when I'm talking to people who wanted me to die. Well, you got your wish." I replied sarcastically. Clockwork smirked at my sarcasm.
"Dead for a week, and he's already a braver ghost than most." I heard Clockwork say, but his mouth didn't move. I decided to refrain from bringing it up in front of the eyeballs. They glared at me with their massive eyes and teleported away, probably not wanting to pick a fight with me. Wise choice.
"Clockwork, can a ghost get telepathic powers?" I asked my mentor. He looked at me, confusion evident on his face.
"It has not happened in millennia, but yes." He replied.
"Why do you ask?"
"I heard your comment about me being braver than most ghosts, despite only being dead for a week." I replied. Clockwork's eyes widened; a look I don't see on him often.
"Amazing, telepathy is a very rare gift amongst ghosts Daniel. But truth be told, I do not know why I am surprised, you are a unique specimen, even for a ghost." He said and thought for a moment. He held out his hand and a rather thick book appeared.
"This book has everything you need to know about ghost telepathy. When you have finished the 3 books I gave you, start with this one. We will not have any more lessons or training sessions until you are finished with it. I want you to master telepathy as soon as possible. Understood?" he asked. I nodded and used my telekinesis to bring the book to my hand. I could at least levitate books without any problems, so I was satisfied with my telekinesis for now.
"Daniel, are you OK?" Clockwork asked.
"Yes, why?" I asked.
"Considering your previous encounter with your friends and sister, I would think you would be a little more shaken up than you show." He said. I sighed. Even he couldn't see my future, Clockwork was still a smart guy, and he can read you like a book.
"Yeah, I am. No use dwelling on it though. What's done is done." I replied.
"I'll be fine Clockwork, you don't have to worry." I told him. He nodded with a small smile of understanding.
"I'm going to miss annoying Jazz though." I said, trying to lighten the mood. It worked, Clockwork chuckled at my humour.
"You did enjoy driving her insane, didn't you? She would have needed therapy soon if she did not end up going to college early." I rolled my eyes.
"I always knew she would go early." I muttered.
"Anyway, I'm gonna go finish the last book and then start this one. Later Clockwork." I said.
"I shall see you in the morning Daniel." He replied and went back to the time windows. I headed to my room and picked up where I left off.
After 3 hours and 8 minutes of reading about ghost reproduction, (GROSS!) I moved on to the telepathy book. It was a much more interesting read than biology and physiology. The amount of things you can do with telepathy alone was fascinating. Just a few of the things I could potentially do include reading minds, linking minds, sharing memories, sensing lies, controlling minds, and so much more. I read the book all through the night. I only went to sleep at about 5:17am. I woke up rather late; 1:32pm.
I got dressed and went to the viewing room.
"Daniel, nice of you to join me." Clockwork said with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. I blushed in embarrassment.
"Sorry, I read the telepathy book for quite a while." I muttered.
"It is not a problem Daniel. I know it is a fascinating subject." Clockwork said with a knowing smile. I nodded.
"I wish to test your knowledge on biology before you go about your day. I am aware I said I would put your training on hold until you finished the telepathy book, but I think I should test you every now and again." Clockwork explained. I nodded.
"Ask your questions." I said simply. Clockwork smiled.
"What 3 aspects are required for ghost reproduction?" he asked. I wanted to facepalm, but didn't. I was trying to get those images OUT of my head. Clockwork saw my distress and smirked. I sighed.
"The sexual act, a mutual desire to procreate, and nothing less than a true romantic bond between the 2 parties." I answered.
"Correct. What powers will the child develop?" he asked.
"It depends on the child's experience in his/her early years. They will develop 1 or 2 of the unique abilities of both the parents, but also their own, along with the basic ghost abilities."
"Correct. What are the basic ghost abilities?"
"Ecto-energy manipulation, invisibility, intangibility, flight, and powers relating to their core's attribute."
"Correct, last question, what are the most common and rarest attributes for a ghost's core?"
"Fire and ice are equally the most common, and darkness and light are the rarest, also equally."
"Correct. Well done Daniel. Ghost hunting must have really put a hold on your studies." Clockwork stated. He was right; I wouldn't have remembered all of that if I was still in school.
"You can go back to your book now." He said after turning around to face the time windows. I smiled.
"Thank you Clockwork." I said and headed to my room.
"It appears your telepathy is getting stronger." He said. I looked at him.
"Excuse me?" I asked, a little confused. He turned around.
"Your telepathy seems to be getting stronger by the day. I recommend you find someone to practice with." he said without moving his lips. My eyes widened.
"Back to your book." He said with his mouth this time. I nodded and went back to my room. I sat on my bed and opened the telepathy book.
"Who am I gonna practise with?" I thought to myself as I continued with the book.