I HAVE RETURNED. LET THERE BE FANFIC!
Danny sighed as he, Sam, and Tucker took up residence behind a dumpster as Skulker fired on them. It was a good thing the mechanic ghost tended to frighten away most people around the trio, as it gave Danny the oppertunity to go ghost and blast his robotic keister back to the Ghost Zone.
"Oh, c'mon Skulker! It's Monday! Can't you at least wait until after the first day of the week?" The halfa complained as they dove and looped through the air in what outsiders would see as a game of tag.
"Technically, whelp, the first day of the week is Sunday. And waiting to mount your pelt on my wall cannot be put to the side for long." Skulker replied as he fired the cannon again, almost catching Danny's leg, only for him to switch to his tail and speed up.
'Wow, Clockwork was right. I AM much faster with my tail.' Danny thought as he swerved to avoid the statue of the mayor. "Hey tin-can! Think you can keep up?" He taunted, aiming downward. He smirked when Skulker took the bait and dove after him, yelling as Danny stopped just as Sam opened the Fenton Thermos. It wasn't the canister, though, that had the ghost frightened.
"AH! Keep that thing back!" Sam had befriened another bat, and it currently was hanging from her skirt edge. "Keep that vile creature away from me!" Skulker backed from Sam with a freaked out expression.
"Aw, what's the matter metal-head? Afraid of a tiny bat?" Danny teased, only to freeze in shock as Skulker rose up and actually cowered behind the halfa.
"That thing is no 'tiny bat', as you put it. That is known as an Erasier." The ghost boy scratched his head in confusion.
"An eraser? Last time I checked, you weren't a pencil drawing." The mecha ghost smacked Danny upside the head, holding him in front like a shield.
"An Erasier. They are creations of the High Council of Observants, designed to 'erase' un-necessary things from reality. I've seen one tiny Erasier destroy an entire army of ghosts." Danny scoffed.
"Oh please..." He was spun round by Skulker.
"Don't believe me? How do you think the Observants were able to seal Pariah Dark away? They let loose an Erasier on his army, and simply strolled into his castle after it was finished." Danny now felt uneasy, and looked at Sam who none too discreetly removed the bat from her skirt and let it fly into a nearby tree. Skulker let go of the halfa and backed away, watcing the tree carefully. "If those things are here in your world, no doubt they are also within the Ghost Zone. I must warn the others immediately. You will do best to step lightly, ghost-child."
With that, Skulker zipped away.
Tucker watched with an open mouth as Danny descended. "Dude, was he serious? How can something as tiny as these bat-things be that dangerous?" Danny shrugged as he changed back. Sam stowed the thermos into her bag.
"Whether he was lying or not, there is definitely something weird about these bats. Danny, do you think Clockwork might know about them?" Danny had not told them about his meeting with Jasle. Clockwork had been on edge about Danny meeting her, there was no telling what would happen if Sam and Tucker knew about her. But both Clockwork and Jasle had seemed to know exactly what the deal with the bats was, and neither were going to tell him.
"I dunno, maybe. OH CRUD!" He had forgotten about visiting the time ghost. "I need to run, like, right now! Guys?" He gave them a pleading look, and Tucker threw a half-crushed can at him.
"Dude, just go. We'll handle the old folk." Danny gave them a thumbs-up, and zipped away through the sky. Before going through Skulker's portal, he made sure to check that he wasn't carrying any 'passengers'. It wouldn't do to make anyone panic.
"Hey ghost-boy! Where ya oftu?" Ember called as she watched Danny fly overhead. Kitty and Johnny were helping her set up a small stage, and Danny rolled his eyes when he saw the giant sign comprised of the siren's name. Once a drama-queen, ALWAYS a drama-queen.
"Hi Ember, hey Kitty, yo Johnny. I'm going...some place." He explained lamely. The three gave him a collective, confused look. Johnny hefted a steel girder onto his shoulder.
"That...makes...sense?" The other male ghost responded slowly. Danny gave an awkward smile and began flying away, when Kitty called to him. "Hey, by the way, do you know what's up with Skulker? He came by all freaked out, and flew off screaming about erasers."
Danny shrugged nervously. "Maybe he marked the wrong answer sheets?" Ember scoffed.
"That bone-head isn't smart enough to take a test. He probably just pissed off a school ghost or something." Danny smiled and took off again. He kept flying and soon enough he reached the familiar castle. He looked through the window, and saw Jasle, peering intently into one of the gears. She had about four bats flying around her and Danny tried not to shudder.
"Hey dumbass, I can see you hiding. I smell your fear...Wait, you had fish tacos for lunch?" Danny almost fell from where he had been hovering near the window. He got up and flew through the window, landing behind her.
"Jasle, right?" She tilted her hat to him. "Look, Clockwork told me not to talk to you, so I don't think-" Jasle cut him off by bringing her hand against his throat. Her cape had turned into a blade.
"Clockwork doesn't know what's good for anyone. Not even himself. That time-fool is going bring down everyone around him." She removed the blade from where it was pressed against his skin. "You'd do best to avoid him, ghostling."
"And why is that, Jasle?" Clockwork looked surprisingly calm, given that every time before he had been trying to set the witch on fire with his mind. It put both Jasle and Danny on high alert. Clockwork floated towards them, giving Jasle a one-armed hug. Danny could make out mumbling, and when the ghost drew away, Jasle looked grim. "Understood?"
She nodded, backing away. She disappeared in a plume of blue and purple smoke. Danny had a strange sense of forebiding unease, and it doubled when Clockwork wrapped around him in a way that reminded the halfa of an anaconda.
"Oh, Danny..." The ghost sighed, ruffling the boys hair gently, his arm hooked tightly around Danny's waist. It tightened further until the halfa winced and struggled to free himself. He began to panic when he realized he wasn't able to get free.
"Clockwork, let go of me." He demanded, and was thoroughly shocked when he was sharply cuffed over the head. The blow caused him to warp back to human, and the Time Master held the now-limp boy. His head was spinning in a daze, and he was only slightly aware of Clockwork carrying him somewhere. It turned out to be the bedroom he'd first woken up in. He was laid on the bed gently , and Clockwork mumbled as he pulled the boy's shoes off and tucked him in.
"I've waited long enough, Daniel. I did my part, but you have yet to fill yours. I'm tired of waiting..." Clockwork voiced faded away, as he both left the room, and as Danny's concious mind slipped away. He felt the cold smooth silk on the bed touching his neck, like an alien hand-
And then he dreamed.
READ AND REVIEW! Rejoice, my avid readers. I'm not dead yet! I've just been dealing with two new stories that won't leave me alone.