Chapter 6: Tori
Shadow was flying around when he saw something wrong at an electronics store. He flew into it and met the master of long-winded introductions.
"Oh, the new ghost boy arrived." Technus says. "It doesn't matter. You can't stop me, Technus, master of all things electronic and beeping, from using this shop's technology to take over the world." He thinks about what he said. "I did it again, right?"
Shadow nods in agreement. "It doesn't matter, Technus. I'll defeat you."
Technus sends a DVD player attack Shadow, who grabs it and channelizes his energy wave through the device's wires, directing it back to Technus (A/N: I don't know if this attack can be used that way but until DPcrazy says otherwise I'll say it can) and weakening him enough to enagle Shadow to trap him in the Fenton Thermos 2.0. The shopkeeper is grateful but has no time to show it as Tori enters and shoots at the ghost boy.
"What's your problem, Huntress?" The shopkeeper asks. "This ghost is a hero."
"Sir, don't let his tricks work on you." She replies. "Shadow is a ghost and ghosts are evil."
"Not this one." Shadow hears the shopkeeper say. He's glad to have earned someone else's trust. Not wanting to see how this argument will end, the ghost boy tries to leave but Tori notices that and hits him with a missile.
"Did you think you could escape that easily, ghost?" She asks as the smoke resulting from the missile disappears revealing an exausted Shadow. Tori is surprised as a pair of black rings appears around the ghost boy revealing his human self.
Speechless, the young Huntress can only think about what she saw. Shadow is Jake? How come he didn't tell me? Did he really think it would make me hate his human self even after his Dad being accepted? I'd better take him away.
I was about to pick him when the shopkeeper angrily stops her. "What are you going to do?"
"Don't worry." She answers. "Now I know Shadow is a human with ghost powers instead of a full ghost I won't harm him."
The shopkeeper nods and Tori carries Jake away. She's still wondering how this is possible. When Plasmius had Shadow 'kidnapping' Jake Abby said she saw both teens at the same time. Wait, my Mom once told me Vlad Plasmius utilized the same trick when the world didn't know he's Vlad Masters. I wonder if Abby can do the same or why would she do so since she has no secret identity.
Meanwhile, Tucker goes to Jazz's house to talk about what he found out about Shadow.
"Tucker, may I help you?" Dave asks as he opens the door.
"Yes, Dave." Tucker answers. "Is Jazz here? I need to talk to her."
Dave nods and goes to call her. Wondering what her brother's best friend wants, she meets him at the living room while Dave goes to Kyle's room to play checkers with him.
"Tucker, you wanted to see me." Jazz says. "What happened?"
"Don't ask me how, Jazz, but I found out Shadow is a half-ghost." Tucker answers.
"A half-ghost?" She asks in surprise. (About Tucker knowing it, that is) "How is that possible?"
"I didn't get in details, Jazz." He answers. "I'm here to ask for your advice."
"Tucker, do you remember I didn't push my brother into admitting he's a half-ghost when I found out his secret?" She asks and Tucker nods. "Well, my reason for this decision is that I didn't want to pressure him so, whoever Shadow's human half is, I won't push him into admitting it. By the way, how did he react by your discovery of his secret?"
"He doesn't know I found out." Tucker replies.
"So, you found out by watching him just like I found out about Danny?" She asks.
"Yes." Tucker answers, not wanting to get into details.
"In that case, I advise you to wait until he trusts you." She says.
"Thank you." He replies. "Good bye."
Meanwhile, at the abandoned GiW headquarters, Tori arrives with the half-ghost she regrets having shot. She didn't want to take him home and either make up a story or tell the truth without talking to Jake first.
Jake wakes up and then notices he's in the training field Matt Foley introduced him. "Matt, did I get tired with some extra training?" He asks, temporarily forgetting what happened to him.
"Did you say Matt Foley?" Tori asks, reminding Jake about what happened. "Is he in your secret?"
"Tori?" The ghost boy asks scared. "What did you see?"
"Where should I start?" Tori sarcastically asks. "First I've seen two black rings forming around the ghost boy I was hunting and then I see a goth friend of mine unconscious where said ghost was and now I see you asking something about Matt Foley and extra training." Jake was now paying full attention. "Why didn't you tell me you're Shadow?"
"What for?" Jake asks. "So you would hate my human self the same way you already hate my ghostly one?"
"Jake, how can you think that?" Tori sadly asks. "I know your sister and your father are half-ghosts and I'm okay with that."
"I know that but I can't help but feel like it would be better to keep it a secret." Jake explains.
"Jake, how did Matt find out you're Shadow?" Tori asks out of curiosity.
"I told him." He sheepishly answers.
"What?" She asks shocked. "You feel like it should stay a secret and you trusted HIM to keep it?"
"Yeah, I know how weird it sounds but I needed to tell someone and he's the only friend of mine who's not a ghost hunter." Jake explains.
"And did Chris already knew it when she defended you from me during that fight I said you were less help than a parasite?" Tori asks.
"No, but I later discovered she found out because I unintentionally reverted back to my human self after that fight." Jake answers.
"Then she already believed Shadow to be a good guy even without knowing he's not a full ghost?" Tori asks and Jake nods.
"Jake, your sister and your Dad are half-ghosts too." Tori says. "You could as well tell them. What's the worst that could happen?"
"They could be angry at me for not telling them." Jake answers.
"The longer you take to tell them the worse will be when they learn the truth." Tori says. "And the shopkeeper also saw you transform. Even if he doesn't identify you your family will probably figure it out when he tells the people Shadow's human half is a goth boy."
Jake gulps. He didn't think about that. They'd better learn the truth from him rather than from another person. "You're right, Tori. I'll get back home right now. Bye."
Tori and Jake fly to their respective homes. When Jake arrives at his, he sees his parents and his sister gathered in front of the TV. "Guys, I have something important to tell."
"Not now, Jake." Danny replies. "A shopkeeper is about to announce a discovery regarding Shadow."
"That's exactly what I" He tried to explain but his sister interrupted him. "Not now, bro. I hope the shopkeeper tells something that makes the world see Shadow as the monster he is."
"Okay then." Jake says, thinking his sister deserves the shock of learning his secret from others.
"After the ghost boy saved me from a technology-obsessed ghost, the Blue Huntress appeared and attacked him and, when she rendered him unconscious, two black rings appeared around him and turned him into a human boy." The shopkeeper asks.
"You heard first from here." Harriet Chin says. "The ghost boy known as Shadow is actually a half-ghost. Do you believe he could be Jake Fenton?"
"I dunno." He answers. "I don't know what Jake Fenton looks like and Shadow's human self doesn't look like anyone I met before."
"And what happened to him and the Huntress?" She asks.
"The Huntress took him away and said she wouldn't hurt him now that she knows he's a human with ghost powers." He answers. "I believed it then but I'm not so sure by now."
"Well, that's all." Harriet Chin says. "This is Harriet Chin saying goodbye."
The Fentons turn off the TV. "Black rings?" Abby asks. "Since when does a half-ghost use black rings to change between human and ghost?"
"Plasmius also uses these." Danny answers.
"Dad, do you think Shadow is Plasmius's son?" Abby asks.
"If so I can't help but feel sorry for Shadow's mother." Danny replies.
"Danny, do you think Shadow might be Vlad's clone?" Sam asks.
"Nah, if so he'd probably look like either me or the fruit loop." The ghost man replies and then remembers his son had tried to tell something. "Oh, Jake, what did you try to tell me when you got home?"
"Oh, I was so shocked about what was said about Shadow I forgot it." Jake answers. Danny didn't fully believe that but decided against interrogating him. "Alright, Jake. Maybe you'll remember later."
"Hey, Dad, if Shadow's rings are like Plasmius' does it mean the ghost boy is so evil as the fruitloop?" Abby asks.
"I've never seen any relation between the rings and the character, Abby." He answers.
"Yeah, Abby." Jake says. "Why can't you react like Tori did?"
"What do you know about Tori's reaction?" Sam asks.
Jake tried to make up some excuse but Abby pointed him an accusatory finger. "There's no point at denying it now. I know the truth."
"You know?" A worried Jake asks.
"Because she trusts a lot on you and you believe in the possibility of Shadow being a good guy, she called you to tend whatever wounds she might have caused him, which means you know his identity." Abby deduces. "So tell us now."
"And what if I refuse?" Jake asks. "After all this is Shadow's secret to tell."
"Then I'll overshadow you to obtain the truth." Abby answers.
"Oh, no." Danny retorts. "You won't."
"Dad." Abby says.
"Jake is right." Danny says. "We must respect whatever reasons Shadow has to keep his secret." He says and then turns to Jake. "Son, if you meet him again please try to convince him to tell us the truth."
"Okay, Dad." Jake replies.
That was close, huh? I want to leave Abby and Danny for the end so, if there's any other character you want to learn the truth before, please tell me and I'll see what I can do. Please R&R.