Valerie headed into Ember's kitchen, which had been divided into two halves. On one side everything was ecto, and on the other was as much as it could be in the ghost zone a perfectly normal kitchen - "To you anyway," Val reminded herself. "Why the ecto kitchen is probably normal to most of the ghost zone inhabitants." Val carefully got out some food, and hoped that Ember would remember to stock up, - hopefully without robbing the place, especially since she had planned on visiting Dad, her estranged husband. Val wondered how easily she had fallen into this pattern.
"Because unlike Phantom, Ember has never lied to you. Misled occasionally, but never lied. And despite her being reckless, she does love you. You will still have to oppose her at times."
Ember flew on her guitar. Now where was the dipstick, she really needed to find him before it was too late. Clockwork said it was a race against time. And he'd given her a small gift. She hoped this would work. Ember concentrated and blasted the ghost near Danny yelling "HEY! Dipstick!"
"Oh great the lame haired, no hit, wonder."
"As much as I'd enjoy a fight I have more urgent business - a message from Clockwork."
A small piece of ecto detaches itself, and forms itself into Clockworks head. "The medallion is important Phantom. Wear it. If you want to know more about why I sent Ember, talk to her. I advise you do so and quickly - Time is running short."
"Okay, why you? We're not on particularly good terms."
"It involves a friend of yours who happens to be my daughter."
"You can't have a daughter, Ember, you're my age. Besides I'd have noticed a ghost."
Ember sighs, "Two things, ghosts can cycle, and I do or at least did. And if anyone should know that ectoplasm and DNA can combine it'd be you. You did it the hard way, and were straddling both worlds at that time. So you became half-a-ghost or a halfa. My daughter was born in this world, and is another type of half ghost. She's spiritborn. Ever wonder why I narrowed down my plans to Amity after the concert?"
"No." Daniel sheepishly stated.
"Because my daughter lives and works here, and yet you keep encouraging her to see you as a bigger danger than any other ghost. Despite the fact you trust each other in so many ways, in this one thing neither of you do. My daughter is Valerie Grey."
"You're her? The punished spirit?"
Ember nods sadly. "I was also The Wisconsin Hunter. I wasn't punished for that. Protecting my haunt was legal. I was punished for having a relationship with a human. It'd probably have been overlooked if not for two reasons. One was Valerie. The other was that the complete Cadbury's had finally mastered his powers and reported me to Walker."
"Cadbury's?"
"Sorry I slip into my old slang at times. Cadbury's Fruit and Nutcake - The American equivalent ..."
"Would be Fruitloop." Danny completes. "But I have to rescue Val."
"Take this medallion, and then if it becomes necessary to rescue her you will be able to, but for the moment, she's staying with in my realm. And if you ever need to find hers it's where you both hid from Skulker. Head back to Damon's and he'll explain more." Ember paused to form a natural break in the information flow. "Share the ghostly information with her, then reveal, dipstick! You'll find both her life and yours a lot easier. I have to go before I let Spectra return. I'm linked to her. You've always fought us closely together. We're sprits of emotions. She's misery I'm joy. Too much of one of us always invites the other. So see you later."
Ember disappeared in a massive whirlwind that Danny recognised and known he had seen elsewhere but couldn't quite place it. Still it wasn't as if he had to worry too much. It would be best to visit Damon, especially since things seemed to be calming down. He wondered why especially since Walker wasn't one to give up lightly .
Little did Danny know while Walker had immense power there were beings of such power that they effectively had free reign from him. The main job of his men was to warn him so he could batten down the hatches. Despite having a large army Walker was a creature of rules. Many contradictory to be sure, but Walker could not disobey the base rules without a ton of bricks falling upon him. This left him at a disadvantage in open warfare where despite best efforts there are only a set of guidelines which can be and often are broken.
This time when Danny attempt to enter through the walls into the Grey's house he got repelled. Damon recognised the pattern and carefully ushered him into a safe zone he had created.
"Damon. I've got to get Val. She's with..."
"Ember. I know. And that's made me relieved. She'll look out for Val, even if Ember is still in the take over the world stage of her cycle."
"You trust her?"
"With Val, definitely. She's searched so long, and while she might have done desperate things to gain her attention, she needs the time with her, even if Val might not remember her. Still since I now know who Ember was, I'm more relieved about Valerie's position. I'm just upset about my own idiocy. I should have realised she was safer in Vlad's suit."
"Why?"
"Unlike you, she isn't a ghost, so how can she lift weapons that break the laws of Physics?"
"Be impossible unless- no even my... the Fenton's weapons obey the laws of physics for lifting. So she has a ghostly power or two?"
"Yes. Minor short-range ecto-technical control. Nowhere as Precise as Technus' of course, but she can do it-just like her Mom. I just wish she hadn't kept her guitar in our bedroom."
Danny looked Damon up and down for signs of enchantment but there weren't any. Ember's story was true? She had settled down in the human world, and had an enjoyable time. Then he looked at the varying magazines with Ember on the cover. He remembered the Wisconsin hunter, and much of what had been hidden but he doubted Sam or Tucker would.
"So Ember's your wife?"
"Ex-wife. We knew we'd split when she cycled but I am glad she's alive. Ember's the one who taught Val how to fly. It took her a little time to get back into the habit but once she did."
"I was only saved by her great aim." Danny stated. "Okay - this stuff is for Val. The different ghosts I've faced and statements about what to do. I'm in a fair bit of trouble, and I trust her to be responsible with it, unlike the Fenton's."
Danny leaves from the safe zone ,whereupon he encounters someone he had hoped not to see for a long time, since he had only defeated this ghost by luck, and even then the ghost would have achieved his aims if not for Clockwork.
"Looking for the traitor Valerie? You'll never believe where she is..."
"Ember's realm right?"
Dan Phantom looked shocked. Still the next thing would surely provoke massive rage from his younger self.
"When you went to rescue her despite not being enchanted she defended that Siren."
"Hardly surprising" Danny said feeling that mentioning why Val had defended Ember was best left unsaid. And then Danny shivered, he had a temper on him, and for this elder version of Danny, Val had betrayed him. It was only too obvious why Dan Phantom had arrived now. Dan Phantom had no emotions except one which rose and fell like the tides -Rage. Cold icy rage. Rage at everything that betrayed him. And Danny was on the receiving end of it...