Time's Reflection

By: Wilona Riva

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom.

Whoever dreamed up Scrabble had an exaggerated idea of how many seven-letter words have five i's. ~Robert Brault

Raw Disordered Heap

The group appeared in a chamber that Frostbite had specially prepared for his guests from the other ghost realms; a large central fire burning on the hearth gave the room a Hestia feeling. Everyone except for Vlad and Danny ran for the fire to warm the ice crystals flowing sluggishly through their veins.

"How'd you do it?" Danny demanded, whirling on his mentor.

"For me to know, you to find out," Vlad said, smirking at the boy, then blinked. "Have you taken a good look at yourself in the mirror lately?"

"This morning while brushing my teeth. Why?"

"No reason."

"Welcome, Prince Phantom. Welcome, honorable guests," Frostbite's booming bass rang out from a door that had been hidden in the icy wall.

Paulina screamed at the site of the overfriendly yeti chieftain of the Far Frozen; Dash rolled his eyes. "Paulina, get a grip. Yeah, he's a ghost, but our hero, Danny Phantom, will protect."

Danny turned and eyed the blond-haired jock. "I will? I mean, I will, noble citizen..." He puffed out his chest and marched comically over to Frostibite. "Clanleader Frostbite, I, the great Danny Phantom, ask your leave to escort my friends, family, and mentor to the fairgrounds where we may participate in grand winter pageantry and fun."

Frostbite's amber eyes twinkled in reply. "I, Clanleader Frostbite, hereby grant you leave to join in the revelry, Great One, except for the tall female behind you. Her presence is required by my ladyship; I will escort you, if you will permit, my lady huntress."

Maddie giggled at the silliness of her son and his foster father. "Danny, deflate please, you look rediculous. Plasmius, will you watch the children for me?"

"To light and guard, to rule and guide," the ghost replied. "Come, Daniel, let us anon."

"After you, Dracula," Danny said, stepping aside and motioning him forward.

"This place is beautiful," Sam whispered, as they emerged from the icy tunnels below the citadel. The full mid-winter sky above them was ink dark and studded with stars. Icy blue torches lined the avenues, spreading a soft cobalt light around them.

"Yeah, so where's the fun?" Dash's nasal voice broke out behind them.

"Peace, dude," Tucker said, glaring at him. "We'll get there."

"It is this way, children," Vlad answered, pointing toward the violet big top tent rising from the next square over. Frostbite's citadel was set in concentric squares, almost in a spiral pattern, designed to confuse any thrall under Pariah Dark's power, Danny remembered from his history lessons with the Clockwork Chronos.

"Last one there is a rotten basilisk egg," he called out, running forward through the crowd.

"Daniel!"

By the time Plasmius and the humans caught up with Phantom, he had his nose plastered against a glass case enclosing a poster advertising the various acts including a monologue by the Human Freakshow.

"So sweet," he exclaimed. "She really did manage to catch a human."

"I know," Apricot said from behind him. "This is so cool."

"Apricot, when you'd get here?" Danny said, turning around and hugging her.

"Plum?"

"And you too, Plum," he said, affectionantly rubbing his pet' s eye stalks. "I hope you behaved for Master Clockwork and Apricot."

"Keep the pancakes coming and he's happy as a mist whisp," Apricot murmured. "So, I know you didn't come alone, Danny. Where are the others?"

"Youngblood's coming later with Jorge and Alice. Ember and King Pariah will join us shortly. The others should be right behind me," he answered.

"That we are," his mentor's cold voice whispered in his ear. "Do not ever do that again, Daniel, or the consequences will be dire."

"Are you threatening the Prince of the Ghost Zone?" Apricot snapped, glaring at him.

"PLUM! PLUM! PLUM!"

"If the shoe fits," came the retort.

"Plum, stick..."

"Hey, let's go ride the bumper cars," Paulina called out, pointing to the ride nearest them.

"The ticket booth's over there," Tucker added. "I'm game."

"Same here," Sam and Dash spoke in unison, then shuddered.

"Creepy," Plum spoke up.

"A new word?" Danny asked, arching one eyebrow at Apricot, as they all queued up for the ticket taker. "Um, Paulina?"

"Yeah?"

"They don't use coins in the Ghost Zone," he said, indicating she should put her money away. "Let her mark the palm of your hand."

"Thank you, Prince Phantom," she purred.

Sam growled from next to Danny. "I hate her."

"No, you don't," Danny muttered in an aside. "Hate is a really strong word, Sam." He gave his palm to the ticket taker, a green-skinned woman dressed as a harem girl from the Arabian NIghts.

"Hi, Desiree," he greeted her, as she caressed his palm.

"Much joy in your near future," she teased, the mark of King Pariah appearing on his palm. "Indulge the wishes of your heart's desire this day, my prince."

"Thanks, Desiree."

"Dibs on the pirate ship," Tucker yelled, making a beeline for the bumper cars.

"Them's fighting words, mister," a child yelled from his far left.

"Youngblood, beware!" the blue-skinned man next to him in the blue coveralls warned, waggling one finger in his face. "You are in much trouble young man."

"So what else in new?" he replied, sticking out his tongue. "We'll share, okay, Tucker?"

"Fine, but I'm steering," Tucker agreed. "That okay, with you?"

"Aye, aye, human! Lead the way."