Disclaimer: I still don't own Danny Phantom as it's the property of Butch Hartman, Nickelodeon and Viacom International. I am just a loyal fan and nothing more.
Unshattered Bonds
Chapter 18: The Infi-Map
A few hours earlier
With the rescue committee
Ember, Cupid and the Earth's Freedom Brigade were on their way to Pariah's Keep, they have been riding for about half an hour and even at a speed of near 200 miles per hour, they still had a journey a head of them.
'Mclain, there is just something I don't understand?...'Cupid asked a few minutes after they started riding.
'What is it?...'Ember asked as she was riding with Sam.
"Isn't one of your powers teleportation, couldn't you just do that?...'Cupid asked.
"It's too impractical, not to mention risky...Whenever I teleport to the human world, even after a power boost, it drains me a lot and I have to wait almost half a day before I am in real fighting conditions again...The same with cross Zone travels..." Was what Ember explained... "Besides, we still have to find your mom and Clockwork without getting caught; I think the map could take us directly to them without risking getting caught again...'She continued.
"Either way, my scanner indicates that we are about 500 miles away from Pariah's Keep at this point..."Tucker said.
"Then let's pick up the pace, we got a wedding to stop, not to mention a witch and a fruit loop that need a serious butt kicking..." Ember said.
"Now you are speaking my language..." Sam said as she immediately floored it.
The entire squads were on their way to Pariah's Keep, to find the map which may be the key to freeing their world once and for all.
Later
Several hours later, the group, tired but still determined, soon saw their destination on the horizon. Not to mention some of their members were becoming restless.
"How much longer?...'Cupid complained, much to the irritation of Ember.
"Quit whining, we'll get there when we actually see that stupid castle!...'She snapped, her patience well gone at this point.
"Just a little more…we're getting close…'Christopher said to them.
"I hope…"Ember said, her anxiety building up in her as they continued to ride.
The wedding was going to be at 10:00am from what they gathered from Skulker's suit and they have been riding for hours. She really needed the Infi-Map if she wanted to get to Danny before it was too late.
"I see Pariah's Keep...Tucker said in excitement.
"We're finally here..."Sam said as she and her group halted their FTV's a distance away, just in case they had to avoid any guards.
Ember looked and was stunned by what she was seeing. In her timeline, Pariah's Keep was mostly abandoned; just floating on a single rock but this was unreal. For one thing, the floating rock it was on was huge and it looked like it had a large wall/shield around it.
It basically looked like a more ghostly version of the castle Vlad had in Amity Park.
"I heard rumors that this place is supposed to be Plasmius's main base whenever he's in the Ghost Zone…"Christopher said to Ember.
"Okay Tucker, from what you gathered from Skulker's suit, where is the vault supposed to be..." Sam asked the technology export of the brigade.
Tucker immediately pulled out what looked to be an advance version of his PDA and he checked over all the data he managed to hack from Skulker.
'According to my data, the map was delivered a few days ago to a vault that's around here and from what I got on that vault...It's supposed to be directly within the castle..." Tucker said.
"It looks like we're going in...but how?..." Sam wondered.
"I don't know about me but why don't you just walk in...Humans can faze through things in the ghost zone..." Ember said, and Sam and Tucker looked in disbelief.
"They can?!...'The entire brigade shouted.
"How long have you guys been in the Ghost Zone anyway?..."Ember asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Only a few days at most, trying to track down Plasmius's secret bases here..." Sam explained.
"I only managed to finally make that portal about a few weeks ago but like I said, it takes a lot of energy and time to power up..."Tucker explained.
'Whatever...You guys can get in but you still have to be careful not to get caught, knowing Vlad, I would bet my singing career that he gave something to his flunkies to fight off any kind of intruders, including humans...'Ember said, knowing that while insane, Vlad was a tough and tricky opponent.
"You would be wise to think that...'Sam said, recalling the fight with the Fright Knight.
Tucker had decided to check and see how true Ember's statement was and he stuck his hand to the castle's wall, only to receive a jolt of electricity.
'OW!..."He hissed in pain.
"Oh man, don't tell me Vlad put a shield on this place…'Ember said in dismay.
"Looks like it…ow…"Tucker hissed in pain.
"That fruit loop!...'Ember growled under her breath, fed up with all of this.
"Looks like we need to find another way in…'Sam muttered in annoyance.
"I think I have an idea but I it's kind of radical….'Ember said.
"Radical's good in my book…"Valerie sad.
"What is it?..." Sam asked.
"It's a long shot…but maybe…just maybe…I can teleport one of you guys to the other side, that way you can find us an entry.…'Ember said.
"You can do that?...'Tucker asked in amazement.
"I'm not sure…I am able to teleport to any points but it takes a lot out of me and small distance like this doesn't drain me nearly as much…just a small migraine at worst but if a shield like this is running, I can't get in myself but…I am willing to try and see this…'Ember said.
"Is it safe?...'Tucker asked.
"I don't know, I have teleported people before but it was mostly because I was hanging on to them as I teleported, I never did this sort of thing before…I'm not sure what to expect…"She confessed.
"You have to try Ember, it might be our only way in…" Sam implored.
"Alright but as I said, I haven't done this before, teleporting another person without being with them…I'll try and make it small, maybe 5 feet just to get you on the inside…once there, you find a way for us to get in without getting fried by the shield. …'Ember explained.
"Alright, well, this is how it's going to go... I'll go inside and find us a way inside the castle, I'll give you guys a call on the walkie-talkies once I found something..." Sam stated.
"But why you alone?..."Tucker asked.
"We can't put all of our eggs in the same basket... If we all rush in there, we have a bigger chance at being caught..." Sam explained.
'Then make it a two person group, I'm not leaving you alone to face off Vlad's goons without some kind of backup..." Tucker said seriously to her.
He knew that while a great fighter and a tremendous leader, he knew that Sam, alone couldn't take on all of Vlad's guards if they caught her. She needed at least one person to help fight alongside her. He didn't want to risk losing another friend. Sam saw how serious he was being and understood, she nodded, seeing that Tucker was too stubborn to back down.
"Okay, we'll go inside...Valerie, keep the walkie talkies on at all times...As soon as we find an entrance, come find us..." Sam ordered.
"Yes captain...'Valerie said.
"Be careful you too..."Ember said, feeling upset that they would be going in alone.
"We will...Now stay out of sight until I contact you guys..." Sam said as she and Tucker walked to large, ghostly castle, in a blind spot where the guards couldn't see them.
"Alright, for this to work, I need quiet and concentration…"Ember said as she closed her eyes and tried to gather all of her energy, her hands even glowing a bit.
"Are you ready?..." Sam asked her teammate.
"As ready as I'll ever be...'Tucker said with a serious expression.
"Here goes everything..." Sam thought as she braced herself.
"Okay…One…Two…Three…NOW!..."Ember said as her glowing hands sent a purple blast to Tucker and Sam and soon enough, they were out of sight, much to the entire groups amazement.
"Oh man! Did it work?..."Ember said to herself in astonishment.
"Captain…Captain…are you in?...'Valerie asked quickly, wanting to be sure.
"This is Captain Manson, affirmative…we are on the other side…"Sam's voice in the walkie-talkie said.
"You did it Ember…" Christopher said high-fiving her.
"Yeah, I did…'Ember said in relief.
"Remember to keep out of sight until I call, over…' Sam said before the walkie talkie became silent.
Ember sighed, happy that for once, the chance she took turned out in her favor, now all that was left was to wait for her allies to deliver.
On the other side
Tucker and Sam were now on the other side of the shield and were now on Pariah's keep property.
'I can't believe that it worked..."Tucker said in wonder.
"I can...Now come on Tucker...We got work to do...'Sam ordered as she and her subordinate were now sneaking around the perimeter, ducking and sneaking past whatever nearby guards were around.
Sam and Tucker were always good at tiptoeing, a skilled they have picked up in their years in the resistance, after constantly fighting off Vlad's forces. They kept walking about a few yards until they saw what looked to be an entrance but no guards in the area, they realized it was likely an automatic one.
They suddenly saw it open with a new ghost guard appearing, as well as a muffled sound the machine made, and they got an idea.
"Come on…"Sam said as she and Tucker snuck closer, hiding behind a large plant that was nearby, and they could now get a good view and earful as they awaited for the next guy to appear.
Which was right now.
Password…"They heard a robotic, monotone voice asked automatically to whoever was on the other side
"1673…"Was what they could hear, with the door suddenly opening and a new ghost entering.
"Password accepted…"The voice had said.
Once he was out of sight, Tucker and Sam gave each her a knowing look.
"I think we have found it…" Tucker said.
"You got that right…'Sam said as she pulled out her walkie-talkie.
"Alpha team…This is Captain Manson…'Sam said within her communication device.
"Captain…'The voice of Valerie said on the other end.
"I think Tucker and me have found a way in for you guys, walk about 15 yards to your right, there is a door that can be unlocked by password…the password is 1673…Hurry and get in before any more of Vlad's cronies show up…" She ordered.
"Yes captain, over…"Multiple voices said on the other end before hanging up.
A few minutes have passed and Tucker and Sam were waiting for the cavalry to arrive, although they were still hidden in case any enemies suddenly showed up.
Password…"They heard a robotic, monotone voice asked automatically to whoever was on the other side
"1673…"Was said on the other side, in the familiar voice of Ember Mclain.
"Password accepted…"The voice had said upon opening, revealing the rest of their group.
"Looks like we're all here…'Tucker said as he saw the entire squad in one place.
"Now to find that map, what time is it in the human world?..."Ember asked Christopher.
"It's exactly 8:00am in the human world, the wedding is supposed to be at 10:00am…'He said.
"We don't have any time to lose…come on, let's go find that map…"Ember said as she lead the group through the castle to find the map that was their only hope left at this point.
Later
Back in the human world
With Paulina
The wicked bride had just arrived to the castle early, all too eager to prepare for her wedding ceremony. She saw that their wealthy, respected and powerful guests were beginning to arrive, and she knew that the media was going to cover the entire wedding for the entire world to see her grand moment of triumph.
The day she would FINALLY marry the ghost boy and live the life she was always destined for.
"This day is going to be perfect, the kind of day which I dream since I was small…" Paulina thought in glee.
As a child, she always dreamed of her wedding day, she always envisioned it as the grandest wedding ever and she would be the most beautiful bride ever, getting married to a man that was worthy of her only and after so long, so many struggles and tears, it would all come true in less than two hours.
Soon her father would walk her down the aisle and the entire crowd would be stunned by her beauty, by how lovely she looked in her wedding dress.
"Everybody will gather around and say I look lovely in my gown, especially Danny…"She thought dreamily before a sinister smirk adorned her superficially beautiful face.
As much as she loved this dress and she knew the entire wedding was going to be fabulous, the thing she cared most of all was that as soon as she exchanged her vows with Danny…
"He will be mine! ALL MINE…"She said in excitement, feeling on the verge of her greatest victory.
She took a sneak peek at the entrance and saw that Danny has yet to arrive to take his place. She wasn't worried since they still had about two hours and then he would be all hers forever and ever and ever. She would make sure of it.
She knew than by tonight, she would be one very lucky bride.
Later
Back with the brigade
The group was now searching the entire castle for the vault that would contain the infi-map, Tucker was leading with the information he managed to steal from Skulker.
'According to my data, the vault is supposed to be somewhere beneath the throne room…."Tucker said as he read the information.
"The throne room is at the center of the castle, and this place is huge…Come on…"Ember said as she recalled where it was from when she, Danny and the rest of the Zone banded together to defeat Pariah Dark. She just hoped Vlad didn't change that, along with the rest of the castle.
"We need to find that map if I want to hear my wedding bells ring for me at all…"Ember thought in worry but kept a brave face.
She needed that map if she wanted to get to Danny and save him from Paulina, not to mention the world along with freeing Clockwork and Aphrodite. She had dreamed of marrying Danny for years, after she realized that she was truly in love with him and knew she could never live an after-life without him.
He was her soulmate and her better half, she knew that if she loses him…she didn't want to think about that…she just knew that she wouldn't be able to live without him and he wouldn't be able to live a life as that witch's love slave. He didn't deserve that. He needed and deserved someone who would care for, love and cherish him each day. Someone who truly cared about him and his feelings, something Paulina obviously didn't, she just wanted to use him.
That's all she ever has wanted to do, just use him for her own egoism.
The group soon arrived to the last level of the castle, having search most of its room for the vault, but they soon saw a large door that looked like a giant safe.
"If this isn't the vault, I don't know what is…'Ember said sardonically as she tried to open it, only to scream in pain upon touching it.
'AH!..."She wailed in pain.
"What's wrong?..."Sam asked in concerned.
"It's laced with ecto-ranium…Oh that stupid fruit loop…'Ember growled as she rubbed her hands to sooth the pain.
" Well it looks like you and I can't touch it directly, so looks like the humans have to find a way to open it…" Cupid said not-so-helpfully.
'Tucker…please…'Ember said.
"I'm on it…Tucker used his PDA to try and figure out but after a few minutes, a trouble looked came on his face.
"Oh no…You can't be serious…'He said in alarm.
"What is it?...'Ember asked, not liking the sound of this.
"It's one of Plasmius's custom vaults!...'Tucker said.
'WHAT?! NO!..." Sam said in dismay.
"What's a custom vault?...'Ember asked, totally lost.
"A few months ago, me and Tucker were sneaking in one of Vlad's bases near Canada to try and get some information to form the ghost portal…Once there, we came across a vault that couldn't be opened because Vlad specifically designed it to be opened by him only…"Sam said.
'What? No? Are you saying that the only one who can actually open this stupid thing is Vlad?...'Ember asked in an incredulous tone.
"I'm afraid so…"Tucker said and saw her face go from shock, to anger to desperation.
'No! Open you stupid door!...' Ember used her guitar to start hitting it, trying to destroy it in some way, but it only caused sparks to fly, but no damage to the ghost proof door.
"Open! Open! OPEN!..."Ember was screaming now, and was getting frantic, even dropping her guitar when it wasn't working and was now pounding the vault with her fists, despite the pain it was giving her.
"OPEN!..."She wailed, ignoring the pain she felt each time she touched it as she was just desperate to get it opened.
'Ember! Stop it! You're going to risk getting yourself hurt or worse…'Sam pulled her away from the vault but needed the others help.
"Let me go…I…I got to get it opened…"Ember shouted in hysterics only to be slapped by Sam to snap her out of it.
The sting of the cheek silenced Ember, realizing what she was doing but she just gave a miserable look.
"We can't open that door…we can't even blast it open…we can't do anything…'Ember found herself on the ground, hugging her knees and she looked like she was about to go into a fetal position.
It was over now…the map was their only chance and they couldn't even get to it.
'Ember…'Sam said in concern to the other female who looked absolutely miserable.
"It's hopeless…It's all over now…The wedding is in less than an hour…we'll never make it in time and Danny will be…will be… he'll be married to a fake…"Ember was crying now, bitter tears forcing their way out of her eyes.
She had been so close…so close and fate cruelly snatched her one chance at getting her man yet again…
Cupid witness these tears, even if he didn't have most of his old powers, he didn't need them in order to see that the girl was very clearly heartbroken over losing the one she viewed as her love. He was no stranger to heartbreak since he induced it quite a few times on people he felt deserve to feel it. 8 years ago, he thought this girl deserved to experience and went out of his way to make of it…but the way she was crying, he could see that it was tears of sorrow because she knew that she would never see her loved one again.
They were the same kind of tears he had seen before…in his own eyes...the day Psyche had left him all those years ago.
"She really does love him, doesn't she?..."Cupid thought as he witness her behavior.
While he still didn't understand the bond between Danny and Ember, since he never intended it to form, it was obvious that like it or not, Ember clearly loved him. He had spent the last 8 years wondering how those two could have possibly worked out due to their differences and having been enemies of all things but he couldn't come up with remotely logical explanation.
But...maybe love didn't need an explanation, it just happens once soul mates find each other and once that happens, no force in the world should be able to break that bond. That how it should be anyway.
" I can't believe I'm going to do this...'He muttered to himself as he approached the vault and then looked at Tucker.
"You said that this door will only open for Plasmius..."Cupid asked the second-in-command.
"That's what we gathered, this door is designed only to open for Plasmius...'Tucker repeated.
"Or perhaps...it will open to whomever it thinks is Vlad Plasmius..." Cupid suggested, getting attention from everyone.
"What are you suggesting?...'Ember asked in an almost hopeful tone of voice.
"It might be a long shot but I think it could work...I could disguise myself as Plasmius and maybe trick the system..." Cupid suggested.
"What? You can do that?...'Sam asked in surprise.
"Yes, you must remember that I was the spirit of love for several eons and I also have an ability to change form…You didn't really think this cherub look was my natural form…" He said to them
'Then why do I always see you in it..." Ember asked with her arms crossed.
"Hey, I mostly were it for Valentine's day and since mother stripped me of my most of my powers on that day, it's hard to change into anything but this now...'He pointed out.
"But-..."Ember started.
'Let's give him a chance, Cupid, do you really think you can change into Vlad..."Sam asked with hope in her tone.
"I can try but remember I don't have much power and I am not like Amorpho...This is gonna take a lot out of me and it will be for a bit..."He explained.
"Try..."Tucker said in desperation.
Cupid stood in front of the vault and tried to concentrate. He wasn't lying since he rarely ever transformed and being without most of his powers for over 8 years made the task all the more hard. This was going to take a lot out of him. He tried to concentrate, focus on the ugly face of Plasmius, he felt his power starting to work but he was already getting winded by the strain.
'Come on....He thought stubbornly as he soon felt at least his face beginning to change, morphing into Vlad's, although the rest of him stayed the same.
"Oh, I guess this will have to do..." Cupid said, although his voice mimics Vlad now.
"This is too creepy...'Ember thought as she watched the Vlad/Cupid hybrid approach the custom vault.
"Identify personal..." The vault said in a robotic tone of voice.
"Vlad Plasmius, ruler of the earth and ghost zones..." Cupid said, his voice and tone completely identical to the real thing.
The vault suddenly had what looked to be a light scanning him, though miraculously it was only around the face.
"Identity confirmed, welcome Emperor Plasmius..."The monotone vault's voice said before opening automatically.
"I can't believe it worked!..."Ember said in amazement.
"Naturally, I thought of it...'Cupid said as he changed his face back.
He suddenly found himself being hugged by Ember tightly, much to his shock and bewilderment.
'Thank you..."She said, truly gratefully.
"Um...You're welcome..."He said, feeling rather awkward about the contact until she released him.
The entire brigade soon ran inside the vault and were amazed by everything they saw within it. Countless treasures and ancient weapons adorned the place.
"This place is huge...Where do we even begin to look..."Christopher said in amazement.
"Search everywhere, the infi-map is here somewhere..." Ember said as they kept looking.
Soon enough, they found their treasure, the legendary Infi-Map sitting on a pedestal.
"There it is!...'Ember shouted in excitement as she finally got her hands on it.
"Finally!..."Sam said in relief.
"What time is it in the human world?..."Ember asked.
"It's 9:30, the wedding will be starting soon...'Tucker said.
"Not on my watch...Infi-Map please...I need you to take us to where Danny is...my Danny but we need you to avoid going through Vlad's guarded entrances..."She said to the map which suddenly started to glow.
It showed her an image of what looked to be a ghost portal opening and closing, she knew what it was trying to tell her.
"A natural portal...One is about to open...Take us there and then to Danny..."She said to the map which continued to glow.
"Hang on everybody, this is going to be one heck of a ride..."Ember said as the entire brigade plus Cupid latched onto to her.
The Infi-Map then zoomed out, carrying the entire resistance to their destination.
To be continued-
Next time on Unshattered Bonds
Crashing the wedding
A/N: Some scenes in this fic are a reference to MLP episode Canterlott wedding.
REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewers:
Feurrige: Thankfully they managed to find the infi-map here.
Invader Johnny: It makes us all sick…
Guest(1): Remember that Paulina specifically requested that Vlad make it so that Danny and Ember have never met in this world, which is why Danny couldn't recognize her.
Wiseguy2415: Thanks.
Meilstoer: Excuse me?
DannyPhantom619: Indeed, my friend.
Guest(2): Very well said about the humble pie thing, you certainly got them pegged.
Fatcatjohn: Thank you for that elaborates interpretation. The lawyer was just a bit character to me, but I like your backstory for him.
:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)