Answers... Yeah

There are worse things in life than the end of life. I should know! I am half dead and there have been several times that I've honestly considered going the rest of the way just to get out of something. After an hour of dozens of scans, blood and ectoplasm work, and a lot of ghost Reiki, this is one of those times. The six yeti specialists have run off into a conference room to make sense of my messed-up biology and I'm left waiting around without any kind of distractions.

"Danny, chill. You have been bouncing off the walls since they left." Sam speaks with frustration from her chair in the plush waiting room.

"Yeah, man. Even I am getting a headache at this point," Tucker adds, looking up from his ever-present electronic device.

"I can't help it. I have ADHD, you know that; I can't stay still," I say, hopping from foot-to-foot trying desperately to think of anything but the fact that I may be going insane, literally and metaphorically at this point.

"Uh, Danny?" says Tucker cautiously

I look over at my two best friends. Jazz had left at some point during my physical to get a tour of the town. She came back raving about the section that was carved out of a glacier. Now I believe she's in the library, going over anything that may help our situation. Tucker and Sam are currently giving me a cringing look. "What?"

"You don't have ADHD Danny," says Sam slowly.

I blink, "Huh?"

Tucker shakes his head. "You were tested for it when we were younger, but it turns out you were just super hyper and your parents stopped giving you sugary stuff."

We fall silent as I stare at my friends, a lump forming in my stomach.

"You really don't remember?" Tucker asks softly. I had been friends with Tucker before I had been tested. He no doubt remembers how he was suddenly not allowed to share his snacks with me.

I shake my head. "No, I remember," I say.

I remember going to the doctor and the confusing talk he had with my mom. Immediately after the appointment, I was no longer given juice or candy or even fudge. Dad would slip me some now and then, but we were always busted when I was found flying off of the walls talking at the speed of light.

But I remember something else as well. I remember the same doctor's visit with the same doctor. He and Mom having a conversation I didn't understand; my sugar was cut down but not as much as the other memory. In this memory, I took pills every day to help me focus.

"I remember both," I say weakly, turning away. Silence falls between us and my mind is now on the very thing I'd been trying to not think about. For the first time since the doctors left, I stand completely still, just staring off. Thinking.

"Guys?" I call, my voice quivering slightly. "I think it's getting worse."

"That's why we're here Danny," Sam says slowly and carefully, reminding me gently.

I shake my head. "I mean, I think it is getting worse than it was this morning."

Tucker and Sam exchange worried looks. "Why do you think that?"

"Because now I am remembering something else."

It's hazy, as if it was a dream but still very much present in my mind. My dad decided to test me for ADHD himself in our lab instead of going to the doctor. It caused a big fuss because the school wants an 'actual' doctor to do it, even though my dad is a doctor. It was a big mess that did not make me popular with the teachers at school.

"Before there was only one fake memory, now there are two. It's getting worse."

Silence falls between us again. I can tell both Tucker and Sam are trying desperately to think of something encouraging to say but can't. Slowly I walk over and collapse into my chair. Barely a second later the two greatest friends of all time wrap me in a hug and hold me. Even when they release me about twenty minutes later, they still keep an arm around me and a hand on my knee, offering silent comfort and support.

It is to that image that the doctors and scientists return with answers... I hope. We wait for one of the ever-present guards to get Jazz from the library before Dr. Claw gives us the news:

"We don't really have a lot of material to go off of, but overall everything seems to be fine" she starts. "You are quite healthy in both forms."

"What about his nutrition, chemical, and hormonal levels?" Jazz quizzes.

"He has a minor vitamin T and S deficiency as a ghost, but nothing that would cause serious problems."

"What about… brain activity?" asks Tucker cautiously.

Some of the doctors behind her send us a look, but Dr. Claw keeps her cool. "Nothing abnormal that we could see; everything appears to be natural." I have never been so depressed to hear good news. "You were right about gaining a new power though," the doctor continues and we all look up hopefully. "Your core is still growing, it is quite impressive actually." She doesn't look impressed, she looks slightly queasy.

Sam speaks up immediately. "Which means…?"

Dr. Claw hesitates and then sighs. "I'll be honest. When we first checked over the Great One back when his ice core started over-generating, we assumed that he was coming out of his core growth spurt, mostly because of the power level he was at. It is only now that we realize we were wrong." The cobalt eyes meet mine. "Your core was just starting its growth spurt."

I never did well with any kind of biology, let alone ghost biology, but I can guess what they are trying to tell me.

"So you mean…" Tucker trails off, trying to grasp it himself.

"This is only the beginning." The doctor replies, slightly worried. "The core growth spurt is a stage of Soul Change or Ghost Puberty, as it is also known. Core growth spurts usually happens at the end of Soul Change, which we thought you were coming out of so we didn't think it needed to be brought up."

Another doctor, I think his name is Thermos, shifts uncomfortably and jumps in with an explanation. "If you recall, Soul Change is one of the main reasons those of us born as ghosts choose to be reincarnated in the mortal plain as humans. Ghosts have a harder time dealing with the effects of Soul Change than humans. The symptoms are diluted in humans, but as a ghost everything is much more connected and causes a lot of problems."

The more the doctors speak, the more lost I feel. I understand what they're saying; I've heard Soul Puberty mentioned from time to time. Usually someone uses it as slang to call another stupid or crazy and I don't like what that implies. Just looking at everyone's reaction, yeti and human alike, it's plain to see that this is not good at all.

The act of hiding from something that hurts by changing yourself, is not in any way foreign to me. Things that hurt as a ghost don't hurt half as much as a human, and vice versa. Changing from one to the other eases the pain and usually allows me to heal faster. But this is the first time I have ever heard of a GHOST doing this. Ghosts are proud creatures. The vast majority see themselves as superior to others, especially humans. If these proud ghosts are choosing to be reincarnated into 'weak' humans in order to escape symptoms, then Soul Change must really be as bad as it's been rumored.

"When we realized we were wrong, we decided to take a closer look to see if we could determine what stage your Soul Change is at." Dr. Claw gestured to another doctor behind her. His voice was low and hesitant. "Not only is the Great One just starting his core spurt but gauging by the size and the spread with which it is growing, in comparison to the other areas that are usually affected by Soul Change, there is a good chance that he is near the beginning or even just starting his Soul Change as a whole."

"But you said that core spurts usually happen in the end. Why would it happen in the beginning?" inquired Jazz. Going by her expression, I suspected that she was trying to bury herself in facts so she wouldn't freak out over what we are learning.

Another yeti one with slightly shaggier fur stepped forward. "It is not uncommon for one or more organs to mature and grow at a different point than what is normal. Every growth spurt is different than the last and every Soul Change is different depending on the ghost. The last known record of such an event, of an early maturing core, was the High Ghost King Pariah Dark."

I paled. The ghost king of old was a hundred times my power "which means…"

"You are going to get very powerful, very fast."

I never really thought about how far I have come with my power. Looking back to when I first changed, it took awhile for me to stop myself from falling through things or floating by accident. Then I learned something new about my abilities. Like if I walked into someone while intangible I could take the body over and move it around as if it was my own. Where the 'discoveries' ended and 'gaining new powers' began I'm not sure.

I had been getting a lot of new ones lately; ice powers, teleportation, duplication, ghostly wail, each one stronger than the last. And now all of that was just the beginning? I was barely mastering one power before the next one came in. How was I supposed to control my powers if they come too fast for me? How could I keep my powers a secret without control? I was going to slip up, someone is going to notice, and then it would be game over. Everyone and their mother would be after me either to study or destroy me because I'm too powerful.

"How long does this…Soul Change, usually last." Tucker asked , not sounding any better than me.

"A generous human life time at the least. Sometimes two or three depending on the life and the Soul."

I promptly introduce my head to the tabletop in front of me.

"How much of a growth do you think Danny's core will have? And how long until it peaks?" Jazz asked knowledgeably, her tone slightly distant. Yep she was definitely in professional mode. I was grateful. I didn't need an overprotective overbearing sister right now. I need a plan and she was the best thinker I knew.

The doctor shrugged helplessly. "I have never seen a core like his before. For core spurts the beginning is usually the worse. Then a few weeks maybe half a month everything peaks, so the strongest and hardest to control powers all hit at virtually the same time. Then things settle and smaller level powers come in, the time between each power increases. There is a break as the body and soul prepare for the next growth spurt. The 'break' between usually lasts long enough for the ghost to get a handle on all of the new abilities gained. The Great One being a halfa makes it impossible to accurately predict how this will come to pass. His core growth seems to be tied to his human side possibly even his human puberty cycle." The doctor explained. "This could either slow the core growth down so everything happens gradually or it could just cause the core spurt to last longer than normal."

I kept my head down trying to absorb what was happening to me while trying to keep up with what the others were saying.

"What do you recommend we do?"

"…nothing can really be done. If you were a full ghost I would recommend being reincarnated but because of your halfa stasis that is physically impossible. The only thing we can do is keep an eye on it. The core is only starting to grow and the effects will start showing within a week or so. That may give us a better idea of how long this will last." So the effects hadn't even started yet! Did that mean I was insane or was my memory problems just an early sign of core growth spurt? "Also Great One, I must recommend leaving the human dimension and residing in the Infinite Realms until your core spurt ends."

I wiped my head up at that. "Why?" I demanded probably with more force than was necessary.

The Dr. Claw cringed. "Your ghost core will need substance energy to fulfill its growth, the Infinite Realms have that naturally. Also, out of control powers would be a huge risk for the humans in your territory."

I bit my lip. Okay, point taken, but I couldn't just leave Amity. The ghosts would take it over in a week. Sooner, if they caught wind I was leaving. Amity Park was the only place where even natural portals were stable enough that going though one would not strip a ghost of their energy. That made it prime real estate, more valuable and much more useful than a private island in the Bahamas and the ghosts would do next to anything to take it. I couldn't leave. It was my home, the people there were my family, I couldn't abandoned them.

A hand on my shoulder pulled me out of my thoughts. Cool blue eyes met mine. Jazz smiled lightly and I relaxed.

"Anything else should we know about dealing with core spurts and Soul Change?" she asked turning her attention back to the doctor.

"There are a lot of more that can be learned but every growth spurt, and soul puberty is as different as the soul and the lives they lead. How big an organ grows, what powers come with each growth, is all depended on who the individual is, who they will become and what the purpose for their existence is."

"Purpose for existence?" Jazz inquired. She tended to take mom's atheist way of thinking, not believing in a grand plan or deity. I, on the other hand, had met enough dead gods from ancient cultures to give it some credibility.

Almost reading Jazz's mind the ghost smiled. "Why do you think we are ghosts? The large majority of us have never completed our purpose and thus cannot move on. For many our unattained purpose becomes our obsession."

"I thought obsessions had to do with how a person died or something?" commented Tucker.

The ghost shook his head chuckling. "Many souls have lived and died many times, it is just another part of the cycle of energy."

"You wouldn't have any books on ghost core growth spurts and Soul Change I could borrow would you?" Sam asked, getting us back on topic. Both a blessing and a curse.

The doctor shook her head. "We don't have a very large selection on the subject but I believe that the Ghostwriter's library will have a wide selection. His collection is virtually endless, from what I hear."

"Really!" all but squealed Jazz before turning to me. "Danny why didn't you tell me?"

I grimaced. "Because Ghostwriter and I have a history."

Tucker and Sam threw me a look.

"That is partially my fault."

The looks continued.

"Okay, It was all my fault. Are you happy?"

Sam shook her head and Tucker spoke up "Not until you apologize, dude."

"Which makes now a perfect time to do so. Then we can get some books." Jazz exclaimed loudly; suddenly up and dragging me and Tucker down the hallway towards the speeder. Sam followed calmly behind us.

"Thank you so much for the help." I shouted back trying to be polite as my sister kidnapped me. "We will be in touch!" going by how everyone in the room was laughing their fur off, they didn't mind too much.

Jazz dragged me down several halls getting us lost three times before finally finding our ride. Then we had to wait for the specter speeder to warm up before we could actually leave. Jazz was almost as fidgety as I was for the first half hour of waiting for my results. I for one was just grateful that I had the chance to give a proper goodbye to Frostbite. The kind-hearted chief had obviously been told about my condition.

"If you ever need a place to stay-"I raised an eyebrow. The tribe leader paused cringing, changing his mind last minute. "I can help you find someplace to stay."

"Smart move." I smiled teasingly. I'm not the only one who remembered the mess I made the last time I had uncontrollable powers. "Thanks Frost. For everything" I said gratefully. "I just need to think on it a bit, we'll figure something out."

Said yeti nodded his own sad smile. "What is it?" I asked. I could see something behind his eyes.

Frostbite hesitated then moved to kneel down to my level. Placing a hand on my shoulder he looked me in the eye. "You are going to be going through many changes Great One, many changes…" It was hard for Frostbite to get his worlds out. I had never seen him like this. It didn't help my worry. "…don't lose yourself in it all, as much as you change…" a very sad smile crossed the yeti's face. "Don't change who you are."

As I took his words to heart I could not help but wonder what in the Realms was making him react this way. Without really thinking I hugged the gentle, yet ferocious-looking yeti. "That is why I have amazing friends." I said back. "To keep me who I am." The chief chuckled before we pulled away. His smile seemed slightly less sad. "We'll get through this Frostbite, you'll see." A honk signaled that the vehicle was finally warm enough to safely drive. "It's not our first time beating the odds, right?"

-)(-

I am so incredibly sorry for how long it took to get this chapter published.

I don't even have an excuse other than, life is hectic for my editors and I have hit some kind of roadblock in the chapter I'm writing. I know what I want to happen but I can't for the life of me figure out how to properly portray it.

That and of course it is hard to continue writing one story when in a week you get ten ideas for other stories, each one doing battle in your head over who gets written first.

But I have added a new editor to lighten the load and I have a new outline for where this story goes. I'm hopeful that maybe, possibly, by some miracle of a chance I can get this story finished before the end of the year.

I do not own 'Danny Phantom'