Chapter Fifty-Four: Shadow Ghost
It was still just as dark, but he'd managed to form a bed in his dark place. Danny was lying on his mattress and staring up at the endless void when he heard voices approaching the mirror. He knew who was coming, he could see and hear everything Dan was doing, but it was still better to actually talk to him in front of the mirror.
Except that he wasn't alone. Danny climbed off the bed, cringing as his bandages got caught and came loose again, and tied his bandages as he approached the mirror. "Hi, Phantom. And...oh, you have Plasmius over. Should I avert my eyes?"
"Actually, we came to see you, Danny." Dan replied. "Uhm…can you put out your hands? I want to try something."
"…Sure." Danny placed his hands against the mirror. It rippled and he put his hands out.
The mirror did a ripple effect and then Plasmius was seeing shadow hands come out of the mirror. "What is that?!" He cried. The dull green glow about the shadow hands alerted him to it being a ghost, but Dan didn't seem fazed at all.
"Here, take this." Dan held up the plate, placing it into the outstretched hands. "Can you get it through?"
"I can try." Danny said; Plasmius thought he heard a faint whisper but couldn't tell what it was saying. Then the hands were pulled back into the mirror, the rippling effect going around the cake. It paused, then moved in further, pausing every now and then before the cake was in the mirror. And he could see a shadow ghost on the other side, holding the cake triumphantly.
"Great job, Danny!" Dan grinned. "Happy birthday!"
Daniel? Daniel was a…shadow ghost? But, shadow ghosts were infant ghosts; too weak and unstable to do anything like what he just did. Still, Plasmius couldn't deny what he saw with his own eyes and he looked at Dan.
"Would you mind if I told Vlad about what we just witnessed?" Plasmius asked.
"Sure, why not?" Dan shrugged. "Don't tell Sam or the others, though. He, uh, was in her room last night and she'd be pretty pissed."
"He was in…" Plasmius looked towards the mirror. Clearly, the shadow ghost in the mirror was much more powerful than he initially thought. He might have to consult one of Ghostwriter's books to see if anything like it had happened before. "Yes, it was rather rude to enter a lady's room without knocking first."
The shadow ghost—Danny—shrugged. Apparently he could hear them just fine, even if Plasmius couldn't hear what Danny was saying properly. Dan laughed at his indifference and then stood up. "We gotta get back. Enjoy your cake, just put it on the floor when you're done and I'll take it to the kitchen."
Danny waved as Dan walked out. Plasmius hung back for a bit before following Dan out. They returned to the party and played and sang until the night was over, but Plasmius kept finding himself distracted.
That Monday, while Dan studied with Ghostwriter, he consulted different library books on types of ghosts. "The shadow ghost is supposed to be the weakest type." He murmured, looking at an entry on it. "'The shadow ghost is formless, has no abilities of its own yet, and generally is rarely seen unless it is taken into the care of a stronger ghost that can protect it until it is fully formed'." He read aloud, keeping his voice down. "'Stronger ghost'…I suppose that would be Phantom, then. What I don't understand is why he's able to do things independently, the shadow ghosts have no abilities of their own and that's why they seek out stronger ghosts and plead for protection. Many shadow ghosts have become twisted and cruel because they put their trust in the wrong kind of person, but I think we'll be alright with Daniel." He sighed, putting the book away. "Perhaps I can ask Ghostwriter himself after the lesson concludes."
He didn't have to wait much longer. He had been so busy he'd lost track of time, and soon Dan was flying out of his studying room with his bag of books and most likely new homework to be done by tomorrow or the day after.
"Ah, Ghostwriter. Might have I have a word?" Plasmius asked.
"Should I wait here?" Dan asked, looking at Plasmius.
Plasmius looked thoughtful. "Yes, wait here. I'll let you know if it's something you need to know."
He went into the classroom with Ghostwriter, closing the door behind him. "Ghostwriter, what do you know about shadow ghosts?"
"You read the book, didn't you?" Ghostwriter asked. "They're weak, have no abilities of their own, and formless. It's very easy for someone to mold one into something destructive."
"Yes, I know all that. Has there ever been an occasion where one started to move independently while under a stronger ghost's protection?" Plasmius said, frowning.
"Not that I know of, but for things not in books, you'll want to consult Clockwork." Ghostwriter replied. "Why?"
"Daniel Fenton is a shadow ghost, and he's using abilities he shouldn't have." Plasmius explained. "I was wondering if this was a bad thing or not."
"Considering this is Daniel Fenton we're talking about, I doubt it's a bad thing." Ghostwriter sighed. "He is, after all, the reason that Phantom hadn't worked with you yet." He tapped his desk thoughtfully. "Still, pay a visit to Clockwork and ask him about it while the boy trains with his other mentor."
"I'll do that, then." Plasmius nodded. "Thank you, Ghostwriter."
Ghostwriter nodded. "So, the boy is sixteen now. You might want to make sure he doesn't get involved with the wrong crowd, if you know what I mean." He opened a book and nodded to him. "Don't keep him waiting."
Plasmius nodded and left the room, looking around when he reached the main area. "Phantom? Where's…"
"Your boy-toy took a ride with Johnny." One of the other ghosts, Desiree, informed him. "Didn't ask where they were going, I just know that they left."
"Did you see which direction?" Plasmius picked the bridge of his nose.
"Nope. I only glanced up when I heard them talking, and then he handed his book-bag to Johnny's shadow and climbed on, taking off." She glanced at him. "I had no hand in it, before you ask."
Shadow. The biker Johnny 13 had a shadow ghost with him, Plasmius just remembered that. But, the shadow generally couldn't make any moves of his own and only did what Johnny told it to – including, apparently, carrying Dan Phantom's books for him as the rode off to…where? Where in the Ghost Zone were they?
"This is not good." He murmured, remembering Ghostwriter's warning and flying out. Johnny 13 and anyone who hung out with him were definitely on the "wrong crowd" list, and if he didn't get Dan out of there soon…
"Where are we going?" Dan asked, his arms around Johnny 13's waist. "You still haven't told me!"
"Somewhere you'll like!" Johnny called back.
They seemed to be just going into empty space – it certainly wasn't anywhere that he knew of. He saw a shadowy figure dart behind a door before peeking out at them again, then another ducking behind a ghost he didn't know the name of.
"Where is this place?" Dan asked.
"We call it the Shadow Pool." Johnny 13 explained. "Do you know about shadow ghosts, Phantom?"
"Uhm…" Dan shook his head.
"You don't know about them, but you have one latched onto you." Johnny chuckled, shaking his head. "You're a piece of work, kid. Okay, a shadow ghost is a weak ghost that has no real form of its own and so clings to a stronger ghost. We'll call these stronger ghosts 'hosts'. Most people can't tell if you have a shadow ghost attached to you until they see it, but fellow 'hosts' can sense an attachment."
"What do you mean I have a 'shadow ghost'?" Dan asked, then frowned as he thought of Danny in the mirror. "You mean…Danny?"
"There's a new lair in the Shadow Pool that appeared about five weeks ago." Johnny explained. "We've been trying to figure out who the shadow ghost belongs to, those of us who have them, but he doesn't speak to us and hardly ever comes out of his lair. Then I realized that you had an attachment when I saw you in the library and figured it must be yours."
Dan was silent as he listened to him. "The weird part," Johnny continued. "is that shadow ghosts can't MAKE lairs, but he's definitely a shadow ghost!"
They stopped and Johnny cut the engine on the ground of what looked like a large, black warehouse. "This is the place."
"…" Dan climbed off the bike and made his way to the door. "What happens if…if I meet him in the Ghost Zone?"
"I don't know. Once a shadow ghost is attached, it's not supposed to leave your side. But this guy has been attached but detached from you at the same time." Johnny stepped off the bike and walked over to join him. "Might wanna be careful, Phantom."
Dan nodded, reaching up and knocking on the door. He waited quietly, listening for any sign of life. When they heard nothing, he sighed and looked at Johnny. "Are you sure that—" His words were cut off by the sound of the door opening, blue eyes looking out from the darkness.
"Danny…?" Dan breathed, smiling.
"Phantom?" Danny opened the door wider, stepping out so they could see him.
"Yep, that's a shadow ghost alright." Johnny remarked.
"What do you mean? It's Danny." Dan looked at him.
"Chances are, kid, you're the only one who can see how he really looks." Johnny replied. "All I see is a shadow-kid with blue eyes."