Ch.57: Ember

"Aw man... I'm going to have to ask Clockwork for a new map..." Danny mumbled, looking at the scorched paper in his hands. It was still smoking from the random fire beast thing that appeared out of nowhere as he tried to get to Aragon so he could hang out with Auntie Dora (Secretly, of course. Her brother didn't like Danny).

Until Danny got a new map, he was stuck. Where was that Stopwatch when you needed him?

The child floated over to nearest lair; a garage with blaring music spewing from the only window.

Danny landed on the doorstep and knocked on the door. He tried looking through the window on the door but the curtains were closed. He waited, knocked again, waited some more, gave another knock, did a little more waiting, and knocked, yet again, as the music started to die down.

At his knock, the music stopped abruptly. There were sounds of stomping and then the door slammed open, revealing a very angry teen girl with flaming, blue hair.

Danny remembered her from when Skulker captured him. Her name was Ember.

"WHAT?!" The girl screeched. Danny looked up at her with wide, green eyes. Sure, Bats was a heck more scarier than this chick but still. "Uh... I'm lost."

"Does it look like this face cares?!" Ember questioned, putting her hands on her hips. Danny cracked a small grin. "Yes."

The blue-haired ghost gave him an un-amused look. "Don't push it, kid."

"Push what? There's nothing to push." Danny said, his grin becoming wider.

The furious flame was entering Ember's eyes again. "Kid..."

"Yes, I am." Danny said, flashing a thumbs-up.

"Do you want to get pummeled?!"

"No. I want directions!"

"Why are you so irritating?!"

"Why is your hair blue?"

"What does that have to do with anything?!"

"I thought we were playing 20 Questions."

Ember stopped herself before she could retort. She stood in her doorframe, eye twitching.

Then she giggled, which slowly became full-blown laughing. Danny looked at her sympathetically. "Another Joker... What a shame..."

Ember calmed and she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Kid... You're annoying as crap... But you're funny."

"I get that a lot." Danny said, batting his eyes innocently. He snuck a glance behind the teen. "Was that you playing?"

"Yeah. Why?" Ember asked, leaning against the doorframe. Danny shrugged. "I liked it."

Ember gave the kid a long stare. "Do you play any instruments?"

Danny nodded up at the blue-haired girl. "Yeah. I play piano. But I don't have my books right now."

Ember jerked her head, gesturing for the kid to come inside. Danny complied and the teen walked over to the lone couch. She plopped into the seat and waved Danny over. Once he was close enough, Ember picked him up and set him in his lap, dragging a keyboard close.

"I'm going to teach you some real music." She said, smirking. Danny's eyes lit up and the teen adjusted his hands around the keyboard.

Ignore the screw-up. I frikkin hate the Doc Manager sometimes. -.-