"Do you guys think we should talk to Skulker first? He seemed like he might know more than what he told us last time," Danny suggested into his headset. He flew ahead of the Specter Speeder with his eyes peeled for any sign of movement. They'd been flying through the Ghost Zone for about ten minutes now and hadn't seen a single soul. Usually, there were a few generic-looking ghosts flying about and minding their own businesses. But the Ghost Zone looked like a real- pardon the pun- ghost town.

"That sounds like a good idea," Sam agreed over the headset.

"Dude, Kagome didn't want to come with us? I figured she'd at least want to know why those goons were after her," Tucker asked.

"She offered, but I told her to stay home. She's been through enough for one day," Danny answered. Besides, Danny wasn't sure he could be around Kagome right now without blushing brightly. It had only been a kiss to the cheek! He couldn't imagine how he would react to a real kiss... Danny subtly shook himself out. He had to focus right now.

"It's probably for the best. You remember how Skulker reacted to her last time. I've got the feeling that bringing a witch into the ghost zone isn't a smart move," Sam interjected.

"Kagome wouldn't purposefully hurt anyone," Danny quickly defended. "Skulker had attacked her first. It was self-defense."

"That's not what I meant, Danny. I was just saying that the ghosts wouldn't have the best reaction to her," Sam fought back.

"What ghosts? There's no one around. It's like they've all disappeared," Tucker questioned.

"You don't think they're all gone because of Kagome and her mom. Right?" Danny asked and glanced back at his friends.

"It's possible. Skulker had said that he'd heard the rumors and came looking. Maybe other ghosts decided to run and hide instead of go looking," Sam suggested smartly.

Danny suddenly stopped flying and turned to face his friends. He glanced down at them with a troubled expression. "But they wouldn't all just up and leave their homes like this. Some of them might, but not ghosts like Frostbite and his people," Danny argued.

"Well, we can start there," Sam said. Danny nodded in agreement before changing his course and heading towards the Far Frozen. Tucker was quick to step down on the accelerator in order to keep up with Danny. "Don't get your hopes up too much though. Frostbite lives in a frozen wasteland isolated from most ghosts. He might not know much."

"It's worth a shot if he's the only one around. Besides, we can always try someone else afterwards," Danny replied. It wasn't a big deal.

~:~

When they'd gotten to the Far Frozen, nothing had initially seemed out of order. Snow and ice as far as the eye could see and not a soul around. But after a few minutes of flying towards the city, the group was nearly struck down by a stray freeze blast. After relying on reflex to dodge the blast, the trio glanced below them to see who had attacked. They hadn't expected what they'd seen.

"It looks like we got here just in time for an all out war," Danny heard Sam's voice through his headsetas he stared at the chaotic scene below. It looked like the yetis of the Far Frozen were fighting off several ghosts- some of which were familiar. They could make out Dora breathing fire down onto the field with Sydney Poindexter on her back.

"Why are they fighting anyways?" Danny asked.

"Yeah. And who's winning?" Tucker questioned.

Not hesitating any longer, the three flew down towards the large crowd and stopped a safe distance away. With astonished expressions, they watched the yetis violently fend off the many ghosts that were attacking them. Upon closer inspection, it looked like the ghosts were trying to push past all the yetis. Before Danny could call out to them, a loud roar shook the tundra and momentarily paused the fight. Everyone present covered their ears to block out the deep roar, but it wasn't much help. Danny was sure that his ghostly wail was louder than this, but this roar was still a force of its own. Peeking a eye open, Danny glanced around to find the source. 'Frostbite?' Danny thought at the same time that the leader's roar had died down. Danny stood up straight and moved in closer to hear what Frostbite was saying.

"...not stay here! Leave at once or you will be dealt with without remorse," Frostbite declared. Immediately, the crowd of ghosts raged.

"Frostbite!" Danny shouted out before flying over to the larger ghost. Tucker was quick to follow, just in case things got too crazy. "What's going on here?"

"Great One?" Frostbite questioned in surprise.

"It's the ghost boy!"

"Traitor!"

"He's doomed us all!"

Danny looked around in surprise at the ghosts that were raging below him. Even some of the yetis were growling at him! Danny exclaimed in surprise when a spear came flying towards his head. Ducking quickly, Danny sputtered in shock. "W-what are they talking about?" Danny asked.

"Great One, you should not be here," Frostbite said in a serious tone of voice.

Danny watched Frostbite, finally noticing his reserved posture. "Why not? What's going on?"

"Be-ware!" the Box Ghost shouted as he suddenly took to the air. He pointed an accusing finger at Danny and shouted down at all the ghosts. "Beware the horror that is coming for us all!"

"What are you-" Danny started but was cut off by more loud outrage from the crowd.

Frostbite was quick to shut this down, however. "Silence!" he half shouted/half roared. Once he had the masses under control, Frostbite faced Danny. "You have always fought valiantly to protect your world and this one, Great One."

"But now he's doomed us all!"

"How have I doomed you?" Danny asked, his ire stoked.

"You've allowed the biggest bully in the world to attack one of us!" Sydney Poindexter pointed out angrily from Dora's back. "A witch!"

"Do they mean Kagome?" Tucker asked.

"He doesn't deny allying himself with a witch!"

"Look, it was self-defense. Skulker attacked her first," Danny defended angrily. "Besides, what do you all care?"

"We care, Great One, because of the threat that is now being posed to all of us," Frostbite answered.

"Which is why we all need to hide!"

"You will not hide here! This is not your domain!" Frostbite roared back at the crowd of frightened ghosts.

"Just listen to me!" Danny shouted at them all. "She's not evil! She's a friend just like a lot of you. They helped save Skulker's life. They wouldn't have done that if they were evil."

"It's a trick!"

"It's not a trick! I wouldn't be here right now if she really was some kind of evil, ghost hunter," Danny argued. This was getting ridiculous now. Kagome wasn't evil. Danny knew that firsthand, but none of these ghosts even knew her!

"Great One, while I respect and admire your bravery and willingness to fight for others, I believe that you are greatly misinformed as to the dangers that witches pose," Frostbite states.

Danny furrowed his brows as he gazed down at Frostbite in confusion. "I know their magic hurts ghosts. But they can help ghosts too."

"No, Great One. This goes much deeper than simply hurting ghosts with their spells and potions," Frostbite said and shook his head. "Witches have opposed ghosts since the beginning. Even the oldest ghosts cannot remember a time when witches were not a threat."

"It is true, Sir Phantom," Dora agreed with a deep frown, now back in her human form. "Witches use their magic to hunt ghosts before killing them in the most brutal of ways."

"They're nothing but bullies. They do these horrible things just because they can," Poindexter inputted with a deep frown.

"Most likely this witch has lied to you to gain your trust. It would not be the first time they have used such underhanded tactics," Frostbite said. "If there is only one truth in this world, it is that no ghost can trust a witch. Not even a half-ghost like you."

Danny frowned deeply before looking back at Sam and Tucker. They both stared back at him with small frowns of their own. Glancing down at all the frightened, angry, and worried expressions around him, Danny couldn't help but feel a small seed of doubt taking root. He trusted Kagome one hundred percent. But, maybe there was more to this than he'd first thought.

~:~

Kimiko hummed softly to herself as she dried a plate with a towel. Dinner had been a quiet affair tonight since neither Vlad nor Danny had been present. She had missed Vlad's presence, but he'd been busy with work. Oh well. He'd probably be around tomorrow night. The man spent more time in her home than he did in his own. It was a miracle that their relationship hadn't gotten out to the public yet. Kimiko placed the now dry dish into the cabinet above her before reaching for the next one.

"I'm not sure how I feel about you leaving your home so open too intruders."

Kimiko suddenly jumped as the plate slipped out of her grip and down onto the floor. The plate shattered into pieces just as Kimiko grabbed a large knife from the wooden holder on the counter. Turning quickly, Kimiko faced the intruder with her weapon drawn. It was a middle-aged woman with greying hair styled in waves down to her shoulders. She smiled softly, her grey eyes twinkling mischievously. She was barely above five feet tall and wearing a stylish sweater with black slacks and matching flats. Kimiko blinked in surprise. "Na-Nakoda-san, what are you doing here?" Kimiko stuttered from pure shock.

"Isn't it obvious? I've come to visit my favorite daughter-in-law and my wonderful grandchildren!" Nakoda exclaimed brightly with a smile. She quickly went over to Kimiko to embrace her tightly with a happy laugh. "Oh! And don't bother with formalities, Kimiko. They can be such an inconvenience," Nakoda said before waving her hand over the shattered plate on the floor. The shattered plate quickly reformed just before Nakoda picked it up and offered it back to Kimiko with a smile. "Honestly though, Kimiko. You live in a town haunted by ghosts. You should have more defenses up around your home. Don't worry. I'll help you put some up," Nakoda said before using her magic to quickly finish off the rest of the dishes.

Frozen stiff, Kimiko couldn't speak a word. She hadn't seen Nakoda in years. The last time the two women had been in the same room was about four years ago at Kagome's thirteenth birthday party. Nakoda had randomly popped in to give Kagome an extravagant gift and spend several days doing everything possible to bond with the kids. After three days, she'd suddenly left without any explanation. Nakoda was always on the move. She rarely remained in one place for too long. Kimiko had always guessed that that was where Judai inherited his ability to runout on others. Finally, Kimiko stuttered, "D-daughter-in-law?"

Nakoda laughed lightly. "I'm just teasing, Kimiko. I know that you and Judai never married. Honestly, you probably never will, but I still think of you as a daughter," Nakoda said before looking around the kitchen curiously.

"Where are my lovely grandchildren? I brought gifts!" Nakoda says before flashing her small pocketbook and quickly scurrying from the room.

From where she was still stunned in the kitchen, Kimiko heard Nakoda's voice cry out, "Kagome! Judai! Guess who's come to visit!?" and her children's happy cries of "Grandma!". Nakoda had come to visit... No matter how many times Kimiko thought about it, it didn't decrease the amount of worry that had settled into her gut. This wouldn't end well...