HI! An update?! Already?! Yap, I wanted to do more due to my DP kick) So, I translated another chapter) Help:

"talking"

'thinking'

"loud scream"

Strong language!

BH and Nickelodeon own DP) I just do my little thing for free)

Chapter 13. Meeting the Council

For few seconds our heroes levitated in the vast soundless white void then suddenly they all fell on something hard with a thud, world around them materialized with a pop. Travelers accompanied by Masters of Time and Space appeared in the middle of the dark wide room, which looked more like coliseum. Almost all of them fell flat on their faces. With a loud pop Danny smacked on a floor letting out quite "ouch", Sam fell nearby covering her head. Huffing and puffing Tucker with unconscious Dani on his back laid close to his friends. As usual unfazed Clockwork and Space floated in the air watching over heroes forcing back their amused laughs. 'Danny' sitting on the ground leaned forward on one knee fighting back his headache and vomit reflex. Sighing he looked up to make sure everyone was save and unharmed. His eyes widened when he saw huntress and Phantom.

Shadow was lucky enough to land on something soft and comfy. She moved her hands and legs to make sure she could still control them and feel. Letting out a short painful moan she lifted herself of the ground pressing her hand against the surface and shook her head whipping her long black hair off her face. Woman froze when to her shock the ground under her body rumbled with protest and moved slightly. She had an idea what it might be. Huntress gulped loudly and praying to be wrong looked down. 'Nope, not my day'. Her wide violet eyes met with none other, but Dan Phantom, laying on his back with shut eyes and angry painful scowl. And to make it even worse and awkward for her, she laid sprawled on his wide muscled chest. And worst of all his hands were wrapped around her waist. Growling to himself Phantom shrugged with pain and opened his eyes to see her shocked expression. They both froze staring at each other and stayed like this for few seconds. Until Dan regained his composure and smiled at her with wide Cheshire grin showing his long fangs.

"What's up, Sammy?" tsked he with his forked tongue lifting himself on his elbows and waggling his thick eyebrows. "Couldn't hold yourself back?"

For a second she stared at him still dumb with shock. When his words finally registered in her mind, she let her eyes darken dangerously to the deepest black ever possible. Her look turned so cold it would have made Frostbite proud. No trace of discomfort or embarrassment, just pure hatred.

"Oh, please…" said black-haired woman with monotone hard voice ready to bore a hole in Dan's head with her eyes. "Thinking about IT makes me puke all over the place."

"But you still think about IT." caught her slip up ghost still grinning without shame. Not finding any good come back Shadow frowned at him and stood up swatting his hands off her waist with disgust. Dan with even bigger grin observed her every move sitting straight on the floor. With peripheral sight he caught the disapproval look his copy threw at him standing up. He ignored him with a huff. Not far from them, four teens finally regained their senses.

Danny sat up coughing and holding his bruised ribs. His head was spinning as if he was freshly off of his favorite "Astronaut's adventure" attraction. He looked at his shaking hands willing himself to get a hold of it and stop.

"Could have warned us, you know!" chided the ghost-boy with irritation. "We asked you nicely not to do that again!"

Swaying goth girl swiped her hair away from her amethyst eyes and sent dirty look at the Master of Space, who only answered with innocent smile. Tucker stood up with a hiss holding partly awakened Dani steadying her on the spot. Straps of his backpack has fallen down letting the small girl in a white-black suit to grab his shoulders.

"Dude, seriously, it's getting old." huffed Tuck placing his glasses back on his nose. "Better try some other way."

Space's smile widened showing his shiny pearl-white teeth ignoring teenager's complains.

"I had an impression you were becoming bored." he said shrugging and spreading his arms in a manner of a five-year-old child with a giggle. "I thought that would be a funny joke among the friends. Hehehe."

"Hehe, my ass." growled Dan stretching and feeling his muscles and bones protest with chorus of pops and cracks. "You are getting on my nerves, pal. One more "joke" and I'll drove that ring so far up your…"

"Phantom." warned Clockwork floating to his younger brother's side looking at the flame-haired ghost with a frown. Red eye with a scar flashed dangerously reminding about the possible outcome if Dan tries something, time stuff gripped tightly in the adult's hand. That warning tone and gesture only aggravated tall specter's anger even more. Phantom scowled showing his fangs and tongue. 'No one pushes me around.' thought the ghost to himself silently boiling. He opened his mouth to throw a harsh retort at the master of Time, when his green-eyed copy interrupted.

"My apologies, Clockwork, he's a bit unsettled." said 'Danny' glancing sideways at Dan with a frown. "It won't happen again."

"Who the fuck do you think you are to act like my mentor or something?" hissed his original baring his fangs and clenched fists, ready to use them.

"Calm down." came a harsh reply from the clone with stoic expression. "Just try and show some respect."

"Ooooo, looks like someone's grouchy." laughed Dan with surprise at his copy's tone. "What, jealous Sammy did not land on you?"

"This has nothing to do with that." said 'Danny' with unfazed expression crossing hands on his chest and clenching fists so tight his sleeves protested loudly. "Though, you could have tried to be less of a jerk around her. Or just leave her alone."

"Tsk, don't tell me, what to do." huffed Phantom with an annoyed look. "And maybe, just maybe, I'll consider to let you get close to her."

Four teens wisely keeping their silence watched the exchange with bewildered looks and wide eyes. Tuck and Dani looked at each other, as if asking "What's going on?" Sam and Danny holding hands blushed with embarrassment watching Dan's halves at each other's throats in an argument over black huntress. Ghost-boy involuntary cringed in humiliation looking at his two "impossible-now-future-selves" fighting over his girlfriend's "already-not-future-self" in front of said girlfriend. Goth girl didn't feel any better and would have done anything for them to shut up and never touch this matter ever again.

"What are you thinking about?" said reproachfully 'Danny' starting to lose his temper and feeling the need to beat some sense into his original resurface. "She's not a thing, she's a person!"

Just as Phantom got ready to shut his copy with a well-deserved kick in a face, bright green energy beam flew between them hitting the ground and slicing it in two like a hot knife through butter. Both ghosts jumped away from the hole and the glowing ecto-whip stuck in it. Not far from them stood Shadow watching them with angry expression on her pale face. Handle of her whip creaked slightly in her tightening grip. Her eyes furious and cold.

"How long are you planning to argue about me in my presence?" hissed huntress through her clenched teeth. "Do me a favor, shut up and take a look around yourself."

Phantoms nodded silently, but still exchanged with dirty looks before turning away from each other. Suddenly feeling tired Danny let out a sigh and observed the dark room. It looked like a round hall, similar to a room in the planetarium: high wide walls, open space with a big dome above. Even rows of seats around seemed familiar. Well, something stood out – big spherical screens hanging from the roof. 'They look like eyeballs.' white-haired teen shuddered at the thought, banning gory images from his head. His friends looked around, trying to see something in the darkness. Tucker took off his backpack and fished out a pair of binoculars with night vision to help himself see. Danielle floated up inspecting walls and hemispheres hanging under the ceiling. Sam noticed markings on the floor similar to long lines and bent down to examine them closer. Strange, but they looked a lot like… veins and arteries. Dan and his copy frowned at each other for the last time, huffed and turned away going in different directions checking the room for traps and other unwanted surprises. Shadow froze watching and listening hard for any signs of danger. Clockwork and Space floated aside watching their "team" with interest. From time to time ancient spirit in white would let himself giggle or smile slightly enjoying the view. Clockwork taking on a childish appearance and ignoring him started to fix a small clock on his stuff out of boredom.

"A little help, maybe?" asked huntress in black looking at ghosts with irritation. "Or you are too wise and too old to stoop down to our level?"

"You don't have to do anything, Miss Shadow." answered Master of Time without a hint of embarrassment or abandoning his work. "They know we are here and will appear any minute now."

Black-haired woman just raised her thin brow in silent question. At this moment Dani flew up to tribunes observing everything with her curious green eyes. She noticed a dark silhouette in gray shadows around. Unable to fight her curiosity, the girl flew closer to the mysterious figure. Mentally preparing herself for a surprise or trouble she reached out her small hand and poked the object. The silhouette groaned and cussing quietly opened one big glowing green eye with visible veins on its white sclera. Danielle yelped and flew away from the monster trying to warn her friends. They heard her and turned around trying to find the source of her fear. Large single eye stared at them from the middle of the wall. Soon another eye appeared next to it, then other and other, until the whole tribune was full of this eyes staring at their unwelcome guests.

"Or earlier…" added Clockwork changing his appearance to a young man. "The Council is here."

"Decided to show up, eyeballs." hissed Dan cracking his knuckles pleased with the sound. "It's about time."

Suddenly bright light lit up the room unveiling all its secrets and letting our heroes to fully understand their surroundings. Danny was right; it did look like a planetarium, if not for the veins and arteries on walls and tribunes with unfriendly spirits. They looked at him and his friends as if they were criminals. Sam involuntary thought about Ancient Rome. She felt like she was the one in Coliseum and about to fight gladiators and lions, or something much, much worse for her life. Large eyeballs hanging from the ceiling were meant to be a watching point over newcomers. There sat most respected and most powerful Observants, ready to judge or just to observe the procedure. In giant dome above their heads teenagers noticed an opening and a large telescope placed in it. But it was forgotten for now, since something more interesting, than the Ghost Zone presented itself in front of the Council. Tucker gulped loudly feeling their angry stares on his body and cringed slightly, when he heard a creak of a glove right above his left ear. Clockwork floating next to him changed his form to an elderly and gripped his stuff tightly. Space kept his friendly smile and posture, but his silver eyes were cold and distant. Four teens respectfully kept their silence and observed green-skinned monsters from the dark. Dani couldn't suppress her disgust and shuddered sticking her tongue out. If by any chance someone will have to touch them, she sure is not going to volunteer. Danny grabbed Sam by the waist and kept her close to himself expecting anything from the Council. His other hand landed on Tucker's shoulder in a protective manner. 'If they'll try any of their dirty tricks…' thought the ghost boy to himself frowning at one-eyed monsters. '… they'll find out why Dan used to be my future.' Even if such possessive behavior wasn't usual for him, Danny did not want to risk his loved-one's safety at any cost. Shadow concentrated on a nearby Observant silently watching him and calculating his possible weaknesses and vital points in her mind. For now, she considered the eye to be the most important and fragile part of his anatomy. If she's accurate enough she'll be able to strike it with her whip and slice the ghost in two. That should be practical and useful if this monster tries something with her and her companions.

"I see you managed to get here." said the ancient spirit in white robe with golden high collar touching his hands in a praying manner. "Impressive. I must admit, we expected you later."

His eye looked at Dan's clone with interest. If this Observant had mouth, he would have been smiling with a sinister pleased smile. The spirit squinted looking at the copy from head to toe like an inventor at his own creation. 'Danny' felt a wave of goosebumps run down his spine at that look. But not out of fear, but of disgust.

"Our little optical illusion worked, I see." purred the ghost interlacing his fingers. "So, how does it feel to live your own life, reflection?"

He expectantly watched the clone, who let himself show a small smile and laugh quietly. This puzzled the ghost a little.

"I'm not just a mere reflection, you freed with the mirror's help." answered 'Danny' lifting his head and looking at the Council with bright green eyes. Some of the ghosts gasped and started to whisper among themselves. One of them flat out pointed at Phantom with his clawed finger arguing with his colleagues. The copy sighed with annoyance. That reaction to his eyes started to get old too soon.

"If you are not our creation, then what are you?" carefully asked the one-eyed monster.

"I am him." said the flame-haired ghost pointing over his shoulder at Dan. "But the one, who remembers who he used to be. I am Danny Phantom."

Observants leaned back with widened eyes and soon started to yell at each other using an unknown language. Ghost boy cringed at the noise and lifted his head looking at the clone. This ghost really did consider himself Danny Phantom despite his looks and powers. Green-eyed teenager still could not wrap up his mind about this whole situation. 'Is it really possible for Dan, the very monster, who had destroyed numerous cities, killed thousands of hundreds of innocent people once, to have something of me left in him? The Danny, who existed in present time and lived his "happily ever after"?' As if sharing his thoughts Danielle looked sympathetically at 'Danny'. If he truly was the same as the guy, who she considered her cousin, then it must have been pretty hard and painful for him to live all alone and fight his insanity for long 10 years.

"We did not expect this side effect." one of Observants interrupted her train of thought. "You must be the same as that monster!"

Long green clawed finger pointed at Dan, who stood leaning on the wall with crossed arms on his chest. The said ghost smirked and flipped them off. Several spirits recoiled back as if they had been slapped.

"It's outrageous!" yelled the same Observant glaring at Dan, then at his copy. "You both are universal headache! We must have dealt with you ages ago!"

Some of the ghost approved calling for a punishment. Seeing the situation getting out of control, Clockwork decided to join in discussion at that moment, before something stupid or irreparable could occur. He floated gracefully to the center of the room right in front our travelers, covering them form heated stares. His red eyes were tired and angry.

"I ask for Council to return to our main problem." his usually calm voice boomed in a hall stopping the arguments. "If you haven't forgotten the Darks are back. To fight them we need your help. I told you about this before. Why are you backing out now?"

"Don't try to change the subject, Clockwork!" three Observants shouted menacingly leaning forward. "Yes, the Darks are back and they are the threat. But so are this two!"

Three fingers pointed at Dan and his clone.

"First we must take care of this problem and then we can move on to the next one."

Flame-haired Phantom scowled baring his fangs and clenched his fists tight enough for his gloves to protest with a creak. The Master of Time glanced at him before opening his mouth for an answer, but was interrupted.

"I am flattered to be considered such a threat." growled Dan glaring at the Council with glowing blood-red eyes. "But don't you, bunch of old idiots, think you are getting of track? I am free, suck it up! That other threat is way too serious for your stupid grudge against me!"

"Yeah, stop dodging the problem!" shouted Dani, having enough of their stubbornness and surprising others. "Creatures, who want to turn everything to Chaos are out there somewhere doing who-knows-what! We need help in finding them and stopping the End! But no, you have to be the proud ones! Leave Phantom alone and help us save the world! And stop threaten Danny, right Danny?"

Ghost boy with white hair and tall Phantom with green eyes looked at her at the same moment at the sound of their name. The girl hesitated a little seeing this, but hurried to correct herself.

"I meant adult Danny." smiled sheepishly Dani rubbing her neck. Teenager in a black-white suit rolled his eyes hearing his friend and girlfriend's giggles. The huntress shook her head and sighed tiredly. 'Kids.'

"Out of the mouths of babes comes truth and wisdom." said Space joining a dispute and standing up close to his brother. "As this innocent child noted, you, I and the respected Council, have a common enemy which, my apologies to the ferocious Phantom, is a threat more terrible, than the one you so stubbornly want to neutralize. I ask for your reason to prevail over your tribal pride."

"We can't go forward if we have a barrier on our way." answered calmly and monotonously one of the Observants sitting in the spheres under the ceiling. "Some of us have lost their mind, otherwise they would have never agreed to free this "object" out of its prison. Now we have two problems at our hands."

Few spirits lowered their eyes to the floor avoiding his calculating glare. Dan felt his ectoplasm boil inside at this words. He was used to be feared and hated, but not to the point of being looked at as an insult.

"Get down here and tell it to my face!" roared Phantom shaking his glowing fist. "And then we'll see, who is an "object", you, one-eyed…"

He got elbowed in a chest by Shadow, who appeared out of nowhere. He hissed in pain stroking his sore muscles and glaring at her. She looked back with cold unmoving eyes. She mouthed "shut up, don't make it any harder for us" and turned away to look at the Council representative.

"Listen, I'm not his biggest fan too, but he is not the main pain in lower our backs, isn't he." said huntress sternly. "I don't know a lot about the Darks, but it's clear they are not something we can overlook. We are wasting our time trying to decide what to do, but they are not. Infinite numbers of lives are depending on us, in both worlds. I don't know about you, but I swore to protect humankind from ghosts or other supernatural threats. Therefore, if this damn world means something to you, as the ancient beings, who took the universal responsibility upon themselves, you will shove your pride down your throats and give us the information we need."

Most of Observants fell silent thinking her words through. Some of them huffed and continued to argue pointing their fingers at her, calling her a mistake as well as the tall ghost. One of them called her "a being out of time, same as Phantom" asking to punish her as well. Those few, who were on the side of the travelers from the very beginning, began to argue heatedly, giving many arguments in favor of the flame-haired ghost and the huntress, reminding how useful it is to have timeless fighters with the characteristic nature of the Darks. Space and Clockwork silently watched the exchange glancing at their team from time to time.

"Do you think they will agree?" asked Tuck leaning to his best friends and tugging at his backpack's straps nervously. For the whole time he's been analyzing the information, trying to find the solution to their problem.

"They better do it." said Sam on Danny's left strapping Fenton Wrist Ray to her hand. "I don't condone violence and Dan is not my favorite person, but their stubbornness is getting on my nerves."

"You know I'm starting to think you and Shadow are really the same." mumbled the halfa glancing at her with fear. His girlfriend pouted and huffing turned away.

"Force is not going to get us anywhere." said the green-eyed clone watching them. "They won't trust us any more, if we start to fight them."

"Well, I think it's one of the options, dude." laughed Tucker pointing at members of the Council, who'd been asking for punishment for huntress and Dan. They had retreated with fear upon looking at Shadow's face and Phantom's bared fangs. "They sure don't want to mess with this two now."

"The Council is better be on our side, than against us." said both Dannys simultaneously and looked at each other with surprise.

"Umm, sorry, but aren't you part of him?" sheepishly asked the teen with snow-white hair pointing at Dan. "You can't live outside of your main body forever, right?"

"Yeah, sad, but it's true." answered copy lifting his hand, clenching and unclenching his fist. "I can feel myself getting weaker. I took over that body thanks to a mirror, because he was shocked and couldn't fight back. Now it's slowly getting out of control."

"Your body?" asked Sam with raised brow. "You can't physically exist without him, can you?"

"I must not be here in the first place." sighed ghost making his baritone sound softer. "My place is in Phantom's mind. I am a voice of reason, his conscience so to speak. Until the moment he stops running from himself and hiding behind his powerlust, I will bother him. But as soon as Dan destroys the border between us, accepting the truth, I will disappear, uniting with him as the whole being."

"Something tells me It's not gonna happen soon, dude." huffed Tuck crossing his hands on his chest. "Which means you can stay here for some time. That would be fun."

'Danny' smiled slightly shaking his head with a sad look.

"Dan's existence breaks a lot of universal rules. My life is a bigger paradox." sighed copy glancing to the side. That was a tough hard truth. As much as he enjoyed feeling himself once again alive and among friends, he knew this time will have to end. He has his own place and their lives are their to live and must not cross with his dreaded existence.

"I'm sorry." said Danny with sad expression looking at the ground. "Well, on a bright side, at least for now, you can exist without him."

Ghost boy threw a dirty look at his alternate adult-self, who was trying to get under Shadow's skin. And it seemed like he was succeeding. If looks could kill, huntress would have vaporized Dan on the spot.

"It doesn't matter." said the double looking at three teens with a smile. "What's important is what you've made the right choice and now you can live your life the way it's supposed to be. And I'm happy about it. Besides I see you finally found the courage to open up about your feelings."

The clone pointedly looked at Danny and Sam and nodded at their intertwined hands. Teens raised their brows confused, but then blushed shrugging slightly. Tuck smirked widely and took a quick photo with his beloved PDA for his personal collection.

"Umm, yeah." said ghost boy rubbing back of a head. "I think we should join others. I think they've come to conclusion."

Goth girl nodded smiling and holding his hand followed him on a way to their other companions. Tuck and Dani went after them giggling quietly. Not so far from them Clockwork in his adult form and smiling Space were talking with Observant, who's been chosen to declare the verdict. Other ancient beings stood up to hear him. Shadow frowned leaning her torso forward and gripped her whip tightly in warning. Dan smirked watching her with interest. 'I like this.' thought Phantom to himself ready for fight despite the verdict. Doesn't matter who he must destroy, be it the Council or mysterious Darks. His fists are itching to be used and it's irrelevant, who he must pound with them. Finally Master of Time and Master of Space finished their talk with Council's representative and after shaking hands with him in agreement turned around to their team with a smile.

"Despite the conflicts, the majority of the Council accepted your request for help and agreed to accompany you in your deed." Observant spoke monotonously forcing himself to stay calm. "We will provide you with the latest information about Darks whereabouts as soon as we know it. However, the Council has one condition."

"Of course you do." muttered Phantom putting his hands on his hips. "We gonna do all the work for you, but you still want to order us."

"Danny Phantom." addressed Observant loudly ignoring Dan's remark and staring pointedly at the boy in white-black suit. "You must swear you'll do anything possible to stop the terror and to prevent any unexpectable accidents."

Large green eye glared at the tall flame-haired spirit behind the hero. The ghost smirked in return. Danny sighed and glanced at him over his shoulder nodding.

"I swear." said he with feeling the responsibility falling on his shoulders. Not the first time. His experience in saving the world might come in handy. 'I hope I have not forgotten how to save the planet.' ironically thought the white-haired ghost boy to himself shrugging. Small familiar hand reassuringly fell on his right shoulder. Another rough hand touched his left shoulder. Ghost teen smiled to himself. As long as his best friends were alongside him, he'll be fine. As long as they have each other, he knows, what he's fighting for. Dani noticed his little smile and smiled back lifting her head.

"Now, please, can you tell us, where are the Darks?" asked she looking at the Council. Green-skinned ghosts nodded and turned to the large eye in the middle of a wall surrounded with arteries and veins. Gigantic eyelid with long lashes lifted suddenly revealing a big screen what looked like a blind eye. Soon arteries on a screen pumped up enough liquid for it to start showing a faint image. The more vessels have pulsed, the more prominent picture has become. Soon it showed a very familiar view. Danny even jumped a little when he saw the place they all have to go to.

"Walker's Prison?!" screamed the ghost boy shaking his arms. "Are you serious? They went there?!"

"Are you sure there is no mistake?" asked Clockwork taking on his child appearance and looking at the image with worry. "If they are there, then…"

"Yes. They are there." coldly answered Observant. "They can free them. That's why you need to hurry."

"And how long were you planning to not tell us about this?" said Space through clenched teeth with darkening angry eyes and glowing blue marks on his cheeks. Tucker gulped looking at him. 'Note to self: don't make him mad.'

"Alright." growled Dan creaking his knuckles and turning away. "Send us there already. It's about time I kicked someone's ass."

"You're incorrigible." sighed Shadow and glared up at the Council. "We'll talk to you later, now we have to catch them."

"I agree." nodded Danielle and floated to the huntress's side and looked back at teens and their ghostly mentors expectantly. "Are you coming or what?"

"Space and Clockwork must remain here." unexpectedly said Observant crossing his hands on his chest. Everyone looked at him, completely dumbfounded.

"What?!" yelped Tucker with wide eyes. "What about us?! We need their help!"

Sam and Danny nodded exchanging worried looks.

"Their presence will let us watch Darks' movement better." explained the green-skinned ghost. "Time and Space are very powerful forces, what bound us, letting Darks escape from our watchful gaze. So, we need both Masters help to bend them and make us less dependable. Now, leave, finish your mission."

"My dear friends, please, gather together." asked the white-haired ancient ghost in long white robes taking out his ring. "I can transport you there in no time."

"BUT NOT LIKE THE LAST TIME!" screamed four teens simultaneously with angry faces. Space just smiled and levitated his ring chanting some spells. The faster he chanted the brighter marks on a ring glowed. Ghost unclenched his fist and bright ring started to spin, faster and faster. It resembled a circular saw disk, which usually used to cut big logs in halves. Then Space opened his glowing bright white eyes, magical artifact flew off his hand and skimming under our heroes legs cut the ground, leaving behind deep black hole.

"Oh no!" yelled Danny loosing balance and falling. Following him others also fell in a crack screaming and cursing the ancient ghost.