Opening A/N: I desperately hope that the few of you who've read the prologue and returned for more enjoyed what you've read so far. (Of course you have, why else would you come read the next chapter?) If so, GREAT! If not, what the fuck are you doing back here you little gremlin? Moving on! I can't say how much this fic has captured my attention. I published the prologue like six or seven hours ago as of writing this A/N (it's 4:10 in the morning, send help.), and I lied down thinking I was going to get some sleep, but NOOOOO, my brain just refused to let me rest until I at least STARTED on the first chapter. Anyway, for those of you who continue to read, I can't express in words how much it means for you to keep coming back. Even if you don't comment/review, it means the world. As long as at least ONE of you keeps coming back (and I don't get writer's block, pray for me if you're into that) I WILL keep updating this story. Anyway enough dillydally, I hope you enjoy! -DraconicAnarkhy
Chapter Synopsis - Ember will make a brief (and I mean VERY brief) appearance at the end of this chapter. In this chapter, Danny ventures into the Ghost Zone, intent on finding Ember or her realm. But one thing Danny forgot to think about, how exactly is he going to do that? After all, the GZ is the ghost equivalent of outer space. Luckily he runs into a familiar face willing give him a little help.
"Two quotation marks means speech or emphasis on a word."
'One quotation mark means thought.'
Italics mean heavy emphasis on a word or written/digital text
Chapter I: The Confrontation
The Ghost Zone is, for lack of a better term, vastly empty. The large static black and green swirls give off a strange feeling. Imagine if the Earth stopped rotating, and all the clouds and vast blue sky were just… still. That's what the swirls are like in the GZ.
Danny floats slowly, cautiously, through the vast emptiness. Glancing at the occasional realm. "I really didn't think this through." He mutters. "How am I supposed to find Ember in the ghost equivalent of outer space?"
You'd think that it would be common to see the occasional ghost wander by when exploring the Ghost Zone, you would be sadly mistaken. The GZ is so vast that you could likely wander it for hours, maybe even days, without running into anything sentient.
Danny pauses in his flight and looks around. He sighs softly "Maybe this was a mistake."
"Danny? What was a mistake, what did you do?" A voice questions
If asked, Danny Fenton, savior of Earth and ghost catcher supreme, would proclaim until his dying breath that he did not let out a shriek that could be heard all the way at the top of Clockwork's tower upon being surprised by this mystery figure.
He turns around, fists glowing with gathering energy, only to come face to face with one of his few friends/allies within the ghost community. "Kitty?" Danny asks.
Kitty is a female ghost who appears to be around eighteen or nineteen years old. She has shoulder-length green shaggy hair, pale grayish skin, and red eyes. Her eyes and lips are highlighted by purple eye shadow and lipstick respectively. She wears a black cropped tank top, red skirt, black fishnets with some sort of green pants/tights beneath, as well as black calf-high boots/heels.
"Who else? Anyway what were you muttering about? Something about a mistake?" She asks, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.
Danny lets the building energy around his hands fade, letting out a relieved breath he slumps over slightly. "I swear if I wasn't a Halfa already, you would've just turned me into one." He grumbles.
Kitty giggles lightly in response. "Sorry Phantom, buut you should probably be a little bit more self-aware within the GZ." She teases. "You know better than anyone just how many ghosts there are here that would love to skin you alive. Now, enough changing the subject, what were you grumbling about just now?"
He straightens his body back up and looks her in the eye. "Yeah I know, and don't think you're slick with that little remark about skinning me, we both know you're talking about Skulker. Anyway I was looking for someone, but I have no idea how to find them. I was muttering about how coming in here looking for them might have been a mistake on my part."
At this Kitty uncrosses her arms and both of her eyebrows raise, partly in surprise, partly in confusion. "You're looking for someone here in the GZ? I thought you were only on good terms with me, Johnny and Penny."
He nods his head in response. "That's mostly true. There are a few others, but I'm hoping to change that. Speaking of Johnny, where's your pet greasemonkey anyway?"
Kitty's lips upturn slightly at the remark towards her boyfriend. "Pet greasemonkey, huh? That's a good one, I'll have to remember it. He's probably messing around with his bike or doing an odd job for someone to help pay for more parts for it." She shrugs, then gives Danny a slightly more serious look. "So, you're trying to make new friends within the Ghost community?"
Danny rubs the back of his neck, a sheepish expression on his face. "That's what I'm hoping for. I've been thinking for a while that I want to stop doing so much hunting and start doing a little more helping when it comes to ghosts." His expression changes to one of determination. "I'm a Halfa after all, it makes me feel like it's my responsibility to help people on both sides of mortality. After I had the talk with you and Johnny, it just confirmed to me that not all ghosts are outright evil. Some just want help, or just want to get out of the GZ for a while."
Kitty smiles at the memory. It was two years ago, Kitty and Johnny had been out on a date in Amity Park. Danny had confronted them after his ghost sense warned him of them being near. Long story short, he and Johnny were all too happy to trade fists and blasts again, but Kitty was the voice of reason. After getting between them she explained how all they wanted was to spend some time together outside the GZ, practically begging Danny not to shove them in the thermos or send them back. Since that day, they've come to the agreement that both Kitty and Johnny could come through the portal anytime they wanted, just as long as they didn't cause any issues.
"Yeah, you would be surprised how many of the ghosts that show up in Amity just want to get away from the boredom of the GZ." She explains. "So, who's this mystery person anyway? Do I know them?"
Danny suddenly has an epiphany and literally facepalms. The resounding SMACK! of his palm meeting his forehead is rumored to have been heard all the way in the Far Frozen. "I can't believe I didn't remember it sooner." He growls out.
Kitty looks distinctly uncomfortable. "Uhh, Phantom? Everything alright?"
Danny looks up in surprise. "Yeah, yeah sorry, forgot you were there for a moment, just realizing just how dense I can be. You absolutely know who I'm looking for, she's your best friend after all."
Kitty looks confused. "Penny? Why would you look for her here in the GZ? I thought she was still acting as a counselor for your school."
Funny story, that. It's similar to the agreement that Johnny and Kitty had made with him. Spectra, or Penny as she's known to her friends, is a ghost that feeds on negative emotions to fuel her powers and keep herself looking youthful and attractive. During one of their fights, Danny had gotten an explanation from her on why she had been in Amity. After a very tense conversation, he had suggested that she take up a position at his school. After all, where else would you find a bigger abundance of depression, angst, and frustration outside of a high school? Besides, she doesn't actually harm anyone.
Now it's Danny's turn to look confused. "Spectra? No, it's summer break. I'm not talking about her anyway, I meant Ember." He says, shaking his head.
Kitty looks utterly dumbfounded at this. "Why in the world would you be looking for Ember of all people? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you're finally trying to reach out to her, but why now of all times?"
Danny sighs, unsure of how much he should reveal about his current knowledge. 'Then again, if Kitty is Ember's best friend, then maybe she knows whether or not anything I'm thinking is true.'
"What do you know about Ember's past?" He asks.
Kitty's face hardens. "Woah, woah, woah, I'm gonna stop you there Phantom. You and I may be friends, but if you're looking for information on Ember's life before she was ghosted, you're not gonna get it out of me."
Danny looks abashed. "That's not what I was getting at. Just… how do I explain this?" He mutters, mostly to himself. "Earlier today I was thinking back on all the ghosts I've met over the years, y'know. And for some reason, Ember stuck out to me. She's an enigma. She's not like the other ghosts I've come across. She's not blatantly out to get me, and she never goes about her schemes and attacks the same way."
He places his arms behind his head. Kitty is looking at him with her arms crossed, her full attention on him. "Then I started to think about the things she's said over the years, and it made me think: "maybe I can get some answers through her music." and it went from there."
Kitty adopts a morose look. "You're talking about "Remember", aren't you?"
Danny looks surprised, his arms falling to his sides. "I- Wh- How did you know?"
She shakes her head, her green hair swaying. "I'm honestly surprised no one else has pieced it together yet. The only reason I know is because I was there through her writing process. But what does it have to do with you wanting to talk to her?"
"Honestly? It bothers me, Kitty. The fact that Ember uses her abilities to enrapture an audience, instead of just being a normal musician. I fully believe that she would have the same, if not, a larger following if she did." Danny responds.
"But what does any of that have to do with you? Why do you care?" She asks, still visibly confused.
"Kitty, if there's one thing I gathered from those lyrics, it's nothing to do with how Ember may have died. It's that I know for a fact that all she wants is to be remembered. And it bothers me. Sam and Tucker always said I had a "saving people thing", and I can't think of any better way to put it to use. I want to help her achieve that goal, just… the right way." He explains
Kitty looks at Danny teary eyed. "How is it that all of the people in Am- I mean Ember's life, her enemy is the one that makes that connection, and is the only one willing to help?"
Danny notices the slip on Ember's name, but knows better than to question it. It's almost taboo to talk about a ghost's human life. Especially if you're talking about it with another ghost. 'I always figured "Ember" wasn't her real name, well not her human name anyway.'
"Kitty, I can't give you an answer to that. All I can tell you is that I really do want to help her." He shrugs
"And how exactly do you plan on doing that?" She asks
"I really don't know. I'm just hoping I can get past saying "Hey, Ember." without her blasting me into the Far Frozen with her guitar." Danny says, chuckling lightly
Kitty doesn't laugh, but he can see her lips upturn. She floats over next to him, pointing in the distance. "You see that green swirl there? Go that way until you see a realm door with blue flames painted along the bottom and sides. That's the one you're looking for."
Danny smiles widely. "Thank you Kitty, you're a lifesaver."
"And Danny?" Kitty asks, tapping him on the shoulder. "Thank you for trying to help my best friend." She says before kissing him on the cheek, giving him a quick hug in the process
"Anytime, and ask Johnny if he's still up to join us for a game night sometime!" Danny says, floating off in the direction Kitty pointed out
Danny smiles, hearing her laugh behind him.
Danny feels like he had been floating for hours. In reality, it had probably only been ten minutes. Finally, he sees a purple realm door fitting the description Kitty gave him. He looks the door up and down, noting that Kitty didn't mention the words "Rock Star!" written in the middle of the door, surrounded by music notes. 'Yep, this is definitely Ember's realm.'
Looking at the door in front of him, Danny can't help but become nervous. His thoughts raging a mile a minute, things such as "What if she outright attacks me?" or "What if she doesn't want my help.".
Danny shakes his head, his jaw clenching in resolution. 'Time to nut up or shut up, Fenton.'
Taking a deep breath, he hesitantly knocks on the door. Seconds seem to drag on like hours before a response sounds. "Who is it? Kitty, s'that you?" The voice on the other side of the door asks
"No, it's uhh… Danny… Phantom?" He manages to respond
His body tenses as he waits for her to respond. Suddenly he can hear a loud crash on the other side of the door before it's yanked open, and he comes face to face with a very irate rock star.
"YOU!" She snarls, her face contorted in anger, her blue hair billowing out behind her.
Ending A/N: I had a surprising amount of fun writing this chapter. Now, as much as I hate leaving things on a cliffhanger, I feel like right now I have no choice. While I could keep writing and go through the sequence of Danny and Ember having their little "conversation", I feel like it would take away from the information learned here about Kitty, Johnny, Spectra, and their relationship/friendship with Danny. Plus, I (and I'm sure YOU) don't want me to rush this and put out something we both believe to be sub-par.
Now, excluding these A/Ns these first two chapters have been about 2k words each. I'm gonna shoot for that number and hope to stay consistent. I'll be happy if I can go over that number, but I don't want to push it and force myself into a form of writer's block. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for supporting me! -DraconicAnarkhy
P.S. ALSO IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM WAS THAT KISS ON THE CHEEK FROM KITTY ROMANTIC! It will be touched on in a later chapter, but Kitty and Danny have a sibling-like bond. One that (as mentioned) culminated over the span of two years. She has absolutely no interest in anyone other than Johnny.