One night, about two weeks since arriving in the Far Frozen, Danny sat on his bed. He flopped down, muscles loose and relaxed. A smile painted his face.

He'd spent the morning playing with Sesame in the garden. Periwinkle had shown him how to feed the snow hens and gather eggs. And after the mid-day meal, he'd visited the nursery. CrystalBreeze was teaching the little ones numbers while the older few practiced their reading. He'd sat beside Icicle, patiently encouraging the child at every stumbling word.

"Bobby…. Liked… playing at the…park. He ran… very fast. He did not…see the… branch." The young yeti sounded out each word slowly. "Bobby… fell… and hurt… his… knee."

"Good job." Danny congratulated, as Icicle finished the page.

The child smiled at the praise, gripping the corner of the page to flip it. Then… his brow furrowed.

The half ghost gave the kid a curious look. "Don't you want to know what happens next?"

Instead of answering, Icicle pointed at claw at the illustration's criss-crossed knee. "His scrape is red."

"Yeah?" Danny's brow drew together. "He hurt himself so he's bleeding a little."

"But it's red." The child pointedly emphasized again.

"Red? Why is that… Oh." The half ghost's eyes widened, understanding the disconnect. "Humans bleed red, not green like ghosts do."

At that, Icicle turned to look at him. "Your blood is red?" He whispered, wide eyed like the words were an incredible scandal.

"Um. Not right now. I'm in ghost form, remember?" He had explained earlier, to the childerns' great confusion and disbelief, that he was a rare being, able to switch between either form.

The child nodded seriously, then narrowed critical eyes at him. "Why are you never human?"

The half ghost blinked, surprised by the audacious question. "The Far Frozen's actually too cold for my human form." He found himself telling the truth, wringing his hands. "I'd get hurt if I wasn't…" He motioned vaguely to his floating form.

Icicle's face instantly softened. "That's sad." His lips pouted, eyes wide with sympathy.

Another blink. "Yeah… it is."

In the nursery, the child was quickly turning the page and back to reading the story, leaving the conversation quickly forgotten.

But that night in the privacy of his room….

With a sigh, Danny let human warmth and heaviness envelop him. He sat up, keenly aware of his heart beat in his ears, the way his muscles worked against gravity.

As comfortable as he usually was in ghost form, as happy as exploring the frozen landscape was, he missed this.

He took a shower, savoring the warmth of the water on his skin, the floral scent of his shampoo, the pitter-patter of water droplets. In ghost form, his senses were just as keen, but being human…. There was a certain gravity, a weight to everything. A thousand tiny differences he could never hope to put into words.

Stepping out of the shower, the boy dried his hair and dressed. He returned to the bed, sitting with another sigh. He was healed, no longer weak, achy, or in pain. And his living form was accessible and healthy, even free of scars from his time with Vlad. No evidence of the man's electrocution, no sign he'd ever destabilized. It would just be nice if he could safely be human outside this room.

But if that was his major concern right now, he could be in worse shape. He'd just have to live with it.

"Good morning, Danny." Frostbite smiled at the half ghost across the table. "How have you fared these last days?"

"Good." Danny grinned. "I've been visiting the nursery, hanging out in the garden, reading books in the library, and stuff. Everyone's really nice! They've been letting me help and answering a lot of questions."

"That is wonderful." The chief looked relieved. "I apologize that I have not been the most attentive host. I have been busy with meetings and planning for the celebration of the autumn equinox. There are many decisions to make."

"I get it." The half ghost waved his hand dismissively. "You're the chief. You've got to run things." His expression turned grateful. "Thank you for everything you did when I first showed up here. I would not be doing this well without you."

"You really need not thank me. I am happy to care for you. And…" The relief turned with a hint of pride. "Snowflake informed me you are healing wonderfully. She gave you a clean bill of health."

"Yeah! I'm feeling great. My powers aren't even giving me any trouble." Granted, he'd not needed much more than flight, his brief uses of invisibility and intangibility all being successful.

"That is a relief. And with you recovered, I wanted to discuss with you. The warriors and I planned a hunt for the Seaworm this afternoon, to celebrate the turning of the season. We would be most honored if you joined us." Despite the deference of the words, the yeti's eyes sparkled with an eager excitement.

Danny couldn't say no, not that he would even want to."I'd love to."

Frostbite took the half ghost to meet with the warriors, to great cheers.

"The Great One is accompanying us!" A yeti woman Danny recognized from his unsuccessful ice practice, the one wearing bangles and a large necklace, exclaimed. "What an honor!"

"With his help, we'll have the Worm slaughtered and returned to the village before last meal!" A starry-eyed yeti man gushed.

"Would you like me to fetch a spear and shield for you, honored one?" A third warrior bowed to him. "Or do you intend to fight the beast hand to hand as you did the Dark Pariah?"

The praise had the ghost boy green-faced with embarrassment. His heart twisted, a forgotten guilt hitting him. "Oh umm. I don't know about that…" He took a step back, hands raised.

Frostbite pounded his spear against the ground, cutting through the noise. "Phantom joining us does surely call for excitement but…" His voice hardened slightly, a serious tone. "As I have said, the Great One is not to be bombarded with questions. I understand your admiration but Phantom is here to learn, as any of you did as apprentices. You will hold your flamboyant praise."

The warriors looked rightfully abashed, falling silent as their chief continued. "Now, you all know this day we seek to find and slay the SeaWorm and bring its meat home for the equinox celebration. For our guest's benefit, I will explain the plan of this expedition."

And so, the journey out of the village's protective walls and into the wildness began. Frostbite led the pack, hefting over one shoulder an ice drake leg to use as bait for the beast. Danny floated after, a dozen spear and shield carrying warriors behind him. And making up the back were six more yetis pulling along a massive wooden sled to carry their prize back.

The group hiked across the plain toward the far way towering cliffs in the area. The rocky, icy hills that surrounded the yeti village soon gave way to flat plains rich with vegetation. Small wild flowers and ground-hugging shrubs dominated the area, forming patches of green, yellow, purple, pink and a dozen other shades. The remains of snow drifts jarringly interspersed.

It would have been beautiful, the sight overcoming him with wonder and excitement… if it wasn't for warriors' muttered discussion of 'his' accomplishments despite the chief's reprimand. Each grasped phrase sent an uncomfortable guilt through him. Danny fought not to cringe. At least they weren't asking him directly anymore.

After about an hour, they arrived at the foot of the cliffs.

Frostbite paused. "Look, Danny." He pointed up, eyes crinkling in a smile. "The thunderbirds begin to make their nest."

The half ghost, who'd spent most of the walk trying to ignore the talk behind him, perked up. "Where?!"

"There." The yeti laughed, pointing again.

Danny's eyes followed the claw, up the side of the rock until… there. Sure enough, in a shallow cave in the cliff face, dried bits of grass and flowers made a loss circle. Mundane enough but…

"That's so cool!" The half ghost gave an excited little hope. "How did the birds get the ice spikes up there?" Crystal blue pillars lined the nest, brilliantly reflecting the light.

Before Frostbite could answer, a thunderous bet of wings cut through the air. One massive eagle came soaring over the cliff. It pulled up, landing gracefully on the nest. The creature lowered its beak to the stone floor, body cracking with blue lightning.

"What's it doing?" Danny muttered, voice quivering with awe.

Then, a pillar of ice rose from where the thunderbird had pecked.

"Wait…" The half ghost turned with wide eyes to Frostbite. "Thunderbirds have ice powers too!"

"Yes." The chief answered simply.

The group watched the giant eagle for a few long moments. It assembled a few more ice pillars, stopping to preen its wings. Then, with an earth shaking cry, it flew away, back in the direction it had come. The bird quickly disappeared, its patch blocked by the cliff.

The warriors continued, following the foot of the cliff for a long while. They stopped for a short meal. Danny enjoyed some jelly mushrooms and ice hen meat.

"Would you like some Aojngofls?" One yeti eagerly asked.

"No thanks." The boy let his nose wrinkle, refusing the offer.

Disappointed, confused eyes fixed on him for a while after that. During the next portion of the walk, he couldn't help but notice the muttering about him. The boy prickled, feeling his uncomfortable guilt turning into something like annoyance.

Eventually, the wall they were following curved. The rock ended abruptly, the cliff edge above rounding into a narrow point. The plain with its scattered flowers behind, Danny found himself staring forward at an endless expanse of ice.

"This is the shore of the frozen sea." Frostbite explained, leading the group out onto the ice. "The Seaworm lives under the ice, another hour's walk from the shore." He frowned down at the boy worriedly. "Let me know if you need to rest. I will gladly and easily be able to carry you."

Danny bit his lip, debating. His flight was wobbly, threatening to fail him several times in the last half hour or so. He was better but he hadn't flown sustainably for this long since arriving here. And…. he wasn't sure how long he could normally fly. "Alright." The boy gave in. "Just for a little bit."

Frostbite gave the drake leg to one of the other warriors and hoisted the half ghost onto his shoulders.

"So this Seaworm thing, what does it look like?" Danny asked.

"It is covered with brown fur, the length of a whale. Beware of its teeth and horns." He chuckled, waving his ice arm. "They are not just for display."

The boy's eyes popped wide. "Why the heck do you hunt this thing then?"

"Its meat is delcable. And… " Another hearty laugh that tickled something at the edge of Danny's memories. "This 'tis but a flesh wound. No such beast could truly hurt one of the Far Frozen."

"Seriously?" The half ghost raised a brow.

Frostbite shrugged. "The Worm may try, but it does not have the power to destroy a yeti's core. And any injury to the form is minor. I could easily change my ectoplasm to match the arm's previous appearance. But the ice is so striking, don't you agree?"

"I guess it is." Danny couldn't help but laugh. "So, you hunt one of these every year. There must be a ton under the ice."

"There is always only one, actually." The yeti explained. "After the creature's meat is consumed, its bones are transported back to the sea where it rises again, healthy and intact for next autumn equinox."

The ghost boy wasn't sure whether that was horrifying or fascinating. "So, other than your arm getting bitten off, what other crazy things have happened on these trips?"

"Ah! But I must tell you of the hunt which took my arm! I had only just become chief…"

Frostbite regaled Danny with stories of previous hunts, voice ringing with excitement. Soon, the boy found himself grinning and laughing along, the previous annoyance long forgotten.

"A young apprentice, her first hunt and riding the worm… I have never seen something so terrifying and yet also awe inspiring." The chief finished, coming to a stop. "Yes, this spot will do nicely."

"Oh." Danny blinked, surprised that they had stopped. "You didn't have to carry me the whole way."

"It was no bother." Frostbite said, helping the boy down. He turned around, addressing the rest of the warriors. "Here is where we will make our opening. Bluehorn and Mirri, cut the hole in the ice. Bora, prepare the bait. The rest, have your spears and ice ready."

The warriors did as asked. The leg dangling over the opening, the yetis surrounded. Danny stood in wait, muscles tensed and ready for action. All there was to do was wait.

Time tickled by slowly, shadows shifting with the flicker of illusionary clouds. The wind occasionally blew, the bait twisting slowly on its string.

"This reminds me of orca hunts in my first life." One of the yetis sighed nostalgically, to exclaims of agreement from a few others.

"Quiet, if you will." Frostbite hushed him.

With serious nods, the sounds quieted.

Danny waited, eyes fixed on the bait. His heart pounded in his ears, nervous and excited.

A sudden thud from below had him flinching. "What was that?"

The ice shock, yeti shuffling tensingly. Another thud. Danny wobbled, balance threatened. He spread his arms, stomach leaping, and-

A massive head soared up from the hole, the drake leg snatched in the blink.

"That's…." The boy stuttered, eyes blowing wide. One coal black eye, as big as his head, burned into his mind, disappearing as quickly as it appeared.

Again, the ice shook, the bare femur hanging from its string.

"Ready!" Frostbite shouted, a paw raised in the air.

A gargantuan body leaped from the hole. Brown fur flailed, sharp teeth snapping. They missed the bangled yeti woman's foot by inches.

"No, you don't!" She shouted, driving her spear into its eye.

"Attack it Mirri!" Booming shouts and cries echoed.

The worm violently shook its head, horn swinging to disembowel. Nearby yetis jumped out of the way even as their spears drove into fur.

"Warriors! It's my year!" Mirri boomed. In one swift move, she gripped one of the horns and swung onto the beast's head. "Whaho!"

The worm flailed, enraged. It drug itself farther out of the ice and the rider hung on for dear life.

Spears flew, sinking into fur and flesh. With a ringing thud, ice spikes rose from the ground. Others swirled into being above. They pin the creature, pincushioning in a dozen places. But still it writhed.

Danny's heart pounded, mind a blur. The worm's jaw gnashed dangerously close to Frostbite's leg. It snarled and thrashed, all the more furious with its miss. With a deafening crash, spikes of ice broke.

"More ice!" Warriors shouted.

More shards appeared, disappearing just as fast. Another wave, a blast of cold. But... the ice could not hold the SeaWorm.

It roared, slamming its head down. With a sickening crack, the ice sheet splintered. The world turned in slow motion. The cracks radiated, not under his feet but… around, in an oval. The groan of ice parting behind him. Core screaming for escape, Danny stumbled backwards. But… not fast enough. The worm drove its head down again, ice falling away under it.

And the surface under the half ghost's feet revolted, driving up. Feet out from under him, Danny's body went flying. Blue sky filled his vision, wordless shouts. Then… breath knocked from his lungs, he impacted back first.

The world snapped back into proper time. Shouts came from above him. "It's breaking the spikes faster than we can make."

"Phantom!" "Great One! We need your ice!" "Help us!" Cries bombarded, desperate pleas.

They… were calling to him. They needed his help. But… fear and doubt flooded. "I…I can't."

"Yes, you can." Came a confident reply.

More cheers of encouragement followed. "You can do it!" "Go Phantom!"

But… but his mind raced. He… he couldn't. He didn't have ice powers. He was just a-

"I said, leave me alone." Desperate terror clawed up his throat, echoing louder and louder until it was a wail.

His enemies, faces burning with anger and hatred, blown back. Expressions morph into fearful shook.

"I'm… I'm not supposed to have that power yet."

The memory spit him back out, the half ghost flailing on the ice. Terror and hope clashed as in one. A terrible certainty. Then, in his time of terror and need, his other had found his wail despite all odds. And now…

Another crack near his head, shouting and cries. A flash of brown fur, wicked horns. Hateful teeth gnashed, filling his vision.

Danny pushed up and back, away. A sickened desperation filled him, an anguish-born hope. Surely here. Surely now. If there was any time his ice would finally appear….

The worm roared, its putrid breath crashing over him. It loomed above.

The half ghost raised his hands. His eyes narrowed in determination. And a surge of energy leapt from his core. Powerfully, it swept through him. Blue sparked at his fingertips. Joy flared.

Yes! He was doing it! It was work-

A flash of light blinded him, a boom of thunder. For a second, mind flailed… a thunderbird? Why had it swooped down? Then…

Silence. The smell of ozone, ectoplasm sizzling. The spots in Danny's vision cleared. Everything within him froze. The Seaworm still loomed above, blackened and twitching. Its mouth foamed, inside scorched.

Then, heavily, its neck collapsed. It fell, no longer able to support its head. Inches from the half ghost's leg, it laid silent, and still, and…. slain.

Shouts of celebration cut the silence. "The beast is defeated!"

The words connected. A brief jolt of relief, a shocked, breathless laugh. They'd… they'd done it. The SeaWorm was dead and-

Then, finally, Danny noticed the sparks dancing between his fingers.

It crashed over him as a wave, that joyed relief becoming something full of dread and weeping.

The anguished hope shattered, like ice under his feet. That… that was the wrong power. His ice was supposed to finally show itself. He was supposed to finally, once and for all, show he was just a good as the other-

"All cheers for the Great One!" Proud shouts echoed around him. Hands reached, grabbing him and lifting up. "The Great One slew the beast!" A blink and he was lifted above the warrior's heads, held above the crowd.

"Defeated with lightning!" One yeti shouted. "Most spectacular and awe-inspiring."

The praise cut. It burned like Plasmius' ectoblast to his back.

"Ice and electricity! Just like the majestic thunderbirds!"

The comparison made his skin crawl. There was nothing majestic or praise-worthy in him. Just… disgusting falsehoods, self-deception. He was a coward and a liar.

Overwhelmed, heart in his throat, Danny's traitorous eyes flickered, looking for something comforting, familiar. They met Frostbite's.

The chief's face shone with parental pride. "I am so proud of you."

The words stabbed, more painful than the most flamboyant, false praise. His heart shattered, something within dying.

The half ghost had no energy to fight or argue. No will to disagree. Numb, insides aching, the boy let himself be carried. The rest of the cheers and congratulations bounced off his ears. But he heard none, eyes vacantly dry.

"That is enough." Frostbite's light rebuke cut through Danny's daze. "That is enough. Put Phantom down. We need to secure the Worm and return. If we set off quickly, we will return in time for last meal." The chief smiled cajolingly.

The bribe worked. Hurriedly, the warriors lowered the half ghost to his feet. They dragged their prize onto the sled and secured it with rope.

The group set off, loud and exhilarated. Each hand-waving, grinning recitation of his 'triumph' strung, a thousand times sharper than on the departing journey. The boy just floated silently, trying to ignore the words.

"Truly, you did spectacularly." Frostbite fell back, into step with Danny. "You should be very proud." He patted the boy's back heartily, face the picture of paternal pride.

It reminded the half ghost eerily of….

Jack Fenton in a boat hat and overalls. "Look at the size of that one, Danny-boy!"

The half ghost held up a catfish as long as his forearm, smiling sheepishly.

The skin around his dad's eyes crinkled with his smile. "Great job, son!"

Just when the ghost boy thought his heart couldn't hurt worse. The memory caught and released him, leaving his eyes suddenly misting.

Just as quickly, Frostbite's parental pride wanned, turning into something worried. "I know that was frightening, but you were so very brave." An arm wrapped around the boy. "Your courage truly amazes me. And…" His voice lowered, warmly comforting. "I vow, you were in no significant peril. As I said, the Worm could never touch your core. I promise, I would never purposefully endanger your life."

"No. It's not… it's not that." He'd been scared but he trusted Frostbite… more than he had ever trusted anyone. "It's…." The words came stumbling out before he really thought them through.

"You remind me of dad." Tears welled, starting to slowly fall. "You keep reminding me of dad. But… I can't… I can't see him. He doesn't even know me. I'm… I'm not even his son."

"Oh, Danny…" The yeti leaned forward, hug tightening.

The half ghost ripped himself away, what he had just said hitting him. "Just… just forget it." He wiped his face furiously. "Just… don't."

Hurt flashed on Frostbite's face, his mouth opening to opening to respond. But the half ghost fixed wide begging eyes on him and to Danny's supreme surprise, the yeti did not press. He stepped away, only offering one hesitant look back as he let the half ghost fall behind.

Shakily, Danny exhaled, letting the relief wash over him. Embarrassment and guilt clashed. He'd been sure Frostbite would press. That was too close…

Why? Why would he say that? The boy wanted to slap his own forehead, bang it against a wall. Why did he keep saying suspicious things? Self-directed anger flared. Why was he being such a neurotic cry baby? Everything was fine just this morning. He was fine. Everything was supposed to be fine.

The anger simmered during the walk, a flickering flame tendered by the loud congratulations and praise behind him. Why wouldn't they just be quiet? He'd killed the thing, so what? And with electricity? Yeah, a cloud could do that too. That damned title kept bouncing around. Great One this, Great One that. The brave, virtuous hero the yetis thought he was. Who he was supposed to be. The boy gritted his teeth.

The party returned back to the village just as the faux sun was beginning to set. It would have been beautiful, orange and pink with an eerie hint of ectoplasmic green, were it not for Danny's sour mood.

"Valient work, my warriors." Frostbite congratulated as they arrived at the practice ground. "Icefang and Yelli, take our prize to the kitchens to be prepared for tomorrow's feast! Then join the rest of your brothers and sisters at arms for a much deserved meal in the hall. All are dismissed." With a clap, he released the group.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Danny began floating towards the village. Maybe he could take his food and eat in his room, fain tiredness.

Frostbite stopped him with a paw on his shoulder. "Just a moment, please, young one. I have something to show you."

The boy froze, suddenly tensing. "I'm tired. Can it wait?"

"It really can not." The chief's voice lowered, serious. "Come with me."

"But…" Danny started, but the hand cupping his shoulder weighed heavier, not oppressively pressing but definitive, without question. Frostbite's uncharacteristically stern demeanor silenced him. The yeti would not take no for an answer.

With a satisfied nod, the other ghost led him on, back towards the massive cave complex. They passed the shrine. For just a second, Danny caught sight of his statue double's regal face. Resentment flickered, earning a scowl.

But the chief quickly directed him away. "This way."

The yeti stepped off the path, towards another towering pile of stones which stood in stark contrast against the icy landscape. They rounded the pile, stopping to stand in shadow.

The half ghost crossed his arms, still scowling. "What did you want?"

Frostbite knelt, paws brushing snow from something on the ground. "This is what I wanted to show you."

Danny's gaze turned the object of the chief's focus. His brow furrowed at the oddly rectangular slab of stone. "A… rock?" Despite the put-on skeptical tone, his stomach churned with suspecting dread.

"A cut stone for the memorial." Frostbite confirmed, to the half ghost's unease. "It is ready for whatever inscription you desire."

The half ghost said nothing, eyes fixed on the slab as if it had offended him.

Brow wrinkling in concern, the yeti chief pushed on. "I had planned to wait until after the celebration but after your comments earlier…." He hesitated, carefully considering his words.

"I suspect if I ask now if you wish to speak of what became of your loved ones and home, you will refuse-"

"You're right." The boy interrupted harshly. "I don't want to talk about it."

Frostbite's face twitched with something disappointed but he pressed on, undeterred. "Danny, I am worried. I understand that what transpired caused you pain. I understand your reluctance to unearth those feelings. But-"

"Oh, you understand?" Danny's eyes narrowed. "You don't. You can't. You…" He grit his teeth, stepping back. "I don't have to listen to this. I'm-"

The yeti grabbed his hand. "Help me to understand then, please. Whatever terrors you've seen, whatever secrets you are desperate to conceal. Allow me to share the burden."

"Don't touch me." Coldly, the boy ripped his hand away.

He… he couldn't be here. He couldn't be having this conversation.

"My apologies." Frostbite started.

"Stop apologizing for everything!" The half ghost's anger flared. "You always act like… like I'm made of glass. Like I'm some statue that's gonna fall apart. Well guess what?!" He spread his arms, voice raising to shout. "It's too late! I already lost everything. I'm already broken. You can't fix me."

The yeti countered softly. "I am not trying to-"

"Yes, you are!" Somehow, the gentle retort enraged more than a defensive argument. "Why do you even care?! You don't even know me. I'm just some… some kid who crashed landed here. I'm your 'Great One'?" He exaggerated the air quotes. "News flash, I don't ask to be your hero. I don't want to be your hero. I…I just want to be me." The secrets burned, so close to the surface and yet so far away. "But I can't even be that. I don't even know who that is!"

Frostbite should have looked stunned or hurt but he remained eerily calm. "I do not care about you just because you are the Great One-"

"I am so sick of hearing that title!" The boy yelled. "I'm not the Great One, okay?!"

"I know." The yeti cut in softly. "And I do not press out of some misplaced hero worship. It is out of love."

"Love?!" The half ghost couldn't contain himself. "You don't even know me!" He took another step back, floating up. "You know what? I'm done. I'm done listening to this. I'm going to bed."

"Please." Frostbite reached out one more time, eyes begging. "I know doubt plagues you. But you must face it. You cannot continue avoiding your past."

"Watch me try." With one last scoff, Danny flew away.

The boy darted back to his room, never more thankful for his invisibility. The power let him avoid any more disgustingly praise-lauding warriors and belittlingly concerned yeti chiefs.

Danny more crashed than landed on the floor. He buried his face in the carpet and screamed. Frustration, guilt, shame, bitterness, rage bleed out, a hideous mixture.

It wasn't fair! It wasn't fair! The word repeated, again and again in his head. A senseless mantra. It wasn't fair.

He had let himself be happy for a few days. Let himself actually enjoy things, not thinking about the past, about who he wasn't. Just… existing in the present, doing what felt right, what made him happy. And now this….

"I'm so stupid!" He yelled into the floor, words muffled.

Everything had never been okay. He'd just been in denial, willfully ignorant. And he'd let himself forget the truth. He'd started to get to know the yetis here. Frostbite and Snowflake, CrystalBreeze and the cubs, Periwinkle and Laura and the other gardeners, even some of the warriors. And he'd begun to let the others know him. But he'd forgotten what he was.

He was a clone, a fake.A liar. He was a liar. It was all a lie. The yetis didn't actually know him. The realization had hit like a freight train when Frostbite confronted him. The yetis did not know him. They knew the Great One, the person he was pretending to be, who he could never be. They didn't know the real him.

But part of him wanted them to. The thought snuffed out his anger. He lifted his head, pushing himself into a sitting position. A shaky breath… He wanted the yetis to know him as he really was. Not a fake Great One, not as a replacement Danny. But…. as himself, whoever that was.

Yet, a larger part was terrified. Guilt and shame clashed, a nauseating mess in his head. What confession would mean for the yetis… the rejection, the doubt, the pity. And for himself….

The thought had him trembling, dread quivering in his gut. What confession would mean for him, for… everything he thought about himself. Not just the Danny he'd always known himself to be but different. Not just a clone, a copy, a different version. But….

Danny couldn't even form the thoughts, they were too painful. He couldn't throw everything away, strip himself of even his name but… he couldn't keep pretending. He couldn't keep lying. He needed to tell the truth. Part of him wanted to tell Frostbite and Periwinkle the truth.

Despite his anger at the chief, he still remembered the yeti's proud grins, the worried glances. The yeti's woman's caring voice and hearty laughter. The boy's heart ached. The two loved him. They strove to make him feel safe, comfortable, like he belonged.

He remembered at the very beginning, Frostbite offering his home. He'd barely registered the words, his world crashing down around him. But now…. He'd been happy, at least for a time. He'd felt like he belonged. He wanted to belong.

But he couldn't! Devastating certainty cut through the burgeoning hope. He couldn't belong. Not when everything about him was a lie and he couldn't even think the truth. The Far Frozen couldn't be his home. The yetis couldn't be his family. He couldn't belong. He'd never belong-

As if spitting his very thoughts, his body revolted. He gasped and flinched, a driving pain suddenly in his head. Two tiny points, above either ear. Stars filled his vision before he pinched his eyes closed. The pain grew sharp, white hot agony on his skull. It crescendoed.

Then just as quickly as it appeared, the pain was gone. The boy blinked, vision clearing. Shakily, he reached up, hands searching for the spot. He expected to feel blood but…

His eyes widened, blood going cold. "No." Not ectoplasmic wetness under his fingers but… something hard and bone-like. Panicked, he pushed himself up and ran for the bathroom. "No. No."

There in the mirror… "No. You're… you're not doing this"

Tiny yeti horns. Tiny white horns sprouted from his head, curving slightly back above each ear.

"You're not doing this." Tears watered, a hopeless despair. "Everything's hard… hard enough! I… I can't."

No matter how he begged, the horns remained stubbornly in place, a blaring sign that he did belong in the Far Frozen…. And that terrified him.

"I… I can't…" Staying with the yeti meant telling the truth. It meant being found out but… "I…I can't." Frostbite was so close to discovering what he really was and once he did…

Dozens of faces, angry and disappointed flashed in his mind. His throat locked up. Just the thought of their stares left him feeling naked. Exposed, every shameful thing in him drawn to the surface for all to see and judge.

"I can't… I can't tell Frostbite." Panic flared. "I can't tell him I'm not…. I'm not…" He couldn't say the name, couldn't even think it.

But… he couldn't not tell Frostbite. The yeti would figure it out. He would put the pieces together and realize why the half ghost lacked ice powers, had suspicious memory gaps, and refused to talk about what led him here. Or the real Danny would show up, forcing his reveal. He couldn't keep the secret forever.

"I should… I should just leave." He stuttered.

The words had him wobbling, eyes wide. If he just left without a word, he wouldn't have to choose between telling the truth or being discovered. He… he could just leave. He could take the Infinity Map and… not have to face the impossible choice.

The idea bounced around his head, torturing him as he turned human. The familiar comfort barely registered with his other agonies. But… a hand hesitantly raised to his temple. No horn… relief flooded, lingering for just a moment. No horns. His human form, at least, didn't have those damnable reminders.

The image of the Infi-map lingered as Frostbite knocked on the locked door, pleading with the boy to talk to him. Danny just rolled over, refusing to answer. After far too long, the chief gave up.

Slowly, the hallway outside grew quiet. The pounding of yetis' feet gradually lessened and then disappeared, the ghosts returning to their own rooms for the night.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, the half ghost sat up. Taking the cloth bag, he packed toiletries from the bathroom, a spare set of clothes and his notebook. Then he flickered into a ghost. His heart throbbed with disappointment at the change. But it was necessary if he was going to do this.

He floated from the bed, flickered invisible, and silently flew out of the room.

Sneaking through the empty halls was eerie. Without the yetis that brightened its halls, the caves were cold and desolate. Each strange flicker of blue light, every unsettling crack of rock and ice had him shivering uneasily.

The boy stopped by the medical room, digging through drawers for some bandages and other emergency supplies. He made one curious find.

Pulling the slightly glowing, black and white fabric from the drawer, he tilted his head. "Hum?" A quiet hum. It was… his hazmat suit, the one his ghost form had worn as long as he could remember. Familiar white boots, gloves, and belt. And… he scowled, eyeing the stylized D on the chest with the P enclosed. Danny Phantom… the name rang false.

Still, the boy stuffed the suit into his bag.

Next, he silently floated through the kitchen, scourging up scraps from dinner. He stuffed the food in his mouth, feeling just a hint of relief as his hunger sated. He found some pre-package human food in the pantry and threw them into the quickly filling bag as well. Finally, he carefully wrapped some of the yeti's dried meat, nuts, fruit, and hard cheese. Securing his prizes, the half ghost slung the now much heavier bag onto his back.

His stomach twisted, floating towards the hall of artifacts. A stomach churning sense of deja vu overcame him. This felt like sneaking around Vlad's mansion at night. Unsettlingly, he remembered kneeling on the kitchen floor, packing his go-bag. Standing in the man's office, ears twitching for any sign of movement. Again, the picture he'd found in the back of that book flashed in his mind. Mom and Dad with Jazz and…. Not him, the real Danny.

Pain stabbed at his heart. Another unpleasant reminder.

Danny slunk down the hall, mind fixed on the Map. If he could just get his hands on it…

He passed the hall of murals, the library, dozens of strange and wondrous artifacts. And at the end of the hall…

The boy's ears twitched, rumbling yeti voices echoing. His heartbeat spiked, still invisible body pressing against the wall.

How had he forgotten about the guards? He mentally cursed himself. Maybe he could just ask them for it. Use their perception of the 'Great One' for something useful for once. But what if they refused? What if they told Frostbite? And…

But where would he go even? The thought hit, almost sending him to knees. Where had he even been planning to go?

Frostbite had mentioned other allies. Dora and Pandora? He could go find other friendly faces… and then have to continue the lie. His insides twisted, guilt on his tongue.

He could go to Amity Park and… the image of the other Danny, standing in the doorway with his parents, sister, and friends sent a stab of ugly jealousy through him. No. No. He couldn't face him. He couldn't face them.

So… ask the map to take him some random place? Without his conscious permission, he imagined it delivering him to Vlad, the man's smug face at re-securing his prized specimen. Maybe that would even be for best, his mind traitorously whispered. At least at Vlad's, he'd known who he was, even if it had been a lie.

Furiously, the boy shook his head. No, he couldn't take the map. There… there was nowhere else to go.

Insides full of dread, he fled back to his room. He… he could leave, but at the same time, he couldn't stay. He couldn't keep lying. But he couldn't face the truth.

That night, he restlessly paced the room to the point of exhaustion. Even after collapsing, he tossed and turned, mind screaming with torture and anguish.

What was he going to do?