Danny jerked awake to a knock. "Five more minutes." He shouted, words half-unintelligible with sleep.
Frostbite's slightly confused voice called through the door. "I will return in a few minutes then."
"What? No." The boy blinked rapidly, pulling his head off the bed. "You can come in."
The door swung open. "Good morning." The yeti greeted with a smile. Then his brow furrowed, shaking his head disappointedly. "You fell asleep atop the covers."
"Oh yeah." Danny pushed himself into a sitting position, mumbling. "Fell asleep reading."
"Ah." Frostbite nodded, understanding. "I am here to collect you for first meal."
"Alright. Let me change first." He looked down, frowning at the robe they'd put him in yesterday. It wrapped around his front, tying securely at the back. "If that's okay?"
"Of course."
The boy picked out a pair of soft gray sweatpants and a long sleeved orange shirt. The yeti helped him untie the robe and hovered worriedly while he dressed in the bathroom.
By the time Danny was done, he was shaking slightly, weak muscles aching from the exertion. He sat on the bed, eyeing the shoes and socks Frostbite had laid out for him. He tried to bend but his back complained with a twinge of pain.
The boy looked up at the yeti, blushing embarrassedly. "Can you help me?"
"Yes, of course." The yeti knelt and gently slipped the socks on.
Danny slid his feet into the black tieless sneakers. "Thanks."
A nod. "I will give you some pain medicine with your food. Now, let us make way." He motioned to the wheelchair.
Shoulders hunched, the half ghost took small, careful steps and sat down.
Frostbite wheeled him through more similar, icy hallways, though this time, Danny tried to pay attention to the route.
They turned right out of the room, then made a left soon after. They passed a colorfully painted door, decorated with paw prints the size of the ghost boy's hand.
"The nursery." The yeti chief motioned. "I am sure the cubs would love you to visit when you feel well enough."
Danny nodded mildly, not off-put by the idea.
They passed more ordinary doors, though made of ice. Various storerooms and recovery rooms for injured yetis and other ghosts. An open doorway led to the medical room Danny had awakened in.
"These are the defrosting tanks," Frostbite motioned to another open doorway. "Where we treated you when your ice powers first activated."
And just like that, his heart sank. Another memory he didn't have.
"Oh. So uh, was that how we met?" The boy bit his lip.
"No. You and your friends' vehicle crashed here while exploring the realms. This led to quite the adventure." Frostbite chuckled. "I will tell you more later. Here is the dining hall."
The yeti motioned to another open doorway, through which Danny could see many rows of tables and a dozen yetis, with room with several dozen more.
The boy swallowed nervously, suddenly intimidated by the number of other ghosts. Then, a pair of eyes fell on him.
"It is the Great One!" The yeti closest to the door exclaimed, standing up.
Person by person, more ghosts noticed him.
"The Savior of the Realms!" Cries of excitement came, one by one, until the words overlapped.
"Lord Phantom!" "Greetings, Great One!" "Sit with us!" Bodies moved closer, all gazes fixed on him.
Danny tensed, heart pounding out of his chest. He turned his head to look up at Frostbite, eyes pleading.
"Do not crowd him." Frostbite reprimanded sternly. "Go back to your business. Leave the Great One to his meal."
Immediately, the hubble quieted as yetis turned away, returning to their own food. The chief started wheeling the boy towards the back of the room.
"Thanks." The half ghost mumbled.
"Forgive my people." The yeti patted him comfortingly on his shoulder. "They have great love for you, even if they are over enthusiastic."
Danny didn't say anything to that, a sour taste in his mouth.
Frostbite pulled the chair up to a tall table. He motioned to an elevated chair, inviting Danny to float up to it if able. With a congratulatory nod after the deed, he stepped away. "I will inquire with the chef and have food brought. I will return shortly."
The boy watched the chief retreat and passed through the door. Frostbite chatted with a curly horned yeti, arms waving animatedly though the word inaudible through the window. Danny breathed out, trying to force his tense shoulders to relax. He still felt fleeting gazes on him, even if they no longer burned.
Another breath. Delectable smells tickled his nose, some savory, some sweet. His stomach rumbled hungrily.
A minute later, Frostbite returned. His brow furrowed annoyedly at the curly horned yeti who trailed after, a covered dish in each paw.
"He is a healing ghost. He needed his strength." The other yeti, presumably the chef, argued.
"A simple meal will suffice-"
"It will not." The chef heavily placed the two dishes on the table. "Sleetsun." They snapped at a short yeti who was washing tables. "Grab the other dishes."
"Yes, ma'am." Sleetsun dropped the wash rag promptly on the floor, hurrying towards the kitchen door. And then proceeding to almost slip on said rag and face plant onto a luckily empty table. "I'm alright."
"That boy." The chef rolled her eyes.
Danny couldn't help but chuckle.
Sleetsun returned soon, bringing dish after dish. Soon the table was covered with food both familiar and foreign. "Let Ms. Chillwind or me know if you need anything." The young yeti looked down bashfully before giving an awkward bow. "It's an honor serving you." He hurried away, returning to his task of washing tables.
The half ghost just blinked, brow furrowed at the odd exchange. Then his stomach grumbled again and he dug in.
He started with the familiar dishes. Similar to what he had been served in the days before, there was tomato soap, grilled cheese sandwiches, potato salad, fruit salad, chocolate pudding. Everything tasted good, if mundane, much like the food he'd eaten during his time with Vlad. Actually…
Danny's brow furrowed, holding the plastic pudding cup up to his face. His eyes narrowed at the tiny print black letters, an expiration date. "Where did you get this?"
"The material realm food?" Frostbite eyed said food almost guiltily. "We traded for it with certain ghosts who procure objects from the human world."
The boy blinked. That raised… so many questions. And Frostbite's guilty expression… "Is there some kind of black market for human world stuff?" His voice lowered, half way between scandalized and admiring. "Frostbite, did you trade with smugglers?"
"We do what we must to care for our allies." The chief answered evasively. Then he motioned to the rest of the food. "Do you wish to try anything else?"
Danny huffed but put the questions away for now. His gaze flitted over the dishes. Much of the food glowed softly. There were various cuts of meat, some kind of shiny pudding, something orange and jelly like that vaguely reminded him of a sea anemone, and half a dozen other strange offerings.
He gently poked the orange thing, nose wrinkling. It was soft and supple, eerily like wet skin. "What's this?"
"It is jelly fungi." Frostbite said. "The flavor is… difficult to describe but it is one of my favorites."
The boy titled his head, looking at the fungi again in a new light. Summoning his courage, he popped a piece into his mouth. His teeth meet, piercing the outer skin with a surprisingly pleasant squish.
Danny's eyes widened, chewing slowly as the savory, custard-textured inside dissolved on his tongue. The springly outside was left, smokey flavored and growing increasingly chewy. He chewed faster and swallowed. "That's really good!"
The boy popped another in his mouth, humming with pleasure while he chewed. He finished the second, then a third, and a fourth.
Only then did he notice Frostbite looking at him oddly. "What?" He blushed.
The chief shook his head, expression turning amused. "I remember you quite disliking those last time."
"Oh." Shyly, Danny put down what would be his fifth, dread sprouting in his gut.
"The cubs always turn their noses up at first as well." Frostbite patted him on the back heartily. "But once you have acquired a taste, there is nothing finer."
"Yeah, sure. That's definitely it." The boy stuttered out. And then winced. Could he say anything more suspicious?
Frostbite did not say anything, happily grabbing a handful of the jellies. Danny picked at a few more slowly, guiltily.
Danny tried a few more dishes, this time more cautiously. Small bites, chewing slowly, he schooled his expression. And tried not to look like he was checking Frostbite's reaction. But the yeti said nothing else about his previous…. His other self's previous food preferences.
The boy was almost full, having tried a few bites of almost everything when Sleetsun returned.
"Is everything to your liking?" The young yeti asked eagerly. His eyes flickered to the dishes, becoming disappointed when they landed on the shiny pudding. "You haven't tried the Aojngofls."
"Aojngofls?" Danny stumbled over the word.
"I remember it was your favorite last feast." Sleetsun rung his hands. "Ms. Chillwind finally taught me to make it. I made this one all by myself and wanted to know how you like it…"
The half ghost struggled not to wince. "I was saving the best for last." He gripped the spoon and scooped a bite of the unappealingly wiggling thing.
One bite and Danny fought not to grimace. Somehow, it was crunchy and jiggly at the same time. Sickly sweet and yet disturbingly bitter. His tongue quivered, wanting to spit the thing out. But he forced himself to chew, forced himself to swallow, forced himself to smile. "It's great."
Sleetsun looked like he was going to cry. "You hate it."
"No." The half ghost waved a hand. "It's good." He scooped another spoon full, placing it on his tongue. "I swear, it's-"
This time, he actually did gag.
"It's awful!" The young yeti turned, voice teary. "I'm never going to be a real chef." He ran back to the kitchen.
Danny watched the other youth retreat with wide eyes. Guilt twisted his insides.
"What was that about?" Chillwind walked by, pointing towards the kitchen.
She didn't sound angry, didn't sound accusatory, just confused and concerned. Her expression remained unchanged as Frostbite explained. But Danny's heart still pounded, a sick taste in his mouth. He felt like the scum of the earth.
"I'll talk to Sleetsun." The half ghost finally tuned back into the conversation as the yeti woman looked at him. "Poor thing. Don't feel bad. I thought Aojngofls might be too rich for you right now, with your body still healing. No wonder your stomach upset." The chef gave him a kind smile, walking back to the kitchen.
Silence fell for a long while. "Do you want to finish your meal?" Frostbite finally asked.
"I'm not hungry anymore." The half ghost's eyes fixed on the floor.
Despite Chillwind's words, a pit still gnawed at his stomach. The knowledge lodged in his heart, as real and solid as the table in front of him. As sure and as unsettling as the revelation that he had not been born but grown. Even if he wasn't recovering, he would never have liked Sleetsun's dish.
Uncomfortable breakfast completed, Frostbite began showing Danny around the Far Frozen.
"Most of the tribe resides here, in the main cave." The chief explained. They turned left out of the dinning hall, opposite the way they had come. "Many family dwellings branch from each of these hallways." He motioned to each open archway as they passed.
"Wow." The boy breathed, peering down the hallway. It stretched as far as he could see, lit every so often with glowing white orbs affixed to the wall.
"There are miles of tunnels." The yeti said. At Danny's worried look, he patted his shoulder comfortingly. "Do not worry. You will gather your bearings quickly."
Frostbite entered one of the many branching hallways, pausing at one of the doors. "This is my dwelling." A diamond-shaped carving marked the door, surrounded by gently swirling symbols like those on the chief's armband and belt. He looked down at the half ghost, eyes wide with compassion. "Should you need me at any time, please do not fail to visit ... .though I can not say I spend much time at home." He chuckled.
Danny's heart twisted, just as touched as nervous. But he gave a nod, agreeing, and the pair continued one.
They walked for several more minutes, the hallway gradually curving. Various yetis passed them as they walked. One practically ran, carrying an armful of scrolls. Another hefted a pole of ice over a shoulder, multiple fish the size of Danny's leg dangling from it. Two yetis laughed softly together, each carrying baskets of red crystals shaped like apples.
The two had just passed the last of the living quarters when Danny's brow furrowed, noticing a spot of green standing in stark contrast to the frosty white and slate gray of the walls. Frostbite led him closer, the spot growing bigger. Not a spot but…. Something waved softly, fluttering as if in a breeze. A patch of green, not the acid of ectoplasm, but a saturated forest green. Like…
"Are those… plants?" Danny starred up, voice awed. Not just plants but vines, hanging from the ceiling over an opening in the wall. A living doorway.
Frostbite laughed, grinning at his amazement. "If you find this surprising…" With one paw, he gently pulled the vines aside. "Behold, the central garden."
The boy's eyes just about popped out of his skill. A massive area stretched in front of him, paths criss-crossing. A few yetis stood and knelt, soft chatter echoing off the curved stone walls. And the garden's content…
In an instant, the half ghost was out of his chair. "This is amazing!"
He darted about, taking everything in with bright eyes. Trees made of crystal ice stretched above the cave walls. Red apple-like orbs hung from some, others with giant white and green seed pods.
Excitedly, he cupped one in his hands. "It feels like paper?" Tiny letters in a language he didn't understand swirled on the surface.
Then something bright orange caught his eye. "Are those jelly mushrooms?!"
A lattice of brown poles stood to his right. The boy flew over, gently popping one of the neon masses. "It is!" Glowing mushrooms grew from the wall: orange jellies, spotted buttons, deep purple frills and a dozen other combinations of pigment and shape. "There's so many!"
The half ghost's attention jerked and snapped, pulled away by different spots of color.
A purple covering the ground…. "That's moss?!"
Green fronds waving gently. "Ferns!"
"And flowers!" Some yellow and white lay close to the ground. Others reached for the sky, conical clusters of pink petals perfuming the air.
"Are those bees?!" Tiny insects buzzed around the area as well, casting a soft ghostly glow.
Something many eyes with rapidly shifting wings fluttered in front of his face. A furry figure, glowing green, darted behind a tree too quickly to identify. And…
"Coo-oo. Coo."
Danny's head jerked to the side, ears perking at the noise. "Is that a mourning dove?"
"Coo."
He flew towards the sound. In the crystal apple tree? There, perched on a wide branch near where it met the trunk.
"Hey there." The boy smiled, practically cooing himself. "Aren't you a pretty bird?" Body almost a soft pink, it preened at light tan, brown spotted wings. "If you weren't glowing, you'd almost look like a normal-"
"Woah!" Danny cut himself off, throwing himself backwards as the bird caught fire.
Blue flames licked at the feathers as it flapped away, a loud whistle sounding. The boy winced, expecting to feel the heat on his face but… "It's… cold."
The chill swirled as the bird darted passed him and landed in another tree, going back to its preening. The half ghost's jaw dropped, watching the bird just casually burn. Below him, a rumbling laugh sounded.
Danny looked down, finding Frostbite watching with amused eyes. The boy waved his arms, pointing. "Is that an ice phoenix?!"
"Yes." The yeti said simply, as if it was both obvious and normal.
"Really?!" A hand went to his head. "I have so many questions! Does it actually do that 'burn and rise from the ashes' thing? Is it just that one or are there others? Why is it a mourning dove?!"
"I do not know, Danny. She has never burned during my existence, but she is well taken care of here so perhaps has had no need." The yeti shrugged. "I know not if there are others of her kind. Nor why she is a 'mourning dove'." The air quotes were audible, Frostbite's brow furrowing. "Is that a species of avian found in the material realm?" He idly tapped his chin. "What an odd name…"
"Odd…" The boy blinked. "Yeah, we have mourning doves. Don't know why they're called that though.." He shook his head. "Do you have other birds? And bugs? I saw some. And something furry went behind those trees. Maybe a rabbit or squirrel."
Frostbite chuckled again. "I'm sure one of the gardeners can answer all your questions later. For now, we have a tour to finish, do we not?"
"Oh yeah…" Danny blushed, lowering in the air until he was floating in front of the wheelchair. "Can I fly on my own for a bit?"
"Of course, if you feel up to it."
With that, the two continued on, back into the curving hall. Frostbite walked slowly, carrying the chair in one massive arm. At the same time, Danny followed slowly behind. After a few minutes, they came to a darker hallway, the light shifting from a soft white to shining crystal blue.
Danny's hair turned, peering down the hall curiously. 'What's down there?"
"This is our hall of knowledge and artifacts." The yeti chief said.
The walls smoothed, colors shifting, darkening. The walls were a saturated, charcoal blue and the ceiling…
"Wow." The half ghost's breath caught, eyes drifting up.
The ceiling curved and rippled, a bright, watery blue. Like waves frozen in motion. He drifted up, a hand gently brushing the smooth ice.
"There is no stone above here. The ice freezes over this passage in the rock." The chief explained. "And because the surface is close, it allows the light to shine through."
"It's beautiful." Danny said, softly, reverently.
The boys followed the glowing ice as he floated on. His gaze flickered from the ceiling, drifting to the walls. The soft blue light cast on the scene extenuated every curve and bulge of the wall, every chip and chasm. Those were… carved lines. Pictures he realized with a gasp.
Great beasts stretched, claws extended and teeth bared. Curving, flickering lines like fire showed the rough shape of yetis dancing around them. A tall figure stood, arms spread addressing a crowd.
More images passed, dozens Danny did not have the time to process.
Soon, they passed a lantern-lite room. Scrolls lined the ice-carved shelves, stretching from floor to ceiling. The yeti they'd passed earlier looked up from their scrolls, giving a wave.
"You have a library!" The boy darted in, again eager to explore.
"Let's not disturb our librarian in his work." Frostbite pulled him back. "We can return later."
Danny's lip twitched down, just the barest hint disappointed.
Then the yeti's eyes brightened, a grin coming through. "I have something to show you I believe you will find very exciting."
That was enough to pull the half ghost away. "Alright." He rolled his eyes, trying to hide his smile. "Led the way."
The two passed stands of weapons, massive axes and spears. Artifacts followed. First a great horn like Frostbite but made of stone. Then a statue of a yeti, made of shiny scales. A clock carved of ice.
Each caught Danny's eye, curiosity tickling his heart. But Frostbite failed to stop at each. The boy tilted his head, excitement growing.
Finally, at the end of the hall, two guards stood in front of a podium. The yeti chief motioned them aside, each moving with a nod.
With Frostbite's lead, the half ghost floated forward. His eyes widened, breath stilled in anticipation at what could make his guide grin like this. The boy peered over and…
Danny's brow furrowed. "What is it?"
There on the pedestal lay a simple, unmarked roll of parchment.
"This is our most cherished treasure." Frostbite's words rang with reverence. "The Infi-Map."
"How is that a map?"
Slowly, carefully, Frostbite lifted the scroll. It unfurled, black lines and green swirls appearing "This is a map linking to every portal in existence."
The boy blinked. "Every portal?"
"Across all time and space." The yeti nodded "Every day millions of chasms, the size of mere atoms, open and this map reveals them. With it, the wielder may find any person or lost thing.
Or even travel to any destination."
Danny's eyes widened. "Any destination…. across all time and space." His mind whirled, trying to process. "Like… you could go back in time?"
The yeti chuckled. "Yes. You unfortunately discovered that on your first visit here."
"What?" The boy's jaw dropped.
"When we met, I offered you use of this artifact to return home. It whisked you away before I could explain fully and accompany you." Frostbite explained. "Unfortunately, your enemy, Plasmius, stole it before you were able to return it to us. You explained that the older half ghost insisted the map take him to his 'destiny.'" The air quotes were audible. "And so you chased him through time to retrieve it. This is, until with his final plea, the map delivered him right into my paws." The yeti laughed heartily. "The look on his face was quite amusing, especially once frozen solid in ice."
Danny winced for just a moment at the mention of Vlad, a flicker of unease breaking through. But at the same time…. "Chased him through time, you said?" Wide-eyed amazement rang in his voice.
"Yes." Frostbite gave a chuckle. "Plasmius made quite the mess, from the Salem witch trials, to the Rome Empire, and Ming Dynasty China. A grand adventure, or so you told me."
The boy's eyes fixed on the map. Suddenly, inexplicably, something like hope stirred. "So you actually can use this to go back in time?" He asked airily, breathlessly.
If it had happened once, it could happen again. Almost thoughtlessly, his hand wavered forward, towards the map. Maybe he could….
Gently, Frostbite's paw wrapped around his hand, drawing his fingers back. "I am sorry, Danny."
The boy looked up, eyes wide in silently pleading question. The grieved look the chief gave him cut to the core.
"The past is fragile. Time's steady roots anchor us. They stretch up, into endless possibilities. But if those roots are damaged…"
Understanding, the boy finished. "The tree topples." He looked down, eyes fixed on the stoney floor.
Frostbite nodded. "We of the Far Frozen have vowed to protect the Infi-map from any use which would threaten the Realms. As much as it pains me, the map can not bring back those you lost."
Those he'd lost…. The words stabbed, a reminder of the lie. One he'd almost let himself forget for the last hour.
"I understand." The words came out a pained whisper.
What good would going back have done anyway? If he'd never gone into Vlad's lab, never awoken his counterpart, it wouldn't have changed what he was.
Anger flared at the thought. Danny roughly pulled away from Frostbite. "Why did you even bother to show me this?"
The yeti's ears flattened, a flicker of hurt. "With it, you may easily visit other of your allies and friends. Such as Queen Dorathea of the Dragon Kingdom, and Lady Pandora of the Acropolis. I thought seeing such familiar faces might bring you some comfort."
"Oh." The boy slowly lowered to the floor, his anger evaporated. "That sounds…nice." If only he remembered either of those ghosts. "Maybe in few days, once I've recovered more." He scuffed his foot against the ground. More people to lie to…. The thought left a sour taste in his mouth.
"Actually, I'm feeling tired. Can we finish this tour after I get a nap?"
"Yes, of course." Frostbite straightened, offering the chair.
The half ghost sat down and let the chief push him. As they finished the circle, returning to his room, he tried to ignore the chief's worried gaze.
The day improved little after the boy's self imposed isolation. He managed to collect himself, slashing some water on his face just as Frostbite returned to collect him.
"I thought we could visit the arena next and attempt some ice manipulation." The chief suggested, ushering Danny into his chair.
Wordlessly, the half ghost agreed with a nod.
They turned the opposite direction from the medical room, the same hall they'd returned through less than an hour before. Soon, Frostbite turned down a hall, doors along both sides as Danny had seen earlier. But instead of the passageway ending in another door or a solid wall of rock, an opening at the end shone with brilliant white light.
The two passed through the open doorway and paused. The half ghost blinked, eyes adjusting to the light and after a second…. A flutter of awe leapt in his core. Snow surrounded, glistening and smoothly undisturbed as far as the eye could see. It reflected, almost blindingly, the light of….
His gaze drifted up. A ball of yellow shimmered into his view before his eyes tore away.
"That's… that's the sun?" He turned to Frostbite, eyes wide. "How?"
"An ectoplasmic echo." The yeti said. "It roughly follows the pattern of the lands near the arctic circle on Earth. Fortunately for our exploration, it reflects the summer now with light shining most of the day."
"But… how?"
"An island can take most any shape needed by its people." The chief shrugged. "Many find comfort in the familiar rhythm of days, weeks, and months. I am sure you have noticed the cycles of active and rest, even if sleep is not necessary for ghosts. About a quarter of the village are of the dead, formerly human. "
"That makes sense." The boy nodded. He would definitely go crazy without some kind of pattern marking the time. Then, Danny raised a brow, Frostbite's last sentence hitting him. "Are you…"
"Of the dead?" Frostbite shook his head. "No. I am Zone-born, of ghostly parents. My only life has been here, in the Far Frozen."
"But those former humans, why aren't they…." He motioned vaguely to his human-shaped form.
"That is a question for those of the dead who are willing to speak on it." The yeti started walking again, down a well-beaten path that curved around the edge of the massive cave system. "Let us continue."
Something glittering in the snow caught Danny's eye. "What's that?"
"Ah, our shrine!" Frostbite's expression brightened. "You must see."
The yeti pushed along faster.
"Frostbite!" The boy couldn't help but laugh, taken by the excitement. "You're gonna dump me out of the chair."
"My apologies." The chief slowed down.
Danny just shook his head, an amused grin brightening his face.
Then they rounded a snow drift, and the area came into full view.
"Oh." Just like that, the levity was gone. "That's…" The boy's shoulders fell, his gaze fixed on the shallow cave a bit off the path.
Inside were carvings of a great battle. Hordes of skeletons fought against a motley crew of ghosts. A flame-haired girl with a guitar. A towering suit of mechanical parts, shooting rockets. A short man in overalls, throwing boxes. A dragon, eyes fiercely protective and intelligent, even as it spewed flames. And in the center, most prominent…
"That is you." Frostbite motioned proudly. "It was not completed before your last visit but…"
The yeti continued, but the words were lost to the boy, drowned out by the rushing in his head.
There in the center of the scene, a glistening ice statue stood. Danny Phantom posed, majestically capped and crowned. A sword raised in one hand, a foot planted on a small but grand skeleton-embossed coffin.
The half-ghost's insides twist, dread ensnaring his thoughts. He stared. That… that was supposed to be him, the other Danny… but-
"Danny?" The name ripped his attention away.
The boy stared up, meeting Frostbite's concerned eyes. "That's… that can't be me." He pointed shakily.
"Oh." The yeti's brow wrinkled a little, a slight revelation. "You do not remember your battle with the ghost king, do you?"
"I… no." Danny furiously shook his head. His gaze flickered back to the statue. "I… I couldn't do that…." He couldn't do that. Couldn't be that. But he was supposed to be…
"Danny." Frostbite knelt, a paw on the boy's knee. "This must be hard to see, with the state of your injuries… with what you have lost." His gaze flickered to the statue. "Perhaps I did lean too regal with my portrayal." His eyes fixed down, ears pinned back in something like guilt. "It is easy to forget you are simply a near-mortal child…"
The yeti trailed off, a moment of heavy silence. The boy's core quivering nervously.
"I did not construct this statue to honor your wit or power." Frostbite continued somberly. "The act itself was great, an extraordinary accomplishment. But that might is not the focus of my admiration."
Danny's mouth opened and closed, mind scrambling for something.
Then Frostbite's gaze returned, his eyes round and warm in an almost…. parental affection. "It is your kindness, the strength of your heart. You have suffered, endured much and though you may not feel it, I know you are brave. You are so courageous to continue, despite everything."
"No, I… I'm not. I…" The half ghost stumbled, throat thick with guilt. "I'm weak and pathetic and…" His gaze flickered back to the statue, mouth speaking before he really thought. "That's… that's not me."
The yeti shook his head. "There is no shame in vulnerability, in humility."
"No, that's not…" His pleading, watery eyes fixed on Frostbite. "That's not… not it." His heart plummeted, a block of granite in his chest. "That's not me…." Half begging that the yeti would understand, and half praying that he wouldn't.
The yeti's brow wrinkled, almost sickeningly compassionate. "I understand, little one." He leaned forward, wrapping the boy in strong arms. "There is no need for the brave, regal hero of the Ghost Zone. Especially not here, especially not for me."
"I…okay." Relief clashed with guilt, the truth gnawing at the half-ghost's heart. But he remained silent.
"I will speak no more of it." After a long moment, yeti stood. "Do you still wish to visit the warriors?"
"Yeah." The boy rubbed at his eyes, wiping away the start of tears.
The walk-way continued, branching away from the cave wall and out into the open. Up a small snow-drift and back down, and there in the midground rose a set of icy bleachers surrounding a large oval in the snow. Fuzzy white shapes moved back and forth. The cracking sound of ice resounded, blue spikes driving into round targets, the thunk of ice-constructed weapons clashing.
Frostbite and Danny approached and the movement paused.
"Great one!" An excited cry rose, the white shapes, a collection of a dozen yetis all turning.
Instantly, the boy blushed, the nervous feeling, still swirling in his gut, intensifying.
"The Great One is here for practice, as any of you are." Frostbite quickly interceded. "Please leave our guest to hone his skills in peace."
Various huffs of protest sounded, yeti warriors clambering to talk but with a pointed look from their chief, most did go back to their own practice.
"I believe we should start with drawing cold from your core and forming a rough shape." The chief began, holding up his hands and forming an icy crystal as example. "Simply form it in your hand and hold it. No throwing projectiles just yet."
One of the yetis near them, more flat snouted than Frostbite with a few patches of black fur, chuckled. "Make sure to warn us first this time." He winced dramatically. "Everyone was pulling ice needles out of their fur for hours after your first lesson."
Another warrior, this one decorated in bangles and a chunky necklace, enthusiastically waved at the bleachers. "He froze everyone who came out to watch." She laughed, arms wrapped around her chest in mock shivering. "Remember that?"
"It was incredible." Yet another yeti added. "I have never seen a ghost's first ice manifest so strongly." His gaze turned glassy, starry-eyed. "I can only imagine how spectacular your battle with Undergrowth must have been."
"What else would you expect from the one who fought Pariah Dark and won?!" Another voice yelled, paw raised triumphantly to the sky.
Meanwhile, the boy pointedly looked away. "I don't remember any of that…" He muttered, a bitter taste in his mouth.
"What did I just say?" Frostbite interrupted, reprimanding. "Go back to your drills." A few apologies said, feet shuffling away and the yeti leaned forward, talking softly near Danny's ear. "Let's give ourselves a bit more space, hum?"
Near the middle of the field, at least fifteen feet from any of the warriors, the pair began with the basics.
"Hold your hands in front of you like this."
"Like this?" Danny formed a loose sphere with his fingers.
A nod. "Picture the shape in your mind, it filling the space you cradle. Focus your eyes on the space."
"Okay. I'm focusing." The boy narrowed his eyes, fixed on the sphere.
"Now the cold in your chest. In the center of your being, your core. Draw it out. Let it flow from your center and out." The yeti motioned each part with his paws. "From your core, to your shoulders, down your arms, to your finger, and into the space you mold." He finished with a flourish, before fingers rejoined.
"Alright. The cold in my center…" The half ghost closed his eyes and searched and…
There was no cold in the center. His mouth felt dry, familiar dread sinking in his gut. There was no cold. Of course there was none. Vlad had always insisted he had ice powers but Danny had never been able to conjure anything, not even the smallest snowflake. There was no cold.
"Are you alright?" Frostbite's worried voice broke the boy out of his growing distress.
"Yeah. I'm fine." Danny furiously shook his head, pushing down the fear. "Just…" His brow furrowed, nose wrinkled. "I can…" He could do this. He could. He had to.
Something flickered at the edge of his core, ambient energy dancing across its surface. He drew it out, down his arms, into his fingers and….
Neon green shimmer between his fingers, a whiff of lime and copper.
"Oh." Danny's shoulder fell, disappointed. The ectoblast blinked out.
"Good try." Frostbite congratulated gently. "Delve a little deeper for this second attempt."
The boy frowned, eyes narrowed at his hands. He could do this. He could do this. Focused inward…. Not the surface of his core but deeper. He prodded…. There. Weakly quivering, like a soft static crackle. It wasn't exactly cold but…
"Come. On." He strained, yanking. Energy crawled, stubbornly weak. It trickled, passed his shoulder, his elbow, into his hands… "Yes!" Light sparked on his finger, a crisp blue-green. It wavered and swirled, forming a tiny sphere the size of a quarter. "Yes!" The light flashed brighter and…
With a pop, it disappeared. Danny stared, nose twitching at the smell of ozone.
Frostbite's furry brow wrinkled. "That does not look like…"
"No. Come on." The half ghost furiously shook his head, ignoring the yeti's confusion. "Come on." He gritted his teeth, trying again…
Pop! "You can do this!"
And again.
Pop! "Stop that!"
And again.
Pop! "Urgh!"
"I'm gonna try a different shape." A diamond, a square, a triangle, hexagon, oval, weird amorphous blob.
"Grr." He growled through his teeth. Each one failed, dissipating with a pop.
"I just need to shoot something!" Danny raised his hands, marching over to the line of targets.
The other warriors backed away, traded worried looks but he barely registered. Maybe he needed to try projectiles, shooting directly out of his hands.
More pops fizzled barely after they'd started. No ice. No cold. Just building frustration. Anger roared through his veins. His stupid, defective core.
"Come on!" An ectoblast shot forth, slamming into the target. It sizzled, blackening the surface of the stone.
Another blast. "Why can't I just?! Ugh!"
And another and another. The blasts came until he was panting, legs shaking. The boy sank to his knees in the snow, head bowed.
His fist balled, white-knuckled grip sinking into the snow. Maybe… he just needed to feel the cold. If he felt it through his skin, his whole body cold…. Shaking handfuls of white raised towards his chest.
"Danny." A wide paw landed on his shoulder. "It's alright."
The crackling anger extinguished, like a power cord ripped from its outlet. The boy looked up and his shoulder fell, defeated.
"It's alright." Frostbite squeezed his shoulder. "You were badly hurt. Your core needs more time to heal." Genuine belief sounded in the words.
But Danny wanted to cry. His throat thick with feeling, he said nothing, just letting the chief help him to his feet.
"I am sorry." Frostbite said softly. "I should not have pushed you until you were ready." The yeti helped the boy to his chair. "Do you feel well enough to finish the tour? There is one more thing I think you will enjoy. If not, we can return and-"
"No." The half ghost cut him off, tightly gripping the chair's armrest. "I'm good."
He lied, limbs shaky and achy, mind screaming. But… all the concerned gazes on his back... His face burned, embarrassed and ashamed. He…he can't believe he lost it like that. He… he did that. Had…. had a tantrum like a baby, in front of all those warriors and…
Water welled in his eyes and he furiously whipped it away. "Let's… let's just finish."
He couldn't do this. He needed to get it together. Maybe he could still save face, still get some of his dignity back.
"Very well." Frostbite agreed solemnly.
The chief led farther down the path, over another snow drift. And…
A fence of woven ice stretched in front of them, a stone building to one side. Frostbite approached, giving a long, loud whistle.
A sound came in reply, something between a whiny and hiss. Dozens of feet pounded. Running from behind the building… a mass of silver bodies. Long necks and tails, thick claws and massive teeth.
Danny's eyes widened. "Dinosaurs?"
"Ice drakes." Frostbite chuckled.
One of the horse-sized lizards approached the fence. Its neck stretched over, snuffling the yeti and then the boy with quivering nostrils. Tentatively, Danny raised his hand. The animal head butted it, making a noise that was almost a coo. Gently, the boy stroked the scaly head.
"I believe she likes you." The yeti smiled.
Danny just continued staring, amazed. The drake slowly began to rumble, pleased. The stroking grew more confident, from gentle pets to comfortable scritches.
"Do you want to feed her?"
The boy nodded. Frostbite offered a handful of roughly-shaped purple flakes, like oats but off-color. "Remember to keep your fingers flat." He demonstrated, holding a palm to the drake's muzzle.
The boy copied. With a curious sniff, the creature licked the flakes. One taste and it perked up, eagerly nuzzling at Danny's hand. The corner of his mouth twitched, a laugh bubbling at the tickle of a rough tongue.
A memory welled to the surface.
A woman with short red hair and Mom's eyes pouring oats in his open palm. Eight-year old Jazz to his right, offering her treat-laiden hand to a tall, black horse. The sound of his sister's giggles.
A stab to his heart and Danny was crying. Roughly, he whipped at his eyes with the other hand.
"It is alright." A strong arm wrapped around his back. "Do not hold back the tears if they are needed."
Jazz's voice, false laughter from a false history rang in his head. Sleetsun's dish this morning, the Infi-map and its forgotten history, the statue, his too warm core… it was all too much.
The clone boy let the tears fall.