Opening File: Kuki Sanban
Kuki Sanban is the oldest daughter and heiress of the Sanban family and Sanban Industries. Though she has no plans to become a Huntress herself, Kuki has still been trained since she was little to fight as one by her mother the Demon Blade of the East Genki Sanban because of the dangers that exist in their world, and the enemies that their family has. With her Semblance Kuki is able to sense almost any form of danger near her and react quickly to eliminate it, even sensing certain aspects of people around her.
Possible short range precognitive ability used to identify danger and initiate adrenaline rush while providing subconscious awareness of the exact nature of the danger to allow for instant reaction. It also allows her to sense the thoughts and emotions of others and with enough adrenaline she can emit a telekinetic wave that can paralyze any dangerous being. Her semblance has also been shown to be able deactivate the Semblance of anyone she sees as an enemy. Another thing to note about Kuki Sanban's Semblance is it possesses a rare trait in always being active.
It is always alerting her to some form of danger no matter the size or significant. She can unconsciously sense and evade any form of danger to her. But this also comes at the danger of a possibility of her experience what is known as a Semblance Overload. Her usual outfit is an over-sized green shirt, black leggings, green socks, and black and white converse shoes. She has long straight black hair with bangs.
She loves Rainbow Monkeys, which she collects, fantasizes about, and has extensive knowledge about. Due to her great love for Rainbow Monkeys, she will often irrationally defend them, occasionally allowing her aggressive side to show (generally accompanied by her face turning red, teeth and ears becoming pointed and eyes flaming, resembling an oni, demons from Japanese mythology). Despite this, she is not as 'air-headed' as some would believe and is shown to heavily study under her mother, expected to be heavily knowledgeable of many important topics as the heiress of Sanban Industries.
Her life is somewhat sheltered which was why she happily welcome the half-ghost girl Danielle into her home after finding her buried near the Sanban estate, quickly becoming the first friend to the amnesiac girl since she first came to this world and suffered a deep trauma at the hands of the Fallen Moloch. They have since become close friends, bordering on surrogate sisters though Danielle can be exasperated by Kuki's love of Rainbow Monkeys. When the Sanbans were kidnapped by Billiam Milliam during the Golden Castle incident, Kuki and her younger sister Mushi were forced to remain in the dungeon with the other kidnapped children as Dani used her ghost powers to sneak out and try to find a way for them to escape.
When Dani was turned into a golden statue by Billiam, Kuki and her sister were understandably horrified as the statue fell into the ocean but were later relieved and elated when Dani returned, having managed to phase out of the statue she had been trapped in. Kuki was later happy to see Dani had awakened following the battle with Billiam, sporting a new hair and eye color that she found to be cool. Despite her father being the Prime Minister, Kuki did know he was also the former hero SAM-R-I until the Crom Crises, when she, her sister and Dani were attacked by creatures called Bodach led by the Harvester of Blood during a festival dedicated to the memory of SAM-R-I. Kani was forced to resume the mantle of SAM-R-I to fend off the demons and returned to the Justice Friends to discover the source of the attack.
Later, Dani was abducted by the Harvesters but returned with Kani, having taken off the helmet of SAM-R-I much to the happiness of Kuki along with her mother and sister.
Not too long after that, Kuki forced Danielle into wearing a shrine maiden outfit after losing a bet with her much to Dani's embarrassment. The bet was if Dani would be able to keep herself from fainting after finding out how much worth a piece of red glass found at the bottom of the sea she had found was after giving it to a Mobian named Bugs Bunny. Danielle accepted the bet, not taking it seriously until it was too late. The bet was if she fainted, she would have to wear whatever outfit Kuki and Mushi presented her for the next two weeks. The first week, she was dressed as a shrine maiden and had to help clean all the temple rooms at the temple the Sanbans chose to vacation at.
Following their return home, Danielle was forced to put on a maid outfit picked out by Mushi, further embarrassing her. Still, she went through with the bet but collapsed as her body suddenly became so cold her skin started to turn blue, and snow and ice began to form around her. She had to be placed in a tub warmed by fire Dust to keep her from freezing the entire house. It was determined she was manifesting a new form of power in the form of creating ice and her cold body temperature was a side-effect of her new power without her able to effectively control it. To help her, Genki sought out the aide of Frosta who hails from a family with a family Semblance centered around creating and controlling ice.
It was with a heavy heart that Kuki and Mushi would have to say goodbye to Danielle for the time being, after they helped place her in a de-icing unit that would make her safe for travel and transport. Later when the great blizzard created by the Ice Queen began to cover the world, Danielle returned to Tokyo to see it had been turned into a winter wonderland by the blizzard and managed to make it back to the Sanban home, greeted happily by the Sanban sisters. During their visit, the blizzard refused to let up and so the girls began regaling Frosta with stories of what had happened since Dani had appeared in their home. Frosta found it entertaining for a time and began telling her own story: the legend of the Ice Queen.
The story turned out to be real as Dani, Frosta and the Sanbani sisters were attacked and separated by the Ice Queen with Kuki and Mushi being taken to the North Pole. There, the Ice Queen froze their hearts, making them as cold and numb to the world as the Ice Queen was. Fortunately, Dani arrived with the Candy Elemental Abigail Lincoln, Princess Lilo, Stich, and Frosta to save Kuki, Mushi and the Ice Elemental Nigel Uno. Upon they confronted the Ice Queen where Dani found Kuki and Mushi but to her horror, they had seemingly forgotten about her until she managed to tearfully remind them of their bond. They happily embraced before the Ice Queen appeared and summoned icy monsters to kill them. Despite Dani's ghost powers and June's magical skills, the Ice Queen had the upper hand until the arrival of Cayde and Banshee followed by Nigel who had awakened as the true Ice Elemental and Perfuma who had gained the power of the Green.
The Ice Queen in last attempt of desperation and madness tried to freeze them, only for their combined powers to create a barrier that halted the Ice Queen's attack and broke her curse of Eternal Winter and caused her to melt away, her immortality and powers gone. Danielle would turn to Frosta, watching in sadness as someone she considered a good friend was seemingly intent on continuing with her grudge against Nigel before she relented much to Dani's happiness. Aldamon would appear sometime after the Ice Queen was defeated and met with Nigel and the others once he found his friend Kumamon, unconscious but free from Patience's curse. They would explain what happened to him and that he would be all right now that the Ice Queen was defeated.
Danielle and Frosta returned to Frosta's home where Danielle would take part in a ceremony where she and Frosta would create icy statues of themselves inside the Cave of Remembrance, formally recognizing Danielle as a friend and adopted member of Frosta's family, much to her happiness. They would meet the Sanbans in Frosta's home and enjoy a nice dinner with Danielle having gained more friends and a bigger family.
Close File
Xxx
"Help me…"
She wasn't sure where the voice was coming from. She first heard it in her dreams but thought nothing of it. Deciding she needed a break from made her way out into her favorite spot, a clearing in a forest with a large tree resting in the very center. She smiled as she sat under the tree, looking up the sky through the branches.
This had been her mother's favorite place to come to when she was a child.
Kuki Sanban had a lot expected from her, given that she was the heiress to Sanban Industries and to learn much in a very short time. Between her mother's lessons and her time in school she didn't have much time to act her age. That's why she often liked to sneak out to her special place, even though her father often scolded her for this, to relax and collect her thoughts. Her father was often busy, running the company and the only people she mostly interacted with where her mother who was also the one training her, her maids and her grandfather who told her stories.
"Help me…"
Kuki's eyes shot open, sensing something was wrong. Her Semblance, it wasn't something like the ones others had. Kuki's Semblance, Danger Negation, was an ability that allowed her to sense possible danger to her or others in almost any kind of form. It was difficult for her to understand or describe, almost like she could see the future and what to do along with sensing the thoughts and emotions of others.
Its final ability is that with enough adrenaline she could use it to perform telekinetic feats to negate oncoming danger to her, hence the name of her Semblance. And right now her Semblance was telling her of someone close by. She looked down at the ground and felt a presence under the ground. Immediately she started digging, the power of her Semblance allowing her to dig through the ground faster and sure enough she found something.
A face.
She dug deeper and pulled out an unconscious girl. Kuki pulled the girl out of the ground and lied her down. Her Semblance was telling her the girl was alive. It also telling her something was strange about this girl.
She was about the same age as Kuki with black hair in pony tail. Of course the girl's hair and clothes were covered completely in dirt.
How did she end up buried here?
Who would bury someone out here?
All these questions circled around Kuki's mind but she knew this girl needed help. She picked up the girl, deciding to take her home and get her the help she needed. As she did this, her Semblance allowed her to sense a few fleeting thoughts in the girl's mind.
"You exist to serve me! Just do it!"
"You're nothing but a mess he's not going to clean up."
"Bye Danny."
Kuki shook her head, not entirely sure of what she had sensed. The girl's mind was a mess, no doubt from being of buried alive.
All the more reason to get help.
Xxx
Kuki had been curious about the girl she had brought home and had gone to check on her when she noticed her parents and Splinter heading for the room. She hid herself around the corner, watching as they entered the room the girl was sleeping in. She slipped over to the door as it closed and peeked through, wondering what exactly they were going to do.
Danielle was still asleep as Splinter entered, followed by Genki and Kani. The Sensei placed his hand over Danielle's head, revealing a small jellyfish glowing pure white.
"This spirit is one of several that have been discovered with unique abilities. It is said that spirits are formed from animals that have bonded with Dust in some form of manner, granting them great power." Splinter said as the jellyfish hovered over Danielle. "This spirit has the power to remove memories and has been used in cases such as this young girl."
Curiously a small wisp of cold air emerged from Danielle's nose, sending a chill through the room and causing her to shiver in her sleep.
"She senses the spirit." Genki clarified, knowing the basic of Danielle's ghost powers thank to her Semblance.
"Intriguing." Splinter admitted.
The jellyfish placed its tentacles directly over Danielle's forehead and temples. A white pulse spread from the tentacles, washing over Danielle who let out a cry of discomfort but remained unconscious as a red substance was extracted from her temples, traveling down the tentacles and into the jellyfish.
"The memories are being extracted now." Splinter said, watching carefully.
Danielle struggled a bit; her body emitting a green glowed.
"What is happening?" Kani questioned.
"Her powers are reacting to the extraction." Splinter answered as Danielle contorted, her ghost form glowing green.
"She's instinctively fighting even when she's unconscious." Genki muttered, slightly surprised by what she was seeing.
Perhaps living a short life of betrayal and deceit had made the young hybrid paranoid, even in her sleep. The energy build up from her had forced the jellyfish back as she cried out, her eyes blinking open as she looked around frantically, seeing she was surrounded.
"Danielle-" Genki started but was cut off as Dani let out a scream.
A green glow emanated from her form, radiating outwards as a white ring appeared around her mid-section and split into two that spread down her body, morphing her human form into her ghost form. The jellyfish began to quiver and attempt to pull back.
"She's repelling it!" Genki called out over Danielle's screams. "We need to neutralize this or the procedure will fail!"
"I suspect that your normal precautionary measures will not account for this power." Splinter said before a tendril of green energy lashed out from Danielle and almost struck the Mobian, who swiftly ducked and then performed a handless flip to avoid a second strike from the ectoplasmic limb.
"Call it off!" Kani shouted.
"If we do that now it could cause even worse damage!" Genki replied. "Get me one of the sedatives and put it in a reinforced capsule!"
It would be their best hope of delivering the sedative to Danielle without it being destroyed by the protective aura…and even then there was no guarantee that the sedative would work on her.
Meanwhile, Kuki felt a sudden pressure around her head and winced, placing a hand up to her temple. The best way to describe what she was feeling was like she was experiencing phantom pain from a limb she'd never had, like information was passing up lines of muscles and nerves that weren't physically part of her body, coming right from…Danielle.
Kuki opened her eyes, seeing a pulsing strand of red linking her and Danielle as the girl continued to scream and lash out. Slowly raising one hand, Kuki grasped the red strand with one hand. Her aura flared and poured down the length of the thread, spilling into Danielle. Almost immediately the ectoplasmic aura began to recede into the girl, whose screams faded as her body relaxed.
"She's…stopped." Genki raised one brow, standing up from where she had been forced to take cover to avoid another ectoplasmic lash.
Splinter glanced out of the corner of his eye to where Kuki was hidden. "Indeed." He nodded. "Fortune seems to be with us this day."
Danielle shifted back into her human form, remaining still as the jellyfish spirit continued its work. The girl fell back onto the bed, returning to her previous sleeping state. A moment later the jellyfish seemed to have finished its work as it floated away from Danielle and back into Splinter's hand.
"Is it done?" Kani asked, standing up.
Splinter nodded as the jellyfish vanished. "The spirit removed any memory connected to her encounter with Moloch. From this point forward she will need rest and time to heal both physically and mentally from what has happened."
Genki sighed as she brought the covers back over Danielle. "At the very least the worst is now over. She must have burned herself out."
"Yes." Splinter nodded in agreement. "I have seen such reactions before. Her fear and trauma had caused her to lash out, using her powers to try and protect herself. Now that is has been removed she can have the chance to recover."
"Thank you for your help, Sensei." Genki said gratefully as she bowed again. "I will take over from here and watch over the girl. We will also send word of Sammael's scheme to Sebben and hopefully stop him before more souls are abducted."
Splinter nodded. "And thank you for offering to protect this young soul. Perhaps she will now be allowed to find some sense of peace no matter the circumstances of her being here."
Kuki saw Splinter coming to the door and ducked away, sneaking quickly down the hall before he left the room with her parents. Splinter spared a quick glance in Kuki's direction before taking his leave, confident that Danielle was in good hands. Once they were gone Kuki took the chance to sneak back into Danielle's room, watching as the girl slept, now free of the trauma inflicted on her.
'Perhaps when she wakes up she can show me what it's like to be a spirit.' Kuki thought before closing the door.
Xxx
"Hello!" The older of Genki's daughters greeted Danielle. "My name is Kuki Sanban! It's nice to meet you, Dani!"
"And I'm Mushi!" The younger girl beamed.
"It's nice to meet you both." Danielle replied, being careful with her words for fear of embarrassing herself. "Thanks for inviting me. I'm…well…starving doesn't describe it."
"Then dig in!" Genki encouraged, sweeping one arm out over the table. "If you don't see anything familiar, I think Kuki and Mushi may have some recommendations to make."
And they did. Danielle ended up trying foods she had never heard of before and, in some cases, couldn't pronounce the name of. By the end of it she had found herself growing attached to several particular dishes. More importantly she had found herself liking Genki's daughters, both of whom seemed to radiate a positive aura. Even Genki's husband, while relatively less talkative, still proved cordial and welcoming to her presence.
"So, Danielle." Genki spoke up, earning the girl's attention. "Tell us a bit about yourself."
"Well…Um." Danielle quickly swallowed. "There's not much about me that I can remember. I know my own name and I know have a cousin back in America, but I can't say for sure he even knows that I am here. I think the name of the town he lives in is called Amity Park."
"Well, I'll look into it and see what I can find." Genki replied, sadly having to feign ignorance for the time being. "Anything else?"
"Well, I can say that I might have had to run away from home because…family troubles." Danielle looked a little uncomfortable now. "I can't completely remember who my parents were but…I am not sure they were good people."
Genki nodded solemnly while sharing a hidden look with her husband, remaining silent while watching their daughters offer comfort to Danielle. It seemed her memory hadn't been completely taken and came back in small forms but enough for her to make sense of. Her cousin named Danny Fenton living in a small town named Amity Park that unfortunately did not exist in this universe and her 'father' Vlad Master who was a cruel man that almost killed her, leaving her to basically live on the streets before she was brought here by the workings of Sammael and his underlings.
But did she remember her powers?
Her Semblance told her that Danielle was honest when she spoke and at the same time she was hesitant to divulge everything about herself which given her past was understandable. The poor girl had been betrayed by almost everyone she knew, save her 'cousin'. She might not remember her powers completely but at the same time she seemed to remember all things general about herself.
"In that case Danielle, I offer you a place here." Genki spoke, surprising the young girl who seemed to stutter for a few seconds.
"R-Really? But I am just some kid who ran off from home and then somehow ended all the way here after I probably bumped my head doing something stupid. For all you know I could be some punk that got her kicks scamming and stealing." Danielle pointed out; feeling like the trust Genki was showing her was misplaced.
"Oh, well good thing I have the best fighters in Japan in the family guard that you no doubt spotted on your way here." Genki teased, seeing Danielle look a little flustered now. "Besides, you'd get to see a whole new world," Literally. "And I'd hate to see my daughters say goodbye to their new friend so soon."
"Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaaaasssssssse!" Both Kuki and Mushi begged Danielle to stay, showing off cute smiles with teary eyes.
It was enough to make Danielle almost instantly crumble. "Oh…Okay."
"Yay!" Both girls celebrated and it made Danielle offer a small smile.
"Splendid." Genki said happily. "In that case I believe the room you slept in will be perfect for you. We can draw up the rest for later. For now, let us enjoy lunch."
The rest of lunch followed with enjoying good food and drinks and some stories traded back and forth with any serious matters pushed to the back of everyone's minds.
For now, it was just a nice lunch meant to welcome a new friend.
Xxx
"It'll be all right, Dani." Kuki giggled as they walked down the street.
"So your dad is not going to kill me when he finds out you got me to sneak us out of the house just to go down to the park?" Danielle asked dryly.
It was a sad truth that Danielle didn't want to alienate her new friends in any way and it unfortunately included giving in to her friend's request of using her ghost powers to sneak her and her little sister out of the Sanban compound. Kuki had tied her hair into a pony tail like Danielle's and wore a white summer cap to hide her face while replacing her green sweater with a hoodie while Mushi let her pig tails down and wore a cap and purple hoodie like her sister. Danielle didn't need to worry about needing a disguise unlike the two but remained nervous all the same.
"Don't worry. We'll spend only half an hour in the park and we'll go back." Kuki reassured as they entered the park. "No one will ever know we were gone. They think we're just studying in my room."
It wasn't like Kuki was asking her to use her powers to rob a bank. She and her sister just wanted a chance to go out and explore, behave like normal kids without any big responsibilities or any worries for the future. So they cornered Danielle and literally begged her to help them with the use of her ghost powers until she finally caved.
It was just too hard to say no when they gave her those puppy dog looks.
Curse the puppy dog looks!
So now here she was, getting dragged along as the two wandered into a nearby park to do what kids always liked to do: have fun.
They entered the park and immediately Mushi rushed in first, letting out an excited squeal with Kuki quickly following her. Danielle sighed but ran after them, knowing she needed to at least keep an eye on them until they got all the fun and excitement they could handle which might take a while. Mushi wanted to try every form of entertainment the park had to offer, the swings, the slides and simply run around the park's grassy field.
Sure they could have had fun like this back home but right now they didn't have to worry about any big responsibilities that came with being in their family.
Danielle was pretty much the first friend they could speak normally with almost all the time when they had the chance and she did a pretty good job spending time with Mushi when Kuki had to have lessons or be at school. Right now the young ghost girl was just praying she wouldn't be in big trouble for agreeing to this insane idea of using her powers to help sneak the girls out and travel into a park without supervision.
"Oof!"
Danielle ran up, spotting the girls and saw that Mushi had bumped into someone, knocking each other down.
"Mushi, are you all right?" Kuki was at her sister's side instantly just as Danielle caught up.
She helped her sister off the person she had run into while Danielle checked to make sure whoever Mushi knocked over was all right. It turned out to be a young girl around their age with long lavender hair tied in pig tails.
"Sorry about that. Are you all right?" Danielle asked, thankful for the language lessons she had with Genki.
"Yes." The girl nodded as she accepted Danielle's hand and got back up.
"Mushi is sorry too." Kuki quickly said and her sister quickly apologized to the girl for knocking her over. "She gets excited."
"No worries." The girl waved off the apologies, taking a chance to look at the three. "You are new here?"
"I am." Danielle raised a hand. "Danielle Fenton. Or is it Fenton Danielle around here? I swear I thought I remembered."
"You are foreign?" The girl asked, immediately noting how obvious it was.
"I'm from America." Danielle smiled. "Nice to meet you…"
"Kuni." The girl answered back with a smile of her own. "Are you living close by?"
"You can say that." Danielle threw a nervous glance at Kuki who simply smiled and stepped in.
"She's living at our house as a guest for now. Her family's got some business here and we are giving her the tour." Kuki said, bringing up a cover story she quickly made up.
It sounded a lot better than admitting she was an orphan who popped out nowhere with strange powers that she just used to sneak the daughters who happened to be heirs to one of the largest companies in the world out of their house just so they could come down to the park and have fun.
"Really?" Kuni looked at Danielle who looked a bit nervous now and smiled. "That's very kind. I hope you enjoy yourself here, Danielle-san."
"Thank you." Danielle smiled back.
"Can we go have fun now?" Mushi asked, tugging on her sister's sleeve.
"Okay, we'll go." Kuki giggled as Mushi led her past Kuni. "Nice meeting you, Kuni-san."
Danielle offered a wave as she followed after the Sanban siblings while Kuni simply smiled and waved back, watching as they left.
Perhaps if they came back, she could see them again.
They did seem like an interesting trio.
Xxx
Danielle flew on ahead, landing back down in the dungeon and made sure no one was looking as she became visible in her human form.
"Dani!"
She really needs to figure out how they do that.
"Find anyone?" Marceline asked, once Kuki and Mushi were done hugging the ghost girl.
Danielle nodded. "I got all the adults out and they are heading this way. We need to just wait long enough and they'll be here."
"Mama and Daddy are coming?" Mushi asked with an excited smile.
"Yeah." Danielle rubbed Mushi's head. "They are coming for you and for all of us."
"Yay!"
"Hey, what's all the noise over here?"
The girls watched as three Mobian ducks approached them, all of them wearing different colored shirts ranging from green, blue and red with one of them wearing a red summer cap.
"Nothing, why?" Marceline asked, deciding to play dumb.
"We've been hearing things over and we've noticed that she," The duck Mobian wearing a green hoodie pointed at Danielle. "Was not there a few minutes ago and then she just showed up."
"Like she somehow appeared all of a sudden." The one wearing a blue T-shirt continued.
"Say what?" Danielle asked, acting confused at the accusation.
"Uh-uh! No way, girly!" The green one pointed at Danielle. "We looked all around this place for a way out and we saw every person who has been stuck here except you! She's obviously a double agent sent in to keep an eye on us!"
"No she's not!" Marceline barked, noticing that the argument was starting to draw a crowd which was not good.
"How do you know?" The blue one asked. "Unless you are working with the guys who locked us up here too!"
"Seriously?" Marceline raised an eyebrow. "Not a day and few here have already gone paranoid."
"Paranoid like a fox!" The duck Mobians said, causing the other kids to start shouting in agreement.
"That's enough!" Kuki said loudly, silencing everyone else. "My friend is not working for our kidnappers! She's been helping to find a way to escape because she can sneak out of here and she freed the adults who are coming for us!"
"What?!"
"She can sneak out!?"
"Mommy and daddy are coming?!"
"How can we trust you?" The Mobian duck wearing the green hoodie asked, stepping forward. "Sounds like a tr-"
Kuki leaned forward, a fierce fiery look in her eyes that stopped the young duck Mobian and the other children cold. "She. Is. Our. FRIEND!"
The Mobian stepped back, shivering now from the terrifying glare Kuki gave and looked ready to runaway screaming as he turned around and spoke in a very timid and squeaky voice. "I believe them!"
Kuki calmed down but looked at the others, giving them a warning look to leave Danielle alone or else…
Xxx
"What are you…" Dani looked down and gasped as her body started turning into solid gold. "What the-!"
"And no matter if it is in one piece or pieces it still retains its curse." Billiam said, summoning back the remaining pieces of the Hand of Midas, restoring his missing finger.
Dani looked down with one surprised look, staring at her friends as they looked on in horror just as she was finished turning into a golden statue.
"DANI!" Kuki and Mushi screamed as the statue fell into the ocean, making a big splash on impact.
"A pity. I would have liked to keep that one." Billiam adjusted his collar. "Oh well, I am sure it will be joining my collection soon enough."
Kuki and Mushi were crying as Marceline and Kimiko offered comfort now while the rest of the children were absolutely terrified now for what had happened to Danielle. With the adults, Genki was glaring darkly at Billiam with her husband grasping her hand as it clenched into a fist and sharing her anger while Xanatos and Fox were stone faced, Toshiro gasped in horror along with Betty who Simon comforted and Shere Kahn remained indifferent as usual.
"Monstrous." Scrooge whispered, glaring at Billiam. "To do such a thing to a young girl."
"Now then," Billiam turned to the groups as more robots appeared. "I believe I have made my intentions clear. Anyone else have a problem with that?"
Xxx
Suddenly the cages all flashed green and became transparent, allowing them to fall out of the cages and onto the floor.
Kuki, Mushi, Genki and Kani's eyes widened as they realized what this meant. 'Danielle!'
"WHAT?!" Billiam exclaimed.
A familiar ghost girl emerged from the floor, her hands glowing bright with power as she glared at Billiam. "Remember me?"
"DANI!" Kuki and Mushi cried happily.
"Impossible! I turned you to solid gold!" Billiam shouted.
"Next time you should think of something better when dealing with someone who can literally walk through walls." Dani retorted. "I'm a ghost, remember?"
Xxx
'Wh-Where am I?'
Slowly her eyes opened, adjusting a small light but nothing too bad and she slowly sat up. "What…What happened?"
"Dani!"
Her eyes widened as she looked to her bed side, seeing two girls smiling very happily at her. "Kuki, Mushi. What happened?"
"You had us so scared!" Kuki exclaimed. "When you went to fight that gold guy and when the entire castle exploded we thought you were a goner!"
"Castle…Billiam!" Danielle's eyes widened as she looked around. "We're back in my room? How long was I out?"
"Three days." The answer came from the door, where Genki was standing with a relieved look on her face. "We're all glad you are awake, Danielle."
"Genki." Danielle flinched, feeling a little sore. "What happened?"
"As far as anyone can tell, you saved everyone and stopped Billiam." Genki said softly as she walked over sat next to Danielle's bed. "Everything he stole was returned, along with the people he kidnapped."
"That…That's great." Danielle smiled a bit. "I remember now. I destroyed his machine and grabbed onto his crown…That's all I remember."
"I see…Well, in any case Danielle we are all glad you are awake but…" Genki frowned. "You took an enormous risk going back like that. We, especially Kuki and Mushi were worried about you."
"I…I know." Danielle looked away. "I just…I just knew I had to help stop Billiam. I didn't mean to upset you."
Kuki reached out and gave Danielle a light hug. "It's okay. We're just glad you're back."
"And you look cooler with the new hair style." Mushi added.
Danielle looked back at the girls with a confused look. "What do you mean?"
"Here." Genki held out a mirror. "Try and remain calm, Danielle. It's not entirely something to be alarmed about."
Danielle took the mirror and looked at her reflection. "…What in the world?"
She looked perfectly fine with the only difference being half of her normally black hair now looking white like when in her ghost form starting from the right and ended at the front while her left eye was now green, exactly like her ghost form.
"Our doctor said there is nothing wrong with you physically, Danielle." Genki said, placing a hand on Danielle's shoulder to keep her calm. "In fact, physically you are perfectly healthy."
"Okay, so any idea why I am like this now?" Danielle asked, putting the mirror down.
"We are not sure yet but we will find out. In the meantime get some rest," Genki smiled a bit. "And maybe even look at all the gifts you were sent by your admirers."
"Huh?" Danielle looked around her room and to her surprise there were a number of bouquets with different colored flowers along with presents lying around her bed. "Where did all of this come from?"
"Everyone you helped rescue." Genki answered happily. "Xanatos and his wife, Scrooge Mcduck and his nephews, Kimiko and her father, Prince Ali and much more."
Danielle looked at the notes attached to the presents and read them over.
'Dear, Danielle 'Phantom' Fenton. My wife and I thank you for helping to save us from Billiam and hope you get well soon.
Signed: Mr. and Mrs. Xanatos.'
'Hi, Danielle. Me, Huey and Dewy hope you get better. Sorry for thinking you were working for that gold freak. You're really cool and hope we can hang out.
P.S.: Those ghost powers you have are awesome!'
'Dear, Miss Fenton. I thank you for rescuing me from Billiam and for saving my fortune from being stolen. Though I am not liked by the Sanbans if you are in need of anything from me then I will be happy to repay my debt.
Shere Kahn of Kahn Industries.'
'Hi, Dani! My name is Dee-Dee and I'm one of the kids you helped rescue. Thank you for saving us all. You were so brave and heroic, much like my brother and my favorite hero: Major Glory. I hope you get well soon.'
"Looks like I got a lot of people who like me now." Danielle said with a small smile.
"Indeed but we can open your presents later. In the meantime, get some rest." Genki suggested. "I think you all have had enough adventures for a while. Perhaps we can all visit the park and enjoy a bit of fun."
"Yay!" Kuki and Mushi cheered as their mother started to guide them out of the room.
"Okay." Danielle nodded, yawning a bit. "I'm all for it."
"And Danielle…" Genki said, looking back at the ghost girl. "Thank you."
Danielle smiled back and nodded. "You're welcome."
Genki suddenly scowled. "And if you ever scare us like that again, you'll be spending the next week cleaning the entire house without your powers. Understand?"
Danielle paled but nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"Good." Genki's smile returned. "Now rest and we can talk more about your new appearance tomorrow."
Danielle lied back down on her pillow as Genki closed the door and looked at her reflection again. She then remembered Kimiko's suggestion about attending Yamanouchi Academy…
"I guess, there's no beating around the bush anymore."
Xxx
"Come on! You lost the bet so now you have to try on what we agreed!"
"What is that exactly?" Danielle asked hesitantly as she dragged off into their room, followed by Sayoko.
Once inside Sayoko immediately closed the door as the girls dragged over to the corner of the room where a dresser and mirror were located.
"So, what have you picked out?" Danielle asked, hoping it wasn't something embarrassing or humiliating.
"Nope. You don't get to see until it's on." Kuki shook her head.
"So, I'm supposed to have my eyes closed while you-Hey!" Danielle protested when Mushi snuck up behind her and put a blind fold on over her eyes. "Really?"
"Relax. It's more fun if it is a surprise." Mushi giggled.
Danielle sighed, deciding to let the girls have their fun. It was embarrassing she could just spend the next few weeks in ghost form since technically she'd still be wearing whatever outfit even as a ghost.
"Okay, Sayoko bring her behind the dresser." Kuki instructed as they brought the clothes out. "And help her undress."
"What?!"
"Relax. You need to change in order to make the outfit work" Kuki said as Sayoko moved Danielle behind the dresser.
The ghost girl was practically glowing in embarrassment as Sayoko helped undress her, even removing the hair band, causing her hair to fall down her back and then proceeded to help her into her new outfit. Sayoko was amused that Kuki and Mushi had chosen a miko outfit for Danielle. Her blue hoodie was removed and neatly folded on the floor as the white kosode was wrapped her and her red shorts were replaced with the red hakama with the red sash tied perfectly to complete the outfit. Kuki grabbed a red hair ribbon and used it to tie Danielle's black and white hair into a loose pony tail.
"Okay, we're done." Kuki said, removing the blind fold and allowing Danielle to see herself in the mirror.
The young ghost girl stared wide eyed at her reflection, almost unable to recognize herself. "You chose a shrine maiden outfit?"
"It was perfect." Kuki giggled, heading to the door. "Come on, let's show mom."
It wasn't the worst outfit Danielle had imagined having to wear.
It was what came after that was hard.
First off, no one made fun of her for wearing a miko outfit while she cleaned up the room she shared with Kuki and Mushi at the temple, swept the front porch with a broom or did one or two chores around the temple as part of the bet.
No, it was much worse.
She was called…adorable.
Xxx
"Her skin is turning blue!"
Kuki and Mushi were starting to tear up with worry as Danielle's skin began changing color, a sign that her body temperature was still going down. It had become bad enough that they had to put more Fire Dust crystals into the tub to heat the water as it started to freeze and turn to ice. They poured extra hot water into the tub and a scooped up a bucket, gently pouring it over Danielle as ice and frost formed in her hair while making sure it wasn't overwhelmingly hot. The ghost girl let out a gasp as the water traveled down her hair and face, granting a few seconds of relief before the cold returned.
This was hard, especially on the Sanban sisters who were becoming increasingly distressed at seeing their friend's worsening condition.
"Kuki, Mushi." The sound of their mother diverted their attention as she stepped in. "How is she?"
"It's getting worse, Mama. Her skin is blue!" Kuki tearfully pointed at the ghost girl.
Danielle's skin was indeed blue and she was shivering badly now. Genki could see how distressed and worried her daughters were becoming and it wasn't easy on her, even as she managed to steel herself with a mother's resolve.
"Danielle, I think I have found someone who can help." She said soothingly to the girl who managed to open one eye.
Thankfully the frost and ice had not covered her eyes and forced them shut.
"R-R-Really?" She asked in a desperate and hopeful voice barely heard over her shivering and teeth chattering.
"Yes but I need you to trust me." Genki stated. "The help you need…It's not here. We have to move you somwhere else."
"It's-It's a….lab, isn't it?" Danielle asked, rubbing herself to try and stay warm.
Genki couldn't fault the young girl for that. The few times the family doctor had looked over her, taken a blood sample or two Danielle was very uncomfortable. The few memories Genki had seen, showing her in a lab, strapped down on a table…
A vampire ghost laughing as he pulled a lever…
Dani screaming as her body begins to melt.
The few glimpses in her past was enough to show Genki that Danielle, even if she couldn't exactly remember had a deep rooted fear of laboratories, especially the kind that are made for dissection. They had further cemented her hate for Vlad Masters, the man who created her and then tried to kill her and it didn't help that she received word that he was now on the loose in America. Fortunately, despite Danielle's unique status Genki and her husband had stated in absolutely no terms that Danielle was to be taken to a lab to be studied for her unique hybrid abilities. The girl needed people she could trust, people who could comfort her and give her help in trying times like this.
The girl needed a family.
"No, it's not a lab but there is something coming that can help stabilize you." Genki said truthfully, scooping up some water and gently dropping it over Danielle's frost covered hair. "The place I have in mind belongs to someone with similar…abilities. It's not in Tokyo but it's also not in a lab, I swear to you."
Danielle glanced at Genki, still shivering. "P-Promise?"
"I promise." Genki nodded. "You're not being sent to a lab and you won't be alone."
Danielle could tell she was being truthful so she nodded, seeing no other way. "O-Okay."
"All right. First off we need to have you moved without freezing the entire house." Genki pulled out a black skintight outfit. "This can help keep the cold from spreading. I just need you to try and stand up for me."
Danielle reluctantly did so, turning her back to Genki who worked to slip the suit on while trying to hold still and not make it hard for the Sanban matriarch while her daughters helped as best as they could. Surprisingly the ice stopped spreading from Danielle once it was completely on. Her entire body aside from her head was covered but frost and ice still continued to appear around her face.
"All right. We'll move as quickly as we can but don't feel the need to strain yourself." Genki said gently as she and her daughters helped Danielle out of the tub. "We'll move nice and slow at your own pace."
"O-Okay." Danielle replied, shivering still as she struggled to keep from slipping.
With that they slowly left the bathroom and Danielle's room, heading down the hallway and stairs to the door where a large tube shaped tank was waiting for them.
"Is that…" Danielle trailed off, seeing the tank.
"It's a defrosting unit, capable of being moved." Genki knelt down and placed her hands on Danielle's shoulders, making sure to avoid her hair and exposed head. "This is where I need you to trust me."
Seeing she had no choice Danielle nodded and approached the tank, stepping inside and allowing them to slip a breathing mask over her mouth and nose. The mask covered the lower part of her face, leaving only her eyes and hair expose as the tube was closed. A warm liquid filled the tank a moment later and Danielle took a deep breath from the mask as she was submerged.
And slowly she felt the coldness of her body fade away, leaving a warm sensation washing over her.
"It…It works!" Danielle spoke out loud, releasing she could speak through the mask and actually it.
The mask had been built with an intercom and with her ears also covered she could speak to and hear anyone outside the tank.
"The liquid is filled with a special drug that inhibits the flow of Aura." Genki explained, after turning on the intercom. "We had no way of knowing for sure it would help since your ghostly powers would be different but they operate along a similar nature."
"Really?" Danielle asked, managing to relax inside the tube.
"From what our doctors learned Ectoplasm is a conductor for energy while your core, basically your soul provides the power in a manner much similar to Aura. You awakened Aura during the end of the Golden Castle incident and manifested a ghostly form of it during training so we gambled this would work." Genki continued with a relieved smile. "Sure enough your ice powers have seemingly been suppressed by the liquid. This will keep Aura from being channeled through your body and since no energy is being channeled through your ghost DNA I am positive, at least partially it will prevent your ice powers from going out of control."
"So am I supposed to just stay in this tank for who knows how long?" Danielle asked.
"No. You are just needed to remain in there until you have been transported to the person who can help you." Genki shook her head.
"Where is that?"
"The Shiga Highlands in the Japanese Alps."
Xxx
"Dani!"
Danielle opened her eyes, seeing two familiar faces walked up to the de-icing chamber she was as it was lowered on its back with wheels on the back to help it move. "Miku? Shinobu?"
She remembered meeting them when Genki took her, Kuki and Mushi on a tour of Yamanouchi Academy. They weren't the only friends to show as Kuki invited Kimiko and Kuni over as she was being transported.
"Hey, Danielle." Shinobu greeted.
"Let me guess, Kuki invite you over?" Danielle spoke, the intercom attached to the mask allowing her to speak with them.
"No but we heard about what was happening to you." Miku answered, smiling a bit. "We wanted to come over and see how you were doing."
"Been better but I won't complain." Danielle smiled, even though her mouth was covered by her breathing mask. "Lady Genki says I'm being taken somewhere to get help."
"That's good to know." Miku replied.
She and Shinobu were then pushed back as the men started wheeling Danielle's de-icing unit into the large cargo truck that had backed up and was waiting for her.
"Better hurry along." Genki spoke from behind the children. "It wouldn't be good for Danielle to sit alone with no one to talk to."
They all nodded and walked up the ramp, setting into the cargo van. They all sat around the de-icing chamber to assure Danielle they would be sticking with her which she was grateful for. Stuck inside this water filled tube and floating horizontally with no way out unless she wanted her powers to start freezing her and everything around her didn't make her feel very comfortable. She had to take a few deep breaths to reassure herself they weren't off to a lab as her current position was making her slightly worried on pure instinct.
Inspector Tezuka stepped into the back of the truck, not wanting these children to be alone by themselves. The rear door was closed and soon enough they were off.
"It's okay, Dani. We're here." Kuki placed a hand on the glass tank.
One by one Mushi, Kuni, Kimiko, Miku and Shinobu repeated Kuki's actions, placing their hands on the tanks to help reassure Danielle that she was not alone.
"Thanks guys." Danielle was truly grateful for their support, placing her hands on the sides of the tank over the hands of the people with her.
She wouldn't how she would pull through this if she was all by herself.
Xxx
The trip to the private airstrip was mostly uneventful but the kids inside the truck stayed around the de-frosting unit to help keep Danielle calm. They kept their hands on the tank, made small talk with the ghost girl inside who couldn't do much other than talk and listen. Floating on her backside in a cylinder shaped tank was not something she was comfortable with.
She had to remind herself that Genki had promised she was not going to a lab.
"We'll be there in exactly two minutes." The police officer, a Mobian named Inspector Tezuka. "Once we are there you all need to get out so the unit can be moved onto the ship."
The children silently nodded, remaining crowded around Danielle's tank, continuing to talk to her about anything they could think of.
"You hear that, Dani? We're almost there." Kuki said to the ghost girl who nodded back with a grateful face, even though it was most covered by her breathing mask.
She'll be really glad for it to be all over and she could hopefully get out of this tank.
As the truck came upon the airstrip a pair of eyes watched from behind a black tinted visor.
"Target located." A little girl's voice said from inside the helmet. "She is there. Find her. Take her. Bring her home to daddy."
As the children got out of the truck they watched as the de-icing unit was slowly wheeled down a ramp. As they did Kuki felt a sudden jolt through her body, her eyes going wide and her heart racing as she looked up.
"Uh oh…"
Hearing her voice, the others looked at her and then followed her eyes, seeing someone in a red and black armored suit with a dark visor over their face. The outline showed them to be female and they were on a v-shaped hoverboard.
(Slingshot by Trocader Starts to Play)
Tezuka reached down for her pistol as she addressed the newcomer. She spoke Japanese to the person whose visor projected a translation inside her helmet.
"Ebonstreakun jishin o shikibetsu suru(Translation: Identify yourself)." The woman heard the Mobian's voice and her visor instantly showed her a translation.
She raised her hand and a blaster sprouted from her wrist.
"Take cover!" Tezuka shouted to the children as she aimed and fired.
The woman raised her other arm, projecting a light shield that blocked the bullets. From the bottom of her board came a dart thrower that instantly fired. Tezuka quickly rolled out of the way as the woman flew down, firing her darts and then flew straight at the de-icing unit holding Danielle.
"She's going after Dani!" Miku shouted.
Just as the woman was in grabbing distance something leapt out of from the shadow of the unit and delivered a high powered kick the woman's chin, knocking her off her board which flew over Danielle's tank.
"Guys!" Danielle cried out from inside, trying to get a better view of what was going on.
The woman crashed onto the ground but instantly got back up.
"Picking on little kids are we?"
The newcomer was a tall young girl with a thin waist, wide hips and legs. She had light brown skin and thick, waist length purple hair that was tied in a bun. She had big eyes, a small rectangle shaped nose and thin lips. She wore a sleeveless dark top with a loincloth like skirt tied around her waist, white cloth wrappings around her forearms and brown shinobi boots.
"Who is she?" Mushi whispered, taking shelter back in the track with her sister and the others. "Is she a Huntress?"
"She doesn't look like she's from here." Shinobu stated, seeing the way the girl moved and was dressed made him think she was a fellow ninja.
Tezuka opened fire with another barrage of bullets but the woman shot forward, moving at high speed and appearing in front of the bird Mobian, surprising her. The woman then head butted her, throwing her pistol away.
"Hey!" The new girl called as she shot forward and somersaulted through the air, aiming to deliver a double kick to the woman's back.
Only the woman spun around and blocked with her arms.
The girl then smirked. "Boom."
Suddenly from her boots came an explosion that sent the woman flying back. The girl somersaulted back through the air and landed perfectly next to Tezuka.
"I assume you are one of the Huntresses Lady Genki hired." Tezuka said as she pulled out a rod like device that sparked with electricity.
"The name's Enid and yeah." The girl answered as the woman slowly got back up. "What's this chick's deal?"
"Don't know…Don't care." Tezuka answered simply.
As the woman faced them Tezuka made the first move, swinging her stun rod at the woman who shrugged off the first hit. She tried to hit Tezuka multiple times but the avian Mobian through the use of her Semblance was able to accurately predict her opponent's moves. She hit her opponent with her stun rod multiple times and even managed to disable the wrist blasters. The woman tried to fight back, demonstrating herself to be skilled in karate and her armor seemed to enhance her skills and strength.
She tried punching Tezuka but her Semblance, granting her enhanced vision allowed her to see all the attacks coming as soon as the woman was making them. That was perhaps the only reason she was able to fluently dodge as well as she did. Enid leapt in, delivering another kick to the woman as she was distracted and knocked her down.
"You sure that thing works?" She asked Tezuka who threw her a dirty look.
The woman got back up and her armor started to glow with energy.
"Uh, what is that?" Enid mumbled.
Suddenly the woman burst forward, moving at insane speeds as she collided with Tezuka and Enid with such force she sent them flying back.
"Guys, what's going on?!" Danielle called out inside her tank.
Miku and Shinobu both shared a look, nodding to each other. They needed to find cover and fast without drawing suspicion. The woman moved to attack again but Enid jumped back to her feet and planted her hands on the ground and spun around, releasing a barrage of fire blasts from her foot cannons. The woman activated an energy shield around her in the form of a dome that blocked Enid's attacks.
The woman stood up as the shield dropped…and then vanished.
"Okay." Enid muttered, staying on guard. "Last I checked you were only allowed on Semblance."
Tezuka reGroddned silent as she focused on finding the unknown enemy. Her pupils seemingly shrank as she concentrated on using her Semblance. It allowed her to see things as if she was looking through a scope, picking up details that would be missed by the normal eye.
Like the sudden movement on Enid's right.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Shells coated with Earth Dust slammed into an invisible figure that was within striking distance of Enid, covering her leg, right arm and even her head in instant earth that caused her to stagger over. Enid quickly delivered a spinning kick to the woman's face, knocking her back and cracking her visor. She followed up with a series of kicks to the woman while Tezuka aimed and fired regular bullets, successfully hitting the woman multiple times causing her to drop to one knee.
"You got her." Enid said, noting the blood coming out of the damaged areas of the armor.
The woman looked up as a little girl's voice spoke. "Activating Healing Unit."
Slowly the woman managed to stand back up with the armor seemingly healing itself.
"You have got to be kidding me." Enid sighed. "And I thought Boxmore's robots were annoying."
The woman stared at them and moved to attack as Enid quickly preformed a quick hand sign which was picked up by Tezuka.
'She knows Ninpo!' The inspector gaped.
Ninpo was considered a sub-variant of Aura but those who learned it were able to achieve more abilities and powers than a normal Huntsman or Huntress.
But how did this girl know it?
Just as the woman went on the attack, rushing at them again with her super speed Enid took a deep breath and then exhaled, releasing a blast of ice cold air that slammed into the woman head on, freezing her from head to toe.
"Wow!" Kuki, Mushi along with Kuni and Kimiko looked on in awe and surprise.
"Guys, come on! Tell me what's going on!" Danielle called out from the tank.
"Dani, please stay calm." Miku whispered near the tank.
At first it seemed the woman was finally defeated…
Then the ice shattered.
The woman staggered but was seemingly glaring at Enid now.
"Okay, seriously." Enid groaned. "What the Gob?"
Suddenly the woman vanished again and Tezuka prepared to use her Semblance again.
Only this time the woman wasn't using camouflage.
In one instant Enid and Tezuka were blasted back, both of them crying out in sheer shock and pain from the assault. The woman stood over them victoriously, having seemingly moved so fast she blasted before they could react. Both Huntresses looked badly injured now as the woman turned away from them, approaching Danielle's tank and stopping in front of it. The ghost girl stared up in shock and slight fear at the woman.
And yet she looked very familiar.
"Who are you?"
Just as the woman raised her hand…
And then a giant metal hand swatted her away.
The woman crashed several yards away, thanks to the Shinkalion Tsubasa.
Tezuka got up, narrowing her eyes at the sight of the machine but remembered Genki's threat. "This changes nothing…"
The woman had a chance to look up in time to see a second machine, Shinkalion Hayabusa slam its hand down on her, keeping her down.
"Wow!" Mushi exclaimed, seeing the two robots as they surrounded the woman. "Where did they come from?!"
"Yeah." Kuki looked around, seeing Miku and Shinobu were missing.
The woman struggled a bit before becoming still…and then her domed shield projected itself around her, knocking Tsubasa back. She then called for her hoverboard and jumped onto it, taking off and flying around the two Shinkalions as they tried to grab her. Cube shaped devices flew around with her and fired purple energy blasts, scorching the armor of the Shinkalions.
"What is this chick?" Enid muttered to herself.
The woman slammed a fist into the leg of Hayabusa, causing severe damage that caused Hayabusa to cry out and fall to one knee. The woman then moved to finish her off…
"STOP!"
Everyone stopped to see Dani Phantom herself, standing outside the de-icing unit and her body starting to freeze again. Her face turned blue and frost appeared in her hair as she shivered but was staring boldly up at the woman.
"Dani!" Kuki shouted.
"What are you doing?" Kimiko asked. "Get back in the tank!"
"You want me? Come and get me!" Dani shouted.
The woman stared…and then shot straight at the ghost girl.
"NO!" The kids screamed out but before the woman could grab her she was suddenly stuck in mid-air by a field of green energy.
"Huh?"
"What happened?"
The sound of a man chanting nearby caught their attention. "Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao. Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao. Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao. Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao."
It was a large Japanese man, wearing a white T-shirt with black overalls and brown sandals. He had black hair tied in a bun.
He was holding a puffer fish of some kind as he chanted without end, holding the woman in air with some sort of spell.
Leaving her open to attack as another Huntress jumped in, slashing at every angle and damaging the suit.
"Karai-san!" Kuki and Mushi exclaimed.
The Huntress had short dark black hair that was dyed blond in the back with two long hair strands on the right side, bright red eyeliner over the tips of her eyebrows and she wore a black and silver ninja outfit.
(Slingshot by Trocader Ends)
"Uh oh." The girl's voice spoke from inside the armor. "Daddy's not going to be happy. Locking armor."
Valerie's suit went into lockdown mode, paralyzing her body and leaving her limp. The man holding her in the air ended his spell and she fell to the ground like a puppet that just had its strings cut. In the meantime, Danielle fell to her knees as ice started to form on the ground around her again.
"Dani!" Kuki and Mushi rushed over to her side, careful not to touch her face that was not covered.
"Get her back in the de-icing unit." Tezuka ordered, holstering her pistol and glaring at the Shinkalions as Tsubasa helped Hayabusa to her feet.
Xxx
"DANI!"
That was the greeting as soon as Danielle knocked on the door and the person on the other side opened to answer. Frosta watched as Danielle was knocked down by two girls who ran right up and jumped on her, knocking her into the snowy ground.
The girls in question were happily hugging the dazed ghost girl as the head maid Sayoko stepped out with a surprised look before smiling. "Welcome home, Danielle."
Shaking her head, Danielle got up and wiped the snow off her clothes. "Thank you."
"You're back!" Mushi said happily, still hugging Danielle around the waist. "We missed you."
"Yeah?" Danielle smiled as she patted Mushi on the head. "I missed you too. I heard about a blizzard in Tokyo I got worried and decided to come and make sure you guys were all right."
"Does that mean you're all better?" Kuki asked.
"Well…" Danielle shared a look with Frosta. "I'm a lot better now but I think I should continue with Frosta until she gives me the all clear."
Frosta nodded in agreement. "Yes, you are making progress but you still need to fully master your powers."
"Aw…." Both Kuki and Mushi groaned at that, having badly missed their friend and surrogate sister while she was gone.
"But given what's going on I don't think a quick visit is out of order." Danielle quickly said, wanting to life their spirits.
Which it did. "YAY!"
Danielle looked at Frosta who sighed but nodded. "I suppose a visit would be fine. Given the strange weather."
"Well, better hurry in then before you cause us to lose all the heat." Sayoko gestured to the opened door.
The girls quickly shuffled in and the maid closed the door.
"So are Genki and Kani here?" Danielle asked the maid who shook her head.
"They both had pressing matters at work." Sayoko said, deciding that was all that was needed to be said.
Xxx
"And this is Dani dressed as a miko for a whole week!"
So far, things were going good from visiting the Sanbans. Nothing overly embarrassing, just Kuki showing Frosta a few pictures of Danielle dressed as a shrine maiden following the best she lost with the eldest Sanban.
Then came Mushi's suggestion.
"Say, if Dani is feeling better can she wear that maid costume again?" The younger sister asked with a smile so innocent and so devious. "She never finished our bet."
Danielle's eyes widened and she frantically shook her head. "No, no, no! I came here to check on you guys, not let you dress me up as your personal maid again!"
"A bet's a bet, Dani and you didn't finish it." Kuki said, pointing right at the ghost girl.
"I'm afraid that will not be possible at this time." Frosta said, much to Danielle's relief…at first. "Once I am sure her training is complete I believe some arrangements can be made."
Danielle groaned. "What is it with you girls and wanting to dress me up in all these costumes?"
"Because you look cute in them!" Kuki and Mushi giggled.
Danielle looked to Frosta who shrugged. "A bet is a bet. Don't worry about it…At least until I am sure your training is done."
Danielle fell back onto the floor and stared up at the ceiling with a loud groan.
Xxx
Frosta was looking out the window with the girls. "My mother told me a story about strange winters. The first winter snow and every snowflake like a white bead. She asked me 'Do you know where they come from?' Far to the north, past the cold seas and blinding flog. Yes, there into the frozen wings that lead to the land of bitter storms and deadly blizzards, that's the home of the snowflakes.
All of them servants to the Ice Queen."
"The Ice Queen?" Danielle and Kuki asked.
"Oh! A queen!" Mushi gasped.
"Yes. In the Far North where the snow never melts is a magnificent castle made of the coldest ice, sparkling in the northern lights, this is where the Ice Queen lives." Frosta said, remembering the tale her mother told her.
"Is she beautiful?" Mushi asked.
"Does she have great hair?" Kuki asked.
"She is so beautiful it makes you shiver. She shines like the Polar Star hanging in the deep frigid space, alone and elusive. Hurt by a burning love she became as cold as the ice that always surrounds her. Her eyes shine like a reflective pond that returns only your image. She walks the large halls of this wondrous palace alone.
"There are rooms filled with treasures but none are as important to her as her magic mirror. Through this mirror she can see into a vast winter kingdom. You must know in the spring as the snow melts and the earth is bare, the Ice Queen becomes weak so she must expand her kingdom as much as possible in the winter. She does this by watching, watching everyone who does not surrender to her demands.
Her biggest threat of all are those that have warm hearts." Frosta finally finished the tale.
Kuki felt her Semblance act up and she turned around to the window…
And saw a face glaring darkly at them, causing them to gasp in fear.
"Look! She's watching us!"
Danielle and Frosta spun around and saw the face glaring at them through the window.
"She looks so frigid!" Mushi cried.
The image of the face faded away as Danielle noticed. "She can't get in."
"Uh? Oh, all right." Kuki looked at Danielle. "Are you sure, Dani? Aren't you afraid of the Ice Queen?"
Before she could answer Mushi spoke up. "Not at all, Kuki! We would put her on a hot stove and she'd melt." She laughed, causing Kuki to laugh with her.
"Yeah, she'd melt away!"
"And maybe her skin will look nice and tanned!"
"Yeah, I think we're fine." Danielle smiled a bit but Frosta looked worried.
Xxx
Kuki saw a woman, seemingly flying through the blizzard. "Frosta, is that the Ice Queen?"
The woman was beautiful and delicate looking but she looked like she was made of ice, her eyes shining like stars.
"Ice Queen!" Kuki, Mushi and Frosta cried as they stepped back in fear as the large image of the Ice Queen's face pressed itself against the window.
"She's watching us!" Kuki said, holding onto Mushi as the Ice Queen breathed on the window, turning it into ice. "She's trying to get in!"
The window blew open and in came the cold gust of winter, causing the entire house to become cold. Kuki and Mushi rushed forward and closed the windows but not before several small shards of ice flew into the room and landed in Kuki and Mushi's eyes followed two more piercing their chest.
"Ow! Something's in my eye!"
As for Danielle and Frosta, the ghost grabbed onto Frosta and turned both of them intangible, leaving the shards to fly right through them.
"Kuki! Mushi!" Danielle cried as snow blew into the room.
"It's the Ice Queen! It's a…Spell!" Frosta shouted, covering her face.
"NO!" The Ice Queen shouted, feeling her spell being disrupted.
She watched as the snowy winds brought her the two children that she had managed to curse.
Kuki and Mushi with white streaks forming in their hair and both were shivering.
Well, they weren't who she wanted but they would do.
"Tell me," The Ice Queen stated, looking at the girls with an amused look. "Do you still think you can melt me on a hot stove, Kuki? Or turn my skin nice and tan, Mushi?"
Both Mushi and Kuki were too busy shivering from the cold to answer.
"Are you cold, little ones?" The Ice Queen asked, smiling softly. "Come to me."
As she spoked her breath caused more ice to form. The Ice Queen took both girls into her arms..
"You feel cold." The Ice Queen kissed them both on the cheeks that caused them to shiver.
"Your…Your kiss is cold…So cold it hurts." Kuki said, pulling herself into a ball.
The Ice Queen chuckled. "I won't kiss you anymore. So you will not even feel the cold. You must trust me, brave Kuki and Mushi. My love is peaceful and safe, you will never be bothered by troubles.
"I am going to take you both to a beautiful palace. You will be the princesses in my kingdom and forget everything about this life. Feelings only destroy people. It is best to be above everything as I am, my brave princesses.
"Your hearts will soon be as hard as diamonds. You will not know joy but you will also not know sadness. You will feel nothing." The Ice Queen continued. "You will be like me. Not happy, not sad, you will not care about anything or anyone. You will find contentment."
The Ice Queen turned to her mirror, trying to see where the Fake Ice Elemental, Candy and the other two girls vanished to.
"And Snowman will be back with a new friend for you."
Xxx
"I'm sorry, Danielle. We can't seem to find anyone here who is related to you."
Danielle had feeling this was the answer she was going to get but knowing what to expect didn't make her feel any less saddened or disappointed. "Guess it's just me then."
Genki sat down next to Danielle with Kuki and Mushi on either side of the lost girl. "Maybe so but that does not mean you are alone and you have to be without family."
"Huh?" Danielle looked up at the Sanban Matriarch.
"Family is more complicated than just blood. It is about what someone means to you." Genki explained with a soft smile. "Kuki and Mushi are my daughters by blood, Kani is my husband through marriage but that does not make them my only family. We happen to be close with many of the workers here in our house. They work hard for us and we are grateful for their hard work and in turn they enjoy being here with us, even if they are not as to us as they are to their own or as we are to each other. You might not have anyone out there but anyone can become family to you if you want them to and let them."
"Like us!" Kuki suggested happily. "We can be your family!"
"Really?" Danielle asked, stunned by what was being said.
"Do you want us to be?" Genki asked with a smile.
"…Yeah." Danielle slowly nodded. "I think I do."
"YAY!" Kuki and Mushi cheered as they hugged Danielle tightly. "Family!"
This made Danielle a little better and a little less alone even if she had no memories of her previous family or life.
Xxx
"Dani?"
Dani's eyes widened even further as two girls, Kuki and Mushi near the icy throne. "Kuki! Mushi!"
Kuki and Mushi were looking at the icy diamonds when they heard a voice. "Kuki, Mushi! Is that you?"
At first they tried to ignore her but as Dani came closer her voice became louder they turned around.
"Will you go away?" Mushi groaned.
"Don't bother us!" Kuki barked.
"Kuki, Mushi, it's me! Dani!" Dani ran up and hugged them both, crying softly.
"Your tears…They hurt!" Kuki closed his eyes in pain as he tried to push Abby away.
Both Kuki and Mushi clutched their chests as an ice shard fell out of their eyes.
"Kuki! Mushi!" Dani gasped, looking at the shards. "Ice darts…The Ice Queen's spell!"
"Dani?" Kuki questioned, rubbing her face.
Mushi looked around and spotted Dani. "Dani!"
Dani smiled. "Hi, Mushi."
Kuki and Dani laughed as they hugged each other and Mushi, the three of them dancing around the throne room.
Everyone else smiled but then paled when they heard a banging sound.
"Oh no! Dani, get out of here! It's the Ice Queen!" Kuki cried.
In a blast of icy wind, the Ice Queen appeared on her throne.
"Well, hello there." She said grandly with a welcoming smile.
Dani stepped forward, standing in front of Kuki and Mushi. "I am taking my friends with me and we're leaving this place. Reverse what you did to Nigel, now."
"Or you'll wish you'd never even looked up the word 'ice'." Abby said as her eyes flared.
The Ice Queen chuckled. "Now why I would do that? That boy is not your friends, he is not friends with anyone but himself. He is a thief who stole what was rightfully mine. Come on, Candy. Now that you are here we can find the others and we can play in the wonderland I am making."
Abby looked back at the Ice Queen with a glare. "That is not true! He is the true Ice Elemental! You're just a demented nut case who is jealous! All that you power you got and you're wound up because he got his own ice powers but he's more worthy of them then you'll ever be."
The Ice Queen scowled. "I am the ice power. The ice power is me."
"No, the power does not make the Elemental." Abby brought a hand to her chest. "It's the person who decides. You're just a jealous wannabee."
The Ice Queen snarled. "How dare you? Just like the others who didn't want to play with me. Fine then, join the faker in icy oblivion."
As she spoke, behind her throne came the Snowman and Kumamon.
Kuki and Mushi looked at Dani nervously who looked back at them. "You two should go, get out of this place and find somewhere safe."
The Ice Queen chuckled. "And where will they go that is safe? There is no place in the world I cannot reach where two measly little girls can hide. They would never survive the winter as it is now. They would only leave behind two more frozen bodies in my snowy garden."
Kuki closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. "Kuki and Mushi…"
"What?" The Ice Queen looked at them. "What did you say?"
"Our names are," Kuki and Mushi said at the same time. "KUKI AND MUSHI!"
The Ice Queen was shocked that her two lowly servants had the nerve to shout at her. That look of shock turned to anger and then a sinister grin as the giant icy statues in the room came to life. The Ice Queen banged her staff on the floor, releasing a beam of light that shot up through her palace and into the sky, creating an even stronger blizzard.
"Get behind me!" Dani shouted at Kuki and Mushu at the statues approached them.
"The Age of Endless Ice is upon us. Since the other Elementals won't play with me." The Ice Queen, formerly known as Patience St. Pim declared.
Xxx
The Ice Queen gritted her teeth as she crawled back onto her feet, leaning against her staff. "You…Dare defy me?!"
"We do more than dare." Dani retorted. "Now, release that kid. Your winter wonderland is over."
The Ice Queen snarled…and then began laughing. "You worms…You are nothing but worms. You exist…ONLY TO ENTERTAIN ME!"
A literal tornado of ice and snow surrounded her as she floated off the ground, hands blazing with magical energy as the chamber was engulfed in icy cold winds. Dani grabbed onto Kuki and Mushi as best as she could while June was blown off her feet and flying back while Frosta conjured an ice shield to protect herself and Abby.
"DIE! DIE! DIE FOR YOUR QUEEN!" The Ice Queen cackled madly.
BANG!
The Queen's eyes widened a single shot rang out through the chamber and a drop of blood traveled down from the hole in her forehead…
"Sorry we're late, Your Majesty. Here's my present."
The children turned around to see two…robots enter the palace, with one of their guns smoking.
"Looks like we made it just in time though." The robot with the smoking gun said. "You know what makes us?"
"Big damn heroes?" The other robot, Banshee asked.
"Ain't we that?"
Everyone looked back at the Ice Queen as she hovered slowly back down to the ground and everyone thought she was dead…
Only for her to reach up, plunged two fingers into her head and pull out the bullet.
"Oooookay. That's not usually how it works." Cayde remarked. "Usually they're supposed to cough, fall over and then dead."
"Fools!" The Ice Queen barked. "I wished to rule in a winter eternal! That means my wish has made me immortal! I can't be killed!"
"Really? Well…." Cayde shrugged. "I'm stumped on what to do next."
"How this?" The Ice Queen asked as she began summoning another snowy tornado around her. "You all…DIE!"
The ground beneath her began to crack and split open with June slipping and falling. "Oh cr-UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUD!"
The cracks spread out all along the fortress, including the chamber where the Ice Queen had left Evergreen's crown which fell through one of the cracks as well. As for the others they all stepped back, trying to remain out of reach as the Ice Queen cackled madly.
"Nigel…" Abby looked over to the frozen statue of her friend. "Please…wake up…She'll kill us. She'll kill all of us. Fight her."
Xxx
"Dani!"
Danielle was greeting with the surprising and yet welcome sight of the Sanban family in the dining room upon her and Frosta's return to the Frost home and it wasn't just them.
"Hey Dani." Miku greeted with a smile, wearing a kimono similar to Danielle and Frosta's.
Shinobu was there as well, dressed in a dark blue yukata as he acknowledged Danielle with a small greeting. Kuki and Mushi were both wearing kimonos like Danielle along with Genki while Kani wore a blue yukata like Shinobu.
"What's all this?" Danielle asked as she was led to the table.
"Since you saved our children, again Frosta decided to invite us to celebrate." Genki said, gesturing to the food on the table. "And to congratulate you for your hard work and thank you."
Danielle was surprised but smiled as she sat down. "…Thank you."
"And we might have something else to talk about in the future." Genki said with a smile but waved it off. "But for now let's eat and talk. I am sure you and Frosta-san have much to talk about."
"Yeah…We made a few new friends out there." Danielle said with a smile as they began having dinner.
Xxx
The sun shined down, breaking her slumber and slowly she opened her eyes. With a stifled groan, she sat up and let out a big yawn.
Well, that was one way to start the day and was relatively peaceful as well.
Kuki let out a big yawn as she sat up on her bed and looked out the window, smiling at the beautiful sunrise.
She had plenty of reasons to be happy.
Despite Mama and Daddy being very important people and were busy, they still made time for her and her sister. It wasn't easy at times, but they would still be there when it counted. Daddy was the Prime Minister of Japan and Mama was the head of Sanban Industries, making the Sanban family very important. The Sanban family had a rich history, going back to the time of Emperor when the Grimm first rose in Japan.
In short, Kuki and her family could almost be considered royalty.
That said, she didn't care much for it as long as she and her sister could live happily which is all their parents wanted for them. Still, it had its difficulties, like how Mama could be strict in her lessons, how she and Mushi were treated like glass at times, considered so delicate that people would fear they would break. When Daddy had people over, they would dote on her and her sister, give them praise, affection and gifts.
Mama warned them not to believe that everyone did that because they were trying to be friends instead of wanting money and fame.
Kuki may be little but she's no airhead. Families that were friends with the Sanbans often had powerful connections, fame and were the center of gossip like her family was so the Sanbans had to be picky about who they associated with. Even classmates at Kuki's school tried to be her friends, some even asking to come to her home, see her stuff, her family's fortune and of course see the other famous person living with them.
"Good morning, Dani!" Kuki happily greeted, seeing her best friend emerge from her bedroom.
"Morning, Kuki." Danielle greeted back with a smile.
Danielle 'Phantom' Fenton.
Kuki's first real friend who she had found buried alive near the Sanban residence. In the time she had been here, Danielle had shown not to care for the Sanban's rich status. Well, she was impressed but not like the gold diggers Kuki knew. Danielle respected their status but money outside of having enough to keep herself content, having a roof over her head and enough food to keep her from starving, Dani needed nothing else.
Why would she?
She's a superhero.
Kuki's wealthy background didn't change anything in how the ghost girl saw her, caring for her and Mushi as the first friends she had made since she woke up from her coma.
A true friend.
Her money and family connections meant nothing to Danielle who had awesome ghost powers. Dani wanted to be friends with her because she liked her and thought she was special in her own way, not because of her family. To Kuki, this was the greatest gift she could have asked for, a friendship that conveyed the love and affection of someone amazing.
And that wasn't the end.
She heard Mama and Daddy talking recently about Danielle.
A talk that could change and make things so much better for her and their ghost guest.
Kuki couldn't wait for it.