Fun Sized And Feral AU Part 1

Fun sized and feral AU part 1

Shout out to @p0ssym1lker for my new thirst of super tall jazz and "i fight like a Iike a rabid badger danny". didn't know I needed this in my life but here we are.

The scene for my Funsized and Feral prompt yesterday. This one is long y'all. The writing goblin would not let go.

I might make a few more under the same AU. There was far more world building in this than i intended. Meh. We will see.

I dont know how to link past posts so if someone knows please help.

----------------------------------------------

Jason could confidently say that Dead End Cafe was his new favorite place to eat.

The place was quirky, the small family that owned even more so, but oddly enough, it managed to fit into the little nook in Crime Ally without seeming out of place.

The shop and family had popped up out of nowhere about a year and a half ago. Bought out a whole block of crime ally that had been condemned for god knows how long (a two story shop, with two small buildings behind it.) And they had set up FAST.

Like big money fast.

Suddenly there was a nice little cartoony ghost theme Cafe with a house above and two small warehouses behind it with unknown contents. It screamed suspicious.

Jason had dug into the purchase and found it was infact, big money, two different sources. The head scratcher was that it was legitimate big money. The area had been bought under three names:

Daniel J. Manson-Foley-Fenton

Samantha A. Manson-Foley-Fenton

Tucker R. Manson-Foley-Fenton

It was clean. All of it. Apparently, a group of three high-school sweethearts, two of which were heirs to some pretty wealthy families) had decided that they were gonna move to Gotham and open a quaint little cafe in Crime Ally..... right.

He send a request to Tim to dig a bit deeper(fucker owed him a favour). Then proceeded to stake out the place as both Red hood and Jason.

Nothing. Not a damn thing. Apparently, the two warehouses were a greenhouse and a makeshift garage. He had searched all the electronic files (with Tim AND Barbara help!) Still nothing.

Samantha apparently liked to garden enough that she was willing to help feed all of Crime ally with it.

Tucker on the other hand, doubled as both a video game designer and someone who Timmy himself said he wanted in Wayne Inc. R&D (His current project was a prosthetic arm that was supposed to be better then anything on the market for people who lived in harsh environments? Notes about getting someone nicknamed Frostbite to help test them?)

The only odd thing that all three of them could find was that apparently, Daniel's parents believed they were ghost hunters. After digging further, Tim found that the whole town was ghost themed. (A tourist trap, which honestly explained the cafe theme). They did, however, make a large sum of money through patented inventions.

Honestly, so long as they were not doing anything in supervillain territory, Jason didn't care what they wasted their money on.

In a last ditch effort to find something, ANYTHING at this point. (This was actually starting to bug him, even the food they tested was clean, like "cleaner then you find in most of Gothams fast food places Jason" clean... he did not need that info replacement thanks.)

He evently caved and went inside the Cafe as Jason Todd.

The inside of the Cafe was just as weird as the rest of it. A mix of techno, Gothic punk, and peppy cartoon ghost that just... worked?

It was nice honestly, it was homey, but had a fun theme. It was the type of Cafe you looked for in the higher end of Gotham when you acted something different but still "upscale".

It should have felt out of place. But it didn't. The room was inviting, the food smelt delicious, there was a reading corner, the walls with hanging plants. It was nice. Too nice. Nice things like this didn't survive in Crime Ally. Jason knew that better them most.

Deep in thought, Jason nearly had a heart attack when a young voice spoke up.

"You smell funny"

Jason blinked before look down. Yep, that was a small child. A small three maybe four year old child who looked like a tiny female version of one Daniel M.F. Fenton.

"Um what?" Jason asked slightly thrown. Where had she come from?

The small girl barely came past Jason's knee but she still looked him dead in the eye before stating innocently,

"You smell funny, you're like the stinky piles that Cujo make in the yard."

Jason was pretty sure he just got told he's a peice of shit.

"ELLIE LILITH" a voice rang out.

Speak of the devil, Jason watched as Daniel rounded the counter walking quickly up to his.. daughter? (There had not been a kid mentioned in his files)

"You apologize right this second young lady, that was very rude" Daniel scolded.

"But mama it's true, like Cujo" EIlie protested.

(Maybe not a he) Jason thought as he watched the pair with an odd sense of bewildered amusement.

"Cujo" he asked looking at Daniel.

The man? looked mortified "our dog" was the reply before turning back to further scold the girl.

Jason definitely just got called a peice of shit.

(Well damn) he thought watching the back inforth between parent and daughter (kid might make a Gothamite after all)

in the end Ellie had given a half hearted apology about "sorry for calling the stinky man funny" before running off leaving Jason to talk with a horrified Daniel "please call me danny and our last name is a mouthfull" Fenton.

Apparently he was infact he/him being called mama was a thing form thier home town. Danny said he was cool with it so jason shrugged and accepted as another family quirk.

Jason had left the cafe that day with mixed feelings. Apparently, three highschool sweet hearts really had set up a quaint cafe in Crime Ally.... huh.

It was a nice place one Jason would like to go back to. But as stated earlier, nice places didn't last long in crime ally. The cafe would most likely be packed up and gone in a month.

The cafe was not gone in a month.

Or two, or three. By month four crime ally had slowly started to accept Dead End cafe as a neutral area similar to Dr. Leslie's clinic. They gave good food at prices that everyone was aware would run a normal business into the ground and treated everyone who came in like family. (It was almost scary how Danny never seemed to forget a name)

By month five Jason gave the kids that ran in his circles the ok to trust the Fentons. By month eight Dead End was declared off limits for robbery and gang fights. (petty crime may run rampant in gotham but even the roughest of gothamites won't mess with a place that gives freely without discrimination or a risk of cops).

By the first year, most of the gangs and small time thugs had accepted the Fentons as theirs and kept an eye out. They may not be able to stop the big names, but like hell thier favorite cafe was getting robbed by some upstart.

Jason can clearly remember sitting in his favorite spot with a book a little after the one year mark when one of the regulars had stopped Tucker. The whole cafe had seemed to hush as the mood in the cafe shifted.

"Look" said the guy (Jason was pretty sure he recently he had recently been working for Penguin) " it been bugging quite a few of us recently and we were hoping to talk with the two of you's" he raised his chin towards Sam who was also on the floor, (a rare day both Danny and Ellie were not in the shop).

"We know the two of you's can handle yourselves."

(Understatement, Tucker was built like Jason and was a good three inches taller with a mean right hook. Sam had been jumped a few times before the off limits and the damage she left was actully more the the average bat.)

"But more often then not its just your boy and your ankle bitter here. (Ellie has, in fact, a bit four different peoples ankles) "he's a real sweetheart that one, but fight wise he looks like a stiff wind would push him over." Jason could see a few others in the cafe nodding along. "Me and a few of the others have been doing some rounds when we can but it's not hard to see that the two of you are not on the floor often. We know you both do hard work at those shops of your, we appreciate it really, but it also leave a large amount of time when they aren't protected. It's practically an invitation to bastards looking for a quick buck." The man looked from both Tucker to Sam then back to Tucker. "We's was hoping to set up a chart with you when you won't be here. It won't be perfect but alot of us would feel alot better if Ma Fenton wasn't by himself so often."

Ma Fenton. It had been a bit odd for some of the people to get used to the fact that Danny was mama, and Sam was Papa. However, after they got used to it, it seemed to catch. Because unintentionally, Danny had become a parental figure to alot of people. He had a presence that made you feel safe and content. You needed advice? young or old danny had an ear ready and a plate of hot food. He was almost a foot smaller then both his partners, sweet and honestly not hard on the eyes. More then a few flirted him in passing (Jason was pretty sure that the ankles Ellie targeted were not random.... good on the brat.)

Danny was bright. Way to bright for Gotham. Jason might start swinging by at different times as well.

Jason had been about offer up his help with making a schedule when Tucker spoke up.

"Wow, um, so that's really thoughtful of you guys and by all means if it makes you guys feel better go for it." Tucker looked like he was struggling to find words glancing at an amused Sam. "There seems to have been a small misunderstanding" she said taking over.

"You see" Sam said grinning " it might not be Gotham but Amity Park had a unwritten rules of its own." Sam slowly moved towards the man that had stopped Tucker, all eyes in the cafe following. "Don't wander the graveyards." Step. "Don't go into the corn fields alone" Step. "Some of them were just for fun, don't sit under the willow tree in center park on a full moon". Sam stopped in front of the man, the room absolutely charged with tension despite how ridiculous the "rules" sounded.

"There were three rules that were made the day the Fentons set up shop in Amity. They were jokes when they first started but everyone and their dog new them as law by the time we moved here."

Sam's voice lost it's hard edge as she started to list. "One, if you need a hand, get a Fenton. There is no family in Amity more willing to help then the Fentons". The Room lot some of its tension as Sam huffed a laugh. " these rules are not limited to Amity by the way". The man (Jason really should get a name) rolled his eyes but still nodded in agreement.

"Two" Sam's soft smile became a mean looking smirk. "Don't not ever, and I mean ever. fuck with an angry Fenton". Sam's smirk seemed to grow as the disbelief showed on the faces around her.

"I'm serious" she had said. "The number of times Tucker and I had to drag Danny away from a fight because someone threated one of us. Angry Fentons can be down right feral. The last place you want to be is in-between an angry Fenton and thier target."

Sam shook her head as she grabbed the empty dishes off the table, walking to the back. "Make a schedule if you wish, Tucker and I will help as best we can. But Danny isn't nearly as helpless as he seems."

"What's the last one" a different regular called out. Sam stopped, turning to face them. "Last one of what"? She asked.

"You said there were three rules, what's the third?" They asked.

Sam just shook her head before turning back to the kitchen. "Sorry" she called back. "But that one is an Amity only rule"

They had set up a schedule.

It was a good one. The guys on the list had joked it was more like a scheduled break time then a guard duty. The few small time thugs that didn't care about the off limits rule weren't stupid enough to attack with the number of known fighters they had rotating through.

Key words being small time thugs.

Almost a year and a half on the dot Jason could admit they may have miscalculated and Sam may have been pretty spot-fucking-on about calling her husband "feral".

The cafe has been packed. It was mid lunch rush on a cold day. Jason sat in his usual spot, a now four year old ankle bitter to his left. (What not stinky today? Your getting better)

It started with a loud bang, the sound cutting over top of the crowded sounds. The clanging of pots hitting the ground caused the cafe to quite down. others starting to notice something was wrong, several people rising to take a look.

A shrill scream silenced the cafe completely, multiple people drawing weapons. Jason pulled Ellie to his other side shielding her as the sounds of a fight started up. (The back!! they didn't have anyone guarding the back today). Jason did his best to take control of the situation without exposing Ellie.

"You three get in a close as you can, don't shoot until you know you won't hit Danny, the rest of you guard those without a weapon. If you don't have a weapon get the hell against the wall and the fuck out of the way!"

People were scrambling to get to thier spots as the three Jason had first ordered were already at the kitchen door. Henry (Jason had learned the names of the guys he had on shift) pushed open the door, gun at the ready, only to be pushed right out of the way as the God damn fucking JOKER of all people pushed past him, around the counter and into the room.

There was a moment of horrified silence as everyone registered who was in the room.

Jason was panicked. The green that he had never felt in the cafe before started to rise. Taking in the Joker as he heaved for breath looking far more deranged than standard. Fuck Bruce, Fuck the no kill rule, if the Joker had hurt Danny he was DEAD.

Jason prepared to shoot as quiet as he could. The Joker wasn't paying attention to him yet, but the sound of a cocking gun would definitely get it. (He shouldn't have brought his old single shot pistol. What was he thinking?!) He could not risk Ellie behind him. He could do this. He just had to be quick, cock the pistol, aim, fire.

Jason took a breath, eyes green and locked on the Joker. Breathing out he whipped the gun up, cocking it with his other hand, only to freeze as unholy SHRIEK sounded as the kitchen door SLAMMED open.

Danny M.other F.ucking Fenton, in all his 5'1" glory, stood at the kitchen door cast-iron frying pan in hand, glaring at the Joker with a force that made the worst of Bruce's batglares look tame. In the time it took Jason to blink, Danny had thrown himself up onto, and off the counter, into the Joker, in what Jason swears was was the most beautifully executed fully body flying tackle he has ever seen.

What followed after that can only be described as a fight between two rabid badgers.

There was hair pulling, scratching, biting,(Jason now knew where Ellie got THAT from) at one point in the fight a few poor schmucks had actually unfrozen long enough to attempt to pull Danny away from the crazy mass murderer, only to be hissed at. Honest to God hissed at.

It was wild, Danny at one point had the Joker pinned and was just going town. (for someone so small he had a nasty looking punch.) He counted at least two chairs being thrown, three tables, and one cup. Danny even took a whole chunk of hair out. (It was still there on the floor, no one wanted to touch it.)

The fight didn't end, so much as move on when the Joker finally managed to throw Danny off long enough for him to run. He actually ran. away. from DANNY. The same Danny who after getting his footing saw the fucking JOKER running away. Scooped up his frying pan and ran AFTER him.

No one in the cafe moved. No one knew what do. They had seen fights ok. They had seen alot of fights, but the level of absolute FERAL that they just witnessed was a new level. Even more then that people were trying to align the sweet,happy, looks like he couldn't hurt a fly Danny with the I maybe possessed by a demon with rabies Danny that just took a literal bite out of the Joker.

They stayed frozen until Danny came back to the cafe. Smiling like he did normally everyday, Danny had taken one look around the cafe, apologized for the scare, and asked if there was "anyone willing to help him move the four men in the kitchen that defiantly need medical attention out" and "not to worry about the blood stains he would deal with those after he changed."

Jason himself was still partly dazed when Ellie spoke up curiously from behind him. "Mama did you kill the mean clown man?"

Jason (and everyone else in the cafe) turned to look at Danny.

Danny who had stopped at the bottom of the stairs leading to the house.

Danny who's hair was a mess, clothes rumpled and torn.

Danny, who's "I'm not small im fun-sized" apron, was splattered with red, and who's favorite frying pan matched.

Danny, who smiled back at them and made the same sentence that normally brought relief, sound like a threat.

"He'll live".

Well that was way longer then I meant it to be. Have you actual chapter? At 3am? cause I could not stop writing? Sorry for any mistakes but i am to tired to catch any more xD good night all!

I'M DOING AN EXPERIMENT

To prove something to a friend, please

REBLOG IF YOU THINK ASEXUALS BELONG IN LGBTQ+ SPACES

LIKE IF YOU THINK ASEXUALS DON’T BELONG IN LGBTQ+ SPACES

459K notes View Post

joebyron100

11 months ago

Duke, Coming To 38 Hours Later, Unable To Feel His Hands, With A Suspect In Handcuffs: Wh- What Just

Duke, coming to 38 hours later, unable to feel his hands, with a suspect in handcuffs: Wh- What just happened?

Tim: Magic my friend, magic.

Commission Info / Kofi

6K notes View Post

joebyron100

11 months ago

Amity Parkers moving to Gotham for college. Sam and Paulina pooling their trust funds together to buy an abandoned hotel and fitting it as apartments for everybody. They all train together in the courtyard to keep their skills up and just because it's fun. Suddenly an influx of super competent self-trained (or maybe ghost-trained) young adults.

Everybody having their little niches and suddenly they all have more free time that's not being taken up by ghost attacks so many of them started different YouTube channels with info they found out from the ghostly residents of Amity. Star and Paulina running a history of beauty channel going over makeup, hair styles and fashion, special guest Sam when going over alt fashions. Dash and Kwan running one on the history of sports. Wes and Mikey running a conspiracy theory podcast. Valerie running a martial arts channel. Danny just info-dumping about space and spacecraft in videos that range from 45 minutes to four hours. Tucker running a how-to channel for fixing tech and coding. Sam running a combination true crime and witchy channel. The Trio running a Let's Play channel.

Ghostly things happening in all of the videos and everybody guesting on everybody else's channels leads to everybody thinking it's all an elaborate ARG. Danny just floating through the walls half-asleep with a glowing shaker bottle in the background. Some of them when they're in the middle of a rant seem to forget to take a breath or their eyes or freckles start glowing. On a livestream Paulina snaps at somebody off screen and her eyes are suddenly glowing green. Danielle pops in during a charity livestream that the Trio are running and calls Danny-Daddy, Sam-Mom, and Tucker-Dad and is just floating on the back of the couch. Danny doing a stream to watch a rocket take off and suddenly a robe and crown flash and he disappears in a flash of green and the stream is just dead space until the rocket's about to take off and Danny comes running in and jumps over the back of his chair to watch it and cheer.

6K notes View Post

joebyron100

6 months ago

Tags

he’s so silly he looks 🔥🔥🔥

77K notes View Post

joebyron100

11 months ago

“Hey. Uh, Johnny?” Danny said awkwardly, “What does it mean when one of the older ghosts calls you their favored and why does it freak people out?”

Johnny 13 gave the halfa a bewildered look, “Dude. Didn’t you listen to Death? At all?”

“Death?” Danny scrunched his face, “What do you mean? I don’t…”

“Wait.” Johnny straightened, “You’ve talked with Death, right? She explained-?”

Danny shook his head, confused, “Was I supposed to?”

“When you first died, she’s supposed to appear. She gives a whole spiel and then transfers a bunch of information.” Johnny frowned, “She did it for Plasmius, so it’s not a halfa thing.”

“Oh.” Danny looked down, “What if… What if someone died and came back a few times very quickly? Would that… Would that cause any problems?”

Johnny stilled, horrified, “Ok. Look, do you want to talk about your death? Because I’m not asking if you don’t, but...”

“I guess…” Danny said, “So you know that my parents made the portal, right?”

“Yeah.” Johnny said.

“They’d been trying to do it for a long time. Plasmius actually worked with them for a while back when they were in college. It’s why all of their tech is similar in design.” Danny explained, “They built the thing, plugged it in, turned it on… and nothing.”

“But it works now.” Johnny frowned.

“Yeah. It does.” Danny nodded, “But remember my friends? Sam and Tucker?”

“The edgy emo and the computer geek?”

“As Sam’s friend, I am obligated to inform you that she is goth not emo… but yes, those two.” Danny smiled sadly, “My mom and dad were upset. They left the house and Jazz was working her shift at a library. The whole house was empty and I was… you know. A normal teenager home alone.”

Johnny snorted at that, “Ah yes. A completely normal teenager

“Yeah, yeah. The point is, the first thing I did after being left home alone was call my friends over.” Danny rolled his eyes, “Told them what happened and… It was Sam who suggested we go down there first — she’s always been into ghost and occult stuff — and look around. Tucker was down, because it was tech even if we didn’t think most of the tech would work. He wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to mess around with it. Jazz had given me some lectures on lab safety — my parents don’t usually follow it themselves — and I had a bad feeling so I put on the Hazmat suit.”

“That’s not a superhero costume you came up with?” Johnny asked, eyes widening.

“No, um. It’s a hazmat suit. The only way I changed my form was the insignia and even then that was Sam’s idea.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, but um….” Danny paused, “We wound up standing outside the portal. It wasn’t working or anything, but there was a big spooky metal hole in the wall. You know, the kind of thing you’d expect in sci-fi movies. Sam dared me to go in and I was nervous. That bad feeling just intensified, but again — fourteen. I wasn’t being smart about it. So… I went into it. I kept going and it was dark. I was turning back when I tripped and I flailed. Accidentally hit some button that was on the side and it turned on.”

Johnny took a sharp breath.

“And um. Did you know that the portal takes a lot of electricity to start up?” Danny joked weakly, “Took three blocks worth. Um, lots of ectoplasm, too — from both the zone and the artificial stuff my parents use.” He shuffled, “So um, turns out both those things can revive and kill people. So I just kind of — died and revived a lot until it turned on and basically spat me out into the lab.

“That’s - Kid…”

“So um, maybe since I was dying and reviving so much death didn’t have a chance to fill me in? Honestly, would have like the heads up.” Danny said sheepishly, “I didn’t even understand what had happened until ghosts started coming through the portal.”

“Seriously?”

Danny shrugged, “I mean, I kind of suspected. I was falling through floors. It was hard to ignore, but I didn’t know - My parents are good inventors, but not the best scientists and it made things hard to figure out.”

“What? You bought that whole non-sentient BS?”

“No.” Danny shook his head, “I just didn’t buy any of it — and I mean none of it. I wanted nothing to do with the whole thing. The whole town thought my parents were crazy, they were always in the lab working, and I only ever saw them briefly once or twice a day. Don’t get me wrong. They’re still my parents and I love them, but… they have two big priorities. Their work and their kids. Their work is just… a higher priority to them.”

“Oh.” Johnny cringed, “Oh. Kid…”

“So yeah. Life sucks. Death sucks… but I really need to know what to do and why Ember is freaking out over me being called ‘favored one’.”

“Uh, right.” Johnny paused, “Well, it’s like old ghost language. Um. Basically, it’s like being called a really, really close friend or adopted family. Kind of like… ‘hey, this is my person that I love and protect’. It’s platonic unless they specify otherwise.”

“Huh, okay.” Danny blinked, “That makes sense, but why would Ember freak out?”

“Well… who called you that?”

“Oh! Clockwork and Pandora call me that when I visit.”

Johnny blanched, “What?”

“And now you’re freaking out, too.”

“You’ve been just- Kid! Are you just casually talking to them?”

“Um, yeah? They said it was okay?”

“Do you know nothing about the hierarchy of the- Wait. No. You didn’t get to talk to Death. Of course you don’t-“ Johnny sighed — covering his eyes, “Okay, so do you know what the ancients are?”

“I thought that was just a saying.”

“No, it’s not-” Johnny pinched the bridge of his nose, “The Ancients are the most powerful spirits in the Zone. They’re ghosts, but they resemble ideals more than they do a person most of the time. Practically gods. The ancients are Undergrowth, Frostbite, Nocturne, Pandora, Clockwork, Vortex, and Pariah Dark. Thing is… where most ghosts plateau at a certain power level the ancients can just keep growing in power. Clockwork is one of the strongest — so strong, the Observants bound him to their will.”

“Yeah, I heard about that, but he’s really nice, you know.” Danny smiled, “And he makes really good cookies really fast.”

Johnny stared at Danny for a long moment, “Danny. Do you not hear yourself right now? He’s basically the god of time.”

“Yeah, but if he didn’t want me to visit, I wouldn’t be able to find him.” Danny shrugged, “So he told me if I can see the clocktower, I’m welcome to come in.”

“Kid…”

“Besides. I’m friends with half of those guys and they’re cool.”

“Wha- How many ancients do you know?”

“Um… All the ones you just listed? I’m friends with Frostbite, Pandora, and Clockwork. I fought Undergrowth, Vortex and Nocturne before, but Nocturne likes me now. Um, Undergrowth doesn’t like me, though. Loves Sam, though… Um, obviously I know who Pariah Dark is after the whole thing in Amity-“

Johnny stilled, “Wait a minute… Kid. I need you to answer me honestly here… Did Pariah ever mention a challenge when you fought him?”

“Well, um. I guess? He was all formal speak, though, so…”

“Kid.” Johnny said very slowly, “Did he ever issue a challenge or accept a challenge from you?”

“… Um. He did say that he accepted my challenge or something, but wasn’t that just fight-talk or…”

“I think I get it now.” Johnny sighed, facepalming, “Just… maybe don’t tell people about this and consider asking one of the ancients allies you have about what Pariah accepting your challenge means for you.”

“For me? What-“

“Just… give it some thought.” Johnny paused, “And- Well, I can talk to Ember for you, yeah?”

“Thanks.”

—

Danny curled up on a sofa as Pandora embraced him with three arms and ran her fourth hand through his hair.

“Pandora.” Danny said softly, “Some of my friends say you, Frostbite, and Clockwork are ancients.”

“They are correct.”

“I didn’t know what ancients were.”

“I noticed.” Pandora laughed a bit, “But you’re a sweet child. You helped me get my box back and did not demand my favor. Perhaps it was selfish not to tell you, but I didn’t want to distress you. You are a kind and humble soul. Is it such a surprise I wish to continue seeing you?”

“You thought I would stop if I did?” Danny asked, confused, “I mean, sure my other friends were shaken up by it, but they don’t know you. Why would I be afraid when you’re so nice?”

Pandora blinked and then smiled warmly — a little laugh pulling from her throat. Oh, the innocence of such a young spirit, “Why, indeed? I suppose I didn’t give you or myself enough credit, did I?”

Danny shrugged, “I don’t have room to judge people for being different anyway. I’m a halfa. Pretty sure that’s even rarer than being an Ancient, right?”

“I suppose that is true.” Pandora smiled, “There are only a few halfas and none are quite like you. There will only ever be one of you.”

“Does this have something to do with why I never got to meet death?” Danny asked, confused, “That’s the only thing I can find that seems all that different-“

“In a way… Yes, but there are many more differences. The main one is that you powers have grown beyond Vlad Masters and they continue to do so.” Pandora said, “You are what we call a ‘Juna Potenco’. Most realms will never have heard of such things, but us ancients do not forget and when faced with a gift like yourself… well, you’ll only see more of us with time.”

“What does that mean? Is it bad?”

“No, no. It is a gift, not a punishment.” Pandora promised, “You are an inspiring soul, favored one, and it seems the realms themselves have seen that.”

“That doesn’t sound right.” Danny pulled away and sat up as he shook his head, “I’m a halfa, but that’s what I am. It doesn’t say anything about who I am. There isn’t anything special about who I am.”

“Everyone else disagrees with that last statement.” Pandora shook her head, “But I will let you in on the secret.”

“Yeah?”

“These are not due to your half spirit nature, but something truly special.” Pandora cupped his cheek, “Danny, do you truly wish to know? As amazing as this is, I am not sure you will be ready for the truth just yet.”

“I’m - I’ve been debating what colleges to apply for, but… I don’t know if any of them will take me now with my grades. I still look fourteen — fifteen at the oldest… and I still feel fourteen.” Danny looked at Pandora with pleading eyes, “So if this would impact my future, I think I’d like to know. Before things get complicated.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Suddenly, everything froze.

Danny looked up to see Clockwork putting a medallion on Pandora while Frostbite gave him a smile.

“I presume you’re here to assist in informing him?” Pandora asked.

“Indeed.” Frostbite nodded.

“Informing me of what?” Danny asked, confused.

“When you went to face Pariah Dark, you stated your intention to fight him.” Clockwork said, “And he accepted your challenge. You fought in single combat, removed the Crown of Fire from his head, and then managed to get him into the Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep.”

“Vlad-“

“Plasmius might have locked the Sarcophagus, but you have repeatedly bested him and even when he has gotten the best of you, it has not been in single combat. However, Plasmius at one point claimed your fight was a ‘fun challenge’. You agreed — officially accepting it as such. When you defeated him, he lost any fragile claim to the throne.”

“Claim to the- Wait. What are you saying?” Danny glanced between them, “What? No. No… you have to be kidding me. I’m just me. I was trying to help, not-“

“Child, your soul was always going to be tied to the zone one way or another.” Pandora said, “Mortality is already a fragile thing, but someone so surrounded by ectoplasm at a young age all while experiencing the struggles you did with your parents absence… it was inevitable that you would be a powerful ghost.”

“But, then, Great One.” Frostbite continued, “You stood fully emerged in the space between worlds and thought of protection and forgiveness — mercy. You did not even consider vengeance or desires of your own. Only the wellbeing of others. It is an act of great sacrifice and not one many can complete so fully.”

“To put it simply, Danny.” Pandora said, “You’re one of us, Juna Protenco. New and young power that will grow infinitely. Though you are far from ancient, you will be with time.”

“An ancient to be.” Danny said distantly.

“The Ancient of Protection, Space, Mercy, and Matter.” Clockwork turned into his newborn form, “The best candidate for king we’ve had in a long time. Though, perhaps I am a bit biased.”

“Does it have something to do with space-time?” Danny guessed, “Because Matter, Time, and Space…”

“Correct.” Clockwork smirked, “Matter tells spacetime how to curve, and curved spacetime tells matter how to move. I guide you and you make changes that I will use to guide you again.”

Dannu blinked, “Oh. I get it.”

“You do?” Pandora blinked.

“That’s domains for you.” Frostbite chuckled and then quickly explained when Danny gave him a confused look, “We all innately understand our domains and their meanings. My domain is progression, society, and advancement.”

“Mine is responsibility, hope, protection, and perseverance.” Pandora revealed.

“Indeed.” Clockwork transformed into the middle aged man again, “But now that you know of your future, we must prepare.” He put his hand on Danny’s shoulder, “Your coronation must happen by the time you turn eighteen. As Ghost King, you will need to learn some diplomatic skills. We will teach you while you finish your human schooling.” Clockwork promised, “You can tell your parents the truth or you can say you are simply leaving for college, but Maddie and Jack Fenton cannot move to the Zone with you. Your sister is welcome. Your friends are welcome, but unfortunately…”

“I understand.” Danny lowered his head, “I don’t think I’ll tell them just yet. Maybe I’ll leave a note or a video, but…”

Clockwork’s eyes glazed over briefly — clearly checking the timeline.

“That is a good idea.” Clockwork nodded.

“Okay.” Danny swallowed, “I can’t -”

“No.” Clockwork said, “Honored as these two would be, they have their duties and people. They cannot. I am both bound by the Observants and a little too prone to acts of selfishness. It is too much power for me. No. It must be you.”

“You’re not selfish. You helped me.” Danny tilted his head, confused.

Clockwork chuckled guiltily as Pandora made a face and Frostbite shifted awkwardly.

“There is a reason people fear me, Danny.” Clockwork seemed more amused than anything by the sudden awkwardness, “I appreciate your trust in me, but I was not so good or kind in life. I hold domain over regret and retribution as well as time. It is a position I earned after giving and getting both in equal measure. I am not a protective spirit by nature. I am one that seeks justice and sometimes revenge.”

“I don’t get it.” Danny frowned, confused.

“Soon, you will.” Clockwork said grimly, “But for now… Trust me when I say all is as it should be.”

“Okay.” Danny said, “I trust you.”

“Now, time in.” Clockwork said. When Danny tried to give him the medallion he shook his head, “No, hold onto it. I believe it goes without saying, but do not lose it.”

“I know. I won’t.” Danny promised.

“Good, now… I believe you have some friends to talk to?”

“Er, right!” Danny said and rushed off.

“He doesn’t know who you are?” Frostbite turned to Clockwork, “And you haven’t told him?”

“… He’ll learn during his studies.” Clockwork admitted begrudgingly, “And it’s best that he come to me after he processes the information than during.”

“Just remember, Kronos.” Pandora glared as she handed over her medallion, “One wrong move-“

“Yes, yes, I am very aware of your opinions of me, Keeper of Hope.” Clockwork held a hand to Frostbite, “Shall I take you back to your people?”

“Er, yes.”

“Good, then-“

“Hey! I was not finished-“

“TIME OUT!”

Pandora sighed as they disappeared, “Ugh. He is always such a petty menace. One of these days…”

7K notes View Post

joebyron100

11 months ago